Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 sets a similar tone to the original film right away.  The old faces are back, but become more developed with a deeper character study for each of them.  The second installment in this film franchise is a much more emotional look at relationships than the original storyline was.  When Star-Lord's father appears on the big screen, we know that the struggle between family and friends are going to engulf the storyline.  Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper) reveal more about themselves than we saw previously, with a cleverly written script.  James Gunn (Scooby-Doo) does not get stuck on one character with too much detail, but the audience is given enough information about each one to gain a passion for each.  The return of Yondu and Nebula also create character revelations for the audience's emotions to kick in.  Their roles in this film are bigger and better.

Okay, I'm missing one character here.  Who is it?  Oh ya, Baby Groot (Vin Diesel)!  Who can forget Baby Groot in such an iconic role?  Baby Groot is just there for the ride.  His character provides the sheer fun that audiences loved from the first film.  I don't think anyone can deny that Baby Groot is cute, awesome, and adorable.  James Gunn brings back all of the enjoyable effects from the original film, but reshapes them into a fresh batch of superb filmmaking.  Constant action makes us root for the good and bad guys at different times.  While the action is fantastic, the main villain is a bit weaker in writing than Ronan was.  I was not a huge fan of the concept that Gunn went for, but I still had a heck of a lot of fun.

Of course, I have to finish off this review with a discussion on the soundtrack.  NO it is not as good as the first film's soundtrack, but it is a very very close second.  Iconic tracks such as "Mr. Blue Sky", "The Chain", and "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" round out the compilation soundtrack.  These tracks bring us fun breaks in the film to relax and just zone out.  Never before has a movie franchise been as nice to the ears as Guardians of the Galaxy is.  Tyler Bates (John Wick, Watchmen, 300) crafts another action-packed original score to work alongside the compiled tracks.  Bates manages to sway from battle to love in an instant, working with the story to touch our hearts.  In all honesty, Bates is my favorite action film composer currently because of his talent in creating sweet melodies with the brass-heavy space themes.

The Bottom Line: Music, passionate character portrayals, and Baby Groot add up to create another Guardians movie that families can enjoy in a theater.

Score: 9.4/10

Image credit: ​By Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America - James Gunn, Michael Rooker, Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Dave Bautista, Elizabeth Debicki & Kurt Russell, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56227043

James Ponsoldt (The Spectacular Now, The End of the Tour) returns with this new film about the evolution of the digital age.  Ponsoldt's previous films were more focused on life itself, but now he has taken his turn at displaying the influence of modern technology.  The topic has been dealt with many times in the past few years, so The Circle halts to contain a wholly original storyline.  However, I was still shocked by a lot of the content and situations that the main characters witness.  For a generation that is constantly plugged in, the conglomeration of camera footage invading privacy does not seem too far off.  After all, data mining is already occurring and gaining more transparency.

While the film delves into this deep subject, audiences get to enjoy the performances of professional actors.  Emma Watson (Harry Potter) is authentic even after the release of her giant Disney blockbuster.  She is vastly different in this role, showing that she is capable of taking on diverse parts.  It is nice to see smaller actors such as John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and Ellar Coltrane (Boyhood) also involved in this project.  Both Boyega and Coltrane bring genuine characters to the screen.

Of course, the big names in this cast created the early buzz for the film.  Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille, Young Adult) and Tom Hanks (Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump) act well in their roles, but unfortunately there is not enough screen time for either of them.  To me, their characters were the most interesting aside from Watson's.  Hanks plays a big business CEO who at first seems like a morally inspiring character, but later turns into something else.  As always, his dialogue keeps my ears attentive and the words roll right off of his tongue.  He is one of the greatest actors ever, but was wasted a bit in this film.

Another issue I had with The Circle has to do with the timing of events.  Everything moves too quickly without a lot of time for the audience to understand what is going on.  The overall concept for the film is simplistic, but the nitty gritty details could have made the subject matter more interesting and different from previous takes on privacy and modern technology.  All of the build-up continues until the very end, where we are left with an unsatisfying finish.  It's as if Ponsoldt never really finished the film.  At the end, the credits start to roll and the audience has no idea what happens.  Often times I can live with that, but this just felt unfinished and sloppy.

The Bottom Line:  Overall The Circle includes good acting and an interesting subject, but several filmmaking choices leave room for perfection.

Score: 6.5/10

Image credit: ​By Georges Biard, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21288731

1. "Thunder" - Imagine Dragons
2. "6/8" - blink-182
3. "Wish I Knew You - Single Mix" - The Revivalists
4. "Feeling" - COIN
5. "Hate That You Know Me" - Bleachers
6. "Hard Times" - Paramore
7. "Bad Guys Win" - Matthew Good
8. "Ultralife" - Oh Wonder
9. "Who Says We're Through" - The Band CAMINO
10. "Saturnz Barz (feat. Popcaan)" - Gorillaz

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them continues the Harry Potter franchise with a similar tone and ambience.  The magic that young adults grew to love with the original series returns with new ideas and old ideas jumbled together to create a fresh storyline.  This spin-off is almost as intriguing as the previous installments, but it will take time for audiences to reconnect and separate from the older films.  No, this film does not revolve around Mr. Potter.  Rather, we get a whole new set of characters and a storyline that precedes the time of the young Hogwarts students that we fell in love with.  

The setting for Fantastic Beasts takes us to a different time period right away.  Newt Scamander, played by Eddie Redmayne (Les Miserables), precedes Harry Potter's childhood by about 70 years.  The audience is not isolated to the small world of the original films.  This is a larger scope of worldly magic, opening the mystic universe to our muggle eyes.  The original films never grew stale, but it is nice to move away from that world to explore new wizards and witches.  Newt, Kowalski, Tina, and Mary Lou are fun characters to spectate as their lives get flipped upside-down when they collide with each other.  Dan Fogler's (Kung Fu Panda, Balls of Fury) safe portrayal of Kowalski is an especially nice mix with Scamander's exploratory attitude.   

The writing is familiar, which it should be considering it was done by J.K. Rowling.  It appears that this is her world, and she wants to keep it that way.  Another familiar face returns to the directing chair to helm the film.  David Yates, the director of four other Harry Potter films, brings back the charm and dark reality of the character worlds.  When Yates took over in the original films, there was a turn towards a darker story, where Voldemort became more prevalent.  Yates perfected this tone and will likely do the same with Fantastic Beasts.  For now, IMDB claims that Yates is set to direct all five of the Fantastic Beasts films.  While I am not in any way opposed to this idea, we will see if he actually stays on board for all five films.

A lot of my praise for Fantastic Beasts is due to how relatable it is with the original films.  The new aspects are mostly praise-worthy as well.  The story is decent, the creatures look good, and the new cast is nice to see.  My main complaint with the film comes at the very end.  As with all Harry Potter films, there is a twist at the end.  The twist is not terrible, but I worry about one of the casting choices revealed at the end.  I will not spoil who pops up, but if you have seen the film you know who I am talking about.  To me, this actor is not a great fit for the new role.  However, we will see what happens when he is give the chance to truly act the part.  Aside from this, I highly anticipate the next installment.  I especially am excited to hear that Jude Law will be joining the franchise as young Dumbledore.  I think he will fill those shoes very well!

The Bottom Line: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them takes an original storyline and places it in the wizarding world that younger audiences were so fond of a few years back.

Score: 9.3/10

Image credit: ​By Gage Skidmore - Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=53412978

The UK-based band led by singer Eno Williams is a combination of West African genres of afrobeat and highlife that are inspired by the pairings of funk and disco. Ibibio Sound Machine adds the modern sound of electronics to its live instrumentation, concocting what will be one of the most exciting and entertaining albums of the year. The electronics of Uyai compare to that of LCD Soundsystem, especially the metallic drums and highs of the percussion. The synths will remind you of the shades of 80’s synth-pop bands, while the guitars have a hint of post-punk influence.

From my understanding, Uyai is about the power and beauty of women. Eno recounts stories of her family, childhood, and her African roots sung through her mother’s native tongue.  The opening track "Give Me a Reason" will finish as one of the best songs of 2017, hands down. It kicks off the album with an unparalleled energy. The 80’s synth breaks moving simultaneously with the horns create a beat that is a wonderful melding of funk, disco, and electro.

The vocal performances by Eno Williams are emotional and fantastic all the way through, singing in a combination of the Ibibio language of Nigeria and English. The catchiest vocal performance on the track list comes at number two, "The Chant (Iquo Isang)". This song features the most obvious storytelling on the album. It seems to be about a girl who remembers a chant from her youth that gives her a liberating feeling; “she remembers the chant, the chant keeps her going”. It then breaks into a catchy chant and chorus that just feels awesome.

"The Pot is on Fire" is a fantastic instrumental arrangement. Curious percussion leads the charge as Ibibio pairs their electro sound with live instrumentation flawlessly. The rhythmic chanting of West African genres really pushes the groove of the song. Quiet provides a needed break from the action. The softer cut features one of Eno’s most soulful of the project. The electronics take a back seat, letting guitars take control. It shows the versatility Ibibio is capable of. "Joy (Idaresit)" is one of the most experimental takes on the album, with a guitar riff and percussion line that sounds straight from Joy Division.

Ibibio does great work of balancing the high-energy and physical sounds of the album with its more subtle and sweet efforts. Songs like "Power of 3", "Guide You (Edu Kpeme)", "Sunray (Eyio)", and "Trance Dance" are energetic and danceable, while tracks like "Lullaby" let you sit back and think a little. The atmospheric beat and percussion on "Lullaby" was a unique touch to the album, while the synth solo on "Guide You (Edu Kpeme)" and the guitar solo on "Power of 3" were incredibly fun moments. The closer, "Trance Dance" is an accumulation of the band’s efforts. It finishes the project with a high-octane experience of electronics, guitar, and horns that feels inspiring.

The first negative of the album appears on the third track, "One That Lights Up (Andi Domo Ikang Uwem Mi)". It lacks the dynamic sound of the rest of the album and operates at one volume. "Cry (Eyed)" at the bottom of the track listing serves as a sort of interlude, but feels lost in its placement. It takes away from the upbeat flow of the songs "Sunray (Eyio)" and "Trance Dance".

London-born, Nigerian singer Eno Williams leads the charge with Ibibio Sound Machine, and comes through with an energetic and dynamic fusion of genres on Uyai. The album’s refreshing sound has the potential to appeal to a large variety of music fans. Anyone who enjoys the sounds of funk, soul, and disco will have an immediate take-away. Even fans of LCD Soundsystem, synth-pop, or the post-punk sounds of Joy Division should come away from this project happy. Despite the majority of the album being in the Ibibio language, the chants and driving rhythms are catchy and provide a ton of replay value. This all but guarantees that I will happily return to Uyai throughout the years.

Score: 8.75/10

Favorite Tracks: "Give Me a Reason", "The Chant (Iquo Isang)", "The Pot Is on Fire", "Quiet", "Joy (Idaresit)", "Power of 3", "Lullaby", "Trance Dance"
​
Least Favorite Tracks: "One That Lights Up (Andi Domo Ikang Uwem Mi)", "Cry (Eyed)"

April 24th
Michael Mantenuto (b. 1981) - Miracle

April 26th
Jonathan Demme (b. 1944) - The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia

April 27th
Vinod Khanna (b. 1946) - Dabangg

April 30th
Lorna Gray (b. 1917) - ​The Man They Could Not Hang

Image credit: ​By John Stephen Dwyer - John Stephen Dwyer created this work entirely by himself/, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9932733