Thursday, August 28, 2008

By MARIJKE ROWLAND
mrowland@modbee.com

last updated: May 16, 2008 04:51:45 AM

Popcorn? Check. Melted butter? Check. Extra napkins? Big check.

Summer movie season arrives just in time for the summer weather. And moviegoers everywhere will be cooling themselves in the air-conditioned confines of the cineplex. Armed only with tubs of popcorn bigger than their heads and sodas large enough to drown a pony, these intrepid warriors will gird themselves for big stars, big action and big laughs. A look at this summer's best offerings. (Note: All release dates are subject to change.)

TODAY

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian -- Following the blockbuster success of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," this sequel finds the Pevensie children back in the magical world of Narnia, where all is not well. Good thing there is a Prince Caspian in shining armor to help save the day.

THURSDAY

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull -- Some old coot named Indy puts back on the fedora and dusts off his bullwhip to fight the Soviets for some crystal skulls. Geez, hasn't he heard of golf?

MAY 30

Sex and the City -- Barkeep, a round of cosmos for the ladies. The fabulous foursome of Carrie, Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha is back for a very (Mr.) Big wedding. Will the women make it to the church on time? And, more importantly, do those shoes come in my size?

JUNE 6

You Don't Mess with the Zohan -- Adam Sandler plays an Israeli superagent turned super hairstylist. Interestingly, it's a drama. (I kid, I kid.)

Kung Fu Panda -- Adorable pandas + kung fu = put the kids in the car, we're going to a movie. The animated feature stars the voices of Jack Black and Angelina Jolie. But who cares: Look, cute pandas!

JUNE 13

The Incredible Hulk -- The not-so-jolly green giant is back. After a lackluster first live-action outing, the Hulk is back with a new Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) and a new nemesis, The Abomination. Can this Hulk be a smash?

The Happening -- M. Night Shyamalan. A natural disaster. Creepy happenings. You know the drill. It stars Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel and John Leguizamo.

JUNE 20

Get Smart -- Bumbling Maxwell Smart (Steve Carrell) and the capable Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) find bad guys and hilarity in this remake of the 1965-70 TV series. Remember to turn your shoe phones to silent once you enter the theater.

The Love Guru -- "Saturday Night Live" and "Austin Powers" alum Mike Myers stars as a Hindu-raised American guru who tries to break into the self-help business in his native land. If this were a Shyamalan film, I'd say, "I see silly accents." It also stars Justin Timberlake and Jessica Alba.

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl -- A movie for young girls based on a popular brand of dolls. Well, it's not a superhero, but at least it's something. Abigail Breslin stars.

JUNE 27

WALL·E -- It's not "The Return of Short Circuit," I swear. In the animated feature, a trash-compacting robot goes on an adventure to discover the meaning of life. Number Five never was that ambitious.

Wanted -- Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman star as members of an elite secret society of assassins. I guess a movie about an elite secret society of butter churners wouldn't fill the seats.

JULY 2

Hancock -- Will Smith plays a down-on-his-luck superhero who tries to rehab his image. First starlets, now superheroes. Rehab really is the new black. It also stars Charlize Theron and Jason Bateman.

JULY 3

The Wackness (Limited release) -- This comedy set in the New York hip-hop scene during the summer of 1994 follows a drug dealer and his therapist. It's generated a lot of buzz among the hipster set, which thinks 1994 was long ago in a galaxy far, far away. Fine, the grown-ups at Sundance liked it, too. It stars Ben Kingsley and Mary-Kate Olsen.

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