1. After Earth (Sony/Columbia, 3,401 Theaters, 100 Minutes, Rated PG): So, I wonder if the producers of this film are sweating it out just a bit. I’m sure that thought that this film, about a military man and his son who return to Earth after an global apocalypse, wouldn’t be affected by being released just six weeks after Oblivion, a film about a military man who returns to Earth after an global apocalypse, because, hey, who doesn’t like post-apocalyptic films anyway?

Well, American audiences might not like them as much anymore. Oblivion, while opening at #1, dropped quite severely from then on, and it looks like the film might have trouble making its budget back domestically. (it’s overseas grosses were quite good, as Tom Cruise’s movies usually are, so might end up making a profit). Could audiences be done with thinking about the end of the world? That will make for a tough summer movie season, because the world will end in theaters several times in the next few months.

One mitigating factor that this could do worse than Oblivion is M. Night Shyamalan, a director who has gone from “I gotta see his film!” to “God, you couldn’t drag me in to see his films” in record time. Although Shyamalan is only directing the film (he did a rewrite of the film but that’s it), so it shouldn’t be as bad as The Last Airbender or The Happening. And this one has Will Smith in it, a star who usually does pretty well at the box office.

2. Now You See Me (Lionsgate/Summit, 2,925 Theaters, 116 Minutes, Rated PG-13): If there is one movie I am rooting for the summer film season, it’s this one. This might come as a surprise to you who have read my stuff before, who might have thought it would be one of the comic book films or possibly even The World’s End.

No, this one gets my vote. It’s got a fun concept (basically, it’s Ocean’s 11 with magicians). It’s got a great cast (See that poster over there? Five people on it have Oscar nominations. Three of those five have multiple nods. Two of those three have won an Oscar and one of those two have one more than one Academy Award).

But its a really busy summer. There are a lot of films competing for your theater-going dollar. A film like this can get lost in the shuffle. I am really hoping it doesn’t.

1. Gangster Squad (Warner Brothers, 3,103 Theaters, 113 Minutes, Rated R): If you read Rich Drees’ column on Movies and Tragedies, you’ll know that this film was originally scheduled to hit theaters in September of last year. Unfortunately, the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado caused a skittish Warner Brothers to reshoot a scene where gangsters shoot up a movie theater, which caused a delay until today.

Of course, this adds something to the film that it really doesn’t deserve. It casts a pall over the film that makes it hard for fans to judge it in its own merits.

Although, that in and of itself might not be a bad thing. The film seems like a whole lot of great actors in a script that has been done over and over again (anybody remember 1996′s Mullholland Falls? That too starred Nick Nolte, only he shared the screen with Chris Penn and not his brother Sean. Similar premise and adapted from the same true-life source). The less you think about that, the better.

2. Zero Dark Thirty (Sony/Columbia, 2,937 Theaters, 157 Minutes, Rated R): So, who wants to guess that the timing of this film going into wide release today was meant to capitalize on what the powers that be thought would be a slew of Oscar nominations?

Well it got five, including Best Picture and Best Actress. But the buzz after nomination day is all about the fact that Kathryn Bigelow got snubbed by the Academy for Best Director.

I don’t know if that slight will have any effect on how it does in the theaters. I can see the subject matter–the hunt for and the killing of Osama Bin Laden–as both bring in the curious and keeping the skittish away. But the fact that the Academy chose not to recognize Bigelow for the great job she did has no bearing on the quality of the film, which I understand is quite good.

3. A Haunted House (Open Road Films, 2,160 Theaters, 86 Minutes,Rated R): Back in 2000, when the Scream franchise was at the height of its popularity, the Wayans Brothers came out with a parody of that genre called Scary Movie. That franchise is still going although the Wayans have long left it behind. A fifth installment of that parody franchise is imminent.

Nowadays, the “found footage” horror film is all the rage,and, at least for one Wayans, ripe for parody.

Marlon Wayans wrote and stars in this film, which apes the current state of the horror genre in a similar way that the first two Scary Movies did to the horror films of their generations. But will films like Paranormal Activity be as good fodder as Scream was?

1. Skyfall (Sony/Columbia/MGM, 3,505 Theaters, 143 Minutes, Rated PG-13): I am a bit of an outsider here at FilmBuffOnline in the fact that I am not a rabid of James Bond fan. While I do own all the films, I have only seen a handful of them (this I hope rectify when my free time becomes more abundant, hopefully with about 15 years or so).

But I do appreciate James Bond, especially what he brings to the big screen. He has created some many iconic images (with just about every actor who has played him) that he deserves his exalted spot in the world of pop culture.

This is the third film in the Daniel Craig-era of the character, one with a more serious and gritty feel to it. But you can see why the character has lasted 50 years. I dare you to watch the trailer and not squeal just a bit, especially when Craig, as Bond, fixes his cuffs after landing in the sawed-off train car.

1. Argo (Warner Brothers, 3,250+ Theaters, 120 Minutes, Rated R): Based a formerly classified, hard-to-believe-if-it-was fiction true story, the film tells the tale of a rescue mission set in the days of the Iranian Hostage Crisis. Six embassy members managed to escape the embassy take over and take residence in the Canadian Embassy. The CIA hatches a plan to get them out–they’ll pose as a Canadian film crew scouting locations. The embassy workers will pose as part of the Canadian crew. The only problem is that the Iranians are very suspicious and if the embassy workers are caught, they are dead.

While ”Argo” is fake,the CIA based it on an abandoned adaptation of Roger Zelazny’s novel, Lord of Light. It got to the pre-production stages, with comic book legend Jack Kirby doing design drawings for the film. So, while Ben Affleck won’t be directing the Justice League film, he at least has done another film with a connection, tenuous though it may be, with comics.

2. Here Comes The Boom (Sony/Columbia, @3,000 Theaters, 105 Minutes, Rated PG): Kevin James is turning into a thinking man’s Adam Sandler. Now, wait! Hear me out on this!

Paul Blart: Mall Cop, for some, was a silly exercise in seeing a fat man trip over stuff. I saw it as a witty parody of the Die Hard-type films with Kevin James as the fat guy who trips over stuff recast in the Bruce Willis role. If it was just the former, I probably would have joined the naysayers who didn’t like it. As the latter, I liked it quite a bit.

I did not see The Zookeeper, so I can’t comment on that one, but this film appears to be a return to form. Come to see the fat guy get pummeled repeatedly, stay to see a subversive parody of the “Inspirational Teacher” and “Underdog Sports” genres.

3. Sinister (Summit Entertainment, @2,500 Theaters, 110 Minutes, Rated R): Hey, horror fans! Stop me when this sounds familiar. A family moves into a new house and…

What? Stop there? But I haven’t even gotten to the fact that dad’s a writer and the evil box of film he found which releases an evil entity that threatens his family!

Yeah, this film is Frankenstein construction of parts of better films. You don’t need a screenwriter for this, all you need is a computer program. And not even a new computer. You can run it on a dusty old Commodore 64 from the 80s.

The reason why films like The Cabin in the Woods and Scream take such a hold in the horror fandom is because the conventions they mock are ground into dust by films like these. Sure, there will probably be scares in this film, but only because the scene was scary in an earlier film. We need sick bastards to create original horror, not people to rip off the sick bastards that came before them.

4. Seven Psychopaths (CBS Films, @1,475 Theaters, 109 Minutes, Rated R): Speaking of sick bastards, let me present you with Martin McDonagh. I believe me when I say that in this case I mean “sick bastard” as the highest compliment.

McDonagh is one of my most favorite writers. I followed his writing from the stage to the screen, and have been impressed by his talent and ability all along the way. His writing is not for all tastes. He blends the wacky with the gruesome, the pathetic with the fearsome, into a dark comedy brew with great characters, excellent dialog and more than its fair share of heart.

If you are adventurous, and can see only one film this week, and if it playing near you, go see this film. If it wasn’t for a little thing called New York Comic Con, I would be seeing it at Friday’s first showing. But even without seeing, I know it has the best potential to be the best film this weekend.

1. Hotel Transylvania (Sony/Columbia, 3,349 Theaters, 91 Minutes, Rated PG): See, I’m conflicted about this one. I have a natural aversion to any film that features both Adam Sandler and David Spade in it, even if they are only providing voices. However, Genndy Tartakovsky has done Samurai Jack and the Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV cartoons, some quality stuff.

When it’s this much of a toss up,I go to the plot: Dracula’s idyllic life running a resort for monsters looking for a break from humanity comes to an end when his hotel is discovered by a human boy. No, it’s not that the secret is out, it’s because the boy develops feelings for Drac’s teenage daughter.

It is a unique twist on a rather common premise. But it’s also Sandler and Spade.  If only there was a good time travel movie coming out this week instead.

2. Looper (TriStar, 2,992 Theaters, 118 Minutes, Rated R): What I love about this movie is that writer/director Rian Johnson came up with this film with the idea to cast his friend Joseph Gordon-Levitt. By some casting miracle, Bruce Willis decided to join the film as the future version of Gordon-Levitt’s character. One problem: They don’t look anything alike. So, even though he was with the project from the very beginning, Gordon-Levitt is the one going through hours of make-up to look like Willis and not the other way around, because, well, I guess Willis doesn’t wear make-up.

Of course, as good as the make-up is, it has the unfortunate disadvantage of having ample examples of how a younger Bruce Willis look easily available on Netflix. But Gordon-Levitt’s acting as a pseudo-Willis is spot on.

But what about the film? Oh, it is a futuristic thriller where Gordon-Levitt is a hitman for the mob. Only with a twist–the mob sends their victims back in time so there isn’t a dead body in their present day. Things go swimmingly until the assassin looks an older version of himself in the eye as his next victim.

3. Won’t Back Down (Fox, 2,515 Theaters, 121 Minutes, Rated PG): Let’s do the rundown, shall we? Hot button topic that is in the news today? Check. Two women fighting against all odds against an unmovable system? Check. Cast loaded with Oscar nominees and/or winners? Check. Based on a true story? Well, it says it was based on actual events, so, close enough. Check.

What we have here is an Oscar-bait movie that is also trying to be a financially successful film as well. Typically, films like these succeed in neither goal.

The film centers on a young mother (Maggie Gyllenhaal) who teams up with an educator (Viola Davis) to try to make their inner city school better.

1. Hit and Run (Opened Wednesday,Open Road Films, 2,870 Theaters, 100 Minutes, Rated R): This film is a vanity project. And not a vanity project in the sense that Tom Cruise or Tom Hanks has an important work only their star power can bring to the screen vanity project, but rather a D-list celebrity wants to make a movie with his girlfriend vanity project.

Upset that I called Dax Shepard, who wrote and co-directed this film,  a D-list celebrity? Okay, name me one A-list film he’s been in? The closest he’s come has been either Zathura or When in Rome (where he worked with and possibly first met girlfriend Kristen Bell) and neither of those films made any cultural or box office impact.

This film has a basic plot. Shepard’s character is in the witness protection agency, but goes on a road trip with his girlfriend (Bell). This brings him to the attention of the Feds and his old gang, both who want to catch up with him for different reasons.

When the “funniest” scenes you put in the trailer, which should be the best scenes film so as to entice the audiences in, include a discussion about a character being raped in prison and a grown man dropping the F-bomb in front of small children, eh, I’m not really sold.

2. Premium Rush (Sony/Columbia, 2,255 Theaters, 91 Minutes, Rated PG-13): 2012 is turning out to be the the year of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, or at least the last half of it is. Between this film, last month’s The Dark Knight Rises, and the forthcoming Looper, he has the makings of a Michael Caine/Gene Hackman/Jude Law type of omnipresence at the cineplexes.

In this film he plays as bike messenger who gets a envelop he has to deliver across town in less that 90 minutes. Unfortunately, in addition to having to deal with crosstown traffic, he has to deal with a dirty cop who wants to steal the package from him. High-speed chasing ensues.

Judging by the running time of the film, the action might unfold in “real-time.” That’s fairly interesting.

1. Hope Springs (Opened Wednesday, Sony/Columbia, 2,361 Theaters, 100 Minutes, Rated PG-13): Here’s a rare sight: a film where Steve Carell is the youngest member of the main cast.

Carell plays a psychologist who is trying to help the optimistic Kay (Meryl Streep) and the reluctantly irascible Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) to bring some magic back into their decades long marriage.

The plot seems kind of familiar, but you have Streep working with Jones, two of the best actors of their generation. If anybody can rise above their material, it will be them.

2. Nitro Circus 3D: The Movie (Opened Wednesday, Arc Entertainment, 800 Theaters, 98 Minutes, Rated PG-13): This film was based on the MTV show, which is a combination of Jackass, X Games and extreme motor sports, and is trying, like Jackass, to make a successful move to the world of film.

If this kind of stuff appeals to you, then you probably have already seen it. If not, then nothing I can say will change you mind. So, there is really not much need to say much more about this film, is there?

3. The Bourne Legacy (Universal, 3,746 Theaters, 135 Minutes, Rated PG-13): If there’s one thing Universal should get credit for, it’s doing an in continuity reboot of the franchise instead of just starting over from scratch, although the latter wasn’t really feasible because the last Matt Damon Bourne movie, The Bourne Ultimatum, came out only five years ago.

However, the idea that there could be more than just one genetically altered secret agent seems natural. So, they have Jeremy Renner to expand the franchise and the freedom to make another Bourne film with Damon is he wants to come back. Pretty smart.

4. The Campaign (Warner Brothers, 3,205 Theaters, 85 Minutes, Rated R): You don’t really expect political satire from Zach Galifianakis. Even more so from Will Ferrell. So, even though this film focuses on a contentious political campaign, don’t expect a searing indictment of our political process. It will probably be two idiots trying to out stupid each other.

The film focuses on a North Carolina GOP primary (because having a Republican and a Democrat would be, what, too shocking? Too controversial? Not as funny?) where a scandal plagued incumbent, Cam Brady (Ferrell) must face off the challenge of a naive unknown with the implausible name of Marty Huggins (Galifianakis), who is being supported incredible rich backers who want to use his influence to land a controversial business deal.

1. Total Recall (Sony/Columbia, 3,601 Theaters, 118 Minutes, Rated PG-13): Hey, kids, this is what it’s like getting old. Upon thinking of this remake, one thought stuck in my head: why are they remaking this film? The original didn’t come out that long ago. Then I realized that the original came out 22 years ago. At one time, when I was much younger, 22 years seemed like a much longer period of time. Sigh.

Anyway, it might be outlandish to call the original a “classic,” but it certainly was a great movie–one of the better Phillip K. Dick adaptations. But that film was an example of the sci-fi action flick of the day, and the concept can stand some reinterpretation.

This new time around, there are changes (there is no going to Mars in this one) and similarities (Rekall, and all it does to our hero, still exists) to the original, but it does appear to be an interesting new look at the source material.

One change I’m interested in seeing is what the change of rating has affected the film. The original was an R, almost and X, for its gore and violence. This one is PG-13. Can’t wait to see of this means this version was toned down or if the rating standards has changed that much over that time.

2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (Fox, 3,392 Theaters, 94 Minutes, Rated PG): Yes, this film, which is aimed squarely at kids, is rated just one strata below Total Recall. What is this world coming to?

This is the next installment of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series, based on the successful book series by Jeff Kinney. Just so you know, even though this film shares the same title as the fourth book of the series, its plot combines the fourth book with the third. So, really, you won’t be missing anything.

The plot involves things not going according to plan for our hero over his summer vacation. Yep, that all IMDB gave me to work with. But if you are a fan of these movies you were probably a fan of the books, so you probably have a better idea what this film will be about than either me or IMDB.

1. Rock Of Ages (Warner Brothers, 3,470 Theaters, 123 Minutes, Rated PG-13): Part of me wants to love this movie. I like the idea of taking pop songs from a particular era and building a musical around them. However, another part of me wishes it wasn’t done in such a pandering way as it is done here.

Granted, I have not seen the play the film is based on, but it seems callously constructed to warm the hearts of anyone who grew up in the 1980s (or after and loved the music from that decade) with less concern for good storytelling than hitting emotional notes.

I am intrigued by the cast. The film is front loaded with unknowns and newbies, with experienced actors such as Tom Cruise and Alec Baldwin providing support. Risky move for a summer blockbuster.

2. That’s My Boy! (Sony/Columbia, 3,030 Theaters, 114 Minutes, Rated R): I saw one TV ad for this film, and it told me absolutely nothing about its plot. It was basically was scene after scene of Adam Sandler acting like a moron. Which, when you think of it, is all the film really needs. It’s targeting Sandler fans because in every film he acts like a moron to some extent.

But , for those of you who like to know what the films you might see are actually about, here is the plot. Sandler play Donny, a man who impregnated one of his teachers while he was in high school. For some incredulous reason, Donny was allowed to to raise the child on his own. When his son, Todd (Andy Samberg) turns 18, he hits the ground running, leaving his father with no intention of ever looking back. Years later, as Todd is preparing to get married, Donny returns again.

I can take or leave Adam Sandler’s films, the sillier he acts or the more stupid the premise the more I want to leave it. This seems like a “leave it” kind of film for me.

1. Men In Black III (Sony/Columbia, 4,248 Theaters, 103 Minutes, rated PG-13): Here’s something you don’t see every day, a sequel ten years in the making yet one that was rushed into production without a completed script. Don’t know what to make of that or what that says about the final product.

The boys are back as Agent J (Will Smith) comes to work and finds that his partner, Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) has called in sick. For 40 years. With the excuse of death. It appears that one of the aliens K busted went back in time and killed him. Now, J has to go further back in time to meet up with a young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to solve the mystery and save K’s life.

The story does have potential. But do we really trust a time travel story that was still being written when production began?

2. Chernobyl Diaries (Warner Brothers, 2,433 Theaters, 90 Minutes, Rated R): The best horror movies have a sense of reality to them and play on real life fears.

While for you and I, vacationing in a nuclear wasteland might be the furtherest thing from our minds. But you know there are a bunch of people who like to push boundaries and have “extreme” experiences that would totally be into that. And while these people seldom think too hard about the consequences, those consequences are never similar to what is played out here.

The film focuses on two couples who vacation on the outskirts of Russia’s worst nuclear disaster. While there, they are attacked by a bunch of mutants. I wonder if any of these mutants will have metal claws or be able to shoot lasers from their eyes?