Tag: James Gunn

REVIEW: Peacemaker – Season One (2022)

Jennifer Holland (Left) and John Cena (right) in James Gunn’s PEACEMAKER — Photo: Warner Bros. / HBO Max.

All Episodes of the First Season of James Gunn’s PEACEMAKER Are Available on HBO Max Now.

I know. This show did, indeed, come out several months ago. Back then, I had been preparing to write a longer article about this show, but, then life got in the way, and now we’re in June. Sorry about that. Still, I am happy to be able to report that I think this show is absolutely terrific and I also think it’s the best DC Comics season of television I’ve ever seen. That statement is coming from someone who was obsessed with Smallville once, who loved the first season of CW’s The Flash, and who did follow the Arrowverse for quite some time. With respect to those shows, James Gunn’s Peacemaker is just head-and-shoulders above those other series in large part because it feels so director-driven. It has a distinctive style and voice that is just so right for this show.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Peacemaker – Season One (2022)” →

REVIEW: The Suicide Squad (2021)

David Dastmalchian, John Cena, Idris Elba, and Daniela Mechior in THE SUICIDE SQUAD — Photo: Jessica Miglio / Warner Bros.

Directed by James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) — Screenplay by James Gunn.

Over the years, I have certainly not tried to hide the fact that I think 2016’s Suicide Squad, which was directed by David Ayer (though he has repeatedly made it clear that the film was essentially taken away from him as a result of studio interference), is, to put it mildly, one of my least favorite films ever made in the superhero genre. That 2016 film certainly reeked of studio interference, it was an almost incoherent mess, it was needlessly grimy and at times quite ugly, it used a decent soundtrack as a crutch and in a way that became incredibly tiring, all the while failing to get you to care about the characters or the relationships they were building. There were some decent things about it, but, on the whole, it felt like someone had tried to turn Ayer’s vision into a shameless imitation of James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy, and that just didn’t work for the film that Ayer had envisioned.

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18 Lessons 2018 Taught Cinephiles and the Film Industry – Special Features #40

That’s right, people, it’s a tradition now. Last year, I wrote an article about the lessons that cineastes and the industry were taught by 2017. So, now, for the second year in a row, I’m ready to present you with a thorough list of the most interesting lessons that we were all taught by cinema, the film industry, or the studio system this year. Continue reading “18 Lessons 2018 Taught Cinephiles and the Film Industry – Special Features #40” →

Updated: Disney has fired James Gunn – Special Features #26

James Gunn at San Diego Comic-Con

There are two updates to the story at the end of the article. Please have a look at them both. James Gunn has been reinstated.

Disney has released a statement, in which it is made clear that James Gunn, director of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 1 & 2, has been removed from his position as chief creative voice and director of the third film in the series – Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3. Continue reading “Updated: Disney has fired James Gunn – Special Features #26” →

REVIEW: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017)

Theatrical Release Poster – Marvel Studios

The following is a review of Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 – Directed by James Gunn

The first Guardians of the Galaxy film was very special to me. It arrived at the right time for me and family. My Godmother had just passed away, and Guardians of the Galaxy was the first film we saw as a family since she had passed away. Guardians of the Galaxy made me laugh, it made me cry, and I, to this day, still think of it as one of my favorite films of all-time. It had a huge effect on me.

I, however, never expected Volume 2 to have as big an impact on me as James Gunn’s first Marvel film had and, honestly, it didn’t. But while Volume 2 isn’t as good as the original film, I still really loved it and it did make me emotional more than once. Continue reading “REVIEW: Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 (2017)” →

Trailer Recap: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – Teaser Trailer

Back in October, we got our first look at Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2, and now we’ve gotten our first real teaser trailer. This one is filled with great shots of the endlessly entertaining Baby Groot, and we also get our first look at Mantis! Continue reading “Trailer Recap: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – Teaser Trailer” →

TRAILER RECAP: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – Sneak Peek

Ooga-Chaka, Ooga-Ooga, Ooga-Chaka – The first look at the sequel to my favorite film of 2014 has just been officially released. Marvel Studios has given us the first teaser trailer/sneak peek at Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. So let’s recap this thing, and take a look at what we may have missed.
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MCU Reviews (2008-2015) – Marvelous Monday #50

Marvelous Monday 2016

Marvelous Monday in 2016 posts once a month, on the second Monday of the month.

In anticipation for Captain America: Civil War, I decided to write reviews for every single Marvel Cinematic Universe-film from the first two phases. I already had four written reviews (Winter Soldier; Guardians of the Galaxy; Age of Ultron; Ant-Man), but I thought it was important for me to state my complete opinions on these films, like I did with the original Star Wars trilogy last year. So, over the last few weeks I’ve been writing full reviews for all films released in the M.C.U. so far, with the goal of finishing the reviews for you today, at the latest.
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Marvelous Monday #31 – Phase Two Awards

Marvelous Monday, Standard

Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe consisted of six films: starting with Shane Black’s Iron Man 3, and ending with Peyton Reed’s Ant-Man. As of the 12th of August Marvel’s Phase Two has grossed $5,073,945,033 at the box office, and has been nominated for four Academy Awards. Meanwhile, the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films (Saturn Awards) has nominated the Phase Two films for a total of 30 Saturn Awards (having won 7 so far).

However, we must note that Ant-Man is still making money for Marvel Studios, and that neither Ant-Man nor Avengers: Age of Ultron has had an opportunity to be nominated for an Academy Award or a Saturn Award. Continue reading “Marvelous Monday #31 – Phase Two Awards” →