The Space Room
Everything Sci-Fi & a Little Astronomy
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Movies Coming This Spring and Summer (Part 2)
by Anna Sanclement
All right sci-fi fans, here is part two of last month’s article on what good movies to go see from now until July. From action sci-fi, adventure sci-fi, fantasy sci-fi and fantasy sci-fi, these movies should attract audiences of all types.
Be prepared for the long awaited films and also for some new surprises. Get your friends or family together and get that babysitter because you have to at least go see one of these if you are a true sci-fi fan.
Iron Man 2
This highly anticipated sequel based on the popular Marvel comic looks like it will follow suit to its predecessor and wow the fans once more.
This time, the story brings Iron Man along with Pepper and “Rhodey,” to forge new alliances while preventing the Iron Man armor technology from falling into the wrong hands.
Robert Downey Jr. returns as our hero, Iron Man, and still with him is faithful Pepper, played by Gwyneth Paltrow. Newcomers to the sequel include Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle and Sam Rockwell. Iron Man opens on May 7th.
Jonah Hex
Jonah Hex is based on the western DC Comics character, who is a scarred bounty hunter with a history that left him half in this world and the other half on the other side.
In a chance to get his freedom, Jonah receives an offer to track down and stop a ruthless terrorist named Quentin Turnbull. Turnbull is getting ready to unleash Hell and as Jonah’s oldest enemy, he will stop at nothing until he is dead.
Josh Brolin stars as Jonah Hex, with Megan Fox as his love interest, Leila, a tough brothel resident and John Malkovich plays the bad guy terrorist Quentin Turnbull. Jonah Hex opens on June 18th.
Predators
While not exactly a sequel, the Predators movie is from the same universe as the original Predator film and its other recent spin-offs.
The story is about a group of elite warriors that are mostly killers, mercenaries, convicts and death squad members. They have all been brought to a planet in order for a new breed of alien Predators to hunt and kill them for sport.
The cast includes seasoned actors such as Adrien Brody, Danny Trejo, Topher Grace and Laurence Fishburne. Predators opens on July 9th.
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
A Disney Studios production, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is an original and innovative comedy-adventure from the same team that created the National Treasure franchise.
Balthazar Blake is a master sorcerer who is trying to save Manhattan from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath. Since he can’t do it by himself he enlists the help of an apprentice, a seemingly normal man who has hidden skills.
Starring as the sorcerer is Nicolas Cage, Alfred Molina plays the bad sorcerer, Maxim Horvath and Jay Baruchel is Dave Stutler, the sorcerer’s apprentice. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice opens on July 16th.
Sky events this month, May of 2010:
This month brings us the Last Quarter Moon on Thursday the 6th, then, the New Moon occurs on Thursday the 13th, with the First Quarter Moon happening on Thursday the 20th, and a New Moon coming on Thursday the 27th. So, May will bring the main lunar phases all on Thursdays!
When looking west after sunset, Venus should become very apparent as it shines brightly against the sky. It remains visible until sometime after 10:00 p.m. EDT, as it hangs with the stars of Taurus in the background.
Mars and Saturn also come out in the evenings shortly after sunset in the east, and staying in view well past midnight. Mars will appear reddish, while Saturn looks more yellowish-white in color. Saturn will look great through a telescope with its rings just slightly tilted, and bright star Spica to its lower left.
Jupiter is now visible in the predawn hours in the lower eastern horizon, and with a telescope or a pair of good binoculars you can also see Uranus and Neptune.
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak on Thursday the 6th at dawn. Look towards the east and you could catch 10 to 20 shooting stars an hour, even with the interfering light from the Last Quarter Moon.
A bright comet will come into view in May in the eastern sky before dawn. The comet, named C/2009 R1, was discovered by Robert McNaught, who also discovered C/2009 K5 (McNaught). It will reach 8th magnitude this month and should be nicely visible with a telescope. The McNaught Comet will also be visible this May; during the month’s second half it will appear near the star Polaris.
Look on up and smile!
You can read other articles and tips by Anna on these websites:
http://www.helium.com/users/484623
http://www.examiner.com/x-6503-Ft-Lauderdale-Science-News-Examiner
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/354312/anna_sanclement.html
http://www.suite101.com/profile.cfm/annasanclement
Anna Sanclement writes from home and has recently started to write articles for various Internet sites. She has also finished a novel and has written many stories and a movie script, just for fun.