Action Movies - Summer Movies 2009

Summer 2009 Action Movies

Summer Action Movies

Lights, camera ... action! When most people think of summer movies, they think fight scenes, chase sequences, awesome superpowers and earsplitting explosions.

This summer won't disappoint. Not only will we get some high-profile sequels like 'Transformers' and 'Angels & Demons,' but we'll see innovative reboots of the 'X-Men,' 'Terminator' and 'Star Trek' franchises ... plus the G.I. Joe squad, a new Tarantino movie and Johnny Depp -- NOT playing Captain Jack. Check out 11 movies that will have your pulse racing.

Warner Bros. / Paramount / Sony / Paramount

'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'

Opening: May 1

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds

What It's About: After an 'X-Men' trilogy that was two-parts glorious, the Marvel series goes into rewind with a series of origin prequels, beginning with the formative days of fan favorite Logan/Wolverine (Jackman). The actioner focuses on the clawed hero's clash with Victor Creed/Sabretooth (Schreiber) and the events that turned him into the tortured soul we know and love -- and introduces a new mutant destined for a sequel of his own, in the form of the garrulous Deadpool (Reynolds).

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20th Century Fox

'Star Trek'

Opening: May 7

Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana

What It's About: J.J. Abrams' 'Star Trek' relaunch goes where no movie has gone before: back to the origins of the U.S.S. Enterprise crew. The film follows James T. Kirk (Pine), Spock (Quinto) and co. as they rise through the Starfleet Academy, embark on the Enterprise's maiden voyage and, of course, save the world from Romulans for the very first time. Judging by positive early buzz, this franchise will most certainly live long and prosper.

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'Star Trek: The Original Series':

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Paramount

'Angels & Demons'

Opening: May 15

Starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer

What It's About: The follow-up to the controversial 'Da Vinci Code' is based on another mystery-thriller by novelist Dan Brown. This time, religious expert Robert Langdon finds himself in Rome on an action-packed quest to save the Vatican -- and Catholicism -- from being destroyed by a vengeful secret society. Codes are cracked, conspiracy theories are debunked and murder ensues.

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Get 'The Da Vinci Code':

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Sony

'Terminator Salvation'

Opening: May 21

Starring: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin

What It's About: The eagerly anticipated fourth installment in the 'Terminator' franchise leaps ahead to the year 2018, in which John Connor (Bale) has turned from a wussy kid (no offense, Edward Furlong/Nick Stahl) into a badass, battle-scarred foot soldier in the war against Skynet. Though director McG lost the battle to score an R rating, the flick looks to be loaded with action, cyborgs and jaw-dropping twists -- but not, alas, with the much-hyped shots of a topless Moon Bloodgood.

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'Sarah Connor Chronicles':

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Warner Bros.

'The Taking of Pelham
1 2 3'

Opening: June 12

Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, James Gandolfini

What It's About: The 1974 thriller about a heist man who hijacks an NYC subway gets a 21st-century re-rub with Washington and Travolta mixing it up as MTA hero and criminal, respectively (the actors also sport remarkably similar facial hair -- impending plot point?). Gandolfini joins the fun in his first major post-'Sopranos' role, this time on the right side of the law as the mayor of New York.

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Get 'Pelham' (1974):

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Sony

'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen'

Opening: June 24

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Rainn Wilson

What It's About: It's right there in the title -- the 'Fallen,' that'd be Megatron, comes back for 'Revenge.' Duh. But in case you need a little refresher: Megatron is revived and the Decepticons return to take over the earth ... and get all evil on Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf). Sam and his sexy-hot mechanically inclined gal pal Mikaela (Fox) are still teamed up with the Autobots. Sneak peeks hint at even bigger robot battles and even more massive destruction.

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Paramount

'Public Enemies'

Opening: July 1

Starring: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard

What It's About: Acting heavyweights Johnny Depp and Christian Bale find themselves on opposite sides of the law in Michael Mann's gritty tale of charismatic Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger (Depp) and the dashing FBI agent (Bale) charged with catching him. With gunfights, jailbreaks and betrayals galore -- plus one "Lady in Red" and socioeconomic relevance to boot -- this period shoot-'em-up promises to be both entertaining and timely.

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Universal

'All Good Things'

Opening: July 24

Starring: Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Jeffrey Dean Morgan

What It's About: Gosling plays a New York real-estate heir (think a young Donald Trump, with better hair) who gets involved with a woman from the proverbial wrong side of the tracks (Dunst). When she mysteriously disappears, a down-on-his luck detective (Morgan) stumbles upon the truth ... and a lot more than he bargained for. Based loosely on a real story, the movie marks the feature directorial debut of Andrew Jarecki ('Capturing the Friedmans').

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Kevin Winter, Getty Images/ Jean Baptiste, WireImage.com

'G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra'

Opening: Aug. 7

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans

What It's About: Kids of the '80s, welcome back these "real American heroes" from the cartoon/toy franchise/comic book series; this movie explores the back story of the evil Cobra organization, with Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Cobra Commander. Ever wondered what Duke (Tatum), Hawk (Quaid), Ripcord (Wayans), Scarlett (Rachel Nichols) and the Baroness (Sienna Miller) might look like in the flesh? Well, now you'll know -- and knowing, as they say, is half the battle.

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Paramount