FRANK (2014)

The Summer movie season is over, and it's time for me to catch up on movies that will never have a $50 million opening weekend. I still need to see Snowpiercer and The Zero Theorem, and I will hopefully have writings on those in the near-future. For now, you'll just have to read my thoughts on Frank.

The film is based in part on Chris Sievey's comedic persona, Frank Sidebottom. I'm not very familiar with this subject matter, so there's not much I can offer in that department. Domhnall Gleeson is Jon, a young composer who joins an obscure band with an unpronounceable name, with a mascot in the form of the mysterious and strangely likable Frank (Michael Fassbender).

I initially expected Frank to be a typical indie-comedy, and it certainly plays like one in its first half. One of my favorite scenes has Jon trying to compose songs out of his walk home, with the lyrics playing in his mind. In the second half, things get a bit darker, particularly when it is revealed that Jon has made the band popular via social media. The "Soronprfbs" are used to playing for virtually no one, and are terrified at the prospect of becoming known to the general public.

The biggest surprise for me was discovering that Jon is not just an audience surrogate character. Sure, that is Jon's function at the start of the movie, but he uses the band as a means of becoming known. Jon wants the big gig in the second act more than any of the band members do. I appreciate that the filmmakers decided not to make Jon a completely likable character, and made him a bit vague.

Other recognizable faces populate the film; Maggie Gyllenhaal plays Clara, a band member with a romantic attachment to Frank, and delivers a fine supporting performance. Same goes for Scoot McNairy who plays the band's manager, Don. 

Of course, Michael Fassbender steals the show as the masked titular character. Despite his face being covered throughout the film, Fassbender gives an incredibly vulnerable performance. Fassbender's voice alone provides enough support to create a memorable character, and makes me want the actor to star in other intelligent comedies. Many of the film's jokes come from Frank's mask and how others can't make-out his facial expressions, and are quite humorous. 

Frank was a movie that I was eagerly awaiting for some time, and I can say with ease that Frank is one of my favorite movies of 2014. If you wish to watch Frank, it is available on VOD through services like iTunes and Amazon Instant Video.

-Joey DeAngelis

The Frustrating Truth About Blockbusters

NOTE: I wanted to publish this a few weeks back, but I've decided to release it today, especially since it applies to the Michael Bay-produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Recently, Transformers: Age of Extinction became the 19th film in history to join the $1 billion club. This club has some great, and not-so great films, including the third Transformers film.

Below is a list of the highest grossing films of all-time for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/world/

If you are wondering, I did contribute to this blockbuster's success, (under protest) and I am part of the problem. You know what? I really didn't matter if I saw this movie or not, because the darn thing would still be a hit.

Makes me think of the people who don't vote, based on the principle, "their vote doesn't matter." In the case of Transformers and Avatar, that statement is absolutely applicable.

Consider this: at the time I'm writing this blog, Age of Extinction has grossed around $242 million domestically, meaning the US and Canada. The film has grossed $790 million in the other territories alone. The film's production budget is $200 million, and roughly the same amount has been given to marketing it.

Do you notice something interesting about those numbers? Literally, no one has to see Age of Extinction in the United States or Canada, and the film would still be a reasonable hit worldwide. Granted, the studios would probably like to see the film gross $800 million overseas, but it'll get there in due time. In China alone it grossed over $300 million.

If you're not convinced with my Transformers example, check out the ridiculous success of Avatar, the highest-grossing movie of all-time without adjusting the inflation.. The budget was probably $250 million, but it grossed over $760 million in the United States and Canada alone. I'm going to ignore that for a moment. Why? The film grossed over $2 billion outside North America. That means if you subtracted its domestic gross, Avatar would still be the second highest grossing movie of all-time being Titanic.

What's the whole point of showing you these numbers? It's to let you know that we really don't matter in the grand scheme of things. Sure, a big domestic gross helps many films like Lincoln, but we're in a world where not every film has to be made for Americans. Hell, Lincoln had a hard time being made because people outside of America have no interest in a movie about an American hero.

There is a bright side to all of this; some films potentially gain a second life because of the foreign box office. Pacific Rim barely made $100 million domestically, but earned over $300 million overseas, allowing for the studios to green light a sequel. Same scenario happened with The Adventures of Tintin. The film only grossed about $77 million domestically, because most Americans really don't care about the European character. In other territories, Tintin grossed almost $300 million, and Peter Jackson wants to direct a sequel in the near-future.

The point is this: if you want to support a movie you want to see, then support it. If you choose not to support the latest Transformers, fear not; perhaps some other moviegoer in another country will green light Transformers 10.

-Joey DeAngelis

My Favorite Films

My favorite movies of all-time.

10. Fantasia (Norman Ferguson et al)

Animated segments with musical accompaniment from classic pieces of Western music.

I often get odd looks whenever I declare Fantasia  my favorite Disney film. There is no central plot, just several pieces of beautiful animation with great classical music. Walt Disney really look a risk when he made this his third feature length film. It probably failed for a few reasons; it was very costly, the war in Europe, and its sound design. Theaters had to replace their current sound systems in order to present Fantasia  in its intended form. The animation, needless to say is gorgeous, especially the finale; showcasing "Night on Bald Mountain" and the "Ave Maria." The most interesting thing I've discovered about Fantasia is that Disney intended it to be an ongoing film series with new segments every time. That did not happen until Fantasia 2000.

9. Pan's Labyrinth (Guillermo del Toro)

In Franco's Spain, a young girl escapes her harsh reality by entering a fantasy world, where she is a princess trying to fulfill prophecy.

What del Toro does here is remarkable; crafting a beautiful fairy tale while using it in conjunction with the grim and cynical story in Franco's Spain. A visual treat that not only uses CGI, but practical effects, sets, and costumes. Both the Pale Man and the Faun are played by Doug Jones in creature makeup/costumes. Like many great fairy tales, it has a young girl (Ivana Baquero) encountering strange creatures; however, despite their frightening nature, these monsters are not nearly as horrifying as those who exist in the real world. With many themes and beautiful imagery, Pan's Labyrinth is probably my favorite film from the 21st century so far, and del Toro's best work to date

8. Jurassic Park (Steven Spielberg)

A group of scientists are invited to a theme park with genetically engineered dinosaurs.

My favorite Spielberg film isn't Raiders of the Lost Ark or Schindler's List or even Jaws (they're all masterpieces). I've watched this film probably over 100 times and it never ceases to amaze me. The effects still look amazing, even when compared to films that have taken Sandra Bullock to space or Sigourney Weaver as a blue cat person. The cast is really solid; no one here is a massive star (with the exception of Samuel L. Jackson, but this was before Pulp Fiction) with actors like Sam Neil and Laura Dern; however, Jeff Goldblum really steals the show here as Ian Malcom, with witty remarks but also comments on the ethics of running a park with dinosaurs. I got to see it on the big screen last year, and I genuinely wish there were more movies like Jurassic Park.

7. The Red Shoes (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger)

An impresario becomes obsessed with a young ballet dancer's career.

You would presume that with the plot description I have provided that this is a love story between an aging impresario and a young dancer. And that is why I love this movie, because it isn't. There is a love story; between the dancer (Moira Shearer) and a young composer (Marius Goring), but the impresario is not in love with her in the traditional sense; he is in love with her talent. The impresario Boris Lermontov is played by Anton Walbrook, and he helps create a fascinating character who only wishes to see his assembled cast and crew work to the best of their abilities and not dabble in human emotion. The 17 minute dance scene is the stuff of legend, and beautifully captures the emotions of the young dancer. 

6. The Phantom of the Opera (Rubert Julian et al)

A disfigured composer falls in love and becomes obsessed with a young singer and her career.

This and The Red Shoes would make a suitable double feature. In this case, the Phantom (Lon Chaney) is in love with our leading lady (Mary Philbin). The cast in this film is not very good. I like Arthur Edmund Carewe as the creepy Inspector Ledoux (Persian in the novel), but the real heavyweight of the film is Lon Chaney. Of course as many of you know, he is my favorite male actor of all time. His ability to transform into pitiful tragic villains is almost unparalleled, and his work is still a sight to behold. The "death's head" makeup is so iconic, and is still a bit creepy. Whenever I show my friends a picture of the makeup, they go, "how the hell did he do that?" That is a damn good makeup job if someone asks that question. The scene where he sits atop the opera house and swears revenge in his glorious Red Death costume is my favorite moment in the film, and one of Chaney's best scenes. I also love the sets in this movie; Chaney's lair is one of those movie sets that I'll always remember. Do yourself a favor and get yourself a good print of this film. I would say the 1929 version over the 1925, because it is better paced.

5. City Lights (Charles Chaplin)

The Tramp falls in love with a blind flower girl who mistakes him for a millionaire.

A silent film in 1931. Pretty neat, right? By that point in time, sound film became the way movies did business, and silent films were a novelty of the past. Chaplin stood firm and produced one of his finest films; a beautiful love story with comedic scenes. I consider this film to be the most gentleman like the Tramp ever was, with cleaner clothes and a more refined mustache. His chemistry with the blind flower girl is interesting, especially because he did not get along with the actress who played her, Virginia Cherrill. The scenes where Chaplin interacts with Harry Myers' drunk millionaire are comedy gold. I watched this film on the big screen last year, and people howled with laughter at the scene where the now sobered millionaire discovers the Tramp sleeping in his bed. And that last shot. I can't do it justice, so see the film.

4. Modern Times (Charles Chaplin)

A factory worker and a young woman struggle to survive in the Great Depression.

This film has some of the greatest gags of all time; the assembly line, the feeding machine, and Chaplin showing off his skating ability. The film doesn't necessarily follow a three act structure, but doesn't feel completely aimless either. The Factory Worker meets the Gamin (Paulette Goddard) and they try to survive together throughout the film. The two make a great pairing, and their chemistry is simply precious. Another interesting tidbit is that this film uses sound, but is very selective about what and when it uses sound effects. The film's themes of capitalism and survival provide a solid backbone for great gags, like the Factory Worker being mistaken for a communist. Both socially relevant and very funny, Modern Times proves to be one of Chaplin's finest outings.

3. King Kong (Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Shoessack )

A film crew travels to a prehistoric island to find that a giant gorilla has fallen for the crew's ingenue.

Aside from Disney films and The Wizard of Oz, this was the first classic film I ever watched, and it helped begin my fascination with older films. Willis O'Brien and his team of special effects artists created some of the screen's greatest scenes. The fight between Kong and the Allosaurus is perhaps my favorite one-on-one battle in any movie, and the ending atop the Empire State Building is iconic. The music track by Max Steiner and the sound design by Murray Spivack are pretty remarkable achievements, at a time when Hollywood was learning to speak. My YouTube series, Silent Film Saturday and this blog wouldn't exist if it weren't for a big ape getting shot at by airplanes for some blonde.

2. Seven Samurai (Akira Kurosawa)

A group of seven ronin agree to aid poor farmers against bandits.

A 3 1/2 hour Japanese film? You're probably thinking, "Joey, you lost me here. I can't do this." I'm here to tel you that you can. Kurosawa makes the characters easy to understand, and even he farmers are great characters, not merely sitting on the sidelines as the samurai story progresses. Takashi Shimura of Ikiru and Godzilla fame gives an excellent performance as Kambei, the old leader who doesn't think too highly of himself, while Toshiro Mifune as Kikuchiyo steals the show at first as a strange wild card, but ultimately becomes the most developed character in the film. What I love about the action scenes is the sheer brutality of them. These guys are fighting in the mud and rain, and Kurosawa makes none of it look glorious. The "Samurai Theme" and the other music by Fumio Hayasaka is great, and I'll leave a link with some of the film's music below, because you should check it out. 

1. Casablanca (Michael Curtiz)

A cynical cafe owner's world is shattered when a woman from his past and her rebel husband arrive in French Morocco in World War II.

I still love going to Rick's. This movie was made as a B-film and went on to become one of the most famous movies ever made. Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine is a classic archetype, the hero who was never on the winning side, and has become a neutral party in a world where Nazis exists. Ingrid Bergman is absolutely stunning and I can't say I've ever seen a person more beautifully photographed in a movie. For me, Claude Rains as the comical Captain Louis Renault steals the show, Rick's friend who happens to work for the Nazis. One of his finest moments:

The script is filled with other great lines; six of them appear on the AFI's 100 Greatest Quotes list, making it the most represented film. IN addition, Casablanca is populated with many great actors: Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Conrad Veidt, Dooley Wilson, and Paul Henreid as the noble Victor Laszlo. Because of its memorable characters and immortal themes, Casablanca is my favorite movie of all-time.

What are some of your favorites?

-Joey DeAngelis

My Favorite Films: 20-11

Note: This post was from an older blog I ran, but I wanted to include it in this blog for any curious parties.

I've made videos about my favorite films of all time, but it rarely remains a consistent list. I know that there are certain films that will always be there, but sometimes I have to change my list, because of my experiences or just personal tastes changing.

Here are my favorite films from 20-11 right now. 

20. Sorcerer (William Friedkin)

Four men pushed to desperation, are willing to drive two trucks with nitroglycerin through rugged terrain, in order to find a better life. 

I saw this for the first time back in April, and gave it a couple more viewings. This film really put me on the edge of my seat. I think Sorcerer works so well partly because other than Roy Scheider (Jaws, The French Connection) there are zero famous faces in this film, which makes it feel like a documentary. If you enjoy the style used in The French Connection and The Exorcist, then you'll probably enjoy this one. Check out the film Wages of Fear, the first adaptation of Georges Arnaud's novel that Sorcerer is based on.

19. Beauty and the Beast (Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise)

A young woman gets more than she bargained for when she is held prisoner in the castle of a Beast.

Check out the Cocteau version, because this Disney classic does take a lot from that version. 

The Disney Renaissance began in 1989 with The Little Mermaid, but reached its peak in 1991 with the release of Beauty and the Beast. All of the songs are memorable, and the characters are quite solid. Belle proves to be a more developed Disney princess than most of the others. The Beast is also a great character in terms of how he's written and his visual appearance. You get the sense that he was transformed completely, and this is not a case of "human body with an animal head." In addition, Gaston is an intriguing antagonist; he doesn't want to take over the world or anything large scale, just prove to everyone that he is the best. My favorite scene in the film is the opening with glass stain visuals telling the story of how the prince becomes a beast. Beauty and the Beast became the first animated film in history to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. 

18. Boogie Nights (Paul Thomas Anderson)

The story of a young man and the adult film industry during the 1970s and 80s

I had a hard time choosing between this and There Will be Blood  as my favorite Paul Thomas Anderson film, but I can say with full confidence that I enjoy Boogie Nights slightly more. The ensemble is great, both the major players and the supporting ones make Boogie Nights a movie that I love returning to. Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore, Mark Wahlberg, Don Cheadle, and Philip Seymour Hoffman just to name a few. Some great long takes, especially that opening scene. Love the soundtrack too. Best $1 I ever spent: Boogie Nights on VHS. 

17. The Godfather Part II (Francis Ford Coppola)

Michael Corleone tries to keep his family and business from falling apart.

This could have been a piece of garbage, but it's not. The followup to 1972's The Godfather proves to not only be a worthy sequel, but also one of the greatest films ever. Al Pacino has never been better, as Michael Corleone tries to keep his world from shattering, and becomes more on edge. John Cazale's Fredo might be the best part of this movie, a weak coward who betrays his family It also helps that quite a few characters from the first film don't show up here, making us long for the old days. The flashback scenes with Robert DeNiro as a young Vito Corleone are also magnificent, with beautiful cinematography and period detail, in addition to being a good story on its own. This film is known for being the first sequel to win the Oscar for Best Picture. 

16. Fantastic Mr. Fox (Wes Anderson)

Mr. Fox tries to relive his past as he attempts a three part master plan that causes problems for his family and friends.

If anyone asks, this film features my favorite George Clooney performance. His voice is invaluable as the cocky and sometimes existential Mr. Fox, a master thief turned newspaper...fox. I've never read the book, but I've heard complaints suggesting this film is too adult. I can understand to a certain extent, but I'm glad this movie exists the way it does. Beautiful stop motion animation, as well as fantastic voice-over performances from Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Gambon make this a charming and mature animated feature. This film has the honor of being the first animated film to enter the Criterion Collection's DVD/Blu-ray lineup. 

15. The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (Michael Powell and Emeric Pressberger)

Over the course of three wars, military man Clive Candy must confront changing times and morals. 

I wanted to see this film initially because it's directed by the team from The Red Shoes and Black Narcissus. This is one of the most beautiful looking films I've ever seen, shot on three strip technicolor. In addition to the visuals, the performances are really good. Deborah Kerr plays three different female characters that shape the life of our main hero. Anton Walbrook plays Candy's best friend who has to deal with the fall of Germany in WWI and the rise of Hitler. Finally, Roger Livesey is excellent as Clive Candy, a proud military man who believes that "might equals right" and he would rather lose than use "dishonorable" techniques to win. A study of honor, war, and growing old. 

14. The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson)

Royal Tenenbaum tries to patch up his relationship with his distrustful and successful family. 

When I started watching the films in Wes Anderson's filmography, I didn't get to this one until it was the only one I had to watch. Every time I watch it, I'm convinced more and more that The Royal Tenenbaums is Anderson's best film. Gene Hackman is perfect as Royal, a man who really is an asshole, but eventually wants to patch up his relationship with his family. Also features my favorite Ben Stiller performance, and the cast is great overall. 

13. 8 1/2 (Federico Fellini)

A successful director cannot seem to get his personal and professional life in order, as he ponders into his past and imagination.

8 1/2 is about itself. A stroke of genius by Fellini, the film is equal parts strange, nostalgic, and hopeless. Some of cinema's greatest images are in this movie. Marcello Mastroianni's Guido Anselmi is probably my favorite character in any movie; a man trying to figure out what the hell he's doing while everyone is pressing him to do something. He's not entirely likable, but I can't hate him either. I first watched this one during my senior year in high school, waiting for college acceptance letters and trying to ace the SATs while trying to pass my classes. Everyone wanted answers from me, wondering what I was going to do with my life. I related to Guido very much in that sense. Every time I watch the film, I catch something new. Fellini's 8 1/2 never gets old, it gets better. 

12. Amadeus (Milos Forman)

The story of Salieri, a composer whose love and hatred for Mozart drives him to insanity. 

I love this one. I love all of these films, but this one resonates with me strongly. The title is related to Mozart, but he's not the main character. Salieri, played by F. Murray Abraham prays to become a great composer, and certain events line up in his favor, except for the appearance of Mozart (Tom Hulce). Abraham gives Salieri great dimension, a mediocre man who cannot reconcile his fondness and intense loathing of the titular composer. This gem has one of my favorite endings ever. Watch it. 

11. The Bride of Frankenstein (James Whale)

The story of Frankenstein's creature continues. Now capable of speech, the creature demands that his creator provide him with a mate.

I have another Universal Horror film in my top ten, but this is truly the best one. The acting has improved since the 1931 predecessor, including a show-stealing performance by Ernest Thesiger, as the insane and charming Dr. Pretorious. Karloff's creature is given the power of speech, and it leads to the always moving (and always parodied) blind hermit scene. Also, Son of Frankenstein is another great Frankenstein sequel.

That's all for now, and I'll post my 10-1 countdown next week. What are some of your favorite movies?

-Joey DeAngelis

My Five Most Anticipated Movies of All-Time

When you're young and in love with a soon-to-be released movie, there are indeed no brakes on the hype train. Every year, there are at least three or four movies that I know have to see opening day, because of my interests as a movie fan. Sometimes they meet expectations, but more often than not, they don't quite make it. These are the movies that I couldn't wait to spend $10 at the multiplex.

NOTE: I'm not including movies that haven't been released yet. Otherwise, this would be filled with movies from Legendary Pictures. Also, certain films I was anticipating for this year will not make this list, because I haven't seen them on DVD or Blu-ray yet to give them a fair thought, like X-Men: Days of Future Past or Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, but I will place them on the honorable mentions at the end of this post.

5. The Wolfman (Joe Johnston)

Why I was Excited:
As some of you know, I love the Universal Monsters, and The Wolfman is the best non-sequel in that lineup. To see a dark version of the story with modern actors appealed to me at the time.

What I thought then:
I saw this twice in one weekend, and loved the brutal violence and atmosphere.

What I think now:
I re-watched this one recently, and it's not bad. I don't like Benicio del Toro very much as Lawrence Talbot, and certain twists and turns the plot takes are questionable. The best part of the movie, aside from Joe Johnston's direction of the period setting is Hugo Weaving's performance. Weaving is always great in genre films, so this shouldn't surprise anyone. Legendary makeup artist Rick Baker delivers an excellent update to the already amazing Jack Pierce Wolfman makeup.

Overall, a good-looking production with some fine performances and cool gore.

4. The Artist (Michel Hazanavicius)

Why I was Excited:
I remember hearing about this on a Sunday morning program, and knowing that no matter who was in it, or what the story was, I had to see it. Even before I launched my Silent Film Saturday YouTube series, I was very much into silent movies, and the fact that this was getting some kind of release made my mind explode.

What I thought then:
I have seen this movie on the big screen more than any other film, for a grand total of six times. Every time I watched it, I fell in love again.

What I think now:
I wrote a paper on this film not too long ago for a class, thinking it wasn't going to hold up. To my surprise, it held up incredibly well, except I think the second act is rather slow in places. It might not be among the best silent films, but it's certainly a delightful treat, and I hope modern audiences like this film enough to explore other movies.

3. Watchmen (Zack Snyder)

Why I was Excited:
I was 15 years old at the time, and a good friend of mine introduced me to Allan Moore and Dave Gibbons' "Watchmen," which is still one of the best book I've ever read. The movie's trailers are among the best I've ever seen for a movie. It looked flipping amazing.

What I thought then:
I loved it. So much so, it became the first R-rated film I saw twice in the theaters. Sure, they left stuff out and altered the ending, but there it was, Watchmen on the big screen as a nearly three hour film.

What I think now:
Still Zack Snyder's best film. I think it's criminally underrated, and while it has some misteps, I can't argue with most of the movie. Jackie Earle Haley is a perfect Rorschach, and Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan are superb. I also love that this has three different cuts: the theatrical cut, the director's cut, and the ultimate cut, which even includes "Tales of the Black Freighter." The film didn't do well at the box office, but its true life is on home video, where people can dissect it with repeated viewings and experience the nearly four hour cut, as opposed to the three hour version. Not perfect, but a really good movie.

2. King Kong (Peter Jackson)

Why I was Excited:
King Kong is one of my favorite movies ever, and when I heard a big screen remake was in the works I was excited. As a kid, one of the earliest movies I can remember not liking was the 1976 King Kong, and I thought this would be a better movie.

What I thought then:
I thought it was good, but couldn't understand why it was so long. A three hour movie with a giant gorilla? I didn't mind, because a lot of stuff was cool, but even then I knew it was too long. I also caught some neat Kong references.

What I think now:
Overly long, with scenes that just shouldn't be in a Kong remake. Why should I care about Jimmy? Why is Jack Driscoll such a stiff? Why are the dinosaur effects so bad?

What I do like are the performances of Naomi Watts and Andy Serkis as Ann and Kong. The original film featured a one-sided relationship. In the 2005 film, Kong and Ann have a mutual respect, and Ann gets upset when Kong is injured. Serkis nails it as Kong, and Watts as Ann is simply stellar, especially when she has to interact with the eighth wonder.

Still, this isn't Lord of the Rings Mr. Jackson. It doesn't need to be three hours long. Even worse, the director's cut is roughly three and a half hours!

1. Man of Steel (Zack Snyder)

Why I was Excited:
I wanted the world to receive a modern day Superman that still retained values, but exists in a 21st century world. Also this trailer:

What I thought then:
First viewing, I thought it was a rushed but pretty good movie with decent performances and solid action.

What I think now:
I've reviewed the movie some time ago, and it is cluttered with many problems, and it feels so bland and lifeless, it could have been directed by HAL 9000. Hell, I would kill to see that version. Ultimately, it's formulaic to a fault, and has some startling consequences. Not even close to being the worst superhero movie, but it's not very good either. Favorite part of this production: Russell Crowe as Jor-El. If you're able to like it, I envy you.

Honorable mentions:
Godzilla Gareth Edwards
Pacific Rim Guillermo del Toro
X-Men: Days of Future Past
X-Men: The Last Stand Brett Ratner
Rise of the Planet of the Apes/Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Rupert Wyatt, Matt Reeves

What are some of your most anticipated films of all-time?

-Joey DeAngelis

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Admittedly, when James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy was first announced, I had no idea who they were. At first, I wanted to see Guardians because of the Marvel brand and little else; then the marketing made the audience accustomed to these new characters as much as possible before the release. Some even predicted that the movie would be admirable, but an economic misstep on Marvel's part, similar to a Pacific Rim situation where the online hype did not equal box office dollars in the United States.

As I'm writing this, some estimates claim that Guardians of the Galaxy could earn as much as $90 million this weekend. It was probably for the best that Guardians received an early August release date in order to take advantage of the hype machine from Comic Con, and its sequel announcement for July 28th, 2017.

In a year with great Marvel-based films like X-Men: Days of Future Past and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, it's hard to imagine that Guardians can even compare, but strangely, it does, offering something completely different from those two films.

The story begins with a young Peter Quill experiencing a family crisis. Soon afterwards, he is abducted by a group of outlaws from space. Years later, Peter Quill is now Star Lord (Chris Pratt), a charming rogue, who through a series of events meets four other colorful characters; Gamora, Rocket Racoon, Groot, and Drax the Destroyer. After escaping from prison, and they go on several adventures, leading up to a showdown with the main villain, Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace).

Right from the opening credits, we know what the movie will feel like; a great blend of comedy and drama with some great action. One of my favorite scenes in the film are the opening credits, where Quill is stealing an orb as he listens to his Walkman. Most action films would have some type of Raiders of the Lost Ark stock music to build tension, but instead we have a hero who is having a blast doing what he does best, listening to some great tunes.

What I love about the Peter Quill character is his sheer irreverence; this guy is having so much fun in this space-fantasy and it reminds me of kids who would give anything to be Han Solo or a really cool pilot in an outer space film. Quill constantly makes 80s references, but it makes sense because he was abducted in the late 1980s. Chris Pratt is able to project how much fun it can be to exist in a universe filled with space outlaws and aliens.

Zoe Saldana brings her A-game once again as Gamora, a character who is never just a "love interest" for any of the main heroes. There is a moment that could have ended up like that, but the way James Gunn handles it is brilliant. Bradley Cooper as Rocket really surprised me, because all of the supposed "jokes" he uttered in the trailers that my friends laughed at were completely humorless in my opinion. Rocket proves to be extremely entertaining, but he even has brief moments of depth in some unexpected places. Essentially, he is the Han Solo of the movie, while the Vin Diesel-voiced Groot is Chewbacca, only able to utter the words "I am Groot." Groot is pretty cool, and it's hard not to like him, as he is the innocent member of the group.

David Bautista as Drax proves to be the movie's biggest surprise. I was expecting not to care about this vengeance-seeking individual, but Bautista does a fairly good job with the material and I can't wait to see his development in the future sequel. Part of what makes Drax work is that he is the straight man of the group, and jokes and metaphors slip past him.

Ronan the Accuser is not the greatest villain, but he is certainly better than the likes of Malekith from Thor: The Dark World or some of the less-than perfect villains in the Marvel Universe. Same goes for Nebula, who outside of a cool fight with Gamora is kind of forgettable. Also, Glenn Close and Benicio del Toro make appearances, but they are little more than glorified cameos. John C. Reilly has a supporting role, and his performance style works for this movie's universe.

At its core, Guardians of the Galaxy is a movie about friendship. These unlikely heroes must the gain respect from one another, and ultimately save the galaxy together which is something I really like, especially in a world of heroes where, "only one hero can do this" or, "it is your destiny generic hero number seventy-nine." The talk of friendship is sentimental, but it never gets in the way of the humor or action.

The action scenes are a lot of fun, with the prison breakout as the main highlight of the movie, blending comedy with some awesome action. For parents taking their children to Guardians, be warned that there is some language, but I can't say it's horrible or boring for kids and it does have a good message at its core.

Guardians of the Galaxy is so good, I have some faith in future Marvel properties like Ant-Man or Dr. Strange, and gives me faith in Disney's production of Star Wars VII.

Stay for the after credits scene for one reason; you will be surprised to see who makes an appearance. Seriously, if you haven't heard the rumors, this appearance will shock you.

-Joey DeAngelis

Seven Movies that Unintentionally Ruined Movies

Okay, let me explain the title.

I'm not saying these movies are bad movies; however, the movies on this list caused a certain degree of change (or damage) to the film industry. I'm taking Michael Bay off the table because that's too easy. If there was a franchise, I attached it when necessary. Also, there is one tie on the list.

I posted this question in the Silent Film Saturday and Blockbuster Beach Bum group and Movie Nights Facebook page, and got some great responses. Some of them even made it on the list.

7. The Jazz Singer

Credit goes to Michael for sharing this one.

This film really did change the industry. The Jazz Singer was not the first sound film ever released. Other filmmakers and producers experimented with sound many years before 1927, but did not have
quite the impact The Jazz Singer had.

In my opinion, the period between 1924 and 1929 featured some of the greatest silent films ever. Films like The General, The Last Laugh, The Passion of Joan of Arc, The Gold Rush, and The Thief of Bagdad. After the arrival of sound, the visual look of movies suffered for a period of time. Sure there were some cool camera tricks and special effects here and there, but some of the early talkies are really slow and uninteresting to watch.

I put this film so low on the list because the arrival of sound was more of a temporary setback than an actual detriment to the overall movie experience. Still, this film really helped change things, and it set film back a bit, just when the silent film medium was at its peak artistically.

6. Avatar 

If everyone hates modern 3D, why is it still around?

This movie, that's why.

The highest-grossing movie of all time, Avatar seems to be one of the few movies where people actually enjoyed the 3D component. Hell, I even liked the 3D in Avatar. Also, I said 3D component, not story.

Sadly, the average film does not know how to use 3D the way Cameron did with Avatar. Now, every animated movie or summer action blockbuster is screened in 2D and 3D, inflating the box office and aggravating moviegoers everywhere. Part of the blame also goes to the foreign marketplace, where countries like Russia crave 3D.

5. Batman Begins

Shout out to Mike for pointing this one out.

Christopher Nolan's first film in his Batman trilogy may not be the first "reboot," but it's certainly the most famous. What separates this from lesser reboots, is its ability to distance itself from the then recently dormant Burton and Schumacher Batman franchise. This is something that other reboots don't understand. Man of Steel and The Amazing Spider-Man are basically the same thing as their predecessors, but with less personality, and a darker feel.

It worked incredibly well with Batman, but the Nolan Batman formula just doesn't work for everyone. This doesn't stop studios from replicating the Batman Begins or Dark Knight formula, even when they don't understand it.

Some people suggested The Dark Knight for this list, but I honestly feel that it was Batman Begins plus the unprecedented success of its sequel that made mediocre superhero films look even worse by comparison.

4. The Harry Potter Franchise

Ironically, the tagline on this poster says "IT ALL ENDS," but  7/15/2011 certainly was not the end of young adult adaptations.

Can't say I ever really got into this one, but I'll give it a fair chance in the near future.

This and Nolan's The Dark Knight trilogy are some of Warner Brother's highest-grossing movies, and this franchise surpassed James Bond as the highest-grossing movie franchise of all-time.

The series was based on J.K. Rowling's books, and each movie was based on a book in the series, with the final book "The Deathly Hallows" split into two movies for story integrity (arguably) and (most definitely) box office gold. 

While this and The Hunger Games stand as respectable young adult movies with sci-fi or fantasy elements, other ripoffs and failed attempts have cluttered our cinemas almost as much as superhero films.

Examples include Twilight (a hit, but a much-hated one), The Host, Vampire Academy, Divergent, Percy Jackson, Ender's Game, Beautiful Creatures, and The Mortal Instruments. 

Worse still, the ones that are successful have followed Harry Potter into the "we're gonna split the final book into two movies to reap the profits." This is happened to Twilight, and will happen to Divergent and The Hunger Games franchises. Well, we'll see how that goes.

3. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Have to give credit to Dan from the Hitless Wonder Movie Blog for this one.

At the time of its release, PG-13 did not exist. This seems pretty shocking today, since almost every major superhero or summer blockbuster is rated PG-13. This movie was given the PG rating, but parents complained about the gruesome nature of the second Indiana Jones film.

So what happened?

Steven Spielberg and others suggested a rating between PG and R. Thus, PG-13 was created in 1984.

Since then, PG-13 has been the bane of of many moviegoer's existence. PG-13 has to cater for the adults who want an intense experience, and the parents who want their kids to see an appropriate movie. The problem is a washy attempt to please everyone, while making everyone upset.

Filmmakers also have the pressure of putting out a marketable, safe product while trying to make a good movie. Some horror films have suffered from this.

Also, PG-13 movies are traditionally allowed one f-bomb. Since the X-Men movies are not run by Disney, the last three films have f-bombs in them. True, mostly adults watch the X-Men movies, but as soon as parents see "superhero" or Marvel on any trailer, and they'll take their kids to see it. Even Dawn of the Planet of the Apes had an f-bomb, and unlike X-Men: Days of Future Past, this movie has a toy line!

2. The Avengers/ Marvel Cinematic Universe

This movie has made me realize something: The Dark Knight  literally did next to nothing for superhero movies, except exist and maybe be a template for future DC movies. Like I wrote earlier, I feel Begins is the more influential film when it comes to this genre.

I kid you not, this was the first movie I thought of when creating this list. The movie itself is fun, but not even close to Marvel's best. Sadly, because of this movie, we have every other studio with a superhero property trying to get to a multi-hero/villain movie. Some examples of this: X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Sinister Six, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League.

Some may argue the problem all started with Bryan Singer's X-Men, but it's not even close to the level of The Avengers. The fear that each movie is a commercial is exemplified in Sony's The Amazing Spider-Man 2, a movie with limited character development and story for the sake of setting up the Sinister Six movie set for 2016.

At least with The Avengers, the characters are set up in five solo Marvel movies, opposed to two mediocre movies with too many subplots (The Amazing Spider-Man series) or a solo movie and a team-up movie before the gigantic team-up movie (DC's Cinematic Universe).

I have a bad feeling that Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice will be similar to The Amazing Spider-Man, and become little more than a Justice League prequel. Hopefully, we'll get other solo films of characters that sorely deserve them, but only time will tell.

1. Jaws and Star Wars

These two had to take the top spot.

Both are great films with iconic moments and quotes, but they definitely changed things.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, a period in filmmaking called "New Hollywood" emerged, and  some of the greatest movies of all time were released, particularly because the new filmmakers were among the first to attend film school.

Some of these titles: The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, The Exorcist, Nashville, and many others. Many of these classic films became part of mainstream cinema, because the studios were so desperate that they were willing to take big risks.

Then, the world changed forever.

Jaws became the first film to reach $100 million at the domestic box office in 1975. Star Wars earned $220 million in its initial run alone, and is one of the most beloved movies of all time.

The studio execs saw all those dollar signs, and since have decided to go for the brass ring, killing the New Hollywood era. Since these two films, the summer season has and always will be crammed with mega-films about doomsday, killing some monster, or saving the universe from evil.

You can blame all of that on a man-eating shark named Bruce and a English dude wearing samurai-esque space armor voiced by Mufasa with a red laser sword.

Some (Dis)honorable mentions:

Batman Tim Burton
Titanic James Cameron
Lord of the Rings Peter Jackson
X-Men Bryan Singer
Christopher Nolan in general


-Joey DeAngelis