Back-to-school blockbuster films to suit any movie-goer’s taste

Now is the perfect time to spend catching up with friends at the movies. Whether it’s by using a discount AMC pass from the TIC in Lerner or 301 Diana, or renting a movie from the Butler media center, students should embrace fall movie selections as well as take this last opportunity to enjoy a summer flick.

"Contagion"
As students transition out of lazy summer and into studious fall, film releases transition from summer blockbusters to Oscar bait. The most intriguing, and most advertised, is Steven Soderbergh’s “Contagion,” which opens on Friday, Sept. 9. The film, about a deadly virus that causes widespread death and terror, stars an enormous cast of A-listers: Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Marion Cotillard, to name a few. This film is sure to have a massive draw, and, knowing Soderbergh—of “Traffic” and “Ocean’s Eleven” fame—the attention is completely deserved. Though not a film for the faint-hearted, this one is not to be missed.

"Rise of the Planet of the Apes"
Other slightly less chilling and perhaps more frequently enjoyable movies are also in theaters. “Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” staring Columbia alum James Franco, SoA‘10, is showing. Be warned, at the heart of the film is not a man-versus-apes moral dilemma, but a demonstration of the evolution of motion capture technology in heavily computerized fight scenes. This display, though impressive, sometimes drowns the story in a sea of computerized monkeys, leaving the audience at a loss.

"Colombiana"
Those looking for action movies should skip the apes and go see Zoe Saldana kick some ass in “Colombiana.” The film, from the writers of the 2008 film “Taken,” Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, follows Cataleya, played by Saldana, on her quest for revenge against the gangsters that killed her parents. Students looking for a rom-com to satisfy their fun and flirty side might be interested in “Crazy Stupid Love.” Not only does it have an amazing cast—Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, and Emma Stone—it is also incredibly realistic.

"30 Minutes or Less"
Another highly recommended film is “30 Minutes or Less,” from the director of the underrated “Zombieland.” The comedy stars Oscar-nominated Jesse Eisenberg as a pizza delivery boy, Nick, who gets kidnapped by two small-town criminals—played by Danny McBride and Nick Swardson—who strap a bomb to his chest and force him to rob a bank. For “Parks and Recreation” fans who are in need of their Aziz Ansari fix, he co-stars as Nick’s best friend. Despite the absurd and slightly disturbing plot, this film is clever, fantastically acted, and ridiculously engaging and entertaining. It’s capable of making students forget all about school, if only for a few hours.