The heat isn’t the only brutal thing about summer. This season’s movies are all about the destruction of the planet, the killing of our heroes, even the cutthroat nature of corporate America and the 1%. As Iron Man 3, The Great Gatsby and Star Trek Into Darkness rule the box office this month, here is a look ahead to eight of summer’s biggest new arrivals.
Take cover.
After Earth The gist: In the distant future, a father and son escape their crumbling planet and crash land on a long-abandoned Earth, fighting to survive and reconnect with what’s left of humanity in outer space. The stars: Will Smith and Jaden Smith play father and son. The good: Director M. Night Shyamalan looks like he’s made an ambitiously creative film that is co-written by Oscar-winner Stephen Gaghan (Traffic) and, thankfully, doesn’t lean like a crutch on another tired twist ending. The bad: Will audiences think of this as Oblivion: Teen Edition? Recommended if you like:I Am Legend, The Hunger Games, nepotism.
The Internship The gist: This economy is rough, y’all. Two salesmen lose their full-time gigs and have to start over as interns competing against others half their age for jobs at Google. The stars: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson and Rose Byrne. The good: Vaughn conceived of this story himself, which turned out well for The Break-Up. The bad: The actors finally embrace their middle age and play it for laughs, but is that one gag funny enough to fill 90 minutes? Recommended if you like:The Social Network, Wedding Crashers, 2005.
Man of Steel The gist: When Earth is attacked by a ruthless alien invader, a young reporter with mysterious powers must reclaim his connection to a lost world and embrace his destiny as the protector of mankind. The stars: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams and Russell Crowe. The good: The team behind The Dark Knight trilogy has jettisoned the camp and rewritten the Superman mythos for contemporary audiences and a modern world. The bad: Director Zack Snyder (Sucker Punch, Watchmen) too often puts style over substance, which is exactly what Kryptonited 2006’s Superman Returns. Recommended if you like:The Dark Knight Rises, Terrence Malick’s cinematography, kneeling before Zod.
This Is the End The gist: Hollywood celebs and comedians (all actors are playing fictional versions of themselves) gather for a party at James Franco’s house, only to discover the end of the world is at hand—or is it? The stars: James Franco, Aziz Ansari, Mindy Kaling, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd and Jason Segel. The good: With so many cameos from the current comedy elite, there’s no reason this can’t be the laugher of the summer. The bad: Wouldn’t a Freaks and Geeks reunion have been better? Recommended if you like:Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Watch, the possibility—however remote—of James Franco’s imminent death.
World War Z The gist: A U.N. employee races across the globe to protect his family and help authorities stop a deadly outbreak of, well, zombies. The stars: Brad Pitt and Matthew Fox. The good: These aren’t your grandmother’s zombies. These undead critters move fast. The bad: Director Marc Forster gets relationships and drama, but his last outing on this scale was the disappointing Bond flick Quantum of Solace. Recommended if you like:The Walking Dead, Contagion, braaaaaaaains!
The Lone Ranger The gist: A pioneer lawman has a near-death experience and returns, with a mystical Native American ally at his side, as a masked crime-fighter for justice. The stars: Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer and Helena Bonham Carter. The good: Pirates of the Caribbean director Gore Verbinski’s ultra-detailed visual flair seems even better suited for the Wild West than the High Seas. The bad: Anyone remember Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan in High Noon? Exactly. Recommended if you like: Pirates of the Caribbean, Blazing Saddles, eliminating articles.
The Wolverine The gist: Everyone’s favorite claw-wielding X-Man gets really big in Japan and faces his arch nemesis, the Silver Samurai. The stars: Hugh Jackman and Will Yun Lee. The good: Few things are as certain as Jackman singing and dancing at the Oscars, but the actor completely owning his role as the rogue mutant will always be one of them. The bad: Visionary director Darren Aronofsky left during pre-production of The Wolverine—which he wanted to mold as an R-rated thriller—to make his dream project Noah, and the talented, but more traditional, James Mangold (Walk the Line) stepped in. Recommended if you like:Iron Man 3, Seven Samurai, sideburns.
Elysium The gist: A downtrodden Earth-dweller takes on a suicide mission that could not only save his own skin but bring equality to a culture in which the wealthy elite live in decadence, orbiting the lower class who slum it in the trash heap of a planet below. The stars: Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley. The good:District 9 wunderkind Neill Blomkamp proved he could make smart sci-fi on the cheap. With a bigger budget and better actors, what’s to stop him now? The bad: The cuddlier, friendlier Wall-E version of this theme may prove far more successful. Recommended if you like: Mad Max, The Time Machine, Damon—but always wished he had less hair.
