Feature Summer Movies 08

With Indy now out of the way and Sex and the City sure to bring in a dime or two this weekend, we look at what other films are on offer this summer.

There are roughly 2000 hours making up this summer season and knowing Ireland, we’ll see about 10 hours of sun. So how will you wile away those summer days? With three of the big blockbuster now out of the way (Iron Man, Indy 4 and most recently Sex and the City), we take a look at what else is on offer this summer season.

 

The Incredible Hulk

Opening June 13th

 

 

After Ang Lee gave us ’04’s Hulk, Marvel and Ed Norton decided that wasn’t enough and now we’re getting another taste of the green giant. Unlike many comic films, Norton promises to forgo the usual ‘genesis’ storyline. Instead, we are thrown straight into the action as Bruce Banner desperately hunts for a cure to the gamma radiation that poisoned his cells and unleashes the unbridled force of rage within him. The film hits Irish cinemas June 13th, but we here at movies.ie know you like to see things before the masses, so we have an advanced screening on the 10th. Click here for details.

 

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian           

Opening June 26th

 

One year after the events of ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,’ the Kings and Queens of Narnia find themselves back in that wondrous realm, only to discover that more than 1,300 years have passed. During their absence, the Golden Age of Narnia has passed; Narnia has been conquered and is now under the control of the evil King Miraz. The four children soon meet an intriguing new character: Narnia’s rightful heir to the throne, the young Prince Caspian, who has been forced into hiding as his uncle Miraz plots to kill him in order to place his own newborn son on the throne. With the help of near extinct Narnians and led by the mighty knights Peter and Caspian, we embark on a remarkable journey to find Aslan, rescue Narnia from Miraz’s tyrannical hold and restore magic and glory to the land. A far darker story than we expected, ‘Prince Caspian’ is a welcome change in the franchise. We’re even used to hearing Liam Neeson as the voice of Aslan!

 

 

 


Wanted

Opening June 27th

 

Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and curving bullets, whats it all about? After his estranged father is murdered, the deadly sexy Fox (Jolie) recruits Wes (McAvoy) into the Fraternity, a secret society that trains Wes to avenge his dad’s death by unlocking his dormant powers. As she teaches him how to develop lightning-quick reflexes and phenomenal agility, Wes discovers this team lives by an ancient, unbreakable code: carry out the death orders given by fate itself. With wickedly brilliant tutors-including the Fraternity’s enigmatic leader, Sloan-Wes grows to enjoy all the strength he ever wanted. But, slowly, he begins to realize there is more to his dangerous associates than meets the eye. And as he wavers between newfound heroism and vengeance, Wes will comes to learn what no one could ever teach him: he alone controls his destiny.

 

Hancock

Opening July 2nd

 

 

If you’re sick of the traditional superhero tale, Hancock is for you. Will Smith plays the fallen superhero who must hire a PR whiz (Jason Bateman, aka that guy from Juno and Arrested Development) to restore his image in the action-hero business. It doesn’t help matters that the high-flying, bullet-proof Hancock is an alcoholic with a thing for the PR guy’s wife  (Charlize Theron).

 

 

WALL-E
Opening July 27th

 

Pixar’s big blockbuster and their first film since last year’s Oscar winning ‘Ratatouille’, Wall*e is ‘Short Circuits’ meets ‘Batteries No Included’ and that’s got us excited. After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, WALL-E discovers a new purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL-E has inadvertently stumbled upon the key to the planet’s future, and races back to space to report her findings to the humans). Meanwhile, WALL-E chases EVE across the galaxy and sets into motion one of the most exciting and imaginative comedy adventures ever brought to the big screen.

The Dark Knight

Opening July 25th

 

 

After the all round success of director Christopher Nolan’s ‘Batman Begins’, we get the latest instalment from the same director. ‘Begins’ is considered one of, if not, the best comic book movie ever made and we’re expect good things from its sequel, which sees the late Heath Ledger as the Joker, Aaron Eckhart as Harvey ‘Two-Face’ Dent and of course Christian Bale re-donning his rubber bat suit.

 

The X-Files: I Want to Believe

Opening August 1st

 

We WANT TO BELIEVE, it’ll be X-Files true to form- mysterious, paranoid and of course a tad confusing. Details of the plot are so far limited but we know that when a group of women are abducted in the wintry hills of rural Virginia, the only clues to their disappearance are the grotesque human remains that begin to turn up in snow banks along the highway.  Billy Connolly will also make an appearance as a priest/soothsayer (probably the funniest thing he’s done in years…)

 

Get Smart

Opening Aug 20th

 

 

We heart Steve Carell and in ‘Get Smart’ we see him play Maxwell Smart; a man on a mission to thwart the latest plot for world domination by the evil crime syndicate known as KAOS. When the headquarters of U.S. spy agency Control is attacked and the identities of its agents compromised, the Chief has no choice but to promote his ever-eager analyst Maxwell Smart, who has always dreamt of working in the field. Smart is partnered with the lovely-but-lethal veteran Agent 99. Given little field experience and even less time, Smart-armed with nothing but a few spy-tech gadgets and his unbridled enthusiasm-must thwart the doomsday plans of KAOS head Siegfried.

 

Hellboy 2

Opening August 22nd

 

 

 

After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader, who treads the world above and the one below, defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it’s up to the planet’s toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it’s time to call in Hellboy. Guillermo Del Toro is back to his pet project, and with his recent success, it’s clear who’ll be pulling the punches this time round. From the trailer we can already see that Del Toro look that’ll have us glued to our seats come August.

 

DISCUSS: What’s made it on to your summer movie list?