Summer’s films to pack action
Hollywood’s summer features potential blockbusters based on comic books, toy lines, TV shows and even (gasp!) history. Also on the way are high-profile sequels and even a handful of brand-new ideas.
From the clawed mutant of “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” to the shape-shifting robots of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” action will be at the forefront of Summer 2009. But summer also has time for love, with “I Love You, Beth Cooper,” starring Hayden Hayden Panettiere, and the “(500) Days of Summer” with Zooey Deschanel.
The following are some of the summer’s high points expected to hit local theaters. Studios often shift opening dates, so check movie listings before heading to the theater.
MAY 1
Battle for Terra
Oklahoma’s James Garner is among the voice talent for this animated movie, which sees humans invading an alien world.
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Celebrity photographer Connor Mead (Matthew McConaughey) is taken on a mystical journey through the ghosts of his past relationships in this “Christmas Carol”-inspired tale.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Hugh Jackman stars as Wolverine, the clawed mutant from the “X-Men,” whose origins are explored in this release, which also features Gambit and Deadpool, popular characters from the comic books.
MAY 8
Star Trek
J.J. Abrams (”Lost”) reinvents the spacefaring saga for the current generation. Chris Pine (”Bottle Shock”) and Zachary Quinto (”Heroes”) take on the roles of the Earthman James T. Kirk and the Vulcan Spock, who must come together to save mankind.
Next Day Air
Two small-time hoods (Mike Epps and Wood Harris) think they’ve hit the jackpot when they mistakenly receive a package of grade-A cocaine in this action comedy. But when they try to sell it, things go from bad to worse.
MAY 15
Angels and Demons
Tom Hanks returns as Harvard religious expert Robert Langdon in this sequel to “The DaVinci Code.”
12
In this remake of “12 Angry Men,” 12 jurors must decide the fate of an 18-year-old Chechen accused of murdering his step-father.
Management
Jennifer Aniston plays an art saleswoman who has a chance meeting with a goofy hotel manager (Steve Zahn) who develops a crush on her.
MAY 21
Terminator Salvation
Christian Bale (”The Dark Knight”) stars as John Connor, the man destined to lead the humans against Skynet in a post-apocalyptic 2018.
May 22
Dance Flick
Damon Wayans Jr. stars in this over-the-top parody of dance movies.
Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Ben Stiller returns in this sequel to 2006’s “Night at the Museum” – which this time around, is set at the Smithsonian.
MAY 29
Drag Me to Hell
Director Sam Raimi (Spider-Man trilogy, Evil Dead series) returns to horror with this film starring Alison Lohman and Justin Long. Lohman stars as an ambitious L.A. loan officer who is cursed after denying an extension to a mysterious woman.
Up
Pixar’s latest features an elderly balloon salesman Carl Fredricksen, who ties thousands of balloons to his house to take a journey to South America. But he discovers an unexpected stowaway: a 9-year-old Wilderness Explorer.
JUNE 5
The Hangover
Director Todd Phillips (”Old School”) handles this comedy about a bachelor party gone wrong. Bradley Cooper (”Wedding Crashers”), Ed Helms (”The Office”) and Zach Galifianakis (maybe best-known for Fiona Apple’s “Not About Love” video) play three groomsmen who lose their groom in Las Vegas the day before his wedding.
Land of the Lost
Will Ferrell stars as a scientist sent back in time in this comedic remake of the 1970s show.
My Life in Ruins
Nia Vardalos (writer and star of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”) stars in this comedy about a Greek woman working as a travel guide.
JUNE 12
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Director Tony Scott and actor Denzel Washington (”Deja Vu”) reteam to remake this hijacking thriller.
Imagine That
A struggling executive (Eddie Murphy) finds the solutions to his real-life problems in his daughter’s make-believe world.
JUNE 19
Year One
Writer-director Harold Ramis (”Ghostbusters”) helms this prehistoric comedy starring Jack Black and Michael Cera as slothful hunter-gatherers who go on an epic trek after their village banishes them.
The Proposal
An aggressive executive (Sandra Bullock) gets her harried assistant (Ryan Reynolds) to marry her so she can avoid deportation in this romantic comedy.
Whatever Works
Woody Allen directs this May-December romance starring Larry David and Evan Rachel Wood.
JUNE 24
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
The evil Decepticons return to Earth to capture Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf) in the sequel from director Michael Bay.
JUNE 26
My Sister’s Keeper
Based on the Jodi Picoult’s novel, this tearjerker centers on a teen (Abigail Breslin) who seeks legal emancipation from her parents (Jason Patric and Cameron Diaz), who have long used her bone marrow to keep alive her older sister (Sofia Vassilieva), who has leukemia.
Cheri
Brit Stephen Frears (”The Queen”) helms this period drama about a courtesan’s son (Rupert Friend) who escapes into fantasy after he is forced to end his romance with an older woman (Michelle Pfeiffer).
JULY 1
Public Enemies
Christian Bale and Johnny Depp star in this crime drama from writer-director Michael Mann (”Heat”). Bale plays FBI Agent Melvin Purvis, who sets out to capture John Dillinger (Depp) and other gangsters to curtail crime in 1930s Chicago.
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Ray Romano, John Leguizamo and Denis Leary for the third time lend their voices to the Manny the mammoth, Sid the sloth and Diego the saber-tooth tiger in this animated series.
JULY 10
Bruno
Sacha Baron Cohen follows up his 2006 hit “Borat” with this comedy about an outrageous Austrian fashion writer who travels the globe in search of trends.
I Love You, Beth Cooper
In this school comedy, geeky valedictorian (Paul Rust) reveals his love for popular cheerleader Beth Cooper (Hayden Panettiere) in his graduation speech.
JULY 15
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
David Yates (”Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”) directs the long-awaited sixth chapter in boy wizard’s saga, in which Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) delve into the history of wicked Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes).
JULY 17
All the Boys Love Mandy Lane
This teen horror flick centers on a good girl (Amber Heard) who is invited to party with the popular kids. But once the soiree gets started in an isolated location, the partiers start to vanish.
JULY 24
G-Force
Will Arnett, Sam Rockwell and Penelope Cruz lend their voices to a slam-bang, Jerry Bruckheimer-produced CG guinea pig adventure.
The Ugly Truth
Sparks fly as an uptight morning radio producer (Katherine Heigl) clashes with the new shock jock (Gerard Butler) brought in to boost her station’s numbers.
Orphan
After a grieving couple (Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard) adopts a 9-year-old girl (Isabelle Fuhrman), sinister events begin happening.
The Cove
Dolphin trainer Richard O’Barry leads high-tech dive team on a quest to unveil the truth about the international dolphin capture trade in Taji, Japan, in this award-winning documentary.
JULY 31
Funny People
Judd Apatow directs his follow-up to “Knocked Up,” with Adam Sandler starring as a stand-up comic who must re-evaluate his life after a health scare.
They Came From Upstairs
A dorky high schooler must fend off an alien invasion in this kid-friendly comedy starring Ashley Tisdale, Andy Richter and Kevin Nealon.
AUGUST 7
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Channing Tatum and Dennis Quaid suit up for combat in this film based on a comic book based on an action figure.
(500) Days of Summer
Joseph Gordon-Levitt opens against himself as a love-struck guy smitten with a woman (Zooey Deschanel) who does not believe in love.
Julie and Julia
Amy Adams gets cooking as a meek secretary obsessed with Julia Child (Meryl Streep).
Cold Souls
Shades of “Being John Malkovich”: Paul Giamatti stars as Paul Giamatti, a midlevel actor who agrees to have his soul frozen for future use.
Shorts
Robert Rodriguez’ latest kid-friendly adventure is a “Pulp Fiction”-style multiple-storyline narrative involving an asteroid and dreams coming true.
AUGUST 14
A Perfect Getaway
Two sets of lovers (Milla Jovovich and Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant and Kiele Sanchez) on an Hawaiian vacation discover a sinister crime.
Paper Heart
This film blends narrative and documentary, as artist/actress Charlene Yi explores the meaning of love while her real-life beau, Michael Cera, courts her.
Bandslam
Vanessa Hudgens gets wild as a high school rocker singing Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab,” but with more wholesome sweetness.
District 9
Aliens land in Johannesburg, South Africa and face a new kind of apartheid in this Peter Jackson-produced fable.
The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
Jeremy Piven plays an unscrupulous salesman brought in to drive down inventory as a volume dealer who wants to sell you a car.
Ponyo
John Lasseter oversaw the English translation of this Hayao Miyazaki epic about a fish yearning to be human.
Post Grad
Alexis Bledel (”Gilmore Girls,” “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”) stars as a recent college graduate forced to move in with her eccentric family.
The Time Traveler’s Wife
The 2003 best-seller is brought to history-hopping life with Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana in the leads.
AUGUST 21
Inglourious Basterds
Brad Pitt leads the cast of Quentin Tarantino’s long-awaited World War II bloodlust epic about a Jewish-American army company killing as many Nazis as possible.
World’s Greatest Dad
Robin Williams stars as a high school teacher whose life falls apart after a car accident in this dark drama written and directed by (no kidding) Bobcat Goldthwait.
The Post Grad Survival Guide
Alexis Bledel (”Gilmore Girls,” “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”) stars as a recent college graduate forced to move in with her eccentric family
AUGUST 28
The Boat That Rocked
A legendary pirate radio station that operated in the Thames River is depicted in this Richard Curtis film starring Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Final Destination: Death Trip 3D
There is no finality at all as more young people meet horrible ends – now in three dimensions.
Halloween 2
Rob Zombie looks behind the mask again as Michael Myers goes back out for more blood.
ALSO FOR SUMMER
These films are planned for summer but have yet to be given firm Oklahoma City release dates:
The Brothers Bloom
Con men and siblings Bloom (Adrien Brody) and Stephen (Mark Ruffalo) set out to swindle an oddball heiress (Rachel Weisz) for their final score.
The Hurt Locker
Katheryn Bigelow (”Point Break”) helms this harrowing Iraq War thriller about an Army bomb unit.
The Limits of Control
Writer-director Jim Jarmusch (”Broken Flowers”) follows an enigmatic loner (Isaach De Bankolé) working on a criminal job in Spain.
Away We Go
An expectant couple (John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph) travel around the United States trying to find a perfect home for their coming baby in this dramedy from Sam Mendes (”American Beauty”).
Adam
A lonely man with Asperger’s Syndrome (Hugh Dancy) strikes up a relationship with his new neighbor (Rose Byrne.)
Taking Woodstock
Director Ang Lee (”Lust, Caution”) turns back to clock to the summer of ‘69 in this tale about preparations for the legendary Woodstock Festival.
9
Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly and Jennifer Connelly lend their voices to this animated post-apocalyptic tale.
Spread
A high-rolling lothario (Ashton Kutcher) meets his match in this sex comedy.
BY BRANDY MCDONNELL, GEORGE LANG AND MATTHEW PRICE
Staff Writers
From Friday’s The Oklahoman
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so many good movies to see and not enough time! Darn it!