Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

4.9/5

Marvel's new cinematic franchise Guardians of the Galaxy is an extraordinarily fun film and an unparalleled success. I won't bore you with plot details, but I will say that it is more an adventure movie (a là Star Wars or Indiana Jones) than a comic book/superhero movie. Even if it doesn't sound like your cup of tea, don't wait for it to come out on Redbox. It is a profoundly visual experience, a motion picture in every sense of the word, and should be enjoyed in a theater. You will be utterly delighted. It's hard to remember the last time I went into the theater without expectation and ended up with a smile plastered on my face and my mouth agape in awe for two straight hours.

Chris Pratt leads the cast as Star Lord, and he brings levity and charisma to the role. But he also brings gravitas, which I was not expecting from Anna Faris's goofy husband. He has a presence on screen that makes me think he could be what Harrison Ford was in the 70's: a superstar. But with all his charm, Star Lord is not the most lovable character. That title belongs to Groot and Rocket, voiced by Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper respectively. They steal every scene they're in, leaving you itching for the next one. Laugh-out-loud lines coupled with an endearing friendship make the duo unforgettable.

The cinematography is agile and the editing is tight. For its 2-hour runtime, it breezes by surprisingly quickly and packs in a bunch of plot (sometimes revealing just hints of backstory to leave you wanting more). The director made some bold choices with mood and tone, but it works perfectly here. Somehow, it feels like a brand-new type of movie. The biggest challenge will be making sure the next one is as on-point as this film is. Guardians of the Galaxy has unique, memorable characters, an exciting story filled with seemingly unending thrills, and the promise of more adventure to come with what I hope are numerous sequels and prequels. I honestly cannot wait for all this series has to offer.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2015381/

The Fall (2006)

4/5

Tarsem's The Fall is a jaw-dropping visual feast. The colors and compositions, the costumes and locales--all work together to compose an unforgettable tapestry of images. The aesthetics in and of themselves are enough to spellbind any viewer, but the music integrates perfectly with the eye candy to create an even more breathtaking experience. The plot, however, could use some work.

It follows a depressed stuntman in a Los Angeles hospital with a young Romanian girl who broke her arm. In order to get morphine and commit suicide, he manipulates her by telling an epic story of five warriors attempting to kill the evil General Odious. The story he tells, and the movie's story overall, is exciting in the beginning, then seems to flounder and sag before eventually ending as conventionally as possible. Throughout the course of the movie, you realize that not much really happened and his story wasn't very good. (I did, however, appreciate the seemingly tacked-on ending and what it said about movies specifically and storytelling in general.)

Catinca Untaru plays the 5 year old with remarkable natural talent. You forget that she is acting at all, and that there are other people in the story. She steals every scene in the movie. The acting by the minor characters was somewhat flat, although that may simply be underdeveloped characters. And I thought the editing could use a lot of work; the movie needed to be half an hour shorter. Overall though, the visuals are enough for me to recommend this film to true fans of the cinema.

IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/