Written by: Olive Ribaudo, Staff Writer
BARBENHEIMER: The contrasting pink vs black films of the summer.
This summer, two Blockbuster films hit the theaters and were followed with huge waves of excitement. “Barbie,” directed by Greta Gerwig and “Oppenheimer,” directed by Christopher Nolan both made record breaking amounts of money. Pink vs dark, good vibes vs thriller, modern vs classic, the two Warner Bros. films have polar opposite styles. Although the styles of the films are different, both movies ponder heavy existential questions. Warner Bros released a statement explaining that “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” both address issues of life, death and fashion.”
In just the opening weekend, Barbie raised $162 million dollars. People around the globe rushed to theaters to see it. The movie follows the main characters Barbie and Ken navigating Barbie land, then, the complexities of living amongst humans in the real world. It highlights the journey of self discovery. Many describe the movie as inspirational and emotional. Olivia DiGuglielmo (10), said that “the message was deep and sentimental. My mom cried.” The movie relates to women everywhere. Caitlyn Graham, (12) stated, “I appreciate the movie and the message that it portrayed. It made me cry.” Many girls liked the message that it provided. Juliet Zaragoza (11), mentioned that it was “so powerful and it says so much about society. It is an inspirational film for old and young women. The film touches people of all ages.”
Oppenheimer highlights the development of the atomic bomb during World War II. Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, designs and creates an important piece of history. The film has stunning visuals and even more impactful performances. “The movie was good. I really liked the soundtrack,” said Bryse Norris (11). The world’s first nuclear explosion altered the course of history forever. After creating the bomb, Oppenheimer becomes overwhelmed about what he has done, and worries he has started an end to the world. The movie was impactful, but some thought it was too way too lengthly. “The movie was really long. I thought the movie was boring,” stated Lucy Bilhartz (9).
Although both movies were very different, the popularity was the same. People loved going to theaters to see both movies. Combined, the films made over $2 billion worldwide. Warner Brothers publishing both movies changed the summer, and created a lot of hype around both films. The movies both host an deep theme that allows the audience to look within themselves and works to find out why these movies struck their souls. They have very different vibes, one of which lends itself perfectly to social media and marketing. The other is darker, and less discussed, but still hooks an audience. As movies of the summer, they will be remembered and watched as time passes. Successful movies like these entice an audience to keep watching, and with time, become a classic.