Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Chris Pratt
To those who’ve already read my thoughts on Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014),you’ll know that I didn’t completely love the movie. Regardless of that truth though, I’m still determined to see as many of the stand alone films of each Avengers Endgame (2019) character as possible. And with that goal in mind, a few days ago I sat myself down to two hours and sixteen minutes of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2.
My expectations weren’t exactly the highest, as one might imagine. So picture my surprise when I found myself having a good time almost immediately.
In trying to understand what had changed, it became clear that , the story is simply much better this time round. I found it more interesting. I definitely enjoyed the surprises within the script as well as the elaboration on the backstory of several of the main characters. I’m also quite sure that there weren’t any sentimental moments or attempts at humour that felt hugely forced. I imagine that everything was that little bit better because the actors were more comfortable in their roles.
I still stand by the truth that I didn’t enjoy Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014), but I’m also sure that my appreciation of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2. isn’t a result of me learning to ignore any of the humour that doesn’t quite land or ignore any general corniness within the script. I really did like the new characters, find the story more fun, and appreciated the special effects that little bit extra.
With all that said I now say, watch it because it’s good and especially if you’re sure I’m not completely mad.
Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello are the stars of new drama Bottom of The 9th.
Directed by Raymond De Felitta, it’s the story of a once-aspiring baseball player who returns to his Bronx neighborhood after serving 17 years in prison for a violent mistake…
My fingers are crossed that Manganiello and Vergara’s real-life chemistry translates just right onscreen to tell this story.
I’m not sure that this is a based on a true events but it does remind me of the story of real life athlete Brian Banks who’s feature length film is out in August this year. How different will the stories be, I wonder.
Xavier Scott Evans, Burt Young, Vincent Pastore, James Madio, Yancey Arias and Michael Rispoli also star.
Terminator – Dark Fate (2019), Linda Hamilton, Paramaount Pictures
Directed by Tim Miller of Deadpool (2016) and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton plus Mackenzie Davis, Terminator – Dark Fate is the next instalment in the celebrated science fiction story that started with James Cameron’s The Terminator back in 1984.
The official plot hasn’t yet been released but additional key cast does include Gabriel Luna, Diego Boneta, Natalia Reyes, Brett Azar…
‘Wow’ is the word because this trailer looks really good. Fans of Cameron’s first and second Terminator Movies movie are no doubt excited to see Hamilton back as the rather badass Sarah Conner.
Right aways I know I like Davis as Grace, whoever Grace is. I’m also excited to hopefully find Luna’s Terminator character to be as perfectly loathsome as Robert Patrick’s great portrayal of T-1000 from Terminator 2 – Judgement Day (1991).
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019), Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino’s latest film starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino and Margot Robbie has a new trailer.
Ready or not, here is a 2.5 minute tease of a crime / drama / thriller about a TV actor and his stunt double, as they embark on making a name for themselves in the film industry….
So far, I must admit that Once Upon A Time In Hollywood has not quite garnered the same kind of excitement within me as Tarantino’s previous films. I blame that on this trailer appearing to be a slight change of pace / style compared to Tarantino’s other movies. Nevertheless, I still can’t wait to see how he’ll keep things interesting. I mean, the man has never before let us down, right?
General Magic is a new documentary about a business of the same name that Forbes Magazine described as the ‘greatest dead company in Silicon Valley.‘ It’s a company that was responsible for launching the first smartphone before 3G and Google even existed.
Directors Sarah Kerruish and Matt Maude will show how though you’ve never heard of them, General Magic changed the world as we know it today in several ways…
The people behind the company and how they feel today about the way things played out, That’s what interests me the most. I’m perhaps extra intrigued by the role of what looks like the only lady on the team.
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019), Lily Collins, Zac Efron
Ted Bundy, one of America’s most infamous serial killers is very much at the centre of director Joe Berlinger’s film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Yet the story is really told from the perspective of Bundy’s longtime girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer. As such, like Kloepfer, we don’t get to be there with Bundy as he commits his shockingly evil crimes (thank goodness!) We also don’t get to know any real shocking details about the crimes until the trial towards the end. What we do get is a front row seat to watch Bundy some time after he commits a crime and pretends to be as normal and decent as the next guy. It’s sad but like a true psychopath, he succeeded at it. A lot.
Starring Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Jim Parsons and John Malkovich, I watched Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile because of the very interesting subject matter and the new perspective. Another reason is to see Efron succeed in a more serious role than he’s taken on in recent years. I’m happy to say that he does well. I was particularly impressed during the moments he gave the audience a glimpse into the true darkness within his character’s soul. His time at the dog’s home is one such example.
I don’t believe there was a single dull moment during this movie and contrary to what the trailer made many feel, I don’t consider Berlinger’s film to be one that glorifies or celebrates Bundy. It’s instead a movie that portrays Bundy as he was known to be and part of that is that he was sadly almost as charming as he was wicked, evil and vile.
I say watch Berlinger’s movie, Just don’t watch it expecting explanations and / or deep dives into Bundy’s past that highlight what could have led him to such darkness. For this is a film about Bundy but the focus is on Kloepfer’s experience.
Parsons and Malkovich’s characters are memorable. Overall though, it’s really Collins by whom I was most impressed. She may be an actor with a forever youthful face, but the lady has great instincts. Her telling of Kloepfer’s story will have you mad at Kloepfer, sad for Kloepfer and by the very end,a little surprised in general but definitely extremely relieved for Kloepfer.
Downton Abbey (2019), Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern
To everyone who thought they’d seen the last of Downton Abbey’s Crawley family and their servants , the hit TV show is back in feature length movie form.
Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens) may be more than long gone, but director Michael Engler promises there’s still more story worth telling…
Having not seen the last Downton season, after watching this trailer I’m mostly curious about who has been cast to play the visiting royals, King George the Fifth and his wife Queen Elizabeth.
