Guardians of the Galaxy introduces movie fans to new Marvel characters

Do you consider comic books to be good literature?  If not, you'll have to content with millions of fans who would argue otherwise.  Check out my newest review from my my blog Movie Review Maven:

Movie Title:  Guardians of the Galaxy

Grade:  A

PG-13, 2 hours 1 minute

In a Nutshell:  FAN-Friggin-Tastic!  This movie is everything you want a summer popcorn blockbuster to be. 

By now, everyone has heard of Captain America: The First Avenger , Iron Man , and Thor , but not as many people are familiar with the characters in Guardians of the Galaxy , except maybe my cousin who owns a comic book store in Vegas.  I’m “hooked on a feeling”…..that you’ll be a fan now. 

The fun flick is FILLED with action, comedy, special effects, warmth, witty dialogue, and unexpected surprises that will tickle your insides that aren’t filled with popcorn.  There is so much to see in every scene that you’ll immediately want to get back in line at the theater and see it again. 

The audience I sat with cheered, laughed, clapped and remained seated until after the credits rolled….and was rewarded with one last surprise.  (SPOILER ALERT: Brush up on your Howard the Duck trivia.)  Fantastic fun for all ages.

Uplifting themes:  Never give up, believe in yourself, hold fast to good friends, stand up to evil.  

Things I liked:

• Rocket and Groot had the potential to become the Jar-Jar Binks death of this movie, but in fact, they enrich it and even steal the show in many scenes.
• Although the Guardians comic series came out in 1969, this feels like the Star Wars sequel movie lovers have been hoping for, complete with awesome air battle scenes, zany creatures, cool toys, and lovable misfits.
• Paying extra for 3D is worth it. 
• Chris Pratt was the perfect leading man, complimented by the acting and voice talents of Zoe Saldana (who goes from blue in the awesome Avatar movie to green in this film), David Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Benicio Del Toro, Glenn Close, and John C. Reilly.   
• Vin Diesel only has one line (“I am Groot”), but provides enough variety in the telling that communication is enhanced.  In fact, Rocket and Groot have a cute “Lassie” (“Timmy fell down the well!”) relationship, enabling Rocket to translate and carry on entire hilarious conversations with that single phrase.  Groot is full of delightful surprises and expressive facial movements.  Groot’s got skills!  My husband is built like Groot..all legs, broad but thin, sculpted jaw law, interesting angular head.  Don't tell him I said that.
• Be sure to catch the Stan Lee cameo in the beginning when Peter Quill goes to Zandor.
• 1970’s and 80’s music plays a fun and meaningful part in the movie.  I had one of those Walkman’s like Peter Quill’s, complete with orange foam headphones.  No doubt, the movie soundtrack and character merchandising will be popular items on Ebay and Amazon.
• You’ll see tons of cool gadgets, space ships, and special effects.
• You actually care about the characters.
• I liked that the stone-faced soldier bad guys were visually minimalistic, suggesting they were robotic followers without depth.  Am I reading too much into them?
• I loved Drax the Destroyer’s body art.  David Bautista joins the ranks of former WWE champion-turned-successful actor, along with The Rock, who kicked off his own summer blockbuster last weekend in Hercules.  (You can click here to read my movie review of Hercules.)
• The cool space pods that connect to form a glimmering protective net give new meaning to “star”ship.

Things I didn’t like:

• Some of the outfits worn by The Collector’s peeps were just silly.
• I thought Ronan the Accuser’s make-up was messy and not as cool as it could be. 

Funny lines:

•  “We’re just like Kevin Bacon.” – Gamora
• “What are you doing?”  - Ronan the Accuser

“I’m distracting you, you turd!”  - Peter Quill/Star-Lord

• “You’ve got the best eyebrows in the business.”  - Peter Quill/Star-Lord
• “I come from a planet of outlaws: Billie the Kid, Bonnie & Clyde, John Stamos…” – Peter Quill/Star-Lord
• “No one’s blowing up moons.”  - Drax the Destroyer

“You suck the joy out of everything.”  - Rocket

• “Dance-off, bro.  Me and you.”  - Peter Quill/Star-Lord
• “I can’t believe I’m taking orders from a hamster.” – Denarian Saal
• “I wasn’t listening.  I was thinking about something else.” – Drax the Destroyer
• “I found something inside myself, incredibly heroic…not to brag.” – Peter Quill/Star-Lord
• “You are a disappointment, Sister.  Out of all our siblings, I hated you least.” – Nebula
• “You’re making me beat up grass!” - Rocket

Tips for parents:   There is some profanity, but it flies past so quickly that you might miss it.  There is a lot of violence (mostly bloodless), a huge body-count, and the characters are admittedly flawed…in fact, are wanted criminals, as opposed to Marvel’s heroic and squeaky-clean Captain America.  Gamers in your family will get their daily fix.  There is some sexual innuendo that should go over the heads of little ones and some adults, such as mention of a black light and a Jackson Pollock painting…

Let the fun merchandising begin!

What is Earth to Echo missing in the script?

Most of you who read this blog are either writers yourselves or true book lovers, right?   You know by now that I love to write movie reviews and often compare them to the book that has usually become a best-seller before the story hit the big screen.

I recently saw Earth to Echo and wrote a review on it.  One of my biggest complaints of the movie, besides the terrible acting, was the bad script.

Have any of you ever tried your hand at scriptwriting?  If so, what has been your experience?  I'm sure it's a lot harder than it looks, and I'm the first to admit I wouldn't do a very good job at it either!

Movie Title:  Earth To Echo

PG, 1 hour 29 minutes

Grade:  C

In a Nutshell:  This tween flick feels like an attempt at remaking E.T., The Extra-Terrestrial or even Super 8 with The Goonies (1985) , but not as magical and charming as any of those.  Relativity producers could learn a lesson from Spielberg.  Even the ad imitates the beloved E.T. movie poster.

The film takes some misfit kids on a scavenger hunt to help an extraterrestrial find the pieces he needs to rebuild his spaceship and return home.  While that’s not exactly an original script, it’ll feel fresh to little ones who haven’t yet experienced the better movies I just mentioned.

The movie is shot from the homemade perspective of one of the boys who is using his camcorder, so much of it is shaky and may cause motion sickness.   Remember Cloverfield ?  (That made me so dizzy I thought I was going to throw up.)  Sony HD cams get the spotlight on product placement in this flick.

Uplifting theme:  

• “Having a friend light years away taught us that distance is just a state of mind.” – Tuck
• Kids can do anything.  In the beginning of the movie, Tuck shakes his head in dismay and says “you have no power to stop ‘cuz you’re just a kid.” By the end, he and his friends feel empowered to do anything.

Things I liked:

• They did a good job using technology to address how kids today spend their lives.  They follow a map that appears on their combined smartphones, and then they do Google searches for things like “weird barf shapes on my phone.”  Check out the Google Glasses.
• Echo is pretty doggone cute. 
• There are some cool special effects, like when Echo makes an oncoming truck disassemble in air so that the kids aren't hurt.

Things I didn’t like:

• The acting was really terrible.  I really wanted to fall in love with the kids, but it just felt like they were auditioning for a school play.
• How convenient that the alien understands English.
• The kids steal their older brother’s car and take it for a joy ride without a license or training.  Thanks for putting that idea into millions of pre-teens’ heads.
• Of course, the kids in the movie are smarter than the bumbling, idiot adults. 
• The kids are unhappy because they’re being forced out of their homes so that a freeway could be built in the area.  They rant and rave as if that’s completely inhumane, but in reality, their parents are being paid for their properties.
• Tuck states “Our whole lives we’ve been invisible…the good kids.  Not anymore.”  Again, thanks for putting that great idea out there for kids to emulate.
• The kids cheer wildly in the predictable ending “We did that!”  Um no, Echo did.

Interesting lines:

• Tuck tells his bros that he kissed a cute girl.  When they find out he really didn’t, he explains “It’s aspirational thinking…you’re thinking one thing and living it the next.”  Hmmm…has he been reading the book The Secret ?

Funny lines:

• “I need an Advil.”  - Mudge
• “Did your phone barf?” – Tuck
• “I think mannequins are hot.”  - Mudge
• Why don’t you just play with your super rich friends and eat steak or something.”  - Alex
• The kids go into a bar and one of them says “Look old!”

Tips for parents:   Young kids will probably enjoy this movie, especially if they’ve never seen E.T.  They love to watch other kids become heroes and do things adults think they can’t do….or defy them to do.  The language is clean and the script is mostly harmless.

Now, if you want to introduce your kids to some classics, help them discover the following:

Ender's Game book turned movie now out on DVD

I'm always so happy for authors who are able to get their words onto the big screen as a feature film!  Congrats to Orson Scott Card!   His movie is now out on DVD, so I figured I'd share one of the movie reviews I write on my movie review blog.

Movie Title:  Ender's Game

PG-13, 1 hour 53 minutes

Grade: A-

In a Nutshell:  This sci-fi tween thriller deserved to be made into a film, as the book has been popular with kids since 1985.  Most of the source book fans have been very pleased with the movie adaptation, although they admit that a few interesting aspects were rushed or necessarily left out because of the time constraints. The battle scenes feel like you’re watching someone play a video game, but the special effects are pretty amazing.  You’ll feel like a 12 year old kid again and wish you could float around in the battle simulator.

Things I liked:   

• I love Harrison Ford, even if I have to see him as a grumpy, aging man. 
• I’ve also adored Ben Kingsley ever since he won an Oscar for Best Actor in Gandhi many years ago.  The design on his face was very cool and supposed to represent a way to speak for the dead.  His father was a Maori.  I have a friend whose ancestry is Maori.  He plays the ukulele and sings songs in Maori for his students.
• You feel like you get your money’s worth because the film is long, but moves quickly.  
• I thought Ender’s squeaky, pubescent voice was perfect because it constantly reminds you that he is still just a boy.  Asa Butterfield does a terrific job.  I loved him in Hugo.  Ben Kingsley was in that movie as well.  It was simply stunning in 3D.
• I liked the cadets’ white casual wear and would like one for myself to wear at home when I’m just kicking around.
• I hadn’t read the book, so I had no idea what was going to happen.  I love twists.
•  The zero gravity room looks super fun!  I went Indoor Skydiving in Las Vegas recently and had a blast…literally!  A giant fan blasts air at you so that you float.  I highly recommend it!  This is a picture of my husband, son, and I after our indoor skydiving experience, which is probably the closest we'll ever get to a zero gravity feeling:   

Things I didn’t like:

• So, it only takes 3 adults to run that entire spaceship? 
• I was surprised at the amateur-looking credits at the end of the movie.
• It takes itself a little bit too seriously and could have been improved with more peppering of humor.

Uplifting theme:

• The way we win matters.
• “Let us train our soldiers so they can be gifted at war AND peace.”

Funny lines:

• “This is basic rocket science, people!”  - teacher
• “Game over.” - Ender

Interesting lines:

*  “When you truly understand your enemy, you love them.”

Things to look for:

• The button on the back of their necks that is used to monitor them reminded me of The Matrix .
• Hailee Steinfeld plays a character whose name is Petra.   Petra means rock in Latin.  She becomes Ender’s rock throughout their experience in the training experience in the International Fleet.

Tips for parents: There is a lot of violence, some bullying, and a repeated use of the word “A**hole” in Spanish by a character named Bonzo.  There is no other profanity, other than mean name-calling by bullies.  There are some interesting moral dilemmas that could provide interesting dinner conversations for your family.

If your tween loved the movie, you can find the box set of the book series here: