The summer of 2010 was probably another memorable summer for somebody somewhere. Perhaps some guy went hiking across the Adirondacks or navigated the English Channel. Perhaps someone else worked some lame job at Hollister to pay for his college tuition. Or maybe some group of friends partied like Jersey Shore.
Nevertheless, Hollywood understands that school’s out and movies are in. Thus, the best movies with the biggest estimated box offices tend to be released over the summer – unless they are deemed too awesome, such as The Dark Knight. Regardless, here are five Hollywood blockbusters that were released this summer.
1. Inception
Inception is Christopher Nolan’s latest baby. The director behind The Dark Knight and Memento hurled Inception into theaters this summer.
Inception incepted a number of people’s minds and dreams. While anticipated by many this summer, Inception was also a disappointment for others. The disappointment was because Inception was more complex than the usual film.
Inception is a very complicated film that introduces a new type of screenplay that can only be executed through Inception’s dream-like storyline. Because Inception is of and about dreams, some audiences did not understand Inception. Others did understand Inception but left the theater furious. Others were just stunned and left in mind blown awe.
Inception stars a star-studded cast including Leonardo diCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine and Ellen Page. With an amazing, mind blowing soundtrack crafted by Hans Zimmer and a haunting rendition of “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” by Edith Fief, Inception is a summer must see.
Whether you know the ending or not, Inception is one mind boggling, gloriously directed, paced, edited and executed cinematic work.
Also, I suggest you listen to the Inception soundtrack while doing daily chores or studying. You’ll feel like you’re about to barge in on a homework bad guy drug bust or something.
2. Toy Story 3
The newest and last addition to the Toy Story franchise, Toy Story 3 was regarded dubiously when marketing began. After being hit by so many animated films and animated franchises such as Shrek, many Americans lost faith in the animated film. However, Toy Story 3 blew people’s minds. Whether you are a child or an adult, (hopefully not a baby or you would be extremely scared by the evil monkey), Toy Story 3 is a nostalgic blast from the past with the accompaniment of the two famous toys, Woody and Buzz.
Unlike many other non-satisfactory franchise endings, Toy Story 3 is probably one of the best endings to a franchise that could exist. To the weak of heart and very sentimental, Toy Story 3 brought tears to the eyes of many. To the more non-weepy people, Toy Story 3 brightened otherwise rainy days (rainy days which did not exist this summer but you understand the metaphor).
Toy Story 3 was a summer marvel released by Pixar. A glorious ending to a wonderful series, Toy Story 3 is a must see, especially for the incoming freshmen at Stony Brook University, for you guys can proudly say that you left for college the same year as Andy.
3. Takers
Takers probably doesn’t count as a summer blockbuster since it hasn’t even been released yet. However, Takers brings back the heist film. The heist film is The Italian Job, The Ocean series- all those films where a group of people steal something, millions and billions of that something. The heist film has been lying low for some time but director John Luessenhop brings it back this you summer with Takers.
Takers stars a number of stars such as T.I, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen and the awesome Idris Elba from The Wire. Locked and loaded, Takers takes you for a murderous good run.
The acting is okay for a heist film. Sadly, there isn’t much character development because the heist genre does not take time to explain things like that. The heist genre is one of the most seductive genres that exist. Loaded with luxury, hot guys, beautiful girls, fast cars and guns, Takers, the heist film of the summer, delivers.
While there are a few moments of tacky lines and a seriously questionable British accent, Takers also showcases some gorgeous color schemes and takes The Italian Job to the next level.
If you loved The Italian Job or The Ocean series, you’ll love Takers too. Takers is surprisingly worth the admission price. Enjoy.
Takers will be released nationwide on August 27, 2010.
4. Salt
Salt is a government espionage movie that includes Angelina Jolie but was written for Tom Cruise. Fortunately, something happened for Cruise to decline this film, so Jolie stepped up. Jolie is a pleasure to see on the screen, especially when she’s wielding guns and lethal weapons (which she does do in this film).
To keep it short, Angelina Jolie was pretty good, the storyline was unbelievable, the direction was hazy, the cinematography was cemented stereotypical Hollywood and the action was better than Knight and Day. (Sorry Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz).
People complain it could have been more because it could have. Sadly, Salt is supposedly getting a sequel but perhaps it’ll get shot down. I guess I’d rather have a Salt sequel than a Ferris Bueller remake. (Yes you’ve heard me correctly. Hollywood is planning to remake that timeless movie).
The reason it’s on this list is because it is mildly entertaining and slightly more intelligent than most of the Hollywood films that were released this summer.
5. The Expendables
The Expendables, directed by Sylvester Stallone, is about a band of mercenaries that goes after a small island controlled by an ex-CIA agent. Advertised with a bold skull and a mind-blowing cast of Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Arnold Schwarzgger, Bruce Willis, Jet Li and Mickey Rourke, people went to see this film because of the stars and the guns. What you get when you see this film is exactly that. The typical tough guy leader of a group meets a girl, falls in love, goes back to rescue her from her dictator father and ailing island and then blows up the whole island sort of plot.
The Expendables is the stereotypical Hollywood blockbuster. While it was infinitely more entertaining than last year’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, The Expendables has witty dialogue about Jet Li’s small size and entertains those in the audience that like Michael Bay explosions, guns, and some more explosions with a hot chick that is not Megan Fox.
Honorable Mention: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, directed by Edgar Wright and starring Michael Cera, is about Scott Pilgrim, a poor bass player who went and got his heart broken by an evil female dog that was once a nice girl until she got a record deal and rose to famedom. Scott Pilgrim is also a nerd and now has a seventeen year old, Chinese Catholic schoolgirl girlfriend. However, he meets the girl of his dreams, literally in his dreams, and must defeat his dream girl’s league of seven evil ex-es to be able to go out with her and get past his second base achievement.
Scott Pilgrim may have started a whole new film genre. While I have seen animations in other real life movies before Scott Pilgrim, Pilgrim takes it to a whole new level. Scott Pilgrim is like watching a real-life video game without the button-mashing. While it isn’t quite that cinematically brilliant, it is extremely entertaining. It isn’t your pumping lead into guts, Left for Dead 2 style entertaining, but more of a cute, I just punched you so hard I got a knock out in Tekken entertaining. Not only that, the costumes are cute and so is the screenplay. The acting was convincing as well, perhaps due to the flatness of most of the ex-es and characters.
The people that will be entertained by Scott Pilgrim are probably limited. But if you like video games, comic books or manga, you’ll like Scott Pilgrim. If not, perhaps you’ll like it and perhaps you won’t.
