by Missy Thomspon

STAFF WRITER

Film studios look at the summer months as a time to release their biggest films of the year. This summer is no different. Movies coming out in May through August will feature the return of an adventure hero, a martial artist bear, a green giant, a curious robot, another look at Batman, and Robert Downey, Jr. playing an actor who is a black man.

The first big movie to hit the screen this summer is the highly anticipated "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," which opens May 22. Harrison Ford reprises his role as the handsome archaelogist/adventurer Dr. Indiana Jones.

It's been 19 years since "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" was released and this fourth installment is certain to gain a lot of new fans, as well as reclaim the old ones. For the last few years, rumors have circulated on whether or not this film would actually be made. Some claimed Ford was too old to play Indiana Jones, which he most certainly is not.

I'm glad "Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is one of the first blockbusters to be released during the summer. It gives audiences a taste of what they can expect as the long days wear on. I know this movie will be a success, but can it compete with high standards set by "Raiders of the Lost Ark," "Temple of Doom" (yes, I even liked that one) and "The Last Crusade"?

On June 6, DreamWorks Animation is releasing "Kung Fu Panda." I've heard that this kid's movie is an animated version of Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill," minus the blood, gore and profane language and add a cuddly, but lazy, panda bear.

While many of the movies this summer are acceptable for children to watch, "Kung Fu Panda" is specifically geared toward them. However, it's also the type of movie that parents and young adults might find entertaining.

The basic story of "Kung Fu Panda" is that a lazy panda, who lives in the Valley of Peace, becomes the one who must protect their way of life from evil enemies. To do so, he must learn kung fu. Jack Black, Jackie Chan, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie and Seth Rogen all lend their voice talents to this animated action comedy.

The next action-packed movie to hit theaters will be "The Incredible Hulk" on June 13. Superhero films during the summer are a given, but this one in particular will have Hulk fans salivating. While some are purists and think the comic book series -- or television series -- should have been left alone, Edward Norton's Bruce Banner will definitely get people into theaters.

Norton also penned the screenplay to "The Incredible Hulk," along with Zak Penn, marking his writing debut. The film follows the graphic novel with physicist Banner trying to understand what causes him to turn into the Hulk.

June 27 marks the date when Pixar's newest creation "Wall*E" hits theaters. The makers at Pixar have teamed up to create the masterpieces of "Toy Story," "Monsters, Inc.," "Finding Nemo," "Cars" and "Ratatouille." With such an excellent history I have no doubt "Wall*E" will be another successful hit.

Wall*E is a 700-year-old robot and in the year 2700 has spent every day doing what he was built for. During that time he has developed a curious personality. Now, he will go on an adventure to find who he really is.

Another highly-anticipated movie for this summer is a continuation of the Batman films. "The Dark Knight" will hit theaters on July 18. I have mixed feelings about this movie because it's difficult to believe that the second-to-last movie Heath Ledger made features him as the psychotic Joker. Even the trailers have been hard to watch and this movie could have been a career-altering performance.

"The Dark Knight" is like an update of the 1989 "Batman" film featuring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and Jack Nicholson as the Joker. Now, in 2008, Christian Bale will be playing Batman with Ledger as the bank-robbing and homicidal clown.

"Tropic Thunder" is one of many comedies being released this summer, but probably has the potential for being the most daring. It opens August 15 and is co-written and directed by Ben Stiller, who also stars as Speedman. Never having been a big Stiller fan, I was weary of "Tropic Thunder" at first. However, because he's directing it, I believe it will be far better than most of his other projects.

This is a spoof movie making fun of the film industry. A group of actors who are making a war movie get sucked into a real war zone and must become the soldiers they are portraying. Robert Downey, Jr. plays Kirk Lazarus who undergoes a controversial and extensive surgery to become a black man for his character in the movie. "Tropic Thunder" will be released as the summer season winds down and will draw audiences back into the theater and leave them laughing.

The summer is jam-packed with movies for just about everyone and is definitely not limited to these six films.

missy@tooeletranscript.com