My Top 10 Most Anticipated Movies of 2015!

Wow! Crazy, right? It feels like just yesterday we were saying goodbye to 2013, and hello to 2014. And now 2015 is only a couple days away (at least as I'm writing this)! By now, we've all formed an opinion on this year. For some, it was a good year. For others, it was a lousy year, especially if you're a New York Jets fan. But I think we can all agree that it was a crazy year. It was the year we learned that SHIELD was actually HYDRA in disguise, when that no good rat King Joffrey finally met his fate, when Ted Mosby completed his story to his kids of how he met their mother (and angered people in the process), when people all over the world dumped buckets of ice on their heads, and when a typical Seth Rogen/James Franco bromantic comedy led to Sony getting their personal information exposed and almost caused a war between America and North Korea. It was definitely one for the books!

And we all have much to look forward to in 2015! Whether it's getting married, getting divorced, having children, graduation, or getting a promotion. But the thing I'm the most excited about in 2015 is the movies! We get to revisit beloved worlds, catch up with our favorite characters, see new worlds and meet new characters, and we get not one, but TWO Pixar movies!

As we turn the page on 2014, and begin a new chapter with 2015, Here are my Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2015:

10.) Tomorrowland

Once upon a time, Disney made attractions based on their films. And now, due to the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Disney makes films based on their attractions. And now, they're doing Tomorrowland. Tomorrowland has always been one of my favorite parts of Disneyland. It probably has a lot to do with the fact that I love sic-fi. I've been looking forward to this movie since it was announced. However, when Disney decides to make a movie based on their most beloved attractions, sometimes we get winners like Pirates, and other times we get The Haunted Mansion. But with a cool teaser, a solid cast which includes George Clooney, and the fact that Brad Bird, one of my favorite directors, is helping the project, this looks like it will be a winner! There's a great big beautiful tomorrow, and tomorrow's just a dream away!

9.) Furious 7

I have a confession to make. I never really followed the Fast and the Furious franchise. It's not that I wasn't interested in them. It's just that I never really found time to go out and see them. The only one I've watched all the way through so far is Fast Five. And I thought it was action-packed, exciting, fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat entertainment. It made me with I made more effort to see the movies in theaters. And now, with the tragic passing of Paul Walker, it seems like everyone, both fans and non-fans of this franchise, will go check out the last movie in his honor. The trailer definitely has me sold. It looks like the filmmaker and the cast have not lost sight of what makes this franchise so popular. And since this might be the last movie in the franchise, it seems like everyone will be giving their all. It will be one hell of a finish!

8.) The Good Dinosaur 

If there's one thing that Pixar is famous for, it's making great movies out of weird premises. They've done almost everything: Toys, Bugs, Monsters, Fish, Superheroes, Cars, Rats, Robots, A Scottish teenage girl who's into archery, and even a grumpy old man! And now, it's dinosaurs! And why not? For creatures that have been extinct for almost a billion years, they are definitely rich with movie ideas! From Jurassic Park to The Land Before Time to The Flintstones to Barney, dinosaurs have left a huge footprint in our pop culture. With The Good Dinosaur, Pixar is asking a very fascinating question I'm sure we all asked as little kids; What if the dinosaurs never went extinct? What if they roamed the earth with us right now? Would they be our pets? Would they be dangerous? Some of you might argue that we already know the answer to this question from Jurassic Park. And true, maybe we have. But we've never seen it in a Pixar movie before! And that sound pretty awesome! Right?

7.) Jurassic World

Speaking of Jurassic Park, it's hard to think about dinosaurs without at least the theme song to this series. We all remember when we first saw Jurassic Park. It was like the Avengers of its time. It featured groundbreaking effects, had a cast of memorable characters and quotable dialogue, and some of the biggest, scariest, most amazing monsters to ever grace the silver screen! It was one of the biggest films of the 90s, and some of Steven Spielberg's best work (which is saying a lot!). I have another confession to make. I've only seen the first Jurassic Park movie. What can I say? I just don't have as much time to watch movies these days! But from what I've heard, the sequels were nothing to roar about. And they made the franchise go extinct for almost a decade. But with a new up-and-coming director, a great cast which stars Star-Lord himself, Christ Pratt, and the adorable little brat from Iron Man 3, Ty Simpkins, it seems like the franchise will come roaring back! The only thing it needed to be higher on my list was Jeff Goldblum!

6.) Peanuts

Admit it. You're humming the theme song right now, aren't you? Come on! Yes, it's hard to call yourself a human being, and say you've never watched at least one Peanuts special, or even read one comic strip. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, and the rest of the gang have a special place in our hearts. They are the only remedy I can think of to put you in the proper holiday spirit. It's The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. It's hard to have a sad face when watching Charles Schultz's beloved characters every year. And now they're finally coming back to the big screen! Sure, it's a little disappointing that they're CGI instead of the hand-drawn style we know and love them for. But based on the teaser, the spirit and charm is clearly there. And the filmmakers have said they won't try to modernize it or "make it hip for the cool kids, homey!", which is a mistake many movies based on cartoons make. The kids won't have any iPods, Snoopy won't rap, etc. It promises to be just as simple and just as timeless as the cartoon it's based on. I'll definitely check it out. I'd be a blockhead if I didn't!

5.) Mission Impossible 5

Another franchise I barely followed until recently! If there's a New Year's Resolution I'm going to make, it's to watch more movies and get up to date on more franchises, considering that it's going to be a year full of beloved franchises! The only Mission Impossible film I watched all the way through was 2011's Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. If you want to know my opinion of it, well. If I hated it, you don't think I'd put the next movie this high on my list, would you? I loved almost everything from the cast to the director, and especially the action! If it didn't convert you to this franchise, nothing will! It even helped Tom Cruise bounce back after a long period of being a media punching bag. And even though Live. Die. Repeat. Edge of Tomorrow wasn't a blockbuster, everyone who did see it including me thought it was awesome! Tom Cruise is definitely on a role lately. Even though Brad Bird hasn't come back, the director they chose seems like a decent choice. And most of the cast is returning, including Jeremy Renner and Simon Pegg, and filming is set to take place in Vienna, Austria. It would be a "Mission: Impossible" to not get even a little hyped!

4.) Spectre

Bond... James Bond.

Mission Impossible isn't the only spy franchise on a mission this year. With the massively successful Skyfall, 007 has never been hotter! Daniel Craig has established himself as one of the best actors to ever don the tuxedo, along with Sean Connery. And now he's going up against the evil Spectre! Before there was Hydra, there was Spectre, a global terrorist group bent on world domination. And his villain this time is Django Unchained's Christoph Waltz! And with Sam Mendes returning to the director's chair, it seems like this will continue Mr. Bond's hot streak. It's great to know this franchise still has a license to thrill!

Shaken... Not stirred.

3.) Inside Out 

As I mentioned before, this is the first year we'll get more than one Pixar movie. And the best part? NEITHER OF THEM ARE SEQUELS!!! I love revisiting beloved characters as much as anyone. But nothing beats the feeling of discovering new characters and new ideas. And both Pixar movies have great ideas. This Pixar movies asks another deep question: What are the emotions in our heads like? What if we could literally go inside our heads and meet our feelings face to face? We all have emotions. Joy, Anger, Disgust, Fear, and Sadness. We've seen movies that caused us to have these feelings, especially Pixar movies. But have we ever seen a movie ABOUT them? Again, leave i to Pixar to break new ground and give us something we've never seen or thought of before! The director of the film is Pete Dctor, who directed two of my favorite Pixar movies, Monsters, Inc.  and Up. The cast includes Amy Pohler, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Bill Hader, Phyllis Smith, and of course John Ratzenberger (It wouldn't even be a Pixar movie without him playing at least a tree in the background)! All this combined with the fact that it comes out on my sister's birthday (As most Pixar movies in the past have), this movie gives me the feeling of excitement!

2.) Avengers: Age of Ultron

Is there any franchise in Hollywood that's bigger and hotter than the Marvel Cinematic Universe right now? Honestly? The studio has come a long way from Iron Man back in 2008. Not only did they bring Robert Downy Jr. back to the top of Hollywood's Nice list, but they also created a money-making machine that is bringing all other studios to their knees! And just like Pixar, another Disney-owned company, they've had their success based on wild ideas! A patriotic hero with a heart of gold? A Norse god with a magic hammer that controls thunder? A talking tree and a raccoon with a machine gun? No sane studio would consider those ideas as worth the risk. Thank goodness Marvel is insane! And since the record breaking phenomenon The Avengers, the studio has only gotten bigger and better. They've more than earned audiences' interest and devotion to this world and its characters. And since the team has taken care of Loki, they now have to go against an evil robot designed by Tony Stark called Ultron, who think humans are the biggest problem with Earth and vows to wipe them out. Just how bad is Ultron? He's so evil, he makes "No Strings On Me" from Disney's Pinocchio sound like something from your nightmares! Can the Avengers, with the help of Quicksilver and Scarlett Witch, stop Ultron and save the world? We'll find out, but one thing's for sure. It will only make Warner Bros. and DC even more desperate to catch up! I can already hear Kevin Tsujihara whispering in Batfleck's ear "Don't screw this up!"

Since this will be such a legen(wait for it...)dary year for movies, here are some honorable mentions.

Ant-Man - Despite the production drama, and the fact that Edgar Wright's no longer involved, the cast still looks great, and hey. It's Marvel!

The Jungle Book - One of my favorite movies as a kid, and I couldn't be happier with the cast and crew invoked. Jon Favreau, Scarlett Johansson, Lupita N'yongo, Christopher Walken, and Bill Murray as Balloo! It's the Bare Necessities of Life!

Ted 2 - If it's half as funny as the first Ted (and judging by the cast which includes Morgan Freeman and Liam Neeson, something tells me it will be), I will be one happy teddy bear. Just hope Sam Jones isn't too busy to make another cameo!

Hunger Games Mocking Jay Part 2 - Never read the books, thought the first one was okay, LOVED Catching Fire, and thought Mocking Jay Part 2 was good enough. But needless to say, I'm hooked on this franchise. Let's hope it ends the franchise on a high note.

Untitled Cameron Crowe Project - Great director, and amazing cast which includes Bradley Cooper, Emma Stone, and Bill Murray. I don't know much about it, but I know I'm gonna like it!

And My Number One Most Anticipated Film Of 2015 Is...

1.) Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Not even close! NOT EVEN CLOSE! For some, Star Wars is a series of movies. But for others, including me, it's a religion. It's a way of life. It's imbedded in our pop culture. How many times have you heard the lines quoted yesterday? You may have heard it in your favorite sitcom. It's probably the most influential film of its generation, inspiring filmmakers like Peter Jackson, Christopher Nolan, Brad Bird, James Cameron, Joss Whedon, and even J.J. Abrams! I know it's left a huge impact on my life. I grew up watching the movies on VHS and DVD. Every Spring Break, I watch all six movies from Episode I to Episode VI. I've even watched the documentary Empire of Dreams more times than  I can count! I own more lightsabers than I should. Every final exam I take in school, I pretend I'm Luke Skywalker fighting the Death Star in Episode IV. When I was 10 years old, I saw Episode III: Revenge of the Sith three times in theaters, and dressed up as Darth Vader every time! When someone asks me what is the greatest film of all time, I say "The Empire Strikes Back" without hesitation! Star Wars is what got me interested in movies, and inspired me to become a writer/director/actor. We all love the Original Trilogy: Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. They are to movies what the Bible is to books. And true, the prequels were disappointing to many fans, especially those who grew up with the Original Trilogy. Personally, I never minded the prequels. But maybe it's because I was born in the 90s, and have a little nostalgic bias for them. But whatever our opinions on the six films are, we all have a reason to be excited for the next movie! It's being directed by J.J. Abrams, who is responsible for reviving another popular (but not as amazingly awesome) sci-fi series Star Trek. The cast is unbeatable! It includes old favorites such as Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Peter Mayheww all reprising their iconic roles that made them famous. We even have an exciting new cast which includes John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, Lupita N'yongo, Gwendoline Christie, Max Von Sidow, and even Gollum himself, Andy Serkis! And having the legendary John Williams return to do the score won't hurt at all! This will be the first Star Wars movie to not be released in May, but in December. Consider it an awesome Christmas present (or Life Day present). As Darth Vader would say, "Decemebr 18, 2015 will be a day long remembered."

May the Force be with you!

And those are my most anticipated films of 2015! What films are you looking forward to the most? Are they not on this list? Are they not high enough on this list? Do you even have time to go to movies anymore? Let me know in the comments below! Happy New Year everyone!

Remembering Robin Williams (1952 - 2014)

Every month, 2014 is sounding more like the year when giants fell. We lost so many giants this year. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Harold Ramis, Mickey Rooney, Bob Hoskins, James Garner, etc. Whenever someone leaves this world, whether they were recognized by millions around the world, or only by their friends and family, it's almost always shocking. But in recent memory, I have never heard a more shocking, earth shattering, or heartbreaking celebrity death than funny man: Robin Williams.

A couple days ago, it was announced that Robin Williams, the star of so many iconic films, had committed suicide in his home at age 63. Once the news broke, millions around the world voiced their sadness on Twitter and Facebook. Just how shocking was it? This death was so huge, that for a couple house, almost ALL the trending topics that we're not ads were Robin Williams movies.

If this doesn't prove how much of an impact he's left on the world, I have no clue what will.

Since that fateful day, many have speculated how Robin Williams, a man responsible for bringing so much joy and laughter to the whole world for decades, felt so depressed and sad enough to take his own life. Recently, it's been revealed that the actor had been facing financial problems, had to pay his ex-wives alimony, was a recovering drug addict, and on top of it all, had heart issues.

But that's not why I'm writing this article. The reason I want to write this article is to write about his life and career, talk a little about depression and how you and someone you know can cure it, and then share what Robin Williams meant to me.

Robin Williams was born in Chicago, IL,  on July 21, 1952. He studied Drama at Julliard, and was classmates and buddies with the Man of Steel himself, Christopher Reeve.

Williams started doing stand-up in the early 70s, and continued doing it throughout the 80s and 2000s. His schtick involved celebrity and cartoon impressions, observational humor, dark humor, wacky humor, and physical humor. Here is a taste of his mastery in stand-up. Please don't be eating or drinking anything while watching.

Williams got his start in the business with the Happy Days spin-off, Mork & Mindy, where he played an alien. When he auditioned for the role, the series creator, Gary Marshall, told him to sit down, and he sat on his head. Williams was immediately chosen, because Gary Marshall said "he was the only alien who auditioned."

Robin Williams got his first major starring role in the 1980 family comedy, Popeye, based on the famous cartoon of the same name. It made history as the first live-action film based on a cartoon. And we're still seeing this with films today like Alvin and the Chipmunks, Scooby-Doo, The Smurfs, etc.

Williams' breakout role was in the 1982 dramedy, The World According To Garp, based on the novel of the same name by John Irving. The critics generally liked it, and it catapulted Williams' career.

Robin Williams' was nominated for an Academy Award for playing a radio DJ in the 1987 war-comedy, Good Morning Vietnam. I'm pretty sure you've heard his famous catchphrase at least once on the radio.

The rest is history. Since them, Williams has starred in some of the most beloved and re-played films of our generation. Dead Poets Society, in which he plays an English teacher who inspires his students through poetry, and teaches them Carpe Diem ("Seize The Day"). Hook, in which he plays Peter Pan... as an adult. Mrs. Doubtfire, in which he plays a struggling actor going through divorce, who will do anything to be with his kids. Even if it means dressing up like an old woman. Birdcage, Jumanji, etc. The list goes on.

But for many kids my age, the role we remember him most as the Genie in the delightful Disney animated film, Aladdin. The minute he first burst out of that lamp, we knew we were witnessing a character like no other. He was a force of phenomenal cosmic powers trapped in eeney little living space. Since he's traveled to the past and future, he could imitate more celebrities and presidents than you can count. Even if Aladdin and his friends couldn't understand them. And who can forget his showstopping song Friend Like Me? And it's true, we've never had a friend like the Genie.

There was no denying that Robin Williams was hilarious. He could make even the most bitter man at least crack a smile. But in 1997, it was time for the funny man to get serious. He co-starred with Matt Damon (who also wrote the film with co-star Ben Affleck) in the 1997 drama Good Will Hunting. Robin Williams played Matt Damon's psychologist, and connected with him unlike any of his other psychologists. Because while his other psychologists were trying to get into Matt Damon's brain, Robin Williams' succeeded at getting into Matt Damon's heart.

Robin Williams won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor that year for the film, and after watching for the first time just yesterday, I can honestly say it was well-deserved. He'll always be the Genie to me, but Good Will Hunting has to have been his greatest role.

Even though he could take on any genre, and any medium, and raise a bar while he was at it, where Robin Williams really shined was when he was a guest on talk shows. Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Conan O' Brien, all agreed that Robin Williams was the best Talk Show guest in the world.

It's pretty much common knowledge that Robin Williams was talented. And I mean REALLY talented. He was so talented, he inspired many comedians like Eddie Murphy, Carrot Top, Josh Gad, etc. But more than that, he was also very generous. Where do I start?

He would spend much of his free time going to war zones like Iraq and Afghanistan to entertain the troops with his stand-up. And what's more amazing about that? He almost never talked about it to anyone. Because he didn't do it for publicity. He did it because he loved doing it.

He was a huge supporter of St. Jude's Hospital, donated half his earnings for Weapons of Self Destruction to the Red Cross and all of them to rebuild New Zealand City after the 2010 Cantebury Earthquake.

Now, with a more than fruitful career in movies and TV, combined with the fact that he had a wife and kids, had talent to waste, and a heart bigger than his body, many have wondered how such a wonderful soul could feel so tortured and so beside himself.

As I mentioned earlier, he had financial troubles, he had been divorced twice, his new show The Crazy Ones, which he co starred with Sarah Michelle Gellar, was cancelled after one season, he was a recovering drug addict, and had a bad case of depression.

Now why would a man who's responsible for spreading laughter and joy to billions around the world for decades have depression?

There's a great quote in Alan Moore's Watchmen, where Rorscach is talking about his friend, The Comedian. He tells a joke about a man who goes to see a doctor. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world. Doctor says "Treatment is simple. The great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go see him. That should pick you up."

Man bursts into tears. Says "But doctor... I am Pagliacci."

That couldn't be more appropriate for Robin Williams. Here was a man who could cheer anyone up, and could cure anyone else's depression with his humor, but couldn't find a way to cheer himself up. He needed help.

I've known and met people in my life who have depression. It's a serious disease that can cause someone to take their own life. As we have just witnessed with Robin Williams.

You might even know someone with depression. They may not seem like it on the outside. Perhaps whenever you see them, they always have a smile on their face. They always seem fun to be around. Maybe life is going well for them. Maybe they have a lot of money, a successful career, a loving family, and a huge circle of friends.

You know who else did? Robin Williams.

People these days have a great way of hiding their problems, their angst, their worries, and their depression. Maybe they feel embarrassed talking about it. Maybe they feel scared. Feel confused. Feel.... lost.

Whatever problem they have, whether they talk about it or not, it's up to you to help them. In honor of Robin Williams, next time you see your friends and family, give them a hug, let them know how much they mean to you, how they make your life so much better, and tell them if they ever have any problems, they can always talk to you.

If you're reading this, have depression, an shave had thoughts of killing yourself, here is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone Number: 1-800-273-8255.

Remember, your life is worth it.

Now that I've written about Robin Williams' life and career, and about his condition, I want to write about what he meant to me.

For as long as I can remember, since I was a little kid, I've wanted to work in show business. I wanted to be an actor/writer/director/comedian. I have had many influences as a kid. From Looney Tunes to the Muppets. But one notable influence I can think of was Robin Williams.

When I was little, I watched a lot of movies, mostly Disney movies. And one of the first movies I ever watched was Aladdin. There was a street rat with a heart of gold, a beautiful princess who wanted freedom, an evil sorcerer with a sassy parrot sidekick, a monkey, a magic carpet, and a sultan. But the character that instantly stole my heart and imagination was the Genie, played by Robin Williams. While many of the characters in the movie were serious, and were very focused on achieving their goals, here the Genie was bouncing around, doing impressions, cracking jokes, and throwing as many gags at the screen as he can. He was insane!

I thought to myself "Wow! He is having the most fun out of all the people in this movie! I wan to be just like him!"

Whenever I was at a party or at Church with my family, I would always run around, making noise, doing cartoon voices, and entertaining the adults. My parents would get a little upset with me, but the other parents seemed to enjoy my antics.

As I grew older, and watched more movies, listened to more comedians, my desire for entertaining people grew and grew and grew. I started signing up for the talent shows at my schools and Church. I would do impressions from celebrities to cartoon characters to even Star Wars characters!

Ever since 2nd Grade, I have been in at least one school play every year. Most people hate being on stage, and feel nervous. But for some reason, it's where I have always felt the most at home. Every-time I do a play, people ask me how on earth I can go out on stage in front of hundreds of people, and still do a good job? I've never really known, until now.

It's because of Robin Williams.

What Robin Williams taught me was that it's okay to be a little weird. It's okay to be different from the crowd. That you shouldn't hide the things that make you different, but share them, and embrace them.

He taught me to be brave. That you should never be afraid to make yourself look like a fool in front of hundreds of people, as long as it makes you and them happy.

He taught me that it's important to find what makes you happy, and do it. Whether it's being a sailor, an English Teacher, a Psychologist, or a Genie.

But most of all. Robin Williams taught me how important it is to make someone laugh.

How in a world of darkness, chaos, sin, and despair, doing something as simple as telling someone a joke, or doing a silly voice to make them smile, can brighten their world. It may not change their life. But it can help them out, even for a little bit.

Nowadays, we take laughter for granted. We forget just how relevant and essential it is to our lives. It's the language of the soul. It's happiness.

Robin Williams, no matter what movie he was in, no matter what show he was on, no matter what he did, he always made me laugh. He always made me happy.

And because of him, I've been inspired to make other people happy. I've been inspired to make other people forget about their lives for a while. I've been inspired to make other people laugh.

There is a quote by Robin Williams from the late 70s that goes like this:

"In life, we're only given a spark of madness. Never lose that spark. Because without that spark, you're nothing."

Thank you, Robin Williams. Thank you for helping me find my spark. Thank you for inspiring me to never lose it.

Thank you for all the joy and laughter you've given me, and everyone, over the years you've been alive. Thanks you for all your charity, all your generosity, and all your kindness to everyone around you.

This world has become much less funny since you left it. But at the same time, Heaven has become even funnier since you entered it. I know the Angels are enjoying your stand-up right now.

Thank you, Robin Williams. Rest In Peace.

Guardians of the Galaxy review - Marvel reaches for the stars

When it comes to comic book movies, MARVEL Studios is the Pixar of that genre/medium. Not just because they are consistent with the quality of all there films and the talent behind. But also, just like Pixar, they also take big risks that pay off, and make their competition look bad in the process. An animated film that's 100 % CGI starring toys? A rat who can cook? Monsters, robots, and a grumpy old man as protagonists in family comedies? Who would be crazy enough to believe those moves can
work? Pixar.

And Pixar is so good at executing their crazy ideas, that every other competing animation studio has tried to copy their success. Just like Marvel.






A billionaire playboy who fights crime with a high-tech suit and isn't Batman? A scientist who turns into a giant green monster when he's angry? A Norse god with the power to summon thunder with his hammer? A super soldier with an Eagle Scout attitude? Bringing all those unusual characters together in an epic crossover movie? Are these people insane?!?!?! Yes. Yes they are. And what' even more insane? All of these crazy ideas paid off MARVELLOUSLY!!! (Not one of my best jokes, I know.)

And now comes arguably their riskiest movie to date (and boy is that saying a lot), Guardians of the 

Galaxy. A science fiction, action/adventure directed by James Gunn (Slither, Super), starring a cocky
space scoundrel (who is NOT Han Solo), a green skinned assassin, a red skinned thug, a walking tree, and a raccoon with a machine gun...


How does MARVEL keep making this work?!?! Are they gods?!?!?


Yes people. Guardians of the Galaxy is just as amazing, exciting, and entertaining as you've heard.
And for some people, especially 80s kids, it's even more so.






Chris Pratt, coming right off the animation blockbuster The Lego Movie, is a awesome as Peter Quill
(a.k.a. Star-Lord)! He's charismatic, witty, and charming. He could very much be this generation's answer to Han Solo and Indiana Jones. Heck, if Disney and Lucasfilm are still considering that Han
Solo Origin spin-off, then my vote definitely goes to Chris Pratt for the role of young Han Solo! With this, The Lego Movie, and next year's anticipated sequel, Jurassic World, its safe to say that Chris Pratt is the next big thing!






Zoe Saldana is tough and beautiful as the green skinned Gamora. She wants revenge, but has a soft
side to her as well. She can be romantic and nourishing, but also pushy when she needs to. I can see a lot of boys crushing on her the same way boys in the 70s and 80s crushed on Carrie Fisher's Princess
Leia. As the blue skinned Nytiri in Avatar and the young Uhura in JJ Abrams' Star Trek films, Saldana is no stranger to science fiction. However, playing Gamora was no walk in the park. She had to paint her whole skin green! Even when she blew her nose or took a bath, she had green paint on her! Now she knows why Kermit the Frog sang "It's not easy being green."





Dave Bautista is tough and menacing as Drax the destroyer. He wants revenge against Ronan for killing his family, and will stop at almost nothing. For hsis first acting gig, WWE fighter Bautista isn't half bad.

I AM GROOT!

Vin Diesel is irresistible as Groot, a tree who only says "I AM GROOT." This character could have gotten annoying quick, but Vin Diesel and the writers make Groot a lovable, charming creature who brings warm memories of another tall, vocab limited alien creature, Chewbacca.



But the breakout character, hands down, is Rocket a Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper)!






If a sass talking raccoon with a machine gun doesn't make your inner child jump up and down with excitement, something must be wrong with you! This character easily has some of the best lines in the movie, and has great chemistry with Groot. Bradley cooper, the star of The Hangover series, American Hustle, and Silver Linings Playbook, gives a flawless voice over performance. Even my Mom, who loves Bradley Cooper, couldn't tell that was him!

The rest of the cast is great. John C. Reilly never fails to make me laugh. Karren Gillan is menacing
as Nebula. And although Ronan is a fine villain, we all know he's chopped liver compared to the real
baddie, Thanos!



The soundtrack is awesome! Featuring hit 70s songs from artists like Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Jackson 5, Joan Jett, and of course... Hooked On A Feeling by blue Swede!

My Mom and Dad had a ball naming all the artists as their songs played during the movie.

This movie could have been a mess. But James Gunn puts a lot of love into it, and gives us each something to enjoy. Whether we're seeing it as hard core comic book fans, movie fans, or just average joes looking for a great time at the movies. It has the humor of Back To The Future, the brain of
Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the heart of Star Wars.


A lot of people have been comparing this to Star Wars, and it's easy to see why. The fact that it takes place in a far away galaxy. Rocket Raccoon being the only character to understand GROOT is just like Han Solo being the only one to understand Chewbacca. And the climax at the end, without spoiling it, is just like the X-Wing battle. The release date of Star Wars Episode VII is a long way away. So if you can't wait that long, then Guardians of the Galaxy will scratch that itch for you.





In conclusion, Guardians of the Galaxy is a blast from start to finish! It has a simple, and fast paced story, loveable characters, and an unbeatable soundtrack! This is easily the most fun I've had at the movies so far this year! If you're sick of sequels and reboots, and want something a little different, then Guardians will have you... Hooked On A Feeling!

I give Guardians of the Galaxy... 4.5 Infinity Guantlets out of 5!

Lupita N’yonggo And Gwendolyn’s Christie cast in Episode VII!!!

"I just felt a great disturbance in the Force. As if millions cried out in excitement, and were suddenly silenced." - Obi-Wan Kenobi

In case you've been living in another galaxy today, it has just been announced that Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years A Slave) and Gwendoline Christie (Game Of Thrones) have been cast in the most anticipated movie of all time (please don't even try to argue): Star Wars Episode VII!

As who? Well, nobody knows yet. Which isn't surprising, considering that JJ Abrams is practically famous for keeping things close to himself.

On StarWars.com (the ONLY credible and reliable source of information on anything related to Episode VII), Disney and Lucasfilm said the following:

Lupita Nyong'o joins the recently announced cast of Star Wars: Episode VII. This year, her breakthrough performance in 12 Years a Slaveearned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Gwendoline Christie, currently starring in the hit television series Game of Thrones as Brienne of Tarth, has also been cast in the production. She can next be seen in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.

"I could not be more excited about Lupita and Gwendoline joining the cast of Episode VII," says Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy. "It's thrilling to see this extraordinarily talented ensemble taking shape."

Actors John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson, and Max von Sydow will join the original stars of the Saga Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, and Kenny Baker in the new film.

Star Wars: Episode VII is being directed by J.J. Abrams from a screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan and Abrams. Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams, and Bryan Burk are producing and John Williams returns as the composer. The movie opens worldwide on December 18, 2015

Now comes the fun part: speculation. Which characters will these fine, talented ladies be playing? Will they be humans? Other aliens? Jedi? Sith? Bounty Hunters? Wookies?

Let's start with Lupita Nyong'o. 

Lupita Nyong'o is an up-and-coming actress, whose big break came last year in the brutal, intense, and powerful 12 Years A Slave, where she played a black slave girl named Patsey. She put so much emotion and so much torment in the role that she immediately won audiences hearts and sympathy. She basically stole the show!

There are three different characters she could possibly be playing. One of them is Lando Calrissian's daughter. 

This is probably the most obvious one. As you can see though, Billy Dee Williams' name is not mentioned anywhere in the cast list, as has been pointed out by many fans. Perhaps Lando was murdered sometime after Return of the Jedi by a Sith Lord or Boba Fett, and perhaps Lupita Nyong'o's character is trying to avenge her father's death. Or maybe he'll make a surprise cameo. Who knows?

Another possibility is she could be the secret daughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi.

"Billy Jean is not my lover. She is just a girl who claims that I am the one."

Of all the choices I've considered, this one is the most unlikely. Mainly because Obi-Wan Kenobi was a Jedi Knight. And one of the rules of a Jedi Knoght is to never fall in love and get married. And Obi-Wan was a much more faithful Jedi Knight than his fallen apprentice, Anakin Skywalker. However, let's not forget that Obi-Wan spent a long period between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope wandering the desert planet Tatooine watching over Luke Skywalker. And it can be pretty lonely on Tatooine. And let's not forget that the Jedi Order was destroyed at this point. Perhaps Obi-Wan went through a phase of depression, questioning the ways of the Jedi, and what caused them to fall. And maybe Obi-Wan met a young woman at Mos Eisley, and well, you know the rest.

And maybe Lupita Nyong'o's role as Obi-Wan Kenobi's daughter is to carry on her father's legacy and join Luke Skywalker's new Jedi Order.

The third option, and this is the one I hope it is, is Asaajj Ventress!

Asaajj Ventress

Now many of you reading this may be wondering, "Who the heck is Asaajjj Ventress?!?!?"

Perhaps you've never heard of Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

Well do yourself a favor. Subscribe to Netflix, look it up, and take time out of your schedule to give it a watch. If you're a Star Wars fan, you will not be disappointed! So many great characters, including Asaajj Ventress.

Asaajj Ventress is a Sith Bounty Hunter who works for Count Dooku. She carries two curved lightsabers, and has a big grasp on the Dark Side. You don't want to mess with her!

And she has the same physique as Lupita Nyong'o!

Lupita Nyong'o would make an awesome Asaajj Ventress! Her performance in 12 Years A Slave is almost  like that of a Sith. She feels angry, tormented, and hostile. Just watch this scene, and you'll see why:

And now onto Gwendoline Christie.

Much like Lupita Nyong'o, Gwendoline is also an up-and-coming actress. Her big break is on the hit TV show, Game of Thrones. If you haven't watched it yet, please download the HBOgo app on your iPad, and give it a watch. I's one of the best shows on television right now! If you can get passed the violence, nudity, sexual content, and pervasive language that is.

Her character on the show is Brienne of Tarth, a kings guard. She is one of my favorite characters on the show.

Her character might not be the most attractive woman in the Seven Kingdoms. But she makes up for it with her brute strength, her sass, and her wit. She could go for months with putting up with Jaimie Lannister's insults, all to live up to her promise to Catelyn Stark. And Gwendoline Christie does a magnificent job of playing her.

As for which character she'll play. There are two options that come to mind:

She could be a Jedi Knight. Obviously. I mean, have you seen her sword fighting as Brienne of Tarth? She could give General Grievous a run for his money!

Or maybe she's a bounty hunter? Her character, Brienne of Tarth, is very much like a Bounty Hunter. Tough, brutal, fierce,  and she is very perseverant on living up to her promise to her master. 

Well, I guess we won't know who these two actresses will be playing for a while. But no matter who they are cast as, Jedi or Wookie, adding these two tot the cast is a great choice! It shows that JJ Abrams has a real knack for assembling great talent!

It also adds more diversity to the cast, responding to the criticism that there are far too few female roles. (Yeah, the Original Trilogy had a TON of female leads, right?)

It's way too early to tell just how Star Wars Episode VII will turn out. But judging by what we know so far, it seems like JJ Abrams and his team are going in the right direction with George Lucas' galaxy. They've got the old cast back, with a new, talented cast, they've got John Williams back as the composer, and Lawrence Kasdan (writer of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) as the screenwriter!

Perhaps Mark Hamill is right. The Saga is in great hands! So it seems...

May the Force be with you!

Chef review - Jon Favreau cooks up a tasty film (WARNING! DO NOT SEE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH!)

Do you have a crappy job? Is your boss a total jerk? Do you feel like you can't express your creative ideas? Then you will instantly relate to Jon Favreau's brilliant, hilarious, and charming new film: Chef.

Jon Favreau

You may remember Jon Favreau as the director of all your friends' favorite Christmas movie, Elf, and Iron Man, the film responsible for sparking the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a franchise that is still going strong to this day.

Of course, Chef is a much different film than those films I mentioned. There are no Christmas elves or billionaires in robotic suits.

It's a simple story of a divorced chef named Carl Jefe, who works in a Los Angelos restaurant. Carl feels unhappy with his life and job, even though he has Scarlett Johansson as his co-worker. His boss, played by Dustin Hoffman, has a problem adapting to change. He insists that Carl Jefe sticks with the same menu they've used for almost a decade. After receiving a harsh review from a famous food critic, Carl Jefe gets angry and quits his job. Uncertain of what to do, he receives the help of his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara) and her ex-boyfriend (played by Robert Downy Jr.), who suggest that he start a food delivery truck service. That way he can be his own boss and cook whatever he wants. His son, Percy (played by Emjay Anthony) and his friend and former co-worker Martin (John Leguizamo), both tag along on his journey cross country to serve Cubano sandwiches.

As you can see, there isn't much conflict in the story. There's no direct bad guy, no epic quest, no macguffin, no misunderstandings, no car chases, no explosions, etc. It's all just a simple, basic cross-country trip with fine foods. Much like how the main character refuses to cook by the menu, this movie refuses to play by the rules of typical Hollywood storytelling. It's not a complicated story. But it doesn't have to be. Part of the charm is the simplicity of its plot. And at its heart, it's about a divorced father trying to bond with his son, and learning to do what ultimately makes him happy.

Jon Favreau, who also directed this film, plays Carl Jefe. He makes Carl Jefe a very likable and relatable protagonist. He's flawed, but not to the point where you have a hard time rooting for him. He's like the kind of person you would love to cook a meal with.

Robert Downy Jr. is in only one scene as Sofia Vergara's ex-boyfriend. And I wish he was in more scenes. RDJ never fails to steal any scene he's in. He could just play an endangered citizen in a Godzilla movie, and still be charismatic. In my opinion, he is one of the top 10 best actors working today, and his performance in this movie is proof of that.

Sofia Vergara of Modern Family is charming and lovable as Carl's ex-wife, Inez. It would be easy to make her just a bitter, nagging throw-away character. But Favreau's script makes her feel likable, and important to the story. John Leguizamo is hilarious as Carl's best friend, Martin. Dustin Hoffman is excellent as Carl's hot-headed, stubborn boss. And Scarlett Johansson, my celebrity crush, is endearing as always as Carls' friend and restaurant hostess, and gives great advice to Carl on doing what makes you happy.

Who cares if my boss would be a jerk? If I had this woman as my co-worker, I would never, ever want to quit my job!

 
But the real star of this movie is the food!

Cubano sandwiches, beignets, French Onion soup, Filet mignon, Caviar egg, etc. Good luck keeping your mouth from watering! I dare you!

Much like Disney/Pixar's Ratatouillie, this is a film filled with fine cuisines that will make you immediately look for a good restaurant after it's over. Seriously, the food in this movie is just incredible! You just have to see it to believe it!

In conclusion, Chef is a delicious meal of a film. It has a simple, and entertaining narrative, characters that are lovable, stellar performances from an all-star cast, and lots of delicious looking food. It's an excellent showcase for director Jon Favreau, and it proves that Marvel's Iron Man was no fluke. It's a film that will leave you hungry for more.

Rating - ***** (5 stars out of five)