Looking Out For The Next Summer Blockbuster
The summer of 2011 will be full of plenty of franchise hits: new “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Kung Fu Panda,” “Harry Potter,” “Transformers” and “X-men” editions will hit the movie screens. Luckily, for moviegoers in search of something unexpected, there are some new stories, and potential blockbusters on the calendar. J.J. Abrams, of “Lost” and “Star Trek” fame will bring the alien-centric “Super 8″ to theaters in June, with an intriguing late 70′s story of kids accidentally capturing some goings-on at Area 51. In July, another sci-fi tinged thriller, “Cowboys and Aliens,” will combine the Old West and outer space invaders, from “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau, with superstars Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig leading the charge. “Rise of the Apes,” in August, takes a disturbing look at human genetic engineering, as a precursor to the “Planet of the Apes” storyline, with modern-day San Francisco, James Franco, and Peter “Lord of the Rings” Jackson’s special effects studio lending visual support. Lastly, “The Darkest Hour” wipes out the entire electrical grid, and leaves one set of Moscow tourists to fight another alien invasion. Expect to stand in long lines with plenty of fan boys for all these potential summer smash hits.