The 2015 summer blockbusters are smokin’ and the air-conditioned theaters are chillin’ so pick up your tub of popcorn, kick off your flip-flops and reach for your 3-D glasses. It’s movie time!
June 5: “Insidious: Chapter 3”
It’s being called “the darkest chapter.” “Insidious: Chapter 3” is a prequel, set before the haunting of the Lambert family, which began in 2011’s “Insidious.” In this upcoming film, the story centers on how the gifted psychic, Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), reluctantly used her ability to contact the dead in order to help a teenage girl named Quinn (Stefanie Scott), who has been targeted by a dangerous supernatural entity. Dermot Mulroney plays Quinn’s father. Word has it that the prequel writer, director and co-star Leigh Whannell is already imagining room to explore for a Chapter 4. Horror. Rated PG-13. 97 min.
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June 12: “Jurassic World”
From executive producer Steven Spielberg comes the fourth installment of the Jurassic dinosaur franchise. The first was “Jurassic Park,” which came out in 1993, the next was 1997’s “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” which was followed by “Jurassic Park III” in 2001. “Jurassic World” is here 22 years after the original. The island of Isla Nublar off Costa Rica’s west coast is now home to a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, so what can go wrong? Plenty. The entertainment facility has been losing popularity. In an attempt to increase interest for the expansive park, a new attraction is created. Yup, you guessed it. Things go terribly, horribly wrong. Stars include Chris Pratt, Vincent D’Onofrio and Bryce Dallas Howard. Action adventure, sci-fi. Rated PG-13. 124 min.
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July 1: “Terminator Genisys”
Geez, what a summer of sequels. With a world so full of creativity, it is kind of a shame that movie studios don’t want to take risks in this weird economy. They like to bet on sure things like franchises. Arnold Schwarzenegger made tons of dough in all of the “Terminators” that came before, so why not one more before he retires? Expect eye-popping visuals enhanced with 3-D, a hot Jason Clarke (“Zero Dark Thirty,” “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”) with manly scars across his strong-jawed face, a kickass and cool power-woman Emilia Clarke (“Game of Thrones”), and everybody’s favorite line, “I’ll be back.” Is this going to be deep? No. But it’ll be an enjoyable summer distraction with CGI school buses tumbling in the air, chrome robots, skin that heals itself and flashbacks to a young Arnold in the earlier “Terminator” films. Action adventure, sci-fi. Rated PG-13. 119 min.
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July 10: “Minions”
“Ba-na-na!” Those Minions! Minions stole my heart many moons ago when they first showed up opposite Gru in 2010’s “Despicable Me” and 2013’s “Despicable Me 2.” Bless their little, yellow, rounded heads, their one- and two-eyed goggled eyeballs and those scrumptiously cute denim overalls. In this prequel to the “Despicable Me” flicks, you’ll meet Scarlet Overkill (Sandra Bullock), Herb Overkill (Jon Hamm) and many a Minion. Voices include Michael Keaton, Allison Janney, Steve Coogan and Laraine Newman. Voiced by Jennifer Saunders of “Absolutely Fabulous,” Queen Elizabeth II is hilarious. Animation comedy. Rated PG. Movie length not yet available.
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July 31: “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation”
Tom Cruise, now 52, is back as Ethan Hunt. The trailer shows Cruise — that weird Scientology guy who is hard to take seriously anymore — hanging off of a plane. If it were Helen Mirren, Jennifer Jason Leigh or Angelina Jolie, I’d be more excited. I hate how few female action stars there are. On the other hand, we’ve got to give the guy credit if he’s still doing his own stunts. In the scenes with his shirt off, Cruise does look mega-ripped. Granted, that takes a lot of work, but is there anything left that hasn’t already been done in the past four films? The first “Mission: Impossible” (1996) had Cruise hanging onto the top of a speeding train. In “Mission: Impossible II” (2000), Cruise was shot to death — or so we thought until we see him running and tearing off a mask. That was cool. “Mission: Impossible III” (2006) had Cruise jumping off buildings and soaring through the air. Oh, and we had Philip Seymour Hoffman as a deliciously creepy villain. In the fourth of the franchise, “Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol” (2011), Cruise rocketed sky-high when a bomb exploded destroying the Kremlin; he also bungeed off a building. This fifth film, “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation,” must have the studio hyped because there’s already a No. 6 in the works. Some favorite cast members returning are Simon Pegg (I love him), Jeremy Renner and Ving Rhames. There’s a new director this time, Christopher McQuarrie, who also directed Cruise in 2012’s “Jack Reacher.” There were something like 25 James Bond movies (shaken not stirred), and I’m guessing the “Mission: Impossible” peeps are going to keep cranking these out. I do adore that awesome “Mission: Impossible” theme: Da na na nah, Da na na nah, dun-dun-dun-dun. Action adventure, thriller.
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Dorri Olds is a contributing journalist for TheBlot Magazine.
