Summer movie lineup offers quality variety

April 25, 2005 —

It's been 28 years since it began. Two years short of three decades. And this summer, it comes to an end. Of course, I am talking about Star Wars, the billion-dollar franchise that George Lucas wouldn't let rest.

But come May 19, the saga concludes with Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. In this third installment, Anakin Skywalker is lured to the dark side, and, well you know what happens next. Ewan McGregor, Samuel L. Jackson, and Natalie Portman reprise their roles from previous installments, and Hayden Christensen returns as the young Skywalker in what will no doubt be a visual spectacle.

For those not interested in the force, this summer offers up a handful of superhero flicks. The first of these is Batman Begins, the fifth in a long string of Batman movies, which premieres June 17. This time, however, the film follows the early years of Bruce Wayne through the events that lead to him becoming the caped crusader. Christian Bale (American Psycho) becomes the fourth person to don the bat ears, taking over for George Clooney.

Three weeks later, a Marvel Comics mainstay hits the big screen in Fantastic Four. The movie follows the four as they do battle with the evil Doctor Doom. Fantastic Four stars Jessica Alba as Invisible Woman and The Shield's Michael Chiklis as the monstrous Thing. Also, look for a cameo by comic creator Stan Lee.

But what summer would be complete without some big screen adaptations of once-popular television shows?

This summer, the box office offers up movie versions of Bewitched and The Dukes of Hazzard. Bewitched stars Nicole Kidman and the always popular Will Ferrell as Samantha and Darrin, respectively, while The Dukes of Hazzard casts pop singer Jessica Simpson, MTV's Johnny Knoxville, and Seann William Scott as the Dukes.

For a more serious theatrical experience, director Ron Howard looks to capitalize on the success of Million Dollar Baby with his own boxing movie, Cinderella Man. Howard's film stars Russell Crowe as Depression-era fighter Jim Braddock, the boxing hero who defeated heavyweight champ Max Baer in 15 rounds in 1935. Renee Zellweger takes on the role of Braddock's wife, Mae. Cinderella Man is the first film for Howard since the disappointing western The Missing, and the new movie reunites Howard with Crowe, who worked together on the Academy Award-winning film A Beautiful Mind.

Finally, July 15 brings the most anticipated remake (though a better word would be revision) in years. Johnny Depp and Tim Burton team up for the fifth time in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The original was a classic, based on the children's book by Roald Dahl and starring Gene Wilder as the eccentric candy connoisseur Willy Wonka. In this version, the top hat is handed to Depp, who will more than likely go all out in this well-suited role.

Whether action, drama, or comedy suits your taste, this summer certainly has something that will catch your interest, even if it is only to pass the time between now and Spider-Man 3.