Star Wars menace scares away films

The May 19 debut of the fourth episode in George Lucas’s space fantasy series is less than two weeks away, and Menace-mania has commenced in earnest. Already there has been a half-hour interview with director Lucas on the popular news show 60 Minutes; two Vanity Fair cover stories; a Premiere magazine blow-out; and regular Star Wars features in USA Today. Countless Internet websites add to the hype, with varying degrees of accuracy.

Most films with aspirations of raking in sizeable box office bonanza are steering clear of The Phantom Menace, opting to openwell before or well after the film.

Movies opening in the next weeks in the United States include a healthy mix of romantic films and thrillers, but fewer than usual big-budget movies — and an absolute dearth of action stars like Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis that usually grace Hollywood’s firmament during the US summer months.

A few films, however, are daring to meet the Star Wars challenge head-on. In what could be seen as an ultimate act of resignation, some movie executives have even taken to using the debut of The Phantom Menace to pitch their own films.

“If you see just one picture this summer, see Star Wars,” goes the pitch in the trailer for Austin Powers, the Spy Who Shagged Me, a tongue-in-cheek spy flick which opens on June 11. “But,” the ad continues hopefully, “if you see two movies…”.

Austin Powers is just one of about 130 releases hoping to be viewers’ second choice this summer. One film with the potential to outdraw any competition other than StarWars is Wild, Wild, West, a $105-million action comedy with a star-studded cast that includes Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Kenneth Brannagh and Mexican actress Salma Hayek. The movie is directed by Barry Sonnenfeld.

Another much-anticipated premiere is that of Eyes Wide Shut, the last movie directed by Stanley Kubrick, who died in March. Kubrick’s steamy tale of jealousy and sexual obsession features real-life couple Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The movie plot has been veiled in secrecy — a gimmick expected to help draw long lines when it opens in mid-July.

Other potential hits include Tarzan — the latest animated release from the Disney factory — and the chic-flick Runaway Bride, which pairs Julia Roberts and Richard Gere for the first time since their mega-hit romantic comedy Pretty Woman.

Roberts also stars in the light-hearted romance Notting Hill, in which she falls for British star Hugh Grant.

Another anticipated release is William Shakespeare’sMidsummer Night’s Dream starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kevin Kline.

Some industry analysts however believe that this summer’s movies can actually benefit by going toe-to-toe with The Phantom Menace, arguing that once viewers are in movie theatres, they are predisposed to going to see more than just one film.

Star Wars is going to create a tidal wave of business,” one studio executive told The Los Angeles Times. “It will benefit every other picture playing in a complex. Anyone who opens up in front of Star Wars will get a lot of spill-over,” he said.