Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

I was largely unimpressed by the second installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise. The first one was novel, unexpected and knowingly poking fun at itself. The second one has some similar humor, but it doesn't land. It is more annoying and not as witty. We have Kingsman and Deadpool and the Lego Movie--the self-deprecating humor isn't new anymore. It does some things really well though. The music supervision is spot on. The special effects and production design is fantastic. I appreciated the movie's boldest statement, it's depiction of the video game-ification of drone warfare. I did not appreciate Mantis, a dangerous stereotype of a subservient and submissive Asian woman. Drax insults her throughout the film, insults her appearance and her personality. She seems relatively unimportant to the plot, only serving as the butt of a joke. 

Wonder Woman (2017)

Wonder Woman is really quite good. The superhero genre has gotten pretty worn out, but this movie feels fresh. This is loads brighter and happier and better than those other dark, brooding DC movies. I find myself watching a lot of those superhero movies and just not caring about the characters. But these characters are well developed, they're likable and interesting. Gal Gadot and Chris Pine have great chemistry. Admitted, the movie's special effects are kind of cheesy and weak. Whereas superhero movies tend to rely on special effects, this movie has plenty other merits.

The story and production design (and some nice lighting) recreate the WWI battlefront. Much like X-Men and the first Captain America, this movie steeps itself in history. History and quasi-mythology interact in an intriguing way here. They serve as the backdrop for some deeper themes than we're used to. And perhaps most refreshing of all, it stands alone as a singular movie. Yes, it's part of a franchise, but it doesn't just feel like it's building to another movie. It's not just advertising for a brand.  

Patriots Day (2016)

Mark Wahlberg continues his collaboration with Peter Berg, following Lone Survivor and Deepwater Horizon. Does that make a trilogy? They obviously feature a different cast of characters, but Wahlberg consistently plays the American hero. The film perhaps focuses on our fictional hero a little too much. I understand that he is the protagonist but you get the sense that the film wants to be about people. The beginning and end feature a cast of characters that are largely missing from the middle of the film, absent from the action. But they should be the focus, a portrait of a strong and resilient city. The great drama of the film is of course the manhunt that captivates the city. But there is a lot of buildup to get to that point. The omniscient point of view perhaps reduces the thrill because we always know what is happening on the other side.  The film stirs up emotion because it's about a close-knit community. It's Boston. The accents won't let you forget it. 

Five Came Back (2017)

This is a movie for cinephiles and for history buffs and especially for those who love film history like me Films have an important role in history. I took a course on history and film. In war, they played a big role as propaganda, but not everything was propaganda. This three-part documentary tells the stories of five famed Hollywood directors during their service in WWII and their work before and after the war. Legendary directors Frank Capra, George Stevens, John Ford, John Huston and William Wyler all answered the call to service during WWII and they made enormous contributions by documenting the war, not always honestly but always powerfully to effect for the war effort. Modern directors heap praise on their idols, demonstrating their love for the art and their admiration for their cinematic accomplishments. Meryl Streep narrates the documentary.There are some really powerful, emotional moments when the reality of war sets in. They discuss how the war influenced their postwar work, and how their war experiences will always live with them. 

Wind River (2017)

Taylor Sheridan both wrote and directed this film. He's still kind of new to directing but his writing style and signature intensity is distinct after penning Sicario and Hell or High Water. The plot is not too complicated, which allows for more character development. Jeremy Renner's character is richly developed and I think Renner is perfectly cast. You really get the sense that he could be a real person. Elizabeth Olsen is also good but I somehow get the feeling that the role was meant for Sicario actress Emily Blunt. The story unfolds methodically, slowly revealing background details that are constantly hinted at. They are revealed in a way that fits in the narrative and impacts the characters' relationships.

The look of the film is snow everywhere. The harsh cold is really visceral. You really come to understand the misery that is life on the reservation. You feel trapped in the silence and nothingness like they do. It faces some of the challenges the tribes face on the reservation--drugs, missing persons, and lack of resources. There are some strange shots that appear to have someone lurking behind or around the corner. You expect a thrilling surprise but it never comes. It's a bit of misdirection by the director. In fact, there are a lot of things that are left open ended. We never find out what happened to Cory's daughter. Cory doesn't kill the lions. And Cory and Jane do not get together. 

Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive (2017)

It's his first comedy special since his accident. But he's still the same old Tracy Morgan. He's very raunchy, he still has his tagline, and he's still pretty funny. He really only does the one thing though. It's a rather repetitive set. He addresses his accident a bit. I think his best joke is when he says he wouldn't have gotten any money if he was hit by a Bob's Discount Furniture truck. It's not that he can't tell a story. It's that you always know where the story is going cause they all end the same way. It's a fun character. Great for something like 30 Rock. And even great in small doses in stand-up as it does run a lean hour. 

The Lego Batman Movie (2017)

The Lego Batman movie is not quite as good as its predecessor. It's still punny. Its humor is of the fast and ridiculous type. And of course, it is knowingly ridiculous. I really enjoyed the first Lego movie, but I wasn't crazy about this one. I think what I really liked was the Will Ferrell twist. In this film, there are tons of references to previous Batman movies and other cultural references galore but they didn't always land for me. Maybe it was just trying to do too much but I didn't find it as enjoyable. Will Arnett is playing a character that is funny but super annoying in my opinion. And I understand that that's just the character, and it plays with kids, but he was getting on my nerves.Whereas Chris Pratt was a fun and playful character that really fit the personality of Lego.