Film Review: Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy. Rated M (science fiction themes and violence). 121 minutes. Directed by James Gunn. Screenplay by James Gunn and Nicole Perlman.

Verdict: A spectacular, hugely entertaining debut for Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

Marvel Comics’ quest for global domination of our cinemas reaches unparalleled heights with this spectacular entry into its seemingly never-ending catalogue of big screen adaptations.

Arguably less well known than The Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy are a fantastic assortment of misfits who find themselves battling the megalomaniacal warlord Ronan (Lee Pace) for possession of an all-powerful Infinity Stone. In the wrong hands, the stone can be used to destroy entire planets and civilisations, and it is the evil Ronan’s intention to decimate the peace-loving citizens of Xandar (led by Glenn Close) and rule the galaxy.

Gunn and cinematographer Ben Davis (Wrath of the Titans) are in commanding form from start to finish, and Gunn’s screenplay with Perlman provides the enormous and expert cast with fantastic opportunities for everything from high drama, action and intrigue to hilarious moments of pure slapstick. Production Designer Charles Wood (Wrath of the Titans, Thor: The Dark World) has created a stunning visual environment, which somehow manages to not even remotely resemble anything we’ve seen before in this genre.

Chris Pratt (Moneyball) is wickedly good as Peter Quill, the rogue Ravager who would rather goof around than take responsibility for saving the world. Pratt’s winning presence and sense of humour are essential to the overall effectiveness of the tone Gunn has set for his characters. Pratt is perfectly matched by an excellent performance from Zoe Saldana (Avatar) as Gamora, an alien who has her own reasons for wanting to get her hands on the Infinity Stone.

Rocket the raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), is a brilliantly-realised CGI character, and as you find yourself being drawn deeper into his friendship with the humanoid tree Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), you will realise that the film-makers have worked a very special kind of magic indeed.

This review was commissioned by the West Australian Newspaper Group.

Film Review: The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man. Rated M (action violence). 136 minutes. Directed by Marc Webb. Screenplay by James Vanderbilt, Alvin Sargent and Steve Kloves.

Verdict: Andrew Garfield brings Peter Parker to life in sensational form – and the film follows his lead beautifully.

If there’s one reason to see this intriguing reboot of the Spider-Man franchise, it is Andrew Garfield’s (Boy A, The Social Network) bravura performance in the title role. Garfield’s Peter Parker is no shy, bland, awkward geek. Instead, Garfield’s Peter is a twitchy, neurotic, damaged young man who is perpetually grieving for his lost parents who obviously meant the world to him. It’s a fascinating, complex performance from one of the finest young actors of his generation – and one that lends this particular take on the well-known and much-loved Spider-Man a source of deeply engaging heart and soul.

Garfield is well-supported by the charming Emma Stone (The Help) as Peter’s girlfriend Gwen Stacy, who also provides the film with a lightness of touch that is a delightful counterpoint to the film’s over-riding seriousness. Rhys Ifans (The Five-Year Engagement) makes a fantastic Dr Curt Connors/The Lizard, while Denis Leary as Gwen’s father and Martin Sheen (The West Wing) and Sally Field (Brothers and Sisters) as Peter’s aunt and uncle round out the fine ensemble.

Writers Vanderbilt (Zodiac), Kloves (who adapted the Harry Potter novels for the screen) and Sargent (who has worked on every Spider-Man script including Sam Raimi's memorable adventures with Tobey Maguire in the title role), have delivered a beautifully structured screenplay that neatly divides the story into two parts: the keenly-observed origins of Peter’s superpowers and the ultimate battle between Spider-Man and The Lizard for control of New York.

Webb (500 Days of Summer) wisely lets his outstanding ensemble do what they do best before cutting loose in spectacular fashion for the film’s monumental slap-down that echoes the climactic sequences of King Kong.

Editors Alan Edward Bell, Michael McCusker and Pietro Scalia keep the action moving along at a perfect pace – ensuring that the pace never once sags, and James Horner’s (Avatar, Titanic) score underscores every layer of the story perfectly.

John Schwartzman’s (The Green Hornet) superb cinematography beautifully accounts for the film’s many changes in mood and tone – with the night-time sequences high above the city, in particular, just stunning. Fans of the Marvel comics will note the stylish comic book framing of almost every shot – and will more than likely be grateful that Webb and his creative team have chosen to respect the comic book origins of the character with a fine, uncluttered visual aesthetic.

As we have come to expect, a short scene after the main credits at the end more than hints at a sequel – and it’s not that often that we welcome that thought. In this case, though, it’s welcome back and hurry back Spider-Man.

This review was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group and appeared in the print edition of The Geraldton Guardian (pictured below).

 

Film Review: The Avengers

The Avengers. Rated M (action violence). 142 minutes. Written and directed by Joss Whedon. Based on the Marvel comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Verdict: A truly joyful and joyous cinematic smorgasbord of laughs, action and an outstanding ensemble at play.

In precisely the same way as an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord is likely to satisfy every appetite, so too does Mr Whedon’s (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) Marvel superhero mash-up that gleefully ticks every ‘superhero action movie’ box on its way to a dazzling final confrontation between the invading alien Chitauri forces and our team of superheroes.

When Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth, pictured above, left) adoptive brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) hijacks the Tesseract (an energy source being developed to supply Earth with an abundant supply of energy), he uses it to create a portal connecting Earth to outer space – where his Chitauri army are waiting to attack.

With the impending battle likely to decimate the human population, Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate (SHIELD) director Nick Fury (Samuel L Jackson) assembles the Avengers – Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Dr Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans, pictured above, right), and Thor – as the only hope of surviving the impending slaughter.

It is an unmitigated delight to watch this outstanding ensemble (which also includes Clark Gregg’s Agent Philip Coulson and Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton/Hawkeye) at play in roles that fit them like gloves, while production designer James Chinlund’s (Requiem for a Dream) superb contribution includes a spectacular Helicarrier (SHIELD’s state-of-the-art flying aircraft carrier) and the Chitauri’s brilliant, giant fish-like spaceships.

Working perfectly in sync with Mr Wheldon’s fine (and unexpectedly hilarious) script, cinematographer Seamus McGarvey (Atonement, The Hours) and editors Jeffrey Ford (Captain America: The First Avenger) and Lisa Lassek (The Cabin in the Woods) bring extraordinary levels of skill to the proceedings – especially the big, action set-pieces which are often astonishing in the breadth of their vision and the pace at which they unfurl before us.

With a sneaky post-credits snapshot of the impending sequel, now is the time to familiarise yourself with the Marvel Universe if you haven’t already – even if it is difficult to imagine how much better it could possibly be.

This review was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.

Film Review: Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger. Rated M (action violence). 124 minutes. Directed by Joe Johnston. Screenplay by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Based on the comic books by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

Don’t let the title confuse you. While Captain America might be ‘the first avenger’ (he first appeared in comic form in 1941), it’s actually the fifth instalment in the Marvel Comics’ ‘cinematic universe’ which will culminate in next year’s eagerly-anticipated The Avengers in which each of the Marvel superheroes will finally appear together. (Fans should note that there’s a sneak peak at what’s in store in a snappy post-credits sequence.)

The set-up has been intense, with Robert Downey Jnr blitzing the field in Iron Man and Iron Man 2 (with Iron Man 3 underway), several attempts at getting The Incredible Hulk right (Mark Ruffalo gets the big green guernsey in The Avengers), Chris Hemsworth’s formidable Thor, and now Captain America.

It is 1942, and evil villain Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving) is in possession of a super-powerful energy source which he has refined into a weapon of mass destruction. To avert cataclysmic disaster when Schmidt unleashes his plan for world domination, the Americans have been refining their own creation of a “super-soldier” – hand-picking the skinny young try-hard Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) to become their Captain America prototype.

Johnston (The Wolfman, Jurassic Park III, and Art Director on the Star Wars films) does a solid enough job, even though Captain America suffers from a feeling of being over-edited – with the surprisingly clunky, jumpy action sequences, in particular, never realised with the same flair as those in either of the Iron Mans or Thor. The overriding sense is one of nervous anxiety that the whole thing is ultimately going to collapse into an unforgivable shambles.

What holds it together is Evans’ (Fantastic 4, Sunshine) star turn in the title role and an equally committed supporting cast including Weaving (whose metamorphosis into The Red Skull is a highlight), Hayley Atwell (a sublime Peggy Carter), Tommy Lee Jones (romping through as leader of the American Armed Forces, Colonel Phillips) and Dominic Cooper (perfect as Howard Stark). The digital trickery that reduces Evans’ to his pre-serum geek is brilliantly achieved – and one of the many occasions littered throughout Captain America when it is hard to believe your eyes. And this film has just enough of those moments to ensure it takes its rightful place in the Marvel superhero-dominated world.

This review was commissioned by the Geraldton Newspaper Group.