Suddenly, this summer by MATTHEW HAYS Though the city's most avid filmgoers are undoubtedly trying to take in Fantasia or Comedia films, there is the usual crop of big-studio summer fare to consider. And seeing as it is now mid-summer, a taking stock of the summer's big releases is in order. In my estimation, the saddest casualty of the season has been the resounding failure of The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle to reach a broad audience. Speculation about why the $80-million film sunk so rapidly runs the gamut, with most onlookers contending the original show, which ran from '59-'64, was just too off-kilter for the kiddies of today. I stand by my initial assessment of this movie: I thought it perfectly captured the spirit of the original program. It's unusual that a TV-to-movie adaptation works this well. My only hope is that the film will find another life on video, as is occasionally the case. Now for the rundown of all the others. Thus far, the good summer releases are: What Lies Beneath, Chicken Run, Me, Myself & Irene, and X-Men. The duds: Battlefield Earth, Mission: Impossible 2, The Perfect Storm, Shaft and Scary Movie. I'm reserving judgment on Ridley Scott's Gladiator, as it appears this film is rapidly becoming something of a Starship Troopers; with critics ringing their hands over the film's gratuitous violence and the meaning behind it. Me, I think anything with Russell Crowe is splendid to look at. I suppose I can't comment on The Patriot, seeing as I haven't actually seen the thing. My god, you may be asking, how could I have held out so long on this one, missing Mel Gibson doing a rehash of Braveheart? Other movie options about town include the ongoing Kubrick retrospective at the Cinéma du Parc. This week's highlights include Paths of Glory, the antiwar film starring Kirk Douglas, and The Shining, a film guaranteed to scare you. Go see a movie soon--remember, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. This is your big chance to see any of the director's oeuvre that you've missed in the past. See repertory listings for showtimes. Thank the Gayline and Image&Nation Film Fest for a glimpse of the latest chapter in Queer as Folk, the immensely popular--and mighty controversial--miniseries emanating from Britain. Queer as Folk 2 airs as one feature-length film, picking up where the first installment left off. The screenings will happen next Friday, July 28 and Saturday, August 5. More details to come in next week's Mirror. I received an odd fax recently, from one Gary Nolte. It seems he's an aspiring young actor who just wanted the press to know he's looking for "any film makers who needs a lead role actor." His toll-free number, if you're looking for a leading man, is 1-877-800-7295. James Cameron, are you reading? COMMENTS: matt_hays@babylon.montreal.qc.ca