[News Culture] With temperatures hovering near 40 degrees Celsius, the best summer getaway may be the one that requires no travel at all. A cool room, an iced Americano and a great movie can offer all the escape of a vacation without the heat, crowds or long journey.
Here are four films that can take viewers around the world, transport them to a sun-drenched island, deliver a refreshing mix of laughs and scares, or turn a tropical night into a masterclass in suspense.
Travel the World From Your Couch With ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ (2013)
Director: Ben Stiller
Cast: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Sean Penn, Shirley MacLaine
Runtime: 114 minutes
Walter Mitty, played by Ben Stiller, has spent 16 years working in the photo department at Life magazine. Trapped in a monotonous routine, he escapes through elaborate daydreams that allow him to imagine the adventure missing from his real life.
Everything changes when he is tasked with locating a photograph intended for the magazine’s final cover. His search for elusive photographer Sean O’Connell, played by Sean Penn, sends him across Greenland, Iceland and the Himalayas.
What begins as a hunt for a missing image gradually becomes Walter’s chance to confront the life he has put off out of fear. Ben Stiller’s direction moves seamlessly between fantasy and reality, while the sweeping landscapes give the film the exhilarating scale of a genuine expedition.
Greenland’s icy waters, Iceland’s volcanic terrain and the snow-covered Himalayas make it easy to feel as though the journey is unfolding beyond the screen. Blending comedy, adventure and heartfelt drama, the film offers a warm, easygoing escape that feels tailor-made for a summer afternoon.
Trade the Airport for a Greek Island in ‘Mamma Mia!’ (2008)
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Cast: Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Amanda Seyfried
Runtime: 108 minutes
Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried, lives with her mother Donna, played by Meryl Streep, on a small Greek island. With her wedding approaching, Sophie wants her father to walk her down the aisle—but she has no idea who he is.
After discovering her mother’s old diary, she identifies three possible candidates and secretly invites them all to the ceremony. Their unexpected arrival throws Donna into disarray and turns the wedding preparations into a lively search for answers.
Based on the stage musical of the same name, “Mamma Mia!” brings ABBA’s greatest hits together with a buoyant ensemble cast and the dazzling scenery of the Greek islands. Between the emerald sea, whitewashed houses and bright blue skies, the setting is almost as irresistible as the music.
It is the kind of film that may leave viewers checking flights to Greece before the closing credits have finished.
Beat the Heat With the Horror Comedy ‘Handsome Guys’ (2024)
Director: Nam Dong-hyup
Cast: Lee Sung-min, Lee Hee-jun, Gong Seung-yeon, Park Ji-hwan, Lee Kyu-hyung
Runtime: 101 minutes
“What are we missing? We have a house, a car and good looks.”
Self-proclaimed tough guy Jae-pil, played by Lee Sung-min, and “sexy guy” Sang-goo, played by Lee Hee-jun, are convinced they have everything going for them. Their unsettling appearance, however, immediately puts them under the watch of local police officers Chief Choi and Officer Nam.
The pair remain blissfully unconcerned as they settle into the European-style country house of their dreams. Trouble begins when they try to rescue Mi-na, played by Gong Seung-yeon, from drowning and are mistaken for kidnappers. Her uninvited friends soon arrive, and an ancient evil sealed beneath the house awakens.
“Why does everyone keep coming to our house and dying?”
“Handsome Guys” thrives on the unlikely pairing of slapstick comedy and supernatural horror. Its inventive direction keeps the chaos moving, while Lee Sung-min and Lee Hee-jun carry the film with perfectly matched comic performances.
Funny one moment and unnerving the next, it offers just the right combination of laughter and chills to take the edge off the summer heat.
Turn a Tropical Night Into a Thriller With ‘Jaws’ (1975)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Cast: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
Runtime: 124 minutes
Amity Island is known as a peaceful seaside resort. One summer night, however, a woman disappears while swimming and is later found dead—the victim of a massive great white shark.
Police Chief Martin Brody calls for the beaches to be closed, but the mayor refuses, fearing the loss of tourist revenue. As the death toll rises, Brody joins marine biologist Matt Hooper and seasoned shark hunter Quint on a dangerous hunt for the predator.
Adapted from Peter Benchley’s novel, “Jaws” remains one of cinema’s defining thrillers. Spielberg builds terror through suggestion, pacing and the vast uncertainty of the open water, proving that what viewers cannot see can be more frightening than what appears on screen.
John Williams’ unmistakable two-note theme has also become inseparable from the fear of an approaching threat. Long after the film ends, its ominous rhythm may still be echoing through the room: da-dum, da-dum, da-dum.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
Copyright ⓒ 뉴스컬처 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지
