July 2007
(as seen in the Scottsdale Airpark News)
Movies in theaters are alive and well as Hollywood
continues to release some very exciting films. Why see these films
in a theater instead of at home on your great home theater system?
Some movies are best experienced on a massive screen with amazing
sound, with audience interaction, or maybe that guilty pleasure
-- with hot liquid butter poured all over that big bag of popcorn.
There could be one annoyance though -- deciding just what to see,
given there are often five or more new movies released every week.
So with your busy life, if you could see just one newly released
movie per week, which five in July should they be?
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For
the July 4th holiday, it is “License to Wed”
starring Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, and John Krasinski
(The Office). A romantic comedy, rated PG-13.
The plot: Newly engaged Sadie (Moore), and her fiancée
Ben (Krasinski), has always dreamed of getting married in
a traditional wedding at her family church. The problem
is St. Augustine's only has one wedding slot available in
the next two years, and its charismatic pastor, Reverend
Frank (Robin Williams), won't bless Ben and Sadie's union
until they pass his patented, foolproof marriage-prep course.
Through outrageous classes, outlandish homework assignments
and some pious manipulation, Ben and Sadie are about to
find out if they really have what it takes to make it to
the altar... and live happily ever after.
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For the
weekend of July 6th, it is “Transformers”
starring Jon Voight, Shia LaBeouf (Disturbia), Megan Fox (Hope
& Faith), John Turturro (The Good Shepherd), Josh Duhamel
(Las Vegas), Tyrese Gibson (Annapolis), Anthony Anderson (The
Departed), and Bernie Mac. An action / adventure / science
fiction, rated PG-13.
The plot: Cybertron is the home of a race of shape-shifting
robots, with each one having the ability to transform into
some machine that serves as his disguise. The Transformers
are made up of two warring groups, the freedom loving Autobots,
led by Optimus Prime whose disguise is a big 18-wheel semi
truck, and the evil Decepticons, led by Megatron who transforms
into an airplane. Endlessly in conflict, the Autobots and
Decepticons are only concerned with attaining Energon –
the mysterious life force and fuel that keeps them going.
Their constant battles, however, have completely obliterated
Cybertron and have released the last supplies of Energon into
space. By a twist of fate, the Energon has found its way to
earth, which means that the Transformers and war will soon
follow. On earth, The Decepticons are bent on destroying anything
or anyone in their path, but the Autobots will fight not only
for the Energon, but also to preserve human life. Both will
utilize their incredible disguise forms, leaving humans caught
in the middle and at a tremendous disadvantage, with their
weapons nearly powerless against the formidable robots.
There are three other new releases this
weekend:
Dynamite Warrior, Introducing the
Dwights, and Joshua. |
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For the
weekend of July 13th, it is “Harry Potter and
the Order of the Phoenix” starring Daniel Radcliffe,
Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes,
Michael Gambon, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman,
Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, and Imelda Staunton (Freedom Writers).
A fantasy / action / adventure, rated PG-13.
The plot: Harry (Radcliffe) returns for his fifth year of
study at Hogwarts and discovers that much of the wizarding
community is in denial about the teenager's recent encounter
with the evil Lord Voldemort (Fiennes), preferring to turn
a blind eye to the news that Voldemort has returned. Fearing
that Hogwarts' venerable Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore (Gambon),
is lying about Voldemort's return in order to undermine his
power and take his job, the Minister for Magic appoints a
new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher to keep watch over
Dumbledore and the Hogwarts students. But Professor Dolores
Umbridge's (Staunton) Ministry-approved course of defensive
magic leaves the young wizards woefully unprepared to defend
themselves against the dark forces threatening them and the
entire wizarding community, so at the prompting of his friends
Hermione (Watson) and Ron (Grint), Harry takes matters into
his own hands. Meeting secretly with a small group of students
who name themselves Dumbledore's Army, Harry teaches them
how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, preparing
the courageous young wizards for the extraordinary battle
that lies ahead.
There are six other new releases this weekend: Captivity,
Drama / Mex, Interview,
My Best Friend, Rescue Dawn,
and Talk to Me. |
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For the
weekend of July 20th, it is “Sunshine”
starring Cillian Murphy (Red Eye), Chris Evans (Fantastic
Four), Michelle Yeoh (Memoirs of a Geisha) and Rose Byrne
(Casanova). A science fiction / thriller, rated R.
The plot: Fifty years in the future, the sun is dying, and
the earth and its inhabitants are dying with it. Seven years
have passed since several crewmembers on board the “Icarus”
disappeared without a trace while on a mission to save the
planet. Eight scientists on board the “Icarus II,”
some from America, the rest from China, represent the earth’s
final hope. They are carrying a massive bomb, the size of
Kansas, which will be used to reignite a part of the dying
sun. Deep into their journey, with radio contact far out of
reach, the group begins to make critical mistakes. Their voyage
becomes even stranger when they pick up a distress signal
from the original “Icarus.” Suddenly, they must
struggle to keep their sanity if they hope to have a chance
to complete their mission.
There are four other new releases this weekend: Cashback,
Goya's Ghosts, Hairspray,
and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. |
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For the
weekend of July 27th, it is “No Reservations”
starring Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart (Thank You for
Smoking), and Patricia Clarkson (All the King’s Men).
A romantic comedy / drama, rated PG.
The plot: In this remake of the German comedy Mostly Martha,
Zeta-Jones plays the frosty chef Martha James, who's stunned
when her sister dies and leaves a 10-year-old daughter in
her care. She also finds herself sharing her kitchen with
a charming up-and-coming chef (Eckhart). Their chemistry grows
beyond a culinary level.
There are six other new releases this weekend: Artic
Tale, I Know Who Killed Me, Molière,
The Simpsons Movie, This Is England,
and Who's Your Caddy . |
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And now a look back to June, a must see film
before it leaves theaters: “Ratatouille”
starring the voices of Patton Oswalt (The King of Queens),
Ian Holm, Brian Dennehy, Peter OToole, Brad Garrett, Janeane
Garofalo, James Remar (Dexter), and John Ratzenberger (Cheers).
An animated comedy from Disney / Pixar, rated G.
The plot: Remy (Oswalt) is a young rat with a rather atypical
affinity toward fine cuisine. Fortunately for him, he lives
in the Parisian sewers, directly below the restaurant made
famous by his idol, Chef Auguste Gusteau (Garrett). His deepest
desire is to follow in his culinary hero’s footsteps,
but there are two substantial obstacles in his way. His father
(Dennehy) has no tolerance for Remmy’s refined tastes
when he sees so much perfectly decent garbage all around them
to feast on. He worries that Remmy’s passion could split
up the rat family. A much bigger obstacle, however, is the
simple fact that Remmy is a rat and that no self-respecting
person would ever want to eat food prepared by a rodent, no
matter how good of a cook he may be. Despite all this, Remmy
makes friends with a garbage boy that works at the restaurant,
finds his way into the kitchen, and risks his life preparing
the most extraordinary soup. His first successful concoction
proves that he may have a knack at cooking after all. Unfortunately,
Remmy is playing a risky game because the jealous head-chef
and all of the restaurant’s employees want him eliminated
as soon as possible. |
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If you miss any of these in the first few weeks
of release at the big multiplexes in the Airpark area including
Harkins, AMC or United Artists / Regal, you might catch some of
them at Farrelli’s Cinema Supper Club where you can have
a full dinner or cocktails, and Thursdays are Classic Movie night.
Furthermore, gong to the movies still gives you the most entertainment
“bang for the buck” when compared to a similar two
hour venture at any professional sporting event, play or music
performance.
See you at the movies!
Note: While the release dates & ratings for
these movies were correct at the time of printing, studios sometimes
make last-minute changes. If this happens, we apologize for any
inconvenience.
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