From Deseret News archives:
Moviequest — Your guide to this summer's hottest films
The next few months look to be filled with films featuring science-fiction and fantasy themes. Leading the way are comic book adaptations ... superhero tales such as "The Dark Knight," "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," "Iron Man," "The Incredible Hulk" and "Wanted."
And there are also sequels to previous sci-fi/fantasy hits, such as "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" and "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor."
One of the most eagerly anticipated sequels is "X-Files: I Want to Believe," the second film spinoff from the long-running, '90s-era television series.
Producer/co-screenwriter Frank Spotnitz believes the new movie will fit in well with the other upcoming releases and says the show did "help make science-fiction acceptable — suddenly it was sexy and cool to be a nerd."
Still, he added that both the movie and the series were also a bit "anti-science-fiction."
"Our show was always rooted more in reality than it was in mystical Hobbit holes and supervillain lairs," Spotnitz said with a laugh.
And for those who aren't so big on sci-fi, the summer boasts quite a few movies that qualify as "counterprogramming." They include:
• DOPEY COMEDIES
Steve Carell heads up the cast of "Get Smart," Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly are "Step Brothers," Mike Myers plays "The Love Guru," Adam Sandler tries to teach us that "You Don't Mess With the Zohan," and Ben Stiller runs afoul of "Tropic Thunder."
• FAMILY FILMS
The Wachowski brothers adapt the cartoon "Speed Racer," and "The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants" returns for a second adventure.
There are also animated tales for families, such as Pixar's "WALL-E" and both "Kung Fu Panda" and "Space Chimps."
• ROMANCE TALES
The "Sex and the City" gang comes to the big screen, Patrick "McDreamy" Dempsey has to play "Made of Honor," Meryl Streep sings in "Mamma Mia!" and Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher have a quickie marriage in "What Happens in Vegas. ..."
• SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL HITS
Previous festival selections "Choke," "The Foot Fist Way," "Hamlet 2," "Hell Ride," "Henry Poole Is Here," "Son of Rambow" and "Towelhead" finally see theatrical release.
There are more than 60 movies currently scheduled to open between now and the end of August.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com
