It’s hard to believe but it’s already time for the summer movie season. The year didn’t start off on a good note but things did pick up a little during the spring. I saw several good movies since the first of March. But now it’s money time both literally and figuratively. The summer time brings out the big budget cash cows that all of the studios have been waiting to unveil. With the summer movie season finally here that means it’s Flaunt It or Flush It time. This is where I list five movies that I’m particularly excited about. These I will flaunt. Then I’ll mention five summer movies that I want no part of. These I will flush. So let’s get to it.

FLAUNT ‘EM

#1 – “MAN OF STEEL” (June 14, 2013) – It’s hard for me to believe that in the era of the superhero movie there’s no successful Superman franchise. Hopefully that will change June 14th. This new reboot of Superman has grown on me with every bit of new news and every new trailer. There’s a tremendous cast in place including names like Russell Crowe, Kevin Costner, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon, and Dianne Lane. But even more exciting is that Christopher Nolan is serving as producer and hopefully his creative influence will give this film something the last Superman effort lacked. I can’t help it, I’m really excited about this one folks.

#2 – “THE GREAT GATSBY” (May 10, 2013) – “Gatsby? What Gatsby”? Why it’s Leonardo DiCaprio playing the mysterious and wealthy socialite from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic tale. This was one of my most anticipated movies from last year before it ended up being pushed back to 2013. Baz Luhrmann is directing the film and all you have to do is watch the trailers to get a sense of the vivid and exciting style he’s bringing to the story. DiCaprio seems perfect for the role and there are some very interesting supporting roles for Carey Mulligan and Joel Edgerton. I love Fitzgerald’s story and I am insanely pumped for this film.

#3 – “BEFORE MIDNIGHT” (May 24, 2013) – It was 1995 when we first met Jesse and Celine on a train from Budapest. The two strangers hop off in Vienna and begin one of cinema’s most mesmerizing romances. After a stop in Paris for “Before Sunset”, the couple is back this year in “Before Midnight”. The trailer tosses out all sorts of interesting new questions about this couple. Of course Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy are back, both working again with director Richard Linklater. This small independent movie series has gained a nice sized following and I’m certainly a fan. I can’t wait to catch back up with these interesting and enthralling characters.

#4 – “IRON MAN 3” (May 3, 2013) – I loved the first Iron Man movie and while some people had problems with it, I enjoyed the second film as well. “Iron Man 3” really has me excited mainly because of its intriguing cast. First of all anytime Robert Downey, Jr. suits up in the red and gold armor I’m onboard. But listen to who joins him: Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle return. But new to the franchise is Guy Pearce (one of my favorite actors in the business) and the wonderful and underrated Rebecca Hall. I do question the decision to give the reins to director Shane Black but Marvel has a pretty good track record so far.

#5 – “WORLD WAR Z” (June 21, 2013) – “World War Z” was on my list of most anticipated films of 2013 so I may be flaunting it out of a sense of obligation. I have to be honest, my enthusiasm isn’t nearly as high as when I saw the first trailer. That being said I still think there is potential here for a crazy summer popcorn romp. Brad Pitt stars in a film that seems like one part zombie apocalyptic horror and another part explosive action. That’s right up my alley. Still I realize that this thing could go in a number of different directions. I choose optimism. My fingers are crossed and we’ll see what happens June 21st.

FLUSH ‘EM

#1 – “THE HEAT” (June 28, 2013) – I don’t think there are any trailers so far in 2013 that has annoyed me more than the ones for “The Heat”. I mean the regular theatrical trailer is enough to grind your last nerve but have you seen the red band trailer? It solidified this movie’s position at the very top of the ‘Flush It’ order. Sandra Bullock and the overrated Melissa McCarthy are embarrassingly bad in the trailer. And these are usually considered the best scenes? This thing looks like an absolute disaster and yet another stupid entry into the comedy genre. I’m sure some people will go see it. I promise you I won’t be one of them.

#2 – “GROWN UPS 2” (July 12, 2013) – Words can’t express how much I disliked Adam Sandler’s “Grown Ups”. It was terrible on almost every level. But somehow this guy is a box office draw which unfortunately results in “Grown Ups 2”. The first film was a lazy, juvenile, and cheap comedy that had no redeeming qualities at all. Why on earth would I expect this thing to be any different? The same cast is back (minus Rob Schneider) so that’s not encouraging. But don’t worry, Sandler has added the Oscar caliber acting talent of Stone Cold Steve Austin and Taylor Lautner to save the day. Yep, this one’s going to stink.

#3 – “THE HANGOVER PART III” (May 24, 2013) – If you would have told me that “The Hangover” would turn into an enormously popular, money-making trilogy I would have accused you of sniffing glue. I’m not sure why but the first movie of this series attracted a huge audience. That resulted in an absolutely atrocious sequel. That unwatchable garbage made more money so here we go again. Now I mentioned how annoying the trailer for “The Heat” was. The trailer for “The Hangover III” isn’t annoying. It’s just terrible and I don’t expect the movie to be any different. I’m more than happy to pull the handle and flush this thing.

#4 – “THE SMURFS 2” (July 31, 2013) – There’s no way anyone will convince me to waste my time or money on “Smurfs 2”. This sequel to the ridiculously successful 2011 live action/animated bore will most certainly provide more of the same. Now for the youngest possible movie watcher there will probably be some smiles. But for anyone over 3 years old, not so much. I will say that I don’t expect “Smurfs 2” to be as openly repellent as the other movies on this list, but I know it’s going to be the same flat, repetitive, and cutesy humor as before. There’s no smurfing way I’ll be checking this out.

#5 – “THE INTERNSHIP” (June 7, 2013) – What a surprise – another lame, unfunny looking comedy hitting theaters this summer. “The Internship” looks bad enough just from the trailers, but there’s more that should make you uneasy. Just knowing that this movie was made by many of the people who brought you “The Watch” last year should give you an idea of what we’ll be getting. Personally I still dont find Vince Vaughn funny and he wrote and stars in the film. I have no doubt that “The Internship” will grab a nice hunk of money at the box office. But I think I’ll wait for a comedy that actually looks funny. This just looks like a flusher.

There you go. I’ve flaunted five films that I’m anxious to see and flushed five that look like…well…crap. Agree or disagree? What are some summer movies you would like to flaunt or flush. Let me hear from ya.