Erin Konrad
Arts Editor

The summer movie season has begun. There is a wide selection opening in theaters in the following months, with everything from superhero blockbusters to light comedies to suspense films. Here are the top ten movies you should not miss.

1. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (May 22)— George Lucas and Steven Spielberg have finally reunited to bring the newest installment of Indy’s adventures to the screen, a movie that has been stuck in development for decades. Harrison Ford returns as the hapless explorer, with new blood, Shia LaBeouf, accompanying him on his escapades to stop Cate Blanchett’s Russian villain. This film is sure to offer a lot of impressive effects and a return to the serial’s finer days.

2. Sex and the City (May 30)—This adaptation of the TV favorite has been giving bloggers something to write about since the cast first started filming. Much speculation about the top-secret plot has led to some burning questions: Does Carrie marry Big? How is Miranda dealing with married life? With the entire cast back for this film, the big screen continuation of these Cosmopolitan-sipping ladies has been well worth the wait.

3. The Happening (June 6)—M. Night Shyamalan, the man behind “The Sixth Sense” and “Lady in the Water,” has developed a new film starring Mark Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel. The film is about a sudden viral attack on America that is killing people, however, it’s not terrorist related, but rather something alien. The previews seem to indicate that this movie has enough suspense and tension to create a perfect summer escape.

4. Get Smart (June 20)—This comedy is a remake of the 1960’s television show, now starring the funny Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway. The film follows Agent Maxwell Smart on his misadventures in the spy world. Comedy in line with Carrell’s “The Office” provides a hilarious backdrop with plenty of laughs.

5. Wall-E (June 27)—The new surefire hit for Disney/Pixar is the computer-animated film about a robot’s quest to find the meaning of life. These movies usually do fairly well during the summer when parents are looking for a way to entertain the kids. Pixar films are a wonderful anecdote to the violence and swearing usually found in the media. This will be a great option for kids, as well as an amusing break from drama for adults.

6. The Dark Knight (July 18)—This is another film that has been receiving tons of press from day one. Christopher Knight’s amazing reinterpretation of the Batman series has led to a sequel of 2005’s “Batman Begins.” Although the film has an eerie feeling attached because of star Heath Ledger’s death, “Knight” does seem to contain strong enough acting from leads Christian Bale and Maggie Gyllenhaal to overcome this challenge.

7. Mamma Mia! (July 18)—Every summer movie season needs a musical extravaganza. This film, starring the always-perfect Meryl Streep, has the songs of ABBA that everyone loves to sing and dance to. Musicals aren’t always for every audience, but this stellar cast and fun nature makes this a must-see. It’s an especially good option after seeing the very serious and depressing “Knight.”

8. Step Brothers (July 25)—No summer would be complete without a good ole’ Will Ferrell movie. This one reunites him with “Talladega Nights” co-star John C. Reilly. The two men become stepbrothers after a long rivalry, and the preview has many hilarious pratfalls and true Ferrell style jokes. This comedy is the perfect guilty pleasure.

9. Pineapple Express (August 8)—This film is the latest and greatest in stoner comedies. The cast includes Seth Rogen (“Superbad”) and James Franco (“Spiderman”), and was co-written by Judd Apatow, the comedy genius behind “Superbad,” “Knocked Up” and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin.” It’s sure to be a hit with the audience following these films have.

10. Tropic Thunder (August 15)—The comedy starring Robert Downey Jr. in blackface has already received a lot of controversy. However, star and director of the movie, Ben Stiller, has been defending it since the beginning. Could be offensive, but with a very funny cast, it’s more likely to be hilarious.

Erin Konrad can be reached at ekonrad@ulv.edu.