Lego Dimensions: Too Much Fun to be Legal

  
So…I’ve been a huge fan of the Disney Infinity series since I got the first starter set. It just appeals to me to be able to do specific missions in that character’s world, and then to be able to take them elsewhere to cross over with other characters. Having the figures to hold onto is admittedly a huge part of the fun.

  

Lego Dimensions knows that last part too well. They capitalize on that element of toy-in-game by having the player build vehicles, figures, and the portal itself. It doesn’t stop there, either. Each vehicle has two rebuilds which change the vehicle’s capabilities and are earned in-game. It also crosses many universes into one game, both in its main story and in the separate worlds for each individual license. These include Lord of the Rings, Back to the Future, DC Comics, The Lego Movie, Jurassic World, The Wizard of Oz, and more. 

  
The main story involves Batman, Gandalf, and WyldStyle (of Lego Movie fame) getting drawn into a battle against Lord Vortech, who enlists the aid of the Joker, Saruman, Lex Luthor, Mr. Burns, and other villains to bring his evil plot to life. Also, Vortech has kidnapped Frodo Baggins, Robin, and Metalbeard.

Of course, any world that is involved in the through story can be accessed through the main hub, as long as you have a figure from that world, and possibly downloaded the specific content needed. This does get expensive, but it’s insanely fun. Level Packs add another quest for you to enjoy.

If you like Legos or toy-in-game play or both, drop the dough on this one. It’s insanely fun and hard to put down.

I’m Catching Up 2015: Tomorrowland

I was pretty excited to see Tomorrowland. I’ve loved everything Brad Bird has done, especially The Iron Giant and The Incredibles. Both show amazing heart and infectious nostalgia in ways that no other film or filmmaker has done. Tomorrowland, from the outside looking in, seemed to be another one of these stories. In several ways, it was.

  
Sadly, though, it’s a movie about ideas and hope. I say sadly because I don’t think today’s moviegoer cares a bit for these things. If they do, they don’t care enough to get invested in a movie that has some commentary about how dark we have become as a society. We used to thrill to hearing stories of astronaut missions and space stations. Now we are so self-absorbed that we can’t be bothered to look up. Tomorrowland wants to remind us of the dreams we used to dare to dream, and how imagining such grand concepts can make us feel.

  
Frank Walker is a boy with a beautiful dream. He brings his dream – a rocket pack he built – to the 1964 World’s Fair. You history buffs would know that this is where Walt Disney himself debuted the It’s A Small World attraction. There’s a science fair of sorts going on, and the judge is David Nix (Hugh Laurie), a somewhat bitter man. He criticizes aspects of Frank’s invention and dismisses him. Outside of the main building, a young girl approaches Frank. She gives him a pin with a T logo. He gets on the It’s A Small World attraction, and partway through, his pin is scanned and he finds himself in Tomorrowland, a vision of the future through the eyes of the past. Bird’s whimsical brand of yesteryear is on full display at this point.

  
Cut to 40 years later. Casey (Britt Robertson) has dreams, but doesn’t express them in healthy ways. She tends to get arrested from time to time, usually for trespassing or breaking and entering. After being released following her last eat arrest, Casey finds an unusual pin among her possessions. It has that familiar T logo. When Casey touches it, she seems to disappear into a world of beauty and fantasy. No one else can see what Casey sees, so she decides to go off on her own to find out the mystery behind the pin.

  
Tomorrowland isn’t going to be renembered by many people. The action is fairly tame, and there’s a lot of talking. But the ideas contained within are worth pondering, in my very humble opinion. The story suffers from pacing problems on occasion, and there isn’t as much magic as Bird has infused into his prior work. It’s still a visually beautiful, bright little film that tries to channel Capra in an age where Capra is nearly forgotten. In the end, it haunted me for a day or so, and it make me think. I’m glad I saw it. Look for it on BluRay and digital soon.

  

I’m Catching Up 2015: Mad Max: Fury Road

I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t excited for this movie. I had several friends who raved about it after it opened in May, but I had my sights set on a certain list of “must” movies. I saw the first two when I was a kid, and again later in life. I wasn’t terribly impressed, but they were interesting enough. So Samee and I let this one slip by us.

  
Oops!

This past Sunday, whilst nested into our apartment with food and libations, we decided to roll this one. What we saw, we weren’t prepared for. Yes, it’s post-apocalypse stuff. Yes, it revolves around tricked out cars and trucks. It’s that and more, and it’s SO well-made.
Max is wandering in the desert. When we catch up to him, he’s snacking on a lizard and having PTSD flashbacks of a little girl he couldn’t save. He hops into his car and takes off when he hears a convoy approaching. The chase doesn’t last long, and Max is soon overpowered. He awakes as a prisoner in the Citadel, having been caught by the War Boys. The War Boys are soldiers under Immortan Joe, a vile looking guy whose face is partially obscured by a breathing apparatus, and who seems to have leprosy or some other skin disorder. Max is a universal blood donor, so he finds himself hooked to Nux, a War Boy with an illness in need of some healthy blood. We see that Immortan Joe controls all of the water, and he is tyrannical in his sharing with the common people living in the citadel. He sends one of his trusted, Imperator Furiosa, to gas town to get, well, gas. She has other plans, however, and heads east with 5 of Joe’s favorite wives in tow. Nux is determined to go, so Max quickly becomes a hood ornament on his own car, with Nux at the wheel.

  
I don’t feel I should tell you the rest. A huge part of the fun of this film is allowing yourself to discover the world and the characters. This is a much more human, exciting take on the post-apocalyptic genre. It even improves on the Mel Gibson Mad Max series. Tom Hardy is perfectly cast as Max, and Charlize Theron breathes amazing life into Imperator Furiosa. Between them, they’re worth the price of admission. Nicholas Hoult is surprisingly great as Nux.

  
The use of color here is also amazing. I don’t recall a more vibrant desert landscape outside of Lawrence of Arabia. This is some damn fine cinematography. 

  
The production design just adds to the amazing visual aesthetic. The level of detail in the costuming is remarkable, and the sets, created from scratch, are filled with amazing touches, if you take the time to look.

  
Beyond all of that, though, there’s a powerful story at work here. Themes of redemption and overcoming are prevalent, as well as understanding and tolerance. I could watch this over and over. This is definitely in my top 3 this year. Give it a look.

I’m Catching Up 2015: Avengers: Age of Ultron review (SPOILERS!)

At first glance, I loved Avengers(2012). The climax was ambitious and thrilling. Banner/Hulk was humanized beautifully. The tease at mid credits was very promising!

After a few days, I began to cool off on the movie a bit. After a few months, I began to realize something: all of the hyperbole and general talk surrounding the movie made me realize that I wasn’t as much of a fan of the film as I thought. I still count it among the best comic book and superhero adaptations, but it has its problems. The first two acts drag. Cap is mostly overlooked. Iron Man/Tony is a tad bit too present. I think I avoided the film for a very long time because I was afraid I might like it even less.

It seems that when it comes to Avengers movies, I don’t align with the majority opinions. Age of Ultron met and exceeded nearly every expectation I had, and that’s a tall order. The story opens with guns a’blazin’ – almost literally – and plays out almost like grand opera crammed into under 3 hours. 

  
That cram factor is where I think I diverge from most of the fan population. Comics are generational. I grew up reading comics in an era when The Mighty Marvel was known for jamming characters into every panel. This was never problematic for me; in fact, I loved to see these overly complicated plots play out. I’ve been waiting for a film to feel like a Marvel comic felt to me as a kid, and here it finally is. The payoff of the enormity of the MCU is fully harvested here, and honestly, it made me smile from ear to ear. From Cap and Tony’s rising tensions to the eradication of HYDRA (supposedly) to Thor’s eagerness to recover the Tesseract – there’s a richness here from the intersections of so many characters, each trying to fulfill their glorious purpose.

  
Much has been said about the “I’m a monster” scene. I think that this scene is widely misread. It’s meant to be a reference to the taking away of her innocence at such a tender age. The monster line doesn’t refer to her barren uterus. 

  
In all, this movie feels like a true epic to me. I was thrilled to see Cap stepping up and leading, Banner still questioning his value, and Iron Man questioning his entire mission. Ultron was rather compelling, and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) was brilliantly brought to screen. I prefer the OTHER Quicksilver, but this one was pretty entertaining. Hawkeye receiving serious backstory was a great touch. And of course, I love love LOVE a Hayley Atwell cameo, even if it is just a fantasy sequence. 

  
I would be remiss in not talking about the amazing way that Vision is brought to life (sorta) here. The look is practical makeup and mostly real costume, with Paul Bettany delivering a fascinating character that I want to see again and again.

  
Without spoiling much, let me just say that I LOVE the new Avengers lineup as we prepare to roll credits. I can’t wait to see where this team goes. 

If you didn’t catch it in theaters, seek out Avengers: Age of Ultron when it is released for home viewing next month.

It’s a choice: why Superman still

I miss my youth.

One of my first and most favorite memories are of watching the Christopher Reeve “Superman” series of movies. The era of their release, 1978-1987, was a pretty optimistic time for the USA, and for the Western world. Reeve’s embodiment of this incorruptible force for right was a revelation, even if the movies weren’t all great. Superman as a pop culture icon reached a new level.

Today, we act differently. Many people find it hard to trust, and the goodwill that seemed more common 25 years ago seems to be nearly impossible to find. I have heard rumblings throughout the comic book community that suggest that Superman is too old fashioned. I hear people crying out for a Batman, a darker hero who will take out the scary men in the shadows.

This is simply the OPPOSITE of true.

As much as I love Batman as a character, if we lose what Superman brings to the table, then our culture weakens. Superman COULD enslave the world, but because of the values he learned growing up on a Kansas farm, he wants to help. He WANTS to keep humanity from the abyss. He wants to try to make us better, because he knows that in doing so, he makes HIMSELF better.

Since I was about 6, I have had a real connection with the Superman character. That was when I found out that I was adopted. I remember trying to understand the concept. Once it all set in, I realized that I was like Clark: born to people I would never know, but raised by people who loved me and wanted to teach me right. I may not have grown up on a farm – unless tree farms count – but I did grow up in a town not unlike Smallville.  I would have nothing to feel good about if I had not absorbed the values my parents worked so hard to impart. I owe everything to them, and I will always be grateful.

The notion of someone choosing to do good will never be an antiquated one. In one of my favorite movies, “The Iron Giant,” the title character is told “you are who you choose to be.” The choice that the giant makes both inspires and breaks the heart.

As Superman’s story is retold for another generation, it seens to me that the story NEEDS to be retold for today’s kids. We will never be beyond choosing to help others. The capacity to move past our selfish natures is crucial to our society holding together. We should all aspire to be Superman. We should believe that the least of us can fly, as long as the rest of us try to help them lift off.

My “Best of Film” 2013 edition: “Pacific Rim”

Kids of my generation will likely remember “Voltron,” “Robotech,” “Tranzor-Z,” and other cartoons that involved battle robots piloted by humans. I always dreamed of piloting a Voltron lion or a Macross fighter. The generation right behind me had something similar in live-action in the form of “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers.” There is something appealing about being able to command a gigantic avatar that can potentially destroy all of your problems, or so it would seem.

I wasn’t ready for how much I would love “Pacific Rim.” I never thought that a movie could capture that excitement I knew as a kid and build upon it. Wouldn’t ya know it? That’s exactly what I experienced.

In 2013, gigantic creatures called Kaiju begin rising from the ocean to attack coastal cities all over the world. After seeing how difficult these creatures are to subdue and kill, the governments of the world unite and begin pooling their resources to begin the Jaeger program. Jaegers are robots that are several stories tall, and they require 2 pilots due to the extreme mental load required to use them properly. Each pilot represents a hemisphere of the “brain.” The two pilots must be able to bond, or “drift,” well together when they are mentally connected to their Jaeger.

The first battle we witness in great detail involves the Becket brothers, and their Jaeger, the Gipsy Danger. part of the fun here is that these guys are not far removed from Top Gun pilots, complete with logo bomber jackets. The Jaegers even sport nose art similar to an old fighter plane.

Impulsive younger brother Raleigh is itching to see action, while older brother Yancy is a bit more weary of the danger ahead. They face off against the largest Kaiju to date, and in the course of battle, Yancy is nripped out of Gipsy Danger and killed by the Kaiju.

We then see that, years later, the world governments have voted to discontinue the Jaeger program, much to the dismay of the program head, Stacker Pentecost (GREAT NAME!). Raleigh is working on building one of several coastal walls being constructed to keep the Kaiju out. Pentecost has a hail Mary-type plan, and he seeks out Raleigh to bring him back into the fold.

I won’t spoil anymore here for those who want to seek this movie out. Just know that this is pure fun, well-paced action from visionary director Guillermo del Toro. He uses a lighter touch here, but there is still a definite emotional connection to the main characters. I enjoy that he builds a whole world within a reasonably-lengthed movie. The effects are absolutely fantastic. The Kaiju seem appropriately threatening, while the Jaegers are exciting to watch, Each one bears a unique design, reflecting both its home nation and the personalities of its pilots. Idris Elba is always great to watch, and his authoritative turn as Pentecost is a lot of fun to behold. He delivers one of the great cheese lines ever, and it almost made me cheer out loud on my first viewing. Charlie Hunnam as Raleigh carries the leading man role very well. He doesn’t overdo anything, and it works. Rinko Kikuchi is beautiful, and she gives the story a bit more emotional depth.

To sum up, stuff blows up real good, but this movie has more to it than just that. If you give yourself over to it, I’m sure you will be entertained. This is, by far, the most fun movie I’ve seen this year. I would love to see a sequel, but only if it’s at least as good as this one.

“Pacific Rim” is available on Blu-Ray and DVD.

My “Best Of Film” 2013 edition: “Man of Steel”

After a lengthy break, I’m back, looking to discuss all things nerdy. Since I last posted, my Batman blog, “No Hope In Crime Alley,” has gone live. (itsanomen.wordpress.com) I will be using this site to focus on film from now through the award season that will soon begin. I want to use this space to discuss my favorite movies of the last year, not necessarily the award darlings.

Thos of you who know me or are familiar with my work know that my biggest nerd soft spot is for DC Comics Superheroes. I am waiting patiently for DC’s film versions of their heroes to take off like Marvel’s have. The Nolan trilogy is a gem as far as I’m concerned, but Nolan himself has repeatedly stated that his story exists apart from the other DC characters. With Zach Snyder’s “Man of Steel,” we may just have our springboard into a terrific cinematic DC Universe.

Our story begins on Krypton. This is not the austere crystal structure where Marlon Brando condemned Terrence Stamp’s Zod. This is a sort of advanced version of Earth, with science having become incredibly sophisticated, and with its natural resources having been depleted. Jor-El and his wife, Lara, have gone outside of the law and had a baby of natural birth. Krypton has made birth a genetic operation, as they believe it to be more efficient and that it produces a better result. Jor-El is certain that Krypton is a dying planet, and that the end is coming soon. He plans on sending baby Kal-El to a distant world that is flourishing. He knows that the different atmospheric conditions and yellow sun will give baby Kal an advantage over the citizens of Earth. Jor-El is confident that his son will use this advantage to help, not hurt, the human race.

Kal is raised on Earth by the Kents, who are a loving but protective couple. Clark is shown in flashbacks trying to adjust to his powers, which seem to manfest in childhood and grow stronger and stronger as he becomes an adult. His mother, Martha, approaches him with gentle sympathy. His father, Jonathan, fears what will happen when the world finds out, and pushes for Clark to hide and control his abilities, even if it means not doing the things he is capable of. Clark grows into a conflicted young adult. He knows he can save people, but he fears their reaction to his very existence. When he stumbles across an old Kryptonian ship, Clark learns of his great heritage, and that he is the hope for Krypton’s legacy to continue. Clark has already left a trail of mystery behind him, and the trail is picked up by investigative journalist Lois Lane. As Lois comes closer and closer to learning the truth about him, Clark must confront General Zod, an old friend-turned-enemy from Jor-El’s past.

This movie was by no means necessary, but it brings Superman into our modern age quite nicely. Henry Cavill has a classic Superman quality, but he gives us a young Clark who is more unsure than we have ever seen him on screen. He gets a pretty nice arc, and develops into Superman quite organically. Amy Adams brings a bravado to Lois that stands out from portrayals we have previously seen. Michael Shannon is at times  driven, at times maniacal as Zod, giving us a very unusual for for our hero. Diane Lane is simply great in her few scenes, giving Martha the right amount of small-town sweetness and maternal heart. Russell Crowe is surprisingly right for Jor-El, showing him to be a man of science but also a man with a big heart. Kevin Costner was the real revelation to me. He does a take on Jonathan that is similar to the great Glenn Ford, but has a bit more fear for his son than has been previously seen. Jonathan knows that the world will learn about his son one day. He only hopes that Clark will be ready. The scenes with him are truly the emotional core of this movie.

Zach Snyder hits most of the right notes with his visual style and direction. Many fans have complained about the intense destruction in the battle scenes. I was, as a long time fan of the character, never bothered by this, and I was glad to see some serious action, especially after the lackluster “Superman Returns. (2006)” Hans Zimmer provides a score that is not iconic in the John Williams sense, but gives our hero a majesty and intensity that just works.

Since the release of this film, I have heard countless debates comparing it to the original Christopher Reeve/Richard Donner flick. Honestly, there’s no point. For many, the original “Superman (1978)” will never be topped. For a younger generation, that original series is too cheesy. If you know the reason behind my naming of this blog, you know that Christopher Reeve’s portrayal of Clark/Superman is very dear to me. However, the story must be retold. If these heroes are to stay relevant, we have to put them up against modern problems and modern ideals and see where they fit. “Man of Steel” does EXACTLY that, and for me, the two films can coexist in the wider mythos, alongside George Reeves, the Fleischer series, the Timm-verse Superman, and the 1940’s radio show.

This isn’t a perfect Superman movie, but it’s a terrific one for our era. Catch it now on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Michael Bay does what he does best: “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” review

I had the great fortune of seeing “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” early tonight, and for free. (Thanks, Ain’t It Cool News!) I was pretty scared. You see, I was at just the right age when Transformers first exploded in 1984. I had the toys, watched the cartoons, collected the first 50 issues of the Marvel comic series, and even saw the 1986 animated movie in its initial theatrical run. I fell in love with the crazy mythology. I didn’t follow terribly closely when Generation 2, Beast Wars, etc. came along, but I read up on things enough to have an idea where it was heading. When Michael Bay’s first TF movie came along, I was totally taken with certain parts of it. The robots themselves were completely captivating. I loved seeing Optimus Prime ride up to the edge of the screen, pause, then transform into a staggeringly tall creature that looked as though he could be real. Flawed though it is, I still love that movie.

Then the sequel came. I’ll never know what Bay was thinking when he sat down with the screenwriters to map out the ‘plot.’ Yikes. Offensive characters, genitalia on robots, overexposure to annoying characters…and worst of all, he ruined Devastator. From a filmmaking perspective, the movie has less narrative than a Looney Tunes short, with far less humor. The action was a noticeable drop in quality from the first movie. The overall package was, for me, one of the most unsatisfying movies ever.

I wonder if someone – Spielberg, perhaps – sat Michael Bay down prior to his beginning work on this movie and had a heart-to-heart with him. I picture somebody just saying, “Look, Mike, you have your strengths, and you have your weaknesses. Your strength is overstylized action. Play that stuff up in this next Transformers, and convert it to 3D. It’ll turn out great.” I wonder that, because the finished product may be Bay’s best movie to date. I’ll minimize spoilers as much as possible, but if you want to avoid them entirely, stop reading now. Now, I tell you!

In “TF: Dark of the Moon,” the stakes are raised, and how! The threat this time looms large, as the Decepticons have found a mega weapon, one which threatens the very future of humanity. The weapon itself has been on our moon for over 50 years. Some of the most clever stuff has to do with how this influenced the development of our space program. The only being who knows how to use said weapon is an Autobot named Sentinel Prime, who also lays on the moon, barely alive. The Autobots, still working in cooperation with the military forces of the world, retrieve Sentinel, as well as the weapon. Sam, meanwhile, has graduated college, and is struggling to find employment. He longs to matter again, and in his mind, the only time that he truly mattered was when he was helping the Autobots.

Without spoiling more of the plot, I’ll just say that the action is bigger and balsier in this movie than in the previous two. The 3D is well worth it! The look of metallic textures in the foreground works beautifully in 3D without becoming a distraction. The effects themselves are so clean and blend so seamlessly that it’s easy to take them for granted. When Chicago is given a dystopian makeover in the film’s hour-long third act, it’s absolutely chilling. In fact, seeing the movie in downtown Chicago made for quite an experience. The onscreen carnage was so realistic that my girlfriend and I were relieved to see that the city was still standing after the screening. The last section of the film evokes an almost Terminator-esque vibe, in a totally good way. It’s a payoff not only for the film, but for the franchise. Certain characters that I have become fond of die, and the threat of the Decepticons enslaving humanity is just real enough to keep the audience engaged.

DOTM brought the focus back to the Autobots and what they represent – honor, loyalty, and freedom.?These virtues are that much more apparent when thrown into stark contrast with the power hungry Decepticons, particularly Megatron, and a particular turncoat Autobot. Optimus and Bumblebee are still the heart and soul of the series for me, with Ironhide not far behind. The human stories were lame by comparison.

On the downside, Bay can’t resist indulging in unfunny, unentertaining, and meaningless scenes such as the ones in this film involving John Turturro’s character. Agent Simmons has nothing to do here, yet here he is. Frances McDormand fares a bit better, but John Malkovich really takes the cake for scenery chewing, scene-stealing actors with pointless roles. Patrick Dempsey plays slightly against type here, coming off as a true douche. McDreamy? More like McJackass! Labouef is the same as ever – at times irritating, but watchable. Don’t let that deter you, though. The robots are the stars here. There could easily be 15-20 minutes less movie here, but when it works, it really works!!! No mental engagement is required here – just a willingness to hop on for a great ride. I felt a bit of that 12 year old vibe again. I hope you do as well.

Fun, cheesy, cool, and inspiring: “Green Lantern” (2011) review

It has happened. I have seen “Green Lantern.” I have a lot to say about it, so bear with me…

The trend among critics seems to be to paint this as the worst film in a long time, and possibly one of the worst ever. I don’t see this at all. The same critics who are bestowing poor ratings on this movie often say that it’s a better movie than “Thor,” which they gave a mediocre to fair rating. What gives?

I suspect that I know exactly what gives. For young hipster critics, hating GL is a really cool thing to do. This has been the case for Internet fanboys ever since the first trailer hit last fall. For the 45 and over crowd, there is a pervasive curmudgeonliness in their reviews – all of them, not just this film – that seems to prevent them from enjoying any superhero movie that wasn’t directed by Christopher Nolan or that doesn’t present a highly topical issue interwoven with the hero’s plot/life/mission/etc. I feel fortunate to be at a place in my perspective as a watcher of movies to have enjoyed this movie for what it was.

This is another origin story. I understand that origin stories get tiresome. Understand, though, that Green Lantern is a rich mythology that NEEDS a serious amount of exposition before it can possibly get into any kind of story. “Green Lantern” gets right to it, giving a VERY brief history of the Green Lantern Corps before introducing the main villain: Parallax, an entity who embodies the emotion fear, represented by yellow energy. In the comics, it is known that green lantern rings’ green energy (will) is vulnerable to yellow. Parallax wounds his captor, Green Lantern Abin Sur, and escapes. Abin, knowing that he is mortally wounded, instructs his ship to head to the nearest inhabited planet to begin the “selection process.”

Meanwhile, test pilot Hal Jordan is introduced, and we quickly find that he is an irresponsible womanizer who makes rash and reckless decisions. His father was also a pilot, and Hal lives in his shadow.

Hal is, of course, selected as Abin Sur’s replacement. After experimenting a little with the ring and accompanying lantern he inherits, Hal is suddenly whisked off by his ring to Oa, home of the Green Lsntern Corps, as well as the Guardians, their mentors. Hal is welcomed by Tomar-Re, a fish-bird combination looking GL. He is very briefly trained by the enormous, gruff GL Kilowog, as well as the pink skinned Sinestro. The latter makes Hal decide that he may not be Lantern material after all. But what of Parallax and his apparent connection to Earth???

The main reason I loved this movie is that I felt like a 12 year old as I was watching it. The effects, a popular topic of derision, looked great to me, as did Reynolds’ costume. Reynolds himself took the part seriously, and to me was an ideal Hal. Mark Strong is perfect as Sinestro, as are Geoffrey Rush as Tomar-Re and Michael Clarke Duncan as Kilowog. Even Blake Lively was suited to the role of Carol Ferris. Say what you will, but she’s far better than Katie Holmes in “Batman Begins.”

My favorite aspect of the movie was the constructs themselves. As Hal got more comfortable, the constructs became more inventive and cooler. I loved the CG, the look of Oa, and the glowing green energy permeating the uniforms. My only technical problem is the Guardians themselves. The animation of their faces is too cartoony. I feel like they should have seemed somewhat more real, a la Gollum.

The only other complaint I have is that much of this movie feels rushed. If possible, I would love to see an extended cut of the DVD released so that the pace relaxes a wee bit more. Not much, though, as the forward momentum helps to keep the excitement going.

In all, I love this movie. It’s terribly flawed, but it speaks directly to my inner adolescent. It has humor, action, and excitement. A note about the mid-credits scene: I felt that it WAS set up in an earlier scene and didn’t come out of nowhere.

Bottom line: if you want straight up entertainment, this is your movie. “Green Lantern” is no “The Dark Knight,” but it shouldn’t be. It’s a space opera that can be an exhilarating ride, but only if you are capable of relaxing enough to just go with it.

What I’m Geeking Over: Summer 2011

I look forward to the start of the summer movie season the way that some people look forward to the start of football season. I really enjoy seeing what each year offers, as well as how memorable/unique each film is. Based on how impressed I was with “Thor,” the bar is already somewhat high. Here’s what I’m excited about:

THOR (now playing): Marvel Comics’ riff on the Norse God of Thunder is brought to vibrant, energetic life through director Kenneth Branagh’s visually rich popcorn film. Like “Iron Man,” “Thor” benefits from a superb cast, led by Chris Hemsworth. The various realms are beautifully depicted, and the action is quite thrilling!

KUNG FU PANDA 2 (May 26): Dreamworks’ original really exceeded my expectations. The story of an average character who learns to use his own skill to be extraordinary is one of Dreamworks’ best, and while I feel a sequel is highly unnecessary, I’m hopeful for a fun movie.

THE HANGOVER PART II (May 26): I judged the original rather harshly on my first viewing. I recently rewatched it, and I quickly realized that I had been very quick to judge. I would love to think that this sequel will offer more than a few laughs.

X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (June 3): The X-Men movies have been a real mixed bag. The first chapter was flawed, but not bad; the second one was more story-driven and exciting. The third fell apart, and took too many liberties with story. Still, the premise behind the X-Men has always been centered around overcoming diversity, with certain obvious allegories regarding human rights issues. I’m hopeful that this prequel, with its new cast, can deliver where previous movies have not.

SUPER 8 (June 10): Not much is known about J. J. Abrams’ coming-of-age alien movie, except for what I managed to cram into this sentence. With Spielberg producing, I’m hopeful for something that captures the innocence of childhood that Spielberg used to be a wizard at.

GREEN LANTERN (June 17): DC Comics’ underrated hero boasts a rich mythology and a unique premise: a strong will can be a powerful weapon. Although fanboys have been very hard on this movie, I’m looking forward to this above all others. I’ve been a fan of GL since I first saw him on “The Superfriends” back in the day. I’m confident that this movie will be one of this summer’s best.

MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS (June 17): I’m a sucker for Jim Carrey. Are his comedies dumb? Usually. But I like a lot of them! I’ll give this one a chance, knowing full well that it could be a disaster.

CARS 2 (June 24): I didn’t love “Cars,” but the least of the Pixar movies is far above average! The addition of Michael Caine as a British secret agent adds to the appeal for this one!

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (July 1): This is a tough one for me. I really, REALLY didn’t like the first sequel, but I loved the first movie. The trailers have piqued my interest, so maybe I’ll try it out…

LARRY CROWNE (July 1): This movie is the least geeky thus far, but I’m looking forward to seeing Tom Hanks return to form in the Jimmy Stewart type of roles he took for most of the 1990s! This movie looks like a crowd pleaser, and I hope it delivers!

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART 2 (July 8 ) – While I’m not the world’s biggest HP fan, I have come to really like the books, as well as the movies. The finale looks to be appropriately epic.

WINNIE THE POOH (July 8 ) – The appeal for me with this one is part nostalgia, part appreciation for old-school, hand-drawn animation. The trailer captures the vibe of Disney’s “The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh,” which was a cornerstone of my childhood.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (July 22) – Popular sentiment among Internet folk seems to indicate that people are growing tired of superhero movies. I’m not one of those people. (Shocking, I know.) Chris Evans is more versatile than people generally give him credit for. I think his Steve Rogers will be a great realization of the character. The look seems to capture much of the spirit of the comics, both old and recent. The glimpse we have had of The Red Skull has me freaking out!

COWBOYS AND ALIENS (July 29) – Harrison Ford. Daniel Craig. Olivia Wilde. Jon Favreau directing. Aliens. That is all.

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES (August 5) – I’m not that excited about this one…but, sometimes by this point in the summer, lowered expectations are a good thing…

CONAN THE BARBARIAN (August 19) – I could use a good medieval fantasy fix! The trailer looks decent enough, so let’s see if the actual movie holds up!

FRIGHT NIGHT (August 19) – As a kid, I loved the original. I think that the casting of Anton Yelchin and Colin Farrell is nothing short of brilliant! Birthday movie!!!