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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, May 16, 2008

COMICS & SEQUELS
Summer movie bonanza

By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Summer movies that have a lot of buzz include "The Incredible Hulk," opening June 13.

Universal Pictures

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"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," starring Harrison Ford.

David James

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"Sex and the City," opening May 30.

Craig Blankenhorn, New Line Cinema

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"The Happening," starring Zooey Deschanel and Mark Wahlberg.

Zade Rosenthal

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Will Smith in “Hancock.”

Columbia Pictures

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The animated “Star Wars: The Clone Wars."

Lucasfilm

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Heath Ledger, seated, and Christian Bale in "The Dark Knight".

Stephen Vaughan, Warner Bros.

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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

  • "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"

    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

  • "Sex and the City"

    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

  • "The Incredible Hulk"

    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).

  • "The Happening"

    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

  • "Wanted"

    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

  • "Hancock"

    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

  • "Hellboy II: The Golden Army"

    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

  • "The Dark Knight"

    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.

  • "Mamma Mia!"

    Starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth

    The buzz: The Broadway show got raves, and the cast looks faboo.

    JULY 25

  • "The X-Files: I Want to Believe"

    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

  • "Pineapple Express"

    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

  • "Star Wars: The Clone Wars"

    The buzz: This installment will be animated, the better to advertise the upcoming Cartoon Network program. It's all about the synergy, baby.

  • "The International"

    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.

  • "Tropic Thunder"

    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

  • "Traitor"

    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.