May Preview

May Preview

2013 is flying by at warp speed and May is already upon us. Let's take a look at the biggest movies hitting our cinema screens this month.

21 And Over

Directors: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore

Cast: Miles Teller, Justin Choo, Skylar Astin, Sarah Wright

Release Date: May 3rd

The plot: At some point in every young person's life, there comes a time when they need to break free. Jeff Chang is a well mannered, promising boy whose ascension to adulthood doesn't really phase him at all - until two old friends arrive at his door and force him to partake in a night of drunken antics.

Why you should see it: It's basically a teen version of The Hangover, except with a teddy bear rather than a mystery baby.

Dead Man Down

Director: Niels Arden Oplev

Cast: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper, Terrence Howard

Release Date: May 3rd

The plot: Victor (Farrell) has infiltrated the criminal empire run by a ruthless crime boss (Howard), with the intention of bringing down the organisation as revenge for the death of his wife and child. Things become even more complicated when his next door neighbour (Rapace) discovers his darkest secret.

Why you should see it: Hyped as the best revenge thriller in years, this is director Niels Arden Oplev's first movie since the fantastic Swedish adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.

Star Trek Into Darkness

Director: J.J Abrams

Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Benedict Cumberbatch, Simon Pegg

Release Date: May 9th

The plot: After a bold attack on Starfleet courtesy of mysterious new villain John Harrison (Cumberbatch), Captain Kirk (Pine) and his Enterprise team embark on a daring mission fuelled by revenge.

Why you should see it: Director J.J Abrams showed the world that Star Trek could be cool with his 2009 reboot, a movie that balanced likeable characters with superb special effects. His sequel looks set to stun the world again - equipped with the excellent acting talent that is Benedict Cumberbatch.

The Great Gatsby

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Tobey Maguire

Release Date: May 16th

The plot: In the midst of the "Roaring Twenties", Nick Carraway (Maguire) moves to New York next door to a mysterious bachelor: Jay Gatsby (DiCaprio). Intrigued by his wealth and status, Nick begins to unravel more and more details about Gatsby's life - and the woman who changed it forever.

Why you should see it: With a killer cast and a visionary director at the helm, this opulent, stylish interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's world famous novel could be a contender for coolest film of the year.

Fast And Furious 6

Director: Justin Lin

Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Vin Diesel

Release Date: May 17th

The plot: Top Gear's cooler cousin is back, with the original cast all reuniting for what promises to be the most fun ever witnessed in a car. Agent Hobbs (Johnson) enlists the aid of Dom (Diesel) and his team to bring a rival gang to justice. The big problem? The gang includes Letty (Rodriguez), who was suffering from a mild case of death when last we saw her.

Why you should see it: Potentially the penultimate instalment in a franchise built on action packed fun, Fast And Furious 6 promises to take the explosive vehicular warfare to the next level.

The Hangover Part III

Director: Todd Phillips

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Ken Jeong

Release Date: May 24th

The plot: The Wolf Pack embarks on a final journey to Las Vegas, the place where all the chaos and bad decisions began. There's also a giraffe.

Why you should see it: Part II may have received a critical mauling but it made plenty of cash at the box office. With Part III, the comedy crew are going back to basics to provide a hilariously documented story of drunken antics. Bring it on.

The Purge

Director: James DeMonaco

Cast: Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey

Release Date: May 31st

The plot: 364 days a year, crime is a non-existent factor in the world. But for that 365th night, every crime is legal. When one couple naively lets a stranger into their home, the psychopaths come looking for them. Can they survive until the dawn?

Why you should see it: From the producers of Sinister and Paranormal Activity, Purge is certainly the most outlandish movie of the year with a brutal premise and a potentially horrific narrative. Stay indoors.

As always, keep checking Movies Under The Microscope for reviews of all of these films as they are released.