Summer started early this year when “The Mummy Returns” broke all kinds of box office records in its early May release. The monster success of “Pearl Harbor” with sales of $75 million during Memorial Day weekend solidified summers arrival. Not to worry though, summer blockbusters are still on the horizon with “Planet of the Apes,” “Evolution,” “Scary Movie 2” and “America’s Sweethearts.”
June
1- “The Animal”-Rob Schneider again teams up with his “Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo” creators to produce this far-fetched tale. The story follows a piddly file clerk who gets in an accident only to be revived with the substitution of animal parts for his own. Suddenly the peon becomes a supercop with the dexterity and speed of a cheetah along with various other animalistic skills. Let’s hope Schneider can revive the gross-out antic genre left stale by the last efforts of Adam Sandler and Tom Green.
8- “Evolution”-From Ivan Reitman, director of “Ghostbusters,” comes this comedic look at what could happen if a meteor hit the earth. David Duchovny slips back into his Mulder role investigating the aliens brought with the meteor while Julianne Moore plays a government scientist. Orlando Jones and Seann William Scott provide comic relief.
8- “Swordfish”-John Travolta stars as a C.I.A. agent hired by a government agency to coerce an infamous computer hacker (Hugh Jackman) to steal $9 billion in unused government funds. Halle Berry (reportedly paid an extra million to appear topless) adds the requisite gratuitous steamy scenes.
15- “Tomb Raider”-Angelina Jolie brings to life the action-adventure video game star Lara Croft. The action-packed fantasy flick was filmed in England, Iceland and Cambodia. Jolie’s real-life father, Jon Voight, plays her movie dad while Iain Glen acts as the leader of the dreaded Illluminati, who wants to take over the world.
22- “Dr. Dolittle 2”-Eddie Murphy is back with the follow-up to his highly successful “Dr. Dolittle.” This time the animals are on a quest for sage sex advice and on a side note, are planning a strike to save the forest where they live.
29- “A.I.”-Steven Spielbergs highly-anticipated film hits theaters at the end of June. Oscar-nominee Haley Joel Osment ( “The Sixth Sense”) is an 11-year old android boy of the future. He is one of the first computer-generated persons aware of their own existence.
July
4- “Scary Movie 2”-Last summer’s blockbuster hit is back with the much-awaited sequel. Keenen Ivory Wayans directors brothers Marlon and Shawn, who co-wrote the script, and this time the cast is stuck in a haunted house. James Woods plays the exorcist, originally casted with Marlon Brando who had to drop out because of medical reasons.
13- “Legally Blonde”-Reese Witherspoon (“Election”) finagles her way into Harvard to try to win back the love of her ex-boyfriend (Matt Davis). The stereotypical California sorority girl is way out of her element but charms her way into the lives of the Ivy League elite.
18- “Jurassic Park III”- Back to the island again. This time there’s more dinosaurs, a star cast (including Tea Leoni, William H. Macy and Sam Neill) and new director Joe Johnston (“Jumanji,” “October Sky”).
20- “America’s Sweethearts”- A movie publicist (Billy Crystal) deals with the messy public split of his movie's co-stars (John Cusack and Catherine Zeta-Jones) by concocting a story that they have reunited. Julia Roberts also stars.
20- “Crazy/Beautiful”- A poor Latino boy (Jay Hernandez) who falls hard for a troubled girl (Kirsten Dunst) from the affluent neighborhood, and the ensuing complication of that culture clash and relationship. Directed by John Stockwell.
27- “Planet of the Apes”- The 1968 hit is remade with Mark Wahlberg (“Boogie Nights”) in the leading role. Helena Bonham Carter, Tim Roth and Michael Clarke Duncan also appear. Expect a new twist thanks to director Tim Burton (“Batman,” “Edward Scissorhands”).
August-
3- “Rush Hour 2”- Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker return in the sequel to the surprise buddy cop comedy hit. This time, they chase a gangster across the globe and perhaps hope lightning strikes twice.
10- “American Pie 2”- Another sequel to a surprise hit. This time, the cast is a little older, but likely none the wiser. Stars Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth and Eugene Levy.
10- “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back”- All of director Kevin Smith’s (“Clerks,” “Mallrats”) films have had an appearance by Silent Bob (Smith) and Jay (Jason Mewes). Now, the two star in their own vehicle and are upset that someone is making a movie about their lives without paying them.
17- “Captain Corelli’s Mandolin”- A World War II-era drama starring Nicholas Cage as an Italian soldier and Penelope Cruz as a beautiful Greek villager. Directed by John Madden( “Shakespeare in Love”).
For most, summertime means cookouts, picnics and road trips, among other activities. None of these are quite as fun, however, without a good soundtrack blaring in the background. Here are some top releases expected in the early part of the summer.
June
5- Radiohead - Amnesiac
Can “Amnesiac” possibly live up to the hyperbolic hype that's risen up around it in the wake of last year's chart-topping “Kid A?” At least this time out, the band is being less tight-lipped about what’s in store for the faithful. “Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin” is upbeat and more pop-oriented than other recent Radiohead offerings, the first single “Pyramid Song” is awash with strings and piano and “Living in a Glasshouse” features jazz trumpeter Humphrey Lyttleton. See thelantern.com for full review.
5- Trisha Yearwood- Inside Out
Country star Yearwood releases her ninth album in ten years. She is surrounded by an all-star crew of guest artists, including Don Henley, Andrew Gold, Matraca Berg, Vince Gill, Buddy Miller and Roseanne Cash.
5- INXS - Shine Like It Does
This two-disc anthology is probably the most complete collection of INXS material you'll ever find. Alongside its many hits, it includes rare tracks, B-sides, and alternate versions. The band's first single, “Simple Simon,” and its B-side, “We Are the Vegetables,” make their first-ever appearance on CD. Two soundtrack cuts, “Good Times” and “Different World,” also show up on a best-of collection for the first time. Rolling Stone magazine’s David Fricke pens the liner notes, and the band gives track-by-track commentary in the CD booklet.
5- Soundtrack- Fast and Furious
Fast cars, hotties, and hip-hop — what more could you want in a summer flick? There are plenty of well-known rappers here, who, appropriately, spit lyrics both fast and furious. DMX teams up with Iceberg, and also appears with Redman, Method Man, and Limp Bizkit on a remix of "Rollin'." Scarface puts in an appearance, as do R. Kelly, Jay-Z, and Ja Rule, who shows up on a pair of tracks ("Furious," "Life Ain't a Game"). Produced by Irv Gotti, the project will promote four different singles from Faith Evans, Ludacris, Vita, and of course, Ja Rule.
12- The Grateful Dead- View From the Vault II
The prolific jam band's latest release comes in tandem with another Dick’s Picks (No. 22, for those keeping track). According to ICE Magazine, this one was recorded at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., on June 14, 1991 — a concert that had enough material to fill three CDs. Among the tracks included are “Big River,” “Maggie's Farm,” “Dark Star”and “Wang Dang Doodle.”
12- Travis- The Invisible Band
Scottish quartet’s third full-length record reunites them with producer Nigel Godrich, who produced last year’s “The Man Who.” Highlights include “Safe,” “Sing,” and “Dear Diary.”
12- Blink-182- Take Off Your Pants and Jacket
Pop-punk rockers follow up their breakthrough “Enema of the State” with a harsher sound. The band takes a crack at producing the disc, along with Jerry Finn.
19- Stone Temple Pilots- Shangri-LA DEE DA
Atlantic Records has announced the upcoming release of “Shangri-LA DEE DA,” the new album from Stone Temple Pilots. The highly anticipated collection - the band's fifth release - is due in stores on June 19. Produced by longtime STP studio collaborator Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Rage Against The Machine), “Shangri-LA DEE DA” finds the California-based quartet — Scott Weiland, Dean DeLeo, Robert DeLeo, and Eric Kretz — continuing to carve out their own unique musical terrain, blending diamond-hard riffs, psychedelic experimentation, punk energy, and Beatlesque melodies into their most stunningly inspired artistic realization to date. The album's first single, the power pop-infused “Days Of The Week,” is set to hit Active and Modern Rock radio outlets nationwide in early June.
19- 311- From Chaos
Straight outta’ Omaha, Neb., 311 is a healthy mixture of funk, rock, rap and metal looking forward to their sixth studio record. “From Chaos” hits music stores June 19, and the first single,”You Wouldn't Believe” was released on radio stations nationwide. The band includes Nick Hexum on vocals, Chad Sexton on drums, Timothy Mahoney on guitars, P-Nut (Aaron Wills) on bass and SA (Douglas Martinez) on turntables.
Other summer releases:
The Cult- Beyond Good and Evil
Rufus Wainwright- Poses
Sisqo- Return of the Dragon
Perry Farrell- Song Yet to Be Sung
Dave Navarro- Trust No One
Ministry- Greatest Hits
Lucinda Williams- Essence
Tomb Raider Soundtrack- U2, NIN, Outkast, Chemical Brothers and more
Krystal- Me & My Piano
Bootsy Collins- Glory B da Funk's on Me! The Bootsy Collins Anthology
Sean Combs and Hezekiah Walker- Thank You
Big Wreck- The Pleasure and the Greed
Sugar Ray- Sugar Ray
Electric Light Orchestra- Zoom
Brian Setzer- Brian Setzer ‘68 Comeback Special
Halfcocked- The Last Star
Mandy Moore- Mandy Moore
Wall of Sound.com and ICE Magazine contributed to this story.
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