By CHRIS PUNTO & NATALIE SACKET
Columnists
Hey everyone! We missed you. And in the spirit of missing you, we wanted to fill you in on what you missed, or should have missed, from this summers cinema.
Chris- Just a warning, I’m kinda negative about these but I’m not always this bad.
Fantastic 4 (2015)
1.5 out of 5
So there isn’t much to like about the movie other than the story here. As an origin story, it’s really not too terrible. If you disliked this story, but liked Ant-man, you aren’t really giving this film a chance. Granted, the actors never really stepped into their roles, and the CGI was hideous, and the directing was bad…but you should still give it a shot!
Bottom line: Too many people give too much emphasis on what reviews say about films instead of giving it a chance for themselves. This movie wasn’t good by any means. But I don’t think it deserves a 0. Always take what I say as a suggestion, not as your own opinion.
Minions (2015)
2.5 out of 5
Who got excited to see the minions embark on a hilarious adventure? Me! Who was extremely let down? Me! I should have known better than to put a whole lot of faith in this movie, seeing as how Despicable Me 2 wander anything to call home about. Sandra Bullock was average as a voice actor. I don’t see a long promising career in it for her but who knows. The only upside was the occasional chuckle but no gut wrenching, knee slippers in this one
Bottom line: if you have kids that like the minions, let thin watch this movie once and then burn it out of their memories. The movie wasn’t terrible but minion over saturation is among us, and it’s annoying.
Vacation (2015)
0.5 out of 5
Now I know I just said something about making your own opinion, and I stand by that. But I’m going to tell you what your opinion on this movie SHOULD be. No. You shouldn’t like this movie. It’s a cheap attempt at humor by using crudeness and gross out tactics. If you like this movie, you probably also like Adam Sandler’s new movies. I will say that the original Vacation movies were funny and that the only reason that this film has half a star is because of the star-studded cast. Not knowing which comedian/actor would pop up next was the most enjoyment I got out of this film.
Bottom line: wait until the redbox. Then wait until you’re friend gets it on redbox. Then wait until you are drunk (if you are underage, wait until you are 21), then watch this movie. You might get a few laughs
Natalie- Summer is a great time for stuffing your face with popsicles and ice cream, nights by firelight, Netflix binges and the film industry. This summer was no exception, as there were some significant hits in the box office. Since we are unable to utilize a full five pages of the paper to review all of our favorites, Chris and I will highlight our top three picks of the summer. Even if you may have missed these films in theatres, I still encourage you to keep a lookout for them when they come out on DVD.
Jurassic World (2015)
3.5 out of 5
Dinos, and raptors, and T-Rexs… Oh my! “Jurassic World” stomped into theatres, bringing with it roaring success. This film was exactly as I had expected it to be: formulaic, yet wholly thrilling. It isn’t one of those films that you watch for the storyline, but if you’ve watched the previous films in the Jurassic Park series, you wouldn’t be expecting that anyway. That being said, “Jurassic World” will undoubtedly thrill your inner 9-year-old. It’s the same story as the rest, but with bigger dinosaurs and better effects. Also, the inclusion of funny guy Chris Pratt was a great choice. Then again, the lovable star can do no wrong in my view.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
5 out of 5
I must admit that when I saw the trailer for “Mad Max,” I was a bit skeptical. It looked like it would be a lame car chase in a desert for the entirety of its two hours. Here, I was only partially wrong. Granted, a majority of the film is a car chase, but in NO way could it possibly be considered lame. The action mixed with a general sense of freakiness never failed to awe me. There was something so kooky and berserk about its style, mixed with its clean animation, making it like no film I’d seen before. It was “Fast and Furious” mixed with “Apocalypse Now,” and it was glorious. I had a sense of excitement within me for the entirety of the movie, pushing me to the edge of my seat, BOTH times I saw it in theatres. The scenery was stunning despite the general depravity of the setting, and the soundtrack blew me away. Also, despite Tom Hardy’s role as Mad Max, it is clear that Charlize Theron as Furiosa was the true star of the film; hands down, she was incredible, and I want to be her. If you want a fast-pace, enticing action film, this is the one to watch.
Inside Out (2015)
4.5 out of 5
If you’ve read our reviews before, you may know that I’ve never been a huge fan of children’s movies. I know. I am cruel and heartless. That being said, I absolutely adored “Inside Out.” It took my emotions and flipped them.. well.. inside out. The plot is ingenious and creative, examining the “feelings of our emotions,” staring Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness. The animation was gorgeous, to be expected of Pixar films. An unbelievable amount of creativity was utilized to portray how the inner-workings of the human mind operate. The plot was heartfelt and possessed a unique depth for a children’s film. In fact, I found myself dwelling on the subject material for weeks after having watched it in theatres. Its plotline of a young girl losing the ability to feel either joy or sadness allowed a discussion to be opened about mental health in children, particularly those enduring adolescence. The examination of a preteen girl experiencing symptoms of depression was an entirely unexpected plotline. Yet, this is a discussion that needs to have a more prominent role in our culture. “Inside Out” was a beautiful interpretation of such issues, and a great film for both children and parents.