Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

The movie that got us all 'hooked on a feeling' in 2014 is back!  This time around Peter 'Star Lord' Quill (Chris Pratt) and friends find themselves on the run from a golden-skinned race known as the Sovereigns after they discover a small theft by Rocket (Bradley Cooper).  During the chase, they are rescued by a mysterious man known as Ego (Kurt Russell) who reveals himself to be Peter's father.  The Guardians are invited to his home planet, where we discover his surprising motivations for searching out his son.  Meanwhile, Yondu (Michael Rooker) and his space-pirate crew the Ravagers have fallen on hard times, resulting in an internal power struggle.  Eventually Yondu's crew catches up with the Guardians, but by this time, their situation has changed dramatically.  Banding together for the greater good, the Guardians, along with Yondu and Nebula (Karen Gillan) face off against an unexpected villain in a fight that will determine the safety of the entire galaxy!
As is expected with any Marvel film, Guardians Vol 2 is full of eye candy, from the excellent makeup to the outstanding visual effects.  Thankfully, the quality of writing is just as good as the effects.  Every character gets a good amount of screen time.  Peter and Gamora (Zoe Saldana) continue their indecisive attempts at romance, Rocket and baby Groot (Vin Diesel) get numerous chances to explode people, and Drax (Dave Bautista) begins to understand the nature of love, as well as having some of the funniest moments in the movie.  I also appreciate that this sequel put a spotlight on the 'villains' from the first instalment, giving them some very complex new depth of character.
It would be irresponsible of me to talk about a Guardians film without discussing the soundtrack.  Once again, the music is made up of various hits and one-hit-wonders of the disco era, but something about this soundtrack doesn't feel quite the same.  It still has some very well chosen songs for the big moments, but overall, it doesn't seem nearly as vibrant or memorable as the first movie.  After some reflection, I think this has something to do with the context of the first film.  Guardians of the Galaxy started from a deep emotional place, which imprints itself on an audience very strongly.  As well, the first film was our introduction to these characters we now love, so those musical moments become even more ingrained in our unconscious, much in the same way we associate John Williams's Imperial March with Darth Vader, for instance.
As is the case with any Marvel movie, there is a small collection of post-credit sequences.  A few of them are chuckle-worthy, but unless you're well-versed in Marvel comics lore, there's not much worth sticking around for.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is full of action, laughs and adventure.  But more than this, it has a serious emotional story to tell.  Ultimately, it's a story about family.  We don't get to choose our relatives, but we do get to choose who we call our family.  Guardians explains this to us in a very clear and poetic way, and is a big reason I think it improves on the original.  If you're a fan of the original, or just like Marvel movies in general, I highly recommend you see this while it's still in theatres!

Moana (2016)

Disney takes a trip to the South Pacific in their latest animated feature, Moana.  The film tells the story of a young woman named Moana (voiced by newcomer Auli'i Cravalho), who serves as chieftain of her small island.  When problems begin appearing in the local plant life, Moana sets off on a dangerous journey to find the exiled demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson), who holds the power to restore the island to its natural state.  After a rocky introduction, the two eventually join forces, and return home to set things right.
Moana is delightful visually, filled with vibrant colours and interesting character designs.  The animators make great use of the iconic images of Hawaii, and have outdone themselves with the level of detail presented.  Everything you see on screen, from flowers to rope fibres, to the ocean spray itself, feels authentic and draws you further in to Moana's world.
Moana is not only visually pleasing, but it's a treat for the ears as well.  This is in part due to the contribution of Broadway darling Lin-Manuel Miranda, writer of the Oscar nominated song 'How Far I'll Go'.  The songs are very well written and composed, and are as memorable as any Disney film that came before it.  Thankfully, Miranda has a great support for his music with the voice talents of young Auli'i Cravalho.  Even Dwayne Johnson gets his own moment in the spotlight, and it turns out he's a decent singer as well!
The story of Moana, based in Hawaiian legend, reminded me somewhat of Disney's Hercules.  Considering directors John Musker and Ron Clements worked on Hercules back in the 90s, this doesn't come as too big a surprise.  It's clearly the kind of story they love to tell, with lots of action, a few laughs, and a big heart.  While some may say it's not as complex as a movie like Zootopia, I think Moana still has a lot of value.  Moana is a great movie for kids and adults alike.  It has great music and visuals, a wonderfully strong female lead, (with not a prince in sight) and it has some important lessons to teach us about courage and reconciliation.

Kong: Skull Island (2017)

Produced by the same team who brought us Godzilla (2014), Kong: Skull Island is an interesting retelling of the Kong story that brings the iconic monster into a more contemporary setting.  Set during the end of the Vietnam war, alternative researchers Bill Randa (John Goodman) and Houston Brooks (Corey Hawkins) petition the government to fund an expedition to an uncharted island, which they believe contains a secret, primeval ecosystem, never seen by man.  To get there, they are granted a military escort, headed by Colonel Preston Packard (Samuel L. Jackson).  Together with a skilled tracker (Tom Hiddleston) and an outspoken political photojournalist (Brie Larson), they all set off into the mysterious unknown.  Upon their arrival, the group are faced with the dangerous wildlife of Skull Island (not including Kong himself) as well as Hank Marlow (John C. Reilly), who has befriended the natives since being stranded on the island since World War II.  While fighting to survive the destruction of Kong, the team desperately try to reach their arriving rescue team, and escape the dangers of Skull Island.
The thing I like most about Kong: Skull Island is how modern the story feels.  Even though it is set in the 1970s, this take on the story feels fresh in a way that Peter Jackson's version didn't.  There is no mention of New York City here, and many of the other typical Kong tropes are absent.  The film doesn't completely abandon all reference to its origins, however.  There are still a few subtle and not-so-subtle nods to the source material, which I thought were smartly used.  While we're on the subject of theming, this film borrows as much from classic Vietnam movies as much as it does the Kong franchise.  There are many notes from films like Apocalypse Now and Rambo, though but not so many that the movie feels derivative.
I also appreciate the way Skull Island gives the monsters plenty of room to play.  This is a huge contrast with 2014's Godzilla, which did a reasonably good job, but spent too much time with the dull human characters narrating the big monster action fans had paid to see.  The visuals of the film are top notch, with some very creative and memorable creature designs.
My only complaint about the cast is it was perhaps a little too large for everyone to get equal screen time.  There were a few characters I would have liked to see more of, but the various plot threads only allowed for a certain amount of storytelling.  For instance, while Tom Hiddleston may have top billing, I found his character ultimately forgettable.  Of the other players involved, I particularly enjoyed Samuel L. Jackson's intense performance as  Col. Packard.  Being a career military man, Packard has no problem with a new assignment, and decides to start his own personal war with Kong, which results in nothing but trouble for everyone else.  John Goodman is also excellent as Bill Randa, a man who knows for a fact monsters are real, and is eventually proven right.  My praises of the cast wouldn't be complete without the mention of John C. Reilly.  His performance as the grizzled, slightly crazed Hank Marlow steals the show, and is one of the most memorable of the whole movie.
Kong: Skull Island breathes some new life into the old bones of the Kong franchise, and is a great modern interpretation of a classic story.

*There is a small post-credits scene which hints at some possible future films, so make sure to stick around after the show!    

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is the long awaited film expansion of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter universe.  The film takes us back to New York City in the 1920s, where we meet Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), who is something of a magical Doctor Dolittle.  When a small mix-up happens at a bank, regular citizen Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler) finds himself in possession of Newt's magical briefcase, which contains all of the creatures he's collected in his travels.  To add to Newt's troubles, there is also a strongly anti-magic organization stirring up protests around New York.  Naturally, almost all of the magical beasts get loose.  With the help of sisters Tina (Katherine Waterston) and Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol), they set about to recapture all of the missing creatures.  Unfortunately, the Magical Congress of the United States Of America (America's version of the Ministry of Magic) is out to capture Newt Scamander for their own reasons.
For the most part, I found this movie quite enjoyable, with the exception of a few small items.  One issue this film has is the size of the cast.  There are just a few too many characters to give everyone equal screen time, and at times, the plot becomes a touch muddled because of it.  For instance, I think there was far too much time spent focusing on Mary Lou Barebone (Samantha Morton) and her clan of disturbed children for what was essentially a one-note plot point.  Also, there are some barriers for those unfamiliar with the original books (and the Harry Potter source material).  I found myself especially puzzled with Percival Graves (Colin Farrell).  I had very little idea of his exact position within his organization, much less what his title of auror meant, if anything.
Despite these minor complaints, Fantastic Beasts is a lot of fun to watch.  The film takes every advantage when it comes to 3D technology, and doesn't spend it all in the opening moments of the film, like many others have.  The depth of detail and imaginative creature design is wonderful to witness, and adds that extra touch of magic needed for a story as grand as this.  Sadly, I feel that the non-3D version may not feel half as engaging, considering there is such heavy use of effects.  As I mentioned before, I am only familiar with the Harry Potter film franchise, but according to my wife, there are plenty of references, both large and small, for Potter fans to talk about.  As a film-only fan, I did pick up on a handful, but the majority were lost on me.  Interestingly, these references never felt obvious or overdone to me, which is refreshing for a movie that takes place in such a well known world.  Contrast this with the constant name-dropping seen in the Marvel movies, and you'll begin to see what I mean.  Then again, I haven't read the books, so you can judge for yourself.
The cast is solid all around.  Eddie Redmayne is charmingly inquisitive, in spite of his social awkwardness.  Katherine Waterston's Tina provides the perfect match for Newt with her sharp wit and determined attitude.  While Colin Farrell is competent as Graves, Newt's authoritarian adversary, the true show stealers are Kowalski and Queenie.  You can't help but love Dan Fogler as the simple, working man who becomes fascinated with Newt's magical world.  Alison Sudol plays Queenie with an infectious enthusiasm as well as a spark of mischief.  The two play off of each other wonderfully, and exhibit more on-screen chemistry than the main characters, in my opinion.
Fantastic Beasts is an exciting film, full of visual wonders.  A certain level of depth will be lost on those unfamiliar with the Harry Potter universe, but it is still very accessible to any movie goer.  With several sequels in development, now is the time to watch if you want to follow this series!