1. Public Enemies (July 1)-Johnny Depp might be the biggest draw in the box office these past few years. After taking 2008 off, Depp is back as John Dillinger in Michael Mann's Public Enemies. This is the second big action movie coming out this Summer, first being Transformers 2. While Transformers will do well a the box office, expect Depp and Public Enemies to do better. July 4th weekend is a huge opening weekend and this movie has a ton of appeal. The cast is excellent with Christian Bale opposite Depp. Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, Giovanni Ribisi, Billy Crudup, also star. The story is enough to make this film a must see. Depp as the famous 1930's bank robbing gangster John Dillinger is enough for me.
2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 15)- I have been waiting for this movie for a very long time. After being pushed back from a Thanksgiving 2008 release, Potter is back with his 6th movie. While the movies can't compare with the books, they are incredibly entertaining and still make excellent movies. The 6th book is arguably my favorite so the movie could be the best of the Potter movies. It seems that each Potter movie gets better as the series gets darker. The trailer for Half-Blood Prince is incredible. Some will decide to re-read the book to remember what happens but I think it will be better to just see it and take in what is on the screen rather than scrutinize the movie with it's failed comparisons to the book. This is my number 1 most anticipated movie of the summer.
3. Ponyo (August 14)- Hayao Miyazaka has delivered in the past with animation classics such as Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke. In his first movie to hit the United States in 5 years, Miyazaka tells the story of a 5 year old boy and a goldfish princess who wants to be human. I have no idea what to expect from this movie but that makes it more interesting. I am anticipating this movie based on Miyazaka and his past work. If he can muster up that magic used in the films mentioned before, this should be one hell of a movie. Miyazaka movies are very unique and are unlike any other movies I have seen. I am also excited to finally see one of these in a theatre.
4. Taking Woodstock (August 14)- I love the premise for this movie and I liked what I saw from the trailer. I seem to like movies that revolve around real events. Woodstock 69 has this mythical feel to it and the story of a person going through the process of bringing this concert to his backyard sounds like a great movie. In his first American directed film since his Oscar for Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee should be able to make this one worthwhile. I like the cast too. Liev Schreiber and Emile Hirsch have been good in everything I have seen of them. And you know that this will have a legendary soundtrack. Should be a fun movie.
5. Inglourious Basterds (August 21)- I wouldn't call myself a big Quentin Tarantino fan but I do enjoy his movies. This one doesn't even need his name on it for me to see it. Great cast with Brad Pitt as the leading man. Really any War movie will interest me but Inglourious Basterds looks amazing. During World War II in the German Occupation of France, a group of Jewish-American soldiers go around brutally killing Nazis. That plot line with Tarantino at the helm makes this movie pretty irresitable. I'm thinking there might be some nominations for this. A must see in the theatre.
i think Tarantino might win a few war-movie lovers over with Inglorious Basterds
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