It's that time of the year again!
This is the time where summer blockbusters come out and do their thing and gross a lot of money and what not. While today may be the first day of summer, some pretty great movies have already debuted this past weekend that will be around for the next month or so. You can catch those movies here in the post titled Top 10 Movies: Spring 2016, (note: I started doing the top 10's by the actual season rather than the months so ignore the repeats on this list.)
But I'm not here to talk about those movies, I'm here to talk about the movies that officially come out during the summer season. Without much further ado, here they are:
10. Ghostbusters (July 15th) | The most peculiar entry on the list and the most polarizing one by far. I'm going to see this movie off the strength of three things: 1. My loyalty to the first two that were great, which should have seen a third one. 2. The return of former cast members from the first two films, which should be a good thing to help transition to more entries in the series if this movie ends up being good. 3. Melissa McCarthy. She's been doing such a great job carrying her own movies that I'm going to give it a shot and support this one off the strength that she's been giving great performances so far.
I'm not a fan boy like all of the other guys in the comments on the YouTube trailers and forums when it comes to remakes. While I love the originals, and they hold a dear place in my heart, this movie is clearly for the new generation of kids growing up and it's catered more so to them and their tastes. To judge this movie off the strength that it's not the original and it's an all female ensemble would make me misogynist and a hypocrite. I'm leaving judgement on the table until after I see the movie.
9. Mechanic: Resurrection (August 19th) | While this may seem like a surprise to some, those that saw the first entry can support my claims of how good the first one was. If given the proper time to develop the story like the first one did I believe that this movie will do just as good as the first one. Especially since the likes of legend Tommy Lee Jones, Jessica Alba and the incomparable Michelle Yeoh have joined the cast, making this movie a semi heavyweight bout for the summer.
I suspect that this movie will fly under the radar and will actually serve as one of those movies that people catch at Redbox and deem it worth the watch. Either way, this movie is going to be good and I'm going to walk away happy.
Hopefully ..
8. The Secret Life of Pets (July 8th) | The first and last kids movie on the list and I think it's going to be a good one in the sense that it's going to be an entertaining one off movie. It's not going to be in the same league as Zootopia or Finding Dory, but it's going to be in the same ballpark as either, but it will be good none the less. Kevin Hart is everywhere and he's going to keep the ball rolling with this one as well. Like I said before, this is going to be a good kids movie coming off the tail end of Finding Dory's success.
7. Ben-Hur (August 19th) | Another entry that is causing a stir among people that take originals way too serious. Just like I said before with Ghostbusters, this movie isn't for those who remember the originals. This movie is strictly made for the newer generation and it's catered to their tastes. With that being said, I don't think this looks like a bad movie at all. The cinematography looks awesome and the acting doesn't see sub par in any sense. The casting is still off, but at least they're trying to not make the actors look blatantly white who aren't.
I would say that's where some of the angst is coming from, but that's neither here nor there. I'm going to see this movie off the strength that it looks good and has some quality actors in there. I'll admit that even though it was whitewashed, the original was pretty good. This movie will have it chance to be just as good, I'm leaving the judgement for after I see this one as well.
6. Jason Bourne (July 29th) | While I like the Bourne film series, it's not a franchise that I exactly swoon over. While there were moments of action, (and it was designed to be a thriller / drama type film), I always felt there was more to be desired from the action sequences. This one doesn't seem to go the route as it's predecessors and I'm hoping this rings true from what I've seen in the trailers. Not much to say about this movie because it has the usual MO and it's usual cast of characters. I'm just hoping that it's more action packed. That's the only reason it didn't crack the top five.
5. Free State of Jones (June 24th) | There are few actors that demand my attention whenever they are on screen; one of those actors happens to be Matthew McConaughey. The story seems a little meh to me on the account that there are a lot disputing reports on who Newton Knight really is. But anytime there's a movie where the confederates get their ass kicked, I'm down for it all. Then you toss in the fact that the beautiful Gugu Mbatha-Raw and the supremely talented Mahershala Ali is in this as well, you pretty much have me sold. This movie is definitely going to be good and hopefully it's not the same old slave narrative.
4. The Purge: Election Year (July 1st) | If The Purge: Anarchy is any indication of how this movie could go, then this is going to be one good ass movie. I just want to point out that I think it's a travesty Michael K. Williams is not in this movie as Carmelo Johns again. His moment in Anarchy was the most pivotal one to date and hopefully he'll return in the next one, (because there is going to be a next one), to continue telling the story of the resistance leader. Edwin Hodge is in this one again so hopefully that doesn't foreshadow Carmelo getting killed between the two movies. If you haven't seen either then I would say you could skip the first one and watch the last one leading into this one. They're great movies.
3. Suicide Squad (August 5th) | I'm to sweet baby Jesus that this movie isn't going to be bad. With the way superhero movies are marketed to kids I wouldn't be surprised at all. But since this is DC Movie Universe we're talking about, (their stance isn't to make kiddie movies), and we have all anti-heroes in this, I'm banking on both of those reasons as why this movie will be good. I was one of the few that loved the route Batman v. Superman went in terms of darkness and I fully expect this movie to take advantage of that. With a star studded case and hopefully a swerve that I want to come, I think this movie will be a great if they embraced the darkness and brutality of it all.
2. Independence Day: Resurgence (June 24th) | This is one of those movies that you waited your whole life to see the sequel of, but it never comes. Then one day you find out that it is coming, only for it not to bring back the star of the movie. So then your anticipation goes from yay to nay in a hurry. Then you see the trailer, (not the extended one where it shows you the whole movie), and you get excited all over again. I fully expect this movie to be dark, depressing and setup the sequel pretty well. It's going to be hell watching it and there are going to be some major deaths in this one. I fully expect it to be good and as long as they stick to the line of making it really sad and then have their triumphant moment with the sequel, they will be just fine.
It would be cool though to have a short movie made of Will Smith's character dying instead of the lousy website reveal.
1. Star Trek Beyond (July 22nd) | I had my initial doubts after the first trailer but once they came out with a better one every thing was back on point. This is the movie of the summer, I'm calling it now. With only their competition being Independence Day, (which should get some really great numbers since it's premiering right before the holiday), I foresee them raking in some huge numbers as well. Star Trek Into Darkness is going to be incredibly hard to top simply because it had the greatest Star Trek villain of all time in it. But if there is going to be any real chance at cracking that $500 million mark and outperforming the latter, this movie can since it has two great additions coming in the form of Idris Elba and Sofia Boutella.
My summer will be made once I see this movie.
Honorable Mentions
Ice Age: Collision Course (July 22nd)
The Legend of Tarzan (July 1st)
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