Tag Archives: Summer movies

A&E, Christian DiMartino

Columnist anticipates movies of summer 2014

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By Christian DiMartino

When it comes to movies, 2014 had a bit of a rough start. With movies like I,Frankenstein, Pompeii, and Vampire Academy entering theatres, there was sort of what I like to call a “good movie drought” from January through February. However, things began to shape up in March, with the arrival of the Wes Anderson’s great new movie The Grand Budapest Hotel and Darren Aronofsky’s maddening but near great Noah.  In a way, it feels like summer has begun early. I mean, Captain America: The Winter Soldier came charging into theatres two weeks ago, so that says something. Every summer, there are movies that everyone flocks to, movies that get Oscar attention, and movies that, well, miss the mark (cough… The Lone Ranger). Summer 2014 will most likely be the same. Here is what I am personally looking forward to this summer, and what I will probably avoid.

Want to See

5. Boyhood (July 11, R): Here is a movie that I am more curious to see than excited. Director Richard Linklater (The School of Rock, Dazed and Confused) began filming this movie, which tells the story of a boy (newcomer Ellar Coltrane) from ages 5 to 18, back in 2002. It may not sound too interesting, but there is more to it than that. Linklater filmed this movie every year until last year, so, basically, the audience literally watches this kid grow up. Seems like kind of a gimmick, but at the same time, a very ambitious gimmick. I applaud ambitious movies, so I’m curious to see how it turns out. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival back in January to rave reviews, so it might be a potential Oscar contender.

4. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (May 2, PG-13): Although the previous movie was unnecessary, it turned out to be one of the better Spider-Man adventures, ranking  behind the fantastic Spider-Man 2. So, as a Spider-Man fan, the sequel immediately made it onto the list. Although it seems like there is too much plot (a thing that sort of dragged Spider-Man 3 down), and Jamie Foxx is miscast as the villain, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will be worth seeing for the chemistry between Peter Parker (Andrew Garfield) and Gwen Stacey (Emma Stone), the thing that made its predecessor memorable in the first place.

3. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For (August 22, Not Yet Rated): It seemed like it would never happen. Robert Rodriguez has been planning on making a sequel to his best work, Sin City, since 2007. So, after years of waiting, it has nearly arrived. It will either be triumphant, like the original, or a letdown. He has been given a long time to prepare. It better be worth it.

2. X-Men: Days of Future Past (May 23, PG-13): The X-Men series has been pretty good thus far. But now the series is on its 7th movie, and though it is kind of getting old, X-Men: Days of Future Past looks to be one of the more promising entries in the series. The film brings back director Bryan Singer, who did such a good job with the first two films, and it combines the cast of X-Men: The Last Stand and X-Men: First Class. How will it work? Not entirely sure on that, but I can’t wait to find out.

1. Magic in the Moonlight (July 26, PG-13):  Ever since Match Point back in 2005, controversial filmmaker Woody Allen has filmed eight films out of the U.S. What were the results? For starters, Match Point is his best movie, and he won an Oscar for Midnight in Paris a few years ago. Allen’s latest, which takes place in 1930s France, sounds too good to be true. Allen is the best director making a movie all summer, and if this is anything like his other European outings (or even his last movie, Blue Jasmine), then he will deliver again. Plus, the cast, which includes Emma Stone, Colin Firth, and Marcia Gay Harden, is dynamite.  Nobody will rush see it, but hopefully its target audience (his fans, like myself) will enjoy it.

Bad Vibe

5. Transformers: Age of Extinction (June 27, Not Yet Rated): Any time the name “Michael Bay” appears on anything, a sense of fear arrives. Michael Bay doesn’t always do bad movies, such as his last movie, the pleasantly surprising Pain and Gain, but when he does make a bad movie, it’s bad. Take Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, a loud, repetitive, stupid, and simply horrible movie. This movie doesn’t look bad; it’s the “directed by Michael Bay” part that is sort of a deal breaker. That, and do we really need MORE Transformers?

4. Guardians of the Galaxy (Aug. 1, Not Yet Rated): Judging from the humongous success of movies such as The Avengers and Iron Man 3, it is pretty obvious that Marvel studios knows what they are doing. However, I have no clue what exactly they are doing with Guardians of the Galaxy, or even what it is, for that matter. I can’t tell if this movie is a joke or what, but it does not look very good. Perhaps comic book readers will flip out over it, but this movie seems to be lost in its own world. Everyone can laugh when it turns out to be good, but right now, it looks pretty dumb.

3. Hercules (July 25, Not Yet Rated): There was already a Hercules movie this year, and it was so forgettable that I don’t remember what it was called. If I don’t remember a movie, it wasn’t anything special. Surely, this one will be better. But the thought of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in this role just sounds a little… silly. Am I alone here? We shall see.

2. Blended (May 23, PG-13): Judging from Adam Sandler’s past romantic comedies, he had the best chemistry with Drew Barrymore. The two worked so well, in fact, that they did two movies together (The Wedding Singer and 50 First Dates). So, when I heard about their new movie Blended, I thought that it might be a comeback for Sandler, who has been on a losing streak since Jack and Jill. Then… I saw the trailer, and it got my hopes up. The second trailer is an improvement, but the first trailer was so painful that this movie made it on this list. It is not too late, but as of now, Adam Sandler has lost his touch. Hopefully I’m wrong.

1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Aug. 8, Not Yet Rated): Allow me to summarize my feelings towards this movie: Gag me with a spoon. As a non TMNT fan for life, this movie was an automatic out. Then came the trailers, and it lost me even more. Lastly, guess who is producing it? Michael Bay. Should more be said? No.

Overall, this summer should be an interesting one. There were some movies, such as the Clint Eastwood musical Jersey Boys, the Channing Tatum/Mila Kunis sci-fi thriller Jupiter Ascending, and the Paul Rudd/Amy Poehler romantic comedy parody They Came Together, that didn’t quite make the list, but I still really want to see them. This summer has a lot of potential. Count me in.

 

A&E, Isaac Mathewson

Critic reveals the summer’s most anticipated movies

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by Isaac Mathewson
Summer is approaching and so are the summer blockbusters. These past two years have been pretty strong on their movies, being mostly benefited from superhero films such as The Avengers and Man of Steel, and it looks like this year might be very good as well.
The following list is a non-opinionated list of the summer’s most anticipated movies;
1. The Amazing Spider-man 2: While the first film in the rebooted “Spider-man” series may not have been as good as the original Sam Raimi classic, it did satisfy many fans and leave high hopes for a sequel. The trailer alone seems promising enough, as well as its casting, with many actors returning (Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone), and several more making their debut in the franchise (Jamie Foxx and Paul Giamatti). While it may not bring anything new to the franchise, it will hopefully give us a meaningful story and good action, as well as 3-D effects.
2. Godzilla: The last time “Godzilla” hit the big screen in the U.S. it disappointed many fans and was poorly received. With last year’s release of Pacific Rim , many people have shown that they still have an appreciation for giant monster movies and many believe that this film may have a chance to make up for that disaster. The casting is good, and the visuals on Godzilla look more like the original. This could probably be the “Godzilla” movie we’ve been hoping for.
3. X-Men: Days of Future Past: Bryan Singer finds himself back in the director’s chair in this new installment of the ever popular X-Men series. This time The Last Stand and First Class intertwine and brings to us virtually every actor who has been in this hit series: Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin, Ellen Page, Patrick Stewart, to name just a few. It shouldn’t disappoint fans.
4. A Million Ways to Die in the West: While some may dismiss this film based on the supposed stupidity of the trailer, there is no way this could stay off this list. Following the enormous success of Ted, Seth MacFarlane makes his on screen debut as an everyday farmer who finds himself in a Mexican standoff with the fastest gunslinger in the west. If anyone knows Seth MacFarlane, they will know what to expect or not expect. After all, he’s a master of hiding treasure in a pile of trash.
5. Transformers: Age of Extinction: Michael Bay returning to the director’s chair may turn some people off by this fourth installment of the Transformers series. However, this cannot find a way off this list because of the enormous popularity of the Transformers. This film takes a huge turn from the previous installments because it does not have Shia LaBeouf; in fact, it has almost a completely different cast. With Mark Wahlberg in the lead role, fantastic visuals, and a different take on the story, this film will not only bring in huge amounts of cash, but possibly redeem the series.
While there are many other films that are widely anticipated this year, these are the ones that will most likely bring in the most money and leave the biggest impact on audiences. Hopefully, they will leave critics and audiences happy.
Christian DiMartino

Columnist critiques movies of summer 2013

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By Christian DiMartino

The summer movie season is wrapping up, and after seeing 20 movies, it is about time for a summary. Yes, there were some that I missed out on, from blockbusters (The Wolverine, Pacific Rim) to indie hits (Blue Jasmine, The Bling Ring). But summer is over, and it is time to move on. Here are the high and low points of summer 2013. *Note* If Steven Soderbergh’s Behind the Candelabra was considered an actual movie (it was an HBO movie), it would certainly make the list.

The Best

5. Before Midnight: Most probably do not even know what this is, and it is a pity. Richard Linklater’s third chapter in the Before Sunrise trilogy is one of the best written and acted movies of the year so far. This time around, it has become more obvious that Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy have developed into bona fide actors. Yes, the movie is a talk fest, but it is worth it.

4. The Conjuring: The Conjuring is a movie that has been done before, but not much better. It is a good old fashioned haunted house movie that takes its time delivering the chills, rather than constantly making the audience jump. It also helps when actors as good as Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ron Livingston, and Lili Taylor are involved. It is not the scariest movie, but it is among the best of its kind.

3. Iron Man 3: Iron Man 3, the first movie of the summer, kicked the summer off right. Often hilarious, with Robert Downey, Jr. doing what he does best, making people laugh, not to mention the  special effects, Iron Man 3 is a total blast.

2. The Great Gatsby: Ignore the critics. Baz Luhrman’s latest film is a visual marvel that captures the era and the essence of the novel well. Gorgeous and well acted, The Great Gatsby is as enchanting as movies get. Leonardo DiCaprio and crew could not have done better. Great job, old sport.

1. Star Trek Into Darkness:  J.J. Abrams’ previous Star Trek movie found a new fan (guess who?). After waiting four long years , the sequel finally came along, and it was well worth the wait. Star Trek Into Darkness puts the word “spectacle” into “spectacular.” The visual effects are marvelous and there are some nice references to previous movies. But what the crew really nails is letting the audience know these characters better, especially Spock (the terrific Zachary Quinto). Besides Quinto, the best actor involved is Benedict Cumberbatch, who steals the show as the villain. Star Trek 3 can’t come sooner.

Honorable Mentions: This is the End, Man of Steel, Monsters University

The Worst

After Earth: Of 20 movies, none of them deserved annihilation as much as this one. M Night Shamylan’s latest disaster is a 100-minute talk fest rather than a cool sci-fi movie. It is incredibly dull, and if Will Smith does not look interested, the movie is doomed from the start. The saddest thing about it is that it is not even Shamylan’s worst (Reigning champion: The Last Airbender).

Most Surprising

Tie: Fast & Furious 6 and The Hangover Part III: After giving up on both franchises, it is nice to say that both movies were pleasantly surprising. The well-reviewed Fast & Furious 6 is dumb fun, and proud of it. The poorly reviewed Hangover Part III is a bit different from its predecessors, and it is for the best. It is not as wild, but it is still funny and it ties the trilogy together well. Neither movie is amazing, but both are better than expected.

Most Disappointing

Kick Ass 2: It is sad to say that The Lone Ranger, which was torn apart by the world, was better than Kick Ass 2. The first hour of it lives up to the original. It is funny and fun, and Chloe Grace Moretz steals the show once again as the foul mouthed Hit Girl. But the sequel takes a wrong turn in the last 40 minutes, and it is a turn for the worst. It is also a waste of what could have been a great Jim Carrey performance. At the end of the day, it is a wasted opportunity.

Well, there it is. This summer was not the best. But it was a decent one. There were only two bad movies the entire summer, and some were borderline bad but shamefully enjoyable (White House Down, The Lone Ranger). It was also a good summer for comedies, such as This is the End, The Heat, and We’re the Millers. All this summer needed was another Batman movie and it could have been perfect. If the summer didn’t meet expectations, there is still a lot to look forward to in the rest of the year, such as The Wolf of Wall Street, American Hustle, Gravity, and Her. Count me in.

A&E, Christian DiMartino

Columnist anticipates upcoming summer releases

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Summer is the season that I wait for year after year. Not just because school is out. I am talking about the movies. Most of the big blockbusters come out in the summer, and it is drawing near. To get in the spirit, here are the five movies I am dying to see this summer.

5. Man of Steel (June 14, PG-13)

I have honestly never been a fan of Superman, but I am open for surprises. Man of Steel is produced by a master, Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception) and judging from the trailer, it seems like he has brought some of that Dark Knight-ness to this movie. If Nolan is involved, I am there.  

4. World War Z (June 21, PG-13)

After nearly six years in development, World War Z is finally coming to the big screen. I honestly do not know anything about this movie other than that it is about zombies. On another note, this is bound to be one of the more ambitious movies of the summer, so for that I am interested to see Brad Pitt and director Marc Forester (Finding Neverland, Quantum of Solace) pull it off.

3. Star Trek Into Darkness (May 17, Not Yet Rated)

After being pleasantly surprised by director J.J. Abrams previous Star Trek movie (I was a non-believer , and ashamed), I have been patiently waiting for the sequel. Well, it is coming very soon to a theater near me, and I cannot wait. I am interested to see Sherlock’s Benedict Cumberbatch go really bad.  I like my movies with a bit of darkness in it, and judging from the title and the trailer, I doubt that Star Trek Into Darkness will disappoint.

2. Iron Man 3 (May 3, Not Yet Rated)

The first two Iron Man movies were pretty light, but it seems like Iron man is in real trouble this time, and that is just what I like. What a better way to kick off the summer movie season than with a movie that looks as stunning as this. With Robert Downey Jr. in it, it may not be as dark as it seems. But hopefully it is the perfect blend of light and dark. This might be The Dark Knight of the series. But let’s not go that far.

1. The Great Gatsby (May 10, Not Yet Rated)

Summer is the time for big budget blockbusters, but yet Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of The Great Gatsby looks better than all of the big blockbusters combined. The trailer is so dreamy and enchanting I am mainly curious to see just how Luhrmann pulls it off. Luhrmann, who also directed Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet, is a visionary, and is the perfect choice to direct this.   Initially meant for release last Christmas, Warner Bros. pushed it back mainly to avoid the clutter of Oscar season (Les Miserables, Django Unchained, and Zero Dark Thirty were all released around that time), because they felt it was worthy. That alone is a sign of greatness. DiCaprio seems perfect for this role also. By the end of the summer, The Great Gatsby will probably not be the most successful. But it will be one of few with purpose.

This summer seems like a promising ones. Sure, there are a few that the world could do without ( Is Fast and the Furious 6 and The Smurfs 2 really necessary?), but then again there are some that did not even make the cut(the apocalypse comedy This is the End and Johnny Depp doing his thing in The Lone Ranger.) Summer could not get here faster.