Summer 2009 Movies

1)      Angels & Demons.Release date: May 15. Stars Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgard;directed by Ron Howard. Based on the best-selling novel by Dan Brown, thismystery-thriller is the prequel to 2006’s The Da Vinci Code, also abest-selling novel and successful movie. The plot of Angels & Demons onceagain revolves around the quest of a fictional Harvard University symbologistnamed Robert Langdon. This time around Langdon is trying to solve the mysteriesof a secret society and prevent its plan to annihilate Vatican City. The movie,like the book uses the factual and historical conflict between science andreligion. To find out more about this conflict and the factual vs fictionalaspects of the movie read religion magazines like Magnificat, Catholic Digestand Biblical Archaeology Review.

2)     Transformers: Revenge ofthe Fallen. Release date: June 24. Stars Shia LeBeouf, Rainn Wilson and MeganFox; directed by Michael Bay. This is the sequel to 2007’s live-actionscience-fiction Transformers movie, in which a teenager battles two sects ofalien robots. The live-action version is based on the popular 1980s cartoonseries. In Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen more robots and locationsincluding Egypt are introduced in a battle for the universe. Though thisrobot-themed movie is based on a kid-friendly cartoon series, it is best forparents to first read reviews in parenting magazines like Cookie, Parents andParenting before deciding whether it is appropriate for children to watch.

3)     Star Trek. Release date:May 8. Stars Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood and Leonard Nimoy; directed by J.J.Abrams. This installment of the beloved Star Trek television series, whichbegan in 1966, chronicles the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USSEnterprise crew members. While young Spock is tortured over choosing betweenthe Vulcan world and Starfleet Academy, the movie also introduces Dr. 'Bones'McCoy and a young linguist Uhura at the Academy.

4)     Harry Potter & theHalf Blood Prince: July 17. Stars Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and RupertGrint; directed by David Yates. This is the sixth and next-to-last movie in thephenoma that is Harry Potter. This time around Harry Potter's sixth year atHogwarts turns out to be a very exciting year that includes a new teacher, amysterious potions book and secrets of Voldemort’s, his arch rival, past. Whilethe early installments of the Harry Potter movies were extremely kid-friendly,the Half Blood Prince is much darker. Though this wizard-themed movie is basedon the mostly kid-friendly book series, it is best for parents to first readreviews in parenting magazines like Cookie, Parents and Parenting beforedeciding whether it is appropriate for children to watch.

5)     G.I. Joe: The Rise ofCobra. Release date: August 7. Stars Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum and MarlonWayans; directed by Stephen Simmons. This live-action movie, like theTransformers movie installments is based on a popular American action-figureand cartoon series. In the movie, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, which hasn’tbeen rated yet, an elite military unit comprised of special operatives known asG.I. Joe, operating out of The Pit, takes on an evil organization led by anotorious arms dealer. Though this military-themed movie is based on the mostlykid-friendly action-figure series, it is best for parents to first read reviewsin parenting magazines like Cookie, Parents and Parenting before decidingwhether it is appropriate for children to watch.