During the summer months, a few simple pleasures might fill the summer days: sun, surf and of course, the occasional mindless summer blockbuster. As the first decade of this new century comes to an end, we should take a look back at the films that have filled our summer days and nights for the past nine years. Anything and everything, from theme park rides to bestselling novels, has been adapted into countless films and their sequels, and the success of these summertime adaptations has proven that moviegoers want more of the stories they know and love.
The "Pirates of the Caribbean" films (2003, 2006, 2007) A Disney theme park ride might seem an unlikely candidate for a storied film franchise, but that was before anyone saw Johnny Depp's tour de force performance as Captain Jack Sparrow, which showed not only that Keith Richards can be a viable character inspiration but that pirates can once again be cool. The first film was filled with fun and action, but too many subplots, action sequences and special effects certainly bogged down the sequels.
Summer "Harry Potter" films (2003, 2007) Though the first two "Harry Potter" films were released in November of 2001 and 2002, director Alfonso Cuaron changed the pace of the film franchise by adding his signature style to the darker storyline of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," released in the summer of 2004. But it wasn't until the fifth "Harry Potter" film, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," that "Harry Potter" became a summer blockbuster again. Hopefully, this year's "Half-Blood Prince" will repeat the feat.
The "Spiderman" films (2002, 2004, 2007) Though it was the 1999 film adaptation of "X-Men" that really started the superhero film trend, the Spiderman films elevated the superhero film to something everyone could relate to. Though Toby Maguire's Peter Parker character was super, he was also a regular guy, struggling with real problems like school, keeping a job and paying his rent. In this conflict-ridden decade, Spiderman was someone that everyone could depend upon: a regular guy who could rise to greatness when necessary.
"Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight" (2005, 2008) Remember the Batman films of the 1990s? Please don't. But with "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," innovative director Christopher Nolan not only brought the darkness back into the Batman universe, but created an intelligent superhero film. With the performances of top-notch actors like Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and of course, the late Heath Ledger, the Batman legend was transformed into a superb action-thriller.
"Transformers (2007)" What's summer without an absurd, explosive plot filled Michael Bay blockbuster? The jaw-dropping special effects of "Transformers," as well as its numerous supporting characters, elevate the film from the level of a typical summer flick. Sure, it might not have the best script or acting, but this is certainly a guilty pleasure worth taking part in, especially with the sequel Revenge of the Fallen coming out in late June.
The "Shrek" films (2001, 2004, 2007) Dreamworks proved it's versatility by taking a relatively unknown book, "Shrek," by William Steig and turning it into one of the most profitable film franchises of all time, grossing more than $1 billion domestically and spawning the Tony-winning Shrek the Musical," which is currently running on Broadway. But what made a movie about a cantankerous swamp-welling ogre such a hit? An A-list cast including Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy doesn't hurt as well as humor that both children and adults can enjoy.
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