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Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
2017 | Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Baby Groot (3 more)
Mary Poppins
Drax & Mantis
Awesome Mix Vol. 2
Not Yondu! (0 more)
Not Everyone is a Dancer
The best thing Marvel has done yet is hire James Gunn to direct the Guardians of the Galaxy series. He has such a spectacular vision for the Guardians and their far-flung place in the MCU. He keeps the action and laughs rolling throughout this second volume of the series, and I honestly can't decide which of the two I like more. These movies have made instant pop-culture icons out of lesser known comic book heroes, and for good reason. The characters are all well written, with completely disparate personalities that lead them to interact with each other in often hilarious ways. Not only that, but they are all completely badass. It's going to be a real treat to see this ragtag group of the galaxy's biggest assholes go toe-to-toe with Thanos alongside the rest of the MCU heroes in Infinity War.
  
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)
1975 | Comedy, Musical
Much-mythologised musical spoof of 50s American pop-culture probably isn't quite as transgressive or shocking as everyone thinks it is, or it would really like to be. Newly-engaged couple Brad and Janet end up at the mansion of the peculiar Dr Frank N. Furter where equally strange experiments are in progress, not to mention dance routines.

Very distinctive if nothing else, even if Richard O'Brien's claims that it's a mash-up of Hammer horror and the Carry On films seems a bit spurious on reflection. The plot is, frankly, incoherent, and becomes increasingly peripheral as the film continues - this is basically just a collection of pastiche rock 'n' roll songs belted out with great gusto by a cast who are really going for it. Luckily, most of the songs are really good. I'm not entirely sure why this has become the type specimen of the modern cult movie, but it's entertaining enough to watch.
  
A hard-headed look at a number of famous cryptids (legendary animals) from a palaeontologist (Prothero) and a 'professional skeptic' (Loxton), attempting to determine if cryptozoology really is a genuine science (Michael Sheard just writes the introduction). Also goes on to consider the further question - if people aren't actually seeing monsters, then why do they think they are?

Pretty much guaranteed to make your average Bigfoot hunter or Nessie spotter squeal in outrage, but the writers' main proposition - that the famous cryptids are essentially products of 20th century pop culture - is coherent and well-argued, if nothing else. Some of the chapters are a bit more accessible than others, and they do take a variety of approaches - the section on sea serpents mainly focuses on the cultural development of the idea of such a creature, while the one on the Congo dinosaur is a fierce critique of creationist attempts to hijack science. A thoughtful and persuasive book.