Movies to look forward to watching this summer

Movie+posters+for+Finding+Dory%2C+Independence+Day%3A+Resurgence%2C+The+Shallows%2C+The+BFG+and+Suicide+Squad.+Hollywood+is+releasing+over+40+movies+this+summer%2C+17+of+which+are+sequels%2C+remakes+and+spinoffs.+

Wikimedia Commons

Movie posters for “Finding Dory,” “Independence Day: Resurgence,” “The Shallows,” “The BFG” and “Suicide Squad.” Hollywood is releasing over 40 movies this summer, 17 of which are sequels, remakes and spinoffs.

by Prameela Kottapalli, Reporter

Summer is finally here and so are barbecues, backpacking, binge watching, beach trips and, of course, blockbusters. Not only is making a getaway to the local air-conditioned movie theater an escape from the sweltering heat, but it’s also a great way to pass time during lazy summer days. Hollywood is releasing over 40 films this sunny season, but here are a few prime choices to keep you entertained over these three months.

“Finding Dory”
Rating: PG
Release Date: June 17
One of the most highly anticipated Pixar movies of the last decade, “Finding Dory” stars beloved main characters from its 2003 precursor “Finding Nemo,” while also featuring an array of new personalities, including Dory’s parents. The story is centralized around Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), the quirky blue tang fish who embarks on a journey with the help of Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and Nemo (voiced by Hayden Rolence) to find the family that she cannot recall due to her short-term memory loss.

“Finding Dory” trailer

“Independence Day: Resurgence”
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: June 24
The sequel to the 1996 blockbuster “Independence Day,” “Resurgence” takes place 20 years after the events of the original. After two decades of pulling together a defense force to protect Earth from extraterrestrial invaders, mankind must once again face and fight against the impending doom of a catastrophic alien attack. “Resurgence” stars some of the main cast members from the first film, including Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman, while also featuring a new generation of heroes portrayed by several actors, including Liam Hemsworth and Jessie Usher.

“Independence Day: Resurgence” trailer

“The Shallows”
Rating: Unrated
Release Date: June 29
A chilling survival thriller, “The Shallows” tells the story of Nancy (Blake Lively), a young surfer who is stranded on a rock 200 yards from shore after a great white shark attacks her. Circled by the predator, Nancy must find a way to return safely to the nearby shore, the ultimate test of her will. Although Lively is the central character of the small cast, the computer-generated-imagery (CGI) great white with whom she shares her screentime with is remarkably impressive, acknowledged by fans as one of the most realistic CGI sharks in movie history.

“The Shallows” trailer

“The BFG”
Rating: PG
Release Date: July 1
Based upon the whimsical 1982 children’s book under the same title by Roald Dahl, “The BFG” (Big Friendly Giant) is about an insightful yet lonely orphan named Sophie (Ruby Barnhill) who befriends a kindhearted yet equally lonely giant (voiced by Mark Rylance). The two embark on a mission together to capture the man-eating giants that wreak havoc upon the human world. Directed by Steven Spielberg and produced under Disney studios, the film is sure to tug on the heartstrings of audiences of all ages.

“The BFG” trailer

“Suicide Squad”
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: Aug. 5
In this action-packed, violent film produced by the same studios that brought audiences the Superman and Batman movies, the US government places a life-threatening secret mission to save the world in the hands of the “bad guys”: incarcerated supervillains. These villains were previously thwarted by superheroes from the DC universe, include Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Deadshot (Will Smith) and Enchantress (Cara Delevingne). The movie, which DC fans eagerly await, also features Batman’s enigmatic nemesis Joker, portrayed by Jared Leto.

“Suicide Squad” trailer