Seems like there's a thread on just about every big blockbuster film (and its trailer) set to open this summer. Just about all of them seem to be sequels. So, I thought I'd start a discussion on some of the other harder-to-find films that deserve to be talked about.

I'm basing the release dates on the EW summer preview issue.

Neil LaBute's The Shape of Things (May 9) - I liked the first two LaBute films, In the Company of Men and Your Friends and Neighbors, and the early indication is that 'Shape' is akin to those.

Patrice Leconte's Man on the Train (May) - Saw Girl on the Bridge recently and this one seems to be getting good reviews.

Buffalo Soldiers (May 9) - This film is two years overdue thanks to some perceived anti-patriotic scenarios. Should be controversial.

Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen (May) - Yet another Cannes '02 film that's finally getting to U.S. audiences.

Respiro (May) - Won the critics prize at Cannes.

Chen Kaige's Together (May) - The director's name is enough to get me off to see this.

Whale Rider (June) - Won the audience award at Toronto and Sundance.

Claire Denis' Friday Night (June) - Heard some good things about it, but I'll be missing it at the San Fran festival. Luckily I won't have to wait long for its limited release.

The Legend of Suriyothai (June) - This historical drama got some press because of Coppola's involvement. With the recent coverage of Thai films, this one could win the public acclaim because of its scope.

Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later (June 27) - Post-Apocalypse zombie action. 'Nuff said.

September 11 (July) - Early reviews say the film is very uneven, because its basically 11 shorts about 9/11.

Peter Mullan's Magdelene Sisters (July) - Won the 2002 Golden Lion.

American Splendor (Aug) - Based on the Harvey Pekar comics and the big winner at this year's Sundance.

There's others on the horizon, but not on my must-see list yet: Larry Clark's Ken Park, the Lucas Belvaux Trilogy (On the Run, An Amazing Couple and After the Life), Francois Ozon's Swimming Pool, Mondays in the Sun which won the Spanish 'Oscar' and Alan Rudolph's The Secret Lives of Dentists.

Nice taste there, Mr. N.

Haven't read that EW article yet,
But out of your list I am also looking forward to:

Sweet sixteen (Although the u.k. dvd is coming soon So i might watch it on dvd first)

28 Days later- Hopefully boyle will make up for the beach.

Man on the train - I generally like lecontes work.

Respiro- Because I am curious.

Peter Mullan's Magdalene sisters- If he directs as well as he acts, this could be fantastic!

I'm kind of hesitant about the neil labute film since his last 2 films werent anywhere near as good as his first two, but who knows.

American splendor could be good. I just thought that wave of films with american in the title was over with already!

A friend of mine told me he saw ken park, It sounded pretty controversial. I'm game.

Definitely want to see the Chen Kaige movie

28 Days Later also sounds interesting although when I first heard the title, I thought it was a sequel to that Sandra Bullock movie, 28 Days.

May:
- Bruce Almighty
- Down with Love
- Finding Nemo
- The Shape of Things
- Blue Car
- Gigantic (A Tale of Two Johns)
- Manic
- Wrong Turn
- Sweet Sixteen

June:
- The Hulk
- 28 Days Later
- Jet Lag
- Prozac Nation

July:
- Seabiscuit
- LXG
- Johnny English
- Camp
- Garage Days (<--- my most anticipated film of the summer)
- Catch the Kid
- The Trilogy
- Masked and Anonymous

August:
- S.W.A.T.
- Uptown Girls
- Wonderland
- Ken Park
- My Boss' Daughter
- Thirteen

Then there's all those crazy sequels. I've seen 22 2003 films so far this year (4 and a half months), so I wonder if I can see an additional 30 plus in the next 4 months.

I've heard bad things about the Rudolph film...

That still leaves quite a few films on my must-see list.

And I have yet to see Nowhere in Africa and Man without a Past which are currently playing/set to open in my area. I would also highly recommend Divine Intervention if its playing near you.

no sequels? awww dam...

Apparently the long on the shelf Buffalo Soldiers has been pushed back again - Miramax should just dump it to Lion's Gate or something if they're that worried about their name being associated with the project.

Its now set to open in limited release on July 25.

Shape of Things is the first film LaBute has also written since "Your Friends and Neighbors." It's adapted from his own play. I'm seeing it next Wednesday, but I saw the same cast in the off-Broadway production and it was *brilliant*. Go see it.

RS

I'm hoping "28 Days Later" lives up to the hype considering I have it pre-ordered from Amazon UK.......

Rm, where are you seeing it on wednesday?

Special press screening. Huzzah!

RS

I'm seeing it next friday, May 9th, I'll let you know how it is.

Garage Days came out here theatrically in October last year. I initially had concerns for the obvious reasons of Alex Proyas doing a comedy, but it turned out to be a great little film! Highly recommend everyone to watch it!

The only non-sequel movies I want to see are "The Hulk" and "Seabiscuit".