Mamma Mia! - July 2008

Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the feature-film adaptation of the beloved musical that has been seen by more than 30 million people in 160 cities and 8 languages around the world. Bringing the timeless lyrics and melodies of iconic super group ABBA to movie audiences, Summer 2008 is the season for Mamma Mia! The three women who created the worldwide smash stage hit—global producer Judy Craymer, writer Catherine Johnson and director Phyllida Lloyd—repeat their roles in bringing this joyful, musical story to the big screen. The Mamma Mia! film is produced by Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman. Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Dominic Cooper join Streep in this celebration of a mother, a daughter and three possible dads. An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna (Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie (Julie Walters) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Christine Baranski)—from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own. On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities. Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” Mamma Mia! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.

Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
Produced by Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Written by Catherine Johnson, Benny Andersson (lyrics) and Björn Ulvaeus
Genre: Comedy / Musical / Romance
In Theathers : July 18, 2008
Casts:

• Meryl Streep as Donna Sheridan, Sophie's mother.
• Christine Baranski as Tanya, Donna's friend.
• Julie Walters as Rosie, Donna's friend.
• Amanda Seyfried as Sophie Sheridan, Donna's daughter and Sky's fiancée.
• Dominic Cooper as Sky, Sophie's fiancée.
• Pierce Brosnan as Sam Carmichael, Sophie's possible dad #1.
• Colin Firth as Harry Bright, Sophie's possible dad #2.
• Stellan Skarsgård as Bill Austin, Sophie's possible dad #3.

18-year-old Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried) has a problem. It's almost her wedding day and she doesn't know who her father is. It could be any of her mother Donna's (Meryl Streep) past suitors: Sam Carmichael (Pierce Brosnan), Bill Austin (Stellan Skarsgård), or Harry Bright (Colin Firth). The only way for her to find out is to invite all three to her wedding to see what happens.

Mamma Mia! employs the hit songs of famed pop group ABBA to tell the story of Sophie Sheridan (Amanda Seyfried), a young girl who hopes to discover the identity of her father. On the eve of her wedding to Sky (Dominic Cooper), she brings three men, Sam Carmichael (Pierce Brosnan), Bill Austin (Stellan Skarsgård) and Harry Bright (Colin Firth), from her mother Donna's (Meryl Streep) past back to the Greek island they visited over two decades ago.

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl - July 2008

Kit Kittredge, a 9-year old girl, endures hardships growing up during the Great Depression.

'Kit Kittredge: An American Mystery' centers around a young living in the struggles of the Great Depression. 10 year old Kit lives in a boarding house her parents own in Cincinnati, Ohio. She has a passion for writing, & dreams of having something of hers put in the local paper someday. With the help of her friends, Sterling & Ruthie, will her dream finally come true? *movie based on the American series 'Kit Kittredge'*

Directed by Patricia Rozema
Produced by Terry Gould
Written by Ann Peacock
In Theaters: July 2, 2008
Genres: Kids/Family / Adaptation / Comedy / Drama

Casts:

• Abigail Breslin as Kit Kittredge
• Zach Mills as Stirling Howard
• Chris O'Donnell as Mr. Kittredge
• Julia Ormond as Mrs. Kittredge
• Max Thieriot as Will
• Wallace Shawn
• Joan Cusack
• Glenne Headley
• Stanley Tucci
• Jane Krakowski
• Willow Smith

American Girl is a popular line of dolls and books for girls. While the doll line runs the gamut from pre-Revolutionary War to World War II, the film will focus on Kit Kittredge, who grows up in the early years of the Great Depression.

Hellboy II: The Golden Army - July 2008

After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it's up to the planet's toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it's time to call in Hellboy.

Director Guillermo del Toro
Writers Guillermo del Toro and Mike Mignola
Producers Chris Kenny, Lawrence Gordon, Lloyd Levin, Mike Richardson, Joe Rot and Mike Mignola
Genre: Action / Adventure / Comedy / Drama / Fantasy / Horror / Sci-Fi

Casts:

• Ron Perlman as Hellboy
• Selma Blair as Liz Sherman
• David Hyde Pierce as Abe Sapien
• Jeffrey Tambor as Dr. Tom Manning
• Doug Jones as Abe Sapien
• Ladislav Beran as Kroenen
• Luke Goss as Prince Nuada
• John Alexander as Johann
• John Hurt as Trevor 'Broom" Bruttenholm
• Roy Dotrice as King Balor

The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth, so Hellboy and his team must save the world from the rebellious creatures.

Batman - The Dark Knight - July 2008

The follow-up to the action hit “Batman Begins,” “The Dark Knight” reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who once again embodies the man behind the mask. “The Dark Knight” takes Batman across the world in his quest to fight a growing criminal threat. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman has been making headway against local crime…until a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker (Heath Ledger) unleashes a fresh reign of chaos across Gotham City. To stop this devious new menace-Batman’s most personal and vicious enemy yet-he will have to use every high-tech weapon in his arsenal and confront everything he believes.

Directed by Christopher Nolan
Produced by Christopher Nolan, Charles Roven and Emma Thomas
Writers Screenplay: Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan
Story: David S. Goyer and Christopher Nolan
Characters: Bob Kane, Bill Finger and Jerry Robinson
Genre: Action / Adventure
Rating: Not yet rated
Release Date: July 18, 2008

Casts:

• Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne / Batman
• Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth
• Heath Ledger as the Joker
• Maggie Gyllenhaal as assistant D.A. Rachel Dawes
• Aaron Eckhart as district attorney Harvey Dent / Two-Face
• Eric Roberts as Sal Maroni: The gangster who now leads Carmine Falcone's mob family.
• Michael Jai White as Gambol: A gang leader at war with Maroni
• Nestor Carbonell as Mayor Anthony Garcia
• Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane / Scarecrow
• William Fichtner as Gotham National Bank Manager

Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of lieutenant Jim Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker. He meets his match when a crazed murdering psychopath called The Joker, starts to bring forth chaos on the streets and makes it a personal agenda to take out the Dark Knight, before he gets to him first.

Hancock - July 2008

Will Smith portrays an alcoholic superhero despised by everyone. A publicist (Jason Bateman) helps rehabilitate him, and the superhero eventually begins an affair with the publicist's wife (Charlize Theron).

There are heroes, there are superheroes, and then there’s Hancock (Will Smith). With great power comes great responsibility; everyone knows that & everyone, that is, but Hancock. Edgy, conflicted, sarcastic, and misunderstood, Hancock’s well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake. The public has finally had enough & as grateful as they are to have their local hero, the good citizens of Los Angeles are wondering what they ever did to deserve this guy. Hancock isn’t the kind of man who cares what other people think until the day that he saves the life of PR executive Ray Embrey (Jason Bateman), and the sardonic superhero begins to realize that he may have a vulnerable side after all. Facing that will be Hancock’s greatest challenge yet and a task that may prove impossible as Ray’s wife, Mary (Charlize Theron), insists that he’s a lost cause.

Directed by Peter Berg
Produced by Akiva Goldsman, James Lassiter, Michael Mann and Will Smith
Written by Vince Gilligan and Vincent Ngo
Genre: Action / Comedy / Drama / Fantasy
In Theathers: July 2, 2008

Casts:

• Will Smith - as John Hancock, a down-and-out superhero. He is bulletproof, possesses superhuman strength and the power of super-sonic flight. He is also very sarcastic.
• Jason Bateman - as a corporate public relations consultant whose life is saved by Hancock. Bateman said, "It was a fun thing to play, a very idealistic guy that's trying to build up this suicidal, homeless alcoholic that then ends up hitting on my wife. It was a fun thing. To play the victim is funny."
• Charlize Theron - as the consultant's wife.
• Johnny Galecki - as the consultant's co-worker.

A hard-living superhero (Smith) who has fallen out of favor with the public enters into a questionable relationship with the wife (Theron) of the public relations professional (Bateman) who's trying to repair his image.