Marval Movie

I remember being a kid and playing on the floor with my Lego's all sprawled out on the floor. There were instructions and I would follow them as best I could. Sometimes I would complete them and there would be a few days of pride of me admiring how well I followed the instructions and what I had made looked just like the box. But it was only a matter of time before I would tear down the creation and build something out of pure imagination.

The Lego Movie is a movie that has been given the most raw ingredients that any movie can have. After all essentially anything can be made with Lego's, as well as that every franchise owe Lego a favor for having a Lego version of their franchise.

The movie follows a piece named Emmet (Chris Pratt). He is that piece that everyone has owned in their time with their Lego's, a bland, boring, non-interesting construction worker. He goes about his time, following the instructions of life but with none to share it with. Until the day he sees a pretty girl and ends up stumbling onto a special piece which makes him "The Special." Chris Pratt has great comedic talent, with his every-day-man persona along with that over the top charm that he brings to his voice work.

When I first saw the main character of Emmet I was rather disappointed. But after some thought I realized that it was genius, he is a builder. Every child that has ever taken one piece and fitted it onto another is a builder. Along with that his bland face and generic design fits with the story and his character arc.

Accompanying Emmet is a huge cast of well balanced, but also hilarious characters. There's Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks), a cool girl with lots of style and can build with the best of them. There is an old wise man that takes the place of this stories Merlin, his name is Vitruvius (there's a name the kids can grab onto), played by Morgan Freeman, he's reliable enough but you get the feeling that he's a few pages short of a spell-book, if you know what I mean. There's also Uni-Kitty (Alison Brie) she is several different flavors of adorable. The bad guy is Lord Business played by Will Ferrell, just imagine Ron Burgundy mixed with Lex Luthor and you've got the villain for the movie (I don't know about you but that sounds awesome).  Liam Neeson plays Bad-Cop and Good-Cop, you only have to twist his head round to change between the two. And last, but certainly not least, is Will Arnett as as Batman a hilarious take on the obsessive crime fighter who is almost aware of his huge popularity.

As well as the main cast there's the supporting cast that all have their moments and add even more laughs and comedy to the mix. Channing Tatum plays Superman (perfect casting), Jonah Hill plays the needy Green Lantern and Cobie Sumlders finally gets her chance to play Wonder Woman.

I really appreciated the cameo appearances that are so generously sprinkled throughout the movie.  Not since Who Framed Roger Rabbit have I seen such a huge gathering of different characters from different companies. Some examples are Ninja Turtles, Gandalf, Abraham Lincoln, Green Lantern, Star Wars and the NBA All-Stars.

One of the problems I though of when I heard there was a movie being made about Lego in general was that "how could they?" I didn't think they wouldn't be able to make a good plot, but the duduk perkara was the fact that when every kid sits down with their Lego's they make up their own story.   Well this plot is so good that I think everyone that sees it will be happy. It wont be their story but I'm sure that there are pieces in it that they can enjoy and relate to.

The C.G.I. is something that is a little scary to me. Why? Because its so damn good. The Lego people and bricks look so real that I thought that this was some sort of elaborate stop-motion movie, but no this is just some of the best C.G.I. that I have seen in a movie. With the actual animation itself for the most part it has this kind of quick choppy style to its movement while other times its a little more smooth and traditional and those are the scenes that weaken it, let me explain. While they move more choppy it makes it seem like they are pieces of Lego that someone really is moving around, but with the smooth movement comes the realization that this is a computer moving them.

This is one of the brightest most imaginative movies that I have ever seen. The sheer colors are an amazement to watch on the screen. As-well as that all the creative things that the writers came up with are incredible, just one of these things are enough to form around one movie but this movie just wastes them. Idea, now you've seen it throw it away, next idea! But you never get overwhelmed by all the jokes and creativity and ideas, there is that ow so hard balance that is perfectly executed.

What is the age for this movie? The bright colors and the fact that they are Lego's will attract the younger viewers. But the dry, punchy humor will probably fly over their heads. In terms of the writing this is for the older audience. I would say that this movie would be best suited for, around fourteen up, that sounds right. There was a small child in the theater in the cinema when I was there, they didn't seem to understand the humor, but they did like it when they saw colorful characters acting crazy and seeing a Ninja Turtle on-screen.

Just like the song tells us everything in this movie is awesome! Are there some things that I could pick apart...maybe, but from what I see every piece is so perfectly assembled. Wow now I really want to play with some Lego.

Rating: 4 stars out of 4

The Lego Batman Movie does the same for the Caped Crusader that Blazing Saddles did for the Western genre. Poking fun at all the various versions of the character, the overabundance of praise from his fans and some of the most colorful villains in pop-culture history. But done with genuine love, enthusiasm and knowledge of the source material so it is never bitter or poorly thought-out.

This is the same Batman that we got in The Lego Movie, the Batman that the overzealous fans talk about but don't know they are. Completely impressed with himself because he can so effortlessly accomplish every seemingly impossible feet, has wealth and many, many cool possessions and everyone else is his lesser (he believes). Will Arnett has made this version of Batman his, having a deep raspy voice but also able to use it for dry delivery and even being petulant at times. He accomplishes one of the great examples of voice acting, remaining in-character while truly acting with it, able to maintain the same voice but use it to convey different emotions.

The other members of the cast members are Ralph Finnes as Alfred Pennyworth, the loyal butler. Through his straight delivery it makes the comedy all the more hilarious, it is a genius contrast against the wackiness he has to work off. Michael Cera plays Dick Grayson/Robin the energetic flamboyant element in the Batman universe and is very unwelcome to this Batman that believes he's cramping his style. Rosario Dawson plays Barbra Gordan, who they unblinkingly changed to Latino, who's the level headed, no-nonsense character she's always been. Zach Galifianakis takes on the role of the Joker, obviously this a much more comedic focused version of the character, but there are a few moments where you can detect his malice, but he is here for comedy and you will laugh.

The animation is just like in The Lego Movie. Using actual pieces of Lego's and cutting down on the frame rate so that it creates a choppy effect. However there are moments where it isn't as refined as the previous movie. For example in the last one they only had on-screen what they could do with real Lego's, here they cheat but manipulating the arms or having the pieces goes where they wouldn't with a real toy, other times they look less realistic and more like C.G.I. characters, moving more smoothly. This isn't really a detriment to the movie, it's just that previous installment was meticulous in it's execution of animation.

The message and overall character-arc for Batman in this movie is to not be alone, to let others in because one man (even if they are Batman) can't do everything. That and life just goes by better if you have someone to share it with. A simple message but told in such a gloriously overblown and entertaining way that it's damn near impossible to not enjoy it.

Like what Blazing Saddles did to the Western genre I wonder if this will have a similar effect on the "serious" portrayals of Batman. That the people will see that this is all really rather ridiculous and not be able to take it so seriously for a time and have to wait. Or maybe that will be a good thing and realize that to be a real character is to have flaws so they may be willing to accept that their favorite Superhero has more than a few.

Rating: 4 stars out of 4

I am shocked that an obvious big budget toy commercial are able to create such fun and well made (pun intended) movies. The LEGO Movie was number one on the year it was released and earlier this year I had a blast watching The LEGO Batman Movie. Now we have another and surprise I'm excited for it.

After an introductory opening sequence in live action we are transported to a LEGO constructed world and the city of Ninjago, where on a regular basis (daily) evil forces merge from a nearby volcano and attempt to conquer it, lead by the all black, four armed Lord Garmadon (Justin Theroux). Luckily for the cities inhabitants there is a group of ninjas with giant mech's to fight and win against them.

In the forefront is the Green Ninja, Lloyd (Dave Franco), Red Ninja (Michael Pena), Blue Ninja (Kumail Nanjiani), Silver Ninja (Abbi Jackson), Black Ninja (Fred Armisen) and the White Ninja (Zack Woods) who's probably a robot for some reason. They all have their special power and design of giant robot as well as distinguishing personality but as the movie goes on they get lost amongst other things. The ninjas are revered by the towns people but it turns out that in his civilian life Llyod is Garmadon's son (da-da-dah!). This leads to regular hate, blame and judgement from nearly all the other civilians.

Another character is Master Wu played by legendary martial arts star Jackie Chan. This is doubtless the role where Chan is having the most fun, how can he not when he is given a script with so many funny lines. He is the martial arts master that teaches the ninjas how to better themselves. But he comes out with either too blunt or too cryptic ways of going bout it. He is also amazing at laying the flute.

All the other movies have had the initial presentation of a crazy colorful world with comedy at a fast passe. However through the watching it is revealed that there is an emotional center to it that ties the movie together. Here it is the father son relationship between Lloyd and Garmadon. About how a father and son can become astray and the outward devastation that can cause. It's just presented with larger than life scenarios and jokes tying it together and there's nothing wrong with that.

The comedy is very tongue-in-cheek and that is the overall style that these movies have adopted. Having their source material and playing within it but never be beyond poking fun of the world or archetypes they have.

The animation still embraces the limitations of the real plastic of the LEGO pieces however they allow themselves some more lapses than the other movies animation. They unhinge the arms from their sockets, squash some other pieces and have water instead of a vast amount of moving blue pieces. It's a valid artistic choice to make but the previous movies commitment to the real limitations was so impressive that this somehow feel like a letdown.

Something I feel is a drawback for the movie is that it doesn't have much access to as many resources as the previous LEGO movies did. The first had the entirety of the franchises that LEGO has worked with and Batman had not just the Dark Knight but a a bunch of other DC lore to bring in.

Even if this isn't as good as the other two movies to come out this ones still fun with a lot of talent and enthusiasm put into it. There is so much creativity put into the setting it up  and has an emotional core that ties it all together.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4

Back in 2014 when I first reviewed The LEGO Movie I not only gave it full marks but also named it the best movie of that year. It was succinct, perfectly timed, deconstruction as well as perfection of a classic adventure story. So naturally, there are high expectations for the sequel.

We pick up exactly where the first movie left off, with the day won but a new threat has arrived. Strange, large blocked creatures that speak with a toddlers voice. Emmet (Chris Pratt) who just dealt with Lord Bussiness (Will Ferrell) believes he knows how to deal with these new creatures, he constructs a large heart and gives it to them as an act of good faith, they eat it, so it's battle. But our heroes are unable to combat them and the mysterious blocks devour all the shiny constructed things, eventually, the land becomes a barren, brutal desert wasteland like that of Mad Max: Fury Road. The characters now have become hard and grizzled Wyldstyle (Elizabeth Banks) looks out on the horizon and narrates dramatic voice-over. Meanwhile, though Emmet continues to be the happy-go-lucky, always looking to the positive guy he's always been. Though all the other characters Benny the Spaceship Captain (Charlie Day), Batman (Will Arnett), Princess Unikitty (Alison Brie) and MetalBeard (Nick Offerman) have all adapted to this new grim environment and mentality.

One day a ship comes out of nowhere, the characters try to bring it down but to no avail, stepping out of said ship is General Mayhem (Stephanie Beatriz) a tall figure in a space suit that is there to gather the groups leaders, being that everyone is much more competent than Emmet so she takes them leaving Emmet stranded.

Emmet seeks to rescue his friends, he gets into space but when he collides with an asteroid field it breaks up. Luckily he is saved by another ship, shaped like a giant fist, piloted by the rough, manly, confident Rex Dangervest (also played by Pratt). He is always up for an adventure, especially one with risks and the possibility to shoot something, so he and his crew of raptors assist Emmet on his quest.

General Mayhem takes them through the stars and to the planet of her master Queen Waterva Wa'Nabi (Tiffany Haddish) a creature that is made of building blocks and able to transform into...well, whatever she wants to be (get the name now!). From a unicorn to a cloud, to something that looks like the kid-friendly version of a Lovecraft nightmare.

Being that all the characters return for this movie as well as introduces new ones it is crowded. All the characters get their moment to shine and it never loses focus on Emmet as the central character. But it seems more rickety than the previous movie. It's as tight as it can be but there is just so much story to tell and so many characters to put into the mix that it feels like their moments are more paper thin.

Like with the last movie they abide by the mentality that if it the image on-screen cannot be made with actual Lego's then it is not going to be there, so every piece you see is an actual Lego piece and could conceivably be built. Again this time they cut down on the frame rate to make the movements more choppy. A few times they really embrace the fact that they are toy pieces and cut to them as little toys moving across the screen as if on the string and the with someone making noises off-camera.

The story and script were handled by Phil Lord and Chris Miller who wrote and directed the last movie and Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse. Both have plenty of wonderful flourishes that seem to be spontaneous moments that serve as mere surprise laughs, there are a few of these but most of them actually tie into the overall plot or come back to serve a purpose later on. deceptively great structure

This movie has everything that made the first movie great and expands the scale and pushes the characters forward with new questions and trials. It has big laughs throughout and is expertly written. There may be a little too much in it for its own good though how can you argue with a generous serving. If you have little children they will love the colours and fast passe, if you are older you'll most likely be taken in but the sharp wit and clever use and subversion of troupes.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 4

We open on a Gotham city of plastic and bricks. A celebration is being held for the man of the year award and the nominees are Lex Luthor (Clancy Brown), who is also in the middle of running for president and Bruce Wayne (Troy Baker). Naturally Bruce Wayne is the winner and when he goes to collect his award the party is crashed by the Joker (Christopher Corey Smith) along with most of the other recognizable Batman villains.
The voice cast for this movie is packed with talent. Some of them covering more than one character but all giving good reads, particularly in the comedy department.

Lex sees that with the Jokers help he can affect the votes so he will win in a landslide. They then get their big scary weapon to execute their plans "The De-constructor." Which fires an electric beam that dismantles everything that has been assembled (because Lego).

Being that this boast's a very big challenge for just Batman and Robin (Charlie Schlatter) they need to call in Superman (Travis Willingham), he is of course able to handle most of the problems that he gets faced with and still remains ow-so-chipper (which makes Batman uncomfortable)

For a direct-to-DVD release this is a good looking movie with convincing shine to to the plastic and distinguished movements to the characters and the amount of actions they are able to display on-screen.  It is the visuals where the bulk of the comedy lies, one good example is when most of the villains are taken down and how each is restrained in a particular way.

This movie does unfortunately sufferers from having to come after The Lego Movie which is the pinnacle of a movie that takes place in a Lego world and all the jokes that come with it (that movie even had Batman in it as-well). So unfortunately by comparison all the inventiveness and good ideas are overshadowed (greatly!).

This movie is jam-packed with references. References to other movies that may come in the form of musical cues or even the opening which parallels Tim Burton's Batman. But the story and the passing never stop for the references, which is the way to do it.

One constant re-occurring gag throughout the movie are chickens. That's right chickens, never is there a rhyme or reason for inserting into the background or making them a projectile, they are just a piece of random humor for show.

This is a movie for the children, the really young ones will enjoy seeing colorful toys move on-screen, the older ones will laugh at the simple humor and the adults will also appreciate the more sly jokes well inserted in for them.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4

While I was sitting in the theater watching this new Tarzan movie I constantly had to pick up my jaw that had hit the floor.

The movie starts in space whe.... wait what? Space is where this movie starts! They decide to start a Tarzan movie in space? OK, moving on. Where its actually seventy million years ago and a meteor hits the earth...Huh? I think their insinuating that this is the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs but its never clear. Anyway this meteor has limitless power, but its also evil, or haunted...something like that. Where do I even begin, was the writer high when he came up with this? What kind of drugged out mind comes up with this when developing a Tarzan movie? First of all they ripped off the Avatar, secondly this is so out of left field as-well as making no goddamn sense!

Then we cut to millions of years later where a family is investigating in the jungle for whatever reason and they have a son with them, a tall, around ten year old son that names himself Tarzan...just no. Moving on they find where the meteor landed, in a barren wasteland that looks like Lex Luthors island in Superman Returns. Anyway the boy becomes an orphan, the gorillas take him in, MOVING ON!

The boy then grows up and this Tarzan (Kellan Lutz) looks just how he does in the Disney version, but then how many designs can you have for a jungle man in a loincloth?

We then meet Jane (Spencer Locke), who to me looks a lot like Tarzan's mother...make of that what you will. Terrible, just terrible. There is nothing beyond a smiling face. That's it I'm struggling to write more than that but therein lies the masalah because there isn't anything else.

Its been a while since I've seen the 1999 Disney Tarzan so its not exactly fresh in my mind. But I still remember that as a solid piece of entertainment. I'm not going to pretend that I'm well versed in the Tarzan lore because I'm honestly not. But I'm pretty sure they didn't involve alien rocks and corporate tycoons moving in on the Jungle. 

This movie is dead looking its story, the characters to the action. The animation never, not once seems alive and that is the magic of animation. In the great animation movies they make the characters seem real, seem like a drawing or an image that was created by a computer is a living thing, that there is a brain working behind them. Here I see the flat two dimensional image and nothing else beyond that.

There are just so many choices or attempts at humor that the movie makes and I could not believe that it was really happening before my eyes.  

Voice-over is inserted in parts of the movie, lazy, contrived, unnecessary voice-over. The creators clearly have no faith in their audience's intelligence, but that's to be expected because I have no faith in the creators intelligence.

The jungle and the lighting are the only redeemable aspects of the entire movie where there was clearly effort. The jungle is a lush well designed environment where you can truly look very deeply at and find loads of details, more than any of the humans this is a real character. The lighting also is well done, the way it movies through different objects like leaves and hair to the atmospheric rays that are cast in the interior scenes. And the rest is garbage.

Now I ask this who, who will enjoy this movie? Or even who was this movie intended for? The obrolan and comedy is as smart as a rock that thinks its a plug socket, so maybe, just maybe if you have dumb children that don't understand what funny is they might sit still ofr this movie. But there is also dark, complicated story elements to the story that will confuse the children and most likely infuriate the adults (I know I was). 

Early on this year I thought that I wouldn't see a better movie than The Lego Movie. Then I predicted that I wouldn't see a worse movie than Godzilla. 2014 is turning into a very mixed year. Already I've experienced two of some of my new favorite movies and now two of my most hated.

Rating: 1 star out of 4

Unlike last year this has been a year where it was a delight to put together a top ten list of the year. Even with this many good movies on my list I still haven't seen The Grant Budapest Hotel, Boyhood, Snowpiercer, Under the Skin and others. I think that means this has been a good year for the movies.

I also want to acknowledge that the worst movie of the year was definitely Tarzan. 

I have a rule that only the moves I've reviewed make it onto the list but I still wanted to acknowledge another certain movie, so again I'll take a page from Roger Eberts book. The special Jury prize this year goes to How To Train Your Dragon 2. I did see it and it would be on the official top ten list, but I didn't review it for certain reasons. But the movie still needs to be acknowledged.

10. Batman Assault on Arkham. While their live action movies have been dwindling in quality, Assault on Arkham is here to nourish us and give us hope in the DC movies again.

9.  Amazing Spider-man 2. A sequel that adds to the world and mythology of the character. It also has one of the great on-screen romances that you will see for a long time.

8. The Boxtrolls. A children's movie with teeth. This is a movie for children that will scare them, make them laugh and challenge them. In short, it respects them.

7. St. Vincent. This will probably be the most underrated of the movies on my list. But it has solid characters, performances and story than comes from a genuine place.

6. Guardians of the Galaxy. Not the best but undoutably the funnest movie this year, as well as the last decade. Visuals, characters, jokes. Everything to keep me smiling through the movie.

5. Captain America The Winter Solider. A stirring interpretation of of a great character. This movie made me want to stand up and salute it.

4. Gone Girl. David Fincher puts together his dark tales like some kind of an expert watchmaker. Each and every shot is necessary and meticulously executed.

3.  The Wind Rises. Hayao Miyazakis last movie? Possibly, but like the rest of his work this is a fine movie that is more about the feel of the world and its characters rather than playing out the same old tired formula.

2. Interstellar. A movie that isn't satisfied with simply maintaining the same old, stance and formula. It decided to go to new places and modes of storytelling. Then keeps going

1. The Lego Movie. There were a lot of good movies this year, but only one of them got better and better on viewing and re-analysis. This is a great, deep movie filled to the brim with smarts, comedy and heart. From every line, image, plot point, character everything in this movie is awesome!

A movie needs many things to work. Mainly it needs story, characters, and theme, it then needs to take the said elements and put them in an environment so they can cook together. Zootropolis is a movie that has all of these elements and may have a lot of cooks in the kitchen, but they all need to be there because they add to one element or another.

The world our story plays out in is one where animals existed as we knew them but simply evolved to become sophisticated. There just simply didn't seem to be any humans. They can now speak, wear clothes and have all the technology we have now. We are simultaneously introduced to Judy Hopes (Ginnifer Goodwin) a rabbit whose a bouncy fluff-ball of enthusiasm and smarts that grew-up on a farm but has big dreams of moving to the big city of Zootropolis where she will be a cop, make the world better, etc. She enrolls in the academy where it seems like the cop life is not suited for a small rabbit, but she is indentured and does graduate. Now the big city awaits her.

The city of Zootropoilis is an architectural marvel. It is one of those locations that allow for many possibilities, serves as a great backdrop for the characters and will inhabit your memories for years to come. It is on league with cities from Rintaro's Metropolis, Terry Gilliam's Brazil, Otomo's Akira or Gotham City in Batman. We see all of the city, from the highs to the slums. Another neat part is that some of the skyscrapers are shaped like horns and trees. Usually movies with anthropomorphic animals they are all the same size, giving a little to let other animals be appropriately bigger or smaller. But here they remain the same size and it is the city that has adapted to accommodate all the different shapes and sizes. Pools for the hippos as well as dryers for them, little suction tubes to speedily transport the hamsters, different neighborhoods with different weather simulators to create to right climate for the inhabitant's natural environment.
And within the city area all the huge beasts and little critters that inhabit it. Every different species is given its own walk and body pose because naturally, they have their own proportions. The wide range of furs, lighting, textures, clothing, environments that are all within this one film is so impressive. This is something that has ideas, skill, and effort to bring it to life.

Along with it being great to look at, there are even undertones. In this society that has descendants from a more beastly past (pun intended), there are remnants of that, some species typically don't get along together because of their nature and others come with expectations based on their, literal, race. Yes, in this children's Disney animated movie with anthropomorphic animals.

When Judy arrives there is a case of multiple predators going missing, her superior Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) assigns everyone a lead while she gets parking duty. While working she notices a fox in an elephant Ice-Cream store trying to buy a large lollipop for his son, the clerk refuses service but after some smart intervention from Judy, he gets his pop. But it turns out this fox is a hustler named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) that uses the really big pop to turn into smaller ones and sell off to make a profit. Eventually, events unfold and he and Judy are forced together as an unlikely partnership.

Any movie partnership needs them to be opposites. If they were the same then there would be no dynamic rendering it pointless. But also this brings out great character moments, Judy's smarts but also naive optimism contrasts brilliantly with Nicks cynicism and dry wit. But none of them is ever truly the fool and they each bring something special to the situation that makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

There are constant jokes, as you'd expect from an animated children's movie from Disney, but there is a much more heavy adult edge to their approach here. Nothing that is too edgy or inappropriate for children but will have the adults in the audience laughing just as hard as the children. One scene in particular that takes place at the DMV had the cinema I was in laughing very hard.

This movie is at the standard of The LEGO Movie. Because being good would probably be no surprise. But it is this well thought-out with jokes that only make you laugh, but laugh hard and a deftly crafted script that throws in funny but seemingly pointless jokes that come back and play a part in the greater work.

Zootropolis works. It is many things and they all work together. It is a comedy with cute animals in it, you will be laughing throughout the movie. It's also a social commentary, you'll be moved by its poignancy. There's also a mystery to solve, all the moments serve and lead and interweave together to a conclusion that is the right level of smart as well as clear enough to understand. The movie is simply a wonderful creation of feelings, smarts told with great characters within one of the great movie locations.

Rating: 4 stars out of 4

The Guardians of the Galaxy might be the weirdest team ever put to the screen. Sure as a comic fan I know that teams like this aren't the weirdest thing and there are even some teams are are even stranger than these guys. But I also know in the movie world there has never been a stranger grouping of characters than these.

We open in 1988, a scared little boy is alone in a hospital. His mother is dying and she tells him his father will come for him one day, saying that he was an angel made of light. She then passes and he runs out and a light appears from on high and takes the child.

Cut to twenty-six years later and the boy grows up to be a treasure hunter of worlds, going into tombs of far off planets and taking what booty he can find. He is known as Star Lord, mostly by himself. He is played by Chris Pratt and since the Lego movie I have been looking forward to this performance. He is very funny with tongue-in-cheek delivery and the right amount of dryness. He comes with a rather cool retractable mask, jet boots and his cassette tape from his time as a boy.

Speaking of his tape, the soundtrack is virtually a character itself. All the tracks are classics and very well selected for the mood of the film and the scene where their played. There’s variety in well known classics to some more hidden gems, Hooked on a feeling, Cherrybomb, Moonage Daydream are all a joy to listen to. 

His antics eventually get him thrown in prison where he has to team up with some of the most unlikely comrades you can imagine. Rocket (Bradley Cooper) is a genetically altered specimen, he looks a lot like a raccoon (but that's just a coincidence), he loves to make bombs and shoot big guns. His partner is Groot (Vin Diesel), my favorite, a sentient tree that can only say "I am Groot" and has a rather expressive face, being that its wood. Gamora (Zoe Saldanna), the adoptive daughter of Thanos a deadly assassin that would rather not kill anybody but it doesn't workout that way. She also keeps the Star Trek tradition of having our main character seduce a green woman. Finally there is Drax the destroyer, a revenge driven psycho that wants to kill Ronan for killing his family. Dave Batista plays Drax and he has no place speaking in this movie, this is another wrestler turned actor and and its obvious, he has great physicality and it should have ended there but he like everyone else gets his share of dialog.

Against them are Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace) an alien overlord that wields a giant hammer and will inflict his frustration on anyone. Nebula (Karen Gillan) the other adoptive daughter of Thanos and the more sadistic one, killing anyone with as much pain as she can inflict and taking pleasure in it. Michael Rooker plays Yondu, a blue faced space-hillbilly with a metal Mohawk and an arrow that everyone seems to fear when he draws it and with good reason.

The visuals of the movie are the most impressive. The sets all have a feel and personality to them and looked realized and lived in. The C.G.I. is sharp and colorful with well executed robots and nebula's serving as a backdrop for these characters. The range of visuals are also great to see, there are directing choices that are reminiscent of Indiana Jones, Star Lords ship is like the Millennium Falcon, Ronan, as well as his headquarters looks like something out of Prometheus.

If I had to sum up this movie as simply as possible I would say "wise-ass". From the writing, to the attitude of the filming. Everything the characters say or do is followed up by wise-ass cracks from the other characters about what they've said or done. Writer Director James Gunn obviously couldn't resist putting these in and there are times when you really do wish these people could get through one conversation without having to pick apart something the other said.

Stay for the end credits. All I will say is that you will not be able to predict it.

This is not a movie where the plot will take you to new places and redefine how movies can be played out. But the execution is so well done that the viewing becomes a journey that is just plain fun. It serves a tribute to great movies of the eighties as well as being its own entity.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 4

Trolls is like a sugar rush. Giving you loads of candy. There are so many colors, jokes and popular music but even though there are moments to enjoy you will realize that too much sweetness can make you sickly. No matter the intentions or effort.

In a far off land there is a kingdom where creatures called Bergens (that look a lot more like typical portrayals of Trolls), they are unhappy creatures by nature and can only experience happiness by eating Trolls (looking like their toy counterparts). One day they escape and are able to live in happiness and not fear being eaten.

Years later the Trolls have made their home deep in the forest and now enjoy singing and hug-time with Princess Poppy (Anna Kendrick). They have a special ability to manipulate their hair as they wish and others have some other abilities that go by without explanation. However there is one Troll that doesn't join in on the dancing and singing Branch (Justin Timberlake) who dedicates his life to preparing for the day the Bergens come after them. Which surprise surprise one day they do. So now Poppy and Branch must go on a quest to rescue their friends.

Poppy and Branch serve as a good duo. They are opposites that due to inconvenience have to work together. They have the same goal to work to but have different ideals and morals so they debate which leads to character dynamic. 

Dreamworks, typically, is known to cater to the larger demographic, it takes on material that is popular in the public mind now and cast celebrities for their voice cast. This is the prime example of Dreamworks trying too hard to connect with the children and be popular. The premise itself is cute but they feel the need to add all these other pop-culture references and sayings for the children to connect to when what they really do is cheapen and distract. 

This is one of the most colorful children's movie, or maybe just any movie you will find. It really looks like a children's toy-box come to life. With all the different shades of the rainbow moving on the screen. It's like Cloud Cuckoo Land from The Lego Movie, but throughout the movie.

As a unique visual gag it gives Poppy the characteristic of doing scrap-booking which lends itself to visually engaging to audience with a mix-up of style. It serves to give the children something to connect with as well as serving as an excuse to have exposition with something interesting happening on-screen. Poppy is more enduring than the other happy-go-lucky Trolls for the same reason that make Joy work in Inside Out, she is willing to put the work into it. She organizes and works hard for things so she deserves to be happy and doesn't become grading.

The soundtrack is composed of covers (mostly) they are the hit pop songs that everyone knows. But also some of them have rapping verses inserted within. They are just so clearly forced and in bad taste. Also there are a few times when a song plays and it doesn't seem like its the right pick. Just a popular song that doesn't work for the scene.

The movie is at its best when it is cynical and picking apart the cutesy things that the other Trolls hold so dear. Its a case of everything being too adorable that it becomes sickly so some bitterness is welcome.

Trolls will have the children happy, smiling and probably singing along to the music. A few adults may also smile or even get a chuckle out of the moments that make fun of the cutesier moments.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4

Within this current Superhero renaissance that we are experiencing Spider-Man is the one that has seen the most iterations. Since his cinematic debut in 2002 (directed by Sam Rami, starring Tobey McGuire) there have been two other live-action interpretations as well as three animated shows. Superheroes are meant to be handed to other creative teams and have other actors give their interpretation for a new audience. But within one generation we are now very aware of how malleable these characters are, especially Spider-Man.

This movie is all about accepting that malleable. About how you can have the same character and shoot them through a prism and see all the wonderful spectrums they can cast. We are introduced to our Spider-Man (Chris Pine), he tells the story we all know, he was bitten by a radioactive spider, gained superpowers, his Uncle Ben was shot, with great power comes great responsibility and for the last ten years, he has been your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!

Living his life in the city as well is a young boy named Miles Morales (Shameik Moore), he is entering a special school which he feels he doesn't belong in however his cop dad (Brian Tyree Henry) insists on it. Miles isn't having a fun time but likes to kick back with his uncle Davis (Mahershala Ali) and one day while wandering around New York's underground Miles gets bitten by a mysterious spider. The next day his body begins to go through changes (not puberty), he is sticking to walls and can sense incoming danger. He goes back to the underground to investigate and while there comes across a battle between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, he attempts to shut down some giant sci-fi machine but it goes boom and Spider-Man is crushed and dies under the debris. This is the end of the pendekar and Miles is left with questions, while visiting Peter Parker's grave he's visited someone else, Peter Parker!

Yes, that machine was a portal to other, alternative universes where another Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Jake Johnson) has crossed over. He is more of a self-pitying screwup than the one that perished but Miles certainly lacks experience so this looks like a student mentor set-up to me.

Of all the other Superhero movies this is the one that literally looks like a comic book come to life. There are numerous movies that have adapted and taken visual cues from the source material but this one, due to it being animation literally looks like the characters were drawn and were printed with ink on paper. This comes from neat touches like having their shadows be represented by lines, or printing spots and even speech text and sound effect words appearing on-screen. Adding to this they cut down on the frame rate to make the characters movement blockier, a similar effect was used in The LEGO Movie (makes sense because Phil Lord and Chris Miller serve as story developers).

This is a graphic heavy world told through the perspective of a bi-racial character living in Brooklyn, so it only comments the vision that the soundtrack reflects that. Daniel Pemberton serves as the main composer while Post Malone and Swae Lee also contribute original songs to the movie. It is fast and upbeat and compliments the intensity of the story and tone.

Being that we are dealing with characters whose defining ability is to stick to surfaces and maneuver them we get some fun playing with that shifting of perspective. The camera doesn't stay upright like what a regular person would, it follows the Spider-Men and when they walk along a wall then the camera adjusts for them and the surroundings look as if they are shifting. It is a refreshing and fun way of conveying wall-crawling.

Along with this other Peter, there are still more Spider-Men. There is Gwen Stacey as Spider-Gwen (Hailee Steinfeld), Peni Parker (Kimiko Elizabeth Glenn) a Japanese, Anime inspired little girl that pilots a robot suit that has the soul of her father in it, Spider-Noir (Nicolas Cage) from the nineteen thirties and exists in Black & White, finally there's Spider-Ham/Peter Porker (John Mulaney) a cartoon pig that is probably the least serious out of the gang, also my favorite.

Along with their different design they are drawn differently, have a unique style of animation from one another and each has their own characteristics. Spider-Gwen is like a graceful dancer with fluid leg movements and able to stand on the tips of her toes. Peni, typical of anime, has her expressions change within one frame and have symbols flash on her forehead, Spider-Ham moves like an old Fleisher or Looney Tunes cartoon, with a bounce in his walk, stretchable limbs and even able to hovers slightly.

You have to roll with the continuity. Don't want an in-depth understanding of every character and their history. See there is a character named Wilson Fisk (Liev Schreiber) and understand he is the bad guy that hates Spider-Man. See someone in a crazy costume and just accept that this is Superheroes and they are everywhere. This movie moves too fast and throws too much at you for it to be smoothly explained.

Of course though with every story to really work it needs its center. There is a lot going on in this movie but it is always Miles story about how he is able to rise up to this legacy and responsibility. As well as that even beyond the fights is the interaction between all the different Spider-People and Miles family and friends. As long as you have a core and stay true to it you can layer it as much as you want.

We have been served a great amount of-of movies of the Superhero genre in the last ten years, but before that, they had already endured for over sixty years. They are able to do so because stories about good and evil are constant and they allow for fantastical imagery and ideas. As well as that each character has their core and is able to be handed to different people and adjust for their interpretation and adapt for a different time. We have seen so many different Superhero tales, from the dark grittiness of LOGAN, the mad colorful comedy of Guardians of the Galaxy to the epic scale of Avengers: Infinity War. This is a tale of a great enduring character and the genre itself and why they will endure forever.

Rating: 4 stars out of 4

"If you had almighty powers, why would you use them for justice, or villainy?"
-Grant Morrison Supergods

Chronicle is the story of three boys who acquire superpowers from a mysterious source, they are the only people in the world with these incredible powers, they could shape the world, so naturally they make a bunch of viral videos.

Chronicle starts with Andrew (Dane DeHanan) a loner who's father beats him and his mother is very sick. He has decided to film his life, for whatever reason. We then see him in school and interact in social situations, and would you have guessed he's not very good. When Andrew gets dragged to a party by his cousin Matt (Alex Russell) he gets burned by nearly everyone at the party so he goes outside. While he is outside the popular kid, Steve (Michael B. Jordan), finds him whimpering and says that he has to come and film what they've found. Andrew gets led to a hole in the ground where his cousin is waiting for him, there's a noise coming from the hole. The boys go into the hole and they find some kind of glowing spiky disco ball, it disrupts the camera and seems to have some kind of gravitational pull, the cave collapses and the boys make it out safe, ow and they can move things with their mind.

The power to move objects with ones mind is called Telekinesis, and the boys along with Andrew's new camera tape themselves using it. They assemble Lego, throw balls at each-other and move a car from one spot to another. The absolute selfishness of how they decide to use their powers is great, these boys either have not had much interaction with comic characters or think there too cool for them.

The movie uses the found footage technique that seems to be popular with hits like Cloverfield and Paranormal Activity. I think Cloverfield is OK, I've never bothered with the Paranormal Activity series. The persoalan is that why would anyone keep filming with this obviously serious situation going on. Here Andrew is weird and obsessed so I believe with the shock of being granted great power, he would want to keep filming every bit of this.

Grant Morrison once wrote a Comic strip called Zenith, this was about a young twenty something British kid who acquired superpowers and did not fight for Justice or Injustice, he used his amazing powers to become a celebrity. I think that Chronicle uses the theory of having powers and not using the superhero formula in this movie they never say superhero or superpowers.

Whenever I am asked if I could have any superpower (it comes up surprisingly regular) I would pick telekinesis and this movie shows why. Its useful, if I don't want to be a satria or villain I can move things around without having to get off the chair, it can be used in defense and attack. I decided this before I watched the movie and now I'm one hundred percent certain.

Having a hand held direction in a movie can be quite nauseating, especially if it gets really shaky but Andrew uses his Telekinesis to suspend the camera in mid air which leads to some graceful camera movement, persoalan solved.

Chronicle does what Unbreakable did, turn the superhero genre on its head. It has all the funny quick humor of those viral Youtube videos combined with the idea of teenagers with a superpower and has serious hard edged themes for the characters to tackle. I predict that Director Josh Trank has a good future.

Rating 3 1/2 stars out of 4