On this week’s Multiversity Comics Countdown, I’m going to go a little non-traditional. Typically we strictly focus to comics, but you know what, it’s a big summer for comic book movies. Obviously, you have big names like Iron Man 3 (FRIDAY!) and Man of Steel, but there are a bevy of others like The Wolverine, Kick-Ass 2 and even a sequel to 300. I’m not just sticking to comic book movies though, or even genre fiction. This one will touch a little of everything, and please, share what you’re most excited for in what appears to be one amazing summer of movies.
10. World War Z
Release Date: June 21, 2013
Why I can’t wait for it: I have to admit, I was always a little skeptical about this adaptation of Max Brooks’ zombie apocalypse novel. I never really understood how it could come to be, as the narrative just didn’t really seem to fit a movie structure. Yet, here it is, and the trailers are nothing short of awesome. Not only that, but you have a cast that includes Brad Pitt and the criminally underrated James Badge Dale, which makes me feel safe in saying that this movie should kick a ton of ass.
Plus, how weird is it that Marc Forster is directing this?
9. This is the End
Release Date: June 12, 2013
Why I can’t wait for it: What can I say, I’m a sucker for this concept. A bunch of funny celebrities playing themselves as the world ends? Lead by Seth Rogen, Danny McBride, James Franco and others? Apparently Michael Cera is probably going to get killed? What’s not to like? It sounds tremendously entertaining, and what I’ve seen so far has me stoked on the idea.
By the way, it’s astounding how many movies have the end of the world as their concept, but you know, I guess the world was supposed to end in December.
8. The Way, Way Back
Release Date: July 5, 2013
Why I can’t wait for it: First off, I love the cast, with Sam Rockwell, Steve Carell and Toni Colette leading it. Then, I’m all about Nat Faxon and Jim Rash writing, directing and appearing in it. Finally, I love coming of age tales, and I just love everything about that trailer. I actually hadn’t heard about this until I started prepping for this article, but now I am really, really excited for it. What’s not to like about this? Plus, no apocalypse.
7. Pacific Rim
Release Date: July 11, 2013
Why I can’t wait for it: This is an American movie going all Kaiju, with Guillermo del Toro bringing destruction to the world and the only way to make things better is FIGHT THEM TO DEATH WITH MEGA ROBOTS! YES!!! You have some Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba and Charlie Day action thrown in there, making this basically one of the stranger and more awesomely cast movies of the summer. ROBOTS! Oil tanker swords! YES!
6. Iron Man 3
Release Date: May 3, 2013
Why I can’t wait for it: This is the first Marvel movie of Phase 2, as this follows up the story of the Avengers with all kinds of Marvel universe action. While I’m fully expecting an awesome movie thanks to Shane Black, the cast (Robert Downey, Jr. in particular) and the extra special ending that will surely come after the credits, I have to say I wasn’t floored by the last one. I have my fingers crossed that this is a return to form. I’m counting on it, as Shane Black is an epic badass who gets the best out of RDJ.
5. Before Midnight
Release Date: May 24, 2013
Why I can’t wait for it: It’s Jesse and Celine back together again, like it’s the first time. Except now they’re in Greece and they are another decade older. This series is really special to me, and these movies are filled with some of the most wonderful, thoughtful dialogue I’ve experienced. Before Sunrise in particular is moving, but Sunset is also a very enjoyable film. I hope this wraps the story up in a satisfying way, and I fully expect Richard Linklater to do just that even though it seems to be more of a traditional movie than the other two. But still, yay romance!
Continued below4. Man of Steel
Release Date: June 14, 2013
Why I can’t wait for it: If I had written this article like three weeks ago, this would have finished further down my list. But then the latest trailer came out and blew my freaking mind. I think this is going to be the Superman origin movie that we deserve. No, the Superman origin movie we need. Zack Snyder really feels like he’s creating a mythology here, and with a killer cast and Michael Shannon playing General Zod, I think this movie has a lot of potential to be the best one of the summer. At least the best comic movie of the summer, for sure.
3. Star Trek: Into Darkness
Release Date: May 17, 2013
Why I can’t wait for it: As much as I enjoyed JJ Abrams’ first take on this film franchise and the way they cleverly rebooted the story, and as much as I love the cast, there’s a reason why this movie finishes so high. That reason is one Benedict Cumberbatch. That otter looking gentlemen has become one of my favorite actors around thanks to his absolutely insanely freaking awesome performance as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC’s Sherlock, and as the villain of this movie, I can’t wait to see what he brings to the picture. Honestly, how little we know about him makes me even more excited to just find out about him. Fuck yeah Benedict Cumberbatch!
2. Elysium
Release Date: August 9, 2013
Why I can’t wait for it: On one hand, I feel like I should have trepidation about this movie because of how it’s been pushed back a number of times. On the other hand, who gives a fuck, as it’s Neill Blomkamp telling a dystopian future story that is totally unique and filled with Blomkamp’s very unique brand of special effects that feel very real and DIY (if that makes sense). Throw in a cast highlighted by Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and our boy Sharlto Copley, and I am just bananas about this. I think it’s going to be a spectacular sci-fi film, and one that’s not to be missed.
1. The World’s End
Release Date: August 23, 2013
Why I can’t wait for it: It’s the end of the Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, as Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost finish off what they started with in one of my all-time favorite movies, Shaun of the Dead, with a story that starts with a pub crawl and maybe, just maybe, ends with the end of the world. A comedy from those three, frequent Wright player Paddy Considine, Eddie Marsan and Martin Freeman (SHERLOCK!) is certain to draw me in, but something about the idea and what I’ve seen from it so far just has me over the moon about it. I cannot wait to see this, and it bums me out I have to wait until the end of the summer. But I suppose at least it isn’t until the end of the world.
