Where Next For The Summer Of Film?

After today, we will have had Thor, Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides, The Hangover: Part II, Kung Fu Panda 2, X-Men: First Class, Green Lantern, Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two hit cinemas. That's a hefty line-up by anyone's standards, and having just dubbed the latter one of the best movies of the so-called 'Summer of Film' at 5/5 standard, that leaves a lot of pressure for whatever remains to be released in July and August to deliver. However, just because most of the big names are out of the way, don't go thinking that the good stuff is well and truly behind us...
CARS 2- The sequel to the fairly popular 2006 Disney Pixar animation, this one takes Lightning McQueen and Mater to the shiny city of Japan for an international race that involves the latter truck entering a secret spy mission with Finn McMissile (Michael Caine!). Not really Best Film of 2011 standard, but an animated flick to look out for nevertheless. (July 22nd)
CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER- As shown by the poster, this is going to be a fairly patriotic superhero movie (and not to us here in the UK, either). Set in World War II, The First Avenger has the potential to be an engaging period drama of sorts provided it doesn't get too carried away with its US namesake. (July 29th)
SUPER 8- Perhaps totally different to anything else you'll see in cinemas this Summer, Super 8 sees a travelling train freight carrying mysterious cargo from Area 51 derail and let loose its cargo. A group of kids shooting their own alien film find themselves plunged into danger as an altogether more real extraterresterial begins to steal people away in the night. Watch this one, a sleeper hit? (August 5th)
RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES- Surprisingly quiet until recently, this prequel/reboot stars James Franco as a doctor who unknowingly causes an outbreak of supreme ape intellingence, whereby primate Caesar (a stunning CGI creation modelled by Andy Serkis, aka Gollum and King Kong) leads a nationwide uprising that could in the distant future mean enslavement for the whole of humanity. (August 11th)
FINAL DESTINATION 5- We'll see whether a horror franchise can keep up the ante in its fifth entry, but the toned down Saw-esque series has managed well before under pressure so there is a minor chance of greatness visible here. (August 12th)
GLEE: THE CONCERT MOVIE 3D- Fans, you know who you are. A must see- for you. (August 19th)
COWBOYS & ALIENS- A big hitter that won't probably be mentioned much until near the time, this sci-fi blends Western and alien elements and boasts a host of stars such as Harrison Ford, Daniel Craig and Olivia Wilde! Keep an eye on this, it could either turn out amazing or rubbish...(August 19th)
THE INBETWEENERS MOVIE- Probably again best for fans of the television show of the same name, the raunchy comedy hits the big screen as the boys head on an eventful vacation to Malia. (August 19th)
SPY KIDS: ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD- Those of us who watched Disney Channel about a decade back (yes, feel old!) will doubtless remember the classic Spy Kids films, great action-adventure romps that put a comedic spin on the spy genre, so the franchise's return will likely come as a welcome surprise. And with Ricky Gervais on board along with new spies, what could possibly go wrong?...(August 19th)
CONAN THE BARBARIAN- Sure to be a great hack-and-slasher, this remake sees the comic character on the hunt for a villainous warlord after the murder of his father. (August 26th)
So as you can see, there's still lots more to come from the cinema this Summer, and as far as the second half of the year goes all of this is just the tip of a humungous iceberg!