"Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014) REVIEW

When you watched The Avengers, did you stop to wonder how much better it would be if there were more sass between the characters? Well, look no further than the tenth installment to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (which also works well as a stand-alone movie)!

At a young age, Peter "Star-Lord" Quill (Chris Pratt) was abducted by aliens. Now living among the galaxy twenty years later as an intergalactic thief, his latest job lands him in deep and unsettling waters. It turns out that the orb he stole from ancient ruins was also wanted by the universe's biggest baddies, Thanos (Josh Brolin) and Ronan (Lee Pace). Ronan sends one of his assassins, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), after the orb and Star-Lord, with a bounty on his head, is soon caught between Gamora and bounty hunters Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) and human-like tree Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel). When all four are caught and arrested, they also meet Drax (Dave Bautista). An unlikely bond forms between the five of them and together they escape from prison to not only figure out the secret of the orb, but to also stop Ronan from destroying the galaxy.

Guardians of the Galaxy is hard to sum up because it is a lot of things at once: a story of an unlikely friendship, of overcoming loss, of finding a home and family, and a quest to save the galaxy. With several plotlines interwoven in this two hour sci-fi epic, Guardians of the Galaxy doesn't lose its stride. The pacing is a bit too fast for my taste, but not that bad. The changes from comedy, drama, and action are spot on, changing the mood the way it should be shifted. The acting of the main cast is spectacular, their chemistry truly there as they joke or bicker back and forth and provide great depth to the characters (even the CGI ones!).

Though it could be longer with more backstory, Marvel's risky move in making a movie of a not-so-popular team is a success and it is one of my favorite sci-fi flicks (it's also an amazing IMAX 3D experience!). The film is a great introduction to these new characters and Thanos's story arc which I highly anticipate in Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe!

4/5 Stars

Comments

"Need for Speed" (2014) REVIEW

I know I'm not the only one who thought this movie was going to be a flop. I mean, not only is it a high-speed street racing movie, but it's also a videogame movie. Still, I gave it a shot, but mostly for the D-Box experience. Even with the earnings from winning illegal street races, Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul) is still unable to keep his auto repair shop from his father open. For a chance to get $500,000, Tobey takes an offer from his street racing rival and successful car dealer Dino Brewster (Domonic Cooper) to finish building the Ford Mustang that Caroll Shelby was working on when he died. After building the car and selling it without Dino's consent, Dino challenges Tobey and Tobey's friend, Pete, to a street race for the money. Nearing the end of the race, desperate for revenge, Dino pushes Pete over a bridge and drives away, leaving Tobey to be blamed for vehicular manslaughter. Two years later, fresh out of prison, Tobey seeks out to knock Dino off his p...

"Kingsman: The Secret Service" (2015) REVIEW

Anyone else felt the need to buy a suit after watching this movie? Ever since his dad passed away, Gary "Eggsy" Unwin has been doing his best to care for his mother. Unfortunately, his short temper with others including his stepfather doesn't help. When he lands into trouble, he calls the one number that can get him out of the tight spot. Little did he realized his connection would hire him for job unlike any other: a kingsman position in the secret organization of the same name. Using his physical and mental skills, Eggsy must train to prove his worth to the organization, but trouble is brewing as a billionaire inventor moves forward in his plan in recreating the world in his image. Kingsman: The Secret Service was really unexpected for me. I had only seen bits and pieces of the trailers and have heard nothing but great things about the film. I can honestly say those remarks were not said in vain. Kingsman is truly an amazing spy-flick, full of amazingly choreo...

"The Son of Neptune" (2011) by Rick Riordan REVIEW

WARNING: If you have not read the previous book in this series or the previous series this is following up on, I think it'd be best to not read this post due to spoilers. After eight months of slumber, Percy Jackson wakes up without any memory of his past. Nothing, except a name: Annabeth . Trained by the Roman wolf teacher Lupa, Percy tries to find a safe haven for demigods like him, finding it in San Francisco, California. Percy knows he is safe there, but he also knows he doesn't belong there. Everything seems... off. Maybe because he somehow knows Greek mythology facts and Camp Jupiter, the safe place for demigods, uses Roman mythology. However, his safety is short-lived when he and his new friends, big, clumsy Frank Zhang and mysterious Hazel Levesque, are set to go on a quest to Alaska to free Thanatos, the god of death, from the hands of the giant Alcyoneus. The clock is ticking with less than five days on the counter as Percy struggles to lead his new friends ...

Kevin Lau

Search This Blog