Sunday, April 29, 2007
A+E, Movies

Summer Movie Preview

The 30 films you've gotta see

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

We know what you're thinking: Summer Movie Preview? Can it really be summer already? Well, of course not—summer as we know it doesn't officially begin until mid-June. But summer as defined by Hollywood is a different animal altogether. If studio executives thought they could get away with it, they'd start the season while we're still bundled up against the chill of winter. But with films like these—big-budget extravaganzas, poignant dramas and more sequels than you can shake a $20 bag of popcorn at—who's complaining? Here's our selective list of the flicks we're all looking forward to—along with our thoughts on whether they're any good. Release dates, as always, are subject to change.

HIGH-OCTANE ACTION

**SP SNEAK PREVIEW: SPIDER-MAN 3
THE LOWDOWN: A recent press screening for the summer's first blockbuster reveals more of the same elements that earned the first two "Spider-Man" movies more than $1.5 billion worldwide. You like villains? Spidey (Tobey Maguire) faces down his revenge-seeking former friend Harry Osborne (James Franco), the Sandman (Thomas Hayden Church) and Venom (Topher Grace)—as well as his own bad self—literally (Maguire goes over to the dark side for a while, and even gets an emo makeover). You like Kirsten Dunst? She plays a bigger role than ever. You like action? There are several thrilling set pieces, including a confrontation in a subway tunnel, a crane smashing into a skyscraper and the climactic four-way knock-down drag-out battle royal.
BOTTOM LINE: If you liked the first two flicks, you'll love "Spider-Man 3." See our full review in next week's paper.—Kevin Forest Moreau (May 4)

FANTASTIC FOUR: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER
THE LOWDOWN: Everyone's favorite superhero family battles a new enemy, the spacefaring Silver Surfer (voiced by Laurence Fishburne). Reed and Sue Richards (they get married), Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm (who don't get married) also have to deal with the return of their foe Dr. Doom.
BOTTOM LINE: The first “Fantastic Four” film raked in more than $300 million worldwide, and if there's one thing that packs in audiences more than superhero flicks, it's summertime sequels.—Mandy Rodgers (June 15)

LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD
THE LOWDOWN: Bruce Willis returns as everyman cop and reluctant hero John McClane, who last wreaked big-screen havoc 12 years ago in "Die Hard With a Vengeance." The trailer promises lots of the kind of explosive action sequences we've come to expect; hopefully there'll be some semblance of the human element that made the original so compelling, as well.
BOTTOM LINE: Willis, now 52, still looks the part of a grizzled action hero. His star power and a strong nostalgia factor should propel this one to a strong finish.—K.F.M. (June 27)

TRANSFORMERS
THE LOWDOWN: Michael Bay ("Armageddon," "Bad Boys II") directs this big-screen, live-action adaptation of the popular '80s cartoon about the Autobots, sentient robots from another planet who turn into cars and other objects, and the war they wage against the evil Decepticons here on Earth. Yes, we're serious. Shia LaBeouf heads a cast that includes former Peachtree City resident Travis Van Winkle.
BOTTOM LINE: Ridiculous as it all sounds, if anyone can pull off a big effects-driven spectacle about interstellar robot warfare, it's Bay. This thing will be huge.—K.F.M. (July 4)

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM
THE LOWDOWN: Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) still hasn't quite figured out has still who he was before his bout with amnesia two movies ago. This entry in the popular "Bourne" franchise finds Jason to traveling all over the world, eluding bad government agents and being smarter than everyone around him. Julia Stiles, who only seems to turn up in "Bourne" movies these days, reprises her role.
BOTTOM LINE: Ladies (and men) love them some Matt Damon. The first two films—2002's "The Bourne Identity" and 2004's "The Bourne Supremacy"—were huge hits.—M.R.(Aug. 3)

RUSH HOUR 3
THE LOWDOWN: Just come to terms with the fact that Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker can’t seem to live without each other. This time the wackily mismatched crimefighting duo takes to the streets of Paris to challenge a ring of Chinese gangsters. Throw in some martial-arts action, a few scenic location shots and a little culture clash, and you’ve got the idea.
BOTTOM LINE: Haven’t the French—and American movie audiences—been through enough?—Larissa Erin Greer (Aug. 10)

THE INVASION
THE LOWDOWN: Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig star in an “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” for a new generation as doctors who discover that a widespread disease has an extraterrestrial origin. “The Invasion” got some news coverage when a car carrying Kidman crashed during production (she was immediately taken to the hospital, and was soon released).
BOTTOM LINE: Craig’s success as James Bond and Kidman’s success at, oh, everything post-Tom Cruise should propel “The Invasion” further than your everyday alien-invasion flick.—M.R. (Aug. 17)

GOOD SUMMER FUN

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END
THE LOWDOWN: Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Orlando Bloom and company reassemble for yet another swash-buckling, town-pillaging, rum-drinking installment in the record-breaking trilogy. This one finds Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow in deep trouble, and his friends must travel to the ends of the earth to save him. Chow Yun-Fat hops aboard as a Chinese pirate, and Keith Richards appears as Captain Teague, who just may be Sparrow's dad.
BOTTOM LINE: Expect the all-star cast, sweet swordfights and high-seas action to score a sizable box-office bounty, despite the stinkeroo reviews last year's hauled in by last year's "Dead Man's Chest."—L.E.G. (May 25)

OCEAN’S THIRTEEN
THE LOWDOWN: Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A tragically hip, painfully hot cast (including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck and Matt Damon) participates in a large-scale heist. This time the con-artist crew reunites to avenge one of their own (Elliot Gould), who's been double-crossed by hotel mogul Al Pacino.
BOTTOM LINE: "Ocean's 12" was a lackluster disappointment, but it's not smart to bet against director Steven Soderbergh and that stellar cast.—L.E.G. (June 8)

HAIRSPRAY
THE LOWDOWN: This visit to 1960s Baltimore pulls its inspiration from the recent Broadway adaptation rather than directly ripping the 1988 John Waters classic about an attempt to integrate a TV dance show. "Hairspray" finds John Travolta in his first singing role since 1978’s "Grease"; oddly enough, he straps on high heels, control top pantyhose and a size-DDD rack to play Edna Turnblad, mother of Tracy (newcomer Nikki Blonsky). Michelle Pfeiffer ("Grease 2") and Christopher Walken also star.
BOTTOM LINE: Broadway hits don't always translate well on the silver screen—remember "The Producers?"?—L.E.G. (July 20)

THRILLS AND CHILLS

28 WEEKS LATER
THE LOWDOWN: Six months have passed and the crazy-infected zombie population has died off in this sequel to 2002's "28 Days Later." Robert Carlyle plays a man reunited with his children in London; the film focuses on the issues facing a family unit in the midst of rebuilding their lives. But wait! Just when the audience is about to make a quick (albeit zombie-like) exit, the infection returns. Plenty of flame-throwing, limb-chewing action ensues.
BOTTOM LINE: Even without "Days" director Danny Boyle ("Trainspotting"), this sequel (directed by newcomer Juan Carlos Fresnadillo) should take a good-sized bite out of moviegoers' wallets.—L.E.G. (May 11)

MR. BROOKS
THE LOWDOWN: Seemingly normal businessman Earl Brooks (Kevin Costner) has a secret: He's got an alter ego (William Hurt) who's a serial killer. A slightly more serious than usual Dane Cook blackmails Brooks into taking him on as a protégé; there's also a vigilant cop, in the form of Demi Moore, attempting to take them down. The crazed-killer role suits Costner, who usually plays all-American types.
BOTTOM LINE: If "Brooks" is a hit, there are two sequels planned. But can Costner still sell tickets?—L.E.G. (June 1)

GETTING ANIMATED

SHREK THE THIRD
THE LOWDOWN: This sequel to the popular “Shrek” films finds the lovable ogre (Mike Myers) and his wife Fiona (Cameron Diaz) forced to rule over Far, Far Away while King Harold (John Cleese) battles illness. But Shrek doesn't want the job, so he sets out to install Fiona's cousin Artie (Justin Timberlake). Given that Timberlake and Diaz are no longer a couple, the premiere for this film should be interesting. Amy Poehler, Amy Sedaris, Maya Rudolph and Cheri Oteri also appear.
BOTTOM LINE: If the first two “Shrek” films are any indication, Dreamworks will have another massive hit on its hands.—M.R. (May 18)

SURF’S UP
THE LOWDOWN: Yes, another penguin movie, only this time, they’re surfing instead of dancing. In this animated outing, Shia LaBeouf gives voice to Cody, who wants to compete in the Penguin World Surfing Championship. Jon Heder, James Woods and Jeff Bridges also appear.
BOTTOM LINE: With all-star voices and a cutesy premise, “Surf’s Up” should attract the little ones and penguin lovers—and apparently there are a lot of them.—M.R. (June 8)


**THE SIMPSONS MOVIE
THE LOWDOWN: The long-long-loonnnggg-running hit animated series "The Simpsons" is currently in its 18th season and coming up on 400 episodes. Can a feature film really offer anything new? Creator Matt Groening and producer James L. Brooks think so, and they've corralled an impressive list of current and former "Simpsons" talents to prove them right. Don't expect to see a mere feature-length episode of the show: The creators promise everything you love about Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and all your favorite Springfield residents, plus a few surprises. As to what you can expect, we're not sure: Getting the inside skinny is tougher than squeezing a loan out of Montgomery Burns.
BOTTOM LINE: Dude. It's "The Simpsons." On the big screen. What do you think?—K.F.M. (July 27)

SELLING THE DRAMA

HOME OF THE BRAVE
THE LOWDOWN: Four soldiers return to the U.S. after a tour of duty in Iraq and find it tough readjusting to life in the States. Samuel L. Jackson (name a movie, he’s in it), Brian Presley (name a movie, he’s definitely not in it) and Curtis Jackson (aka rapper 50 Cent) are three of the soldiers; surprisingly, hottie Jessica Biel plays the fourth, dealing with emotional problems after her time in Iraq. Christina Ricci and Chad Michael Murray also star.
BOTTOM LINE: The film's release date has been pushed back since its December premiere in New York, and with such odd casting, a strong box-office surge isn't guaranteed.—M.R. (May 11)

**A MIGHTY HEART
THE LOWDOWN: Angelina Jolie stars as Mariane Pearl, who struggles to find her husband, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, after he's abducted in Pakistan. The film is based on Pearl's gripping book about the search for her husband and his eventual murder.
BOTTOM LINE: Angelina can act, though most of us have forgotten that fact thanks to her African adventures and adopting frenzy. And the film—co-produced by Jolie's baby-daddy, Brad Pitt—is getting enormous hype following the announcement of its premiere at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.—M.R. (June 22)

RESCUE DAWN
THE LOWDOWN: Inspired by a true story, "Dawn" tells the tale of fighter pilot Dieter Dengler (Christian Bale), who was shot down and captured in the Vietnam War. German director Werner Herzog directs this tale of Dengler's escape from a hellish POW camp with other prisoners, one of which is played by Steve Zahn.
BOTTOM LINE: Herzog is a film studies staple and Bale has been racking up the praise for his films, so “Rescue Dawn” should reap critical praise. Where Zahn fits into all of this is still unclear.—M.R. (July 4)

LAUGH IT UP

KNOCKED UP
THE LOWDOWN: Poor Katherine Heigl; she steps away from "Grey’s Anatomy" for five seconds and finds herself impregnated by a McStoner [insert disappointed sigh here]. After a one-night stand with Seth Rogen (talk about your suspension of disbelief), she suddenly finds herself pregnant. The twist? The two attempt to raise the child together, despite the fact that they're totally wrong for each other.
BOTTOM LINE: Advance reviews are good, and director Judd Apatow scored a hit with the sweet "40-Year-Old Virgin." But still—a hook-up this implausible belongs in a fantasy flick.—L.E.G. (June 1)

EVAN ALMIGHTY
THE LOWDOWN: Steve Carell steps into the unsuspectingly spiritual shoes of Jim Carrey in this "Bruce Almighty" re-visit. After God comes to earth in the form of Morgan Freeman, Carell suddenly sprouts a beard and has an inexplicable desire to build an ark.
BOTTOM LINE: Carell can seemingly do no wrong, so expect audiences to line up two by two.—L.E.G. (June 22)

I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY
THE LOWDOWN: Chuck (Adam Sandler) and Larry (Kevin James) are a couple of straight guys who pretend to be married so they can get spousal benefits. But they forgot to tell their cute lawyer (Jessica Biel), whom Chuck has taken a liking to.
BOTTOM LINE: Sandler and James can be funny when they try. Throw Steve Buscemi, Dan Aykroyd, Ving Rhames and a topical social issue into the mix, and you’ve got the makings of a bona fide hit.—M.R. (July 20)

WHERE THE GIRLS ARE

WAITRESS  
THE LOWDOWN: Keri Russell stars as Jenna, who's having a hard time as of late. She’s pregnant and very unhappily married, but things look up when she meets the new doctor in town. Nathan Fillion is the cute doctor and Jeremy Sisto is the crappy husband. Cheryl Hines is Jenna’s best gal-pal, and Andy Griffith the owner of the diner where Jenna works.
BOTTOM LINE: "Waitress" comes with a poignant backstory (writer-director Adrienne Shelley was found dead in her office last November), and reaped lots of praise at this year's Sundance Film Festival. All that buzz suggests a strong showing in art-house theaters.—M.R. (May 2)

GEORGIA RULE
THE LOWDOWN: Atlanta’s leading lady, Jane Fonda, teams up with Lindsay Lohan, whose role as a teen with a serious disciplinary problem doesn't seem much of a stretch. Lohan, whose character's mother (Felicity Huffman) sends her to live with her strict grandmother (Fonda) for the summer, was famously reprimanded by studio execs for being late to the set, sparking lots of media tongue-wagging.
BOTTOM LINE: With an R rating keeping Lohan's tween audience away, and the rest of us suffering from Lindsay fatigue, it's unclear whether "Georgia" will rule.—L.E.G. (May 11)

BECOMING JANE
THE LOWDOWN: Anne Hathaway battles 16th-century cultural norms as author Jane Austen, who adamantly refuses to accept the proposal of every man who peeks down her corset and catches hell from her family and friends. Who ever would have guessed that a woman would actually be feisty enough to write books? If this is a hit, can "Bronte Begins" be far behind?
BOTTOM LINE: Chick-flick lovers, this one’s for you.—L.E.G. (Aug. 3)

FANTASTIC VOYAGES

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX
THE LOWDOWN: In this fifth movie based on the megapopular book series about a boy wizard, Harry's having a rough year. In addition to his studies, he's got to contend with the Ministry of Magic, and his best friends, Ron and Hermione, seem to be getting awfully close lately.
BOTTOM LINE: If Harry's legion of young fans can put star Daniel Radcliffe’s nude performance in the London production of “Equus” behind them, they'll be camped outside theaters once again. For the adults, Imelda Staunton joins the series' roster of illustrious actors, inhabiting the evil Dolores Umbridge.—M.R. (July 13)

STARDUST
THE LOWDOWN: Based on a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman ("The Sandman") and Charles Vess, this magical adventure takes bits and pieces from “The Princess Bride” and “The Odyssey.” Tristan (Charlie Cox) undertakes a quest to retrieve a fallen star (which turns into Claire Danes), facing a villainous witch (Michelle Pfeiffer) and the sons—living and dead—of the king (Peter O'Toole). There's also Robert De Niro as a gay, cross-dressing pirate. No, really.
BOTTOM LINE: The, ah, stellar cast ranges from the legendary (shunned-by-Oscar Peter O’Toole) to the perky (shunned-by-Jude-Law Sienna Miller). Sounds magical—if it can reach its audience.—M.R. (Aug. 10)

THE HORROR! THE HORROR!

CAPTIVITY
THE LOWDOWN: Think “Saw” meets “Pretty Woman.” Elisha Cuthbert ("24") plays a fashion model who's abducted with a chauffeur (Daniel Gillies); in between being terrorized, the two fall in love. Interestingly enough, the film is directed by Oscar-nominated Roland Joffe.
BOTTOM LINE: "Captivity" has already gotten a lot of press over posters featuring graphic images of Cuthbert being tortured; filmgoers might just show up to see what all the controversy was about. And to witness the beautiful love story. OK, maybe not.—M.R. (May 18)

HOSTEL: PART II
THE LOWDOWN: The Slovakia tourism board must really hate director Eli Roth right now. A trio of tourists visiting Slovakia (again) is tortured and maimed in every way imaginable (again). The unfortunate tourists are played by Heather Matarazzo, Bijou Phillips and Lauren German. Apparently the gore has been amped up even more for this sequel.
BOTTOM LINE: Another completely grotesque slasher flick. It'll probably kill at the box office.—L.E.G. (June 8)

** THE SIGNAL
THE LOWDOWN: Local filmmakers David Bruckner, Dan Bush and Jacob Gentry shot this horror flick on the streets of Atlanta on a modest budget, then turned around and sold it to Magnolia Pictures at this year's Sundance Film Festival for more than $2 million. Relayed in three parts (or "transmissions"), each focusing on a different member of a central love triangle, the film explores what happens when a mysterious signal bombards the residents of Terminus from every television, radio and cell phone, provoking citizens into mindless, murderous rages. But the directors say the action and suspense are secondary to the characters, portrayed by a roster of talented Atlanta actors.
BOTTOM LINE: It's a little early yet, but some early Internet fans have high hopes that "The Signal" could be a sleeper hit on the order of last year's "The Descent" or even 1999's "Blair Witch Project."—K.F.M. (Aug. 10)

HALLOWEEN
THE LOWDOWN: Director Rob Zombie ("The Devil's Rejects") jumps on board for a kind of prequel to the seminal slasher series, which delves into the troubled teen years of psycho killer Michael Myers. Tyler Mane ("X-Men") tackles the role of Myers, accompanied by Scout Taylor-Compton as the infinitely endangered Laurie Strode.
BOTTOM LINE: New viewers may be attracted by the glimmer of hope that there's more to this film than running, screaming and stabbing. And for those interested in the latter, there'll be plenty of that, too.—L.E.G. (Aug. 31)