From Inception to Incredibles 2, my thoughts on my summer movie list

Is there a better way to spend your summer than watching movies? No, there’s not. Here are my thoughts on the films (and one TV show) that I had the pleasure of viewing the past few months.

Incredibles 2 (2018)- The most-anticipated movie of my lifetime lived up to the hype with an engaging story, visually stunning action, and tons of humor, though it doesn’t top the original.

Inception (2010)– This Christopher Nolan flick was one of my favorite movies of the summer, combining a brilliant concept with flawless execution. I also loved seeing many of the Dark Knight trilogy actors in this movie.

All or Nothing: The Dallas Cowboys (2018)- I don’t often watch TV shows, but an Amazon Prime show going behind the scenes of one of my favorite teams? It was worth the watch and gave me insight into what goes into a football franchise, even if the Cowboys’ season was more “nothing” and less “all.”

The Social Network (2010)– An interesting, dramatic look into the founding of Facebook. The dialogue in the script, highlighted in the various argument scenes, stood out to me.

Central Intelligence (2016)- Not the greatest comedy movie I’ve ever seen, but this Dwayne Johnson-Kevin Hart movie had some hilarious moments and flowed well.

The Truman Show (1998)- The premise of the movie is so unique that it lifts this movie to the upper echelon of comedy.

American Animals (2018)- My aunt brought me to this movie in a theater with smaller-release movies, and it was worth the watch. The drama relives an art heist by a quartet of teenagers and breathes reality into a clichéd genre.

Game Night (2018)- I watched this movie on a plane to London and found it to be a good time, full of interesting twists and turns.

Paterno (2018)– Another plane movie, the HBO-produced Paterno covers the Penn State scandal and does an excellent job of fleshing out the conflicts facing the characters amidst the fallout.

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)– This film, an adaptation of one of Agatha Christie’s most famous mysteries, featured a star-studded cast but was underwhelming as a standalone, blockbuster-level movie.

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017)- The third consecutive movie I saw on my plane ride back to the states, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was the sequel to Jumanji that nobody clamored for but was nonetheless a solid adventure movie. Its change from board game to video game is clever, and I’ll say that it is better than the original.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)– Maybe the most fun movie I saw all summer, Beverly Hills Cop features an awesome protagonist in Eddie Murphy’s Axel Foley. Foley’s pursuits are both exciting and funny and the vibe the movie gives off makes it all the more appealing.

Jobs (2013)- As if one Aaron Sorkin screenplay (The Social Network) wasn’t enough, Jobs provided another picture into the lives of people who changed the technology landscape. I enjoyed this film less than the Social Network, due to its singular focus and disjointed storyline.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)- The last of the three movies I saw at theaters, Ant-Man and the Wasp fit the mold as a funny, well-paced Marvel movie. Slightly below the original, but one that I enjoyed watching.

300 (2006)- This movie was 0% plot and 100% action, and it was glorious. 300 motivated me so much that I dropped down and cranked out pushups right there and then.

V for Vendetta (2005)- Like Inception, this movie was a force to be reckoned with. The plot is exceptional and the character of V is nothing less than iconic.

Accepted (2006)– Before I applied to colleges, I decided to watch a comedy about a boy who starts his own college, South Harmon Institute of Technology. Light on substance, heavy on the goofy factor.