With the summer months come the summer movies. This could mean a multitude of things, as the films that come out during the scorching season can be terrific, like ""The Dark Knight,"" or they can be pure wastes of time, like ""G-Force."" To help guide you through 2010's summer movies, The Daily Cardinal's Arts section previews the movies you have to see and you have to avoid.
""Iron Man 2""
Anticipated release date: May 7
Even though it hasn't been released in the U.S. yet, ""Iron Man 2"" is the first bonafide summer blockbuster of 2010, taking in over $100 million on its opening weekend in foreign markets alone. The sheer number of characters introduced in this sequel may overwhelm some, but who can complain about the additions of Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell and Don Cheadle to an already star-studded cast? If the trailer is any indication, Rourke's villainous turn as Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) nemesis Ivan Vanko promises to be a memorable role.
—Kevin Slane
""Sex and the City 2""
Anticipated release date: May 27
The tagline of ""Sex and the City 2"" is ""Carrie On,"" but they really shouldn't have. If the trailer is any indication of what the film will be like, it looks as though the horse beaten to death by the first ""SATC"" movie will be getting a few more good kicks, and by feet in stilettos, no less. What started as a TV show that challenged how society viewed sex has turned into a ridiculously drawn-out plotline scrambling for new obnoxious drama. ""SATC"" viewers were content with the happily-ever-after that came with the series finale and they endured the first film; but with an additional movie, the genius of the show has unfortunately been overshadowed.
—Jacqueline O'Reilly
""Toy Story 3""
Anticipated release date: June 18
It's been 15 long years since Pixar released the first-ever fully computer-animated film, a little movie called ""Toy Story."" Fast forward to today, and Pixar is the definitive king of animation, the measuring stick by which all other animated films are judged. The question is not whether ""Toy Story 3"" will make money; the real question is whether the film can live up to Pixar's ever-increasing level of quality, one that made their most recent feature film, ""Up,"" only the second animated film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. If ""Toy Story 3"" somehow manages to meet audience expectations, Pixar could be in line for another Best Picture nomination come awards season.
—Kevin Slane
""The Twilight Saga: Eclipse""
Anticipated release date: June 30
If there were any justice in this world, ""The Twilight Saga: Eclipse"" would star Wesley Snipes as a vampire hunter who slays Robert Pattinson's sparkly Edward Cullen, then fires a silver bullet into Taylor Lautner's jacked werewolf, Jacob. Sadly, ""Eclipse"" instead revolves around the ongoing angst-ridden love story of Edward and Bella (the perpetually hair-fiddling Kristen Stewart), the werewolf's continuing third-wheel infatuation with Bella and, on occasion, an actual plot involving an evil vampire (Bryce Dallas Howard) who wants to use her mini-vampire army to kill Bella. Basically, everybody wants Bella. With the core love triangle returning, tween-age girls are sure to flock back to theaters in droves, while all other unfortunate souls likely die of boredom.
—Todd Stevens
""Inception""
Anticipated release date: July 16
Poor Christopher Nolan. Just one year after he directed the most successful movie since ""Titanic"" with 2008's ""The Dark Knight,"" James Cameron comes back and steals all of his blockbuster thunder with ""Avatar."" Thankfully, Nolan got back on his horse with ""Inception,"" a psychological thriller that takes place ""in the architecture of the mind."" Nolan has kept most of the plot under wraps so far with cryptic trailers and limited press releases, but with a cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page and Marion Cotillard, it's hard to believe ""Inception"" won't be at least worth watching.
—Todd Stevens
""Scott Pilgrim vs. the World""
Anticipated release date: August 13
Michael Cera as the underdog? Something new and different! In ""Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,"" we once again find Michael Cera in love with the unconventional girl, complete with various shades of neon-colored hair. In order to truly win her over, he must defeat (seriously, the noodle that is Michael Cera has to fight these guys) her seven evil ex-boyfriends. The premise seems pretty lame, but the film has some decent actors in it, most notably Anna Kendrick (""Up in the Air""). Regardless, her Oscar-nominated talents probably aren't enough to make this movie any less typical than it appears to be.
—Jacqueline O'Reilly
