I have been far too busy lately, but on the one or two occassions I thought about going to the movies, there was literally nothing that I wanted to see that wasn't a "kids" film. It's become almost a cliche to complain about how bad Hollywood studio releases get in the summer, but so far this year is the worst that I can remember. Outside of Forgetting Sara Marshall, there is nothing for anyone with two brain cells they want to challenge. I'm sure Kung Fu Panda is a decent effort, but I couldn't get fired up for that in a million years. And Indiana Jones? Ok. Sure. Can't you feel my pulse begin to race?

The studios often stunt and fake each other out with which films will open on which summer weekend. Big bucks can hang on these decisions, but too often it turns out that weekend dates are skipped altogether. It always blows my mind how they never seem to have an interesting film for grownups to slot in for the tentpole film they are fainting and dodging with. I'm not asking for a remake of Last year At Marienbad. Just give me something that has some inspiration and some emotional truth and I will be quiet. The last time I looked there were a lot of adults out there with at least some money to spend. Regardless of this reality, the studios don't think it's worth it to program for us. Maybe the mid summer will be better, but for right now all I can do is think about the big films that worked for adults in summers past.

I am a huge fan of the Bourne films, so the summers that they came out, I was a happy guy. The same with Austin Powers films (with diminishing satisfaction as the series progressed), and the comedies of Judd Apatow, The 40 year Old Virgin, etc and of course, Wedding Crashers. But where are those films this year?

Never was there a greater need for alternative films, and alternative film venues, than right now. I am curious to learn just what it is that you're looking forward to in the world of mainstream film.

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