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Summer Blockbusters 2011: It's the Year of Sequels!

by Seth Munoz – Barrhead Composite School, Edmonton AB May 16, 2011

We've got the best picks for summer blockbusters – action, animation and adventure are ruling the silver screen in 2011.

This summer’s movie release schedule has plenty to offer – with a slew of popular series sequels headed our way. Now these sequels aren’t just your average sequels: sequels of sad box office failures, hoping to pinch every penny made on a quickly produced movie with shoddy acting and no plot line. No, these sequels are highly anticipated, endless budget kind of sequels that have had a stream of devoted fans since the rumour mill began churning out whispered words of the following films.


Six exciting summer movie sequels!

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides




Image: Peter Mountain, Courtesy of Disney Enterprises

With no Bloom or Knightley, will it really be a Pirates movie? Well, I guess as long as it has Johnny Depp in it, it qualifies. Especially if Penelope Cruz is willing to join in on the search for the fountain of youth, crossing seas and blades with none other than Blackbeard himself! (May 20th)

Kung Fu Panda 2

Image: Courtesy of Dreamworks Animation

Dreamworks Animation’s first movie out this year is the continuing story of a bumbling panda, Po, now a kung fu master, as he saves all of China from a weapon that threatens to destroy kung fu. Studded with an all-star voice cast (Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan and more), this movie promises to delight both new viewers as well as fans of the original action animation feature. (May 26th)

X-Men First Class

Image: Murray Close, Courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Following the summer’s main trends (sequels and superhero epics) X-Men: First Class follows Professor Charles Xavier (later known as the infamous Professor X, played by James McAvoy) and his best friend, Erik Lehnsherr (later known as global super-villain Magneto, played by Michael Fassbender) as they strive to create a school and safe haven for the newly evolved mutants of the world. Given the already established success of the X-Men series (the previous four movies combined grossed over one billion dollars), one can only assume that this film will follow in its predecessors’ footsteps. (June 3rd)

Cars 2

Image: Disney/Pixar All Rights Reserved

Having wrapped up the Toy Story trilogy last year, the animation geniuses over at Pixar are charging ahead with the Cars franchise. In this second installment, we’ll see the return of Lightning and Mater as they go international! If you loved any of Pixar’s previous hits – Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., Up, Wall-E – Cars 2 is definitely not to be missed, regardless of your age. (June 24th)

Transformers: 
Dark of the Moon

Image: Robert Zuckerman/Paramount Pictures

Probably one of the top action film series released this last decade, Transformers fandom has grown in leaps in bounds since the release of the original movie in 2007. Now, four years later, we see the development of the third installment, almost guaranteed to be amazing – the only thing missing is Megan Fox. (July 1st)

Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Image: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

This highly anticipated conclusion to the decade-long series should be wrought full of fantasy, murder, betrayal and a suspenseful conclusion that will leave you on the edge of your seat. This movie will be one spoken about for years after its release – and to think, we will be the last generation who can say that we actually had to wait for the next Harry Potter movie. (July 15th)

More movie picks!

Beyond the sequels, we've selected a few more summer blockbusters that you're going to want to check out. From action to family-friendly, here are some of the most anticipated films of the summer!

Green Lantern

Image: Francois Duhamel. TM & © DC Comics

In a parallel universe where the Green Lantern Corps is the main protector, an arrogant yet determined pilot becomes the first Earthen human to become a part of these galactic defenders. Starring Ryan Reynolds, this film seems to be the first of a Green Lantern trilogy, assuming that this superhero succeeds at the box office. But Green Lantern will have its own share of competition in its genre, the main contenders being X-Men: First Class and Captain America: The First Avenger. (June 17th)

Winnie the Pooh

Image: Disney Enterprises Inc., All Rights Reserved

Disney is reintroducing Winnie The Pooh and his 100 Acre Woods friends to a new generation. With five new stories from the original author, this film follows a straightforward plot line that has Winnie saving Christopher Robin from a foe of sorts. Older members of the audience might question if this is just a feeble attempt to reinvent (and resell) some of the most beloved children’s characters. (July 5th)

Captain America: The First Avenger

Image: Jay Maidment/Marvel Studios

A scientific serum is used to increase Steve Rogers’ strength after he is rejected to fight in the Second World War on the grounds that he is too sickly, therefore creating Captain America. Set against the backdrop of Nazi Germany and war-torn America, this superhero epic seems to be one of the most anticipated movies of the summer.
 (July 22nd)

Cowboys and Aliens

Image: Zade Rosenthal, Universal Pics

Western meets sci-fi when an alien race decides to land in a small Arizona town. Although the plot seems a tad ridiculous, with an actor like Harrison Ford (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) and a director like Jon Favreau (Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Elf) this movie could actually be a smash. (July 29th)

 

Comments (2)
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Summer Movies

Submitted by Karefree on Sat, 06/04/2011 - 04:33.

I want to see Kung Fu Panda 2 and the last Harry Potter.

Pirates: Thumbs down, without

Submitted by bigD604 on Tue, 05/24/2011 - 16:38.

Pirates: Thumbs down, without Bloom or Knightley Depp is left to carry the entire plot on his own, this will be difficult to pull off as Sparrow is the comic relief character.

Kung Fu Panda 2: Loved the first one, sequel is to cater to the same audience, let's hope the they don't skimp out on the plot.

Xmen First Class: My most anticipated movie of the Summer, Matthew Vaughn looks to reboot the franchise and start off with a clean slate. Diving into the Marvel Lore we meet the Hellfire Club and the origins of Charles and Erik.

Cars 2: A sequel to Pixar's worst movie yet? This spells disaster.

Transformers Dark of the Moon: It will serve the crowd that loves explosions well, not so much with the non casual movie goer. Please Michael Bay, less Even Stevens and more Transformers, after all that's what we came to see.

Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part 2: The final chapter for the long running franchise, fans are bound to camp out at midnight with wands in hand and cloaks on their back. The fans speak for themselves about how anticipated they are for this flick.

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