A shorter version of the following article appeared in the May issue of the Martlet.
Summer Blockbusters 101
by Matt Grady
It's May and the summer blockbuster season has begun with the release of Mission: Impossible III. Looking for relief from the heat, crowds will flock to air-conditioned theatres, two-fist a bladder-burster-sized drink and butter-drenched popcorn, and bask in the on-screen explosions instead. Check your brain at the door and prepare to be immersed in a visual/aural feast of all-star casts, car chases, choreographed fights, jaw-dropping visual effects, surround sound and general mayhem.
On the menu for summer 2006 are The Da Vinci Code, Poseidon, X3, Superman Returns, Pirates of the Caribbean 2 and Miami Vice. Will they make their mark on US box-office history? Let's take a look at competition from years passed. To level the playing field, grosses have been adjusted for inflation (i.e. the average movie ticket in the US cost $2.05 in 1975 and $6.40 today). No dramas, straight comedies or animated films were considered, despite their summertime diversion appeal.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Shot back-to-back with The Matrix Revolutions, Reloaded features elaborate fight scenes interspersed with wry pop-philosophy ramblings. DVD scene selection suits the film well - skip ahead to the freeway chase.
Credits: Written and directed by The Wachowski Brothers. Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss and Hugo Weaving.
Academy Awards: none
Adjusted Gross: $298 million
Trivia: The role of The Architect was written for Sean Connery, who turned it down because he couldn't understand the concept of the movie.
Top Gun (1986)
Hotshot fighter pilot learns discipline from his superiors and how to open his heart by his female instructor. Cue jump cuts of F-14 flybys and dogfights with a theatre-shaking rock score, and you've got yourself a Jerry Bruckheimer production. The big winner: your local Air Force recruiter.
Credits: Directed by Tony Scott. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. Starring Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer and Meg Ryan.
Academy Awards: original song ("Take My Breath Away")
Adjusted Gross: $304 million
Trivia: Bryan Adams declined an offer for his song "Only the Strong Survive" to appear on the soundtrack because he felt the film glorified war.
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
A cyborg is sent back in time to protect the future leader of humanity against a shape-shifting robot with an affinity for stabbing weapons. The volatile action and story pace are as unrelenting as the Terminators themselves. Arnie's shining moment.
Credits: Directed, produced and co-written by James Cameron. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong and Robert Patrick.
Academy Awards: visual effects, sound effects, make-up and sound
Adjusted Gross: $311 million
Trivia: Held the world record for highest opening-weekend gross of an R-rated film until The Matrix Reloaded.
