Bombs, death and political scandal — all the makings of a great movie. But these three elements are more than just the trademarks of a Harrison Ford flick. They’re also the highlights of arts and entertainment during the summer of 2003.

One of the biggest events of the summer wasn’t entertainment-related in the beginning, but in California, everything leads back to Tinseltown. After a petition circulated throughout the state received 1.3 million signatures —nearly double the number necessary for a recall of Governor Gray Davis —celebrities lined up to throw their hats into the political arena.

Child star Gary Coleman and Hustler publisher Larry Flynt are among those running, but Mr. “I’ll be back” himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has received the brunt of the election’s publicity. To prevent his celebrity from affecting the vote, several television networks have gone so far as to remove all of Schwarzenegger’s films from their lineups until after the election. Speculation has been rampant, but only the Oct. 7 vote will tell if the people of California are ready for Conan the Politician.

Arnold’s latest starring role received a great deal of attention as well. “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” the first new film in the “Terminator” franchise in 12 years, took home big numbers from the box office.

Also bringing in heavy crowds were “Finding Nemo,” Pixar’s latest computer-generated epic and now the 10th highest-grossing film of all time; “The Matrix Reloaded,” Keanu Reeves’ second shot as sci-fi favorite Neo; “X2: X-Men United,” another in a string of successful comic book-inspired films; and “Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” featuring Johnny Depp’s unique channeling of Keith Richards into a Disney character.

War and fighting seemed to be the main theme for the movies of 2003, but the biggest bomb of the summer had nothing to do with cyborgs, mutants or pirates. “Gigli” the labor of love between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, grossed only $1.5 million on opening day, becoming one of the biggest box office disasters of all time. On the line is the future of “Jersey Girl,” the Kevin Smith-directed film the pair completed before the “Gigli” release.

Not all tragedies involved box office numbers, however. The deaths of several Hollywood legends, including Gregory Peck (June 12), Katharine Hepburn (June 29), Buddy Hackett (June 30), Buddy Ebsen (July 6), Bob Hope (July 27) and Gregory Hines (August 9) added a somber tone to the summer atmosphere.

Summer 2003 also marked the return of two juggernauts to the world of rock music. “St. Anger,” the first studio album from Metallica in nearly five years, proved that metal mayhem could endure anything — even the Napster scandal.

Jane’s Addiction may lack the controversy Metallica seems to have attracted over the last few years, but it didn’t lessened the anticipation for the band’s latest album,”Strays.” Lead singer Perry Farrell also resurrected the infamous Lollapalooza tour, making it one of the most successful music festivals of the summer. Unlike past tours, Farrell set out to make this tour an interactive experience, complete with giant video screens, video games and electronics designed to make the crowd an integral part of the show.

While Lollapalooza never crossed the borders of Iowa, several notable concerts did make their way into Ames. On June 7, former professional surfer turned singer/songwriter/filmmaker Jack Johnson paired with the genre-bending Ben Harper for an evening of brushfire fairytales and diamonds on the inside.

The concert also proved to be a success for the Central Iowa Drug Task Force and a surprise for several unsuspecting concert-goers. 14 different individuals were charged with possession of a controlled substance in an effort by the agency to crack down on illicit drug use at concerts.

Drugs weren’t the only scandal to grace the halls of Hilton Coliseum. In early May, The Dixie Chicks filled the venue with their own brand of contemporary country. Although the concert took place just a few short months after lead singer Natalie Maines’ onstage criticism of President Bush, the crowd didn’t seem to notice, dancing and singing along with the platinum trio.

As a new school year begins, the long, hot days of an Iowa summer are slowly fading into autumn. But the entertaining and controversial memories of the last few months are still fresh in the minds of people everywhere. From political intrigue to the loss of many idols to the reunion of old favorites, the summer of 2003 will be one that few people will be able to forget.