The game is over, the confetti has dropped, and groupies are moving on to the NBA. The end of the Super Bowl only means one thing — a smorgasbord of summer movie delight. Granted, a :30 second commercial simply is not enough. But for a film like Super 8, where we’ve seen practically nothing, I’ll take what I can get.  I wanted to post a Top 5 Movie commercial list here, but there weren’t even 5 worthy ones to speak of.  Let’s get straight to the good ones (hint – Super 8 blew my mind in :30 seconds. It’s my most anticipated on 2011)

4. Cowboys & Aliens

Directed by Jon Favreau

Release Date: July 29th, 2011

I’m guessing that most people think the title and idea is silly. I think it can be a lot of fun. It’s great to see Harrison Ford back in his gruff form. Who knows? Maybe a Western/Sci-Fi hybrid can actually work.

3. Captain America: The First Avenger

Directed by Joe Johnston

Release Date: July 22nd, 2011

Captain America releases shortly after Thor as the third Avengers character introduced in a title role (Iron Man was the first). We really don’t get much here, but it seems to have a fun pulpy, Indiana Jones-esque vibe to it. I’m basing this off of a thirty second commercial, but I’ve got nothing else to work with. Between Captain America and Thor, I’ll take the Captain America movie every time.

2. Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon

Directed by Michael Bay

Release Date: July 1, 2011

Oh, Michael Bay. I loathe him in ways my vocabulary cannot register. I grew up loving Transformers. LOVED them. Obsessed over them. Played with them all day. When the first Bay Transformers film came out, I had a lot of fun with it. Part 2 made me angry — angry at Michael Bay, angry at the Hollywood summer blockbuster machine, angry that my childhood toys were ruined forever. I hated the idea that a 3rd one was in the works. HATED the thought of it. And in 3D?! Man oh man. Then I saw this :30 second commercial.

Tranformers 2 never happened. This looks like it could be a blast!

*Full disclosure – I’m not always such a pushover. But it’s Transformers we’re talking about. TRANSFORMERS!

1. Super 8

Directed by J.J. Abrams

Release Date: June 10th, 2011

This film has been kept under tight wraps. That’s why you’ve probably never heard of it. Check out this great article in the LA Times today. J.J. Abrams discusses the film and the reasons he tries to keep everything extremely secret. This is his tribute film to everything classic Spielberg (one of my all-time favorite directors) – a blend of E.T. (without the friendly alien), The Goonies, and Stand by Me. In :30 seconds you see the nods to Spielberg with the music, the children, and the fantastic. This is easily my most anticipated movie of the year.

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