With an unprecedented number of high-profile new releases arriving in theaters this summer, we movie-lovers will have more reasons than ever to spend our days indoors. So while those sun-worshipping fools are busy soaking up harmful UV rays, we'll be safe inside the cineplex, breathing in brisk recycled air and dining on nutricious red vines and nachos.
To help you plan your movie-watching schedule, here's part one of our guide to this summer's offerings:
Spider-Man 3
May 4th
The Plot: Peter Parker undergoes an ominous transformation when his Spider-Man suit turns black and brings out the dark, vengeful side of his personality.
The Story: The summer's first major release also happens to be its most-anticipated. Rumored to be among the most expensive movies ever made, Spidey's third adventure brings back all of the franchise's major players, including Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and Sam Raimi, and features the Spider-Man's most popular villain, Venom. Clips from the film all look absolutely amazing, but can the storyline handle the weight of three major villains (Venom, Sandman and Harry Osborne's new Goblin)? I'd hate to see any of them get short thrift. Reportedly, director Sam Raimi isn't too fond of Venom and resisted including the character in Spider-Man 3; perhaps the three-villain formula was the result of a compromise. Whatever the case, Raimi must have found a way to make it work, as advance buzz for the film is overwhelmingly positive.
28 Weeks Later
May 11th
The Plot: As the U.S. Army attempts to restore order to a plague-ravaged London, a carrier of the rage virus enters the city and reinfects the populace.
The Story: British director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) helped reinvigorate a stale genre with his terrifying zombie flick 28 Days Later. The film also introduced us yanks to the talented Irishman Cillian Murphy, who subsequently starred in Batman Begins and Red Eye. Billed as a sequel, 28 Weeks Later features neither Boyle nor Murphy nor co-star Naomie Harris. Come to think of it, just about everything is different with this one. The sequel does feature my favorite Braveheart babe, Catherine McCormack, so that's a plus. Then again, Braveheart came out twelve years ago.
All bets are off with this one.
Shrek the Third
May 18th
The Plot: When the king falls ill, Shrek and friends set out to find Far Far Away's rightful heir, Fiona's slacker cousin, Artie, and bring him back to claim the throne.
The Story: Shrek is back, now with 50% more characters! New faces abound in the third installment of Dreamworks' uber-successful animated franchise, with Justin Timberlake, John Krasinski, Amy Sedaris and SNL players Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph among those joining the cast. With so many characters, is Shrek the Third in danger of falling into incoherence? Will anybody care? Not bloody likely. Dreamworks is already hard at work on a fourth Shrek film, so expect to see much more of the big green ogre in the years to come.
Check out our in-depth Shrek the Third Preview here.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
May 25th
The Plot: While the Flying Dutchman ghost ship wreaks havoc on the Seven Seas, Will, Elizabeth and Barbossa unite to save Jack Sparrow from Davy Jones' locker.
The Story: Despite mixed reviews, last summer's Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest shattered box office records en route to an eye-popping worldwide tally of over $1 billion. Chow Yun Fat joins Pirates veterans Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley and Geoffrey Rush for the third go-round, with Rolling Stones rocker Keith Richards making a cameo, purportedly playing Johnny's dad. But with a running time rumored at over three hours, At World's End will be hard-pressed to equal the success of its predecessor. It will likely be the last of the PotC series, although Depp has maintained that he'd be open to playing the Jack Sparrow character again. Disney will likely have to pay a king's ransom to Depp's co-stars Bloom and Knightley, both of whom were virtual unknowns when the first Pirates came out, to get them on board for a fourth film.
Other notable May releases include Delta Farce, Georgia Rule and Captivity.
Click here to check out Part II of ReelzChannel.com's 2007 Summer Movie Preview, as we look at June releases Ocean's Thirteen, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and more.
What summer movie are you most excited about? Let me know at tleupp@reelzchannel.com.