Thursday, August 10, 2017

Thursday Movie Picks: Summer Blockbusters




For the second week of August 2017 as part of the Thursday Movie Picks series hosted by Wanderer of Wandering Through the Shelves. We venture into world of summer blockbusters as it’s become a phenomenon since Jaws hit theaters in the summer of 1975 and changed the face of cinema forever as it would get bigger two years later with Star Wars. More than 40 years later, the summer blockbuster has offered all sorts of films whether it’s escapist and grand films or something different as this year so far has been a really good blockbuster season that has offered so many different kind of films. Here are my three picks:

1. Wonder Woman



Superhero films and franchises is often the norm of the summer blockbuster as they offer a sense of excitement to comic book fans and casual movie audiences. This year didn’t just offer a couple of entries from the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Spider-Man: Homecoming but also a film from the DC Extended Universe that is a real game-changer. Patty Jenkins’ film about the Amazonian princess who wants to save the world without any kind of compromise is the film comic book-adapted films and superhero films need. Most of all, it’s a film that gives women and young girls someone they can root for as it’s managed to exceed all sorts of expectations as well as give Gal Gadot a major step into superstardom.

2. Baby Driver



While the summer always offer movies from studios that are meant to be the big spectacles, there is always an alternative as this year did offer that from such noted auteurs as Sofia Coppola with The Beguiled and this film from Edgar Wright. A blend of the musical with comedy and high-octane action inspired by the car movies of the 1970s is really unlike anything out there as it features a kick-ass soundtrack that help drive the story as well as present something that is different. It’s got all sorts of things yet it remains something simple about a getaway driver who listens to music in his job.

3. Dunkirk



Christopher Nolan has been sort of synonymous with the summer blockbuster with such films as his Batman trilogy and 2010’s Inception as he offers audiences the real alternative to the blockbusters that are all flash and no substance. Yet, his newest film is totally different in not just being a war film but an unconventional war film that doesn’t play by the rules of traditional narratives. In this dramatic re-telling of the real-life Dunkirk evacuation, Nolan creates a war film that is directly into the action set in three different areas in different frames of time as it is pretty much a daunting task in the world of film.

© thevoid99 2017

10 comments:

Birgit said...

You picked all this year so you have a theme within a theme and these are all films I want to see especially Dunkirk! I always loved Wonder Woman and I'm so glad it kicked ass in making money which means more films to follow hopefully with this same actress.

Dell said...

I've only seen Wonder Woman, so far, and I love it. Hope to see the other two soon.

Brittani Burnham said...

I like your theme! The only one I haven't seen is Baby Driver but I enjoyed Wonder Woman and Dunkirk a lot.

Sonia Cerca said...

This post only makes me hate my country even more for making me wait for Dunkirk and Baby Driver until September.

Anonymous said...

Completely inarguable picks!

Anonymous said...

I really want to see Dunkirk. I'm so behind on new movies.

Big Screen Small Words said...

All great movies!

Myerla said...

Um...Perhaps I am misunderstanding what a summer blockbuster is, but Dunkirk doesn't really give me that summer blockbuster vibe, partly because it could be released in November as one of those awards contenders.

Can't argue against the first pick, pefect choice.

thevoid99 said...

@Birgit-I'm happy Wonder Woman is doing well and has managed to still be in the theaters. This will show those misogynists in the industry that women can make a shitload of money better than the boys.

@Wendell-I hope you get to see those 2 films as well as I love them.

@Brittani-See Baby Driver and believe me. You'll be wanting some tunes for your next drive.

@assholeswatchingmovies.com-You're welcome.

@vinnieh-See it now and if you have a theater to see it in 70mm, DO IT!!!!

@Big Screen Small Words-Damn straight.

@Myerla-Dunkirk may not fit the bill of a summer blockbuster storywise and visually but it does have all of bombastic elements expected as well as provide something with more substance than most blockbuster films.

thevoid99 said...

@Sonia-Yeah, I understand the hate for the wait but I hope you check them out.