Now that the summer has come to an end and school is back in session, it’s time for my Summer in Review. Here I will list all of the summer movies that I have seen and didn’t want to dedicate an entire review on, and some that I did dedicate an entire review on. Some of them will be new releases that debuted this summer in theaters, and others will be movies that I finally got around to seeing.
In Theaters
Star Trek
Star Trek was the first movie of the summer that I was able to see. Ironically enough, it was the last movie I saw before my little boy was born, so it was definitely memorable just in that. I have already reviewed it here so you can check out my full review there, but in short, it was one of the best movies I had ever seen. A brilliant combination of old Star Trek lore and modern-day action and storytelling. Beautiful!
Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen
This movie was memorable for many reasons: 1) it was the first movie my wife and I saw together after having our boy, and 2) it sparked one of the best movie discussions on expectations in Truth On Cinema history. Michael Bay brought us another blow-it-up action movie about robots that we loved as kids, but this time, our imaginations were stifled by slow-mo explosions and the exploitation of Megan Fox If you want to read the entire review in all its glory, you can read it here. In short though, whatever expectations I did have were seriously under-met.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
I haven’t yet, but am meaning to, write up my full review on the 6th installment of the glorious Harry Potter franchise, so for now, consider this my mini-review-teaser-for-the-full-review-to-come-later. Like I have exhaustively said, I came to the HP party very late and read all of the books prior to seeing any of the movies, this one being the first in the theaters, so having said that: I generally liked this movie a lot but felt that a lot of was left out. A lot of people complain about there being too much “teeny-bopper-love” stuff and not enough action, and while I agree that the end of the movie was a complete failure in capturing the enormity of the battle, I actually really liked the fact that David Yates focused on the relationships more than the good vs. evil saga that can grow weary. Look for my full review later.
Public Enemies
Once again, Public Enemies is a movie that I have not fully written up, so just like Harry Potter, this will be my review quick-hit. I absolutely loved this movie! There, is that enough of a review quick-hit?! I am a Michael Mann fan and a Johnny Depp fan to the end, so for me, this was the perfect storm. It had everything for me: action, a historical base, the mob (which I am a huge fan of), organized crime in the 60′s, and Johnny Depp. The two biggest let-downs for me were: Christian Bale and his accent. I thought his character was too big for him.
District 9
Ok, so it seems that I have a lot of full-length reviews to write because here is another movie that I haven’t published my review of yet. This was the most recent summer movie I was able to see and let me tell you: this movie is one of the Top 10 Best Sci-Fi Films in the last two decades. What a mind blowing movie! I think the factor that takes this film into “unbelievable” territory is the fact that the film only cost $30 million to make. What is that, like a tenth of the horrific failure Transformers 2?! Don’t walk, run to the theaters while it’s still there and discover one of the true gems of the summer.
DVD
Into The Wild
For my full review, click here. Before watching this movie, I knew only that Sean Penn had directed it and it was about a lone misfit twentysomething that wanted to hitchhike his way to Alaska to “find himself” or some other hippie journey. To be honest, in the beginning, I passed it off as one of those films you aren’t interested in at a glance. Either you “judged a book by its cover” or you “put all of your eggs in one basket” or some other phrase that essentially means you prejudged something before actually experiencing it for yourself. I am glad that I experienced it for myself, let me tell you. Sean Penn, you should do more movies.
Pretty in Pink
So it may be a little taboo to bring this movie since John Hughes’ passing is still pretty fresh, but this was one of those movies that I had somehow missed when I was growing up. My wife exclaimed to me one day while discussing our childhood movies, “WHAT?! You haven’t seen Pretty In Pink and you consider yourself a child of the 80′s?!” So, lo and behold, I dove head first into neon colors and bangs to find a sweet and lovable movie that would have totally been one of my favorites as a young kid. I am sure everyone says this, but seeing as how I am 20 years late to this film I am excused, but I loved Duckie! I thought Jon Cryer was the best thing about this film. Molly Ringwald was just like I expected her to be: neurotic, weird, into her own thing, yet still mainstream enough to draw us in. And Andrew McCarthy as the confused “I-am-rich-and-snobby-yet-am-intrigued-by-this-lower-class-girl” boy was mediocre at best. In the end, I am glad that Duckie didn’t end up with Ringwald, that just wouldn’t fit with the characters; they are best friends until the end, not lovers. All in all, it was a nice trip back to the 80′s where sweet and corny were still cool and not “classic.”
Smart People
For the full write-up of what I thought about Smart People, feel free to click on through. Where would a summer be without your typical and quirky indie film that is sure to be the sleeper hit of the season…well, it hasn’t happened yet. I think I had high hopes with this film before my wife and I sat down to watch it and for some reason, whether it was the mediocre story, or the lackluster performances by the leads, it just left me feeling, “meh.” It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t terrible, it was just an average film with some A-list actors that tried to be quirky and indie (whatever that is anymore) and ironic, but just ended up being boring. Thomas Hayden Church steals the movie for me and served to at least provide the movie with some much needed levity.
That’s it for my Summer In Review. I know there are quite a few films that came out earlier this summer that I missed due to my son being born, but don’t you worry, I will get caught up and complete my 2009 Summer Movie Season.
So, tell me, what did you see this summer that you liked/disliked? Was there something about any of my little reviews that you agreed or disagreed with?
Let me know what you think and we’ll see you next summer!
This is the coveted “July 4th” spot, once held by Hancock, Independence Day, and many other big-budget action films. To me, July really kicks off the most intense part of the summer as far as movies are concerned, and Public Enemies is our first course. Johnny Depp couldn’t be any hotter right now starring as 30′s bank robber John Dillinger, alongside the other “couldn’t-be-hotter” cast mate Christian Bale, who plays his FBI pursuer. Early reports have said that this may re-invent the classic crime movie, and some have even compared it to the likes of The Untouchables. This is definitely a must see!
It’s about time. After finally finishing the books last summer and catching up on all of the previous films, I am ready to see the next Harry Potter. As anyone knows who has read the books, things start (or have already started) to get very dark and scary for Harry and his pals, which makes the PG rating this film received very peculiar. Next to the last book, Deathly Hallows, this book is the DARKEST one of them all, and I can’t understand why the MPAA gave it a PG rating. I hope that they can retain the intensity from the book in this film, because without it, this will be a huge letdown. Nevertheless, I will see you in line with the rest of the horde’s of HP fans.
Again, this is a film that many of you will not see because you simply do not know about it. I am here to tell you about 500 Days of Summer so that there will be no excuse come July 17th. This was one of the big success stories to come out of the Sundance Festival this year, as many are already hailing this film as 2009′s Juno. Many comparisons will be made due to its “indie-feel” though it really isn’t an indie film, and it’s quirky story…which “isn’t a love story, it’s a story about love.” The great Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt star as two young twentysomethings, Deschanel, a woman who doesn’t believe true love exists, and Levitt, the boy who falls for her. Like I said about Brothers Bloom, find out where this film is being played and go see it. 
I first wrote about this film 
Adam Sandler never ceases to amaze me in how flexible he is in the movies he does. He can be an idiot specializing in physical comedy (Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy), he can turn on the charm and awkwardness and woo the ladies (Spanglish, 50 First Dates, The Wedding Singer), and he can get all emo and sad (Reign Over Me, Punch Drunk Love)…and in Funny People, it looks like he has found the perfect role: he gets to be a comedian who faces tough life situations and has to overcome them with help from his friends. That actually sounds A LOT like all of his movies. If you can believe it there is actual Oscar Buzz going around about this film. Don’t let my sarcastic description keep you away though. This film looks like a really heartfelt and great film for the summer.
I am only mentioning this film because I know that there are some younger readers who will not be let down by this piece of garbage film that will TOTALLY make a mockery of a cherished 80′s cartoon and action series. Seriously, when I first heard about this film last year, I legitimately was excited, but after the first teaser debuted, I was done. All I have to say about this film: There’s a WAYANS brother in it, and it’s NOT a Scary Movie 10. To G.I. Joe: I loved you when I was a kid growing up. But I can’t watch you be decimated.
Amy Adams and Meryl Streep star in this film about two memoirs: Julie Powell’s “Julie & Julia” and Julia Child’s “My Life in France.” Two ladies living in two very different time periods, both chefs, and both at their wits end with life. I didn’t see Doubt, though I want to, so I am not sure about their chemistry (Adams and Streep) but from what I can tell, this looks like a movie my wife will want to see. I am a huge Amy Adams fan and can respect Meryl Streep for what she’s done, but I won’t go see this one…unless my wife asks me to.
Back a long time ago, if you can remember, there as going to be a Halo movie, and Peter Jackson was involved. That alone should have pumped you up beyond belief, BUT, nevertheless, it never happened and the idea, for the time being, is on lock down. The rumored director of the never-to-happen Halo movie was Neil Blomkamp, who has directed this little sci-fi romp. What really intrigues me here is that it’s the aliens are being tracked and hunted, not the humans. Don’t hear me wrong: there is nothing little about this film. Not a lot of material has come out about it except for a very mysterious trailer, and with Peter Jackson producing, the buzz has quickly reached “greatness” levels. 
Closing out the summer is Quentin Tarantino’s crazy WWII epic starring Brad Pitt and a slew of other really cool actors. I will agree with 
