The Movie Review and Discussion Thread

[Diesel]

Guardians of the Galaxy

This was probably the most fun I have had at a screening in a long time...if not ever. Everyone I watched the movie with was so into it and having a blast with the ride it took us on.

The movie succeeds in nailing the split between dramatic and comedic perfectly. This is by far the funniest Marvel Studios film to date and just about every single piece of that humor hits dead on. There are so many moments in the film that make you want to pause and continue laughing for a minute before continuing on. But when it is time to be serious it does not feel forced or unnatural. Other Marvel movies have struggled with this balance in the past, so its great to see both of their films this year finally get the tone for their stories perfect.

And not just the humor/drama balance is done well, but also the balance between small, intimate scenes and huge epic action sequences. Like some others have said, one of the best scenes in the film is not the big third act or the prison sequence (both of which are really good), but simply a scene of the five main characters sitting in a circle talking for like 10 minutes.


Picking a favorite Guardian will be a great debate groups of friends will have among themselves when watching this movie. I fully expected Groot to be my favorite character, but in the end it was actually...Drax. Bautista is not the best actor around, in fact, he is the weakest actor of the main cast...but he did very well with what was needed of him for this role. I just wish that his story had gotten a little more development in the film as the other four of the group's story got more time and effort devoted to them I felt. As for the rest of the group, Pratt, Diesel (I hope he gets to do the mo-cap next time) and Cooper are great with their individual roles and will likely walk away as the three more popular picks for favorite Guardian. Saldana is the weak link here for me. She did well with her role and I enjoyed it, but just significantly less than the other four.

Lee Pace turns in a great performance as Ronan. My only complaint about him is that he was not around enough. Any time Pace was on screen, though, he just killed it. He's not as charismatic a villain as Tom Hiddleston's Loki (but come on...who is?), but he is probably my second favorite of the villains of the MCU so far.


Another slight issue I had was with the voice of Thanos. Now...it's not that I did not like it entirely as I am one of the people who is super excited about Josh Brolin getting the role, it was just that I had hoped they would alter his voice just a little to make it sound slightly more 'villainous' or 'god-like'. As it stands, we have Josh Brolin talking about the infinity stones, not Thanos. I'll probably settle more into it on a repeat viewing next week, but for whatever reason it just irked me a bit when I first watched it last night.


I won't spend much time discussing the soundtrack of the film because all that needs to be said is that it is an integral part of the film and is spot on perfect for the movie.


In the end, Marvel knocked it out yet again for me. I don't know for sure where it sits among my Marvel Studios rankings, but I know it is 3rd at highest however. For me, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Thor: The Dark World are still my two favorites. After another watch next week I will probably be able to more accurately place it. But as I say with each of my Marvel Studios movie reviews...it isn't much of a big deal as besides Iron Man 3, I have given each film the same rating since the first Iron Man...

Rating - 4.5/5

[KilloWertz]

So, what Diesel basically said after all that was he loved it? If you loved it so much, where's the Seal of Approval?

[Tony208]

How to train your dragon 2

Liked everything except the lead voice actor. It was like listening to charlie day from pacific rim for 2 hours.

4/5

[Abdrewes]

Originally Posted by Darth Marcus

My Top 100

You're up, Foggy.

Sweet list, man. I'll try to conjure one up by the end of the summer.

[Darth Marcus]

Originally Posted by Abdrewes

Sweet list, man. I'll try to conjure one up by the end of the summer.

Thanks! I look forward to reading it!

[Al_The_Strange]

Lucy

Popular scientific myth claims that human beings only use ten percent of their brains. Modern research tells us that we really use every part of our brain in subtle ways. And yet, isn't it remarkable to consider the possibility that there is room for human consciousness to become something greater than it already is? In this film, Lucy is an average person who unwittingly becomes the next step in human evolution, who uses more and more of her brain capacity in a struggle to survive and evolve. As she exponentially grows in power, she becomes able to control her mind, her body, other matter, energy, space, and ultimately time. Which, of course, is completely ridiculous and unbelievable, no matter how many neurons Lucy fires off. But it does make for a whimsical "what if" scenario, doesn't it?

The movie's biggest selling point will be in watching Scarlett Johansson kicking a lot of butt with wild superpowers! And there is plenty of action scattered all about: the movie is pretty evenly-littered with big-scale shoot-outs, car chases, and off-the-wall mental powers. However, butt-kicking is not really the movie's primary focus; it's more about chronicling Lucy's journey. Moments in between the action slow down a lot, but it's rarely dull; the film dishes out a plethora of intriguing situations and implications. In doing so, the film will lay out a ton of exposition, which may bore the most critical of viewers, but engage those with a more open mind. Regardless, I found the picture to be trim, to-the-point, and it has just enough momentum to keep it rolling smoothly. I felt it struck the perfect balance in terms of pacing and structure.

Ultimately, the story is an interesting affair, but falls short in numerous ways. The science behind the film's premise is totally unfounded. Other observations are interesting on the surface, but they amount to a few simple messages that audiences may or may not care for. Personally, I was intrigued by the way the film juxtaposed scientific lecture and imagery next to the events. As far as the plot goes, it's a short and simple affair, but with plot holes to be found. The film jumps right into the events without much background to the characters or events (seriously, who manufactured CPH4 to begin with? Who is Lucy and why is she in Taipei to begin with?). A few good scenes keep the characters from becoming total cardboard cutouts, but the film becomes increasingly whack as it goes along, until it reaches a really absurd ending. It leaves off with a rather blunt and empty message.

On the plus side, the film is as slick as they come, with superb photography and editing. Acting is swell: I loved watching Scarlett Johansson, even when she does become monotonous. Morgan Freeman pretty much phones it in, serving the same role as he did narrating Through the Wormhole. The various cops and gangsters are decent. Writing is rather unrefined and blunt, but it gets the job done. This production uses good-looking sets, props, costumes, and locales. Special effects look good in some scenes and bad in others. Music is pretty cool.

Lucy is a pretty neat "what if" scenario. It's not quite as big of a rip-roaring actioner as you might expect, but it's also not nearly as intellectually challenging as top-tier sci-fi pictures. However, as a crime thriller with a scientific commentary, I believe it's a blast.

4/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Marginal | Film: Very Good)

Recommendation: Rental.

[Diesel]

Originally Posted by KilloWertz

So, what Diesel basically said after all that was he loved it? If you loved it so much, where's the Seal of Approval?

[Show spoiler]Seal of Approval 2.jpg

[KilloWertz]

Originally Posted by Diesel

[Show spoiler]Attachment 91588

I think I'm going to get a little teary eyed....

[Astro Zombie]

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

You know that feeling when, you've been following a movie for over a year, you hear all the casting news, your excitement is slowly building, you think to yourself, "Well, I never thought of him/her for the role, but we'll see", then the first trailer is released, and it's awesome, and your excitement is even higher, and all your worries about casting and "I hope the movie looks good" float away to the spirit in the sky, then as more information surrounding the movie is released, you find yourself even more excited, then the second trailer is released and "Holy ****, that was awesome", you can't wait another day to see this movie, suddenly the mere sight of a TV spot gets you crying tears of joy because the movie is nearing release, your excitement is at a fever pitch, you're in line for the movie, you got the best seats in the house, the lights dim, the movie starts and 2 hours later the lights go up and... you feel it. You didn't think you'd feel it, you were so sure you wouldn't, but it's right there. The D-word. DISAPPOINTED. You were disappointed. How did that happen? No one will ever know. Anyone know that type of disappointment? I don't, because this movie was ****ing amazing. It took all of my expectations and blew them away with a really big gun. Can I watch this movie for the rest of my life, please?

5/5

[GLaDOS]

Princess Mononoke

I've been wanting to see this one for a while once I've caught on with the Miyazaki craze a while back (Howl's Moving Castle was my first Miyazaki movie). I've heard a lot of people say that Mononoke was one of the greatest animated movies ever made alongside Spirited Away, and after seeing the latter I was even more excited for the other things Miyazaki has to offer. After seeing it, I can safely say that Princess Mononoke not only hit a home run; it soared past the field and into the outskirts of downtown, shattering car windows and setting off alarms.

I honestly don't know where to start praising the movie since there's so much to cover, but I'll start with the animation. The cinematography is superb. There's beautiful landscape shots everywhere, and the blending between CGI and animation is executed flawlessly. I can understand at the time that the film was cutting edge in terms of animation, and it still holds up very well despite its age.

The main characters are just as charming as the movie itself. Ashitaka was excellent as the main protagonist; he's just a guy trying to set everything right and restore balance between humanity and nature. What I like about him is that he's relatable, and that he's willing to do everything to set things right, despite the fact that he's been met with a terrible fate. San is feisty as hell and very hard-headed, and I love it. One of the things that I admire about Miyazaki movies is how they are able to create strong and memorable female protagonists, and San is no exception. She resents humanity, but just like Ashitaka she's willing to defend her family and the other forest creatures from the industrial hands of man. Another thing that I like is that she's multi-dimensional, which you rarely see in anime movies or series; she hates Ashitaka but she can't deny her feelings for him. She's sided with the forest, but she's also the very thing that the creatures are fighting for (despite the fact that she claims herself to be a wolf). There's a lot of things I want to talk about San, but she's arguably the standout character of the movie.

Some of the supporting characters themselves have a lot of depth as well, and while some are not as memorable as our two protagonists, they don't retract from the focus of the movie and are actually enjoyable to watch. Lady Eboshi (one of our human antagonist) is probably the big standout out of the supporting characters, since she is devoted to protecting her village from every other outside threat, even if it means destroying the forest. San's wolf family are also interesting to watch as well; I like watching them grow to like Ashitaka over the film, despite having some resent over his race. There are some other character's that are so-so, but that doesn't necessarily detract the experience whatsoever.

The last thing I want to talk about are the themes of the movie, and how they're executed. I love how Mononoke feels like it has a fresh take on man versus nature; man is using nature's resources to protect themselves, while nature wants to take back what is rightfully theirs while doing the same thing. Another is the obvious defiance of gender archetypes and political roles; in the movie, we see the women working alongside with men in an industrial environment, and are even going as far to fight alongside the men themselves. Lady Eboshi is also shown as a beacon of modernism in an age of hegemony, since she has no regard over the political presence of the Emperor at all. Also, I don't really need to say anything about San since she's a strong independent woman who don't need no man.

Overall, I loved Princess Mononoke and every single aspect of it; the themes it touches upon, the story itself, the characters, and the cinematography level transcend anime movies into a whole new level, and its legacy still helps it stand firm on the shoulders of giants. Hell, I'll even take it a step further into saying that Mononoke is now my favorite Hayao Miyazaki film. Since I have the rest of the summer before classes to finish, I might even take a hit for Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind when I have a chance.

5/5

[Diesel]

Watched Walter Mitty last night with my lady friend.

Not quite sure what I thought of it though....

On one hand, I didn't regret watching it and didn't look at my phone to see how long it had left. But on the other, I can't say that I walked away from it thinking about it still and being impressed by anything in it much.

I suppose I'll go middle of the road score since my thoughts seem to be that way on it.

3/5

[GLaDOS]

Bad Grandpa

Well, it was everything I expected to be from a Jackass film, but I felt that they toned down the ludicrous stunts down a bit for the sake of narrative... and the story itself was pretty cliched.

You have some pretty wild stunts in the movie that make you either crack up or cringe (or both); from spreading diarrhea in a diner like shotgun pellets to making your grandson cross-dress in a beauty pageant, Bad Grandpa has it all from Knoxville and Co. However, the rest of the acts were kind of sub-par when compared to the other big ones on the spoiler tag above, so the shock value this time was more inconsistent that Jackass 3, so that was disappointing.

I like how they kept the filming style close to Jackass while presenting a solid narrative, since it made the movie a bit more "grounded," adding even more shock value for the audience. While it was kind of derivative from other road trip movies, the stunts in the movie did its best to liven up the journey despite suffering from some qualitative inconsistencies.

All in all, I'm glad it's a rental. I'm still open to more of Johnny Knoxville's crazy antics, and probably even more Grandpa Irving. If only Bad Grandpa .5 was more of an extended cut of the film instead of some glorified supplement.

3/5

[EddieWilson1983]

Originally Posted by Astro Zombie

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

You know that feeling when, you've been following a movie for over a year, you hear all the casting news, your excitement is slowly building, you think to yourself, "Well, I never thought of him/her for the role, but we'll see", then the first trailer is released, and it's awesome, and your excitement is even higher, and all your worries about casting and "I hope the movie looks good" float away to the spirit in the sky, then as more information surrounding the movie is released, you find yourself even more excited, then the second trailer is released and "Holy ****, that was awesome", you can't wait another day to see this movie, suddenly the mere sight of a TV spot gets you crying tears of joy because the movie is nearing release, your excitement is at a fever pitch, you're in line for the movie, you got the best seats in the house, the lights dim, the movie starts and 2 hours later the lights go up and... you feel it. You didn't think you'd feel it, you were so sure you wouldn't, but it's right there. The D-word. DISAPPOINTED. You were disappointed. How did that happen? No one will ever know. Anyone know that type of disappointment?

I know that feeling of disappointment all too well, and can describe it with two words: "Superman Returns".

[Pizzamorg]

Just watched Guardians of The Galaxy, wow!

I'll be perfectly honest, I'm pretty much completely burnt out on Marvel Studios. Not so much because of the films - this years Winter Soldier was undeniably great despite some pretty irksome flaws - but because of the fans. Y'see, for me, half the viewing "experience" is the conversation it inspires once the credits have finished. Conversation which, when coming to Marvel films, ran dry intellectually about three years ago.

A Marvel Studio's production is always followed with the same empty wooping and bleating, 'GREATEST FILM EVER MADE!' the sheep chant in their ritualistic circle. If you listen hard enough, you can still hear the echoes of when they were crying the same chant for the last Marvel Studios production, and if your ears are really clean, you can already hear the intakes of breath as they prepare to chant it for the next one - probably even before the first trailer. Worst though is the nasty round of hissing for anyone who dares discuss a Marvel Studio Production in any real detail or heaven forbid someone dares to suggest something they thought didn't work or.... [gasp]... didn't like.

With that in mind as much as I enjoyed Guardians of The Galaxy's marketing, and was excited for the film, I honestly tried to distance myself from the usual Marvel Hype train as much as I physically could because I've honestly just had enough and it's impacting my enjoyment of the actual films themselves. I'm happy to say that now I've finished the film, distancing myself was probably the best decision I've made in my life. I was completely blown away by this film, it may be "just another" Marvel Origin story but you've never seen it done like this.

The core heroes may not be exactly well known - or part of some rich geek history and culture - but I'd also argue they are the most endearing characters Marvel has ever put to screen. The real stand out for probably everyone is bound to be Groot. He's a humanoid tree confined to having Vin Diesel repeating "I am Groot" and yet he manages to capture the hearts of the audiences, charm them, make them laugh and cry while being a total badass. Never before have I been so happy to see a twig with a smile on its face dance to Michael Jackson. And we can't mention Groot without Rocket, who expected Bradley Cooper to be such a good voice actor?!

My second favourite was...what does he call himself again...Star Prince? (come on man!) Pratt is insanely charming, and clearly having the time of his life, playing one of the funniest creations Marvel has put to screen. You'd expect him to get overshadowed by everyone else, but he manages to keep himself centre stage mostly through pure charisma and Pratt's incredible versatility. Honestly he's the best actor on screen for keeping up with Gunn's breakneck tonal shifts, which seems to leave some actors in the dust at points. And that opening scene....**** man, it's a punch in the gut for everyone but I really related to that personally and I really emotionally latched to Quill early on because of that. Who knew such a tired trope could still hit home so hard?

But honestly, I enjoyed all the characters. It's ironic, really, as despite the long build up and development periods I still find most of the Avengers pretty thinly drawn - well other than Steve Rogers - so to be introduced to The Guardians so swiftly and finish the movie with such a strong connection to them, Gunn really has put the rest of Marvel Studios to shame. This is like the Avengers for everyone who, like me, thought that film was an overrated, generic blockbuster that seemed to be trying harder to capture Michael Bay's success than making an endearing picture.

I really do like the way Marvel - perhaps more than any other studio making superhero films right now - puts the emphasis on the heroes. Most of Marvel Studio's villains have been honestly completely forgettable, yes that includes Loki who has yet to achieve anything despite turning up in basically every single film, but with reducing the villains to more generic positions it gives more space for the heroes complexities and I honestly think that is the right way round. Complex villains have a place but I often think studios do it at the expense of the heroes, and to me that is wrong.

The 3D experience was undeniably wonderful and Gunn's use of colour is something else but I found the use of CG - especially in rendering the locations - way overkill. I understand these are alien worlds, and they need to feel as much, but half the movie looks like it's playing out on a soundstage in front of a matte painting. I was very rarely convinced they were ever actually at alien worlds which is disappointing in a film which features so much planet swapping.

On more individual things though, the effects work is fantastic. Nebula, Drax and Gamora all used authentic non digital make up and Rocket and Groot, despite being all CG, look fantastic. The detail and smoothness of their animation coupled with the way they are blended in make them look absolutely convincing.

It's a world of limitless possibilities, Gunn fills the film with style but it feels effortless and perfected. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it will leave you cheering - it'll capture your heart, mind and soul. Marvel Studios have made some good movies, some could even be argued as "great" but I think this is the first time they've made a legitimate, game changing, classic which may be the most important superhero film in a year defined by important superhero films.

[Casval]

For some it's the best MCU movie yet nay the best Comic book movie until now for others.

Well to be fair, it wasn't, at all. TWS is average at best, the main problem is the overly simplistic plot not to mention there is no character development (even worse Black Widow was reduced to a frustrated teenager...).
Regarding the plot twist (with the "program"), it is the greatest facepalm of the year. it is worthy of a Z Movie.

The action scenes aren't particularly well filmed (neither edited) which is a shame because you can see they put some effort with Cap's fighting skills.

The scene wit Peggy Carter was the best one in the movie, a really moving moment (but almost ruined by a terrible CGI make-up...).

A special attention to the representation of the french at the beginning, not only they have the worst lines I've ever heard since Inglourious Basterds but they're not even french (Batroc is canadian... Must be difficult for some people to see the difference).

Captain America The Winter Soldier is the best movie of phase 2 that I've seen so far, even if it wasn't difficult regarding the other two (I still have to watch Guardians of the Galaxy)

2,5/5.

[Al_The_Strange]

Guardians of the Galaxy
----------
"Why would you want to save the galaxy?"

"Because I'm one of the idiots who lives in it!" - Bradley Cooper and Chris Pratt
----------
Back when Marvel kicked in Phase 1 of its cinematic universe, we all knew who Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Captain America were. All these films were destined to be hits to some degree. But...the Guardians of the Galaxy? Who are these a-holes? If you're like me and never read comics, you may be asking the same question. Seriously, a gun-totting raccoon? A walking tree? David Bautista? And the guy who directed Slither? Marvel is taking some serious risks...

If box office numbers are any indication, the risk paid off tremendously. The film wastes little time in plunging the audience into the deep end of the most outlandish and far-out reaches of the Marvel universe. From the desolate ruins of an abandoned planet to the thriving heart of an interstellar civilization, this space-faring adventure cuts across colorful nebulae and imaginative worlds, the likes of which have only ever been topped by the Star Wars universe. The film has no shortage of action, as characters fight with their fists, knives, and futuristic guns against an onslaught of bad guys. There is a huge all-out battle in the end, with thousands of space ships filling up the screen. In between the exciting parts, the film moves fast and fluidly with plenty of spot-on comedy, and just enough drama to give the characters a little more depth.

The story covers pretty basic ground, using the same old type of Macguffin that Avengers and Thor: The Dark World used. The villain of this film is a pretty flat, one-dimensional fellow who's best remembered for his presence, and little more. What makes this film stand out will be the protagonists. Peter Quill (the self-proclaimed "Star-Lord") has charm, but thanks to the film's opening scene, he provides an emotional anchor we can all latch onto. Drax is a warrior driven by vengeance, but is so blunt that he can't comprehend metaphors, and hilarity ensues. Gamora is a fierce fighter as well with an allure of her own. Rocket is a hard-drinking gun-happy raccoon with attitude. Groot is a walking tree, who can kick some butt, but also provides some of the most lovable moments. This whole gang is very much in the same vein of space outlaws as in Firefly or The Cowboy Bebop; each character provides enough emotional investment and attention so that they stand out and become heroes we can root for, no matter how bizarre or unlikely this union seems. The film is also loaded with a plethora of side characters, who all stand out in their own ways, to the point where I wished they could have had more to them (especially Thanos, who's obviously going to be a major player somewhere down the line; Nebula, who I thought was cooler than anything; the Collector, who's not given that much to do here; and Yondu, who clearly shares a history with Quill).

This film is crafted with solid and precise photography and editing. Acting is top-notch; you'd probably never expect much from this cast, but everybody does their best to make the characters stand out. Chris Pratt is not too shabby as the main hero; I enjoyed watching Zoe Saldana; Dave Bautista's performance is surprisingly solid; voices by Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel get the job done well. Everybody else contributes admirably. Writing is pretty good. This production spares no expense on the outlandish and imaginative sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Music is alright.

Guardians of the Galaxy is one of the most well-rounded blockbusters since Marvel's own Avengers. It balances action, comedy, and storytelling very well. It defies all the odds and presents this obscure group of misfits as a thrilling new franchise for the masses. Best of all, it does so with diligent attention to the characters.

Recommended!

4.5/5 (Entertainment: Very Good | Story: Good | Film: Very Good)

Recommendation: Yep.

[SilentDawn]

My thoughts on William Friedkin's Sorcerer:

Sorcerer, like Apocalypse Now, is a tale of escalating madness. Yet, the madness is less primal and more fearful, with the result of madness not being the disappearance of your soul but the destruction of your physical body.

Sorcerer tells the story of four men, who in order to get out of their version of hell, accept a job of driving trucks full of nitroglycerin. If this reminds you of The Wages of Fear, then be aware that this is a retelling of Clouzot's film. However, while The Wages of Fear spends too much time before the long and tiring journey, Sorcerer brings us the character development fast and furious; It's an incredible introduction to this journey, both figuratively and literally.

William Friedkin is a master of imagery, and Sorcerer is no different. Just like the dark compositions of The Exorcist or the gritty chaos of The French Connection, Friedkin is on a mission to conjure up images that will stick with you until the end of time. The vast loneliness of the jungle, the slowly-escalating tension, the hysterical tree branches screaming in the wind; Sorcerer won't be leaving your psyche anytime soon.

And yet, Tangerine Dream brings us another heart-pounding and majestic score, only used in minimal amounts to emphasize the danger. In some moments, it sounds like the wondrous soundtrack to Mann's Thief, but mostly it is its own beast.

The characters are flawed and (some) inhumane. Yet it is those flaws that bring their motivations to uncharted territory. In many scenes of unbearable suspense, the audience has no idea what to expect because these respective individuals are so hard to pinpoint. The silence of the film aids in that regard as well, with the quiet and haunting tone of the entire film being so apocalyptic and dreadful in its execution.

All of the performances are uniformly excellent, with Roy Scheider bringing one of his finest performances. The glances exchanged, the long passages of silence, and the stares that reach deep down into the soul are sold by every actor in this film. Really powerful stuff.

As for some negatives, the ending is sinister yet silly, and I could have thought of multiple mind-blowing shots before then to end the film. Now, I'm all for ambiguous endings, but this kinda seemed like a repeat from Friedkin's previous filmography.

Overall, Sorcerer is one of the finest films of William Friedkin. Haunting, classical, tense, and mad; Sorcerer is a riveting journey of lost individuals trying to escape their past sins.

[surfdude12]

Hercules

2/5

-unlike Gladiator, Braveheart, or other epic fighting films, you never get a sense of the "WHY" hercules is doing what he's doing, and thus never really feel emotionally invested in what he's doing like you do in Gladiator/Braveheart, where you, as the audience, feel like you want Maximus and William to succeed as much as they do!
-acting was horrific, except Ian McShane, who saved this train from going completely off the rails.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by SilentDawn

My thoughts on William Friedkin's Sorcerer:

dude, nice #1 film of all time!! Its in my top 5

[SilentDawn]

Originally Posted by surfdude12

dude, nice #1 film of all time!! Its in my top 5

Thanks man, I have no words for how magical Eyes Wide Shut is.