411 Movies Roundtable: July 2008 Part 2

Posted by Owain J. Brimfield on 07.01.2008

The 411 staff continues their monthly discussion!

Coming Attractions

JULY 4TH

Hancock
Studio: Columbia
Directed by: Peter Berg
Starring: Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman
The plot: An apathetic, hard-living superhero (Smith) who has fallen out of favor with the public is approached by a public relations professional (Bateman) who has ideas as to how he can repair his client's image.

McGee: It just doesn't feel like the fourth of July without Will Smith. He's a great actor all around, but Smith is definitely at his most enjoyable when he plays the wise-cracking action star, so Hancock should be a treat. Something tells me that there may be a bit more depth to this story than the trailers are letting on, but that's okay, because Will has the chops to pull that off, too.

Thomas: Will Smith can do no wrong (Scientology rumors aside). When he's not garnering Academy Award nominations, he's pulling in huge bank for the studios. While people will debate I Am Legend's quality forever, it was an absolutely HUGE film. This one looks to be really funny, though I'm not sure about the plot - they seem to be giving too much away in the trailer, and it seems sort of thin. But hey, let Will be action-guy, let Charlize Theron be hot, and let Jason Bateman be hilarious, and you've got a winner in my book. Really, what's not to like here?

Furious: I like Peter Berg. His films tend to be better than expected and this would be his big shot at the Hollywood hierarchy. The film has changed somewhat from "Tonight He Comes…" the original title and plot revolved around a superhero who couldn't have sex with a girl without killing her. You just couldn't see Will Smith playing something that sinister. As it is his Hancock is far more personable but still hated by the general public because he's a jerk. I think Will Smith can pull this off easily although it's hard to say how much the public will get behind this with all the other superhero movies out this year. I think Hulk has already suffered from the apathy of the general public towards the deluge of superhero flicks. That said, it is Will Smith, and he generally delivers huge box office and hasn't bombed since Wild, Wild West, which was a stupid idea for a film in the first place.

Harris: Jon Favreau is worried that this movie would possibly take the wind out of the sails of a potential Iron Man sequel dealing with the "Demon in a Bottle" storyline. There's been rumors that the movie wasn't really able to find a balance between the drama and the comedy. And is there some other super-powered villain or bad guy Smith faces in the movie? It is not clear from the trailers. While I enjoy Hitch every now and again, not a terribly big Will Smith fan. I might see this one if I have time.

Kristopowitz: I don't know what to make of this movie. Is it supposed to be a comedy or is it supposed to be a pretentious pseudo superhero movie with Jason Bateman in it? I have a feeling that, if anyone is going to be annoying in this movie, it's going to be Bateman. It'll probably open fairly well, though. Will Smith movies seem to do well in July.

Chamberlain: With the overwhelming popularity of the genre in recent years, I'm surprised nobody thought of this kind of film before. Generally speaking, we're presented with heroes that are, well, heroic. And if they're not happy with their gifts, they're at least well intentioned. But here comes Hancock, a super being who seems truly miserable. What happens when you give world saving powers to somebody who couldn't give a crap about the world? That's what we're going to find out here. I'm a Will Smith fan in general and I love a good superhero flick. This could be an interesting piece of counter programming in the month of the Dark Knight and I'll definitely check it out.

Mitchell: Remember when the fourth of July belonged to Will Smith? Obviously someone else finally has. I'm really looking forward to Hancock and unless something comes up, I'll catch it this weekend, possibly mid-day so I can spend time with a special someone. That's right, my IMVU girlfriend. The first set of trailers looked funny, yet the most recent ones are appealing to my "shit should get blowed up real good" sensibilities.

Snyder: Time and time again, Will Smith has shown that he is pretty much untouchable when it comes to July 4th weekend. So this will probably be a hit, no matter what. Whether or not it's a decent flick, meanwhile, really seems to depend on how well it will balance the humor that the first half is going for with the serious character drama that it apparently becomes in the final act. With a great director like Berg at the helm, and a number of intriguing trailers and commercials, my hopes are high for this one.

Lealos: I am really, really excited about seeing this movie. I love Will Smith, and I feel he can make anything he is in worth watching (well, except Wild Wild West). The first trailers had me kind of excited about the movie but when I saw the newest trailer before You Don't Mess With the Zohan, I was completely won over. This movie looks fantastic. We had a "different" type of superhero movie a couple of years ago with My Super Ex-Girlfriend and nothing about its trailers made me give a damn. This time, it looks like they did it right, making Will Smith both sympathetic and actually funny at the same time, and I only hope it delivers the excitement the trailer promises. After The Dark Knight, this is my most anticipated movie of the month.

Brimfield: This will actually already be on release here in the UK by the time this column goes live, and it's one of the few movies this summer I'm making the effort to see at the cinema. Primarily because it's one of the few summer films that the local arthouse place, which rarely screens anything bad, has picked up. Besides, Smith is always a blast and the trailers have been decent.

The Wackness
Directed by: Jonathan Levine
Starring: Josh Peck, Ben Kingsley, Famke Janssen, Olivia Thirlby
The plot: New York City, 1994: College-bound pot dealer Luke Shapiro (Peck) trades weed for therapy sessions with Dr. Jeffrey Squires (Kingsley) while developing a crush on his psychiatrist's step-daughter (Thirlby).

McGee: Pretty sad when you see Ben Kingsley and just automatically feel like running in the opposite direction. The man is an incredible actor (I mean, have you ever seen Ghandi? Wow.), but he must owe somebody some money, ‘cause he sure has picked some stinkers. This one sounds like par for the course given his recent work.

Thomas: I hereby dub Independence Day weekend the weekend of the stupid movie titles, thanks to this one and the one below. Anyway, I like the cast, but the trailers make this movie look horrible. Ben Kingsley is trying WAY too hard, and Peck is pretty much drifting through it. Color me completely unimpressed.

Furious: Who the hell thought this was a good name for a movie? Kingsley would need an epic performance to drag this one out of the gutter. Not that anyone will see it with Hancock as an alternative and an assortment of holdovers vying for Joe Public's hard-earned green.

Kristopowitz: Is this the movie where Sir Ben Kingsley makes out with one of the Olsen twins? Is it meant to be creepy, because it sure does sound it.

Harris: Why see this when you can just wait and see Pineapple Express? Not heard anything about this flick. Looks like one to wait and see on cable or satellite.

Chamberlain: I think I'll pass.

Mitchell: So is this supposed to be an intelligent stoner movie? Is Ben Kingsley as creepy as he was in Sweeney Todd? I'll reserve judgment of course because I've yet to see a trailer and only read a small plot synopsis.

Snyder: The plot to this one sure doesn't sound like anything special when you read it here, but this is one of those flicks that I've been hearing nothing but positive buzz about for awhile now. If the buzz is true, it will be nice to finally see Kingsley in something a little better than most of his recent output. Still, I can wait to Netflix this one.

Lealos: The director who brought us the surprisingly interesting All the Boys Love Mandy Lane brings us what looks like the "Indie Sensation of the Summer." Just read the plot description and tell me you don't think of Juno or Little Miss Sunshine. That should equal a quirky little movie with hip dialogue and strange, uncomfortable situations played out for humor. I am interested, but I can wait for the DVD.

Brimfield: Remember when Ben Kingsley was tearing shit up in Sexy Beast? Well, apparently he doesn't, and neither do the producers of The Wackness. I hope he plays another gangster before he retires. Little to no interest in this particular indy flick from me.

Kabluey
Directed by: Scott Prendergast
Studio: Regent
Starring: Scott Prendergast, Lisa Kudrow, Teri Garr, Jeffrey Dean Morgan
The plot: Despite being somewhat inept in most every way imaginable, Salman (Pendergrast) looks to help his sister-in-law (Kudrow) raise her two sons while her husband is fighting in Iraq. To do so, he takes a humiliating job with a failing Internet company as their mascot - a giant, blue, cartoon-like character who has to hand out fliers all day.

McGee: Lisa Kudrow's still around?

Thomas: This title is even worse then The Wackness. The good news is, it looks a little funnier. I'm not a fan of the obvious "tug at your heartstrings" Iraq set-up, and the romantic comedy part seems a little bit forced from the trailer, but the visual of Prendergast in that big blue monstrosity of a suit is pretty funny. I'm fairly sure this one is going to be a rental for me, ‘cause there's not a chance in hell I'm going to see it in the theaters.

Furious: I don't think I know Prendergast and I can't stand Kudrow. I guess my dislike for Friends has rubbed off on most of the cast. I didn't dislike it for many years and then I just did a total 180 because it ran too long. Now I can't watch half the cast at all (Schwimmer, Joey, Kudrow) and have a hard time with the other three. I've not seen any of Jennifer Aniston's movies for example.

Harris: Eh, not heard a thing about this one either. Sounds like another indy, quirky, obscure dramedy. Won't get to the cinema for this one either.

Kristopowitz: This sounds incredibly stupid. I've never been a fan of Lisa Kudrow, and it's sad to see that Teri Garr has been relegated to movies like this. And wasn't Jeffrey Dean Morgan supposed to be the next romantic comedy "it" guy after his stint on Grey's Anatomy? What happened to all that?

Chamberlain: This sounds pretty boring, and I try to stay away from Lisa Kudrow projects. I didn't watch Friends, you know.

Mitchell: Maybe it's because I was never a fan of Friends but none of those people are funny to me and Lisa Kudrow tops that list. This sounds weird in a "huh" sort of way. Besides, you take your indy movies to the Fall or Spring dammit. Summertime = stuff get blowed up real good and at least one "Why So Serious" style quote that will be driven into the ground before the movie actually comes out.

Snyder: I've never heard of this one till this very moment, and the plot description has left me a little confused. Is it a broad comedy? A satire? A drama? Should I even care? I notice Lisa Kudrow and Teri Garr are both in it. Will they be playing mother and daughter again, like they did on Friends? Anyway, I'm fairly certain this won't even be playing anywhere around me, and I can't exactly say I'm heartbroken about that.

Lealos: Or will this be the Indie darling of the summer? It has so far received fantastic reviews, as it is called charming and twisted, and doesn't seem to follow the same format as the previous year's Indie darlings. While many movies approaching the subject of the Iraqi war have been shunned at theaters, this film seems to be doing it indirectly and works more as a character drama written by a pretty funny comedian, and is a movie that probably won't get a wide release, but might be worth searching out.

Brimfield: Why all the hate for Kudrow? She's still hot, right? Oh, the movie itself sounds like every other try-hard indy film of recent years. Depending on Prendergast's talent, this could be alright though.

Diminished Capacity
Directed by: Terry Kinney
Studio: IFC
Starring: Matthew Broderick, Virginia Madsen, Alan Alda
The plot: A Chicago journalist (Broderick) suffering from memory loss takes leaves from his job and returns to his rural hometown, where he bonds with his Alzheimer's-impaired uncle Rollie (Alda) and his old flame (Madsen). Quickly a plan is hatched for the trio to head to a memorabilia convention in the city, where Rollie hopes to sell a rare baseball card that has gained the attention of local ne'er-do-wells intent on scheming the old man out of a potential fortune.

McGee: On paper, this one sounds pretty stupid, but Mathew Broderick is a hoot when properly utilized, and he's been a little more selective in his roles recently, so maybe there's hope. Alda and Madsen are also usually a treat, even if the movie going on around them isn't.

Thomas: Well, this one isn't as stupidly titled, so I guess we're making progress. Here's our "feel-good indy film" of the month, in the style of Little Miss Sunshine. Virginia Madsen is one of my favorite underrated actresses, and Broderick and Alda look just fine in it. It doesn't have a chance of getting noticed (nor do any of the releases this weekend) under the Hancock onslaught, but as it's an IFC film, I may be able check it out on On Demand. If I can, I think I probably will.

Furious: I love the cast. Although it's been a while since Alan Alda did anything of note. Broderick and Madsen is an interesting pairing. I'm not sure I like the subject material. My grandmother completely lost her memory and replaced her memories with all manner of weird garbage. It was tough to watch, frankly, and I have no real urge to see Alan Alda mumbling and stumbling around. I'd rather remember Hawkeye.

Harris: Well from the synopsis it sounds somewhat interesting. Alan Alda playing a granddaddy with Alzheimer's definitely sounds interesting.

Kristopowitz: I like the idea of Alan Alda with Alzheimer's. He's at the age and time where he can pull that off without making it look like he's acting. I just hope that this is a hit for Mathew Broderick because the man needs a hit. He needs to get back into "bigger" movies, especially comedies, because that's always been his strong suit. Just stay away from musicals.

Chamberlain: This sounds like one of those thoughtful, message movies. I like my messages to be wrapped in special effects and space ship battles.

Mitchell: Yeah, I got nothing. Matthew Broderick's another person I can't recall ever making me laugh. I'm not the type to cry "you're raping my childhood" but I still haven't seen Inspector Gadget and I bet it's a sublimated apathy towards Broderick. You can join Kabluey and Wackness in the "no Summer release for you" group.

Snyder: A great cast, but once again, the plot description just doesn't grab me. This sounds like the kind of movie I might watch if I come across it while channel surfing and nothing else is on, but nothing I'm going to go out of my way to catch.

Lealos: Hey, look it's this month's "let's make a movie dealing with disabilities film". The third Indie coming out on this day, and the least interesting in my eyes.

Brimfield: A hearty "meh" I'm afraid. Remember when Broderick was oozing charm and 80s cool in War Games and Ferris Bueller? Well, apparently he doesn't, and neither do the producers of Dimished Capacity. I hope he plays another cool 80s teen before he retires. Little to no interest in this particular indy flick from me.

JULY 11TH

Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Studio: Universal
Directed by: Guillermo Del Toro
Starring: Ron Perlman, Doug Jones, Selma Blair, John Hurt
The plot: When the mythical world engages their campaign to take over the Earth, the U.S. government reaches out to the only department staffed to handle the potential catastrophe: The Bureau for Paranormal Research, who once again turns to the demon hero Hellboy (Perlman) and his teammates to stop a merciless dictator from carrying out his plan.

McGee: absolutely loved the first Hellboy, but I was as surprised as anyone it became so successful. The Golden Army looks like more of everything that made the first movie so much fun. Guillermo del Toro may be one of the world's favorite art-house horror/fantasy directors, but his best work is always the over-the-top action stuff. His movies always have incredible vision and energy, and this one looks no different. In short: count me in.

Thomas: I unabashedly loved the first Hellboy. Being a big fan of the comic book, I felt it was nothing less then pulpy comic book greatness, and that Perlman and Del Toro had done an amazing job. I can't say I'm quite as excited about this one, as it's going for a slightly different feel, but I still think it looks amazing. Ron Perlman looks just amazing as Big Red as he did in the first one, and the plot sounds solid. I know that I'll be there.

Furious: I thought the first one was ok. Ron Perlman was great but I find Del Toro's direction to be a bit patchy. For every Pan's Labyrinth there's a Mimic and Blade 2 knocking around. If this is more of the same it'll satisfy the fans of the first film but the press has been very low key, which suggests perhaps the studio isn't thrilled with it.

Harris: I was there four years ago at Hellboy's premiere in Austin, TX at the Paramount theatre during SXSW. Guillermo Del Toro, Ron Perlman, and Mike Mignola (who I sat like right next to that night) were all in attendance. While it was definitely a great night, being a huge fan of the Hellboy comics, the movie felt flawed and stumbled in quite a few places. The new movie looks to fix a lot of the problems of the first one, and definitely looks like a considerable improvement. Plus Del Toro does a good job of building his filmmaker cred with his smaller, foreign language features before doing a not quite as good mainstream, studio movie. In 2004, Del Toro claimed that Hellboy was his most favorite work he's ever done. While there's a huge disagreement there, this movie will hopefully be one for Del Toro to be proud of before he goes onto Middle Earth and The Hobbit. Hellboy II is definitely in between a rock and... a rock. It comes out a week after Hancock and a week before The Dark Knight.

Kristopowitz: This should be a blast. The first Hellboy movie was a hoot, and the sequel looks just as bad ass, just as funny, and just as fun. Del Toro will be off in New Zealand making the two The Hobbit movies for the next half decade or so, so it may be a while before we see Ron Perlman in heavy red make up again.

Chamberlain: The return of Red! I've never read one of his comics, but I thoroughly enjoyed Hellboy's first appearance on the big screen and from the previews the second installment looks just as big as the first one. I'll also be looking for clues as to how GDT will handle The Hobbit over the next couple years.

Mitchell: Ron Perlman was awesome the first go round and they've had the time to do something just as special with this effort. Another must see for me this summer.

Snyder: The first Hellboy flick was a decent, if somewhat underwhelming outing - it had a lot of cool moments, but in the end it didn't really come close to matching the awesomeness of its source material comic book. So far, everything about this sequel looks better than the first movie…especially ditching the lame Agent Meyers character (an obvious studio-mandated character if there ever was one). Hellboy II will only get one week to shine before it's inevitably crushed by The Dark Knight, but hey, this is our last chance to see some Del Toro goodness before The Hobbit. Do you really wanna pass that up?

Lealos: I loved Hellboy. I absolutely LOVED Hellboy. I have been looking forward to this movie since I saw the first one. Guillermo del Toro is a genius, and that is not hyperbole. I've always seen it since his early days with Cronos and Mimic, as well as the best of the Blade trilogy. Finally, the world took notice with his Oscar nominations for Pan's Labyrinth. I hope everyone who was just discovering him went back and watched his masterpiece The Devil's Backbone. This guy is a master filmmaker, and I can't wait to see how he tackles Middle Earth. But first, more fun with the big red demon! All the kids are back for round two of fun in a movie that is said to paint the actual demons in a slightly positive light. Looking at del Toro's body of work, I can see how he would sympathize with the demons and from early reviews, it sounds as if he is painting them in a much more positive light. If this is true, it will make Hellboy one of the more rounded supernatural movies to come out in a while. With del Toro at the helm, that was never a doubt for me anyway.

Brimfield: Not a fan of the original movie, although I can certainly see its appeal. I'll probably catch this one on DVD when it turns up, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a surprise hit this month, especially if they're ramping up the scale. This has to tides the fans over until Del Toro finishes in Middle Earth, at any rate.

Journey to the Center of the Earth
Studio: New Line
Directed by: Eric Brevig
Starring: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem
The plot: A geologist (Fraser) on a special mission with his son (Hutcherson) discovers the entrance into a previously unseen world.

McGee: I've always been a fan of Jules Verne and think a straight-up adaptation of the original book would be an awesome sight to behold. Something tells me this modern reinterpretation won't be quite the same. Brendan Fraser is one of those charismatic actors you can't help but like, but I don't think anything is going to save this one from being a shallow mess full of useless 3D gimmicks.

Thomas: I can't quite describe the derision I have for this movie properly. Every trailer I've seen looks utterly freaking retarded. I don't dislike Brendan Fraser like some do - in fact, I usually quite like him. But there appears to be far too much comedy in this, and it just seems too family-friendly special-effects extravaganza-y to me. Jules Verne will be rolling over in his grave over this adaptation, I promise.

Furious: First I heard about this was seeing the trailer on TV the other day. I don't see the point in re-making the 1959 classic. It may be a great story but the content has dated badly. This'll either come off like The Core or worst still a low-rent version of the original. It doesn't have much competition on July 11th unless one of the other two releases suddenly catches the interest of the public. I think it'll be a fairly even split. I still don't see the point of it though.

Harris: Looks like silly, campy stuff. It might be worth a matinee ticket, but only if you see it on 3D I-MAX.

Kristopowitz: The various trailers and commercials for this have been incredibly lame, but I have a sneaky suspicion that this flick may turn out better than expected, especially in 3-D. The Walden Media people, while not having a spectacular box office record as of late, do know how to make a good "family friendly" movie. Who knows, this could be the big surprise of the summer. It may not suck.

Chamberlain: This looks like a blast. From what I hear it was the first major film to truly be filmed for 3D presentation, although that element seems to be missing from the marketing of late. I'll do my best to see this at a theatre where I can enjoy the 3D version.

Mitchell: I've hated Brendan Fraser since Blast From the Past. How can a guy that handsome be so damn charismatic? He's been good in 3D rendered environments before, so I expect more goodness from him. Not exactly a "must see" for me, but that's because I hate kids in my action movies with the exception of the Three Ninjas. Now those boys were bad ass.

Snyder: Fraser is playing a guy named "Trevor" in this, so it has that going for it. Seriously though, I really like Fraser. He has a goofy, likable charisma that almost always makes him fun to watch. That being said, I'm pretty sure the only reason to really see this one is the Digital 3D version. That will probably be pretty fun. I wouldn't recommend seeing it otherwise.

Lealos: Brendan Fraser must have bought a new house. With this and the new Mummy movie, we get two tentpoles from a man that has been incognito for a while now. I've heard people talking about wanting to see this, but I think I'll just wait for the Mummy movie to come out. I have seen nothing that makes this a "must see" movie for me. The promotion has been nil, and the trailers have underwhelmed.

Brimfield: Oh dear. Being a science fiction purist, this looks dreadful. Move along please, let's have Fraser's charm put to use in something that doesn't bastardize a genre milestone for the sake of some cheap IMAX thrills.

Meet Dave
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Directed by: Brian Robbins
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Elizabeth Banks, Scott Caan
The plot: Tiny aliens pilot a spacecraft that takes the form of a human (Murphy), while the captain of the ship jeopardizes his crew and their mission to save their planet when he falls for beautiful earthling (Banks).

McGee: Inner Space meets The Brother From Another Planet? Okay, not a terrible idea, but given Murphy's comedic track-record of late, I can't say I'm all giddy with anticipation.

Thomas: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!? Yeah, because all of Eddie Murphy's other sci-fi comedies have worked OH so well. Murphy seriously needs to go back to doing Dreamgirls-type roles, because his comedies have absolutely sucked, without a single, solitary exception, since Beverly Hills Cop III. That's right, I said it. Nutty Professor, Metro, Doctor Doolittle, Holy Man, Life, Bowfinger, Showtime, Pluto Nash, I Spy, Daddy Day Care, Haunted Mansion, Norbit, and any associated sequels all sucked in a major, major way. And no, I don't consider Shrek an Eddie Murphy comedy. To cut it short, this is going to blow. Move on.

Furious: Interesting idea. Is Eddie Murphy the right man for the job though? His comedies have been going downhill (Shrek excluded) since The Nutty Professor (supposedly his big comeback film). He would be better off trying his hand at drama IMO. After all he did great in Dreamgirls. This has the most potential of any comedy film he's made in a long, long time but after it's all done and finished I think he should seek out some dramatic roles.

Harris: Wouldn't be surprised if this is Murphy's latest, atrocious bomb. The movie looks absolutely ridiculous and stupid. And then following this will be Cop 4 directed by Brett Ratner. You guys remember him right? The franchise killer of the X-Men.

Kristopowitz: I'm one of the few people in the world willing to admit that I've enjoyed Eddie Murphy's recent comedy efforts (yes, I did like Norbit), but this movie looks cheap. The effects scenes from the trailer don't look good at all, and I suspect that the potentially bad effects are going to distract from the jokes.

Chamberlain: Eddie, man, are you even trying? First Pluto Nash, now this? Don't these projects just scream ‘piece of shit' when they come across your desk?

Mitchell: Not so sure about this. I feel Eddie Murphy, like Martin Lawrence, thrives in an R rated environment. Not so much because dropping F-Bombs makes me giggle, but it just seems that these two guys get stuck with comedies that appeal to the "ha ha he fell down the stairs for the thousandth time" audience, which doesn't seem to be a thriving market judging by their strings of misses.

Snyder: Remember a while back when Eddie Murphy was nominated for an Oscar? Now, we have this, and Beverly Hills Cop 4 on the way. Maybe the Academy knew what they were doing. I'll give Meet Dave this – it doesn't look as horrible as Norbit, or The Love Guru. Still, though, it looks 100% completely forgettable. I feel bad that Elizabeth Banks is in it.

Lealos: Eddie Murphy in Innerspace? No Thanks.

Brimfield: Do not want.

JULY 18TH

The Dark Knight
Studio: Warner Bros.
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman
The plot: The Caped Crusader (Bale) teams up with Gotham's Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Eckhart) to take on the city's newest villain - The Joker (Ledger).

McGee: The Dark Knight has a lot of baggage weighing it down. Batman Begins was one of those movies that made you stand up and say "Finally, somebody gets it!" Not only does this one have to live up to the expectations created by the first flick, but it features a performance that will, inevitably, be measured against one of Jack Nicholson's most mesmerizing roles (and that's saying something). Add to that the unfortunate stigma of being Heath Ledger's swan-song, and The Dark Knight actually has a lot working against it. But I have total faith that Christopher Nolan and company will once again knock this one out of the park.

Thomas: Okay, this is better. In fact, this is incredible. There is nothing this month that even close to compares to how awesome I expect this is going to be. Forget about the tragic death of Heath Ledger, just sit back, and enjoy what should be a knockout performance, if all indications are correct. This film looks like it's going to take what few flaws the first one had and blow them away. I expect nothing but brilliance from all involved here… and that's the only pitfall this film might have, is having TOO many expectations.

Furious: Call me a mark for the Bat but I'm really looking forward to this film. It has enormous potential. A great cast. Great director. If it's anywhere near as good as Batman Begins it's a classic. Word from production is that both Aaron Eckhart and Heath Ledger are incredible. The trailers look amazing and the viral campaign has worked. All it has to do is deliver and I think it will. Can't wait for this one.

Harris: It definitely looks fantastic and promising. So let's just hope the audience and movie is there to back that up. Also that everyone will come back for a third movie, and WB gets off their duff to realize that we do NOT want some scrub playing Batman. The only Batman is Christian Bale.

Kristopowitz: I really didn't care for Batman Begins (I did a column about how much I hate it a few months ago), and while I'm mildly interested in checking this out, I'm not as jazzed as I should be for a Batman movie. I just don't care all that much. The previews have been pretty good, though, and I am interested in seeing Ledger's turn as the Joker, just to see if it rises to the "He should get an Oscar" hoopla that started a few hours after he died in January. But, again, overall, I don't care all that much about this movie.

Chamberlain: Count me among the many that are waiting with bated breath for Christian Bale's second turn as the caped crusader. I loved every minute of Batman Begins and I've been dreaming of this movie since Gordon gave Batman the ‘calling card' of Gotham's new criminal. Early word is very positive and this seems like a movie everybody is lining up to love. That tells me that when the third one comes out, people are going to shit on it (that's usually how it goes). But for now Batman is big. And just like everyone else, I'm eager to see the supposedly transcendent performance of the late Heath Ledger.

Mitchell: I'm naming my first born son Christopher Nolan Urijah Rock Mitchell. And to hell what my future wife thinks. This movie couldn't disappoint me if every other scene was Rachael Dawes getting late night phone calls and telling Bruce she's sleeping with Harvey.

Snyder: I don't know…I guess it could be okay. I'm kidding, of course. This is my most anticipated movie of the summer, and I'm pretty sure that goes for almost everyone else out there. Ledger's death has cast an unfortunate damper over it, but not enough to keep anyone away, I'm sure. If this is even half as good as the trailer footage suggests, we'll have a classic on our hands. Perhaps the best comic book movie yet?

Lealos: The biggest movie of the summer. ‘Nuff said. Want more? Read my most-anticipated movie write-up above.

Brimfield: I'm not sure I can put any more enthusiasm into this than the other staff have already managed. Suffice to say, I'm greatly anticipating this one, as it's one of the very, very few films this year that I know all my moviegoing pals will want to see. Besides, it should easily out-gross anything else in '08.

Mamma Mia!
Studio: Universal
Directed by: Phyllida Lloyd
Starring: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth
The plot: In an attempt to suss out her father's identity, a bride-to-be (Seyfried) invites three likely candidates to her wedding, resulting in a wild familial encounter that incorporates the hits of ABBA.

McGee: The stage show was a lot of fun, but I have my doubts as to whether it will translate as well on screen. Still, the cast is great (provided they can all sing) and it should make for a nice summer diversion. But, I'd say it has next to no chance of making a mark with so many high-profile movies surrounding it.

Thomas: I also really enjoyed the stage version of this. The cast they've gathered looks pretty damn good, as long as they can all sing fairly well. Tossing it up against The Dark Knight pretty much shows that Universal expected it to bomb, but I don't think that's due to quality… musicals just don't do well theatrically as a rule. It'll be fun, but go nowhere based on the unfair placement on the schedule it got.

Furious: And there was me thinking Muriel's Wedding had the market cornered for using ABBA songs to tell a story. Anything with Meryl Streep in has a chance of being good but this isn't really my cup of tea.

Harris: Like Austin Powers says, "This just isn't my bag, baby."

Kristopowitz: Eh. I've never been a big fan of musicals, but I'm willing to give this a shot. The previews have been dreadful, though.

Chamberlain: Oh boy! A movie based on that musical I've avoided like a case of syphilis all these years! Featuring music by a band I wouldn't listen to if my life depended on it! I totally can't wait to not see this movie. It's going to be fantastic. I wonder what I'll do with my two extra hours? Maybe I'll catch some extra sleep, or invite a special lady over for a good time. It'll also be pretty cool to save the ten bucks I'd pay for a ticket to this cruddy film. Maybe I'll use it to see Dark Knight again.

Mitchell: Wrong month for what looks like a potentially fun movie. Hey, I love blood and guts as much as anyone (you should have heard the reaction we gave the first shoot out in Wanted) but sometimes I like something cute. It helps that I don't hate Abba.

Snyder: I have a friend who is pretty intent on dragging me to this one, so I suppose I'll end up seeing it sooner or later. I won't be happy about it, though. If you're willingly choosing to go listen to ABBA music for two hours this weekend, rather than seeing The Dark Knight, you are barred from the human race, my friend.

Lealos: I wasn't interested in seeing the stage show in Vegas, nor am I not interested in seeing the theatrical version.

Brimfield: In music terms, I like everything from ABBA to Zappa, except ABBA. I'm not going near this one, despite my silent man-crush on Brosnan.

Space Chimps
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Directed by: Kirk De Micco
Starring: Andy Samberg, Stanley Tucci, Jeff Daniels, Patrick Warburton
The plot: Ham III (Samberg), the grandson of the first chimp astronaut, is blasted off into space by an opportunity-seeking senator (Tucci). Soon, the fun-loving chimp has to get serious about the mission at hand: Rid a far-away planet of their nefarious leader (Daniels). Fortunately for Ham III, two of his simian peers are along for the ride.

McGee: If it isn't Pixar, I don't have much use for computer animation. Plus this one just looks stupid. That's a double-whammy.

Thomas: I'm not dignifying this movie with a response other then to say "Blow me, Universal."

Furious: Well I suppose if you can make Zombie Strippers then you can call a movie Space Chimps. The animation looks terrible and the trailer has no jokes in it. Strictly for kids.

Harris: This has been a pretty low-key, very little hyped release for a CG animated film which are usually some easy money and profit. That said it looks nowhere near as charming as the movies done by Pixar, or even the surprisingly good Kung-Fu Panda.

Kristopowitz: This sounds kind of fun, but I imagine it'll get lost in the hooha for The Dark Knight.

Chamberlain: No.

Mitchell: It could possibly be stupid. It's not Pixar or Dreamworks and judging by the animation, doesn't try all that hard to be. Unfortunately for my wallet, monkeys make me smile. Though, the fact this film is brought to us by the producers of the box office bomb Happily N'Ever After, rational thought may win this round.

Snyder: It's not often you see a trailer for a high-profile animated flick and think to yourself, "wow, that looks like it should be going straight-to-DVD." But that was my experience upon seeing the Space Chimps trailer. This just doesn't look to be in the same league as the summer's other animated offerings, like Kung-Fu Panda or WALL-E. I'm sure the kids will eat it up, as they do with everything like this. But it sure doesn't look like anything that will have the same appeal to adults that those other films did.

Lealos: I love monkeys. I love almost everything about monkeys. This movie sounds like complete cheese but has a brilliant poster, a strange concept and monkeys. Did I mention, I love monkeys?

Brimfield: Ahahaha! Freakin' awesome. Here's your movie of the year, folks. Chimps! In space! Fucking brilliant! The sad thing is, my enthusiasm for Space Chimps is in fact entirely genuine.

JULY 25TH

Step Brothers
Studio: Columbia
Directed by: Adam McKay
Starring: Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly
The plot: Two spoiled adult men (Ferrell and Reilly) are pulled into a new sibling rivalry after their respective single parents get hitched.

McGee: I think my snobbery when it comes to comedies has been well documented on this site, but lord help me if Talladega Nights didn't crack me up. With Ferrell, Riley, and director Adam McKay teaming up again, is it possible for them to recapture the magic and make me - one of the most sour, miserable human beings on the planet - laugh? Not likely, but I'm willing to give them a chance.

Thomas: I think Will Ferrell is pretty funny, I think John C. Reilly has a great comedic sense, and I like Adam McKay. Unfortunately, I can't see anything good coming out of this. I don't know what it is, but this just doesn't do anything for me at all.

Furious: I like Will Ferrell and he works well with John C. Reilly as was evidenced in Talladega Nights. Adam McKay was the director on that film too. It's also nice to see Ferrell do something that isn't a sports movie although he is playing the same loud manmade-man he stereotypically plays. The trailer is pretty funny even if the gags are a little obvious. I'm enough of a fan of Ferrell to at least see this regardless of reviews.

Harris: I think Ferrell is slightly over-staying his welcome with his usual schtick and its kind of wearing thin. Just look at Semi-Pro, and while that movie is entertaining it didn't perform very well. This looks like very similar type of humor and characters that Ferrell usually does, and it doesn't look very exciting or significant. In terms of other summer releases and comedies, it looks very missable.

Kristopowitz: After the drubbing Ferrell took for Semi-Pro (I liked it, and it's making money on DVD, but no one pays attention to that. The theatrical box office is all that really matters) perhaps he'll get back on track with this Talladega Nights re-teaming with John C. Reilly and director Adam McKay. The previews have been funny. I'll definitely make an effort to see it.

Chamberlain: I haven't even heard of this movie. Considering Ferrell's in it, you would think the marketing machine would have started up months ago. The fact that it hasn't is not a good sign.

Mitchell: I'm optimistic about this. I enjoyed Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory. Still need to check out Anchorman though.

Snyder: Ferrell is getting dangerously close to over-exposed territory. OK, actually, he might already be there. The guy simply puts out so many movies, almost all of them with similar senses of humor, that it's almost impossible to get excited for the next one. That's how I feel, at least. The red-band trailer for his one has a number of funny moments, and yet I still have a somewhat apathetic attitude about the whole thing. I'm much more excited about next month's Pineapple Express.

Lealos: It's time to see if Will Ferrell has lost it. By it, I mean his fan base. He is not a great rounded actor, he is a one-note sensation, much like Adam Sandler. The question I have is whether he was develop characters like Sandler has proven to do, or if he will just be a grown man-child in every movie he appears in. He was really good in Stranger than Fiction and delivered a great performance in Anchorman, but other than that, he is only funny when he plays his loud, immature man child. I assume he will play that same character in this movie, once again offset with John C. Reilly's straight man. On that note, it's not Ferrell that will make this movie work, it's Adam McKay, the director of Anchorman and Talladega Nights. If this movie succeeds with the funny, Ferrell should just be content to follow McKay everywhere he goes, because without him, he's just a loud, obnoxious man in below average movies.

Brimfield: The Ferrell/McKay comedy train needs to be derailed now, they're becoming as ubiquitous as Judd Apatow, Seth Rogen and that gang and have overexposed themselves way too much. Take a step back, folks. It's a shame that Reilly is apparently only known these days through his association with Ferrell and not for his always-excellent work as a character actor.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Directed by: Chris Carter
Starring: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Billy Connolly, Amanda Peet
The plot: The return of everyone's favorite conspiracy-sci-fi franchise.

McGee: Is it just me, or has the marketing for this flick been extremely low-key? But, I'm sure fans of the show know about it, and that seems to be the only people Chris Carter and company are really interested in bringing in, which is probably for the best. Another bonus is the rumor that this movie will ditch the long-running, convoluted mythology of the show (although that looked mysteriously like "black oil" in the trailer) for a more self-contained plot. I don't think it will bring in a new audience, but I think it will please the sizable fanbase that has been jonesing for a Mulder/Scully fix all these years.

Thomas: Is it too little, too late? I don't know… it's well past the show's end, but that didn't stop Sex in the City from raking it in. Of course, that one had the advantage of ending the series strong, where X-Files more kind of sputtered out. The fanboys (of which I am one) will be out in force to see it, but I'm not so sure anyone else will. Either way, it should be good; with Billy Connelly and Amanda Peet, I'd venture to say it'll be better then Fight the Future. But we'll see to be sure.

Furious: I stopped watching The X-Files around season 3 or 4 when it started getting a little silly. I much preferred it as a monster-of-the-week show. But then I'm not good with TV shows and find it hard to tune in one week after another. The first movie was pretty forgettable and I don't really see a need for another one but the show had a lot of fans and it's nice for them. I might see it but I'm not really bothered if I don't.

Harris: Wow, it only took about 10 years to finally do something with the long-running popular TV series to finally get another movie. Not to mention the show went off on such a sour note that left most fans angry. This is not a conspiracy theory story like the first movie, but rather a stand-alone horror type of story. That said, been done with the X-Files for a while, and not going back.

Kristopowitz: Finally, the return of Agents Mulder and Scully. I can't wait to see what they've been up to since the end of the television series, and I can't wait to see if a stand alone "supernatural" story works on the big screen. As a total X-Files nerd, I would have loved to see a "mythology" story, perhaps with Brian Thompson coming back as the alien bounty hunter, but maybe Chris Carter is saving that for a third movie. Again, I can't wait to see what the agents have been up to. And Director Skinner, too. Just what the heck has he been up to? Does he still have those nanotech things in him?

Chamberlain: I tried to be an X-Files guy back in the day, but I just couldn't do it. And they say Lost never answers questions!

Mitchell: I almost forgot there was an X-Files movie prior to this one. I just never got into the show. What I did see usually kept my attention throughout the episode, but not enough to make me a weekly viewer. I might try to dig up the original and see if that will spark my interest.

Snyder: As a fan of the show, I was at first disappointed to hear that the new movie would not be addressing the "mythology" elements that were the backbone of the series. No, it's not that I actually enjoyed the last couple seasons (I'm not that crazy), but I did feel like they have a responsibility to at least acknowledge and try to clean up the numerous plot threads they created and left dangling. However, now that I've seen the trailers, I'm quite happy they've decided to go in the direction they did. This looks like it could be a genuinely scary thriller, and X-Files always excelled at those types of stories. Plus, the producers have already hinted that if this film does well, it sets them up to do another X-Files film that will finally address the alien invasion promised in the series finale. If that's the case, it probably is a good idea to first re-introduce us to the characters, and remind us how cool the show used to be. So yeah, terrible title aside, I'm looking forward to this one.

Lealos: I want to believe this movie will be good. I have waited a long time for the movie to see the light of day, and wonder if it will entertain me like The X-Files used to on a regular basis, or bore me like much of the mythology episodes did. This is supposed to be in the "monster-of-the-week" format, so that is a great sign. They also compare it to a number of early episodes, all monster-centric, so I get a little more excited. This is a movie I need to keep my expectations low on, I am afraid. I would rather go in with low expectations and have it blow me away than go in with high expectations and be disappointed regardless of content. I just don't think it will deliver what the show's original fans expect.

Brimfield: I have the feeling my local cinema isn't going to pick this one up, although I'm happy to wait for the DVD. It's been so long since I watched anything X-Files-related I think this is going to be a surprise, and I hope it's a pleasant one. But seriously, what is it this month with all the shit movie titles?



The votes are in... The Dark Knight is the 411 staff's hit of the month, while Dave is our shit of the month!


That's all for now, folks. Stay tuned next month for a look at The Clone Wars, Tropic Thunder and a whole lot more!

All poster images courtesy of IMDB.