Summer 2010 Movie Preview

SUMMER 2010 MOVIES TO WATCH OUT FOR

Summer's not even over yet and already Reelz Channel is doing a preview for next summer.

May 7 - Iron Man 2

Iron Man kicked off the summer 2008 movie season with a bang, and Robert Downey Jr. and director Jon Favreau hope to do it again in 2010 with this highly anticipated sequel.

*I want to see this

May 14 - Robin Hood

If this update on the medieval crusader for the poor has half the drama and action of its production, it's going to be one hell of a movie. Ridley Scott directs Russel Crowe (Robin Hood) and Cate Blanchett (Maid Marian).

May 21 - Shrek Forever After

The green ogre is a money-printing machine, so he's back for a fourth installment — even though Shrek the Third looked to be running on fumes. The regular voice cast returns. In 3-D.

*I want to see this

May 28 - Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Jake Gyllenhaal looks like he did about 100,000 push-ups to bulk up for the role of Prince Dastan in this big-screen adaptation of the popular video game series. We're a little concerned about this one for a couple of reasons: 1) There's never been a good video game-movie adaptation, and 2) the last Walt Disney-Jerry Bruckheimer collaboration was G-Force.

May 28 - Sex and the City 2

The full title of this one is actually Sex and the City 2: The Menopause Years. Kidding! The first movie turned out to be one of the most successful chick flicks of all time, so a sequel was as inevitable as a Samantha Jones one-night stand.

*I want to see this

June 11 - The A-Team

Fans of the classic '80s TV show have been waiting for a movie version for years, and it's finally coming. Liam Neeson is Hannibal and Bradley Cooper (The Hangover) is Faceman. Two rappers have been rumored for the role of B.A. Baracus, Common and The Game. We think this casting decision should be settled with a rap off.

*I want to see this

June 11 - Kung Fu Kid

Karate Kid fans were saddened by the news of Mr. Miyagi's passing four years ago, but that was nothing compared to the pain felt after hearing that the movie was going to be remade and called Kung Fu Kid. Does "Wax on. Wax off." even work with kung-fu?

June 18 - Jonah Hex

This big-screen adaptation of the comic book cowboy and Confederate bounty hunter has fanboys excited. We're with ya, fellas! Megan Fox is the early Oscar contender for Best Corset. Oh, Josh Brolin and John Malkovich also happen to star.

June 18 - Toy Story 3

Pixar is about the only sure bet in Hollywood, so look for #3 in the Toy Story series to be a winner for kids and their parents alike. In 3-D.

*I want to see this

June 25 - Grown Ups

Adam Sandler tries to rebound after 2009's fairly dismal Funny People. The ensemble comedy stars Kevin James, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Salma Hayek, Maya Rudolph, Colin Quinn, and Maria Bello.

*I want to see this

June 30 - The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

The first two movies in the vampire romance saga were released in the seemingly much more vampire-appropriate month of November. How will the third movie do at the height of the summer movie season? Pretty well, we're guessing.

*I want to see this OBVIOUSLY!!!

July 2 - The Last Airbender

M. Night Shyamalan stopped (or at least slowed) his career free-fall with 2008's The Happening, which didn't totally suck, and the trailer for his adaptation of the animated TV series looks pretty good. Is this a full-fledged M. Night Shyamalan comeback?

*I want to see this OBVIOUSLY!!!

July 2 - Wichita

Tom Cruise hasn't been seen in theaters since 2008's Valkyrie, and this comedy with Cameron Diaz sure seems like an odd place to reappear. (Though we're now reminding ourselves of his hilarious, profane, scene-stealing comedic turn as producer Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder. This move totally makes sense.)

July 9 - Despicable Me

This probably won't hold a candle to Toy Story 3 (or even Shrek 4 for that matter), but Despicable Me is trying hard with its take on the classic "wicked old man is really just a softie inside" storyline. It has a generally A-List voice cast as well, including Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Will Arnett, Russell Brand, and Julie Andrews. Yes that Julie Andrews.

July 16 - Inception

"From the director of The Dark Knight" and "starring Leonardo DiCaprio" automatically puts this at the top of our "Can't Wait" list. The recently released teaser trailer just adds to the intrigue and anticipation.

July 23 - Dinner for Schmucks

High-concept comedy about an extra-stupid man who can ruin the life of anyone he spends even a few minutes with. In the wrong hands this could go straight to DVD, but it stars Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, and that funny guy from The Hangover with the weird last name, Zach Galifianakis.

July 23 - Salt

This project has been a mess since it was announced in 2007. Philip Noyce replaced Peter Berg who replaced Terry George to direct, and in one of the strangest casting changes, Angelina Jolie replaced Tom Cruise as the lead. Jolie proved she can carry a thriller with Wanted and odds are she'll do it again.

July 30 - Little Fockers

Just when we'd completely forgotten about 2004's Meet the Fockers, Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) and Pamela Byrnes-Focker (Teri Polo) are expecting a baby, so we're reminded. Directed by Paul Weitz (American Pie).

*I want to see this

August 6 - The Other Guys

An action comedy with the interesting pairing of Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell, who tries to regain some mojo after the disastrous Land of the Lost. Re-teaming with director Adam McKay (Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers) should certainly help.

August 22 - The Expendables

We haven't seen Sly Stallone since 2008's splatterfest Rambo, and it's probably because he's been writing, acting, and directing what looks like a repeat performance — a splatterfest about a group of mercenaries who set out to overthrow a South American dictator. Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, and Jason Statham co-star. That dictator had better hightail it to Miami, pronto!

**Not that I don't want to see the others, but priority is given to ones I am already excited about a year prior :)