Summer movies: Your blockbuster cheat sheet
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Summing up summer at the movies is usually easy: Too many sequels or too many comic book heroes. And sometimes, just for variety’s sake, too many sequels about comic book heroes.
But the summer of ‘09, though not exactly overwhelmed with thought-provoking themes from the canon of Western literature, nevertheless seems to be trying for a little broader spectrum than usual. There will be far more films between now and Labor Day than we can cover in one roundup, but here’s a look at some major players, divided into categories.
Jaimie Trueblood/Paramount Pictures
Megan Fox, left, and Shia LaBeouf dodge the big explosions in ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.’
Pixar
The Pixar animated feature ‘UP’ looks to continue that studio’s winning streak.
Zade Rosenthal/Columbia Pictures
Tom Hanks and Ayelet Zurer star in the adaption of Dan Brown’s best seller ‘Angels & Demons.’
Note: All opening dates are subject to change.
Stuff blowing up
“Terminator Salvation.” Christian Bale stars as grown-up John Connor fighting those ever-inventive Skynet machines. (May 21)
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.” Bigger budget, bigger machines, Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox. That should suffice. (June 26)
“GI Joe: Rise of the Cobra.” Soldiers Duke, Hawk, Snake Eyes and Ripcord (and no one named Joe) battle an evil organization and attempt to achieve proper kung fu grip. (Aug 7)
Something for the kids
“Up.” Pixar animation about a boy and man who float away on adventures buoyed by giant balloons. (May 29)
“Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.” All the original characters, plus Scrat the luckless squirrel. And yes, dinosaurs and the Ice Age were different eras, so tell the kids it’s not real history. (July 1)
“Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.” Book six, the one where a character dies whose name rhymes with Mumble Store. (July 17)
Comedy (or something)
“Year One.” Comedy that makes fun of Old Testament stories. That should pass without any controversy. (June 19)
“Bruno.” Sacha Baron Cohen tries to out-Borat his own “Borat.” This time he’s a gay character. Be afraid. (July 10)
“Funny People.” Judd Apatow’s crew makes a comedy about a comic (Adam Sandler) who’s terminally ill, then he isn’t. “A demented ‘Tuesdays with Morrie,’ ” Apatow has called it. (July 31)
Thrill rides
“Angels & Demons.” Earlier (some say better) best seller by Dan “DaVinci Code” Brown re-unites Tom Hanks, director Ron Howard, tin-hat-wearing conspiracy theorizing. (May 15)
“The Taking of Pelham 123.” Remake of a fun 1970s thriller, with John Travolta hijacking a subway train and Denzel Washington trying to stop him. (June 12)
“Public Enemies.” Johnny Depp is John Dillinger in a Michael Mann shoot-‘em-up. (July 1)
Chick flicks
“The Proposal.” Sandra Bullock is an evil boss, Ryan Reynolds her assistant, and they have to get married so she can stay in the United States. (June 19)
“My Sister’s Keeper.” Adaptation of a Jodi Picoult best seller about a family with a terminally ill child; Cameron Diaz goes dramatic as the mom. (June 26)
“The Time Traveler’s Wife.” Rachel McAdams stars in adaptation of the popular novel about a man who skips through time and the woman who waits for him. (Aug. 14)