Movie Guys: Hot, hot, hot: Sizzling picks for summertime flicks

Friday, May 15, 1998 | 9:18 a.m.

And with a 114 new films scheduled for release in the next three months, The Movie Guys have their hands full!

This is the time of year that Hollywood unleashes its blockbusters, with all-star casts and lots of special effects. Join us as we take a look at what are sure to be some of this summer's biggest films.

Remember, though, that some movies may be subjected to the "Hollywood shuffle" -- changing release dates. (One flick, "Mighty Joe Young," has already been postponed and is now slated for a holiday season premiere.) So be sure to check your local listings before heading to the theater:

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* On the Marquee: "Godzilla."

* On the Bill: Matthew Broderick, Jean Reno, Maria Pitillo and Hank Azaria.

* On the Credits: Roland Emmerich (director); Emmerich and Dean Devlin (screenwriters).

* On the Storyboard: From the wonder team that brought us "Independence Day" comes a $120 million remake of the world's most famous atomic-breathing lizard. Godzilla spares Tokyo this time around and instead releases his wrath on New York City. Can the Army stop Godzilla before it's too late? Let's hope not. The hype around this film is bolstered by new ads featuring the Taco Bell Chihuahua, as well as Sony's attempts to keep Godzilla's look under wraps until opening day (causing the toy industry to see red). But Sony promises a leaner, meaner-looking Godzilla than its predecessor. This is sure to be one of the summer's biggest hits.

* On the Calendar: "Godzilla" stomps ashore on Wednesday.

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* On the Marquee: "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas."

* On the Bill: Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Ellen Barkin, Gary Busey, Cameron Diaz and Christina Ricci.

* On the Credits: Terry Gilliam (director); Todd Davies and Alex Cox (screenwriters).

* On the Storyboard: Director Terry Gilliam ("12 Monkeys," "Brazil") brings his celebrated, bizarre visual style to the long-anticipated film adaption of the classic pop culture novel by Hunter S. Thompson. "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" follows journalist Raoul Duke and his partner in high-living, Dr. Gonzo, as they embark on a funny journey down a road that runs a not-so-straight-and-narrow path into the heart of the American dream, as seen through sunglasses and other forms of psychic expression. This is the movie they said couldn't be adapted for the big screen.

* On the Calendar: "Fear and Loathing" cruises into Las Vegas on May 22.

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* On the Marquee: "The Truman Show."

* On the Bill: Jim Carrey, Ed Harris, Laura Linney and Noah Emmerich.

* On the Credits: Peter Weller (director).

* On the Storyboard: Carrey stars as Truman Burbank who, since birth, has been the subject of a daily television show -- each day of his life has been televised without his knowledge. The town where he lives is actually a soundstage, and by the time he figures out something is wrong, his show has spawned a worldwide cult following. The buzz around "Truman" is positive and it's been called the film of the decade. For Carrey's $20 million paycheck, it should be.

* On the Calendar: The Truman Show premieres June 5.

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* On the Marquee: "Six Days, Seven Nights."

* On the Bill: Harrison Ford, Anne Heche, David Schwimmer and Jacqueline Obradors.

* On the Credits: Ivan Reitman (director); Michael Browning (screenwriter); Reitman, Wallis Nicita and Roger Birnbaum (producers).

* On the Storyboard: Quinn Harris (Harrison Ford) is a gruff cargo pilot who hates tourists. Robin (Anne Heche) is an acerbic New Yorker on a week-long vacation. When an unexpected editorial deadline requires her to be in Tahiti, she bribes Quinn to fly her there. Forced down in a storm, the two suddenly find themselves stranded on a deserted island. Sounds like a great setting for a romantic comedy, but can the audience buy Heche as a romantic lead for Ford? Don't tell Ellen!

* On the Calendar: "Six Days, Seven Nights" opens June 12.

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* On the Marquee: "Mulan."

* On the Bill: The voices of Eddie Murphy, Ming-Na Wen, Harvey Fierstein, Pat Morita, Donny Osmond and Lea Salonga.

* On the Credits: Barry Cook and Tony Bancroft (directors); Pam Coats (producer); Matthew Wilder and David Zippel (songwriters).

* On the Storyboard: Disney's 36th full-length animated feature, "Mulan" chronicles the daring adventures of a young Chinese girl whose spirit clashes with her tradition-bound culture. When her country is forced into war, Mulan secretly joins the Chinese Army -- in order to save her father's life. Sounds like an Asian version of "Yentel." It wouldn't be a summer movie season without a Disney animated feature and this certainly looks like an improvement over last year's "Hercules."

* On the Calendar: "Mulan" unsheathes its sword June 19.

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* On the Marquee: "The X-Files."

* On the Bill: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi, William B. Davis and Martin Landau.

* On the Credits: Rob Bowman (director); Chris Carter and Frank Spotnitz (screenwriters).

* On the Storyboard: FBI agents Mulder and Scully are drawn into a web of intrigue while investigating the mysterious bombing of a Dallas office building and the secrets buried inside. Even if you are not familiar with the television series, creator Chris Carter assures that the movie can stand on its own. For fans, a lot of questions about the TV show's many mysteries will be answered in the film. Where is the cigarette smoking man when you need him? He'll be there.

* On the Calendar: Mulder and Scully search for the truth on June 19.

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* On the Marquee: "Armageddon."

* On the Bill: Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thorton, Liv Tyler and Ben Affleck.

* On the Credits: Michael Bay (director); Jonathan Hensleigh (screenwriter); Jerry Bruckheimer, Gale Anne Hurd and Michael Bay (producers).

* On the Storyboard: Another asteroid is on course to collide with Earth and this time it's the size of Texas! Will humanity survive? It will if Bruce Willis has his way. A team of astronauts must link up with the giant rock and destroy it before it destroys us. "Armageddon" looks like it will be more of a sci-fi epic than the lackluster wannabe mini-series "Deep Impact," which displayed an all-too-calm human race. Our money is on "Armageddon."

* On the Calendar: "Armageddon" collides with Earth on July 1.

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* On the Marquee: "Lethal Weapon 4."

.]On the Bill: Mel Gibson, Danny Glover, Joe Pesci, Rene Russo and Chris Rock.

* On the Credits: Richard Donner (director); Channing Gibson (screenwriter); Joel Silver (producer).

* On the Storyboard: Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are back as police detectives Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh, along with the hyperactive Leo Getz (Joe Pesci) and joined this time by junior detective Lee Butters (Chris Rock). The team struggles to unravel a series of events involving an Asian crime overlord bent on a complex and deadly mission of revenge. Filmed partially in Las Vegas, let's hope this installment is more "Lethal" than the previous one.

* On the Calendar: "Lethal Weapon 4" shoots is way onto screens June 6.

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* On the Marquee: "Mask of Zorro."

* On the Bill: Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins and Stuart Wilson.

* On the Credits: Martin Campbell (director).

* On the Storyboard: Jumping from rooftops, crashing into windows and then disappearing into the dark of night, it's The Fox, better known as Zorro. Banderas stars as the masked one, being tutored by the aging original Zorro (Hopkins) who must teach his protege how to handle a blade, love women and the ways of high society. Rooted in the movie serial style of the 1930s and '40s, "The Mask of Zorro" promises to be a swashbuckling good time.

* On the Calendar: "The Mask Of Zorro" slashes its way into theaters July 17th.

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* On the Marquee: "Saving Private Ryan."

* On the Bill: Tom Hanks and Matt Damon.

]On the Credits: Steven Spielberg (director).

* On the Storyboard: A mother has been notified by telegram that three of her four sons have been killed in action. The United States Army is determined that her fourth son will survive and sends in a reconnaissance team to bring back Private Ryan. Set in World War II, this gripping drama stars the biggest actors in Hollywood today. It's guaranteed to be a memorable experience.

* On the Calendar: The mission to save "Private Ryan" begins on July 24.

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* On the Marquee: "Snake Eyes."

* On the Bill: Nicholas Cage, Gary Sinese, Carla Gugino and John Heard.

* On the Credits: Brian DePalma (director); David Koepp (screenwriter).

On the Storyboard: A bad cop (Cage) must join forces with a good cop (Sinese) to track down a deadly assassin. The film has been compared to the old-style gangster film in the tradition of James Cagney and Edward G. Robinson. With DePalma at the helm, it should be an unforgettable journey.

* On the Calendar: "Snake Eyes" slithers its way to theaters August 7.

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* On the Marquee: "The Avengers."

* On the Bill: Ralph Fiennes, Uma Thurman and Sean Connery

* On the Credits: Jeremiah Chechik (director); Don Macpherson (screenwriter); Jerry Weintraub (producer).

* On the Storyboard: Fiennes and Thurman star as John Steed and Mrs. Peel, the ultra-cool pair of elegantly hip crime fighters out to battle a tyrannical genius (Sean Connery) bent on world domination. Based on the hit television series of the 1960s, "The Avengers" should catch the same retro-wave as "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery," with style to burn.

* On the Calendar: "The Avengers" saves the world on August 14.

NAME THAT FLICK

"I'm standing here in pieces, and you're having delusions of grandeur." Jason Kuzik used the Force and was the first to identify the quote spoken by C3PO in "The Empire Strikes Back." Way to go Jason, and remember, never tell me the odds.

For this week, who said this and in what film: "Same old story. Boy finds girl. Boy loses girl. Girl finds boy. Boy forgets girl. Boy remembers girl. Girl dies in a tragic blimp accident over the Orange Bowl on New Year's Day."? Sound familiar? If you think you know, call The Movie Guys Hotline at 225-9026 or e-mail us at movieguys5@aol.com (never tested on animals). Be sure to spell your name and leave your daytime phone number, and if you're the first correct caller/e-mailer, we will print your name here in our column -- now available in yummy new flavors -- for the entire valley to read.

Next week, The Movie Guys will witness the wrath of "Godzilla." We can't wait! See you next week.

THE MOVIE GUYS, starring Jeff Howard and Dave Neil, appears every Friday in the Sun (additional material provided by Thomas Feeney). You can also read their capsule reviews of movies in Scope magazine and watch their reviews every Friday on Channel 3's 11 p.m. newscast. Plus, check them out online at: www.lasvegassun.com/sun/sunlife/movies.

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