Summer-to-Christmas Movie Season 2013

Can you feel it in the air? The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the blossoms are... blossoming, school is almost out... that can only mean one thing! Time to go to the movies!! Summer movie season seems to start earlier and earlier. And even though there is usually a cinematic lull in the fall, we have some wonderful shows to look forward to at Christmas this year, too!

Movie season 2013 kicked off last weekend with "Iron Man 3" (or, arguably with "Oblivion", back in April) and continues at top speed for a few weeks.There are an inordinate number of superhero sequels and dystopian worlds-end stories, along with a handful of unique, stand-alone features to look forward to. 

Here is just a sampling of what's coming up next:

Next weekend, on May 17th, the much-anticipated sequel to 2009's "Star Trek" opens: "Star Trek Into Darkness". I'm super-duper-geeking-out excited about this, as one of my favorite actors, Benedict Cumberbatch of BBC's Sherlock (which is my favorite TV show), is playing the villain. I really enjoyed the 2009 movie, too, so I'll be getting tickets to see this on opening weekend!

Will Smith's presence in summer seems like a tradition, hearkening all the way back to "Independence Day" from July of 1996, and including the "Men In Black" franchise and "I, Robot" and many others. So it comes as no surprise that he'll have a big sci-fi adventure this year with "After Earth" on May 31st. His son, Jayden, gets second billing, and it's directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Not sure what to think of that... Jayden gave a mediocre performance in 2010's "Karate Kid" re-imagining, and Shyamalan hasn't had a hit in many years, but maybe this will be a pleasant surprise. And I'll see almost anything with Will Smith...

"Now You See Me" is a heist thriller, where a group of illusionists commit heists during performances, giving the money to their audiences. This movie looks so good, I'm actually as excited about it as I am about any of the superhero films coming this year. If nothing else, it's one of the better trailers I've seen this year. And who doesn't love Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo and Morgan Freeman? Plus Jesse Eisenberg, who is very good at the fast-talking smarter-than-everyone character rounds out a promising cast. This one comes out on May 31st.

On June 14, "Man of Steel" resets the Superman story, with a new version of the caped hero's origin story, starring Henry Cavill. The trailers look enticing-- hopefully this will be one the whole family can enjoy. Superman has always been such a great role model of truth, justice and doing the right thing.

June 21st has two movies opening, one for kids and one for... not kids: "Monsters University", the sequel to the beloved "Monsters, Inc." and the literal zombie-apocalypse horror/thriller "World War Z", starring Brad Pitt. You'll probably find me with the kiddos and not the zombies... Sorry, Brad.

In spite of concerns over racial insensitivity, Johnny Depp as Tonto in the July 5th's "The Lone Ranger" doesn't seem any more over the top than any other Depp character, and Armie Hammer appears to fit the big, white hat and the mask of the title character. I suppose the quality and potential offensiveness will remain to be seen, but it looks like a fun western adventure.


Also on July 5th, the sequel to 2010's "Despicable Me", simple titled "Despicable Me 2" hits theaters, and I'm sure it will be filled with more of Steve Carrel's signature shtick and the goofy minions that we all loved in the first movie.

Hugh Jackman returns as the title character on July 26th as "The Wolverine". Apparently a sequel to the 2009 film, "X-Men Origins: Wolverine", it takes the title character to Japan to encounter an old enemy. So many superheros, so little time...

I wouldn't mention "Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters" except that geek favorite Nathan Fillion surprised me by appearing in the trailer-- he's playing the god Hermes. I will probably see it just for him.

On November 1, I will be right there with all you other geeks, nerds and wanna-be's standing in line to see "Ender's Game". This is one of the most beloved sci-fi books of all time, and if you haven't read it, do so before you see the movie. I don't know whether they will slaughter the story or stay true to it, but the end is one of the best twists ever, and even if you see it coming, it's better to read it yourself than to have it spoiled online or onscreen. Seriously. Read it.

One week later, on November 8th, the hunky Chris Hemsworth returns as the title character in "Thor: Dark World". 'Nuff said.

And on the 22nd of November, Chris' brother, Liam Hemsworth, returns with the great Jennifer Lawrence and the adorable Josh Hutcherson in the second "Hunger Games" movie "Catching Fire". Fans of the books will show up in droves. Others? Maybe not so much. 

Probably THE most anticipated film of the year arrives on December 13th, "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" starring the great Martin Freeman (I also love him-- he plays John Watson on the aforementioned "Sherlock"). You and I both will be in line for this one, right? 

It's looking like one of the best years in superhero and sequel history. Hopefully there will be more great films than duds this year.

What did I miss? This is a VERY condensed list of films I'm excited about, but what would you have included on this list? 

All images used are from IMDB.com.

The Hobbit: Too Much Movie and Not Enough Story

"The Hobbit" finally opened this weekend, and I liked it. I didn't love it, and I found all the excess stuff a bit... excessive. (If you don't know what I'm talking about, read "The Hobbit" and then see the movie-- Jackson included loads of stuff that isn't in the book. At all. But my son assures me it's from Tolkein's appendices and notes and other stories and that it's all wonderful and will tie everything together with *LOTR nicely. I'm not convinced yet...) For one thing, it is long, and when a film has battle after battle after battle without a lot of story, I get bored of the battles.  But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Pardon my English...

Aaahhh, the British.  They create some wonderful, entertaining TV and have lent us some brilliant talent over the decades for our films and stage and TV shows.  A few months ago, the BBC aired a great little show that made its way across the pond to PBS beginning in October.  It aired as part of their "Mystery" show.  Its name was "Sherlock". 

After Robert Downy Jr.'s disappointing film, I was leery of another Sherlock adaptation, but when I happened to catch a commercial for this show on PBS in September, I just had that feeling-- you know, that feeling that you just KNOW you'll like that show.  It happens from time to time.  Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, Castle, Psych... some shows are gems to be savored.  So I had an inkling that this would be a good one to catch.

But we disposed of our Dish bill, and that meant bidding farewell to our DVR, which in turn meant no more recorded shows for me.  Which translates to:  if I can't remember to look it up online, I don't see it.  I simply don't have time to sit down and watch live TV.  So "Sherlock" slipped from my radar and I missed it.

Until last week.  I got a laptop for Christmas, and I was enjoying catching up on a few shows on Hulu.com, and up popped "Sherlock"!  I was so excited!  And my initial impression was spot-on.  It is very entertaining.  A modernized view of Sherlock and Watson-- cell phones, laptops, DNA, etc. and it WORKS!  It is very, very good.  I have only seen Benedict Cumberbatch (what a name!), who plays the title role, in one film before (Amazing Grace), and he is perfect as the egotistical, exceptionally clever detective, who describes himself thus: "I'm not a psychopath, I'm a highly functioning sociopath." It's as if the role were written for him.  And I am especially fond of Martin Freeman, who I first enjoyed in "A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", and whose chemistry with Cumberbatch is perfect.  He is a great Dr. Watson.  I love the modernization of the story-- and normally I don't like that kind of thing.  But it just really clicks.

No, the special effects aren't all "top drawer", and there are a few lulls in the 90-ish minute episodes that could easily have been trimmed out, but the writing is witty, the casting is inspired and the acting is brilliant.

I sat up late on Christmas night, watching all the episodes.  Well, all three episodes.  Which brings me to my only complaint.

If the BBC is going to release such fantastic entertainment for my (yes, my) enjoyment, what would possess them to only order 3 episodes!?  In England, they call a "season" of TV a "series".  Series 1 of "Sherlock" is now available on DVD.  Which includes 3 episodes, along with some making-of feature.  That's it.  I guess that's what we yanks call a "mini-series".  Or more appropriately a "mini-mini-series".  Tsk tsk...

Dear BBC, please make more episodes of "Sherlock" and beam them to America post-haste!  Sincerely, a disgruntled but thoroughly dedicated fan.

Oh, and P.S.  Martin Freeman has been "confirmed" on various internetical sites (which, I'm sure are fully reliable sources) as having been cast as Bilbo Baggins for "The Hobbit".  While I hope this is true because I think he'd be fantastic, I sincerely hope it doesn't mean "Sherlock" will be back-burnered in order for filming of "The Hobbit" for a year in some far-off place on the other side of the world...