Monthly Movie Madness: May 2014

The Summer Movie Season is finally here! And we're kicking it off in May with some anticipated sequels, re-imagining of famous characters, original comedies and much more. Here are my picks for this month.

5. A Million Ways To Die In The West: Although I didn't actually watch Ted until about 8 months ago, I will say that I was very impressed with it. Though I'm not certain MacFarlane can act... Ted showed enough promise that I owe him a chance to show what he's got and the trailer looks hilarious.

Synopsis: Seth MacFarlane directs, produces, co-writes and plays the role of the cowardly sheep farmer Albert in A Million Ways to Die in the West. After Albert backs out of a gunfight, his fickle girlfriend leaves him for another man. When a mysterious and beautiful woman rides into town, she helps him find his courage and they begin to fall in love. But when her husband, a notorious outlaw, arrives seeking revenge, the farmer must put his newfound courage to the test. Starring alongside MacFarlane are Oscar (R) winner Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson, Amanda Seyfried, Giovanni Ribisi, Sarah Silverman and Neil Patrick Harris. MacFarlane reunites many of the filmmakers behind Universal and MRC's hit film Ted including Scott Stuber (Bluegrass Films) and Jason Clark who produce, and Wellesley Wild and Alec Sulkin who co-wrote the script.

4. The Amazing Spider-Man 2: I liked the first installment, though this seems like it may suffer from an overabundant amount of characters AKA: Spider-Man 3 virus.

Synopsis: We've always known that Spider-Man's most important battle has been within himself: the struggle between the ordinary obligations of Peter Parker and the extraordinary responsibilities of Spider-Man. But in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Peter Parker finds that a greater conflict lies ahead. It's great to be Spider-Man (Andrew Garfield). For Peter Parker, there's no feeling quite like swinging between skyscrapers, embracing being the hero, and spending time with Gwen (Emma Stone). But being Spider-Man comes at a price: only Spider-Man can protect his fellow New Yorkers from the formidable villains that threaten the city. With the emergence of Electro (Jamie Foxx), Peter must confront a foe far more powerful than he. And as his old friend, Harry Osborn (Dane DeHaan), returns, Peter comes to realize that all of his enemies have one thing in common: OsCorp.

3. Neighbors: I'll be the first to admit that I think Efron gets a bad rap, sure he was a Disney star but do we think any less of him because of it? Okay, yeah most do, but he's a very good comedic actor regardless. Pair that with the genius of Rogen and what is not to like? The reviews are amazing (96% on RT) and the presence of Forgetting Sarah Marshall's director behind the lens leads me to think this could be The Hangover of this summer.

Synopsis: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Rose Byrne lead the cast of Neighbors, a comedy about a young couple suffering from arrested development who are forced to live next to a fraternity house after the birth of their newborn baby. Neighbors is directed by Nick Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek).

2. Maleficient: This was the role Angelina Jolie was born to play, I don't care how many golden globes she has or what Oscar she's been nominated for. I'm even disregarding her excellent turn as Lara Croft... This is pretty damn close to my must see movie of the summer... I have a feeling Maleficent will make last year's "Oz" look like Snow White And The Huntsman by comparison.

Synopsis: "Maleficent" explores the untold story of Disney's most iconic villain from the classic "Sleeping Beauty" and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone. Driven by revenge and a fierce desire to protect the moors over which she presides, Maleficent cruelly places an irrevocable curse upon the human king's newborn infant Aurora. As the child grows, Aurora is caught in the middle of the seething conflict between the forest kingdom she has grown to love and the human kingdom that holds her legacy. Maleficent realizes that Aurora may hold the key to peace in the land and is forced to take drastic actions that will change both worlds forever.

1. X-Men: Days Of Future Past: ohmygodohmygodohmygod... Is it May 23rd yet? The beloved comic series gets brought to the screen by original X-Movie Master Bryan Singer.

Synopsis: The ultimate X-Men ensemble fights a war for the survival of the species across two time periods in X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST. The beloved characters from the original "X-Men" film trilogy join forces with their younger selves from the past, "X-Men: First Class," in order to change a major historical event and fight in an epic battle that could save our future.

Honorable mentions: Filth, Words And Pictures, Godzilla, Million Dollar Arm