SUMMER SAVERS
Tom
Tom Cruise Holland in The in
Mummy Spider-Man Homecoming
N
ow that Wonder Woman is officially the queen of the box office - earning $ 100 million domestically in its first three days and garnering a ton of critical praise - we ’ re left wondering what the hell happened to May and June ’ s other blockbusters and sequels like Pirates of the Caribbean : Dead Men Tell No Tales ($ 160 million domestically to date ), Alien : Covenant ( opening 29 % below 2012 ’ s Prometheus ) and The Mummy ( only $ 69.5 million domestically in 3 weeks ). All have surprisingly under-performed . According to box office analyst Jeff Bock of Exhibitor Relations , "… we already know August is pretty lean this year , so studios have to make it up elsewhere in June and July . That will put a lot of pressure
By Lori Vernon
on original films like Wonder Woman and Christopher Nolan ' s Dunkirk to succeed ." So , can Spiderman and a bunch of damn dirty apes save the summer ? Here ’ s what ’ s on tap for July .
Spider-Man : Homecoming
Director : Jon Watts July 7 • Rated NR
Tom Holland debuts a younger Peter Parker / Spider-Man in the new reboot . Having made a splash in Captain America : Civil War , Peter begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging super hero in Spider-Man : Homecoming . Pumped up by his experience with the Avengers , Peter returns home to his Aunt
May ( Marisa Tomei ), while under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark ( Robert Downey , Jr .). While he tries to go back to a normal life , Peter becomes distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man . When the Vulture ( Michael Keaton ) emerges as a new villain , everything that Peter holds dear will be threatened . Also starring Zendaya , Gwyneth Paltrow and John Favreau .
A Ghost Story
Director : David Lowery July 7 • Rated R
Casey Affleck reteams with Rooney Mara and director David Lowery ( Ain ’ t Them Bodies Saints ) for this eerie , existential drama / fantasy / romance that follows a recently deceased man who returns to his former home as a benevolent white-sheeted ghost repeatedly trying to connect with his bereft wife ( Mara ) and others who pass through the house . As time passes and unfolds , he reaches a deep understanding of love , loss , his place in the world , and the world beyond .
War For Planet Of The Apes
Director : Matt Reeves July 14 • Rated PG-13
In this grim third chapter of the critically acclaimed reboot blockbuster franchise , Caesar ( Andy Serkis ) and his apes are forced into a deadly conflict with an army of humans led by a ruthless Colonel ( Woody Harrelson ). After the apes suffer unimaginable losses , Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind . As the journey finally brings them face-to-face , Caesar and the Colonel are pitted against each other in an epic battle that will determine the fate of both their species and the future of the planet . Also starring Toby Kebbell , Steve Zahn , Judy Greer
Amiah Mitchell , Karin Konoval and Michael Adamthwaite .
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Director : Luc Besson July 21 • Rated PG-13
Working in a vein similar to his 1997 hit The Fifth Element , director Luc Besson returns to space for this adaptation of the popular French comic-book series about a couple of heroes , Valerian ( Dane DeHaan ) and Lauraline ( Cara Delevingne ) who must save the universe . As special operatives to the government of the human territories , Valerian and Laureline are charged with maintaining order throughout the galaxy . Under a directive from their Commander ( Clive Owen ), they embark on a mission to Alpha , an ever-expanding metropolis comprised of thousands of different species from all four corners of the universe . Alpha ' s seventeen million inhabitants have converged over time - uniting their talents , technology and resources for the betterment of all . Unfortunately , not everyone on Alpha shares in these same objectives ; unseen forces are at work , placing the human race in great danger . Also starring Elizabeth Debicki , Ethan Hawke , John Goodman , Rutger Hauer , Rihanna , and Herbie Hancock .
The teaser trailer features an original master recording by The Beatles , marking the first time a Beatles master has been licensed for use in a movie trailer . Recorded by The Beatles in 1969 , " Because " debuted on the Abbey Road album ( 1969 ) and " Because " ( A Cappella Version ), which appears in the Valerian teaser trailer made its release debut on The Beatles ' Anthology 3 in 1996 .
Continued on page 20
14 illinoisentertainer . com july 2017