Something Resembling a A Review of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2'

If you’re looking for a repeat of everything you enjoyed about Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) only more, then you’re probably going to love Vol. 2. If you’re like me and you’ve reached your exit point on the Marvel fatigue scale, then you’re probably going to be underwhelmed with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Basically see this film if you want more of the same (it’s a funny, colourful space adventure), but save your money if you’re not super keen. I mean if you’re on a movie ration and you can only buy one ticket a month or something, don’t waste it on this movie.

SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT!

Weekend Recs: The ‘Baking’ List

Now that we’ve hit the second week of the year the reality that everything is not suddenly going to be better because the date shifted had set in. 2017 is not some kind of magical fix all for what happened in 2016, and we’re still the same people we were last year. Diets have failed, the gym is too hard, we’re all out of money and the mood is generally low. Let’s face it, we could all use a little comfort and nothing says comfort like baking.

Weekend Recs: The Channing Tatum List

He’s hot, he’s hilarious and he’s here to fulfil every single one of my teenage fantasies. Seriously, it’s like he got a copy of the diary I had at fourteen and he’s picking his roles based on every fantasy boyfriend I ever had. Basically he’s amazing, and there’s no better way to star the year off right than marathoning some of his best roles. 

Something Resembling a Review of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

If you’re looking for a review to figure out whether or not you want to see this movie, then you’ve come to the wrong place. I mean if you’re a Star Wars fan then of course you should see this movie but like you were already going to do that (you’ve probably already done that), and if you’re not a Star Wars fan then I’m just gonna say you probably won’t agree with this reviewish mess upfront. All I can say is that without spoiling everything is that Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a gripping, visually stunning and surprisingly poignant depiction of the realities of actually living a rebellion. It has some seriously issue in regards to characterization but honestly that was a dealbreaker for me. Basically it’s a pretty good tragic war action flick so if that’s your thing then you can probably tag along with your smart Star Wars loving friends for a screening of Rogue One without regretting your life choices too much.

Spoilers beyond this point, proceed at your own risk…

Something Resembling a Review of Captain America: Civil War

Before we get into the nitty gritty here’s a spoiler free and heavily biased short review of Captain America: Civil War for those of you that just want to know if it’s worth seeing. To start with this is an Avengers film despite the title - they do a decent job of tying up the Captain America trilogy but that is not the focus of the film. Good news is it’s a MUCH better Avengers film than Age of Ultron. Action sequences still a little clunky but tied reasonably well to the emotion and plot so it doesn’t really matter. There are so many characters but somehow you come out at the end without feeling shortchanged. Character motivations are mostly clear and some are even interesting. There are too many white dudes but we already knew that. Overall a good fun exciting ensemble superhero movie. Totally worth the price of admission. 

THIS IS YOUR SPOILER WARNING! SO MANY SPOILERS! FOR ALL THE MARVEL MOVIES! AND SOME COMICS! SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS! 

Something Resembling a Review of Marvel’s Ant-Man

Full confession - I wanted to hate this movie. I went in hoping that Ant-Man would be Marvel’s first complete failure, because I am terrible person obviously. Unfortunately despite my best efforts, Ant-Man turned out to be a perfectly adequate movie. Sure it wasn’t amazing, and certainly not groundbreaking in any way, but it was entertaining enough to warrant a trip to the cinema. Here’s the thing though, while Ant-Man is a decent film in it’s own right, it also highlights everything that’s wrong with the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the moment. 

Fangirl Confessions: Batman & Robin is the Reason I Need Representation

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Joel Schumacher’s Batman & Robin (1997) is a terrible film. I’m not going to argue with that universally acknowledged truth because I would look like an idiot. And the fact is Batman & Robin truly is a terrible film but that doesn’t change the fact that when I was an impressionable young fangirl I absolutely adored it. Even at 11 I knew this movie wasn’t great, but I still loved it unironically because it gave me something I didn’t know I needed, it gave me Batgirl. 

Something Resembling a Review of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

Surprise, I'm going to rave about another Marvel movie. I know it's getting old but I can't help it that they keep making movies that are so damn entertaining. If you want to know if this movie is worth the price of admission, the answer is yes. It's a super fun Star Wars-esque sic-fi, the action sequences/special effects are fabulous and it will make you cry about a walking tree and a walking raccoon. Chris Pratt as utterly loveable as Peter Quill (aka Star-Lord) and the soundtrack is an instant classic. If you're looking for a fun night out Guardians of the Galaxy is the film for you. Now that we know what was good about it, let's talk about the other stuff. 

Something Resembling a Review of The Amazing Spider-Man 2

I'm running behind the times, I know. Travelling has taken up so much of my time I have fallen behind on the Pop Culture front. But I finally saw The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and now I need to vent my feels at you guys. Because maybe it's not just travelling that was preventing me from watching this film maybe I just didn't want to see that thing we all knew was going to happen happen.

WARNING SPOILERS AHEAD

Something Resembling a Review of Thor: The Dark World

Thor was actually my favourite of the first wave of Marvel movies – and not just because of it’s blatant objectification of Chris Hemsworth’s beautiful body (although that helped). So I was super excited to see The Dark World and I’m happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed. While the sequel is not quite as good as the original, it was still incredibly enjoyable. In fact I would go so far as to say that I enjoyed it more than Iron Man 3.

Something Resembling a Review of Iron Man 3

Here’s the thing about The Avengers – it was a perfect. Okay yes I’m biased but it was pretty much everything I wanted out of a comic adaptation. The problem is that it has set the bar pretty blood high and I was starting to worry that the next round of Marvel films just wouldn’t live up to it… I was wrong. Iron Man 3 has renewed my excitement for Phase Two and here’s why.

Warning Spoilers!

Guilty Pleasures: Trashy Teen Flicks

Hi my name is UndieGirl and I love trashy teen flicks. I don’t just mean films about teenager or marketed to teenagers – I mean those embarrassingly cliché movies that are all about growing up, getting laid (or not) and negotiating the hormone fueled years between the ages of 13 to 20. Every little piece of drama is heightened to the point of ridiculousness, there is an oversupply of red cups and there is often a musical number of no apparent reason. They’re unoriginal, sexist and a little bit silly but I love them none the less – so let’s hear it for the trashy teen flick one of my many guilty pleasures.

Top Ten Grand Romantic Gestures (Movies)

It’s the time of year when everything turns shades of pink, Hallmark accountants rub their hands together and florists are run off their feet.  That’s right it’s all about the couples in February because Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. This totally commercial and ridiculously sentimental holiday is, if nothing else, an excellent excuse for a top ten list. Because while I shy away from anything mushy and romantic in my day to day life I do love it in fiction. My topic for today is “grand romantic gestures”. You know those moments in movies when the hero or heroine must prove their love by performing embarrassing and possibly illegal acts.

Top 10 Christmas Movies

It’s that time of year again, where we deck the halls, try to be merry and hope to catch that special someone under the mistletoe (although I have never actually seen mistletoe so I am starting to think it’s an urban myth). Anyway last year I counted down my favourite Christmas television episodes and specials, this year I thought why not give the feature films a go. This list is hardly original and I highly doubt anyone will be shocked by the films that made the cut but I wanted to spread some holiday cheer so this is happening and you will like it or you will be on my naughty list (which is not nearly as fun as it sounds).

Top 5 Movies of 2012

My lovely friend Rach, who recently asked me to compile a list of the best Skins moments, has set me another challenge – what are my favourite movies of 2012. As 2012 is not yet over, I know it’s almost the end but The Hobbit is coming out and that will hopefully make it’s way into any 2012 lists, it’s not a definitive list… but it’s the best I can do at the moment.

Top 10 Movie Musicals for Mum

It’s my mum’s birthday and because I am a wonderful daughter I thought why not make a top ten list to celebrate… after much thought and discussion my mother requested I compile a list of my top 10 movie musicals. Her wish is my command. This isn’t a definitive list – these are just the musicals that have captured my heart over the years (and one just for mum).

UndieGirl Talks Tropes: Nice Guys Finish First

Let me tell you about the ‘nice guy’. You know him, he’s your best friend, he watches crappy rom-coms with you even though he doesn’t like them and he would never pressure you to do anything you didn’t want to do. He cooks, he cleans and he listens to you complain about the ‘bad boy’ whenever you want to. He’s the kind of friend everyone dreams of but before you get too excited you should know, all this niceness has an ulterior motive.

This blog is dedicated to the 'nice' guy, because sometimes he should finish last.

Guilty Pleasures: Taking a bite out of Bait

So let’s add another layer to the already hefty set of contradictions that make up my tastes because not only do I love trash romances, wedding shows and pop music, I also love shark attack movies. I’m not just talking about Jaws either, because as awesome as that movie is, and it’s pretty awesome, I prefer Jaws II because of that one time the shark attacked a helicopter… and won.

The Sapphires and five more feel good Australian films you might not have heard of.

The Sapphires, in case you haven’t heard, is a new Australian film starring Chris O’Dowd and Deborah Mailman, which was released in (Aussie) cinema’s this week (released in the UK in November but no USA release date yet). Based on the exploits of an Indigenous Australian girl group that toured Vietnam in the late 1960s, this film is the definition of a feel-good film. If I sound shocked, it’s because I am, we don’t set to see that many well-made Australian films have don’t leave me in a deep depression – at least not ones that don’t deal exclusively in stereotypes (Crocodile Dundee anyone?) Seriously sometimes I understand why the Australian people don’t want to see Australian films. But then every so often a film like this comes along and I am reminded that when we do it right, it’s bloody good.

After seeing The Sapphires I wanted to shout from the roof top about how good it was and I planned on writing a review, basically in the hopes that I could convince people to go and see this fantastic film. The problem is I have never been particularly good at reviewing; besides the whole process doesn’t really work if I’m really trying to write a call to arms. I mean I could tell you what’s wrong with this film, it is by no means perfect (it’s not The Avengers after all) but there is more good than bad so really what’s the point? Instead I thought I would give you a list of other feel good Australian films that will compliment your viewing of The Sapphires… you see what I did there, I’m just going to assume you’re going to see it, that way you will have to.

Something resembling a review of The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

You may or may not know that there is a new Spider-Man movie out (that’s sarcasm, if you don’t know then just go back to the rock you have been living under it’s better for everyone). Anyway I went to see The Amazing Spider-Man and I thought, why not review it...