*Light SPOILERS will follow. I'll try to avoid anything explicit, but it's hard to talk about what makes Vol. 2 so great without talking spoilers.*
It's easy to forget that when Guardians of the Galaxy hit theaters back in 2014, nobody really thought it would be a hit. Pretty much everyone was skeptical of Marvel's intergalactic superhero team-up film, myself included. After the success of The Avengers, the idea of the studio making a movie about a talking raccoon and a giant tree fighting in space was insane- it seemed like a film that would be far too ridiculous for mainstream audiences. But after a tremendous marketing campaign and early word that the film was delightfully entertaining, Guardians of the Galaxy turned into the biggest breakout hit of the summer. Even adjusted for inflation, it grossed more than both Thor movies, the first two installment in the Captain America franchise, and Iron Man 2, a feat that I don't think can be overstated. It also introduced audiences (and even some comic book fans) to characters that have since become icons, legendary heroes that hold as much weight as anybody in the Earth-bound Avengers.
The Guardians of the Galaxy are established superstars at this point, and the surprise factor that turned the 2014 film into a runaway smash is gone. With popularity comes the weight of expectations, and few films in 2017 were as hotly anticipated as Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2. Marvel sequels have a tendency to fall into the trap of being over-stuffed, over-crowded, and generally pointless, existing merely to set up a myriad of future films. I think most people would agree that Marvel doesn't have the best track record with sequels, save for the espionage thrills of The Winter Soldier and the blockbuster mayhem of Age of Ultron (even this will likely be a controversial statement). Writer/director James Gunn had a monumental task on his hands, and he could have taken this sequel in so many directions, including some that could have gone very, very wrong.
Instead, Gunn chose to take a different path, one that is essential to the success of this magnificent sequel. While maintaining everything that fans loved about the first one- the visual energy, the chemistry between the characters, the kick-ass soundtrack- Gunn takes the Guardians in a more personal direction that establishes this franchise as Marvel's most emotionally resonant. He expands the world so that the film almost feels like a sugar rush of cosmic eye candy, but he grounds the stakes in a way that really hits home. He doesn't feel the need to connect the Guardians to the rest of the Marvel universe or set up 10,000 different sequels- he knows that this story and these characters can stand on their own. The result is one of the studio's best, a pure blast of fun that works as pretty much everything you could ever want from a summer blockbuster. As someone who walked in with a certain degree of skepticism, Gunn made fall in love with this film. And much to the shock of this fan, it's even better than the original.
Picking up some time after the events of the original film, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 reunites us with Star-Lord/Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Baby Groot (Vin Diesel), the lovable criminals who saved the galaxy and became instant legends. As our story begins, the Guardians have been hired by the Sovereign, a race of uptight alien beings, to kill a giant space creature in exchange for Nebula (Karen Gillan), Gamora's evil sister and the daughter of mad space titan Thanos. Everything goes surprisingly well, until Rocket decides it's a good idea to steal some of the batteries that the Sovereign hold as their most precious asset. High Priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) sends a fleet after the Guardians, resulting in a chase that sends their ship crashing into a nearby planet.
But somehow, it could have been much worse. At the last moment, the Guardians are saved by a mysterious man who managed to destroy thousands of Sovereign ships in one fell swoop. That man also lands on the planet, revealing himself to Ego (Kurt Russell), a god-like being and the father of Peter Quill. Leaving Rocket and Baby Groot to fix the ship, Peter, Drax, and Gamora travel with Ego and Manits (Pom Klementieff) to the celestial's planet. Meanwhile, Yondu (Michael Rooker) and the Ravagers are undergoing a crisis of their own. Yondu is shunned from the order by renowned Ravager Stakar Ogord (Sylvester Stallone), which prompts his colleagues to start a mutiny over his allegiance to Peter Quill. Led by Taserface (Chris Sullivan), the crew of vengeful Ravagers track down the Guardians and kidnap Rocket, Groot, and Yondu. While they face death on a Ravager vessel, Peter learns the secrets of his own origin, reuniting with the father he always wanted. But as a dark new threat is revealed, the Guardians will have to come together to save the galaxy once again.
As I watched the marketing campaign unfold for Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, my main concern was that amid all of the humor and comedic insanity, it seemed like the sequel was lacking in the story department. And as I watched Vol. 2, that concern remained for much of the runtime. The original film wasn't story-driven either, but Vol. 2 rides the wave of its laid-back vibe to the point that it begins to feel meandering. Thankfully, Gunn knows that he can only rely on the individual character threads and jokes for so long before bringing it all together, and he does so at exactly the right point. There's a scene towards the end of the second act that involves Nebula chasing down Gamora with a spaceship in a North by Northwest-style moment, and as it progressed, I thought "Okay, this story really needs to start going somewhere." Almost immediately, Gunn kicks the whole thing into high gear, uniting all of the different stories and creating a final act that is as visually dazzling as it is heartbreaking and beautifully emotional.
Gunn certainly relies on the interplay between the characters once again here, but he also improves on some of the flaws that stood out to me in the original film and in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a whole. Despite being able to do almost everything else right in the realm of superhero movies, Marvel has consistently struggled with crafting good villains and using death in a meaningful way. While I can't say who ends up being the main antagonist is for fear of spoiling the surprise, just know that they're one of Marvel's best- Gunn has created the most fearsome and memorable Marvel baddie since Tom Hiddleston's Loki. And to make things even better, Vol. 2 becomes the first Marvel film to deal with death in a real, permanent way that has a profound, moving impact. For a franchise that relies so much on being funny and silly, the fact that Guardians: Vol. 2 is so emotionally frank and honest is a welcome surprise, firmly placing the Guardians as the heartfelt core of the Marvel universe.
Much will be made about the tear-jerking conclusion to Vol. 2, and deservedly so. Gunn really pulled off something magical here, and he deserves all the praise in the world. He never stretches to connect this film to other corners of the MCU, nor does he include story threads that feel like extraneous filler. The closest blockbuster comparison is last year's Star Trek Beyond, and this film has a faster, funnier vibe that makes it vastly more entertaining than its sci-fi counterpart. But as critical as Gunn is to the success of this movie, he also places quite a bit of importance on the characters and the actors who play them. That's no surprise considering what made the first film so successful, but the focus on character is still a welcome component. Gunn gives everyone a little something to do, and that makes the first two acts fly by before it all collides together for one hell of a finale.
The obvious centerpiece of the story is Chris Pratt's Peter Quill, the roguish hero who is forced to deal with more personal issues in this installment, mainly involving his relationship with his father. Pratt pulls off the critical moments quite well, and I love the way that Star Lord's narrative progresses in this film. The central storyline is complimented by the terrific performances of Kurt Russell and Michael Rooker as Ego and Yondu, respectively, who provide a wonderful contrast that works excellently. Russell is clearly having a blast as the godlike Ego, while Rooker gets a chance to twist his villainous Ravager into a more sympathetic, fascinating character. Gunn touched on the idea of misfits with broken pasts banding together in the original film, and here, he takes a closer look at the idea of family and what that word really means. To say much more would be a spoiler, but I'll note that it applies both to Quill's relationship with his father and with the Guardians.
But even beyond the central character of Star Lord, each and every player in Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 gets a chance to shine. The relationship between Gamora and Nebula is explored in a new way, giving Gunn another chance to show the softer side of an antagonist from the original film. But in addition to the emotional beats that are so critical to Gunn's script, several supporting characters get an opportunity to perfectly utilize the trademark humor that made the original film such a smash hit. Dave Bautista is absolutely wonderful once again as Drax, delivering some of the best lines of the film and displaying excellent chemistry with Pom Klementieff, who stands out as one of the best new characters. Bradley Cooper is a blast as Rocket, with some of the funniest moments coming from the angry raccoon's interactions with Taserface, Chris Sullivan's villain who suffers from an acute lack of self-awareness. And of course, Baby Groot is the most wonderfully enjoyable character in the whole movie.
With all of the character work holding Vol. 2 together and standing as its essential key to success, it's even more impressive that the film is quite possibly the most visually incredible piece of entertainment that Marvel has ever created. Just like the villain issues and the lack of true stakes, Marvel always suffers from a visual staleness that permeates every one of their movies. Their best movies don't usually have much in the way of splashy colors or clever cinematography- even the original Guardians of the Galaxy suffered from the basic Marvel style. Here, James Gunn and the production design team go absolutely wild, crafting gorgeous setpieces and fully embracing the retro 80s vibe of this franchise. Vol. 2 is a joy to behold, an explosion of sci-fi madness that's so good it doesn't even feel like a Marvel movie. From the shimmering gold of the Sovereign world, to the snowy and metallic party universe that houses the Ravagers, to the beautiful landscapes of Ego's majestic planet, everything in this film exists as a unadulterated blast of visual stimulation.
And the soundtrack! How can I even talk about a Guardians film without mentioning the soundtrack? Gunn perfectly matches the visual power of this mega-budget hit with a mixtape of retro favorites that manages to miraculously work as well as it did in the original. The soundtrack kicks in almost immediately, with Baby Groot dancing to Electric Light Orchestra's classic "Mr. Blue Sky" during the joyous opening credits scene that re-establishes that perfect tone that made the original a sensation. Gunn follows that up with a collection of hits that immaculately underscore each and every scene, bringing an added sense of fun and pathos to the proceedings. Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" is used expertly as the film's anthem, there's a sweet dance set to Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home to Me," and "Come a Little Bit Closer" is incredibly placed during one of the film's most shocking bits of action. I'll be listening to Awesome Mix: Vol. 2 for the next several weeks- and I expect that anyone who watches this film will be doing the same. Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 could have coasted on the success of the original and delivered something that was as disposable and forgettable as many of the Marvel sequels that have come before it. But thanks to the passion that James Gunn has for these characters and his relationship with the actors who portray them, Vol. 2 is one of Marvel's best films, a surprisingly superior sequel that takes everything we loved about the breakout hit and expands on that success in ways that logically serve the characters and the narrative. It's fun, it's action-packed, and it's hysterical from start to finish- it's the best possible way to start off the summer movie season. Vol. 2 upended my expectations at every single turn, which is something that rarely happens with these kinds of blockbusters. Superhero films don't get much more enjoyable or heartfelt than this- Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 is a blast of the highest order.
Denis Villeneuve seemingly came out of nowhere, but the Canadian director has quickly established himself as one of the most talented and prolific filmmakers in Hollywood. After launching his career with the Oscar-nominated Incendies, the studios immediately took note of Villeneuve's abilities, giving him access to a wide range of projects. The twisty crime drama Prisoners revealed his talents to a broader audience in 2013, and films like Sicario and Arrival soon came along to take Villeneuve's popularity to a whole new level. It was only a matter of time before the filmmaker was handed the keys to a major franchise, but thankfully for all of the cinephiles out there, Villeneuve found a project that fits his cerebral, intense vision. Ridley Scott talked about making a sequel to Blade Runner for years, but the film really took off when Villeneuve came aboard. He'll be teaming up with Scott, screenwriter Hampton Fancher, cinematographer Roger Deakins, and a cast led by Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford for Blade Runner 2049, a long-awaited follow-up to the 1982 cult classic. It's surely one of the most anticipated cinematic events of the year, and today, we got our first full look at what Villeneuve will be bringing to the table. Check out the trailer below!
So yeah, this movie is gonna something, isn't it?
If nothing else, Blade Runner 2049 is going to be the most visually dazzling film of the year. This looks like an all-timer in the visual department, and I'm sincerely hoping that Roger Deakins picks up an Oscar win for his cinematography- as is pretty much every other fanboy on the internet. As for everything else in this trailer, it's clear that Warner Bros. and Villeneuve are sticking with the mysterious vibe that dominated the first teaser in December. It's been a little while since I saw the original Blade Runner, but I remember being absolutely blown away by it. I fell head-over-heels in love with its energy, its atmosphere, the noir vibe that blended sci-fi with brutal crime elements. If Villeneuve can nail the ambiance of the Blade Runner universe, then he's halfway there already. I'm not sure what the story exactly entails, but it seems to involve Gosling's Officer K on a search for Ford's Deckard, while simultaneously being pursued by Jared Leto's creepy antagonist and an assassin portrayed by Sylvia Hoeks. Still, I'm sure that the script is good enough to warrant a return to this stunning sci-fi world. The action looks incredible, the music by composer Johann Johannsson is tremendous, and every shot looks like a painting. Villeneuve hasn't missed yet, and I have a feeling that he's going to deliver one of the most spectacular blockbusters in recent memory.
Today marks the kick-off of the summer movie season, as James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2 heads to over 4,300 theaters across the country. From now until the start of August (summer is ending a bit earlier this year), we'll be seeing practically a new would-be blockbuster every week. Wonder Woman and Spider-Man: Homecoming are hoping to bring in loyal superhero fans, adult-skewing films from Fox like War for the Planet of the Apes and Alien: Covenant will attempt to ride the momentum of March's Logan, and original fare like Baby Driver and Atomic Blonde will try to break out in a crowded summer. In addition, there are plenty of surefire animated hits (Despicable Me 3, Cars 3) and big-budget sequels (Pirates of the Caribbean and Transformers return for their fifth installments), as well as a few horror films (It Comes at Night, Annabelle: Creation) for the genre fans. There's so much to be excited about, but the most fascinating film of the summer is undoubtedly Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk. World War II movies with Oscar buzz usually hit theaters in the fall, but Warner Bros. is launching Nolan's war thriller in the heart of the summer. It's a risky gamble, but this IMAX epic could very well turn into a massive breakout hit. Today, WB released the third trailer that will show in front of showings of Guardians this weekend. Check it out below!
Let's get this out of the way- when compared to trailers for other Nolan movies, the previews for Dunkirk have been weaker. This is just a fact. The trailers for Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, and Interstellar were astonishing pieces of marketing, and while the Dunkirk teases have been great, they can't quite match up. This third trailer is certainly the best one yet, bringing the intensity and grim mood of Nolan's grand war epic to vivid life. I still don't quite know much of anything about the characters, but at this point, I know exactly what Nolan is going for and I am 100% in. Dunkirk looks nail-biting and horrifying, beautifully shot and brutally realistic at the same time. But to really get a feel for how this movie will shape up, you have to see the 6-minute prologue on the massive IMAX screen. The ticking sound that makes up Hans Zimmer's score will absolutely shred your nerves to bits, making the entire thing feel like one race against the clock. The different characters and locations don't make it easy to cut a trailer that gives audiences an accurate picture of what the movie will be like, but this trailer comes really close. It's a heart-pounding dose of classic movie marketing, and it looks and sounds great.
At this point, I've seen enough from Dunkirk. I absolutely cannot wait to see this thing, and I'm hoping that Nolan delivers a new war masterpiece.
It's a great year for Stephen King fans, as two of the iconic writer's most famous works are coming to the silver screen in the form of big-budget adaptations. After a trailer that practically broke the internet with over 197 million views in the first 24 hours, I feel like it's a guarantee that Andres Muschietti's adaptation of It, King's 1986 horror opus, will be one of the biggest films of the year. However, there's less certainty over Nikolaj Arcel's The Dark Tower, the first installment in what Sony hopes will be a massive franchise of movies based on King's best-selling novels. While I'm reading It right now, I have much less familiarity with The Dark Tower- I only know that there's a loyal and loud contingent of fans who are very passionate about this series. Fans have been clamoring for a trailer for months, and with the film's August 4 release date looming and no marketing in sight, many in the industry had joked that this wasn't even a real movie. But after a long wait, our first look at The Dark Tower is finally here. Check out the highly-anticipated trailer for the film below!
Like I said, I don't really know much about The Dark Tower series. I know that it features a unique mix of western and sci-fi elements, accompanied by a rich mythology and a classic battle between good and evil. Reaction to the trailer out of CinemaCon was mixed, with some fans in attendance noting that the trailer didn't accurately convey the tone or genre of the novels. I haven't quite been able to assess the fan reaction to this trailer, but it's safe to say that I'm not entirely sure what to think yet. The Dark Tower looks both epic and generic, wonderfully weird and somewhat disconcertingly safe. I love the big-screen combination of Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, and some of the action scenes look very cool and different. I don't know if the young protagonist is a feature of the book or an added element of Arcel's adaptation, but I think it'll make the main characters seem legendary and interesting in a way. August is a dead zone for movies this year, so The Dark Tower will undoubtedly the marquee event of the month for blockbuster fans. Whether it'll be a revolutionary smash hit that starts a franchise- I'm not so sure. But this is an intriguing first look, one that promises something different for the summer months. They haven't sold me yet, but I'm hoping that this could be special. The Dark Tower opens on August 4.
Looking at the annual Blacklist is an experience that always manages to delight and disappoint me. For those not familiar with the insider baseball, The Blacklist (not the NBC show) is a yearly list of the most popular unproduced screenplays that are currently being shopped around to different studios. Some of these scripts are finally turned into films at a later date (examples: The Social Network, The Descendants, Prisoners), while others are stuck in development hell forever- that's the fun and the misery of the experience. You get to see all of the incredible concepts that are out there, while simultaneously realizing that most of these ideas will never see the light of day. Will we ever see Bubbles, the film about Michael Jackson's monkey that topped the 2015 Blacklist? Probably not. What about Seuss, the biopic of beloved author Dr. Theodor Geisel, which made the cut on the 2012 version of the list? Who knows. One of my favorite film concepts from the Blacklist has always been The Happytime Murders, an R-rated mix of Los Angeles noir, puppet murder, and raunchy comedy. It's an incredibly risky idea, but it's finally seeing the light of day.
Yesterday, STX Entertainment and The Jim Henson Company announced that The Happytime Murders is heading into production with Melissa McCarthy in the lead role. Brian Henson will direct the film, based on the screenplay by Todd Berger, which was further revised by Erich and Jon Hoeber and McCarthy herself. The film will be produced McCarthy, Henson, Jeffrey Hayes, and Ben Falcone under the Henson Alternative banner and STXfilms. Here's what McCarthy had to say about the project:
"When a really good script combines puppet strippers, Los Angeles' underbelly and comedy, it's like my fever dream has come true."
Brian Henson added this:
"Melissa and Ben's brand of humor is infectiously unique. I am thrilled to be partnering with them and STXfilms on The Happytime Murders."
Finally, STX Chairman Adam Fogelson made this statement on the announcement:
"Melissa McCarthy is the reigning queen of comedy and we believe she will make The Happytime Murders the kind of hysterical, edgy, viral event that audiences today crave. This is the kind of script and material that was made for Melissa's smart and boundary-pushing sensibilities. Having worked with her years ago on Bridesmaids and Identity Thief, I could not be more delighted or excited to be working with her again."
The Happytime Murders finds a cynical L.A. puppet detective investigating a series of murders involving the cast of a popular TV show called The Happytime Gang. Essentially, it sounds like a mix of Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Avenue Q, and Sausage Party, which is just about the perfect combination in my book. I love high-concept humor that pushes the limits of absurdity, and I can't wait to see how this comes together. McCarthy's Spy was my favorite comedy of 2015, and I have a feeling that she's the perfect fit for this wacky film.
The film will begin production in August, which means that a 2018 release date is likely in the cards. Look for more in the near future.
If we're being honest, 2017 felt like a down year for the Sundance Film Festival. Despite the presence of acclaimed films like Luca Guadagnino's Call Me By Your Name and David Lowery's A Ghost Story, there seemed to be a lack of the kind of universally beloved smash hits that the festival usually delivers. And in addition to all of that, the changing dynamics of independent film distribution contributed as well- Macon Blair's I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore was on Netflix just over a month after winning the Grand Jury Prize at the fest. With a weaker Sundance slate, it looks like it could be a sluggish summer for art house theaters. But if there's going to be a breakout hit from Sundance 2017, it will almost surely be Michael Showalter's The Big Sick. The film was hailed as one of the best romantic comedies in recent years, generating acclaim from just about everyone who was able to see it at Sundance and at South by Southwest. Amazon is preparing to give it a nice push this summer, and they've started by releasing the first trailer. Check it out below!
When it comes to indie films, The Big Sick is surely one of my most anticipated of the summer. Any movie that receives such a rapturous reception at a major festival deserves my full attention, and I'll definitely be there to check out this one as soon as I get the chance. I think that Lionsgate and Amazon's marketing strategy for this is quite interesting, as they seem to be pitching it as a fairly typical romantic comedy with a multi-cultural twist. Even the poster (see below) is kinda generic and bland, words that don't come close to describing this film if the buzz is to be believed. That being said, this is a solid look at a film that I have a feeling will connect with a lot of people. A few of the jokes work really well (the Uber driver gag made me laugh) and the emotional angle seems to be grounded in reality. Kumail Nanjiani has been spectacular in supporting roles for years, so it's great to see him step up to the plate as a lead, while Zoe Kazan seems like a perfect fit for this character. And as someone who grew up in a house where Everybody Loves Raymond was on the TV on a frequent basis, it's good to see Ray Romano back on the big screen as well. This is far from a perfect trailer, but it gets the job done. I'm buying into the hype here, and I have a feeling that I won't be disappointed.
The Big Sick opens in limited release on June 23 with a wide release planned for July.
I love the latest series of films in the Bond franchise. Daniel Craig has been playing the iconic spy since I was 8 years old, and it was through films like Skyfall and Spectre that I was introduced to the other classic takes on the character. Martin Campbell brought Bond back from the dead with Casino Royale, Marc Forster nearly killed the whole thing with Quantum of Solace, and then Sam Mendes created something magnificent with the last two films on Craig's Bond resume. But there's one thing that I don't love about the current state of the Bond franchise- how long we have to wait for each new film. Now, I'll admit that more Bond films does not equal better Bond films, as the rushed production of Quantum resulted in an absolute fiasco of a movie. However, you used to be able to rely on a new 007 film at least every two or three years, something that you just can't say anymore. Everything about the 25th James Bond film is a total mystery at the moment. We don't know if Daniel Craig is starring in the film, we don't know who's directing the project, and we don't even have the slightest idea of when it will be coming out.
Hell, even the distribution is an enigma, as Sony, Warner Bros., Universal, Fox, and the unlikely AnnaPurna pictures are vying for the rights. But Eon Productions and the Broccoli Family will need the film to come together at some point, and today, we received a small tidbit of news about the potential direction of the next chapter in the saga of James Bond. According to Bill Desowitz at Indiewire, producer Barbara Broccoli has turned her attention to director Paul McGuigan in the hopes that he'll direct the next installment of the Bond franchise. Broccoli and Eon producer Michael Wilson are reportedly pleased by McGuigan's work on Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool that they want him to tackle a much bigger project for the studio. Indiewire's report implies that if all goes well, the producers will be locking in Daniel Craig for a final appearance as Bond with a possible target release date of 2018, which would be quite the turnaround. McGuigan is best known for his work on BBC's Sherlock and Lucky Number Slevin, which means that he doesn't have quite the same pedigree as someone like Sam Mendes.
Let's be honest here, most fans were hoping to hear a name like Christopher Nolan for the next Bond film, as an auteur like that is the only filmmaker who can realistically top what Mendes did with the character. But if this really is Craig's Bond swan song, then I think that McGuigan would be a fine choice. Bond 25 should be about the actor who defined a character for a generation of fans, and the inclusion of a filmmaker like Nolan would overshadow Craig's incredible performance as the superspy. If Bond reboots in a few years with Tom Hardy or another actor, then I would welcome Nolan's take on the character. But if this really is the end for Craig, he deserves a proper exit. In that case, the man behind the camera is a moot point to me.
Look for more news on Bond 25 in the near future. As a massive fan of the character, you know I'll be trying to keep everyone in the loop with the latest updates.
