Erwin's Summer Movie Guide 2007

I used to do this every year - send out an email to my friends with a list of movies I want to watch that particular summer. It would have a short synopsis of the movie, who's starring and/or directing, as well as the level of how much I wanted to see it.

I kinda stopped doing it the last 3 years or so, mainly because I got lazy (will I be saying the same thing about this blog 3 years from now?? Hmmmm). But in any case, here it is again. I'll just list the movies, by expected release date, with a link to the official site or trailer. There'll also be an ErwiNation Rating to it, which is a measure of how much I want to see it (and you can also figure out based on that what are the chances I will ACTUALLY see said movie), and some comments from me, smarmy or otherwise. Sorry folks, this list tends more towards the mainstream flicks, so if you are looking for a Pan's Labyrinth-esque kind of movie, you're S.O.L.
(But if you haven't seen Pan's yet, do go Netflix it or buy the DVD. Loved it).

So without further ado:

May 3rd:

Spiderman 3 - 8 Nations. Lukewarm reviews notwithstanding, I'll still watch this. And it'll have to be a Superman Returns level of disappointment for me to not like it.

May 11th:

28 Weeks Later - 5 Nations. I enjoyed the first one a lot (28 Days Later), although part of it was the whole nitty-gritty low budget feel of it. I hope I'll still like this one even though there's a bigger budget, bigger movie vibe to it.

May 18th:

Shrek The Third - 5 Nations. I liked the first 2 Shrek movies, although not as much as any other Pixar flick out there. I think there's just too many pop culture references in the Shrek films for it to withstand the test of time.

May 25th:

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - 6 Nations. I haven't seen the 2nd one yet, so that 6 Nations could rise or drop depending on what I think of it when I do watch it. But I don't remember a movie Johnny Depp has been in that I've seen where I did not walk out saying "Man, he's a great actor." So even if this movie sucks, I am sure Mr. Depp will be great as usual.

June 1st:

Knocked Up - 4 Nations. TJC loves Katherine Heigl, and while I agree she is extremely easy on the eyes, I think I'd watch this for more than the mere fact she's in it. Premise and trailer seem funny and sweet enough. On a side note: TJC, please update your blog. Your amigo BTC requests the same as well.

June 8th:

Ocean's 13 - 5 Nations. I did not see Ocean's 12, nor do I have any desire to based on what I have heard. But I think I will watch this one, as they are back in Vegas and the film is closer to look and feel to the first one (which I liked a lot) than to the second one.

June 15th:

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - 6 Nations. Or should I say: A-Very-Much-Hoping-To-Dear-God-It's-Good-6-Nations. Please refer to this post for more details as to what I mean.

June 27th:

Live Free or Die Hard - 4 Nations. Yipee-ki-yay Motherf*ckers!!!!!

June 29th:

Ratatouille - 7 Nations. Even though I have not watched Cars yet, I have enjoyed every Pixar film out there. Heck, when A Bug's Life is your "worst" film, that pretty much speaks to the quality of the work, no? And now comes Ratatouille - directed and written by Brad Bird, who happens to be the mastermind behind The Iron Giant and The Incredibles (which is my favorite Pixar movie of all time); I don't think one can go wrong with this one.

July 4th:

The Transformers - 4 Nations. A part of me really wants to see this. Another part of me is also so very afraid that another facet of my childhood is about to be snapped in half like a dry twig. Sigh.

July 13th:

Harry Potter And The Order of the Phoenix - 3 Nations. Yeah, that's no typo. That's 3 Nations. Never read the books and not a die hard fan of the movies. If anything, I'll watch it for curiosity's sake or because someone asked me to go with.

July 27th:

The Simpsons Movie - 7 Nations. One of my favorite TV series of all time is now a movie? AND I am not as worried as I usually am if the transition from small screen to big screen is achievable? Best. Thing. Ever.

August 10th:

Rush Hour 3 - 6 Nations. I liked the first two a lot, and I personally can't wait for the 3rd one. Stupid, silly fun and this looks like more of the same.

Stardust - 5 Nations. My favorite Neil Gaiman novel ever. I think as far as his work goes, only The Sandman (as a whole) surpasses this in my eyes.

August 17th:

Invasion - 4 Nations. No Official Site yet, so that's the Wiki link on there. This movie's 4 Nation rating, as well as it's place on the list, is tenuous right now until I hear or see more about it.

So there you go. The return of the Summer Movie List. 15 movies on the list, I'll consider it a blazing success if I get to see 7 to 10 of them.

Enjoy.