I go based on my own excitement for a particular movie. I haven't gotten excited by many movies (trailers) this year. As for the Buzz with X-files, if it is a movie for the fans, than it's not going to do very well. Might be good, but might also be a flop too, since it is coming out a week after Dark Knight.
Another addition to my "saw it" checklist- Mamma Mia!- so much fun. I give it an A. I love movies like that!
Tough grader. I wouldn't want you to be my professor. I'm going to see the Dark Knight Sunday. (I can't stand opening weekend crowds). I'm looking forward to it!!!
I fear next year's summer movies...we were spoiled by this summer with so many blockbuster hits: Wolverine Star Trek Angels and Demons Night at the Museum II Terminator Salvation Up Fast and the Furious The A Team Prince of Persia Transformers 2 Ice Age 3 GI Joe I'm scared.
OK, seen them Wall-E: A+++ The Dark Knight:A- (Actually, first hour and a half:C+, last hour: A+) What's next? X-Files, The Mummy
Iron Man- A Indy IV: Didn't see Incredible Hulk: Didn't see Kung Fu Panda: B+ (too short) Wanted: Didn't see (from what I saw of it and know of the comics D) Wall-E: A+ The Dark Knight: B X-Files: B+ Sex and the City: Didn't see Hancock: Didn't see Hellboy 2: B Get Smart: B+ Better than first thought: Get Smart X-Files Kung Fu Panda Wall-E About what I thought: Hellboy 2 Iron Man Disappointed: The Dark Knight
Only a few movies left for me to see-- The Mummy, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, & Wall-E. But overall, not even The Dark Knight has quite superceded the dolldrums that have cast a pall over this summer. Perhaps the anticipation just kept me waiting too long and forced my expectations too high but I was expecting The Dark Knight to be an "A+++++++++++!!!!!!" rather than a simple "A/A-." The X-Files was also very "meh." Maybe some of it is just that there's too many mediocre sequels this year. After all, it seems like the movie that surprised everyone into liking it was Iron Man. OTOH... I still don't see how The Chronicles of Narnia could appeal to anyone except for children & those who like movies with banal Christian themes. The Incredible Hulk demonstrated how soulful Ang Lee's version of Hulk was. Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and The X-Files: I Want to Believe were both mildly entertaining adventures but didn't really justify coming back to these franchises after such a long hiatus. To me the story of Indiana Jones still ends with him, his father, Marcus Brody, & Sallah riding off into the sunset at the end of The Last Crusade. The X-Files: I Want to Believe would have been much more impressive if it had been a TV episode. Everyone loves The Dark Knight but I feel like, despite all of its merits, it failed to really build on the Bruce Wayne storyline that was the core element of Batman Begins. Instead, he spent too much of the movie being overshadowed by the Joker, Harvey Dent, & Lt. Gordon (much in the same way that everyone criticized the Burton/Schumacher movies for). Sex & the City, while not a sequel, was a follow-up to the TV series. Unfortunately, the movie gets bogged down in the middle by a LOT of moping. Still, I'd say that 2008 is shaping up to be better than 2007. Nothing made me want to start shouting "You suck!" at the screen this year like Spider-Man 3 did last year.
Watchmen is late WINTER with a March '09 release. We are talking SUMMER and I see many on that list that need not be feared.
So far I've seen Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Indy 4 and The Dark Knight and enjoyed the lot. I meant to see Hancock but I haven't had the time. I'm going to see The X-Files next week. The Dark Knight is by far the best of the movies I've seen.
Update in my sig after seeing The Mummy 3 tonight. Great movie, I've got a review over in the SciFi forum. There's only a couple movies left for me this Summer: Tropic Thunder and Death Race.