The next season of movies is coming upon us, without a pause from the onslaught of this past summer?s flicks. But while the big guns are still waiting in the wings, let?s look back at what our vacation at the multiplexes was all about. In order of release, the stars of Summer 2002?

Spider-Man

During a high school field trip, a radioactive spider bites Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire of “The Cider House Rules”), transforming him into the amazing Spider-Man! He sticks to walls, spins webs, and bends himself into positions that would leave Olympic gymnasts green with envy. When he?s not battling the evil Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe of “Shadow of the Vampire”), he?s trying to win the affections of his lifelong crush Mary Jane (Kirsten Dunst of “Bring It On”). The special effects stick out like Martha Stewart at an Eminem concert. When Spider-Man performs death-defying feats, he?s obviously a nifty computer animation instead of a real man. There is redemption in the performances by the entire cast, especially Dafoe?s serious turn as the bad guy; he?s given some cliched lines as a result (“We’ll meet again Spider-Man.”). In the end, it is the able direction by Sam Raimi (the “Evil Dead” movies) and above-average screenplay of David Koepp (the first two “Jurassic Park” films) that help to smoothen out the effect of a fake Spidey.

Budget: $139 million

Gross: $404 million

DVD Release Date: November 1

Star Wars – Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Jedi Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen of “Life as a House”) romances Senator Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman of “Where the Heart Is”), while he and Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor of “Moulin Rouge”) protect her from the forces of Count Dooku (Christopher Lee of “Lord of the Rings”). None of the plot really matters, because the special effects make more of an impact than the storyline does. Stunning computer-generated imagery and action abounds, including a jaw-dropping fight between Dooku and the uber-cool Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz). The underdeveloped love story of Skywalker and Amidala makes for wooden acting that neither Christensen nor Portman could save. This movie lacks that “I-don?t-want-this-picture-to-end” feeling one would expect from the Star Wars legacy. Instead of phenomenal, Attack of the Clones is barely adequate.

Budget: $120 million

Gross: $300 million

DVD Release Date: November 12

The Sum of All Fears

Political analyst Jack Ryan (Ben Affleck of “Pearl Harbor”), is summoned by the CIA to help find a nuclear weapon before reaching its destination on American soil. By having Affleck play Ryan at an earlier age (in respect to the Tom Clancy novels upon which the film is based) in a story that was supposed to take place after the previous films in the series (“The Hunt for Red October,” “Patriot Games,” and “Clear and Present Danger”), the only chance the makers of the movie stood was to reinvent the character and his world altogether. Considering the miracle required and the creative liberties required, the result is a huge success in every way possible. Affleck gives a performance that rivals Harrison Ford (the latter two Ryan flicks) and comes a very close second to Alec Baldwin (“Red October”). Everything about the movie shines, including a resolve so incredible and poignant it has to be seen to be believed. Enough said.

Budget: $68 million

Gross: $118 million

DVD Release Date: October 29

Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

“Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” the movie, is the appendage of the novel by author Rebecca Wells. Callie Khouri makes her directorial debut after penning the phenomenal “Thelma & Louise” and the underrated “Something to Talk About.” It is the charming tale of a mother and daughter?s coming apart and a coming together with the assistance of an unorthodox group of Southern women. The movie encompasses the lives of these women, past and present, in order to unravel a mysterious truth to Siddalee Walker (Sandra Bullock of “Miss Congeniality”), who has misunderstood her unconventional mother. Yes-yes for “Ya-Ya!”

Budget: unknown

Gross: $68 million

DVD Release Date: November 5

The Bourne Identity

Jason Bourne (Matt Damon of “Good Will Hunting”) has lost all memory of his life, but finds he can dispense of aggressors of any kind, armed or unarmed, with the greatest of ease. Stuck in Europe with an innocent bystander (Franka Potente of “Blow”) and CIA operatives hunting them both with the intent to kill, the discovery of Bourne?s identity holds the key to their survival. Director Doug Liman (“Swingers” and “Go”) lends an astonishing hand to this recent cinematic adaptation of Robert Ludlum?s novel of the same name. Espionage has rarely been executed so swiftly and credibly since the days of Sean Connery and Roger Moore as James Bond. So it comes as no surprise that one of the major pieces in “Identity” is an edge-of-your-seat car chase reminiscent of the insane 007 auto pursuits. Damon and Potente are icing on the cake as the hero and female counterpart, with performances that compliment each other and the fantastic execution of the screenplay by Tony Gilroy (“Armageddon” and the romantic comedy “The Cutting Edge”).

Budget: $75 million

Gross: $116 million

Lilo & Stitch

It?s all been done before, but not with such panache and out of this world hilarity, literally. The story concentrates on Lilo, a lonely Hawaiian girl, and Stitch, an alien experiment. She?s lost in a world without parents and an older sister who struggles with raising her alone. He?s million of miles away from home, and on the run from his creator and an officer of an intergalactic military. Lilo finds a platonic soul mate in Stitch, and he finds out that his place in the universe is in her “ohana” (Hawaiian for “family”). The hand drawn animation serves as an effective visual tool for a fresh and efficient script. Lilo?s interest in Elvis Presley provides a way to communicate with Stitch, with a rocking soundtrack of original Elvis recordings and remakes by country sensation Wynonna and Swedish teen group The A*Teens. The combination of space aliens, the King, and “ohana” make for a surprising Disney masterpiece. If there are only so many ways to tell the story about outcasts who need each other, “Lilo & Stitch” is one of the best.

Budget: $80 million

Gross: $140 million

DVD Release Date: December 3

Men in Black II

Five years later, and Agent J (Will Smith of “Ali”) must find Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones of “Space Cowboys”) in order to restore his memories, which will be instrumental in saving the world once more. Such a task is no longer as fresh and interesting as the first time around. A disappointing screenplay (Robert Gordon, who penned the hilarious “Galaxy Quest”), a mediocre villain played by Lara Flynn-Boyle (TV?s “The Practice”), and a mind-numbing henchman played by Johnny Knoxville (MTV?s Jackass) are what keep this sequel from reaching its highly-anticipated potential. Director Barry Sonnenfeld, who also helmed the first “MIB,” and his cast are more than capable, but have proved some scripts are D.O.A. On the bright side, Frank the Dog steals the show, Jones doesn?t disappoint, and Smith turns in one of the best cinematic comedic performances in recent years.

Budget: $140 million

Gross: $189 million

DVD Release Date: November 26

Reign of Fire

In a post-apocalyptic future, humans struggle against fire-breathing dragons in a battle that should have audiences yearning for more. Unfortunately, most of them will yearn to throw themselves into the fire to join the dragons? victims after watching this crap-tastic piece of dragon turd. Matthew McConaughey (“The Wedding Planner”) mugs the camera as Van Zan, a butch, over-the-top soldier who teaches Quinn (Christian Bale of 2000?s “Shaft”) and his friends how to become dragonslayers. The special effects are nice, which lend themselves to a creative skydiving scene, but the movie itself is boring and features a dumb plot about how killing the only male dragon will eliminate the species? ability to reproduce. Yeah. Sure it will.

Budget: $95 million

Gross: $42 million

DVD Release Date: November 19

Austin Powers in Goldmember

Austin Powers is back, baby! It has been three years since “The Spy Who Shagged Me,” and Mike Meyers (“Shrek”) has placed his signature character in a new era with new characters. Austin visits 1975 and joins forces with past fling, Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyonce Knowles of Destiny?s Child), to stop Dr. Evil and company from destroying Earth. Returning to the big-screen are all previous Austin Powers characters, including Fat Bastard, joined by the most recent of Mike Meyer?s creations, freckle-faced Goldmember. Unique to this Powers flick are the cameos from Tom Cruise to John Travolta, and Austin?s missing-in-action spy father, Nigel Powers (Michael Caine of “The Cider House Rules”). Almost too much pizzazz, but a must see for all Powers fans.Budget: $63 million

Gross: $194 million

DVD Release Date: unknown

Signs

M. Night Shyamalan?s latest nail-biting thriller stars Mel Gibson (“We Were Soldiers”) as Graham Hess, a beleaguered ex-minister turned farmer who finds mysterious crop circles in his cornfields. Having recently lost his wife and faith, Hess is dramatically lost in dealing with the possibility of alien invasion. Typical science fiction films rely too much on special effects, but Signs relies on old-fashioned storytelling and acting, which don?t disappoint. This film exudes an aura of suspense and character rare in today?s science fiction pictures. “Signs” appears to be about an alien invasion, but it?s really about something closer to home. As Graham, his two kids Bo (Abigail Breslin) and Morgan (Rory Culkin), and his brother Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix of “Gladiator”) learn, faith can make everything clear, even in the face of total annihilation.

Budget: $62 million

Gross: $173 million

DVD Release Date: unknown

XXX

Vin Diesel (“The Fast and the Furious”) stars as Xander Cage, a.k.a. XXX. Adrenaline junkie extraordinaire, XXX is a thrill seeker who has broken one law too many. Enter NSA Agent Augustus Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson of 2000?s “Shaft”). He offers XXX a “get out of jail free” card in exchange for infiltrating a Russian crime ring. Like any other superhero, this character eventually finds himself saving the world. A film full of machismo, think 007 on steroids.

Budget: $85 million

Gross: $106 million

DVD Release Date: unknown

Blue Crush

The film attempts to capture the lackadaisical culture of the surfer genre, one female surfer, Anne Marie (Kate Bosworth of “Remember the Titans”), in particular. In order to win the next big competition and be recognized as a professional surfer-gal, she must overcome her fears from a traumatic surfing experience three years ago. Anne Marie and her girlfriends live quite the quintessential beach bum life in Oahu, Hawaii, training dubiously for the surf competition. But trouble ensues when Anne Marie makes it second priority to dry land vacationer and pro-football player Matt (Matthew Davis of “Legally Blonde”). Righteous cinematography, dismal everything else.

Budget: $15 million

Gross: $27 million

DVD Release Date: unknown

There you have it. It seems the big events weren?t as grand as expected, and in spite of the disappointments, there were some genuine entertainments for the taking. Most of which should be waiting on DVD for you at the end of this semester. Study hard, but don?t forget to visit the local domes for a breather. There will be some flicks worth catching this fall, and we?ll be here to point them out for your hard-earned free time.