May marks the beginning of the summer movie season. Within the next six weeks, moviegoers will be treated to a diverse selection of movies. From fantasy and action to comedy and animation, these summer blockbusters are sure to entertain.
Coming to theaters this Thursday, May 16, is “Star Trek Into Darkness.” This sequel to the 2009 reboot of the classic television series stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Zoe Saldana among others. The film sees Captain Kirk and the Enterprise spaceship crew return home, only to find an evil force from their organization has risen to power. Meanwhile, Captain Kirk will be in search of a weapon of mass destruction. “Star Trek Into Darkness” will display the epic battle against these threatening forces, as well as the sacrifices the members of the Enterprise crew must make to restore peace.
Scheduled for a May 23 release is “The Hangover: Part III.” The Wolfpack will return for one last hoorah in the final installment of “The Hangover” trilogy. Unlike the past two films, this film has no wedding or bachelor party – only a road trip. While the idea of a road trip may not seem troublesome, the Wolfpack is sure to find a way to spice things up.
The next day, May 24, a movie entitled “Epic” will debut on the silver screen. It is a 3-D animated film based off of the children’s book “The Leaf Men and the Great Good Bugs” by William Joyce. The film has an ensemble cast, with actors and celebrities like Amanda Seyfried, Josh Hutcherson, Christoph Waltz, Steven Tyler and Beyonce Knowles lending their voices to characters in the film. The protagonist of “Epic” is Mary Katherine, who is shrunken down to miniscule size after touching a glowing leaf. While shrunken down, she encounters a group of insects know as the Leafmen and joins them in a battle against the evil Boggans.
On the same day “Fast and Furious 6” will hit theaters. The sixth installment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise will once again follow Dominic Toretto, played by Vin Diesel, and his band of racers and thieves. Unable to return home because of their criminal records, Toretto and his crew are offered a deal by Luke Hobbs, played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. If they help him bring down a mercenary organization, their criminal records will be erased.
May 31 will feature three movie premieres. The first is the science fiction thriller “After Earth,” starring Will Smith and his son, Jaden. The two portray father and son Cypher and Kitai Raige, respectively. The setting of the movie is 1,000 years after Earth has been abandoned by humans. In an effort to mend their strained relationship, Cypher takes his son on a mission trip to Earth from their home planet, Nova Prime. However, after they crash land, they must fight the monstrous creatures that now rule Earth in order to get back home.
“Now You See Me” is also set for a May 31 release. The film, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Isla Fisher and Morgan Freeman, follows a group of magicians that put on a show for audiences. The magicians, known as the “The Four Horsemen,” use their skills in illusion to steal money from business leaders, and they give their stolen profits to their audiences. How many tricks do these magicians have up their sleeves? All will be revealed May 31.
Looking ahead into June, two notable movies will delight audiences. The first is “World War Z,” starring Brad Pitt. The movie is a depiction of a zombie apocalypse and the subsequent destruction of the Earth. Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt), a United Nations worker, travels the world and attempts to combat the zombies.
Contrasting “World War Z” is “Monsters University,” a prequel to the hit 2001 film “Monsters, Inc.” In this prequel, Sulley and Mike enroll in college, where they both major in “scaring.” Yet their opposite personalities spur a rivalry within their fraternity. The two bicker and cause shenanigans, but in the end, they become the best friends the audience has come to love.
These eight films begin the summer movie season with a bang. Get your tickets and popcorn ready because the show is about to begin.
