The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code is one of the most eagerly awaited films of the summer, and justifiably so, based as it is on the bestselling work of fiction in the last decade or more. Director Ron Howard (Apollo 13, Cinderella Man) once more teams up with two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks, who heads an international cast of French and British stars headlining this massive production shot largely on location around Western Europe.

The story begins in Paris where Langdon (Hanks) is called upon by the French authorities to assist in solving the murder of Jacques Sauniere (Jean-Pierre Marielle), the elderly curator of the Louvre Museum. At the scene of the crime and on the body itself (posed apparently post-mortem to resemble Da Vinci’s sketch of the Vesuvian Man) Langdon discovers symbols and codes that are only the beginning of a trail of clues concealed in the famous Renaissance artist’s works. And, of course, finds himself the prime suspect in the murder.

If you thought the golden age of the Vacation Movie was long past, think again. This time around, you get to see gifted director (and genius Esquire technology columnist) Barry Sonnenfeld (Get Shorty) and the hilarious Robin Williams squander their talents on useless repeats.

The plot looks to be a cross between the horror flick The Hills Have Eyes and the comedy sequel Cheaper By the Dozen 2. Williams plays a family man who rents a camper van (RV) to embark on a road trip to the Colorado Rockies with his wife and two children. Of course, they go from one disaster to the next, particularly when they cross paths with a bizarre family headed by Jeff Daniels.

RV is genius lowbrow fare certain to make critics scoff and audiences rejoice.

The third installment of the X-Men series sees director Brett Ratner taking the helm, replacing series regular Bryan Singer who, in turn, has chosen to direct another comic book adaptation: Superman Returns, also due for release this summer.

X-Men comic buffs will welcome the first appearance (on film) of characters like Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones) and Angel (Ben Foster), who join the ongoing struggle between mutants and mankind. This time around, a cure that alters the superpowers of mutants is discovered and they are suddenly faced with the choice of becoming human. Enter Magneto (Ian McKellen) and his gang of villainous mutants, who, believing in the survival of the fittest, challenge Dr. Xavier (Stewart) and the X-Men to one final battle.

After impressive previews of X-Men: The Last Stand, Ratner is signing a deal to direct the anticipated X-Men spin-off revolving about Wolverine, also starring Hugh Jackman. On the other hand, Fox is suing Sony for inaugurating another mutant project called Zoom, starring Tim Allen, featuring similar plot elements similar to the X-Men series.

We’re sick of X-Men, but betting audiences will lap this one up, too.

Tom Cruise returns to his role as superagent Ethan Hunt in yet another sequel to the popular franchise on the verge of breaking the billion-dollar mark worldwide. Even though key plot elements are still shrouded in secrecy, the trailers reveal a new mission concerning a certain Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman — Oscar winner for his portrayal of Truman Capote) who threatens to turn the tables on Hunt and his new girlfriend, played by Keri Russell.

Last summer, prior to shooting, debates between co- producer Cruise and Paramount Pictures were resolved to finally cut the budget to $150 million and limit filming locations to Italy, China and America. After the departure of directors David Fincher (Seven) and Joe Carnahan (Narc), Cruise tapped J. J. Abrams (creator of the popular series Alias and Lost) to make his feature film debut.

On the set, Cruise reportedly insisted on performing his own death-defying stunt scenes. Speaking of stunts, a lawsuit has been filed by a stunt man severely injured during a pyrotechnic explosion. Of course, this will not stop MI3 from premiering in Shanghai and Rome before its general release.

This is the only romantic comedy of the season — of course complete with a concept screaming for an unauthorized Egyptian remake. Uma Thurman plays the role of Rafi, a recently divorced 37-year-old photographer who meets David (Bryan Greenberg), a younger college graduate, and immediately falls for his charms.

To overcome her fear of a new relationship, Rafi seeks the help of a psychotherapist, Dr. Lisa (Meryl Streep), who finds out in the course of therapy sessions that Rafi’s new lover is none other than Lisa’s own son.

Director Ben Younger got the idea for Prime before making his impressive debut Boiler Room (2000), but it took three years to put together.

Black comedies usually don’t click with local audiences, who are in search of a complete cinematic meal, but this flick should interest the more sophisticated viewer.

After Pushing Tin (1999), John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton reunite as Charlie and Vic, two close friends who outsmart their mob boss (Randy Quaid) and steal a million dollars in cash from him. When they decide to flee, they find themselves hunted by the police and the mobster’s hit men. Ice Harvest was adapted for the screen by filmmaker Robert Benton (Kramer vs Kramer) from a novel by Scott Phillips.

First came Lara Croft, then Aeon Flux, but this didn’t stop filmmaker Kurt Wimmer from creating his own swashbuckling, kickboxing heroine called Violet played by Jovovich (Resident Evil).

Featuring a plot similar to that of V for Vendetta, the story takes place in the future and revolves about a race of superhumans headed by Violet, who is facing legions of the state to protect a nine-year-old boy who has been marked for death by the government.

Shot by high-definition cameras, Ultraviolet features colorful fight scenes choreographed by Mike Smith, who worked with Wimmer in his previous cult sci-fi thriller Equilibrium. The song “24” by British artist Jem highlights the film’s soundtrack.

Action director Richard Donner (the Lethal Weapon series) gives us this real-time suspense thriller set in the streets of New York. Burnt-out NYPD detective Jack Mosley (Bruce Willis) is assigned with the trivial task of transporting small-time thief Eddie Bunker (Mos Def) a few blocks away to the courthouse, but discovers that determined assassins are hot on their trail.

When backup arrives in the form of Detective Frank Nugent (David Morse), Mosely realizes that the detective on Nugent’s team is the same cop that Bunker is set to testify against.

A must-see for Willis fans to keep them busy until he starts shooting the fourth Die Hard later this year.  et