Summer is traditionally the best time of year for anyone who loves movies. Well, at least the big, loud, overpriced and fancy ones. The ones where the whole IMAX is knocking with a burnt sound. Just typical Hollywood blockbusters. However, the film summer starts already in May, when the first adepts take to the starting line. And it will be interesting in the coming months as well. So, in the first part of the Summer Break, we will look at the biggest films of this summer season, which will probably be talked about a lot and sell out cinemas. The smaller pieces will of course also come up, but only in the next article. Now it’s time for the biggest and most epic thing Hollywood has in store for us this year.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (CZ premiere: May 9, 2024; US premiere: May 10, 2024)
Few Hollywood franchises receive as much care as Planet of the Apes. Finding a brand in the plethora of sequels, reboots and spin-offs that remains only in cinemas and allows for large gaps between films is a rarity that can only be compared to Mission: Impossible, Avatar and the Bond films. In the case of the ape novel called Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, we’ve waited seven long years, and what’s even more interesting is that the film takes place a full 300 years after its predecessor. In it, director Wes Ball (Maze Runner trilogy) will explore Caesar’s legacy through a completely different story with different heroes, which absolutely minimizes the feeling of being a big cash cow.
On the contrary, the new Planet of the Apes shows maximum prudence and care – that is, things that we only see in the biggest films a few times a year. In many ways, it will follow in the footsteps of Dune, which also bet on a colossal drama with supporting characters, and not on cheap entertainment full of empty jokes and semi-ugly digital attractions. To be honest, I still lack a really exciting element that would drive the maximum number of viewers to the cinemas. However, it is perhaps a good thing for Planet of the Apes that the creators keep a maximum of trump cards up their sleeve and bet on the fact that they will present a good film to people, which will be watched thanks to great reviews. Now that they really arrive and we don’t end up in a few weeks in the traditional web of painful disappointment… (KarelR)
Excitement index: 7/10
Furiosa: The Mad Max Saga (CZ premiere: May 23, 2024; US premiere: May 23, 2024)
George Miller’s longtime producing partner Doug Mitchell recently revealed that Furiosa will have one fifteen-minute sequence that took 78 days to shoot, with roughly 200 stuntmen working on set a day. This sequence was codenamed Stairway to Nowhere during filming, which can mean a lot of things, but mainly it’s maybe a little swallow for those who don’t believe in Tomas that Furiosa should be just as special as Mad Max: Furious Journey was 10 years ago.
George Miller clearly isn’t going to settle for anything less than another ultimate post-apocalyptic smash, and thanks to a rejuvenated Furiosa, an even more open world, and the open arms of Warner Bros., which was already open to even the craziest ideas because they were blinded by the vision of dollars of bills falling from the box office sky, he got the ideal opportunity to (at least) go out of his way one more time. I’m really looking forward to it and I believe that we will get a movie as great as the last one. (to_from)
Excitement index: 8/10
Miserables: For Life and Death (CZ premiere: June 6, 2024; US premiere: June 7, 2024)
Misers forever were a minor miracle, because successfully following Michael Bay (in top form) is incredibly difficult. But Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah managed it, and now they are throwing themselves into the lion’s den again with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Why did we wait four years for another ride with Mizery? Of course, there had to be a long break from Oscar slapping. But now it’s forgotten in Hollywood, and if you didn’t break the stick over Will, you can enjoy a trampled-looking action ride that could be among the best blockbusters of the year.
Sure, Martin Lawrence hasn’t been on top form for a long time, and I’m not sure we needed so many references to the first two installments in the trailer. The trio managed without him completely calmly and stood on their own two feet. Copying famous shots is not that annoying, and everything around them is (maybe with the exception of the burned-out helicopter) simply great. I am really looking forward to it and hope that Arbi and Fallah will confirm their reputation as new Hollywood sureties. These two in particular seem to be ideal supervision for a light-hearted action movie, and even if I didn’t exactly cry over the elimination of their Batgirl (she was still Batgirl!), if the Miserable four disappeared overnight, I would be really angry.(KarelR)
Excitement index: 8/10
A Quiet Place: The First Day (CZ premiere: June 27, 2024; US premiere: June 28, 2024)
I just absolutely love the beginnings of the apocalypse. That atmosphere when a frightened ordinary citizen in an anonymous crowd has no idea what is happening, why everything is exploding and who is eating his friend. The army on every corner, dirt in the streets and the awakening of the lowest instinctual needs at the expense of humanity. That’s what I expect from a spinoff of the successful A Quiet Place, which will focus on how it all began. Only the character of Djimon Hounsou returns from the previous installments, which I honestly forgot appeared in the sequel. But the great Lupita Nyong’o will appear in the main role, so I expect great acting.
John Krasinski, who came up with the imaginative concept, remains only in the role of producer, and the author of the drama Pig starring Cage has taken the place of director and screenwriter. It is therefore difficult to estimate which direction the film will take as a result, and if we can really expect a successful expansion of this world. The sequel already smacked of unnecessaryness, so let’s hope it will be better this time. In any case, the trailers look quite worldly and this time they also attract more spectacular scenery, so we can look forward with caution. (Yokolo)
Excitement Index: 6/10
I, the villain 4 (CZ premiere: July 4, 2024; US premiere: July 2, 2024)
It’s getting harder and harder to find a golden vein in Hollywood. Moviegoers are like saffron and billion-dollar blockbusters have dwindled so draconianly after covid that it makes studio accountants sick. Universal is well aware of this, so they play it safe. It has one brand among the family silver, on which the studio founded two billion-dollar franchises – I, the villain and Mimoňové. I know, the yellow chattering creatures have already managed to annoy more than one original fan of the cute minions of the diabolical villain Gru so much that they can’t think of a name for them, but they simply have dollar potential, so we’ll see them in theaters for some time.
This year it will be in the fourth installment of I, the Villain and if you look at the financial results of the previous adventures of the villain, you can be sure that we will go into the black here in the first weekend. Of course, this does not mean that we will get a good film – after the fantastic number one, there was a slight cooling in the form of a weaker number two and a significantly worse number three, but this year’s Kung-fu Panda 4 shows that even water that has been boiled several times can be cooked a lot. And what trump cards does the Villain four have up his sleeve? Well… Except of course. And Gru and his brother too. And Steve Carell in the main double role. But mainly you, Mimona. So hopefully we won’t suffer in the cinema with the children in the summer and we’ll get an animated frenzy following the qualities of the number one. (Chrome)
Excitement index: 5/10
In chapter 2 (CZ premiere: July 18, 2024; US premiere: June 14, 2024)
If I had to choose a single animation that I would enthusiastically show to my students in a psychology seminar, it would very likely be Pixar’s In the Head. The original approach to human emotions, which presents relatively demanding psychological processes in a believable and child-friendly way, makes the film a timeless fairy tale not only for adults. And while the first part focused mainly on the simpler presentation of basic emotions, the second episode of the hit will go to more current topics that need to be talked about.
I very much welcome the fact that the second In the head will probably be interwoven with themes dealing with the development of the individual during adolescence and the onset of new emotions, while anxiety states will obviously play a primary role. The animated film, which will undoubtedly attract crowds of children and adolescents alike, thus has a rare opportunity to use its accessible form and convey the necessary message that goes far beyond the usual “Follow your dream”. It’s always good when viewers in the safety of the cinema hear from colorful characters that their feelings are okay. So hopefully the creators will use it again through a clever script and nice characters. (Yokolo)
Excitement index: 8/10
Deadpool & Wolverine (CZ premiere: July 25, 2024; US premiere: July 26, 2024)
Years ago, when Ryan Reynolds lobbied for Hollywood to give Deadpool a chance, he ended up having to shoot an action scene with Tim Miller to convince the studio that the burly mercenary could work on screen. And during its filming, he had to save so much that the actors probably brought their own snacks. It is paradoxical that in 2024 it may be he who can save the entire superhero subgenre. And he will also receive the care he deserves. Wade Wilson will travel the multiverse to prevent the destruction of his world, and he will make fun of absolutely everything in the process. And especially from Hugh Jackman.
He certainly got paid handsomely to return to Wolverine, whom he parted with in style in Logan. But let’s hope so, because his Wolverine is an icon among movie superheroes, Jackman and Reynolds know each other and are friends, and Kevin Feige allowed them to goof around with an R rating, so there will be violence and swearing. In addition, we already know that there will also be a lot of star cameos, and Deadpool as a hero will be in a position to partially reboot or modify the MCU so that it goes in a different direction than Thor or Marvels. It is a question of how brave he will be in this direction and also if the average Shawn Levy can somehow solidly turn it around. But the fact remains that Deadpool can play with far more interesting cards than any other Marvel hero. So we’re hell bent on what he’s going to do. (Mr. Hunger)
Excitement index: 8/10
