FRAME BY FRAME THE POWER OF SUMMER CINEMA

by Glen Ryan Tadych

26 JULY 23 - AUGUST 5, 2015 PUBLIC NEWS As we recover from the horrifying realization performance, I always found Fool’s Gold to be Honestly, as far as my generation’s concerned, that summer is more than halfway over, I’m here one of his funniest movies. I’ll also say as far as I still don’t think there’s ever been a pop-cultural to tell my fellow moviegoers to fret none. We still romantic comedies go, this is one I actually like, phenomenon as significant as the release of Titanic have plenty of time and ways to celebrate this and like a lot. in the late 1990s. It was the first film to surpass the summer. Several summer hits await theaters across Reuniting with Kate Hudson five years after How billion dollar mark, and this was at a time when the country, but for those unable to afford steep to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), McConaughey ticket prices were not only considerably cheaper, ticket prices every weekend, the summer movie fun plays an enthusiastic treasure seeker named Finn, but the cinema industry was without 3D features doesn’t have to end. taking the viewer on a search across The Bahamas and frequent IMAX screenings. So to me, Titanic’s for a Spanish treasure called the Queen’s Dowry. box office performance means more than that of Like watching horror films in October, or Christ- Like any fun-filled treasure hunt, Finn, his ex-wife Avatar (2009), Marvel’s The Avengers (2012) and mas films in December, movie lovers can utilize the Tess (Hudson) and their comical crew face off even Jurassic World. summer to watch “summer movies.” Now, there are against rival treasure seekers, led by Moe Fitch During the maiden voyage of the R.M.S, Titanic, two perks to being in the summer movie mood: 1) (Ray Winstone), and local gangster Bigg Bunny a third-class passenger, Jack Dawson (Leonardo Three months of viewing time as opposed to one, Deenz (Kevin Hart) to whom Finn owes money. Finding Nemo (2003) DiCaprio), falls in love with a first-class passenger, and 2) a variety of film-selection patterns. The lat- Caught between a rock and a hard place, Finn must Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet). As Rose’s ter perk is the greatest part prevent the treasure from falling into Bigg Bunny’s Pixar has certainly produced a collection of hits fiancé Cal (Billy Zane) and mother Ruth (Frances about it though. A “sum- hands, all while attempting to fulfill his life’s great- over the years, and this one is definitely in their Fisher) do everything in their power to keep her mer movie” can basically est ambition and rebuild his marriage. top five. In fact, looking at Pixar’s entire collec- and Jack apart, they soon have to choose between be whatever floats your Also starring Donald Sutherland, Ewen Bremner tion of works, Finding Nemo is probably the most Rose’s choice and their own lives as the ill-fated boat. The type of movie and Alexis Dziena, Fool’s Gold gives the audience cherished next to the original Toy Story (1995) and ocean liner begins her descent beneath the North one puts in their “summer two hours of hilarious comedy, waterborne action Up (2009), and in my list of Pixar favorites, it’s Atlantic Ocean. movie” category is simply and more exotic location shots than one needs to #3, behind Toy Story and The Incredibles (2004) This movie was everywhere and it was all anyone whatever evokes the sum- book a tropical vacation. It’s simply one of those respectively. talked about for nearly a year, if not longer. The mer mood, or what might fun movies one just needs to sit back and enjoy, and Out on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, an anxiety- damn thing even had a song—Celine Deon’s “My remind one of summer- a perfect option for summer viewing. ridden clownfish named Marlin ventures across the Heart Will Go On”—that became the world’s time. For me person- ocean in search of “P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way, best-selling single in 1998. And thinking about it, Glen Ryan Tadych ally, the type of movies I Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Sydney” in order to reunite with his kidnapped son the movie was just Romeo & Juliet on the Titanic, typically associate with Black Pearl (2003) Nemo. Along the way, Marlin seeks the help of an which is exactly how director James Cameron summer are water adventures, or to broaden the amnesic regal blue tang named Dory and encoun- pitched it. If you ask me, what drove general parameters for the purpose of this article: movies Speaking of treasure hunts, we mustn’t ters more than a clownfish could ever bargain for; audiences to see the film was the depiction of the set in or around water. forget Disney’s first installment of the including a great white shark, jellyfish, sea turtles, a sinking. Swimming at the pool or the beach, taking a Pirates of the Caribbean series, a summer whale, seagulls and Pelicans. Love story or not, I don’t care what anyone says cruise, visiting water parks and going out on a boat smash which made pirates popular in cinema once Finding Nemo is one of those Pixar films that about Titanic. I think it’s a great film with excellent with friends are some of the many water-related again. In terms of pure enjoyment, Curse of the can be watched again and again, and being just as build-up and one of hell of an enthralling climax. activities one often exploits in the summer. Not Black Pearl is probably the quintessential pirate enjoyable as the first time. You get excited, laugh It’s a memorable film and will most certainly only that, but when we think of summer, we often and/or treasure hunt movie nowadays. We normally and even cry because of the emotional deliverance reach classic status in a few short years, if it hasn’t picture the beach of some tropical paradise by think of pirates when it comes to lost treasure, and of the animated characters; a pinnacle characteristic already. And while it doesn’t exactly fall along the default, and it’s in this association from which my Curse of the Black Pearl gives the viewer every- of Pixar’s films. Audiences not only get sucked in lines of a sunny, tropical paradise-water adventure, love of water-themed adventures in the summer thing they could ever want in such a film. by the quality of animation, but also by the human like the previous films on this list so far, it’s sure as spawns. When a band of undead pirates, captained by elements of the characters, whether they’re fish, hell a fitting contender for the overall category. For this issue, I’ve gone through some of my the mutinous Hector Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush), toys, bugs or monsters. But with Finding Nemo, we favorite water adventures to provide 10 excellent kidnaps a governor’s daughter, Elizabeth Swan also get a fun-filled sea adventure that makes one Waterworld (1995) choices for at-home, summer cinematic entertain- (Kiera Knightley), to break a curse brought on by want to take to the seas. ment. And to make the order a tad more interesting, an ancient Aztec treasure, blacksmith Will Turner This is one you should have definitely I’ve decided to list the films in reverse-release (Orlando Bloom) must recruit the help of notorious seen coming. Hell, how could it not be order. pirate Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) to res- included on this list? Waterworld has got cue Swan and defeat Barbossa, with whom Sparrow to be one of my favorite films that enters borderline Fool’s Gold (2008) has his own score to settle. guilty pleasure territory. I’m not quite sure what it Even with Disney now being on their fifth Pirates is, but there’s just something about it I love. Before Matthew McConaughey became film—Dead Men Tell No Tales, due for release in Set in a world where the ice caps have melted, known for the dark and gritty detec- 2017—the original is still universally regarded as covering nearly the entire planet Earth in water tive Rustin Cohle, he endured nearly a the best and favorite entry, and I feel that’s because (impossible, I know), a sailor known only as The decade’s worth of romantic comedy typecasting. it’s THE classic pirate adventure. Everything from Mariner (Kevin Costner) gets caught up in a war And while he was a pretty face of Hollywood, I say the costumes, scenery and props to Hans Zimmer’s over the search for “Dryland,” facing off against a he still brought class to his roles. McConaughey musical score screams swashbuckling. So how group of oil-loving hounds called Smokers, led by has always had a knack for humor, and despite could one not want to watch it in the summer? Titanic (1997) The Deacon (Dennis Hopper). The Mariner must the film’s negative reviews and poor commercial protect Enola (Tina Majorino), a little girl pos-

PUBLIC NEWS JULY 23 - AUGUST 5, 2015 27 sessing the only clue to the location of “Dryland,” for me to exclude Point Break from this list. the Ingram’s yacht with Rae still aboard. With noth- period. Its historical significance regarding the from The Deacon, and hope he can save the rest of ing between them but ocean, Rae must do whatever explosive popularity of summer blockbusters also humanity from a global, water-like desert. The Hunt for Red October (1990) she can to subdue her deranged captor, while John makes it the ultimate predecessor for most of the Waterworld was a flop that didn’t even earn uses his naval instincts to salvage Hughie’s vessel previously mentioned titles on this list. However, twice its budget—an outlandish $172 million, the This one might just be my favorite espio- and reunite with his wife. we’re not done yet. most expensive film produced up until Titanic—in nage thriller, and as it so happens, it’s also As far as underrated films go, this one sits at the worldwide grosses. Domestically, it didn’t even primarily set in the depths of the Atlantic. top of my list, not to mention it’s one of my favorite Thunderball (1965) reach $100 million. And the film’s critical recep- Cinema hasn’t given us too many films based thrillers. It’s one of those shorter films (running tion didn’t exactly consist of universal praise, but I around submarine warfare, and to be honest, a Tom at 96 minutes) that doesn’t take long to get one’s This is a title I had the pleasure of must say I enjoy every bit of Waterworld. It’s just Clancy Cold War thriller starring Sean Connery, blood pumping, but what’s best Dead Calm is its discovering only three years ago, and I another one of those films that’s fun to watch. The Alec Baldwin, James Earl Jones, Scott Glenn and simplicity. have to say I don’t know why in the hell it film is somewhat regarded as a cult classic today, Sam Neill made by the director of Die Hard (1988) The film features only three main actors (the rest took me so long to watch this one. Sean Connery’s and eventually led to the addition of Waterworld- pretty much tops any others out there. only featured via videotape), two authentic boats fourth film as James Bond, as well as the overall themed attractions at Universal Studios parks in When a Soviet submarine captain, Marko Ramius and is entirely shot in the Whitsunday Islands near fourth entry in the Eon Productions series, is most California and Florida. (Connery), dives on the maiden voyage of nuclear Australia. When it comes down to it, Dead Calm is certainly one of the better of the early Bond films. submarine Red October with the intent to defect as practical as it gets in filmmaking, and further- When Emilio Largo (Adolfo Celi) of the criminal to the United States, C.I.A. analyst Jack Ryan more, it turns the idea of a peaceful, relaxing cruise syndicate S.P.E.C.T.R.E. hijacks two nuclear weap- (Baldwin) must convince the U.S. National Secu- into a rather horrifying scenario. Like with Alien ons, British agent James Bond (Connery) is sent rity Advisor (Richard Jordan), naval officers and (1979), you’re all alone in a vast, foreign environ- to Nassau in The Bahamas to investigate, locate Commander Mancuso (Glenn) of the USS Dallas to ment, yet confined, and if anything happens, no the bombs and stop Largo before he can destroy meet and assist Ramius before the Soviet naval fleet one else would know, and no one can help you. So Miami. Connery’s fourth adventure as Bond sees can locate and sink the Red October, and all while imagine coming across another person, whose true him in a two-hour adventure loaded with under- avoiding World War III with the Soviet Union. personality and motives are unknown. What would water scenery and stunts, which did nothing short With deception at every corner, The Hunt for you really do? Would you really pick the person up, of dazzle viewers in 1965. It was the biggest and Red October leads the audience on a naval thrill or just keep sailing? Think about it. boldest Bond film of its time, and remains one of ride that puts most modern spy thrillers to shame. Connery’s best entries. Connery and Baldwin’s performances are certainly Jaws (1975) In all my recent exploration of the Bond series, the most memorable elements of the film, and I find what I call the Terence Young trilogy—Dr. Point Break (1991) combined with the film’s amazing submarine set This one is my personal favorite, and in No (1962), From Russia with Love (1963) and pieces, locations, underwater battle sequences and my opinion, the greatest and most classic Thunderball—to be the best examples of the clas- I couldn’t hesitate including this one given the Basil Poledouris’ musical score, The Hunt for Red water adventure ever made. In the 40 sic Bond era. And yes, I know Goldfinger (1964) atrocious remake set to release in December. I real- October became a huge critical and commercial years since Jaws’ release, few films have had as is not among these three titles, but I feel Young’s ize it may not be as much the water adventure type success, as well as a popular movie which lasts the significant a social impact, and while it’s unfortu- films bear more kinship to one another due to the as the other films listed, but any Point Break fan test of time. nate the film’s popularity came hand in hand with a involvement of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. and Blofeld, Bond’s has to admit the film evokes a heavy summer vibe. And although the film takes place in the icy paranoid fear of sharks carrying on for generations, nemesis. And it’s in that vibe where I find the film appropri- waters of the North Atlantic (like Titanic), it still one still can’t deny the brilliance and beauty of Now, in my opinion, From Russia from Love is ate for this list. makes for a fun water adventure to watch after a Jaws as they watch. the best of Young’s films, but Thunderball is the In California, FBI agent Johnny Utah (Keanu day in the summer sun. Set in the beach resort community of Am- movie to watch on a hot summer afternoon after a Reeves) assists agent Pappas (Gary Busey) in ity Island, a great white shark puts a damper on trip to the pool ,not to mention it features my favor- hunting a group of bank robbers known as the Dead Calm (1989) summer festivities when a young girl’s remains ite closing sequence of any Bond film ever. There’s Ex-Presidents. Operating on the theory the robbers wash ashore. Fearing for the safety of the island’s enough diving featured to make anyone take a trip are local surfers, Utah goes undercover within the Before Sam Neill took to the depths in citizens, Police Chief Martin Brody (Roy Scheider) to the Caribbean, and one of the most ridiculous surfing community, eventually befriending a group The Hunt for Red October (1990) and Billy fights the town’s mayor (Murray Hamilton) to close sequences featuring spearguns I have ever seen of surfers led by Bodhi (Patrick Swayze). However, Zane boarded the titular, ill-fated ocean lin- the beaches. The mayor’s stubbornness prevails, in a movie. It’s hilarious to be honest, and while Utah soon realizes his new friends may be the er in Titanic (1997), they starred in this Australian resulting in several more deaths, one on the Fourth Thunderball carries a certain level of ‘60s campi- very criminals he’s pursuing, and from that point, thriller set in the horrifying, but beautiful isolation of July. Teamed with marine biologist Matt Hooper ness which tends to date movies significantly, it’s the chase is on in a high-adrenaline thrill ride that of the Pacific Ocean. (Richard Dreyfuss) and shark hunter Quint (Robert the awesomeness of Connery’s Bond that keeps the makes audiences want to take to the beaches. Following the tragic loss of their son, Capt. John Shaw), the three venture out to sea to take on the viewer interested and wanting to watch Thunder- I’ll say this has become one of my favorite Keanu Ingram of the R.A.N. (Neill) and his wife Rae predator and put an end to the summer terror, but ball again and again. Reeves films in the last couple years—my ultimate (Nicole Kidman) venture out to the Pacific in an little do they know this shark will give them more favorite being Speed (1994)—and the dynamic effort to deal with their grief. After weeks at sea, than they bargained for. So how should movie lovers spend the rest of between him and Swayze is just spectacular despite the couple encounter a sinking vessel bearing a Set during the time of the summer beach craze on their summer? I’ve contributed some worthy sug- some of the film’s cheese. Point Break is simply lone, distraught man named Hughie (Zane), who and around the Fourth of July, it’s almost impos- gestions, but as I previously stated, summer’s about one of those classic ‘90s action films which set the claims his fellow passengers all succumbed to sible not to have a Jaws urge once summer hits. having fun in one’s own way, and given the subjec- bar for ‘90s action cinema overall. And though I’ve food poisoning days earlier. But John’s discovery The film’s classic status, thrilling action scenes, tion of film, it’s fair to say the possibilities are end- never been surfing, I can’t help but get that yearn- of mutilated corpses and disturbing video aboard music and phenomenal performances by Scheider, less. So make the most of it, and watch whatever ing for the sandy, salt-water sensation that goes Hughie’s boat reveals the loner to be a psychopath- Shaw and Dreyfuss make it one of the most fun kicks up your mood for summer fun. hand in hand with the beach, making it impossible ic murderer, who leaves John stranded as he steals films one can watch not just in the summer, but

28 JULY 23 - AUGUST 5, 2015 PUBLIC NEWS