With Hollywood temporarily on a forced hiatus, now seems like as good a time as any to take a trip back in story time. These big (and big intentioned) films, no longer occupying a space on the Big Screen, can fortunately be found courtesy of your favorite streaming service.

First up in our Flashback in Time Tour features films from June 2005, which showcase some of Hollywood’s most infamous pairs on cinematic display. See Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie where it all began! There’s also Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman (after they ended). From beginning to end, I hope you enjoy this look back in movie time, preferably with a personal-size popcorn as your movie companion😊

Originally Published in the Sun by the Sea, May/June 2005 edition

Meg the Movie Buff Goes to Hollywood

Looking to fill your time before the Summer of 2005 officially begins? If you’re in a nostalgic frame of mind, your local movie theater is the place to be. There, you can take a step back to 1935 to behold Russell Crowe’s interpretation of the Cinderella Man. You can also see where it really began with the Caped Crusader in Batman Begins. If that weren’t enough, the big screen re-introduces long time favorite The Honeymooners with a fresh twist. Next, Herbie has a run in with Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Kidman is suddenly Bewitched! However, if you prefer things strictly current, there’s the modern-day romance of Mr. and Mrs. Smith as well as the up-to-date version  of humans-fighting-aliens in War of the Worlds. And it wouldn’t be almost summer without The Adventures of Shark Boy & Lava Girl in 3-D. Whatever period of time you choose to step into, there’s something for everyone at the movies.

As always, check your local listings before stepping anywhere…

The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants (opens June 3^rd) stars Alexis Bledel, Jenna Boyd and Amber Tamblyn as best friends who go their separate ways when summer ends yet stay connected through a pair of second hand jeans that miraculously fits each of them perfectly.

Cinderella Man (opens June 3^rd) re-teams director Ron Howard and Russel Crowe in the story of Depression-era boxer James Braddock. Ordinary guy Braddock becomes famous for defeating Max Baer in the ring. Participants at The War at the Jersey Shore Youth Wrestling Championship could have learned a thing or two from him.

Also becoming famous in Lords of Dogtown (also opens June 3^rd) are Heath Ledger, Emilie Hirsh and Johnny Knoxville. California skateboarders become known worldwide for using empty swimming pools to perfect their skateboarding skills. Sadly, skateboarding leave no time for actual swimming.

For modern-day romance, there’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith (opened June 10^th). Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in a destined-to-be-classic love story about married assassins unknowingly hired to kill each other (and possibly become famous along the way).

For a preview of summer activities, there’s The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3-D (opens June 10^th) starring George Lopez, Kristin Davis and Cayden Boyd as an imaginative boy whose invented superheroes suddenly become real. Possible contestants at the next Beach Jam?

June 10^th also brings the remake of the 1950’s television classic The Honeymooners with Cedric the Entertainer as New York bus driver Ralph Kramden and Omar Epps as best friend and helpful neighbor Ed Norton.

As summer commences, so does the chaos surrounding the Dark Knight in Batman Begins (opens June 10^th) starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine and Ken Watanabe. Batman’s origin and how he became Gotham City’s number one champion are explored.

Should June 24^th find you longing for days gone by, you’re in luck:

Bewitched stars Nicole Kidman as good witch Samantha Stephens and Will Ferrell as her exasperated hubby Darrin in this remake of the 1960’s television series.

Still pining for things past? There’s Herbie: Fully Loaded starring Michael Keaton, Breckin Meyer and Lindsay Lohan who’s trying desperately to win the Winston Cup with the help of that model white Volkswagen (which also would make a nice addition to the Boardwalk Nationals Car Show).

War of the Worlds (opens June 29^th) stars Tom Cruise in a Steven Spielberg-directed film about a family’s fight to survive the invasion of Martian war machine (possibly the next best thing to Night of the Gargoyles, Morey’s Piers latest scare ride).

 

Does it really matter when summer technically begins? Sure, summer brings the sun, surf, and sand, but inside your local movie theater there’s miracles, magic and mayhem! And the traveling you get to do in that darkened theater! There’s a trip on a New York City bus and a dip in a California swimming pool. There’s Martians and attempted murder, a Dark Night and a white Volkswagen. Even a Cinderella in drag shows up! There’s not much time before summer begins. Good thing movies are timeless (just like time spent seaside)…🎥🎬