2014 Movie Preview: #8 - Guardians of the Galaxy

Release date: August 1

Plot summary:
My take: This may be the biggest gamble of the year, at least of the movies I am previewing on this list. Marvel has certainly shown that they can take commodities that were not well known to the public at large and turn them into successful film franchises, but a movie based on a group of space travelers that includes a tree-like character and a talking raccoon may be a bit out there for the mainstream audience. Hopefully that isn't the case, because Marvel has already laid the groundwork through some of their other films to make this a pretty awesome extension of their film empire. The cast is excellent here so my expectations are pretty high for this one.

RBR: Wreck-It Ralph

Having now seen both this and Brave, I'm convinced now more than ever that last year there was some kind of Freaky Friday situation going on over at the Disney animation studios. With a beautiful young girl at the forefront and a cheesy 'be careful what you wish for' lesson, Brave felt very much like your standard Disney princess fare. Meanwhile, Wreck-It Ralph is the type of story that features colorful characters and imaginative settings that have set Pixar apart from its competition for over 15 years. This is the story of Ralph, a bad guy character ala Donkey Kong in a classic 80s style arcade game. Tired of his repetitive depressing lifestyle, Ralph seeks a change by finding a way to turn himself into a good guy. To do so, he leaves his game and ventures through a number of other video games including a Halo-esque first person shooter and the pink-tinged, candy-coated racing game, Sugar Rush. What helps elevate Ralph above other more standard animated films is that this is not just Ralph's story with all other characters merely serving as window dressing and/or comedy props. The film features several subplots where we delve into characters' backstory. I also like that the villainous King Candy's motives are not apparently clear. It makes the eventual reveal that much more satisfying. You also have some quality voice work here. John C. Reilly is perfect as doltish Ralph who can come off as equal parts menacing and sweet. Sarah Silverman lays on the sugary sweetness as Venelope, a wannabe racer in Sugar Rush. And Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch also fit perfectly in the roles they are given. It's quite clear that the people behind this movie are big video game fans. There are several homages and in-jokes to the gaming world. They also amassed an impressive collection of real video game characters like Sonic, Bowser, and Q-Bert, who show up in various cameo roles. This is a film that succeeds largely to its wide appeal. It offers plenty for kids to enjoy, but it also maintains an intelligence level that doesn't insult adult audiences. Thus far, this is the best animated film of 2012 and is definitely worth a rental if you missed it when it was in theaters. Rating: **** 1/2

2012 Fall Movie Preview (November)

FLIGHT (November 2)
Plot: "Flight" tells the redemption story of "Whip" (Washington), a commercial airline pilot who pulls off a heroic feat of flying in a damaged plane, saving 98 lives on a flight carrying 106 people. While the world begs to embrace him as a true American Hero, the everyman struggles with this label as he is forced to hold up to the scrutiny of an investigation that brings into question his behavior the night before the doomed flight.

Quick thoughts: There are few people who have as consistent of a track record when it comes to good films as Denzel Washington, so I would expect nothing less here again. As usual he's chosen a film with a storyline that feels both fresh and familiar. As an added bonus, this marks director Robert Zemeckis' first effort behind the camera for a live action movie since 2000's Cast Away - another film that I loved. If it doesn't quite get up to the level of Oscar contender, I have no doubt it'll at leas serve as solid entertainment.


LINCOLN (November 9)
Plot: Steven Spielberg directs two-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln," a revealing drama that focuses on the 16th President's tumultuous final months in office. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, Lincoln pursues a course of action designed to end the war, unite the country and abolish slavery. With the moral courage and fierce determination to succeed, his choices during this critical moment will change the fate of generations to come.

Quick thoughts: Unlike Flight, this one has all sorts of crazy high expectations when it comes to the awards season. You have Daniel Day Lewis completely transforming himself into the role of Honest Abe. Plus you have Steven Spielberg going back to his sweet spot of the historical genre. I'm sure some will be bored by the subject material, but I can't wait to be riveted.


SKYFALL (November 9)
Plot: Daniel Craig is back as Ian Fleming's James Bond 007 in "Skyfall," the 23rd adventure in the longest-running film franchise of all time. In "Skyfall," Bond's loyalty to M is tested as her past comes back to haunt her. As MI6 comes under attack, 007 must track down and destroy the threat, no matter how personal the cost.

Quick thoughts: Do I really need to say anything here? It should be pretty obvious at this point, that I'm dying to see this film. These last two months before its release will feel painstakingly long, but I know it will be worth it. Thankfully I've got all the previous 22 films to help me through the wait.


WRECK-IT RALPH (November 2)
Plot: Walt Disney Animation Studios take moviegoers on a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping journey in "Wreck-It Ralph." Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) is tired of being overshadowed by Fix-It Felix (voice of Jack McBrayer), the "good guy" star of their game who always gets to save the day. But after decades doing the same thing and seeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph decides he's tired of playing the role of a bad guy. He takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade through every generation of video games to prove he's got what it takes to be a hero.

Quick thoughts: Disney cartoons that are not made by Pixar can often be hit or miss. Having said that, they certainly have a unique hook to the story they're trying to tell here by having it set within the world of arcade games. If the film is intelligent and appeal to adults and kids alike, then this could be a major winner at the box office.


OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST
Anna Karenina (November 16)
Life of Pi (November 21)
Rise of the Guardians (November 21)
Silver Linings Playbook (November 21)

RBR: The Dictator

After becoming a pop culture sensation with Borat and then bombing hard with Bruno, I wasn't sure what to expect from this latest entry from Sasha Baron Cohen as an evil dictator from the fictional nation of Wadiya. Now having seen the movie, I'm still not quite sure what I saw because I felt like I saw an unfinished product. With cheap production values and an under 80 minute runtime there wasn't much to enjoy here. Occassionally some of Cohen's political barbs scored a laugh, but most fell flat and too many of them were unnecessarily repeated. I'm not sure if we needed every well known song used in the film to be converted into some Middle Eastern version of the song. As for the rest of the cast, the talents of Ben Kingsley and Anna Faris get wasted here. About the only person who seems like he's trying is Jason Mantzoukas, playing a nuclear scientist who is frequently at odds with Cohen's character. But even there scenes don't seem to reach their comedic potential as their back-and-forths get truncated before they can really let loose. There's no doubt that Cohen can be very clever and funny, but most of the material in here feels like he's just going for obvious sterotypes for cheap laughs. While its not completely devoid of laughs, this still feels like a major disappointment. If you want to see this, wait for it to come out on cable; by that point, they'll have probably edited it down to under an hour. Rating: **

Wreck in effect

A big week of trailers continues with the first look at Disney's latest animated effort, the video game themed Wreck-it Ralph. Check it out below.

RBR: Carnage

Directed by Roman Polanski, this is an adaptation of the play God of Carnage. It centers around two pairs of parents who have come together to discuss a recent altercation that occured between their two sons. As their conversations escalate, more gets revealed about their relationships and who they are as individuals. Based on the trailer, this looked like it would share some of the uncomfortable, yet unpredictable fun that is often depicted in bottle episodes of sitcoms. Unfortunately, what worked in a 2 minute trailer becomes unbearable when expanded into a feature length film. Despite a great quartet of actors (Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christophe Waltz, and John C. Reilly) none of them come off looking great here. What might have served as compelling on the stage just comes off as annoying here as you wonder why these two couples continue to be with each other as their animosity for the other grows. As a viewer it becomes futile trying to side with anyone here as none of them are relatable or sympathetic. The only clarity the situation brings is that the incident between the two kids is a clear reflection on their upbringing or lack thereof. That's just a sad social commentary that I took no pleasure in witnessing. I feel bad being so negative toward a film that has a cast of actors whose work I typically enjoy, but this simply is not a good effort from anyone. Do yourself a favor and avoid the Carnage. Rating: **

Quarreling Quartet

Here's a trailer for Carnage, based on a play titled Gods of Carnage. The film centers around a pair of parents who agree to meet after their sons were in a fight. With such a low concept premise, you need strong performances to drive the narrative and based on this first look, it seems like we have that.