2008 Summer Film Guide

• Critic’s Pick:

Doomsday

Magic Lantern’s late-night summer movie series kicks off with this underappreciated apocalyptic bloodbath from writer/director Neil Marshall (The Descent). Thu., June 26, 10pm; Fri., June 27, 10pm; Mon., June 30, 10pm. I.V. Theater,960 Embarcadero Del Norte, Isla Vista. Visit myspace.com/magiclantern.

Wall*E

Pixar’s much-anticipated follow-up to Ratatouille stars a robot that develops a personality. Fri., June 27, general release.

The Band’s Visit

This favorite from last year’s SBIFF makes another visit to the big screen; free for UCSB students. Wed., July 2, 7:30pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Gonzo

Docudrama about Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas author Hunter S. Thompson, who used to order Chivas Regal snow cones when he visited to the Biltmore in the 1990s. Wed., July 2, general release.

The Forbidden Kingdom

Jackie Chan versus Jet Li. Thu., July 3, 10pm; Mon., July 7, 10pm. I.V. Theater, 960 Embarcadero Del Norte, Isla Vista. Visit myspace.com/magiclantern.

Critic’s Pick:

Shine a Light

The sexagenarian Rolling Stones caught on tape in this documentary-meets-concert film by Martin Scorsese. Part of the Ojai Film Society’s ongoing series of music and cinema. Sun., July 6, 4:30pm. Ojai Theatre, 145 E. Ojai Ave. Call 646-8936 or visit filmsociety.ojai.net.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) returns to his Hollywood day job of adapting wonderfully funny, delightfully horrific comic books. Fri., July 11, general release.

Meet Dave

Normally one wouldn’t get excited about another Eddie Murphy movie where he has to put on a version of a fat suit, but this one’s written by Bill Corbett of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Fri., July 11, general release.

Journey to the Center of the Earth

The 3D adaptation of the classic Jules Verne novel stars Brendan Fraser as Trevor. Fri., July 11, general release.

Lou Reed’s Berlin

A film version of the original bad boy’s rock opera, directed by Julian Schnabel of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Fri., July 18, general release.

The Dark Knight

Batman meets the Joker, and we say our goodbyes to the late, great Heath Ledger. Fri., July 18, general release.

Mamma Mia!

Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, and Pierce Brosnan lend their names to the film version of the musical. Fri., July 18, general release.

The X-Files: I Want to Believe

Local boy and professional paranoid Chris Carter brings Mulder and Scully back to the big screen, six years after the TV series ended. Fri., July 25, general release.

Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man

Startling doc about the legendary singer/songwriter, featuring performances by Rufus Wainwright, Bono, and Ojai residents Perla Batalla and Julie Christensen. Sun., July 27, 4:30pm. Ojai Theatre, 145 E. Ojai Ave. Call 646-8936 or visit filmsociety.ojai.net.

• Critic’s Pick:

Flight of the Red Balloon

Hsiao-hsien Hou remakes Albert Lamorisse’s 1956 classic about a young boy and his balloon in Paris, France. Juliette Binoche stars. This will be the film’s only showing in Santa Barbara. Wed., July 30, 7pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

Brideshead Revisited

Emma Thompson stars in yet another remake of an Evelyn Waugh novel, adapted by the director of Becoming Jane. Fri., Aug. 1, general release.

Up the Yangtze

Chinese-Canadian director Yung Chang takes a mesmerizing look at the impact the Three Gorges Dam hydroelectric project is having on China’s longest river. Wed., Aug. 6, 7:30pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2

America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel, Blake Lively, and Amber Tamblyn revive their roles in the second film based on the Ann Brashares novels. Fri., Aug. 6, general release.

Pineapple Express

The great David Gordon Green (George Washington) teams with the juggernaut that is Seth Rogen. Fri., Aug. 8, general release.

Alexandra

Another great film previewed at last winter’s SBIFF, Aleksandr Sokurov’s subtle humanist masterpiece is brought back to town by the geniuses at UCSB’s Arts & Lectures. Wed., Aug. 20, 7:30pm. UCSB’s Campbell Hall. Call 893-3535 or visit www.artsandlectures.ucsb.edu.