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Film reviews

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Review

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It’s been six years since the last Guardians of the Galaxy film. The newest version, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, has tones of melancholy and fantasy. But it still has the superhero vibe and the classy tunes that make the film a positive experience.

In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Chris Pratt is back as Peter Quill, Dave Bautista is back as Drax, Vin Diesel is back as Groot, Bradley Cooper is back as Rocket, and Karen Gillan returns as Nebula. All are back for a mission that somewhat lacks the excitement we expect in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film seems to have shallow character introductions and a lack of continuity for most of the first half. The film also has almost a Star Trek setting. The film did move up a couple of levels with the visuals and CGI, though.

The plot of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3picks up with Quill finding himself at a loss after the death of Gamora (played by Zoe Saldana). The film goes in much the same direction as recent Marvel Cinematic Universe films. The team still has their tough attitude and their big egos, and they still deliver the humor and joyful superhero galore that fans love. When Rocket is kidnapped by Adam Warlock (played by Will Poulter) and an emperor enemy who goes by the name The High Evolutionary (played by Chukwudi Iwuji), Quill is on a mission to get Rocket back. This journey leads to bizarre places in outer space, with many twists and surprises. But the melancholy runs throughout the film.

Though not as stellar as previous films in the franchise, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3does show that the Marvel Cinematic Universe is reaching a serious phase again, and that it’s back on track with projects about to be released and in development. There are many surprises in the film, and fans will have fun trying to put together the pieces to try to figure out what will come next. It just may be that Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is taking the franchise in a whole different direction—toward bigger and better projects.

One of the issues with this film is that the enemies’ powers seem overrated. No spoilers, but I will say I was not very impressed with this aspect of the film. But of course subpar enemies mean more success for our heroes of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. And there is of course also a lot of the saying, “I am Groot,” the tagline of all the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Those three words always bring fun to the table and although they’re intended to be sarcastic, there wouldn’t be witty and fun entertainment without sarcasm in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

So will the team be able to save Rocket? Possibly, but they may take on more damage then planned. Are there any enemies or events linking to Gamora? Maybe. Is Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 an amazing ride? No, but it still carries many of the gems that fans of the franchise will appreciate. Three stars for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Film reviews

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret Review

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“My only advice is to stay aware, listen carefully, and yell for help if you need it.”

-Judy Blume

When there is a need for guidance in young girl’s life, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret provides a shining light. Based on the award-winning novel by Judy Blume, this filmoffers a realistic portrait of the feelings experienced during developmental years. In the eyes of Margaret, her adventures span a range of common questions she is facing and bold curiosities she is exploring. Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret dives deep into Margaret’s life and is completely engrossing. Directed and written by Kelly Fremon Craig, this film is faithful to the classic novel and sheds a positive light for all ages.

In the film Margaret, age eleven, is played by Abby Ryder Fortson. Her mom and dad are Barbara and Herb (played by Rachel McAdams and Herb Simon). Her grandma, Sylvia, is played by Kathy Bates. Margaret is a shy and introverted individual on the nerdy side. She is just a normal young lady whose life takes a shift when her family moves from the city to the suburbs. Her mother is Christian, and her father is Jewish. Margaret’s parents never practiced their religion with her or encouraged her to choose a faith. Once Margaret and her family move, she becomes friends with Nancy, played by Elle Graham. Nancy is on the popular side and has an ego. Nancy influences Margaret to develop one too especially when it comes to sex and boys. Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret will remind viewers of learning about topics that seemed awkward once upon a time. The film is written in a realistic manner that accurately reflects the narrative of youth.

The ups and downs of adolescent life are illustrated throughout the film. Margaret feels grateful at times and in others not so much. She finds herself enjoying the company of her grandma more than anyone else. That is probably because her grandma is more adventurous with her than her parents. While her parents are not bad people, they just never exposed Margaret to many aspects of their own lives. This lack of attention is key to Margaret gaining the attention of Nancy’s friendship. Some moments in the story depict belittling and condescending behaviors which are a bit of a downer. Despite the harshness, Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret is a reminder that in life it is OK to feel what our heart tells us to feel. This is especially true for someone young like Margaret.

If readers know the works of Judy Blume, then they will recognize that this film is based on her novel. Blume’s writing is always articulate and honest. Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret is one of the most honest film adaptations I have seen and even one of the top films of 2023 so far for me. The performance of Fortson, McAdams, Bates, and Safdie are all touching and monumental. The film is a revelation.

Is there a happy path forward for Margaret? Are there other curiosities or scenarios that will help her expand her horizons? Find out in Are you There God? It’s Me Margaret. Four stars.

Film reviews

Beau is Afraid Review

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“When we use love and compassion as our guiding principles we can create, develop and implement systems of change that are beneficial to all sentient beings and to the environment.”

-Joaquin Phoenix

This quote by Joaquin Phoenix holds true in life. His performance in Beau is Afraid contains “love” and “compassion” as well as “guiding principles.” In all the elements in this film, the world created by director Ari Aster utilizes a foundation from the past and present. Phoenix’s performance maximizes the film’s invigorating tensions. Beau is Afraid is like an adventure mixed with medicinal side-effects. The bizarreness of Beau is Afraid is truly surreal brilliance. There are unexplained scenarios that involve pieces which appear in the most twisted of ways. Beau is Afraid is an experience of information overload with a positive perspective. The film may seem mind-boggling and overwhelming for some. I even felt that way in moments, but my heart was set purely on the adventure of a misconstrued man. Phoenix as Beau is that man in Beau is Afraid.

The film starts with Beau visiting his doctor because he suffers from extreme anxiety. The film shifts frequently to make the environment around Beau have a haunting and psychologically stressful ambience. This is common of Aster’s directing. Beau talks about how he is excited to visit his mother, but Beau really has lots of anxiety about the visit. As Beau preps for his trip, his environment goes awry. His world seems to crash in on him and his manic episodes put him in the home of a married couple named Grace (played by Amy Ryan) and Roger (played by Nathan Lane). They explain to Beau that they are taking care of him because he has been in an accident. With Beau’s mental state and worry about getting to his mother, Beau’s path home turns darker. The journey for Beau is an odyssey and which Aster is known for in his films. However, the odyssey in Beau is Afraid is the most in-depth one I have ever seen in any of his projects.

The film had me thinking about the visuals as Beau’s journey continued moving forward. The moments when Beau was going to a new place or trying to find new answers were like a world filled with puzzles, facts, and unfolded truths. Beau thinks back to his past a lot, and it correlates with the current challenges as he struggles to make his way home to see his mother. There are times where the technical aspects lighten up, darken, or go rogue. There are also times where a dark subject for Beau turns to negative cinematography. This effect is added with much more than just harrowing lighting.

Sometimes Beau encounters monsters of his past or even first world problems that he takes too seriously. Every problem in Beau’s head contains a recipe for more surprises to be unfolded. Aster’s directing is filled with a pattern of linking what is in Beau’s mind to other elements in the film. This results in the environments in Beau’s strange journey continuously shifting. It is a ride of questions and truths, but ultimately Beau is Afraid is about Beau confronting his past. The problems in his life hold the key to his anxiety and also the adventure he is on.

Beau is Afraid remains on track, and from my experience, it was revolutionary. The mind of Aster is put to the test in Beau is Afraid. I did feel overwhelmed throughout the film, but that did not stop me from enjoying how much it was blowing my mind. Beau is Afraid is enticing and will prompt viewers to think about the psychological aspects for hours after the movie is over. It will also leave viewers curious to how long they can hold onto something mentally and not let go. Beau has a hard time dismissing the harsh subjects in his head. His experience putting together the pieces is an epic and wildly dazzling experience. Beau is Afraid, but Phoenix is not afraid to play Beau. Aster is known for making scenes feel visually real and leaving a mark. Beau is Afraid is gorgeous and monumental. Aster demonstrates his impressive talent as a director in Beau is Afraid. It will leave audiences with all kinds of emotions and make them think. Four stars.