An Action-Filled Summer Starts Now

Lilly Ball, Editor-in-Chief

Movie buffs and students everywhere can finally rejoice— summer has arrived at last, and with it comes the biggest box office hits of the year. Hollywood has certainly saved its A-game for the hottest season, and with the promising line up of both animated and action-packed films, viewers of all ages should be satisfied.

Kicking off the season on Friday is Disney’s latest attempt at an action film, “Tomorrowland,” named after Disneyland’s popular attraction. Starring George Clooney and Britt Robertson, the film follows the adventures of an inventor and a curious teenager who embark on a mission to explore a mysterious land. The mix of exciting sci-fi action and Disney’s renowned special effects make “Tomorrowland” a must see, with Clooney as an added bonus.

The dinosaurs of Isla Nublar will be roaring on the big screen once again, with the highly anticipated release of “Jurassic World,” on June 11. Set more than 20 years after the events of the first “Jurassic Park” film, John Hammond’s vision of a successful Jurassic Park has finally become a reality. Superstar Chris Pratt plays as a velociraptor trainer who must save the day when a hybrid dinosaur breaks loose and wreaks havoc upon the park and all of its visitors. Though the “Jurassic Park” franchise has been overdone in the past, the fourth film has modern special effects and Pratt on its side, benefits that should make it bigger and better than the previous films.

Pixar’s latest film, “Inside Out,” set to premiere on June 18, tells the story of the little voices we all have in our heads. The animated film is set within the mind of a girl named Riley, who has recently moved to a new city and is struggling to adjust to her new life. Riley’s choices are guided by a team of five personified emotions who are stationed in her mind: Anger, Disgust, Joy, Fear, and Sadness. The mix of Pixar’s magical animation and comedians Mindy Kaling and Amy Poehler as voice actors should make “Inside Out” the perfect feel-good movie that all audience members can enjoy, regardless of their age.

Pac-Man is coming to the big screen on July 24 with the release of the film “Pixels.” Starring an eclectic group of comedic actors, such as Adam Sandler and Kevin James, the film is about an alien race coming into contact with Earth and attempting to exterminate the human population, but with a fun twist. After receiving a time capsule full of images that represent human culture sent by NASA in the 1980s, the aliens fail to see the peaceful intentions behind the capsule, and take it as a war message instead. When the aliens attack Earth with beloved classic arcade game characters, it is up to Sandler’s character to save the human race. The unique plot of the “Pixels” should make it an interesting film, especially if you want to see a giant Pac-Man destroy a city.

Tom Cruise will be returning to theaters as Ethan Hunt once again in “Mission Impossible: Rouge Nation,” set to premiere on July 31. In the latest installment of the series, the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) is threatened by an organization of assassins, known as The Syndicate. The IMF now faces its toughest mission yet; they must annihilate The Syndicate before they are wiped out themselves. As the fifth film of the series, “Mission Impossible: Rouge Nation” promises to be more action-packed than ever before.