Opens 10 July
Hellboy 2
Dir Guillermo del Toro 2008. USA. Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, James Dodd.
The new star-studded action flick from Mexican fantasist Guillermo del Toro takes up where the original Hellboy left off. Ron Perlman reprises his role as the superstrong devil with his horns sawed off.

Opens 17 July
The Dark Knight
Dir Christopher Nolan 2008. USA. Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman.
Gotham City burns again in this sequel to the hugely popular Batman Begins, featuring Heath Ledger in his final role as the unhinged, psychotic Joker, locked in a battle of wits and wills with Christian Bale’s brooding Batman. Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman all return, as does visionary British director Christopher Nolan. New to the mix this time are Aaron Eckhart as District Attorney Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face, and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Bruce Wayne’s new love interest, Rachel Dawes. Shadowy and disturbing, The Dark Knight is an action adventure for the 21st century.

Opens 31 July
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Dir Eric Brevig 2008. USA. 92 mins. Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem.
Action man Brendan Fraser is returning to Mummy territory with an update of the Jules Verne’s classic Journey to the Center of the Earth. Fraser, who starred in fantasy adventures The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, will play a scientist who travels to Iceland to investigate a volcanic sensor in the new film. While there, he and his nephew become trapped in a cave by a raging storm, with their only means of escape through the Earth’s core.

Opens 31 July
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Dir Rob Cohen 2008. USA. Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh.
Here he is again: seven years on, Brendan Fraser is back to kick Egyptian mummy ass as explorer Rick O’Connell. Unfortunately, the beautiful Rachel Weisz will not be reprising her role as Evelyn Carnahan O’Connell. With Jet Li as the resurrected Han Emperor and Michelle Yeoh as a double-crossing sorceress, the question remains whether the Mummy is now best left buried.