Summer Movie Preview 2012
Having a tough time trying to figure out which of the big Summer movies are worth seeing this year? Have no fear! We here at Rotten Tomatoes know the value of a helpful guide in choosing where to spend your hard-earned money, and to that end, we present our annual Summer Movie Preview! What you see below is a quick look at the biggest and most anticipated films of May, June, July, and August, complete with trailers and cast and crew listings! With that in mind, stay cool, have a great summer, and K.I.T.
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May
Marvel's The Avengers
Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. JacksonDirector: Joss Whedon
Writers: Joss Whedon, Zak Penn
Release Date: May 4
The Avengers is undoubtedly one of the summer's most anticipated movies. How could it not be? It's got Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. Plus, fanboy fave Joss Whedon directed and wrote the script. The Avengers is already Certified Fresh, so it appears the wait was absolutely worth it.
Dark Shadows
Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, Chloë Grace Moretz, Michelle PfeifferDirector: Tim Burton
Writer: Seth Grahame-Smith
Release Date: May 11
Tim Burton and Johnny Depp team up yet again, this time for an adaptation of the cult soap opera Dark Shadows. But rather than update the gothic look and feel of the TV show, the film harkens back to Burton's earlier movies; it's a tale of supernatural forces butting in on a dysfunctional family. Depp stars as Barnabas, a wealthy 18th century playboy who becomes a vampire breaking a witch's heart. After a long slumber, Barnabas awakes to find himself in the 1970s -- and in the center of the squabbling family that now occupies his old mansion. Joining in the fun are Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green, and Chloë Grace Moretz.
Battleship
Cast: Taylor Kitsch, Liam Neeson, Alexander Skarsgård, Brooklyn Decker, RihannaDirector: Peter Berg
Writers: Erich Hoeber, Jon Hoeber
Release Date: May 18
Yep, someone spent a lot of money to make a blockbuster out of a board game. That said, if early reviews are any indication, the special effects were a solid investment -- critics say Peter Berg's take on Battleship is loaded with mindlessly awesome explosions and set pieces. Still, those same critics hint that someone should have peeled off a couple extra bucks for a better script. Taylor Kitsch, Alexander Skarsgård, Brooklyn Decker, Rihanna, and Liam Neeson star in the tale of a group of Naval personnel who must defend the earth from an armada of menacing alien ships.
The Dictator
Cast: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Megan Fox, Ben Kingsley, John C. ReillyDirector: Larry Charles
Writers: Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel, Jeff Schaffer
Release Date: May 18
Sacha Baron Cohen is arguably cinema's greatest living gonzo mockumentarian -- as Borat, a clueless foreigner, and as Bruno, an outrageous fashionista, he satirized and scandalized virtually everyone and everything in his general vicinity. He ditches the faux-doc format in The Dictator, a portrait of an oppressive, buffoonish Middle Eastern despot. Loosely based upon Charlie Chaplin's classic The Great Dictator, the film is directed by Larry Charles (Borat, Bruno) and co-stars Megan Fox, Anna Faris, and Ben Kingsley.
What to Expect When You're Expecting
Cast: Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison, Elizabeth Banks, Jennifer Lopez, Anna Kendrick, Dennis QuaidDirector: Kirk Jones
Writers: Shauna Cross, Heather Hach, Heidi Murkoff
Release Date: May 18
Yeah, it's based on the bestselling pregnancy guide, but What to Expect When You're Expecting boasts an all-star cast that includes Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison, Elizabeth Banks, Anna Kendrick, Dennis Quaid, and Chris Rock. It's the story of five interconnected couples dealing with a variety of pregnancy and childbirth-related issues, and it features plenty of spirited discussions from both male and female perspectives. Kirk Jones ( Nanny McPhee) directs.
Moonrise Kingdom
Cast: Bill Murray, Ed Norton, Tilda Swinton, Bruce WillisDirector: Wes Anderson
Writer: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola
Release Date: May 25
Opening the prestigious Cannes film festival, Wes Anderson's return to live action after Fantastic Mr. Fox is also his first period piece. Set in 1960s New England, it follows two kids (Gilman and Hayward) who fall in love and run off together, prompting an eclectic search party (is Bill Murray, Ed Norton, Tilda Swinton and Bruce Willis eclectic enough for you?) to set out frantically after them. Inspired by the likes of Truffaut and British coming-of-age films of the era, it looks to be right within Anderson's field of specialty -- which is precisely why we're excited.
Men in Black III
Cast: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Jemaine Clement, Alice Eve, Emma ThompsonDirector: Barry Sonnenfeld
Writer: Lowell Cunningham
Release Date: May 25
Will Smith is Agent J. Tommy Lee Jones is Agent K. Josh Brolin is... also Agent K. In Men in Black III, J, everybody's favorite galaxy defender, must go back in time to team up with his old partner in a convoluted attempt to thwart the agent's assassination and save the future of the planet. Barry Sonnenfeld is back in the director's chair, with new recruits Emma Thompson, Alice Eve, and Jemaine Clement joining the cast.
Chernobyl Diaries
Cast: Jesse McCartney, Jonathan Sadowski, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Olivia Dudley, Nathan Phillips, Devin KelleyDirector: Bradley Parker
Writers: Oren Peli, Shane Van Dyke, Carey Van Dyke
Release Date: May 25
Oren Peli, the guy behind the Paranormal Activity franchise, takes his patented brand of found-footage fright to one of the creepiest places on earth: Chernobyl. In Chernobyl Diaries, a group of American tourists decide to spice up their European vacation by heading to the site of history's worst nuclear disaster. Soon, however, our heroes discover that they're stranded -- and they're not alone. Peli produced and wrote the script to Chernobyl Diaries, which was directed by first-timer Bradley Parker.
Stephen Seecharan
So wait, for the new Total Recall movie, will they instead be saying "Get your ass to Uranus"?
May 3 - 02:36 AM
Brandon Thomas
Yeah, I don't know why whoever wrote the summary said anything Uranus. This time it takes place on Earth.
May 9 - 10:15 AM