Movie Review: Summer Preview

Jun 27 2012 by Ian Bunting, Airdrie & Coatbridge

THIS week I’m taking a wee break from my reviewing duties to bring you a look at some of the biggest of big screen hits coming your way throughout the rest of the summer.

And let’s face it, if the weather continues to be such a wash-out (honestly, how bad has it been!), you could be spending a fair bit of time in cinemas over the next couple of months.

First up, out next Tuesday, is The Amazing Spider-Man.

This is a reboot of the Spider-Man franchise just five years after Spider-Man 3 undid a lot of the great work established in the quality first two entries of director Sam Raimi’s trilogy.

Too soon for a story-retelling? I thought so initially, and approached this with a sense of trepidation.

But I was a huge fan of new director Marc Webb’s last outing, (500) Days of Summer, and hip young things Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone should more than capably fill the hero and love interest roles.

It’s also the first cinema sighting of Spidey villain The Lizard (played by Welshman Rhys Ifans) so I’m willing to give this one a shot.

But even my reassessed excitement for the web slinger pales in comparison to how much I am willing on the date July 20 to arrive on my calendar. Why? Four words; The Dark Knight Rises.

The closing chapter of Christopher Nolan’s exemplary Batman trilogy has a hard act to follow after The Dark Knight but I have every faith in Nolan’s ability to give us a fitting finale.

New baddie Bane (Tom Hardy) looks like a chilling physical threat, Anne Hathaway brings the slinkiness as Catwoman and Batman has some fantastic new ‘toys’ to play with, not least aerial vehicle The Bat.

Rumours persist that Nolan may kill off Christian Bale’s Batman but he wouldn’t be that brave? Would he?

Whether he is or not, The Dark Knight Rises has the potential to be one of the year’s best films, and a worthy competitor for the Avengers Assemble’s comic book crown.

Two big animations are on the way too. Ice Age: Continental Drift (June 29) and Pixar’s latest Brave (August 3) are sure to keep the nippers and adults happy, the latter with a Scottish setting and cast leading the way.

Spider-Man isn’t the only one getting a reboot this summer as Jeremy Renner fills Matt Damon’s boots in The Bourne Legacy (August 13).

Renner is new CIA operative Aaron Cross as previous Bourne trilogy writer Tony Gilroy fills the director’s chair.

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane makes his big screen directing debut with Ted (August 1), the story of Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis’ relationship being disrupted by a living, breathing teddy bear (yes, really).

The trailer looks very funny and MacFarlane and his lead duo are normally a safe bet for comedy gold.

It wouldn’t be a summer without a remake and Colin Farrell will try to best Arnold Schwarzenegger’s previous work in sci-fi actioner Total Recall (August 29).

And speaking of Arnie, if he and other eighties action heroes are your thing then you’ll probably have more than a passing interest in The Expendables 2 (August 17).

Brit director Simon West takes over from Sly Stallone on directing duties but Jean-Claude Van Damme and Chuck Norris joining the testosterone-filled cast should satisfy fans of big bangs for your bucks (or pounds).

Something for everyone then, from superheroes to teddy bears, to guarantee what Michael Fish (or whoever the TV weatherman is now) can’t; to heat up your summer.