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This is the time of year when Hollywood starts to unleash the big titles for summer. Our preview starts with this weekend's opening of "Water for Elephants."
- This weekend: "Water for Elephants"
- May 6: "Thor"
- May 20: "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tide"
- June 3: "X-Men: First Class"
- June 24: "Cars 2"
- July 1: "Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
- July 15: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2"
- August 5: "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"
Reece Witherspoon stars as Marlena and Robert Pattinson is Jacob in the big screen adaptation of Sara Gruen's bestselling novel. A traumatized young veterinarian student hops a freight train only to find out he's on a circus train. Then it's discovered he has medical training and he's hired to care for the animals. When he falls in love with Marlena, a star in the circus, things get complicated to say the least. "Water for Elephants" opens this weekend.
The next big title is "Thor." Kenneth Branagh directs the story of the powerful and arrogant warrior who is cast out of the realm of Asgard and forced to live among humans. Thor, played by Chris Hemsworth, becomes a champion of Earth, defending the likes of Jane Foster (Natalie Portman). "Thor" debuts May 6.
On May 20, it's "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tide." One of the most anticipated movies of the year finds Johnny Depp back as Jack Sparrow, on a quest to find the Fountain of Youth. Arghh, one little problem: Blackbeard and his lovely daughter (Penelope Cruz) are seeking it too.
Moving into June, it's "X-Men: First Class" opening on the 3rd. Set in 1963, we find Charles Xavier starting up his school for humans with super-human ability. James McAvoy stars as a younger Xavier, and among those instrumental in the founding of the school is Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender). Finally, we get more of the back story on Charles and his future nemesis, Magneto.
Toward the end of June, Pixar releases "Car 2." Lightning McQueen, along with good old Mater go international as they take on the fastest cars on the planet,and all in 3-D. The release date is June 24.
Our next movie has delivered the coolest trailer so far this year. It's "Transformers: Dark of the Moon." Autobots learn of a Cybertronian spacecraft hidden on the lunar surface and they race to beat the Decepticons in discovering its secrets that could hold the key to winning the ongoing battle. Bad news for Megan Fox fans, she's out of this final episode opening July 1.
Speaking of final episodes, it's "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2." The decade-long odyssey comes to a dramatic conclusion as Harry, Hermoione and Ron go back to Hogwarts to destroy Voldemort's last Horcruxes. Our last Harry Potter adventure opens July 15.
August brings "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." Set in present day San Francisco, genetic experimentation leads scientists to develop advanced intelligence in apes, unleashing a war for supremacy. Designed to launch a whole new series, this origin tale stars James Franco and is scheduled for August 5.
Of all the summer highlights, almost all are prequels, sequels or remakes. The only real exception is "Water for Elephants."
