'Sith' just the start of summer season
By BILLY NORRIS
Published June 6, 2005
With the most highly anticipated release of the summer already making a killing at the box office (Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith grossed more than $158-million in its first four days), you have to wonder whether the rest of the season will offer up anything of equally astonishing caliber.
Has the summer movie season already peaked and tapered, or is it chock full of promising flicks that are sure to knock the socks off teens and tweens as the summer wears on? Check out these summer films, some already out, others just waiting to get out of the starting gates. (All opening dates are subject to change.)
MADAGASCAR (PG), featuring voices of Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Chris Rock (opened May 27): A lion, a giraffe and a hippo comfortably residing in the Central Park Zoo break out to chase after their crazy zebra friend who recently escaped with a large group of penguins. Amid the ensuing wild goose (or shall I say "penguin") chase, they are caught and sent to Africa, where they wind up shipwrecked on the island of Madagascar with no way home. If there's one film that promises to gain half the popularity that Finding Nemo did, it's this one - don't miss it!
THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS (PG), Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively (June 3): Based on the popular book by Ann Brashares, this film chronicles the story of four friends who are beginning to experience the difficulty of growing up. Before they separate for the summer, they discover a magical pair of jeans that seems to fit all of them, despite their different shapes and sizes. To keep in touch over their first summer apart, they pass around the jeans from week to week and tell the stories about their adventures while wearing them.
THE ADVENTURES OF SHARK BOY AND LAVA GIRL IN 3-D (PG), David Arquette, George Lopez, Kristin Davis (Friday): A socially challenged 10-year-old boy (Cayden Boyd) dreams up two imaginary superheroes to be his friends. The aptly named Shark Boy and Lava Girl accompany the boy on his thrilling adventures in their make-believe world. This is a belated follow-up to Spy Kids: 3D, which had a ho-hum showing in theaters.
MR. AND MRS. SMITH (PG-13), Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie (Friday): John and Jane Smith live a quiet life together in quiet suburban American in a quiet home. But their jobs - not so quiet. They are assassins by night, working for opposing organizations. When they discover that they are actually on assignment to kill one another, the chase begins, with only their love standing in the way. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - the next Bennifer? Bralina, perhaps? Let's hope not.
BATMAN BEGINS (PG-13), Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine (June 15): Just as George Lucas decided to back up and explore the origins of his Star Wars legacy with Episodes I, II and III, here Christopher Nolan is going back to the roots of the Batman legend. This movie expounds on the story of the rise of Batman as the defender of Gotham and the fighter of all evil. With Episode III already stealing this summer's "prequel" market, it is not difficult to foresee this one falling into the shadows of Lucas' early summer hit.
THE PERFECT MAN (PG) Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear, Chris Noth (June 17): Tired of her mother's faithless approach to love and her constant solution of moving far away from every love-affair-gone-bad, Holly Hamilton (Duff) resorts to drastic measures. She creates the imaginary "perfect man," complete with romantic (yet anonymous) flower-sending, e-mails and gift giving. Mom (Locklear) is definitely wooed, but when it's time for the guy to show up, Holly has to think fast. In steps her friend's good-looking uncle (Noth) to save the day. This film, with the following of Hilary Duff fans it's sure to delight, will most likely be the tweenage hit this season.
HERBIE: FULLY LOADED (G) Lindsay Lohan, Justin Long, Jimmi Simpson (June 22): Maggie Peyton (Lohan) has always dreamed of becoming a NASCAR driver, hoping to break her family's infamous losing streak in the sport. Though her father believes women are not cut out for car racing and doubts her penchant for success, the tables quickly turn when Maggie meets Herbie, a magical Volkswagen. The only G-rated film slated for release any time soon, this will surely hit it big with the young audiences. Otherwise, I may be tempted to ask: "Why?"
BEWITCHED (Not rated) Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine (June 24): This classic sitcom of the 1960s is coming to life on the big screen. Isabel (Kidman) is a real witch who is trying to live a normal life. Jack (Ferrell) is an actor trying to get his career on track through an updated version of the old sitcom. When he bumps into Isabel, he is sure that she should play his wife, Samantha, on the new show. But Isabel sees Jack as the real man she could settle down with. And, as expected, her powers begin to cause lots of trouble. This film will likely be a big hit with baby boomers who grew up watching this show every week.
WAR OF THE WORLDS (NR) Tom Cruise, Tim Robbins, Dakota Fanning (June 29): This is a modern interpretation of H.G. Wells' classic novel, in which a family fights for survival as a breed of aliens invades earth. This is likely to be the biggest-budget flick of the season, with Steven Spielberg likely to go all-out with his latest sci-fi adventure thriller. Don't expect anything new and amazing plot-wise, but it will definitely be exciting visually as Spielberg attempts to fill his usual quota of stunning explosions and battle scenes.
REBOUND (PG) Martin Lawrence, Horatio Sanz, Patrick Warburton, Megan Mullally (July 1): Lawrence plays a washed up college basketball coach who is demoted to coaching a hopeless junior high school team after blowing up in front of a huge crowd at a game. Lawrence is about due for a wildly silly comedy. With Saturday Night Live's wacky Sanz, and Will & Grace's screechy Mullally on board, wildly silly seems fairly inevitable.
FANTASTIC FOUR (NR) Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Laurie Holden, Jessica Alba, Ioan Gruffudd (July 8) This latest addition to the series of unending releases based upon Marvel Comics features Marvel's original entourage of crime-fighting superheroes. After a group of astronauts is exposed to cosmic radiation, each one gains a unique super power. Surprise, surprise - they team up to fight crime and ultimately defend the world against the evil Dr. Von Doom. Do we really need another one of these movies? The X-Men movies more than covered the basis of films in this genre.
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (NR) Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, Christopher Lee (July 15): Who better to play the famously shady candy maker, Willy Wonka, than Johnny Depp? This is the long-awaited remake of the 1971 children's/cult classic, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Under the direction of Tim Burton, it is sure to carry that Nightmare Before Christmas ambiance, and it may rival Star Wars as the big grosser this summer. In it, a poor boy discovers a golden ticket in a candy bar that admits him to the enticing chocolate factory next door to his shabby home. He, along with four other anxious children from different backgrounds, is in for the ride of their lives.
- Billy Norris, 17, will be in the 12th grade at Seminole High School in the fall, and is a former member of the Times X-Team.