Sequels ready for their close-up
By Rick Bentley
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
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If you liked it before, Hollywood executives are banking you will love it again.
Just like last year, sequels are the theme for the summer movie releases. Does that make it a sequel sequel summer?
Follow-up efforts include "Spider-Man 3," "Shrek the Third," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," "28 Weeks Later," "Live Free or Die Hard," "The Bourne Ultimatum," "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and "Ocean's 13." All will open during the next four months.
There are even a couple of sequels — "Daddy Day Camp" and "Evan Almighty" — that don't include the star of the original movie.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the new films, both originals and sequels, to give you an idea what will be in local theaters through the end of August. Opening dates often change, so check movie listings before heading to theaters.
The 411: The web-spinning hero faces a host of villains and personal problems.
Prediction: It will be a worldwide web of excitement.
The 411: A poker player is more lucky at cards than in love.
Prediction: Bad luck to open against "Spider-Man 3."
The 411: Six months after a virus devastates England, rebuilding begins. Sequel to "28 Days."
Prediction: Won't be in theaters 28 weeks later.
The 411: A mother needs help controlling her wild daughter.
Prediction: Will seem like a documentary of Lohan's life.
The 411: The ogre couple prepare for an arrival — a replacement for the king.
Prediction: Everyone will live happily ever after.
The 411: Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann team with Captain Barbossa in a quest to free Captain Jack Sparrow.
Prediction: Yo ho ho and a bank load of money.
The 411: A woman is trapped in a life she dreams to escape from.
Prediction: Don't look for a big tip.
The 411: A romantic comedy about a career woman who looks for help from the man who got her pregnant.
Prediction: Heigl is money in the bank.
The 411: A computer-generated animated look at the high-octane world of competitive surfing done by penguins.
Prediction: Enough with the penguins.
The 411: The gang pulls off its most ambitious and risky casino robbery to defend one of its own.
Prediction: Nothing unlucky about this film.
The 411: The Fab Four deal with the Silver Surfer, who is preparing Earth for destruction, and Dr. Doom.
Prediction: It can't be worse than the first film.
The 411: Nancy Drew discovers a long-unsolved case involving a movie star's mysterious death.
Prediction: The film is not clueless.
The 411: God tells Evan Baxter to build an ark.
Prediction: Steve Carell is no Jim Carrey.
The 411: Bruce Willis reprises his role of John McClane, a New York City cop who always finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Prediction: It will be one of the big bangs of the summer.
The 411: A rat named Remy dreams of becoming a great chef in this computer-generated film.
Prediction: Another successful mouse project for Disney.
The 411: Aliens make Earth their final battleground.
Prediction: Will morph into a box-office hit.
The 411: A couple must pass a reverend's marriage-prep course.
Prediction: It better be love at first sight.
The 411: Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts and discovers that much of the wizard community doesn't know the truth about his encounter with Lord Voldemort.
Prediction: Pure magic.
The 411: Film version of the Broadway musical based on the movie.
Prediction: Will set your toes tapping.
The 411: The animated family from Springfield make the leap to the big screen.
Prediction: Will make a lot of d'oh.
The 411: A no-nonsense chef deals with a brash sous chef in this romantic drama.
Prediction: Romance is a dish best served hot.
The 411: A canine superhero protects the world. The film is based on the cartoon.
Prediction: There's a need to fear, a real dog is here.
The 411: Jason Bourne is hunted by the people who made him what he is.
Prediction: The third time's a charm.
The 411: Popular dolls make the leap to the big screen.
Prediction: Living dolls are for those young at heart.
The 411: The odd police couple travel to Paris to battle a wing of the Chinese organized crime family.
Prediction: Franchise is slowing down.
The 411: A sequel to "Daddy Day Care" that does not feature Eddie Murphy.
Prediction: A good alternative to nap time.
The 411: A mysterious epidemic alters the behavior of human beings.
Prediction: Prognosis is iffy.
The 411: A coming-of-age tale about two socially inept teenage boys about to graduate high school.
Prediction: Every summer has a sleeper.
The 411: Brothers try to fulfill their dying father's wish to have a grandchild.
Prediction: September is a day away.
