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Summer Movies 2017: Superheroes, Franchises, And Reboots

Olja Antic; Flickr

A female superhero, intergalactic travel, a beach-body reboot, and more - this year's summer film schedule is jam-packed with big action, but also some satisfying classic comedy and thought-provoking drama. We'll talk about the must-sees, and the maybe-avoids.

GUESTS:

  • Tom Cook - Film Professor at Keene State College.
  • Amy Diaz - Editor of The Hippo Press, where she reviews summer movies. 
  • Jeff Somerville - Operations Director at Red River Theatres in Concord. 

Below is a list of the movies mentioned during our discussion today. For even more recommendations, check out Time's Most Anticipated Movies of the Summer, and the New York Times Summer Movie Release Schedule 2017

Wonder Woman

  • June 2, 2017
  • Rated PG-13

The origin story of Diana (Gal Gadot), an Amazonian princess, who leaves her home to fight in World War I with a pilot (Chris Pine). Based on the DC Comic series, Wonder Woman appeared briefly at the end of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016. 

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2.

  • May 5, 2017
  • Rated PG-13

The second installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise from Marvel, featuring Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and fellow guardians Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Baby Groot (Vin Diesel), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper), as they search for Peter's father, Ego (Kurt Russell). 

Spider-Man: Homecoming

  • July 7, 2017
  • Rated PG-13

In the newest version of the Spider-man series from Marvel, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) is mentored by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), aka Iron Man, as part of the growing Avengers film franchise. 

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie 

  • June 2, 2017
  • Rated PG

Based on the beloved children's series, friends George (Kevin Hart) and Harold (Thomas Middleditch) hypnotize their principal and convince him that he is a superhero named Captain Underpants (Ed Helms) who is both excitable and incompetent. 

Franchises and Sequels

Cars 3 

  • June 16, 2017
  • Rated G

Lightening McQueen (Owen Wilson) returns to challenge new race cars and prove his worth. 

Despicable Me 3

  • June 30, 2017
  • Rated PG

Gru (Steve Carell), the not-so-bad bad guy, meets his twin brother, Dru (Steve Carell), who he never knew existed. 
War for the Planet of the Apes

  • July 14, 2017
  • Not Yet Rated 

In the third film in the recent reboot of the original Planet of the Apes series, Caesar (Andy Serkis) avenges the deaths of his friends and family against an army of humans led by Colonel (Woody Harrelson).

Transformers: The Last Knight

  • June 21, 2017
  • Not Yet Rated

After the loss of Optimus Prime, the transformers battle against humans with the help of Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg).
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales

  • May 26, 2017
  • Rated PG-13

Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) flees from ghost pirate Captain Salazar (Javier Bardem) with the help of Captain Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush). 

Reboots

The Mummy

  • June 9, 2017
  • Rated PG-13

Nick Morton (Tom Cruise) encounters an ancient princess who has awakened and seeks revenge.
Blade Runner 2049

  • October 6, 2017
  • Not Yet Rated

Takes place thirty years after the first Bladerunner. LAPD officer K (Ryan Gosling) discovers a secret that leads him to Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), who has been missing for three decades.

Baywatch

  • May 25, 2017
  • Rated R

Head lifeguard Mitch Buchanan (Dwayne Johnson) fights criminal mastermind Victoria Leeds (Priyanka Chopra) with new lifeguard recruit Matt Brody (Zac Efron).

Comedies

Snatched

  • May 12, 2017
  • Rated R

Mother (Goldie Hawn) and daughter (Amy Schumer) are kidnapped while on vacation.

Rough Night 

  • June 16, 2017
  • Not Yet Rated

A group of friends (Scarlett Johansson, Zoë Kravitz, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer) reunite for a bachelorette party, and their night goes awry after the death of their hired stripper.
The House

  • June 30, 2017
  • Rated R

A mother (Amy Poehler) and father (Will Ferrell) decide to start an illegal casino in their home to afford their daughter's college tuition. 
Girls Trip

  • July 21, 2017
  • Rated R

Four friends (Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, and Tiffany Haddish) travel to New Orleans for the Essence Festival, and hijinx ensue.

Horror

It

  • September 8, 2017
  • Not Yet Rated

Based on the famous Stephen King novel, childhood friends return to Maine to face the shape-shifter who targeted them as children, and has come back again.
Get Out

  • February 24, 2017 (Producer's note: Though not a summer movie, this came highly recommended as something to watch before the Oscar season).
  • Rated R

An African American man (Daniel Kaluuya) meets his white girlfriend's (Allison Williams) parents, and finds himself in the middle of a sinister plot.

Independent Films

Producer's  Note: Many of these films may have limited release, but have the potential to shown in mainstream theaters later on. Jeff Somerville of Red River Theatres encourages listeners to check their website, and other small theater sites, to find out when and where these films are playing. 

The Big Sick

  • July 14, 2017
  • Rated R

Based on the real-life love story of writers Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani, whose cultural differences led to challenges for both the couple, and their families.

Churchill

  • June 2, 2017
  • Rated PG

Biographical thriller that follows Winston Churchill (Brian Cox) during the 96 hours leading up to D-Day in World War II. 
The Lovers

  • May 5, 2017
  • Rated R

A married couple (Debra Winger and Tracy Letts) who have a history of affairs rekindle their romance in unexpected ways. 
The Beguiled

  • June 30, 2017
  • Rated R

A wounded Union soldier finds refuge at a girl's school in Virginia during the Civil War, where the sheltered women overseen by matriarch Martha Farnsworth (Nicole Kidman) are not what they initially seem. 
Beatriz at Dinner 

  • June 9, 2017
  • Rated R

A holistic medicine practitioner (Salma Hayek) finds herself at the dinner party of one of  her wealthy clients (Connie Britton). 
My Cousin Rachel

  • June 9, 2017
  • Rated PG-13

An Englishman (Sam Claflin) believes his cousin (Rachel Weisz) murdered his guardian, but he falls for her nonetheless.

Drama

Dunkirk

  • July 21, 2017
  • Rated PG-13

Based on the infamous battle during World War II, where Allied soldiers were surrounded on the beach by the German army and managed to escape. 
Detroit

  • August 4, 2017
  • Not Yet Rated

From acclaimed director Kathryn Bigelow, the story of a police raid in 1967 in Detroit that led to one of the biggest uprisings in U.S. history, with John Boyega and Anthony Mackie.
All Eyes On Me

  • June 16, 2017
  • Rated R

The untold story of Tupac Shakur (Demetrius Shipp Jr.), the influential rapper and activist.
Megan Leavey

  • June 9, 2017
  • Rated PG-13

Based on the true story of a Marine (Kate Mara) and her relationship with her military combat dog during their deployment in Iraq.

Summer Movie Events in New Hampshire

Hippo Press has a list of family-friendly movie eventsacross the state, including the Somersworth International Children's Festival. 

InTown Concord's Market Days Festivalfrom June 22-24 has a number of screenings of classic films. 

The Putnam at Keene State College has a number of film events during the summer and throughout the year. 

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