by Edward Baillargeon
It looks like it’s going to be that time of year again, where school will be out, we can spend time with our families on vacation and going with our friends to the theaters to check out the latest blockbuster. So far, 2017 has a lot of highly anticipated films on everybody’s minds. Without further-ado, here is my list of the Top 10 Movies to Check Out this Summer, purposely excluding Transformers: The Last Knight and The Emoji Movie. Links for the trailer of each movie will also be included.
10. Cars 3 (June 16th)
If there’s one franchise from Pixar Animation Studios that is considered by many to not be up with one of their masterpieces like Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, or Inside Out, it’s Cars. But upon seeing the teaser trailer, this could possibly be a massive turnaround for the franchise. After Lightning McQueen pushes himself beyond his limits and suffers a horrible crash, he will need the help of Cruz Ramirez, an eager race technician, to get back into the racing game. With possibly more emphasis on the intense racing, Cars 3 could possibly be another hit sequel for Pixar. The threequel will race into theaters in 3D on June 16th.
Cars 3 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4K7JgPJ8-s
9. War for the Planet of the Apes (July 14th)
One of the most famous science fiction franchises next to Star Wars, Star Trek, and Alien has to be Planet of the Apes. The latest film, War for the Planet of the Apes follows Caesar and the apes that are embroiled in a war against an army of humans. As the apes suffer heavy losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts as he resolves to avenge his kind. From Matt Reeves, the director of Cloverfield, and starring Andy Serkis and Woody Harrelson, War for the Planet of the Apes should be another hit to go bananas for. The war will come to theaters on July 14th.
War for the Planet of the Apes Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDcAlo8i2y8
8. Baby Driver (June 28th)
This action comedy from acclaimed director Edgar Wright that received critical praise from the South by Southwest Film Festival, is about Baby, a young getaway driver who finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail after being coerced into working for a crime boss. With an all-star cast that includes Ansel Elgort, Lily James, Jamie Foxx, and Kevin Spacey, and being from the director of Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Hot Fuzz, and Shaun of the Dead, Baby Driver should be a great action comedy to see this summer. The film will drive into theaters on June 28th.
Baby Driver Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTvJJnoWIPk
7. Alien: Covenant (May 19th)
As I stated earlier, Alien is one of the most beloved sci-fi franchises of all time. The next chapter in the sci-fi horror saga, Alien: Covenant, follows the crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the ship who find what they believe to be an uncharted paradise that turns out to be a dangerous world. With Ridley Scott (Alien, Aliens, The Martian) returning to the director’s chair once again with a cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, and Danny McBride, Alien: Covenant looks to be another spooky chapter in the franchise. The film will invade theaters in IMAX 3D on May 19th.
Alien: Covenant Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svnAD0TApb8
6. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (July 21st)
From Luc Besson, the visionary director of The Fifth Element and Lucy, and based on the graphic novel by Pierre Christin and Jean-Claude Mézières, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets follows two time-travelling agents who are sent to investigate a galactic empire. With gorgeous looking special effects and a cast that includes Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Rihanna, and John Goodman, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets should be an interesting sci-fi film to check out. The film will travel to theaters in 3D on July 21st.
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZsG7WJVZv8
5. Dunkirk (July 21st)
In this drama thriller from the Academy Award nominated director of The Dark Knight trilogy and Inception, Christopher Nolan, Allied soldiers from Belgium, the British Empire, Canada, and France are surrounded by the German army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II. Based on true events of the titular evacuation, Dunkirk could possibly be up with Saving Private Ryan and Hacksaw Ridge as one of the best war dramas and get Christopher Nolan his first Best Director nomination. See it in IMAX on July 21st.
Dunkirk Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-eMt3SrfFU
4. Despicable Me 3 (June 30th)
If there is one animation studio that could be considered a major competitor with Disney and Pixar, it is Illumination Entertainment. After their success last year with both The Secret Life of Pets and Sing, Illumination returns to their trademark franchise to bring us another adventure with Gru and his minions. This time, Gru faces off against Balthazar Bratt, a former child star who grows up to become obsessed with the character he played in the ’80s, while also having to form a bond with his newly found twin brother Dru. With a cast including Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, and Trey Parker, the co-creator of South Park, Despicable Me 3 should be another fun adventure to see with your family this summer. The threequel will be released in 3D on June 30th.
Despicable Me 3 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euz-KBBfAAo&t=32s
3. Spider-Man: Homecoming (July 7th)
Marvel Studios’ second film coming out this year looks to be an interesting one since they now have the rights to Spider-Man after reaching a deal with a company run by idiots like Sony Pictures. Following the events of Captain America: Civil War, Peter Parker, with the help of his mentor Tony Stark, tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student with fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man as a new threat, Vulture, emerges in New York City. With Tom Holland reprising his role as Spider-Man, along with Robert Downey Jr. returning once again as Tony Stark/Iron Man, and Michael Keaton as Vulture, Spider-Man: Homecoming should be a fantastic start to the second attempt to reboot the franchise. Spidey will sling back into theaters in IMAX 3D on July 7th.
Spider-Man: Homecoming Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39udgGPyYMg
2. Wonder Woman (June 2nd)
I know that in some of my past articles I have continuously bashed on DC and their disasters from last year, so this time, I’m not going to beat the dead horse on this, and this film could possibly be the comeback of DC having a chance to compete with Marvel in the superhero genre. In the early 20th century, the Amazon princess Diana Prince meets American military pilot Steve Trevor when he is washed ashore. After learning from him about the ongoing events of World War I, she leaves her home to bring an early end to the war. With cool action scenes and good performances from Gal Gadot and Chris Pine, Wonder Woman has a chance of being the hero we need, and the hero DC needs. The movie will, hopefully, wow us in IMAX 3D on June 2nd.
Wonder Woman Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8fG0TtVAY
- Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (May 5th)
After the surprising success of the first film back in 2014, we have been anticipating for Marvel Studios to make another film starring our favorite “Space Avengers”. Set a few months after the first film, the Guardians travel throughout the cosmos and struggle to keep their newfound family together, while helping Star-Lord learn more about his true parentage. With another catchy soundtrack and the returns of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, and Vin Diesel as Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and the adorable Baby Groot, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the must-see sequel of the summer. The film will blast into theaters in IMAX 3D on May 5th.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUn05hdkhjM
