COMICS & SEQUELS
Summer movie bonanza
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
| |||
 |
|
||
| |||
|
|
||
| |||
|
|
||
| |||
|
|
||
| |||
|
|
||
| |||
|
|
||
| |||
|
|
||
Are you ready for summer? For outdoor types, that means plenty of hats, sunscreen and various and sundry sports equipment. For movie fans, it means Visine, Fandango on speed dial and plenty of those funny-shaped pillows for lower-back support.
Nearly 100 movies are going to open through August — movies big and small, loud and quiet and, perhaps most important, good and bad. We've culled the list of upcoming releases and chosen a few dozen that — from the looks of their pedigree, creative talent or simple "Huh?!" factor — are worthy of making an appointment at the multiplex.
We'll start with the blockbusters.
THURSDAY
Starring Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf
The buzz: Give it up for ol' Indy for hanging in there, even if he has to wheeze and hobble his way to whatever dingus he's searching for in this beloved boomer franchise.
MAY 30
Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon
The buzz: Can Carrie and the girls make the Jimmy Choo-clad jump from HBO to the big screen? I have to wonder. ...
JUNE 13
Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth
The buzz: The 2003 movie "Hulk" was anything but incredible; maybe Norton can turn the franchise around (he's a co-writer).
Starring Mark Wahlberg, John Leguizamo, Zooey Deschanel
The buzz: It's make-or-break time for director M. Night Shyamalan, whose last outing, "Lady in the Water," barely made a ripple.
JUNE 27
Starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie
The buzz: This action-thriller is directed by Timur Bekmambetov, whose "Night Watch" series has been trippy, escapist fun.
JULY 2
Starring Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman
The buzz: Smith plays a burned-out superhero who undergoes a makeover, which should give Smith a chance to flex lots of muscles, from comedy to action.
JULY 11
Starring Ron Perlman, Selma Blair
The buzz: Guillermo del Toro's first "Hellboy" was a dark, improbably humanist interpretation of the classic comic book. Put this one on the very short list of sequels we actually want to see.
JULY 18
Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine
The buzz: Bale brought a somber soulfulness to Bruce Wayne in "Batman Begins," and Ledger fans will be eager to see his final complete performance as the Joker before his death earlier this year.
Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth
The buzz: The Broadway show got raves, and the cast looks faboo.
JULY 25
Starring David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Xzibit
The buzz: "The X-Files"? I want to care. But six years after the television series ended and a full decade after the first (so-so) movie, will fans?
AUG. 8
Starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole
The buzz: This stoner comedy is hilarious; producer Judd Apatow has handed directorial reins to David Gordon Green ("Snow Angels"), which bodes well.
AUG. 15
The buzz: This installment will be animated, the better to advertise the upcoming Cartoon Network program. It's all about the synergy, baby.
Starring Clive Owen, Naomi Watts
The buzz: It's directed by Tom Tykwer ("Run, Lola, Run"), who has the chops to make this the sleek, fast-paced international thriller it could be.
Starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr.
The buzz: Stiller stars in and directed this Hollywood satire, which is lighting up the blogosophere; Downey is getting buzz for his portrayal of a self-serious actor who wears blackface to play an African-American character. Filmed primarily in Hawai'i.
AUG. 29
Starring Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce
The buzz: The screenplay of this CIA thriller is partly credited to Steve Martin (yes, THAT Steve Martin), so we'll show up out of curiosity alone.
