How strong is the Marvel juggernaut right now? It’s so strong it’s making movie stars out of even its second and third string superheroes. The critics say Guardians of the Galaxy, with its fast-paced thrills, eye-popping special effects, and playful sense of humor, is one of the most purely enjoyable comic book adaptations in a while. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), a devil-may-care space adventurer, teams with a group of oddballs to transport and sell a mysterious and valuable orb. However, the evil Ronan the Accuser wants to harness the orb for his own nefarious purposes, so it’s up to our heroes to save the universe. The pundits say the Certified Fresh Guardians of the Galaxy exudes the giddy swagger of old-school swashbucklers within its slick packaging, making for a funny, exciting night at the movies for comics buffs and neophytes alike. (Check out this week’s 24 Frames for a gallery of great movie spaceships, and watch our interviews with Pratt and co-stars Zoe Saldana, Vin Diesel, and Dave Bautista.)
James Brown was such an electrifying performer — and his life was so colorful — that you’d be forgiven for thinking that no biopic could possibly do him justice. But critics say Get On Up comes close, thanks to a dynamite performance by Chadwick Boseman that captures the great soul singer’s onstage magnetism and offstage complexities. The film doesn’t proceed chronologically; instead, it jumps around to depict key moments in Brown’s life, from his hardscrabble childhood to his legendary Apollo concerts, from his famously rigorous work habits to his problems with the law. The pundits say the Certified Fresh Get On Up occasionally falls prey to standard biopic elements, but mostly, it’s an energetic portrait of a fascinating, often difficult man, and Boseman is simply out of sight. (Check out this week’s Total Recall for a list of some of cinema’s funkiest movies, and watch our interviews with Boseman and co-stars Octavia Spencer, Nelsan Ellis, and Jill Scott.)
