Summer Threeview!

Okay, you're asking yourself (if you're reading this) "What the f!$& is a 'Summer Threeview?"

Well, loyal and/or not-so-loyal reader, let me tell you! "Threeview" refers to the fact that Summer is 1/3 of the way over! So, I've picked my top 3 movies of the Summer so far as well as the top 3 movies I can't wait to see.

So, let us begin with the top 3 movies of Summer so far:

3.The Hangover
Yes, the story of a bachelor's party gone terribly awry due to alcohol actually garners my respect. In fact, its my favorite comedy of the year thus far. Why? Because The Hangover isn't an insult to the American lifestyle and traditions we hold unlike most movies of the same genre/style. Actually, it kind of is, but more than an insult its a tease and a commemoration of just how ridiculous the antics of our society really are. It's not a stupid movie; if you can fathom this, its a dumb movie done intelligently. The Hangover is hysterical, continuously comedic, and entertaining through and through. There's tigers, Mike Tyson, a baby, Andy from The Office, a metrosexual Asian mafia leader, and plenty of nudity. And hey, if you liked Old School or American Pie, you're gonna love The Hangover. If you didn't like either of those, you're STILL gonna love The Hangover because its better.




2. Up
Of course, how could someone not include a Disney-Pixar feature when they're talking about their favorite movies? Besides Dreamworks at least...copycats. Just kiddin, Dreamworks, we loved Shrek! And Shrek 2!.......Just the first two..take a hint.

Anyway, Up is a fantastically imaginative story that is whimsical as it is mature. Kids will love it, Adults will love it, and everyone in between will love it. It's just one of those lovable movies from almost every aspect, and Up is certainly no let-down from Pixar. Where kiddish movies like Night at the Museum and Land of the Lost weren't so hot in the "That movie was really good!" department, Up is just the type of film to take kids to...over and over again. I mean, c'mon, what's not to love about a cute and grumpy old man, a clutzy asian Boy Scout, a talking dog, and a peacock/emu/dodo bird hybrid called a "Snipe" who can say more without even making a noise than most can do with an entire speech.


1. Star Trek
You probably saw this coming...as far as Summer blockbusters go, Star Trek is that money-hording thrill ride everyone wants. But wait, there's more! It's not bad! Sure, everyone loves comic book movies or Transformers, but not all of these films really live up to the hype. They're flashy, dazzling, and have that nuance of nostalgia we all crave, but in hindsight, they were just "okay" in the sense of a well-rounded movie. But Star Trek takes the cake from the gimmick bakery and and boldly goes...well you know. A fantastic cast, expert direction, and a witty and bombastic script combine to form what is, ultimately, the perfect movie experience. You leave content and have your expectations shattered into zillions of pieces. Its that movie you recommend to all your friends...and for many, it was a surprise hit (due to the "Trekky" fanbase that seem to be the only ones to actually get excitement when an announcement like this is made). So kudos, Sir Abrams. May your sequels live long and prosper.



Intermission!

Just kidding...unless you actually left this article and did something else for a few minutes before reading on. In that case, in all seriousness. Here we are to my, personal, top 3 contenders for most anticipated Summer movie of 2009 as of June 8! Let it begin!


3. G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
G.I. Joe. If you were a kid in the 80's or 90's, just hearing that name gets you inappropriately aroused. So when Paramount Pictures announced an official G.I. Joe movie, well, you can imagine the reaction. All those secret agents, ninjas, robots, mech suits, jet planes, guns, superpowers, terrorists, and weapons of mass destruction are back in superior special effects for its Summer blockbuster debut. Why am I excited? I'll admit, I was never the biggest fan of G.I. Joe...but, I did love the toys and watched the cartoon here and there. Its just one of those childhood remembrances that I can't get rid of, so I'm just naturally ecstatic. But what gets me more is the action packed trailer. Now, if that trailer just doesn't scream "COOL" right at your face for all two minutes, then I seem to have forgotten what "cool" is. As an actual all-around cinematic feature, we'll see if it has what it takes. But as a Summer blockbuster filled with combustible everything from start to finish, its looking to keep me on the edge of my seat through and through (due to fear of an ejection seat going haywire).

2. Public Enemies

Well, this entry isn't so much a Summer blockbuster as it is just a Johnny Depp declaration of "Aww shi*." The man is back as the main baddie/goodie in Public Enemies, the story of John Dillinger. If that poster doesn't already pull you in, check out the trailer. And if THAT doesn't make you want to see it immediately, well then go watch a movie about a forbidden romance between two star-crossed lovers that takes place during the Renaissance or something. Michael Mann looks to be the Man in this feature which he directs. On top of the in-your-face badass style which Public Enemies seems to be heading towards, the soundtrack is engaging and enthralling, or so it seems. This is the kind of movie I'm going to walk out of pretending to shoot up the theater with the justification that the other patrons just "don't understand me." Don't worry, it makes sense. If you love crime dramas, gangster, and/or Johnny Depp, get ready to get your ass kicked on July 1, 2009. (No androgynous drunk pirates were harmed in the making of this film).

1. Inglourious Basterds
Okay okay, so I'm a bit of a Quentin Tarantino fanboy. But, can you blame me? Tarantino stands tall amongst today's directors as one of the best and most beloved. Unfortunately, he likes to have a decent hiatus between his films, usually between 2-3 years. So finally, after a 2 year hiatus after Death Proof, Tarantino returns in his violent and overblown form with a story of Nazi annihilation. Yes, its a World War II story directed by Quentin Tarantino. I'm not quite sure I have the words to describe how perfectly suited he is for such a role. The trailer shows Brad Pitt simply being a badass and ordering the acquisition of 100 Nazi scalps...and he wants his scalps. This trailer shows that Tarantino isn't messing around and this is meant to be one of his masterpieces to show off from his repertoir. What else could be a more perfect end to Summer than a movie about collecting Nazi scalps in France? A movie about collecting Nazi scalps in France directed by Quentin Tarantino and starring Brad Pitt and Ryan from The Office...yes, really.


Aaaaaand there you have it! Kyle Shelton's Summer Threeview! Now, I know a lot of you are probably all ancy because I didn't include X-Men in my favorite films nor did I include Transformers 2 or Harry Potter in my anticipation part...well, I love X-Men, but more like that family member that gives you presents every year and you'd be sad if he/she died but you're not exactly psyched to go see when mom and dad decide its their house's turn for Thanksgiving this year...

Long analogies aside, X-Men was great but didn't hold up to the first 2 X-Men films nor the the overall comic book counterpart of a storyline. As for Transformers, I'm going to go see it, as is 99% of the United States' population, but if I didn't, I really wouldn't be that disappointed. I only liked the first Transformers, and the trailer for this second one really hasn't gotten me in a twisted bundle like the other films I mentioned. In fact, I'm more stoked to see "Funny People" than Transformers 2, but I'm still excited. What can you hate about giant robots beating the bejesus out of eachother, right?

And Harry Potter...well, I haven't finished all your films, and I've only completely read 2 of your books. The movie certainly looks promising, but considering its an adaptation of a craze I never got too into, I'll let it slide as just a mild intrigue rather than full-fledged midnight premiere-worthy fiasco.

Up Review: Up Skyrockets

Disney-Pixar seems to crank out the best of the best animated movies nearly every year. In fact, from Toy Story to Wall-E, critics and audiences alike have praised the studios for their beautiful, insightful, comedic, imaginative, and nearly flawless works. Their newest outing, Up, just arrived, but does it have enough helium to rise up to the ranks of their previous works?

It rises beyond most, if not at least floating amongst them.

Up is the story of an old man named Carl Frederickson (Ed Asner) who wants nothing more than to fly to Pardise Falls in South America and live out the rest of his life. As time passes, his surroundings slowly become commercialized, and his house is the only suburban domestication left in a construction site smack-dab in the middle of business buildings. Threatening to impound his home for the land, Carl has no choice but to leave and join the community at the Shady Oaks retirement home. The day of his retrieval, however, he ties an enormous bundle of balloons to his chimney, fills them all up with helium, and flies away to finally achieve his goal. Accompanying him is a little boy scout named Russell (Jordan Nagai) who was on his porch at the time of his lift-off. Thus, an adventure ensues, where Russell and Carl develop a bond and befriend a talking K-9 companion named Dug (Bob Peterson) and a strange, rare bird whom Russell affectionately names Kevin.

Up follows the near-same story structure that most fantasy yarns, especially Disney ones, follow. There is a villain, it has some relatively mature overtones, and it has a special message to give out. The lesson of "following your dreams" is omnipresent throughout the movie, but not in an overbearing way. In fact, Up is quite possibly one of the most heartwarming films you could ever see in your entire life. It touches on so many emotional levels that are so difficult to emanate from a cartoon, yet Pixar figures it out year after year. Guaranteed, you'll at least tear up a little bit at certain parts, be immediately thrust into the middle of every suspenseful action sequence, and be filled with warmth and joy at any conflict resolution. This is where Up and its predecessors all shine; they truly evoke passion from anyone including the youngest of toddlers to the oldest of adults.

However, while Up is certainly a fantastic visual experience as well as an enthralling adventure, it suffers from one thing: redundancy. Maybe not so much within the film itself, but after a while, you realize that Up is not much different than almost any other cliche-ridden feature. The story itself is bold and original, that being about a flying house that travels to another continent...but when you mix in the all-too-obvious friendships that begin, the shallowly touched-on love story, and a villain as 2-dimensional as any other, Up begins to feel like you've been there and done that all too many times. For a younger audience, Up is sure to be perfect in their eyes, making them laugh and excited throughout the entire film. For an older audience, especially one who follows the success of Pixar so closely over the years, Up ultimately feels like its a filler squished between the masterpiece of Wall-E and the long-awaited sequel Toy Story 3.

At the same time, this is what we've come to expect from animated children's movies, especially born of Disney caliber. Up is certainly original, even in its storytelling (which explains the old man's grumpiness before the real story sets it rather than having a half-way epiphany about his life), but in the end, feels kind of the same. This, by no means, renders Up as any less of a beautifully written, directed, and animated feature film for any audience to enjoy. Just be aware that you may leave feeling a little less blown away than the first time you saw Toy Story, Finding Nemo, or Wall-E, but also be aware that you're still going to be blown up, up, and away.

8.5/10

-Kyle Shelton