Top 5 Summer Films of 2016

Yes I know. Top 5 rather than a top 10. But there is some good reasons for that. First of all, I've been super busy with other things going on in my life and for this year, there were just more bad than good films according to critics and there's even some that were good, but I ran out of time on seeing so will have to review them at a later date. There was even a point where I was tempted to not do a post like this because of how many films I've seen this year. But I digress because I think I have seen enough films throughout the months of June-August to do a list. They are all films I have seen this year, they have all been released in the months that are typically considered summer in the UK and I have done a positive review on all of them in the past and will not go into too much detail about them here. So with that said, let's look at some films:



5 - Suicide Squad

Having addressed the Rotten Tomatoes controversy in my review of the film, its not bad, but it does have problems. The villain is the main problem and then its just the film trying so hard to be the DC equivalent of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. Honestly, I like the film. Its the first time we have seen many of these characters on the big screen and for their big screen live action debuts, they play their parts well. Harley Quinn is great, Deadshot is great, Amanda Waller is great, even Batman who has a very minimal role in the film, has his great moments as well. OK so it may not be as good as Assault on Arkham, but if you're wanting to have a good time with your bros and homies, this film is for you.

4 - Ghostbusters (2016)

The controversy this film has had for almost the entire year is very uncalled for. Yeah its an all female cast in the main roles and yes it is people who can have some cringeworthy moments in some of the other stuff they have done, but seriously, that's what you all have problems with when it comes to this film? The original film was a comedy as well and the cast in that we're also typical comedy actors. But whatever you decide, Ghostbusters isn't all that bad. Yes it won't ever be as good or better than the original like most reboots tend to be, but it is funny, its packed with Easter eggs, cameos and references to the films which are in no way insulting to the franchise or the fanbase. Just give it a shot is all I ask because you may well be wrong about your thoughts when you see it.

3 - Finding Dory

And so it came to be that Pixar would release sequels to films which no one wanted, except for Toy Story. Yeah I sometimes struggle to work on Pixar's logic in making such films. I mean its not a bad thing, but there has to be a good reason for it which isn't to do with money or merchandising. I mean there is a lot of demand for a Incredibles sequel and while we are getting a sequel, Pixar choose to make sequels to other films instead. Now in the case of Finding Dory, yes no one wanted a sequel to an otherwise great film, but I think it managed to break the curse that is if its not a Toy Story sequel, its doomed to suck. Finding Dory is a great film that sees our favourite characters (well three of them anyway) going to an aquarium which is a big change of scenery and it just has you see aquariums from the perspective of the fish. It is another great Pixar film, but probably one that Dory will likely forget.

2 - The BFG (2016)

When it comes to films based on books by Roald Dahl, it can go one of two ways. It can either work, or it gets changed too much that it just goes against what the book had. Matilda and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory as much as I hate to admit it, fall into the latter as both films changed so many things from the book that it ultimately becomes a film that is only loosely based on the book rather than solely based which is what everyone wants. Now The BFG has been made into a film twice which are this one and the original 1989 film (and yes I will get to reviewing that film at some point). Anything with Spielberg's name attached will often result in the film being great unless its Transformers, War of the Worlds or AI (though I do like AI despite what others say). In the case of The BFG, it is great. Its visually impressive, it stays true to the source material without changing too much from the book and its just a great family film. Yes Disney did not distribute it everywhere, but its still good regardless.

1 - Batman: The Killing Joke

Yeah this technically did go into cinemas for a limited time and was released in the summer so it still counts. Now most DC animated films that are based on the comics, generally take every panel word for word and the animation is kept as close to what the comic had as possible. Sometimes this doesn't go so well, but most people dismiss it because it can still be a good film despite that. The Killing Joke didn't have many changes from the book with the first half an hour being added for the sake of giving Batgirl some purpose in the story and the film even admits that its beginning is not what we were expecting. Then of course there is that particular scene, but as a hardcore Batman fan, things like that can happen, but I too was surprised at it when I saw it. But other than that, it's one of Mark Hamill, Kevin Conroy and Tara Strong's best takes on their respective characters and I wouldn't have picked anyone better to play the roles of Joker, Batman and Batgirl respectively. Love it.