BY CASEY HOLLIDAY
Summer has officially begun, though with Oxford weather it’s been hard to tell. Summer means more than just heat and drinking at the pool, it also means the best (or at least the loudest) movies of the year will be coming out soon. Here’s a quick rundown of what you can expect at your local Malco this summer.
Man of Steel, June 14: After the 2006 Brandon Routh train wreck “Superman Returns,” this Superman is going the Dark Knight route, i.e. making Superman all dark and broody. Zack Snyder is directing, so if nothing else the movie will at least have dramatic action scenes.
Monsters University, June 21: If “Monsters Inc.” isn’t your favorite Pixar movie, you’ve never seen it. This prequel follows Mike and Sulley to college, and if that’s not enough to make you want to see it, I’m not really sure what to tell you.
World War Z, June 21: Brad Pitt stars in this zombie movie based off the novel by Max Brooks, though it doesn’t seem to have anything in common other than zombies. Brad Pitt + zombies = great entertainment, but probably not any substance.
White House Down, June 28: Basically “Olympus Has Fallen” remade with Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx.
Despicable Me 2, July 3: The first one was funny enough, and the voice cast is talented (Kristen Wiig, Russell Brand, Steve Carell), so using your smaller sibling as an excuse to go probably isn’t a bad idea.
Lone Ranger, July 3: If you’ve ever thought “I really wish they would make a ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ set in the Wild West,” look no further, because it will be here July 3.
Grown Ups 2, July 12: If the freshmen overrunning campus for orientation are making you feel old, “Grown Ups 2” is here, reuniting Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, and David Spade, while adding Taylor Lautner. If you want to feel even older, I’ll remind you it has now been 11 years since “Mr. Deeds” was released and Sandler stopped making funny movies.
Pacific Rim, July 12: I had never heard of this movie until right now, but it’s directed by Guillermo del Toro, and I’m willing to see anything he directs based solely off of “Pan’s Labyrinth,” which is what you should actually go watch right now. “Pacific Rim” features Earth using giant robots to fight “legions of monstrous sea creatures,” so it’ll be eye candy at the very least (and it can’t be any worse than “Transformers”).
Red 2, July 19: I actually enjoyed the first one, and Helen Mirren is still kicking ass at her age, so I’m calling this one to be good, or at the very least have action scenes with old people beating young people.
The Wolverine, July 26: Wolverine’s backstory, as well as something to hold us over until “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” which will be the best film of next summer. The trailer is cool, and it can’t be any worse than “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” so don’t miss this one.
Kick-Ass 2, August 16: The original was an incredibly fun ride, and this one is sure to be the same. It’s also your first taste of Evan Peters, who was recently signed as Quicksilver in the aforementioned “Days of Future Past.”
Bonus – My Little Pony: Equestria Girls: Though not likely this will be at your local theater, the plot is described as “When a crown is stolen from the Crystal Empire, Twilight Sparkle pursues the thief into an alternate world where she transforms into a teenage girl who must survive her biggest challenge yet … high school,” and that’s enough to sell me.
