By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Memorial Day marks the traditional beginning of summer and is considered by many the official beginning of summer box-office blockbuster season.

Many studios wait until the summer months to roll out special effects- and action-heavy films in hopes of luring to the theater those who want a couple hours of escapism as well as students with extra time on their hands. The summer blockbuster has become such a tradition that a majority of the year’s most anticipated movies are released during the summer.

Last week, L’Observateur asked visitors to its website which summer blockbuster they are most looking forward to.

Somewhat surprisingly, the third installment of the “Transformers” saga scored the best with over one quarter of the vote. While the first “Transformers” movie amassed a huge audience with its visually spectacular effects and fun storyline, the second movie was not as well received.

Coming in a close second was “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2,” the final chapter in the Harry Potter saga. Needless to say, some fans have been waiting for this movie since the book was published nearly four years ago.

With one-fifth of the vote, the second installment of the popular animated movie “Cars” is another film with high anticipation value.

Two other movies scored well with respondents, each garnering about one-tenth of the vote, and both originated in the pages of comic books. The patriotic Captain America is the latest in a line of superheroes to get his own live-action motion picture. Also, the Smurfs will be making the leap to the big screen this summer in a movie combining live action and computer animation.

“Cowboys and Aliens,” the latest from “Iron Man” director Jon Favreau, also made the cut with 7 percent of the vote.

Rounding out the list were the recently opened “Super 8” and “The Rise of the Planet of the Apes.”

A full breakdown of responses follows:

• 24 percent of respondents chose “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2.”

• 2 percent of respondents chose “Super 8.”

• 26 percent of respondents chose “Transformers: Dark of the Moon.”

• 2 percent of respondents chose “Rise of the Planet of the Apes.”

• 7 percent of respondents chose “Cowboys and Aliens.”

• 20 percent of respondents chose “Cars 2.”

• 9 percent of respondents chose “The Smurfs.”

• 11 percent of respondents chose “Captain America: The First Avenger.”