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Deja viewing at the CineplexSummer movie season packed with familiar titles
By Stephanie Snipes
(CNN) -- The Summer of the Shark and the Summer of Sam struck fear and anxiety in the hearts of people across the nation. This summer, movie experts are dreading the Summer of the Sequel, as a record number of big-budget follow-ups are slated to hit cineplexes in the next four months. "How many stunts can you pile on before the characters get really stale and boring?" Daniel Davis, senior editor of Movieline magazine, asks skeptically. But while critics may be sequel shy, movie studios are banking on fans' desire to kick back and enjoy a familiar ride.
Thirteen sequels debut between May 2 and August 29, including "X-Men 2," "Matrix: Reloaded," "2 Fast 2 Furious," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd," and "Legally Blond 2: Red, White and Blond." Glenn Kenny, senior editor and chief film critic for Premiere magazine, blames the recycled characters and plots on a lack of originality and a focus on the bottom line. "Why do [movie studios] want to risk money on something original when you have something that's sort of a proven thing?" Kenny asks. "Originality is bad business -- or questionable business at least." While Kenny believes there is no such thing as a great movie sequel, he admits "Godfather II" and "Empire Strikes Back" rise above the pack. Davis is slightly more forgiving, yet still slow to lavish critical praise on rehashed films. Davis says you can spot a good sequel "if it really stands out from the first film, ... if you can just take it on its own and it blows you away with great entertainment." So, with more than a dozen sequels on the horizon, how will moviegoers choose? Experts advise sticking with the characters, directors and stories you know and love -- and don't expect greatness. "X-Men 2" (May 2)Kicking off the summer season, "X-Men 2" showcases the directing talents of Bryan Singer ("X-Men," "The Usual Suspects") and a top-notch cast. In an unprecedented move, 20th Century Fox released "X-Men 2" both nationally and internationally on the same weekend, racking up more than $85 million in box office receipts in the film's first few days. "They are taking their competitive status against the 'Matrix' very, very seriously," Kenny says. In the new installment, the X-Men -- a band of well-intentioned mutants -- hunt down the mastermind behind a plot to take out the U.S. president. Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry and Ian McKellan reprise their roles. "Matrix: Reloaded" (May 15)
"It's going to be the big monster hit for this year," Davis says. The highly anticipated sequel to the groundbreaking 1999 hit reunites Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss with the writer-director team of Andy and Larry Wachowski, whom Kenny dubs "imaginative movie makers." In "Matrix: Reloaded," Neo and the free humans try to protect Zion and its inhabitants from the human-powered machines. The special effects-laden film, which started filming in March 2001, also features Jada Pinkett-Smith. "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" (June 27)Classified by Kenny as a "girls-kick-ass" movie, "Charlie's Angels" returns with the original trio of Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu. Bernie Mac, replacing Bill Murray in the "Bosley" role, and Demi Moore, playing a "fallen angel," are new to the lineup. "It looks like a fun and exciting time at the movies, which people seem to be going for these days -- nothing really deep or meaningful, or too heavy," Davis says. "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" (July 2)The "Terminator" is back, but Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong and James Cameron are not.
"This is something that's coming out of more of a business-minded perspective than any kind of creative epodes," Kenny says. "They do have to pursue -- if not some sort of creative integrity -- then at least a form of eye-opening entertainment value." In "T3," an 18-year-old John Connor is (again) being hunted -- this time by a Terminatrix. The movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes and Kristanna Loken. Johnathan Mostow ("U-571," "Breakdown") directs. "Freddy vs. Jason" (August 15)"Nightmare on Elm Street 8" meets "Friday the 13th, Part XI" when Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees bump into each other in hell. What are the producers thinking? With two "arguably iconic characters, " Kenny says, these bad boys have moved beyond sequel status to become established "franchises."
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