The heralds of summer have changed. Where we once relied on strawberries and fireflies to indicate the change of season, now we’ve got genocidal robots and men in tights.
Friday, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” officially kicked off Hollywood’s popcorn frenzy, a four-month spree of sequels, remakes, and the occasional fresh idea.
If “Age of Ultron” seems likely to be the biggest moneymaker of the year (at least until a certain Force returns to us all in December), the rest of the summer isn’t shy of box-office possibilities. The outbreak of sequelitis guarantees a built-in audience, and familiar faces abound.
Summer is the domain of Tom Cruise and Marvel Comics, of science fiction and comedy. The ’80s are back with a vengeance, as revamps of “Mad Max” and “Poltergeist” roar into view. “Jurassic World” is proof that dinosaurs still roam the Earth, and so is a new Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.
It looks like a rollicking summer indeed. For a break from the high-calorie multiplex fare, seek out smaller films (and of course the Seattle International Film Festival, bowing on May 14). In the meantime, let’s fire up the popper and get the buttery flavoring flowing. (All dates are subject to change.)
See premiere dates, photos, videos and Robert Horton’s take on all the upcoming summer movies.
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