GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 REVIEW

Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ continues the team’s adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage.

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Michael Rooker, and Kurt Russell

Directed by: James Gunn

Written by: James Gunn, Dan Abnett

  In the shadow of “The Avengers,” “Guardians of the Galaxy” was a pleasant surprise. They started off as strangers, and quickly became family. This time around the family appears to have gotten bigger. While Quill’s (Chris Pratt) mother is dead, his father, Ego (Kurt Russell), finally reunites with him. The two get a chance to catch up, and do some bonding. However that bonding is short lived, as The Guardians are forced to do what they do…save the galaxy.

  This time around saving the galaxy is filled with more humor than action. Even in the action there’s plenty of humor to be found. The movie opens with the Guardians fighting off a huge beast. While it appears they’re getting their butts kicked, Groot is busy playing DJ. Soon enough the action continues when they are forced to escape the planet because Rocket has stolen what they were protecting. The humor in this scene comes in the form of an argument between Rocket and Quill.

  After a crash landing, the group splits up leaving Rocket, Groot, and their prisoner on the planet, and the others going with Quill’s new found father. While lots of family bonding is happening on the planet, Rocket provides the best action scene until the final scene. He takes on Yondu’s (Michael Rooker) men in the forest in his own unique way. Unfortunately it doesn’t go well for Rocket, or Yondu, as his men turn on their leader. This sets up one of the funniest moments when Groot has to figure out out how to free them.

  During the bonding, Quill finds out about his parents’ relationship, and how special he is. While he’s doing this, Gamora (Zoe Saldana) is dealing with family issues of her own, and trying to figuring out what’s really going on. And Drax, well for being the big guy, he does a lot to laugh as hard as he can. He also forms an unusual friendship with Mantis (Pom Klementieff). Of course, everyone comes together in the end to save the galaxy in a fun ending action scene that even includes some surprise guest appearances.

  The Guardians are back proving that while they’re from different parts of the galaxy, they’ve truly become family. Basically, most of the action takes place in the opening and closing scenes, and is always accompanied by plenty of humor. While he’s now the small of the group, Groot is the cutest, and debatably the funniest. While it’s a good story the second time around, it just feels like there should have been more to it. With that, I give “The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” 3 stars.

  I Am HorrO!

*Stay all the way to the end of the credits for multiple extra credit scenes*

LOGAN REVIEW

In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X in a hide out on the Mexican border. But Logan’s attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant arrives, being pursed by dark forces.

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen

Directed by: James Mangold

Written by: James Mangold and Scott Frank

  There are many elements to the usual superhero movie. Of course there’s plenty of action with some well timed humor. The villains hatch an evil plan, and the heroes eventually put an end to it. Sometimes there’s a little romance thrown in, and maybe even some tragedy. Then along comes a superhero movie with some of those same elements, but with a whole different feel to it. And that movie is “Logan.”

   Logan has generally been an intense character, and that might be one of the best ways to describe this movie. The intensity starts right from the beginning with Logan (Hugh Jackman), who’s now a limo driver, being waken by some thugs trying to steal the limo’s rims. He wants to give them a chance to get away, but they push him too far. Out come his claws, and he brutally puts an end to them.

  Brutal is another great word to describe the movie, Logan, and a new character, Laura (Dafne Keen). Laura is a young mutant, who happens to have the same abilities as Logan. To no surprise, he didn’t want anything to do with her before finding out what she’s capable of. With the urging of Professor X (Patrick Stewart), they do their best to protect her from the people who created, and want to put an end to her.

  However, she doesn’t need as much protection as you might think. She makes good use of her claws just like Logan. Both of them stab people in the head, chest, arms, and legs all movie long. Blood splatters everywhere in vicious action scene after vicious action scene. The group trying to recover Laura has a secret weapon that they unleash on Logan and Laura providing some more terrific fighting.

  With all the intensity and brutality, there’s also plenty of seriousness to the story. Two of the audience’s favorite X-Men characters aren't their true selves this time around. Professor X is constantly on medication to help him control what’s left of his power. He still provides his wisdom when he’s not drugged up. Logan is also sick, and the audience is left guessing at what’s wrong with him the entire time. He continues to put up a good fight, but also has his struggles.

  The Avenger and X-Men movies put together a good mix story, action, and humor. The previous Wolverine movies did some of the same. “Logan,” on the other hand, has some of the same elements, but feels a whole lot different. The story is so serious, and intense from beginning to end. The fights end in many brutal deaths. And two X-Men favorites are seen in a much lesser state, and have audiences worrying about them the entire time. They still manage to create a terrific new character Laura, who definitely isn’t a sweet little girl. With that, I give this movie 4 stars!

  HorrO

THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN REVIEW

High-school life gets even more unbearable for Nadine when her best friend, Krista, starts dating her older brother.

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Haley Lu Richardson, Blake Jenner, Kyra Sedgwick, and Woody Harrelson

Directed and written by: Kelly Fremon Craig

  For some it seems like high-school is so easy. The star quarterback gets all the girls’ attention, and boys’ eyes are always on the prom queen. For some it’s the complete opposite. They’re almost invisible with nothing to do but their schoolwork. In the end, as easy or hard high-school is, every teen faces their own struggles at some point, and that’s what “The Edge of Seventeen” reminds audiences.

 Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) is the main struggling teen in this story. Actually, her difficulties might have started at an earlier age, as the audience gets a funny scene of her staging a revolt about getting out the car. Not long after another funny moment or two, things get serious as she loses her father. As she gets older, the only person she feels is truly on her side is her best friend Krista (Haley Lu Richardson). Like it happens to many best friends, a boy comes in-between them. In this case, that boy is Nadine’s brother, Darian (Blake Jenner).

 They do a good of making the audience really feel for what she’s going through. From the audience’s point of view, they can also see how she’s not doing her self any favors, including sending a boy she likes an embarrassing text. However, it’s not all bad for her whether she realizes it, or not. While she has her eyes on a boy way beyond her reach, Mr. Right, is sitting right next to her. There are several humorous moments between the two reminding some how awkward young love can be.

 Nadine also has some hilarious moments with her teacher, Mr. Bruner (Woody Harrelson). He kind of becomes her safety blanket, as she goes to him for advice, and sometimes just to get away from her classmates. What makes this student-teacher relationship different is how Mr. Bruner treats her in such a calm manner. He almost acts like he doesn’t care, but everyone knows he does. She feels free to speak her mind, and he says as little as possible.

 As previously hinted, while the story is about Nadine, the beauty of the story is fitting in how each of the teens featured have struggles of their own. In Nadine’s eyes her brother is the perfect one, but he struggles with having to be the man of the house after their father’s death. Krista doesn’t want to her hurt Nadine, but can’t help her new found feelings for Darian, and the new attention she gets. Even their mother proves that adults have struggles too!

This coming of age story is really a rollercoaster of emotions. They do an excellent job of getting the audience to feel for Nadine at first, and later for some of the other characters as well. There are several serious moments that probably hit home with many people. They manage to mix in the right amount of humor with Nadine’s interactions with Mr. Bruner, and her true love interest Erwin. The cast from top to bottom nails their roles. With that, I give “The Edge of Seventeen” 3 stars!

HorrO

FINDING DORY REVIEW

The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way.

Starring: Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks, and Ed O’Neill

Directed by: Andrew Stanton, and Angus MacLane

Written by: Andrew Stanton  

  In 2003, Disney introduced audiences to a small clownfish named Nemo, his father Marlin, and their new friend Dory in the underwater adventure“Finding Nemo.” While Nemo won the hearts of many, it was clear Dory stole the show. The forgetful fish was down right hilarious mostly because she couldn’t remember much for more than a few seconds. Now the three fish are back in “Finding Dory,” where Dory is the center of the story.

 Nemo is a cute little clownfish, but nothing will prepare audiences for Dory as a child. She has a tiny body, which leaves audiences clued to her bright eyes. There is plenty of the young Dory, as the movie is filled with flashbacks to her childhood. Dory uses these flashbacks to help get her through her current adventure, which is to find her parents.

 Instead of traveling all over the ocean this time, the adventure quickly narrows to the Marine Life Institute. Along with her flashbacks, she gets some help from some new friends in order to navigate her way through the institute in search of her parents. Each of her new friends have some of the same silliness that Dory has, including Hank. Hank is a very serious octopus, who provides the most help to Dory because he’s on his own adventure. Oh and don’t worry, audiences will get to see some old friends too, including a certain bunch in a bonus scene after the credits.

  Overall, there are some similarities between “Finding Nemo,” and “Finding Dory,” especially in how this adventure begins. However, there are enough differences for the audience to enjoy. The only problem for this movie is that Dory isn’t quite as hilarious this time around mostly because she acts more aware of her memory loss, and tries harder to remember things. In turn, the new characters are asked to make up of some the comedic slack, and they do a decent job of it. Audiences waited a long time for this movie, and they won’t be disappointed. I give it 4 stars!

  HorrO