The 2013 Summer so far

Since I am just getting started again this post is going to go back to the beginning of May and review the movies that are worth going to see as well as the ones you should skip until you can redbox them for a dollar.

 The Ones You Need To See

Fast & Furious 6

I have been a fan of the franchise since the original Fast and Furious came out in back in 2001.  I am just glad the original cast has been in tacked for a majority of the six films.  Director Justin Lin did a great job in saving this franchise with The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift.  This franchise would not be the same without Paul Walker and Vin Diesel.  Once they leave the franchise it is safe to assume we will not see another Fast and Furious movie.  Since Lin is not returning to direct Fast 7 James Wan has been tapped to direct the return to Tokyo so hopeful he can pick up Lin started and ended.  Even if you have not seen the first five movies you still need to see this one.  The gang has come a long ways since street racing with neon clad ricers.

Now You See Me 
If you like movies and magic then you defiantly need to make time to see this one.  It could be one of the best "sleeper" movies of the summer 2013.

Iron Man 3
 If you are a fan of the past Marvel and Avenger movies you must see this one.  It picks up almost right after the Avengers and focuses on Tony Starks struggles.

The Great Gatsby
Leonardo Dicaprio is one of the best actors in Hollywood today and this updated remake of the great American classic is very well acted, directed, and edited. Probably one of the best movies of the year

Star Trek Into Darkness
I was not a Trekkie until the first J.J. Abrams' Star Trek in 2009 and this installment has kept me wanting more.

Oblivion
Tom Cruise has another summer hit on his hands.  It may not be in many theaters anymore but if you happen to leave in big city where it is playing I recommend you buying a ticket and some popcorn for this flick.

Olympus has Fallen
Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart team up save the US from the North Koreans.  It has a similar plot as White House Down that comes out June 28, but Olympus kept me on the edge of my seat from the beginning.

Pain and Gain
Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson team up again (The Other Guys) for the film about a true story in Miama, FL.  It is about body builders who turn into kidnappers, robbers, and murders all for some money.  It was based on true that had some comedy to it.

The Big Wedding
This would be considered a chick flick but it was pretty funny.  The cast was full of stars old and new; Robert De Niro, Katherine Heigl, Diane Keaton, Amanda Seyfried, and Topher Grace.

Oz the Great and Powerful
This is the Prequel to the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz and I am not sure why it took anyone to make the srequel, but I expect more sequels to be made.

Do Not Waste Your Time or Money

After Earth

Will Smith usually means summer blockbuster but in 2013 he was a flop.  The trailers for the movie looked decent but seemed like a copycat of Oblivion.  The premise of After Earth is Will and Jaden Smith play a father-son duo who crash land on an abandoned Earth.  Will's character name is Cypher and is hurt during the crash and can't walk while Kitai (Jaden) has to cross Earth and find an emergency beacon on the tail of the ship.  Throughout the movie Kitai is trying to impress his father who had not being around a lot because of his status in the military.  The movie sounds good and the trailers were good so way was it so bad?  I do not think that it was because of Will Smith he still has tons of star power.  Jaden Smith is questionable but I think his father's presence makes up for his lack of experience (He has only been in two movies that did not also feature his dad in an acting role. Karate Kid 2010 and The Day the Earth Stood Still 2008).  I blame this movie being so bad on the director, M. Night Shyamalan.  There was a time not to long ago that Shyamalan was making waves and on his way to be the next top director in Hollywood, but ever thing he has directed since Signs has just been bad. Remember the Happening or Lady in the Water?  I blame this movies lack of success on the Shyamalan.  Even Columbia tried to hide the fact Shyamlan was directing until the credits began rolling.

Scary Movie 5

Haven't there been enough of these stupid movies?  The first one was ok but five is just uncalled for.

On the Fence Movies

The Hangover Part III

All of the characters are back for the for third and final installment for the Hangover franchise but this is a far cry from the previous two movies.  This part does not have the usual night the Wolfpack can not remember leading them to spend the next day or two putting the pieces back together.  Oh and there is no bachelor party.  I try not to give any spoilers away but I do not remember the gang even drinking, and Alan does not drug anyone this time.  It was a funny movie but it was not up to Hangover standard.  If you were a fan of the first two installments I recommend you see it so you can see the surprise ending to the Wolfpack.  If you did not care for Part I or II then just wait for it to be released on DVD/Blu-ray.

42

Who doesn't like a movie based on one of the most important person and event in the history of America?  The story of Jackie Robinson is reason why every race is accepted in sports.  The movie shows his struggle with himself, being accepted by his teammates, and then the fans.  Brian Helgland, director (Robin Hood, Man on Fire), does a good job of showing the struggles and how he overcame them.  This movie starred Harrison Ford as Branch Rickey, GM of the Brooklyn Dodgers, and Chadwick Boseman who plays Jackie Robinson.  The movie only covers two year of Robinson's life.  It starts with the signing of Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers and his first season in the all white minor leagues then focuses heavily on his first season with the team.  The movie ends at the end of his first season and leaves the audience wanting more.  The ending was unfulfilling and sent me home unsatisfied.  I think that movie would have been better off being long enough to cover up until he won the World Series in 1955.  I was hoping this would be on par with Remember the Titans but I was not that lucky.