Top 5: Summer blockbuster picks

Summer means many things to many people. It’s simplistic nature is marked by drinks with umbrellas or a breeze that makes one feel fine. For this journalist, it means a slate of epic blockbuster films, filling my ocular cavities with captivating characters, explosions, comedy and even some romance. Summer movies are the perfect way to beat the heat and explore a new world or revisit with old friends for a couple of hours.

With that in mind I invite you to refill your Dr. Pepper, grab a bucket of popcorn (hold the butter please) and silence your smart phone as I present to you my Top 5 most anticipated films of Summer 2012. Let’s go out to the movies.

5. The Amazing Spiderman — Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) is back as New York’s favorite webslinger in Sony and Columbia Picture’s reboot of the Spiderman franchise. Directed by Mark Webb, this iteration looks to take on a decidedly darker tone than the Sam Raimi films and will explore more of the backstory of Spiderman’s origin and Peter Parker’s relationship with his parents. The film also stars Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, and Martin Sheen. The Amazing Spiderman crawls into theaters July 3.

 

4. Neighborhood Watch — This one could be turn out to be a cultural phenomenon on the level of “Superbad.” That’s because the same guys ( Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg) scribed this comedy, which stars Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller and Jonah Hill. The film follows the story of characters whose jobs follow the title’s description as they stumble upon something much larger than rowdy partygoers. The film is directed by Akiva Schaffer of The Lonely Island and will on the lookout starting July 27.

 

3. The Avengers — The long announced and insanely anticipated penultimate superhero movie finally arrives in theaters May 4. This is the first Marvel film marketed by Disney after they acquired the property last year. Any film putting Iron Man and The Hulk on the same team has my attention. The film features a cornucopia of bad-ass superheroes including Tony Stark and Thor, who must face evil’s best shot as Loki — Thor’s diabolical brother — as he assembles an army of bad guys to thwart planet Earth. Our humble planet can never seem to catch a break. Joss Whedon is behind the camera on this one and stars, among others, Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson.

 

2. Brave — For me, any time Disney/Pixar releases a film, it usually turns into a life changing experience. The only time this wasn’t true was in the form of last year’s dismal cash grab “Cars 2.” “Brave” looks to get things back on track with an original story following the fiery Scottish redhead Princess Merida and features the voice talent of Kelly Macdonald and Emma Thompson, along with several others. If the trailers are any indication, this movie is going to be simply delightful, and look for another charming Pixar short beforehand. The film is released June 22 worldwide.

 

1. The Dark Knight Rises — Was there ever any question? Christopher Nolan’s final Batman film has been met with a level of anticipation and hype the likes of which have never been seen before in film. This of course coming off of superb efforts with “Inception” and “The Dark Knight” made even more iconic for Heath Ledger’s haunting and tragic portrayal of The Joker, for which he won an Academy Award posthumously. Will Bane be the Batman’s final undoing? Practically everyone on planet Earth will find out on July 20. Stay tuned.