Most Anticipated Summer Movies 2015

Everybody knows that summer is the greatest time of year for film fans. While some people look forward to pool and beach season, I'm looking forward to all of the great movies I'll get to see (I'm excited about the pool and beach too). Since the summer movie season kicks off this weekend with Avengers: Age of Ultron, let's talk anticipation. 

1. Avengers: Age of Ultron - May 1st
Seriously, how could this not be number one on any Nerd's list? The first Avengers was amazing. Every MCU* movie since has been a lot of fun. Joss Whedon rarely disappoints. 'Nuff said.

2. Jurassic World - June 10th
This could end up being one of the biggest busts of the season, but I'm willing to take a risk on it. Jurassic Park was one of my most memorable movies from my early movie-going life. I remember it sparked my interest in reading Michael Crichton, which led to me reading some of my favorite books. Chris Pratt is fun to watch, even when riding a motorcycle with his pet velociraptors. While it may take a lot of suspension of belief, even in a world where dinosaurs have been genetically reproduced, I'm hoping this is a good one.

3. Tomorrowland - May 22nd
I have no idea what this movie is about other than a girl touches a pin and gets transported to a futuristic world. Still, I really want to see this.

4. Fantastic Four - August 7th
I'm really surprised this one made it this high on my list. Everything that I've heard about this movie, from the moment the cast was chosen until the latest trailer released, had me doubting this movie. This still could end up being a complete waste of time, especially considering the late summer release date, but maybe Fox will finally do right with a property other than X-Men.

5. Ant-man - July 17th
Please be good. Please be good. Please be good. Ever since Edgar Wright was removed as director from this film, I have lost interest in this movie. It's an oddball in the MCU, but so was Guardians of the Galaxy. Is this going to be Marvel's first bust in the MCU or another win?

6. Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation - July 31st
This looks like a fun spy movie.  MIF meets its match...the Anti-MIF.

7. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. - August 14th
The guy that is Superman and the guy that was supposed to be Batman in a 1960's Cold War spy movie. The Americans and Russians have to join forces to fight a bigger threat.  Even with the late summer release, I'm super excited about this.

8. Pitch Perfect 2 - May 15th
I'm probably losing a lot of credibility by listing this one, but I loved the first movie. Even if this one looks like the same movie, I'm looking forward to it.

9. Mad Max: Fury Road - May 15th
I'm not sure many people under the age of 40 have seen the Mel Gibson originals (Mad Max, The Road Warrior, and Beyond Thunderdome), but hopefully people go see this - the budget is quite a bit higher than the first (375 times higher).

10. Inside Out - June 19th
Disney and Pixar usually provide some good entertainment. I'm hoping that this continues the trend, but seriously, let's see The Incredibles 2.

Honorable Mentions:
Terminator: Genisys - July 1st
The Terminator series needs some new life. Can bringing back Arnold give it what it needs?

Minions - July 10th
Can they make a movie without Gru good?

Poltergeist - May 22nd
Another reboot.  This one may end up giving me just as many nightmares as the original did.

I Might Wait, But I'm Still Interested:
Spy - June 5th

Ted 2 - June 26th

Pixels - July 24th

The Gift - July 31st

Masterminds - August 7th

Let me know what your most anticipated movies of this summer are!


*Marvel Cinematic Universe for the uninitiated

Most Anticipated Summer Movies 2013

I know that the summer movie season started a month ago, but it really is one of my favorite times of year.  This is like Christmas for a movie fan.  Most of the movies that come out during the summer are even on my Christmas list to own on Blu-ray.  In anticipation of a continued summer movie season, I'll talk about some of the movies that I've anticipated.

Man of Steel
This has been at the top of my list for a while.  My first movie to see in a theatre was Superman.  Granted, I don't remember that well, but it must have made an impact because I've been a Superman fan ever since.  I love watching Christopher Reeve's classic to this day.  This may not be a popular opinion, but I liked Superman Returns.  Perhaps, it was the nostalgia of it.  However, I also felt Returns was not the Superman movie that I truly wanted it to be.  It wasn't one that I felt I could watch over and over again for 30-plus years.  Last year I was fortunate to attend the Man of Steel panel at the San Diego Comic Con.  Everything that I saw and heard there made me excited to see this movie.  Since then, I can not help to get more excited by the trailers and news.  I already have my tickets for Wal-Mart's showing on Thursday night.  I've also planned to take a vacation day to go see it a second time on Friday in IMAX.

Iron Man 3
I've already seen this, so it's not "anticipated." Since I loved it so much though, I can't help but include it here.  I did anticipate it at one time, so I guess that counts.  This was a great movie.  While I understand some fans of the comics didn't enjoy it, I thought it had everything:  action, humor, a good plot, and even more action.  I hope RDJ decides to continue playing Tony Stark, but if not, this was the perfect end to his run.

Star Trek Into Darkness
This falls into the same category as Iron Man 3: anticipated it, saw it, loved it.  Again, fans of the original movies had some complaints, but I didn't care.  I thought it was beautifully done.  It was everything I was hoping for.  I saw it in IMAX 3D and it was worth every penny.  Go see it in 3D if you can.  The opening action sequence alone makes it worth it.

Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger was another childhood favorite of mine.  I remember sitting in front of the TV watching reruns of him and Tonto saving the day.  This movie has me a little worried.  I think that Johnny Depp is a great actor, but I feel like so many of his characters lately are more or less the same character.  It doesn't mean that I don't enjoy some of his movies, and I'm still interested in seeing this one.

Red 2

I loved the first movie.  My wife wants to watch it anytime she sees it on one of the movie channels.  It's just good fun.  If you haven't seen the first one, make sure you watch it soon.  There's no doubt I'm seeing this one.

Despicable Me 2
Okay, I love the minions.  I really enjoyed the first movie.  It wasn't the best movie, but I had a lot of fun watching it.  Then, I watched it again with the Minion Movie Mode app offered from Best Buy.  Fun stuff.  I don't have a lot of high hopes for this, but I'm going to see it nonetheless.

This is the End

"Hermione just stole all of our $#^%!" What little I've seen of this looks like it may be hilarious.  The cast looks great.  I'm just hoping it's not a lot of inside jokes.

Pacific Rim
Giant robots!  Giant monsters!  Fighting!  'Nuff Said!

The Millers
I love Jason Sudekis.  I think he deserves a shot at leading this movie.  I can't wait to see him and Jennifer Aniston pretend they're the heads of a family to smuggle drugs into the country.  Between this and Elysium, I'm choosing this as my birthday weekend movie.

Kick Ass 2
I almost put The Wolverine in this spot.  It'll have to take honorable mention though, because I can't wait to see this sequel.  Jim Carrey looks like a great addition to the movie.  Every trailer I've seen looks good.  If you haven't seen the first, give it a try.  It's probably not for everybody, but I enjoyed it.


Honorable Mention (I'll probably see these on opening weekend or shortly after):
The Wolverine - I hope it's better than X-men Origins
Elysium - Other than a battle against the 1%, I'm not entirely sure I understand what this movie is about.
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters - I loved the books and I'm hoping this movie sticks to them better than  first.
R.I.P.D. - Looks like a fun concept.  Never read the comic.
Now You See Me - This already came out.  If not, it would have made the list.  I haven't seen it yet.
The Great Gatsby - Again this already came out, but I've been lagging on this one.  Not your typical summer movie, but I still want to see it.