Favorites of 2014- Birdman

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Starring: Michael Keaton, Edward Norton, Emma Stone
Directed by:  Alejandro González Iñárritu


Plot Summary: Riggan Thompson is an actor struggling to break free from his early roles in the Birdman superhero films decades earlier. Trying to reinvent himself, Riggan has spent time writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway adaptation of Raymond Carver's short story "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love," but the play has been plagued by issues. Among the issues has been the antics of method actor Mike Shiner, a biased critic who plans to kill the play with her review, Riggan's dysfunctional relationship with his recovering addict daughter and assistant Sam, and Riggan's deteriorating mental health, as he is constantly mocked by the voice of Birdman and believes he has the power of telekinesis and levitation. With so much adversity, Riggan knows he needs to really impress the critics and skeptics on opening night and would do anything to prove he is a serious actor and not just a former superhero.


In early 2015, I achieved a landmark never done before in my years of movie reviewing: I saw all the films that were nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. That's a grand total of 8 films, which I tracked down to my local movie theaters and dragged my poor fiancee in terrible snowy weather to see all of them (you'd think she would've left me for that). All of these were done in about 2 or 3 weeks of each other, and I really have one film to thank for inspiring me: Birdman. I remember my experience VERY vividly. I very rarely embark on seeing the arthouse, independent movies that cinefiles love to chat about, but this one felt different. The reviews and press this movie was getting was phenomenal. Add a phenomenal cast and a concept that speaks to both my inner theatre kid and my love of superhero movies, and I felt I needed to see it as soon as possible. I watched it, I loved it, and I was excited to see it nominated for Best Picture. I was then inspired to watch the other 7 nominees, and I kept going back to how much I was wowed by Birdman. Only ONE of those other 7 movies spoke to me with the same magnitude, which I'll talk about next time. But for now, let's look at the film that started my cinematic odyssey and eventually won the Oscar for Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Picture.

Michael Keaton stars as Riggan Thompson in the performance of his career. I'll say it right now: Keaton was ROBBED at the Oscars. He put his heart and soul into Riggan, with a lot of his character development reflecting how Keaton must've struggled being taken seriously after playing Batman. That really helped him feel at home when he's playing Riggan. My absolute favorite scenes of his are when he's by himself, struggling with the voices in his head. He has to act against himself and creates two different personalities clashing (kind of like a human version of Gollum). Keaton's always been one of my favorite actors, ever since I saw Batman and Beetlejuice, and this role absolutely seals that fact. I hope to see great things from Keaton now that he's bounced back with the success of Birdman.

Keaton's not the only actor to bring it in this film. With an amazing supporting cast, it's easy to say that Birdman was one of the best acted movies of the year. There are so many memorable performances, starting with Edward Norton as method actor Mike Shiner. Shiner is the epitome of a diva in the world of theatre. He's confident in his abilities, but takes it too far. He cares about the performance so much, but potentially sabotages the shows with his antics. Norton really fits this role well, and a lot of that's probably fueled by his reputation in Hollywood of being difficult to work with. Another great performance is Emma Stone as Riggan's daughter Sam. Sam's a very unique character in having two important relationships with the main characters. She has to have a dysfunctional father/daughter relationship with Riggan, while also having a flirty relationship with Shiner. Emma's given a lot to do with the role and makes the most out of her scenes, usually being the one to put certain characters in their place. Naomi Watts also does a great job playing Lesley, an actress struggling with the pressure of being on Broadway for the first time. Her biggest relationship is with Shiner, with them constantly bickering behind the scenes. Even Zach Galifianakis does a good job at playing Riggan's friend Jake. He curses up a storm which is actually pretty hilarious if you've seen him avoid cussing in most of his movie roles.

Looking at this movie at a glance, you may be surprised to know it won Best Cinematography. But look very closely at HOW this film looks. There's something special about it. Figured it out yet? Well, let me ask you this: How long did it take you to realize the film is shot to look like one long take? For me, about 10 minutes in the theater. And when I realized it, my mind was blown and I continued to follow the camera waiting to see if it would cut to anything else. The way the scenes transition and the ways the camera moves throughout the theater, following different plot points and characters is very creative. The camera movement actually helps the pacing of the movie (making two hours go by really quickly) and actually feels like it could be an extra character in all the chaos.

Another fun aspect of Birdman is analyzing all the social commentaries it addresses. Whether its commentaries about summer blockbusters, superhero films, moviegoers, critics, theatre, or anything else, the film is always saying something with a purpose. It's not to be mean, though. It's to say it like it is. I particularly loved listening to the commentaries on how moviegoers hate to see movies about deep conversations and would prefer a film with special effects and explosions. Again, not being mean, just stating the facts. But the irony of it is that the commentary is being expressed DURING a film with deep conversations, featuring a scene with special effects and explosions. To even further the irony of the statement, people DID care about the film with deep conversations since people flocked to the movie theater to see Birdman after hearing about the universal critical acclaim.

So then the big question with Birdman is did it deserve to win Best Picture? My response to that is that it absolutely DESERVED to win Best Picture. It had an excellent screenplay, fantastic directing, a terrific ensemble cast, and a unique framing device for its cinematography. It has all the combined facets that a Best Picture winner should have. However, when looking at my favorite films of 2014, Birdman is my second favorite. It's a close battle for me, but one other film from 2014 was just as enjoyable as Birdman, and is my personal favorite of the year. I'll get to that one next time, but don't let that discourage my thoughts on Birdman. The two films are apples and oranges types of movies, both are instant favorites and worthy of perfect scores from yours truly, but in a life or death (hypothetical) situation, and I had to pick one over the other, then Birdman would ever so politely be put to the side.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I LOVE this movie. Birdman was a film that threw so many things to me at once and everything just clicked together. The plot, the commentaries, the cast, the cinematography, all of it is phenomenal. Every moviegoer should add this film to their collection immediately to see what everyone's been talking about. This is a film you'll be revisiting over and over again.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)  and movie images are copyrighted by Fox Searchlight Pictures

Favorites of 2014- Gone Girl

Gone Girl (2014)
Starring: Ben Affleck, Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris
Directed by: David Fincher


Plot Summary: On the day of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne returns home to find his wife Amy missing. Being the inspiration for the popular Amazing Amy children's books, Amy's disappearance receives heavy media coverage. Nick begins to display strange behavior that has many suspecting that he murdered Amy. Evidence continues to turn up that make Nick look even more guilty, including proof of financial troubles, a journal that discusses domestic disputes and Amy's constant fear of Nick, and a medical report concluding that Amy was pregnant when she went missing. With Nick also having an affair with one of his students for over a year and planning to divorce Amy on the morning she went missing, things could not look worse for him as the investigations continue. As the clues begin to unravel, Nick must prove his innocence and solve what happened to Amy.


I very vividly remember not knowing much about Gone Girl when it first came out, but being excited to see it all the same. For starters, it's directed by David Fincher, who has provided three instant favorites of mine (Se7en, Fight Club, and The Social Network). Plus, it stars the likes of Ben Affleck (whom I would've been complaining about 10 years ago like everyone else would, but he's since redeemed himself to be a credible actor and filmmaker) and Neil Patrick Harris (who was one of my favorite characters on one of my all-time favorite shows, How I Met Your Mother). The trailers that I had seen painted a compelling mystery that I needed to have solved, a perfect marketing strategy to get people into the theater. While it was based on a bestselling book, I hadn't read it, nor did my research, so I was going into this movie on opening day having no idea what was coming. And boy have I never been happier to walk into a movie with complete ignorance. Gone Girl was an absolutely mind-blowing movie for me to watch. The twists and turns it takes had my questioning the truth and sanity of all its main characters, and I knew when it was over that I had a modern favorite on my hands. So, then fast forward to Oscar season, and this film only had ONE nomination. I felt like there was a great injustice dealt to this film, and it deserved the praise of being nominated for many more awards, including Best Picture. So what do I have to say about the film's strengths that the Academy wouldn't acknowledge?

Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike star as Nick and Amy Dunne. Honestly, it's really hard to talk about these two characters without discussing the major twists that happen in their character development. I won't spoil for anyone who hasn't seen the movie, but trust me when I say they both go through some things that will have you changing your perceptions about them. They both start out as a charming couple, and depending on whose point of view you are watching the film through, you can see different problems for both of them. Nick's development is all through current time in the wake of Amy's disappearance, and a lot of Amy's are through flashbacks and journal entries. Each paints a different perspective that doesn't match up with their spouse's, creating a debate on the viewer to choose which side they believe. But at the end of the day, BOTH of these people are messed up, and they technically "deserve" each other after all they've said and been through.

As if the two leading actors didn't give strong enough performances, Gone Girl has a tremendous supporting cast. This film did two things I never thought I could see: it made me creeped out by Neil Patrick Harris, and it made me interested in something done by Tyler Perry. Harris plays Desi Collings, one of Amy's ex-boyfriends who has a history of being obsessed with Amy. He becomes an easy prime suspect for anyone watching, and the way he looms in the scenery feels something completely unexpected for the man behind the beloved Barney Stinson to do. Although, he still knows how to wear nice suits. As for Perry, he plays the charismatic attorney Tanner Bolt. The man has a great eye for representing his clients, and knows what can make or break Nick's public image. He serves as the much needed dose of logic and reality that Nick could've used at the beginning of the investigation, while his zingers also help bring some much needed humor to this overall dark and twisted narrative.

But the great performances don't end there. There's also Carrie Coon, who plays Nick's twin sister Margo. Margo also adds humor, but in the more sarcastic and serious manner you would expect a sibling to display in this type of situation. And leading out the cast is Kim Dickens as Detective Rhonda Boney, the lead investigator on Amy's disappearance. She's a fascinating character who is both an ally and enemy of Nick's depending on how the investigation unfolds. Her main loyalty is justice, so she will go at any lengths to find Amy and prove whether Nick is innocent or guilty.

Like many great plot twists, Gone Girl has one I could never spoil for anybody. I made a vow the day I saw it that I wouldn't spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it, because I experienced something magical in that theater as the plot unfolded. Movies that are able to have that effect on you are special, and that's what this film was for me. You could hear tons of gasps from people watching, as they were completely shocked by every plot twist and really didn't know what was going to happen next. I wish there was more I could say, but trust me when I say this is a mystery worth watching for the actual experience of it.

The fact that Gone Girl didn't do so well during Oscar season is an absolute crime. From the strengths of the two leads, to the memorable supporting performances, to the decisions director David Fincher is known for, to the shocking plot developments occurring throughout the movie, this film deserved MUCH more than what it was nominated for at the Oscars. While Pike deserved the nomination for Best Actress, there is so many other categories Gone Girl should've qualified for. Just to name a few: Original Screenplay, Production Design, Original Score, Best Supporting Actor (from either Harris or Perry), Best Supporting Actress (from either Dickens or Coon), and Best Picture. In a year where I saw tons of memorable movies, this is the one that I would consider the most underrated. It came and people were excited, but when other films came out, it was easily placed aside. However, I wouldn't be surprised if this became a film that survives and grows a stronger following over time.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Like some of my other favorites from David Fincher, Gone Girl is a film that commands all of my attention and begs repeated viewings for years to come. The performances from the cast, and the insane twists and turns the film takes makes it one that should be watched at least twice, just maybe not with the family or on the first date.

Gone Girl and movie images are copyrighted by 20th Century Fox

Favorites of 2014- Big Hero 6

Big Hero 6 (2014)

Starring: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Daniel Henney

Directed by: Don Hall and Chris Williams

Plot Summary: 14-year-old robotics genius Hiro Hamada is encouraged by his older brother Tadashi to apply at the robotics lab in his university. In order to get in, Hiro presents his microbots invention at the school's science fair. Hiro's invention impresses many and he is accepted into the university. Later that night, a fire breaks out at the university, and Tadashi is killed in the fire trying to help clear people out of the building. Several weeks later, Hiro accidentally activates Baymax, a healthcare robot invented by Tadashi before his death. Following Hiro's last microbot, Baymax leads Hiro to an abandoned warehouse full of microbots and are attacked by a man in a Kabuki mask controlling the microbots. Suspicious that the masked man started the fire to steal the microbots, Hiro plans to give him, Baymax, and their friends superhero upgrades in order to catch the masked man, retrieve the microbots, and avenge Tadashi's death.

So, now we come to the film that won Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards last year: Big Hero 6. Based on a Marvel Comics property, the film was riding the coattails of the success of Frozen (don't get me started on that film....I'll tackle that overrated tripe someday) and was Disney's first animated superhero film since The Incredibles, so there was a LOT to live up to. Considering its Oscar win this previous year, you would think that it was able to live up to the hype. In many ways, it did. But, fast forward a few months, and people kind of forgot about it. People were still talking about how The Lego Movie was snubbed at the Oscars. People were still going crazy over Frozen. Big Hero 6 wowed people for a couple of weeks, but then it kind of became an afterthought. And I'm here to say that the film does not deserve that kind of treatment. Big Hero 6 was a fantastic film, had some amazing characters, had breathtaking animation, and deserves to be remembered as one of the better animated movies Disney has put out in quite some time.

The main protagonist of Big Hero 6 is Hiro Hamada, voiced by Ryan Potter. Hiro's biggest strength in the film is his mind. Being sort of a young Tony Stark, Hiro has all the skills necessary to be the next great inventor, yet he's still a kid who wants to do childish things like scam and hustle people for cash (kids want to do that right?). His older brother Tadashi, voiced by Daniel Henney, serves as a role model and conscience for Hiro to look up to. Like nearly EVERY Disney film out there, they don't have the traditional family upbringing. While they live with their Aunt Cass, voiced by Maya Rudolph, Tadashi takes it upon himself to be looking out for Hiro to make sure he doesn't get into trouble. It is because of Tadashi that Hiro wants to apply to the university, so he really is a great brother character that this film did correctly.

Hiro forms an amazing friendship with Baymax, voiced by Scott Adsit. Baymax is AWESOME! He is awkward. He is hilarious. He is huggable. He will make you cry. WHO DOESN'T WANT A BAYMAX!?!?! He has easily become the iconic image of the film, and rightfully so. He is one of the most unique robot designs we have seen in film thus far, because there isn't much complexity with it. He is a large, white robot with blank, black eyes. He isn't very fast, and really gets in the way for the first act of the film. When Hiro gives him an upgrade, he is much more functional and becomes an action hero we would love to have on our side. Adsit's voice is so soothing as Baymax, and you will be quoting him for weeks after seeing this film.

Hiro and Baymax receive some help from their friends to save the day, including GoGo Tomago, voiced by Jamie Chung. GoGo has all the rebellious attitude that a loner would have, but is still able to pal and joke around with the rest of the group. Honey Lemon, voiced by Génesis Rodríguez, is a very energetic and bubbly character in the group. Yes, she can get very annoying from time to time (did anyone else hate hearing her say Hiro's name?), but she makes up for it with her brilliant and inventive mind. Damon Wayans Jr. voices Wasabi, a character who despite his intimidating size, is actually very timid and obsessive compulsive. Often quick to panic about the chaos around them, Wasabi is hilarious because many would probably be like him in that situation. A great comedic foil for him is in the character of Fred, voiced by T.J. Miller. Fred's a comic-book fan (and possible stoner?) and absolutely jumps at the chance to be a real-life superhero (even if his methods are not scientifically possible). That's the other side of the coin for an audience member in this situation like this. Many would LOVE the chance to save the world as a superhero, and that's why Fred's one of the more popular characters in this film.

I'm not going to spend too much time on the animation because it's Disney, and they won an Oscar. Of course the animation is going to be top notch. The animation and creativity put in this film is amazing. It was like watching a comic book or Japanese anime come to life through Disney animation. Just look at the effects used to bring San Fransokyo to life. Look at how polished the fluid the animation is in the actions scenes. If we are looking PURELY at the animation quality, it's easy to see how Big Hero 6 could have won Best Animated Feature.

It's been about 7 months since Big Hero 6 came out, and the question remains what kind of legacy this film will have on the history of animation. The film definitely dealt with some dark stuff, while also providing a fun, family film, but that's what people would expect from Disney. Baymax and Hiro are memorable and well-marketed characters, but other than that, there's a lot of people that have moved on from the film. Yet, people are still talking about The Lego Movie for what new things it brought to the table in animation. Even worse, people are STILL talking about Frozen over this film (Grrrr.....). Hopefully, this film can find its footing in animation history, because it certainly deserves the recognition.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Big Hero 6 was a very entertaining film to watch. The characters were all memorable and relatable, and the animation was superb in delivering action-packed scenes and beautiful scenery. I recommend this film for all families and fans of comics and anime to own in their collection. And with that, I can gladly say that I am satisfied with my care.

Big Hero 6 and movie images are copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures

Favorites of 2014- The Lego Movie

The Lego Movie (2014)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks
Directed by: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller


Plot Summary: In a universe made entirely of Legos, the wizard Vitruvius guards a weapon called the "Kragle," until it is taken by the evil Lord Business. Vitruvius tells Lord Business of a prophecy about a person called "the Special," who will find the Piece of Resistance capable of stopping the "Kragle." 8 1/2 years later, construction worker Emmet Brickowski finds a mysterious woman in his construction site. When he tries to follow her, he falls down a hole and finds the Piece of Resistance. After waking from having weird visions, Emmet is under arrest with the Piece of Resistance stuck to his back. He is rescued by the mysterious woman named Wyldstyle, as she takes him to meet Vitruvius, under the assumption that he is "the Special."


Those last two reviews in my Marvel Mania month really got me thinking about films that I enjoyed from 2014. Last year was probably the year that I went to the movie theater the most, and a lot of that I owe to my movie column in the school newspaper. In October 2013, my college's newspaper printed the very first edition of Fowler's Films. Can you believe it? My own movie column in a newspaper! Of course, with that comes the responsibility of getting to the movie theater every week to see the most current movies and talk about them. I've decided to share some of my favorite movies that I saw in the last year. Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy both definitely fit in that category, and there will be the opportunity to talk about other franchise films down the road. But for now, let's start by talking about some standalone films, including what I considered to be one of the biggest surprises for me last year and my favorite animated film of 2014: The Lego Movie.

Our main hero in The Lego Movie is Emmet Brickowski, voiced by Chris Pratt. Leave it to Pratt to leave me entertained with TWO great characters in the same year. Emmet is the everyman wanting to be someone special. So when others put him down, we really feel for the character. It's ironic how a generic character like Emmet is fighting to be more than just a generic character, when our empathy for a character like him is the most generic possible. Still, we root for the little yellow guy and really admire how determined he is to save the day. A hero is only as good as his villain (in most cases), and this film's villain is Lord Business, voiced by Will Ferrell. What else is there to say? It's Will Ferrell voicing an idiotic dictator. We've seen shades of this before with his role in Megamind, but here, he's absolutely ruthless. The best part of Lord Business is something I can't give away, but trust me when I say there is a method to his madness. And it's a method he's not even in control of.

Along the way, Emmet is joined by some hilarious companions, including Wyldstyle, voiced by Elizabeth Banks. Wyldstyle is a great fighter and has some attitude to her, but you know she's there to be a character for Emmet to crush on. One of the best running gags with her is whenever it seems like Emmet is even remotely close to hitting on her, she overcompensates her feelings by saying she has a boyfriend and it's "super serious." Later on, we find out she actually DID have a boyfriend, and it's freaking Batman, voiced by Will Arnett. I actually think Arnett did a great job at voicing Batman, but I did have one minor gripe about Batman in this film. Now, coming from the mindset of a Batman fanboy, I can't help but notice that Batman is a COMPLETE TOOL! I understand that he's being fed tons of stereotypes about Batman, and so it's definitely a parody of the character. But imagine how the little kids who love Batman must've felt going into the movie and seeing Batman not only get in the way of a relationship between Emmet and Wyldstyle, but also take credit for Emmet's ideas, be a TERRIBLE boyfriend to Wyldstyle, and just sound lazy and inconsiderate towards all the other characters. He's kind of a bully in this film, and that's just not what Batman is.

But the best part of this film was seeing serious actors have a blast playing some of the most comedic characters in the film. The first was Liam Neeson as Good Cop/Bad Cop. Knowing he voiced BOTH is absolutely hilarious (can you imagine how that voiceover session went?), but it's his portrayal of Good Cop that shines brightest in his performance. It's easy to see his other gruff action roles formulate a lot of Bad Cop's mannerisms, but where does Good Cop's come from? It's stuff like that that makes a viewer go "THAT'S Liam Neeson!?!?" But my favorite character of the film was Vitruvius, voiced by Morgan Freeman. Vitruvius was already a funny character with a lot of his jokes and quirks, but it's Freeman's voice that absolutely makes it comedic gold. We don't expect Morgan Freeman to deliver jokes that are this childish and almost seem out of his league, and we he does them spot on, it's absolutely hilarious to see him go there. He has the voice for the wise mentor figure that Vitruvius SHOULD be, but he also brings a lot of humor to the role for a character that always leaves me in stitches.

I didn't even get an opportunity to talk about some of the other hilarious characters, but trust me when I say this film has an all-star roster of supporting talent who bring great characters to life. Some of them may be great generic characters, like Princess Unikitty (voiced by Alison Brie) and Benny the Astronaut (voiced by Charlie Day), and others are well-recognized heroes like Superman and Green Lantern (voiced by Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill). This film assembles a roster of Master Builders that encapsulates all the great Lego creations into one room. In that room, we have representations from DC superheroes, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Simpsons, Abraham Lincoln, William Shakespeare, and even Shaquille O'Neal (voiced by himself). And with all the beautiful landscapes and innovative action scenes, it's absolutely incredible to see how much thought and creativity went into making this film possible. I, like many people who first heard of the plans to make a film about Legos, threw my head back and scoffed at the idea. Boy, was I glad to be proven wrong on this one. I should've known with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directing (the two men who showed the world how funny their Meta humor was with 21 Jump Street films), that the film was in capable hands to deliver the goods.

By the end of the year, there were 3 animated films I was very impressed with: Big Hero 6, How to Train Your Dragon 2, and The Lego Movie. It was a really close race for me, as all the films did something a little different to stand out, but I had the most fun with The Lego Movie. It was a film that reached out to audiences of all ages, created a fun and meaningful story, gave us memorable and lovable characters, and delivered some of the best jokes of the year for a movie period. So, when it came time to announce the nominees for the Academy Awards and this film was NOT nominated for Best Animated Feature, people everywhere lost their minds. It was declared the biggest snub at the Oscars (and trust me, there were a lot of those this year), and many felt had it been nominated, it would have won. I'll throw my two cents in there and say it had a great chance of winning. When I gave my Oscar predictions for Fowler's Films this year, I worked alongside a fellow movie buff (shout out to TB!), and when it came time to choose Animated Feature, we both noted that we would have chosen The Lego Movie if it had been nominated. Instead, he chose How to Train Your Dragon 2, and I ended up choosing Big Hero 6, the film that ended up winning Best Animated Feature...


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Everything is awesome when it comes to this movie. The Lego Movie was a film that absolutely surprised me the first time I saw it. I was expecting something completely stupid and unimportant, and got one of my favorite animated films of the decade instead. Thanks to its comedy, its cast, and its creativity, I strongly recommend every moviegoer check this film out at least once, as it is sure to bring out your inner child.

The Lego Movie and movie images are copyrighted by Warner Bros.

Marvel Mania: MCU Phase 2- Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista
Directed by: James Gunn


Plot Summary: On the planet Morag, a smuggler from Earth named Peter Quill steals a mysterious orb and plans to sell it on Xandar, the capital world of the Nova Empire. An assassin named Gamora is sent to Xandar by her master Ronan and adoptive father Thanos to retrieve the orb from Quill. Quill and Gamora begin to fight over the orb, when two bounty hunters named Rocket and Groot try to capture Quill and collect a bounty placed on him. The four are arrested by Nova Corps and sent to a prison known as the Kyln. There they encounter a powerful inmate named Drax, who wants revenge on Ronan for murdering his wife and daughter. Quill convinces Drax to spare Gamora's life and help them escape, and she will draw Ronan to him. Gamora also admits she has betrayed Ronan and wants to take the orb to another buyer. The five must form an unlikely alliance and band together to escape the Kyln and discover the mystery behind the orb.


It's easy to throw around the phrase "instant favorite" when it comes to a recently released movie. You have the adrenaline still flowing through your veins of seeing something brand new, and since you enjoyed it, it becomes a "favorite." I've encountered this numerous times in recent years, whether it was The Dark Knight, Star Trek, Up, Inception, Toy Story 3, The Avengers, Fast and Furious 6, and a whole slew of movies that came out in 2014, each "favorite" changes over time. I usually like to give it one or two more repeat viewings to see what holds up, what doesn't hold up, and discover new things within the film I didn't notice before. With that said, Guardians of the Galaxy is an instant favorite, and yes, the quotes were taken off it for a reason. After first viewing, I knew it wasn't a phrase, it was a reality. I absolutely adored this movie and it was one of my favorite releases in 2014 (along with a few others I will talk about in May). The film was based on a Marvel Comics property that casual moviegoers weren't familiar with, so going into the movie, people were afraid this was going to be a failure, that the formula wouldn't work, that it would be the next Iron Man 2 (I knew I'd get to reference how much I hate that film one more time...) and not deliver with the quality fans expected for the MCU. My goodness, how surprised they were to find out this is actually one of the best, and in my opinion, THE best movie in the MCU so far...

As most could probably figure out with my reviews, I love great movie characters (heck, 80% of my reviews are usually spent on characters), and Guardians of the Galaxy combines 5 amazing film characters in one of the most unlikely superhero teams imaginable. The leader of the pack is Peter Quill, played by Chris Pratt. Quill, who goes by the name of Star Lord, is a witty smuggler that is full of pop culture references from the '80s. Wait a second, our main protagonist is full of funny one-liners AND pop culture references? No wonder this character is a hit with the major demographic: Peter Quill is the epitome of a fanboy becoming a superhero. I know there were other members of the team that stole the show for a lot of people, but for me, my favorite character in the film is Quill because the show fell on Pratt's shoulders to give us a likable protagonist that we can root for and he gave us just that. He constantly has character growth that test his honor and loyalties for his new found friends, as well as being able to step up to the plate and be a courageous leader who is full of as many heroics as he does tricks.

Zoe Saldana plays Gamora, an assassin who is sent to retrieve an Infinity Stone from Quill, but ultimately joins with him to protect the Stone from the forces of evil. Saldana is quickly gaining traction as one of the best females in the sci-fi genre, with memorable character appearances in Avatar, Star Trek, and now Guardians of the Galaxy. The best thing about her roles is that all of them are different, with Gamora being my favorite for her complexity. Gamora was trained to be a vicious and ruthless killer, but resents her upbringing since she was taken from her home planet and made to be evil. Thanks to a developing relationship with Quill, Gamora is able to unlock a side of hers she didn't know existed, which includes demonstrating a wide array of emotions and establishing various forms of friendship with her fellow Guardians. Then, we have Drax the Destroyer, played by Dave Bautista. Being a wrestling fan, I loved the opportunity to see one of my first heroes in wrestling (known as Batista in the WWE) become a superhero on the big screen. Drax is way more than just muscles and fighting skills, he has a very serious story of seeking revenge on the film's villains for murdering his wife and daughter. Thanks to that blind rage, his actions are impulsive, but thanks to his loyalty for his new friends, he learns to work alongside a team. Drax also has an amazing running gag of taking metaphors TOO literally, proving Bautista has the skills to bring a balance of humor and action to a larger than life character like Drax.

Rocket, voiced by Bradley Cooper, is a genetically engineered raccoon with skills as a bounty hunter and weapons expert. Yes, you read that correctly. That ACTUALLY exists in this film. It's one of those concepts you'd never expect in a million years would work or be taken seriously, and yet it does. Rocket is sadistic and cynical, usually looking for the best opportunity to make a profit or blow something up. I absolutely would love to see him and Tony Stark have a conversation one day (Avengers: Infinity War perhaps?). Cooper's voice is nearly unrecognizable as Rocket, proving that great acting can exist within the sound studio, as well as on-screen. Rounding out the team is Groot, a tree-like humanoid voiced by Vin Diesel. What is there to say about Groot that hasn't already been said? The world LOVES this guy. He can be one of the toughest enforcers you could have for a team one moment, and be a softer, caring companion the next. And let's be honest, who HASN'T said "I am Groot!" at least once since this film was released? His friendship with Rocket is one of the most compelling components of the film, and you wouldn't imagine a giant tree creature who only knows how to say 3 words having that much depth, yet Groot does. I mean, Rocket and Groot are so awesome, they could have easily had their own movie. However, they are equally well suited with Quill, Gamora, and Drax to create the Guardians of the Galaxy.

As you can tell, I LOVE this movie. Guardians of the Galaxy had an absolutely amazing supporting cast that I didn't have time to talk about. Just look at this cast: Lee Pace, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, Benicio Del Toro, and Josh Brolin are all in SUPPORTING roles. That's just amazing. It also had what has been universally considered as one of the greatest movie soundtracks in history (also known as Awesome Mix Vol. 1), with songs from the '70s and '80s that are sure to be stuck in your head after the film. Not only that, but it took a comic book premise and set it in some of the most breathtaking and creative planetary settings I've ever seen. So with that combination, and how positive the response to the film was, it left me very nervous for two HIGHLY anticipated films due out this year. Guardians of the Galaxy made me wonder if the bar was set TOO high for Avengers: Age of Ultron and Star Wars: The Force Awakens. That may seem silly to some but hear me out. These are two sequels from HUGE franchises, so moviegoers everywhere have high hopes for them to deliver. So, here comes a film most moviegoers were skeptical about, and it surprised the world by delivering as a superhero film AND a space film. So what happens if Avengers and Star Wars can't exceed the quality of a movie viewers were expecting to suck? That's a scary idea to think about, and we're only about 2 days away from knowing half of the answer when Avengers: Age of Ultron is released, so hopefully that film will deliver as well as the films in Phase 2 have set it up to be. But for now, excuse me while I go listen to some Awesome Mix Vol. 1.

And, with *SPOILERS* in mind, let's look at the mid-credits and post-credits scenes for Guardians of the Galaxy...

The mid-credits scene shows Baby Groot dancing to "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, but freezes when Drax looks over to him. When Drax looks away again, Baby Groot continues to dance. This scene has become a pop culture phenomenon, and while not even remotely important to the film, it sums up the type of humor that was present throughout the film. The post-credits scene cuts to the Collector, played by Benicio Del Toro, sitting within his destroyed collection. An astronaut dog comes and licks his face, drawing the disgust from a character off-screen. Cut to Howard the Duck, voiced by Seth Green, drinking and sitting among the wreckage and it cuts to black. This was just an amazing Easter egg that I never saw coming. Half the audience got it when I saw it in theaters, and the other half were confused as crap. It's that kind of response that makes me love Marvel Studios.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Guardians of the Galaxy is an entertaining thrill ride of cosmic proportions. It has humor, action, heart, and some of the greatest characters to come out of the MCU thus far. Absolutely watch this as a standalone film and own it in your collection. Even if they won't be appearing in Avengers: Age of Ultron, still give it a watch, as it sets up a LOT of groundwork for the upcoming 2 part Avengers: Infinity War film.

Guardians of the Galaxy and movie images are copyrighted by Marvel Studios

Marvel Mania: MCU Phase 2- Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson
Directed by: Anthony and Joe Russo


Plot Summary: Working under S.H.I.E.L.D. after the events in New York, Steve Rogers is informed by Director Nick Fury about Project Insight: three Helicarriers linked to spy satellites, designed to eliminate potential threats. When Fury is ambushed by a mystery assassin known as the Winter Soldier, he escapes to Rogers' apartment and hands him a flash drive with important data regarding Project Insight. Fury also tells Rogers not to trust anyone, as he fears S.H.I.E.L.D. has been compromised by Hydra. When Rogers is summoned by senior S.H.I.E.L.D. official Alexander Pierce to explain Fury's motives, Rogers refuses to give up any information and is branded a fugitive by Pierce. Enlisting the help of Agent Natasha Romanoff and former USAF pararescueman Sam Wilson, Rogers must uncover the mysteries surrounding S.H.I.E.L.D., Hydra, the Winter Soldier, and Project Insight.


With only a few movies to go before Avengers: Age of Ultron, it was crucial for the momentum of the MCU to be at the highest quality. So when Marvel announced Captain America: The Winter Soldier, fans had some serious high hopes for this film to deliver. Adapted from one of the most popular Captain America storylines, fans were really hoping for something spectacular now that Captain America would have an entire film devoted to him in our modern time. The film was received with universal acclaim, considered one of the absolute best movies in the MCU, along with Iron Man and The Avengers. Admittedly, this was the film in Phase 2 I was most excited for (other than Age of Ultron) because of the inclusion of the Winter Soldier storyline, but there was much more besides the stuff with the Winter Solider that made this film an absolute thrill to watch.

Chris Evans returns as the heroic Steve Rogers. The thing about Evans that works as Rogers is that he has to play him as a man who is courageous and honorable. He has specific loyalties towards specific ideals and will go at any lengths to protect those ideals, such as freedom and honor. One of the things I love about Captain America in this movie is how much his fighting ability has improved. You can imagine he trains hard in his spare time and is trying to be up to date on more than just pop culture references. He's probably studying the greatest forms of combat over the decades to become a supreme fighting machine. He's even able to take it to Georges St. Pierre, who plays the villainous Batroc the Leaper, in one scene. This next part only has some minor spoilers, hence why I won't mark it in all bold caps (that and the fact that the spoilers are really freaking obvious). Sebastian Stan plays the Winter Soldier, who is later revealed to be a brainwashed Bucky Barnes. For most of the film, the Winter Soldier's identity is made a secret, so a lot of the first impressions are based on his fights with Captain America. Those fight scenes were wonderfully choreographed and showed a chemistry that was natural for rivals (or best friends) to have with each other. Once his identity is revealed, Stan has an opportunity to play a confused and conflicted character, and it adds a lot of drama to the climax on whether or not he will remember who he is.

One of Cap's allies in the film is Natasha Romanoff, played once again by Scarlett Johansson. As far as characters in the MCU go, Black Widow was one of the characters to receive the most scrutiny from moviegoers, pointing out her involvement as being the token girl character. However, Johansson really had an opportunity to silence skeptics and show Black Widow could hang with the major characters. She is an expert in combat and interrogation, making her an excellent agent for S.H.I.E.L.D., but also shows that Rogers may only want to trust her to an extent. She shows her value though, and we even get to see some layers of her character peeled back and an actual partnership develops between her and Captain America, instead of a forced relationship. A new character addition is Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie. Wilson (also known as Falcon) is a comrade that Rogers befriends over a talk about modern pop culture he should catch up on (Wilson suggests Marvin Gaye), and becomes one of the only people in the film Rogers fully trusts. You see a bond established between them over shared war stories, and he proves to be a useful asset once he busts out his armored wings to fly. Those scenes with his flight are absolutely exhilarating, and Mackie fit like a glove with the rest of the main cast (particularly his chemistry with Evans and Johansson). I'm really excited to explore more with Falcon as the MCU progresses, and I'd love to see him join the Avengers in combat down the road.

And then we get to some great performances from two veteran actors in this film. Naturally, we get to continue watching Samuel L. Jackson deliver as Nick Fury, in easily Fury's most involved film role. It's always awesome to see Jackson be as BA as possible, and Fury has one of the MCU's biggest highlights when he is in an action-packed car chase in order to escape the assailants who have ambushed him. Rounding out this terrific cast is screen legend Robert Redford as Alexander Pierce. Does Redford fully assume the role and transform himself into a unique character? Probably not, but I don't think that's a bad thing here. What you see is what you get. The MCU had the privilege of casting one of the most iconic actors of all-time, THE Robert Redford, to be a villain in a Marvel film. The best thing Redford did when playing Pierce was making him both dignified and deceptive all at once, a combination that really makes Pierce a character you can't trust.

I'm very comfortable with calling Captain America: The Winter Soldier a game changer. This film completely altered how moviegoers could look at a film about a superhero, in the same regard that The Dark Knight did. Whereas The Dark Knight created a darker and edgier tone for the comic book film, Captain America: The Winter Soldier took a film about a superhero and presented a narrative that reflected a spy thriller. Our hero was constantly on the run, his loyalties were tested by both his allies and his enemies, and problems were solved with technology and strategy more than fists and superpowers. Not every superhero film can be like that either, so it makes this film really stand out and feel unique. Add this to the historical tone that was set in Captain America: The First Avenger, and the epic tone that is sure to be associated with Captain America: Civil War, and you have the makings of a very diverse and entertaining franchise of superhero films for the super-soldier.

After a film like this, the mid-credits and post-credits scenes should hopefully deliver in tons of quality. Also, *SPOILERS*...

In the mid-credits scene, we are introduced to Baron von Strucker, played by Thomas Kretschmann, who is in possession of Loki's scepter, and has proclaimed the "age of miracles" has begun. Cut to two prison cells containing Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen. WOW! With the debut of two fan favorite Avengers' characters, a major game changer was thrown into the mix of storylines heading into Age of Ultron. Then we get to the post-credits scene, which showed the Winter Soldier at the Captain America Smithsonian exhibit looking at Bucky's memorial. It was a small tease, but it assured audiences the Winter Soldier (or Bucky...?) would be back down the road.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Like Iron Man and The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is one of those films from Marvel that changed the landscape of the superhero genre. This film cemented Captain America as my favorite franchise within the MCU. Definitely check this film out as a standalone and before Age of Ultron. Add this superhero spy thriller to your DVD collection, and here's hoping Captain America: Civil War can keep the momentum of the franchise going strong.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier and movie images are copyrighted by Marvel Studios

Marvel Mania: MCU Phase 2- Thor: The Dark World

Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston
Directed by: Alan Taylor


Plot Summary: In London, Dr. Jane Foster and Darcy Lewis are researching mysterious portals that have been appearing. Separated from Darcy, Jane is transported to another world and is infected by a powerful weapon called the Aether. Informed of Jane's disappearance, Thor returns to Earth to find her and transports her to Asgard. The release of the Aether awakens Malekith, a Dark Elf who plotted to destroy the universe with the Aether until he was imprisoned. Malekith and his army of Dark Elves travel to Asgard in search of Jane and the Aether. Following the attack, Thor must team up with Loki and travel to the Dark World of Svartalfheim to seek vengeance on Malekith.


Phase 2 continued by returning viewers to their favorite hammer-wielding Norse god in Thor: The Dark World. Of the films announced for Phase 2, this was the one I was excited for the least and it has everything to do with the cultural response to the first Thor film. There were things that were bound to win me over, like continuing the story of Thor and Loki, but then to my surprise the film never lost its steam. It continued to entertain me, and by the end of the film, I gave Marvel credit for giving fans a proper film about Thor.

Chris Hemsworth returns as Thor. Just like he has in his previous MCU appearances, Thor is a character who puts a lot of who he is right out there for everyone to see. In this film specifically, he has a deep loyalty for his family and his people of Asgard. When he plots revenge against the Dark Elves, it parallels his impulsive actions in the first film, but this time it is NOT out of arrogance. Not only was the fight made personal, but he also knows the Dark Elves will not stop until they have won. Despite the wishes of his father Odin, played by Anthony Hopkins, Thor has grown as a character and knows what must be done. He disobeys in order to do the right thing. As we see Thor compose a strategy with his allies, we see he is also becoming more meticulous in his planning and is working like an army general would. So now, he has the wisdom to lead Asgard in battle and be a leader for his people to look up to. He has come a long way since the first film and Hemsworth really does show that off nicely. In my review of the first film, I mentioned Hemsworth didn't have to do much in the acting department, just play Thor as a larger than life persona. Thank goodness the character has been evolving over the course of the MCU, because it allows Hemsworth to add depth and growth for Thor that feels natural as the movies progress.

The main antagonist is the leader of the Dark Elves, Malekith, played by Christopher Eccleston. Now we get to the main complaint about the film: most fans believe Malekith SUCKS as a villain. I'm not willing to go that far with the critique. He wasn't a perfect villain, nor the most well-developed, but he still put up a formidable challenge for Thor. He attacked Asgard, threatened the lives of Thor's people, his family, and the love of his life Jane Foster, played by Natalie Portman. He made things VERY personal for Thor. When a villain is able to get under your skin that much, they're doing their job pretty well. I think the big problem most of the geek community had with Malekith was that Marvel cast one of the Doctors to be in a Marvel film and didn't do as much with him as they were expecting. Since I've never actually endeavored into the world of Doctor Who, I can't make that call for myself personally, so I'll just go ahead and say I didn't love Malekith, nor did I hate him. He was a solid villain, who maybe could have used a bit more depth.

The Dark Elves might be underwhelming villains for most, so for them, thank goodness we have the return of Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston. Fine, I'll admit it, I swoon like a schoolgirl for Loki...he's just so darn charismatic, but it's not because of his looks. I think a lot of fans can identify with Loki as he represents the outcast. This film REALLY dove deep into Loki's psyche and explores what few loyalties he really has. One of the best additions to Loki's character is relationship to his mother Frigga, played by Rene Russo. It's a very interesting parallel to Thor's relationship with Odin and is actually pretty sweet and a big motivator for Loki to help Thor fight the Dark Elves. Thor might have evolved well throughout the film, but this was Loki's movie. Hiddleston absolutely knocked it out of the park and cemented himself as on of my absolute favorite characters in the MCU.

Thor: The Dark World may not be the greatest movie in the MCU, but it's very entertaining to watch. Part of the reason I enjoyed it so much was because they did what I wanted them to do: give us more of Asgard. The atmosphere there is an amazing spectacle to behold. I keep describing it the same way whenever I watch it: It's Star Wars meets Game of Thrones. That combination just sounds like it would be a great idea, wonderfully blending technology, magic, and mythology. Now that they've done this, I'd really like them to keep this formula for Thor: Ragnarok. Can they put him on Earth? Sure, for a little bit. But, it's clear that fans respond more positively when we get to explore more of Thor's world, so let's spend that time exploring and developing his universe, instead of trying to force the comedy of him coming to our world.

Now let's talk about *SPOILERS* in the mid-credits and post-credits scenes...

The mid-credits scene shows Volstagg and Sif, played by Ray Stevenson and Jaimie Alexander, visit the Collector, played by Benicio Del Toro, and deliver the Aether for him to hold on to. It is mentioned that with the Tesseract in Asgard, it is dangerous to have two Infinity Stones close together. When they leave, the Collector says "1 down, 5 to go." This teases a key environment that will be introduced very soon in the MCU (Guardians of the Galaxy) and that the Infinity War is on its way. This really sets the mood for big things on the way for the MCU. However, that scene should have been switched with the post-credits scene, which shows Thor and Jane reunite on Earth, while also showing the monster from Jotunheim still running wild in London. This scene had a really big filler tone attached and would have been better suited for the mid-credits scene or to be left on the cutting room floor.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Thor: The Dark World is a step in the right direction for the Thor franchise because it focused on the three things it needed to: Thor, Loki, and Asgard. Yes, Malekith is an underwhelming villain and there is still a LOT of forced comedic relief on Earth, but these are minor complaints in an overall enjoyable film from Marvel. As a standalone film, I think it's worth checking out, but it may not be essential to watch for Age of Ultron.

Thor: The Dark World and movie images are copyrighted by Marvel Studios