Summer blockbuster roundup
Carter takes a detour and reviews his favorite films of the summer
It’s that time of year again. There’s a slight chill in the air, classes are starting and days are starting to get shorter.Summer has come and gone, and along with it, blockbuster season.
I’d like to take a moment and celebrate the movies that came out during the summer, with one film from each month. A lot of great movies came out this summer and you are entitled to your own opinion, as I couldn’t run through them all. But this is my compilation of the best blockbusters theaters had to offer.
May: 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga'
While my opinion of this film is more negative than others, I can’t deny what this movie did for "Mad Max" fans. George Miller delivered his epic for Furiosa's origin, which Mad Max Fans really enjoyed.
The standout of the movie to me was Chris Hemsworth as Dementus. He gave a clever and quick-witted performance that showed he can really branch out from the tough, strong-guy stereotype and play a convincingly insane mob boss.
While I thought the movie was not great, I’m glad so many people still enjoy George Miller's work and his characters. You can find "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga" streaming on Max, as of today.
June: 'Bad Boys: Ride or Die'
I was surprised at how much fun I had when I went to see Bad Boys 4. After Will Smith's acting hiatus, it was great to see him back in full swing.
Same with Martin Lawrence, who has not lost a step in his comedic timing while still being a complete badass. The action was tight and well shot.
The comedy was still on point and somebody gets chopped up by a rogue helicopter blade! It’s great popcorn fun and "Bad Boys" are two-for-two in their new reboot trilogy. I can’t wait to see more.
July: 'Deadpool and Wolverine' (Alert: Spoilers)
I’ll make this quick, as everyone knows about this movie already. One of the biggest hits of this year, I was shocked how all-in Marvel went on the R-rating.
Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool was as vulgar as ever, and seeing Hugh Jackman in the yellow-and-blue costume was a treat. The cameos, especially Blade, were fantastic and I loved how natural they felt in the story with a purpose for being there.
Cassandra Nova was creepy and weird as she should be, and Emma Corrin did a great job portraying the character. To wrap this up, I’ll just leave you with this: The Proposal.
Josh Hartnett plays Cooper, a serial killer on the lam, and Ariel Donoghue co-stars as his daughter Riley in Warner Bros. Pictures' thriller 'Trap.' (Courtesy photo | Warner Bros. Pictures)
August: 'Trap'
Ok to be real, "Alien: Romulus" would be here if I didn’t already post a full review of the movie on our website.
Instead I’d like to give the spotlight to M. Night Shyamalan’s "Trap" starring Josh Hartnett. The movie takes place inside of a concert, as a serial killer tries to plan and execute an escape while taking care of his daughter, indirectly putting her in danger because of his actions.
This movie is amazing for two specific reasons: Shyamalyan’s directing and Hartnett's acting. I am very picky with my Shyamalan films, but this one grabbed me in a way I hadn’t expected.
There were some great shots of the arena concert itself, but it still felt claustrophobic and tight.
I also fully believe Hartnett should be up for an Oscar for this role. He balances being a father and a deranged serial killer so shockingly perfectly, I didn’t really care about the other flaws of the film and only wanted to know what was going to happen next.
Each twist and turn in the movie had me on the edge of my seat. In its last 20 minutes, the film actually takes a really interesting turn that makes you go, “the movie is still going??” in the best way possible. I really enjoyed it and I feel everyone should give this movie a shot.
That’s all for the summer. I’m elated to start reviewing more new releases this year!
Carter Salley is a media arts major, film reviewer and co-host of CM Life's "Raving Geeks" podcast.
