As highly anticipated as some films in 2008 are, I think we can all agree that none of them were set to release in the months of January – April. Cloverfield did have some steam behind it in terms of curiosity and it served us well, but can anyone point to more than two films and saw, “Wow, this is going to be a great year”? As we approach April I can honestly say there is only one film I truly loved so far this year, and that was In Bruges, the rest wouldn’t even crack my top ten. Last year two films from the first four months made my end of year top ten (Zodiac and Reign Over Me) and Bridge to Terabithia was listed as an honorable mention. On top of that we had 300, Grindhouse and Hot Fuzz to cheer for.
The first four months of 2008 lays claim to only two films outside of In Bruges I would actually call good: The Bank Job and Cloverfield. If you are thinking about Rambo, I will admit I enjoyed it, but come on, you aren’t going to rush out and buy that DVD are you? I also had a mild enjoyment of Definitely, Maybe, but it didn’t blow me away.
There are a few April films that may increase the quality of the first third of 2008 in The Forbidden Kingdom, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Baby Mama, but if you think Street Kings or 88 Minutes are going to be any good I am afraid that is some serious wishful thinking.
This all comes about as I was preparing the 2008 Summer Preview and here is a selection of the 56 films I will be including:
- Iron Man
- Son of Rambow
- Speed Racer
- The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
- War, Inc.
- The Foot Fist Way
- Mongol
- The Happening
- The Incredible Hulk
- WALL-E
- Wanted
- Hancock
- The Dark Knight
- Choke
- The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
- Pineapple Express
- The International
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars
- Towelhead
- Tropic Thunder
- Traitor
- Vicky Cristina Barcelona
That’s only 23 of them, there are still 33 I didn’t mention. Granted, the 33 I didn’t mention and probably 50-percent of the 23 above will likely suck, but don’t tell me you aren’t excited to see at the bare minimum ten of those films. Not even the sequel packed summer of 2007 looked this good.
Last year my favorite May movie was probably Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End and that was hardly anything to brag about, even though I enjoyed it simply for being another Pirates film. This May we will see Iron Man, Speed Racer, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and if you are a female you are also excited about Sex and the City: The Movie. Already Summer 2008 kicks 2007’s ass.
You wanna know what makes this even better? The fact that I have still managed to avoid watching the trailers for The Dark Knight, The Incredible Hulk and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It’s not easy, but oh man does it make the anticipation that much more intense.
So, to say I am looking forward to Summer 2008 is an understatement, and as of the publishing of this article we are only 39 days away from Iron Man and I can’t wait. Stay tuned, the 2008 Summer Movie Preview will be launching on April 14th!
