We’re not going to lie, this summer of blockbusters was a long one, the longest season to date for the 2WC, in fact. With a total of 19 films under our belts, it’s finally time to call it a wrap.
Which means its time for us to weigh in, and give our final judgment on this summer’s flicks.
So, after a long summer filled with 3D glasses, popcorn, and Hollywood’s biggest and best fireworks, we give you the best (and worst) of Summer 2014:
Biggest Disappointment:
Zer: “Godzilla” — I know, I should have seen this major letdown coming, but I bought into the hype. With a cast that included Brian Cranston and Juliette Binoche, it seemed like this film could reclaim Godzilla’s title as king of the monster movies. Godzilla does look really cool, but overall, the film is a total letdown.
Stephanie: “Godzilla“—Obviously, mine would be “Jersey Boys,” but seeing as it doesn’t quite count as a blockbuster, and I think I’ve pretty much beat that horse to death, I’m going with “Godzilla,” the movie that disappointed me more and more as it went on. It started with such promise and then killed off its two most intriguing characters less than 20 minutes in. Leaving the audience alone with the less thrilling lead of the movie and our thoughts, which went something like, “This never would have happened if Bryan Cranston was still around.”
Biggest Surprise:
Zer: “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” — Maybe it was the lame title, but for whatever reason, I was not looking forward to this film. This movie ended up being one of my favorites of the summer. While 2012’s “The Amazing Spider-Man” was a refreshing departure from the Tobey Maguire series, this latest film defined the new franchise, and made me excited for what’s to come.
Stephanie: “Snowpiercer” and “Guardians of the Galaxy“—Before you call this a cop-out, let me explain. These movies represent two very different kinds of surprise. On the one hand, I’d barely heard of the star-packed “Snowpiercer” before I saw it, but once I had, the fact that it was a great movie didn’t surprise me so much as the fact that it had been unknown to me up until the point. On the other hand, as a part of the Marvel franchise, I expected “GOTG” to be great. I did not expect the talking tree to be my favorite character, alas Groot is America’s new sweetheart. Color me shocked. Honorable mention goes to “Edge of Tomorrow” for being a genuinely enjoyable movie, did not see that coming.
Best Villain:
Zer: Angelina Jolie as Maleficent — Okay, so I realize the point of this film was to reinvent this Disney villainess as a heroine, but those who have seen this film know that the best part of the film is Angelina Jolie embracing the bad in Maleficent. Angelina Jolie is mesmerizing as Maleficent. It’s a reminder of the star power and captivating presence of Ms. Jolie.
Stephanie: Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes—So, technically Bucky is not a villain, but let’s face it, the good villains’ “villain-ness” comes down to a matter of perspective. Frozen Bucky’s tortured and forgotten past make for a compelling heart-wrenching conflict between him and his best friend who he doesn’t remember. Can’t wait to see what’s next for this would-be hero in Captain America 3.
Best Performance:
Zer: The entire motion capture cast of “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” — This is cheating, a bit, but considering no one in this amazingly talented cast of motion capture performers will receive any prestigious awards and acclaim for their work, I figured I’d at least give them my praise. Led by the amazingly talented Andy Serkis who plays Caesar, and with some help from some amazing animators, this group of actors gave the performance of the summer.
Stephanie: Andy Serkis as Caesar—I have to go with Andy Serkis as Caesar in “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.” Someday, the people in Hollywood who have the power to do such things will give the man an award for the amazing things he’s done with motion capture, but until then (and after), 2WC will keep singing his praises, along with those of the entire motion capture team. Bravo.
Most Likely to Make It Into the Personal Movie Collection:
Zer: “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” — This should not come as a surprise after reading who my three final awards go to.
Stephanie: “Guardians of the Galaxy“—Did I mention my love for Groot? This one was a no brainer.
Best Picture:
Zer: “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” — This film accomplished a rare feat, by surpassing its predecessor (2011’s “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”). With intelligent storytelling, awe-inspiring motion capture special effects, and a phenomenal cast; this summer blockbuster was in a league of its own.
Stephanie: “X-Men: Days of Future Past“—The X-Men get the top honor for multiple reasons. Mostly, it’s due to the sheer magnitude of this kind of project. They bridged the gap between two casts in a franchise that spans 14 years. That alone would be impressive, but they went and made it a great movie too. I can’t do anything but applaud that kind of achievement. Well done X-Men team, well done.
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…bi-daily smile…
Some non-summer blockbusters that we’re looking forward to:
