‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’Unleashing its magic on the world on June 4, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,” will be the first movie blockbuster of the summer. So should you expect this part of the series to be as popular as the last two? Definitely. This movie will likely top the charts until the end of the month when “Spider-man 2” comes out. With Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint returning as the main trio, you can be sure of great chemistry between the actors. What is new is the director, Alfonso Cuaron, who has stated that he will put his own stamp on the movie. Cuaron has said that this movie will have a shorter running and have a more “hip” look to it.
‘Garfield’What can you say about this movie? It’s a live-action film based on a comic strip, and that combination usually leads to disaster. Also, what’s up with Garfield being just a CGI special effect and the rest of the pets being real live animals? Could the director not make up his mind or was it just a lapse in judgment? OK, OK, this movie does have some positive things going for it. C’mon, it is Garfield! How cool is that. And to sweeten the pot, Bill Murray does Garfield’s voice! With this film being based off one of the most popular comic strips of all time, it almost certainly will not be a flop, even with everything going against it.
‘The Village’So far M. Night Shyamalan’s movies have been hit or miss. But even though “Unbreakable” and “Signs” didn’t live up to the potential Shyamalan showed with “Sixth Sense,” he is undeniably one of the best storywriters out there. His plots are uniquely different and his endings are mind-blowing. “The Village” takes places in 1897 in a very secluded town called Covington in Pennsylvania. The villagers have had a truce with the animals that live in the woods surrounding the community. However, things start to go terribly wrong when the animals leave a red slash on all of the doors leading into the homes. Be ready for another refreshing tale by a man who doesn’t use the same recycled stories over and over.
‘King Arthur’A “realistic” story about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table? Intriguing. Coming out so soon after “Spider-man” could be this movies downfall but it does have Antoine Fuqua, the man who directed “Training Day” over seeing this film as well. Filled with a lot of actors whose names aren’t yet well known, this movie may rely on the legend that its writers have strayed away from.
‘The Chronicles of Riddick’Absent from the movie screen for some time, Vin Diesel returns as Riddick in the film, “The Chronicles of Riddick.” Somehow, the semi-hit movie, “Pitch Black” has spawned this sequel that is supposedly the first movie in a line of three. It’s five years after “Pitch Black,” and Riddick, who is the epitome of the anti-hero, gets himself stuck between a galactic war. What’s cool about the movie? Well, for starters, the film surrounds the life of Riddick, a convicted killer who’s only occupation is to kick ass. Plus David Twohy, who directed “Pitch Black,” directs this film, which should give this movie the same feel. What’s not so cool? Ja Rule’s in it. He stunk it up in his small part in “Scary Movie 3,” so we’re expecting “Riddick” to get the same treatment.
‘Spider-man 2’Spider-man is back! The fifth largest grossing movie of all time, “Spider-man” was 2002’s biggest movie hit, and expect the same from this sequel. Not only do Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst return for a second helping wall crawling but so does the rest of the supporting cast from the original film. With James Franco returning as Harry Osborn, Rosemary Harris back as Aunt May, and J.K. Simmons once again as the ornery ol’ newspaper editor J. Jonah Jameson, this movie should have a lot of consistency with the first film. Unfortunately, everyone will have to wait until June 30 for “Spider-man” to swing back into theatres.
‘Catwoman’Halle Berry playing Catwoman in a revealing tight leather outfit?! Meow! Supposedly Nicole Kidman had been in talks to play the part but with Berry as the lead the film will more attract more people and a younger crowd (who are easier to market to and more willing to part with their money). This movie takes place in Lake City, so there will be no Batman since he never seems to leave Gotham City. Berry plays Patience Price who is murdered when she learns about shady dealings by the company she works for. Isn’t it amazing how it always works out that way? It’s been a while since DC has come out with a film for one of its comic characters. Hopefully it won’t be as awful as the last two Batman films.
