Every year it is the same. I dodge the movie theaters, Redbox-ing every movie that comes out from October through April because I can’t bear to spend $7 to see a mediocre movie. But May is my month. It’s the month that the big releases start to come out, the month I wait through the doldrums of winter for.

The summer movie season starts this weekend with a bang — a huge and much awaited collaboration between Marvel superheroes in “The Avengers” — but there is plenty more to look forward to. Check out some of the summer’s planned releases and decide for yourself.

The superhero chronicles

n “The Amazing Spider-Man,” July 3: It may mess with the story a little too much for extreme comic fans, but Andrew Garfield has just enough of an awkward side to make him a believable Peter Parker. Add to that the 3-D experience and Emma Stone, and I think you know where I am going with this.

n “The Dark Knight Rises,” July 20: There is no way anyone can doubt the newest Batman installment will be spectacular. Just seeing the behind-the-scene workings has me on the edge of my seat, so when it comes time to be in the theater, you can bet I will be there.

High-action,

high anticipation

n “G.I. Joe: Retaliation,” June 29: The Rock doesn’t belong in movies where he is sitting little children, he belongs in big-time action flicks like this. I am more than excited, and you should be too.

n “Battleship,” May 18: I feel like everyone looks at the trailers, the intensity, and has mixed feelings. But “Battleship” has potential. It has all of the ingredients to be a big screen summer masterpiece if the acting holds out. Worst case scenario, you end up paying attention to only the things Liam Neeson says while you watch Brooklyn Decker try to act. It’s a win-win.

n “Bourne Legacy,” Aug. 3: Jeremy Renner takes over the role of brain-washed assassin, but he isn’t playing Jason Bourne. If anyone was ready to do it, Renner was. This could be fun to watch.

n “The Expendables 2,” Aug. 17: I didn’t see the first in a theater. Man, do I regret that. The first movie was one of the best action flicks I have seen in ages, and the second chapter has new action all-stars to watch for.

Movie Don’ts

n “Dark Shadows,” May 11: It’s like Johnny Depp made a deal with the devil (played in this case by Tim Burton) to appear in all of his films. It’s getting old. There’s little to no appeal on this one.

n “That’s My Boy,” June 15: I have been overly critical of Adam Sandler lately, but I just don’t see how this movie is going to turn that around. I love Andy Samberg, and for his sake I hope this is a good one, but it doesn’t look good.

n “Neighborhood Watch,” July 27: It isn’t their fault. They couldn’t have predicted a neighborhood watch vigilante would shoot someone, causing the nation to rise up. This isn’t the time, and I thought maybe they would delay it until things calm down. They didn’t, and this will be out just in time for the trial to begin.

Sleeper Picks

n “Rock of Ages,” June 15: This could be like a grown-up “Hairspray.” Have you seen the play? On Broadway, “Rock of Ages” was incredible. The soundtrack alone has me ready to go.

n “Magic Mike,” June 29: Channing Tatum was born to play this role. I am predicting “Magic Mike” will be the “Boogie Nights” of this generation.

n “Ted,” July 13: The day this trailer came out, it spread like wildfire through our newsroom. There are going to be extreme parts, but Mark Wahlberg proved he could be funny in “The Other Guys,” and that bear is hysterical.

Call Corianne Egan, a Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8652 or follow @CoriEgan on Twitter.