The 2003 Summer Movie Preview
Michael Bay returns to what he does best after he tried to make a serious drama with Pearl Harbor and instead made a mess, as he finally reunites Will Smith and Martin Lawrence for Bad Boys II. This one should do well. The trailer already has people laughing. Reese Witherspoon will have to chance to prove if she is truly the next America's Sweetheart with the sequel Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, & Blonde. Sally Field and Bob Newhart co-star, as Reese heads to Washington. And Angelina Jolie will be back as video game superstar Lara Croft for the sequel, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life. What's with all the subtitles for these sequels? Isn't a number enough anymore?
July will also contain some swashbuckling adventure yarns. Sean Connery and Stuart Townsend will lead the cast of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, a bizarre sounding tale of fictional characters from 19th century works of literature forming their own crime fighting society. Sean Connery recently had a hilarious quote when asked why he decided to make this film. He said, "I was offered Lord of the Rings, but turned it down, because I didn't understand it. I was offered The Matrix, twice, and turned it down, because I didn't understand it. I don't understand this movie, but I'll be damned if I was going to turn it down." Funny stuff ... I don't think Connery will have a hit like those movies he passed on, but we'll see. The famous Disney ride becomes a swashbuckling pirate epic with Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Gore Verbinski directs an all star cast which includes Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, and Orlando Bloom. And we also have Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, an animated offering from Dreamworks which features some pretty all-star voice talent, which includes Brad Pitt, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Could likely be another contender for the Animated Feature Oscar.
July will have one attempt at a more serious minded drama that has the possibilities of being an Oscar contender with Seabiscuit, the true story of a Depression-era horsing sensation that could be the only serious Oscar possibility to come out of the first half of 2003. Tobey Maguire stars along with a great supporting cast, which includes recent Oscar winner Chris Cooper and William H. Macy. It's directed by Gary Ross, who directed the lovely surprise Pleasantville
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