Jangobadass

DBZ: Battle of the Gods is a totally hoot with really nice animation, really cool battle scenes, fun & lively characters, and a ton of cameos and references for fans of the series to enjoy. If you like DBZ, you should really like this! After being asleep for several decades, Beerus, the God of Destruction, awakens and remembers a prophecy about finding a powerful challenger in the form of a "Super Saiyan God". Eager to face a foe who could provide with a challenge or amusement, Beerus sets off in search of such a person, which puts Goku, Vegeta and their families & friends in his cross-hairs...

Aside from the fantastical, frenetic action this series is known for, this most fun the Dragon Ball franchise has seen in a loooonnngg time. Thanks to series creator Akira Toriyama bring involved, there's a lot of humor and personality that was lacking in previous movies and even the later part of the manga & TV Show. Even minor characters are given some personality and spot on dialog.

Here's the catch: You have to be a fan of Dragon Ball Z--a big one at that--to fully enjoy it. There are cameos, references and even in-jokes--with no explanation at that--that only fans who know almost everything about the series will get. Some characters even show up for the sole purpose of showing up and play no role whatsoever. Non-fans need not apply here and casual fans may want to brush up on their DB history.

So if you're a fan of DBZ, chances are likely you'll have a pretty good time here. Though you might need to jog your memory a little first.

Marvel took a risk with "Guardians of the Galaxy": it's based on a fairly obscure series about an obscure team made up of obscure characters. While the GotG comics have been around for decades, they just aren't as popular or well known as the X Men, the Avengers or Spider-man. On a related note, the team is made of up morally ambiguous, down & dirty, rough-around-the edges- characters characters who aren't quite upstanding role models like Wolverine, Captain America, and Spidey. Some might even say that Marvel was scraping the the bottom of the barrel, or at least getting close.

Well, the risk paid off and there is indeed a reward.

This is one the more fun--one could argue it's THE most fun--Marvel Comics movies. It feels like Indiana Jones or the Classic Star Wars Trilogy with colorful characters, thrilling action scenes that aren't so bombastic, and amusing banter. Things are even more fun thanks to a series of 70s hits played over the action at interesting times.

The downside may be that it tries TOO hard to be fun, with the plot and humor getting in each other's way or how the more serious moments are almost out of place.

Also...don't stick around for the post-credit scene this time. Just wait for the home media release. While other post-credit scenes in previous Marvel movies are interesting & intriguing, leaving you wanting more while setting up future installments, this one...doesn't. That's all I'll say to avoid spoilers.

Few people may have been clamoring for a movie based on Guardians of the Galaxy, but many people will like the results. Now they may be clamoring for a sequel...