Sun and Cinema

Memorial Day means the season is upon us, so here's quick glance at films screening soon.

JULY 29

Cowboys & Aliens -- Can Iron Man director, Jon Favreau, get Harrison Ford to look like he knows he's in a movie? We'll see when his adaptation of the 2006 comic hits the screens. Daniel Craig leads a crew of cowboys to battle against invading aliens in 1873 Arizona. Sam Rockwell will out-act them all.

Crazy, Stupid, Love -- From the guys behind Bad Santa and I Love You, Phillip Morris, Steve Carell finds himself divorced at 40ish, his family life over, and befriended by a young player (Ryan Gosling) who helps him get his suave back. The comedic pedigree of its directors is reason enough for interest.

The Smurfs -- Because it had to happen eventually.

AUG. 5

Rise of the Planet of the Apes -- This prequel to the venerable, allegorical sci-fi classics chronicles the events that lead up to the creation of Cesar, the progenitor ape who leads his brethren to the eventual domination of the human race. James Franco stars with Andy Serkis as yet another, smaller, ape.

The Change-Up -- A Freaky Friday for men that finds best friends Ryan Reynolds, as a libidinous man-child, and Jason, as a responsible family-man, switching bodies and lives after a drunken night out. Pretty sure Bateman got the better end of that deal. Leslie Mann co-stars.

AUG. 12

Don't Be Afraid of the Dark -- Making up for a dearth of horror films this summer (unless you count Pooh and The Smurfs), this re-make of the '70s television film follows a single father and daughter as they move into a new house only to find that something wicked from the basement comes. Guy Pearce and Katie Holmes star.

Final Destination 5 -- People die in (hopefully) interesting ways.

30 Minutes or Less -- Even loosely basing a comedy on the true-life tale of a pizza delivery guy (Jesse Eisenberg) with a bomb strapped to his chest (the real guy got splattered) might be in questionable taste. I like comedies with questionable taste. Particularly ones that feature a supporting cast with Danny McBride, Aziz Ansari and Michael Peña.

AUG. 19

Conan the Barbarian -- Crom! I really wanted King Conan to happen. Instead we get an Arnie and John Milius-free remake whose director, Marcus Nispel, has tried his hand at the gritty tone of Conan before with Pathfinder. He failed. He does, however, know his way around a good decapitation. Jason Momoa becomes the titular Cimmerian. Ron Perlman couldn't help but co-star.

Fright Night -- Another remake for people my age. Charley Brewster (Anton Yelchin) discovers his new neighbor (Colin Farrell) is a vampire who is responsible for a series of unexplained deaths. I'm good with the casting (aside from Christopher Mintz-Plasse as Evil Ed) though this film's existence is one more nail in the coffin of nostalgia.