The month of April is always difficult. The weather can never make up its mind, final projects are due, and there are never any good movies out. April is the calm before the storm that is Summer Blockbuster Season.
This is going to be one uber-geektacular summer for movies. I figured I had better give everyone the rundown, so I can lay claim to "I told you so" rights come this fall.
May 2: X-Men 2. It's been three years since Bryan Singer proved that a popular Marvel property can be made into a great motion picture. Most all of the original cast returns in a film that largely borrows from an obscure Chris Claremont story called "God Loves, Man Kills." Fan favorites Nightcrawler and Colossus make appearances.
My prediction: God, the trailers look great. Watching teaser footage from this film is like watching cut scenes from the last movie; Singer's style hasn't skipped a beat. I'm already banking on this being my favorite movie of the summer.
May 16: The Matrix: Reloaded - This film needs no introduction. Most Americans have been salivating for four years for the Wachowski brothers to unleash their sequel to the film that revolutionized CGI special effects. Surviving members of the cast return, plus Jada Pinkett-Smith.
My prediction: The trailers look great, but can this movie live up to the hype? Special effects aside, what made the first film shine was its deeper symbolism. I fear the Wachowskis may not be able to maintain the profound ideas for two more films. I'll go on record as saying this movie will be a let-down, albeit a pretty good one.
June 20: The Hulk. Following Singer and Raimi's trend of casting "real" actors (as opposed to Hollywood "faces"), Eric Bana has been cast as nerdy Bruce Banner for the summer's "other" Marvel Comics blockbuster. Ang Lee ("Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon") is a surprise choice for director. Jennifer Connelly also stars.
My prediction: Early effects shots looked pretty cheesy, but word on the street is that the CGI has been cleaned up substantially. The Incredible Hulk's story has loads of eastern themes, so I think Ang Lee was a brilliant choice to direct this film. I'm calling this the surprise hit of the summer, despite frightening reports of gamma-ray dogs.
July 11: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Based on Alan Moore's ("From Hell") graphic novel of the same name, "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" presupposes that famous literary figures such as Captain Nemo, Dr. Jeckyl/Mr. Hyde and Alan Quartermain all served together on a British super-hero team. Sean Connery stars in what amounts to "X-Men, but in the past."
My prediction: This movie will suck. It is a real shame because the source material is nothing short of brilliant. The studios seemed to have had their way with this one: they've added Tom Sawyer to make the film more palatable to American audiences. I'm going to see it, but only on principle that it is a comic book movie.
And that's the round-up for dork cinema this summer. If you are into other kinds of movies, you have a Jim Carey flick and some CGI fish to look forward to.
Write to Mouse at bbmcshane@bsu.edu
Visit http://www.classicalgeektheatre.com --2)+â-+y?mcshane 4.16.03DNEditorial--2SORT-¼+â-ä2AUDT
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