The summer of 2018 marked the successive releases of many diverse movies that attracted the attention of large-scale audiences. From romance and comedy to animations and action, these films heated up the summer with excitement and exhilaration. Here are 5 of the most remarkable movies from the summer of 2018:

• Adrift (Jun. 1)

Starring Shailene Woodley as Tami Oldham and Sam Claflin as Richard Sharp, Adrift is a romance and survival movie that is meant to deliver a message of true love, courage, and perseverance. Adrift is based on a true story of two sailors who set across the ocean from Tahiti to San Diego, and it takes place in 1983, when an engaged couple go on a long journey at sea, only to run into Hurricane Raymond. In the aftermath of the destructive hurricane, Oldham and Sharp are badly injured, but they are determined to push through all hardships for survival. Despite adequate promotion and anticipation for the return of Woodley and Claflin, Adrift proved to be somewhat of a disappointment. The film fails to stay true to its central theme, which should be based on the enduring love and passionate bond between the main leads. Instead, it focuses more on the aspect of survival at sea, which in no way nears the effectiveness of the legendary movie, Life of Pi, which was released in 2012 and set extremely high standards for future survival and action films. Overall, Adrift does deserve to be complimented for the undeniable acting abilities of Woodley and Oldham, evoking strong emotions from the audience.

• Incredibles 2 (Jun. 15)

Disney stuns the audience with Incredibles 2, a brilliant action and adventure animation that is also the long-awaited sequel of the 2014 The Incredibles. The Incredibles 2 lives up to the audience’s expectations through a combination of heartwarming and comedic scenes. Whereas The Incredibles featured Bob as the main protagonist, The Incredibles 2 adds a twist by having Helen as the new superhero who is responsible for saving the world, while Bob is now in charge of taking care of the kids and lives a “normal” life. Another notable aspect of The Incredibles 2 is the storyline for baby Jack-Jack, who discovers powers of his own. The Incredibles 2 could be fairly ranked as one of the most satisfactory films that came out in the summer of 2018. The audience is able to enjoy themselves in endless laughter, and a theme of cooperation and heroism arises in the many adventures the family goes through by combating evil and supporting each other. With its visually appealing animations and unique plot, Disney created another nearly flawless film with the release of Incredibles 2.

• Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Jun. 22)

The science fiction film Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom is a sequel of the 2015 Jurassic World. Starring Chris Pratt as Owen and Bryce Dallas Howard as Claire, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom takes place three years after the theme park and luxury resort Jurassic World was destroyed by dinosaurs. Owen and Claire must rescue the dinosaurs from extinction when the island’s dormant volcano threatens to erupt. Their attempt at rescuing the dinosaurs could potentially hazard the entire planet, but they are determined to find a way to satisfy both ends of the spectrum. The success of Jurassic World largely contributed to the controversial opinions towards its sequel, with some fans criticizing Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom for its relative simplicity and others quite entertained. The film does a spectacular job of incorporating realistic scenes of blood and gore, and these components positively add to the “thrilling” aspect of the movie. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom seems to be a much less ambitious film compared to its predecessor, but the lighter elements incorporated into the 2018 version give the film a more humorous and jovial touch. For the most part, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom could be considered a success and allows the audience to “breathe” amidst the mind-boggling and horrifying tensions created by a majority of the scenes.

• Ant-Man and the Wasp (Jul. 6)

Marvel Cinematic Universe strikes with another fantasy and science fiction film with the release of Ant-Man and the Wasp, a continuation of the 2015 Ant-Man and 2016 Captain America: Civil War. Starring Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, the film features superheroes with the ability to shrink and grow freely using a suit. The film primarily focuses on Lang’s struggle to balance his family life (taking care of his daughter) with his role as Ant-Man (completing superhero tasks). The film leaves a cliffhanger at the end, with Lang disappearing into the Quantum Realm, indicating another sequel to come. Ant-Man and the Wasp is a generally engaging film that is action-packed and suspenseful, incorporating many humorous scenes throughout. Despite positive feedback, the plot of Ant-Man and the Wasp is overly simplistic and comes across as dull and dragging compared to many other traditional Marvel films.

• Crazy Rich Asians (Aug. 15)

As the first American movie to feature an all-Asian cast, the groundbreaking Crazy Rich Asians condemns stereotypical society and awes the audience. With Constance Wu as Rachel Chu and Henry Golding as Nick Young, this romantic comedy film is about a couple that continues to love each other despite continuous opposition from family and society. With Young as a descendant of one of the wealthiest families in Singapore, Chu must prove herself to be worthy of his love, even if she does not come from a renowned family. The film reveals that money can’t buy happiness or love; it is inner-beauty that counts. Although Crazy Rich Asians has a somewhat cliché plot, the optimistic and humorous components added to the film allow the audience to be engaged in other elements aside from the plot. Crazy Rich Asians restores faith in the romantic comedy genre of movies by featuring a capable female lead with high morale who must go against a prejudiced society in order to discover her inner-values and undaunted abilities.  

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