See You in September

Summer traditionally means escapist movies, so it's only right I look into some that may interest crime and mystery fans. Summer used to be a slow time on TV, but this summer there are several new crime series to tide you over until the fall. I wrap up with a favorite show from my childhood finally coming to DVD.

Movies

Iron Man 2 - Opened May 7. Having done the unexpected and revealed himself as Iron Man, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) faces pressure from the U.S. government to turn over the Iron Man armor. He must also contend with a new armored foe, Whiplash (Mickey Rourke), and the fact that the miniature reactor that saved his life is rapidly killing him. While many sequels fly out of control, Iron Man 2 stays well grounded in very human problems.

Robert Downey Jr. is still a natural playing Stark. Don Cheadle is a better, more confrontational James Rhodes than Terrence Howard, who I felt played the role too softly. The movie also sets up Marvel's upcoming Thor and Avengers movies nicely. My only complaint is the soundtrack. I thought the first movie's soundtrack was excellent. The sequel's seemed ordinary.

Robin Hood - Opened May 14. In the works for several years, this is intended as a gritty prequel to the classic folklore, along the same lines as Batman Begins. While fans may be attracted by Ridley Scott, Russell Crowe, and Cate Blanchett, there is reportedly very little to recognize about the classic tales in this movie. If one doesn't serve the story most people know, how popular can a movie be?

The A-Team - Opens June 11. I've been looking forward to this movie since my spring column. While the characters have been updated from Vietnam veterans to Iraqi war veterans, the preview seem to capture the tone of the original series. Starring Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley, and Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Jonah Hex - Opens June 18. Josh Brolin takes on the role of DC Comics disfigured Western bounty hunter. I've previously seen Hex in the recent Batman and Justice League cartoons. I'm also interested as a comic book and Western fan.

Knight and Day - Opens June 25 - Tom Cruise plays Miller, a secret agent who goes on a blind date with lovelorn June Havens, inadvertently putting her in danger as he protects the key to an infinite power source.

Salt - Opens July 23. Angelina Jolie stars as Evelyn Salt, a CIA officer suddenly on the run after a defector alleges she is a KGB sleeper agent. I'm a fan of most of Jolie's movies, but I also want to see this one because of writer Brian Helgeland ( L.A. Confidential ), director Phillip Noyce ( Patriot Games ), a supporting cast including Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

The Other Guys - Opens August 6. Will Ferrell and Donnie Wahlberg star as two NYPD cops who rarely see action. Idolizing her cops played by Samuel L. Jackson and Dwayne Johnson, they jump on a chance to prove themselves.

TV

The Good Guys - Previewed on FOX May 18. Series airs regularly beginning June 7 (9PM). Colin Hanks and Bradley Whitford ( The West Wing ) star as two mismatched cops in dead-end jobs who deal with routine crimes that end up having big implications. I'm curious to see how Matt Nix, creator of Burn Notice , tackles a more conventional comedy.

Memphis Beat - Premiering on TNT June 22 (10PM ET). Jason Lee ( My Name is Earl ) stars as Dwight Hendricks, a guitar-playing cop who moonlights as an Elvis impersonator. The tone of the show seems mostly dramatic with some moments of humor. Alfre Woodard co-stars as Hendricks' superior and and D.J. Qualls as his partner.

Rizzoli and Isles - Premiering on TNT July 12 (10PM ET). Based on Tess Gerritsen's popular novel series, Angie Harmon ( Law & Order ) stars as Boston PD Det. Jane Rizzoli, who often consults medical examiner Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander. NCIS ). As a fan of both stars as well as crime shows based on books, I have high hopes for this one.

Covert Affairs - Premiering on USA July 13 (10PM ET). Piper Perabo stars as CIA trainee Annie Walker, sent into the field as part of an operation targeting her ex-boyfriend. Early on, this show sounds like a cross between Alias and Burn Notice . We'll see if it stands out in USA's already very successful lineup.

The Glades - Premiering on A&E July 13 (10PM ET). Matt Passmore stars as ex-Chicago homicide cop Jim Longworth, relocated to Florida. Longworth seems similar to unconventional thinkers like Gregory House and Michael Raines. The series intends to show Longworth's life away from the job as well. I've only seen previews so far, but I may prefer this show to Memphis Beat .

DVD

Tales of the Gold Monkey: The Complete Series - Out on DVD June 8. This short-lived series made a huge impression on me as a child. Stephen Collins ( 7th Heaven ) starred as 1930s South Seas pilot Jake Cutter, caught between Allied and Nazi machinations. Drawing comparisons to 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark, the show was actually conceived by Don Bellisario in the 1970s, but network executives weren't sure a period drama would succeed and gave it a chance only after Raiders ' success.