Home » Film & TV » Academy Awards » The 2003 Summer Movie Preview

The 2003 Summer Movie Preview

© Jason O'Brien

Here we are, Summer 2003 is officially here! This is Part 2 of my report on movies being released this summer. Isn't it funny how summer used to begin at Memorial Day weekend, especially for the summer movie season? But slowly, bigger event movies have been opening earlier, and now the first weekend in May seems to be the new jumping off point. X2: X-Men United was our first big contender out of the gate this past weekend, and what a showing it had. So Summer 2003 looks to be another one for the books, and as we continue our two part series previewing the films coming out this summer, the boxoffice dollars will not stop at summer's midpoint. July and August are scheduled to be filled to the brim with a number of big budget blockbusters, sequels especially, and a few films which you may have to search for but will worth the break from the big event pictures.

So let's continue ... on to July. Besides the Matrix sequels this year, the one sequel I am truly anticipating is Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, which has already staked out the 4th of July weekend. Of course this is some concern because director James Cameron is not at the helm of this one, but we do have Arnold Schwarzenegger in one of the biggest franchises of all time. I once said that Terminator 2 was the perfect film to end on, I felt enough had been said, and Cameron had delivered two classic science fiction films which deserve to stand the test of time. Well, they apparently found enough story for a third film, and this one looks like it might be more action and eye-popping visual effects than pure drama. I hope director Jonathan Mostow does not forget that this series has a great story, and the visual effects and catchy Schwarzenegger dialogue are nothing without the backbone of the powerful story already in place. Nick Stahl plays the older John Conner, and the most promising new development of this new film is in the form of a female Terminator this time, played by relative unknown Kristanna Loken. The newest trailer does look fantastic, but does look like it will be really heavily action oriented. I hope they are able to pull it off and not ruin a classic film series.

And wow, are there ever sequels in July! Besides T3, the Spy Kids are back (Already???!!!) for Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. Director Robert Rodriguez is of course back, with Antonio Banderas as well, and Sylvester Stallone plays a villain in this installment, and yes, this one will try to resurrect the 3-D craze, so get your glasses ready. I agree with Roger Ebert ... 3-D is really an idea whose time is past, it belongs perfectly in amusement parks, but it's really a film gimmick which may be past. But in certain venues, like this kid's movie, the kids will probably love it.

The copyright of the article The 2003 Summer Movie Preview in Academy Awards is owned by Jason O'Brien. Permission to republish The 2003 Summer Movie Preview in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.