Top 15 Movies of the Summer of 2015

Top 15 Movies of the Summer of 2015

The summer of 2015 will go down as one of the best summers for films I've remembered in a long time.  There weren't that many "duds" out there this summer, or at least that I saw.  I saw a total of 17 films this summer, and picked the top 15 that I enjoyed the most.  The two that didn't make it - "Insidious: Chapter 3" and "Tomorrowland" - weren't necessarily bad, they weren't just my top 15, and it wouldn't make sense to make a top 17.

So, without further adieu, here is my top 15 films of summer 2015, starting with #15...

#15

Terminator: Genisys

While reviewing the film, I took it two ways - one as a film independent of itself, and the other as an addition to the "Terminator" series.  While by itself it was a great summer popcorn action flick, in the whole of the "Terminator" series, it falls somewhere in the middle - but not as bad as "Terminator 3" or "Salvation."

#14

Ted 2

The original "Ted" was comedic gold.  Raunchy, unforgiving, anti-politically correct.  However, it wasn't one that warranted a sequel, but they made one because of its surprise success.  While "Ted 2" wasn't bad - on the whole I actually felt it was funnier than the original - it didn't succeed as well as its predecessor because the first one was a pleasant surprise, but this one we were expecting it to be good.

 #13

Vacation

Maybe I'm just rough on comedies, but I still found "Vacation" to be a laugh riot, but not throughout.  I loved the family dynamic and the cast (especially Christina Applegate and a hilarious cameo by Chris Hemsworth), and the story was a funny one, but comparing it to the classic diminishes the humor here.

#12

San Andreas

Count on summer to bring on the disaster porn films.  This summer it was Dwayne Johnson's turn in  "San Andreas," when the killer earthquake strikes and he has to set out to save his family.  The storyline is completely one-dimensional and loose, but you don't go to a movie like this for an intriguing story.  You go to see stuff blow up and get destroyed, and that's just what you get here.

 #11

Spy

Melissa McCarthy is one of today's most ingenious comediennes.  Sure, she plays a one-note tune as the underdog who no one expects anything great out of, but she plays that note like an angelic score.  In her first real action outing, she brings the action but also delivers the laughs in droves, especially working next to her "Bridesmaids" friend Rose Byrne.  Jason Statham also deserves accolades as he steps away from his heroic action roles and takes on a bumbling humorous idiot.
  

 #10

No Escape

Owen Wilson performs brilliantly as a father and husband who stops at nothing to protect his family in a different country, as they're hunted down for being outsiders.  The thrills are non-stop, the action palpable and as the title says, you really feel like there's no escape for our heroes.  The scene of him tossing his children off the roof still sticks with me today.

#9

Minions

I don't normally go to see children's films in theaters (hence why "Inside Out" isn't on this list - I still haven't seen it), but my friend is a diehard Minions fan, so I got to see this in theaters.  It was cute, it was funny, but the story as a whole wasn't drawing me in.  Then again, it was a children's film, so I wasn't the target audience.  Unfortunately, the majority of the funniest scenes were spoiled in the previews.

#8

Southpaw

A surprise dramatic hit during the warmest month of summer, "Southpaw" came out of the gate with a Oscar-worthy performance by Jake Gyllenhaal as a world famous boxer who loses everything, and has to dig down deep inside to find out what really matters.  A spectacular film that should have you surprised seeing that it's only #8 on the list.  Like I said, it was an amazing summer for movies!

 #7

Straight Outta Compton

The true sleeper hit of the summer, the dramatic "Straight Outta Compton" tells the true story of the rise of the N.W.A., one of the most influential rap groups in history.  Their rags-to-riches story tells everyone that, if you have a dream, stop at nothing to achieve it.  Another surprising dramatic film during the summer.

#6

Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation

The fifth installment of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise did something that very few other franchise films did - it stuck to the formula.  There weren't any surprising new twists, turns, or new characters (with the notable exception of the femme fatale Rebecca Ferguson), and the story was basically straightforward, but it still kept your attention and left you riveted, especially with the intense action sequences.
 

#5

The Gift

The little film that could.  Written, produced, directed and starring Joel Edgerton, "The Gift" is a simple tale of revenge, spun with an intense psychological edge that messes with your mind long after it ends.  Featuring a surprisingly dark turn from comedian Jason Bateman, "The Gift" is a gift for summer moviegoers.

#4

Ant-Man

When I heard that Marvel was making a film based off one of their most obscure (yet surprisingly relevant) superheroes - a man who can shrink down to the size of an ant but gaining super strength - I thought for sure it would've been a bomb.  How pleasantly surprised I was to find that it was far beyond what I imagined, as it turned out to be a fantastic tale of redemption, featuring an amazing performance by Paul Rudd and some amazing effects and action to boot.

#3

Mad Max: Fury Road

At the age of 70, director George Miller returned to the franchise that made Mel Gibson a household name, yet age didn't deteriorate his insatiable sense for action and thrills.  This time Tom Hardy takes on the titular role, but it's Charlize Theron who steals the show as Furiosa, a woman bent on saving a group of women from the deadly Immortan.  What really makes this film unique is the rare use of CGI, heralding back to the classic films of the 80s where CGI wasn't relied upon, but the real action that drove people to the theaters.

#2

Jurassic World

Stephen Spielberg brought the world of "Jurassic Park" to glorious life, but after two sub-par sequels, it seemed like the magic was over.  Over a decade later, the world of Jurassic Park was re-invented with "Jurassic World," and once again the magic was shining.  With standout performances by Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard, and with stunning cinematography and amazing use of CGI (yes, I seem to be contradicting myself after I said how amazing "Mad Max" was without it, but when CGI is used or good, it's great!), "Jurassic World" is well-deserved of earning the title of the third highest grossing movie of all time, and one that shouldn't be missed.

#1

Avengers: Age of Ultron

This was THE film I was most anticipating for years, and when it finally hit theaters it far exceeded my already high expectations.  Many people find faults with this film - it's "The Avengers" with robots instead of aliens, for example - but it cannot be denied that it was an action-packed romp from start to finish, pulling you in from the very first scene until the end.  Plus the addition of wonderful superheroes like Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch and Vision, and James Spader as the demented Ultron, and you've got the decisive movie of the summer.

So there you have it.  What are your thoughts?