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Written by Morgan Kriz
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Tuesday, 10 June 2008 |
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From big, green and angry, to inept superspies, to Brendan Fraser, Hollywood’s summer offerings have a little something for movie-goer …
June 13
THE INCREDIBLE HULK
(2008)
PR: * * *
Directed by Louis Leterrier
Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson, Christina Cabot, Lou Ferrigno
Universal/Rated PG-13/Action, Fantasy/112 min
Website: theincrediblehulk.net
If do-overs are for sissies and movies, then this second, more macho version makes Ang Lee’s earlier attempt look like a wimp. Marvel Studios’ influence can be seen in a 25-minute set piece pitting the big green machine against his enemy, the Abomination (Roth). A humanoid version of Godzilla, the Abomination is bigger and more toad-like than our angry hero. Geneticist Bruce Banner (Norton) tries to control his hair trigger temper, lest he transform into the unjolly Green Giant. William Hurt appears as a military general determined to control “The Hulk,” a weapon 30 years in the making. Liv Tyler drabs her way through the Betty Ross role, Banner’s love interest, while Norton tries not to drown in his character’s angst. Shhhh! Watch for an Iron Man cameo.
 June 20
GET SMART
(2008)
PR: * *
Directed by Peter Segal
Starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp, Terry Crews, David Koechner, James Caan
Warner/Rated PG-13/Action, Comedy
Website: getsmartmovie.com
Though the film casts Hollywood it-man, Steve Carell, as agent Maxwell Smart, a dozen trailers and clips indicate its haphazard humor lacks the wit and verve of the 1960s TV series. Anne Hathaway occupies the Agent 99 role, but her loose timing dulls the sharp edge needed to counter Smart’s klutzy agent 86. An overreaching plot has Control infiltrated by KAOS, the evil crime syndicate. With most agents identities compromised, eager beaver analyst Smart gets promoted and teamed with veteran agent 99 (she must have been recruited out of high school) and ill-tempered, super agent 23 (The Rock). At least Control’s pay phone entrance remains intact. Hopefully it still gets a dial tone since someone needs to call 911.
 July 18
THE DARK KNIGHT
(2008)
PR: * * *
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Starring Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Eric Roberts, Anthony Michael Hall
Warner/Rated PG-13/Action
Website: thedarkknight.com
The sequel to “Batman Begins” stresses high tech weaponry and the return of Christian Bale as the masked superhero. One of the Heath Ledger’s final performances casts him as The Joker.
July 25
THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE
(2008)
PR: * *1/2
Directed by Chris Carter
Starring David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly
Fox/Rated PG-13/Thriller
Website: xfiles.com
Little is known about the long-anticipated sequel other than creator-director Chris Carter’s assertion that it stands on its own. At this writing, few trailers can be found, and they are poor quality — but reveal a mumbling, white-haired Billy Connolly as a religious zealot while Mulder pleads with Scully to help him out for old times sake.
 Aug. 15
TROPIC THUNDER
(2008)
PR: * *
Directed by Ben Stiller
Starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Nick Nolte, Brandon Jackson, Steve Coogan, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Cruise
DreamWorks/Rated R/Action, Comedy
Website: tropicthunder.com
Half of Hollywood Stars in this action comedy centered around Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. who is disguised as a black man. When a group of actors descend on Southeast Asia to make a blockbuster war flick, they are attacked by locals and are forced to become the soldiers they portray. Ho hum.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 10 June 2008 )
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