This summer’s offerings in theaters were a smattering of different genres and stories, with sequels raking in the largest numbers throughout the warmer months. As usual, the movies that made the biggest profit were not necessarily the most compelling or praiseworthy. “Man of Steel,” “Monsters University” and “World War Z” were the highest grossing films of the summer, but many other movies still had a lot to offer.
Kicking off the summer was “Now You See Me,” an interesting drama reminiscent of “The Prestige.” Telling the story of four magicians who quickly rise to stardom, the film holds many twists and turns with continual sassy one-liners. The four aim to become part of a secret group of magicians and must pull off many insanely difficult tricks, most of which involve some sort of crime. “Now You See Me” is definitely a fun summer movie, but it doesn’t have any true substance beyond its comedy and interesting, yet impossible, magic tricks.
“Man of Steel” and “Monsters University” followed. No one can deny Henry Cavill’s (“The Immortals”) likeness to Superman, but this adaptation of the movie had a much darker tone, more reminiscent of a Batman film. Rather than being a constant source of light for the world, Superman is plagued by his past, drawn deep into the depths of himself before being able to save the world from destruction. Interestingly enough, there are plans in the works for a Batman/ Superman movie; it will be a true test to see which superhero can have the darkest beginnings.
“Monsters University,” the sequel to the 2005 film “Monsters Inc.,” was a box office hit. Besides drawing in the younger demographic, those who were still kids when the first movie had been released were also eager to see the film in theaters. Though it is hard to hold a flame to original movies, “Monsters University” was still a joy to watch. It provided many laughs for the young, while also resonating with students who are near the college age. As always, Mike (Billy Crystal, “When Harry Met Sally”) and Sully (John Goodman, “Roseanne”) are enjoyable characters with an important message: what you want in your life may not be the correct path for you.
Dominating the box office the following week was “World War Z,” based loosely on the book of the same name. While the novel provided a worldwide perspective of the war against zombies, the movie focused on a single character who changes the entire course of the apocalypse. Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt, “Se7en”) and his family are driving through the city when it is suddenly overtaken by zombies. But these are not the slow-walking, moaning zombies of “The Walking Dead” — they are strong, fast zombies who will do anything they can to chomp a bit of flesh. The film follows Lane across the world, from South Korea, to Israel, to Wales as he searches for the cure and the world quickly disintegrates around him.
July’s box office hits came from a variety of genres. One of the most fascinating films of the summer was undoubtedly “The Way, Way Back.” In this film, Duncan (Liam James, “Psych”) experiences his own coming-of-age story while spending time with his mother and his soon-to-be stepfamily on the beach over summer. In an attempt to escape from the potential stepfather, he one day heads to the local water park, Water Whizz, where he makes friends that teach him to overcome his insecurities and seize life by the horns. Even though “The Way, Way Back” tells the classic story of a young boy seeking to find his way, the actors’ performances, the dialogue and the cinematography made this film stand apart from the rest.
Another phenomenal movie of the summer was “Pacific Rim.” In a world threatened by aliens from the deep of the ocean called the Kaiju, the world’s countries band together to fight the monsters with jaegers, gigantic robots controlled by two pilots. Though this sounds like the beginnings of another “Transformers,” the movie properly develops its characters and has a plot beyond gratuitous fight scenes, in addition to featuring females and non-whites within main roles, which is scarcely seen in box office action dramas. The special effects were absolutely astounding, making it feel like these intense scenes were actually filmed rather than completely computer-generated.
August started with a bang when “Elysium” was released. In a dystopian future, the world is separated based on wealth—the poor are forced to reside on an overpopulated, dying Earth while the rich migrate to a spaceship in Earth’s orbit with all the amenities one could ever need. Max Da Costa (Matt Damon, “The Bourne Identity”), who is dying as a result of a factory accident, wishes to make those responsible for the disgusting conditions on Earth pay. He is additionally motivated by the U.S. government threatening to revoke the protection of his family if he does not succeed. As interesting as “Elysium” was, the fact remains that this kind of storyline is one that viewers have seen too much of. The dystopian society and wealth separation would form a compelling storyline if it had not already been seen dozens of times.
Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” followed later in August, presenting a biographical narrative of Cecil Gaines (Forest Whitaker, “The Last King of Scotland”) in the White House who, through the years, watched his sons grow and develop with time. His life as a butler was spent listening and following every direction given to him, so conflict arises when one of his sons joins the Black Panthers. Both members of the family learn from each other though and help to create a more harmonious future. The acting was positively superb in “The Butler” on all fronts with its highly acclaimed cast.
One noticeable factor of the summer film season with each increasing year is its need to outdo the previous summers. Bigger action, bigger heros, bigger box office incomes—all of these have led to a startling lack in films that have more important messages to send. Lee Daniels’ “The Butler” will definitely be up for a few Oscars, while “The Way, Way Back” will hopefully be recognized at some film festivals—yet these were two of the only movies this summer which had more to them than violence and special effects. Though “World War Z”, “Pacific Rim”, and “Man of Steel” were three of the most intense and thoroughly enjoyed movies of the summer, their themes paled in comparison to the former two. The myriad of big action films are a reminder that viewers are seeking an escape with their visits to the theaters, not a life-altering message. As always, it will be a delight to see what the rest of the year holds on the silver screen.
