2008 Summer Movie Preview
MAY 2008

Iron Man
MAY 2ND || Action || Paramount Pictures || PG-13
Dir: Jon Favreau; Writers: Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby (Children of Men) and Art Marcum & Matt Holloway (Punisher: War Zone)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges

When wealthy industrialist Tony Stark is forced to build an armored suit after a life-threatening incident, he ultimately decides to use its technology to fight against evil.

MOVIEMAN - The summer opens up with a bang as Marvel snags the great Robert Downey Jr. to play Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man. While I'm a bit skeptical considering Marvel's track record of late with Fantastic Four 2 and their other duds since Spider-Man 3 and X2, I have hopes this one will deliver on the action and adventure.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $72m / $235m
Speed Racer
MAY 9TH || Action || Warner Bros. Pictures || PG-13
Writer/Dir: Andy and Larry Wachowski
Starring: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, Matthew Fox, Susan Sarandon, John Goodman

A hot shot driver named Speed Racer strives to live up to the ideals of his dead brother, Rex Racer. Speed Racer turns down a lucrative offer from Royalton Industries. With help from his family and girlfriend, Speed Racer competes in the race that killed his brother.

MOVIEMAN - Yay, another popular show from the 80s makes its way to a theater near you this summer. I honestly never saw the show and have very little interest in the movie adaptation. One big reason is the fact that the trailers makes it look like a live-action video game, that alone will probably keep me away.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $55m / $130m
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
MAY 16TH || Adventure-Fantasy || Disney || PG-13
Dir: Steven Spielberg; Writers: David Koepp (Spider-Man), George Lucas and Jeff Nathanson (Rush Hour series)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, John Hurt, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent

The Pevensie siblings return to Narnia, where they are enlisted to once again help ward off an evil king and restore the rightful heir to the land's throne, Prince Caspian.

MOVIEMAN - Liked the first but can easily wait for it on DVD.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $80m / $305m
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
MAY 22ND || Action || Paramount Pictures || PG-13
Dir: Steven Spielberg; Writers: David Koepp (Spider-Man), George Lucas and Jeff Nathanson (Rush Hour series)
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, John Hurt, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent

Nearly 20 years since The Last Crusade, Harrison Ford returns as Indiana Jones, this time fighting against... well, who the hell knows.

MOVIEMAN - Although I'm not much of an Indiana Jones fan, I have enjoyed the series throughout the years and look forward to this latest outing. What the plot is about is anyone's guess but with Spielberg behind the camera and Lucas behind the pen... well, scratch that last part, this is a movie that should kick major butt!

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $90m (3D), $115m (4D) / $350m
Sex and the City
MAY 30TH || Comedy || New Line Cinema || R
Writer/Dir: Michael Patrick King
Starring: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Kristin Davis, Chris Noth, Jennifer Hudson

Based on the popular HBO TV series, this feature film follows Carrie and her three friends through life, men and New York City.

MOVIEMAN - Do I even need to say something??? There is no way in hell you will catch me in the theater for this one. Never seen a single second of the show and the same will be said for this movie. No thank you.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $30m / $85m
-- Other May Releases --
(Alphabetical Order)

Made of Honor
MAY 2ND || Romance/Comedy || Sony Pictures || PG-13
Starring: Michelle Monaghan, Patrick Dempsey
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $26m / $85m

The Strangers
MAY 30TH || Suspense/Thriller || Rogue Pictures || R
Starring: Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $12m / $28m

What Happens in Vegas
MAY 9TH || Romance/Comedy || 20th Century Fox || NYR
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $20m / $62m

JUNE 2008

The Happening
JUNE 13TH || Sci-Fi/Drama || 20th Century Fox || PG-13*
Writer/Dir: M. Night Shyamalan
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo

A paranoid thriller about a family on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large-scale threat to humanity.

MOVIEMAN - I'll be honest, I've lost all interest in Shyamalan since The Village and then any respect for the man went out the window with Lady in the Water. I have little hope The Happening is going to change things. Maybe I'll give it a chance... on DVD.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $28m / $75m
The Incredible Hulk
JUNE 13TH || Action || Universal Pictures || PG-13*
Dir: Louis Leterrier (The Transporter); Writers: Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand) and Edward Norton
Starring: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Eric Roth, William Hurt

Physicist Bruce Banner takes flight in order to understand -- and hopefully cure -- the condition that turns him into a monster.

MOVIEMAN - So, Marvel and Universal are going to give this another go-around. First fix, cast Edward Norton. A+. Second, reboot the entire thing. Solid A. Third, fantastic trailer and over-the-top hype. Gracious D+. Norton is one of my favorite actors, so that alone will get me in the door and although I kind of liked Hulk, I am interested to see what they do. HOWEVER, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit underwhelmed. Did this really need to be made?

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $42m / $125m
Get Smart
JUNE 20TH || Comedy/Action || Warner Bros. Pictures || PG-13
Dir: Peter Segal (The Longest Yard); Writers: Tom J. Astle & Matt Ember (Failure to Launch)
Starring: Steve Carrell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin

Maxwell Smart, Agent 86 for CONTROL, battles the forces of KAOS with the more-competent Agent 99 at his side.

MOVIEMAN - Looks very funny and this could be Carrell's first big hit outside of an Apatow comedy. It also wouldn't hurt to make people forget about Evan Almighty either...

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $38m / $120m
Wanted
JUNE 27TH || Action || Universal Pictures || PG-13*
Dir: Timur Bekmambetov; Writers: Michael Brandt & Derek Haas (3:10 to Yuma) and Chris Morgan (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)
Starring: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Common, Angelina Jolie

A young man discovers that his late father was an assassin. Now, he is being trained by an organization those same skills.

MOVIEMAN - Cool concept and when you add Angelina Jolie into the mix, you've got a winner. Young up-and-coming actor James McAvoy just adds one more reason to see this action-thriller. I'm hoping this delivers the same kind of entertainment value as Mr. & Mrs. Smith and it certainly has that potential.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $36m / $112m
-- Other June Releases --
(Alphabetical Order)

Kung Fu Panda
JUNE 6TH || Animation || DreamWorks Animation || PG
Starring: Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, Lucy Liu, Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogan
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $50m / $215m

The Love Guru
JUNE 20TH || Comedy || Paramount Pictures || PG-13*
Starring: Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Justin Timberlake
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $26m / $90m

Wall-E
JUNE 27TH || Animation || Disney/Pixar || G*
Starring: Sigourney Weaver
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $52m / $240m

JULY 2008

Hancock
JULY 2ND || Action/Comedy || Sony Pictures || PG-13
Dir: Peter Berg (The Kingdom)
Starring: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman

A hard-living superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public enters into a questionable relationship with the wife of the public relations professional who's trying to repair his image.

MOVIEMAN - Not too sure what to make of this, but it's Will Smith and there is a comedic premise at the core, so this could be a great summer popcorn flick. I just don't want it to be a depressing affair like I Am Legend.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $52m(3d), $70m(4d) / $260m
Hellboy II: The Golden Army
JULY 11TH || Action/Fantasy || Universal Pictures || PG-13*
Dir: Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, John Hurt

The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so Hellboy and his team must save the world from the rebellious creatures.

MOVIEMAN - Not a hue fan of the original but with nothing else of interest coming out on July 11th, I'll certainly check it out. At the very least, Perlman's performance as Hellboy is worth the price of admission.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $27m / $65m
The Dark Knight
JULY 18TH || Action || Warner Bros. || PG-13*
Dir: Christopher Nolan; Writers: Jonathan Nolan & Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman

Batman encounters a dangerous foe, The Joker, as he wreaks anarchy on the ailing Gotham City. Meanwhile, D.A. Harvey Dent vows to rid the city of corruption.

MOVIEMAN - I'll admit up front, if there is anything I am a fanboy of, it is Batman. Batman Begins was one of my favorite movies of not only '05 but the 21st century. Can I step back and give an unbiased viewpoint on this film? No. Of course, one cannot forget the lasting impression this movie will bring as it will be one of Heath Ledger's final performances.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $95m / $255m
Step Brothers
JULY 25TH || Comedy || Columbia Pictures || R*
Dir: Adam McKay (Anchorman); Writers: Adam McKay & Will Ferrell
Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly

Two friends become rival step brothers after their single parents marry.

MOVIEMAN - I am so done with Will Ferrell and his comedies. Anchorman and Talladega Nights had their moments, but I've decided to wait for DVD on Ferrell's movies now. No thanks, I'll pass.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $35m / $112m
The X-Files: I Want to Believe
JULY 25TH || Science Fiction || 20th Century Fox || PG-13*
Dir: Chris Carter; Writers: Chris Carter & Frank Spotnitz
Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Xzibit

Mulder and Scully return to investigate more aliens and conspiracies.

MOVIEMAN - It's been 10 years since our favorite government spooks graced the big screen, and six years since it left TV with a whimper and fan outrage. I remember standing in line for The X-Files movie back in '98 and while the fandom in me subsided long ago, I'll still most definitely check this one out.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $34m / $92m
-- Other July Releases --
(Alphabetical Order)

Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D
JUNE 11TH || Adventure/Fantasy || New Line Cinema || PG
Starring: Brendan Fraser
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $12m / $35m

Kit Kittridge: An American Girl
JULY 2ND || Comedy/Drama || New Line Cinema || G*
Starring: Abigail Breslin, Joan Cusack, Chris O'Donnell
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $22m / $94m

Mamma Mia!
JULY 18TH || Musical || Universal Pictures || PG-13*
Starring: Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $18m / $60m

Meet Dave
JULY 11TH || Sci-Fi/Comedy || 20th Century Fox || PG-13*
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Gabrielle Union, Elizabeth Banks, Scott Caan
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $22m / $65m

AUGUST 2008

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
AUGUST 1ST || Action || Universal Pictures || PG-13
Dir: Rob Cohen (The Fast and the Furious); Writers: Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (TV's "Smallville")
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh

In the Far East, trouble-seeking father-and-son duo Rick and Alex O'Connell unearth the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin -- a shape-shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard centuries ago.

MOVIEMAN - The Mummy franchise has at least been a semi-entertaining series but I think enough is enough already. If I have nothing else to do, I may check it out, though this seems more worthy as a DVD rental.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $46m / $165m
Pineapple Express
AUGUST 8TH || Comedy || Columbia Pictures || R
Dir: David Gordon Green; Writers: Seth Rogan & Evan Goldberg, Judd Apatow
Starring: Seth Rogan, James Franco

A stoner and his dealer are forced to go on the run from the police after the pothead witnesses a cop commit a murder.

MOVIEMAN - I think the tagline, "Put this in your pipe and smoke it" says it all. Nuff said.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $30m / $115m
Tropic Thunder
AUGUST 15TH || Comedy || DreamWorks || R
Dir: Ben Stiller; Writers: Ben Stiller & Justin Theroux and Etan Cohen
Starring: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel

Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying.

MOVIEMAN - Ben Stiller comedies are usually hit or miss with me, but with this cast and an interesting comedy idea, I might give it a try.

BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $28m / $100m
-- Other August Releases --
(Alphabetical Order)

The Accidental Husband
AUGUST 22ND || Comedy || Yari Film Group || PG-13
Starring: Uma Thurman, Colin Firth
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $11m / $32m

Babylon A.D.
AUGUST 29TH || Action/Sci-Fi || 20th Century Fox || PG-13
Starring: Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $14m / $40m

Crossing Over
AUGUST 22ND || Drama || Weinstein Company || NYR
Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Penn, Ashley Judd
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $7m / $20m

Mirrors
AUGUST 15TH || Horror || 20th Century Fox || NYR
Starring: Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton, Amy Smart
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $12m / $34m

The Rocker
AUGUST 1ST || Comedy || Fox Atomic || NYR
Starring: Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Will Arnett
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $5m / $16m

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
AUGUST 8TH || Comedy || Warner Bros. Pictures || PG-13
Starring: Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel, Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $18m / $65m

Swing Vote
AUGUST 1ST || Comedy/Drama || Touchstone Pictures || PG-13
Starring: Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper
BOX OFFICE PREDICTION: $17m / $58m