With summer temperatures hitting the triple digits, many local residents are seeking the comfort of air-conditioned movie theaters.

"Sometimes going to see a film is the easiest solution to avoiding the heat during the summer months," said Stan Bourdaux, a 70-year-old Wildomar resident, as he wiped the sweat away from his forehead while exiting a Lake Elsinore theater.

Following a showing of "My Sister’s Keeper," Stan and his wife, Margaret, agreed that movie outings are a great way to score the summer’s best entertainment.

"To escape the doldrums of everyday stressful life – and to just forget everything for however long the movie is – that’s a great relief," Margaret added.

So, what movies are local residents seeing this summer?

Alex McEnery, a Lakeside High School student, said "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" topped his list.

"It was just an awesome movie," he said. "It was a great improvement on the previous one [in the series]."

McEnery said the action sequences and more robots in the sequel lifted it above the debut movie in the series.

The second "Transformers" took in $201 million during its first five days in theaters, according to Entertainment Weekly, and has become the biggest hit of the summer thus far.

For her part, Elsinore High School student Rebecca Virrey is looking forward to catching "Year One," which stars Michael Cera and Jack Black.

Marcus Herring, a 23-year-old local resident interviewed in Lake Elsinore, said "The Hangover" has given him the most bang for his bucks.

"You can’t get anything funnier than ‘The Hangover,’" said Herring, who has seen the movie four times. "A lot of the stuff you expected to see because it was in the trailer, but not in the context that it was shown in the actual movie."

"The Hangover" – which stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis – could snare the surprise hit of the summer season.

"It’s a must-buy DVD when it comes out," Herring added.

The Las Vegas party shock-fest delivered laugh after laugh, which elevated the flick to the number one box office spot for two weeks in a row.

It is so popular that producers have already ordered a sequel. "The Hangover 2" is set to begin production next spring, according to industry publications.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" will further add to this summer’s movie-going excitement.

The latest installment in that popular serial is set to open July 15. It takes up where the previous movies ended in year six at Hogwarts University. It is said to have a darker feel than the previous installments.

For comedy fans, there’s "Funny People" starring Adam Sandler. That movie could emerge as one of Sandler’s strongest pieces yet.

And in August, the story of Julia Child and Julie Powell will take its turn in theaters as "Julie & Julia."

Just as popcorn tickles theater patrons’ palates, this summer’s movie menu offers something for everyone as they seek a dark, cool respite from the heat.

Have a favorite film of the summer so far? Feel free to share it at www.myvalleynews.com.

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