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Lake Effect Segments

Supermen, Heroes, Aliens, and Monsters: This Summer's Movies

One of the great summer pastimes in America is to go cool off in the movie theater.  But is there anything good to see this year?

Dave Luhrssen, the arts & entertainment editor at the Shepherd Express Weekly and Lake Effect’s film contributor, joins Lake Effect’s Dan Harmon to discuss some of the films that will be out this summer.

Art movies include:

Before Midnight—Part of the Before Sunrise and Before Sunset triology, the movie reconnects Jesse and Celine while in Greece.

I’m So Excited—A screwball Spanish comedy about airline passengers being in a holding cell who never seem to leave.

Bling Ring—A crime drama about a Los Angeles teenage gang steals from celebrities, like Lindsay Lohan, and gets their kicks from stealing from well-known people. This is based on a true story about fame-obsessed teenagers.

Way,Way Back—Steve Carell is reliving his teenage years through his girlfriend’s 14-year old son, Duncan.

Blockbuster movies include:

Man of Steel—A darker version of Superman by director Christopher Nolan, the man who resuscitated the Batman movies. He wants to revisualize Superman to make him a little more interesting.

Monsters University—The prequel to Pixar’s Monster’s Inc. that shows a rocky beginning to Mike and Sully's friendship.

Lone Ranger—The western television show classic that is on the big screen. Luhrssen finds it interesting that Johnny Depp, a non-Native American, is playing Tonto.

After Earth—Will and Jaden Smith are aliens who make a crash landing on a desolate Earth. Cypher (Will Smith) is injured and Katai must figure out how to signal the galaxy for help.

Dan Harmon was one of the original members of Lake Effect (formerly At Ten). He started at WUWM in November of 1998 and left December of 2015 after 17 years of production.
David Luhrssen is arts and entertainment editor of the Shepherd Express, co-founder of the Milwaukee International Film Festival and co-author of A Time of Paradox: America Since 1890. He is the winner of the Pace Setter Award for contributions to Milwaukee's film community from the Milwaukee Independent Film Society. David Luhrssen has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design and Milwaukee Area Technical College.