 |
Tracking the stunts, effects and action heroes in a summer's worth of blockbusters
By Steve Ramos
Loving movies means never having to say you're sorry about the summer blockbusters. I know this goofball dialogue-bite sounds remotely familiar, but trust me on its relevance regarding Hollywood and its annual barrage of high-concept offerings. Gravity-defying stunts, testosteroned action and digitized effects dominate the summer movie season. After watching a transparent special-effects actioner like The Mummy Returns -- Run, Brendan Fraser, Run! -- the phrase "popcorn movie" suddenly takes on a more cynical meaning. Thank you, Hollywood. May I have another computer-generated monster?
At least all of you multiplex maniacs have a secret weapon. CityBeat is back with its annual summer film scorecard. In honor of the true start of the new millennium, our salute to "popcorn" cinema is more mondo than ever.
Jason Gargano plays celluloid genealogist and digs up the roots of the summer blockbuster. Rodger Pille gives thanks to the Nicole Kidman extravaganza Moulin Rouge and its selfless attempt to revive the movie musical. t.t. clinkscales tracks our favorite moviemade heroes through the maze of sequels.
Our biggie-sized summer movie list keeps track of every celluloid happening from the "Greatest Generation" heroics of Pearl Harbor to Mark Wahlberg's monkey business in Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes.
There's also a quick peek at virtual idol Lara Croft and her flesh-and-blood debut in the Indiana Jones-like Tomb Raider, courtesy of Angelina Jolie. Summer blockbusters are ordinarily about the boys of summer. Still, Jolie's archeologist heroine looks tough enough to give any action man a run for his money.
E-mail Steve Ramos
Previously in Cover Story
The Midas Touch
By Bruce Rushton
(May 17, 2001)
The Midas Touch: Continued
(May 17, 2001)
Women's Issue '01: Off Our Backs and on the Verge
By Kathy Y. Wilson
(May 10, 2001)
more...
Other articles by Steve Ramos
Fractured Fairy Tale (May 17, 2001)
Something Warm and Fuzzy (May 17, 2001)
Couch Potato (May 17, 2001)
more...
personals |
cover |
news |
music |
movies |
arts |
listings |
columns |
dining |
classifieds |
mediakit | home
|
|
Road Trippin'
It's a decent summer for national touring acts -- not that you'd know it in Cincinnati
The Son of High Concept
Tracing the family tree of the summer blockbuster
She Got Game
Hollywood converts virtual idol Lara Croft into something human
The Unbelievable, Over-Exaggerated, Highly Speculated Death of the Movie Musical
Moulin Rouge boosts a Hollywood genre that won't go away
The Mondo Summer Movie List
CityBeat's annual scorecard of all the celluloid happenings
Yeah, I'm Talking
About what happened between what we're seeing now and what came before (but only the good stuff)
Do The Pony
The Deftones broke through writer's block to create the Nü Metal masterpiece White Pony
Endlesss Summer Rarities
Is there a bottom to the well of Beach Boys outtakes, rehearsal tales and alternate tracks?
Johnny Can You Hear Me?!
The Ox holds down the bottom end for one of the summer's Rock & Roll nostalgia tours
|
