“Guardians of the Galaxy”

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of Science-Fiction violence and action, and for some language

 

“Guardians of the Galaxy” is one of the most enjoyable cinematic experiences of 2014. It has irreverent humor, heart, and, as an added bonus, a 1970s sound track (remember mix tapes?) that compels me, at least, to want to buy the soundtrack if only Ebenezra Scrooge would deem it worthy of aeration of my treasury.

Yes, it is based on yet another Marvel comic book series (by the power of Mygod, is there no end to them?) but in this case, the series is sort of a send up of its own medium. And that is what makes this film so charming and unique.

Back in the late ‘80s, a young lad named Peter Quill, has his ears glued to a Sony Walkman with the aforementioned “Awesome Mix Tape 1” of his mother’s favorite tunes. She was dying of cancer and he was called to her deathbed. She has a gift for him and a request: she wants him to hold her hand one last time. He just can’t and pulls away. She dies and then he goes out in the yard to cry. There he is kidnapped by alien pirates and taken to a galaxy far, far away (sorry, I could not resist it).

Flash forward and we discover the adult Peter (Chris Pratt), who requests to be called Star-Lord but usually ends up being disappointed, is a thief, working for his kidnapper (a paternalistic love/disdain relationship). There is something about an evil galactical genocidal warlord and his bloodthirsty under-villain and two kidnapped daughters of other warlords (at this point I got lost and decided to just go with the flow) and four disparate prisoners on a planet ruled by Glenn Close with a killer hairdo are forced by necessity to ally themselves against common enemies to save the peaceful world that actually imprisoned them and that they heretofore were more than willing to fleece. Like I wrote: go with the flow.

 

This band of jailed purloiners include our human hero Peter AKA Star-Lord, Gamora (Zoe Saldana) one of those daughters forced to serve the evil villains — a beauty of special comic-book hue, a big burley bruiser (Dax the Destroyer played by wrestler David Bautista) with skin like those leather wallets made by Earthly residents of government-funded barred and enclosed “hotels” but with skulls — not Albrecht Durer’s praying hands, a tree (voiced by Vin Diesel) that walks and grunts only two phrases, one of which is: “I am Groot” and a grumpy raccoon named Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) with a persecution complex.

 This movie was just pure fun. I loved every minute of it.

 

“Get on Up”

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, drug use, some strong language, and violent situations

 

I also very much enjoyed “Get on Up,” the musical biopic about James Brown. Chadwick Boseman (he played Jackie Robinson in “42”) channels the complex, brilliant, and tortured Brown doing his music justice all on his own. Mr. Boseman may get a nomination for the Golden Globe and the Oscar so it might be a good investment to check this one out. Granted, there may be a bit too much of actual singing, but James Brown’s performance while singing was so much “James Brown” that to ignore that part of this “soul man” would be sacrilegious.

“Get on Up” is a film not of plot but of acting. Nelsan Ellis (from True Blood) as Bobby Byrd (Brown’s loyal friend) is most compelling. Mr. Ellis does not get enough credit and recognition for his talent. Let it be known that I, at least, very much appreciate his skill. Viola Davis has some mighty powerful scenes and her name may very well be mentioned around award season as well. And Brandon Smith’s Little Richard got my attention.

 

And even though I may have had to pause my focus while watching the film to hear a few times (more like 256) from one-who-whispers-in-my-ear that she regrets not having attended performances of Mr. James Brown, Mr. Little Richard (and Mr. Elvis Presley by the way), I enjoyed the movie … and immensely so.

“Guardians of the Galaxy” earns five out of five bow ties and Get on Up earns four bow ties out of five.