I love summer. Almost as much as I love the summer movie season. Yes, I’m a sucker for blockbuster escapism on a muggy afternoon, and 2003 looks like it has a lot to offer for summer filmgoers: lots of sequels, lots of comic book adaptations. Perhaps not much innovation.... oh wait, I forgot I was talking about summer movies for a second there. Here are some highlights of what I will and will not shell out money to see (accompanied by an “Anticipation-O-Meter” from 1 - 10, with 1 being “who gives a f**k?” and 10 being “I want to see it now. Now. NOW!) While some may think the season has already began (it probably has), I’m going to say that it’s officially underway on May 2 with the arrival of one of the year’s most promising releases...

MAY

X2: X-Men United (May 2)
Anticipation-O-Meter: 9
The original “X-Men” was skillfully done, but to me it was like a tray of dainties served before the main course. “X2” could really rock if it gets to the ol’ meat and potatoes, and by the look of things, it does. Great to see Nightcrawler (played by Alan Cumming) getting in on the mutant mayhem (now... where’s Gambit?), and look for spectacular action and effects tenfold.

Daddy Day Care (May 9)
Meter: 5
Eddie Murphy is on a real streak.... a shit streak, that is. After an embarrassing 2002 (or, as history will remember it, the year of “Pluto Nash”), Murphy runs for cover with another immature family film. And it may just work. The ads are cute, and the man can be amiable when he’s not aiming for volatile and hyperactive. Still, I’ll tread carefully.

The Matrix Reloaded (May 15)
Meter: 10
The continuing saga of Neo, Morpheus, Trinity and cohorts looks primed to blow the mind. The latest trailer, with explosions, car chases, and Keanu Reeves - as the purported “One” who will save humankind from the machines - battling 100 versions of Agent Smith (the deliciously evil Hugo Weaving), is about as dazzling and exciting as trailers get. Can directors Larry and Andy Wachowski pave new territory in special effects technology (like they did with the “bullet time” effect, among others, in the original film) once again? Will they remember that a strong plot is needed to fuel the visuals? Let’s hope so. In any case, “Reloaded” looks like it’s going to be quite the ride. And with “The Matrix Revolutions” (shot simultaneously) on its way in November, it had better not disappoint.

Down With Love (May 16)
Meter: 6
I love Renee Zellweger. I love Ewan McGregor. That seems to be enough for me - let’s just hope they can manage the colorful 1960s romance angle without “Bring it On” director Peyton Reed reducing it to mere cotton candy.

Bruce Almighty (May 23)
Meter: 8
After the flop of “The Majestic”, it seems like a perfect time for Jim Carrey to return to the type of lowbrow, high-concept comedy that made him a bonafide superstar - complete with a director (Tom Shadyac, of “Ace Ventura” and “Liar Liar” fame) who helped to take him there. The premise (Carrey is endowed with God’s powers and wields them as he pleases for 24 hours) has great potential, and the supporting cast is ideal (including Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman as the man upstairs). Just let Carrey (for my money, the funniest human being on the planet) do his thing, and we can hope for something heavenly.

Finding Nemo (May 30)
Meter: 6
After two “Toy Story” movies, “A Bug’s Life” and (to a lesser extent) “Monsters, Inc”, I will see anything from the Pixar animation studios... even a remake of “Cool World”. While the talking fish tale “Nemo” looks like less of a sure thing, it does feature the voice talents of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe and Geoffrey Rush (twenty bucks says Dafoe plays a shark, or an eel, or some other scaly underwater leviathan). If you want fish to talk, those are some good people to help you do it.

JUNE

2 Fast 2 Furious (June 6)
Meter: 4
Expect more fast cars, more fast women, and the absence of a certain grunting apeman and box office dynamo named Vin Diesel in this sequel to “The Fast and the Furious”, as Paul Walker once again infiltrates the street racing underworld with nothing but his pretty-boy looks and a tank of nitrous oxide. Director John Singleton (“Boyz in the Hood”) is often a talent to watch, but will that talent translate well to a movie like this? And will the low-budget modesty and small guilty pleasures of the original resurface here? I’m doubtful.

Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd (June 13)
Meter: 3
If Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels were to reteam for a sequel to “Dumb and Dumber”, I would be among the first in line. Unfortunately, this belated “prequel” places dense duo Harry and Lloyd in high school, and casts two unknown actors (Eric Christian Olsen and Derek Richardson) to carry the torch of their inherent stupidity. The trailers are desperately unfunny and the entire enterprise seems destined to crash and burn, but hey, the supporting cast includes Eugene Levy and Luis Guzman. Nonetheless, I will be amazed if this works. Amazed.

Hollywood Homicide (June 13)
Meter: 6
I must admit, I know little about this film other than the bare minimum: Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett star in a police buddy comedy from “Bull Durham” director Ron Shelton. Sounds pretty good to me. I suppose.

From Justin to Kelly (June 13)
Meter: 1
Hey kids, they made an “American Idol” movie! Yeah, pretty exciting, hey? What’s this length of rope for, you ask? It’s nothing, I swear. Say, are there any tall tree branches around here? Hey, that’s terrific! What am doing now, you ask? I’m just fashioning a noose! Go enjoy the movie, kids.

The Hulk (June 20)
Meter: 8
Another comic book entry for the summer, this classic story of meek scientist turned raging green behemoth is sure to possess a strong dramatic undercurrent in-between destructive scenes of Hulk... getting... angry. Why? Because Ang Lee (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) is at the helm, and not some witless action director with nothing more on his mind than special effects. Speaking of those special effects... is Hulk going to look semi-realistic or more like a phony digitized cartoon interacting with supporting players Jennifer Connelly and Nick Nolte? Early trailers, which reveal too much of the metamorphisized Dr. Bruce Banner, lean distressingly to the latter. However, casting a relative unknown (talented Aussie actor Eric Bana) in the lead is a smart move, and with such an impressive pedigree, “The Hulk” should be a blockbuster worth seeking out.

Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle (June 27)
Meter: 7
"Charlie’s Angels" was guilty fun, a rowdy, cheeky, action-packed revival that knew exactly what it wanted to be. If director McG (not his real name, I’m guessing) and crew can maintain the playful tone for this sequel, then another go-around of high-tech espionage parody should be welcome. Demi Moore joins stars Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu (and one can hope for the ultimate bikini contest), while Crispin Glover returns as the hilariously weird henchman Creepy Thin Man - although former Bosley Bill Murray has bowed out for fellow funnyman Bernie Mac. Fair trade, I suppose. Let’s pray that a smug case of sequelitis doesn’t hamper what could (and hopefully should) be a brainlessly enjoyable summer escape.