Summer Sights and Sounds

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.