Movie Review - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Director: James Gunn
Genre: Action/ Science Fiction/ Adventure/ Comedy
Runtime: 150 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Pom Klementieff, Karen Gillan, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Uwuji, Will Poulter, Elizabeth Debicki
 
Description: Still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoek Saldana), Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own, a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.  

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 19: A SEQUEL
 
Review: The first film from 2014 was considered by Marvel to be a risk, with a small change of success. Who knew that an ensemble film about a group of misfits, including a foul-mouthed CGI raccoon and a verbally limited tree could lead to such success. It has been visible from the start that director and writer James Gunn believed in this team of misfits and has heart for them, because, in my opinion, this is the best series within the MCU. And he ends this trilogy with a bang. Just to be clear, I loved this movie and the review might not be subjective.   

The Guardians have settled on Knowhere, trying to give their lives shape after the loss of Gamora. That is going relatively well, until priestess Ayesha (whom we met in volume 2) comes for revenge and sends her perfect fighting machine Adam Warlock. In a fight, Rocket is seriously injured and to save his life, the Guardians must find out how the genetically engineered raccoon was ‘created’. To do so, they must delve into his past. And I’m telling you, it’s the saddest story you will ever see in a Marvel film.
Rocket, or experiment 89P13, turns out to be a creation of the High Evolutionary; a scientist who has set himself the goal of creating the perfect race and the perfect society. In the process, the self-appointed Messiah makes a lot of victims, lots of innocent victims. And with that he is by far the most evil Marvel villain yet. And I will add him to my list of most hated movie characters ever. The antagonist, strongly portrayed by Chukwudi Iwuju, holds the key to Rocket’s recovery.

The film clearly takes a darker path than its predecessors. The opening tune illustrates this perfectly. No upbeat song as usual, but an acoustic version of Radiohead’s melancholy “Creep”. “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is definitely still a funny sci-fi action comedy, but the emotional depth and somewhat heavier subject matter make it a more mature film. The caption on the poster says it all: “once more with feeling”. And I felt all the feels.

The plot consists of two storylines that converge at the end in a blistering finale. In the main story, which has all the action and humor, we follow the Guardians on their crazy and beautifully designed space adventure, in which, among other things, they take on a copy of Earth and a completely organic space station against the genetically engineered misfits of the high Evolutionary. The subplot serves as an emotional counterpoint, telling the equally wry and touching, but also sad story of Rocket’s genesis. Rocket has always been my favorite of the Guardians, but he most definitely is my favorite Marvel character of all-time as well. This one hit me hard.

James Gunn shifts incredibly cleverly between the two well-written storylines, alternating dramatic seriousness with humor, and CGI action spectacle with story and character development. With a well-balanced phasing, he keeps attention firmly from beginning to end, and with his once again phenomenally compiled playlist, he adds an awful lot of color to the film.

The highlight of the film are the perfectly cast, imperfect characters. All Guardians have their flaws and this is precisely what makes them so interesting. Their noble actions are partly motivated by a desire for redemption from an often dark past. This provides the team of misfits with an approachable humanity.

Nebula, meanwhile, is a full-fledged fun-loving Guardian and finally begins to thaw out, while Gamora, returned from the past and remembering nothing, takes her place as the pessimist of the group. It is a stroke of genius to have the sisters switch roles because with the new group dynamic, Gunn avoids a repetition of moves. Peter Quill’s character steps a bit to the background this time, Groot is in the prime of his life and the ever-dry Drax along with Mantis, provide the film’s comedic highlights. But Rocket is everything to me in this film.

I’m giving “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” a perfect rating, purely out of emotion, because to me this trilogy is the perfect one and it’s very near and dear to my heart. The series had a perfect conclusion with this emotional rollercoaster. I literally cannot fault it.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - Avatar: the Way of Water

Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 192 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, CCH Pounder, Joel David Moore, Edie Falco,
 
Description: Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and the army of Na’vi race to protect their home.

Review: It has been thirteen years since James Cameron revolutionized motion capture animation. “Avatar” was a prestigious project in every conceivable way. Such revolutions are becoming increasingly scarce as technical possibilities grow. But “Avatar” still works and is even one of my favorites movies of all time. And the wait for “Avatar: the Way of Water” is finally over, and boy did it pay off.

Jake Sully is now a real Na’vi, though the five fingers on each hand betray his human origins. He and Neytiri have started a family and are now the parents of four children. Meanwhile, villainous Quaritch has been resurrected as a Na’vi and is ready to take down Jake. This means that Jake needs to protect his family and move away from their beloved home.

“Avatar: the Way of Water” is over 3 hours long, but it’s not a punishment. The focus is not on Jake and Neytiri, it’s on their children, mainly the two sons and their eldest daughter. Because we already got to know Jake and Neytiri well in the first film, it’s a fresh take to focus on different character now. And you get to know them pretty well.

Like the first film, there is also a lot of focus on the emotional layers. This time mostly the family connection. And it can hit hard. Environmental issues are also dealt with, which made an impact on me before and again in the second installment.

“Avatar: the Way of Water” is definitely worth the wait, it is a beautifully looking film with a good message and strong family dynamics. It doesn’t reach the level of “Avatar”, but is very close.

Rating: 4/ 5

10s Movie Review - Colombiana

Director: Olivier Megaton

Genre: Action/ Crime/ Drama

Runtime: 108 minutes

Year: 2011

Starring: Zoe Saldana, Cliff Curtis, Michael Vartan, Callum Blue, Jodri Mollà, Lennie James

Description: A young girl in Bogotá witnesses her parent’s murder and grows up to be a stone-cold assassin (Zoe Saldana).

Review: South America. With helicopter shots, we are led into the world of “Colombiana”. The camera skims over the ramshackle hovels of the slums and soon leads us to nine-year-old Cataleya. Her father has gotten himself into some shady business and has to leave the scene along with his wife. Cataleya sees her parents being murdered. As she grows up, she becomes a stone-cold assassin, looking for vengeance.

“Colombiana” is the not the most original film and it is filled with clichés. Thanks to Zoe Saldana, as Cataleya, it’s still an enjoyable movie and fun to watch. It has some cool action, fight and chase scenes. But don’t expect anything special or groundbreaking.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Avatar

Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 161 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Lang, CCH Pounder, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao

Description: Paraplegic Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home..

Review: “Avatar” had to be a movie that would start a small revolution within the film industry. Our movie experience would change. Hundreds of millions of dollars were spend to create a new technology, with 3D and motion capture. Because of that, “Avatar” is the most expensive movie ever made. 

Ex-marine and paraplegic Jake Sully is send to the moon Pandora to be part of a big scientific project. He is there to replace his twin brother, who died. Because they share a DNA profile, Jake is the only one that can control the avatar created for his brother. Through a link Jake can control the body and brain of the avatar, which resembles one of the Na’vi, the folk that inhabits Pandora.

The project is led by doctor Grace Augustine. Jake has to collect samples from Pandora, but accidentally meets Neytiri, a female Na’vi. She starts to welcome Jake to her world and his mission changes. Colonel Miles Quaritch wants Jake to infiltrate the Na’vi and make them find a new location to live. The tree they live under is filled with Unobtainium, something that will sell for lots of money. But the closer Jake gets to the Na’vi, the more he adapts to their way of life and he wants to help them fight Quaritch and his men.

It’s a modern ecological fairytale that should teach us about the love for nature. The world of Pandora is totally credible, which is interesting because the entire world is completely computer generated. And the world has a breathtaking beauty. The movie and story have many layers and there are several lessons to be learned.

Because of motion capture, the Na’vi also look very realistic. This technique offers us many possibilities. And because it’s not just animation, the actors really need to act. Especially Zoe Saldana is a breath of fresh air. Her performance is fantastic. 

“Avatar” is not just another movie, it’s an experience. One of those movies that is even better on the big screen.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Reviews - Avengers: Infinity War

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 149 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Don Cheadle, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Chris Pratt, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Josh Brolin, Tom Hiddleston, Paul Bettany, Elisabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Idris Elba, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Peter Dinklage, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Gwyneth Paltrow

Description: The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.

Review: “Avengers: Infinity War” is a milestone in movie history. Eighteen Marvel movies come together, they have connections and ready for the big finale. And it’s literally the fate of the universe that’s at stake. But it’s nothing completely new, because it’s a big, colorful blockbuster film filled with amazing characters, sharp dialogues and a huge spectacle. And there is nothing wrong with that formula.
At the end of “The Avengers”, Thanos showed his face for the first tim. And he is finally here to execute his evil plans. In order to balance out the universe, he is looking for six so-called Infinity Stones. They’ve been a part of several Marvel films already. Some of the stones are on earth, so it doesn’t take long for an attack on planet earth and the Avengers have to start fighting. And although the Avengers split up, there are a lot more superheroes that they can rely on. Almost every hero we met in all those movies, is in “Avengers: Infinity War”.
Does it work, so many characters in one movie? You wouldn’t think so, but somehow it does and they found a good balance: the characters are scattered and devided up in four groups, who will meet each other. In some cases, the heroes know each other. But there are also new collaborations. Like Tony Stark and Peter Quill. And their interaction is worth the wait. But Thor and Rocket are an even more entertaining duo. And if all the info from the other Marvel movies isn’t that fresh anymore, they characters just simply explain to each other so that you can catch up.
Thanos as the main villain was all I hoped for. Josh Brolin nailed it!
Directing brother Joe and Anthony Russo take on the role of directors and they have proven before they understand the Marvel Universe well with two of the three Captain America movies.
“Avengers: Infinity War” is an excellent first half of an epic battle. And I’m really excited and curious for the next film.

Rating: 4,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 60: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Director: James Gunn
Genre: Action/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 136 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Sylvester Stallone, Kurt Russell, Tommy Flanagan, Sean Gunn

Description: 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.

Review: In 2014 everyone was surprised by “Guardians of the Galaxy”. It was such a success, that for me it’s the best Marvel film to date. I was extremely excited for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”, it was at the top of my most anticipated films of 2017 list. And I wasn’t disappointed.
I love how “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is stubborn. Fun cameos, but no forced cross-overs with other Marvel films. Eventually the Guardians will meet up with the Avengers, but for now it’s still its own franchise. And I’m glad.
The characters are more important here. Who are they, where do they come from, what drives them? Family is the key here. Peter Quill meets his father for the first time. Drax and Rocket who lost their family or never had one. Gamora and her struggling relationship with sister Nebula. And Groot, who is always protected by his fellow Guardians, after his big sacrifice in the first movie. They don’t belong anywhere else, but together as a team.
The film has tempo, just like the first. Enough action, humor, drama and sensation. Baby Groot was adorable, Rocket again on fire with sharp comments and Zoe Saldana, Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista did a great job as well. I especially loved Michael Rooker, as Yondu, in this film.
If I have to choose which of the two I think is better, I just can’t. It’s an amazing spectacle, that I immediately want to rewatch.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 41: Star Trek Beyond

Director: Justin Lin
Genre: Science Fiction/ Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella, Deep Roy, John Cho

Description: The USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a new ruthless enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

Review: It took director Justin Lin a while to turn the “Fast & Furious” series into the success it is now. For the “Star Trek” series it was a little easier, because Lin taking over for “Star Trek Beyond” is an instant success. It’s a great follow up and doesn’t constantly reference the old films and the TV show.
“Star Trek” from 2009 and “Star Trek Into Darkness” from 2013 were trying to build the new Star Trek universe and to reintroduce the characters. Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Sulu, Uhura, Scotty and Chekov finally get to go on their first long space mission in “Star Trek Beyond”, to discover new worlds, civilizations and people.
During a stop, they get a call from the nebula, an unknown part of space where there is no communication possible with the Starfleet. It is a bit suspicious, but the heroes from the Enterprise can’t ignore the call and decide to help them. But they are ambushed and end up on an unknown planet.
The villain is played by Idris Elba, who is unrecognizable but still manages to show his charisma through layers of make-up. Another newcomer is Sofia Boutella as Jaylah.
The film has a high tempo, which makes it feel rushed at times. But the action scenes are great, never over the top. I was sceptic about this film, “Star Trek Beyond” is a really good movie. I didn’t expect that. This “Star Trek” series is very solid.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Quotables: "Guardians of the Galaxy"

It was my favourite movie of 2014 and I have rewatched it a couple of times already. It’s such a fun film and it gave me everything I expected. It’s also filled with awesome quotes, so here they are.

Drax the Destroyer: I just wanted to tell you how grateful I am that you've accepted me despite my blunders. It is good to once again be among friends. You, Quill, are my friend.

Peter Quill: Thanks.

Drax the Destroyer: This dumb tree is also my friend.

[Groot grunts]

Drax the Destroyer: And this green whore is also...

Gamora: Oh, you must stop!

Rocket Raccoon: [about Drax] Metaphors go over his head.

Drax the Destroyer: NOTHING goes over my head!... My reflexes are too fast, I would catch it.

Gamora: I have lived most of my life surrounded by my enemies. I would be grateful to die surrounded by my friends.

 

Rocket Raccoon: That's for if things get really hardcore. Or if you wanna blow up moons.

Gamora: No one's blowing up moons.

Rocket Raccoon: You just wanna suck the joy out of everything.

Gamora: I know who you are, Peter Quill, and I am not some starry-eyed waif here to succumb to your... your pelvic sorcery!

Drax the Destroyer: Finger on throat means death!

[kills Korath]

Drax the Destroyer: Metaphor.

Peter Quill: ...Sort of.

 

 

Gamora: And Quill... Your ship is filthy.

Peter Quill: She has no idea. If I had a blacklight, this place would look like a Jackson Pollock painting.

Rocket Raccoon: You got issues, Quill.

Gamora: I am going to die surrounded by the biggest idiots in the galaxy.

Rocket Raccoon: Why would you want to save the galaxy?

Peter Quill: Because I'm one of the idiots who lives in it!

Gamora: We're just like Kevin Bacon.

 

 

Rocket Raccoon: [scans a small child] Look at this thing. It thinks it's so cool. It's not cool to ask for help! Walk by yourself, you little gargoyle!

Gamora: Your wife and child shall rest well, knowing that you have avenged them.

Drax the Destroyer: Yes. Of course Ronan was only a puppet. It's really Thanos that I need to kill.

Rocket Raccoon: YOU'RE... MAKING... ME... BEAT... UP... GRASS!

In the Picture: The Characters from "Guardians of the Galaxy"

This was a movie I had been looking forward to since I first heard about it. It’s such an awesome movie and I love all the characters. So, why not share them with you? Here are the characters from “Guardians of the Galaxy” and I choose only to share the five members of the group.

Peter Quill aka Star-Lord

Played by: Chris Pratt

Peter was abducted from earth when he was a kid. He was raised by a group of thieves and smugglers called The Ravagers. Peter has lived a life as a thieve himself and the only thing that connects him to earth is a mix tape with classic pop songs. Whenever Peter gets into a sticky situation, he tries to joke his way out of it.

Gamora

Played by: Zoe Saldana

Gamora is an orphan and she is trained by Thanos. He used her as his personal assassin, but now she seeks revenge. Gamora is a warrior, she is lethal, righteous and she can kick your ass.

Drax the Destroyer

Played by: Dave Bautista

Drax is a warrior in search of vengeance. Ronan the Accuser has killed his wife and daughter and all he wants I to kill him. Because Drax doesn’t undertand metaphors, he sometimes comes off as dumb.

Groot

Voiced by: Vin Diesel

Groot is a tree-like humanoid and a bounty hunter. He has a very limited vocabulary. Groot can only say three words, being “I am Groot”. He has great physical strength, but is also a very kind hearted creature.

Rocket

Voiced by: Bradley Cooper

Rocket is a genetically engineered raccoon. He accompanies Groot and is also a bounty hunter. Rocket is also a mercenary and is a master of weapons and battle tactics. He is dynamic, funny and you don’t want to piss him off.

Favorite Character: Rocket

Movie Battle: The Avengers Vs. Guardians of the Galaxy

I already know this is going to be one tough battle. Both movies are incredibly kick ass. They are both based on Marvel comics and it’s about superheroes. I’m a huge fan of both movies, so it’s going to be hard to pick a favourite in the end. To battle it out, here is “The Avengers” Vs. “Guardians of the Galaxy”.

 

 

 

CAST

The Avengers: It’s filled with big stars, and most of them already had their own movie as this superhero. We have Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow and Jeremy Renner as Hawke Eye. And not to mention Samuel L. Jackson and Tom Hiddleston.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista aren’t as known as the guys from “The Avengers”, but stand their ground. The biggest names, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, only provided voices. I really loved all five of these characters.

STORY

The Avengers: Nick Shield wants to assemble a team, to take a fierce demigod. He wants to take over New York and the world.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Peter Quill finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser. He gets help from assassin Gamora, bounty hunters Rocket and Groot and muscular Drax.

EFFECTS

The Avengers: This movie look stunning, great visuals and special effects. The biggest part of the movie is set in a big city, so for that they didn't need any CGI.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Same here, “Guardians of the Galaxy” looks amazing. Everything looks great, so detailed. The set is amazing! And how they made Rocket and Groot so live like. They easily could have been the Jar Jar Binks of this film.

WINNER

After thinking it over and over and over I’ve come to the conclusion that I prefer “Guardians of the Galaxy”. But only a little bit. I love both movies, but I fell in love with “Guardians of the Galaxy”.

Pic Spam: Zoe Saldana

I was introduced to this great actress in "Avatar" and she has proven herself as a worthy actress and action star. In "Guardians of the Galaxy" she shines once again. Here are some of the best pictures of Zoe Saldana.

Top 5 Thursday: Characters from "Guardians of the Galaxy"

I finally saw “Guardians of the Galaxy” this week and I LOVED it. And all five of the lead characters are amazing. I decided to make a top 5.

5. Drax the Destroyer

Drax is a big man, a strong man. He doesn’t get metaphors and that also gives him this dry sense of humor.

 

4. Gamora

Talking about a kick-ass chick, we’re talking about Gamora. You don’t want to mess with her, she’ll kick your but anytime. Gamora is a warrior and an assassin.

 

3. Peter Quill aka Star-Lord

Peter was abducted from earth and raised a thief. Every time he’s in a sticky situation, he tries to joke himself out of it. Peter is a good leader.

 

2. Groot

Groot is a tree-like creature, has a very limited vocabulary and looks scary. He’s actually a very gentle and kind being.

 

1. Rocket

Rocket is a genetically manipulated racoon with a wise guy attitude. He’s very good with weapons and firearms and is very inventive. And you don’t want to make him mad. I loved Rocket from the start.

 

They Almost Made the Top 5: -

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 100: Guardians of the Galaxy

Director: James Gunn

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction/ Comedy

Runtime: 120 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio Del Toro, Djimon Hounsou

Description: After stealing a mysterious orb in the far reaches of outer space, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is now the main target of a manhunt led by the villain known as Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace). To help fight Ronan and his team and save the galaxy from his power, Quill creates a team known as the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' to save the world.

Review: The popularity of the Marvel movies doesn’t seem to end. After big names like Iron Man, Thor and Captain America getting their own film, the spotlights are now for the heroes from “Guardians of the Galaxy”.

The gang of superheroes was created in 1969, even before “Star Wars”. In 2008 it got a reboot and that’s the focus of this movie. We first meet Peter Quill. The only thing that reminds him of earth is a mix taped with classic pop songs. Quill, aka Star-Lord, is on an expedition to track down a mysterious orb. During his quest he gets ambushed by the Kree, an alien race lead by Ronan the Accuser. Quill manages to escape, but is then attacked by assassin Gamora, who also wants the orb. Bounty hunters Rocket and Groot are after Quill, because of the price on his head. The four get arrested and end up in jail. They make a deal to split the money they get for the orb and Drax also joins the group for his own reasons.

Between all the reboots and sequels that premiered this summer, “Guardians of the Galaxy” is a breath of fresh air. It shows that this movie was made with so much joy, it’s hard not to tag along. The eccentric and nostalgic tone is perfectly complimented by the soundtrack. But it doesn’t only please your ears. “Guardians of the Galaxy” is a visual treat. Everything looks beautiful, the special effects are amazing and mind-blowing.

What really seperates “Guardians of the Galaxy” from its competition is the high dose of humor. People who watch “Parks and Recreation” already know that Chris Pratt’s a comedic talent. But also Rocket, Groot and the dry humor delivered by Drax will definitely make you laugh out loud.

With movies like this, it’s always hard to create depth in characters. That’s also a point “Guardians of the Galaxy” does extremely well. In the first hour the main characters are introduced and you immediately like them and relate to them. Although raccoon Rocket and tree Groot steal the show, all characters have their qualities and you easily fall in love with all five of them.

Marvel has done it again, it really exceeded itself. “Guardians of the Galaxy” is heaps of fun and you immediately want to rewatch it. I can’t wait for the sequel!

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Favorites: Avatar

Synopsis: When his brother is killed in a robbery, paraplegic Marine Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) decides to take his place in a mission on the distant world of Pandora. There he learns of greedy corporate figurehead Parker Selfridge's intentions of driving off the native humanoid "Na'vi" in order to mine for the precious material scattered throughout their rich woodland. In exchange for the spinal surgery that will fix his legs, Jake gathers intel for the cooperating military unit spearheaded by gung-ho Colonel Quaritch, while simultaneously attempting to infiltrate the Na'vi people with the use of an "avatar" identity. While Jake begins to bond with the native tribe and quickly falls in love with the beautiful alien Neytiri (Zoe Saldana), the restless Colonel moves forward with his ruthless extermination tactics, forcing the soldier to take a stand - and fight back in an epic battle for the fate of Pandora.

 

Unique Selling Point: I have to admit that I was a bit skeptic about this movie. I refused to watch it, because it was hyped so much. It wasn’t until it was released on DVD, that my curiosity won over my will to rebel against the majority. “Avatar” isn’t just another action-packed, special effect spectacle. It has a deeper meaning, global change and the fact that people always destroy beautiful things. I was amazed by the visuals, but the message also grabbed me. I’m a little disappointed that I didn’t get to see it in theaters, because that would be amazing.

Most Valuable Player: Definitely Zoe Saldana, who plays Neytiri, who manages to feel real and she wins your sympathy. She isn’t only gorgeous, but her performance was stunning.

Best Moment: When Jake Sully has to choose an Ikran, but it also has to choose him. When the band is made he and Neytiri fly off. It gave me butterflies in my stomache.

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 3: Star Trek Into Darkness

Director: J.J. Abrams
Genre: Actie/ Science Fiction/ Avontuur
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, Bendict Cumberbatch, Alice Eve, Anton Yelchin, John Cho, Bruce Greenwood, Peter Weller

Description: When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis. With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one-man weapon of mass destruction. As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Review: You can easily trust J.J. Abrams with a good action movie, because he did a great job on the reboot of “Star Trek”. Now, four years later, you wouldn’t expect it to reach that same level of surprise. Well, think again!
“Star Trek Into Darkness” contains some of the same ingredients we saw in the first, some action sequences are very similar. But with the humor, action and excitement it keeps your attention at all times.
Most humor comes from the interaction between Kirk and Spock. This is a strong and solid base for this franchise. Especially Zachary Quinto’s timing and dry humor is fabulous, he’s a great Spock. But the movie shouldn’t be called “Star Trek Into Darkness” if there wasn’t a dark side to this film. That comes from the character John Harrison, who is out for revenge. My problem with the first film was the villain, but that’s exactly the strongest point of the second installment. And we have Benedict Cumberbatch to thank. He is a fantastic actor and is probably one of the most convincing villains of 2013. His voice alone makes you shiver, Cumberbatch can make anything sound sinister. He gives his character extra depth, which makes him unpredictable. I’m also glad to see Simon Pegg in a bigger role, but the two female characters played by Alice Eve and Zoe Saldana are underused.
“Star Trek Into Darkness” is a true action fest, even if you’re not a Trekkie.

Rating: 4/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Movie Archers

I recently saw "Brave" for the first time and that made me think of this top 5. The best movie archers.

5. Clint Barton/ Hawke Eye (“The Avengers”)
He is part of the ensemble, but doesn't have any superpowers. His bow and arrow do the trick.

4. Neytiri (“Avatar”)
She is the Na'vi princess of the Omaticaya clan. She is good with her bow and she can quite do some damage because of the size of the arrows.

3. Princess Merida (“Brave”)
Merida is a character with a strong will and a young woman who just wants to make her own decisions. Her mother doesn't like it that Merida is so good at archery.

2. Katniss Everdeen (“The Hunger Games”)
Katniss taught herself to shoot a bow and arrow, just for the simple reason of survival. As you can see, it can come in handy. Katniss really rocks this weapon.

1. Robin Hood (“Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”)
Robin Hood is the most well known archer in the history of the world and also in the movie history. My favorite indeed!

They almost made the top 5: Kili ("The Hobbit")