Films of Summer '08
Iron Man (5/02/08)
Tony Stark is a legend to comic book fans. The dynamic character,
a billion dollar weapons industrialist that suffers from alcoholism
has his life changed when he is captured by terrorists and forced
to build a nuclear weapon. Instead, the genius inventor uses his
ingenuity to create an iconic armored suit, equipped with an explosive
amount of weaponry, to help him escape the evildoers. His life
forever changed, Stark vows to use this new power to protect the
world as Iron Man. With geeky, dreamlike casting including Robert
Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, and a brilliant supporting cast featuring
top notch character actors like Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow,
and Jeff Bridges, all under the direction of fan favorite filmmaker
Jon Favreau, Iron Man couldn’t be in better hands. - Joe Russo
Redbelt is director David Mamet’s latest film after a hiatus since 2004. Starring Chiwetel Ejiofor (Inside Man) and Tim Allen (Home Improvement), Redbelt is the story of a Jiu-Jitsu instructor named Mike Terry (Ejiofor) who must get into the ring once again after he struggles for money, trying to keep his self-defense studio alive. Redbelt looks like a suspenseful drama filled with terrific characters. Perhaps, Mamet has an early summer surprise here. Let’s just hope he keeps the action intense in the ring and leaves the smoldering dialogue outside. - G. Brandon Hill Speed Racer (5/09/08)
From the directors of The Matrix trilogy comes an all-new vision of death-defying excitement: Speed Racer. Rumored to have been shot almost exclusively in front of a green screen, this famous anime-turned-movie looks to have more vivid colors than a rainbow. Starring Emile Hirsch as Speed, a man with a knack for racing and a desire to fulfill his brother’s legacy of winning the daunting cross-country rally known as The Crucible, Speed Racer promises plenty of hypersonic action - and the dewy-eyed Christina Ricci as girlfriend Trixie. - Mike Massie
It’s been one year since the Pevensie siblings traveled to the spellbinding world of Narnia to partake in adventures with the White Witch, Mr. Tumnus and Aslan the lion, and now they return to a startling transformation. Over 1300 years have passed in Narnian time, and the lands have been conquered by the Telmarines, and are now ruled by the malevolent King Miraz. The four children unite with the young Prince Caspian, the rightful heir to the kingdom, who has been forced into hiding while the king plots to place his own newborn child in the throne. Considering that the first film stretched the very boundaries of “PG” with gargantuan battle sequences, it’s likely that Caspian will outdo its predecessor with special effects, intense action and outlandish characters. - Mike Massie Midnight Meat Train (5/16/08)
From the sadistically twisted mind of Clive Barker comes the sinister tale of a New York photographer out to catch a serial killer. When Leon Kauffman (Bradley Cooper) witnesses the work of a brutal butcher (Vinnie Jones) in the subway, morbid intrigue leads him to shadow the murderer and slowly piece together the ghastly secrets behind The Midnight Meat Train. The hilariously offbeat title contradicts what could easily be an exercise in gripping terror and extremely graphic bloodshed. - Joel Massie
Harrison Ford. Steven Spielberg. George Lucas. Shia LaBeouf? What exactly is the star of Transformers doing in that list of names? Well LaBeouf is joining the prestigious company as one of the stars of the next Indiana Jones adventure, 2008’s most hotly anticipated sequel. It’s been nearly twenty years since we last saw Indiana Jones ride off into the sunset, and now, an older and gruffer hero is back in the saddle, complete with his trademark whip and fedora. With an all-star cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt and Jim Broadbent, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull marks the return of the great adventure to the Cineplex. Can you think of any better reason to spend a summer afternoon at the box office than this? Me neither. - Joe Russo
Based on the wildly popular HBO television series, Sex and the City: The Movie will continue following the exploits of Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte in New York, four years after the show ended. Movies based on TV series may not have the greatest track records, but with the entire original cast returning, a few fresh faces (including Carrie’s new assistant played by Jennifer Hudson), and a highly anticipated wedding, chances are good that droves of girls will end up seeing this one. Guys on the other hand will probably treat this like the plague. - Joel Massie
WALL-E (6/27/08)
Set in 2700, WALL-E tells the story of a simple waste allocation robot who has lived in total isolation on Earth for centuries. When WALL-E discovers EVE, a sleek reconnaissance droid observing the habitability of the abandoned human world, he embarks on the adventure of a lifetime to reunite with his true love. A pet cockroach and a team of malfunctioning robots join WALL-E as he traverses the universe to witness excitement beyond anything he could have imagined (if a robot can imagine). Utilizing almost no dialogue whatsoever, WALL-E is a universal story that will transcend, language and return to the very roots of animation – expression and emotion through motion. - Mike Massie
Wanted (6/27/08)
Based on the comic book miniseries by Mark Millar, Wanted follows Wesley Gibson’s (James McAvoy) dark path to becoming a powerful enforcer of fate when he is taken in by a mysterious organization of warriors equipped with superheroic abilities. Director Timur Bekmambetov follows his popular gothic epics Night Watch and Day Watch with his first American film, whose trailers promise just as many wild stunts and special effects-laden action. The addition of sexy Angelina Jolie as assassin Fox and Morgan Freeman as mastermind Sloan also intrigues, but let’s hope flashy visuals don’t get in the way of Millar’s cynically bold original vision. - Joel Massie
The Dark Knight (7/18/08)
Last we saw The Dark Knight, he was standing on a rooftop being told by Police Chief Commissioner Gordon that a new terror had arisen in Gotham City, a criminal that calls himself Joker. With the epic clash between Christian Bale’s Batman and the late Heath Ledger’s Joker only a few months away, audiences are hotly anticipating Christopher Nolan’s sequel to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight. With news of Ledger’s death creating quite a stir around the film, audiences might be shocked to find that the latest Batman movie might wind up getting the last laugh, with Ledger’s Joker giving rise to a greater evil. Will Batman survive a showdown but not one, but two of his greatest nemeses? - Joe Russo
With several highly anticipated sequels, new adaptations of cult classics, more reimaginations of popular comic book characters, and the next films from a multitude of truly great directors, the summer of '08 looks to be one of the greatest the movies have ever seen. Stay tuned, because we'll review them all. - Joel Massie
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I am Batman.