This Friday, the summer movie season begins with the superhero epic Iron Man. Summer is always a fun season for movies; last year, we had a summer of sequels, many of them very good. There are fewer blockbusters coming out this summer, but I'm 100 times more excited about some of the movies coming out this summer. Let's take a look at the movies coming out this summer. Keep in mind, these are just the ones I'm personally excited about.

5/2-Iron Man

I am so psyched for this flick. Robert Downey Jr. as genius billionaire Tony Stark is perfect casting. The special effects look awesome, and director Jon Favreau, a huge fan of the comics, has promised us a film both true to the source and exciting as possible. Early reviews have been excellent, and the TV spots alone put me on the edge of my seat to see this one. I love superhero movies, especially when they focus more on character then on action-this movie promises that.

5/9-Speed Racer

I'm an anime (Japanese animation) junkie, and Speed Racer (for Americans anyway) is the granddaddy of them all. This is the anime where the cars moved as fast as the dialogue. The Wachowski Brothers' adaptation looks like it will stay faithful to the silly but endearing quality of the anime, while adding the visual flair only modern day effects can add. The Brothers Matrix can go all the way with this movie-the CGI effects look too cool, and the casting is perfect all around. Yes, this movie will be panned by critics, and I know it will not be intelligent entertainment. But for two hours of pure, unfiltered fun, it doesn't look like you could go wrong with this one. Go Speed Racer, Go!

5/16-The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

I have mixed feelings about this one, but I'll still check it out. The 2005 adaptation of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was competent, but there were aspects I didn't like. For one, the acting by the child actors was just terrible. They removed lots of cool fantasy scenes from the book and replaced them with giant Lord of the Rings-style fighting sequences. Personally, I don't think giant battles and Narnia really go well together, but Prince Caspian looks like it will extend this even more. If the acting is better, then I'm sure this will be an enjoyable flick, if not a perfect adaptation.

5/22-Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Now we're talking! I can't stand the wait for this movie. Yes, I know Harrison Ford is old enough to be a great-grandpa, and yes, I know George Lucas is criminally insane (as evidenced by the Star Wars prequels). But Stallone was old as dirt in the new Rambo, and that movie rocked. Spielberg seems to be the one in control here, not Lucas, so that problem can be thrown in the dustbin as well. I love these 80's revival movies. We've seen a new Rocky, a new Rambo, and a new Die Hard-all of them rocked. Can Indy do the same? Just watch the trailer; I think he can. When watching the original trilogy of Indy flicks on DVD, I always wished for a new one; the dream has come true!

5/30-Sex and the City

I don't plan on seeing this movie. I just wanted to throw this in here to say that the day this comes out, I plan on staying home and watching Die Hard, or something like that. Or seeing Indiana Jones again.

6/6-You Don't Mess With the Zohan

Adam Sandler's recent outings have been less-than-stellar, but given the fact that this movie was written and produced by none other than Judd Apatow, producer of the best comedies these past few years, I'm ready to buy a ticket. The premise seems hilarious-Sandler as an Iranian soldier who becomes a hair stylist? It's ridiculous enough to work.

6/13-The Incredible Hulk

This movie is not a sequel to the 2004 Ang Lee film Hulk, a superhero movie even worse than Fantastic Four. This is an entirely new series, with new actors and crew. Edward Norton takes the role of Bruce Banner-that's great casting right there. Norton also did a rewrite of the script. His script, supposedly, does not include the origin story but starts in the middle of the action. The origin story is revealed through exposition; Norton says he did this because the great epics, like The Odyssey, are structured this way ( in media res). Norton says he placed emphasis on the character before the action, a balance similar to the Spider-Man films. If that's the case, then this movie will rock.

6/20-Get Smart

Steve Carell as Maxwell Smart? That's epic casting, and perfect too. The trailer looks hilarious, and seems to be one of the few TV adaptations staying true to the source. There's not much more to say...if Steve Carell is in a movie, I'll see it. While we're waiting for the film, there's plenty of Office reruns to watch!

6/27-Wall-E

All of Pixar's movies have been phenomenal-last year's Ratatouille is one of my favorite animated movies of all time. I'll see anything with the Pixar label on it, but that's my only inspiration for seeing Wall-E. The general premise and trailer looks very strange; the film supposedly has almost no dialogue, and what we hear consists of electronic beeps and boops ala R2-D2. But it's directed by the guy who did Finding Nemo, and the animation looks beautiful. Plus, it's Pixar. Sign me up.

7/18-The Dark Knight

The sequel to 2005's Batman Begins is the movie I'm looking forward to most this year (along with November's James Bond movie). Christopher Nolan's first Batman movie reinvented the hero-if 1978's Superman movie made me believe a man could fly, then Batman Begins made me believe a man would dress like a Bat to fight crime. Heath Ledger's (RIP) final performance looks to be an iconic piece of acting-his laugh in the trailer is frightening as possible. Combine that with Christian Bale returning as Wayne himself, and Aaron Eckhart as attorney Harvey Dent, and this looks like it will be one of the best movies of the year. It could also very well be the best superhero movie of all time, if the creators play their incredibly strong hand right.

7/25-Step Brothers

Will Ferrell and John C. Reily...sign me up! After Talladega Nights, these two have become one of my favorite comic pairings, and in Step Brothers, they share top billing. Plus, the movie is written by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, directed by the former; that's the same team that wrote Talladega. Simply put, if this movie isn't another comic masterpiece, I will be very surprised.

8/1-The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

This isn't going to be a good movie. For one, it's helmed by the Rob Cohen, the guy whose only claim to fame is The Fast and the Furious. Brendan Fraser hasn't done a big movie since the last Mummy flick, so this seems like more of a paycheck gig than an actual role. After winning an Oscar, Rachel Weisz dropped out of the movie, and gave her role as Fraser's wife to Maria Bello. Bello is too good an actress to be in this movie, methinks. But the first two Mummy movies were fun, and if they can capture that B-movie quality again, then this movie might be good. Curiosity compels me to want to see this.

8/15-Tropic Thunder

A Ben Stiller comedy about some actors who get thrown into a real war....yeah, that sounds weird, but the trailer is hilarious and it looks like a fun action-comedy.

That about does it for movies I'm personally excited for this summer. There's plenty of great stuff coming out these next few months, including things I didn't put on the list. There's a new X-Files movie for fans of that series, and a sequel to Hellboy for those who enjoyed the original. There's something for everyone, and it promises to be a great season of films!