Although I do not live in North America, I understand that on a fairly global level, the summer movie season is largely dominated by the big American films. I have seen in several places that overall this year's summer films have not been of a very high quality. Though I've not written full reviews for all the summer films I've seen, I will provide a quick look here, and hopefully the other Flixens as well as you readers can leave your opinions as well. In order of release (the period from May to August of 2006):
Mission: Impossible III
This was one of this year's first major summer releases, and the first one that I saw. Compared to Mission: Impossible II it was a masterpiece, but nevertheless I found that it was very conventional in the end. The story was mildly interesting, and for an action movie it was only mildly entertaining. Philip Seymour Hoffman was wasted in this film, playing one of the most generic and unmotivated villains in recent years.
The Da Vinci Code
In my review (HERE), I'd written:
I think The Da Vinci Code deserves one viewing, but because of the lack of very interesting main characters and its length (lots of talking), perhaps a second viewing would ruin the experience, as the slowness becomes more apparent. For some people, the film may feel too long, but I think it depends on how interesting you find the mystery to be.
The film received mostly terrible reviews, but I thought that it had more value than what most seemed to think. It was a flawed film, but it was fairly well made, and for someone who had not read the book, the story was immensely compelling.
Over the Hedge
This was perhaps the most surprising film I'd seen this summer. It was far better than I expected it to be, and was a terrific comedy overall. Very light entertainment, but it does its job very well.
X-Men: The Last Stand
From my review (HERE):
I could tell that a noble effort was made with this film, as the combination of various elements is always an ambitious task, and though it mostly doesn’t work in this case, it could have still been worse. I saw many interesting components in X-Men: The Last Stand, and had more care and time been invested into refining the film, it could have potentially been an impressive conclusion to the series. Sadly, the parts were not well put together, and as a result X-Men: The Last Stand falls to pieces.
My opinion of this film has not changed, though Movie MILF had liked it, as can be seen from her review.
Click
This was not a comedy, as the previews and the fact that Adam Sandler is the star suggested. This was a drama made by a lazy director, who is more accustomed to trying to make comedies rather than any kind of realistic drama. If it's not too late, rent The Butterfly Effect instead. My biggest regret is that Click did manage to manipulate my emotions using some enormously cliched tricks. I like Adam Sandler, but they used my weakness for him against me for this film! Shame on you!
Superman Returns
This was not a bad movie, it really wasn't, but I thought that it was deeply flawed in the end. Brandon Routh was marvellous as Superman/Clark Kent, and it was obvious that he was chosen for the role because he seemed to channel Christopher Reeve so well. Nevertheless, this Superman was somehow more mature, and Routh evoked a strong sensitivity that makes his portrayal stand strong. He was the best part of the film, and its true saving grace.
The effects were extremely impressive, and the film was visually luscious.
The story, the villain, and the dialogue, however, could have been far better in my opinion. Somehow it seemed as though Bryan Singer and his writers were obsessed with two things: paying homage to Richard Donner's film and making it clear as though being beaten on the head that Superman = Jesus.
Lex Luthor's plan was even more ridiculous than that of Richard Donner's film, and the film uses up all of its momentum in the first half. This is the movie that would never end, and I really felt as though the filmmakers had no faith in the audience's intelligence.
Superman is an icon in his own right, and the messianic aspects of the character are built into his story, so why did they have the urge to repeatedly remind us that Superman = Jesus?
"The son is the father, the father sees through his son's eyes, who is looking at the father, so the father sees himself through his son's eyes..." my eyes watched the film, but my brain was falling asleep.
You made a strong film, Mr. Singer, and I wish that you will continue to make Superman films, but please next time don't treat us as though we were "retarded," to borrow one of Jenny's words.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
This was my favorite film of the summer. It was darker, and Jack Sparrow played more as a member of an ensemble than as the surprise star he was in the first film, but I liked Dead Man's Chest just as much as Curse of the Black Pearl. It gave me all of the elements I loved about the first film (except for the first appearance of Jack Sparrow), and the spectacle was elevated with Bill Nighy's Davey Jones, a suitable follow-up to Geoffrey Rush's Barbossa, and his crew and sea-monster! Keria Knightley seemed to have grown as an actor, and Orlando Bloom was easy to ignore, and therefore not as annoying as in other films.
Johnny Depp was in terrific form as Jack Sparrow, and he had some truly funny moments, particularly as chief of the tribespeople.
I can't wait for May 2007, when the Pirates saga comes to a finish.
Snakes on a Plane
It was definitely overhyped, and did not perform as well as the producers had hoped, but as far as I am concerned Snakes on a Plane deserves some kind of special award. Of all the films I'd seen this year, Snakes on a Plane was the best at meeting my expectations. I was thoroughly entertained by this non-sensical thriller, and Samuel L. Jackson and the filmmakers can be proud of their work. A completely unpretentious and absurd film, and so easy to enjoy.
So which is (are) your favorite film(s) of the summer?
