Hammer's Count Dracula Rises Again

The 3^rd annual Eclectic Avenue October Scares-fest concludes with a double dose of Dracula. In the late 1950s, Britain’s Hammer Films began reviving many of the classic monsters that were a staple of Universal’s horror films of the 1930s & 40s. The difference with Hammer’s versions is that they were in color, and more graphic & suggestive than their earlier counterparts. The company’s first major hit was The Curse of Frankenstein (1957) starring Peter Cushing as Dr. Frankenstein and Christopher Lee as his monstrous creation. That movie's success led to a host of other fright film releases thru the 1970s, including Lee’s striking portrayal of Count Dracula, beginning with:

Horror of Dracula (1958) – When Jonathan Harker, the new librarian & archivist at Castle Dracula, disappears, his colleague Abraham Van Helsing (Peter Cushing) investigates, and finds that Harker has met a terrifying fate at Dracula’s hands. What follows is a battle of wits & wills between Van Helsing & Dracula (Christopher Lee) as the powerful vampire stalks Harker’s fiancé Lucy and her family. Can Van Helsing stop the undead Count in time? Hammer veteran Terence Fisher directed this dark & terrifying take on Bram Stoker’s classic. The movie features Lee’s commanding performance as Dracula, along with Cushing’s fine take on the steadfast, unflappable vampire hunter Van Helsing. Their classic confrontation in the finale is one of the most memorable sequences in the Hammer canon. Horror of Dracula stands out as one of the best versions of this classic tale; it's considered by many fans to be Hammer’s definitive horror film.

Dracula, Prince of Darkness (1965) – Cushing reprised his role as Van Helsing for 1960’s The Brides of Dracula, featuring a disciple of Dracula stalking victims at a girl’s school. However, Lee did not appear in that film. Lee did return in Dracula, Prince of Darkness, as the Count terrorizes two vacationing couples that stay in his castle, not realizing the identity of their host. Dracula doesn’t speak in the film (according to some reports, Lee hated the dialogue written for him and refused to utter it) but that works in the character’s favor, as he’s literally a silent force of evil that tries to consume or destroy anyone in his path, especially the lovely ladies in the film, played by Barbara Shelley & Suzan Farmer. Since Cushing doesn’t appear as Van Helsing here, it’s up to Father Sandor (the excellent Andrew Keir, also featured in Hammer’s Quatermass & The Pit) an unorthodox priest, to rescue the unlucky travelers from Dracula. Also directed by Terence Fisher, Dracula, Prince of Darkness led to even more vampire-themed films from Hammer, and Lee returned to the role five more times.

The Curse of Frankenstein & Horror of Dracula began the Hammer horror cycle, but in many ways Dracula, Prince of Darkness solidified it, just as Goldfinger (1964) became the template for all the 007 films that followed. It features all the elements that Hammer fans remember: a touch of gore, lovely ladies threatened by an evil monster or dark force, thrilling music & great Gothic atmosphere & sets. It may not be the best film in the Hammer Dracula series, but it’s one of the most exciting & well-produced entries. It's tough to beat Hammer's 50s & 60s films when you're looking for some old school thrills, chills & fun. Horror of Dracula is available on DVD in various collections, and Dracula: Prince of Darkness is available on Blu-ray in a gorgeous HD transfer. That disc includes several extras, including a commentary by Lee & some of the other stars of the film. Here are links to trailers for Horror of Dracula: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkAnAqB70Ag and Dracula, Prince of Darkness: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udqm1gw28xo.

A "Dark Shadows" Double Feature

The 3^rd annual Eclectic Avenue October Scares-fest continues with a look at producer-director Dan Curtis’ two Dark Shadows movies. The TV series, which ran from 1966-71, was one of the first to bring supernatural stories into a daytime soap opera.  For most of its first year, it dealt with more Gothic themed elements, as it told the story of the Collins family of Maine, and their new governess, Victoria Winters. But then vampire Barnabas Collins was introduced, and the series took a turn towards the fantastic. The show went on to feature stories of witches, ghosts, werewolves & even time travel. It was one of the most popular soaps on television for most of its run. It has been revived as a short-lived prime-time series in 1991, and in 2012 as a feature film directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp. Creator Dan Curtis (who’s also responsible for the classic TV horror tales The Night Stalker (1972) & Trilogy of Terror (1975), also produced & directed two theatrical films based on the series, one of which was released while the show was still on the air (a rarity at the time, before the current trend of creating big screen films films based on TV series):

House of Dark Shadows (1970) – The first film based on the series concerns vampire Barnabas Collins, who is resurrected after 175 years when his coffin is opened by Willie Loomis, the Collins family handyman, who’s searching for hidden treasure. Barnabas poses as a cousin visiting from England, and interacts with the family. He meets Maggie Evans, who is young David Collins’ governess, and is startled to see she bears a resemblance to his long lost love, Josette. He hatches a plan to cure himself of his vampiric curse, and claim Maggie as his own. But it won’t be as easy as he thinks to escape his past, and fate has different plans for Barnabas & the Collins family.

Filmed while the TV show was still in active production, the movie features most of the main cast reprising their small screen roles, in an altered & updated version of the storyline that introduced Barnabas. It’s a well-directed & atmospheric film, and is more graphic than the series. There are some truly terrifying moments, and the movie works as an straightforward vampire story. In fact, it feels a bit like a Hammer Films version of the series. The movie was a huge success during its original release, and it prompted MGM to green light a sequel.

Night of Dark Shadows (1971) – The original idea for the sequel was to bring back Barnabas, but by the time things got rolling, the TV series had ended its run, and Frid declined to return to the role. A new story was written featuring Collins family heir Quentin (David Selby) and his fiancé Tracy, who move into his family home. They meet a mysterious Mrs. Danvers-like housekeeper named Carlotta who intrigues Quentin with stories of the Collins family history. He’s drawn to her tales of his ancestor Charles and his love affair with a mysterious woman named Angelique, who was burned as a witch. Suddenly Quentin starts acting strangely, almost as if he’s possessed. It seems that Angelique’s spirit is still around…and she has plans for Quentin. This tale of ghosts, witchcraft & supernatural terror features many veterans of the TV series (Selby, Kate Jackson, John Karlen, Grayson Hall, Nancy Barrett) but the standout here is Lara Parker who is equal parts alluring, eerie & frightening as the beautiful but vengeful Angelique. Night of Dark Shadows may be slightly more accessible to non-fans. This film doesn't require as much familiarity with the series as House of Dark Shadows to fully enjoy the story.

The movie is an effective thriller, but there are some plot elements that aren’t fully fleshed out. This is due to the fact Dan Curtis was forced to cut over 30 minutes from the film prior to its release at the request of MGM. Still, this is an enjoyable tale of the otherworldly, and its fun to see TV stalwarts like Selby, Jackson & Karlen in earlier roles. Both Dark Shadows films are worth a look for fans of 70s horror, and are available on Blu-ray & DVD, as well as for online viewing. Here are links to the trailers for House of Dark Shadows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6MmU3krHnE and Night of Dark Shadows: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSiRN23Fdy4.

Journeys Into "The Twilight Zone"

The 3^rd annual Eclectic Avenue October Scares-fest begins with a look at some creepy episodes of the television classic The Twilight Zone (1959-64). Much has been written about creator Rod Serling’s groundbreaking anthology series, and it’s unquestionably one of the greatest shows ever to grace the small screen. For our first entry in this year’s festival, here’s a selection of episodes (one from each season of the show) you can program for a night of old school thrills:



The Hitch-Hiker – From the series’ first season, the story concerns Nan Adams, who’s driving cross-country from New York City to Los Angeles. She has a minor accident during the trip, and stops for repairs. As she gets underway again, a man keeps appearing and attempts to hitch a ride with her, repeatedly saying, “I believe you’re going my way?” The tension mounts and Nan becomes more terrified of the strange hitchhiker, who seems to be everywhere she goes. It all leads to one of those twist endings that the series is well remembered for. Based on a radio play & story by Lucille Fletcher, the episode was scripted by Serling, and stars Inger Stevens and Leonard Strong. Eerie & atmospheric, it’s one of the series best early episodes. Fans of the cult classic film, Carnival of Souls (1962) may also get a kick out of this one.

Twenty-Two – From season 2: Liz Powell, a dancer who’s been hospitalized for exhaustion, has a recurring dream where she follows a nurse down to the morgue, who leads her in and says “Room for one more, honey…” Liz thinks it’s really happening, but no one believes her, including her doctor, played by the one & only Jonathan Harris, before he became Lost in Space’s Dr. Smith. It all leads to a startling conclusion that makes this episode feel like it could have aired on another classic series of the period, One Step Beyond. Written by Serling & directed by Jack Smight, this is one of six second season entries that were shot on videotape rather than film in order to save costs, which accounts for its vintage "taped for TV" look. 

The Grave – A season 3 ghost story: Lee Marvin guest stars as gun for hire Conny Miller, who shows up in a in a small town to collect his money for killing outlaw Pinto Sykes. But he’s a bit late, as Sykes is already dead; he was killed by the townspeople. On his deathbed, Sykes swears to reach up & grab the cowardly Miller from his grave if he ever came near it. The townsfolk promise to give Miller his money if he can last a night in the cemetery near Sykes’ grave, which leads to a terrifying climax. This otherworldly Western was written & directed by Montgomery Pittman, and also features Lee Van Cleef & Strother Martin.

The New Exhibit – A chilling tale from year 4: Martin Senescu, an employee at a wax museum, is upset to learn the exhibits will be discarded, and the museum closed. He decides to take home several figures of notorious killers such as Jack The Ripper and grave robbers Burke & Hare. His wife isn’t very happy to learn about this, and wants the figures out of her house. When she decides to take matters into her own hands, the terror begins. One of the best episodes of the series’ abbreviated hour long season, it stars Martin Balsam, and was written by Jerry Sohl and directed by John Brahm, who was also behind the camera for another Jack The Ripper related tale, the 1944 film version of The Lodger.

 Night Call – From the series’ fifth & final season, this one’s about Elva Keene, an elderly woman who keeps getting odd phone calls, first with only static on the line, then with a distant voice she can barely hear. When others pick up the phone, no one is there. Finally, the phone company traces the line, which has fallen during a storm and is on the ground in the cemetery….so who’s calling? Written by Richard Matheson, this eerie episode is based on his short story “Long Distance Call” and has a neat twist at the end. It’s directed by Jacques Tourneur, who also helmed several classic horror films for producer Val Lewton, including the original Cat People (1942).

That's just a small helping of spooky episodes from the show. I tried to pick a couple that may not be as well-known to casual fans, but of course, you can't go wrong with other classics like Nightmare At 20, 000 Feet, Living Doll, Eye of The Beholder and countless other installments. Episodes from seasons 1,2,3 and 5 are available on Netflix, and other services. The hour-long episodes from season 4 are unavailable on Netflix but can be found on Hulu. The entire series is available on Blu-ray and DVD, and I highly recommend the Blu-ray editions, which have an amazing amount of extras, including commentaries, rare "next week" previews featuring Serling, and other cool stuff. However you view the series, enjoy your visits to The Twilight Zone. 

The Life of the "Master of Monsters"

After this past summer’s release of a new version of Godzilla, directed by Gareth Edwards, many fans have been re-visiting the movies from the original Toho series on DVD, Blu-ray & online. One of the men responsible for the success of those films was Eiji Tsuburaya, who was the special effects wizard behind such films as Godzilla (1954), Rodan (1956) and Mothra (1961), among many others. Author and film historian August Ragone has released a fascinating book about this talented man, entitled Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters: Defending the Earth with Ultraman, Godzilla, and Friends in the Golden Age of Japanese Science Fiction Film. The book covers Tsuburaya’s life before, during and after his involvement with the many Toho projects he worked on, along with director Ishiro Honda, producer Tomoyuki Tanaka and composer Akira Ifukube. Those four men are widely considered to be the “fathers of Godzilla” and the chief architects of Toho’s well-remembered monster, fantasy and sci-fi films released during the 1950s, 60s & 70s. There's background information about production of the classic Godzilla movies, as well as other science-fiction and fantasy films, including The Mysterians (1957), The H-Man (1958) and War of the Gargantuas (1966).

Ragone also offers information about Tsuburaya’s younger days, and his life during World War II. He also focuses on the clever technical ideas that Tsuburaya came up with during his many years working in Japanese cinema. While many non-fans have scoffed at the “monster in a suit” techniques used in these films, the book shows why Tsuburaya and his crew chose to use that technique, and details their innovative work with miniatures & models. There’s also an in-depth look at Tsuburaya’s working relationships, and his feelings and philosophy regarding his work. He never lost that “sense of wonder” that all great filmmakers possess. Tsuburaya eventually opened his own effects company, and helped create many more successful films & TV series, such as Ultraman. It’s nice to see an artist like Tsuburaya get his due in an English-language book. These genre films are still fondly remembered by a large number of fans, and their influence is still being felt in movies like Guillermo Del Toro’s Pacific Rim (2013) and this year's re-imagining of Godzilla, both of which already have sequels in the works. 

The book is filled with behind the scenes material, production photographs and concept drawings from Tsuburaya’s long career. It’s a visual marvel, and so beautifully designed that it’s a treat just to flip through the pages and enjoy the many rare stills, film poster reproductions and amazing photos. As an added bonus, there are some wonderful essays between chapters from other noted Japanese film scholars, including Ed Godziszewski and Guy Tucker, and a fond remembrance from Eiji’s son, Akira. Ragone has written extensively about Japanese fantasy films, and his expertise has served him well in creating this wonderful book: I'm sure you'll learn some interesting facts about Tsuburaya that you may not have known before. The book is a compelling, enjoyable read, especially for monster movie fans. Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters: Defending the Earth with Ultraman, Godzilla, and Friends in the Golden Age of Japanese Science Fiction Film is now available at online retailers like Amazon & Barnes & Noble, among others.

Nicole Holofcener's Enough Said: An Exceptional Romantic Drama

Romantic comedies have been around since the early days of movies, and when done right, they’re very enjoyable. There are many fine examples of that genre, from City Lights (1931) to Sleepless in Seattle (1993). But it’s much tougher to do justice to a realistic relationship story between two adults and still have it be entertaining. Writer-director Nicole Holofcener pulls it off in Enough Said, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the late James Gandolfini. Eva (Louis-Dreyfus) is a divorcee who lives with her teenage daughter. She attends a friend’s party and meets Albert (Gandolfini) who is also divorced. Despite some misgivings on her part, they go on a date, and find they enjoy each other’s company. At the same time, Eva, who’s a masseuse, gains a new client (who she also met at the party) a poet named Marianne, played by Catherine Keener. Marianne is bitter about her own divorce, and as the two women become friends, she tells Eva about her awful ex-husband, who she cant stand. Marianne is irritated and angry about the end of that relationship, and it shows.

As the story goes on,  Eva realizes Albert is Marianne’s ex. She starts to doubt her own interest in him, and sees the things Marianne doesn’t like about him, rather than the things she appreciates about him. Should she dump Albert, who she’s growing to love, because she & Marianne are becoming friends, and she doesn’t want to make a mistake? And should she tell Albert that she knows Marianne? Meanwhile, Eva is also going through a tough time with her daughter, who’s going off to college. Eva is becoming closer to one of her daughter’s friends, and her daughter is angry about that relationship. And Albert & Marianne’s daughter, who is also heading to college, has some issues of her own.

While all of this may sound like you’ve seen it before, Holofcener’s incisive script makes it work. The dialogue is strong & there are some sharp observations about life, love & relationships. Louis-Dreyfus is perfect in her role, a strong yet insecure woman who can’t seem to do the right thing, but has her heart in the right place. You alternately root for her and want to give her a good talking to during the course of the story. Gandolfini is excellent in one of his final roles; Albert is a regular guy who comes out of a bad marriage, and just wants to find a partner he can enjoy being with, who loves him for himself. He has several standout scenes, including when he finds out Eva has been friends with Marianne behind his back. The hurt he shows on his face, with little dialogue, conveys all the betrayal he feels at that moment. There's also strong supporting work from Keener & Toni Collette, as a friend of Eva's.

There are no easy answers or Hollywood endings here, though the film does offer some hope before the fadeout. This is a story of real people with real issues, and there are both laughs & tears to be found in this entertaining film. Holofcener has also directed films such as Walking & Talking (1996) & Friends With Money (2006) and her movies often polarize critics & viewers (including myself), but she’s done some fine work here. I guess you can call this one a romantic dramedy. Enough Said is one of the best films of 2013, and it deservedly received a lot of critical acclaim. The movie is now available on DVD, Blu-ray and some streaming services. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEEJaIjF_Lo.

Next: The Master of Toho's Monsters

Here Comes The Reign Again: The Second British Invasion - Andrew Curry & Friends Rule On This Fabulous Album!

One of the best records I heard last year was executive producer Andrew Curry’s Drink A Toast To Innocence: A Tribute to Lite Rock. A group of indie rock & pop artists like Mike Viola & Lisa Mychols covered mid 70s-early 80s AM radio staples like “Steal Away” & “Don’t Give Up On Us.” It’s a really fun disc – and I still listen to it frequently. Well now Mr. Curry & some friends have returned with an equally enjoyable follow-up, Here Comes The Reign Again: The Second British Invasion. This time out, another group of indie artists tackle songs from the British bands who exploded onto our TV screens during the years when MTV ruled the airwaves. Come on, you remember the Modern Rock/New Wave era, don’t you? Songs like The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me?” and Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s “Relax,” whose videos played in heavy rotation when MTV still played music? Well, those songs are on this excellent tribute album, along with a batch of other tunes from the glory days of music video.

The styles range from faithful covers like David Mead’s rendering of Duran Duran’s “Save A Prayer” and Linus of Hollywood’s version of Paul Young’s “Everytime You Go Away” to splendid re-imaginings such as Taylor Locke’s rockabilly rave on “Dancing With Myself” which adds Beach Boys style harmonies to the Billy Idol hit, and Graham Alexander’s clever gender switch reading of Tracey Ullman’s “They Don’t Know,” a song written by the late Kirsty MacColl. Other highlights include Eytan Mirsky & Alyson Greenfields' country-esque cover of the Howard Jones track “No One Is to Blame,” People On Vacation rocking out on Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer,” and Cliff Hillis’ gorgeous interpretation of Nik Kershaw’s “Wouldn’t It Be Good.” (Love those horns, mate!) There’s also Chris Collingwood of Fountains of Wayne doing Dream Academy's “Life In A Northern Town,” as well as Minky Starshine with Spandau Ballet’s “True.” And did you know that Soft Cell's hit "Tainted Love" was itself a cover of a 1960s tune by soul singer Gloria Jones? On this album, Eric Barao gets that 80s vibe just right on his version of the song.

Another positive aspect of this marvelous album is the song selection: There are well known hits like rocker Bleu powering up on Simple Minds’ “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” alongside somewhat lesser known (in the US) numbers like the Yaz song “Only You,” beautifully covered by The Wellingtons, and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies with a masterful rendition of The Blow Monkeys tune “Digging Your Scene.” Kudos to Curry for gathering together another eclectic group of artists, including Freedy Johnston, who offers a jazzy re-do of the Naked Eyes song “Promise, Promises,” Rachel Yamagata, who does an intense, emotional take on Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me” and Tracy Bonham who gives a unique slant to the Eurythmics hit “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).” There are also some returning artists from the Drink A Toast To Innocence project, including Kelly Jones, who does a delicate, lovely remake of Level 42’s “Something About You” and the aforementioned Cliff Hillis, Mike Viola, Bleu and Linus of Hollywood. I haven't touched on every track on the album, but they are all amazing.

Whether it’s a dead-on accurate cover or awe-inspiring re-imagining, all the songs here are fantastic, and will take you back to those pre-internet days when we were glued to our TV sets watching all the videos on MTV. Like its predecessor, this disc is going to ignite memories, make you smile, and get you singing along & probably even dancing around the room. Andrew Curry & his team are to be commended for hitting another one out of the park. Here Comes The Reign Again: The Second British Invasion is an awesome record, and one of the best albums of 2014. This isn’t some low rent, hastily thrown together collection or shoddy project. Curry & these artists really care about this music, and it shows; they’re fans, just like we are, and they give these songs the respect they deserve. Here Comes The Reign Again: The Second British Invasion will be available soon; it was originally a Kickstarter funded project, so backers have already begun to receive their music, and an official release should be coming in the near future.

Here’s a link to an old school style ad/trailer for this smashing collection: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xJITekbEs0. There’s also a Facebook page you can check out for more info on the album: https://www.facebook.com/HereComesTheReignAgain. The song list is below, not including a couple of bonus tracks that were Kickstarter only exclusives. I also recommend listening to these talented artists’ own music – they’re all well worth checking out. And if you're interested in my review of Andrew Curry's previous project, Drink a Toast To Innocence: A Tribute To Lite Rock, that article can be found here: http://jveclectic.blogspot.com/2013/07/all-hits-all-songs.html.

Here Comes The Reign Again: The Second British Invasion

Track Listing

Disc One

1. Life In A Northern Town - Chris Collingwood

2. Goody Two Shoes - Jim Boggia & Pete Donnelly

3. Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Mike Viola

4. Kids In America - Big-Box Store

5. West End Girls - Secret Friend

6. True - Minky Starshine

7. Cruel Summer - People On Vacation

8. Everytime You Go Away - Linus Of Hollywood

9. Something About You - Kelly Jones

10. Only You - The Wellingtons

11. Tenderness - TeamMate

12. Don't You Want Me - Chris Price

13. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) - Tracy Bonham

Disc Two

1. Wouldn't It Be Good - Cliff Hillis

2. Tainted Love - Eric Barao

3. Promises, Promises - Freedy Johnston

4. Do You Really Want To Hurt Me - Rachael Yamagata

5. Save A Prayer - David Mead

6. Relax - Mike Doughty

7. Dancing With Myself - Taylor Locke

8. Digging Your Scene - Ken Stringfellow

9. Freedom - The Davenports

10. They Don't Know - Graham Alexander

11. No One Is To Blame - Eytan Mirsky & Alyson Greenfield

12. Our House - The Corner Laughers

13. Life's What You Make It - The Nines

14. Don't You (Forget About Me) - Bleu

The Guardians of the Galaxy: Marvel's Space Heroes Energize The Screen

Who are the Guardians of the Galaxy, the heroes of Marvel’s latest move hit? They’re a rag-tag group of heroes who go on an outer space adventure to retrieve a mysterious object, the origin of which will be familiar to Marvel comics fans. The team has existed on the printed page in various versions since 1969, but they’ve always been on the second (some would say third) tier of Marvel characters, despite some surges in popularity in the 80s & 90s. However, Marvel Studios was very clever about making this the latest entry in their cinematic universe. The film is a thrilling, fun-filled romp, combining the fast paced action & humor of films like the original Star Wars & Raiders of the Lost Ark, with a nod to 80s B-movies like The Last Starfighter.

Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is an earth man who is kidnapped as a boy by alien scavengers called the Ravagers. Now an adult & a member of the group, he fancies himself a Han Solo-esque outlaw named Starlord. Quill’s planning to double cross the Ravagers and sell a powerful orb he’s stolen to a third party. Along the way, he runs into an assassin named Gamora, the adopted daughter of super-villain Thanos, a living tree named Groot, and a genetically altered, gun-toting raccoon named Rocket. While they initially clash, they end up banding together to stop a fanatical alien warrior named Ronan, who plans to use the orb to destroy the planet Xandar. Despite a peace treaty that ended a war between Ronan's people and the Xandarians, he wants to annihilate them. Our heroes gain another ally in Drax The Destroyer, who’s seeking vengeance against Thanos for the death of his family. In fact, Thanos may have plans of his own for the orb.....if Ronan will turn it over to him. And is Quill a hero.....a rogue,.....or both? Will he & his friends save the day?

That may sound like a lot of plot, but it moves quickly, and there are space battles, prison breaks, a bit of romance, a lot of funny lines and a host of 70s rock tunes, courtesy of Quill’s Walkman and his favorite mix tape, which was a gift from his dying Mom. The characters are well developed despite the focus on humor & action, and their backstories will obviously be further explored in future installments, especially the identity of Quill's father....a being his Mom referred to as an "angel" before her death. Long-time fans will pick up on myriad references to other Marvel comic book characters and stories, which are obviously laying the groundwork for other Marvel films, but you don’t need to be familiar with any of that history to enjoy this movie. Sit back, relax & enjoy the ride. It’s a perfect summer popcorn flick, and the most fun you'll have at the moves this summer.

The cast is top notch; Pratt literally becomes a star before our eyes with this breakout performance; he’s got a sense of humor, cockiness, savvy (and dancing & singing skills) to spare, and the supporting cast is wonderful; Zoe Saldana is impressive as Gamora, and the voices of Bradley Cooper as Rocket and Vin Diesel as Groot add surprising depth & gravitas to their computer generated characters. Wrestler Dave Bautista proves himself a powerful ally and a perfect comic foil as Drax, and you’ll see a lot of familiar faces in smaller roles, including Glenn Close, Michael Rooker & John C. Reilly. The film was directed by James Gunn, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Nicole Perlman. Gunn and his team have done a great job with the visual elements of the film; the effects are great, and this movie looks like an old school, big budget space adventure.

I’ve tried not to give too much of the film’s plot or pleasant surprises away. But if you like entertaining action-adventure films, and you have a soft spot for 70s and 80s sci-fi (and 70s pop music) you’re sure to have a good time watching Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie has a great sense of energy, a rollicking sense of humor, and a real dose of heart. It’s one of the best Marvel films yet. As always with Marvel movies, make sure to stay until the end of the credits, for an additional scene or two. And remember: The Guardians of the Galaxy will return. The Guardians of the Galaxy is currently in theaters. Here’s a link to the film’s trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B16Bo47KS2g.

Next time: A look at a biography of singer Laura Nyro