Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods review

DRAGON BALL Z: BATTLE OF GODS:

A SPIRIT BOMB BLAST OF GOOD OLD SUPER SAIYAN FUN AND EXCITEMENT!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** 1/2 out of 4

FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT, TOEI ANIMATION, AND 20^TH CENTURY FOX

Super Saiyan Goku battling the villainous Lord Beerus in Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods

            STAND BY FOR DRAGON BALL Z!

            The enormously popular anime franchise, Dragon Ball Z makes a theatrical return in the new limited released full-length anime feature film, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods, and no, it’s nothing like that awful 2009 live-action film, Dragonball: Evolution, this new film features the same animation from the original anime series, the same English voice cast we all know and love, and more of the characters from the Dragon Ball universe, no live-action, no CG animation, although there is some computer animation during some of the battles, but it works and feels like a movie rather than an episode of the series stretched out to movie length.

            Everyone’s favorite characters from the series return such as Super Saiyan, Goku, Vegeta, Goku’s wife, Chi-Chi, Goku and Chi-Chi’s first son, Gohan, Gohan’s wife, Videl, Krillin, Piccolo, Android 18, Vegeta’s wife, Bulma, Goku and Chi-Chi’s youngest son, Goten, Vegeta and Bulma’s son, Trunks, Mr. Satan (Hercule), Master Roshi, everyone’s favorite pink puffball, Majin Buu, and many other familiar faces.

            Some time after the events of the Dragon Ball Z series and the defeat of Majin Buu, Goku, Vegeta, and the rest of the Saiyans are celebrating Bulma’s birthday. However, a villainous feline from another planet, who goes by the name of Lord Beerus (voiced by Jason Douglas) has discovered a prophecy about the legendary “Super Saiyan God” and travels to Earth, with his aide, Whis (voiced by Ian Sinclair) to find the Super Saiyans (Goku, Vegeta, Gohan, Goten, and Trunks). He tells them about the Super Saiyan God legend and informs them that if they fail to unleash the Super Saiyan God’s power, he will destroy the world.

            Of course, Goku and the rest of the Saiyans aren’t going to let that happen, and with the support of their loyal friends and family members, they will do whatever it takes to put an end to Beerus and unlock the power of the Super Saiyan God.

            Overall, Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods is a very welcoming return of the popular Dragon Ball Z phenomenon and a necessary theatrical film release, especially after the widely panned, Dragonball: Evolution. It’s pretty much everything that Dragonball: Evolution should have been, but wasn’t.

             One of the major problems I had with Dragonball: Evolution, besides the lack of understanding its source material, was that it was too family-friendly and nowhere near as edgy as the original anime. Battle of Gods however delivers intense Super Saiyan action scenes throughout, had the same animation, characters, and voice talent from the anime, some mild profanity (Though nothing severe), and moments of goofy humor that felt natural and not like that nonsense from Evolution, it’s Dragon Ball Z on the big screen.

            It’s a shame the movie only has a limited release in theaters because this is sure to please long-time fans of the Dragon Ball franchise and make them forget about the awfulness that came out five years ago. Hopefully this will lead to more theatrical Dragon Ball Z movies in the future, I wouldn’t mind if this became a film series, just as long as it stays true to its source material and doesn’t make any changes with its animation and overall presentation.

            It’s very refreshing to see a film release of a cartoon and an anime on the big screen again with the same animation and characters as the original show, especially after all those half-ass live-action and CG adaptations we’re all familiar with. So, if you’re a Dragon Ball fan and have access to a theater that’s showing the film, this is something you don’t want to miss, Super Saiyan action on the big screen, what more can you ask for?

            KAMEHAMEHAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

Guardians of the Galaxy review

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY:

A BLAST OF MARVEL COMICS FUN THAT WILL SEND YOU INTO HYPERSPACE WITH THRILLS AND LAUGHS!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: **** out of 4

MARVEL STUDIOS

(From left to right) Star-Lord, Drax, Gamora, Rocket, and Groot protecting the galaxy as the Guardians of the Galaxy

            Marvel Studios, the team who brought us colossal hits like The Avengers and Iron Man strike again with their latest installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film series, Guardians of the Galaxy. Directed by screenwriter, James Gunn (Dawn of the Dead) who also wrote the film’s screenplay, and starring Chris Pratt (The Lego Movie, Parks & Recreation), Zoe Saldana (Avatar, Star Trek, Star Trek into Darkness), Bradley Cooper (The Hangover trilogy, Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle), Vin Diesel (Fast & Furious franchise, Riddick trilogy, The Iron Giant), and David Bautista (Riddick, The Man with the Iron Fists) star as an unlikely group of heroes protecting the galaxy from evil.

            Surprisingly, this is the only film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in which I haven’t read their original comic books before seeing the film. I had no idea who they were until I heard about the film, and I did read some of the Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, and Avengers comics prior to their film releases, so I came into this movie, not knowing completely what I was going to get, but I did get a clear idea of what the concept of the film is from the trailers and TV commercials I watched many times, so I’ll sum it up as best as I can.

            The film follows the adventures of ruthless outlaws running from the law, space adventurer with a spaceship and a high-tech flying suit, Peter Quill, better known as Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), green-skinned assassin, Gamora (Zoe Saldana), talking raccoon with heavy firepower, Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Rocket’s tree humanoid partner in crime, Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), and don’t worry in case you forget who he is, because he reminds us constantly throughout the film, and an oversized warrior in search for vengeance, Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista) after his wife and daughter were killed.

            After fighting their way out of a space prison being run by, Rhomann Dey (John C. Reilly-Step Brothers, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Wreck-It Ralph), corpsman of the Nova Corps military force on planet Xandar, they decide to join forces and find a powerful orb, which can grant its wielder unlimited power, much like the Tessaract from The Avengers and prevent it from falling into the hands of Xandar’s enemies, Thanos (voice and motion-capture by Josh Brolin-True Grit, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Men in Black 3), leader of the alien race known as Kree, who you may remember from the ending of The Avengers, and Ronan (Lee Pace-Soldier’s Girl, The Hobbit, Lincoln), a Kree radical who agrees to help Thanos find the orb in exchange for destroying his enemies and plans on using the orb’s power to become immortal and rule the universe.          

            Also starring Benicio del Toro (Traffic, Sin City, 21 Grams) as The Collector, who you may also remember from the post-credits scene at the end of Thor: The Dark World, Glenn Close (Air Force One, Mars Attacks!, 101 Dalmatians) as Nova Prime Irani Rael, leader of the Nova Corps, and several cameos, including one I’m sure you’re all going to expect, and another at the very end of the film that I’m sure none of you are going to see coming, but trust me on this, you will laugh to death once he shows up.

            Overall, Guardians of the Galaxy is on the level of Avengers-style fun, though I don’t consider it better than The Avengers, no, we would need a DC Justice League movie in order to compete with that. But as is, it’s a fun popcorn flick with witty writing, gripping action, enjoyable characters, and all the things we’d come to expect from a Marvel movie.

            It became my favorite blockbuster of the summer, I’m not sure if there’s anything coming out soon to top it before the summer ends. The film is up with X-Men: Days of Future Past and Captain America: The Winter Soldier as one of the best Marvel films of the year as well, sorry Spidey, nothing personal.

            However I’m not sure if this is good or bad, but the film does seem to tackle a lot of well-known sci-fi films, which can be noticeable. A lot of the citizens of Xandar look like characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Thanos and Ronan’s army reminds me a lot of the Sith army from Star Wars.

            But aside from that, this is Marvel entertainment at its finest…aside from The Avengers, it’s an exciting and hilarious adventure through space and it will get you hyped up for next year’s release of Avengers: Age of Ultron, trust me, I’ll be there.

Hercules review

HERCULES:

THE ROCK SHINES AS THE GREEK GOD IN THIS ENJOYABLY SILLY RETELLING OF THE ICONIC LEGEND!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: ** 1/2 out of 4

PARAMOUNT PICTURES AND MGM

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson fights for good and looks buff as Hercules

            Director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour trilogy, X-Men 3: The Last Stand, Tower Heist) and former wrestling superstar, Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock (The Scorpion King, Fast & Furious franchise, G.I. Joe: Retaliation) join forces to bring a new retelling of the classic story about the legend of Hercules, based on the Radical Comics series by Steve Moore. Thankfully it’s not like the other Hercules movie that came out at the beginning of this year, The Legend of Hercules, which opened to unanimously negative reviews and became one of the biggest box office bombs since Cutthroat Island.

            This new Hercules is okay which is a a huge improvement over Legend because there was actual effort put into it even though it's mostly a mindless, crowd-pleasing blockbuster that chooses style over substance, and some of the creature effects on the Hydra, lion, and Cerberus, while nothing fancy, they look decent enough to overshadow some of the film’s cheesy effects, and let’s not forget Dwayne fighting soldiers and looking buff, it’s over-the-top, entertaining trash.

            The half God, half human, Hercules is the leader of a group of mercenaries that was formed by the prophet, Amphiaraus (Ian McShane-Coraline, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Jack the Giant Slayer), thief, Autolycus (Rufus Sewell-The Legend of Zorro, The Illusionist, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter), warrior, Tydeus (Aksei Hennie-Headhunters), archer, Atlanta (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal-Chernobyl Diaries, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters), who is basically a female version of Orlando Bloom’s Legolas in The Lord of the Rings franchise, and the storyteller, Iolaus (Reece Ritchie-10,000 BC, The Lovely Bones, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time), who desperately desires to have his heart pierced by a flaming arrow in battle for the sake of the legend.

            It is said Hercules is the demigod son of Zeus, the king of Gods (Who we never see in this adaptation, by the way!), because he completed the legendary tasks known as the Twelve Labors, only to be betrayed by one of the three sisters of Zeus, Hera, who drove him insane and caused him to murder his wife, Megara (Irina Shayk) and children, during a visit with King Eurystheus (Joseph Fiennes-Shakespeare in Love, Elizabeth, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas).

            Since the great tragedy, Hercules rejected Zeus and chose to live his life as a mortal, and is often tormented by frightening visions of the three-headed monster known as Cerberus, pet of Hades, Lord of the Underworld (Who we also never see in this film!). One day Hercules and his crew are visited by Ergenia (Rebecca Ferguson), the daughter of Lord Cotys (John Hurt-Alien, Harry Potter franchise, Hellboy), who asks Hercules to train the armies of Thrace to protect the kingdom from the bloodthirsty warlord, Rheseus (Tobias Santelmann) and his army of Centaurs.

            During his time of training the armies, Hercules and his crew realize dark truths about what happened in the past and a secret being hidden by Cotys. So it’s up to Hercules, his mercenary crew, and an entire army to discover the truth about Cotys and preserve the peace before it’s too late.

            Overall, this new Hercules movie is mindless fun, almost like a so bad it's good movie. The film has very laughable dialogue, the story is absurd with some of the choices made, and the visual effects often look cheap.

            With that said, the creature effects and fight choreography can be fun to watch, but other times it just looks like a poor man’s version of Gladiator. Also Dwayne Johnson is very enjoyable to watch as Hercules, you can tell he’s having fun with the role and even if the writing is laughably bad, it’s nice to see him try and pull something off with it.

            If you just want to see some over the top action and cheesy dialogue and not care about a strong plot or character development, you should have a fun time with this movie. However, if you want something silly with more substance to it, I'd suggest seeing Edge of Tomorrow or just wait for Guardians of the Galaxy. 

            A significant improvement over The Legend of Hercules, but I'd still recommend sticking with the Disney animated movie, sure it isn't a perfect movie, but it's much better crafted and more fun to watch than either one of these other Hercules films. 

Lucy review

LUCY:

SCARLETT JOHANSSON USES 100% OF HER BRAIN AND KICKS BUTT, HOWEVER THE FILM FEELS LIKE IT ONLY USES 50% OF ITS BRAIN!

By Nico Beland

Movie Review: *** out of 4

UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Scarlett Johansson using 100% of her brain as Lucy

            Director and screenwriter, Luc Besson (The Fifth Element, Taken, The Family) returns with his latest thriller from EuropaCorp, Lucy, in which Scarlett Johansson (The Avengers, Her, Under the Skin) stars as a young woman who, after a gruesome operation, learns how to enhance her brain. While the setup of the film is clever and it keeps you guessing until the very end of the film, it’s not a completely perfect thriller, it does seem to tackle various elements from other sci-fi films like The Matrix, Limitless, and most recently, Transcendence, but it certainly doesn’t make the film terrible nor is it worth missing.

            Studies have shown that the average person uses 10% of their brain capacity. That is until an everyday young woman named Lucy (Scarlett) is called in to deliver an important package to a group of ruthless thugs in Taiwan, what’s in the package you may be asking yourself? It’s packets of a powerful drug that can enhance the human mind.

            Soon she is forced into working as a drug mule for the mob because they surgically inserted an entire package of the drug into her body and it may end up killing her. Lucy asks for the aide of Professor Samuel Norman (Morgan Freeman-The Shawshank Redemption, The Dark Knight trilogy, Transcendence), who has been studying the effects of the human brain and what could happen if someone uses the entire 100% of it.

            In time, Lucy discovers what she can do with her brain, she develops the abilities to hack into various electronic devices such as television sets, computers, and phones, levitate objects and people, and she can read minds and memories. It’s up to Lucy, Samuel, and his team of scientists to test the effects of the drug before the mob finds Lucy and puts an end to her life.

            Overall, Lucy is a fun and entertaining action thriller, not exactly high hard, but strong popcorn fun for the summer. The action is gripping and keeps you on the edge of your seat, the plot is complex, but not extremely complex like Inception or any of the other films directed by Christopher Nolan, the special effects are impressive, and Scarlett is a strong female lead who can still kick butt, just like her performance as Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff in Iron Man 2, The Avengers, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier, honestly if this was a Marvel movie, this would have been an interesting way to tell us Natasha Romanoff’s backstory in The Avengers.

            But as is, it’s an entertaining action movie with some cool effects, no more, no less. However the ending of the film is rather weak and familiar, a very similar ending to the movie, Transcendence (which also starred Freeman), it doesn’t mean the film is bad and lacks creativity, no it’s pretty damn creative when it comes to depicting what Lucy is seeing during the drug effects, plus I do prefer this film over Transcendence.

            If you want to take a break from all those loud explosion fests of the summer and enjoy something with a clever concept and twists and turns, you got a date with Lucy, and trust me she is someone worth hanging out with this summer.