It’s the summer and that means summer blockbusters aplenty. CGI filled films with even more explosions and backflips will flood into theaters, but not all of them are run of the mill. July and August have plenty to offer moviegoers, whether you want a family friendly story or a bloody action-filled romp.
The BFG – July 1
Based on the classic book by Roald Dahl, embark on a journey with Sophie, a young orphan girl who is swept away by a mysterious giant to the Land of the Giants. The giant, a.k.a. The Big Friendly Giant, quickly befriends Sophie and the two journey throughout the mysterious land.
The giant is done largely through CGI, but the result looks stunning. A lot of the film seems to be computer generated but it is beautifully melded with the practical effects, bringing the timeless tale to life.
The Legend of Tarzan – July 1
This take on the man of the jungle is quite different from the famous Disney version. The film begins after the events of the original story. Tarzan and Jane have left the jungle and moved back to England, but a trade expedition brings them back to the lush jungles of the Congo.
They then get embroiled in a disastrous conflict, with Tarzan being forced to return to his violent roots. It will certainly do very different things with the story, deliver plenty of character drama, swinging through trees, and intense action.
Ghostbusters – July 15
Who you gonna call? The world's most famous supernatural crime fighters are back with an all-new cast and a new threat to face. Starring a mostly female cast, including Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mckinnon, and Leslie Jones, it’s still very much a tale of three scientists and a civilian teaming up to stop an outpouring of ghosts from sweeping over New York and taking over the world.
The trailers we’ve seen have shown a mixing of old and new, paying tribute to the first two films and what they accomplished, while simultaneously moving the franchise forward. The film’s director is Paul Feig: the mastermind behind films such as “Bridesmaids,” “Spy,” and “The Heat.” So if you were a fan of those comedies and what they delivered, there’s a good chance you’ll find something to love in Ghostbusters.
Star Trek Beyond – July 22
The intrepid crew of the USS Enterprise is back but they’re in quite the predicament. They’ve lost their ship, they’re separated and they’re stranded on a remote and vicious planet.
Beyond will be a different kind of Star Trek movie. Whereas the previous two films focused on intergalactic battles with only brief trips down to planets, the newest entry will switch this up in a myriad of ways. The action will be more personal than ever, focusing heavily on the crew and the struggles they will be forced to endure.
Jason Bourne – July 29
He spent years trying to figure out who he is, but now that he knows that he is simply a man with a vendetta. Matt Damon returns as Jason Bourne, an incredibly skilled and powerful man who spent years trying to figure out the truth about his past after the agency he worked for wiped his memory. Now, when the world is unstable and many lives hang in the balance, Jason Bourne returns to try and set things straight.
This is technically the fifth Bourne film. Damon took the fourth installment off, with the lead role being taken by Jeremy Renner. Now Damon is back as the world’s most dangerous man and is looking to raise hell. Expect plenty of well-choreographed action and copious amounts of intrigue; everything that makes a good Bourne movie. This will hopefully mark a return to form for the series after a lackluster fourth film.
August
Suicide Squad – August 5
DC’s next film effort is out shortly after their most recent attempt flopped. Suicide Squad will see a team of villains team up under the employ of the government to carry out extremely dangerous missions. They will have to go up against hordes of armed guards, The Joker (now played by Jared Leto), and the caped crusader himself.
Batman v Superman did not leave up to expectation. Hopefully, Suicide Squad can prove that DC is capable of making truly great comic book movies that can simultaneously stay true to the source material and forge their own paths.
Pete’s Dragon – August 12
Based on the 1977 children’s film of the same name, the story centers on Pete, a young boy who lived in the forest for six years with a large, green dragon named Elliot. He is rescued and brought back to civilization but needs to get back to the woods to keep Elliot company.
But when people in the small town near the forest catch wind of Elliot’s existence they grow scared and try to hunt him down. It looks to be a great movie for the whole family, full of fantasy, action, and plenty of moments that will pull on the heartstrings.
Sausage Party – August 12
This may look like a movie for the whole family, but maybe leave the kids at home. Foods from the supermarket wait their whole lives to be grabbed off the shelves and taken home, but when they discover what really happens in the kitchen a brave hotdog revolts.
Written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, it’s a raunchy comedy about foods fighting for their lives to avoid being diced, chopped and thrown into a stew. There are plenty of animated TV shows that are aimed at adult audiences, but very few films. It will certainly be a fun romp with a unique premise. Even if it isn’t good it will still be a hoot and a half.
Wrap Up
A lot of these movies may be action films, but that’s what the summer months do best. A lot of what July and August have to offer are new takes on old classics. New versions of Tarzan, The BFG, and Pete’s Dragon use CGI to augment these powerful stories and make them truly come alive on the screen.
Matthew Herst is a Carleton University communications student, video game journalist and Sudbury.com’s resident geek writer. Yeah, this guy loves video games. Besides Sudbury.com, you can also find his work on TheNerdStash.com. Follow him on Twitter @supergurst.
