ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT > MOVIE REVIEWS

10 Summer Movies 


Intriguing titles coming to theaters in July and August
, including 'Savages' and new Spider-man and Batman flicks.

By Lori Hoffman

Add Comment Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted May. 23, 2012

Share this Story:

'Savages'

After discussing 10 movies I was looking forward to seeing in May and June in the May 2 issue (see the story here), it is time to look at the summer movie schedule in July and August. The Avengers got us off to terrific superhero start. Only four films from my list are in July since most movie executives didn’t want their releases anywhere near the new Batman and Spider-man flicks. 


July


The Amazing Spider-Man (July 6) A reboot really revived the Batman series, so now director Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer), with a screenplay by Alvin Sargeant, Steve Kloves and James Vanderbilt, will try to do the same with Spidy. Andrew Garfield takes over for Tobey Maguire and Emma Stone will play the new love interest, Gwen Stacy. Rhys Ifans is The Lizard and the interesting supporting cast includes Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Denis Leary and Campbell Scott. 

 

Savages (July 6) Oliver Stone directs Taylor Kitsch (John Carter, Battleship) and Aaron Johnson (Kick-Ass) in this drama about weed dealers whose product attracts the unwanted attention of a drug cartel run by Selma Hayek. With Blake Lively, John Travolta, Uma Thurman and Benicio Del Toro.

 

The Dark Knight Rises (July 20) Christopher Nolan, the man who brought an edgy, independent film cred to the superhero genre, presents the final film in his Batman trilogy. Joining trio regulars Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman are Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, Tom Hardy as the bad guy Bane plus Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Marion Cotillard. 

 

Killer Joe (July 27) Matthew McConaughey is having an interesting movie summer. First he plays a male exotic dancer in Magic Mike, then he plays the title role in William Friedkin’s killer dark comedy. Killer Joe is about a paid assassin who is hired by a desperate man (Emile Hirsch) to kill his mother (Gina Gershon) so he can collect on her insurance policy.


August


Bourne Legacy (Aug. 4) So, how do you explain away no Matt Damon in the latest Bourne movie? With a simple, clever catch phrase: “There was never just one.” Jeremy Renner, who is pushing the action envelope towards major stardom after appearing in The Avengers, is the new super spy with Bourne screenwriter Tony Gilroy also directing. 

 

Page: 1 2 |Next
Add to favoritesAdd to Favorites PrintPrint Send to friendSend to Friend

COMMENTS

ADD COMMENT

Rate:
(HTML and URLs prohibited)

Related Content

Dreadful ‘G.I. Joe’

By Lori Hoffman

As a stand-alone film, Retaliation is a mindless collection of action-set pieces, only one of which is visually interesting, a ninja battle that takes place with trapeze artists/soldiers flying across the face of a mountain.


RELATED: Dinosaurs in 3D
 2012: Worst Movies of the Year End of the World Movies Movie Review: Kick-Ass 'Avengers' 2012: Top 10 Movies 10 Favorite Holiday Movies
 Movie Review & Listings Top Movies of 2005 ‘Pain’ful Indeed

Related Content

Summer Guide 2012
By AC Weekly Staff

15 picks for your hot Jersey shore summer action 


RELATED: Revel Right on Schedule Get Wet!
 Water Sports Action for Your Summer. July 4th Spectacular! July 4th in Ocean City
 Revel Opening Cohesion, Leadership and a New Path for Atlantic City Interview with Liza Cartmell Ocean City-Somers Point Bridge Opens
 Christie Backing Off Internet Gaming? ACA to Launch $20 Million Tourism Marketing Campaign Monday, April 16 Atlantic City Residents' Tourism District Feedback Robust Interview with New CRDA Boss John Palmieri

Related Content

Back in ‘Black’

By Lori Hoffman


A decade after the disappointing sequel Men in Black II, Will Smith — with a big assist from Josh Brolin and writer-director Barry Sonnenfeld — has delivered an enjoyable third film in the series.


RELATED: Movie Review: Dim 'Shadows' Movie Review: Dazzling 'Prometheus'

Related Content

Spring Movie Preview
 2012
By Lori Hoffman


Movies have generally been so lousy the past couple of months, the influx of spring/early summer films can’t come soon enough. Matter of fact, The Avengers is kicking off the season this week. Here are 10 movies that I’m looking forward to seeing in May and June

RELATED: Schmaltz Times Two
 Emotionless 'Enemies' Laughable ‘Lockout’


Related Content

10 Best Movies of 2011

By Lori Hoffman


When one looks back over the year and designates a “best 10” list, it isn’t really a “best” ten. In all honesty it is my 10 favorite films of the year, since one’s personal tastes are such a big part of remembering which films gave you the most pleasure or had the biggest emotional impact, or just made you laugh your ass off.

RELATED: 'Killing Them Softly' - It’s The Pitts
 Holiday Gift Guide 2012 2012 Oscar Tout Sheet Interesting Feedback on New Year's Resolutions ACW's Weekend Hot Tub Party - 2012 New Year's Edition 2011: The Year In Review
 Best Photo Galleries of 2011 Favorite Feature Stories of 2011 Coolest, Most Spectacular Interviews of 2011 2011: The Year in Photos AC Weekly's Sexiest Photo Galleries of 2011 Top 10 books of 2011 Oscar Catch Up
 Movie reviews: Chronicle, Big Miracle Movies: Denzel Re-‘Bourne’ Oscar Results

Related Content

Movies: TIFF 2011
By Lori Hoffman

When Brad Pitt 
and George Clooney are in Hollywood North to promote movies, the media blitz hits the frenzy button and rarely dies down. And so it was on the opening weekend of the Toronto International Film Festival with Pitt in town to promote the baseball movie Moneyball, and Clooney ...

RELATED: Sarah Silverman: No Apologies Oscar Worthy ‘Playbook’
 ‘Flight’ Crashes
 Oscar Buzz Begins
 2012 TIFF Notes
 Family Matters Movie Stocking Stuffers George Clooney’s ‘Ides’
 Brad Pitt Interview: 'Moneyball' TIFF Time — Heading to Toronto Film Festival Soon! Toronto Film Fest Recap 35th Toronto Film Festival Northern Lights TIFF 2011: Brad Pitt ‘Bears’ All North See


Related Content

11 Great Irish Movies

By Lori Hoffman


With St. Patrick’s Day coming up this weekend, I’ve put together a list of my favorite movies with an Irish theme or locale. This list includes dramas, comedies, a drama with music, a movie with Sean Connery singing and, of course, the most popular Irish-themed movie in American film history.

RELATED: Movie Review: Let the ‘Games’ Begin Pimp My Movie Fall ’11 Movie Season Best Movies of 2010 2010's Worst Movies Going Green, Fighting Greed.
 ‘Atlantic City Jackpot’ 
 2012 Oscar Nominations and Predictions

Related Content

Decade's Best Movies
By Lori Hoffman

Movie fanatics love to have fun putting together lists, especially when a decade comes to a close. In honor of that tradition, I’ve put together a list of my favorite movies from the past 10 years.

RELATED: Thumbs Down: Roger Ebert Dies at Age 70 ACW's Weekend Hot Tub Party - Best & Worst Holiday Movies The Oscar Goes to... Oscar Tout Sheet

Related Content

Top 10 of '08
By Lori Hoffman

for movie showtimes, click here for movie capsules, click here The 2008 moviegoing season provided a lot of intelligent action movies, intriguing art-house fare, and a ton of Oscar-hunting end-of-th...

Related Content

Goodbye Harry Potter

By Lori Hoffman


What the Harry Potter movie series has accomplished is something that has never been done before. The James Bond movies had high and low points. The Star Wars trilogy had major issues when its three prequels were added. The Lord of the Rings only had to maintain its quality over three films (granted, with a new one on the way).


RELATED: Death Seeks Harry Potter Adolescent Angst 'Potter' Graduates

Related Content

Bad Cinema

By Lori Hoffman


There is no movie review 
this week because, frankly, the choices went from re-releases (Titanic 3D) to unappetizing sequels (American Reunion) to recycled ideas (Mirror Mirror). Go ahead and tell me it is my job to go see crap movies so I can tell my readers they are crap movies. Point taken.


RELATED: ACW's Weekend Hot Tub Party - Weird Holiday Edition 'The Bounty Hunter' Earns Multiple Razzie Nominations Clash of the Titans Old School Spy Brave Mr. Lincoln



 


ACW EVENT SERIES