You know summer has arrived when there is talk about secret agents, historical conspiracies, men in tights and talking cars. Last year’s summer movie season was a financial disaster for Hollywood. Box Office Mojo estimates earnings dropped six percent in 2005. A familiar crop of Tom Cruise, Ron Howard, Orlando Bloom and Wolfgang Petersen lead the charge into the dog days of summer with what they hope will be hits: “Mission: Impossible III,” “Poseidon,” “The Da Vinci Code” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.” Is it a surprise that many of the films are either remakes or sequels? The same formula failed last year for Hollywood. Actually, the biggest bombs of the year, “Kingdom of Heaven,” “The Island” and “Stealth,” were original movies. There were only three original movies to break the top ten from the summer season: “Madagascar,” “Wedding Crashers” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Summer doesn’t start until June 21, but in Hollywood “Mission: Impossible III” kicks off the season early. Special agent Ethan Hunt has officially retired from the Impossible Mission Force to train new recruits. But he’s brought back into the foray of espionage and explosions to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend from the clutches of another super-villain (played by Oscar winner Philip Seymour-Hoffman). The catch: she doesn’t even know Ethan is a secret agent. “Lost” mastermind J.J. Abrams is bringing “M:I:III” to the big screen. Wolfgang Petersen is resurrecting a sinking ship. Well, it’s more like a capsized ship. The director of “Troy” has finished production on his high seas disaster “Poseidon.” This remake of the Gene Hackman thriller follows a group of passengers on an ocean liner that was capsized by a tsunami. The ship is slowly sinking and time is running out. So the survivors, lead by Josh Lucas (“Stealth”) and Kurt Russell, must navigate their way through the maze of passageways to get to the surface. Richard Dreyfuss costars. Ron Howard may have been shut out of the Oscars last year, but he will definitely be back in force this year with “The Da Vinci Code.” Starring a laundry list of actors including Tom Hanks, Ian McKellen, Paul Bettany and Jean Reno, the thriller traces a conspiracy that could completely change history, as we know it. Alfred “throw me the idol” Molina also stars. This is an adaptation of the best-selling, controversial, novel from award winning author Dan Brown. The tide of super hero movies had subsided recently but is coming back in full force this year with two old favorites. Brett Ratner (“Rush Hour”) takes Bryan Singer’s place as director for the upcoming “X-Men: The Last Stand.” “The Last Stand” is the third in a trilogy of “X-Men” movies about a divided society, and the mutants that are being persecuted. A familiar enemy, Magneto, resolves to start the war against the humans and take the planet for the Mutants. Professor Xavier and his students offer the only chance the world has to be saved. Bryan Singer ditched “X-Men” to take on another comic book hero. “Superman Returns” marks the first “Superman” movie since the death of Christopher Reeve. Newcomer Brandon Routh stars as the “man of steel” with Kate Bosworth starring as the love of his life, Lois Lane. Superman has been gone for many years and returns to find Lane has moved on with another guy. Lex Luthor, Superman’s archenemy, is ready to pick another fight. The poster-boy for Rogaine believes he’s finally found a way to render Superman powerless. Not only does Mr. Blue Tights have to combat Mr. Clean, but he also has to decide whether or not Lane is truly out of his reach. Kevin Spacey stars as Lex Luthor. Clips of Marlon Brando as “Ja-Rel” are spliced into the movie. Captain Jack Sparrow is back in “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.” This time, the eccentric pirate owes a blood debt to Davey Jones and it’s time to pay up. To avoid paying, Sparrow enlists the help of young Will Turner and his bride-to-be Elizabeth. Their adventures lead them to another high stakes battle against supernatural forces. Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley also star. If you’re not a fan of the traditional summer action vehicle, there are a handful of family movies. The makers of “Shrek” have finished a new animated comedy called “Over the Hedge” with a star filled list of talent including tough guy Bruce Willis as a devilish raccoon. A band of animals join forces to invade the city in search of endless amounts of food. Denny Crane, I mean, William Shatner, stars as well. Paul Newman might be getting old, but he still has some power under his hood; the computer generated image hood, that is. Newman stars as Doc Hudson in the animated family comedy “Cars” from Pixar. Owen Wilson voices Lightning McQueen, a rookie car on a cross-country trip to enter a prestigious race in California. His travels bring him to Radiator Springs, where he meets Doc Hudson and learns there are more important things in life than wins and losses. Analysts are expecting a bigger turnout this year for movies. There is certainly a better crop of movies to choose from. So if you’re sunburned beyond recognition and need to do something other than sit around the house, check out a movie at the theater. Unlike last year, you might not be disappointed.