Feel the magic of this summer’s movies
Harry Potter, ‘Ocean’s’ gang, Jason Bourne and the Fantastic Four return
 © 2007 Warner Bros. Pictures Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) is ready to take viewers on a new summer adventure in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix." |
|
Summer is the height of blockbuster season and the sequels are out in force with new installments of “Harry Potter,” “Ocean’s,” “Bourne,” “Fantastic Four,” “Rush Hour” and “Die Hard.”
Have kids? Summer has plenty to offer the little ones, including, “The Simpsons Movie,” “Nancy Drew” and Pixar’s latest “Ratatouille.” For the adults, there are comedies from Adam Sandler, Robin Williams, Steve Carell and more. Need a fright? There are a spate of horror flicks headed your way, including the “Hostel” sequel and a movie about man-eating sheep.
If you like your movies serious, believe it or not, the studios haven’t ignored you. From the Daniel Pearl story “A Mighty Heart” to “Evening,” which features an all-star cast that includes Meryl Streep and Vanessa Redgrave. There are even films for art-house fans, including new films from Steve Buscemi and the controversial health-care documentary, “Sicko” from Michael Moore.
 |
“Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Richard Griffiths, Imelda Staunton
Director: David Yates
Story: In this fifth installment of J.K. Rowlings’ story about the boy magician, Harry Potter (Radcliffe) loses someone close to him, kisses the girl (Katie Leung) and has to deal with the forces of Lord Voldermont (Fiennes). Plus, there’s yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, this one in the Orwellian guise of Dolores Umbridge (Staunton).
Buzz: Yates is definitely not the marquee director the series has had in the past, in fact he’s primarily known for the BBC series, “State of Play” and HBO’s “Girl in the Café.” He told Entertainment Weekly that he hadn’t actually read any of the books before he was offered the gig. But if nothing else, he should have a fresh take on the series. Staunton is best known for her Oscar-nominated role in “Vera Drake.”
Web site: http://www.harrypotterorderofthephoenix.com/
Release date: July 11
“Ocean’s Thirteen”
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Al Pacino, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner, Elliot Gould
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Story: Willie Banks (Pacino) is a ruthless casino owner who cheats Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould) out of his share of a new hotel he is building. It’s up to the Ocean’s gang to exact revenge, and this time they enlist former archenemy Terry Benedict (Garcia) in their plan.
Buzz: George Clooney says this will be the last “Ocean’s” film in which he stars, which means it might be the last. He also told Entertainment Weekly that he knows “Ocean’s Twelve” was a bit of a dud. Both Clooney and Soderbergh promise more of the original “Ocean’s” style this time around. Though both Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones opted not to return, Barkin joins the cast, reuniting with her “Sea of Love” costar Pacino.
Web site: http://oceans13.warnerbros.com/
Release date: June 8
“Live Free or Die Hard”
Starring: Bruce Willis, Justin Long, Maggie Q, Timothy Olyphant, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jonathan Sadowski
Director: Len Wiseman
Story: John McClane (Willis) is once again in the wrong place at the wrong time, as a cyber-terrorist (Olyphant) begins shutting down the down the U.S.’s entire computer infrastructure. Add to that a daughter (Winstead) in jeopardy, a new spunky computer-nerd partner (Long) and you have your basic sequel.
Buzz: It’s been 12 years since “Die Hard: With a Vengeance,” and this franchise feels extremely dated. Yes, director Wiseman (“Underworld”) has given it the millennial spin with the cyber-terrorism, but seriously? Long is best known for funny roles (“Accepted,” “Herbie Fully Loaded”) and should provide some comic relief here. Olyphant needs to make those promised “Deadwood” movies for HBO, or we really will send John McClane after him.
Web site: http://www.livefreeordiehard.com/
Release date: June 27
“The Bourne Ultimatum”
Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez
Director: Paul Greengrass
Story: In this installment, Jason Bourne (Damon) is in search of his identity — and it’s a quest that will take him from Moscow to Paris to Madrid to London to Tangier and finally back to his home city of New York (wouldn’t you like his frequent flier miles). Along the way he’s chased by a team of government assassins overseen by Noah Vosen (Strathairn). Journalist Simon Ross (Constantine) has been following Bourne’s story and has learned a lot about his secret past. Paz (Ramirez) is one of the last remaining Treadstone assassins whose assignment is to kill both Bourne and Ross.
Buzz: This is one sequel it’s hard not to get a little excited about. Especially with Greengrass (“United 93”) back in the director’s chair. Unlike a lot of what you’ll see in chase scenes this summer (yes, “Live Free or Die Hard” we’re looking at you), the ones in this film won’t be CGI-reliant; instead you get good old-fashioned stunt driving and great camera work. Let’s face it; these are the movies that made James Bond step up his game.
Web site: http://www.thebourneultimatum.com/
Release date: August 3
“Rush Hour 3”
Starring: Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan, Hiroyuki Sanada, Youki Kudoh, Max Von Sydow, Noemie Lenoir, Vinnie Jones, Yvan Attel, Roselyn Sanchez, Roman Polanski
Director: Brett Ratner
Story: Detective James Carter (Tucker) has been demoted to traffic cop. Meanwhile, Chinese Inspector Lee (Chan) has been assigned to protect Chinese Ambassador Han (Tzi Ma) as he gives a speech in Los Angeles. When Han is shot, Lee and Carter try to save their careers by following the assassin’s trail to a Chinese organized crime family in Paris. Polanski (“The Pianist”) appears in the film as a French police inspector.
Buzz: Rumor is that Tucker was holding out for more money before signing on to this sequel, which is why it’s been six years since “Rush Hour 2.” Tucker, however, denies this is the case, telling Entertainment Weekly that he was just waiting for a finished script. Everyone’s favorite hack director Ratner (“X-Men 3,” “Red Dragon”) returns, so expect the expected.
Web site: http://www.thebourneultimatum.com/
Release date: August 10
“Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Andre Braugher, Gonzalo Menendez, Doug Jones
Director: Tim Story
Story: Just as Sue Storm (Alba) and Reed Richards (Gruffudd) are about to tie the knot, they have a new villain to deal with: The mysterious Silver Surfer (Jones), who wreaks havoc wherever he goes. Even in full Human Torch mode, Johnny Storm (Evans) can’t stop him. And even worse, he’s the herald for a mysterious creature called Galactus. Dr. Doom (McMahon) is also back and he’s even “doomier” than before.
Buzz: The first film scored a dismal 26 percent on the Tomatometer at RottenTomatoes.com. There’s almost nowhere to go but up. The Silver Surfer, who looks suspiciously like Robert Patrick’s Terminator in “Terminator 2,” is completely CGI with Jones (“Hellboy,” “Pan’s Labyrinth”) using motion capture to create the villain.
Web site: http://www.fantasticfourmovie.com/
Release date: June 15
“Transformers”
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Josh Duhamel, Anthony Anderson, Rachael Taylor, Megan Fox, John Turturro, Jon Voight, Hugo Weaving, Peter Cullen 
Director: Michael Bay
Story: When two dueling alien races, the good Autobots and the evil Decepticons, bring their battle to earth, it falls to young Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf), whose first car just happens to be Autobot Bumblebee, to save humankind. Weaving voices the evil Megatron, while Cullen (who voiced the character in the animated series) voices Optimus Prime.
Buzz: In the tradition of “Independence Day,” aliens are once again invading on the Fourth of July. Must be something about the fireworks. Director Bay is the man behind “Bad Boys,” “Pearl Harbor” and “The Island” so expect stuff to blow up. With his role in “Disturbia,” this film and the upcoming Indiana Jones film, LeBeouf is breaking out as a full-fledged star. If this film does well, expect some sequels.
Web site: http://www.transformersmovie.com/
Release date: July 2
 |
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
- Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM ENTERTAINMENT |
 Entertainment Section Front |
| Add Entertainment headlines to your news reader: |