Around the time The Expendables came out, we here at iamROGUE were taking about working on a “Best of Summer” list. After all, there were a handful of films that may just find themselves on an end of the year best of. From the wonderfully dark and intriguing Life During Wartime to the effective French gangster flick Mesrine parts one and two, you could easily find five worthwhile films.
Now that Labor Day weekend has come and gone, we decided to
look back at not necessarily the “Best” films this summer, but what flicks
offered up a fun popcorn flick. Because hey, sometimes you crave cinema junkfood... yet thankfully, number 5 is the best of both worlds.
5. Inception
On any other best list, this would be higher than 5. This is a smart film that managed to please audiences and critics with its creative look at dreams and the power found within. Directed by Christopher Nolan and featuring an impressive cast, including scene-stealers Tom Hardy and Joseph Gordon-Levitt and of course, leading man Leonardo DiCaprio, this is an entertaining film that manages to make you think as well.
4. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
A crazy, over-the-top, video game inspired romance that offers shades of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with Kick-Ass is an easy choice for this particular list. Yes, it is a smart and energetic film that exudes charm thanks to director Edgar Wright and his cast of characters who are fully in on the joke. Sadly, Scott Pilgrim didn’t find as much of an audience as it had hoped, but it is almost a guarantee that this will find cult status.
3. The Expendables
Stallone, Li, Statham, Lundgren, Rourke and more all made for a cool, bloody little flick that managed to bring the nostalgia factor, but also some really cool action sequences. Stallone has been back on track since reintroducing audiences to his iconic characters Rocky and Rambo, here is hoping we continues making films as brutally entertaining as this.
2. Piranha 3D
Sure the 3D wasn’t always great, but this silly flick is so
loaded in gore and nudity that it didn’t really detract from the sheer
enjoyment of an over-the-top killer fish flick that dares to be a little more
dangerous than your average SyFy Channel disaster movie. The idea of a sequel seems a bit premature,
but it’s about time a movie is exactly what it promises to be... copious amounts of gore, killer piranha and nudity! Yep, it's B-Movie fun.
1. Grease Sing-Along
Call it nostalgia, but Grease was still the word when you got together a packed house and enjoyed the show. In many ways this was better than karaoke, because you didn’t have to get on stage, all you did was get up out of your seats and sing along. Even the movie itself was re-mastered and looked incredible considering it was originally released in 1978. Big, bright, chipper and ridiculously fun, returning to Rydell High was a trip down memory lane worth taking.
We most definitely missed a few fun movies this summer. Honorable mentions include Machete, Toy Story 3, Despicable Me and The Other Guys…
What was the most fun you had at the movies this summer?
