While not quite as quiet as October was, November promises to be easy on my pocketbook when it comes to movies. I see five or six that might draw me away from my books. So without further ado, here we go. Again, I’m listing a number that sound interesting; well, interesting for some people, anyway.

The Box  : Starring Cameron Diaz, James Marsden and Frank Langella, The Box looks more than a little creepy. And what is with all the scary movies these days? Anyway, this one has Diaz and Marsden as an unhappy couple who are faced with a dilemma: open the box and gain a million bucks while killing someone they don’t know. What to do? Rated PG-13, The Box opens November 6.

Disney’s A Christmas Carol : In the animated style of Polar Express and Beowulf (and adapted for the screen and directed by Robert Zemeckis), this retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic features the voice talents of Jim Carrey (as just about everyone), Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes, Bob Hoskins and Robin Wright Penn. Rated PG, Disney’s A Christmas Carol opens November 6. 

The Fourth Kind : While I love supernatural tales, I may have to wait for The Fourth Kind to come out on DVD. That way I can stop it if I get too scared; I don’t particularly like screaming or jumping out of my seat when I’m in a crowded movie theater. This supposedly-based-on-a-true-story movie stars Milla Jovovich as a psychologist in Nome, Alaska, who treats traumatized patients only to discover they’ve all had close encounters of the fourth kind (abduction). Rated PG-13, The Fourth Kind opens November 6.

The Men Who Stare at Goats : Starring George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey, this movie looks like it might be fun. McGregor is Bob Wilton, a reporter who chances upon the story of a U.S. military program that uses ESP during missions. Clooney is Lyn Cassaday, who claims to be a former member of the First Earth Battalion and a man who can kill with his mind. Rated R, The Men Who Stare at Goats opens in limited release November 6. 

Precious : With Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry combining efforts to promote this film, along with numerous awards, Precious looks to be on the fast track to success. It’s the heart-wrenching tale of a Harlem teen – abused, overweight, illiterate and pregnant – who learns her life can go in a different direction when she enrolls in an alternative school, Precious will undoubtedly be difficult to watch. I hear, though, that the performances are outstanding, the story grabs your attention, and you’ll continue to think about this movie long after the final credits. Rated R, Precious opens November 6 in limited release.  

2012 : Don’t let the hype overwhelm you. This is an end-of-the-world view from Roland Emmerich, who has given us such films as Independence Day, 10,000 B.C. and The Day After Tomorrow. John Cusak leads the cast of survivors, and we’ll see a tsunami throwing a battle cruiser into the White House. Rated PG-13, 2012 opens November 13. 

Pirate Radio : Released in April in the United Kingdom as The Boat That Rocked, Pirate Radio tells the tale of how England attempted to outlaw rock ‘n’ roll in the 1960s, only to be thwarted by ingenious disc jockeys spreading the word via a floating radio station. Expect a fun time with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh. Rated R, Pirate Radio opens November 13.

The Messenger : With the war in Iraq as the backdrop, The Messenger follows a U.S. soldier, who on his return home becomes involved with the widow of a fallen comrade. Reviews say it’s a powerful story, and, while it’s slow paced, the performances from Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson are exceptional. The move also stars Samantha Morton, Steve Buscemi, Eamonn Walker and Jena Malone. Rated R, The Messenger opens November 13.

The Blind Side : Michael Oher is a rookie with the Baltimore Ravens. The Blind Side tells his story, from his broken-home roots to his life with the Touhys, a well-to-do white family. Starring Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and Kathy Bates, The Blind Side looks promising as an inspirational tale, and it may just require a box of tissues. Also, let’s hope this is better than some of Bullock’s latest work. Rated PG-13, The Blind Side opens November 20.

Planet 51 : This movie has been on my radar for a while. An animated view of aliens, Planet 51 looks hilarious, with an underlying important message. What happens when a planet’s inhabitants are faced with a visitor from outer space? And what happens when that visitor is from Earth and the inhabitants are the green beings of Planet 51? Lots of laughs, in my opinion. Voices provided by Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin Long, Gary Oldman, Seann William Scott and John Cleese. Rated PG, Planet 51 opens November 20.

The Twilight Saga: New Moon : A confession is in order: I read the first book and saw the first movie, and I’m now working on New Moon the book. Yes, I adore tales of the supernatural, but …. I’m a bit ambivalent on this series. I’m also a bit leery of movies with two titles. Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner reprise their roles as Edward, Bella and Jacob, as the saga continues. Rated PG-13, New Moon opens November 20. 

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans : Again with the extra title. This is a retelling/reimagining of the original 1992 Bad Lieutenant starred Harvey Keitel. The movie follows Nicolas Cage as a detective who is more interested in drugs and placing bets than the case of five dead immigrants. Not yet rated, Bad Lieutenant also stars Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer, Shawn Hatosy, Xzibit and Jennifer Coolidge and opens November 20. 

Old Dogs : Robin Williams and John Travolta (who reunites with his Wild Hogs director Walt Becker) star as friends and business partners forced to take some time off when 7-year-old twins appear on the scene. While it might be a bit over-the-top with the humor, Old Dogs looks like it’s full of laughs. And Seth Green may just steal the film from Williams and Travolta. Also starring Matt Dillon and Justin Long, Old Dogs is rated PG and opens November 25. 

The Princess and the Frog : A different twist on the traditional Frog Prince fairy tale, this animated Disney flick takes place during the Jazz Age in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Voices provided by Anika Noni Rose (as Princess Tiana), John Goodman, Keith David, Terrence Howard, Angela Bassett, Oprah Winfrey and Jim Cummings. Not yet rated, The Princess and the Frog opens in limited release November 25 and in wide release December 11. 

The Road : Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Cormac McCarthy, The Road follows a father and son as they travel across the country after an unknown disaster has left the world in ruins. Lots of buzz around this one, although it’s release date has changed several times. Viggo Mortensen stars as the father and Kodi Smit-McPhee as the son. Charlize Theron, Garret Dillahunt, Robert Duvall and Guy Pearce also star. Rated R, The Road opens November 25.

Me and Orson Welles : Taking a piece of history and adding an unknown character or two to the mix makes for some interesting storytelling, as far as I’m concerned. Richard Samuels is a teen intent on making it big on Broadway. A chance meeting with Orson Welles as the director prepares his 1937 Broadway adaptation of Julius Caesar leads to a role for Richard, as well as a mess of complications. Zac Efron stars as Richard, Christian McKay as Welles, and Claire Danes as aspiring actress Sonja. Rated PG-13, Me and Orson Welles opens November 25. 

I have on my radar The Men Who Stare at Goats, Pirate Radio, The Blind Side, Planet 51 and The Road. Whatta think? Anything that I absolutely need to catch at the local cineplex?

See ya at the movies!

Although it makes me sad, I have to say it: October is going to be a lousy month for movies. I see four or five that may, repeat may, make it to my must-see list, and a whole bunch that I know I won’t even rent. How sad is that!

Since I have so few favorites this month, I’m listing a number of films that might capture your attention, as well as the few I’ll probably see. To tell you the truth, I’m not going to as many movies as I used to; not sure why, probably time and money.

A Serious Man : The latest from the Coen Brothers, A Serious Man looks fairly interesting, although I have to say I’m not a major Coen Bros. fan. Dubbed a black comedy, the film is set in 1967 and follows a Midwestern professor as his life comes apart. Rated R, A Serious Man opens in limited release October 2.

Zombieland : Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson, Zombieland may be a hoot to watch. The trailers offer some humor, and Harrelson is always fun. I’m just not sure I can handle any entire zombie movie, although I hear those zombies are fairly funny. Rated R (and parts of the website are age restricted as well), Zombieland opens October 2.

Whip It : One of the movies I may try to catch in the theater, Whip It stars Ellen Page and Drew Barrymore. Barrymore also directed and served as executive producer. A coming of age film, this one has a bit of a twist: young Bliss Cavendar (Page) discovers life and happiness while whipping around a roller derby rink. The Texas teen joins the Hurl Scouts, a team already populated by Maggie Mayhem (Kristen Wiig), Bloody Holly (Zoe Bell) and Smashley Simpson (Barrymore). I used to enjoy watching roller derby when I was much younger; we’ll see how this one unfolds. Rated PG-13, Whip It opens October 2.

The Invention of Lying : Set in a world where everyone tells the truth all the time, the movie follows writer Mark Bellison (Ricky Gervais, who also co-wrote and co-directed) through his mundane life and his realization that lying is the way to go. The film also co-stars Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Jeffrey Tambor, Rob Lowe, and the always funny Tina Fey. Rated PG-13, The Invention of Lying opens October 2.

Couples Retreat : While I like both Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, and I’m doubly impressed that they co-wrote the script, I’m not a huge comedy fan. Couples Retreat also stars Kristen Bell, Jason Bateman, Malin Akerman, Kristin Davis, Faizon Love, Kali Hawk and Jean Reno. Four couples head to a resort, and only one couple knows that therapy sessions are mandatory for this vacation – I’m not sure this will end up be all that humorous. Rated PG-13, Couples Retreat opens October 9.

Where the Wild Things Are : Another of the films I may have to see in the theater, this one is Spike Jonze’s take on the childhood classic written by Maurice Sendak. According to theater trailers, Sendak likes the Jonze interpretation, which, in my mind, gives this movie a major boost. Some familiar voices behind the Wild Things (Chris Cooper, James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker, Paul Dano and Lauren Ambrose) and a few familiar faces: Catherine Keener and Mark Ruffalo. Newcomer Max Records plays the main character. One thing, during a few early screenings, children were reportedly upset by some scenes in the film. Rated PG, Where the Wild Things Are opens October 16.

Law Abiding Citizen : Have I mentioned I’m a fan of Gerard Butler? In Law Abiding Citizen, Butler portrays a man devastated by the murders of his wife and daughter. Caught up in a justice system he feels is corrupt, the grieving man waits to exact an imaginative revenge on the district attorney (Jamie Foxx) and others who gave the killers a plea bargain. Rated R, Law Abiding Citizen opens October 16. I’ll be at the theaters that weekend.

New York, I Love You : The second anthology in the Cities of Love series (the first was Paris, Je T’aime, which I enjoyed immensely), this film gathers 12 short vignettes (with 12 directors and 12 separate casts) focused on love in the city that never sleeps. A few of the actors: Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Shia LaBeouf, Robin Wright Penn, Orlando Bloom, Hayden Christensen, Christina Ricci and Ethan Hawke. A few of the directors: Fatih Akin, Wen Jiang, Shekhar Kapur, Mira Nair, Natalie Portman, Brett Ratner and Allen Hughes. Stay tuned for three other anthologies set in Shanghai, Jerusalem and Rio de Janeiro. Rated R, New York, I Love You opens in limited release October 16.

Amelia : Focusing on the relationships in the famed aviator’s life, Amelia stars Hilary Swank, Ewan McGregor, Richard Gere and Chistopher Eccleston. Earhart’s story has always fascinated me, so this is one I’ll probably see in the theater, plus I like everyone involved, including director Mira Nair. Rated PG, Amelia opens in limited release October 23.

While I definitely won’t see these films, I can’t ignore them: Saw VI opens October 23, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant opens October 23, and Michael Jackson’s This is It opens October 28.

Here’s hoping November’s offerings are a bit better. See ya at the theater!

It’s been too long since we talked movies (or television, for that matter, an omission I will try to rectify in the near future). So how about a list of a few movies in September that I’m looking forward to seeing?

Oh, I saw District 9. A good, low-budget, sci-fi romp, albeit a bit more bloody and gruesome than I’d expected. I still have yet to see The Time Traveler’s Wife or Julie & Julia. And Taking Woodstock opens this weekend in my town. Sigh, too many movies, too little time.

What does September hold?

All About Steve : A romp for Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper, this comedy looks good in the trailers. A blind date between puzzle constructor Mary (Bullock) and hunky news cameraman Steve (Cooper) leads to a lopsided relationship, with Mary as the stalker. I’m a little leery of a movie in which someone makes such an utter fool of herself, as I don’t find stupidity all that funny. But I love both Bullock and Cooper (since his Alias days!), so I may make the effort to see this one. If only to see how it ends, because I don’t really see a happily-ever-after ending for this one. Do you? Rated PG-13, All About Steve also stars Thomas Haden Church and opens September 4.

Extract : Another comedy, this one stars Jason Bateman as the owner of a flower extract plant (a hilarious concept itself) who has to deal with a range of work, home and marriage issues. On paper, it doesn’t sound so funny, but the trailers were enough to make me laugh, and I do like Bateman. Rated R, Extract opens September 4.

Gamer : While I’m still a bit unclear as to the plot, Gamer is science fiction, which puts it fairly high on my to-see list, even with the mixed (read, mainly bad) reviews this one is getting. I’m a fan of Gerard Butler, who leads the cast in this movie about gaming. A reclusive billionaire has created an online game in which players are able to act out their secret fantasies through first-person games. Butler portrays Kable, controlled by Simon (young Logan Lerman) in a shooter game. Gamer also stars Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Milo Ventimiglia (Heroes) and Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer), is rated R and opens September 4.

9 : Directed by Shane Acker, and adapted from his animated short, 9 follows the lives (?) of several doll-like creatures in the not-so-distant future. The world has ended, and the only living creatures in a post-apocalyptic world are 9 and a small group of similar refugees. Machines roam the earth intent on extinguishing any signs of life. The animation looks terrific, although another post-apocalyptic tale may be too much. Voices include Elijah Woods, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, Crispin Glover, Martin Landau and Christopher Plummer. 9 is rated PG-13 and opens, appropriately enough, on 9/9/09.

Whiteout : Ah, a mystery! Set in Antarctica, no less. Kate Beckinsale is the only law enforcement officer on hand to investigate a shocking murder. Her task is made more difficult by the timing – winter is only three days away, which will plunge the continent into total darkness – and by blinding snow, and her investigation opens up a deeper mystery. I love a good mystery. Whiteout also stars Gabriel Macht, Columbus Short, Tom Skerrit and Alex O’Loughlin, is rated R, and opens September 11.

Love Happens : A romantic comedy, Love Happens stars Aaron Eckhart as a self-help author in need of help. Enter Jennifer Aniston as the one person who might be able to provide that help. Yep, it hopefully will translate better on film than on paper. I’m in the mood for a good rom-com, so I’m looking forward to this one. Love Happens is rated PG-13 and opens September 18.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs : Just the title is enough to make me smile, so I’m sure this animated comedy will make me laugh. Based on the popular children’s book by Judi Barrett (published in 1982), Cloudy follows inventor Flint Lockwood (voiced by Bill Hader) who comes up with a way to feed the world – making food fall like rain. Sam Sparks (voiced by Anna Faris) is a weather girl covering the phenomenon, Tim Lockwood (James Caan) is Flint’s technophobic father, and Bruce Campbell voices Mayor Shelbourne who knows Flint’s invention will put the town – and the mayor – in the national spotlight. Rated PG, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs opens September 18.

The Informant!  Starring Matt Damon as real-life whistle-blower Mark Whitacre, The Informant! chronicles Whitacre’s work with the FBI to uncover the price-fixing scandal at Archer Daniels Midland (an agribusiness Fortune 500 company) in the early 1990s, as well as Whitacre’s struggles with a severe bipolar disorder. The Informant! also stars Melanie Lynskey, Patton Oswalt, Clancy Brown and Scott Bakula. Rated R, The Informant! opens September 18.

Fame : I loved the 1980 musical and the 1982 television series, so I suspect I’ll like this updated version. The movie follows talented students at Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (formerly the New York City High School for the Performing Arts) and their instructors. Starring Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth, Charles S. Dutton and Debbie Allen, Fame also spotlights a number of up-and-coming performers. Rated PG, Fame opens September 25.

Pandorum : While listed as a science fiction movie, Pandorum may be more horror thriller than anything else, which puts it somewhat further down on my to-see list. But it also stars Dennis Quaid, a fact that may move it up a notch or two on that list. The tagline – Don’t fear the end of the world. Fear what happens next. – may say it all, and I’m not sure I’ll be able to handle this one in the theater. A pair of crew members (Quaid and Ben Foster) wake up on a spaceship with no memory of who they are or what they’re doing there. Horror ensues. Rated R, Pandorum opens September 25.

Surrogates : Perhaps a combination of genres, Surrogates seems to be mainly science fiction, and since it stars Bruce Willis, I’m there. People stay in the safety of their homes, living their lives remotely through robotic surrogates, in a world without crime or fear. Then a murder occurs, the first in years, and an FBI agent (Willis) leaves his home and surrogate behind to track down the killer. Rated PG-13, Surrogates opens September 25.

There you have it, my list of possible movies for this month. Oh, and more than a few have terrific websites, just so you know. Let me know what you think of these movies, and what other titles you’ve seen that you’ve enjoyed. I’m always on the lookout for new movies to watch.

See ya at the theater!

From my list of July movies, it looks like I’ll be spending a lot of time at the theater. And considering the current heat and humidity, I doubt if I complain much.

So many movies, so little time! Here’s my list for July:

Public Enemies : Living large was what John Dillinger did best – oh, and rob banks. Johnny Depp portrays the nation’s first Public Enemy No. 1 in this Michael Mann helmed film. During the Great Depression, the recently created Bureau of Investigation turned its efforts, lead by top agent Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), on apprehending the charming and daring bank robber. The film also stars Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Stephen Dorff and Stephen Lang. Rated R, Public Enemies opens July 1.

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs : The franchise’s third film, Dawn finds Manny and Ellie (the mammoths voiced by Ray Romano and Queen Latifah), along with Diego the Saber-Toothed Tiger (Denis Leary), Scrat and the rest of the gang, heading underground to help Sid the Sloth (John Leguizamo). Faced with dinosaurs and more, the gang also must fend off the new bad guy – Buck (Simon Pegg), a dinosaur-hunting weasel. Rated PG, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs opens July 1.

I Hate Valentine’s Day : Reuniting Nia Vardalos and John Corbett (after their success with My Big Fat Greek Wedding) might be just what the doctor ordered. If, that is, this lightweight romance works. Genevieve (Vardalos) won’t take a relationship (if one can call it that) past five dates, until she meets the new restaurant owner in the neighborhood (Corbett). Vardalos pulls off a hat trick with this one: she also wrote the story and screenplay, and she directs. Too much for one person? We’ll see. Rated PG-13, I Hate Valentine’s Day opens in limited release July 3.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince : Following the young wizards into their sixth year at Hogwarts, Half-Blood Prince is the darkest (so far) of the J.K. Rowling’s series. The Death Eaters take their fight through the magical world into the world of Muggles as Dumbledore attempts to prepare Harry for the final battle against Lord Voldemort. Oh, and love is in the air as Hogwarts becomes a romantic battleground. Jim Broadbent and Helen McCrory join the cast. Rated PG, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens July 15. 

(500) Days of Summer : More than a love story, Days follows forever-romantic Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) as he pursues the cynical Summer (Zoey Deschanel) in a roller coaster ride of life and love. For me, this looks to be a great quirky romance with laughter and tears overlaying a well-written, well-acted, independent film. Hopefully. Rated PG-13, (500) Days of Summer opens in limited release July 17.

The Ugly Truth : On the opposite end of the moviemaking spectrum from (500) Days of Summer, The Ugly Truth stars Katherine Heigl as a television producer forced to deal with a difficult show host (Gerard Butler), who attempts to help her with her romantic pursuits. We all know how this will go (and end), but it might be a fun ride. Besides, Gerard Butler! I swear, I’d watch the man read the phone book. Rated R, The Ugly Truth opens July 24.

The Answer Man : Another romance, The Answer Man throws a dash of spirituality into the mix. Arlen Faber (Jeff Daniels) wrote the defining book on spirituality 20 years ago. His reclusive life suddenly collides with single mom Elizabeth (Lauren Graham) and Kris (Taylor Pucci), a young man just out of rehab. Everyone wants Arlen to have all the answers to life, but he’s a clueless as everyone else. Rated R, The Answer Man opens July 24.

Adam : In another quirky indie release, we meet Adam (Hugh Dancy) after his father has passed away. Beth (Rose Byrne) moves into the same apartment building, and a friendship ensues, despite Adam’s awkward behavior. Is it possible for Adam, who suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, and Beth, with her past relationship baggage, to make a go of it? Stay tuned. Also starring Peter Gallagher, Amy Irving and Mark Linn-Baker, Adam is rated PG-13 and opens in limited release July 29.

Funny People : While Adam Sandler is not one of my favorite actors, he’s captured my attention in the trailers for this film. When diagnosed with a terminal illness, funny man George Simmons (Sandler) takes a newcomer (Seth Rogen) under his wing as his opening act. Directed by Judd Apatow, the film also stars Leslie Mann, Eric Bana, Jason Schwartzman, RZA, Jonah Hill and Aubrey Plaza. Rated R, Funny People opens July 31.

July’s a busy month for moviegoers. Any other films on your radar? I’m a bit behind on my June watching too, so see ya at the movies!

While studios brought out a lot of the big names in today’s movies last month, June isn’t going to be an empty month.

May brought Star Trek (excellent; I added the poster above just because the movie and the poster are so awesome!), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (so-so), Angels & Demons (so-so), and Termination Salvation (a bit of a disappointment) to the big screens, and June has one or two tricks up its sleeve as well. So here goes:

My Life in Ruins: Nia Vardalos returns to the big screen as a hapless tour guide looking for her dream job, her kefi (Greek for “mojo”) and her true love. The beauty of her native Greece creates the perfect backdrop for the tourists to find an exotic land and for Georgia (Vardalos) to find herself. I enjoyed Vardalos’ My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and I hope she has a hit here as well. Rated PG-13, My Life in Ruins opens June 5.

The Taking of Pelham 123: This action flick (a remake of a 1974 film starring Walter Mathau; and a TV version was produced in 1998) stars Denzel Washington as the NYC subway dispatcher caught in a hostage situation masterminded by John Travolta. The trailers for this film look great, and it will probably be worth it just to see Travolta as another bad guy. Rated R (violence and language), The Taking of Pelham 123 opens June 12.

Moon: On the far side of the moon, miner/astronaut Sam Bell (Sam Rockwell) is nearing the end of his three-year stint at mining Helium 3, a resource helping Earth fight its energy crisis. Alone except for a talking computer, Sam finds himself in trouble with no one to turn to. Science fiction is my favorite genre, so this caught my attention, and Rockwell is usually great to watch. I’m hearing some rumblings of a disjointed storyline, though, so I’m not sure Moon will remain on my to-see list. Rated R (language), Moon opens in limited release June 12.

The Proposal: About time Sandra Bullock had another hit, and she’s usually terrific in romantic comedies. In The Proposal, she’s a hard-headed and hard-hearted executive who finds herself threatened with deportation. She pounces on a solution that involves her unfortunate assistant (Ryan Reynolds) and a wedding. The trailers look funny, and while the plot sounds more than a mite preposterous, it might be worth a trip to the theater just to laugh. Rated PG-13, The Proposal opens June 19.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen: OK, I have confession to make. While I liked the first Transformers movie, I have no clue as to who or what a Transformer really is, and I can’t identify a Transformer, in whatever form it might be in at any given moment. I did enjoy the action of the first film, and this one promises more of the same. I like Shia LaBeouf and Josh Duhamel, special effects and great fight scenes, so I’m in. Oh, you want a plot? Well, it appears Sam Witwicky (LaBeouf) has discovered the truth of the Transformers’ origins, and a second epic battle ensues to save the planet and the universe. Rated PG-13, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen opens June 24.

My Sister’s Keeper: Don’t forget the tissues, as this one promises to be a tearjerker. Based on Jodi Picoult’s novel of the same name, My Sister’s Keeper follows young Anna Fitzgerald (Abigail Breslin) as she seeks emancipation from her parents and the role she’s played since birth – the hope of her terminally ill sister. Cameron Diaz and Jason Patric take on the roles of Anna’s conflicted parents, and Sofia Vassilieva (from TV’s Medium) portrays the sister. I know people who scoop up Picoult’s books, so this might be worth a look. Do you suppose I’ll need an entire tissue box? Rated PG-13, My Sister’s Keeper opens June 26.

Three other movies caught my attention. The stop-action claymation $9.99 opens June 19, and two others open in limited release: The Hurt Locker and Surveillance.

$9.99 focuses on the meaning of life with the voices of Geoffrey Rush and Anthony LaPaglia leading the way.

The Hurt Locker is set in Iraq amid the chaos facing an elite American Army bomb squad with only a few weeks before they ship home. Rated R, The Hurt Locker opens in limited release June 26.  

Surveillance (rated R) also opens in limited release June 26, and then its DVD release is set for August 18. A cop drama, starring Bill Pullman and Julia Ormond, Surveillance tracks a serial killer as three possible victims tell the FBI agents (Pullman and Ormond) very different stories.

So there you go. Movies to while away the summer. Oh, and before I forget: July 1 brings Public Enemies to the big screen. Starring Johnny Depp as John Dillinger and Christian Bale as Melvin Purvis, the FBI agent who tracked him down, and Billy Crudup as J. Edgar Hoover, Public Enemies looks to be one of those movies that will knock your socks off – I’ll be at the theater, what about you?

The month of May has yet to begin, and I’m already in trouble when it comes to the movies. Travel has kept me from the local theater for a few weeks now, and the next couple of weeks will be more of the same. That to-rent list is growing by leaps and bounds!

Releases for May have me salivating to spend a lot of time at the theater, so maybe it’s a good thing I won’t be able to get there as frequently as I’d like. Time and money saved, so to speak. While I’m exiled from watching the big screen, you aren’t (I hope), so here are a few films to watch out for this month.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine: The highly anticipated fourth installment in the X-Men franchise, this one spotlights Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and how Logan became Wolverine. We’ll see Wolverine make the choice that changes his life – the bonding of his skeleton with the indestructible metal adamantium. Also starring Liev Schreiber as Sabretooth, Will.i.Am as Wraith, Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool, and Taylor Kitsch as Gambit, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is rated PG-13 and opens May 1.

Battle for Terra: This animated sci-fi dramedy looks to appeal to audiences of all ages. The Earth is gone, and humanity needs a new home. Lightyears from home, mankind finds a planet already inhabited by a peace-loving race, setting the stage for an all-out war for control of the planet. It’s up to a rebellious Terrian named Mala (voiced by Evan Rachel Wood) and an injured human pilot (Luke Wilson) to find a way for the races to co-exist. Other voices: Brian Cox, James Garner, Chris Evans, David Cross, Justin Long and Dennis Quaid. Battle for Terra is rated G and opens May 1.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past: Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner star in this romantic comedy in the vein of A Christmas Carol. Connor Mead (McConaughey) has played the romance game fast and loose for quite some time, and his actions are coming back to haunt him. Jenny Perotti (Garner) is the girl he won and lost and still loves. Will true love triumph? Michael Douglas stars as the ghostly Uncle Wayne. The trailers look fun, although I’ve been seeing some negative press. Ghosts is rated PG-13 and opens May 1.

Star Trek: At last! J.J. Abrams’ reboot takes a look at the lives of the classic series’ beloved characters before the original series. Chris Pine takes on James T. Kirk, while Zachary Quinto becomes Spock and Karl Urban declares “I’m a doctor, not a ---,” as Leonard McCoy. Being a Trekkie/Trekker from the early days, I am eagerly looking forward to this one. And it’s gaining momentum and great buzz as the release date nears. Star Trek is rated PG-13 and opens May 8. Check out the graphics on the website!

Management: You all know I’m not a huge fan of comedy. So this addition to my list has a few question marks. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn, Management follows Mike (Zahn) as he pursues Sue (Aniston) across the country. Zahn is among my favorite actors, and Aniston has appeal. However, this film may have too many stalker elements for my taste. Time will tell. Management is rated R and opens May 15.

Angels & Demons: The second offering from author Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series, this film is set before The Da Vinci Code. The Vatican requests the assistance of Langdon (Tom Hanks, with a better haircut) to battle a threat from the secretive Illuminati. Again directed by Ron Howard, the film also stars Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgard and Armin Mueller-Stahl. I enjoyed Da Vinci Code (both the film and the book); I didn’t enjoy the book Angels & Demons as much, so I’m not sure about the film version. I’ll see it, though. Rated PG-13, Angels & Demons opens May 15.

 The Brothers Bloom: Starring Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz and Rinko Kikuchi, this film focuses on a brother team of swindlers (Ruffalo and Brody) who set sights on an eccentric heiress (Weisz) as their last and greatest con. Kikuchi portrays Bang Bang, an explosives expert who teams with the brothers. While billed as a comedy, The Brothers Bloom promises a lot of pathos along with the laughter. Rated PG-13, The Brothers Bloom opens in New York and L.A. on May 15, in select cities May 22 and nationwide May 29.

Terminator Salvation: Another highly anticipated release, the fourth in the franchise finds John Connor (Christian Bale) struggling with his certain belief that humans will win out against the machines after the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington). New strategies by Skynet force the human resistance to change tactics, and Connor and Wright team to take on the enemy. Rated PG-13, Terminator Salvation opens May 21. Great poster, eh? A great website, too.

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian: Following up his success in Night at the Musuem, Ben Stiller reprises his role as museum guard Larry Daley, who has made his way to the Smithsonian to rescue Jedediah (Owen Wilson) and Octavius (Steve Coogan). The trailers look like fun, and I enjoyed the first film, although I’m not a Stiller fan. Rated PG, Battle of the Smithsonian opens May 22.

Up: It would appear that Disney Pixar again has a winner. Up follows the adventures of 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen (voiced by Ed Asner) as he ties thousands of ballons to his house in an effort to fly to South America. It’s the vacation he’d promised his late wife. A stowaway, the optimistic and much younger Russell (Jordan Nagai), causes Carl to change plans. Other voices are provided by Christopher Plummer, Paul Eiding, Delroy Lindo, Bob Peterson and John Ratzenberger. Rated PG, Up opens May 29.

With one thing and another, I still haven’t seen State of Play or The Soloist, so it would appear that I could spend every weekend in May at the theater. Which I just might do.

Any other May titles I should add to my list? Any rental recommendations?

See ya at the movies!

Well, it looks like April showers won’t bring many blossoms known as movies this month. I only see three that I’m putting on my must-see list. Sigh. But wait, May brings lots of blooms – I may be living at the Cineplex come May 1.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. I put together a list of a few April releases that may tempt you to head for the theater.

Fast & Furious : The fourth in the franchise, this movie reunites Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster as they reprise roles from The Fast and the Furious (2001). Agent Brian O’Conner (Walker) and fugitive Dom Toretto (Diesel) return to the streets of Los Angeles, reigniting their feud until a common enemy brings them together. I love the tag line: New Model, Original Parts. Rated PG-13, Fast & Furious opens April 3.

Adventureland : While comedies aren’t usually on my list, Adventureland might be an exception to the rule. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Ryan Reynolds, among others, this angst-driven comedy tells the tale of a recent college grad working at his hometown amusement park, and how the supposedly nowhere job helps him prepare for real life. Rated R, Adventureland opens April 3.

The Escapist : Only in limited release, this British film stars Brian Cox, Damian Lewis and Joseph Fiennes. Cox portrays a man serving a life sentence without parole who plans a daring escape to visit his estranged and terminally ill daughter. First released at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2008, The Escapist had its DVD premiere last month in the United Kingdom, so please no spoilers! The Escapist opens April 3 (I’m not sure when it goes into wide release).

State of Play : An excellent cast makes State of Play a must-see in my book. Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, Jeff Daniels, Harry Lennix, Viola Davis and Helen Mirren star in the political thriller. Based on a BBC miniseries, State of Play focuses on the friendship between a reporter (Crowe) and a politician (Affleck) after the senator’s aide (and mistress) is killed. Mirren takes the role of the hard-hitting newspaper editor to the next level. Not yet rated, State of Play opens April 17.

American Violet : Based on astonishing true events, American Violet examines corruption in a small Texas town through the life of Dee Roberts, a 24-year-old African American single mother. An extensive drug bust puts Roberts (played by unknown Nichole Behaire) in jail, faced with pleading guilty to being a drug dealer and getting to go home a convicted felon, or fighting the charges and risking a long jail term as well as the custody of her young daughters. Also stars Alfre Woodard, Will Patton, Michael O’Keefe, Tim Blake Nelson and Xzbit. Rated PG-13, American Violet opens April 17.

earth : This documentary follows three animal families – whales, elephants and polar bears – in the same way as the television series Planet Earth. Originally released in 2007, the British version of the film has made it around the globe and is already available on DVD in some parts of the world. Timed to correspond with Earth Day, the U.S. version is part of the Disneynature series and is narrated by James Earl Jones. Rated G, earth opens April 22. Another website is set to go live April 1.

The Soloist : Based on an incredible true story, The Soloist stars Robert Downey Jr. as LA Times writer Steve Lopez, a journalist unsure of his place in the world, both professionally and personally. Jamie Foxx brings his musical and acting gifts to the role of Nathaniel Ayers, homeless and mentally ill yet with remarkable musical talent. The two men meet, and while a story is all Lopez is looking for in the beginning, the friendship that evolves changes both men and their lives. Rated PG-13, The Soloist opens April 24.

Other movies find themselves in limited release in April, and a few caught my attention. Check out Alien Trespass and Gigantic, opening April 3; Is Anybody There? which opens April 17; and The Garden, a documentary opening April 24. Oh, and Mom and Dad, be careful the weekend of April 10: Hannah Montana: The Movie opens.