Guide to summer’s biggest action films


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The July sun. A golden beacon of radiance? Or could it be an alien craft from the outer limits, ready to turn your metropolitan area into an ocean of flames, laser burns and pinwheeling mack trucks?

Summer is upon us, and with the mosquitoes and heat exhaustion comes an onslaught of cinematic blockbusters, action-packed and expensive enough to strip the gold from Flava Flav’s molars.

Thor, May 6

To some, Thor is a character from Norse Mythology mentioned briefly in school. To others, he is a comic book hero deservedly brought to the big screen.

To Hollywood, he is a fresh franchise to kick off the summer movies. The follow-up of Iron-Man 2’s post-credit scene of a hammer in New Mexico, Thor centers on the god (Chris Hemsworth) as he is banished to Earth by his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins).

Once there, Thor must live up to his divine origins and defend humanity from the wrath of his brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Expect plenty of hammer throws and thunder bolts in Marvel’s latest film.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, May 20

When Jack Sparrow indicated he would find the Fountain of Youth in At World’s End, he meant it. Four years after the last Pirates film, Johnny Depp returns as everyone’s favorite pirate in his search for the long-sought road to immortality.

Standing in his way is Blackbeard (Ian McShane), and complicating matters is Sparrow’s love interest, Angelica (Penélope Cruz). Neither Orlando Bloom nor Keira Knightley appear in the film, though Geoffrey Rush returns to reprise his role as Barbossa. Keeping true to the idea of ‘stranger tides,’ the film introduces mermaids and zombies.

Kung Fu Panda 2, May 26

Jack Black returns as Po, after mastering his inner warrior in the first Panda film. The stakes are raised as an emperor peacock (Gary Oldman) threatens to wipe out Kung Fu and take over China with a mysterious new weapon. With the casting of well-known actors including Jackie Chan, Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dustin Hoffman, David Cross and Seth Rogen, the stage is set for a satisfying blend of martial arts and witty humor.

Green Lantern, June 17

Holy space drama, Batman! For years, fans demanded a film for this lesser-known hero, and now the Green Lantern has a chance to be DC Comics’ next star.

During a test flight, Air Force pilot Hal Jordan (Ryan Reynolds) discovers a dying alien at a crash site. The alien grants him membership to the Green Lantern Corp. With extensive use of CGI, movie-goers will see not just the Green Lantern world, but the Green Lantern universe.

The trailers are not shy about revealing the Green Lantern Corp. planet with various members, ranging from the goldfish-like Tomar-Re to the bulbous orange Kilowog. To prove his worth to the Green Lantern Corp., which distrusts humans, Hal Jordan must defend Earth from Parallax, a parasitic creature that threatens to disrupt the Green Lantern’s role in the universe.

Captain America: The First Avenger, July 22

If Thor isn’t enough, Marvel is pumping out another major action hero film in hopes of developing a new franchise.

Like Thor, a piece of Captain America’s arsenal, his shield, is glimpsed in Iron-Man 2, sparking the interest for this film. Captain America begins with the lowly Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a soldier physically unqualified to join the U.S. Army during World War II.

Steve Rogers volunteers for a super-soldier program instead and becomes Captain America. The movie takes Captain America from the start of his fight with the Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) in the ’40s, into the present, where the battle continues.

Cowboys and Aliens, July 29

Strange movie face-offs don’t always go well, but as the collaboration of director Jon Favreau, producer Steven Spielberg and screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, this is bound to be a well-crafted action film. Daniel Craig stars as Jake Lonergan, an amnesiac in 1873 Arizona, who finds himself a wanted criminal by the local strongman (Harrison Ford).

As they settle their quarrels, a strange enemy appears and they join forces to beat the new foe.