The Summer Movie Preview (In Order!)

Alright everybody, welcome to Sunday Sunday Sunday! As stated in the last blog, I wanted to give you all a most anticipated list of Summer movies. O and for further info, trailers (when available), or whatever you want to know, visit one of these websites: http://www.comingsoon.net/database.php, http://www.imdb.com/ So, without further ado, here is the list of the 25 movies that intrigue, interest, or just inspire me to go the theater (in order from least to most exciting):

Wildcard - MY SUPER EX-GIRLFRIEND (07/21): This film has yet to feature a trailer, so it's hard to anticipate it. However, Uma Thurman and Luke Wilson in a romantic comedy (of sorts) directed by the guy who brought us GHOSTBUSTERS. Uma is a superhero who is angered by Luke when he dumps her. Superpowers plus anger equals uh oh! We'll see. Thus, the wildcard!

25. STRANGERS WITH CANDY (06/28): I have never seen the show on Comedy Central, but I've heard it's quite the cult classic of tv shows. The presence of Stephen Colbert alone makes me want to see this movie which is why it holds the 25 position.

24. THE LAKE HOUSE (06/16): A dramatic romance on my must-see Summer list??? Well, the trailer is rather intriguing, and I actually wouldn't mind seeing how they end it. Although I'm quite skeptical of Keanu Reeves doing romance (however, he is acting against former film love interest Sandra Bullock in this one - SPEED is a good flick) but the idea is interesting. In a nutshell, its about a woman who, while occupying an unusual lakeside home, begins exchanging love letters with its newest resident (Keanu). When they discover that they're actually living two years apart, they must try to unravel the mystery behind their extraordinary romance before it's too late. Whoa. (That's a Neo joke y'all!)

23. OVER THE HEDGE (05/19): Another animated animal movie. This one has the voices of Steve Carell (my boy!), Wanda Sykes (very funny), and Bruce Willis (yes, that Bruce Willis). Looks like it could be funny.

22. LITTLE MAN (07/05): This is my guilty pleasure film of the Summer. I'm ashamed to say I think it's funny, but I don't care at the same time. The Wayans brothers put together this film about a short person thief (Marlon Wayans via CGI) who goes undercover as a baby. He pretends to be a little baby for a family that has what he wants in their house or something. It looks stupid, inappropriate, and goofy. Count me in!

21. CARS (06/09): The newest Disney/Pixar film about - you guessed it - cars! The rumor mill has this one not being so great, but Pixar films are never bad (read: MONSTERS INC., FINDING NEMO, INCREDIBLES) so I gotta give it a chance. Voice credits include Owen Wilson, Paul Newman, and Larry the Cable guy. Git-r-done!

20. AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (05/24): This is a documentary made by and starring. . . Al Gore? Yes, our former Vice President and Presidential-hopeful, he has made a movie. This film, though, is about him discussing global warming and the potential disasters of it. The trailer is creepy because, well, it's real life! Interesting movie - thought-provoking, to be sure.

19. THE ILLUSIONIST (08/18): I can explain my interest in this movie in five words - Ed Norton, Paul Giamatti, Magicians. Get it?

18. THE OMEN (06/06): This horror remake usually wouldn't be anywhere near a list of mine, but it looks really creepy (read: good for a horror movie) and I'm oddly interested. Plus, this is pretty much the only horror movie coming out til the Fall and Halloween. I need something to tide me over til SAW III!

17. IDLEWILD (08/25): This is a musical set in the Prohibition era starring, well, people you wouldn't expect. The two members of the rap/R&B group Outkast have created this movie for their new cd. Basically, they star in the movie and the songs for the movie are their new tracks for their new cd. I'm there!

16. LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE (07/28): This indie comedy starring the likes of Steve Carell (again, but in a much different manner), Greg Kinnear, and Toni Collette look quirky and dark. The preview is enticing, and I'm very interested in seeing why this film was so heralded at the film festivals.

15. MIAMI VICE (07/28): This action film would leave many going "Why?" but I'll give you three names - Colin Farrell, Jamie Foxx, and Michael Mann. The former two are your headliners, playing Crockett and Tubbs, the Miami police officers made famous in the 1980's show, and Mann, director of gritty films COLLATERAL and HEAT, is the guy behind the camera. The trailer makes it look nothing like the original, somewhat cheesy, cop show. That would be Mann's influence. And I'm definitely influenced!

14. LADY IN THE WATER (07/21): M. Night Shyamalan's new flick has been kept under heavy wraps. All we know is that an apartment building superintendent (Paul Giamatti) finds a nymph, a mermaid-like creature, in the pool. Shyamalan is trying to see how many people will come to see a movie by him, I guess. I like Giamatti a lot, so I'm gonna go, but I'm not sure what to expect from a movie preface by "A Bedtime Story from M. Night Shyamalan". We'll see.

13-10. (in no particular order) THE BREAK-UP (06/02), NACHO LIBRE (06/16), CLICK (06/23), and TALLADEGA NIGHTS...(08/04): These are the big summer comedies. The big comedy guns are out, with films from Vince Vaughn, Jack Black, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell respectively. They all appear pretty funny, but all have the potential of being bad films. They are tied on my list because it's impossible for me to pick one over the other. I'll see them all and let you know later which one wins :D

9. SNAKES ON A PLANE (08/18): The internet-driven cult film (how can it be a cult classic and it's not even out yet?!?!) looks great! Samuel L. Jackson stars in the self-explanatory film. Yes, the title is exactly what the film is about. How can you not be excited about this one!

8. X-MEN: THE LAST STAND (05/26): Yeah, it's further down on my list then most of the other lists you'll find, but there's good reason. No Bryan Singer (the director of the first two) and no Nightcrawler (the biggest reason that X2 is better than X1). Although it does look exciting, I'm not sure if it's just gonna be a big spectacle with lots of visual effects. That's good from time to time, but the first two are such good films!

7. POSEIDON (05/12): Next Friday this film erupts onto the scene. I was extremely skeptical about this one when I first heard about it, but after trailers hit the internet, I was blown away. A good cast (Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, Josh Lucas, and Tom's girlfriend Emmy Rossum) makes the effects the second reason to see this one. It looks intense! Plus, director Wolfgang Petersen (who brought us TROY and THE PERFECT STORM) can do big waves and we know it! O yes!

6. A SCANNER DARKLY (07/07): I've been waiting and waiting for this film to finally get released and the Summer finally brings it to me. This odd-looking film stars Keanu Reeves, Winona Ryder, Woody Harrelson, and one of my favorite actors ever: Robert Downey Jr. It was written (adapted from a Philip K. Dick short stroy) and directed by the great Richard Linklater using the same techniques as he used in WAKING LIFE. I can't wait for this one!

Now, the TOP 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5. SUPERMAN RETURNS (06/30): I gave you all access to the trailer for this one a couple days ago, and if you utilized that link, then you know why it's so high on my list. Kevin Spacey alone would get me into the theatre, but it's freakin' SUPERMAN!!! It looks exciting, action-packed, and did I mention that Kevin Spacey is Lex Luthor!!!! Good stuff all around.

4. CLERKS 2 (08/18): The sequel to the 1994 comedy brings good ol' Kevin Smith back into the limelight. Although he had previously stated that there would be no more Jay and Silent Bob movies, he came back with this one, which has Dante and Randal moving on to there 30's. The trailers are funny and Kevin Smith alone would bring me to see the film. Hands down, the most anticipated comedy for yours truly.

3. THE DA VINCI CODE (05/19): The most controversial film of the Summer is this Ron Howard-directed film based on the best selling book of the past couple years. I read the book over Spring Break in anticipation of the film, and it was every bit as good as people said. I could not put it down! Thus, this film flew up my charts and landed at number 3. Tom Hanks would not be my first choice as Robert Langdon, but he'll definitely do. I love Ian McKellen as Teabing! Great casting there. I know, I know, it's claimed as evil by the church and all that jazz, but ladies and gentlemen, guess what: IT'S FICTION!!! Either way, it's a thought-provoking, entertaining, and altogether awesome book that hopefully translates into a film that's just as good!

2. THE PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST (07/07): No words are needed for this one. But I'll give you some anyway :D The trailer is awesome, Johnny Depp is in it, and the action looks intense! All around, this film looks to be just spectacular, and I would suggest that it looks like the best Summer movie and the one that I would forward to the most.

HOWEVER. . .

1. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 3 (05/05): I've already seen it and it lived up to every expectation I had. Tom Cruise, however crazy he may be, is the best movie star out there. His movies are always good (I have yet to see one I don't even kinda like) and this one is the best action film that he has done yet (I consider MINORITY REPORT to be a drama). Philip Seymour Hoffman is the best villain yet in the MISSION films, and he shows his range that has so been deserving of an Oscar (I'm not saying this film earns him an Oscar, but he shows why he won one this past year). It's tense, entertaining, funny, and altogether amazing. You think you can find me a better Summer movie and I say: "Mission: Impossible"! (Grade: A-)

Well folks, there you have it. If you've reached the end of this, then I commend you. That was a lot!!! It has taken me an hour to do this, so I hope you appreciate the effort :D

Happy Movie Watching!!!

The Summer Movie Rambler,

JUSTIN