Okay, so we might be well into spring and still catching up with last year's fantastic crop of sleeper sensations, but summer is so close you can smell the popcorn roasting.
Things officially kick off in May, and we're just over a month away. Here are the 10 biggest blockbusters-to-be this season, the films you need to watch on the big screen. Prepare for lift-off:
1.
Iron Man
Director: John Favreau
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard
Release Date: May 2
Honestly, it's hard to think of anyone better suited to play Richard Stark, the egotistical millionaire drunk and playboy who also happens to be the crimefighting Iron Man, a character Marvel Comics originally modelled after Howard Hughes.
One of the most intriguing and flawed heroes in the Marvel canon, this movie has been a long time coming. And, thanks to Downey Jr in the lead, it looks like it'll be worth the wait. At least the trailers look incredible.
2.
Speed Racer
Directors: The Wachowski Brothers
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox
Release Date: May 9
Okay, so the original was a bizarrely immature and rather cheesy animated series -- a guilty pleasure, at best, now only for the nostalgic. However, when Andy and Larry Wachowski of
The Matrix say they are going to redefine cinema visually with a new constant-focus technique, you jolly well stand in line and prepare to gape.
3.
The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Adventures Of Prince Caspian
Director: Andrew Adamson
Starring: Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley
Release Date: May 16
Disney seems to have hit upon quite the meal-ticket in CS Lewis' superb saga, and Caspian is a great story for children of all ages. Adamson, who did deftly with the first film,
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe, reprises his role as do pretty much the entire cast. All seems to be well.
4.
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Shia LeBeouf, Cate Blanchett
Release Date: May 23
Tan-ta-ta-ta-dan-tan-tan! Can't you hear that theme music ringing in your ears just as you read the words 'Indiana Jones?'
Yup, the world's studliest archeologist is back, hat and all. Also holding on tight to the director's hat is Spielberg, who's never once let this franchise out of his sight.
All good signs, plus the fact that nobody quite knows what the plot is yet -- there are glorious rumours, however, that it involves the Ark Of The Covenant, thus coming full circle.
As Indy'd say, hold on for the ride.
5.
The Incredible Hulk
Director: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Edward Norton, Tim Roth, Liv Tyler
Release Date: June 13
Okay, I'll admit it. The opening trailer looks pretty sad.
Then again we have Tim Roth in it, as well as a serious enemy for The Hulk in The Abomination, which will doubtlessly make up for the big green giant toying with attack dogs in that embarrassing Ang Lee film.
The film's climax apparently involves a 26-minute war between the two giants. Just what we need, some predictably fun and spectacular green cheese. Bring it on.