There are movies EVERYwhere this summer and it seems like our teens have all the time (and money) to go to each and every one, and then want to come back and discuss all the details and plot points with us until there is no tomorrow or until the library closes. We, however, have a limited amount of free time and an even more limited budget. Never fear, for today I’ve put together five blockbuster movies of Summer 2015 that teens will be swarming over and you should have on your radar, if not to see then to scan the internet for spoilers. In addition, I’ve put programming tie-ins for each movie so you can think about including tie-in programming into your summer schedule, whether self-directed or librarian-hosted.
Coming soon, book-based movies and family fun ones to be on the look-out for:
TITLE: JURASSIC WORLD
RELEASE DATE: JUNE 12
SYNOPSIS: 22 years after Jurassic Park, Isla Nublar has had 10 years as a fully functioning dino-rrific theme park. However, due to declining attendance, they’ve decided to create a new dinosaur to draw visitors. And of course, that is probably not going to go well. Starring Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Bryce Dallas Howard (The Help, Twilight Saga).
TEEN APPEAL: Chris Pratt hit older teens’ radar in Parks and Recreation, and everyone else’s in Guardians of the Galaxy, and with the addition of giant dinosaurs running amok and eating things? Mass chaos, adults not knowing what they’re doing…what’s not to love?
Programming tie-in: dinosaurs, DNA, science, previous movies
TITLE: TERMINATOR: GENISYS
RELEASE DATE: JULY 1
SYNOPSIS: After finding himself in a new timeline (*cough* paradox timewarp killing everyone plot hole *cough*), Kyle Reese teams up with Sarah Connor and an aging terminator (guess) to try to stop Judgement Day. Starring Emilia Clark (Game of Thrones) and Jai Courtney (Divergent series)
TEEN APPEAL: While you would have thought that they would have picked up the franchise from where it left off with Terminator Salvation, instead somehow we’re going back, either ignoring or (my hope) explaining the giant PLOT HOLE of timeline timewarp paradox (2009’s reboot of Star Trek at least explained it), and blowing things up yet again. The big, HUGE thing, aside from really awesome new Terminators, is the mystery of Matt Smith (Doctor Who’s 11th Doctor)- he’s in the movie, but his character and make-up has been completely under wraps. Speculation is that he’s the new type of Terminator, but whether he’s on the human side or Skynet side by the end of the movie remains to be seen.
Programming tie-in: computers, programming, technology, robotics, previous movies
TITLE: ANT-MAN
RELEASE DATE: JULY 17
SYNOPSIS: Asked by his mentor Hank Pym, con man Scott Lang steals and learns the technology of the Ant-Man suit in order to pull of his biggest heist yet- one that will save the world. Starring Paul Rudd (Anchorman 2) and Evangeline Lilly (The Hobbit saga).
TEEN APPEAL: Not nearly as popular a Marvel character as the rest of the Avengers or the other members of the Marvel pantheon that have been released so far, Ant-Man is the end of Marvel’s Phase 2 project, and leads from Avengers: Age of Ultron right into Doctor Strange. Judging from the trailers, it has some of the quirkiness of Guardians of the Galaxy, and those that are feeling a bit lost from the ending of Age of Ultron will go see this one for more information. A look at the casting might give them good cause. Marvel/comic junkies will go see it anyway.
Programming tie-in: entomology, miniaturization, martial arts, any modern Marvel movie
TITLE: MISSION IMPOSSIBLE- ROGUE NATION
RELEASE DATE: JULY 31
SYNOPSIS: Taking on their most *yawn* impossible mission yet, the IMF team focus on the Syndicate mentioned at the end of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, a secret force focused on taking out the IMF and the world. Starring Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames.
TEEN APPEAL: This one is iffy on whether teens will pick it up or not- Tom Cruise is off their radar for the most part, but Jeremy Renner pulls them back in. It’s telling that instead of a beginning of summer or July 4th weekend release, the studio waited until near the end of summer, and there hasn’t been as much of an ad campaign for this movie as we have seen for others in the past. From what my teens have been saying, the Mission: Impossible franchise really needs to do what the Bond franchise did- take a good look at its core viewership, and reboot. However, it’s near the mid-end of summer, and it’s big kabooms with over-the-top stunts.
Programming tie-in: spies, secret codes, special effects, stunts, computer hacking, previous movies
TITLE: FANTASTIC FOUR
RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 7
SYNOPSIS: Four young outcasts teleport to a dangerous, alternate universe which alters their physical forms in shocking new ways. They most learn to adjust to their new talents quickly when a former friend turns enemy and threatens the Earth. Starring Michael B. Jordon (Fruitville Station, Chronicle) and Milles Teller (Divergent series).
TEEN APPEAL: This reboot has been HUGE in the news, first for relaunching, then for casting relatively unknown actors, and then for idiots having issues with interracial families. The sequel has already been announced for 2017, but the success for this is going to be HUGE for 20th Century Fox, especially since Marvel recently acquired the Spiderman movie franchise back into its fold, and would desperately love to get the rest of its titles under one roof. A superhero movie that has new faces, outcast backgrounds, and is not Marvel? Oh, yes.
Programming tie-in: space exploration, gene mutation, history of Fantastic Four and comics
Which ones are you planning to go see? Share in the comments!
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