Every summer, tucked between the blockbusters, romantic comedies, and 500th Transformers movie, are hidden gems that satisfy our thirst for quality movies until Oscar season rears its ugly head. So, I compiled a list of ten movies that I personally can’t wait to see this summer.
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4. Guardians of the Galaxy (Directed by James Gunn | Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper | August 1, 2014)
In so many words, this is basically the ballsier version of The Avengers. The anti-Avengers if you will. There is so much potential to be tapped out of the characters, the humor, the story, the list goes on and on. It is the Marvel film that a lot of us have been waiting for. And just like they’re tagline says: “You’re welcome.”
3. A Million Ways to Die in the West (Directed by Seth MacFarlane | Starring Seth MacFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, and Amanda Seyfried | May 30, 2014)
I don’t care if it’s mindless, absurd, offensive comedy. As long as it’s Seth MacFarlane’s mindless, absurd, offensive comedy, I am on completely on board. It also has Liam Neeson playing a badass cowboy out for revenge, literally the role he was born to play.
2. The Fault in Our Stars (Directed by Josh Boone | Starring Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, and Nat Wolff | June 6, 2014)
I don’t think John Green can do any wrong. Exhibit A: “The Fault in Our Stars”. It is probably perfection of a young adult novel, so naturally the film version is going to be on some kind of list. I can already hear some of you saying, “but the movie is always worse than the book!” and I agree (that’s why The Giver isn’t on this list), but with John Green involved and a writing style that is specific and sharp, I can’t see how they get this wrong. Plus, as far as I’m concerned Shailene Woodley is the future of hollywood.
1. Godzilla (Directed by Gareth Edwards | Starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen, Sally Hawkins, Juliette Binoche, David Strathairn, and Bryan Cranston | May 16, 2014)
The monster that started the monster film. Check. A director that can balance character and action. Check. Bryan Cranston. Check. Enough said. In all seriousness, this darker version of the monster that terrified us all as kids is finally here after that disastrous 1998 version that you tried to forget about until I just brought it up. Just watching the trailer you can pretty much tell they got it right. Can it be a disaster? Of course. Will it? I’m thinking no.
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Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.