REVIEW: My top five favorite movies of this summer
The summer of 2010 proved a weak one for the cinemas. With increasing ticket prices and a generally mediocre movie line-up, people had plenty of reasons to stay at home or find something else to do with their summer nights.
Yet, there were some movies appealing enough to convince us that a trip to the movies was worth the time and money. These are my five favorites of the summer season. I repeat: MY favorites, so there will be nothing about vampires, werewolves, or whiny teenage girls. I am sorry.
5. “Toy Story 3″– “Toy Story 3” had a lot of expectations, and the Disney/Pixar team delivered just like they do with every movie they make. It was hilarious, and very clever.
In my mind, Disney/Pixar has never made a bad movie. It was also cool that Andy was going to college at the same time I was. It was like I grew up with Andy and all of his toys.
One thing that did disappoint me was the fact that it was in 3D. The ticket cost about three dollars more and the experience was annoying. This “rebirth” of the 3D movie has been a big pain for movie-goers, and hopefully it ends soon. Other than that, “Toy Story 3” was a great time.
4. “The Last Airbender”– This was for sure my most anticipated movie of the summer. I love the Nickelodeon show it was based on, and there were a lot of questions surrounding it.
I pondered these questions often during the months before the premiere date. Would it be half as good as the show? How would horror-film director M. Night Shyamalan portray a children’s series? How would it all fit into such a short film? Lastly, why the freak is it in 3D?!
After my attendance at the midnight premiere, I was quite disappointed. It was still a great movie, but it had potential to be so much better. Shyamalan made unnecessary changes to the original story, and the cast’s acting performance was mediocre at best.
In short, I would have loved it if I had never seen the original TV show.
3. “A-Team”– Just like “The Last Airbender,” “A-Team” was a movie based on a television show and was much-anticipated by its fans. The difference for me was I had never seen an episode of the original series. So, I am sure my opinions are much different than the opinions of those who have.
That being said, I thought this movie was great. It had a fun plot that told the story of how the A-Team came to be, and plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience interested.
It also had a cast that did an excellent job. Liam Neeson in particular did a wonderful job as the group’s leader, Hannibal Smith. It was a great action movie.
2. “Iron Man 2″– Generally, this was probably the most anticipated movie of the summer in America. Most everyone was excited for the next chapter in the story of Tony Stark.
Overall, this movie did well. It left some fans disappointed, but it left most fans, myself included satisfied.
The best way I can describe “Iron Man 2” is to call it a transition movie. It answered some questions, but asked more. It lacked the action of the first movie, but it still had the best part of the first movie: Robert Downey Jr. He has had a long acting career, but has just recently shown his excellence. He fits the role of Tony Stark perfectly, and I can’t wait to see him play it again in the next Iron Man movie, as well as in “The Avengers.”
1. “Inception”– Two words: Mind. Blowing. “Inception” was not only the best movie of the summer, but arguably one of the best to hit theaters in a long time. It made viewers really think about what goes on while we sleep.
It was made for success, with an all-star cast headed by Leonardo DiCaprio. It was also written and directed by Christopher Nolan, one of the best movie-makers alive.
Nolan’s mind is something unbelievable. “The Prestige,” “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” are all products of this incredibly talented man. He kept movie-goers on edge throughout this entire production right down to the heart-stopping end.
I would recommend this movie to anyone and everyone. I loved it, and I have yet to find someone who didn’t.
–jace.smellie@aggiemail.usu.edu