The year-end holiday season is a whirlwind rush to cram all titles into a five- or six-week window, with most weekends seeing the concurrent debuts of scores of movies competing for both cash and awards.
The summer season, on the other hand, is far more leisurely. With more time at its disposal, Hollywood can roll out most of its blockbusters one week at a time, so that the movies dont end up cannibalizing each others profits from the get-go.
This year is no different. The schedule becomes more cluttered as the summer progresses, but even further down the path, some major titles are given their due: Note, for instance, the wide berth awarded to Spider-Man 2.
Here, then, are summaries of movies scheduled for release between now and Labor Day. As always, keep in mind that release dates are subject to massive fluctuation.
MAY 21
SHREK 2
PLOT: Its Meet the Parents toon-style, as Shrek (Mike Myers), with Donkey (Eddie Murphy) in tow, travels to the Kingdom of Far, Far Away to meet Princess Fionas (Cameron Diaz) parents, King Harold (John Cleese) and Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews).
TALKING POINTS: The previous installment grossed $267 million and earned the first-ever Oscar for Best Animated Feature; this sequel will doubtless meet with its own elevated measure of success... The voice cast also includes Antonio Banderas as Puss In Boots and Rupert Everett as Prince Charming.
MAY 28
THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW
PLOT: Or When Nature Attacks!, as abrupt climate changes cause the entire planet to be decimated by tornadoes, snowstorms, heatwaves and other Weather Channel staples.
TALKING POINTS: Director Roland Emmerich previously incinerated the earth in Independence Day... Taking billing under the expensive special effects are Dennis Quaid, Ian Holm and Donnie Darkos Jake Gyllenhaal... The end of the world was also showcased in the early-summer-1998 release Deep Impact lets pray this movies much better.
RAISING HELEN
PLOT: A top model (Kate Hudson) in New York must radically change her partying ways once she becomes responsible for her late sisters three children.
TALKING POINTS: One of the kids is played by the insufferable Spencer Breslin (The Cat in the Hat), but on the plus side, the cast also includes Joan Cusack and Helen Mirren... If this bombs, director Garry Marshall has another summer flick in the wings: Augusts The Princess Diaries 2.
SOUL PLANE
PLOT: After earning millions in a lawsuit against a major airline, a young man (Kevin Hart) creates his own airline, one with a decidedly urban emphasis.
TALKING POINTS: The cast includes Snoop Dogg, Method Man, D.L. Hughley and Tom Arnold (presumably as the token white nerd)... If this gets off the ground with audiences looking for some effective counterprogramming away from the blockbusters, it might lop off Barbershop-size grosses.
JUNE 4
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
PLOT: In his third year at Hogwarts, boy wizard Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has to match wits with the murderous Sirius Black (Gary Oldman).
TALKING POINTS: Y Tu Mama Tambiens Alfonso Cuaron has taken over from Home Alones Chris Columbus as director, all but guaranteeing that this installment will possess more of an edge than its two predecessors... Emma Thompson joins the cast, while Michael Gambon (Gosford Park) takes over the late Richard Harris part of headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
JUNE 11
THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
PLOT: In this sequel to the sci-fi sleeper hit Pitch Black, fugitive Riddick (Vin Diesel) ends up on a distant planet where he leads a rebellion against the tyrant who has enslaved the local populace.
TALKING POINTS: Pitch Black was more notable for its unique setting and cool monsters rather than its leading character, so its a big question mark as to whether Diesels anti-hero will prove as appealing in a different scenario... The cast also includes Thandie Newton, Judi Dench and, returning from Pitch Black, Keith David.
GARFIELD: THE MOVIE
PLOT: Americas most famous fat cat (next to Rush Limbaugh, anyway) passes the day eating, sleeping and creating mischief.
TALKING POINTS: Like Scooby-Doo, this places a computer-generated animal in the middle of a live-action setting... Bill Murray provides the voice for Garfield, and its a bit depressing to realize that this is his follow-up to Lost In Translation... The preview is nothing short of ghastly; as one fellow scribe muttered while suffering through it, I hate the movie already.
THE STEPFORD WIVES
PLOT: After moving to a new town with her husband (Matthew Broderick), a burnt-out career woman (Nicole Kidman) starts noticing that all the other wives are a little too perfect.
TALKING POINTS: Reportedly, this remake of the 1975 film has been updated to make its themes even more topical... The sterling cast includes Glenn Close, Bette Midler, Christopher Walken and country music star Faith Hill.
JUNE 16
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
PLOT: With his trusty companion Passepartout (Jackie Chan) at his side, the eccentric Phileas Fogg (Steve Coogan) wagers that he can circle the globe in less than 80 days.
TALKING POINTS: This adaptation of the Jules Verne classic features appearances by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathy Bates and Rob Schneider... The 1956 version inexplicably copped a Best Picture Academy Award, but I see no lofty honors in this movies future; even box office success isnt a given for such an old-fashioned yarn.
JUNE 18
DARKNESS
PLOT: An American family discovers its dream house in Spain, not realizing until after theyve moved in that the joint is haunted.
TALKING POINTS: This opened in Spain (homeland of its writer-director, Jaume Balaguero) in late 2002 and played the rest of Europe throughout 2003
Anna Paquin and Lena Olin head the cast.
DODGEBALL: A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY
PLOT: When their gym is targeted for destruction by a major sports conglomerate, a group of outcasts decides to save the joint by facing off against a championship team in the ultimate dodgeball competition.
TALKING POINTS: This is Stillers fourth film this year, and in a smart casting move, hes playing the villain rather than the hero (Vince Vaughn handles that role)... The satire will have to be mighty sharp for this to rise above being yet one more underdog yarn.
THE TERMINAL
PLOT: While flying to New York, a traveler (Tom Hanks) discovers that his Eastern European nation has just undergone a coup; now a man without a country whos unauthorized to enter the United States, he must hang out for an indefinite amount of time at Kennedy Airport.
TALKING POINTS: Director Steven Spielberg reteams with Hanks (following Saving Private Ryan and Catch Me If You Can) for this drama loosely based on a true story... Catherine Zeta-Jones co-stars as a flight attendant who falls for the stranded visitor... Just as Seabiscuit was last summers obvious Oscar bait release, this looks like its 2004 equivalent.
JUNE 25
THE NOTEBOOK
PLOT: An elderly couple (James Garner and Gena Rowlands) discover a notebook that contains the story of young lovers (Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) whose courtship faced numerous obstacles, including her overbearing mother (Joan Allen) and the advent of World War II.
TALKING POINTS: This is based on the novel by North Carolina author Nicholas Sparks... The director is Nick Cassavetes, the son of Rowlands and John Cassavetes.
TWO BROTHERS
PLOT: Twin tiger cubs that were raised separately are reunited many years later.
TALKING POINTS: This isnt the first time that director Jean-Jacques Annaud has decided to talk to the animals; he previously helmed The Bear... The human cast is headed by Mementos Guy Pearce.
WHITE CHICKS
PLOT: Two black FBI agents (Marlon and Shawn Wayans) pose as bubbly blonde debutantes to uncover a kidnapping plot.
TALKING POINTS: This arrives courtesy of the same folks who brought us Scary Movie... The preview looks atrocious, meaning this will probably make a bundle.
JUNE 30
SPIDER-MAN 2
PLOT: While still sorting out his relationship with Mary Jane Watson (Kirsten Dunst), Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) must take time out to suit up as Spidey and combat the fearsome Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina).
TALKING POINTS: Sam Raimi returns as director, this time working from a story co-written by Oscar winner Alvin Sargent (Ordinary People)... The Shrek and Harry Potter sequels have outside shots, but this is the movie with the best chance of supplanting The Passion of the Christ as the years top moneymaker.
JULY 2
THE CLEARING
PLOT: A wealthy Pittsburgh couple (Robert Redford and Helen Mirren) with few cares in the world find their existence shattered when the husband is kidnapped by an increasingly desperate man (Willem Dafoe).
TALKING POINTS: Pieter Jan Brugge makes his directing debut after working as a producer for many years (Bulworth, The Insider)... With that seasoned cast, this might be the movie of choice for older moviegoers not interested in FX flicks.
JULY 7
KING ARTHUR
PLOT: The valiant Arthur (Clive Owen) reluctantly agrees to lead Britain into a prosperous new age, with Guinevere (Keira Knightley), Merlin (Stephen Dillane) and the Knights of the Round Table at his side.
TALKING POINTS: While director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day may be a stranger to supersized epics, its old hat for producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean, Armageddon, Black Hawk Down, etc.)... An unknown before last year, Knightley made an impression in Pirates of the Caribbean, Bend It Like Beckham and Love Actually... Overexposure to tales of Camelot (First Knight, TVs Merlin) might hamper this films potential.
JULY 9
ANCHORMAN
PLOT: In 1970s San Diego, chauvinistic TV anchorman Ron Burgundy (Will Ferrell) suddenly discovers he has a fight on his hands when a rising station employee (Christina Applegate) sets her sights on the news desk.
TALKING POINTS: Had this been released in 2002, it might have gone the way of A Night at the Roxbury, but given Ferrells formidable success in 2003 with Elf and Old School, this suddenly looks like a robust performer... The supporting cast includes rapper Chuck D and Best In Show scene-stealer Fred Willard.
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE
PLOT: A nerdy Idaho teenager (Jon Heder) who lives with his unemployed older brother, their grandmother, and her pet llama has to contend with an obnoxious uncle who sells herbal breast enhancers as well as his stuck-up classmates.
TALKING POINTS: This was in the running for the Grand Jury Prize at this years Sundance Film Festival... That trailers pretty funny, something I cant claim about most of the other comedy previews Ive seen lately.
JULY 16
A CINDERELLA STORY
PLOT: The classic fairy tale gets a modern spin, with our young heroine (Hilary Duff) living in LA with her wicked stepmother (Jennifer Coolidge) and discovering that her Prince Charming is actually the school quarterback (Chad Michael Murray).
TALKING POINTS: Seeking a screen career to rival that of her real-life nemesis Lindsay Lohan (Freaky Friday), Duff follows last summers The Lizzie McGuire Movie (not to mention Cheaper By the Dozen, in which she had a supporting role) with another vehicle sure to please her fan base.
I, ROBOT
PLOT: In the year 2035, a detective (Will Smith) investigates a murder seemingly committed by a robot an impossibility, since robots have been programmed to never hurt humans.
TALKING POINTS: This is inspired by Isaac Asimovs book of the same name... Director Alex Proyas was behind The Crow and Dark City, so this movie should at least be visually arresting.
JULY 23
THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
PLOT: Amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) continues to sort out the mysteries surrounding his past in this sequel to The Bourne Identity.
TALKING POINTS: The Bourne Identity was a potent force at the 2002 summer box office, and with another top-notch cast (including Joan Allen) and plenty of Bond-like intrigue, this one should also fare nicely.
CATWOMAN
PLOT: A mousy woman (Halle Berry) struck down in the prime of life ends up acquiring nine of them when she reemerges as the superheroine Catwoman.
TALKING POINTS: Obviously, those long-ago reports of a Catwoman picture starring Michelle Pfeiffer (who was sensational in the role in Batman Returns) never left the rumor stage... Berry took the role after Ashley Judd turned it down, presumably to continue making dum-dum thrillers like Twisted... Sharon Stone co-stars as the villain of the piece, stirring unfortunate memories of Faye Dunaways hammy evildoer in Supergirl.
JULY 30
GARDEN STATE
PLOT: A man (Zach Braff) suffering from lifelong depression returns to his hometown for his mothers funeral; there, he makes a connection with someone else (Natalie Portman) coping with medical ills.
TALKING POINTS: This generated plenty of positive buzz at Sundance... Braff (who also directed and wrote the film) is best known for his starring role on TVs Scrubs.
HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE
PLOT: A quick run for White Castle hamburgers turns into a marathon road trip for two teenagers (John Cho and Kal Penn).
TALKING POINTS: Director Danny Leiner previously enriched our cinematic heritage with Dude, Wheres My Car?... Anthony Anderson (Kangaroo Jack, My Babys Daddy) pops up in a small role, making this his seventh film appearance in the past two years (thats not even including last years short-lived TV series All About the Andersons).
THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
PLOT: An army major and Desert Storm vet (Denzel Washington) becomes aroused by the odd behavior of his former comrade (Live Schreiber).
TALKING POINTS: John Frankenheimers 1962 classic was clearly a picture that didnt cry out for an update, and seeing how badly director Jonathan Demme botched the Charade remake (The Truth About Charlie) adds to our anxiety... Still, Washington is always compelling, and the casting of Meryl Streep in Angela Lansburys old role of the creepy mom is inspired.
THUNDERBIRDS
PLOT: Former astronaut Jeff Tracy (Bill Paxton) and his five sons, who together comprise the members of the top-secret outfit International Rescue, find their island sanctuary under attack by a criminal mastermind known as The Hood (Ben Kingsley).
TALKING POINTS: This is based on that quirky 60s TV series that starred a bunch of cheesy-looking puppets... The director is Jonathan Frakes, the Star Trek: The Next Generation actor who has landed a second career behind the camera (this is his fourth feature film credit).
THE VILLAGE
PLOT: The members of an isolated community accept the fact that the surrounding forest harbors an evil force, but one man (Joaquin Phoenix) decides to risk his life to uncover its dark secrets.
TALKING POINTS: Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan already has two summer blockbusters under his belt: The Sixth Sense and Signs... The cast also includes William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver and Adrien Brody.
AUGUST 6
COLLATERAL
PLOT: A cab driver (Jamie Foxx) is startled to learn that his latest fare is a trained assassin (Tom Cruise).
TALKING POINTS: Cruises films almost always gross at least $100 million, but given the less-than-flamboyant plotline and an August release date (late for a Cruise summer flick), this one might have its work cut out for it... The director is Michael Mann, the Heat helmer who had a rare misstep with Ali.
SHALL WE DANCE?
PLOT: A burned-out businessman (Richard Gere) falls for a dance instructor (Jennifer Lopez) and hires her to teach him ballroom moves.
TALKING POINTS: This is the inevitable Hollywood remake of a wonderful Japanese import that performed nicely at US art-houses back in 1997, and may God have mercy on their souls if they tarnish the originals reputation in any way... Susan Sarandon co-stars as Geres wife.
AUGUST 11
THE PRINCESS DIARIES 2: ROYAL ENGAGEMENT
PLOT: Immediately after commencing her duties as princess of Genovia, Mia (Anne Hathaway) learns that shes to be named Queen and that the Queen must have a mate.
TALKING POINTS: Julie Andrews returns as Hathaways prim and proper grandmother... This sequel might have the name recognition, but A Cinderella Story might steal some of this movies target audience by virtue of its earlier release date.
AUGUST 13
ALIEN VS. PREDATOR
PLOT: Two monsters from outer space face off against each other; as the tagline reads, Whoever Wins... We Lose.
TALKING POINTS: The Friday the 13th and Nightmare On Elm Street franchises were played out financially (creatively, they had been played out for decades) until the mad slashers were brought together in last summers modest hit Freddy vs. Jason; expect this pairing (based on the comic book series) to yield similar results.
YU-GI-OH!
PLOT: Young Yugi must confront an ancient evil as he takes part in the popular Duel Monsters card game.
TALKING POINTS: This animated feature is based on the phenomenally successful TV show and trading card series... The first Pokemon movie (with a similar fan base) grossed $85 million, which is probably why this is now landing in theaters.
AUGUST 20
CELLULAR
PLOT: After receiving a wayward call from a woman (Kim Basinger) who claims shes been kidnapped, a young man (Chris Evans) desperately tries to locate and rescue her.
TALKING POINTS: Reliable William H. Macy (Fargo) appears in a supporting role.
EXORCIST: THE BEGINNING
PLOT: Before losing his life in an effort to save Regan MacNeil, Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgard, in the role made famous by Max von Sydow) had a previous encounter with the Devil years earlier in Africa.
TALKING POINTS: Not many cared for Exorcist II: The Heretic or The Exorcist III, so why this belated prequel?... Director Renny Harlin appeared to be the Next Big Thing following Die Hard 2 and Cliffhanger, but his career largely derailed following such bombs as Cutthroat Island and Driven.
OPEN WATER
PLOT: While scuba diving during their well-earned vacation, an American couple (Daniel Travis and Blanchard Ryan) discover that their dive boat has accidentally left them behind, forcing them to fight (and float) for survival in shark-infested waters.
TALKING POINTS: This is reportedly based on true events, but the trailer with its grainy photography and documentary feel signals that its clearly hoping to become the next Blair Witch Project.
WITHOUT A PADDLE
PLOT: Three big-city guys (Seth Green, Matthew Lillard and Dax Shepard) encounter all sorts of dangers when they embark on a rafting trip in the Oregon wilds.
TALKING POINTS: Director Steven Brill is still doing penance for writing and directing the Adam Sandler turkey Little Nicky... In an obvious homage (or desecration), Deliverance star Burt Reynolds pops up as a crazed mountain man - no word yet on whether he orders any of our heroes to squeal like a pig.
AUGUST 27
ANACONDAS: THE SEARCH FOR THE BLOOD ORCHID
PLOT: While researching a rare flower in Borneo, a group of scientists runs afoul of mutated anacondas.
TALKING POINTS: This was originally titled Venom until somebody at the studio decided to cash in on the modest success of 1997s Anaconda though how anacondas made it to Borneo in the first place, when theyre native to South America, presumably wont be explained.
SEPTEMBER 3:
THE COOKOUT
PLOT: After moving into a swanky neighborhood, a promising NBA draft pick (Storm P) is shocked to learn that he unwittingly invited his rowdy friends and family members to his new home for a cookout on the same day that hes scheduled an endorsement interview.
TALKING POINTS: The cast includes Queen Latifah (who also co-wrote the script), Danny Glover and Farrah Fawcett... Quick, can you say Barbershop knockoff?
NO DATE SET: Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy continue their chatty romance in BEFORE SUNSET, writer-director Richard Linklaters follow-up to his acclaimed Before Sunrise... Set in the near-future, CODE 46 stars recent Oscar winner Tim Robbins (Mystic River) and recent Oscar nominee Samantha Morton (In America) in a drama about two people trying to connect in a society in which travel has become severely restricted... COFFEE AND CIGARETTES is just what youd expect from Jim Jarmusch: an intimate piece in which characters sit around drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes and chatting. The large ensemble includes Bill Murray, Tom Waits, Cate Blanchett, Iggy Pop and Steve Buscemi... The great American composer Cole Porter (Kevin Kline) reflects on his life and views it as a series of musical productions in DE-LOVELY, co-starring Ashley Judd and a large number of contemporary music stars (Elvis Costello, Alanis Morissette, Sheryl Crow, Diana Krall and more)... THE DOOR IN THE FLOOR, adapted from John Irvings A Widow For One Year, reteams Nadine co-stars Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger as a couple whose attempts to deal with a family tragedy are further complicated by the young man (Jon Foster) who enters their lives... Nominated for a Best Foreign-Language Film Oscar a year ago, Chinas HERO features an all-star cast of Asian actors (Jet Li, Zhang Ziyi, Donnie Yen, etc.) in an action-packed period tale from director Zhang Yimou (Raise the Red Lantern)... Clive Owen (King Arthur) reteams with his Croupier director Mike Hodges for ILL SLEEP WHEN IM DEAD, a neo-noir about a former criminal who returns to his old ways to solve his younger brothers murder... An eclectic mix of young actors - Donnie Darkos Jena Malone, Welcome to the Dollhouses Heather Matarazzo, Chasing Libertys Mandy Moore, Almost Famous Patrick Fugit and Home Alones Macaulay Culkin pack the cast of SAVED!, in which a popular high school girl (Malone) becomes a societal outcast after she gets pregnant
No, its not a documentary about blacklisted actor Lionel Stander; instead, STANDER relates the true story of Andre Stander (The Punishers Thomas Jane), a white police officer in South Africa who became so fed up with the government he was serving that he embarked on a new career as a notorious bank robber
The Mongolian import THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL centers on a nomadic family and the camels in their care
Reese Witherspoon stars as upwardly mobile Becky Sharp in VANITY FAIR, an adaptation of the William Thackeray novel from director Mira Nair (Monsoon Wedding).
Summer Movie Preview
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