Well, it’s that time of year again. School’s out, you’re bored stiff and you catch fire when you set foot outdoors. So what do you do? You head to the movies! Here are some of the highlights for the summer.

House of Wax – Chad Michael Murray, Paris Hilton, Elisha Cuthbert – May 6 – Horror/Thriller

Looking for horror and suspense? Check out the hottest rising stars of today in House of Wax. Due to car troubles, a group of teens get sidelined in the quiet town of Athelston, Iowa. They end up at the only business that can offer assistance–a creepy gas station owned by a suave bad boy name Bo. Watch as the stranded kids get tangled in Bo’s web and you guessed it–get trapped in a house of wax. Expect screams and thrills.

Mad Hot Ballroom – May 13 – Documentary

Distributed by Nickelodeon Studios (yes, the same folks who’ve brought you SpongeBob), this documentary chronicles NYC public school children who enter the world of competitive ballroom dancing. You get to see them work hard for the big trophy and work through disappointment with ambition. This movie stood out to me mainly because I’m experiencing the New York City public school system. I’m interested to see how urban children handle the pretentiousness of a ballroom.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith – Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor – May 20 – Sci-fi

OK, so I don’t know much about Star Wars nor am I a fan, but to be fair, this will likely be one of the biggest hits of the summer. Here’s what I’ve read.

As the Clone War continues, Anakin Skywalker finds himself dangerously close to the Dark Side of the Force and comes into conflict with Obi-Wan Kenobi. A Sith is part of a warrior race and sworn enemies of the Jedi. I have no idea what I just typed, but I’m guessing it’s good.

Madagascar – The Voices of: Chris Rock, Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith – May 27 – Animated

Check it out, another movie about good ol’ New York, New York. In the Central Park Zoo a lion, a zebra, a giraffe, and a hippo are all best friends. But when one of the animals goes missing from their cage, the other three break free to find him, only to find themselves reunited…on a ship headed to the island of Madagascar! When their vessel capsizes off the coast, however, the friends, who have all been raised in captivity, learn first hand what life can be like in the wild – all while being hilarious. Could this be the animation hit of the summer? The next Finding Nemo? OK, so nothing could replace Finding Nemo, but the story sounds pretty good and there are good celebrity voices.

Cinderella Man – Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, Craig Bierko – June 3 – Drama

Russell Crowe plays Jim Braddock, a successful boxer who started sliding downhill in 1935. All he was looking for was a second chance. Then, he got it. He came back from his slump to defeat heavyweight champion Max Baer in a 15-round slugfest. Amazingly enough, this is based on a true story. With Oscar ® winners Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweger at the helm, you can count on a hit. If you are looking for a person who has overcome diversity, this movie is for you.

Batman Begins – Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe – Drama – June 17

Just like Star Wars, the title should sell it all. This movie was in the works for a while, trying to find the right lead man. Eventually, they settled on Bale. The plot of the movie is Batman’s emergence as a crusader against evil in Gotham City. It’s his inward journey to becoming Batman. Hopefully, we can gain some more insight to Bruce Wayne’s personality and where it originated.

Bewitched – Nicole Kidman, Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine – June 24 – Comedy

Ferrell plays a star whose career isn’t exactly on the rise. So, he decides to retool the old show Bewitched by making him the star and casting Nicole Kidman as his TV wife. Ironically enough, she really is a witch. Guess it’s a part that she really fits.

Dark Water – Jennifer Connelly, Ariel Gade, John C. Reilly – July 8 – Horror/Thriller

Jennifer Connelly’s name alone in the credits has piqued my interest. She’s an excellent actress. You can catch her in “A Beautiful Mind” with Russell Crowe or “House of Sand and Fog” with Ben Kingsley. But, on to the plot. Connelly plays a woman embroiled in a custody battle who holes up in a dilapidated apartment building with her young daughter played by Gade. Thinking they’re safe for the time being, a series of eerie happenings and a ghostly visitor cause the mother to question her decision, and her sanity. It has the same feeling as The Ring, and that’s for a reason–it’s the same writer.

The Island – Scarlett Johansson, Ewan McGregor, Djimon Hounsou, Steve Buscemi – July 22 – Fantasy

Another great actress, Scarlett Johansson. You can catch her in “Lost in Translation” with Bill Murray. Star Wars’ Ewan McGregor is a man who discovers that he’s actually a “harvested being” who’s looking to escape from the utopian faciliy where he and others are kept. His only ally is–you guessed it–Johansson. But, she’s pregnant with her “sponsor’s” child. It feels like Gilligan’s Island with a twist.

Doom – The Rock, Karl Urban, Rosamund Pike – August 5 – Sci-fi/Fantasy

When I read the premise for this movie, I immediately thought that they were trying to ride on the heels of the success of Tomb Raider. Unfortunately, I’ve never played the game, but the movie goes like this: In the year 2145, a group of Marines on Phobos, one of Mars’ moons, face off against monsters that infiltrate their base after an experiment goes seriously awry. I’m interested to see how they pull this off, seeing as this movie was in development for years.

3001 – Luke Wilson, Maya Rudolph, Dax Shepard – August 5

The Pentagon selects Army soldier and average American Joe Bowers (Wilson) as its guinea pig for a top-secret program and whizzes him 1,000 years into the future. Upon waking up in the future world, Bowers discovers that he’s the smartest person on the planet. This movie targets different aspects of American culture, pegging the future society as dumbed down.

The Cave – Piper Perabo, Morris Chestnut, Cole Hauser – August 19 – Horror

Get ready for some creepiness. Bloodthirsty creatures await a pack of divers who become trapped in an underwater cave network. I’m hoping that this movie will carry this sequence out better than Anacondas 2 did.