Drama

Best: Savages (July 6)
Director: Oliver Stone
Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively, and John Travolta
See it Because: With the sub-par Wall Street sequel out of his system, Oliver Stone looks to return to the dark and gritty cinema that made Natural Born Killers the cult-classic it is today. While not necessarily the best action director, he knows how to get the most unique performances from his cast, which ranges from rising young stars to Oscar winners in this tale of two drug dealers’ battle with greed and corruption, and the struggle for survival. Thankfully for Taylor Kitsch (John Carter and Battleship), Stone looks to make sure he stars in one good film this year. On the other hand, Blake Lively doesn’t look to live down her slutty stereotype (think TV series Gossip Girl as the scandalous Serena Van der Woodsen and The Town as Krista Coughlin)  anytime soon after this role. While definitely not a relatable flick, it sure looks to be one hell of a pulp-filled ride.
Also check out: Hope Springs

Worst: Step Up Revolution (July 27)
Director: Scott Speer
Starring: Kathryn McCormick, Ryan Guzman, and Adam G. Sevani
Avoid it Because: The Step Up series has always been B-movie filmmaking at best. Starring models and professional dancers, the new movie, like all the rest, is an excuse to have attractive looking people show off dance moves most could never pull-off. Centered yet again on the new girl who joins a dance crew to try and prove her value, it’s unclear exactly what directing newcomer Scott Speer wants to prove with this obviously made-for-profit flick. Don’t worry dance fans; the new season of So You Think You Can Dance will soon be here to sooth your unruly urges for free so you don’t have to pay to see an extremely tired formula play out all over again.
Save more money by skipping: Battlefield America

Family

Best: Brave (June 22)
Director: Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, and Steve Purcell
Voices of: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, and Emma Thompson
See it Because: Trying to look past the debacle that was Cars 2, Pixar looks to return to the heart-warming character pieces it is famous for in Brave. A mix between How to Train Your Dragon and Tangled, the studio’s first film with a female lead looks to give a modern-empowerment twist in a classic fairytale setting. With some of the best animators in the business, the film is also sure to be a visual feast for all to enjoy. And if Pixar’s magic is truly back, don’t be surprised if your kids ask for some Haggis in their lunch after viewing this Scottish-themed flick.
Also check out: ParaNorman

Worst: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (August 3)
Director: David Bowers
Starring: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, and Devon Bostick
Avoid it Because: The third cinematic adaptation of a book series that is nearing seven entries is yet another excuse to cash in on a popular name. Unlike Pixar or Disney films, the series focuses less on life-learning lessons and more on gross out and bully humor that only pre-teens would find amusing. This entry appears to be the most pointless with the plot solely revolving around the mischief the characters get themselves into over summer break. Instead of wasting your time and money on another silly kid flick, how about taking your child to the local roller-skate arena? They will still be able to get some laughs in when you take a spill.
Save more money by skipping: Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted

Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror

Best: Prometheus (June 1)
Director: Ridley Scott
Staring: Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, and Michael Fassbender
See it Because: Returning to the franchise that got him his big break, Ridley Scott looks to expand upon the universe setup in Alien, rather than simply offering a new chapter filled with more creature action. Like in Alien, Scott looks to use his technique of slowly building the tension while the mystery of the story unravels, but he also injects the quick-edited, handle-held camera action he has developed in his films over the years. Expect not only great sci-fi cinema, but intellectual and thought-provoking ideas about our origins and future, and how greed almost always leads to our downfall.
Also check out: Snow White and the Huntsman

Worst: The Apparition (August 24)
Director: Todd Lincoln
Starring: Ashley Greene, Sebastian Stan, and Tom Felton
Avoid it Because: The plot summarized is “a couple are haunted by a supernatural presence that is unleashed during a college experiment.” Sounds fairly similar to the premises of House on Haunted Hill and Scary Movie 2, doesn’t it? Beyond the fact that it appears to be a rip-off off a rip-off, this is Todd Lincoln’s first attempt at filmmaking, and Tom Felton’s second post-Harry Potter effort at proving he is something more than that kid who bullied a much cooler kid in school. Even a fourth Paranormal Activity sounds more appealing than this.
Save more money by skipping: The Possession

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