Adding a couple to the list, as I've been paging through EW and have a pretty comprehensive title accumulation in front of me.Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
Anticipation: 7
I didn't see the first movie in theaters: I caught it on cable, and that was by accident.
I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.
Iron Man(May 2)
Anticipation: 6
My greatest hope for this picture is based on a weird (potential non-) coincidence of casting: they have a recovering addict playing a recovering addict. I don't expect Tony's alcoholism to play into the movie: I just think it gives Downey a better handle on his personality.
My greatest worry is that every Marvel picture that wasn't a Spidey release basically svcked. I don't know if this is the one that breaks pattern.
Made of Honor(May 2)
Anticipation: 0
In the immortal words of Landru, Super King Kong Maya-Maya Don't Care.
Speed Racer(May 9)
Anticipation: 2
I'm with Bacon: the trailers are making me dizzy -- and that's just the color palette. The plot may be worse, and the dialog -- let's not talk about the dialog. In fact, let's not have the characters talk at all. Sure, they want to make a live-action anime. Good for them. If I want to watch anime, I'll go watch anime -- because this isn't it. And the original Speed Racer isn't what I think of as good anime to begin with. The original Speed Racer is what I think of as 'a bad joke'.
What Happens In Vegas(May 9)
Anticipation: 3
If this turns into The Prenuptial Agreement Of The Roses, it has a chance. Everything is going to depend on the script -- but this kind of movie generally isn't made because of the script...
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian(May 16)
Anticipation: 8
The first movie should be enough of a comfort for me to enter this one without fear, but I know there's been a couple of changes made to the original story for this one -- and any time someone tinkers with the source material for the sake of a better picture in US Weekly, the fretting begins. Caspian had better be more than just a pretty face...
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull(May 22)
Anticipation: 10
First day. First show. Probably staying for the credits. Hoping to applaud.
Sex and the City(May 30)
Anticipation: 0
They don't make ropes strong enough to tie me to the theater seat.
The Foot Fist Way (May)
Anticipation: 6
Micro-budget indie that started picking up word of mouth at Sundance and has some serious celebrity power pushing it into a theatrical release. This is where Danny McBride of Tropical Thunder and Pineapple Express came from -- it might be worth the effort to see his first work.
You Don't Mess With the Zohan(June 6)
Anticipation: 5
There's some interesting buzz starting to manifest around this one, and I know Sandler can act when the desire hits him. It's just that every film he's in is a fifty-fifty coin toss on whether he felt like being an actor that week, as opposed to a human prop. I'm just going to wait on the reviews.
Kung Fu Panda(June 6)
Anticipation: 4
Everything about this film feels like a cliche'. Everything. Computer-animating cliches just makes them extra-expensive. I have no real interest in seeing a plot that's been rehashed a thousand times before this -- only now it comes with pixels! Show me some originality and I'll consider it: until them, I'm not paying for the ticket.
The Happening(June 13)
Anticipation: 5
'You're not out of chances. But you just went on your last one.'
The Incredible Hulk(June 13)
Anticipation: 6
Hate to tell you this, Bacon, but Ed didn't get his way this time around -- they're going with the film the way the executives want it. (Ed's cut might show up as a DVD extra.) I personally found the first film as a mostly-'meh' with heavy wincing every time I saw the panel cuts -- the director happily shouting 'I'm too good for this material!' With this one, I think they've got the right Bruce. And they may leave him on the cutting-room floor.
Get Smart(June 20)
Anticipation: 7
They have to send it so far over the top that it has to duck to avoid satellites. And with this franchise, they could. The movie must be fearless: no joke too silly, no line too ridiculous, no situation too contrived. But 'fearless' is hard. Executives hate 'fearless'. We'll have to see who blinks first...
The Love Guru(June 20)
Anticipation: 4
On the one hand, Meyers apparently spent the last few years openly workshopping this character, the same way he did Austin Powers.
On the other, I couldn't stand Austin Powers.
Wall*E (June 27)
Anticipation: 10
It's Pixar. Any questions?
Wanted (June)
Anticipation: 2
Lately, as an actress, Angelina Jolie makes a great ambassador.
Encounters At The End Of The World
Anticipation: 8
It's a documentary about life at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, and it was made by Werner Herzog. He's got the talent and he's got the material. I expect results.
Hancock(July 2)
Anticipation: 3
The original title of this movie was Tonight, He Comes.
They changed it to Hancock.
Think about it.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army(July 11)
Anticipation: 8
Right character, right director, good casting, and if it's anywhere near as good as the two Cartoon Network mini-movies, I will be more than happy with the result. This is the first film on the list I'm planning on seeing with a group.
Journey To the Center of the Earth 3D(July 11)
Anticipation: 2.
*looks for 'AS' initials*
*doesn't find them*
Looks like we're off the path.
Mamma Mia (July 18)
Anticipation: 3
Meryl Streep and the songs of Abba.
That can't possibly work -- can it?
The Dark Knight(July 18)
Anticipation: 9.
Seven points of that are based on Heath Ledger. This is either going to be a legendary presentation of a nightmare or a letdown on par with Godfather III: no middle ground exists.
Step Brothers(July 25)
Anticipation: 2
Two actors I can't stand working with a premise that makes my skin crawl under a director I can't stand. By my count, that's three strikes: they're out.
The X-Files: I Want To Believe(July 25)
Anticipation: 2.
I Can't Go: I Have To Wash My Hair.
American Teen (July 25th)
Anticipation: 5.
Supposed to be the next Juno. I didn't get that much enjoying out of the first Juno.
Gonzo: The Life And Work Of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (July)
Anticipation: 9
The hard part will be finding a place that's playing it.
The Wackness (July)
Anticipation: 8
Four words: Ben Kingsley on marijuana.
Meet Dave (July)
Anticipation: 3
Eddie Murphy is an inch and a half tall, operating a full-sized robot of himself in conjunction with an equally-small crew. It either has the heart of his first Nutty Professor or it's an ultra-stupid vehicle for making Lieutenant Buttock jokes. Place your bets.
Space Chimps (July)
Anticipation: 5.
Computer-animated monkeys! In space! Fighting evil!
No, really.
Religulous (July)
Anticipation: 6
If Bill Maher and Larry Charles made a documentary about religion and politics, would you watch it?
I'm going to weigh in with a solid 'maybe'.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor(August 1)
Anticipation: 0
So the first one was bad, the second was worse, the spinoff was unwatchable -- and somehow, this has led us to a fourth installment.
Why?
The Rocker(August 1)
Anticipation: 5
Also known as the 'I probably won't care one way or another until I hear some word of mouth' rating.
Pineapple Express(August 8)
Anticipation: 5
As above, since I never took part in the F&G festival. I'll wait to see what kind of merits it gets judged on.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2(August 8)
Anticipation: 2
I just can't see a movie with 'Sisterhood' in the title. If it was Divine Ya-Ya Secrets Of The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants, it would act like an opposite-charge magnet and physically repel me from the theater.
Tropic Thunder(August 15)
Anticipation: 8
This could be the best cast (comedy division) of the summer. All they need now is something to work with. Anything. Anything at all. Please?
Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Anticipation: 5.
So let's see.
The last three theatrical SW movies were horrible.
The last two animated SW series on Cartoon Network were really good.
This is an animated SW theatrical release.
...help.
The Accidental Husband (August 22)
Anticipation: 6
Uma Thurman is Dr. Laura in the way you've always wanted to see her: getting every bit of payback she has coming. The plot is this: Doc Quack advises a woman to break up with her boyfriend. As revenge, the boyfriend tampers with a lot of paperwork and creates a legal marriage with Doc Quack. Suffering ensures. Dr. Laura suffering? That's going to be hard to pass up.
Hamlet 2(August 22)
Anticipation: 7
I'm with Bacon on this one: you have to give it points just based on the raw nerve of the title.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (August 29)
Anticipation: 2
I've gotten over Woody Allen. I'm still waiting to see if he can ever overcome himself.
Traitor (August 29)
Anticipation: 7
As a matter of fact, I do think America is ready for a movie with a Muslim hero: in this case, a CIA operative asked to infiltrate a terrorist group. I just think most of America is going to disagree with me.
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