Ed's Review Dot Com

Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures,

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Kurt Russell, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Sylvester Stallone, Glenn Close, Sean Gunn, Chris Sullivan, Nathan Fillion, Laura Haddock, Tommy Flanagan

The Guardians are back in Volume two of this Marvel series, with all the usual characters. But Peter (Chris Pratt) is wondering about his true identity when a powerful godlike person named Ego (Kurt Russell) shows up claiming to be his real Father. He convinces Peter to travel back to his planet where he can explain the whole history of who Peter really is, while the rest of the team is left behind, being attacked and trying to fight off a new evil villain and his gang. If you’re a fan of the first movie this film is a must see.

This is a great adventure film, and very, very well done, as was the first film. The filmmakers have created a great cast of characters and have added to it with some clever new ones. There are also a lot of cameos in this movie as well that are fun to see. But the excitement and adventure level if very high, and it’s fast moving and perfectly paced to keep you into the whole film. Chris Pratt is excellent, and his under the surface relationship with Gamora (Zoe Saldana) is not only hysterically funny, but quite touching. Each of these characters who are now known to us are much better developed, and they play together better than any group I’ve seen. As you know, I’m not a big fan of comic book movies, but this one really breaks the usual mold and is a very interesting movie. I enjoyed the first one, and definitely found this one to be just as good. If somehow you managed to miss this sequel, since it’s out on DVD it’s a definite must see. I highly recommend this movie for young and old alike. Well done.

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Fox 2000 Pictures, TSG Entertainment, Annapurna Pictures,

Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Édgar Ramírez , Elisabeth Röhm, Dascha Polanco, Isabella Rossellini, Diane Ladd, Virginia Madsen

Joy (Jennifer Lawrence) is loosely based on the true story of Joy Mangano, a successful early TV marketer who built an empire on her own inventions. Joy is struggling with a broken family and trying to survive with all the crazy occupants of her house, when she determines to set out to make and sell the self wringing mop that she invented. Borrowing money from her father’s new beau, and he ex husband and even taking a 2nd mortgage on her house she sets out to pull off this miracle, but wading her way through the rough storm of the ruthless business world is about to take her down.

This is a loose biographical film based on the real Joy Mangano, but of course a lot of poetic license has been taken. Jennifer delivers a really stunning performance as the harried mom trying to make the best out of all the trouble, and Bradley Cooper is pretty decent as an executive at QVC who gives her a chance or two. Robert DeNiro offers some support as well as her father, giving advice right and left, but not being very coherent most of the time. All in all it’s a comedy of errors, and though it’s not a truly wonderful film, due to the weakness (I think) in the script itself, these actors did the best the could with a kind of flawed script, I think. Still, I did find it entertaining, and did not hate it like so many did. I didn’t find it boring, and to be honest, Jennifer Lawrence, I though, really nailed the role. She is really getting good these days. I found it pulling me into the story and enjoying the stages poor Joy had to go through to get tough enough to survive in this harsh environment we know as business. I recommend this film, and thought it wasn’t a bad film at all.

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2929 Productions, Chockstone Pictures, Nick Wechsler Productions,

Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Rhys Ifans, Toby Jones

George Pemberton (Bradley Cooper) lives in depression era North Carolina where he is trying to run the Pemberton lumber business. He’s a harsh boss, but he tries to be fair. He’s just not getting ahead due to some dumb decisions. When he meets the lovely Serena (Jennifer Lawrence), who is a stunning witty blonde who is all alone, he immediately falls for her, but she has many reservations. But she has a strong sense of business that leads to a very prosperous company at a time when money was hard to come by. But when Serena learns that George has an illegitimate child and she is barren, things turn sour pretty quickly.

This is a stunning film with beautiful views and the cinematography is top notch. There’s also astounding talent in this film with Bradley and Jennifer tearing up the screen whether they’re loving or fighting. This is, after all, primarily a love story after all. But if there’s anything that lacking in this film, it’s how the story is written. It’s not as catching as it should be, and we are not drawn in as much as we could be. Parts get boring, especially when Jennifer and Bradley are not together, and though they do their best, it’s not their fault. I think there should have been a bit more effort into the story to make it flow a little more clearly. This is a very beautiful love story and drama, well acted, and well shot. It’s well worth watching and I did enjoy it very much, but I feel like it could have been a lot better than it was. It’s an excellent film to study and draw your own opinions, but I felt as though they missed the mark a bit, and it could have been a home run. I do like Jennifer and Bradley together, and I feel with a slighter tighter story they would have nailed it.

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Warner Bros., Village Roadshow Pictures, Mad Chance Productions,

Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Kevin Lacz, Cory Hardict, Navid Negahban

Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) was a young man who grew up with a religious father who was very strict with them. He grew up strong and straight and true with a real desire to do what’s right. He was about to become a professional cowboy, traveling the rodeo circuit with his younger brother when 9/11 changed everything. Outraged by the terrorist actions of this date, Chris put his life and his new family on hold to become a Navy Seal in Special Operations and head to Iraq. He was blessed with a sharp eye and became the most proficient sniper in history. His primary goal was to protect his Marines and see that they were able to get home safely. The multiple tours took a toll on him and his wife, and when it was over, he tried to find purpose in his life, and he spent the few years he had left trying to help other soldiers, and writing a memoir of his experience. This documentary produced by Clint Eastwood is based on his biography in his own words.

This was a decisive film. Clint Eastwood is loved by many and hated by the rest. His own life would make a wonderful movie, but he does know how to tell a story. His attention to detail in this film is amazing and we experience the horrors of war in first person. I am not sure if Bradley Cooper was the perfect casting choice, but he has the look of Chris Kyle, and I felt he did a good job in the role. He’s a good actor, and seemed to throw himself into the world. In some ways it’s nice to see an American hero like this along with his faults and weaknesses. They are not superheroes, but regular guys doing their best who are able to accomplish amazing feats, but who are not perfect. The controversy about this film seems to be based upon political lines. The pacifists don’t like the idea of making a hero of a killer, but the soldiers will be there doing their job regardless, and the enemy had snipers as well. We would have had many more casualties if there were not men like Chris who put their skills to test to protect our boys. This was a very noble thing to do. I was very, very impressed with the work done on this film and with the story that was told, and the fact that is is nearly a pure documentary. I think it’s good that a story like this can be told in a feature film so that more people are able to see it. If it were a true documentary and not a docu-drama, it would not have received the widespread audience that it did. The story is a tragedy, and I like the way Clint did not spend a lot of time on the tragedy at the end, but just stated the facts as the movie was closing. I would have appreciated a bit more about the occurrence however, and immediately went to Wikipedia to understand more of the events of that day. But since this work is based on Chris’ writings, obviously it wasn’t in the book. I understand why Clint cut it off as he did. I think this was a very well constructed film, and I truly felt like I had witnessed something awful, yet very important. Congratulations to all the people involved in this movie and I appreciate your outstanding efforts to bring this story to life. I highly recommend this film.

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Marvel Studios, Marvel Enterprises, Moving Picture Company (MPC),

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio Del Toro

Out in space, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) learns that he is being chased after he finds an orb wanted by Ronin the Accuser. Peter is in a heap of trouble, but he puts together an unlikely group of heroes and before long they learn that they are all that stands between Ronin and the destruction of the Galaxy.

This is a very long awaited movie based on the Marvel comic books. This movie did not disappoint. Not only was it killing at the box office, which is good for the film business, but it capped off a rather bland summer movie season. This one has a lot of humor, is really good for both kids and adults. It has a PG-13 rating, but after reviewing it, we took my 6 year old grandson with us who really liked it. There is some violence and evil, but it’s an adventure movie at that and nothing you’d really suspect. But you need to make your own decision about kids 12 and under and how well they will accept it. The characters are perfect. Well I did have a little trouble with Chris Pratt as Peter Quill because I have a terrible time separating him from his character on Parks and Recreation. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t let that go. But that’s my fault, not his. Damn typecasting. Of course the giant walking tree, Shroot (Vin Diesel), and the raccoon are CGI, but very pleasant CGI that doesn’t interfere with the story. CGI can be touchy in a big film like this, and if it’s not done right, it’s very distracting. Here these characters are just as alive as the human characters and it’s done very well. Finally to top it off, I had the opportunity of watching this in 3D IMAX, and not the new IMAX where they throw a sheet over their regular screen and call it BIG SCREEN. I mean the original huge screen 7 stories tall and the huge theater with a true IMAX sound system. That part was AWESOME. I wouldn’t want to plunk down the extra fees for IMAX if it wasn’t a real IMAX projection system with the true IMAX screen. That made the whole experience extra special. This was definitely a big enough movie to see on the BIG SCREEN in 3D. The technical aspects were stunning, and the story was really good. This is probably the only MUST-SEE from this summer, and though school is back in and Labor Day is long gone, there is still a chance to see this film in the theater where you really ought to see it. I was highly impressed with the quality of this feature in every way.

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