Warner Bros. Pictures

Hey, no pressure, Bats, but this summer ultimately being 

a winner or loser depends on you and "The Dark Knight Rises."

No, the calendar says it's not actually summer yet. And yet we're probably about halfway into what we consider the summer movie season.

Many of the movies I wrote about in April have arrived in theaters, and I've seen most of them, with apologies to "Men in Black III," "The Dictator" and "Dark Shadows." (Um, it's not you, it's me?)

So far, the summer's been .... good. Not great, but by no means bad. As you would hope, "Marvel's The Avengers" and "Prometheus" -- in which director Ridley Scott ventures back to his "Alien" universe -- have been the best of the bunch. Neither movie was everything I hoped it would be, but each is entertaining enough to get a solid recommendation.

I gave the same rating -- three stars out of four -- to "Battleship," easily the pleasant surprise of the season. A summer needs that really fun bad movie," and "Battleship" was this summer's.

My disappoints so far have come in "Snow White and the Huntsman" and "Rock of Ages." I expected neither to be outstanding, but I thought each had a lot more potential than it showed.

This week brings two more potential goodies: Pixar Animation Studio's "Brave" and "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter." I saw the former Monday night and am returning to the same Northeast Ohio theater tonight to view the latter. I would tell you what I thought of "Brave," but then Abraham Lincoln would have to kill you. (In truth, I'm restricted from saying much until the movies open, so check www.News-Herald.com/Life on Friday morning for my reviews.)

There are a few potential gems to come. I'm inexplicably excited for the "Bourne" movie sans Matt Damon (whom I like), "The Bourne Legacy" (Aug. 3). Of course, the resetting of Spider-Man in "The Amazing Spider-Man" will be a must-see. And, if you know me, you know I wouldn't miss "The Dark Knight Rises" for a real-life version of Batman's utility belt. (OK, well, maybe.)

If "Rises" is anywhere near as good as its predecessor -- I gave "The Dark Knight" four stars -- and brings director Christopher Nolan's trilogy to a satisfying end, consider the summer a smashing success. 

-- Mark Meszoros | Entertainment@News-Herald.com | @nhfeatures

I wanted to see "Men in Black 3" this weekend, but the bad reviews kept me away. Anyone see it? Is it worth the full price (or the matinee price)? Or should I wait until it's at the dollar theater (or on Netflix)?

From The Associated Press:

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Monday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Tuesday.
1. “Men in Black 3,” $70 million ($133.2 million international). (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire; "Smith and Jones form the 'Men in Black' backbone'" by The AP's David Germain)
2. “The Avengers,” $46.9 million ($26.3 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros)
3. “Battleship,” $13.8 million ($2.9 million international). (Review by Meszoros)
4. “The Dictator,” $11.8 million ($11.8 million international). (Review by The Lemire)
5. “Dark Shadows,” $9.4 million ($13.1 million international). (Review by Lemire)
6. “Chernobyl Diaries,” $9.3 million.
7. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” $8.9 million ($1.5 million international). (Review by Lemire)
8. “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” $8.2 million ($853,000 international). (Review by Lemire)
9. “The Hunger Games,” $2.9 million ($800,000 international). (Review by Meszoros; "Hunger Games" overflows with ingredients that should mix together to form a giant hit at box office by Germain)
10. “Think Like a Man,” $1.8 million.(Review by Lemire)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Even though Mark Meszoros gave "The Avengers" and "Battleship" the same number of stars in his review, the star-packed superhero movie has held on to the No. 1 spot.

From The Associated Press:

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “The Avengers,” $55.1 million ($56 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros)
2. “Battleship,” $25.4 million ($6.5 million international). (Review by Meszoros)
3. “The Dictator,” $17.4 million ($30.3 million international). (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire)
4. “Dark Shadows,” $12.8 million ($30.4 million international). (Review by Lemire)
5. “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” $10.5 million. (Review by Lemire)
6. “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” $3.3 million ($1.8 million international). (Review by Lemire)
7. “The Hunger Games,” $3 million ($1.5 million international). (Review by Meszoros; "Hunger Games" overflows with ingredients that should mix together to form a giant hit at box office by The AP's David Germain)
8. “Think Like a Man,” $2.7 million. (Review by Lemire)
9. “The Lucky One,” $1.8 million ($2.7 million international). (Review by Lemire)
10. “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” $1.5 million. (Review by The AP's John Defore)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Another good weekend for "Marvel's The Avengers," which easily took first place at the box office, but "Dark Shadows" had a respectable second-place showing -- at least, for competing against the summer's first blockbuster.

From The Associated Press:

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. "The Avengers," $103.2 million ($95.4 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros)
2. "Dark Shadows," $28.8 million ($36.7 million international). (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire)
3. "Think Like a Man," $6.3 million. (Review by Lemire)
4. "The Hunger Games," $4.4 million ($2.4 million international). (Review by Meszoros; "Hunger Games" overflows with ingredients that should mix together to form a giant hit at box office by The AP's David Germain)
5. "The Lucky One," $4.1 million ($2.5 million international). (Review by Lemire)
6. "The Pirates! Band of Misfits," $3.2 million ($2.2 million international). (Review by The AP's John Defore)
7. "The Five-Year Engagement," $3.1 million ($1.7 million international). (Review by Lemire)
8. "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," $2.7 million ($1.9 million international). (Review by Lemire)
9. "Chimpanzee," $1.6 million. (Review by Meszoros
10. "Girl in Progress," $1.4 million.

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

The first-place movie at this weekend's box office should come as no surprise to anyone who pays a lick of attention to pop culture. I am surprised, however, at the amount of money "The Avengers" took in over its competition -- $192 million more! What I would do with $192 million ...

From The Associated Press:

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.
1. “The Avengers,” $200.3 million ($151.5 million international). (Review by The News-Herald's Mark Meszoros)
2. “Think Like a Man,” $8 million. (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire)
3. “The Hunger Games,” $5.7 million ($4.3 million international). (Review by Meszoros; "Hunger Games" overflows with ingredients that should mix together to form a giant hit at box office by The AP's David Germain)
4. “The Lucky One,” $5.5 million ($5.5 million international). (Review by Lemire)
5. “The Pirates! Band of Misfits,” $5.4 million ($2.6 million international). (Review by The AP's John Defore)
6. “The Five-Year Engagement,” $5.1 million ($2.3 million international). (Review by Lemire)
7. “The Raven,” $2.5 million. (Review by Germain)
8. “Safe,” $2.47 million ($2.2 million international). (Review by Germain)
9. “Chimpanzee,” $2.4 million. (Review by Meszoros)
10. “The Three Stooges,” $1.8 million. (Review by Lemire)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

If you haven't yet gotten your fill of previewing “The Avengers,” be sure to listen to the podcast The News-Herald recorded early last week.

Movie review: "Avengers" comes together with mostly smashing results

"Marvel's The Avengers" brings together big-time Marvel Comics superheroes from a bunch of recent movies for one big-budget adventure.

Community Media Lab blogger Chris Lambert (Comics, Don’t Get Me Started) and The News-Herald editors Mark Meszoros (movie nut), John Bertosa (an extra during the “Avengers” shoot in Cleveland last year) and Mark Podolski (superhero enthusiast) talk about how the movie came to be made, their expectations for it and its roots in the comic books.



Lambert is a lifelong comic book collector and author. He has lectured on film and comics at Lakeland Community College, written a weekly column for The News-Herald, and written and performed a daily radio show about the history of comics. Find Lambert online at his blog at Comics Don't Get Me Started and at the website E Comics Gazette.

Follow Meszoros on Twitter @nhfeatures, Bertosa at @JBertosa and Podolski at @mpodo.

(And we're not on iTunes yet, but we're working on it!)

In anticipation of "The Avengers" coming out on Friday, I wanted to revisit the shoot in downtown Cleveland from last summer. Check out the Storify below to see photos, tweets and more from what area residents saw when East Ninth Street was transformed into New York City.




-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Next week kicks off the summer movie season, and we are more than ready for it. You can get ready for it, too, by listening to our podcast on what's hitting theaters in the next few months.

If you want more summer movies, check out our podcast previewing "The Avengers."

Follow us on Twitter: @nhcheryl, @nhfeatures and @mpodo.

Captain America? Check. Iron Man? Check. Thor? Hulk? Black Widow? Hawkeye? Check. Check Check. Check.

“The Avengers,” which brings together big-time Marvel Comics superheroes from a bunch of recent movies for one big-budget adventure, is about to kick off the summer movie season.

Community Media Lab blogger Chris Lambert (Comics, Don’t Get Me Started) and The News-Herald editors Mark Meszoros (movie nut), John Bertosa (an extra during the “Avengers” shoot in Cleveland last year) and Mark Podolski (superhero enthusiast) talk about how the movie came to be made, their expectations for it and its roots in the comic books.



Lambert is a lifelong comic book collector and author. He has lectured on film and comics at Lakeland Community College, written a weekly column for The News-Herald, and written and performed a daily radio show about the history of comics. Find Lambert online at his blog at Comics Don't Get Me Started and at the website E Comics Gazette.

Follow Meszoros on Twitter @nhfeatures, Bertosa at @JBertosa and Podolski at @mpodo.

(And we're not on iTunes yet, but we're working on it!)

A week ago, "The Avengers" set up shop in downtown Cleveland to film the movie, which is due in theaters next year. View the Storify below to see what Cleveland area residents shared from the set.




-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl