Guardians of the Galaxy

MY RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Marvel Studios has done it again with another outstanding entry to its Cinematic Universe!! 2014 has really been a huge year for Marvel comic-based movies with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and X-Men: Days of Future Past scoring big in the box office. This time, Marvel Studios attempts to introduce a team mostly unknown by the mainstream public, making it one of it's riskiest film since Iron Man. But a movie about an epic and colourful space adventure with an old-school 70s vibe to it and a talking raccoon carrying a machine gun, who would want to miss it? 

Simply put, Guardians of the Galaxy is about a the unlikely alliance of a group of criminals, each with their own agendas, to save the galaxy against an all-powerful adversary, Ronan the Accuser, who plans to destroy it using a powerful orb.

What I am surprised by this film is that it uses a style practically unused by any other comic-book movie. It is colourful, upbeat, retro, witty, and it could be considered a comedy more than it is a thriller. Director James Gunn really nailed the tone of the movie, creating a spectacle that is entertaining in both its comedy and action. The plot is also great as well. Marvel Studio has been coming up with great stories with its films but the writing for this film is exceptionally incredible because they not only able to bring together the Guardians of the Galaxy, a ragtag team of misfits with different agendas, they are also able to introduce numerous supporting characters like The Collector, Yondu and Nebula and weave them seamlessly into the plot with each having their moment to shine.

The actors were really great in this film. Chris Pratt was perfect for Star-Lord as he brings a lot of comedy into the character, making him a lovable goof-ball. I also love the choice of Bradley Cooper as Rocket and Vin Diesel as Groot. It must have been a great challenge for Vin Diesel to bring so much life and expression to a character only through the use of three monosyllabic words. James Gunn mentioned that Rocket to him was the heart of this film but I felt that Groot was the one who stole the show. He is unexpectedly funny and simply adorable at times. 

Being thoroughly entertaining, there weren't many downsides to this film. However, one has to constantly pay attention to understand what is going on in the film, for they do not make use of any form of monologue to share details about the storyline or the cosmic universe but instead plant them through dialogue between the characters. Also being a very colourful film, some of the action scenes in space gave me a sense of motion sickness but it's a minor issue. 

In all, Guardians of the Galaxy may be one of the best films released this summer and it is definitely one to catch. I am totally excited for the sequel as well as the crossover between Guardians and The Avengers, even though it probably won't happen any time soon. 

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

MY RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The summer blockbuster season is about to come to a close but Hollywood continues to deliver great films nonetheless!

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is set 10 years after the events of Rise of the Planet of the Apes where most of humanity is being wiped out by the virus that made the apes who they are. The remaining humans immune to the virus reside in a colony in ruined San Francisco. Meanwhile, Caesar has become the leader of a thriving community of apes living in the woods. However, following an encounter that left both species threatened by the other, both sides are inadvertently brought to war to determine which species triumphs over the other.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes undeniably exceeds all standards set by its predecessor. It boasts a strong, well-written plot which is executed well on screen. Not a minute is wasted on scenes unrelated to the plot and the film continues to capture your attention from start to end with it's trilling action and the numerous twists and turns in the storyline. What I like about the plot is that there is more than two sides when it comes to the war between the humans and the apes, in fact there are conflicts among the individual communities happening simultaneously and it is amazing how the film managed to string all these elements into one seamless flow.

The film also invests a lot of screen time in bringing out emotional scenes which I am very impressed by. It is great how motion capture technology today is able to bring out the facial expressions of actors in computer generated characters, allowing to characters to behave more life-like. I never imagine I'd be more emotionally attached to the apes than I was to the humans.

In all, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes contains every aspect of an amazing summer blockbuster with a powerful story, adrenaline-pumping action and incredible special effects. It is definitely a step up from the previous film and I highly recommended this for it is a film that anyone can genuinely enjoy. 

Edge Of Tomorrow

MY RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 

The summer blockbuster season is in full swing and this time we get to see another sci-fi action-packed thriller movie starring Tom Cruise.

In Edge of Tomorrow, continental Europe has been invaded by an alien species referred to as Mimics. Tom Cruise plays Major William Cage, an officer who has never experience combat first-hand but is unceremoniously dropped into a suicide mission by the military to take back Europe. He is quickly killed but then wakes up the day before, realising that he is being thrown in a endless time-loop that forces him to re-live the day and then die, over and over again.

Edge of Tomorrow came as a surprise to me. I thought it would be another moderately good Tom Cruise action movie like Jack Reacher and Oblivion. However, it turned out to have a good plot, amazing CGI and enough action from start to end to make my heart race. The Mimics, I have to say, are the scariest alien beings I have seen so far on film, particularly because they are so fast and relentless.

What I liked about most about Edge of Tomorrow is how there is an endless number of ways the story could go and it gives the audience a feeling of suspense throughout. There were many times where I felt the movie was reaching it's climax but it turned out to be a dead end which forces the characters to take on a different lead. There was a couple of humour placed in the film, especially when it ties to him dying and resetting in several ridiculous ways.

For a movie where the plot repeats itself over and over again, Edge of Tomorrow clearly does not tire the audience out. It is thrilling, engaging, suspenseful and funny and will definitely earn the likes of audiences. I truly recommend this to anyone seeking out a good thriller. 

How To Train Your Dragon 2

MY RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED 

You have to admit, Toothless does remind you of Stitch from Lilo & Stitch. That's probably because the director of the How To Train Your Dragon franchise, Dean DeBlois, and the executive producer, Chris Sanders, co-wrote and co-directed Lilo & Stitch back in the days. This aside, How To Train Your Dragon 2 is such a thrilling film to watch! I am glad that this sequel was able to live up to the expectations set by the first film. With no Pixar contender this year, I could easily see this film clinching the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. 

How To Train Your Dragon 2 is set 5 years after the events of the first film and Hiccup has grown into a confident, skilled, dragon-riding teenager. Together with his dragon, Toothless, he ventures into new lands and discovers more about his past when he inexplicably ran into his long-lost mother, who turns out to be a dragon rider as well. Reunited, they have to take on a powerful adversary who threatens to seize all of the dragons under his control. 

What I really love about this film is that is brought back everything you like about the first film and added new elements to it that kept the film fresh and exhilarating. There were several unexpected twists and turns in the story that kept the movie interesting throughout and the audience wondering how is this all going to end. It is packed with adrenaline-pumping action that young audiences would enjoy as well as a number of beautifully-done heartfelt, nostalgic moments that children and adults alike would love. The tones in the film were also well-defined and I am surprised by how brave the producers are to introduce darker elements to a film meant for young audiences.

The animation in the film was extremely well-done. One of the best I've seen yet. I could really tell that they paid a lot of attention on the skin texture for both human and dragons as well as the fabric, although I have to concede that Disney did a better job animating ice and snow in Frozen than DreamWorks did in this film.

In all, How To Train Your Dragon 2 is a film everyone, young and old, would enjoy. It is definitely a film I would recommend for parents who want to take their children out for a movie, or for anyone who loves animated films. 

X-Men: Days of Future Past

MY RATING: MUST WATCH

Bryan Singer returns to save the X-Men!!! In X-Men: Days of Future Past we get to see the cast of the original X-Men Trilogy meet the cast of the X-Men: First Class in a prequel/sequel/reboot instalment in the X-Men franchise. It can be a little confusing in terms of where this movie is placed in the timeline and how its events affect the overall sequence of events but I as far as I am concerned, this movie is just so incredible that I actually enjoyed it better than Captain America: The Winter Soldier. 

X-Men: Days of Future Past has all the elements of a great superhero movie. The script has to be one of the most well-done I've seen, especially with the element of time travel involved. Time travel tends to confuse the audiences but I am glad that the time travelling element of the story is well-thought out and well-executed. 

There was a lot of character development in the film too, which in a way made the film feel very mature. We see Wolverine step out of his comfort zone and be the person of guidance for once. We also get to see Professor X in is lowest point in his life and Mystique's internal struggles that has developed her from the innocent friend of Charles Xavier in X-Men: First Class to the cold-hearted figure we've known in the original X-Men Trilogy 

The action scenes were amazing, especially the battle between the X-Men and Sentinels in the future. I was so stoked to see Iceman's upgraded powers and also the new additions Bishop, Sunspot and Blink in action. The battle was both intense and heartfelt and the future sentinels do present themselves a formidable adversary. 

There was also a considerable amount of humour added to the film which helped lighten the tone a little. Most of it is tied to the character Quicksilver which is undeniably one of the highlights of the film. Quicksilver such a quirky character and the scenes of him running around in slow-motion is simply the most entertaining part of the film. 

In addition, with a huge ensemble cast, I am glad that the film managed to find the balance between characters and give each character an adequate amount of screen-time. The pacing was also well-done and no scene felt out-of-place or unnecessary to the story.

Lastly, what I am most happy about this film is the fact that it brings the X-Men franchise onto the right track after it has been messed around by several directors and writers. It is sort of Bryan Singer's way of saying "Move aside, this is my franchise!" Sure, there are going to be several minor continuity issues with this instalment of X-Men like where did Wolverine get his adamantium claws back after loosing them in The Wolverine, but its best if we look past these details and focus on the overall picture.

In all, X-Men: Days of Future Past is undoubtedly my favourite X-Men movie as well as my favourite superhero movie of 2014 thus far and it will definitely give anyone watching it a thrilling, entertaining and rewarding time at the cinema.

SPOILER WARNING FOR THE CONTENTS BELOW

Godzilla

MY RATING: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

We finally get to see the iconic Japanese Kaiju back on the big screen and simply put, it was one of the most rewarding monster movies I've watched so far, perhaps even topping Pacific Rim.

Godzilla hits all the right notes. I could really tell that the director Gareth Edwards took a lot of effort in ensuring that the beast and the story stay true to its roots and not repeat Roland Emmerich's 1998 Godzilla flop. The result was a well-balanced, well-written and well-paced monster movie with enough intensity, emotion and action to keep the audiences' adrenaline pumping. 

One of the great treats from the film was the introduction of a few other Kaijus to the story which opens up more possibilities to which the story can go. Unlike Spider-Man's villains, the law of diminishing marginal returns do not really apply here. The additional Kaijus actually helped enhance the story, leading to a great and fulfilling conclusion.

When it comes to acting, Bryan Cranston's stellar performance in the first act of the film really set the bar for standards which the subsequent lead actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson struggled to maintain. I am a little disappointed the Bryan Cranston did not have the amount of screen-time I expect him to have, but he delivered a strong performance nonetheless. Elizabeth Olsen and Ken Watanabe were also good but unfortunately movies like these do not offer much character development and interactions. 

In all, Godzilla is a fantastic re-imagination of the famous genre that is not only able to honour the legacy this beloved monster but also bring it to the modern age. It is definitely a film viewers would enjoy and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to watch a great summer blockbuster movie. 

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

MY RATING: RECOMMENDED 

The second instalment to the Spider-Man reboot is finally here! Spider-Man returns in this sequel adjusted for inflation with more villains, more action and more emotional drama. In general, I really enjoyed this film, although there were several approaches and concepts I feel could have been improved on.

In The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man has gotten used to his powers and his responsibilities in protecting the city of New York against crime. However, he still struggles to find the truth behind his parents leaving and struggles to keep the promise to Gwen Stacy's father to stay away from Gwen. Amidst this, he faces new adversaries, including Electro and his old friend, Harry Osborne. 

What I really liked from The Amazing Spider-Man 2 are the actions, acting, humour as well as the chemistry between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy. The actions in the film are spectacular and the CGI is one of the most impressive I've ever scene. The fight scenes between Spider-Man and Electro and Harry Osborne are undoubtedly the highlights of the film. A lot of attention is being paid to detail in this film, especially in terms of Spider-Man's suit and Electro's skin, making a lot of CGI scenes look very realistic. 

The acting was also great and it made the film more compelling to watch. Andrew Garfield plays Spider-Man perfectly and at times I felt that he portrayed Spider-Man a lot better than Toby McGuire in the original trilogy as he is able to bring more charisma and humour to the character. Also, the chemistry between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy is so powerful and natural that you want to root for them to be together regardless of how complicated their relationship is. 

On the flip side, there were also many parts of the film that I felt could have been improved. I felt that the character developments for the villains could have been a lot better. Max Dillon (a.k.a. Electro) merely came across as a weird anti-social character who seems to be suffering from a mental disorder. This makes him quite unrelatable and thus failing to garner the amount of sympathy it should deserve. Harry Osborne came across as a jerk in a very superficial manner. The original series did a lot better in the character development of the Green Goblin. Harry's introduction in this film felt a little forced and his transformation to the Green Goblin also felt a little too rushed.

The mystery behind Pater Parker's parents' departure was resolved in this film, but after all the hype and suspense that has been built up around the mystery, the resolution felt a little too underwhelming. Many critics reviewed the film saying that the plot was too heavy with all the issues and villains coming into Peter Parker's life and that it made the storytelling clunky. There is some truth in this but I feel that such a problem is inevitable and that the director, Marc Webb, did his best to tie all of these together using the common theme of responsibility and making the right choices. 

In all, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 will undeniably be an enjoyable time for all. Marc Webb did a good job with this film and I am eager to know what comes next in this franchise.