Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Rated PG-13

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Director

James Gunn (Dawn of the Dead, Scooby-Doo, Slither)

Cast

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, David Bautista, Lee Pace, Vin Diesel

Twitter-fied Plot Summary

From the creators of "The Avengers," Marvel studios brings another beloved comic book ensemble to life on the big screen. In this adventure, Peter Quill, a rogue space outlaw steals a mysterious orb whose origins are slowly revealed as Quill joins forces with four other intergalactic misfits. 

Review Byte

Raves

• Mix between Star Trek and The Avengers, but different than both in the best of ways...and more enthusiastic
• Ensemble cast flowed very well together with individual quirks, all held together by the likable and funny Chris Pratt
• Family-friendly, sheer fun and thoroughly humorous for all ages
• Nostalgic and perfectly selected soundtrack leaves you wanting more

Rants

• Since the film is based on a comic book, much of the content is filled with space jargon and alludes to its comic book elements that is slightly difficult to follow
• Screen time hits around two hours, which is a fairly long feature, though most Marvel films tend to have similar running times
• Peter Quill (played by Chris Pratt) was no doubt a breath of fresh air as the lead, but many golden moments were simplistically performed by Groot

Fun Fact

According to IMDB, Chris Pratt cites heroes Han Solo and Marty McFly as influences on his performance as Star-Lord/Peter Quill. This mixture essentially summarizes the feel of this witty adventure.

Final Consensus 

If this is still in theaters near you, definitely check it out. If not, check it out just the same. Pure fun. 

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Rated PG-13

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Director

Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, writer of Lethal Weapon franchise)

Cast

Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Jon Favreau, Ben Kingsley

Twitter-fied Plot Summary

This installment has Tony Stark facing his past with the threat of an international terrorist while battling an identity crisis after the events that took place in New York. 

Review Byte

Though a fun, action-filled flick with enough entertainment for the whole family, it lacks the usual stylish demeanor of the past films in the 'Iron Man' franchise. Iron Man 3 tackles a new, mature theme of self-discovery with Tony Stark questioning his identity outside of his suit. While it's an interesting and refreshing premise, it was poorly explored and executed. This chapter in the Iron Man series essentially comes off as simply a filler movie while we wait for the release of Avengers 2.

Raves

• Well-presented performances by key actors (specifically RDJ and Sir Kingsley) 
• Properly executed delivery of comedic lines and scenes
• 'The Mandarin'

Rants

• Plot not necessary to drive the progression of the 'Iron Man' series
• Lacks usual zeal that was present in the first and second Iron Man, which were both directed by Jon Favreau
• Absence of a kick-ass soundtrack (also presumably due to the change in director)

Fun Fact

Be sure to sit through the credits to catch the post-credit scene which features a familiar face.

Final Consensus

While skipping this wouldn't hinder your understanding of the 'Iron Man' storyline, it's a good popcorn flick to watch with the family or a group of friends.