Ranking of Movies Seen During Summer 2014

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Usually around this time, I would list my ten favorite summer movies of a particular year. Unfortunately, the summer of 2014 proved to be a dismal season for films and I only watched six new summer releases. Due to the limited number, I decided to rank the films I actually saw:

RANKING OF MOVIES SEEN DURING SUMMER 2014



1. "Guardians of the Galaxy" - The latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe proved to be a surprising delight about a group of criminals who find themselves on the run after an attempt to make a profit on a stolen orb coveted by powerful villains. Directed by James Gunn, the movie starred Chris Pratt and Zoe Saldana.



2. "Edge of Tomorrow" - Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt starred in this excellent adaptation of Hiroshi Sakurazaka's 2004 science-fiction novel, "All You Need Is Kill" about a public relations officer who is deployed into a combat mission against invading aliens and end up in a time loop. Doug Liman directed.



3. "The Amazing Spider-Man 2" - Andrew Garfield reprised his role as Peter Parker aka Spider-Man in this well-made sequel, which was marred by a badly written ending. In this film, the Web Slinger battles Electro and the Green Goblin, while investigating the circumstances surrounding his parents' deaths. Marc Webb directed.



4. "Godzilla" - Gareth Edwards directed this solid, yet dry reboot of the famous Japanese monster, who helps the human race battle a pair of radiation-eating monsters known as MUTOs from Japan to San Francisco. Aaron Johnson-Taylor, Elizabeth Olsen, Ken Watanabe and Bryan Cranston starred.



5. "X-Men: Days of Future Past" - Bryan Singer returned to direct his third movie in the "X-MEN" franchise. In this promising, yet clumsily executed film, Wolverine is sent back 50 years in the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants. Hugh Jackman, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender starred.



6. "Maleficent" - Angelina Jolie starred in Disney's twist on the "Sleeping Beauty" tale in which the story is told from the viewpoint of its antagonist, Maleficent. Robert Stromberg directed this entertaining film that was marred by a limited and rushed narrative.