The Premise Adapted from a Ted Hughes novel, young Hogarth Hughes befriends a 50-foot robot he finds near his Maine home and tries to protect him from the adults who try to destroy him.

What to Look For Directed by The Simpsons and King of the Hill alum Brad Bird and featuring the vocal talents of Jennifer Aniston and Harry Connick Jr., this isn't your standard Disney fare. With some of the best non-Disney animation to date and a solid screenplay blessed by Ted Hughes before his death, this movie will appeal to adults and kids alike. Internet snoops have reported religious experiences during test screenings, meaning The Iron Giant could be the first truly epic animated film. Hopefully, Warner Bros. Will see its (rumored) potential and beef up its almost non-existent marketing campaign. The Buzz If the early word on the street is correct, then The Iron Giant will be an animated equal of Indiana Jones.

THE 13TH WARRIOR   Directed by John McTiernan   Starring Antonio Banderas, Omar Sharif   August 13

The Premise A remake of Michael Crichton's adventure thriller Eaters of the Dead, Braveheart-esque with a budget to match.

What to Look For Michael Crichton fever at its most expensive--the film cost well over $100 million. Antonio Banderas stars as an emissary kidnapped by warriors. Banderas soon joins the tribe in their battle against these strange mysterious creatures (sci-fi anyone?) that consume everything in their paths. The still aristocratic Omar Sharif (of Funny Girl fame) also stars. Release has been delayed several months because of flaws in production. It's also been rumored that the original director John McTiernan was let go in the middle of filming with Dr. Crichton himself taking over directorial duties. The Buzz Blood. Antonio Banderas. Blood. Vikings. Antonio Banderas. $100 million budget. Antonio Banderas. Will this film do well? The proof is in the "pudding."

MICKEY BLUE EYES   Directed by Kelly Makin   Starring Hugh Grant, James Caan   August 13

The Premise Hugh Grant stars in this romantic comedy, playing a man who gets tangled in criminal mishaps through his girlfriend Gina's (Jeanne Tripplehorn) Mob-boss father (James Caan). Grant masquerades as gangster Mickey Blue Eyes and reluctantly gets sucked into the Family.

What to Look For Outlook: not so good. Holly wood seems determined to make movie after movie about the nearly-impotent Mafia, and the idea has been predictably overused in such recent films as Analyze This and Mafia. Grant will probably bumble and stutter his way through yet another film, while Caan gets another turn at his Oscar-nominated Godfather role. Director Kelly Makin has only the flop Brain Candy: Kids in the Hall among her credits, and test screenings have been decidedly negative, citing a script devoid of laughs and a tired premise among its shortcomings.

The Buzz Mickey Blue Eyes will probably be merely one among the many trite, cutesy and forgettable romantic comedies churned out by studios in the past few years. Let's hope that Grant's other summer movie, Notting Hill with Julia Roberts, fares better.

MYSTERY ALASKA   Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld   Starring Will Smith, Kevin Kline, Kenneth   August 13

The Premise Corrupted hockey team threatens to destroy a small Alaska town when it challenges the local team to a match. Mighty Ducks II meets Dangerous Liasons.

What to Look For Everyone looks like chalky-white popsicles in this movie, and rightfully so; the town Mystery, Alaska is the namesake of this movie, which stars Hank Azaria, Mary McCormack and Russell Crowe, is situated in the midst of the barren land of glaciers that is our 49th state. Hockey is a huge sport in this lonely town, and it seems that the whole pride of the town rests in the gentle cradle of the hockey stick. But the purity of the game is threatened when the amateur team is challenged to a match by the New York Rangers. Can Mystery prove itself to the world and maintain its small town dignity? Your guess. Sex scandals, sordid secrets and snooping townspeople appease non-hockey fans.

The Buzz David Kelley, who with Sean O'Byrne wrote this screenplay, has proved to be a brilliant and clever screenwriter with his Ally McBeal and The Practice and might be able to salvage the otherwise cliched plot line. Should be an interesting catch especially for sticky summer days when all the ice looks pleasant. Almost.   Introduction by Angela K. Lin   Previews contributed by Rheanna Bates,   Jason Clarke, Emily Dill, William Gnienapp,   Richard Ho, Ben Lytal, Patty Li, Daniel Zweifach