Lights, Camera, Action: A Spotlight on Movies of the Summer (Part 3: July)

Jurassic World: Rebirth (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime) 

Despite their extinction, dinosaurs remain as ravenous as ever in the latest outing of the Jurassic Park franchise. In it, a group of people including mercenaries, a paleontologist, and a vacationing family find themselves stranded on an island where the prehistoric predators reside. With the ultimate goal of obtaining DNA from the three largest creatures, the team must retrieve these samples and make it back home before the dinosaurs can eat them for lunch.

The Jurassic Park series–aside from the original–has always been conflicting with its quality, as the films mostly deliver on entertainment while failing to write a compelling story. Rebirth is no exception to this concept; while I still had fun with it overall, it’s hard to ignore the issues it beholds which prevent it from being great. This largely comes from the writing, which boasts an astounding lack of logic among its characters, even by Jurassic World standards, especially in its opening scene. On top of that, none of the characters have much development, while the script demands them to do questionable things which did nothing but leave me scratching my head.

This is especially the case with the shipwrecked Delgado family, who honestly could have been cut out of the movie entirely. Most of their scenes do nothing but pad the runtime and distract from the main plot, while showcasing that awful lack of logic on multiple occasions. Thankfully, despite the poor quality of their characters, the cast all do a solid job of giving at least some energy to them, with Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey particularly sticking out in their personalities and screen presences. They make the quieter scenes of the film worthwhile, and add at least a little bit to the overall entertainment value. 

On that note, the core selling point of the movie, the dinosaurs, are the highlight of the film without a doubt. Director Gareth Edwards of Rogue One and Godzilla is no stranger to big-budget science fiction franchises; he lets his own creative vision shine to bring these prehistoric beasts to life. Whether it be capturing their beauty, causing fear, or introducing a horrifying mutation, Edwards puts the dinosaurs at the forefront, leading to many engaging sequences with outstanding visual effects. Seeing how these scenes take up the bulk of the runtime, they pave the way for a satisfactory movie which puts entertainment first. While I do wish more work went into the story and character development, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a fun time with Rebirth, especially in how it prioritized entertainment to keep audiences roaring with amusement.

Superman (HBO Max, Apple TV, Amazon Prime) 

It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane…it's the Man of Steel returning to the big screen after several years! Serving as the first installment of the new DC Universe (DCU), Superman focuses on the titular hero as he feuds with corrupt billionaire Lex Luthor. After facing unexpected consequences by preventing an international conflict, Superman must earn back the public’s trust and take Luthor down with the help of his colleagues–including girlfriend Lois Lane, dog Krypto, and fellow superheroes of the Justice Gang.

As far as the first installment of a cinematic universe goes, I was blown away by this new adaptation of the iconic superhero, smiling ear-to-ear throughout the entirety of the runtime. I particularly loved the overall approach to its tone, which was much more hopeful and lighthearted compared to previous Superman films like 2013’s Man of Steel. On top of that, the tone was not afraid to get dark every once in a while, leading to a few sequences which genuinely left me shocked. Director James Gunn of Guardians of the Galaxy finds the right balance to keep the tone consistent, not being afraid to go ominous while mainly emphasizing an uplifting nature. This also makes way for a decent amount of funny jokes, primarily from Nathan Fillion’s egotistical-yet-charming Green Lantern. 

Coinciding with this hopeful approach are the brilliant technical aspects of the film. Whether it be the terrific score by David Fleming and John Murphy which shines during the action sequences or the bright cinematography which lets the colors truly pop, my eyes and ears were in complete awe as I witnessed and listened to these magnificent aspects. On top of that, the film is edited quite well, particularly in the action scenes or sequences when Superman is in flight, grabbing a hold of viewers and taking them along for the ride, enhancing the already spectacular scenes. 

Furthermore, the movie tells an engaging story which feels ripped right out of a comic book. It’s just the right amount of over-the-top in its conflict without being too cheesy, while still finding multiple moments of realism, courtesy of well-developed characters and terrific cast performances–particularly David Corenswet as Superman and Nicholas Hoult as Luthor. The writing allows viewers to gravitate towards the characters, especially Superman, as the stakes rise and the conflict becomes more widespread. Plus, the movie gets bonus points for its inclusion of Krypto the Superdog, who’s not only adorable, but also has a great share of laughs. All of these aspects combined make for the perfect definition of a comic book movie, providing a “super” time at the movies and an even better beginning for the DCU.

I Know What You Did Last Summer (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime)

A fisherman lurks in the night with his hook in one hand and tickets to his latest film outing in the other! In the first theatrical installment of the Last Summer series since 1998, this legacy sequel sees a group of teenagers inadvertently kill someone during a Fourth of July party. They make a pact to take the accident to their graves, which becomes literal a year later when someone in a fisherman costume begins slaughtering them. With time running out, the group goes to previous survivors Julie James and Ray Bronson for help in uncovering the truth of who is behind the mask.

Of all the movies I saw in theaters this summer, this was unfortunately my least favorite one I caught. Not because there’s nothing good about it, but it just had the potential to be better than it actually was. It’s a shame, too, because the movie had a really strong first act with great natural chemistry from the cast and a nice buildup to the shocking accident. The cast maintains this natural chemistry throughout the rest of the runtime as well, with Chase Sui Wonders particularly standing out in her frightened and emotional delivery. Even the legacy characters–James and Bronson–get a fair share of screentime, and are portrayed quite well by returning performers Jennifer Love Hewitt and Freddie Prinze Jr. 

Unfortunately, these aspects could not save the movie from its overall enemy: the script. The core story of the film is a rather basic whodunnit, setting up potential perpetrators which mostly end up going nowhere. The overall carnage which follows also did not stick with me compared to other horror films from this summer. The lack of gore or blood did not bother me, but the way the movie approached its tension did, as it prioritized jumpscares which mostly follow the same exact setup. A scene goes quiet for a long time before a sudden loud noise or appearance by the fisherman greets the audience. This predictable and repetitive approach to its scares ultimately impacted the movie’s fright factor, as I could easily predict when a scare would occur rather than be horrified of where the fisherman would strike next.

Not to mention, the movie completely loses the plot in the third act, when all is revealed about the true perpetrator. At first glance, it seems like a fairly standard reveal, one that makes sense in the context of the film but ultimately leaves no impact. However, as the movie kept going and more was revealed about the fisherman's identity, it left me facepalming rather than shocked. Without giving it away, I will say that it does a great disservice to the previous films in the franchise and the characters they established, ultimately coming off as more random and unearned than anything else. I feel like if the film had ended ten minutes earlier, it might’ve left at least a little better of an impact. But alas, despite the efforts of the cast and strong opening, this is a weak summer film which is better off throwing back to sea.

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime)

Marvel’s first family is back on the big screen in their first outing that earned a fittingly fantastic reception! The latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), First Steps tells the story of the titular Fantastic Four–Reed Richards, Sue & Johnny Storm, and Ben Grimm–as they reside in a futuristic 1960s-style setting. After their world is marked for death by the planet eater, Galactus, the team must suit up and find a way to save their home before the devourer can eradicate them. 

After years of attempts and numerous laughable results, the Fantastic Four have finally found themselves a strong film adaptation. Dissimilar to its predecessors, particularly 2015’s Fant4stic, this movie balanced out the dynamic of the team members with action and preparation for the antagonist’s arrival. As a result, it provided a fitting tone for the picture which prioritized themes relating to the importance of family and the impact they can leave. Surrounding this is a well-crafted story which does not shy away from Galactus’s threat or emphasizing family importance, feeling refreshing in the grand scheme of the MCU.

Combining these elements is a barrage of interesting characters, each of them sticking out with their own unique traits delivered expertly by the cast, particularly Vanessa Kirby’s determination as Sue, Joseph Quinn’s comedic relief as Johnny, and Ralph Ineson’s towering and nightmarish approach to Galactus. The only cast member who took a while for me to adjust to was Pedro Pascal as Richards; he came off a bit monotone for me in sequences towards the beginning, but he improved as the story progressed and conflict grew larger. Some characters such as Grimm and Galactus also benefit from beautiful practical and visual effects, which shine in the futuristic retro setting and cinematography, which reminded me of other classic science-fiction products, particularly The Jetsons.

The visuals also shine in the movie’s action sequences, which serve as a great way of showcasing the Fantastic Four’s unique powers in addition to exploring their world. Surprisingly, there were not as many fight scenes in this movie as I was anticipating, as they primarily occurred at important points in the story. This resulted in more of a slow burn compared to previous comic book movies from this year, but this did not bother me too much, as the characters were all very enjoyable and fascinating to explore. Plus, whenever the action scenes do come into play, they feel all the more satisfying, especially in how they pay off. Ultimately, it results in a “fantastic” film that finally does Marvel’s first family justice, especially for their first steps in the MCU.

Together (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime)

What would you do if you found yourself mysteriously connecting to another person, with no way of knowing how to stop it? In this horrifying outing by director Michael Shanks, a couple named Tim and Millie finds themself in this exact situation following a hiking accident. Amid a sea of hallucinations, mysterious reactions, and unexpected body connections, the duo must find a way to break the curse before they fuse together into a frightening amalgamation.

In another one of the summer’s more obscure releases, I found myself highly impressed with this take on the classic two-becoming-one concept. Rather than treat it like some fantastical or comedic story, Together instead opts for a more horrific take on the idea, excelling at making viewers feel uncomfortable as the fusing begins taking place. The consistent dread throughout the film is occasionally broken up by sarcastic quips from the couple, making for a well-balanced tone which stays true to the film’s horror nature while ensuring viewers have a good time. 

Further benefitting the matter are the main characters, Tim and Millie, played respectively by Dave Franco and Allison Brie. The two are married in real life, and their chemistry shines through in the film, adding a nice layer of genuineness amid all the horror and uncertainty. Meanwhile, the side characters do a great job at selling feelings of confusion and skepticism as Tim and Millie begin acting up. Although the secondary cast isn’t as impactful or memorable as Franco and Brie, they still do great with the material given their limited screen time, with Damon Herriman also standing out. 

Bringing these characters together (no pun intended) is one of the most creative screenplays of the summer, full of horrifying moments while also having a prominent heart, primarily through Franco and Brie’s natural chemistry. This particularly comes into play during the movie’s third act, which is also when the practical effects get a chance to shine in gloriously gruesome fashion. The body-related horror of this film might not appeal to everyone due to its unnerving imagery, but I was thoroughly impressed by the horrifying designs and the way they were utilized. All of these factors bring this movie together (pun intended this time) to create one of the most unique scary stories of the entire season.