Summertime: It's all about the blockbusters

Summer is fast approaching and that means we are soon to be faced with the lovely summer rays (we hope), fun days out at the beach and a whole host of box office hits.

Yes, summer is the time of year when the film companies battle it out to see who can achieve the biggest blockbuster and this summer is no different as we have some solid contenders emerging onto the big screen.

From next month, we will see the madness begin as Disney launch the first challenger, Hannah Montana (released 1st May), a film adapted from the small screen about a girl leading a secret double life as a pop star that will be a huge hit with teenage girls everywhere. With it appealing to a limited audience it is unlikely to blow us all away but, the kids will love it. Next we have Angels and Demons (released 14th May) the sequel to The Da Vinci Code starring Tom Hanks; there hasn’t been much hype about this one yet but, it might be a dark horse. May also sees the release of Night at the Museum 2 (released 22nd May), and this one’s probably going to be a bit of a stab in the dark. Yes, the first movie was entertaining enough but, do we want to see another one? Not really. Definitely not a contender for the summer 2009 blockbuster title although, again it will be a hit with the kids.

June sees the film industry up their game as Terminator: Salvation is released on 3rd June and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is released on 24th June. It’s lucky these two are spaced apart as the battle between them is going to be fierce. These will be a huge hit with the blokes and even the ladies might like to get in on the action. I have my doubts about Terminator though, it just won’t be the same for most people without Arnie on screen.

July brings yet more kid’s films just in time for their school holidays. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs is released on 1ST July and is guaranteed to be one of the favourites this summer as it follows the misfit group of friends through another historical era.

Johnny Depp will be back on our screens from 3rd July as he stars with Christian Bale in crime film Public Enemies; this one won’t steal the limelight but, will undoubtedly be a great film.
Next we have Bruno (released 10th July)which will take us on another of Sacha Baron Cohen’s bizarre adventures, this time as camp Austrian TV presenter; it’s unlikely this one will rake in the biggest ratings either but, it will definitely be worth a look.

Now for the big one … drum roll please ... July 17th sees the release of one of the year’s most anticipated films as Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is out after an agonising 8 month delay. My prediction is that this film will sweep the board with everything else and will be this summer’s biggest blockbuster; I personally can’t wait to see it. With so much hype though and with it being based on such an important book, there is the possibility that many fans of the Harry Potter novels will be disappointed with the film adaptation. Nevertheless, it is guaranteed to be a brilliant watch.

Things start to quieten down a bit in August though with G. I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (7th August) being released at the beginning of the month and Tarantino’s new film Inglorious Basterds (21ST August), about a group of Jewish-American soldiers known as ‘The Basterds’ who set out to scalp and kill the Nazi’s, being released at the end of the month.

So, there you have it. That’s the summer hits in a nutshell. Perhaps, there aren’t as many sure fire successes for this season as we have seen in previous years but, it still looks set to be a pretty good summer film-wise and at least if the weather does let us down (when doesn’t it?) there will be plenty to keep us entertained indoors.

Status of Pirates 4 is still unclear

Gore Verbinski’s announcement that he would be leaving the Pirates of the Caribbean series earlier this month has caused fans to question the status of the fourth installment but, writer Terry Rossio insists that little has changed.

Writing on the Word Player forums, he said: "We were in the space of not having a green light, and not having a director, not having an approved script, budget, stars, etc. Now we’re in the space of not having a green light, and not having a director, not having an approved script, budget, stars, etc."

He added: "The only thing that is being undone are people’s expectations, and their misunderstandings of how the system works. Really, until there is a movie there is no movie."

Star Trek actor on tour

Patrick Stewart, famous for his role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek is on tour with Ian McKellen in Samuel Beckett’s tragicomedy Waiting for Godot.

The play is about two men, Vladimir and Estragon, who are endlessly waiting around for the mysterious Godot to arrive.

The two tramps find themselves arguing, making up, contemplating suicide, trying to sleep, eating a carrot and gnawing on a chicken bone as they sit out their vigil.

The performance dates are as follows: Theatre Royal in Bath March 30-April 4, 2009; Theatre Royal in Norwich April 6-11, 2009; King’s Theatre in Edinburgh April 13-18, 2009; and Theatre Royal in Newcastle April 20-25, 2009 before beginning a limited West End run at Theatre Royal Haymarket from April 30 to June 28 2009.

Patrick Stewart will also find himself as one of 13 honourees in a new hall of fame in the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s visitor centre at Stratford-upon-Avon this month.

Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh will stand alongside Patrick Stewart and many others in the hall of fame which embraces performers, directors and artists who have been inspired by Shakespeare.

The exhibition will open on 23 April 2009.

Spielberg is a fan of Transformers sequel

Legendary director, Steven Spielberg, is already a fan of the new Transformer’s movie after watching it with Michael Bay in a theatre at Sony this month.

Writing on his personal blog, Michael said: "The lights came up after we just watched my cut of Revenge of the Fallen. He turned to me and said "It’s awesome". He felt this movie was better than the first - and probably my best, who knows - at this point in a movie you start to lose your objectivity."

The film is gaining a lot of interest at the moment and the challenge is in full swing now for Bay to finish it in time for its June release, he said: "We have 60 days left. Let me tell you it will be a race to finish. It’s 12 at night and we are still working here in the edit room. Everyone at ILM and DD are killing themselves right now, they are doing a stellar job on the effects."

For updates on Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen or for other Michael Bay projects take a look at his blog at Michaelbay.com.

Let the Right One In Cinema Review

Let the Right One In is a strange and wonderful Swedish film about a reserved and bullied 12-year-old boy who finds himself in a most unusual relationship.

Oskar doesn’t have any friends and instead spends his time dreaming of getting revenge on Conny and the other bullies who make his life a misery. Things begin to change for Oskar though as he meets his new neighbour, a 12-year-old girl called Eli, while imagining revenge on his tormentors by stabbing a tree outside his home one evening. The two children talk and Eli tells Oskar they can’t be friends but, they continue to meet in the courtyard and strike up a friendship regardless of her words.

A series of murders in the area and Eli’s unusual behaviour eventually make Oskar realise that Eli is a vampire but, this does little to change his romantic feelings for her and so he accepts her for who she is, blood-sucking tendencies and all.

Let the Right One In is a unique and arty film with a brilliant plot, some great characters and a bit of dark humour. It is a strong example of how good a foreign-language film can be and is definitely worth a watch, as long as you don’t mind the subtitles.

Maggie Gyllenhaal joins cast of Nanny McPhee sequel

Production Weekly have announced on their Twitter page that Maggie Gyllenhaal is due to join Emma Thompson in the Nanny McPhee sequel ‘Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang’.

The sequel will take place nearly one hundred years before the events in the original film as Nanny McPhee has to tend to WWII children evacuated from their homes.

Filming is due to start next month at Shepperton Studios and the film is due for release in 2010.