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An image released by Disney shows Dory, voiced by Ellen DeGeneres, in a scene from "Finding Dory."
From left: Brenda, voiced by Kristen Wiig, Frank, voiced by Seth Rogen, Sammy, voiced by Ed Norton and Lavash, voiced by David Krumholtz in a scene from "Sausage Party."
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Your go-to guide to the biggest 2016 summer movies
MICHAEL LAVIN @KansanNews
The summer of 2016 was filled with social unrest, the Olympics, political debacles and lots of heat. The summer also included the usual barrage of blockbuster films, as the market for big budget production opens up in the summer. As always, there are monumental flops and summer- defining future classics, but which films belong where?
This year's blockbuster season saw a wide array of genres to choose from. The finale of J. J. Abram's Star Trek reboot trilogy "Star Trek Beyond," "Independence Day: Resurgence" and the femme-fueled "Ghostbusters" pleased the science fiction fans. Superhero films dominated the box office with DC's "Suicide Squad," "X-Men: Apocalypse" and Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War."
Animated films garnered a lot of acclaim with the return of Pixar's favorite sea creatures in "Finding
Dory," Universal's charmingly simple "The Secret Life of Pets" and the first ever R-rated CGI film "Sausage Party." Indie flicks made an impression as well with "Swiss Army Man," "A Bigger Splash" and "Hunt for the Wilderpeople."
The summer kicked off with "Captain America: Civil War," the first installment to Marvel's "third phase" of films. The film has great pacing and the action sequences feel seamless and balanced in terms of cinematography and movement. The initial intrigue of big-time superheroes like Captain America and Iron Man duking it out with a handful of supporting characters wears off as what a lot of what they are fighting for seems insubstantial. Newcomers like Paul Rudd as Ant-Man and Tom Holland as Spider-Man are the highlights of "Civil War," introducing engaging interaction and witty dialogue. Naturally, however, "Civil War" skyrocketed in box office success and continues Marvel's incredible hot streak of films that are both
financially and critically successful.
Pixar's "Finding Dory" successfully implements elements that make Pixar films so lovable, but doesn't necessarily play to the studio's usual formula. "Finding Dory" effortlessly articulates its heart-warming theme of creativity and never backing down from a challenge. The cute, mini Dory steals the flashback sequences, and Ed O'Neill as Hank the seven-legged octopus is the best addition to the Pixar universe. "Finding Dory" grossed over $900 million, marking it as the biggest opening for an animated film in North America.
On the opposite side of the animated films spectrum, "Sausage Party" bolsters its profanity and innuendos loud and proud. The concept of food in a supermarket who know nothing of the "great beyond" once they leave the store sounds promising, but the film beats to death the same jokes surrounding food and gross topics, and the last 20 minutes of the film
are something beyond anything ever put together in an animated film. The film, starring and written by Seth Rogen, is animated beautifully and has moments of sheer hilarity, but at times it goes places that are borderline NC-17. The innovation of attempting to expand the R-rated animated market is noble, but Sausage Party's appeal wasn't for me.
Other notable summer entries include the bizarre and off-beat "Swiss Army Man" starring Daniel Radcliffe and Paul Dano. Da-
no's character is on the verge of suicide on some remote shoreline when he spots the body of Radcliffe's character wash up on the beach. The film progresses through a succession of idiosyncratic events, and Dano and Radcliffe end up being one of the more interesting buddies in recent memory of cinema. Another indie cut, "A Bigger Splash," is a sexy and moody drama that focuses on a group of four individuals out in paradise as a slew of sexual desires and violent outbursts
construct complex relationships.
Overall, the summer of 2016 produced some real winners in terms of cinematic appeal and entertainment. Others, however, failed to create any kind of excitement. 2016 now enters a crucial stage of Oscar-hungry films in the fall and winter months as directors and producers scramble to release their work.
- Edited by Ilana Karp
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Characters Diablo, Boomerang, Killer Croc, Harley Quinn, Deadshot, Rick Flag and Katana in a scene from "Suicide Squad."
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