Summer Movie Preview

Forget "Speed Racer." The summer movie season isn't a rapid sprint as much as it is a grueling marathon. The key to surviving it is to pace yourself.

To help, we once again offer our summer movie hype index, an attempt to separate the Hollywood buzz from the heartland reality.

The hype index compares the excitement surrounding some of the highest-profile releases of the summer with the chances that they will live up to those hopes, rating each category between 1 and 10.

If you can't take in every big movie over the next few months, read on to find out when might be the best time for a pit stop.

'Iron Man'

Hype index: 8

Reality check: 6

Pros: That trailer, which plays up unlikely star Robert Downey Jr.'s wit.

Cons: Despite the sci-fi tinged "Zathura," his debut behind the camera, director Jon Favreau is better known as an actor ("Swingers").

Bottom line: Outside of Batman and Spider-Man, comic-book properties are notoriously iffy propositions. Interesting casting defined those two successes, though, and could define this. (Opens May 2.)

'Speed Racer'

Hype index: 9

Reality check: 5

Pros: After revolutionizing the action movie with their "Matrix" trilogy, directing siblings Andy and Larry Wachowski have created an eye-popping version of the Japanese animated television series.

Cons: Is there anything to the movie beyond its visual scheme?

Bottom line: Remember how the Wachowskis went out with "The Matrix Revolutions"? (May 9.)

'The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian'

Hype index: 7

Reality check: 7

Pros: C.S. Lewis' "Prince Caspian" was a streamlined (in other words, movie-friendly) entry in his fantasy series.

Cons: After "The Spiderwick Chronicles" and "The Golden Compass," are we suffering from children's fantasy fatigue?

Bottom line: The strong storytelling will solidify this as a junior "Lord of the Rings." (May 16.)

'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'

Hype index: 10

Reality check: 8

Pros: The trailer suggests that director Steven Spielberg and producer George Lucas - despite nearly 20 years since the last installment - haven't missed a beat.

Cons: Only Lucas' "Star Wars" prequels came with higher expectations.

Bottom line: This should deliver for those fans who don't hyperventilate from anticipation. (May 22.)

'Sex and the City'

Hype index: 7

Reality check: 4

Pros: The entire cast from the beloved HBO series is back.

Cons: For a show so in love with fashion, isn't this coming out a few seasons too late?

Bottom line: The zeitgeist has moved on. (May 30.)

'WALL*E'

Hype index: 8

Reality check: 8

Pros: It's from Pixar Animation Studios ("Ratatouille," "The Incredibles," "Finding Nemo").

Cons: The title robot brings up unfortunate memories of "Short Circuit."

Bottom line: It's from Pixar Animation Studios. (June 27.)

'The Dark Knight'

Hype index: 9

Reality check: 8

Pros: Director Christopher Nolan not only brings back Christian Bale, but adds the late Heath Ledger as The Joker and Aaron Eckhart as Harvey Dent.

Cons: Follows awfully closely on the heels of Ledger's unexpected death.

Bottom line: If early footage is any indication, Ledger will have left us with one wild final performance. (July 18.)

Read more by movie editor Josh Larsen at LarsenOnFilm.com.