SUMMER is in the air – well, almost – so this week I’m flagging some of the biggest blockbusters due to hit cinemas in the coming months, with the first of these already making an impact.
While every summer brings some real sizzlers to the silver screen, 2017 looks like it’ll offer a better than average crop. Without further ado …
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (Out now) What better way to kick off blockbuster season than with a big budget sequel to a critical and commercial hit?
Guardians 1 may have been a bit of a surprise hit for Marvel, but the comic book giant is making sure to replicate its success.
From one look at the trailer, director James Gunn is pumping the sci-fi sequel full of all the tried and tested galaxy-hopping action, charming humour and classic rock tunes that made the original such a well-loved hit.
Added bonus: This time, Kurt Russell’s along for the ride.
Alien Covenant (May 19) Ridley Scott’s Alien prequel Prometheus split critics, audiences and die-hard fans alike; some relished its sumptuous sci-fi visuals, others nursed headaches having suffered its plot hole-riddled madness.
Alien: Covenant seems to be steering the ship much closer to the claustrophobic terror of the 1979 original. Yet another prequel to the series, Covenant features a stellar cast and follows a human colonisation mission that, needless to say, runs into a little alien trouble.
Wonder Woman (June 2) Many critics argued that Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman was the best thing about the unholy mess that was last year’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice – one of the year’s biggest cinematic mishaps.
Could this be the film that saves DC’s seemingly doomed-to-critical-failure cinematic universe? Here’s hoping … Wonder Woman also stars Chris Pine and is directed by Patty Jenkins.
Spiderman Homecoming (July 7) Another summer month, another superhero movie – surprise, surprise. Homecoming is yet another reboot for the web-slinging, wall-crawling, friendly neighbour Spiderman and stars Tom Holland as the titular hero.
We got our first glimpse of Holland in the red and blue suit in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War and were pleasantly surprised. Holland captured much of what was lost over years of sequels and reboots; Homecoming looks promising.
War for the Planet of the Apes (July 14) Anyone who bore witness to Tim Burton’s 2001 update of Planet of the Apes would be forgiven for living in fear of another modern Apes movie.
Fortunately, and quite surprisingly, the recent prequel series – beginning with 2011’s Rise – has been very, very good.
The trailer for War of the Planet of the Apes, starring Andy Serkis as lead-ape Caesar and Woody Harrelson as a war-hungry colonel, is darker than anything we’ve been offered so far; the action in 2014’s incredible Dawn was clearly just a taste of the dystopian chaos to come.
Dunkirk (July 21) The masterful Christopher Nolan takes a break from superheroes and science fiction for this epic World War II film, set during the infamous battle on the titular French beach.
A relentless trailer has hinted at heavy drama and realistic combat and violence; the enormous evacuation of 330,000 Allied soldiers will be brought to life in it all its epic tragedy in IMAX.
With a cast featuring Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Kenneth Branagh and, yes, Harry Styles, this is set to be one of the year’s biggest and best.
