We don’t know where July went either – one minute it was just starting, the next minute it was gone.
With August getting underway, The Primer is back to give you the key dates you need to circle when it comes to the movies, music, books and television shows worth checking out over the next 31 days. Here’s the best of the month ahead.
Marvel’s Other Dream Team (August 1)
The Avengers are certainly the bigger name, but Guardians of the Galaxy has been generating a ton of positive press heading into its debut weekend. Headed by Parks and Recreation alum Chris Pratt and a feisty raccoon named Rocket voiced by Bradley Cooper, the latest Marvel offering is a bit of a break from what the company has been delivering to date, but still filled with all kinds of comic book awesomeness. Plus there is a great ’70s soundtrack.
Osheaga Festival in Montreal (August 1-3)
When you get OutKast, Lorde and Jack White playing the same festival, you have to let the people know about it. Taking place at Parc Jean-Drapeau in Montreal, the three-day event also features the likes of Artic Monkeys, Awolnation, J. Cole and a host of others. There’s a little something for everybody.
Boonstock Music & Arts Festival (August 1-3)
At the same time that MTL is being invaded by the ATLiens and company, Penticton, British Columbia will play host to a host of talents including City & Colour, Rise Against and Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. Festivals like this are a great chance to get exposed to some artists you’ve never heard of before or normally would not listen to otherwise, so bounce around from stage to stage and catch as many cool sets from different talents as you can.
Divergent drops on DVD (August 5)
The latest in the “teen books to feature films” series, Divergent didn’t create as much of an uproar and impact as some of its predecessors like Twilight or The Hunger Games, but Neil Burger’s adaptation of Veronica Roth’s first book in the series made close to $300 million worldwide, positioned Shailene Woodley as the possible “next Jennifer Lawrence” and has three more installments in store over the next three years.
Squamish Valley Music Festival (August 8-10)
The West Coast cousin to Montreal’s Osheaga Festival (both are presented by Virgin Mobile) features arguably the biggest names of the summer as Eminem, Bruno Mars and The Arcade Fire top the list of acts hitting the stage at Centennial Field halfway between Vancouver and Whistler. Add in The Roots, Broken Bells, Foster the People and Nas performing his debut classic Illmatic and you’ve got yourself one kick-ass line-up.
Turtle Power! (August 8)
Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michaelangelo are back (again) to take on Shredder and The Foot Clan in the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adaptation. Anyone that grew up on the cartoon might be a little put off by the casting of Megan Fox as Channel 6 reporter April O’Neil and the inclusion of the rap song that isn’t Vanilla Ice’s “Ninja Rap” is weird too, but after the heroes on the half-shell went animated last time out, it will be nice to see a live action version back in theatres.
The Knick (August 8)
Clive Owen as an early 20th century surgeon trying to balance his ambition and reputation within the medical community against cocaine and opium addictions? Sign us up! Renewed for a second season before the first even debuted, the Steven Soderbergh-directed series is bound to become a summer fill-in on Sunday nights for those missing Game of Thrones.
Rogen vs. Efron in Neighbors (August 12)
After being the slacker, pothead lead in such gems as Knocked Up and Pineapple Express, Seth Rogen is now the “new father next door” in a suburban battle with the fraternity next door, where Zac Efron and David Franco are the leaders. As you would expect, hilarity ensues.
Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (August 22)
Nine years after Frank Miller’s noir graphic novel burst onto the scene, the follow-up hits theatres with several familiar faces and a couple interesting new additions. Jessica Alba is back as Nancy Callahan, Mickey Rourke reprises his role as Marv, and Powers Boothe continues to be the most dangerous man in Sin City, Senator Roark, while the always amazing Joseph Gordon-Levitt joins the ensemble as Johnny.
Sonic Boom / X-Fest (August 29-31)
Edmonton and Calgary play host to similar line-ups over the final weekend of the summer with their respective outdoor, alternative music festivals. Headlined by Jack White (he’s everywhere this month!), Artic Monkeys, and Foster the People, each of these events would be a great way to close out the summer season if you’re in the area.
