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Tuesday, A pril 15, 2008 - 9A


'yam'

"IRON
MAN"
RELEASE
DATE: MAY 2ND
Based on the popular Marvel comic series, "Iron
Man" tells the story of Tony Stark (Robert Downey
Jr., "Zodiac") and his transformation from rich indus-
trialist to iron-suited superhero. Since it's directed by
Jon Favreau, who previously helmed the box office
smash "Elf" starring Will Ferrell, it's not surprising
that the trailer plays up the humor almost as much as
the action. That, along with its penchant for colorful
visuals and bubbly characters, could make it arefresh-
ing alternative to its main competitor, the somber and
more artistically ambitious "The Dark Knight." But
the casting of sarcastic, loud-mouthed Downey Jr. as
the hero (huh?) is almost as flinch-inducing as casting,
... well, Heath Ledger as the Joker in "Knight." It has
potential, but only time will tell.
"THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA:
PRINCE CASPIAN"
RELEASE DATE: MAY 16TH t'
Following the surprisingly pleasant and
imaginative first film in the classic C.S.
Lewis series, "Prince Caspian" emerges this
summer as an apparent moral and cinematic
rehash of the last decade in fantasy films.
While audiences may by now be tired of
long fantasy franchises that just don't stack
up against "The Lord of the Rings" - take a
look at the waning interest in the "Harry Pot-
ter" franchise, for example - "Narnia" benefits
from being more kid-friendly and from director
Andrew Adamson's ("Shrek") nose for avoiding
the cliched. In a summer where every weekend will
break records, "Caspian" may not bring quite the
haul of some other blockbusters, but it promises to

contend for the title of best family film this sum-
mer.
"INDIANA JONES AND THE
KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL
SKULL"
RELEASE DATE: MAY 22ND
Somethingsjustnevergetold.While
Harrison Ford is not among them, the
widely beloved "Indiana Jones" fran-
chise certainly is. Perhaps the most
pure embodiment of the hero arche-
type in American film today, even
the salt-and-peppered Indy can fill
theaters with fans who remember his
heroic exploits against Nazis, villain-
ous cults and snakes. What remains to
be seen, however, is whether the film will
be any good. Several years of rewrites led
to a pigeonholed script that producer George
Lucas loved, but is that really a good thing? (This
is the man who wrote "Star Wars Episode I: The
Phantom Menace, after all.) Steven Spielberg returns
as director and newcomer Shia LeBoeuf fits perfectly
as a period player - let's just hope this revival doesn't
tarnish the nostalgia we feel for the original trilogy.
"HANCOCK"
RELEASE DATE: JULY 2ND
When Will Smith makes a movie, people see it. It
doesn't really matter what it is - he took the touchy/
feely weeper "The Pursuit of Happyness" to the top
spot in the box office, for crying out loud. Smith's
streak of consecutive number one openings stretched
to seven films with "I Am Legend" last year, making
him the undisputed biggest movie star in the world
today. With "Hancock," a
parody about the
downside of

beinga superhero, the stars align to make this the film
everyone will see. It's a comedy, it's family-friendly,
it has superheroes and it stars Smith - what's not
to pay $9.50 for? Additionally, by the time the film's
release rolls around, audiences will already have seen.
"Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk" and will like-
ly welcome a film that is the antithesis to the often
silly level of self-righteous introspection found in
superhero movies. It all adds up to "Hancock" being
the dark horse candidate to become the biggest film
of the biggest summer ever for movies.
"HELLBOY 11: THE GOLDEN ARMY"
RELEASE DATE: JULY 11TH
If there's one thing Guillermo del Toro has
proven over the years, it's that, thanks to his
immense talent, he can give legitimacy to
virtually any film, from monster movies
like "Mimic" (1997) to blockbuster sequels
like "Blade II" (2002). Only del Toro
would follow up a critically lauded mas-
terpiece like "Pan's Labyrinth" (2006)
with a sequel to an action movie, but "The
Golden Army" could very well be just as
impressive. Surely, it'll be bigger, louder
and better than the previous installment,
but may get lost in the shuffle amidst this
season's surprisingly diverse and equally
action-heavy releases.
"THE DARK KNIGHT"
RELEASE DATE: JULY 18TH
Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins" was one
of the best films of 2005, commercial or otherwise.

Stark, tightly wound and dramatically involving, it's
simply one of the finest comic-book-to-film-adap-
tations ever made. Needless to say, its sequel, "The
Dark Knight," is the most anticipated film of the
_season, even more so than the new "Indiana Jones"
film. Boosted even further by some interesting cast-
ing choices, including the late Heath Ledger as the
Joker - whose unexpected death in January has
sparked even more interest and will give the film
some unexpectedly tragic undertones - this is eas-
ily the film to watch
out for this
summer.

I

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