Lights, Camera, Action: A Spotlight on Movies of the Summer (Part 2: June)

Ballerina (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime) 

Grab your key at the check-in and remember to stay alert, as one of the most beloved action franchises of recent times is expanding its world to new clients. Set in the world of the popular John Wick franchise, this spin-off focuses on Eve Macarro, whose father was killed in her youth. Seeking revenge, she trains as a ballerina and an assassin in preparation to strike back. When numerous threats start tracking her down, including the elusive Wick, Macarro hits the field on a dangerous mission with the goal of avenging her loss. 

As far as the John Wick movies go, this is a very enjoyable spin-off. But if I had to compare it to previous installments, I’d say this ranks as the weakest film in the franchise, largely due to script issues. At its core, the feature is relatively basic in its plot, which leads to predictable moments aplenty despite setting up creative ideas. It also has the problem of subplots which don’t go very far and ultimately feel pointless. An example involves the relationship between Macarro and another assassin, Lena, which has a fair share of foreshadowing throughout the runtime, but does not deliver with its twist before ending suddenly.

But don’t let these writing issues sway you, as there’s still a lot to enjoy in this spin-off, particularly in the action sequences. Though there were a few instances of monotony, the majority of the fight scenes are choreographed expertly under director Len Wiseman–of Live Free or Die Hard–and series creator Chad Stahelski. Their combined efforts lead to non-stop engaging action, with some sequences proving as standouts in not just the movie, but the entire John Wick series. One that comes to my mind immediately is a climatic battle involving flamethrowers, where the stakes get higher as the action quite literally heats up. 

These scenes are delivered effectively thanks to the talented stunt work and ensemble cast, who all commit greatly to their roles. Ana de Armas nails it as Macarro, serving as a worthy protagonist of the John Wick world with great dramatic beats and development, along with dedicated physical commitment to the ballerina and assassin traits of her character. In addition, many performers from previous Wick films–including Keanu Reeves, Anjelica Huston, Ian McShane, and Lance Reddick–reprise their roles, shining just as they did in the predecessors. These factors result in an entertaining spin-off to the John Wick franchise which left me eager for what Macarro’s next dance could behold.

How to Train Your Dragon (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime) 

The Vikings of Berk and winged beasts have returned to the cinematic world with a new live action patch! Serving as a remake of the 2010 animated film of the same name, this reimagining follows a similar story: an outcast Viking named Hiccup lives on the island of Berk, where dragons frequently attack. One night, he shoots down the mysterious Night Fury–later named Toothless–and forms an unexpected bond with it. As they grow closer, tensions further rise between the humans and the beasts, leading the unlikely duo to team up and show Berk what they are capable of together.

Similar to Lilo & Stitch, I was highly skeptical of this movie’s announcement because of the love I have for the original Dragon movie. But with the original’s director, Dean DeBlois, returning for the live action treatment, I was also curious as to how he would bring his story to a new format. The result was one of the visually striking movies to come out this summer, with a tone which perfectly captured that of the original. Not only was the film beautiful to look at with its dragon designs and environments, but it also maintained the spirit of the 2010 film in its editing and music, the latter of which left me with chills as it blasted in the theater. 

As for the core story itself, it basically plays the exact same cards as the original, not doing much to depart from the animated counterpart, even utilizing the exact same dialogue and story structure as before. While this approach does help the spirit of the original to shine through, it does raise the question of why the movie was even made if it was barely going to change anything. Thankfully, the story is one which translates quite well into live action, but I feel like they could have done a bit more to help the movie stand out rather than just playing it beat-for-beat to its animated template.

However, like I said, this plot is one that works quite well in live action, and it is accompanied by a strong cast who bring these characters to life. Whether it be Mason Thames’s nervous-yet-determined approach to Hiccup, Gerard Butler’s powerful portrayal of his father Stoick, or Nico Parker’s rebellious take on love interest Astrid, the cast stays true to the spirit of what made their characters special in the first place. Ultimately, these factors further this remake’s faithfulness to what made the original movie special, resulting in a familiar but satisfying product.

The Life of Chuck (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime)

In the words of Ferris Bueller, life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. This film, based on Stephen King’s story of the same name, tells the story of Charles “Chuck” Krantz in three chapters, each taking place at varying points in his life. Told in a nonchronological style, the movie tracks Krantz as he experiences the many hardships of life, along with the beauties it beholds through a variety of interactions, experiences, and even dances.

This is one of the more obscure films I saw over the summer, released with very little promotion and ultimately underperforming financially. But if you ask me, I think this might be the most overlooked movie of this season which I’d highly recommend watching. Director Mike Flanagan–known for his work in the horror genre–approaches this film in a whimsical-yet-dramatic way, taking a relatively simple concept and expanding upon it to resonate with viewers. 

As I previously mentioned, this film is told in a nonchronological order, beginning at the end and vice versa. Though this did take a minute to get used to, I found myself loving this take on a typical life story. It allows viewers to piece everything together, setting up questions at the start before everything comes full circle at the end. Through all of this, the ensemble provides incredible performances, with Tom Hiddleston and Benjamin Pajak standing out in their portrayals of an older and younger Krantz, respectively–they also shine with their dance moves at varying points. 

The aspect of the film I gravitated to the most was its overall tone. It explores the concept of life with both beauty and caution, letting the happier moments linger while not ignoring its inevitable challenges. This idea is especially prevalent in the third act of the movie, which focuses on Krantz’s youth as he grows up with his grandparents. He experiences many of life’s obstacles while embracing the joy of those happier moments, all culminating in a conclusion which nearly left me in tears. The best way I can describe this film is magical, as it takes the simple concept of a life story and expands it into something more, creating a special type of film that sent me dancing out of the theater.

28 Years Later (Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime)

Keep the doors locked and make sure the lights are on, because zombies are running amok in this blockbuster! Serving as the third installment of the 28 Days Later franchise, creators Danny Boyle and Alex Garland reunite to tell a new story set in a dystopian wasteland. The dangerous rage virus–which zombifies anyone who comes in contact with it–has wiped out most of the European population. A small group of survivors, including a family of three, attempt to recreate and readjust to civilian life, all while avoiding and fighting back against the ravenous savages which remain on the prowl. 

This is the definition of how to make a great horror movie sequel, not just in terms of scares or gore, but also through story and characters. The sense of psychological dread and suspense is prevalent in the tone; it establishes an unsafe environment and keeps viewers on edge, especially in sequences when zombies attack. Through hyperactive editing and malicious music, these sequences stay true to the terror of the previous installments established by Boyle and Garland. On top of that, the movie looks absolutely stunning, with many open landscapes and unique setpieces providing strong eye candy among all the blood and fright.

The characters are all written greatly, especially the primary family: father Jamie, mother Isla, and son Spike. The movie devotes itself to building a strong family dynamic between these survivors, which especially gets to shine in the second half between Isla and Spike. They are also well portrayed by the cast, with Jodie Comer playing the heart of the feature as Isla and Alfie Williams nailing the young-but-maturing Spike. The rest of the cast, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes, sell their characters by providing feelings of determination and fear while simultaneously adapting to the challenging environment.

The story also does a great job at expanding upon the world set up by the previous 28 Days Later movies. This movie explores various locations, including the heavily infected Great Britain and secluded civilization on the island of Lindisfarne. As a result, it provides a great sense of scope as it thoroughly builds the in-universe world. On top of that, the movie is rather unpredictable, keeping viewers at the edge of their seats as to what might happen next. Admittedly, the ending of the film does come off a bit jarring tonally, but at the same time, it ties back to an early scene and makes sense in what it sets up. As a whole, the movie does a spectacular job at building suspense and developing its world and characters, making for a strong entry to the franchise which boasts potential in where it can go next. 

F1 (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime)

When the light goes from red to green, a new challenger zooms out of the camera’s starting gate and quickly makes its way towards the projector’s finish line! Directed by Joseph Kosinski of Top Gun: Maverick, this film centers on Sonny Hayes, a racecar driver who returns to Formula 1 after a previous near-fatal accident. His team, headed by friend Ruben Cervantes, is on the brink of collapse and needs to win the competitive race tournament to stay afloat. Along with up-and-coming racer and occasional rival Joshua Pearce, Hayes races rigorously to save the team from crumbling.

Of all the films that came out this summer, I honestly think this might be my favorite. As someone who does not know much about Formula 1 racing, I was mesmerized by this film, to the point where I actually saw it twice in theaters, a rarity for me. I fell in love with Kosinski's direction, as he approached the film similar to the way he did Top Gun: Maverick, with complex characters and emotional dramatic beats amid all the mindblowing race sequences. Those latter scenes let the movie’s sound design, cinematography, and editing shine, putting viewers in the driver’s seat as they speed through various tracks and swerve around obstacles. 

The story is engaging from the very beginning, and paves the way for character arcs which do a great job at developing the protagonists and making them feel real, specifically Hayes and Pearce. The two of them also have standout cast performances, with Brad Pitt balancing charisma, sarcasm, and a deep passion for racing as Hayes, while Damson Idris portrays the cocky, excited Pearce who basks in fame and is eager for new challenges. Once more is revealed about their characters and their arcs develop further, the two leave viewers rooting for them consistently, eagerly hoping for them to pass the checkered flag. 

Accompanying all this is a brilliant musical score by Hans Zimmer, which has stuck out as one of my favorites of the entire year. Subsequently tying in with the sound design, Zimmer’s tracks perfectly capture feelings of enthusiasm, triumph, somberness, and numerous other emotions. These feelings can also be noted throughout the film, especially in its final 15 minutes, wherein my heart was left pounding and my jaw was nearly on the ground. All of these fantastic aspects lead to a film which is the true definition of a summer blockbuster, doing a terrific job at establishing a bond with its audience and not letting them go until the driver hits the brakes.