The 2023 summer film wave with “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” ripped up the box office. Of course, all films made after that will understandably be rather disappointing. “Deadpool and Wolverine,” however, surprised in its own beautiful way and became the film of the season.

When I walked into the drafty Regal American Mall Movie Theater in Lima, my expectations for Deadpool and Wolverine were low to nonexistent. The first and second Deadpools, while they served their purpose, were not the fun and entertaining experience I expected when sitting back and watching a movie in the theater during the summer.

And of course, my brain nearly exploded when I saw Barbie and Oppenheimer in the theater last summer. I said to myself, “This is the height of cinema,” the luxury of watching an atomic bomb being dropped in HD and then seeing Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling shine in their respective roles. I really didn’t think it could get any better. I was wrong. Deadpool was a killer.

It starred Ryan Reynolds (of course), Hugh Jackman, Blake Lively, Jennifer Garner and Channing Tatum, because why not? The plot was also fantastic, delving into Marvel’s alternate timelines and combining juicy action scenes with a touch of romance from Reynolds. Without giving too much away, it was simply a top-notch film, especially seen in theaters and gripping throughout the entire film.

Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be an avid cinephile if I didn’t also watch its contender for the film of the summer, Twisters. I was a little biased towards the film, which is great when you’re a columnist for The publisherbut not so great if you were the fool who decided to remake Twisters.

Just because a movie was great in the ’70s, ’80s or ’90s, why does it need to be remade? (I’m looking at you, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.) Twisters is no exception, a remake of a 1996 smash that thrilled audiences around the world.

I had a feeling that the remake would try to make the film somehow scientific to better explain the plot. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Tying a truck to the ground in the middle of a tornado and preventing it from being blown to pieces is not scientifically accurate, by the way. But I watched the film to the end, and while it may appeal to young people who have never seen a tornado, love affairs, or a good Southern love story, it ultimately flopped and failed to hook me.

“Deadpool” is more of a classic comedy and action with unexpected bloodshed. You never know when someone will fall off a cliff or be killed in a drastic way. And in a time when capturing the audience’s attention is important, “Deadpool and Wolverine” gets a solid A minus. And thus earns the title of “Movie of the Summer.”

Drew Haughn is a sophomore communications student at Ohio University. Please note that the opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect those of The publisher. Want to talk to Drew about his article? Email him at [email protected] or find him on Instagram at haughn_drew24.