The summer movie season of 2016 was marked by numerous blockbuster titles that brought both excitement and disappointment, showcasing what can be termed as a “disappointment epidemic” across various screens worldwide. However, the reality is that it’s not just the explosions that failed to impress, as even some anticipated action sequences missed the mark and left audiences scratching their heads in confusion. Here, we address the “painful lessons” and the most striking moments from this summer’s films.
1. Crossbones Only Appeared for 2 Minutes in Civil War
Choosing a talented actor like Frank Grillo (remember him from The Purge?) for Civil War was a missed opportunity, as the character Crossbones barely appeared for 10 minutes on screen. In reality, his total screen time was only about 2 minutes, overshadowed by the intense confrontation between Vision and Wanda. While the film portrayed him as a formidable villain, many felt that Crossbones’ conclusion was rather anticlimactic compared to the other formidable threats.
2. The Awkward Appearance of Chinese Characters in Independence Day: Resurgence
Hollywood continues to struggle with authentically representing international roles, particularly those of Chinese characters. By introducing Angelababy as Rain and Ng Chin Han as Jiang Lo in Independence Day: Resurgence, the filmmakers aimed to appeal to the Chinese market. However, both characters felt out of place, especially when they conversed in Mandarin while working in a predominantly Western environment. Jiang gets killed off rather abruptly, and Angelababy’s performance was lackluster, failing to resonate with audiences.
3. The Cosplay Costumes in Warcraft
The visual effects in Warcraft attempted to create a realistic portrayal of Orcs, but the costumes looked more like cheap cosplay rather than high-quality CGI. With a budget of $160 million, the film fell short of delivering a convincing visual experience, resembling a haphazard production rather than a polished cinematic piece.
4. The Twist in Now You See Me 2
This twist was even more convoluted than the previous one. Viewers today are savvy and can usually predict plot twists in films like Now You See Me. In a bid to “troll” the audience, the filmmakers of Now You See Me 2 ended the film with a twist reminiscent of Japanese manga, leaving audiences bewildered.
5. Nobody Asked for a Division into Two Films: The Divergent Series: Allegiant
The producers of The Divergent Series thought, “If Harry Potter and The Hunger Games can do it, so can we!” However, the previous installments of The Divergent series have left audiences disinterested, and splitting the final book into two films seemed unnecessary. The poor box office performance of Allegiant indicates that audiences are tired of franchises that stretch their narratives too thin.
6. Killing Off the Supporting Characters in Suicide Squad
Cara Delevingne’s portrayal of Dr. June Moone, aka Enchantress, in Suicide Squad was underwhelming. Despite her character being a powerful witch, the film presented her in a very lackluster manner. The character’s transformation into Enchantress was not compelling, and the film’s overall execution left much to be desired, leading to confusion among audiences.
7. Sophie Turner’s Performance in X-Men: Apocalypse
Everyone knows Sophie Turner as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones. In X-Men: Apocalypse, she took on the role of Jean Grey but struggled to shed her previous character’s persona. The film’s portrayal of her character lacked substance, and many viewers noted that she did not effectively transition into the role of Phoenix.
8. Controversy Surrounding Ghostbusters
Despite the ongoing debates surrounding the female-led reboot of Ghostbusters, the film faced significant backlash as its release date approached. Critics noted that the film felt like a hollow remake, and audiences expressed disappointment, leading to a poor reception. The film’s attempts to recreate the magic of the original fell flat, and Ghostbusters ultimately struggled to connect with viewers.
9. All the Bombs That Failed to Impress
The list of disappointing films includes The Divergent Series: Allegiant, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Independence Day: Resurgence, The Legend of Tarzan, Ghostbusters, and Ice Age: Collision Course, among others. Hollywood seems to be haunted by the sequels and remakes that fail to bring fresh narratives to the screen, indicating a growing fatigue among audiences who crave originality.
10. The Overexaggerated Role of Wolverine in Tấm Cám: Chuyện Chưa Kể
The character of Thái Tử in Tấm Cám was intended to resemble Wolverine, fighting against the wicked sorceress. However, the portrayal fell flat, and viewers found the character lacking depth. Tấm Cám is a Vietnamese film that had high expectations, but the execution of certain character arcs, particularly the prince’s, left audiences feeling underwhelmed.
