A web-slinging spider, a green goblin and a red-headed Kirsten Dunst kicked off Hollywood’s favorite time of year with a bang this past weekend.

The superhero action-adventure flick “Spider-Man” made a bank-busting $114 million at the box office since its’ opening Friday, smashing previous box office records and officially becoming the first hit of the 2002 summer movie season.

With finals almost over and three months of heavenly summer to look forward to, people are planning to kick back with some friends and a bucket of buttery popcorn in an air-conditioned theater to watch the best (and often most expensive) of what Hollywood has to offer.

Movie-goers certainly have their options open with more than 100 films set for release before the end of August. Which ones are worth your hard-earned summer wages and which should you steer clear? For your viewing pleasure, this Daily Orange film critic has compiled the ultimate list of must-sees and must-misses for your 2002 summer.

HIT

“Star Wars: Episode II – Attack Of the Clones”

Opens May 16

Don’t get me wrong. The second installment in George Lucas’ prequel trilogy is going to be a huge commercial success. Without a doubt. But the real question is whether die-hard fans will be satisfied after the lukewarm reception garnered by the first prequel, “The Phantom Menace.” All the early buzz indicates that “Attack Of the Clones,” which features a budding romance between Amidala, played by Natalie Portman, and future Darth Vader Anakin Skywalker, played by Hayden Christensen, as well as some sort of attack by clones, will leave audiences counting down the days until the next episode. And, no worries. There are far fewer Jar Jar Binks this time around.

MISS

“Enough”

Opens May 24

R&B diva Jennifer Lopez returns to the big screen in “Enough,” a drama dealing with the touchy subject of domestic abuse. In the film, Lopez plays a waitress whose dream marriage turns into a nightmare when her husband turns abusive and she must go into hiding to protect her daughter and herself. Unfortunately, the movie detours into unrealistic territory by making the husband an almost supernatural force in his stalking and having Lopez’s character physically train herself to battle her husband to death. Further, it’s too hard to swallow feisty Lopez as the battered wife and “Once and Again” softie Billy Campbell as the ruthless abuser.

MISS

“Bad Company”

Opens June 7

Yet another action/comedy buddy movie, as if we haven’t seen enough already. Who would have thought that Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins would sink so low? In this flick, comedian Chris Rock plays a wisecracking ticket scalper who learns that his twin brother, an operative for the CIA, was murdered while on assignment. In order to catch a band of terrorists, Rock is then forced to take his place with the help of a senior officer, played by Hopkins. This movie is all been there/done that, so go in expecting plenty of tired action sequences, fish-out-of-water jokes and the usual banter between a mismatched pair. Word from the wise: it’s never a good sign when a movie gets pushed back from its original release date.

HIT

“Minority Report”

Opens June 21

Combine Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise and acclaimed director Steven Spielberg and you get “Minority Report,” a new science-fiction, action-adventure film that sounds nothing like last year’s bizarre “A.I.” Set in the near distant future, Cruise plays a police officer future who works for the Pre-Crime unit, a branch of the force that predicts crimes and arrests the perpetrators before they commit them. But when he is accused himself, he must go on the run to prove his innocence. Sounds like “The Fugitive,” but sci-fi twists keep things interesting, like chase scenes using jet packs and creepy mechanical spiders that surround Cruise in one scene. If all the elements come together, “Minority Report” will make for one fun ride.

MISS

“Juwanna Mann”

Opens June 21

Otherwise known as “The Dennis Rodman Story.” This lukewarm basketball comedy, one of two due scheduled for summer runs, is about NBA bad boy Miguel Nunez Jr. who gets thrown out of the league for causing too much controversy. With no other means to support himself, he slips on a wig and a training bra and joins the WNBA only to fall for new teammate Vivica A. Fox. The setup lends itself to some obvious cross-dressing jokes and situations for our untested lead to stumble through. It’s been bounced from release date to release date. And it’s never good to see Lil’ Kim as a co-star. Hollywood really dropped the basketball with this one.

HIT

“Austin Powers in Goldmember”

Opens July 26

Spy movies are hitting the big screen this summer like crazy, and that’s just groovy with me. This go-round it’s the eagerly awaited third installment from the hilarious Austin Powers franchise. Mike Myers returns to action as shagadelic Austin Powers and arch-nemesis Dr. Evil, among others, in what is likely the last in this swingin’ series. The plot digs time travel, Austin’s kidnapped father and a new villain named Goldmember, but it’s really just another excuse for more antics from our favorite characters, including Mini-Me and Fat Bastard. And adding some soul and spice to the film is supporting actress Beyonce Knowles from Destiny’s Child. Yeah, baby, yeah!

MISS

“The Country Bears”

Opens July 26

This movie makes me sad. I’ve seen films based on everything from television shows and novels to comic books and commercials. But an amusement park attraction? That’s just wrong, especially when it’s the beloved Country Bears’ Jamboree at Disney World. In this big-screen adventure, the Bears are no longer at the top of their musical game, torn apart by big egos and a lack of honey. It takes the efforts of an eager young fan named (God help us) Beary to reunite the band. Also on hand is creep-extraordinaire Christopher Walken as, obviously, the villain. Frankly, I don’t think a 20 minute kiddie attraction has what it takes to entertain for two hours on the big screen.

HIT

“XXX”

Opens August 3

Don’t get too excited—she ain’t a porno. Just the next best thing: a new action-adventure flick starring Vin Diesel from last year’s blockbuster “The Fast and the Furious.” In it, Diesel plays Xander “XXX” Cage, an extreme sports superstar with a bad attitude who is recruited by the government to become a secret agent. This allows Diesel to take part in some incredible action sequences, which include surfing a Corvette over a bridge and making some death-defying leaps on a motorcycle. Co-stars Samuel L. Jackson, as the agent who recruits Xander, and Eve, as one of Xander’s many ladies, up the coolness factor. Expect “XXX” to be the “Dr. No” of a new generation.

HIT

“Signs”

Opens August 3

M. Night Shyamalan is the master of hair-raising spookiness. After delighting audiences with “The Sixth Sense” and “Unbreakable,” he’s back this summer with a movie about … crop circles. Yeah, sounds boring, but in Shyamalan’s hands, “Signs” promises to be another supernatural creep-out. The film stars Mel Gibson as a jaded pastor and father of two whose faith is called into question when he begins investigating mysterious crop circles that have (pardon the pun) cropped up in his corn fields. Not much else is known, but that’s a definite plus. “Signs” has done a good job of keeping mum about its extraterrestrial plot points. That should ensure that the film’s audience will be surprised and entertained come opening day.

MISS

“Master of Disguise”

Opens August 16

Formerly known as Garth, “Saturday Night Live” alum Dana Carvey has been keeping a low profile the last couple of years. Unfortunately, the movie he chose for his comeback will deliver more groans than giggles. In “Master of Disguise,” Carvey plays a slow-minded waiter who discovers he was born with the ability to transform into a variety of lame disguises, ranging from a turtle to a cherry pie. He must then use these talents to save his kidnapped parents. It’s supposed to be edgy PG-entertainment, but the sight gags in “Master of Disguise” won’t keep audiences of any age entertained for long.

HIT

“A Guy Thing”

Opens August 23

This is my nominee for sleeper hit of the summer: the movie nobody sees coming, but everyone ends up talking about. “A Guy Thing” is about a guy named Paul, played by Jason Lee, who wakes up in bed beside a stripper, Julia Stiles. But to his chagrin, Paul is set to marry Selma Blair in less than a week. Hilarity ensues as Paul tries to keep his affair a secret and decide whether marriage is really for him. Lee, who always plays the “best friend” in every movie, tackles the role of the the leading man with vigor. “A Guy Thing” should appeal to both gross-out and romantic comedy fans alike.

Christopher Reilly is a sophomore magazine major. E-mail him at passpopcorn@yahoo.com

Published on May 8, 2002 at 12:00 pm