Hollywood's Summer Movies 2008

Next Saturday is the first day of summer and you know what that means, don't you? Hollywood's summer movies! Well, er...sort of. Several of the so-called summer movies have already been released because in Hollywood summer starts around Memorial Day. But I refuse to operate on Hollywood's timetable. Megan operates on her own timetable---and er, BlogHer's---so here's your summer movie preview based on my own strict movie going standards.

Movies I Would Pay Ten Bucks For:

"The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2:" Starring America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamlyn, and Blake Lively (August) - Based on Ann Brashares' "Sisterhood" stories, this sequel follows the four young friends from the original movie as they navigate college and personal relationships. One reason the original movie was so good was because the chemistry between the girls was so authentic. With acting talent like this on tap, this movie should be a good bet and I'm looking forward to it.

"The Dark Knight:" Starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger (July) - Christian Bale is Bruce Wayne/Batman and if this movie wasn't a must-see based on the success of "Batman Begins," the untimely death of Heath Ledger, who co-stars here as the young Joker, will surely have people lining up at the box office.

"Mamma Mia:" Starring Meryl Streep (July) - The only reason I might spend ten bucks to see Mamma Mia is because it stars Meryl Streep. I saw the show on Broadway because a girlfriend scored freebie tickets. For free, it was a pleasant romp down the ABBA memory lane while you waited for the cast to sing "Dancing Queen" at the end. If I'd paid $100 bucks, which is what that same orchestra seat would have cost, I'd have been storming the box office for my money back. As it is, ten bucks to see Meryl Streep is not a lot to ask, even though her comic turns have left a lot to be desired.

"Brideshead Revisited:"  Starring Emma Thompson, Ben Wishaw, Matthew Goode, and Hayley Atwell (July) - This is right up my romance/period drama alley. Based on the Evelyn Waugh novel, the story is about a love triangle set at Oxford during the years before WWII. The original PBS TV series starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews was a huge hit in 1981 and hopefully this version will be at least as entertaining.

"Hannah Bailey, American Teen:" (July) - This documentary is kind of like a real "Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants" because it follows four Indiana students as they try to navigate the minefield of their teen years. Family problems, school problems, relationship problems: they're all here.

"The Love Guru:" Mike Myers, Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake (June) - When it comes to Mike Myers' humor, I either gag or I chuckle.  It's often a toss-up.  But I've been sucked in by Guru Pitka and his quest to become the most famous relationship expert since Deepak Chopra, so I'm willing to sell my comic soul and plunck down ten bucks for this one in the hopes of a few not so cheap laughs.

Movies I Would See To Please A Good Friend:

"Sex and the City" Starring Sarah Jessica Parker (currently playing) - Even though I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about how I had no intention of seeing this movie, I can not tell a lie. My good friend Kay talked me into almost seeing it on opening weekend. The only reason we didn't is because all the shows were sold out until 1am. I know I won't escape next time so I might as well slip on my Jimmy Choos and get ready

Movies I Would See To Please A Hot Date:

"The Incredible Hulk:" Starring Edward Norton and Liv Tyler (currently playing) - This time they hired a good actor for the role, Edward Norton, and they made the Hulk look less cartoony than in the last version which was universally derided as the worst movie of 2003. But if I didn't have a hot date for this one, I'd probably toss it into the "might eventually rent" category. And only then so I could see what Norton does with poor, tortured David Banner.

"Iron Man:" Starring Robert Downey, Jr. (currently playing) - Paying to see Robert Downey, Jr. is not my idea of a good time, but for the right man, I'd do it. Iron Man is another one of those Marvel comic characters that spring up in summer like one too many unwanted dandelions.

"Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull:"  Harrison Ford, Karen Allen and Cate Blanchett (currently playing) - Though I'm a huge Harrison Ford fan the Indy movies never did much for me.  My favorite was "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and that was primarily because Sean Connery stole the show as Indy's Dad.

Movies I Might Eventually Rent:

"Made Of Honor:" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan (currently playing) - It stars Patrick Dempsey of "Grey's Anatomy." What more do I need to say? Okay, I could say more, so I will. This is kind of a remake of the Julia Roberts movie, "My Best Friend's Wedding," except Patrick is the best friend and Michelle Monaghan is the one getting married.

"The X Files, I Want To Believe:"  Starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson (July) - I want to believe this movie has a reason to exist. It's exhibit A in the case for a moratorium on movies based on TV shows. I enjoyed the "X-Files" on TV at least when it wasn't going totally off the deep end plot-wise, but who out there said we needed another "X-Files" movie? I sure didn't. Did you?

"Get Smart:"  Starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway (June) - Are you sensing a theme here? Anything based on a TV show is not something I'm generally willing to fork over the equivalent of a fifth of a tank of gas for. Especially if it stars Steve Carell. Like his TV contemporary, Jon Stewart, this guy just doesn't make me laugh. That dead, dry, delivery does absolutely nothing to tickle my funny bone and I'd only rent this movie to see what kind of mess they make of it. Hell, I may even wait until this is on commercial TV.

"Hancock:" Starring Will Smith and Charlize Theron (July) - It wouldn't be summer without a Will Smith movie and in this one Will plays an alcoholic super-hero who wants to rehab his bad reputation. It's touted as a comedy/drama and the only reason it's in this category instead of the "point of death" category is because of Will Smith.

Movies I Would See To Please My Surrogate Children:

"Kung Fu Panda:"  Starring the voices of Jack Black and Angelina Jolie (currently playing) - If I got a chance to spend time with Cara and Milos and the price was listening to Jack Black's voice for 90 minutes, I would suck it up.

"Wall-E:" (June) - Pixar's big budget entry about a lonely robot left behind when earth has to be evacuated.

"Speed Racer:"  Starring Emile Hirsh, Christina Ricci and Matthew Fox (currently playing) - Just for old times sake because I loved the animated TV show as a kid.  And because it co-stars Matthew Fox.

"Kitt Kittridge, An American Girl:"  Starring Abigail Breslin (July) - Based on the American Girl doll of the same name, Breslin plays a plucky Depression era moppet who helps save the family farm...or something like that.

Movies You Couldn't Make Me Watch On Point Of Death:

"You Don't Mess With The Zohan:"  Starring Adam Sandler and Emmanuelle Chriqui (currently playing) - Adam Sandler:  the two most frightening words in the English movie language.  The plot of this movie? Okay, bear with me. Sandler plays a former Israeli secret agent who fakes his own death so he can become a hairstylist. Huh!? Enough said.

"The Happening:" Starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel (currently playing) - Evidently it ain't...happening, that is. The reviews have been universally bad for this latest from M. Night Shyamalan. Yo, M? Maybe it's time to switch to romantic comedy.

"Wanted:"  Starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman (June) - Could someone explain to me the Angelina Jolie hysteria? I simply don't get it. I don't care about her adoptions, I don't care about her pregnancy, I don't care that she broke up Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, I don't care about her silicone injected lips. I just. Don't. Care. But I seem to be in the minority because here she is again. Someone's buying those movie tickets. This one's based on a graphic novel and has our Angelina playing an assassin training James McAvoy so he can go on a vengeful rampage.

"Step Brothers:" Starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly (July) - Will Ferrell falls into that Adam Sandler, Steve Carell school of comedy for me, meaning he doesn't make me laugh. Ferrell and Reilly play the adult, still living at home sons of two single parents who get married. The result? Comic mayhem. Supposedly.

What movies have you seen and which of my categories would you put them in?  Don't be shy.

Other Summer Movie Links:

Ubergeeke at Geekspace for Women liked "The Incredible Hulk."

Priscilla at Priscilla's Musings thought this Hulk was only slightly better than the previous version.

Sonya at AOL's Black Voices wrote "Sistas Recreate Sex and the City" about several black women getting together with their friends to see the movie.

On a more serious note, Tami at What Tami Said wrote a thought provoking post about "Sex and The City," sexism and racism."

Cross Posted From BlogHer 

Movies I Would Pay Ten Bucks For:

"The Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants 2:" Starring America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamlyn, and Blake Lively (August) - Based on Ann Brashares' "Sisterhood" stories, this sequel follows the four young friends from the original movie as they navigate college and personal relationships. One reason the original movie was so good was because the chemistry between the girls was so authentic. With acting talent like this on tap, this movie should be a good bet and I'm looking forward to it.

"The Dark Knight:" Starring Christian Bale and Heath Ledger (July) - Christian Bale is Bruce Wayne/Batman and if this movie wasn't a must-see based on the success of "Batman Begins," the untimely death of Heath Ledger, who co-stars here as the young Joker, will surely have people lining up at the box office.

"Mamma Mia:" Starring Meryl Streep (July) - The only reason I might spend ten bucks to see Mamma Mia is because it stars Meryl Streep. I saw the show on Broadway because a girlfriend scored freebie tickets. For free, it was a pleasant romp down the ABBA memory lane while you waited for the cast to sing "Dancing Queen" at the end. If I'd paid $100 bucks, which is what that same orchestra seat would have cost, I'd have been storming the box office for my money back. As it is, ten bucks to see Meryl Streep is not a lot to ask, even though her comic turns have left a lot to be desired.

"Brideshead Revisited:"  Starring Emma Thompson, Ben Wishaw, Matthew Goode, and Hayley Atwell (July) - This is right up my romance/period drama alley. Based on the Evelyn Waugh novel, the story is about a love triangle set at Oxford during the years before WWII. The original PBS TV series starring Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews was a huge hit in 1981 and hopefully this version will be at least as entertaining.

"Hannah Bailey, American Teen:" (July) - This documentary is kind of like a real "Sisterhood Of The Traveling Pants" because it follows four Indiana students as they try to navigate the minefield of their teen years. Family problems, school problems, relationship problems: they're all here.

"The Love Guru:" Mike Myers, Jessica Alba and Justin Timberlake (June) - When it comes to Mike Myers' humor, I either gag or I chuckle.  It's often a toss-up.  But I've been sucked in by Guru Pitka and his quest to become the most famous relationship expert since Deepak Chopra, so I'm willing to sell my comic soul and plunck down ten bucks for this one in the hopes of a few not so cheap laughs.

Movies I Would See To Please A Good Friend:

"Sex and the City" Starring Sarah Jessica Parker (currently playing) - Even though I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about how I had no intention of seeing this movie, I can not tell a lie. My good friend Kay talked me into almost seeing it on opening weekend. The only reason we didn't is because all the shows were sold out until 1am. I know I won't escape next time so I might as well slip on my Jimmy Choos and get ready

Movies I Would See To Please A Hot Date:

"The Incredible Hulk:" Starring Edward Norton and Liv Tyler (currently playing) - This time they hired a good actor for the role, Edward Norton, and they made the Hulk look less cartoony than in the last version which was universally derided as the worst movie of 2003. But if I didn't have a hot date for this one, I'd probably toss it into the "might eventually rent" category. And only then so I could see what Norton does with poor, tortured David Banner.

"Iron Man:" Starring Robert Downey, Jr. (currently playing) - Paying to see Robert Downey, Jr. is not my idea of a good time, but for the right man, I'd do it. Iron Man is another one of those Marvel comic characters that spring up in summer like one too many unwanted dandelions.

"Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull:"  Harrison Ford, Karen Allen and Cate Blanchett (currently playing) - Though I'm a huge Harrison Ford fan the Indy movies never did much for me.  My favorite was "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" and that was primarily because Sean Connery stole the show as Indy's Dad.

Movies I Might Eventually Rent:

"Made Of Honor:" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monaghan (currently playing) - It stars Patrick Dempsey of "Grey's Anatomy." What more do I need to say? Okay, I could say more, so I will. This is kind of a remake of the Julia Roberts movie, "My Best Friend's Wedding," except Patrick is the best friend and Michelle Monaghan is the one getting married.

"The X Files, I Want To Believe:"  Starring David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson (July) - I want to believe this movie has a reason to exist. It's exhibit A in the case for a moratorium on movies based on TV shows. I enjoyed the "X-Files" on TV at least when it wasn't going totally off the deep end plot-wise, but who out there said we needed another "X-Files" movie? I sure didn't. Did you?

"Get Smart:"  Starring Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway (June) - Are you sensing a theme here? Anything based on a TV show is not something I'm generally willing to fork over the equivalent of a fifth of a tank of gas for. Especially if it stars Steve Carell. Like his TV contemporary, Jon Stewart, this guy just doesn't make me laugh. That dead, dry, delivery does absolutely nothing to tickle my funny bone and I'd only rent this movie to see what kind of mess they make of it. Hell, I may even wait until this is on commercial TV.

"Hancock:" Starring Will Smith and Charlize Theron (July) - It wouldn't be summer without a Will Smith movie and in this one Will plays an alcoholic super-hero who wants to rehab his bad reputation. It's touted as a comedy/drama and the only reason it's in this category instead of the "point of death" category is because of Will Smith.

Movies I Would See To Please My Surrogate Children:

"Kung Fu Panda:"  Starring the voices of Jack Black and Angelina Jolie (currently playing) - If I got a chance to spend time with Cara and Milos and the price was listening to Jack Black's voice for 90 minutes, I would suck it up.

"Wall-E:" (June) - Pixar's big budget entry about a lonely robot left behind when earth has to be evacuated.

"Speed Racer:"  Starring Emile Hirsh, Christina Ricci and Matthew Fox (currently playing) - Just for old times sake because I loved the animated TV show as a kid.  And because it co-stars Matthew Fox.

"Kitt Kittridge, An American Girl:"  Starring Abigail Breslin (July) - Based on the American Girl doll of the same name, Breslin plays a plucky Depression era moppet who helps save the family farm...or something like that.

Movies You Couldn't Make Me Watch On Point Of Death:

"You Don't Mess With The Zohan:"  Starring Adam Sandler and Emmanuelle Chriqui (currently playing) - Adam Sandler:  the two most frightening words in the English movie language.  The plot of this movie? Okay, bear with me. Sandler plays a former Israeli secret agent who fakes his own death so he can become a hairstylist. Huh!? Enough said.

"The Happening:" Starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel (currently playing) - Evidently it ain't...happening, that is. The reviews have been universally bad for this latest from M. Night Shyamalan. Yo, M? Maybe it's time to switch to romantic comedy.

"Wanted:"  Starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman (June) - Could someone explain to me the Angelina Jolie hysteria? I simply don't get it. I don't care about her adoptions, I don't care about her pregnancy, I don't care that she broke up Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, I don't care about her silicone injected lips. I just. Don't. Care. But I seem to be in the minority because here she is again. Someone's buying those movie tickets. This one's based on a graphic novel and has our Angelina playing an assassin training James McAvoy so he can go on a vengeful rampage.

"Step Brothers:" Starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly (July) - Will Ferrell falls into that Adam Sandler, Steve Carell school of comedy for me, meaning he doesn't make me laugh. Ferrell and Reilly play the adult, still living at home sons of two single parents who get married. The result? Comic mayhem. Supposedly.

What movies have you seen and which of my categories would you put them in?  Don't be shy.

Other Summer Movie Links:

Ubergeeke at Geekspace for Women liked "The Incredible Hulk."

Priscilla at Priscilla's Musings thought this Hulk was only slightly better than the previous version.

Sonya at AOL's Black Voices wrote "Sistas Recreate Sex and the City" about several black women getting together with their friends to see the movie.

On a more serious note, Tami at What Tami Said wrote a thought provoking post about "Sex and The City," sexism and racism."

Cross Posted From BlogHer