This will be a pretty short review because there isn't a lot to talk about with this film. This movie feels like one of those straightforward action movies with a generic plot and some decent action. But that's not to say its bad...in fact this film, for me, is pretty watchable...though it is most definitely not memorable.
The action sequences are pretty decent. The mix of some gun action and some hand-to-hand combat are kind of what you would normally expect from a movie like this. Any less, and it would have been disappointing.
In terms of story, it is pretty much quite generic, but it is supported by the twist/reveals which keeps it interesting. To be honest, I was getting a bit bored by the plot, and for a moment, I was becoming quite critical of the plot. But then the plot twists unfolded and I begin to appreciate the plot a little more. I still maintain that it mostly feels like a generic action plot, but the twists made it a bit more interesting than it otherwise would have been.
This film does have a stellar cast with the likes of John Malkovich, Michael Douglas, etc, but none of the performances or characters themselves stood out. They were all pretty decent, and it works fine for an action movie like this. And in the end, the conclusion for me is pretty simple. The film mostly feels like a generic action movie which is still very much watchable, but has nothing special or memorable to offer.
VERDICT: 46 / 100
For sure, it would be a good cable watch. But unless you are really bored out, it is not worth the price of a movie ticket.
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Memorable Moments
This film may not be among the top echelons of Marvel movies, but it certainly has its moments. My personal favourite moment simply has to be the opening sequence. The screen continuously follows a dancing Baby Groot (to the tune of the wonderful "Mr Blue Sky") while all the action is happening in the background. To me, this really sets up the tone and reminds audiences that "Yes, you are watching a Guardians of the Galaxy movie", and they pulled it off spectacularly. And in case you're wondering, yes, that song is well and truly stuck in my head.
There are a few other scenes (comedic moments, rather) that I thoroughly enjoyed. The first of which - again is a scene involving Baby Groot - when both Yondu & Rocket are stuck in a cell and tries to explain to Baby Groot to get them Yondu's prototype fin. Of course, things didn't really go well for the first few times, and the outcome was hilarious every time...not to mention Yondu & Rocket's reactions.
The other scene - partially involves Baby Groot - but the focus is more on Star-Lord as he tries asking each and every one of the Guardians for tape. Rocket did try to ask for some tape to cover the death button in the bomb, but I didn't expect Star-Lord to literally ask the others one by one for some tape. But it is also the cinematic brilliance of James Gunn to keep our focus on a waiting Rocket, while Star-Lord can be heard in the background literally contacting the other team members individually. I totally cracked up on that scene.
Ego the Living Planet
One of the biggest (no pun intended) twist in the movie. Some may argue that it is slightly telegraphed, but for me, this is quite a shock. It might be the case that I came into the film expecting Ego to just be his dad (without any alternative thoughts) and it could also be the fact that I perhaps (subconsciously) didn't want Kurt Russell to be the villain. And yet, here he is as the main villain of the film, and I thought that really worked well. It is just that before that happened, the movie really kind of slowed down and seems like its heading in no direction, but I personally thought the outcome was well done.
Yondu Udonta
Easily the best character in the whole film. This film really explores more of Yondu's backstory, with the meeting with Stakar explaining his position in the Ravagers, and some explanation later on in the film on why he did not deliver Peter Quill to Ego. Because of that, we can understand why Yondu has a soft spot for Quill, and most of the time acted like his dad (though clearly not Dad of the Year kind).
But this also sets up perfectly the redemption story of Yondu. And by the time we reach that moment when Yondu flies Quill up to space and gives him the spacesuit, I literally had tears out. It was so emotional and touching and it came at a time when I was really liking Yondu so much. I personally wished to see more of Yondu in future films, but I suppose it really is the perfect end to the story arc of Yondu Udonta, and he gets the respect/appreciation he deserves from his family - from both Peter Quill, and the whole of the Ravagers.
And this sends that strong message that sometimes family is not (only) about your blood, but about spending time with them and caring for them. Take note, people!!
A lot of the things that made the first Guardians movie so fun & special is back in this sequel. The cool characters, the comedic moments, and even those enjoyable songs. I can concur with a lot of the critics' sentiment that this is not as good a movie as the first one, but the qualities that it carry still made it the Guardians of the Galaxy movie we all expected, and I had lots of fun with it.
Even from the opening sequence, you can already see what the film is all about. It immediately catches the attention and tells people that this is indeed James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy movie. And the song in play was a song that I ended up really enjoying, and that opening sequence was easily a highlight of the film for me. The rest of the film is, as you might expect, peppered with these classic songs. I have to say that most of them didn't really stuck in my mind, but when they do...they do. The aforementioned opening sequence song is one of them.
But excellent songs aside, the best thing about this franchise are the great characters like Peter Quill, Drax, Rocket...who all have very distinct & unique personalities. Like Peter Quill & Rocket who are the more rash & carefree of the group, while Drax & Mantis are the more innocent & literal. The interactions between these kind of characters are just super fun to watch (and most of the time, hilarious). Not to mention the addition of the super cute & innocent Baby Groot. As you might expect, he steals a few scenes all on his own. But the one character that really stood out, for me, was Yondu. Michael Rooker brings the charisma to the character, but also a performance that is more than what we had seen from the first movie.
A very shallow criticism on the movie is that it lacks the action sequences. And even when there are action sequences, there isn't too much of it. But I can accept that because it usually is to accommodate James Gunn's directing style which ends up making the scene comedic. In fact, I loved them. But a deeper criticism would be that the film lacks an active & purposeful plot. For quite a while in the middle of the film, our characters are just whiling away without any real sense of purpose. I can understand why it happened, but in watching the movie, it gets a little boring. Until such time when a certain action kicked off the final act, the plot was moving quite rather slowly without anything particularly appealing happening.
But apart from that rather dull part of the film, I really enjoyed the rest of the film. The first act of the film was just classic Guardians of the Galaxy and a lot of fun to watch, while the last 30-40 mins was a very solid final act with some great action & humour, and some dramatic weight, too. Overall, a decent quality sequel, but one that I personally loved a lot.
VERDICT: 74 / 100
To put this easily, this film is not as well structured as its predecessors, but apart from that less intriguing part in the middle of the film, remains very much the fun & enjoyable Guardians of the Galaxy movie that fans will come to expect...
This month sees an abundance of big blockbusters movies...from kings to pirates...from guardians of galaxies to guardians of beaches...
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (May 5-USA, Apr 28-UK, Apr 27-Singapore)
One of two movies I am looking forward to the most in the summer, and by far my most anticipated movie of the month. I always say that while the first Guardians was never even close to being my favourite MCU film, I deeply appreciate how special it was and how unique it was, and I have deep admiration for Mr. James Gunn because of that. And this sequel, based on everything that I've seen, fully embraces that uniqueness in the tone & in the characters, and I really love it.
You only need to look at the trailers to see how they proudly embrace the brand that is Guardians of the Galaxy. Even in the very first teaser (first look), they did not even feel the need to put in the title because they know people are aware of this brand. And even as I am not too sure what the plot will be or who the main villain actually is, I really don't mind it at all because the best thing about James Gunn's films are the distinct characters and the humourous dialogue, and I already like what I've seen from all the trailers.
Trailers:
(Must See!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wX0aiMVvnvg (Teaser)
(Must See!!!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr7tDrwQ3t8 (Trailer #1)
(Must See!!!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hdv_6gl4gk (Trailer #2)
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (May 12-USA, May 19-UK, May 18-Singapore)
Initially, I wasn't really too keen about this film. I am curious, yes, but it is not a movie that I felt I need to watch. Then, I watched the trailers and saw Guy Ritchie's stamp all over it (much like the kind of sequences you see in Sherlock Holmes, or more recently, The Man from UNCLE).
Not that it completely turns my feelings about this film, but it does intrigue me a little more. I had fun with his aforementioned movies, and I felt that his type of visual style is always unique & fun to watch, so I am a little bit more excited about this film than I initially was.
Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4luDtkC3Oy0 (Comic-Con Trailer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqbePJOLdjY (Trailer #1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTOuIvxd578&t=9s (Trailer #2)
Alien: Covenant (May 19-USA, May 12-UK, May 10-Singapore)
I was never personally a fan of this franchise. In fact, I don't think I have ever watched any of the films apart from the most recent Prometheus. And to be honest, I don't exactly remember that film and what I thought of it. But I am aware of how big the Alien brand is and how popular this franchise is. For many people, I suppose this should feel more like the original Alien film (also by director Ridley Scott), which blends a good horror element to a science-fiction story.
The first trailer is also really good, though.
Trailers:
(Must See!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ6RX8YBpI4 (Trailer #1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5KPP6lxRVg (Trailer #2)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (May 26-USA, May 26-UK, May 25-Singapore)
The Pirates franchise have never been the greatest of films, but they always have been good fun blockbusters. The story is about pirates and thieves and killers but the movies have always taken a very light approach. Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow is a very unique & likable character (and is arguably Johnny Depp's best character role) and is clearly a key selling point of these movies. But more than that, the dialogue between characters have always been on the lighter/funny side, and the movies never takes itself seriously. Add to that some fun, swashbuckling action sequences, and these Pirates films tend to be one good fun summer blockbuster. This next one looks to be no different.
Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i77T6KzYxM&t=4s (Teaser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrGyD4kHTSE (Trailer #1)
Baywatch (May 25-USA, May 29-UK, May 25-Singapore)
I wasn't initially too sure what to expect from this movie, but the trailers gave all the answers. An action comedy which doesn't hold back at all. And Dwayne Johnson really is at the top of his game nowadays. I feel like I see him in a movie every few months now. But he is a great action star who has shown his comedic chops in many movies before (Central Intelligence being my favourite). This is really quite the action-comedy to look forward to.
Trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ5tqzw841s (Teaser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G25VrMdArlU (Trailer #1)
Other Movies:
With so many blockbuster movies (as above), there is almost no need for me to look elsewhere for a chance to spend my hard-earned cash. But there is a film that caught my interest (although I probably won't be watching it, anyhow), and that is The Wall (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSjQr8Bc-QY), a film directed by Doug Liman. I get the concept of the plot, but the film looks to be so small in scope, I am not sure what to expect from this film. It comes out on May 12th.
Spoiler Alert, people...this is to share some of the surprises which made me love the film a bit more than I would have...
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Let's start with the (rather quite literally) smallest surprise....
Dom's Baby
I suppose this should have been a very nice little surprise. But in the context of the film...not so much. In fact, we find out that this is the reason why Dom turned against his own crew - because Cipher had held Elena & his son captive. Sure, one of the talking points from here is the fact that Elena mothered his child (and not Letty), but of course, it makes sense given their time together in Spain at the beginning of Furious 6. And to no surprise, Dom names his son Brian, because why would it be anything else, right?
Elena Neves
But what happened to the mother is rather quite tragic. Unfortunately, due to Dom's failure in his mission in NY, Cipher decided to teach him a lesson and had Elena killed. In truth, it was not a very big surprise...but it was very sad indeed. Elena is easily the kindest, sweetest, most innocent character in the whole franchise. She's the one who has no shady background or history, and she was just a pure cop doing her duty. It is truly sad to see this kind of character go away.
The Shaw Family
Now, we come to my favourite surprise of the whole movie. First off, Helen Mirren as Mama Shaw...how cool is that?? Unfortunately, this is not a surprise for me due to my extensive research of the film beforehand. But I'm sure for some people this is a pleasant surprise, especially as her name is not even announced in the opening credits.
Then, there is also the small matter of Deckard's apparent death in NY, but that "revival" was so telegraphed. It was too quick, the shot was far away, there is not enough emphasis - all this meant that we're not done yet with Deckard.
But my favourite surprise of them all: the return of Owen Shaw (Luke Evans). He is easily the best villain this series has ever produced, and I still personally consider him as my favourite character in the whole franchise. Owen Shaw in his prime (Furious 6) is just awesome.
I had previously hoped for a potential return by Owen Shaw - with the first spark of hope in the beginning of Furious 7 where you see him lying at the hospital (not dead, at least). Then, the question becomes when you might see him return or if the filmmakers decided that it works for the story. Add to that the fact that I have no semblance of a clue whatsoever that Luke Evans is involved in the film - it totally makes it a surprise reveal for me. And if you bring back my favourite character of the whole franchise in a cool action scene like that...it surely feels like Christmas (though it is Easter, in fact).
Now, the question changes to: Will they re-appear in future films? Of course there is that small matter of Cipher still out loose, and Deckard & Owen may want to settle matters once and for all. To be perfectly honest, I don't see it happening anytime soon, but you never know. Shaw Brothers FTW!!
I was initially concerned walking into this movie as to where else this franchise could go and how it can top previous installments. After watching, I realize that they actually didn't need to. There is always a feel-good feeling watching the Fast films and obviously you have cool action and some decent humour, and I suppose that's all we would ever ask for from this franchise. There is actually no necessity to top previous films with an even larger or weirder spectacle...just keep progressing the story naturally, and I'm sure the fans will turn up.
And I think The Fate of the Furious did that, at the very least. Though they did try to top the spectacle with a submarine sequence (which I personally believe is forcing it a bit too much), the main focus is still on the story & characters, and I appreciate that. With this franchise, the characters are always key. I mentioned above that there is always a feel-good feeling with these movies, and that's because the family relationship & dynamics between these characters are always at the core of it all. Hence, our main protagonists always mean a lot to us, and we cared for them in return.
And to talk about Furious 7 a little bit, I always teared up when I watch that final scene. And not only because I know Paul Walker has passed...but because I feel how much the relationship between Dom & Brian has developed, and that came to a end in that peaceful goodbye.
Now, back to F8. In terms of plot, the overall plot works fine. It was nothing groundbreaking but it was decent enough to move the story forward. If anything, though, there are many smaller moments which I love (but I won't spoil them here). The action, meanwhile, is pretty fun and exactly what you hope to see from a Fast & Furious film. There is quite a lot of humour & jokes throughout the film. Not all of them hit the mark and some are getting rather predictable...but they are consistent & enjoyable.
Overall, it was good fun and I personally loved the film. On a quality level, I may put it as the 4th best of the whole series, but on a personal level, I think this is my 2nd favourite (behind Furious 6).
Note: This is a case where you might see scores that aren't that high for a particular film, but that film may end up in my Top 10 of the Year...not saying that this will, but just saying sometimes we can end up loving movies which weren't that great.
VERDICT: 71 / 100
If you are a fan, definitely go see it. If not, I think this film can give some good fun, but don't expect a great movie.
This April, unfortunately, is a very quiet month...well, the calm before the summer perhaps...
The Fate of the Furious (Apr 14-USA, Apr 12-UK, Apr 13-Singapore)
Probably the only big blockbuster of the month, and the only one I am quite looking forward to. And even so, my excitement of the Furious movies have recently been falling. Up to film number six, I was very much enjoying the series, but Furious 7, for me, wasn't really good. And now it looks like just more of the same stuff that happens, the same kind of humour, the same kind of action. The difference...well, now they have submarines. And even as they try to switch the game a little bit by making Dom turn against his family, it just doesn't look believable and it doesn't really excite me that much. I think we can all safely have an educated guess on how that would end.
So all things put together, I am really not quite keen on this film, but I still think it can at least be a fun, dumb, action flick. And perhaps the thing I'm most looking forward to is to see The Rock and Jason Statham go at each other...
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XBmsl7wbIQ (Trailer #1)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GvX2uexGkA (Trailer #2)
The Lost City of Z (Apr 14-USA, Mar 24-UK, Apr 20-Singapore)
This is another one of those films that wasn't initially in my radar. And even when I first saw the title, I thought it sounded cheesy and it may just be one of those lesser budget films that could even be direct to Video or Streaming (especially with Amazon Studios popping up). But apparently not, and I saw the most recent trailer, and it looked pretty intriguing. The film sounded pretty serious considering what I thought it might be. I am not 100% sold on this, but given the drought in April, it is highly likely that I will check it out...
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu4UAf8Vfnc (Teaser)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZKM4ZlAZ6g (Trailer #1)
Other Movies:
I'm looking at quite a few interesting comedies here in the month of April. The first of which is Going in Style (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1pe_eRiMiE) - out on April 7th - which is perhaps the one I'm most excited about. The plot is about three old men trying to pull of a heist. Might not sound like something groundbreaking, but the three old men are Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine & Alan Arkin...all Academy Award winners. That sold me immediately!
Also out on the same day is another interesting comedy called Colossal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqcZtz8VXXE). The interesting aspect of this film is the fact that Anne Hathaway's character has some sort of connection to the Kaiju (monster) wreaking havoc in Seoul.
Films also coming out on April 7th include Smurfs: The Lost Village (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3scpLbTCINw) which I am not even a little bit interested, and a drama called Gifted (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI01wBXGHUs) which stars Chris Evans and is directed by Marc Webb.
Next, out on a different date (April 21st) is a movie that I'm personally very intrigued about: Free Fire (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BfNs3YOIVA). It is one of those action comedy films which just doesn't hold back - both in terms of the violent action and the profane comedy.
Finally, we have The Circle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C9tKfl8t0Y), an intriguing thriller starring Tom Hanks, Emma Watson and John Boyega. There probably isn't a lot of action (if any) so a lot is dependent on how good the plot unfolds and the revelation of it all.
