summer Tagged Articles at Cinematical

Summer doesn't officially end for another few weeks, but I tend to think in terms of semesters, even though I've been out of school for many years. Labor Day weekend used to signify a return to classrooms, but these days kids go back to school even before that three day weekend, which seems like a cruel trick. Our end-of-summer three day weekend always meant trips to a lake somewhere, someone cutting their foot on a pop-top pull-tab from a can of Coke, and my Dad watching the Jerry Lewis telethon until he fell asleep.

There's a distinct change in movie attitude as you shift from summer to fall, and the Oscar-weighty movies start appearing out of the woodwork like ants at a picnic. No more spectacle movies, and on to the talking head snoozers that kids just can't stand. The bright lights of fall are Thanksgiving and Christmas, but those are but blips in a sea of other movies. To celebrate the end of the season, this list is about those movies that capture the true spirit of summertime.

Stand By Me
It's hard to believe that 23 years have passed since this movie came out, although it's fairly evident if you happen to catch a glimpse of Jerry O'Connell in anything, since he went from chubster to pretty boy in the intervening years. This movie crystalizes those summer moments of wandering in the woods with friends and having adventures that you'll talk about for years to come. More childhood truths and friendship are forged in circumstances like there than in any classroom ever created. Of course my buddies and I never found a dead body. That might have pushed us over the edge.

Best line: "Chopper, sic balls."

Is there a more important year for a girl than when she turns 16? It's the first time we start to decide what kind of woman we want to be. Now there is no shortage of examples coming at us from every side, and any girl worth her salt starts to work her way through the categories pretty quickly, right? I want to be the smart girl, the pretty girl, the popular girl; every option is open. For some of us, sweet 16 meant tiaras and coming out parties, but for me, 1991 was the year I learned that I wanted to be a bad girl.

In the summer of 1991, I was stranded in small town Florida for 3 months with little to do except hang out at the mall - you can only wander through Spencer Gifts so many times before catatonia sets in. Instead, I spent my nights at the movies. Now obviously I didn't have time to see everything, but for me; 1991 boiled down to three films: T2, Madonna's Truth or Dare, and Thelma and Louise. So what makes them so special? These were the films that opened up a world of possibilities to my sixteen year old psyche; suddenly I realized I could be a foul-mouthed Fashionista, a feminist rebel, or even a bad-ass savior of humanity.

5/3 -- One Good Cop // Rich Girl
The first week of the summer season was a particularly uneventful one. I mean, did anyone go to the movies this weekend? I will admit to watching Michael Keaton's One Good Cop on VHS, but I'm afraid I stayed home that week.

For me, 1985 set up all the years that followed. While Scott's great list for 1984 came to my eyes later on public channels and scratchy vhs, 1985 was the first year that I went to the movies a lot, when the occasional visit turned into the almost weekly plan for this 8-year-old. In fact, for me, my beloved summer season stretches well into spring because April brought Ladyhawke and Girls Just Want to Have Fun -- the perfect start for a young girl -- Michelle Pfieffer's tragic love topped with Velcro clothing and crazy dance fests. (Plus, there was a little film called Moving Violations, which would figure heavily into my circle of friends once high school hit with daily recitations of that old batty driver's lines.)

But back to summer. There was one film I was itching to see: Ghoulies. I was too young and out of the movie release loop to know that this was a March release -- I just knew I wanted to see green things pop out of toilets, and I couldn't believe my parents finally said yes and were bringing me to my teeny local 4-plex. I soon learned why: I kept saying Goonies, not Ghoulies, so of course my parents agreed to a kids-hunting-for-fortune flick! When the buggers didn't pop up during the bathroom scene, I knew I'd made a mistake. But luckily it was a mistake that brought one of the best action adventures of the '80s to my attention. And that's only one part of an amazing summer.

Here are some news bites for our long weekend:

• Ashley Greene has had a whirlwind of press lately, once she signed on to play Alice Cullen in Twilight. Now The Hollywood Reporter posts that she's signed onto an indie thriller called Summer. In it, she'll get another horror-themed family, but much less sexy than well-coifed, blood-sucking vampires. See, she plays a girl looking for the "father she's never known." And while that's always a risky adventure -- you never know what you'll find -- this is even more so because her family is a group of serial killers. The film is currently in production in Ottawa.
• Meanwhile, Variety reports that CMG has closed deals for Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson's Chemical Wedding. Starz/Anchor Bay are handing distribution in North America for the film that focuses on "the most evil man in Britain," Aleister Crowley. CMG President Edward Noeltner has noted about the big, Iron Maiden fan base eager to see the film, and I have to say -- I'd go see it for the experience. Forget a woman-filled theater of Sex and the City fans. Can you imagine a theater full of Maiden worshippers?
• And finally, there's some great news for Todd Solondz. As I outlined at the beginning of this year, the indie filmmaker has had some issues funding his work, which was leaving his PeeWee Herman-led Life During Wartime in limbo. But now Variety reports that a new indie production company, Werc Werk Works (yes, that's their name..), will fully finance the part-companion piece to Happiness. On the negative side, it looks like Mr. Reubens might be out of the production. (Variety says he was only rumored.) Whoever ends up starring, it is scheduled to go into production in October.

With school officially out for summer recess, I figured now might be a good time to take a look at what this highly-anticipated ("the biggest summer in history!") season has shoveled out so far. I'll also let you at home play along and tell Hollywood exactly what they're getting right, as well as what they're getting wrong, when it comes to providing its customers with satisfying summer entertainment. But first off, here's how my summer report card is shaping up (keep in mind, I've only included the more talked-about releases):

1. Spider-Man 3 (grade: C) -- I'm being generous with Spidey 3, because I'm certain there are tons of fans out there who would fail this film without giving it a second glance. But as far as amped-up summer popcorn flicks go, this third installment provided all the necessary ingredients needed to entertain those of us with severe cases of attention deficit disorder. There may have been a lack of focus, and the villain count was a tad high, but the fight sequences were definitely fun to watch.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End (grade: B -) -- I'm not sure why a film based on a theme park attraction has to have such a convoluted plot, but it seemed the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise managed to confuse more than it entertained. That being said, the special effects, coupled with Johnny Depp's colorful Captain Jack Sparrow performance, have given fans enough of a reason to keep coming back for more ... and more ... and more. Obviously, Disney is doing something right here -- when I figure out what that is, I'll let you know.
3. Shrek the Third (grade: B - ) -- Visually, the film looked stunning. However, sadly, that was the only thing Shrek the Third had going for it. The jokes seemed old, the voice acting wasn't anything special and the plot was jam-packed with so many characters, we never had time to enjoy the ones we've grown to love. Was it just me, or did it seem like Shrek the Third was spoofing itself?
4. Knocked Up (grade: A) -- Although the premise has been around forever, Judd Apatow and his gang of clever comedic magicians somehow found a way to make this thing pop. The jokes were raunchy but hysterical, even though the majority of them were geared toward a younger crowd. Tack on a heckuva lot of heart, and Knocked Up passed with flying colors.
5. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (grade: B) -- Yup, I happen to be in the camp that believes this sequel was not only better than the original, but it was better than the other sequels that opened up before it. Why? Well, read my review.
6. Ratatouille: (grade: A) -- Just when you think Pixar is due for a dud, they come at you with anything but. Most definitely a film for all ages (but, quite possibly, more geared toward adults this time), perhaps Pixar should strap Brad Bird to a chair and force him to write and direct the next three films as well.
7. Live Free or Die Hard (grade: C) -- As a summer action film, this flick certainly provides more bang for your buck. But it's not a Die Hard film; not even close. So what's more important: That the film entertains or that it stays true to the installments that have come before it?

So, I ask you: What does your summer report card currently look like?

It's a new year, a new summer and the studios are gearing up to present us with a fresh crop of blockbusters. Last year at this time, I wrote up a Monday Morning Poll asking you which Summer 2006 film would make the most money at the box office. Ultimately, I went with The Da Vinci Code over Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest -- a rookie mistake, I know, but something in me felt pretty confident. But now I'm back -- a whole year has gone by -- and it's about time for those predictions. So, lets take a look at some of the top contenders (in the order of how I think they'll finish at the box office when it's all said and done):

1. Spider-Man 3 -- In this third installment, Peter Parker finally realizes that, as a superhero who constantly saves New York City, he should definitely be able to land someone better looking than Kirsten Dunst. Lots of villains and lots of mind-blowing special effects --coupled with the fact that this could be the last Spidey go-round for Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Sam Raimi -- should be enough for this web slinger to swing into the summer's top spot.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End -- Though the second Pirates flick went ballistic at the box office last summer, a lot of folks walked away with lukewarm feelings toward the sequel. And while I'm confident a truckload of peeps will show up to see how Disney and director Gore Verbinski wrap up the trilogy, I'm not quite sure it will have what it takes to knock Spidey out of the top spot. There's no doubt in my mind that these flicks will finish one and two at the box office, but it really is a toss-up. Tough call right here; something tells me it will come down to the foreign totals.
3. Shrek the Third -- The only reason why I think Shrek will beat out Ratatouille this summer is because it's been a couple years since his last adventure and, well, fans are a bit hungrier for the green ogre. And hey, Justin Timberlake is in it! Do I even need to give you any more reasons?
4. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix -- Seeing as the seventh and final Potter book will arrive in bookstores one week after Order of the Phoenix hits theaters, I'm pretty sure the entire world will be Potter crazy for those few weeks in July. With nothing that substantial (Bourne, Rush Hour 3 being the exceptions) arriving after Potter, the little wizard should have plenty of time to catch up to the three films mentioned above, and could potentially steal the third spot from Shrek.
5. Ratatouille -- As unfortunate as it is to write, I cannot see Pixar (and their confusing title) beating out any of the films mentioned above. Yes, it's Pixar. And yes, it's Brad Bird. But the competition this year is the greatest it's been in quite some time. Though I'm sure the film will be just as entertaining as the rest, it will take a miracle for that rat to climb out of the sewer on top.

So, after reading my predictions, what do you think? Which film will take home the most money at the box office this summer?

Though we're still two months away from summer, 300's $70 million opening weekend -- coupled with 60-degree weather here in New York City -- has folks like myself questioning whether the season has already begun. And, with a summer chock-full of sequels, I almost wish that a fresh, original (but not necessarily good) pic would have kicked things off. The Hollywood Reporter is calling 2007 "The Year of the Sequel," while you'd be hard-pressed to find a studio who doesn't think this will be the biggest summer ever. Folks from Sony, Warner Bros. and Fox all think so; they feel this summer will be one for the record books. But is that a good thing?

On one hand, you say you're sick of all these damn sequels -- that Hollywood needs to find some new material. Then again, how can you not be excited about Spider-Man 3, Live Free or Die Hard, Shrek the Third, Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix? Heck, if I were a 14 year-old kid right now, I'm not sure I'd even survive the anticipation. When you're a kid, sequels are a blast; a chance to curl up with your favorite characters for one more adventure. When you're a film critic, you look at a summer full of sequels as the perfect time to catch up on all the festival films you missed from earlier in the year -- searching for the tiniest bit of intelligence to fill your brain so that big-budgeted special effects don't somehow dumb you down. Or, perhaps, you're somewhere in between; perfectly capable of tapping into those fanboy feelings, but also weary about a giant sequel-filled summer -- after all, if this does turn out to be the biggest summer ever, does that mean Hollywood will continue to fill our screens with more sequels than we can count.

So, I ask you: Will this big the biggest summer ever? And, if so, is that a good or a bad thing for the future of movies?

Way back in April, I asked what you thought would be summer's most disappointing film. So now, as we approach the end of August and begin to settle into fall, I figured I would revisit the topic and see where we all stand now that summer is slowly sliding away.

Before summer began, I was of the opinion that Superman Returns would win the disappointing sweepstakes -- and, whaddya know -- that's exactly how I feel now. However, something tells me a lot of you will skip Supes and go with either Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest or The Da Vinci Code.

Since I'd like to balance a negative with a positive, I'm curious to see what surprised you this summer ... in a good way. For me, that prize would have to go to Little Miss Sunshine. Amidst all those dark clouds and rain showers, the film provided a cool breeze and the little ray of sunshine we so desperately needed.

So, I ask you: Which summer film disappointed you the most? And, also, which one surprised you with a smile?

• Doogal - A saccharine, cheap-looking CGI import from Britain about a lazy, cowardly, sugar-addicted pooch (with a mullet cut) who must find a way to save the world from an icy death is not the follow-up to Hoodwinked that Disney escapees Bob and Harvey Weinstein hoped for...or we asked for. At least they've got the swell Over The Hedge in theaters this week. Formerly titled The Magic Roundabout and re-dubbed (Doogal, that is. Not Over The Hedge.)

• Duma - With most arthouse films rated "R", it is always a pleasure when one comes along that culture mavens can take their kids to, and The Black Stallion director Carroll Ballard's latest nature trek -- a visually lovely adventure -- certainly does fit that bill. It is about a 12-year-old South African boy (Alexander Michaletos) who must return his pet cheetah to the wild, encountering and overcoming a number of obstacles along the way, the biggest one being our initial reluctance to accept its premise.