By Stephanie Holland
By Stephanie Holland
With temperatures rising and the kids out of school, it must be summer time. For movie studios, summer is when they break out their most high profile blockbusters. This summer is no exception as theaters will be full of superheroes, television adaptations and animated comedies for the whole family.
This summer has already seen the triumph of “Iron Man” and the return of “Indiana Jones.” The first major non-action release of the summer is the “Sex and the City” movie on May 30. The film reunites audiences with Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha and picks up where the popular TV show left off.
June is the most versatile month of the summer, because there is something for everyone. Jack Black, Jackie Chan and Angelina Jolie lend their voices to the martial arts spectacular “Kung Fu Panda,” opening June 6.
In mid June on the thirteenth M. Night Shyamalan delivers his latest thriller to audiences. The plot of “The Happening” is being kept under wraps however; it will probably cover the usual Shyamalan themes of paranoia and unexplained phenomena.
The thirteenth also brings the second attempt by filmmakers to tackle “The Incredible Hulk.” The failure of 2003’s “Hulk” to balance Bruce Banner’s inner struggle with the Hulk’s brute force caused a backlash among fan boys.
Marvel studios is attempting to fix that by staying closer to the plotline of the original TV show and casting Edward Norton as Bruce Banner. The studio is hoping to capitalize on the success of “Iron Man” by having a cameo by Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark.
Steve Carell fans have been waiting on the edge of their seats for the much anticipated “Get Smart” movie opening June 20. The adaptation of the 1960s TV show also stars Dwayne Johnson and Anne Hathaway. Carell hasn’t been able to make the jump from TV star to movie star however; experts are saying this movie may be his best chance.
Mike Myers temporarily leaves “Shrek” behind for “The Love Guru” on June 20. Myers plays an American raised to be a guru and Jessica Alba plays his assistant. Myers is widely considered to be a comedic genius and this film looks like it features him at his comedic best.
Pixar gives audiences a look at its next big hit “Wall-E” on June 27. “Wall-E” is the story of the last robot on Earth and how his learned humanity can save the human race. With an incredibly cute main character and the power of Pixar behind it, this will be another hit for the powerhouse studio.
Opening on June 27 “Wanted” stars Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy as a secret society of assassins. Loosely based on a graphic novel, “Wanted” looks to be the action sleeper hit of the summer. Lately Jolie has been known more for her appearances in the tabloids than for her acting ability, but this film will put her back in the public eye for talent.
Fourth of July weekend offers barbecues, fireworks and Will Smith. “Hancock” features Will Smith as a curmudgeonly, reluctant superhero. Will Smith’s summer movie record is almost unblemished and this departure from his usual hero character looks to add to that incredible list.
Bruce Wayne and Batman return on July 18 in “The Dark Knight.” With the help of Michael Caine as his faithful butler Alfred, Christian Bale continues to protect Gotham as the Caped Crusader. This time he fights his greatest enemy the Joker, played by the late Heath Ledger. This movie picks up where “Batman Begins” left off, showing audiences how Batman became the hero that he is today.
The end of July reintroduces two of sci-fi’s most beloved characters, as “The X Files: I Want to Believe” opens on July 25. The best kept secret of the summer is the plot of this movie. However, this show has one of the most loyal fan bases in TV history so it will be a hit no matter what the plot entails.
Every summer has its slate of surefire hits and sleepers so its always hard to handicap, but the movies listed above are some of the most anticipated films of summer. They are all sure to make news whether it’s because they’re hits or misses.
