Recently, I was running errands and passed by the AMC DINE-IN Theater in East Northport, previously our local Sears. If you recall, the cinema was scheduled to open in early 2020, just as COVID forced the shutdown of all public venues. To my surprise, the parking lot was comfortably full for a Thursday evening, further proof that the summer of 2021 will be closer to what we consider normal.
Theaters continue to lag on production as well as releases but the studios have been surprisingly pleased with the first big blockbuster receipts of the post-COVID era from the recently released F9: The Fast Saga. That said, the holiday weekend should provide additional revenue for the industry.
Here are some upcoming additions to the library’s collection:
A notable award-winner, Road to the Lemon Grove is a heartwarming story about a deceased Sicilian father trying to negotiate his way into heaven. But the only way in is to first go back and repair his relationship with his reluctant son, reunite his feuding family back in Sicily, and help all find love in places they never imagined.
For action/fantasy fans, check out a copy of Mortal Kombat. Hunted by the fearsome warrior Sub-Zero, MMA fighter Cole Young finds sanctuary at the temple of Lord Raiden. Training with experienced fighters Liu Kang, Kung Lao and the rogue mercenary Kano, Cole prepares to stand with Earth's greatest champions to take on the enemies from Outworld in a high-stakes battle for the universe.
An American in Paris is a musical play inspired by the 1951 film of the same name and adapted for the stage by Christopher Wheeldon. It features the gorgeous music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin, and tells the impassioned story of art, friendship, and love between American GI Jerry Mulligan and Lise, a beautiful young dancer in the “City of Light”.
You will find notables such as Ewan McGregor, Val Kilmer, Lorraine Bracco, Vincent Pastore and Paul Sorvino in The Birthday Cake. On the tenth anniversary of his father’s mysterious death, Gio brings a birthday cake prepared by his mother to a memorial celebration hosted by his Uncle Angelo, a Brooklyn Mafia boss. Gio’s life begins to change as he pieces together what happened to his father all those years ago, coming face to face with a kind of violence he has been trying to avoid his whole life.
For an evening of family fun, try The Spongebob Movie: Sponge on the Run. After Spongebob's beloved pet snail Gary is snail-napped, he and Patrick embark on an epic adventure to the Lost City of Atlantic City to bring Gary home.
July television DVD releases feature the seventh installment of New Zealand series The Brokenwood Mysteries. The affable residents may seem harmless, but killers, blackmailers, and thieves lurk in every picturesque corner. To quell the community’s alarming murder rate, Detective Mike Shepherd uses an unconventional style that contrasts with the methodical approach of his partner, Detective Kristin Sims, and the eager assistance of DC Sam Breen.
Finally, the Star Trek saga continues as the third season of Star Trek Discovery is released. After following Commander Michael Burnham into a wormhole, the U.S.S. Discovery lands in an unrecognizable world 1,000 years in the future. With Starfleet and the Federation on the brink of collapse due to a catastrophic event known as The Burn, the Discovery crew, with the help of new and mysterious allies Book and Adira, must uncover what caused The Burn and restore hope to the galaxy.
You can view the entire list of July releases here.