Nothing new under the sun this summer

It's May 1, and that can only mean one thing — that's right, summer movies! Although summer isn't until June 21. And Memorial Day is still 24 days away.

But we're talking Hollywood Standard Time here, and the first big summer movie opens today: "X-Men Origins: Wolverine."

Wait a minute, "X-Men"? Didn't they already do that?

And if it's "Origins," does that mean we're starting over? So instead of "X-Men 4" this is actually "X-Men 1"? Or maybe, "X-Men Minus 1"?

Then comes "Star Trek."

"Star Trek"? What is this, 2009 or 1979?

And this one is also an origins story. So is it "Star Trek 1" or "Star Trek 11" or "Star Trek Minus 1"?

But there were only six "Star Treks" with the original crew before the "Next Generation" cast took over. So was the seventh film, in which the baton was passed from the original crew to the "Next Generations" cast — you know, "Star Trek: Generations" — was that really "Star Trek 1"? No, that can't be right because William Shatner was in it, too. Maybe it was "Star Trek 61/2."

"Halloween 2" is also on the way — the second in the do-over series (or, in Hollywood parlance, a "reboot" or a "reimagining"). Or is it really "Halloween 10"? When a series starts over, is it really a remake or a merely a spruced-up continuation?

No, because that would mean "The Pink Panther 2," which opened last February, was actually "The Pink Panther 9" — that's seven Inspector Clouseau pictures with Peter Sellers and two with Steve Martin.

Unless we count the one with Alan Arkin. And the one with Roberto Benigni. So the one in February was actually "The Pink Panther 11"?

I'm beginning to think that sequels have gotten out of hand.

Especially when you factor in the others we've already had this year: "Underworld 3," "Fast & Furious 4," "Crank 2."

And all the sequels that are coming in the months ahead: "Terminator 4," "Night at the Museum 2" "The Da Vinci Code 2," "Transformers 2," "Ice Age 3," "Harry Potter 6," "Final Destination 4," "Saw 6."…

Then there are the remakes. So far this year: "My Bloody Valentine," "Friday the 13th," "Last House on the Left," "Race to Witch Mountain."

Or are those actually sequels?