MOST IMPACTFUL MOVIES OF THE SUMMER

BY TIFFANY JOHNSON AND SELA VALIGNOTA

The release of the Barbie movie brought many girls of different ages, interests and backgrounds together to enjoy their shared experience of girlhood. Barbieland shows a world filled with girls who care for one another and run society all by themselves - untouched by misogyny, sexism and prejudice - and reveals peaceful solidarity for girls.

As Barbie discovers the truth about the role of women in the real world, she represents every little girl who has faced the emotional hardships so many women face due to our patriarchal society. Although the film captures some unfortunate sides to womanhood, there is still an empowering message throughout: There is more to being a girl than any expectation that is given to us. Beyond being a toy that children would play dress up with and give unfortunate, permanent haircuts to, the Barbie doll represents the limitless possibilities for every little girl. In the movie’s final scenes, the founder of Barbie, Ruth Handler, played by Rhea Perlman, ties the creation of Barbie dolls to her own experiences as a mother.

“We mothers stand still so our daughters can look back to see how far they have come,” Handler says. The Barbie doll and film were not only created as messages of empowerment but also to showcase the support you have. No matter the exhaustion, discouragement and hopelessness that may come with being a girl, there are those around you who want to see you fulfill everything you desire. Barbie isn’t just a doll. She’s all that a little girl playing with her sees when she dreams of her future.

In anticipation of the release of Oppenheimer, many were unprepared for the intensity that occurred through the three hours of an incredibly moving soundtrack written by famous composer Ludwig Goransson and the constantly evolving plot done entirely with practical effects from renowned cinematographer Christopher Nolan. The movie is broken into parts that showcase the beginning of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s career, his works on the Manhattan Project and the legal aftermath of Oppenheimer building a weapon of mass destruction.

The pace of the film establishes that the climax comes during the final testing and explosion of the first atomic bomb, showcasing all the work, efforts and sacrifices every contributor gave in one scene. However, it can be argued the true peaks involve the consequences that Oppenheimer faces through his decisions. He must bear guilt over the death of more than 100,000 Japanese civilians, but continue to be praised and congratulated for it as an accomplishment to be proud of.

During Oppenheimer’s time of potential nuclear war, the idea of mankind destroying itself was acknowledged often. However, as decades go by in the trajectory of supposedly positive technological advancement, many seem to forget the true power man holds in their hands. Although the creation of the atomic bomb was a transformative event in American history and the scientific world, the film serves as a reminder that the power of man’s intelligence has led to the capability for its own destruction.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse took over the first part of this past summer. The film was released on June 2 and did not fall short of expectations that it would be one of the biggest movies of the season.

The Spider-Verse series has a unique and distinct visual style that creates a sense of nostalgia by mimicking the origins of the Marvel comics. As we see new characters appear in the sequel, the visuals go beyond the first film because of a different artistic style and creative aesthetics for each character and its universe. There were over a thousand different artists and techs who worked on creating the film. The visuals were not the only thing drawing viewers in; it was also the special storyline that opened a whole new universe for Spider-Man fans.

Throughout the movie, the audience becomes increasingly aware of how big the Spider-Verse is and the connection between each Spider-Man through similar canon events. The film’s creators do a fantastic job of planting Easter eggs in both movies that foreshadow the events that play out at the end of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

“I was wondering when people might start noticing,” Associate Editor of the film Andrew Leviton said in his retweet to a fan’s post that called out that there were two versions of the movie after seeing different screenings. With the cliffhanger ending, Across the Spider-Verse fans are left wanting to rewatch the films to discover what might happen next.