Summer’s almost here, and that means it’s time for the 366 Weird Movies reader base to send me, Alfred Eaker, on my sixth masochistic field trip of blockbuster movie torture. Since the blockbusters listed here actually extend to the end of the year in 2019, I will grant readers a choice of 4, rather than the normal 3 (AS LONG AS AT LEAST ONE CHOICE IS A FILM DEBUTING AFTER JULY). The candidates are below. Be sure to view the entire post; you will vote at the end.

1. We’ll start with the most masochistic film imaginable: Pokémon Detective Pikachu (Opening May 10). Do I have to explain why a field trip to a mortuary would preferable? Although I’ve never seen anything out of the Pokémon franchise, I know it’s supposed to be the most profitable media franchise of all time and I’ve seen enough of its merchandising to know this is something to be quite afraid of. Of course, one will never go broke underestimating the intelligence and taste of the American public, so it will naturally be the biggest thing since Moses parted the Red Sea… until the next big thing, that is.
   
2. Aladdin (Opening May 24). Strike one: Robin Williams is dead. Strike two: This is directed by Guy Ritchie, who’s never made a good film in his entire career. Strike three: Uh, live action movies of animated Disney fodder are lessons in banality and redundancy. The proof is in the pudding of Dumbo. Did anyone really think that was going to be anything less than a pile of excrement? Especially, since it was directed by Tim Burton whose mojo violently gave up the ghost twenty years ago. Disney never learns.
3. X-Men: Dark Phoenix (Opening June 7). There has been a pretty consistent lesson with the whole “X-Men” thing: hire Bryan Singer, avoid all the entries not directed by him, and do not let him direct anything else. With Singer’s personal and legal matters, his career seems to be history now, so why not put the franchise out of its misery? Not a chance, no matter how many godawful movies they churn out.
4. Child’s Play (Opening June 21). On the (maybe) plus side, Mark Hamill has a supporting role, hopefully as a villain, as he is far more interesting when his ugly side comes to the surface (something the crying fanboys could not grasp regarding Last Jedi). On all of the negative sides; the director, Lars Klevberg, has only directed one feature, and it was reportedly dreadful. So too was the original Child’s Play, which failed to do in 2 hours what Trilogy of Terror accomplished in 15 minutes. The sequels were even worse—so now, let’s revive that dead horse.
5. Spider-Man: Far From Home (Opening July 5): Ok, the previous one, also directed by Jonn Watts, received great reviews. However, the trailer for this looks like a preview for the next Avengers thingamajig. Besides, I heard they killed Spidey in the last Avengers thingamajig. Still, hopefully it will suck so I can pan it and piss off Marvel fundamentalists.
6. The Lion King (Opening July 19). Oh, come on! Two–count ’em, two–pointless live-action rehashes from the studio of mucus in one summer! At least the original Aladdin was good. And, yes, I know I’m in the minority, but Lion King, with its saccharine “The Circle of Life,” today still sends my acid reflux into overdrive. It does have a director (Jon Favreau) with a good track  record, but what the hell can he do with a supposedly “live-action” version?  Which, of course, has to be practically 100 percent CGI. That leaves us to ask: why?
7. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Opening July 26). Tarantino does Hollywood in the Manson era—oh yeah. I know the Summer Blockbusters are supposed to be your sadistic revenge upon me, but try to have a heart and send me to this one.
   
8. The New Mutants (Opening July 26). Disney isn’t the only studio beating dead horses twice during the summer. See #3.
9. Gemini Man (Opening October 4). Ang Lee is a damn fine director. Even if he has had a few lesser efforts (which are still interesting, i.e. Lust, Caution), there’s The Life of Pi, Brokeback Mountian, Hulk (yes, it was one of the better Marvel efforts, which fanboys are still crying over 16 years later), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Ride with the Devil, The Ice Storm, and Sense and Sensibility. That’s enough to be optimistic about this sci-fi thriller with a stellar cast.
10. Joker (Opening October 4). Okay, everyone is raving over the trailer, comparing Joaquin Phoenix favorably to the late Heath Ledger, but the fact remains that director Todd Phillips is the hack who gave us Starsky and Hutch, the Movie. I feel an “I told you so” coming.
    
11. Zombieland: Double Tap (Opening October 11). Nothing is more yawn-inducing than zombies. Since George Romero really is dead now, they tapped Ruben Fleischer to direct. You know, the guy who’s stinking up cinemas as we speak with his Venom bowel movement. Oh, but this one is supposed to be funny (uh, they’ve done that before too, and not well, mind you).
12. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (Opening October 18). Marielle Heller is not a prolific director at all, but her track record is good, and how can a feature film about Mister Rogers go wrong?
13. Terminator: Dark Fate (Opening November 1). Who knew Ahnold was still alive? I’m still downing Rolaids over the last Terminator. Gawd.
14. Doctor Sleep (Opening November 8). Stephen King‘s belated sequel of sorts to The Shining is directed by Mike Flanagan, who some critics think is the horror genre’s next big director. Having seen none of his films, I can’t voice an opinion, but I will say that the best thing that ever happened to King was Stanley Kubrick mutilating his novel.
15. Star Wars: Episode IX (Opening December 20). I saw the original on the weekend it premiered  in 1977 and counted myself a fan, but today the ONLY demographic more generally loathesome than Marvel fans are Star Wars fanatics.You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy… and of misogny and racism.

(Poll is open for 1 week only. You may vote once per day).