August Movies: Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Mummy 3, Tropic Thunder, and

[Mark Vader]

With The Dark Knight making box office history, and July coming to an end, we now move on to the month of August, to wrap up the Summer Season. What has been a carefully planned Summer, with May releasing one movie a week, June two movies a week, and July keeping a steady pace, August is now set to explode with many films in the coming weeks. The first half of August will still attempt to bring in big bucks before the schoolbells start ringing, with a pair of big franchises, and a pair of raunchy comedies. Still August has everything else, family films, light comedy, horror, action, drama, and more raunchy comedies.

 

When a Summer Season has a film with the words Star Wars in it, you expect long lines at theatres, lots of excitement and big bucks. Yet instead of opening around Memorial Day, this episode lands in the middle of August. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" is a fully CGI animated movie. Filling the gap between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, this tale chronicles the on-going intragalactic battle involving the Jedis of the Republic and the battle droids of the Trade Federation.

While many fans are intrigued about this story, the excitement for this Star Wars is not at it's usual level. Still, the animation looks superb, and the story is interesting. Warner Bros. is handling the distribution this time out, so this will be the first Star Wars episode without the 20th Century Fox fanfare.

 

Brendan Fraser is back again as Rick O'Connell in "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor". This time moving locations from Egypt to China, trouble-seeking father-and-son duo Rick and Alex O'Connell unearth the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin -- a shape-shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard centuries ago. As with the previous two films, there'll be special effects aplenty, lots of out of this world action, and a good dosage of one-liners. Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh, John Hannah, and Luke Ford co-star.

 

This Summer has had very few comedies, but people will have plenty to choose from this month.

 

In "Tropic Thunder", Through a series of freak occurrences, a group of actors shooting a big-budget war movie are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying. Ben Stiller, Robert Downey, Jr., & Jack Black star.

 

Are you starving for that big Summer raunchy comedy? Then look no further than "Pineapple Express". After mega-stoner Dale Denton witnesses a corrupt cop commit a murder, he and his dealer hit the road in an attempt to outrun the squad of police officers who want them dead. Seth Rogen, James Franco, Gary Cole, Amber Heard, & Rosie Perez star.

 

In "Swing Vote", When Bud Johnson goes to cast his vote for the next U.S. president, a glitch affects his ballot, and protocol allows him to make up his mind at his own discretion. Kevin Costner, Kelsey Grammer, Paula Patton, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, & George Lopez star.

 

Anna Faris is "The House Bunny". A Playboy bunny who was recently booted from the mansion winds up becoming the new house mother for a sorority in jeopardy.

 

Rainn Wilson is "The Rocker". Two decades after he was kicked out of his famous rock 'n' roll group, Robert 'Fish' Fishman, an over-the-hill drummer, pounces on a second chance at coercing his way into a garage band fronted by his newphew.

 

In "College", A wild weekend is in store for three high school seniors who visit a local college campus as prospective freshmen. How original.

 

Finally, from the "How does something like this get greenlighted" department, comes "Disaster Movie". Over the course of one evening, an unsuspecting group of twenty-somethings find themselves bombarded by a series of natural disasters and catastrophic events. If anything these kind of movies still keep Carmen Electra employed.

 

For those of you who crave more action:

 

Jason Statham stars in "Death Race". Ex-con Jensen Ames is forced by the warden of a notorious prison to compete in our post-industrial world's most popular sport: a car race in which inmates must brutalize and kill one another on the road to victory. Joan Allen, Ian McShane, & Tyrese Gibson co-star.

 

In "Babylon A.D.", Veteran-turned-mercenary Thoorop takes the high-risk job of escorting a woman from Russia to China. Little does he know that she is host to an organism that a cult wants to harvest in order to produce a genetically modified Messiah. Vin Diesel stars.

 

For those who need some drama in their lives:

 

"Traitor", is the story of FBI agent Roy Clayton, who heads up a conspiracy investigation which initially susses out a prime suspect: Samir Horn, a former special ops officer with strong ties to Afghan rebels in the Middle East. Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Jeff Daniels, & Neal McDonough star.

 

In "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture. Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Dunn, and Chris Messina star. Woody Allen directs.

 

For those that need something for the whole family:

 

From the "Did we really need a sequel" department comes, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2". Ugly Betty, Rory Gilmore, Gossip Girl, & Joan of Arcadia reunite in this sequel as Best friends Lena (Bledel), Carmen (Ferrera), Bridget (Lively) and Tibby (Tamblyn) -- all of whom are having different experiences during their first year of college -- reunite in a Grecian seaside town in order to locate their missing pair of magical jeans.

 

In "Fly Me to the Moon", Three houseflies get launched into outer space when they sneak aboard Apollo 11's historical lunar mission.

This movie is CGI animated and in 3D.

 

In "The Longshots", Eleven-year-old Jasmine Plummer looks to become the first female to play in the Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history. Ice Cube(yes you read that right), and Keke Palmer star.

 

And finally for those who want some horror:

 

Kiefer Sutherland stars in "Mirrors". An ex-cop and his family are the target of a evil force that is using mirrors as a gateway into their home.

 

There you have it. The final slate of Summer 2008.

 

Calendar with trailers:

 

8/1

"The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor": http://www.themummy.com/

 

"Swing Vote": http://swingvote.movies.go.com/

 

8/6

"Pineapple Express": http://www.ridetheexpress.com/

 

8/8

"The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2": http://sisterhoodofthetravelingpants2.warnerbros.com/

 

8/13

"Tropic Thunder": http://www.tropicthunder.com/

 

8/15

"Star Wars: The Clone Wars: http://www.starwars.com/clonewars/site/index.html

 

"Mirrors": http://www.mirrorsmovie.com/

 

"Vicky Cristina Barcelona": http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0497465/traile...db-vi1776812313

 

"Fly Me to the Moon": http://www.flymetothemoonthemovie.com/

 

8/20

"The Rocker": http://www.rockermovie.com/

 

8/22

"Death Race": http://www.deathracemovie.net/

 

"The House Bunny": http://www.thehousebunny.com/#/home

 

"The Longshots": http://www.thelongshots-movie.com/

 

8/29

"Disaster Movie": http://www.disastermovie.net/

 

"Babylon A.D.: http://www.babylonadmovie.com/

 

"Traitor": http://www.traitor-themovie.com/

 

"College": http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844671/traile...db-vi1776484633

 

That's all for now. I'll have the Independent calendar up later. Enjoy all.

[shrader]

So which movie will be the one to knock the Dark Knight out of the #1 spot?

[Mark Vader]

So which movie will be the one to knock the Dark Knight out of the #1 spot?

Good question. Wish I had an answer for that one. I am sure that Universal now wishes it could move The Mummy back a few weeks though.

TDK will reach the 400 Million mark, the big question is can it reach 500 million and how close will it come to Titanic?

I'm just talking domestically. It's opening in several foreign countries this weekend.

[WWVaBeach]

Is Death Race a re-make of Death Race 2000 from the 70's?

 

I remember that movie being very gory for it's time.

[K-Gun10]

Good question. Wish I had an answer for that one. I am sure that Universal now wishes it could move The Mummy back a few weeks though.

TDK will reach the 400 Million mark, the big question is can it reach 500 million and how close will it come to Titanic?

I'm just talking domestically. It's opening in several foreign countries this weekend.

 

I believe the Mummy will take the number one spot this week.

[Mark Vader]

I believe the Mummy will take the number one spot this week.

It very well could. However, you have to wonder if the fan base is all that thrilled about a 3rd film, even with the presence of Jet Li. Even if The Dark Knight drops another 50%, it would still make another $30 million plus. Pretty damn good for a movie entering its 3rd week. A take like that would prevent The Mummy from having a gargantuan opening weekend.

[KD in CA]

From the "Did we really need a sequel" department comes, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2". Ugly Betty, Rory Gilmore, Gossip Girl, & Joan of Arcadia reunite in this sequel as Best friends Lena (Bledel), Carmen (Ferrera), Bridget (Lively) and Tibby (Tamblyn) -- all of whom are having different experiences during their first year of college -- reunite in a Grecian seaside town in order to locate their missing pair of magical jeans.

 

So they all gained the freshmen 15 and now the magic pants don't fit?

 

 

 

Thanks Mark. Looks like the usual assortment of summer crap.

[shrader]

The Dark Knight held on to the top spot again and should hit $400 million tomorrow or tuesday. Looking at the rest of this month, maybe Tropic Thunder has a shot to take over number 1, but if not, only time is going to knock the Dark Knight off of the throne.