Newsletter Movie Reviews, Vol. 1

Not too long ago I was asked to contribute to our work's monthly/bi-monthly newsletter (they haven't made up their minds on how often to publish it). I was sincerely flattered and then had a cold sweat because I was now responsible to write something and to be held to a deadline (kind of). What you see below is my first entry.
Enjoy!

IN THEATERS
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Directed by: James Gunn
Starring: Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel

Peter Quill – an outlaw for hire who goes by the self-proclaimed name Star-Lord – finds himself the target of a major manhunt after acquiring a mysterious orb that he intends to sell.


Yes, I know. It’s September and you’re reading about a movie that was released on August 1st. If this were 1995, my review would still seem… relevant. However, it is not and here’s hoping that it’s still playing at a theater near you. (If not, I’m sure it’ll be on Blu-ray and digital download soon enough.) Guardians of the Galaxy – Marvel’s first step outside of their normal comic-book universe – is an absolute blast! It was as if someone successfully crossed the sci-fi adventure elements of Star Wars with the humor and wit of The Hangover (minus the profanities). If you’re not a comic book geek, have no fear, because this movie doesn’t require a working knowledge of the Marvel Universe. Guardians is fast-paced, with laugh-a-minute dialogue, and a great 70’s soundtrack that equally matches the spirit and personality of its eclectic characters. If you enjoy a good adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously, you’ll find this worth two hours of your time.

AT HOME
Pain & Gain (2013)Directed by: Michael Bay
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, Anthony Mackie, Tony Shalhoub, Ed Harris

Personal trainer and bodybuilder Daniel Lugo befriends a couple fellow “juice heads” in an attempts to exhort one of his wealthy clients and quickly climb up the financial food chain. Mayhem ensues.


Pain & Gain is like a Coen Brothers film on steroids… directed by Michael Bay. If you know me, then you know that I haven’t particularly enjoyed a Michael Bay film since 1995’s The Rock. His directorial style tends to be too flashy, too commercial, has way too many explosions, and rarely has any heart. Besides, anyone who follows up their success of Transformers with two more Transformer-based films back-to-back isn’t usually high on my watch list, regardless of who the director is. (Okay, that’s enough Bay-bashing.) Pain & Gain is a temporary departure from his standard fair and should not be overlooked; especially if your tastes tend to lean towards dark comedies (i.e., Fight Club, Fargo, American Psycho, etc.) and/or you usually find yourself laughing at things that most other moviegoers do not. Is this film for everyone? Absolutely not. Daniel and his fellow compatriots conduct some rather heinous and violent acts. However, if you can get past that, then you’ve gotten past the worst of it, and the rest is downhill in this twistedly disturbing true crime story. [Now Streaming on Netflix]

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