What is the most successful movie studio of all-time? Is it Warner Brothers with its classic dramas dating back to Casablanca. 20th Century Fox with its string of blockbuster summer spectaculars? Paramount and its legion of big-time studio stars? MGM and its classic archive of musicals? Nope. Not them or Universal or RKO or Miramax or even Disney. The one studio that has a better track record than all of them combined? It’s Pixar, the little animation studio that can’t miss.

This independent company essentially invented 3D computer animation and since turning that art into a full-fledged entertainment studio, has put together the greatest run in Hollywood history. They’ve created 8 feature-length animated films since 1995 and when it comes to both box office and critical success, they nailed them all. Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monster’s Inc., Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Cars, and Ratatouille. They are a perfect 8-for-8.

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What are you doing looking for movie suggestions, when it’s so beautiful outside! It’s now officially summer, according to the scientists and everything, so the last thing you should be doing this weekend is hanging out in dark, artificial climate for two hours at a time. Plus, grilled hot dogs make way better snacks than stale popcorn and Milk Duds.

But, you may be saying to yourself, “I have to watch movies all the time and how can I see them when I’m outside?” Well, you’re in luck because few cities give you more and better options for watching films al fresco than New York. How jam packed is The Big Apple’s outdoor movie scene? It’s so big, you actually have to go to New Jersey to see some of them. Imagine that! Get the low down on the city’s best summer screenings below.

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It’s a pretty spectacular feat for one director to be responsible for one of the best movies of the last 10 years and to have also made, in that same time span, one of the absolute worst movies … maybe ever. M. Night Shyamalan is the lucky man to hold that distinction. It seems like forever ago, but in 1999 he blew away the world with The Sixth Sense, a movie that annoying people everywhere still claim to have known the secret to even though they didn’t. But the secret was not even the point. It was brilliant filmmaking that nearly everyone was impressed by and enjoyed. Even watching it today, it is still moving and powerful.

On the other hand, it was just a few weeks ago when sitting in the theater for another film that a trailer for “The Happening” ran. The crowd sat quietly at attention until the words “from the director of The Sixth Sense” appeared on the screen. Then they broke out into laughter, because the very name of that same director–the one who had wowed them all those years ago–has turned into a punch line.

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Whew! Let’s take a breather, huh? The first few weeks of the summer season have been a whirlwind, but this week we finally get to slow down a bit and gather ourselves before the next wave of blockbusters washes up on shore. The only major studio release I see on tap for this week is the one where Adam Sandler and Jack Black play a team of undercover zookeepers who specialize in giving haircuts to panda bears. It sure sounds wacky, but I think I’ll pass. Besides Billy Madison is probably on TBS at some point this weekend, so you can just watch that one more time instead.

Or why not use the weekend to catch up on anything you may have missed from the big May releases. (Translation: Go see Iron Man again.) Or if you’re stuck in New York this muggy summer weekend, take the opportunity to visit one of our small indie theaters–Mongol, a Genghis Khan biopic that looks interesting–or take our number one recommendation, a midnight showing of Zardoz at IFC Center. What is Zardoz, you ask? And why should you see it? Well, if you Google Image Search “Sean Connery Zardoz” this is the first result …

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I searched high and low this week, scanning all the coming attractions and theater schedules and trailers that are out there hoping to find even one movie that might have some sort of local angle for New Yorkers to enjoy. You know what? There aren’t any! There’s absolutely no movie this week that was shot here, or takes place here, or has any sort of relevance or commentary on any of the five boroughs or the people who live here.

Nope. Not one!

Oh … unless maybe … you want to count one.

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Before we get to this week’s movies, I want you to watch this video. Be sure to watch the whole thing, because this is important.

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You know how every once in a while, you dread seeing a particular movie, even as you understand that you have no choice but to plunk down your money and go? That’s how I feel this week about Prince Caspian , the second installment in The Chronicles of Narnia film adaptations.

I absolutely loved the books as a kid, reading each of them multiple times and "Caspian" always ranked among my favorites. But the first effort to bring the land to 21st century CGI-life, The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe , was … not disappointing, so much as … underwhelming. It was non-offensive to hardcore Narnia fans, it covered all the bases, and even had a few "Wow!" moments, but it didn’t open your eyes the way you hope a film that important (to you) will. I saw it, I didn’t hate it. The end.

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I almost decided to skip this week’s coming attractions, because … what’s the point? You’re all going to see Iron Man again anyway. Who could blame you really? It’s an incredible action movie, with great special effects, great acting and a smart, well-written story. See, Michael Bay! It can be done! I saw it on the Ziegfeld Theater’s giant screen (which I highly recommend) and the audience applauded on multiple occasions during the film. And not just the Marvel Comics fan boys, either. (Ok, it was mostly them, but even I silently cheered for Robert Downey Jr.) So see it again; you know you want to. (Especially if you forgot to stay until the closing credits were finished. Hint, hint.)

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So, remember what I said about the new David Mamet movie and how awesome it sounded and how you should definitely check it out when it comes to your theater? Well, uh … nevermind all that. I caught a screening of it last weekend and this movie actually had less coherence and dramatic structure than an actual mixed-martial arts match. A lot fewer kicks to the head as well, which was a tremendous disappointment. It was so muddled and ridiculous that it actually made me reconsider David Mamet’s entire career.

As a playwriter/screenwriter, his talent can’t be questioned. “The Verdict”, “The Untouchables”, “Glengarry Glen Ross” (play and movie), “Oleanna”, (the play, more than the movie) and “Wag The Dog” are all great. It’s when he takes over as writer/director that things go a little haywire. “The Spanish Prisoner”? Somewhat entertaining (i.e., very well acted) but I defy anyone to explain what the hell happened in that movie. “The Winslow Boy”? It was rated G, for pete’s sake. “State and Main” is actually pretty brilliant, but “Heist” was another mixed-up mess. So after seeing yet another conspiracy film filled with ludicrous and incomprehensible twists, I found myself longing for another “Karate Kid” sequel and wondering if this previously unassailable talent had any idea what he was doing in the first place. I’ll certainly think twice before proclaiming his genius again (the obnoxious commercials for that horrible Nathan Lane play, don’t help either) or before putting one of his features on the must see list.

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Although it isn’t quite May yet, the summer movie season starts now. Okay, maybe it’s more like the pre-season games before the real thing begins, but the studios have shrugged off their post-awards show winter doldrums and have started rolling out the movies they really care about–or at least the ones that can get a respectable opening before the real blockbusters begin. (See: Iron Man, next week!) Let’s take a look at some of the highlights from this weekend’s new releases.

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