Summer hits that didn’t miss

The summer of 2002 is officially over. Traditionally, summer is when studios release the big blockbuster movies. This past summer proved to be no different. Whether you prefer a good action, science fiction, or comedy flick, this past summer provided great entertainment for pretty much everyone.

The much anticipated Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones satisfied the hunger of the eager Star Wars faithful. Starring Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker and Natalie Portman as Padme Amidala, the second of director George Lucas’ three installment series encompassed all the aspects of a Star Wars film. The movie opens with a group of political separatists who are trying to assassinate Padme and destroy the Republic. Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his apprentice Anakin are called upon to protect Padme. As the movie progresses, the relationship between Padme and Anakin grows. There is also a fight scene involving Yoda that makes up for any shortcomings the film may have. Although Star Wars faithful know better, the ending has a “happily ever after” feel to it.

XXX is fun, frivolous action from the opening credits to the end. This fast-paced film centers on former extreme sports athlete Xander Cage (Vin Diesel). Cage is recruited by Federal Agent Gibbons (Samuel L. Jackson) to become an undercover agent. Cage’s assignment is to work his way into a Russian crime ring, led by Yorgi (Marton Csokas), and stop them from destroying the world. Along the way, he develops a love-hate relationship with Yorgi’s mistress Yelena, played by Asia Argento. It’s basically the same plot that audiences have seen hundreds of times before in action films. However, anyone who appreciates stunts and special effects, and could put his or her cognitive thinking on hold for a couple of hours would definitely find this entertaining.

Austin Powers is back. Again. Austin Powers in Goldmember gives hope to producers who may be thinking about doing a sequel. Austin (Mike Myers) must try to rescue his father Sir Nigel Powers (Michael Caine) from new bad guy Goldmember. He recruits Dr. Evil (Myers) and Mini-Me (Verne Troyer) to help him. Following Dr. Evil’s advice, Powers travels through time to the 1970′s where he meets Foxxy Cleopatra (Beyonce Knowles). Meanwhile, Dr. Evil and Mini-Me escape from prison. Mike Myers’ creative genius shines through in Goldmember. Like the two previous Austin Powers’ films, the third installment offers the audience pubescent, yet smart humor.

Minority Report paired Tom Cruise and director Steven Spielberg together. The result? A first class science fiction movie with great acting and special effects. The film is set in Washington D.C. in the year 2054.
The Precrime unit is able to catch murderers before they commit their crimes through Pre-Cogs; they are a trio of psychics who spend their lives floating in water. Cruise portrays Detective John Anderton who heads the Precrime unit. The Pre-Cogs predict that Anderton will murder someone within the next 36 hours. Anderton is suspicious that he has been set up because the FBI has just recently sent in agent Danny Witwer (Colin Farrell) to investigate Precrime.

Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst portray Peter Parker a.k.a. Spiderman and Mary Jane Watson in Spiderman. On a school field trip, a genetically enhanced spider bites Peter. Much to his surprise, Peter wakes up the next day to the realization that he is a whole lot stronger, doesn’t need glasses anymore, and can shoot webbing from his wrist. On the other side town, Norman Osborn (William Dafoe) decides to try his new formula on himself when his financial backers pull out. Thus, the Green Goblin is born. Peter must learn how to control his powers and save the world from certain destruction at the hands of the Green Goblin.

Men in Black II, or overrated, pricey advertisement for Burger King, fell way short of the original Men in Black. The one-liners simply weren’t funny. The plot was pretty much the same as the first one, except that
Will Smith’s and Tommy Lee Jones’s roles were switched. This time agent J (Smith) has to recruit agent K (Jones) to help stop Serleena (Laura Flynn Boyle) from destroying the earth. Gee, that sounds so much like a plot I’ve already mentioned.

Scooby Doo does a great job of combining live people with animation. The movie stars Freddie Prinze Jr. (Fred), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Daphne), Matthew Lillard (Shaggy), and Linda Cardellini (Wilma). The crew must find out why strange things are happening at Spooky Island, a theme park, before something happens to the vacationers. It’s classic
Scooby Doo. The directors and actors don’t try to make it into anything more, and it works. “I loved it! I thought the movie did justice to the cartoon. Matthew Lillard portrayed a great Shaggy,” said freshman
Melissa Walling.

As you can see there was a wide variety of movies to pick from this summer, and those you who were unable to make it to the theatres.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Sep 6 2002. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry