SUMMER MOVIES More blunders than blockbusters

July has brought the heat -- and a new round of major releases.
By MOLLY SHERIDAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
If you haven't spent many nights at the movies yet this summer, don't worry.
Though July heat and the chill of movie theater air conditioning usually have us lined up to catch the summer sequels, the even-wilder-than-last-year action sequences, and the latest in special effects, most area teens are less than impressed by Hollywood's offerings so far this season. From those who have laid out the cash and taken their chances, early summer flicks are getting mixed reviews at best.
"The Matrix: Reloaded" seems to score the highest marks and many admit to seeing it more than once. Andrew Hawkins, 17, says this is one film that lives up to the trailer. "It was just an awesome movie. It was worth all the money [for the ticket]. I thought it was even better than the first one."
"X-Men 2" and "The Hulk" get pretty good reviews from those familiar with the original comic book story lines, but both films tended to leave the less-informed a little confused. So if superhero action isn't usually your thing, take along a friend who can crash-course you through the plot before the show.
Recommendations
For as hard as the studio PR machines try to sell a film, waiting for a friend's recommendation can ultimately help you save cash and avoid disappointment. Take the sequel "Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd." "People put so much hype on it, but it was probably one of the worst movies I've ever seen," cautions Dan Lancy, 18. "2 Fast 2 Furious," another high-adrenaline action feature, seems to be on almost everyone's summer must-see list, but Tim Macovitz, 17, "didn't think it was too great."
If you're planning on taking your parents along, Ashley Nard, 18, recommends checking out "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle." (They may even be so shocked you invited them that they'll cover your ticket.) "I went with my dad and we were both laughing a lot," Ashley says. "And it was good because there's nothing in it you'd have to be embarrassed to see with your parents."
No matter how good or bad a movie turns out to be, the price of a ticket leaves many opting to just wait for the DVD. Kassie Gustafson, 16, says she'd go to the theater a lot more often if it didn't cost so much. Ashley, a self-confessed movie addict, says she usually heads to the (much cheaper) second-run theater.
The newest flicks
Summer heat hit late this year, and perhaps the big season blockbusters have just been waiting for the rain to stop, too. This month brings "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & amp; Blonde," "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines," "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," and "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life."
Love 'em or hate 'em, cool air, hot popcorn, and a few friends is sometimes all a night out for a summer movie needs to be about.