See Ya, School!: A Stuyvesant Student’s Guide to Summer Cinematics

The past school year has been a particularly difficult one, especially considering the additional stress of a billionaire Cheeto being elected President of the United States. However, this summer, Stuyvesant students can take a breather from the stress of school with some of this year’s most anticipated movies, ranging from action-packed hero blockbusters to potential Oscar-worthy notables by some of Hollywood’s most renowned directors.

To all students seeking another reason to welcome the start of summer, here are six movies everyone should be on the lookout for to keep you refreshed during the upcoming break.

“Wonder Woman” (June 2, 2017)

DC fans are already migrating to the cinemas this month with the release of “Wonder Woman,” a brand-new film centering around everyone’s favorite Amazon heroine. Gal Gadotmade a stunning appearance in “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” as Wonder Woman, and now she finally earns the spotlight in this early summer release. When war pilot Steve Trevor (Chris Pine), USS Enterprise captain of this generation’s “Star Trek” films, crash lands on Themyscira, Wonder Woman’s home island, he tells her of the conflict going on outside her island’s borders. Skilled, mature, and ready to become the hero the world needs, Diana of the Amazons leaves her island and travels to assist the outside world in resolving this massive conflict. Those who buy tickets will watch as Diana, sword and whip in hand, cements her name in history and earns the title of Wonder Woman—always ready to lead and prepared for war.

“Baby Driver” (June 28, 2017)

Get ready for the ride of your life with this upcoming release directed by Edgar Wright. Known for his unconventional and brilliant movie ideas, Wright, director of the Cornetto Trilogy, has brought to the big screens another pinnacle of entertainment, a movie about a young man named Baby (Ansel Elgort), who at the start of the movie is making a living driving a getaway car for a group of thieves. Baby is a genius driver, able to maneuver between two trucks with one turn of his wheel and drive just as good backward as he can forward. For this reason, he is the only driver who Doc (Kevin Spacey), Baby’s boss, is willing to use for his criminal activities. When a new love enters his life, Baby needs to decide whether he’ll keep his distance before she’s put in danger, or if he’ll go out and face the music, cutting himself loose from Doc’s grip on him and his talents. With an A-list cast including Jamie Foxx from “Ray” and Jon Hamm from “Mad Men,” watch Baby take to the wheels and rev up for the drive of his life.

“Despicable Me 3” (June 30, 2017)

Despite the Minions being an extremely overused, and frankly annoying, advertising tactic, the third installment in the “Despicable Me” animated comedy series actually seems amusing with a few interesting new characters. Despite former supervillain Gru (Steve Carell) becoming a devoted husband and father and a crime-fighting secret agent over the course of the previous two “Despicable Me” movies, he is temporarily swayed back to the villainous side with the introduction of his wealthy long-lost twin brother, Dru (also Steve Carell). Dru wishes for Gru’s help with one last heist: stealing a jewel from the latest flashy villain who looks as if he’s been pulled straight out of the ‘80s, Balthazar Bratt (Trey Parker). With Dru’s more positive attitude and incompetence contrasting heavily with Gru’s very serious nature, the new brotherly rivalry may add a fresh and humorous dynamic to the film.

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” (July 7, 2017)

This summer, Tom Holland suits up yet again as the boy genius from Queens with a spider bite that has given him powers beyond his imagination. After the events of “Captain America: Civil War,” Peter Parker is stuck back in his normal life as an NYC high schooler (we all know how boring that can get), when a new bad guy (Michael Keaton) comes to town, ready to crush the one people call “Spider-Man” by any means necessary. If you go to watch this film, one cool thing to keep in mind is that Tom Holland took it upon himself to do his own stunts for the movie. Also, composer Michael Giacchino has changed the original iconic Spider Man score, giving it a refreshing modern twist.

“Dunkirk” (July 21, 2017)

Operation Dynamo, the Allies’ successful evacuation mission in Dunkirk, France, from May 26 to June 4, 1940, was wrought with thousands of casualties. Christopher Nolan’s World War II film sheds some light on this historic tragedy. It depicts the desperation of thousands of Allied troops on land, at sea, and in the air struggling to endure constant attack from the Nazis. Some especially evocative scenes shown in trailers include dozens of soldiers on a ship bracing for an explosion and troops respecting the deaths of their fellow fallen, letting them drift off to sea. The film is a massive project with an impressive cast, including “Star Wars” actor Tom Hardy and former One Direction member Harry Styles. Furthermore, with Nolan opting for genuine battleships and historic locations over the usual Hollywood CGI effects, “Dunkirk” is bound to be hauntingly realistic.

“Atomic Blonde” (July 28, 2017)

Who said women couldn’t be kickass undercover spies? This thriller film, based on the graphic novel “The Coldest City,” by Antony Johnston, takes place toward the end of the Cold War, very close to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron), a MI6 spy, with the reluctant help of pugnacious Berlin station chief David Percival (James McAvoy), is sent to Berlin to identify and take out an espionage ring that has killed another MI6 agent. Scenes from the film depict Theron’s character as a ruthless, skillful woman. She displays her incredible martial arts prowess by beating up big, burly men and shooting agents in slow motion while still staying stylish in her stiletto heels. In addition, as shown by a sex scene involving her and another woman, Lorraine is not only one of the few female spies in media, but also one of the first LGBTQ+ spies. With a fitting ‘80s soundtrack and fantastic usages of dim and bright neon lighting, “Atomic Blonde” looks to be a spy film on par with a “James Bond” movie.