Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (24 June 2009)
Why you have to watch it: It is the most anticipated movie of the year, riding on the back of the all-time No.1 movie in Malaysia "Transformers" which was released in summer 2007 to a frenzied nation who paid in excess of RM 18 million to watch the movie, many of them over and over again. We know of individuals who saw it more than 10 times, often alone and in the luxury class halls as well! Why you might not watch it: It's been playing for four months and you still can't get tickets. Not even the 6pm show. Why you will end up watching it anyway: With the introduction of so many new robots, Michael Bay and Steven Spielberg will have all your friends talking incessantly about the action, so in the end you ring in an MC or EL on a working weekday to catch the 11am show. Ice Age 3: Dawn Of The Dinosaurs (1 July 2009)
Why you have to watch it: The ingenuity of a three-trailer marketing buildup. The second one has been playing for months now, featuring a lovestruck Scrat getting fresh with a female squirrel of some sort - Scratte. It's funny, it's cute, it's guaranteed fun. Why you might not watch it: You're a miserable old bastard who doesn't like animated movies. You think Scrat's nose resembles the male genitalia and you're still terribly bitter from the time you saw Scrat lose the acorn to Scratte in the trailer. Why you will end up watching it anyway: You have enough kids who won't shut up unless you bring them to watch it. The wife is already looking at you right now. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (29 April 2009)
Why you have to watch it: Hugh Jackman is the man of the moment. He's everywhere, starring in everything. He did a musical at the last Oscars and he's just been voted World's Sexiest. That's just for the ladies. If you're a bloke, you'd know by now even if you're not a comics fan that Wolverine is arguably the most interesting and most marketable of all the X-Men characters. He's macho, he's got attitude and he's getting some pretty cool lines to say in the last three films. Why you might not watch it: You're sick of the superhero genre and you think Hugh Jackman is grossly miscast as Wolverine because Wolverine is supposed to be much shorter and much uglier. You also own a cat that did your new sofa in, and you'd hate to be reminded of how much you spent on that. Why you will end up watching it anyway: We've been promoting the movie no end here on Cinema Online because Cinnamon got to meet Hugh in person during a media event on Cockatoo Island in Sydney, Australia. You can't bear us shoving pictures and videos of Hugh Jackman everyday, so you decide to just see what the fuss is all about. Star Trek (8 May 2009)
Why you have to watch it: This is the much-heralded departure from the geeky, though iconic Trekkie culture that was prevalent during the early TV series. They got the "Cloverfield" director in on the project and roped in young faces like Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. Finally, there is going to be a Star Trek that will interest the general audience! Why you might not watch it: You're a Trekkie purist and you think they've bastardised your favourite TV series into an MTV show. What you had known to be cerebral entertainment has now turned into a sexy and sleek summer product for the masses. You also know you will hate your son, who is going to learn the same Vulcan Nerve Pinch you did aeons ago from the show, and use it on your daughter. Why you will end up watching it anyway: You read it here that Leonard Nimoy is reprising his role as the old Spock, and has come from the future to provide assistance to this poor lot of young upstarts. You're nostalgic, you give in and you find yourself giving the Vulcan salute to the box office boy as you leave the counter with your tickets. Angels And Demons (14 May 2009)
Why you have to watch it: You read all of Dan Brown's best-selling books and you've seen the last "Da Vinci Code". You absolutely love the complicated conspiracy universe that you have come to known through the absorbing novels. Why you might not watch it: You think Tom Hank's hair sucked big time in the last movie and you're a Catholic whose diocese just issued you a warning of excommunication if you or your family members watch it. Why you will end up watching it anyway: Well, it's called the decline of religion. Besides, just like the last movie and also others like "Dogma", church boycotts tend to have a boomerang effect - inadvertently making a movie more popular and successful. Terminator Salvation (28 May 2009)
Why you have to watch it: This is the only movie that might get as much attention as the second "Transformers". From the trailer, it looks like non-stop action with top-notch special effects. You're convinced you never need to associate Arnold Schwarzenegger with the name Terminator again. You also read that famed method actor Christian Bale went mad on set and starting mouthing off, getting himself into a lot of unnecessary publicity. Why you might not watch it: You believed all those stories about Christian Bale assaulting his mum and sister in public. Also, you forgot to book your tickets online and the only other new title releasing that still has seats left is Brothers Bloom, so you watched that instead. Why you will end up watching it anyway: You found out here that although it isn't R-rated in the U.S. like all the previous Terminator films, the producers were told to just go ahead and make the best movie there can be. You're also curious to know whether they included the topless scene of Moon Bloodgood, the Korean-Irish-Dutch temptress you last saw in "Street Fighter: Legend Of Chun-Li". Night At The Museum: Escape From The Smithsonian (21 May 2009)
Why you have to watch it: You watched the first one and you thought that Ben Stiller is even better at running away from things than that other dude Brendan Fraser. Action comedies like "Tropic Thunder" are rare, especially good ones. Why you might not watch it: You hate Ben Stiller movies with a passion and you read that they're only making this sequel because the first one made so much money. Why you will end up watching it anyway: There's nothing better to watch in between the opening weekends of "Angels And Demons" and "Terminator Salvation" and "Monster vs Aliens". Besides, you like being reminded of the Digital Mall ad on TV with the dancing security guard. Monsters vs Aliens (28 May 2008)
Why you have to watch it: You are starved of 3D movies since "Jonas Brothers" was rubbish and you miss taking the kids to "Journey To The Centre Of The Earth" at KLCC to wear the 3D goggles. You also miss "Monsters Inc" and the poster has a blue version of Mike. Why you might not watch it: You made the mistake of thinking it was a sequel to "Alien vs Predator", which sickens you since you watched "Terminator Salvation" and already had too much action. Your 8-year-old niece corrects you but the run has ended and you now look like a fool.
Why you will end up watching it anyway: A few new cinemas open and they play it as a free rerun. Your 8-year-old niece calls you at 7am on a Monday to let you know. Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince (16 July 2008)
Why you have to watch it: You go absolutely potty over Potter. You once thought your mum's old tablecloth resembled the Cloak Of Invisibility. You also watched and read the rival franchise "Twilight" (which took up its playdate when this was postponed) and you thought that was rubbish. Why you might not watch it: This is the first time one of the six movies has been rated PG since "Prisoner Of Azkaban". It was rumoured that one of the reasons for the movie being delayed was because it was undergoing some editing due to it being 'too dark' for children. The menacing and disturbed Tom Riddle in the trailer sure points that way. This means there's a higher chance the movie may get the PG-13 rating in Malaysia, making it impossible for you to bring the young 'uns. Why you will end up watching it anyway: No cinema usher working on regular wages will stand in the way of the mighty throng of Harry Potter ticket holders who are charging into the cinema hall. Don't you remember the Carrefour book sale?