Summer Blockbusters

This weekend, the action fantasy “Wrath of the Titans” will battle “The Hunger Games” for the top spot at the American box-office. Both films are big-budget spectacles that provide a prelude to the upcoming season. On May 4th, Hollywood’s summer officially kicks off with the release of “The Avengers”, the highly-anticipated adaption of the popular Marvel Comic. It is a film that will certainly break box-office records and enter the pantheon of pop culture entertainment. The summer blockbuster movie has been an annual event for more than three decades now. Their inception began with the arrival of Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” back in 1975, and a few have provided me with some of the most cherished memories of my childhood.     



"The Avenger" kicks off the Hollywood summer season on May 4th.

I was raised in the 1980’s and I remember the “decade of excess” to be a much a simpler time. Rotary phones were the dominant form of communication. Tacky clothes were the style of the day and big hair was extremely popular. But I also remember the Hollywood blockbusters of the era. Steven Spielberg and George Lucas were the top pioneers of the genre thanks to the “Indiana Jones” and “Star Wars” movies. I’d even skip school to see the first showing (with parent approval) , but boy, was it worth it! The films delivered on a level previously unseen before. Today, special-effects movies are as common as dirt. But in the 80’s, Hollywood’s big-budget films were mainly restricted to the summer season. So at the end of every school semester, the highlight of school vacation (at least for me) were the movies.



The theatrical poster of "Return of the Jedi". It was released on May 25, 1983.

 

Today, I still get excited at the prospect of the latest blockbuster. Last summer, I watched a total of 13 “first-run” movies; five were presented in 3-D. And if all goes well, I'll be attending the Hollywood premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises” in July. This summer also sees the arrival of “The Amazing Spider-Man”, “Prometheus”, “The Bourne Legacy” and “Snow White and the Huntsmen”. It's an exciting lineup of summer films and soon multiplexes across the country will be packed with movie fans of all ages. Some will be seeing a Hollywood summer film for the very first time. And others (like me) will be getting autographs and pictures of Christian Bale and company at the Batman premiere. Well, at least I hope so. I can't wait.




"The Dark Knight Rises" is the most anticipated movie of the year. It opens on July 20th.