Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - Movie Review

The summer movie season kicks into high gear with the newest Marvel movie, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The first film was a hilarious and thoroughly entertaining blockbuster, and the sequel is no different.

Director James Gunn has successfully brought the odd group of galactic heroes back to the big screen with even more laughs. The colorful cast of characters includes many stand out performances, the funniest of which is the tiny talking tree Groot. Chris Pratt is as charismatic and funny as ever as the hero Starlord, who learns more about his past from his long lost father (played by the great Kurt Russell).

The cinematography far exceeds many comic book movies today, utilizing a bright and diverse color palette. The visual effects are great all around, and the action scenes are top notch. The vintage soundtrack comprises of a mix of classic 70's tunes that perfectly accompany each scene.

Writer-director James Gunn chose to focus more on character development over plot here, and it has a very satisfying emotional payoff. The script is full of self-referential humor and clever gags that had me laughing out loud, though not all the jokes hit.

Vol. 2 does have its flaws, with a somewhat scattershot plot that juggles several subplots somewhat well. One storyline involving a fleet of aliens in pursuit of the heroes is somewhat uninteresting and only necessary to push the plot along. Also, one returning villain from the first film detracts from the very interesting main story on several occasions.

Despite some shortcomings, Gunn succeeded in crafting a highly enjoyable follow up to the 2014 hit film. With great characters and lots of laughs, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues to prove why this series is one of the most unique and entertaining franchises of the decade.

Grade: 8/10

La La Land - Movie Review

I have never been a fan of musicals, so I was skeptical of the critically acclaimed La La Land. But director Damien Chazelle's previous work, Whiplash, blew me away, and so I had to check out his latest feature. It turns out he's not just a one hit wonder.

La La Land is a modern musical, set in present day but very much a throwback and tribute to 50's era Hollywood musicals. Pretty much everything about this film works, particularly the two leads. Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are both great, and their chemistry feels very authentic.

The soundtrack is entirely original music, and every song is wonderfully composed and extremely catchy. The vibrant color palette and inventive cinematography give the film an ethereal feeling.

The dancing numbers are impressively choreographed, particularly an opening scene with hundreds of people dancing on a freeway in a single unbroken take. Chazelle had his actors do all the singing and dancing, and the result is surprisingly rewarding. His passion for the project shines, and elevates the film to a whole new level.

I have but one complaint with La La Land. It runs a bit too long, ten minutes could have been cut from the middle act to make the narrative flow better. During the second act musical numbers are sparse, and it's during this section a few minutes could have been removed.

A minor complaint in an otherwise wonderful film, La La Land will easily win over audiences with its accessible theme of pursuing your dreams. With an excellent soundtrack, great performances, stellar direction, and a touching story, La La Land proves you don't have to be a fan of musicals to appreciate its greatness.

Rating: 9/10