What a remarkable summer it's been. In fact, I'm hard-pressed to remember any single season in recent years that has yielded so many enjoyable films.
Often I hear people complain that they would like to go out to a movie but can't find one they feel is worth the time and money. Lately, however, people have been telling me there are too many good ones to choose from.A quick glance at what's playing in local theaters right now is enough to prove that there is quite a remarkable selection available.
If you're an action fan, you've got choices as diverse as "Jurassic Park" and "The Fugitive." Or, if you can settle for less and simply enjoy the action scenes and ignore the stories, there's "Cliffhanger" and "Hard Target."
Romantic comedies - date movies - of every shape and size are also all over the place, whether you prefer the old-fashioned type, like "Sleepless in Seattle" or "Heart and Souls"; or the classical, like "Much Ado About Nothing" or "American Friends." Or if you'd like a political edge, there's "Dave."
If you want a thriller, two excellent choices are "In the Line of Fire" and "The Firm."
And if you're more in the mood for something to share with the kids, how about "Searching for Bobby Fischer" or "The Secret Garden"?
You might even consider seeing "Aladdin" or "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" again, since they may be on their last theatrical legs. Especially in the case of the former. Once "Aladdin" hits video (Sept. 28), who knows when it will be back on the big screen again?
- BOX OFFICE RECEIPTS have also been way up this summer. In fact, there may be more $100 million-plus movies this year than ever before.
- "Jurassic Park," which is the biggest runaway hit in a decade, crosses over the $300 million mark this weekend.
- "The Firm" has taken in $139.2 million so far.
- "Aladdin," actually a late '92 release, has earned $213.4 million to date.
- "Indecent Proposal" made $103 million.
- "Sleepless in Seattle" has just crossed over the $100 million mark, at $101.5 million.
And expected to reach that coveted benchmark in the next few weeks are "In the Line of Fire," "The Fugitive" and possibly "Rising Sun" - depending on how well the momentum is maintained for those pictures after the kids are back in school.
Movie money earned so far this year is reportedly some $300 million ahead of 1989, which is the current record-holder. And, of course, that just happens to be the amount "Jurassic Park" has picked up so far.
In 1989, end-of-the-year box office totals came to $5.03 billion. This year, it is being estimated, will finish at about $5.35 billion.
What's more, "Jurassic Park" is now lodged firmly at No. 2 on the list of all-time moneymakers, after "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" and ahead of "Star Wars."
And the 1993 top 10 - so far - looks like this:
1. "Jurassic Park"
2. "The Firm"
3. "Aladdin" (late 1992 release)
4. "Indecent Proposal"
5. "Sleepless in Seattle"
6. "In the Line of Fire"
7. "A Few Good Men" (late 1992 release)
8. "Cliffhanger"
9. "Groundhog Day"
10. "The Fugitive"
As mentioned, however, expect "In the Line of Fire" and "The Fugitive" to climb much higher. And expect "Rising Sun" to join them.
- INTERESTINGLY, THERE has been some speculation in the industry that the upcoming fall and winter films - particularly those scheduled for the Christmas season - may disappoint.
After such a wonderful summer of moviegoing, will audiences really want to sit through a slew of remakes, sequels and TV spinoffs?
On the docket are "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Addams Family Values," "Wayne's World II," "Sister Act II" and "Look Who's Talking Now," among others.
But there are a few more original works scheduled, such as Robert Altman's all-star "Short Cuts"; Martin Scorese's first period piece, an adaptation of Edith Wharton's "The Age of Innocence," with Daniel Day-Lewis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Wynona Ryder; Tim Burton's puppet-animated Disney flick, "The Nightmare Before Christmas"; and Steven Spielberg's black-and-white drama "Schindler's List," starring Liam Neeson and Ben Kingsley.