At the Movies – August 2014 – Part 3: Most Anticipated Films

Must-See of the Month:

Guardians of the Galaxy – Action/Adventure Sci-Fi – Aug 1

Plot Summary: In deep space, an American pilot turned thief, Peter Quill, finds himself mixed up in a war for control of the galaxy. He steals a magical orb from Ronan the Accuser not knowing that the orb is a key element in Ronan’s plan to seize control. Now, Quill must join with a few other misfits to form the Guardians of the Galaxy to stop Ronan. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director James Gunn, producer Kevin Feige, and cinematographer Ben Davis. Actors Involved: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, and Benicio Del Toro. Quality Potential: High. James Gunn, with past projects such as Slither and Super, is a great fit for Guardians of the Galaxy. He will bring the right mix of weird, action, and comedy to the film. And, he has a great working relationship with Marvel’s Cinematic Universe overseer Joss Whedon. Gunn has also assembled a great cast, especially for this film. Having already opened in the U.K., the film is playing to fantastic reactions from critics and fans alike. Marvel’s entire Phase II has been strong so far. There is every reason to believe that this film will follow suit. Many are comparing it to Star Wars in terms of it being a very entertaining sci-fi adventure. Trailer: Here.

Worth Checking Out:

Calvary – Drama – Aug 1

Plot Summary: Farther James Lavelle is an innocent priest in a small Irish town; however, one day he is threatened during confession – told that he will be killed at some point in the near future. Now, he must sort things out as the man or men who conspire against him close in. Key Filmmakers Involved: Writer-director John Michael McDonagh and cinematographer Larry Smith. Actors Involved: Brendan Gleeson, Chris O’Dowd, Kelly Reilly, Aidan Gillen, Dylan Moran, Isaach De Bankole, M. Emmet Walsh, Marie-Josee Croze, and Domhnall Gleeson. Quality Potential: High. Calvary looks like a wickedly entertaining drama, with a sly dark comedy element. It has a phenomenal cast (of mostly Irish actors) and John Michael McDonagh is a great talent emerging out of Europe’s independent cinema. His first feature, The Guard, is quite good. I am very much looking forward to seeing this one. Trailer: Here.