10 summer movies to check out in 2012

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Updated: July 3, 2012 12:26PM

This summer offers the usual buffet of big, dumb fun to sample. Still, there are some curiosities among the usual fare.

Here are 10 films that might provide a worthwhile break from outdoor sun and fun.

THE AVENGERS (PG-13, already in theaters): Something about heroes or some such. If you are not aware of this movie, you definitely don’t want to be. Still, people seem to like it so far.

MOONRISE KINGDOM (PG-13, May 25): Wes Anderson is back, with the story of two preteens who run away together, seeming to disrupt their entire town.

An amazing cast includes Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, and Harvey Keitel — as well as Anderson regulars Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN (PG-13, June 1): The second of this year’s big-budget Snow White movies looks like the better one, with Charlize Theron as the Evil Queen, Kristen Stewart (“Twilight”) displaying more than one facial expression as Snow, and Chris Hemsworth (“Avengers”) proving he is more than just a pretty head of hair as the Huntsman.

PROMETHEUS (R, June 8): Maybe it’s the prequel-sequel-companion to “Alien” from director Ridley Scott, who also made a little film called “Blade Runner.”

Or we might just have to settle for the most exciting sci-fi picture of the decade.

This also stars Charlize Theron, who is definitely on a roll, and Michael Fassbender (“X-Men: First Class”), the most interesting actor you haven’t heard of yet.

ROCK OF AGES (PG-13, June 15): This 1980s hair metal musical adaptation would be pretty easily avoidable if not for the key ingredient of Tom Cruise, who stars as the long-haired, bare-chested and singing Stacee Jaxx.

The impressive cast also includes Paul Giamatti, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Bryan Cranston.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER (not yet rated, June 22): Are you a patriot or a vampire? If those are the choices, you almost have to go with patriot, right?

The summer’s wackiest concept is brought to the screen from Seth Grahame-Smith’s novel.

Timur Bekmambetov already directed a movie from the graphic novel “Wanted.” That was about people who can curve bullets.

“Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter” seems like the movie you’ll be least like;y to come out of saying “I knew that was going to happen.”

BRAVE (PG, June 22): Pixar’s first feature with a female hero? It’s about time.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (PG-13, July 3): We can sit around and argue about how there was just a “Spider-Man” movie a few years ago, or we can go to the movie and have fun.

Andrew Garfield (“The Social Network”) is well-cast and Emma Stone (“The Help”) is Peter Parker’s other girlfriend Gwen Stacy, so it tells a different story.

The supporting cast — Denis Leary (“Rescue Me”), Martin Sheen, Sally Field, Rhys Ifans (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1”) — is stellar.

Oh heck, you guys argue. I’ll be having fun.

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (PG-13, July 20): Much as “The Dark Knight” was impressive, I prefer it when Batman cracks a smile every now and then.

And now they’ve taken Tom Hardy, who was so charming in “Inception” that I forgot where I was when he spoke, and stuck some kind of spider muzzle on half his face and shaved his head.

When he talks you can’t even understand him, but what am I saying? I’m sure it will be great.

This also stars Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon-Levitt from “Inception,” and Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, as well as everyone from the last two movies.

THE CAMPAIGN (not yet rated, Aug. 10): Will Ferrell stars in this comedy as a seasoned politician who makes some sort of mistake.

Zach Galifianakis plays a less-experienced rival who is brought in to run against Ferrell’s character.

I’m already laughing.

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