Movie review: four must-watch movies of summer 2023

Reviewing movies released over the summer

Graphic by Sydney Mulford, Editor-in-Chief

Anya Surani, Staff Writer

Fast X: (9/10)

After watching “Fast 9” it left me uncertain of where the Fast Saga was headed. "Fast 9" contained many over-the-top scenes including sending a car into space which left me and many other viewers shocked. However, “Fast X” was the series' redemption as the plot line picked up from “Fast Five.” Minutes within the movie, there is a noticeable difference in the action scenes as they resembled the beloved earlier movies “Fast and Furious” and “Furious 7.” “Fast X” stars Jason Mamoa- a much-needed fresh face for the series. He appeared on the screen acting similarly to the Joker, thus offering comedic relief to the movie. It is clear to say I had very low expectations walking in, and I left the movie pleasantly satisfied. After all, the ratings for “Fast X” are much higher than “Fast 9”.

Barbie (8/10):

Before “Barbie” was released in the theaters, it was already the movie of the summer- the marketing raised the expectations for its viewers. The marketing was creative and unique as they covered everything in Barbie pink and partnered with brands such as Xbox, Crocs, NYX, PacSun, and Béis. I expected that “Barbie” was going to be similar to the childhood show we all grew up with: “Barbie Life in the Dreamhouse.” However, as we matured, “Barbie” matured alongside us and took on a topic for its older audience. Greta Gerwig filled the movie with hidden messages, comedic moments, issues concerning sexism, and the harsh truth of reality. “Barbie” concluded the movie with a monologue for all to hear, and it left me with a revived love for the color pink.

Oppenheimer (7/10):

“Oppenheimer” tells the story of the Manhattan Project and how the United States developed an atomic weapon and used it on civilians. There are two sides to every story and in this particular movie, one was Robert Oppenheimer’s narrative and the other was Lewis Strass’s. “Oppenheimer” throws you straight into the plot line with scenes of vivid color, haunting black and white, a Senate confirmation, and even an interrogation scene. Through all these and the shots of explosions, black holes, and space, Director Christopher Nolan did not use any computer-generated imagery (CGI.) Nolan places you in the position of the scientist and makes you wonder what you would do if you were in a situation like Oppenheimer’s. With all of the shots switching back and forth, it left the movie slightly confusing to understand and left little emotional connection to the characters. However, Nolan’s directing left me feeling as if I took part in the experiment and only made the movie experience much more surreal.

Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 (9/10):

This is the 7th movie of the franchise and this fits perfectly in with the prior movies. The action and stunts are very over-the-top and impressive. Despite seeing many of Tom Cruise’s movies, it never fails to impress me that Tom Cruise does all of his own stunts. The scenes of Dead Reckoning are quite electric and leave you with a spike of adrenaline. Dead Reckoning is not only quite fun to watch, but it is also quite relatable to the current world as the villain of the movie is AI. This movie checks off every box a Mission Impossible fan would desire: jaw-dropping, thrilling, a great storyline, and most importantly Tom Cruise’s extreme stunts.