Summer blockbusters hit theaters
Memorial weekend is almost here and for some that means the
first opportunity to get out doors for a three-day weekend. But for
movie fans it marks the start of the summer blockbuster season.
Don’t expect to see many Academy hopefuls, but do expect big-name
stars, big explosions and big movies that have been years or
decades in the making.
Summer blockbusters hit theaters
Memorial weekend is almost here and for some that means the first opportunity to get out doors for a three-day weekend. But for movie fans it marks the start of the summer blockbuster season. Don’t expect to see many Academy hopefuls, but do expect big-name stars, big explosions and big movies that have been years or decades in the making.
One of those movies that has been a long time coming is “The X-Files: I Want to Believe” and if I see nothing else this summer, I will see that. When my sister heard Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny) were teaming up on the big screen nearly a decade after their Fox hit went off the air, she bought the complete X-Files collection. She plans to make the family watch every episode, and movie No. 1 before the new release hits theaters July 25. We are just part way through season three, and we’ve already seen alien encounters, abductions and plenty more weirdness.
Creator Chris Carter has been close-mouthed about the script of the new movie, but from what I’ve read, it won’t be all about aliens. And it’s meant to be accessible to a younger generation of viewers who didn’t grow up watching the series.
X-Files fans may feel they have been waiting a long time, but Indiana Jones fans will finally see their hero on screen again 20 years after the last movie in the famous trilogy was first released. Harrison Ford is taking on his role as Indiana Jones once again in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” on May 23. This new movie skips ahead to the cold war, and for anyone who thinks the 65-year-old Ford is going to take it easy, he’s said to see as much action as his young sidekick Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf).
The long-awaited “Sex and the City” movie will be released May 30, offering a movie option for those more interested in romance than action. The stars of the HBO hit series all reprise their roles as the sexy independent New Yorkers. Sarah Jessica Parker is back as Carrie Bradshaw. Soon we will know if things finally work out between Carrie and her elusive lover Mr. Big (Chris Noth).
Christian Bale will take on the role of Batman again in “The Dark Knight.” Bale is the fourth Batman to take to the screen since the 1980s and he returned life to a flailing franchise in “Batman Begins.” In the latest film, he teams up with law enforcement to take on a psychotic bank robber known as the Joker (Heath Ledger.) It is the last role Ledger starred in before his untimely death earlier this year and that alone makes it worth a watch. Other actors to watch include Maggie Gyllenhaal (who took over the role of Rachel Dawes from Katie Holmes), Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine and Gary Oldman. The movie hits theaters July 18.
There are a lot more movies that will hit the theaters from now through August, and I hope to see plenty of them. Other summer releases include:
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – The sequel to “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Though the Pevensie siblings have only left Narnia, many years have passed when they once again travel to the magical land of Narnia through the wardrobe. An evil king rules and they are asked to return the heir, Prince Caspian, to the throne. In theaters May 16.
Kung Fu Panda – For those who can’t get enough of Kung Fu or pandas, DreamWorks brings us “Kung Fu Panda.” A lazy panda (Jack Black) has to learn to defend the Valley of Peace. Other voices by Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman and Lucy Liu. In theaters June 6.
Get Smart – The 1960s television series hits the big screen when Agent 86 (Steve Carell) and Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) battle the forces of KAOS. In theaters June 20.
Hancock – Will Smith hits the screen in an action film set for release over the Fourth of July holiday. Though Hancock is a super hero, he has fallen out of favor with the public. In theaters July 2.
Mamma Mia! – The Broadway musical “Mamma Mia!” brings together Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan and Stellan Skarsgard. Before Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) marries, she is determined to find out which man is her real father of three of her mother’s former boyfriends. The movie hits theaters July 18 with plenty of hit songs from ABBA on the soundtrack.
The Accidental Husband – Emma Lloyd (Uma Thurman) knows how to handle relationships when she doles out advice on her radio talk show. But when a woman breaks up with her boyfriend after receiving some advice, the ex (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) decides to get back at the doctor by ruining her relationship with her fiance (Colin Firth). In theaters August 22.
