Summer Wrap Up (2014)

These are my top 5 and bottom 5 big movie releases of the summer. Hopefully, this'll help make the decision easier on what summer movies to catch up on, or rewatch as we head into Fall. (Note: I have not seen Sex Tape, Million Dollar Arm, or Get On Up so I can't speak for those films).

My Top 5 Movies of the Summer:

1. The Guardians of the Galaxy: A sci-fi movie so packed with action fun that it made me feel like I was watching Star Wars again for the first time, which is great because it will be amazing if the new Star Wars is even half as good. Chris Pratt makes a firm case to be the next big movie star of Hollywood, and Zoe Saldana is, as always, an alien. Also, I AM GROOT.

My rating: 9.

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2. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes: I remember when Rise of the Planet of the Apes was announced and I was convinced this series would be ridiculous. Remember that spectacularly awful Tim Burton movie? Well I was dead wrong, this movie takes it to a whole other level and it almost has me believing the Planet of the Apes could be possible. Also, the motion capture and visual effects are breathtaking.

My rating: 9.

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3. 22 Jump Street: The first sequel made me believe in Hollywood comedies again. This one made me worship it. Possibly the greatest comedy of all time (definitely of the summer) this movie is the best skewering of Hollywood since the Lego movie (coincidentally directed by the same people). Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill prove that the buddy cop movie isn't dead, by giving us a brilliant parody of it.

My rating: 8.75.

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4. X-men; Days of Future Past: Probably the most fun I’ve gotten out of an X-men film in a while; sure the time travel logic can get a little iffy and some of the mutants are unfortunately under-utilized (it’s a busy movie though), but I was completely on board for the whole ride. When you get down to it, this movie simply has everything you expect and could want from an X-men film: lots of action, plenty of mutants, a war with two sides you can sympathize with and whole lot of Wolverine (they’re even the latest movie to create their very own Kennedy assassination conspiracy theory).

My rating: 8.5.

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5. How to Train Your Dragon 2: This would be a firm candidate for kids' movie of the year if it weren't for The Lego Movie. How to Train Your Dragon 2 manages to up the ante in every way without compromising the series and it doesn't shy away from showing real loss and grief. By going where a lot of children's movies won't, How To Train Your Dragon 2 sets itself apart from other animated films, in a good way.

My rating: 8.5.

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My Bottom 5 Movies of the Summer:

1. Tammy: I don't have much to say about this one. It's simply so unfunny that I couldn't even sit through the whole thing. Melissa McCarthy really misses her mark here.

My rating: 2.


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2. The Giver: Possibly one of the most disappointing adaptations in recent memory and an absolute bore to watch. If you're thinking about watching this one, do yourself a favor and don't, or, you know, just Netflix it.

My rating: 3.

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3. Deliver us From Evil: A horror movie that also doubles as a cop movie, and it doesn't really get either genre right. The scares are more boring than frightening. The power of Christ has never been less compelling.

My rating: 3.5.

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4. Transformers: Age of Extinction: If only the subtitle on this one were referring to the state of the franchise. Sadly, Transformers made all of the money this summer so we're definitely going to be seeing at least a full new trilogy. They made the upgrade from the whiny Shia Labeouf to the significantly more buff (but surprisingly still whiny) Marky Mark, but it doesn't help things much. At this point, you'll get less of a headache if you just bang your head on a wall for three hours, and that's free so, you know, your choice.

My rating: 4.

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5.Lucy: There are many people who will defend this film and say it was great, I'm not one of them. This movie was downright ridiculous and even though I'm totally willing to accept ridiculous premises, this one failed to win me over.

My rating: 4.

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-Ryan Maples