Slices of Life: An Ode to Summer Movies

This article is written by Lisa Gibalerio, Belmont Patch columnist.

There is something about the summer blockbuster movie experience that holds a special place in my heart.

All year long, I look forward to viewing, on the big screen, that one often-talked-about thrilling movie.  Upon viewing this movie, I will not dissect it for coherent plot points, meaningful character development, or profound theatrical performances.  Not this time.  The summer movie has one main requirement – it has to be fun!  That it also provides a desperately needed respite from the heat and humidity – as well as an excuse for popcorn (with butter!) – are added bonuses.

Here are a few summer movies that I will always remember as some of the best movie-going experiences of my life.

In the summer of 1975, I lobbied hard to see the movie that everyone everywhere was talking about: Jaws.  After surprisingly little resistance, my mother relented; I was a third-born, after all, her standards had deteriorated over the years.  But she warned me: it might be too scary.  “It’s only a movie,” I remember thinking, “it’s not real life.” Well, suffice it to say, I spent the ensuing beach days that summer on the lookout for errant shark fins bobbing in the water of the Rhode Island shores.

A few years later, my brother, sister, cousin, and I marched off to see another much-talked-about summer release: Star Wars. This adventure from “a galaxy far away” had everything I yearned for in a movie: good versus evil, romance, the bonding of its lead characters, and a happy ending. I remember being very taken with the dashing Hans Solo and only later realized what an intergalactic womanizing rogue he really was!

You can imagine my delight, however, in learning that Harrison Ford was starring in the summer of 1981’s smash hit: Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The 1980s was also the decade that saw the summer releases of Back to the Future, Top Gun, Aliens, Dirty Dancing, and my personal favorite, Die Hard.  I remember that, when Die Hard was released, I was in the throes of a heart-wrenching break-up.  But for two hours that summer, I was able to escape the pain of being dumped and was completely enthralled with the plight of brave John McClane as he battled wits with the menacing Hans Gruber.

The summers of the 1990s brought several more films to terrify and delight:  Jurassic Park, Apollo 13 and Twister.

But as that decade wound down, my own little “productions” came on the scene, eclipsing the action at the cinema. Getting out to a movie became as elusive as getting out to anything else with wee ones underfoot.

And so began my long haul without a summer movie fix.

However, I am happy to report that now, instead of arranging for babysitters, my husband and I have reached the phase where we can actually drag the majority of our kids to the movies along with us. And that is how we recently arranged to see World War Z.

So, there we were, popcorn and Junior Mints in hand, sitting in a cool, dark theater worlds away from the oppressively hot, summer afternoon outside. It was bliss.  And the movie was great fun too!  Remember, I don’t analyze summer flicks too deeply.

Give me even a basic plot – one I can actually follow, which leaves out all James Bond movies. Toss in some engaging action. Add a credible hero I can root for.  Wrap it up with a – spoiler alert! – happy ending.

And that’s it, my recipe for a fun summer film.

Ahh.

I’m already looking forward to next year’s summer release.