I've seen a handful of this year's summer movies so far, and plan to see many more. The ones I've seen so far (in chronological order) are:
Furious 7: Even though this was released in April, I'm counting it because many theaters are still showing it and it made a ton of money, which is what you usually think of when it comes to summer movies. I actually highly enjoyed this movie. You basically know what you get with the Fast & Furious series (fast cars, hot women, action scenes, some cheesy dialogue) but I actually feel once the Rock joined the series, they've really just leaned into all of those characteristics and embraced the silliness, which makes it better in my opinion. This was a fun, action packed ride that if you can put aside how silly some of it is, you will really enjoy. I also was a little surprised at how touching the tribute to Paul Walker at the end of the movie was. Definitely something I didn't expect from this series.
Avengers: Age of Ultron: I'm a self-admitted comic book movie fan, so I probably have some bias here. There were parts of this one I liked more than the original, and some things I didn't like quite as much as the first. This movie has a lot of laughs and incredible action sequences. If you like the first one, or really any of the movies including any of these characters, I feel like you should enjoy this one. I know some of the critics have complained that there are too many easter eggs or nods to other movies in the Marvel universe (some of which haven't even come out yet), and I get that, but I feel like it stands by itself as a really enjoyable movie.
Entourage: I haven't watched the entire series, in the process of watching it from start to finish. A friend of mine wanted to see it, so we checked it out. I didn't feel like you really had to see the series to get it, but it wouldn't hurt. Some of the things I said about Furious 7 apply here, you basically know what you're gonna get: a group of guys "bro-ing" out in Hollywood, a foul-mouthed, fast-talking agent, hot women, fast cars, etc. There were some parts that were really funny, but it definitely feels just like a longer episode of the show. If you're a fan of the show, it's worth the watch (not necessarily on the big screen), but if you never got the appeal of the show, you aren't really missing much.
Jurassic World: I really liked this movie, definitely the best Jurassic sequel for me. The original is a cinematic masterpiece, and while this new one doesn't really capture the sense of wonder that the original so often instilled, it certainly worked hard to make the action scenes stack up. Seeing it on the big screen was something I was really excited to do, because I was too young to see any of the others in the series in theaters, and I recommend the big screen experience for sure. Chris Pratt is definitely continuing his hot streak when it comes to being box office gold, but Jake Johnson stole the show for me. While there are "tense" scenes, it shouldn't be too scary, so if you're someone who had trepidation for that reason, you should be fine.
Inside Out: The newest Pixar movie is a return to form for the studio. I couldn't have been more pleased with one of Pixar's more original ideas. It really has it all. I laughed hysterically throughout at the hilarious cast (Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Mindy Kaling, Richard Kind, and Lewis Black), but the movie also packs tons of heart, and if you're a softy like me, you will cry as well (everyone I've talked to who saw it cried, myself included). I know some of you may go "Cartoon? That's a kid's movie, I'm not watching it" but it really was a great movie that is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming and tells a story that I think almost everyone can relate to.
I haven't seen Mad Max yet, been trying to work it in at some point, just hasn't happened yet. May have to wait for Netflix, but I'd like to see it on the big screen. That's probably the one that's already out I would most like to see, but I'm sure I'll catch Spy, Ted 2, Pitch Perfect 2 & Tomorrowland at some point, most likely via cable or Netflix or whatever. I really want to see Dope, but I don't think it will play anywhere near where I live.
As for upcoming movies, I'm planning to see Ant-Man & Fantastic Four in theaters for sure, with Mission Impossible, Minions & Trainwreck as probable theater watches. I would like to see Straight Outta Compton, American Ultra, & Masterminds, but haven't decided if I'll see them in theaters or not. I'm not planning to see Terminator which just looks like a mess.
