Summer Movie Preview (July 2010)

Although the summer movie season has performed below Hollywood’s expectations, July has plenty of potential big hits, including one (“Eclipse”) that technically opens at the end of June. It’s also largely void of sequels, which have proliferated the release schedule in May and June. Still, if some of these films become hits, they would likely launch future sequels.

JULY
“The Twilight Saga: Eclipse”
Starring Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Bryce Dallas Howard, Billy Burke
Directed by David Slade
The continuing adventures of Bella, Edward, Jacob and the rest of the vampires and werewolves populating the world created by author Stephanie Meyer continues in this third installment. The series is unlikely to win over many new fans at this point, but based on its huge box-office numbers from the first and especially the second movie, it hardly needs to. It has a built-in audience that should guarantee a big hit, not to mention a primo release date just before the Fourth of July. (June 30)
Official Web site

“The Last Airbender”
Starring Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Dev Patel, Jackson Rathbone, Shaun Toub, Assif Mandvi, Cliff Curtis
Directed by M. Night Shyamalan
An adaptation of a popular Nickelodeon cartoon series doesn’t seem like the most obvious choice of projects for Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense”), but there’s no doubt the writer-director could really use a hit after a few cinematic flops in recent years. The special effects look to be the real star here, as a youngster realizes he is the last of his kind with the ability to control the four elements, and could bring an end to a century of conflict between four warring nations. (July 1)
Official Web site

“Despicable Me”
Starring the voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segal, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Julie Andrews
Directed by Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud
An evil supergenius (voiced by Carell) out to steal the moon runs into complications when he comes across three young orphaned girls, who look to him as a potential father. Teasers for this movie began running last year, so a lot of promotion has been put behind it. Adding in some good vocal talent and an original story idea, it would seem the comedy has the ingredients for success. (July 9)
Official Web site

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”
Starring Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Monica Bellucci
Directed by Jon Turteltaub
Cage, who seems to be present in every movie season, is the star of this latest concoction from Disney, hoping to launch yet another film franchise. He reunites with his “National Treasure” director, portraying a powerful sorcerer who recruits an awkward young man (Baruchel) to defend New York City from his arch-nemesis (Molina). Expect lots of special effects, some comedy, a heaping dose of action and yet another new hairstyle for Cage. (July 14)
Official Web site

“Inception”
Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cilian Murphy, Tom Berenger and Michael Caine
Directed by Christopher Nolan
Red-hot from “The Dark Knight,” Nolan is helming a thriller with murky plot details, but a great cast. The trailers have long been promising something visually arresting, but hopefully the script, by Nolan himself, won’t get too convoluted for its own good. DiCaprio stars as a thief who can take ideas from people’s subconscious. But he and his team’s latest job is to pull off the seemingly impossible – planting an idea in someone’s mind. (July 16)
Official Web site

“Salt”
Starring Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Andre Braugher
Directed by Philip Noyce
Jolie is back in action mode as CIA agent Evelyn Salt, who goes on the run after being accused by a defector of being a Russian spy. She attempts to clear her name, which only seems to build the case against her. The plot hardly original, with a seemingly good person having to elude the law to prove their innocence. Pacing and at least some semblance of credibility is essential for a movie like this to succeed. (July 23)
Official Web site

“Dinner for Schmucks”
Starring Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Stephanie Szostak, Jemaine Clement, Zach Galifianakis
Directed by Jay Roach
Making his second appearance of the month, but first physical one, Carell is a truly odd IRS employee befriended by Tim (Rudd), for the purpose of being brought to a dinner party. But the dinner party, as concocted by Tim’s boss, is a contest where friends and employees attempt to bring the most idiotic person with them. This odd idea for a movie was actually adapted from the 1998 French comedy, “The Dinner Game.” (July 30)
Official Web site