"The Matrix Reloaded"
Release date: May 15
Fans have been waiting four years to see Keanu Reeves and Carrie Anne Moss stop bullets and break balls in this sequel to 1999's high energy cyber-thriller.
Trailers offer tantalizing glimpses of what's to come: a replicating Agent Smith, Neo (Reeves), soaring through the skyline, a kung-fu battle across a busy highway complete with exploding cars and overturning semis. The plot involves probes drilling to the secret underground city of Zion, but the main attractions will be the gravity-defying stunts and the high caliber guns.
Unless the Wachowski Brothers do something incredibly wrong, this should be one of the year's biggest hits.
"X2: X-Men United"
Release date: May 2
This sequel to the highly successful 2000 adaptation of the Marvel Comics superhero team unofficially opens up the summer movie-going season, three weeks before the Memorial Day barbecues.
Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen and Hugh Jackman reprise their starring roles in this story of evolutionary mutants and evoke some contemporary concerns over civil liberties. After an attempt is made on the president's life, the military cracks down on the mutants, and support arises for a Registration Act. Dr. Xavier (Stewart) forms an alliance with his enemy Magneto (McKellen) to stop the offensive.
"Down With Love"
Release date: May 16
A quiet respite from the summer's other testosterone-laden cinema, this comedy starring Renee Zellweger and Ewan McGregor could be one of the summer's surprises.
Set in New York City in 1963, the film is an homage to the quirky Rock Hudson - Doris Day romantic comedies of the early 1960s, evoking the lush technicolor set design of the era. Zellweger plays female advice columnist Barbara Novak who falls for playboy journalist Cather Block (played by McGregor). The movie has received good buzz so far and already has some talking about another Oscar nomination for its female lead.
"Bad Boys II"
Release date: July 18
It's been eight years since the original helped make director Michael Bay famous and Will Smith a movie star.
This sequel has been in development for years, and audiences may have trouble conjuring up memories of the original. But the combination of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence should attract crowds to this movie about the duo investigating ecstasy traffickers. Though the formula may be a bit tired, Smith and Lawrence could help make this one of Bay's best.
"2 Fast, 2 Furious"
Release date: June 6
Paul Walker returns as officer Brian O'Connor to investigate the world of underground racing in Miami in this sequel to 2001's street racing caper "The Fast and the Furious."
Director John Singleton's last action flick "Shaft" was a flop, and with Vin Diesel opting out this round, the question remains of whether this film will have the horsepower to pull in the audiences that made the original a surprise hit two summers ago.
But if the filmmakers can deliver the same high-octane thrills in Miami as they did with the Southern California racing culture, this movie will have people roaring into theaters.
"The Hulk"
Release date: June 20
Another Marvel adaptation, "The Hulk" will no doubt be a favorite for a generation who watched a green Lou Ferrigno wreak havoc in the1980s. A modern day "Jekyll and Hyde" tale, the film stars Eric Bana as Dr. Bruce Banner, a cell research specialist. After one of his experiments goes horribly wrong, his inner demons unleash themselves in the form of a muscular green creature known as the Hulk.
The film marks the unlikely alliance of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" director Ang Lee (who until now has been known mainly for playing to the art-house set) and comic book legend Stan Lee. The two Lees' involvement, ensure that the source material will be respected
"Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines"
Release date: July 3
After more than a decade and several DVD reincarnations, Arnold Schwarzenegger is back in metallic face make-up.
This film offers a novel approach in the form of a female Terminator (played by Kristanna Loken) sent back in time once again to kill John Conner (played by Nick Stahl). The events of the last movie didn't change the future at all, it turns out.
Fans of the first two will likely show up in droves, but doubts linger over the appropriateness of a third installment. The film lacks the involvement of director James Cameron (who originated the formula of a killer cyborg sent from the future) as well as most of the original cast (Schwarzenegger, whose career has been in decline since 1994's "True Lies" is the only returning actor). In addition the budget has reportedly shot past $170 million.
"American Wedding"
Release date: August 1
"American Pie's" ensemble of randy college students returns to satiate audiences' appetites for innuendo and gross-out gags.
In this third installment of the hit comedy series Jason Biggs' Jim Levinstein returns to get married to red-headed band geek Michelle Flaherty (played by Alyson Hannigan). Stifler (Seann William Scott) throws a huge bachelor party and falls for Michelle's sister Cadence.
Eddie Kaye Thomas (who played Finch in the first two) and Eugene Levy (who played Jim's father) will return, but several of the original cast members including Tara Reid, Shannon Elizabeth and Mena Suvari are missing. Judging by the success of the last movie, however, audiences have yet to get their fill of East Great Falls.
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