Summer '08 Preview

The "I"s Have It:
Iron Man, Incredible Hulk and Indy Invade Summer Screens

This summer will herald the return of one of cinema's most enduring adventure heroes. I am -- of course -- talking about Indiana Jones. After almost 20 years (man that even makes ME feel old), Harrison Ford is putting on the hat one more time to venture into the unknown as everyone's favorite adventuring archaeologist. This time around, Dr. Jones is going up against Russian baddies in the 1950s in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The question is, does he have what it takes to duke it out with the potential blockbusters of 2008?

This summer brings a bevy of blockbuster badness to the silver screen in the form of comic book superheroes. In May, the mighty Marvel bullpen starts things off with the comic book hero Iron Man. While Iron Man may not be as recognizable a hero as Spider-Man or the X-Men, he's been one of my favorites in the comics for decades. Marvel is giving us a second feature with their sequel/reboot of the Green Goliath franchise, The Incredible Hulk. For those who prefer their heroes to be more old-school, DC Comics is unveiling their long-awaited Batman sequel, The Dark Knight. From the Hellboy comic book, comes Guillermo del Toro's sequel Hellboy II: The Golden Army. James McAvoy is playing a darker side of superheroes from the Top Cow comic Wanted. Will Smith even gets into the hero business as a superhero with bad press in Hancock.

But this summer won't be all about superheroes.The X-Files: I Want to Believe brings the paranormal television series back for a second feature film. In addition, we also have the fantasy epic The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. M. Night Shyamalan brings us a end-of-civilization disaster in The Happening. For those who want some lighter fare, funnyman Steve Carell is hitting back at the forces of Kaos in the big screen adaptation of Get Smart. And, finally, put on your disco shoes for the Broadway musical Mamma Mia! A must for ABBA fans, this fan favorite has finally come to the big screen.

If you're a fan of comic books, this summer will either be a wish come true or a case of getting more than you bargained for. Don't sweat it. If you get tired of action and adventure, you can always look forward to the Oscar bait which will return in the fall.

May

Iron Man: Robert Downey Jr. stars as Tony Stark/Iron Man in the story of a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor who is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, Tony builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man. FGN Opinion: A favorite of mine from way back, Iron Man is one of the coolest heroes that Marvel has in its arsenal. The trailers already have fanboys drooling, so there's little doubt this will hit big on opening weekend. My daring prediction: this will be the top moneymaker of the summer.

Speed Racer: Remember that crazy Japanese cartoon from when you were a kid? Well, if you're as old as me, you probably do. Now Speed Racer is getting the live action treatment thanks to the Wachowski Brothers (the guys who gave us The Matrix). While the story is set to feature family loyalty, corporate greed, and a race known as "The Crucible," you know the star is going to be the Mach 5. Rev up your engines for this thrill ride!FGN Opinion: Will Speed Racer save the day, or just cause epileptic fits? Too soon to tell. I bet it hits well with a certain age group, assuming that they can't get in to repeat showings of Iron Man.

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian: The characters of C.S. Lewis' timeless fantasy come to life once again in this newest installment of the Chronicles of Narnia series. The Pevensie siblings are magically transported back from England to the world of Narnia, where a thrilling, perilous new adventure and an even greater test of their faith and courage awaits them. FGN Opinion: With the same director (Andrew Adamson) and cast, this is likely to be a worthy successor to the Narnia franchise.

What Happens in Vegas: For charismatic party guy Jack Fuller (Ashton Kutcher) and buttoned-up commodities trader Joy McNally (Cameron Diaz), a rowdy weekend coincidentally shared in Las Vegas should have, by all rights, ended up being little more than a random blur. FGN Opinion: You know the old saying, "What happens with Ashton Kutcher should stay with Ashton Kutcher." Not even Cameron Diaz could make me want to see this train wreck of a film.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: Indiana Jones is back in a new globe-trotting adventure. Directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Harrison Ford as Indy, the film features an outstanding cast, including Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent and Shia LaBeouf. FGN Opinion: A tomb full of asps couldn't keep me from seeing this film.

Sex and the City: The Movie: Sex and the City is coming to the big screen in a feature film adaptation of the hit HBO television series. The film will follow the continuing adventures of the series four main characters - Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda - as they live their lives in Manhattan four years after the series ended. FGN Opinion: Shouldn't a film based on a television show stand alone? As someone who never saw the television show, the premise of the film (or lack thereof) doesn't interest me at all. You can't take an irreverent, sassy television show and turn it into a romantic comedy for a larger audience. No one is going to be happy.

June

You Don't Mess with the Zohan: Adam Sandler plays a Mossad agent who orchestrates a scenario that will allow him to move to New York City and fulfill his dream of becoming a hairstylist. FGN Opinion: So Middle East politics is the stuff of comedy now? Really? Maybe I'm tainted after seeing Munich a few years ago, but I don't see how a story of a Mossad agent trying to escape from his life as spy can be funny. I'm usually willing to give Sandler the benefit of the doubt. After I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, his reputation is tainted. I'll pass on this one.

Kung Fu Panda: Unexpectedly chosen to fulfill an ancient prophecy, Po's dreams become reality when he joins the world of kung fu and studies alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five—Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey—under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu. But before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung is headed their way, and it's up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat. FGN Opinion: Into each summer, an animated film must make an attempt to capture the hearts and minds of the preschool set. Lately, the contenders to the Disney throne (aside from the first couple of Shrek movies) have come up lacking. Kung Fu Panda is a clear example of marketing over artistry. Did they forget that animation should appeal to adults too? I'll skip this and wait for WALL•E.

The Incredible Hulk: Geneticist Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) takes flight in order to understand -- and hopefully cure -- the condition that turns him into a monster. Complicating his situation is the military initiative that wants him captured and controlled, as well as the arrival of a more-deadly nemesis: The Abomination. FGN Opinion: The word is that this reboot/sequel of the Hulk franchise is going to depart from the artsy father/son drama that director Ang Lee gave us in the original. This version will have more action, a villain (Tim Roth as The Abomination) and include a killer cast. Norton's Banner will reflect more of the wandering hero that Bill Bixby exemplified in the 1978 television series. Looking at the poster, I can almost hear the signature "sad, walking away music." Here's hoping this Hulk hits home!

The Happening: A lightning-paced, heart-pounding paranoid thriller about a family on the run from an inexplicable and unstoppable event that threatens not only humankind...but the most basic human instinct of them all: survival. FGN Opinion: At this point, M. Night Shyamalan can do no wrong in my eyes. He could tell me that he had a movie about burnt toast, and I would buy a ticket. I think he is one of the best directors/storytellers alive today. The premise for The Happening looks like another gut-wrenching story as only he can tell it. I'll be at this "happening" film.

Get Smart: Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell) is on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS. Smart is partnered with the lovely-but-lethal veteran Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). Given little field experience and even less time, Smart—armed with nothing but a few spy-tech gadgets and his unbridled enthusiasm—must foil the doomsday plans of KAOS head Siegfried (Terence Stamp). FGN Opinion: Steve Carell becomes the Maxwell Smart for a new millennium. For those under the age of 30 who didn't know and love the Don Adams series, the new film will cement Carell as a comic icon. For me, it's going to have to overcome my reservations about revamping a classic.

The Love Guru: In this comedy from Mike Myers, Pitka (Myers) is an American who was left at the gates of an ashram in India as a child and raised by gurus. He moves back to the U.S. to seek fame and fortune in the world of self-help and spirituality. FGN Opinion: Didn't Myers wear this getup in one of the Austin Powers movies? Is this a joke? There aren't enough Twizzlers in the universe to get me to watch this film. (And I take personal offense at his tarnishing the [self-proclaimed] Guru title I hold.)

WALL•E: What if mankind had to leave Earth, and somebody forgot to turn off the last robot? WALL•E, a robot, spends every day doing what he was made for. But soon, he will discover what he was meant for. Disney•Pixar's WALL•E is the story of one robot's comic adventures as he chases his dream across the galaxy. FGN Opinion: I wasn't sure that a story of a fish trying to find his dad (Finding Nemo) would keep me entertained. To my surprise, it was a delight. My expectations are higher with WALL•E, however. I expect this to be a big hit this summer.

Wanted: Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) discovers his recently murdered father was an elite assassin. The young man soon is recruited into his father's old organization and trained by a man named Sloan (Morgan Freeman) to follow in his dad's footsteps. Based on the Top Cow comic book. FGN Opinion: I never read the comic, but the premise is interesting. I'll probably see this opening weekend, assuming I have the time.

July

Hancock: Edgy, conflicted, sarcastic and misunderstood, Hancock's well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake. The public has finally had enough. FGN Opinion: I'm not sure what to think about this. It's a superhero film set in our world. Will it be a hit? I'm not sure. Sony seems to think so, giving it the prime July 4th weekend. Maybe they're just expecting Will Smith to repeat last summer's success with I Am Legend.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army: When the mythical world engages their campaign to take over the Earth, the U.S. government reaches out to the only department staffed to handle the potential catastrophe: The Bureau for Paranormal Research, who once again turns to the demon hero Hellboy (Ron Perelman) and his teammates to stop a merciless dictator from carrying out his plan. FGN Opinion: The first film was hot, and now director Guillermo del Toro is even hotter. I have yet to see much more than a trailer, but my expectations are high. This should be a great summer movie.

Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D: An exciting adventure based on the classic Jules Verne novel, Journey to the Center of the Earth stars Brendan Fraser as a science professor whose non-traditional hypotheses have made him the laughing stock of the academic community. But on an expedition in Iceland, he and his nephew stumble upon a major discovery. Launching a thrilling journey deep beneath the Earth's surface, they travel through never-before-seen worlds and encounter a variety of unusual creatures. FGN Opinion: I liked the original version of the film with Pat Boone. It was a Saturday afternoon adventure. I hope this will be more of an exploration than an adventure. Either way, it's sure to look good in 3-D!

The Dark Knight: Christian Bale returns to continue Batman's war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker (Heath Ledger), who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante. FGN Opinion: The Joker (Ledger) seems even more frightening than Nicholson's turn as the creepy clown in 1989. If the rest of the film is as good as the tidbits I've seen on the Net, this is sure to make the fans (including me) crazy with delight!

The X-Files: I Want to Believe: David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson reprise their roles from the legendary television series as, respectively, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The film takes their complicated relationship in unexpected directions. FGN Opinion: Not much is known about this second film based on the successful series. Rumors abound about the script and which familiar faces may pop up on the screen. For die-hard X-Files fans, though, it won't matter. I just hope it's better than the first film.

Mamma Mia!: In an attempt to suss out her father's identity, a bride-to-be (Amanda Seyfried) invites three likely candidates to her wedding, resulting in a wild familial encounter that incorporates the hits of ABBA. FGN Opinion: My love of musical theatre has to be one of my biggest failings. I've been wanting to see this play for years, but never had the chance. Now that it's coming to the big screen, I won't have to pay Broadway ticket prices to see it. Caution: the ABBA music is likely to annoy some people.

August

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor: In the Far East, trouble-seeking father-and-son duo Rick (Fraser) and Alex O'Connell (Ford) unearth the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin (Li) -- a shape-shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard (Yeoh) centuries ago. FGN Opinion: I have only seen a few still shots and a poster for this movie. Even so, I'm interested enough that I want to give it a chance. I'm still reserving judgment, but I'd like to see if Brendan Fraser can bring this franchise back from the dead.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Favorite characters, including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Padmé Amidala, are on the front lines of this animated intergalactic struggle between good and evil, along with brand new heroes like Anakin’s padawan learner, Ahsoka. Sinister villains – led by Palpatine, Count Dooku and General Grievous – are poised to rule the galaxy. Stakes are high, and the fate of the Star Wars universe rests in the hands of the daring Jedi Knights. FGN Opinion: An animated Star Wars? Sure the story line is interesting, but what's the point? The SFX are what sells a Star Wars movie. So what if it's animated? I may see it, but I'll probably be bored.