Bonjour, readers! With summer upon us, my Hawaiian shirts are preparing for launch…and so are a number of exciting films hitting your local big screens this month.
Among these moviegoing options is Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, which will take viewers on a wild ride across – you guessed it – the spider-verse. A sequel to 2018’s Into the Spider-Verse, the film retains the same comic book-like animation style as its Oscar-winning predecessor. And the wacky level will be dialed up this time as webslingers, Miles Morales and Gwen Stacy, embark on a new adventure, one that includes hundreds of alternate Spider-People. And what happens next is…well, we don’t know, because Sony didn’t allow me to screen the film ahead of time. Mass media conglomerates, am I right? See how the plot unfolds when Across the Spider-Verse swings 
into theaters on June 2.
Thrusting audiences into an entirely different cinematic realm is Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. It’s been awhile since we’ve gotten another addition to the Transformers franchise, to which Rise of the Beasts is both a sequel and prequel (a sprequel – feel free to contact me, Merriam-Webster). This film comes in the form of a lively, action-packed ’90s adventure as two archaeologists encounter the Transformers race – but a deadly battle between factions lies ahead that could change the fate of everything. Just read that in an Optimus Prime voice and you’re set. Rise of the Beasts stomps into theaters on June 9.
Studios are also attempting to make their mark on Father’s Day Weekend. Three highly anticipated features await your judgment, including DC’s latest escapade: The Flash. An emotional yet funny comic book epic, this superhero flick sees Barry Allen (The Flash) use his gifted powers to travel back in time and prevent his mother’s death. However, being – like all young people – stupid, he shatters the universe and becomes trapped in an alternate reality with his alternate self…and an alternate Batman! That’s right, your little birdy informant is correct: Michael Keaton is back, more than 30 years later, to re-don the iconic Batsuit. Along with his younger self and the elderly-but-still-agile Batman, Barry must team up with nomad hero Supergirl to rally against evil General Zod’s army, save the world he’s trapped in and return home.
Coming up the same weekend is Pixar’s newest outing, Elemental. Described as an animated romantic dramedy with thought-provoking themes and stunning animation, the film is set in a megalopolis where fire, water, land and air characters reside but are somewhat split apart because of their differences. Ouch. Not an ideal society. Directed by Peter Sohn, Elemental is Pixar’s 27th film so far.
Rounding out Father’s Day Weekend is Asteroid City, the newest art piece from esteemed producer-writer-director Wes Anderson. Anchored by the captivating absurdity, vivid colors, magnificent ensemble cast and simple oddity that put Anderson’s films on the movie map, Asteroid City follows a Stargazer event held in a peculiarly picturesque and barren but bright town that draws in citizens from all around the country, as well as…aliens?! My Must-See Movie of the Month, Asteroid City, enters your theater’s atmosphere for a limited release on June 16, before opening wide on June 23.
Finishing June’s film season is Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Helmed by respected director James Mangold, the fifth – and perhaps final – chapter in the Indiana Jones chronicle will welcome back Harrison Ford in typical daring fashion, 15 years after last playing the character. With Nazis infiltrating NASA during the 1969 Space Race, Indy goes on one last hunt for a treasured artifact that could change everything. The film is executive produced by original masterminds George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, with musical genius John Williams returning to compose the score. With all that in mind, check out The Dial of Destiny when it goes full adventure mode on June 30.
