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— Larry Carroll
Just a few weeks ago, we rang in the New Year with the classic refrain, "Should auld acquaintance be forgot?" When it comes to the movies, at least, the answer's clear: Nope, they shouldn't. Superman taking on Lex Luthor; James Bond sipping a martini; Captain Jack Sparrow cracking his scoundrel's grin — this year a slew of familiar and famous faces return to the big screen. Here, then, are the year's must-see films — those that aim to thrill, frighten and amuse us as we fondly greet old cinematic acquaintances.
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"Mission: Impossible III"
Opens May 5
The Lowdown: Our mission, if we choose to accept it, is to patiently hold out for four more months until Ethan Hunt and his gaggle of globe-trotting super spies finally return to the big screen. Tom Cruise's mission is to show the world that even though his wild antics spawned the phrase "jump the couch," it doesn't mean that the man has jumped the shark. The top-secret plot is being kept under wraps, but we're sure that series newcomers like Billy Crudup, Laurence Fishburne and Philip Seymour Hoffman have perfected their tear-off-the-rubber-face-mask routines while the trailer teases us with what looks like a smarter and (gasp!) talkier action blockbuster. Writer/director J.J. Abrams (best known for creating television's "Alias") seems to be sharing the same "hype up the audience" techniques as Brett Ratner, with his cast similarly promising more jokes in their third installment. "It's going to be fun," Hoffman, cast as the villain, has promised. "There's something about J.J. He's got a sense of humor, and I think there'll be a sense of humor in this film. There'll be a levity along with the thrill-ride of a spy movie." Co-star Michelle Monaghan, meanwhile, promised that the film will have something for everyone. "It's funnier, but it's also a lot more character-driven. We've really got some elements of drama, as well as action. It's different than the ['Impossible' films] you've seen before."
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"The Da Vinci Code"
Opens May 19
The Lowdown: When a murder in the Louvre leads to the discovery of a 2000-year-old secret society, Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon uncovers clues hidden in the world's greatest artistic achievements. But there's another mystery involved: Out all the movies listed here, "Da Vinci" is the only one that isn't accompanied by a quote from one of its stars. That's because nobody is chatting about this super-secret film adaptation. (Nobody, that is, except for millions of movie junkies.) Tom Hanks has remained less talkative than his character in "Castaway," Audrey Tautou has been tougher to catch than Amelie on her bike and director Ron Howard is as unreachable as the "Apollo 13" astronauts. But the promise remains: If the film lives up to the legacy of Dan Brown's blockbuster book, "Da Vinci" could paint itself a very pretty picture at the box office. "Da Vinci" is da one to watch for.
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"X-Men 3"
Opens May 26
The Lowdown: The last "X-Men" movie was one of the biggest hits of 2003, and not a few fans praised it as the greatest comic-book movie ever made. Naturally, Hollywood changed directors, ditched several of the actors and terrified die-hard fans with the hiring of the man who brought us "Rush Hour 2." But Brett Ratner has a clear and admirable enthusiasm for the project, and the sheer enjoyment factor of the first two movies leaves us excited at the idea of another semester at Professor Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. This time, fan favorites like Angel and Juggernaut join their respective sides of the mutant struggle as the rift between the armies of Prof. X and Magneto reaches its boiling point. Ratner promised a new attitude in the third film — and a newfound sense of humor. "Not jokes for the sake of jokes, [but] jokes that come from character humor, that come from characters and that come from the situations." We're anxious that the biggest joke of all might be Kelsey Grammer as the charismatic monster Beast, but much like our reaction to the trailer's quick glimpses of him in costume, we're simultaneously repelled and intrigued by it all.
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"Superman Returns"
Opens June 30
The Lowdown: We've been punished by "The Punisher," burned by "Elektra," and "Hulk" made us so angry that our clothes could barely contain our rage. It's time for the world's greatest superhero to return — even if he does look a little different this time around. Newcomer Brandon Routh ties on the famous red cape (with complete disregard for any lessons learned from "The Incredibles"), while "X-Men" director Bryan Singer guides him through the story of a forgotten Man of Steel returning to claim the love not only of Lois Lane, but of all the people of the Earth. The trailer had us shouting, "Great Caesar's Ghost!" over the effects, the aptly serious (but far from somber) tone and briefly-glimpsed cast members like Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor and Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane. "You can see how everyone's really looking forward to this film, and I can't wait to see it myself," Kal Penn, who plays Luthor's evil henchman, Stanford, has said. "The audience is gonna be blown away." At 12:01 a.m. on opening day, we'll make for our seats faster than a speeding bullet.
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"Click"
Opens June 23
The Lowdown: The one movie on the list that (as far as we know) isn't based on a well-known book, doesn't include any world-famous characters and isn't a sequel. So, sure, "Click" might not have a breathless, built-in audience waiting for it, but it does boast Adam Sandler and one of the funniest trailers we've seen in quite some time. Add a promising, "Bruce Almighty"-type concept (Sandler finds a universal TV remote that actually does control the universe) and an intriguing cast (Christopher Walken, Jennifer Coolidge, Henry Winkler and David Hasselhoff), and we're as excited as Billy Madison on nudie magazine day. Also joining in the fun is Kate Beckinsale, ditching the "Underworld" bodysuit for a role as Sandler's soon-to-be-fast-forwarded wife, Donna. "It's really funny," Beckinsale vows of her first comedic role. Adding that the only thing harder than kicking a bloodsucker's butt is "keeping a straight face [with] Adam Sandler," the actress is already talking the movie up in true blockbuster terms. "Maybe we can do a sequel of this, too," the "Underworld: Evolution" star giggled. "I'll just do sequels from now on." Of all the comedies slated for 2006, this remote-control movie might be the one worth fighting over.
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"Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"
Opens July 7
The Lowdown: Despite whispers that a movie based on a Disneyland attraction was a bad idea, 2003's "Pirates of the Caribbean" shattered box-office expectations while turning out to be a remarkably entertaining ride. Now expectations for "Chest" — the first of two simultaneously filmed sequels — are racing ahead of the film's release with all the subtlety of a fired cannonball. Still, the plot — involving a cursed sea captain, lost treasure and enough swordplay to make Uma Thurman and the Crazy 88's feel like Sesame Street characters — promises great fun, while the prospect of a wild battle between a heroine and a sea monster doesn't hurt. "[I] was being dragged across the deck by an invisible giant squid — invisible because it's being put in by CGI afterwards," Keira Knightley revealed of the shoot. "I have no idea what it's going to look like, but it'll be cool." Similarly, we have little indication of the unpredictable future for Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow, but the actor does seem excited about allowing his breakout character to grow. "There is a nice opportunity for Jack to get a little bit introspective here and there," Depp has boasted. "[It's] kind of a different angle on the guy." One caveat: A dud could resurrect the dreaded curse of the underachieving pirate movie. If "Chest" scores at the box office, however, the next sequel will likely have smooth sailing.
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"Casino Royale"
Opens November 17
The Lowdown: Not a single frame has been shot, but that isn't stopping the keepers of the James Bond torch from promising that we'll meet a new 007 in '006. "Munich" co-star Daniel Craig, stepping into the iconic tux vacated by Pierce Brosnan, will attempt to relaunch the franchise "Batman Begins"-style with this early tale concerning a young Bond flaunting his freshly minted Learner's Permit to Kill. "It's going to be very different from anything else," Craig promises of the film, to be directed by "GoldenEye" veteran Martin Campbell. "[But] it will have certain elements that will make it a Bond movie." As long as there are guns, gizmos and gals trying to seduce the spy at every turn, we're there. All eyes are on the new guy, and with a rugged charm and gruff attitude that Timothy Dalton would kill for Craig has Bond fans shaken and stirred. "Yes, I could fail miserably," the self-deprecating Brit has said of his chances, "but maybe I can do something that's different and make the franchise last another 30 years — as opposed to another three." Hey, if worse comes to worst, maybe we'll enter 2009 looking forward to secret agent Clive Owen.
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