Russell Crowe

BY DENNIS KING

Traditionally, summer officially arrives at the dawning of Memorial Day weekend, this year on May 28th.

But by Hollywood’s unofficial calendar, summer always comes much earlier, usually while spring crocuses are still in bloom. The summer months constitute one of the movie business’s most lucrative seasons (along with the Christmas holidays), when each weekend is anchored by at least one big-budget, big-star, high-concept “tent pole” movie that casts a wide shadow across box offices nationwide.

So studios are shameless about fudging the start of the summer blockbuster season, which this year appears to begin on April 2.

That’s when “Clash of the Titans,” the first big summer action movie blasts its way into the nation’s multiplexes ahead of the competition.

Directed by Louis Leterrier (“The Incredible Hulk,” “Transporter 2”), this piece of cinematic Greek mythology features Sam Worthington as Perseus, born a god but raised as a man, who sets off on an epic battle with Ralph Fiennes’ evil Hades. Liam Neeson appears as the all-powerful Zeus. The thing comes with the promise of a 3-D version and a teen-friendly PG-13 rating.

Next, on April 30th, summer continues apace with a new and umpteenth incarnation of “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” with the cadaverous Jackie Earle Haley as disfigured serial killer Freddy Krueger.

Things start to heat up on May 7th with the hotly anticipated arrival of “Iron Man 2,” in which Robert Downey Jr. again dons the iron suit of the techno super-hero to face off against super-villains, including Whiplash, played by a guy who seems born to portray gnarly freaks, Mickey Rourke.

May 14 lets fly a straight-arrow re-imagining of the Sherwood Forest legend with “Robin Hood,” a version that is sure to be pumped up with pomp and testosterone, given that it stars Russell Crowe in full blockbuster, “Gladiator” rage.

Then, on May 21st, the summer prelude winds down with the opening of “Shrek Forever After,” the fourth and final adventure (not counting a Broadway detour) of the animated green ogre with the Scottish brogue. This time, Shrek clashes with the duplicitous Rumplestiltskin in a fable that threatens his happy existence in the land of Far Far Away. Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and the rest of the voice cast are back to reprise their fairy tale roles.

Whew! Is summer over yet? Oh, yeah, that just takes us up to late May, and Memorial Day weekend, plus three months of feverish blockbuster jostling, are still ahead. Pass the popcorn, a large soda and two aspirin, please

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