Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 and 2

Guardians of the Galaxy (James Gunn, 2014)

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Rating: Q=5, P=5 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=2, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=2

Science Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Comic

I don't usually like the blockbuster/action/comic book movies, but I have enjoyed several films of this category in recent years. Guardians of the Galaxy is really fun and even though the story line is thin and characters could be better with more depth, I still think it's a great escape film. Humor is abundant and the action sequences aren't too over the top. And I love the family of misfits concept, too.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (James Gunn, 2017)

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Rating: Q=5, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=2, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Science Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Comic

The second of the series is just as good as the first, with even more hilarious lines and moments. More is learned (but not much more) about the main character's background, the family of misfits become closer and larger, and it's evident that more films are to come.

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Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children (Tim Burton, 2016)

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Rating: Q=5, P=4 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=2, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=2

Fantasy, Coming of Age, Whimsical, WWII, Adventure

I guess I was expecting something weird, strange, and different from Tim Burton and that's definitely what I got with this one. The story is a little messy and brings about some questions but the fantasy of time travel makes up for it. I liked the creepy aspects--zombie dolls fighting and monsters eating eyeballs?!-- and the visual effects. And, of course, there is a very hopeful message. A fun little diversion.

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FAVORITES: Harold & Maude, Slumdog Millionaire, and Stand By Me

FAVORITES for September & October:

Harold & Maude (Hal Ashby, 1971)

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Rating: Q=8, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Comedy, Coming of Age, Romance, Complex Relationship, Cult Classic

Why is it a Favorite?

When I first saw this film I was 17 years old and in my first head-over-heels teenage love experience. It was a complicated, tumultuous, and difficult time for me. How do you deal with another person's emotions? How do you make sense of your own? How do you maintain balance in your life? How do you handle judgment and reputation? Does it matter?

Harold & Maude wrestles with all of these questions. Yes, it is a story about an odd-couple romance between a young boy and an elderly woman, but it is ultimately a story about what love really means. It's also about being true to yourself and not compromising that. I think every teenager should see this film--it was life-changing for me.

Slumdog Millionaire (Danny Boyle and Loveleen Tandan, 2008)

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Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

India, Coming of Age, Gangster, Realism, Gritty, Trafficking, Romance

Why is it a Favorite?
This film is brilliant. The artistry, the story, the themes and symbols, the young actors, the music--everything. I fell in love with this one, though, because of the social realism and the message of hope. Slumdog Millionaire is about boys growing up on the streets, it is a film about poverty and human trafficking, it is about income inequality. It is about the triumph of determination and love over choosing the easy way.

As a graduate student I wrote about one particular scene from this film: a brutal blinding of a young boy. It is a stirring, gruesome scene that turned my stomach every time I watched. But Danny Boyle shows us the strength of the love, loyalty, and will of the boys after witnessing this cruelty--it is magnificent. The power of the human spirit is awesome.

Stand By Me (Rob Reiner, 1986)

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Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Coming of Age, Boys, Adventure, Complex Relationships, Cult Classic

Why is it a Favorite?
Is there any better Coming of Age film, really? This one is just so perfect. Four friends, an adventure, emotions, great songs, nostalgia...

Stand By Me is a classic because of the writing and the chemistry between the young actors. We believe that these four boys are best friends. Truly. And we believe that their friendship is strong enough that they aren't afraid to share their fears and struggles with each other. River Phoenix's confession scene is quite possibly the most emotional moment in any film I've seen. And even though the story centers around an adventure to see a dead body, it's not about that at all. It's about the little things--the conversations, the wandering around, the teasing and testing and supporting of each other. The essence of friendship.

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Blade Runner 2049

Blade Runner 2049 (Denis Villeneuve, 2017)

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Rating: Q=7, P=7 / Obsession

Scale 1=4, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=3

Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Post apocalyptic, Philosophical

Yes. Yes. Yes. So, I loved Blade Runner and found the concept and ethics of replicants really interesting. With this new film, my enthusiasm has only increased. I love the idea of replicants rebelling and all the consequences of artificial intelligence.

Visually, Blade Runner 2049 is absolutely hypnotic, stunning, scary, beautiful. In 3D it is even more so. Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford work really well together and play their parts marvelously. Jared Leto is creepy and perfect as the self-assigned "god," Watson.

If you liked Blade Runner 1982, you'll like this one. If you never saw it, you will still enjoy this story--it stands alone.

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The Iron Giant

The Iron Giant (Brad Bird, 1999)

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Rating: Q=6, P=6 / Average OJ

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=3, Scale 3=3, Scale 4=3

Animation, Science Fiction/Fantasy, 1950s, Complex Relationships

A fun film that definitely flew under the radar--at least, I don't remember hearing about it when it was released. Great animation, good story, funny in all the right ways. I am always a little annoyed at how contemporary animators draw their characters to look like the voice actors, though.

"You are who you choose to be," is a great message for both children and adults. And I found the friendly war machine who wants to be peaceful very charming, especially in an era with so much violence, hatred, fear, and war.

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