Each year Hollywood looks to the summer season as one of its peak times. Most studios release their big blockbuster films this time of year. Looking at this summer's movie offerings, the same holds true this year.

Last summer's movie season kicked off with a period piece-Gladiator, and this year is no different, with Pearl Harbor's debut on May 25th. This historical drama, starring Ben Affleck and Cuba Gooding Jr., is set against the backdrop of the day "that will live in infamy."

June 8th sees David Duchovny take another stab at a movie career with the release of the sci-fi comedy Evolution. Julianne (Hannibal) Moore stars alongside Mr. "Bite the Hand That Feeds." One week later, the film adaptation of Tomb Raider hits theatres. Starring Angelina Jolie, this film is sure to win several Academy Awards.

We've already had one race car movie this year-Driven, and on June 22nd we're all set to get another one-The Fast and the Furious. Opening that same day is Dr. Doolittle II, starring Eddie Murphy.

Steven Spielberg releases his newest, A.I. on June 29th. Starring Haley Joel (The Sixth Sense) Osmont and Jude Law. The trailer for this didn't look too promising, but you never can tell.

The July 4th weekend is arguably the peak of the summer movie season. Among the films debuting at this time, Cats and Dogs looks the most promising. The plot goes like this: since the beginning, cats have been looking for ways to undermine humanity, and the dogs have been trying to stop them, and now things are about to get ugly. Not being the biggest cat fan in the world, this movie's premise appeals to me very much. Cats and Dogs features the voice talents of Alec Baldwin, Susan Sarandon and Tobey Maguire.

Computer animation takes a gigantic leap forward on July 13th with the release of Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. Based on the mega popular video game series, it boasts such talent as Steve Buscemi, Ving Rhames and (again) Alec Baldwin. Opening that same day is The Score which unites three generations of great American actors: Marlon Brando, Robert DeNiro and the man himself-Edward Norton.

JP3. No, its not the forerunner to the MP3, it's the third installment in the Jurassic Park series. It stars Sam Neill, William H. Macy and Teo Leoni and is set in the time between Jurassic Park and The Lost World.

Get your paws off me you damn dirty ape! Tim Burton's remake of Planet of the Apes hits theatres July 27th. Mark Wahlberg, Kris Kristofferson and Helena Bonham Carter star. Sadly, we will probably be deprived of Wahlberg dropping to his knees on the beach, pounding his fists and yelling "DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!"

It just wouldn't be a summer movie season without sequels, and on August 3rd, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker unite for Rush Hour II. Also opening on the third is the animated feature Osmosis Jones, and features the vocal talents of Bill Murray, David Hyde-Pierce, Chris Rock and Laurence Fishburne.

The fifth, and sadly final, installment in Kevin Smith's "The New Jersey Chronicles" opens on August 10th, and is titled Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Rumor has it that most everyone from Smith's previous films, from Clerks through Dogma will be involved.

The tenth installment in the Friday the 13th series opens August 17th, simply called Jason X. While Messier. Voorhees will still be slicing and dicing, he'll know be doing it in the year 2455. Very interesting.

Last summer was one of the most successful at the box office in recent years. Will this year top that? Who knows? Who cares? See you at the movies!

Name: Nicki
Year: 2001
Major: MSTD
Comments:
Pearl Harbor and AI stunk. Shrek was ok. Anything good out there? I saw a video this past summer called "Mother" that had Albert Brooks and Lisa Kudrow in it. That was kinda funny.

Name: PaStoR
Year: 98
Major: media studies
Comments:
How about doing some reviews of movies not hitting the theatres like Quake the Movie and other misc. flicks like that