This article was published on the original Sorry I’m Late.com on 27/06/2010.

Not only is it the middle of the year, but it is that time of year where the studios are launching their big-guns into theatres around the globe – it’s summer blockbuster season! (Here in Australia it is winter blockbuster season, which makes more sense – nothing better when it’s cold outside then going to a nice warm movie theatre. Summer is beach time, dammit.)

With that I present to you my mid-year anticipation list; with some of these films presented having been promoted since this time last year and sometimes earlier. With such long periods of gestation, any longer and I may have spoiled myself with an anticipati-gasm. Now, on to the list…

5
The Other Guys

The buddy-cop comedy: Many have come before, many shall come after; many have been average at best, but the best are amazing. Why do I get the feeling that this is shaping up to be the latter?

First of all – despite the opinions of many – I am as of yet not sick of Will Ferrell and I still find his man-child shtick funny. Not to mention I dig all of his outings with director Adam McKay (hanging for another run with Ron Burgundy as well).

We also have Mark Wahlberg in a comedy – an actual excuse to laugh at him, even though I have been laughing at his films for years now. I really dug The Big Hit, so hopefully he can find that kind of comic form once again.

And check out the support cast: Sam Jackson and The Rock as arrogant super-cops? Michael Keaton?! Yep!

4
Predators

Seeing that the last good Predator movie was in fact the first one, why on Earth should I get excited for this ‘re-launch’?

Here’s why: Based on the trailer we have what appears to be a back-to-basics approach to the franchise; eliminating all of the frivolous and tame aspects of the dreaded AVP films and going for a balls-out, violent sci-fi/horror take much like the original Arnie movie. If I am correct on this one then it should be amazing – the true Predator sequel I have been craving (face it, Predator 2 was pretty lame).

It also comes from Robert Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios which is another reason to get excited. The cast includes Adrien Brody, Lawrence Fishburne, Danny Trejo(!) and a bit of inspired casting in Topher Grace.

This shouldn’t be a disappointment – although the director’s name is Nimrod…

3
Toy Story 3

It’s Toy Story. It’s Pixar. What else do you need?*

*While writing this I actually saw Toy Story 3 – I was not disappointed (and it concludes on an amazingly emotional sucker-punch that nearly made me cry like a wuss – bless those tear-hiding 3D glasses).

2
Scott Pilgrim vs the World

The trailers and teasers for Edgar Wright’s (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) take on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s series of graphic novels have not only got me super-psyched for the film, but I currently am getting the first five books of the series shipped to me as we speak (the sixth coming out later this month).

Wright’s track record is impeccable, Michael Cera seems perfect for this role and the visual style has me amped due to its unique comic and video game tone. Check out the rest of the cast: Chris Evans, Brandon Routh (as a blonde!), Jason Schwartzman and Aubrey Plaza? Kick ass!

1
Inception

Remember that time when I said Edger Wright’s track record was impeccable? Same goes for Inception director Christopher Nolan: mastermind behind The Prestige, Memento, and a couple of Batman films you may have heard of – Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

The thing I dig about Nolan’s promotional style is that he goes to great lengths to keep things under wraps, always giving morsels of footage and information to the public that only drives further interest – as opposed to the current style of giving so much away before release that it actually damages the film’s mystique (or as I like to call it: T2 Syndrome, but that’s for another time).

After viewing the trailer one thing’s for certain – you don’t know what the hell is going on! But it draws you in and makes you want to know more – a perfect reaction to a well crafted trailer. The only negative on show at the moment: the very Dark Knight-esqe Joker-on-street poster.

All we can tell is that it is in the ever-reliable hands of Nolan and crew, the ensemble cast is spectacular (Leo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard and Ellen Page; regular Nolan collaborators Ken Watanabe, Cillian Murphy and Michael Caine; Tom freaking Berenger!), and it is going to be a monster hit.  Add everything together and you have my most anticipated flick of the summer season (winter season).