- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,094
- 26,308
Film Reviews - what have you seen lately, what did you think?
- Thread starter TLB
- Start date
- Aug 11, 2015
- 8,301
- 15,932
Help my memory - Wasn’t Namor, along with Captain America, one of the old Marvel characters Stan Lee acquired when he bought the rights/company? Then he was revived as primarily a F4 rival/opponent?
I remember him as a complex, misunderstood anti-hero, sometimes fighting heroes and sometimes alongside them. Seems an absurd waste of a very interesting character to make him a vengeful Mayan.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,094
- 26,308
You are correct, at least on the F4 rival/opponent aspect. As for the acquisition, I'm not sure, but that sounds right. l was always irked as a kid each (Marvel/DC) had their own 'king of Atlantis', but was too young (70's ) to know why.
- Sep 20, 2014
- 3,925
- 4,676
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,094
- 26,308
Had to road trip for work last week. You know what that means...binging.
Flipping through Netflix they highlighted Vin Diesel's Riddick series, which I watched all of long ago and liked, so I dl'd them and took them on the road.
Pitch Black (2000) <Netflix>
The original. VD is Riddick, a convict being hauled across space by his arresting cop, everyone is in cryofreeze for the trip except Riddick because he's special, animalistic. Ship gets hit by meteor storm, kills captain, and the asst captain crash lands the survivors on some god forsaken rock. As they try and survive, we find the cop is actually a bounty hunter willing to double cross anyone to survive; meanwhile this planet has 3 suns and is a desert 24/7 ... until once every 22y when the planets align and the native dinosaur flying things come out and eat whatever they can find. VD, being a career convict, had eye surgery to see in the dark, giving his eyes that special night shine like some animals have, so they lean on him to get them to safety. Not all make it, but to spoil this for anyone who hasn't seen it, VD makes it and gets two civilians off planet. The end. When I watched this originally, I probably would give it a 6-7 for cool concept and stuff. Now, watching it on ultra HD LED whatever the hotel had to project it on....I came to two conclusions. First, I have no idea how new tvs can make such an old film look absolutely incredible. I mean, how did the film have that image quality back then? I never knew. Secondly, the film really, really sucked. Poor plot, dialogue, action, characters...3/10.
Chronicles of Riddick (2004) <Netflix>
So, I intended to watch the full series given I was bunkered in the hotel every damn night for the week. Nostalgia outweighed my realization of the first film being crap, so on to the sequel. Plot here is there is a race of 'necromongers' enslaving/killing all the planets and a Furyan is the one prophesized to end it. Guess who happens to be a Furyan? He is sought out by the man he saved in the first film to fight them, doesn't want to, but the kid he rescued in the first film gets captured by the necromongers so in he goes. This plays a bit more soap opera drama with different parties wanting to take over the necromonger legions. However, yes I will spoil this too, Riddick kills the leader and takes the thone, and that's kinda where we leave it. Again, amazing images on the hotel tv reveals a slightly better but still bad movie. 4/10
Riddick (2013) <Netflix>
I watch bad movies. It's what I do. We pick up Riddick trying to survive on yet another barren planet. He does a little rewind to catch us up how he handed off the necromongers to the second in command and asked to be dropped at his home planet of Furyan. Double cross, the team that drops him tries to kill him, so he kills them but ends up stranded in the process..yada yada yada...here we are in animal survival mode again. This time, he raises a wild hyena type animal and then stumbles onto a remote station and sends up the SOS - knowing it'll be picked up by bounty hunters to collect him. First team arrives, includes David Bautista as a thug; shortly after a second team arrives headed by the father of the original bounty hunter that died on Riddick's initial plant wanting to know about his son, oh and he has ZBokeem Woodbine as one of his thugs, and a kinda hot lesbian 'Dahl' (Katee Sackhoff = one minor boob shot in the shower). Team one fails to catch Riddick, losing men in the process. Team two takes over, directs the remainders of team one, and Riddick turns himself in. Why? There's a rainstorm coming, and Riddick's the only one that knows it will unleash the dino-monsters of this particular planet. Riddick kills a few more, cuts a deal for one of the ships and works with the team to get off planet. Dino-monsters attack, kill a few more. Riddick and a few escape closing the film with a pretty weak and cheesy 'you the man' between him and the bounty-hunter-dad. Once more, stellar tv picture reveals a bad movie. 4.5/10
Why did I spoil these for you? Partly out of bitterness of something I thought I liked turning out to be utter crap. Partly because I wouldn't want to inflict any of this series on you.
Flipping through Netflix they highlighted Vin Diesel's Riddick series, which I watched all of long ago and liked, so I dl'd them and took them on the road.
Pitch Black (2000) <Netflix>
The original. VD is Riddick, a convict being hauled across space by his arresting cop, everyone is in cryofreeze for the trip except Riddick because he's special, animalistic. Ship gets hit by meteor storm, kills captain, and the asst captain crash lands the survivors on some god forsaken rock. As they try and survive, we find the cop is actually a bounty hunter willing to double cross anyone to survive; meanwhile this planet has 3 suns and is a desert 24/7 ... until once every 22y when the planets align and the native dinosaur flying things come out and eat whatever they can find. VD, being a career convict, had eye surgery to see in the dark, giving his eyes that special night shine like some animals have, so they lean on him to get them to safety. Not all make it, but to spoil this for anyone who hasn't seen it, VD makes it and gets two civilians off planet. The end. When I watched this originally, I probably would give it a 6-7 for cool concept and stuff. Now, watching it on ultra HD LED whatever the hotel had to project it on....I came to two conclusions. First, I have no idea how new tvs can make such an old film look absolutely incredible. I mean, how did the film have that image quality back then? I never knew. Secondly, the film really, really sucked. Poor plot, dialogue, action, characters...3/10.
Chronicles of Riddick (2004) <Netflix>
So, I intended to watch the full series given I was bunkered in the hotel every damn night for the week. Nostalgia outweighed my realization of the first film being crap, so on to the sequel. Plot here is there is a race of 'necromongers' enslaving/killing all the planets and a Furyan is the one prophesized to end it. Guess who happens to be a Furyan? He is sought out by the man he saved in the first film to fight them, doesn't want to, but the kid he rescued in the first film gets captured by the necromongers so in he goes. This plays a bit more soap opera drama with different parties wanting to take over the necromonger legions. However, yes I will spoil this too, Riddick kills the leader and takes the thone, and that's kinda where we leave it. Again, amazing images on the hotel tv reveals a slightly better but still bad movie. 4/10
Riddick (2013) <Netflix>
I watch bad movies. It's what I do. We pick up Riddick trying to survive on yet another barren planet. He does a little rewind to catch us up how he handed off the necromongers to the second in command and asked to be dropped at his home planet of Furyan. Double cross, the team that drops him tries to kill him, so he kills them but ends up stranded in the process..yada yada yada...here we are in animal survival mode again. This time, he raises a wild hyena type animal and then stumbles onto a remote station and sends up the SOS - knowing it'll be picked up by bounty hunters to collect him. First team arrives, includes David Bautista as a thug; shortly after a second team arrives headed by the father of the original bounty hunter that died on Riddick's initial plant wanting to know about his son, oh and he has ZBokeem Woodbine as one of his thugs, and a kinda hot lesbian 'Dahl' (Katee Sackhoff = one minor boob shot in the shower). Team one fails to catch Riddick, losing men in the process. Team two takes over, directs the remainders of team one, and Riddick turns himself in. Why? There's a rainstorm coming, and Riddick's the only one that knows it will unleash the dino-monsters of this particular planet. Riddick kills a few more, cuts a deal for one of the ships and works with the team to get off planet. Dino-monsters attack, kill a few more. Riddick and a few escape closing the film with a pretty weak and cheesy 'you the man' between him and the bounty-hunter-dad. Once more, stellar tv picture reveals a bad movie. 4.5/10
Why did I spoil these for you? Partly out of bitterness of something I thought I liked turning out to be utter crap. Partly because I wouldn't want to inflict any of this series on you.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,094
- 26,308
Not really a film, but nowhere else to stick this...
Chris Rock special 'Selective Outrage' filmed recently live in Baltimore for Netflix. Runtime is about an hour. He's not funny through ... really any of it. The act seems to walk the line, not wanting to offend anyone (which he repeats enough to be kind of an intentional joke), while holding up Black culture as something flawed and to be respected. Honestly, it wasn't much of a political statement anywhere through his act, trying to to offend, but it was also just a lot of Charlie Brown teacher's wah-wah-wah with his quick and emphatic speech pattern. He DID address the Will Smith slap in the last 7min - in part to milk it a dozen times about not wanting any other rappers getting mad at him, in part that it hurt...but nowhere does he say it was justified. In fact, you can tell he's still pretty pissed off about it, but throwing words from the shadows at a distance is about all he can/will do. There have been times in his career I thought he was funny. I don't think I laughed more than thrice throughout this special. Those might have been coughs on my part. 1/10
Chris Rock special 'Selective Outrage' filmed recently live in Baltimore for Netflix. Runtime is about an hour. He's not funny through ... really any of it. The act seems to walk the line, not wanting to offend anyone (which he repeats enough to be kind of an intentional joke), while holding up Black culture as something flawed and to be respected. Honestly, it wasn't much of a political statement anywhere through his act, trying to to offend, but it was also just a lot of Charlie Brown teacher's wah-wah-wah with his quick and emphatic speech pattern. He DID address the Will Smith slap in the last 7min - in part to milk it a dozen times about not wanting any other rappers getting mad at him, in part that it hurt...but nowhere does he say it was justified. In fact, you can tell he's still pretty pissed off about it, but throwing words from the shadows at a distance is about all he can/will do. There have been times in his career I thought he was funny. I don't think I laughed more than thrice throughout this special. Those might have been coughs on my part. 1/10
- Jul 15, 2014
- 28,445
- 47,246
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,094
- 26,308
Only the third had a short shower scene and we got one side boob, maybe nipple, I don't recall. But it was CRYSTAL clear!
- Jul 15, 2014
- 28,445
- 47,246
- Sep 20, 2014
- 3,925
- 4,676
Super Mario Brothers - My 10 year old started spring break today so we went to a late showing of this. Place was absolutely packed with people of all ages. Put on your nostalgia glasses and have fun. I would have killed for a movie this good when I was a kid and all I got was that crap with Bob Hoskins. There are tons of Easter eggs as well from other Nintendo games so pay attention. While my son is getting into "older kid" games like Five Nights at Freddy's we still have a great bond over the Mario games as the original is what I started him on when he was 4 years old. I'm sure it has more flaws then what I caught while enjoying with the crowd, but it's really good. This is one of the few times where I have been in a packed theater and everyone there young and old were huge fans of the character and just ate up every minute.
They start the movie with a nod like Sonic did to the original game. Although it didn't hit quite like hearing "SEGA" it was still nice. Plot plays out a lot like many of the games. Mario and Luigi end up there. Bowser tries to kidnap Peach. Mario has to save the day. The story in between is very good for an introduction to what will have multiple sequels. The comedy spots were really good for both kids and adults. The voice actors did well also. Pratt has gotten a lot of flack for the ascent, but once things get going you don't even think about it. Jack Black stole the show as Bowser in my opinion. Music from the games is tied in throughout as well. My only initial complaint is at only 90 minutes it felt a little rushed in some spots.
There is a mid-credit scene and an end credit scene so stay till the end. The first is just a comedy scene, but the end one gives a hint on where the second movie will be going story wise. Not sure what trailers you will get but ours sucked and not sure why there were with this movie. A cranky Deniro movie, an old lady movie, another Trolls movie, the new TMNT movie and to my sons chagrin The Little Mermaid and Barbie.
At the end of the day this was very well done for a kids movie that has mass appeal to an entire generation of parents as well. I'm sure on second viewing I'll find some more flaws but for what it is I give it a 7.5/10. I had a great time with my son and really needed it after a crappy month at work where I've been dumped on constantly despite the results being far above expectations for Q1.
They start the movie with a nod like Sonic did to the original game. Although it didn't hit quite like hearing "SEGA" it was still nice. Plot plays out a lot like many of the games. Mario and Luigi end up there. Bowser tries to kidnap Peach. Mario has to save the day. The story in between is very good for an introduction to what will have multiple sequels. The comedy spots were really good for both kids and adults. The voice actors did well also. Pratt has gotten a lot of flack for the ascent, but once things get going you don't even think about it. Jack Black stole the show as Bowser in my opinion. Music from the games is tied in throughout as well. My only initial complaint is at only 90 minutes it felt a little rushed in some spots.
There is a mid-credit scene and an end credit scene so stay till the end. The first is just a comedy scene, but the end one gives a hint on where the second movie will be going story wise. Not sure what trailers you will get but ours sucked and not sure why there were with this movie. A cranky Deniro movie, an old lady movie, another Trolls movie, the new TMNT movie and to my sons chagrin The Little Mermaid and Barbie.
At the end of the day this was very well done for a kids movie that has mass appeal to an entire generation of parents as well. I'm sure on second viewing I'll find some more flaws but for what it is I give it a 7.5/10. I had a great time with my son and really needed it after a crappy month at work where I've been dumped on constantly despite the results being far above expectations for Q1.
- Oct 5, 2017
- 2,306
- 6,270
Super Mario Brothers was awesome. Yes, lots of easter eggs worth seeing on re-watches as well. My buddy and I saw completely different ones watching at the same time. It definitely could be longer, but I am happy with the quality of the movie. Bowser was great, but the Luma (the flame prisoner thing) stole the show for me. I like that even though Peach for the most part was a "girl boss", it wasn't the in your face Captain Marvel "girl boss". She is more of the vulnerable, but kick ass hero like we've seen in the past that were awesome like Ripley or Sarah Conner (in a Nintendo, kid's movie setting of course). I put that in since Tim Pool seems to think the movie is "woke" because Peach isn't simply a damsel in distress. It is the most fun I've had at the movies since I saw No Way Home. It's a fun and funny movie that includes plenty of jokes, references and a somewhat true to the games type of story while referencing many spinoffs such as Mario Kart (which you can see some of in the trailer).
Side note, I take a small bit of pride in any Universal/Nintendo crossover project. In December 2014, I got to show Shigeru Miyamoto around Diagon Alley at Universal Studios; just him, his interpreter and myself. I know that maybe accounts for maybe .0001% of anything, but since it was the newest and best themed park area and they were trying to sell him on doing the Nintendo themed land with it, I like to believe there is a fraction of a percent there. I'll be honest though, I knew the name, but not the face until someone told me afterward who the "potential investor" I showed around was.
Side note, I take a small bit of pride in any Universal/Nintendo crossover project. In December 2014, I got to show Shigeru Miyamoto around Diagon Alley at Universal Studios; just him, his interpreter and myself. I know that maybe accounts for maybe .0001% of anything, but since it was the newest and best themed park area and they were trying to sell him on doing the Nintendo themed land with it, I like to believe there is a fraction of a percent there. I'll be honest though, I knew the name, but not the face until someone told me afterward who the "potential investor" I showed around was.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,094
- 26,308
Polar (20190 <Netflix>
I thought I'd reviewed this earlier, but knew I'd never finished it. In going into Netflix, I saw where I watched about 10min then quit...a long time ago. Killing an afternoon, went and finished it.
Stars Mads Mikkelson as a hitman reaching age 50. In the company, hit men are required to retire at 50. What is slowly revealed is the owner of the company is looking to sell it out, but it has a lot of financial liability, so the play is they hold retirement funds for each hitman complete with matching funds until they retire...and kill them and keep the money. What could go wrong? Well...it's more a question of what could go right in this case.
Mads is the ONLY recognizable face. Our company owner is a fat Bloefeld (Bond villain boss) as a whiny ineffectual ugly beyotch. We have 'Vivian' who is Mads' handler, who is trying to set him up for the kill for the company - attractive, but we don't see much. Then we have the hit squad of about 5 team members going after Mads. Only 'Sindy' shows us some arse and typically gets in bed with the target then says 'it is blow time' and as she heads down the sniper on the team puts a bullet in the target's back while the others close in to ensure a finished job. Other than Sindy boobage we get not a lot of show.
Mads is supposed to come off like a Liam Neeson cold steady killer, which he kinda does, but it's still weak. The rest of the film is unwatchable. Acting isn't even up to B-movie level. Action is better in a HS play. Dialogue is better at a 4y old's tea party with her stuffed animals. Family came home for the last 20 and had to listen to me complain endlessly about how bad the film was. But, for you, I suffered through and finished it.
Yes, there is a bit of twist at the end, but you don't care about the characters. Ever. And the twist is to make sense of the jumbled flashbacks, but it a) only partially does, b) doesn't physically look like a connection with the people in the flashback, and c) does too little to explain Mads' situation in the twist in terms of caring or being affected by it.
Final verdict 2.5/10 and 1pt of that is simply for the Sindy skin. Avoid this film at all costs.
I thought I'd reviewed this earlier, but knew I'd never finished it. In going into Netflix, I saw where I watched about 10min then quit...a long time ago. Killing an afternoon, went and finished it.
Stars Mads Mikkelson as a hitman reaching age 50. In the company, hit men are required to retire at 50. What is slowly revealed is the owner of the company is looking to sell it out, but it has a lot of financial liability, so the play is they hold retirement funds for each hitman complete with matching funds until they retire...and kill them and keep the money. What could go wrong? Well...it's more a question of what could go right in this case.
Mads is the ONLY recognizable face. Our company owner is a fat Bloefeld (Bond villain boss) as a whiny ineffectual ugly beyotch. We have 'Vivian' who is Mads' handler, who is trying to set him up for the kill for the company - attractive, but we don't see much. Then we have the hit squad of about 5 team members going after Mads. Only 'Sindy' shows us some arse and typically gets in bed with the target then says 'it is blow time' and as she heads down the sniper on the team puts a bullet in the target's back while the others close in to ensure a finished job. Other than Sindy boobage we get not a lot of show.
Mads is supposed to come off like a Liam Neeson cold steady killer, which he kinda does, but it's still weak. The rest of the film is unwatchable. Acting isn't even up to B-movie level. Action is better in a HS play. Dialogue is better at a 4y old's tea party with her stuffed animals. Family came home for the last 20 and had to listen to me complain endlessly about how bad the film was. But, for you, I suffered through and finished it.
Yes, there is a bit of twist at the end, but you don't care about the characters. Ever. And the twist is to make sense of the jumbled flashbacks, but it a) only partially does, b) doesn't physically look like a connection with the people in the flashback, and c) does too little to explain Mads' situation in the twist in terms of caring or being affected by it.
Final verdict 2.5/10 and 1pt of that is simply for the Sindy skin. Avoid this film at all costs.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,094
- 26,308
Red Dragon (2002) <Netflix>
I'm toying with getting my teen to watch Silence of the Lambs, as they are nearly 17 and very into horror (Saw is their favorite, by far). Red Dragon came up, and while I recall it being a prequel, albeit released after SotL, I figured why not.
For those unfamiliar with this one, it opens with Ed Norton (one of my faves) as an FBI agent working with the forensic psychologist, Dr. Lector trying to solve another series of crimes. Lector is a free citizen, on consultation, serving missing people up to his dinner guests who have no clue. During a visit/talk at Lector's house, Norton realizes HE is the killer, only to turn around and get stabbed - the two fight, then we flash forward through some news clippings of the arrest, trial, and imprisonment of Lector while Norton retires to be with his wife and son while feeling he can no longer do the job if he missed the killer right in front of him.
Years later, we have a new killer, and Harvey Keitel is the lead FBI agent on it. He reaches out to Norton for help because nobody else has the 'outside the box' thinking that Norton brings to such cases...but that's a lead in to asking Norton to consult again with Lector as nobody else can get anything from Lector. Reluctantly, Norton agrees.
The killer in this series is played fairly well by Ray Fiennes, a hair lipped introvert who hears a Red Dragon in a painting guiding him to evolve, and become the Red Dragon through these killings. Mix in Philip Seymour Hoffman as the news reporter from the Lector series picking up Norton's return and engagement with Lector and we have several solid actors to carry this story through.
As for story - Fiennes does very well as an insane killer, who gets torn up and confused towards the end but still brings a good performance. We have the early developments of Lector's conversation habits with FBI agents, seeking to tease a bit with insight but also using it for his own entertainment and motives. It all plays out fairly well, not an all time great film but very good for laying the Lector foundation (last scene sets up SotL). I'll give it 6/10 as not great, not on the edge of your seat, but solid. Very solid in what it was intended to provide, and delivered by a really good cast who all put in the work.
I'm toying with getting my teen to watch Silence of the Lambs, as they are nearly 17 and very into horror (Saw is their favorite, by far). Red Dragon came up, and while I recall it being a prequel, albeit released after SotL, I figured why not.
For those unfamiliar with this one, it opens with Ed Norton (one of my faves) as an FBI agent working with the forensic psychologist, Dr. Lector trying to solve another series of crimes. Lector is a free citizen, on consultation, serving missing people up to his dinner guests who have no clue. During a visit/talk at Lector's house, Norton realizes HE is the killer, only to turn around and get stabbed - the two fight, then we flash forward through some news clippings of the arrest, trial, and imprisonment of Lector while Norton retires to be with his wife and son while feeling he can no longer do the job if he missed the killer right in front of him.
Years later, we have a new killer, and Harvey Keitel is the lead FBI agent on it. He reaches out to Norton for help because nobody else has the 'outside the box' thinking that Norton brings to such cases...but that's a lead in to asking Norton to consult again with Lector as nobody else can get anything from Lector. Reluctantly, Norton agrees.
The killer in this series is played fairly well by Ray Fiennes, a hair lipped introvert who hears a Red Dragon in a painting guiding him to evolve, and become the Red Dragon through these killings. Mix in Philip Seymour Hoffman as the news reporter from the Lector series picking up Norton's return and engagement with Lector and we have several solid actors to carry this story through.
As for story - Fiennes does very well as an insane killer, who gets torn up and confused towards the end but still brings a good performance. We have the early developments of Lector's conversation habits with FBI agents, seeking to tease a bit with insight but also using it for his own entertainment and motives. It all plays out fairly well, not an all time great film but very good for laying the Lector foundation (last scene sets up SotL). I'll give it 6/10 as not great, not on the edge of your seat, but solid. Very solid in what it was intended to provide, and delivered by a really good cast who all put in the work.
- Sep 20, 2014
- 3,925
- 4,676
Cocaine Bear (Peacock) - It was free so why not. Everyone has seen the previews. This movie is absurd and if you go into it with your juvenile sense of humor active you will have a good time. If you go in this and expect a masterpiece like Jaws you are going to be extremely disappointed. Story line is simple as there are multiple crossing paths in the woods. Some hikers, a mom searching for her daughter and friend, park rangers, drug guys looking for their product and a police man chasing them. The bear gets into it and high as a kite goes on a rampage looking for it's next score. Most of the kills and scenes are for comedy and while a few are gory, are all in good fun. The CGI of the bears expressions add to the humor. The cast are all in on the joke and seem to be having fun playing in such a ridiculous film. It doesn't take itself to seriously and you shouldn't either. 6/10. Looks like a sequel is being planned.
- Jul 23, 2014
- 11,791
- 26,695
The reason for the ‘Funny’ is … can’t see the damned ‘Like’ button on my phone
- Sep 20, 2014
- 3,925
- 4,676
- Jun 19, 2014
- 21,438
- 47,966
Founding Member
I also took the kids to see Mario and found myself enjoying at least just as much. There was so much from Mario 1,2,3 and 64 I found myself constantly pointing and smiling. If you were a kid in the golden age of Nintendo this movie is pure nostalgia.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,094
- 26,308
American Pie presents: Girls Rule (2020) <Netflix>
Straight to DVD, sex comedy in the vein of the earlier ones but with unknown actors/characters (there is a Stifler in it). Wife picked it, I was in the room for the first 20min before I left. During that time there were, in fact, very many good laughs in just those 20min. No woke, but good adult humor. Wife had to keep sending our 14yo out of the room - definitely not kid content.
Would I watch the rest of it? Yeah, probably. It isn't a great film, but a good comedy leaning on an old storyline.
Straight to DVD, sex comedy in the vein of the earlier ones but with unknown actors/characters (there is a Stifler in it). Wife picked it, I was in the room for the first 20min before I left. During that time there were, in fact, very many good laughs in just those 20min. No woke, but good adult humor. Wife had to keep sending our 14yo out of the room - definitely not kid content.
Would I watch the rest of it? Yeah, probably. It isn't a great film, but a good comedy leaning on an old storyline.
- Jan 6, 2015
- 14,094
- 26,308
Guardians of the Galaxy 3 (2023) <Theater>
Took the 14yo and about 5 of his friends, even took the wife who is completely clueless on MCU. Boys liked it, many said it was their favorite of the three. Wife liked it, assumed she missed some inside jokes and references (there weren't really that many). I liked it, but wouldn't call it the top of the three.
Core storyline is Rocket gets injured, they can't doctor on him because whomever created him put in safeguards to explode him. So they go in search of his creator to get the code so they can save him. The film alternates between the going for the codes vs flashbacks for Rocket on his growing up, who were his friends then, etc. So, it gives a great bit of backstory for Rocket, and really gets you to buy in and bond with the character.
It felt to me that the majority of the film was characters yelling at each other, which felt old after awhile. Aside from the yelling, there were a LOT of good lines throughout, plenty of laughs; but also a lot of action, several cameos of previous characters. Our villain, High Evolutionary is a new character, but he's leaning on some of his creations (some of MCU's earlier characters) against GotG. Gamora is back, but completely different with a memory loss issue, so the romance between her and Quill is more of a melancholy on Quills end. It's not bad, and addresses that question. There is a mid credit scene, as well as a post credit scene, so stick around. The 'who' that will return was somewhat odd compared to how the film wrapped up and set up subsequent films with a different crew and captain for the GotG. Go see it, you shouldn't be disappointed. 8/10
Took the 14yo and about 5 of his friends, even took the wife who is completely clueless on MCU. Boys liked it, many said it was their favorite of the three. Wife liked it, assumed she missed some inside jokes and references (there weren't really that many). I liked it, but wouldn't call it the top of the three.
Core storyline is Rocket gets injured, they can't doctor on him because whomever created him put in safeguards to explode him. So they go in search of his creator to get the code so they can save him. The film alternates between the going for the codes vs flashbacks for Rocket on his growing up, who were his friends then, etc. So, it gives a great bit of backstory for Rocket, and really gets you to buy in and bond with the character.
It felt to me that the majority of the film was characters yelling at each other, which felt old after awhile. Aside from the yelling, there were a LOT of good lines throughout, plenty of laughs; but also a lot of action, several cameos of previous characters. Our villain, High Evolutionary is a new character, but he's leaning on some of his creations (some of MCU's earlier characters) against GotG. Gamora is back, but completely different with a memory loss issue, so the romance between her and Quill is more of a melancholy on Quills end. It's not bad, and addresses that question. There is a mid credit scene, as well as a post credit scene, so stick around. The 'who' that will return was somewhat odd compared to how the film wrapped up and set up subsequent films with a different crew and captain for the GotG. Go see it, you shouldn't be disappointed. 8/10
