The origin of the “blockbuster” can be found in the explosion of film in the 1920s.  Due to the increased popularity of cinema, movies often created such a stir that sold-out theaters became all too common. In order to describe films that generated box office lines spilling over onto multiple blocks, a term was coined – blockbuster. 

Each year, with the onset of spring, a flurry of blockbusters begin to trickle into theaters.  And each year, the assimilation of these blockbusters into our consciousness comes earlier and earlier. This year has already seen the release of such films as “Cloverfield” and “10,000 B.C.,” a film which tried to repeat on last year’s massive hit “300.”

For the sake of your time (and mine), I will keep this blockbuster preview short this week, covering only May films. Look to next week for June-August blockbusters.
      • Iron Man (starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges) – Based on the Marvel comic, the film version, directed by Jon Favreau (“Zathura,” “Elf”), stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, the inventor/industrialist who, upon kidnapping, opts to build himself a superhero suit of armor rather than a weapon of mass destruction. Hopefully I am not alone when I say that casting Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark may be the best casting decision in this recent string of superhero flicks. (May 2)

Speed Racer (starring Emile Hirsch, Matthew Fox, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon) – As the Wachowski brothers’ first directorial effort since “The Matrix” trilogy, “Speed Racer” is being met with a great deal of hype. Filming on this children’s TV show reboot is being approached experimentally, combining cartoon-like visuals with 2-D filming, creating what is sure to be one of the most visually arresting films of the year. The combined draw of nostalgia and the Wachowski brothers’ may just outweigh those Emile Hirsch detractors out there. (May 9)

 • The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (starring Ben Barnes, Tilda Swinton, Peter Dinklage) – Promising to be a darker, more action-packed sequel to 2005’s “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” “Prince Caspian” is looking to pull in the adult crowd to go along with their already established tween fans. Based on the second book in C.S. Lewis’ beloved series, this tale follows the Pevensie children as they make their way back to Narnia, only 1000 years down the road since their last visit. In the midst of a war, the children look to claim victory, both on the battlefield and at the box office. (May 16)

 • Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (starring Harrison Ford, Shia LeBeouf, Karen Allen, Cate Blanchett) – Perhaps the most anticipated film of the decade thus far, an ancient Harrison Ford makes his way back to the screen as the thrill-seeking archaeologist. Lips remain sealed about the specific plot points, but this, along with the presence of it-boy Shia LeBeouf, critics’ favorite Cate Blanchett and rumors of alien involvement will probably result in the biggest box office of the spring. (May 22)

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