…Hit the Heights

2WC Cinema

It’s been several months and pairs of 3D glasses, but 16 movies later we’ve arrived at the end.

Another summer of blockbusters has come and gone and that means one thing here at 2WC: Final Judgment Time.

This year we even have a fun new category, that we can’t believe we’re only just introducing: Best Villain.

Our sincerest apologies go out to Loki, Voldemort, Loki again, and Magneto.

So without further ado, here are the best (and worst) of Summer 2013:

Biggest Disappointment:

Stephanie: I would give this one to “Fast and Furious 6,” but it doesn’t seem entirely fair considering I haven’t seen the first 5. So, it’s with some hesitance that I give this one to “Now You See Me.” To be clear, this was not my least favorite movie of the summer. We don’t vote on that, it feels a bit like kicking a dead horse, but trust me I have a least favorite. Back to the movie at hand. I actually really enjoyed this movie. It’s a great concept with a great cast and a great set-up. Then the reveal at the end sucks the air out of all of that. It’s anti-climactic. That said, I will most definitely be seeing the sequel.

Zer: Call me a dreamer, but I really had high hopes for this film. I’m a fan of the X-Men franchise, but for whatever reason Wolverine can’t seem to catch a break. ”The Wolverine” seemed poised to right the wrongs done to this beloved character by 2009′s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.” At first it seemed to be an improvement , but in the end it turned out to be an even bigger letdown than its predecessor. All we can do now is look forward to next summer’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past.”

Biggest Surprise:

Stephanie: I feel like this and the previous category are two sides of the same coin. I just had higher expectations of one. That may taint my pick of “Man of Steel” for some, but it shouldn’t. I admit, my low expectations were influenced by the opinions of others. I would also like to go on record saying that I look forward to the sequel, especially Mr. Affleck’s portrayal of Batman. The Affleck haters need to cool it. I think he’s kind of perfect for the part. Although if you screw this up sir, I will never forgive you.

Zer: “Pacific Rim” is exactly what I expected and wanted it to be. It’s big, it’s loud and there are robots. However, hidden in the movie is a compelling story…a bit of a surprise in a movie that’s about robots that kill the big, scary aliens. Hidden in this juggernaut of a summer blockbuster, is a little bit of humanity. Even more surprising, it works. It’s not Oscar-worthy, but it is at least worth checking out on Netflix, or renting…if people still do that.

Best Villain:

Stephanie: Like anyone else stood a chance next to Khan. He’s a smart villain with a sympathetic tale. That trumps everything. Plus Benedict Cumberbatch, in addition to having one of the greatest names of all time, kills it in this role. No contest.

Zer: Do not be fooled by Gru’s prominent position on the featured “Despicable Me 2″ poster, this award is going to the minions. After all, what would a super-villain be without his personal army of henchmen? The answer — the star of a movie that no one can remember. The lovable (but a little bit evil) minions are the reason the “Despicable Me” franchise works, and that earns them my vote for best villains…even if they are villains of the cute and cuddly variety.

Best Performance:

Stephanie: I’ve got to give this one to Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby. Partially, as a grass-roots effort to get the man an Oscar, and also because he’s amazing in this role. I can hear the protests of the Robert Redford fans from here, but Leo is absolutely perfect and heartbreaking in this role. Think about it Academy.

Zer: I have to give this one to Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby too. It may sound cliché, but this is a part that Leo was born to play. The most impressive part about his performance is that it’s not completely swallowed by Baz Luhrmann’s beautifully directed, over-the-top spectacle of a movie (and I mean that in a good way). He’s an anchor to reality, that keeps us from being swept up in the topsy-turvy world of 1920s New York.

Most Likely to Make It Into the Personal Movie Collection:

Stephanie: So, this movie was unofficially banned from every other category because it’s not technically a blockbuster, but it’s a shoe-in for the DVD collection. Shakespeare directed by the man who brought us the avengers and starring a very impressive collection of sci-fi stars. No one else stood a chance.

Zer: This will come as a surprise to no one who knows me, but I’m a bit of a nerd. This film could have been a quarter as good as it actually is, and it would still be joining my movie collection (if only to revisit its horribleness). Thankfully, the new Star Trek series did not suffer from the sophomore slump. ”Star Trek: Into Darkness” not only lived up to the standard set by the first film, but surpassed it.

Best Picture:

Stephanie: Space: the final frontier, won the day on this one. The new Star Trek series just has done an excellent job of translating the story for a whole new generation. It’d be great on its own, but the sequel-ness of it all makes it that much more impressive.

Zer: “Star Trek: Into Darkness” has everything a truly great summer blockbuster needs. First, it has a ridiculously loyal fan base. Second, as a result of this fan base, it had an even greater amount of hype surrounding its release. And lastly, in addition to its loyal fan base, there are other people who want to see these movies. The story is catered to a certain group, but you don’t have to be a Trekkie to enjoy the new Star Trek that J.J. Abrams has created. In other words, it’s a good movie.