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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) in Movies

Nov 13, 2020  
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
2014 | Action, Sci-Fi
9
8.7 (144 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
2014 was a damn fine year for Marvel Studios in terms of quality, their two outputs being The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy. They're just a big double-whammy example of how comic book movies can get things right.

GOTG was a very niche property before hand. A bunch of little know Marvel characters galavanting around space, with revolving line ups involving inconsistent degrees of absurdity. The fact that batshit crazy characters such as Groot and Rocket Raccoon are now household names is an indication of just how effective this movie was.

James Gunn proves that he is the man for the job by melding together his own signature style (alongside his regular collaborator Michael Rooker of course) with the tried and tested Marvel formula of big action, and frequent humour. It's a toss up between this and Thor Ragnarok for funniest MCU movie for sure. Nearly every joke lands well, and unlike the sequel, the humour is never overdone. The balance is near perfect.
The cast are mainly to thank for that of course. Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, and the voice talents of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel make up the titular Guardians, and they are all unique and have intriguing back stories. They are well developed as the film plays out, and together make for an irreplaceable band of misfits.
The supporting cast include the aformentioned Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, John C. Reilly, Lee Pace, Glenn Close, Peter Serafinowicz, Sean Gunn, Djimon Hounsou, Benicio Del Toro, and a first appearance by Josh Brolin as Thanos... It's another undeniably impressive ensemble cast for the MCU.

The special effects on display here are incredible. The whole film looks amazing and the big set pieces are hugely entertaining, and emotionally charged...These characters make a quick impression!
The only real criticism I have is that Ronan the Accuser, this films main antagonist, feels a little wasted. He looks great, and Lee Pace does the best with what he's given, but by the time the credits roll, he unfortunately joins the big pile of disposable MCU villains.
It's a small gripe when compared to all the good in this movie - that includes it's fantastic soundtrack by the way.

Guardians of the Galaxy is wonderful. It's proof that studios no longer have to rely on the big A-list names to make a great film, and as a result, this opened the doors for even more weird and wonderful characters to make their way into this behemoth of a series. One of my personal favourite MCU entries.
  
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LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Never Hike Alone (2017) in Movies

Oct 20, 2020  
Never Hike Alone (2017)
Never Hike Alone (2017)
2017 | Horror
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating Watch
Never Hike Alone is a hell of an accomplishment - a fan made film based on Friday the 13th that is as good, maybe even better, than the best entries in the main franchise.

It's premise is simple - a survival/hiking enthusiast is collecting footage for his YouTube channel when he accidentally stumbles across the remains of Camp Crystal Lake, resulting in a one on one fight for his life when he discovers that Jason Voorhees still resides there - and it's short runtime (clocking in at just under an hour) make for a no-filler, sharp-shock slice of slasher goodness.
It carries a lot of tension, the first half being relatively calm as protagonist Kyle (Drew Leighty) explores the remnant of the camp. Fans of the original film will surely get a kick out of recognisable landmarks, including the bed that Kevin Bacon was skewered through. It's a nice way of showing that this short is a true love letter to the franchise. Kyle is a likable and believable lead who's survival skill set makes him a good match for the big bad.
When Jason eventually shows up, he's damn scary! This version of Jason is just relentless. He's quick, heavy footed, and smashes through doors like they're not even there. Director Vincent DiSanti fills the shoes of Jason, and his tall and broad figure make for a genuinely intimidating version of this beloved horror icon.
He looks fantastic as well, it's clear that a lot of effort was put into his make up and costume.
Top all of this off with a cameo from Thom Mathews himself, and what you get is a recipe for a successful short film, made for fans, by fans.

Never Hike Alone is a real treat for anyone who even has a passing interest in Friday the 13th. Hats off to Womp Stomp Films for their great work.
  
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Kristin (149 KP) rated Vengeance is Mine (Benjamin Tucker, #1) in Books

Dec 7, 2018  
VI
Vengeance is Mine (Benjamin Tucker, #1)
Harry James Krebs | 2014
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Disclaimer: I received an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ben is a reporter, and he's been brought in to shed light on a new case that's baffling local law enforcement. With his keen investigative knowledge and sharp eyes, they're hoping he can tell them how this killer is managing to get into women's homes, considering all the doors and windows are locked except the front one as he leaves the grisly scene behind. Aside from this, Ben has a few of his own issues: He's supposed to be writing a mystery novel, but his brain's stuck in reverse, and he doesn't feel like it would be anywhere near as good as his first book, a true-crime novel. He's also having to deal with his ex, who's determined to take half the royalties from that first book, seeing as how he worked on it while they were still together (divorces are grand, aren't they?). Even beyond all that, it turns out this current killer has more than just a passing fancy with Ben, and poor Ben gets dragged along for the ride as this story heats up.

I definitely enjoyed this novel, as I always love a good mystery/thriller. The main characters were very personable, and I like how Ben tries to use his skills as a journalist to not only do what he's been asked by law enforcement, but also to try and figure out just why this killer is obsessed with him. There are certainly some shocking twists all throughout the story, and I can say that I was on the edge of my seat more than once, trying to speed-read so I could get to the next jump.

4 1/2 stars