Summer Movies 2014

Summer movie season is barrelling towards us like the asteroid that only Ben Affleck could save us from in Armageddon. The one thing I know for sure is that I don’t wanna miss a thing so, before the blink and we’ll miss them days of summer have already come and gone, I figured it’s time to take stock of what’s coming to the big screen over the next few months. Although, I must admit, I’m not as excited about this year’s entries as I was for last summer’s hits. Maybe it’s because World Cup will be pulling most of my focus. (Sergio Ramos siempre!) But when I’m done mainlining all the futbol my brain can possibly handle, I’ll be right back in the theaters. Here’s this year’s edition of my can’t wait to watch summer movies (minus any movies that I’ve already discussed on my Sequels list)!

~A²

Follow @asquared225

 

Neighbors

I desperately want Neighbors to be this summer’s This Is The End but given how hard I laughed at that movie and the random cameos that had me pretty much choking on my own laughs, those are some pretty big shoes to fill. However, I do think Neighbors will be entertaining and it has Dave Franco in it which I’ve decided will be a requirement for at least one movie on my list each year. (He was in Now You See Me from last year’s Summer Movie List). Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne as new parents who end up living next door to a fraternity which makes them think they’re still cool and don’t have to accept that they’re aging out of their previous lifestyle? Sold. You had me at Rose Byrne.

Release Date: May 9

Trailer:

 

Chef

After listening to Jon Favreau (writer, director, producer, and star of Chef ) on The Nerdist Podcast, I was very impressed. He comes across as articulate, grateful, thoughtful, intelligent, funny, and damn good at what he does. (You may recognize him as the mastermind behind Swingers as well as the director of Iron Man and Iron Man 2. Or as Monica’s aspriring ultimate fighter boyfriend, Pete, on Friends.) And so now I want to see his movie. Simple as that.  But if you need more incentive, the cast and cameos are pretty impressive (Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., Dustin Hoffman, Russell Peters) and the food shots are a foodie’s dream.

Release Date: May 9

Trailer:

 

Godzilla

Generally, I’m not really into the whole giant monster terrorizing the world kind of thing. But if B-Cran (Bryan Cranston) is in it then I’m all about it. Pair that with my growing fascination with Elizabeth Olsen’s career and some well-cut trailers that have managed to hold my interest, and it seems even more worth my while. I guess this will be my karmic retribution for never bothering to see Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kick Ass 2 last summer. Bring on the monster!

Release Date: May 16

Trailer:

 

Maleficent

I’m still terrified of Maleficent from my repeated childhood viewings of Sleeping Beauty. The posters for this movie featuring Angelina Jolie in all of Maleficent’s glory aren’t helping my fear but they are definitely intriguing me. Fear + Intrigue = Summer Movie Magic? I guess I’ll find out because seeing the scariest of Disney villains come to life is something that I cannot miss! Childhood me would never forgive current me, or at least I assume that’s how she’d feel after she’s done cowering under her blanket from watching Maleficent’s reign of terror for the thousandth time.

Release Date: May 30

Trailer:

 

Snowpiercer

Not only does Snowpiercer look cool and badass but it has Tilda Swinton who personifies those very traits. And Chris Evans (aka the guy from Cellular… and that little known film franchise, Captain America). It’s set in the not so distant future in which a new ice age has arrived, killing off most of the people on Earth. Those who have survived are inhabitants of a huge train, Snowpiercer. The haves live at the front and the have nots live at the back until they rebel and sh*t gets real. Snowpiercer is a South Korean-American sci-fi action movie based on a French graphic novel. What more do you need to know?

Release Date: June 27

Trailer:

 

Guardians of the Galaxy

I must confess, I’m starting to suffer from superhero movie fatigue. Luckily, Guardians of the Galaxy seems more like a motley crew coming together to save the galaxy (and yes, I’m now realizing that I might just love any movie that sounds like a re-imagining of the aforementioned Armageddon) in a way that will produce some excitement and a lot of laughs. Plus, Djimon Hounsou is in it. Anyone else regularly find themselves asking where he’s been (but too lazy to just check on IMDb)? Just me?

Release Date: August 1

Trailer:

 

Let’s Be Cops

Two friends dress up as cops for a costume party but then decide one night isn’t enough so they carry on the charade only to find themselves embroiled in a sea of danger and corruption as a result. I know, that premise sounds absurd. But Coach and Nick from New Girl together on the big screen? Hells yeah!

Release Date: August 13

Trailer:

 

Sequels, Sequels, Sequels! (aka A Journey Through the Rest of My Year)

Now that award season is behind us and I’ve settled comfortably into spring, I’ve finally had the chance to sit down and map out my sequel strategy for the rest of 2014. I do love a good sequel (not an oxymoron since by good, I don’t necessarily mean quality-wise)! As far as I am concerned, Fast & Furious 6 did not disappoint (https://asquaredmovieblog.wordpress.com/2013/06/17/fast-furious-6/). And the build-up to the final Harry Potter movie was a spectacle that I could not get enough of and still can’t! But it’s not only the big action blockbuster type of sequels that I’m into. Oh no, there is plenty more available in sequel-land for all to enjoy!

~A²

Follow @asquared225

Here is my list of the 2014 sequels that I cannot wait to see (or will probably still end up seeing against my better judgement):

Holiday Movies

Now that December is upon us, it finally seems like the right time to commence with watching some of my perennial holiday favourites. There are seemingly thousands of Christmas-themed movies and, maybe, dozens of Hanukkah-themed movies so it’s hard to narrow it down to a handful of favourites but that’s exactly what I’m going to attempt to do. I hope you see some of your faves below but if not, let me know what you would include on your holiday movies list. Happy Holidays!

~A² Follow @asquared225

Love Actually

Can you believe that Love Actually came out in theaters 10 years ago?! I still love this movie just as much now as I did when I saw it in theaters (twice) back in 2003. Here’s a fun read with the director, cast and crew about the impact of the movie a decade later: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/07/love-actually-s-10th-anniversary-the-cast-and-crew-reminisce-about-the-christmas-classic.html

Anyway, if you haven’t watched this movie before, where have you been for the last 10 years?! It’s definitely worth watching it for the first time or re-watching it for the 100th time. With lines like, “Let’s go and get the sh*t kicked out of us by love!”, you can’t go wrong.

Trading Places

I don’t know what it is about this movie but if I pass by it on TV, I have to stop what I’m doing and tune in. Every holiday season, I like joining my favourite conman, Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy) as he teams up with the recently fallen from grace Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Akroyd) to get the best of the two thoughtless millionaires (millionaires was ’80s talk for what we now call billionaires) who are responsible for Louis’s fall from the top.

Home Alone

This movie made kids everywhere wish their families would unintentionally abandon them for the holidays so they could have the run of the house! Who didn’t love how sinister Joe Pesci managed to be (but in such a child-friendly way) and how cute was Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin)? And a lovely cameo from one of my comedy faves, John Candy! However, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York just amounts to child neglect. How do you forget about your kid again?! As Gob would say, Come on!

The Holiday

What other movie would have Kate Winslet and Jack Black playing love interests? The Holiday is probably not that great but I love it. Maybe it’s because I remember watching it in theaters with one of my oldest friends who makes everything more fun than it should be, but I just love this movie and look forward to stumbling across it on TV every festivus season. Plus, it’s pretty hard to beat 2006 Jude Law!

The Family Stone

I laugh every time I even think about Luke Wilson and Dermot Mulroney chasing each other in the house fighting as only brothers can. And when SJP slips in the breakfast she’s just prepared for the family? Amazing. And it’s a pretty impressive cast to spend a couple of hours with over the holidays. Might make your family seem just a little bit less dysfunctional.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas  and All I Want For Christmas

I am always willing to watch one or the other of these movies… but never both in the same festive season. Come on, even I have my limits. I don’t think these movies really stand the test of time but I love them just the same as they’re such quintessentially ’90s movies. I mean, Jonathan Taylor Thomas?! Everyone loved them some JTT back in the day! Everyone. In this movie, all he wants to do is get back to his family in time for the holidays. Who wouldn’t want to watch that? And yes, that is Jessica Biel playing his girlfriend.

As for All I Want For Christmas… As you may recall (but probably not as I’m sure most of you have never seen this movie), All I Want For Christmas is a tale of two kids in NYC who will stop at nothing to try to get their divorced parents back together for the holidays. And shocker of all shockers, hijinx ensues! Yes, this is cheesy as can be but does it make it more fun if I mention that one of the kids is played by Ethan Embry? Well, it does for me!

Honorable Mentions:

The O.C. Chrismukkah episodes

Obviously, my penchant for teenybopper dramas from the late ’90s and ’00s has informed many of my preferences over the years but I think it’s safe to say that The O.C. was amazeballs. (Or at least the first couple of seasons were.) They gave us one of the best friendships of the decade when underdog Ryan met loner Seth Cohen. And that show gave us terms like Chrismukkah, which will surely endure the test of time.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

I really want this to make the list and every year, I get excited about the idea of seeing it on TV again but I can never quite bring myself to sit through the whole thing. I guess I just like knowing that it will be played every December but I don’t actually like watching it. Same goes for A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol 

For a long time, I didn’t realize this story existed as anything other than an awesome animated movie featuring Scrooge, Mickey and Goofy but this one seems to be hard to come by these days. It’s been years since I was last lucky enough to happen upon it on a cold winter’s night. But just the thought of it brings on a fresh wave of childhood nostalgia.

Summer Movies 2013

I love summer movie season! It’s a time for unapologetic lovers of car chases, explosions, and action to shine. Sure, plots aren’t always at the top of the priority list in the typical summer blockbuster but they make up for it in other ways. (Although, every summer a handful of movies manage to sneak past the “louder + bigger + flashier = better” censors and delight us just the same.) This list is just the tip of the iceberg of movies I’m excited for this summer. Hopefully, this will save you some time when you’re trying to figure out what to watch as summer blockbuster season rolls into a theater near you.

~A²

Fast & Furious 6

Fast cars, ridiculous stunts, Luda, and being in awe of how Paul Walker never seems to age. That’s right, it’s finally time for Fast & Furious 6 and Dom, Brian, and the crew will be driving their new breed of 10 second cars back into our lives. Aren’t you curious to see if they bring a plot with them this time? I know I will be seeing it in theaters because I revel in how cheesy this franchise is but I also love how much fun it is (minus Tokyo Drift. I didn’t bother seeing that one.). Plus, Michelle Rodriguez is back in this one, y’all!

Release Date: May 24

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmck_fzclY0

Now You See Me

I’m not even sure what it is about this movie that makes me so excited to see it. Maybe that’s part of its magic. 😉 But the first time that I watched the trailer for it, I decided that I have to see it. I’m aware that I talk a lot about who’s in a movie, maybe even moreso than what’s actually happening in the movie. But for me, cast is always make or break. And this one has make written all over it. Morgan Freeman. Mark Ruffalo. Isla Fisher. Woody Harrelson. Jesse Eisenberg. Michael Caine. Ridiculous.

Release Date: May 31

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OtM9j2lcUA

This Is the End

This trailer makes me laugh out loud every single time I watch it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that all the best parts weren’t in the trailer. But so far, this group of guys has a pretty good batting average for films they team up on (Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, Superbad) so I’m preparing to laugh my ass off. If nothing else, this will make for an entertaining,  fast-paced round of spot the famous faces as there are a lot of cameos in this one.

Release Date: June 12

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j463qtCRlxk

The Wolverine

I love the X-Men movies! I think Hugh Jackman kills it as Wolverine. But then X-Men Origins came along and ruined Wolverine for everyone. We all wanted a do-over and now we’ve got it. Hugh is back as Wolverine and in his quest to go from immortal to mortal, we’ll get to watch Wolverine  f*ck some sh*t up. In other words,  just how we like him.

Release Date: July 24

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rh1LdTFkm7I

The To Do List

This movie looks hilarious! And awkward. Super awkward. Aubrey Plaza as a high school student attempting to complete her sexual to do list before heading to college should make for an entertaining time. Plus Donald Glover is in it. And a whole bunch of other people who bring the funny when things get awkward. I’m thinking this will make for an extremely funny/extremely second-hand embarrassment inducing  experience. Every summer can use some of that.

Release Date: July 26, 2013

Trailer:  (Ignore the Valentine’s intro, release date was changed to July) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXdv751qCMA 

Elysium

I’m not usually into sci-fi type movies (or at least I don’t generally admit to it) but I did really enjoy District 9. So if you have the director of District 9 reteaming with the star of that movie then add in one of my personal faves, Jodie Foster and then top it off with Matt Damon, I’m going to have no choice but to see this movie. Well played, Elysium, well played.

Release Date: August 9

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNxhqoKT1oc

Kick-Ass 2

Kick-Ass was a delightfully fun movie. And now the adventures of Kick-Ass and Hit Girl continue! With McLovin’ back acting like a total badass. What’s not to be excited about?

Release Date: August 16

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zcMLxIuuww

Recommendations List, Part I

Below is a randomly ordered  list of movies that I’ve loved (or at least really enjoyed) but didn’t blog about. It could be that these are movies that I thoroughly delighted in but never felt the need to write about or that I’ve watched repeatedly through the years and am worried that I can’t do a description of them justice. Whatever the reason, these are all movies that I recommend but none of them have received their own individual blog posts. Read these blurbs then go and watch any you haven’t seen!

~A²

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

I often fantasize about retirement. Yes, that may be somewhat premature on my end, but it’s just something I do from time to time (i.e., daily). The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel actually left me desperately wishing that I could retire as an old British lady in India. I can honestly say that’s one retirement fantasy that never crossed my mind before seeing this movie. It’s also a who’s who of the British acting elite of, shall we say, a certain age. It’s one of those rare movies both my mother and I couldn’t stop raving about (and she even stayed awake throughout the whole thing!)

Bachelorette

I will always support movies with talented and funny females in the lead roles. Plus this movie is right up my alley humour-wise. (Sarcastic, dry humor, but not so over the top that it just comes across as ridiculous and mean.)

Love Actually

Love, love, love! A must-see Christmas movie for me every Yuletide season. Again, an incredibly talented, mostly British cast. (Colin Firth! Keira Knightley! Laura Linney! Liam Neeson!) It’s sweet, funny, and handles multiple storylines incredibly well. Plus Snape is in it.

Beasts of the Southern Wild

If you missed all of the 2013 awards season, the number 1 reason to see this movie is Quvenzhané Wallis. She is so incredibly cute but also acted the sh*t out of her part. The actor who plays her father (Dwight Henry) is also a force to be reckoned with on the screen. It’s a gritty, but also fantastical, display of how people carry on when a crisis hits.