Summer movie preview — July
July 2
The Last Airbender
Starring: Jackson Rathbone, Dev Patel, Noah Ringer
The big deal: M Night Shyamalan usually does not tackle other people’s work. Whether it’s The Sixth Sense, Signs, The Village or The Lady in the Water, the suspense and awe that emits from the screen is born from his pen. The Last Airbender is a departure in that Shyamalan’s film is based on a popular television series from Nickelodeon, however, the script is still all Shyamalan. But when you think of the plot, the fact that Shyamalan wanted to bring The Last Airbender to the light of day makes perfect sense.
The Last Airbender is a supernatural story of how the natural elements of the world — fire, water, air and earth — when working together can achieve peace. But, when Aang discovers he has the power to harness all four, the world may never be the same.
July 7
The Kids Are All Right
Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore
The big deal: Two of our favorite actresses in the same movie? Sign us up — talk about a summer blockbuster! Directed by Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right is the story of a couple (Bening and Moore) whose grown children decide to find their father and bring him into their lives.
July 9
Despicable Me
Starring: Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Danny McBride, Miranda Cosgrove, Jack McBrayer, Mindy Kaling, Jemaine Clement and Julie Andrews
The big deal: Animation that pops off the screen coupled with a voice cast of A-listers should make Despicable Me one of the summer’s most successful family films.
In Despicable Me, what looks like a normal neighborhood hides a despicable secret. Steve Carell’s Gru is plotting to pull off the biggest act of larceny in documented history. Yes, he is trying to steal the moon! Despicable Me is in 3-D and hopes to score the type of box office success enjoyed by recent animated 3-D smashes How to Train Your Dragon and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
July 16
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina
The big deal: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice filmmakers were obsessed with the Mickey Mouse short from the 1940s Fantasia. In that Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Mickey plays with the sorcerer’s magic hat and creates havoc. In Jerry Bruckheimer’s The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Nicolas Cage plays the titular sorcerer who is living amongst the regular people of New York City. When he meets Dave (Jay Baruchel), Cage’s Balthazar Blake sees a little of himself in his young protege and the two begin an apprenticeship. Together, they must stop the clouds of darkness that are gathering on the horizon and threatening New York City.
Inception
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page
The big deal: Leonardo DiCaprio’s character has a gun in his hand once again, but this time out he is not being directed by Martin Scorsese, his usual muse. Inception is directed by Dark Knight helmer Christopher Nolan. Nolan, before he became known for revitalizing the Batman franchise, made Memento — a film that still inspires awe.
Inception is the story of a team of dream stealers who pillage people’s nighttime journeys for corporate benefit. Keep in mind this is Nolan, therefore, it is sure to be a tense, edge-of-your-seat thriller.
July 23
Salt
Starring: Angelina Jolie and we need no other reason
The big deal: Angie’s in her Tomb Raider and Wanted action hero mode in Salt and we could not be more excited. The role was originally written for Tom Cruise and was actually not changed too much when Jolie stepped in, except of course her gender!
To put it simply, Salt is about an alleged criminal who is on the run. With Jolie in the lead as a CIA agent wrongly accused of a crime, the fierceness of her persona should carry this film way beyond formula.
Dinner for Schmucks
Starring: Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Zach Galifianakis
The big deal: The latest comedy from Jay Roach (Meet the Fockers) finds Steve Carell reunited with Paul Rudd (Anchorman, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) in the story of Rudd’s financial executive who is up for a promotion alongside a few other co-workers. The catch is that the boss is throwing a dinner party, where the co-workers must bring a guest who would qualify as the most idiotic individual they can find. When Rudd meets Carell’s character, he knows the promotion is as good as gold.
Ramona and Beezus
Starring: Selena Gomez
The big deal: A children’s classic from the middle of last century finally gets a trip to the big screen in 2010. All we have to say is, “What took so long?!”
July 30
The Adjustment Bureau
Starring: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt
The big deal: Matt Damon is a busy boy. But then again, he always has been a workhorse. After announcing his wife is pregnant with their fourth child and his guest-starring turn on 30 Rock’s season finale, Damon is in his second film of the summer.
The Adjustment Bureau’s plot is complex to say the least. A love story at heart, The Adjustment Bureau is also an actioner and political thriller. Damon’s politician falls for Blunt’s ballet dancer. The only issue is the men of The Adjustment Bureau do not want this pair finding love — color us intrigued.
Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore
Starring: Cats and Dogs, Bette Midler, Chris O’Donnell
The big deal: The kitties and puppies reunite for a sequel after the first film was a hit almost a decade ago. Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore is joining the 3-D revolution for all of us who think the idea of seeing our pets as stars coming at us in three-dimensions is great. In the sequel, Cats and Dogs join forces (horror!) to do battle against a hairless cat who seeks to take over the world.
Up next in August, Will Ferrell is a comic cop, Michael Cera is Scott Pilgrim and Julia Roberts brings us the movie of the summer for women!
Leave a Comment