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SALT LAKE CITY -- You’ve probably seen "Harry Potter" this summer. You most likely saw "Transformers" in July, but make sure you don’t miss out on all the other quality blockbusters this summer had to offer.
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" is the best film in the entire Harry Potter franchise. This strong and fast-paced story line brings the saga to a triumphant close — leaving each viewer absorbed from the moment it begins until the happy ending.
The continuous action won’t even bother those who are less than fans of that genre. The emotional energy, absorbing plot and quality performances from every actor move the film along so swiftly that it is almost surprising how quickly this 2 hour 25 minute movie goes.
Tom Felton’s interpretation of Malfoy has evolved with each Harry Potter film over the years. He brings, yet again, depth and conflict to the complicated character.
Maggie Smith also notably gets more air time in this movie and delivers a charming turn as Professor McGonagall.
One of the most buzzed about character presentations was that of Neville Longbottom by Matthew Lewis. Though his acting in the film was strong, much of the talk around this is probably due to his “Cinderella” blossoming of the handsome actor at premieres.
The ending of the film had some glitches with its costume and makeup choices. Attempting to age the characters, the use of wardrobe in this scene is a little cheesy.
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon" probably hit the spot for fans of endless action, loud noises and in-your-face graphics. Meant to cause audiences to swoon through shot after shot of explosions and not so subtle shots of women’s curves, this movie is probably most appealing to those of the testosterone persuasion.
The acting of Rosie Hunington-Whiteley is ridiculously bad and only supports the suspicion that she is solely the sex appeal replacement for Megan Fox.
Hope can be held out for great actors in the film such as Frances McDormand, Leonard Nimoy , John Turturro and John Malkovich; however only the two former give notable performances. The latter abandon their proven capabilities at the price of cheesy cheap turns as their characters.
"Rise of the Planet of the Apes" was more drama and less action than expected, which made it a better film. Touted as an action-ridden film/creepy thriller, moviegoers will be pleasantly surprised by the character development and emotional connection the film addresses.
James Franco’s performance, though not totally devoid of monotones, was a nice surprise. He managed to make the character believable and lovable, which turned out to be important for the plot.
The graphics are phenomenal. The main ape of the film, Caesar, was created using actor Andy Serkis. Known for giving life to Gollum and King Kong, the actor delivers physical performances in green suits — which are then translated to the screen as the animal or fantasy character.
Even if you know this before seeing the film, you entirely forget this as you watch the apes. The graphics are totally believable and fold in with the actors and cinematography seamlessly.
The supporting cast is very strong. Freida Pinto and John Lithgow bring excellent performances to the film and add to the emotional drama of the story. Tom Felton plays an excellent villain. There is one moment when the character stretches his arm forward with a club in hand defensively that definitely rings Malfoy — familiar. But for the most part, his portrayal of the character and pretty good American accent make you forget all things Harry Potter.
One of the best surprises of the summer box office was "Cowboys and Aliens." Probably less exciting than many expected, it was also better than many probably guessed.
Daniel Craig helps you forget that his character can seem a lot like James Bond at times with his attractive portrayal as the principle character. Olivia Wilde’s part turns out totally different than what the previews indicated, but most of all, Harrison Ford manages to break from the cliché and give a strong supporting role to the story.
There are also nice performances from other supporting actors such as Sam Rockwell, Adam Beach and young Noah Ringer. It was also lovely to see Paul Dano back in a western, a setting that he manipulates so well.
The graphics are pretty good, especially considering the fact that they have to combine two normally uncombined topics and genres: cowboys and aliens.
The plot turns can get a little convenient at times, but the story mostly works. A very enjoyable, easily followed, roughly two-hour show.
One of the most underrated and best movies of the year is "Captain America." A great interpretation of the superhero genre, it breaks many of the molds created for that type of story.
The design of the story is wonderful, and the writing moves the film along very well. A challenge for this film may have been the combination of period piece and fantasy superhero; but like "Cowboys and Aliens," it overcomes this obstacle wonderfully.
The movie is filled with outstanding performances all around from Tommy Lee Jones, Stanley Tucci, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell and Dominic Cooper. But no performance deserves as much praise as the underdog that was Chris Evans.
His take on this basically first cinematic expression of Captain America is just charming and well done. He fully absolves himself of past cocky and pat portrayals in films such as "The Fantastic Four." The ability he has to draw the audience in and make them fall in love with Steve Rogers is resoundingly deserving of accolades.
"Captain America" should definitely be a summer favorite.
The summer 2011 blockbusters really pulled their weight this year. For those you've missed, you might want to get to a theater before they are gone.
Livi Whitaker can be found writing for such publications as the Deseret News and Mormon Times and writes the positive blog for all things lovely, www.thebrightbit.com
