At its peak the summer movie mania is in full swing. “Transformers” is out front with over $300 million in ticket sales, while a much smaller movie, “Hangover,” is more than $200 million. I have a feeling Hangover didn’t have such a large budget though.  

This past weekend “Bruno” was awarded the top position at the box office. It can now be confirmed that movies are targeting the lowest common denominator. Funny is funny while talent is talent, and Sacha Baron Cohen has been endowed with both, but there is a line that an entertainer crosses that ultimately puts them in the category of gratuitous. Congratulations Sacha.

It is painfully funny to see Bruno try to feel comfortable around manly men on a hunting trip, or to interview a known terrorist. He puts himself in these awkward positions and we squirm in our seat. However, the X-Rated scenes that seem to only generate an R rating are why I will not see this movie again, nor will I suggest it to any friends of mine. Sorry for being such an old fuddy-duddy, but this kind of thing is a slippery slope.

“Ice-Age” also premiered this week and if you have any doubts that this third movie in the series will just fall flat like most movies in a series, then this one is the exception.

I’m a bit confused, however, as to the time-line of this movie as it relates to the dinosaurs and the ice age, but then again, we have had at least 8 ice ages. They conveniently say that an ice age follows a time of extreme heat, or some say that a warm earth is a way of counter-balancing previous ice ages. So, jumping off the movie band wagon onto the global warming soap box I have to ask the question:

What caused all the other ice ages if they occurred long before man even invented the first internal combustion engine? I’m just asking.

Back to our regularly scheduled program. I love movies like this even though my kids have since outgrown them. I don’t want to grow up and forget the joy of laughing at a character like Sid the Sloth.

Laughter does not have to come from full frontal nudity, Bruno, thank you. Films like “Ice Age” and “Toy Story” are best enjoyed with family, kids, and friends. Even this weekly movie buff can see the charm and entertainment in contemporary cartoons. I’m not alone either. Ask any fan of “King of the Hill,” “Family Guy,” and yes, even “The Simpsons.” I rest my case.

“Harry Potter: The Half Blood Prince.” This darker more serious chapter in the series sheds light on the beginnings of the dark lord while Ron, Harry and Hermione still struggle with teenage drama. It’s a difficult balancing act. If I could have picked the director I would have went with David Chase, the creator of the Sopranos. Think about it. What show better depicts the life and drama of a north Jersey family that happens to have a dark secret? The parallels are uncanny. Think about it.

With Sirius Black dead Harry is faced with a future pent on revenge. Not only does he want to, or have to based on the prophecy, kill Voldemort, he now has Bellatrix Lestange in his cross hairs. Gone are the days of wondering if Harry was making up the story that the dark lord is back among the living.

Harry now has the weight of responsibility on his shoulders and it is his bravery that keeps him going. Among other things like grades, Harry is also falling for Ron’s little sister Ginny. I think we all thought Harry and Hermione would wind up together, but it’s actually Ron who is tugging at her heart strings.

I could go on and on about the book and how it translates to the big screen. They do a fine job of it. That may sound very half hearted, but if truth be told, besides the fact that movies never stand up against a good book, the movie lacked a certain suspenseful edge compare to its predecessors. This was a long movie with lots of dialogue and too much ground to cover. I think that is why they have decided to make the last book into 2 movies. It may have something to do with profit, but I’ve read all the books and I have to agree that it will take 2 movies to get the job done right.

Until Next Time I’ll See You At The Theatre.