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Author: FilmNerd

  • Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

    Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)

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    Love it or hate it, Pokémon is one of the most popular worldwide phenomenons that’s still going strong today. Originally created by video game designer Satoshi Tajiri, Pokémon has gone on to become the most profitable media franchise ever. The franchise has spanned over numerous video games, manga, trading cards, and an anime series that’s still going on today. An amalgamation of “Pocket Monsters”, the basic concept is about capturing creatures with extraordinary powers and engaging them in battle. While there have been numerous animated movies, including some theatrical films, there’s never been a live-action film of the property. Most of the time, video game movies tend to not be of high quality, and Nintendo knows this well. After the Super Mario Bros movie in 1993 failed, Nintendo has refused doing any live-action movies based on their properties. With the growing popularity of Pokémon, we now have Pokémon Detective Pikachu.

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    After learning of his father’s death, Tim Goodman (Justice Smith) travels to Ryme City to collect his father’s things. In Ryme City, humans and Pokémon live together in harmony and Pokémon battles are deemed illegal and outlawed. While searching his dad’s apartment, Tim finds a Pikachu (Ryan Reynolds) who can understand him and vice versa. Pikachu has a hat with Tim’s father’s name written on it, but he has amnesia and is looking for clues. He believes Tim’s father is still alive, but Tim isn’t interested since the two drifted apart after his mother’s death. Soon, they get caught up in a mystery involving a toxin that makes Pokémon go crazy and attack their trainers. Along with ambitious want-to-be reporter named Lucy Stevens (Kathryn Newton), they set out to figure out what’s going on. They soon find that it leads back to the enigmatic Clifford Enterprises and a mysterious Pokémon.

    Like many who grew up in the mid to late 90s, I was super into Pokémon and obsessed over them. As I grew older, I lost interest in them, but when I found out about this movie, I got curious. Having seen it, I can say that while not perfect, this was better than I was expecting and very entertaining. What easily makes this film work is Ryan Reynold’s performance as Pikachu, who essentially repeats his Deadpool shtick. Obviously, there’s none of the violence or cursing from those movies, but he has the same wit and sarcastic attitude. But while he’s entertaining and makes the experience worth it, Justice Smith doesn’t quite hit the mark and falls flat. Granted, he’s not as bad here as he was in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, but he’s mostly uninteresting and bland. Kathryn Newton has fun moments, and Bill Nighy adds some class here.

    For Pokémon fans, this will be a treat as there are tons of recognizable Pokémon all throughout. One of the more interesting aspects of the film is the world-building and seeing how humans and Pokémon work together. For instance, we see Squirtles helping put out a fire, a Machamp redirecting traffic, and a Ludicolo that’s a bartender. We also see an underground Pokémon fighting circuit, where one can assume it works the same way as cockfighting. While all of the Pokémon are CGI, they all look pretty good and fit in with the world perfectly. The mystery is interesting, though it’s fairly easy to guess where it’s going, and the plot is fairly standard. Despite its flaws, you can tell the filmmakers really cared about the material and wanted to do it justice. Overall, Pokémon Detective Pikachu is a fun if flawed adventure for fans and non-fans alike.

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  • Tolkien (2019)

    Tolkien (2019)

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    John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, aka J.R.R. Tolkien, is one of the most famous and acclaimed authors of the 20th century. Tolkien is probably best known for his high fantasy novels, namely The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Even though fantasy novels weren’t unknown back then, Tolkien’s work led to a massive resurgence in the genre. His works have gone on to inspire numerous artists, writers, musicians, and filmmakers, Tolkien considered the “father” of high fantasy. In 1978, animator Ralph Bakshi brought Lord of the Rings to the big screen, followed by Rankin-Bass in 1980. Between 2001 and 2003, a series of live-action films directed by Peter Jackson were released to critical and commercial success. This was followed by a series of films between 2012-2014 based on Tolkien’s The Hobbit novel. Flash forward to 2019, where we now have a biopic of the man behind the novels himself, Tolkien.

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    Synopsis

    After their mother dies of an illness, brothers J.R.R. and Hilary Tolkien are taken in by Father Francis (Colm Meaney). He enrolls the two into King Edward’s School, where J.R.R. soon forms a group of friends called the T.C.B.S. In addition to Tolkien (Nicholas Hoult), there’s Geoffrey Smith (Anthony Boyle), Robert Gilson (Patrick Gibson), and Christopher Wiseman (Tom Glynn-Carney). The four dream of changing the world, hanging out at the Barrows Store for tea, and sharing their artistic talents. Soon, Tolkien meets Edith Bratt (Lilly Collins), a young and independent woman who plays piano, and they fall in love. Tolkien takes an interest in the history of languages, and he studies etymology while attending Oxford University. Overtime, he starts drawing and writing stories based on the fantasy tales his mother told him as a child. Eventually, he and his friends go off to fight in WWI, changing their lives forever.

     

    Review

    While I’m not exactly a huge Lord of the Rings fan, I certainly acknowledge and respect their influence and legacy. Going into this, I knew next to nothing about Tolkien, so I thought going into this would be interesting. Unfortunately, while this movie isn’t terrible, it’s a pretty standard biopic whose subject deserves much more, making this a disappointment. I don’t want to say too much negatives about this film since there’s clearly a lot of effort put in. The cast does a serviceable job, Nicholas Hoult and Lilly Collins are good together, and the three friends are enjoyable. Colm Meaney is fine if underused, though Derek Jacobi has some fun moments as a professor at Oxford. Dome Karukoski’s direction is good, though the visual style is on par with any other period piece. The movie cuts back and forth to Tolkien in WWI, and those scenes are competently done.

    I’m sorry if this review is somewhat disappointing since there hasn’t been much discussed about the movie. Honestly, that’s the biggest problem with this film: it’s so ho-hum and average that it’s hardly worth talking about. There were actually times while I was watching this in the theater that I started to doze off. I feel like a really interesting movie could have been made about Tolkien’s life, but this was just meandering. This feels less like an in-depth biopic and more like the cliff notes version of Tolkien’s life. Obviously, a biopic isn’t going to be 100% accurate to real life, but this just hits on the main points. If you’re a huge Lord of the Rings fanatic, you’ll probably get something out of this film. Despite its intentions, Tolkien is a fairly dull biopic with some good performances and a competent if uninteresting visual style.

     

    Buy Tolkien from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3K1MRGN.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Tolkien (2019)

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  • Brazil (1985)

    Brazil (1985)

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    Terry Gilliam is perhaps one of the most unique and eccentric filmmakers, with a legacy of over 40 years. Gilliam is probably best known for being a member of the British comedy troupe, Monty Python, despite being an American. He got his first directing job on 1975’s Monty Python and the Holy Grail, co-directing with fellow Python Terry Jones. After his first solo directing effort, 1977’s Jabberwocky, the Monty Python group began to gradually dissipate between 1979 and 1983. Despite this, the Pythons made two more films, 1979’s Life of Brian and 1983’s The Meaning of Life. In between these two films, Gilliam had his first hit solo film, 1981’s Time Bandits, both critically and commercially successful. Thanks to its success, Gilliam decided to continue what he called his “Trilogy of Imagination” with a very ambitious project. 1985 saw the release of the ambitious yet troubled film, Brazil.

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    Brazil takes place in a dystopian future where bureaucracy reigns and nothing can be done without the proper paperwork. Sam Lowry (Jonathan Pryce) is a low-level government employee who turns down promotions despite clearly being smarter than his boss. He frequently has dreams of being an angelic warrior on a quest to rescue a fair maiden despite the obstacles. Due to a mistake, a man is wrongfully convicted, and Sam has to visit the widow to deliver a check. While there, he runs into Jill Layton (Kim Greist), who resembles the woman in his dream, and tries pursuing her. At the same time, the government is looking for an alleged terrorist named Archibald Tuttle (Robert De Niro). Through a series of events, Jill is labeled an accomplice of Tuttle’s, and Sam tries to protect her. With the bureaucratic system after them, Sam and Jill fight to be together.

    This is one of those movies that’s already been talked about so many times, it’s hard to say anything new. Still, Brazil is a fantastic film that deserves to be talked about more and is highly underrated and underappreciated. Jonathan Pryce is perfectly cast as an everyman unsure of what he wants and is clearly frustrated by this society. Kim Greist perfectly embodies a sense of rebellion against such a bureaucratic society, and she has great chemistry with Pryce. While I only mentioned some of the cast, that isn’t to say anything bad about the supporting players. Michael Palin, who plays Lowry’s old friend Jack Lint, is charming and likable, yet has a strangely sinister quality. Katherine Helmond has fun moments as the oblivious and obsessed mother, and Jim Broadbent works well as her surgeon lover. Also noteworthy are De Niro, Bob Hoskins, Ian Holm, Ian Richardson, and Peter Vaughan.

    But what truly makes this movie special is its filmmaking style and its story of struggling to maintain one’s humanity. The dream sequences are beautifully shot and have a very imaginative feel, perfectly contrasting with the real world’s drabness. The rest of the visuals are intentionally garish and give off the feel of a world that feels manufactured. While the movie has some great sight gags and moments of dark humor, the film eventually gets depressing and hopeless. I won’t spoil the ending, but it’s a real gut punch for anyone hoping that everything works out fine. The ultimate message to take away from this is the danger of a society dominated by routines and subjugating people. It’s a simultaneously funny and terrifying story of trying to break the status quo, but ultimately failing to change anything. Overall, Brazil is easily Terry Gilliam’s masterpiece and gets a high recommendation.

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  • The Intruder (2019)

    The Intruder (2019)

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    If there’s a fear that’s universal, it’s the fear of someone breaking into your home while you’re all alone. Even the toughest people can still be frightening by the thought of having their home invaded by some terrible people. Over the years, there have been numerous movies involving ordinary people having their homes broken into and trying to survive. Some notable examples include 1965’s Wait Until Dark, 1971’s Straw Dogs, and even 1968’s Night of the Living Dead. Whether it’s a serial killer, angry villagers, or zombies, it’s scary to think of what you’d do in that situation. Given how universal the fear is, we tend to see at least one home invasion movie released every few years. In this case, we have writer David Loughery (Lakeview Terrace) and director (Meet the Blacks) Deon Taylor up to bat. Together, they’ve brought us the latest home invasion thriller, The Intruder.

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    A young married couple, Scott and Annie Howard (Michael Ealy and Meagan Good) want to buy their dream home. It’s a quaint little lodge located in Napa Valley that’s very rustic and has a nice feel to it. They meet the owner, Charlie Peck (Dennis Quaid), who’s more than eager to sell them the house and befriends them. However, Charlie has an odd fixation with the house, namely with the way it’s treated and wanting to maintain it. Even after selling the house, Charlie keeps dropping by to mow the lawn, do various chores, and see the house. While Annie seems more understanding, Scott is more hesitant and insists that Charlie not tread on their property. Before too long, Charlie starts taking an interest to Annie, and we soon learn just what Charlie’s deal is. Soon, Scott has to man up and protect his home and wife from Charlie.

    Going into this, I didn’t necessarily have low expectations, but I wasn’t expecting some great new groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece. Honestly, what I ended up getting was a fairly by-the-numbers and predictable home invasion thriller that has nothing to it. Even if you haven’t seen tons of home invasion movies, you can pretty much guess where the plot is going. The couple gets a new house, the owner is charming but off, things start getting weird, you know the rest. Deon Taylor’s direction isn’t terrible, as there are some decent shots here and there, but there’s nothing special about it. The weakest aspect is the writing, as David Loughery’s script feels cobbled together from other, better home invasion movies. It doesn’t help that the rap soundtrack tends to make the tone really confusing, right from the opening sequence. There’s also tons of cheap jump scares you’ll see coming a mile away.

    Honestly, this movie would be pretty forgettable, except for one thing that makes it mildly entertaining, but only slightly. While most of the acting is just average, Dennis Quaid’s performance almost makes the movie worth it. He goes from being charming and likeable, to being absolutely insane and even terrifying in several sequences. Quaid is giving a much better performance than this movie truly deserves, and I think that’s what’s most disappointing. It almost reminds me of Nicolas Cage’s performance in Deadfall, another equally forgettable movie, save for his wild performance. Granted, this movie is at least better made than Deadfall, as this one at least has Quaid all throughout. Frankly, Quaid’s scenes are gold, but the scenes he’s not in are pretty dull and don’t offer much. There’s some drama between Scott and Annie’s marriage, but that’s quickly dropped. Overall, The Intruder is pretty forgettable save for Dennis Quaid.

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  • Avengers: Endgame (2019)

    Avengers: Endgame (2019)

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    It’s amazing to think that it’s been over a decade since Iron Man kickstarted the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While superhero movies existed well before 2008, no one would’ve expected an interconnected universe of superhero movies could be done. But long-time producer Kevin Feige took a chance on a cinematic universe and it proved to be immensely successful. People forget that when The Avengers came out in 2012, audiences had never seen anything like it before. As is tradition, each of the MCU movies have had a post-credits scene teasing future installments. Since The Avengers, the arrival of the Mad Titan Thanos has been hinted at and foreshadowed going on six years. All that build-up led to what seemed like a massive undertaking, Avengers: Infinity War, but that was only part one. After a year of speculation and rumors, part two has finally been released, titled Avengers: Endgame.

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    Following the events of Avengers: Infinity War, half of the universe’s population has been snapped out of existence. The remaining heroes are trying to deal with many of their fellow Avengers and loved ones gone in different ways. Many of them have disbanded to try and find hope, while others are working to cope with the massive loss. Meanwhile, Thanos (Josh Brolin) has retired to a garden in a far off region of space having accomplished his mission. With hope seeming lost, the remaining Avengers hatch a plan to track down Thanos and retrieve the Infinity Gauntlet. However, things don’t quite work out the way they want it to, and it may require some additional planning. Eventually, some of the heroes that were thought lost come back together to help the Avengers find a solution. With so much hanging in the balance, the Avengers must undo the damage Thanos caused.

    I know that I’ve been very vague with summarizing the plot, but that’s only because I’m trying to avoid spoilers. I’ll do my best to remain spoiler free throughout this review, but I can’t make any promises. That being said, I can honestly say that, with no hyperbole, this movie is phenomenal and a vastly entertaining ride. The first hour really shows how defeated the characters are, and just how hopeless the situation is. It’s interesting to see how these events have affected these characters, some working towards a solution, and others turning bad. Every single character goes through their own massive arcs, and even some less-developed characters are given more development. For instance, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye is given more of a character arc here than he has before. There’s also quite a few twists and turns that audiences will not see coming, so prepare for the feels.

    Of course, while audiences go into superhero movies for the great characters, they also want massive and epic superhero action. Without giving too much away, the final hour delivers on the superhero action and then some on a massive scale. While many people criticize when a movie adds fan service, this one has fan service that feels earned and heartfelt. The fan service here feels like the filmmakers really wanted to give the fans a shoutout and deliver the goods. There are so many cheer-worthy moments in this last act, your hands will be sore from all the applause. Of course, as amazing as this is, the movie isn’t entirely perfect, as there are some flaws, namely the pacing. While the three-hour runtime goes by fairly quickly, there are a few dragging moments that could’ve been shortened. Despite those flaws, Avengers: Endgame is a satisfying conclusion to a huge series.

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  • Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

    Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

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    Ever since the release of The Avengers, the series has been teasing the arrival of a major villain: Thanos. Known as the Mad Titan, Thanos was created by writer-artist Jim Starlin and debuted in The Invincible Iron Man #55. Considered one of the strongest villains in Marvel history, Thanos has been a looming threat throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While mostly staying in the background or just being mentioned, Thanos has always been there, watching over the galaxy. Not only has Thanos appeared in numerous post-credit scenes, but they’ve hinted at his appearance with the Infinity Stones. Each of the stones controls different aspects of existence and the universe: Time, Power, Mind, Space, Reality, and Soul. Following the successful Captain America sequels, the Russo Brothers were tasked with bringing nearly all the Marvel heroes together. 2018 saw the release of this massive crossover event titled Avengers: Infinity War.

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    Having taken the Power Stone, Thanos (Josh Brolin) has attacked a ship carrying the remaining population of Asgard. After killing Heimdall (Idris Elba) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Thanos takes the Space Stone, leaving Thor (Chris Hemsworth) to die. Back on Earth, Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) has returned to warn the Avengers of Thanos’ arrival. As Thanos searches the galaxy for the remaining Infinity Stones, the Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy form separate teams. Thor, Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Groot (Vin Diesel) venture to forge a weapon capable of killing Thanos, the Storm Breaker. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr), Spider-Man (Tom Holland), and the remaining Guardians go off to face Thanos head on. Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Falcon (Anthony Mackie) travel to Wakanda to help Vision (Paul Bettany). It’s a race against time to stop Thanos from wiping out half of the universe’s population.

    Given that this was set up for over a decade, Avengers: Infinity War is, no pun intended, a marvel. It’s a real testament to the Russo brothers how well they can balance several characters in one film so well. Every single one of them does a great job, and each is given their own moment to shine. However, the real spotlight is on Josh Brolin, who embraces the character and gives him a lot of depth. What makes Thanos such a unique villain is how he truly believes that what he’s doing is right. Plus, he has moments where you can tell he’s not necessarily evil, making certain choices he deeply regrets. As dark and dire as the film overall is, they manage to inject the right amount of humor in. Thankfully, most of the humor doesn’t feel out of place and flows nicely with the hard hitting drama.

    Speaking of the drama, when the movie gets more serious, it’s very impactful and you really feel for these characters. Of course, most people go into superhero movies wanting huge action sequences, and this film more than delivers on that. There’s a massive action sequences at least every fifteen minutes or so, each one just as thrilling as the last. What makes these scenes work is the great camerawork, the well-done fight choreography, and Alan Silvestri’s epic score. Given the stakes presented here, you genuinely get worried that a character you love might not survive to the end. Without going into spoilers, this movie has quite a few moments that come out of nowhere and will surprise you. My only complaint is that sometimes the action can get slightly excessive and some surprises are pretty easy to see. Even still, Avengers: Infinity War is something truly special and worth watching.

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  • Black Panther (2018)

    Black Panther (2018)

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    Created by the legendary Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Black Panther was the first African American superhero created. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #52 in July 1966, debuting before the founding of the Black Panther Party. Given the time the character was created, it was considered a big deal having a colored person be a superhero. Overtime, Black Panther established himself as a mainstay in Marvel comics, leading to the possibility of a live-action movie. In the early 90s, Wesley Snipes was working with Columbia Pictures on one, but nothing came of it. While Snipes went on to do Blade, the Black Panther movie seemed to be left in development hell. With the MCU going strong, Chadwick Boseman was hired to play Black Panther and appear in Captain America: Civil War. Soon, Ryan Coogler of Creed fame to direct, and 2018 finally saw the release of Black Panther.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_circle_counter _builder_version=”3.22.4″ title=”Rating” number=”90″ bar_bg_color=”#7cda24″ text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_vertical_length=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_blur_strength=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″ /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.4″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″]

    After the death of his father, Prince T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is set to become the new king of Wakanda. A small country in Africa, Wakanda is actually home to the world’s largest supply of Vibranium, the world’s strongest metal. Though they’ve remained hidden for years, people like Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) have managed to steal some of their Vibranium. One day, a man named Eric “Killmonger” Stevens (Michael B Jordan) arrives wanting to challenge T’Challa to the throne. Turns out Stevens’ father was originally from Wakanda and planned to share some of their technology with the outside world. However, he was killed before he had the chance, and now Killmonger wants revenge and to take over Wakanda. Though he puts up a good fight, T’Challa is defeated and seemingly killed, making Killmonger king. With help from his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright) and ex-lover Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), T’Challa must stop Killmonger.

    There was tons of buzz surrounding this movie since there hadn’t been a black superhero movie since Blade: Trinity. Given today’s PC culture, many people were dismissing anyone who said anything negative about the film as being “racist”. With that in mind, I did enjoy this film, though I did have some issues, none of which involve race. First off, I thought Chadwick Boseman was good in the lead, but he started off somewhat stoic and flat. Contrast that with Michael B Jordan, who absolutely dominated his scenes as Killmonger and was generally more interesting to watch. Eventually, it felt like Boseman was coming into his own, but he had a bit of a rocky start. The rest of the cast, including Nyong’o, Wright, Serkis, Martin Freeman, and Angela Bassett all do a great job. Many of them are given their own shining moments and they’re very memorable.

    Coogler does a great job directing, though his signature style felt more prevalent in the Oakland 1992 scenes. Those moments reminded me of his style from Creed, while the rest seemed pretty similar to other MCU movies. The action sequences are well-shot and fun to watch, and there’s quite a bit of variety to the action scenes. There’s car chases, huge battles, close quarters action, aerial fights, and plenty more, each one delivering on the goods. One nitpick I have is that some scenes are slightly too dark, meaning the lighting is isn’t great at times. Granted, the later scenes where it’s dark are better since there’s more color and light, but it was somewhat distracting. Despite some criticisms I have, this is still an enjoyable watch and adds so much to the overall MCU. Overall, though slightly flawed, Black Panther is still a good time no matter your race.

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  • Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

    Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

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    For those who’ve been keeping up with Avengers April, the Thor movies haven’t exactly gotten the best reviews from me. While Thor was decent enough, I found Thor: The Dark World to be pretty disappointing and easily the weakest entry. Apparently, I’m not the only one, as director Alan Taylor declined returning for a third film, citing creative differences. Jaimie Alexander was originally set to return as Sif, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with her show Blindspot. After considering other directors, New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi was chosen after producing a “sizzle reel” for Marvel executives. Initially skeptical of doing big budget features, Waititi signed on feeling he’d be given full creative control, which he was. With him on board, the focus was shifted to be more fun and not as serious as the previous entries. Finally, towards the end of 2017, Thor: Ragnarok was released.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_circle_counter _builder_version=”3.22.4″ title=”Rating” number=”90″ bar_bg_color=”#7cda24″ text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_vertical_length=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_blur_strength=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″ /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.4″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″]

    After failing to locate the Infinity Stones, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is held prisoner by the demon Surtur (Clancy Brown). Surtur warns Thor of Ragnarok, the prophesied destruction of Asgard, and informs him of Odin’s absence, much to Thor’s shock. After escaping with Surtur’s skull, Thor returns to Asgard and finds Loki (Tom Hiddleston) has taken the throne. The two find Odin (Anthony Hopkins) in Norway, who warns them of the arrival of their sister, Hela (Cate Blanchett). After Odin fades, Hela arrives, destroys Mjolnir, and chases after Thor and Loki in the Bifröst. The brothers end up getting separated while Hela makes her way to Asgard and begins her reign of terror. Meanwhile, the two end up on the planet Sakaar, Thor being forced to fight and Loki sitting high on top. After reuniting with Bruce Banner/Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor sets out to return to Asgard and stop Hela.

    After Thor: The Dark World, I had pretty much given up hope on there ever being a good Thor movie. Once I saw the trailers for this, I got curious, and when I saw it in theaters, I loved it. Without a doubt, this is easily the best entry in the Thor series, in addition to being a great movie. Taika Waititi really helps to breathe new life into this series and gives it a dose of fun and levity. Not only does Chris Hemsworth use his natural charisma, but he gets a chance to show his comedic side. From the opening moments, you can tell that he’s having some fun with this and that sense of fun permeates. While the rest of the cast also does a great job, Cate Blanchett easily steals the show as Hela. She is having an absolute blast and owns every scene she’s in.

    When the focus shifts over to Sakaar, that’s when the real fun begins and the film truly shines. From the wonderfully garish set design to all the colors on display, Sakaar has a look all its own. While Blanchett dominates her scenes on Asgard, Jeff Goldblum absolutely dominates his scenes on Sakaar with his signature Goldblum quirks. The soundtrack is great, too, mixing in techno with 80s-style synth music that sets it apart from typical superhero scores. Of course, the big song of the movie is The Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin, which works when used properly. Not only does Waititi do a great job directing, but he’s also fun as the rock creature Korg. This film is exactly what audiences wanted out of a Thor movie, and I wish we got this sooner. Overall, Thor: Ragnarok is an absolute blast from start to finish that surely won’t disappoint.

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  • Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

    Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

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    In my review of Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, I gave a general overview of the webslinger’s history. To bring readers up to speed on Spidey’s big screen journey, first was the Sam Raimi trilogy starring Tobey Maguire. After the third film, the series was rebooted with Marc Webb directing and Andrew Garfield as the Amazing Spider-Man. With the release of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, Sony was planning on creating their own shared universe. Not only were they planning further sequels, but they also wanted to do various spin-offs of other Spider-Man characters. Unfortunately, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 wasn’t received well critically and it was a box-office disappointment, so plans were scrapped. Eventually, Sony worked out a deal with Marvel for Spidey to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After the character was introduced in Captain America: Civil War, the webslinger made his big screen comeback with Spider-Man: Homecoming.

    [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_circle_counter _builder_version=”3.22.4″ title=”Rating” number=”90″ bar_bg_color=”#7cda24″ text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_vertical_length=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ title_text_shadow_blur_strength=”title_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_vertical_length=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ number_text_shadow_blur_strength=”number_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″ /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.22.4″ text_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_vertical_length=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ text_text_shadow_blur_strength=”text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_vertical_length=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ link_text_shadow_blur_strength=”link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ul_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_vertical_length=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ ol_text_shadow_blur_strength=”ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_vertical_length=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ quote_text_shadow_blur_strength=”quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength=”header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93″ z_index_tablet=”500″]

    Following his excursion in Berlin, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) balances school life with being Spider-Man, becoming a New York favorite. Everyday, he leaves messages for Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) hoping that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) may need him. In addition, Adrian Toomes (Michael Keaton) and his crew have been salvaging alien tech and designing powerful weapons. When Peter learns of Adrian, aka Vulture, he tries to stop him with help from his friend Ned (Jacob Batalon). Peter and Ned realize they’re in over their heads when they discover some of the alien tech Vulture is using. Despite being warned by Tony, Peter pursues further, only for Tony to take his suit from him for disobeying him. Though feeling helpless, when he learns Toomes plans to steal from Avengers Tower, Peter realizes he has to stop him. Without his advanced suit, Spider-Man has to prove himself and save the day.

    Comparing this entry to the other Spider-Man films we’ve had, this is definitely one of the better versions released. Unlike the others, this one doesn’t go over Peter’s backstory since most people already know it by now. Each of the different Spider-Men had their strengths and weaknesses, Maguire being a better Peter, Garfield a better Spider-Man. However, Tom Holland is a perfect mix of both, not only playing a great Peter Parker, but an outstanding Spider-Man. Michael Keaton, known mostly for playing good guys, is surprisingly intense and even scary as the main villain. Like many great villains, we get to know his motivation and it’s one that many can relate to. The rest of the cast does a good job, particularly Batalon, Favreau, Downey, and even Marisa Tomei. I’m still never going to get over Aunt May looking so young compared to previous versions.

    While this is certainly a superhero movie, at its heart, this is more of a coming-of-age story. Like any other teenager, Peter is reckless, slightly hotheaded, and feels like he knows more than everyone else around him. It’s only after his high-tech suit is taken away does he realize that it’s the person that makes the hero. As with the other MCU movies, this one retains the humor that’s come to define the series, and it works. Between Spidey’s various quips and some of the more physical gags, this film knows how to have fun. If there are any issues here, some jokes don’t land as well, and some scenes drag just slightly. It doesn’t have quite the dramatic punch of some entries, but it’s definitely better than others. Overall, Spider-Man: Homecoming is not only one of the best Spider-Man movies, but also one of the best MCU entries.

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  • Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

    Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

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    Much like the titular characters, nobody was expecting Guardians of the Galaxy to be as good as it was. Not only was it a heartfelt story about misfits learning to work together, but it worked as great science-fiction fun. The film was both a massive critical and financial hit, so naturally a sequel was planned. Along with the original five guardians, several side characters from the first also returned, most prominently Michael Rooker as Yondu. In addition to the returning cast, the film would also see Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone joining the cast. James Gunn returned to write and direct, though Nicole Perlman didn’t return to pen the sequel. Unlike the previous film, this one would have fewer characters, though Gunn planned to introduce at least two new characters. Finally, in 2017, Marvel decided to start off the year with the release of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

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    The Guardians have been hired by a race of gold people called the Sovereign to fight an interdimensional monster. After defeating the monster, the Sovereign leader Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) rewards them with Nebula (Karen Gillan), Gamora’s sister. Unfortunately, Rocket (Bradley Cooper) steals some valuable batteries from the Sovereign, prompting them to hunt the Guardians down. The Guardians manage to escape, but only barely as their ship crashes down on a remote planet. Upon landing, they’re greeted by a man named Ego (Kurt Russell), who claims to be Peter’s father. He takes Peter, Gamora, and Drax to his planet and explains that he’s a Celestial, a being with godlike powers. Because of this, Peter (Chris Pratt) has similar abilities, and he grows more and more attached to his father. However, Ego’s helper Mantis (Pom Klementieff) warns the others of his true plans, and The Guardians must stop him from total destruction.

    While I loved the first Guardians of the Galaxy, I did have some issues with it, particularly its weak villain. Not only does this film have a much better villain, but it also expands on what made the original work. The characters, even the side characters, are greatly expanded upon and feel more like a dysfunctional family needing some guidance. The performances are terrific, with Russell and Rooker easily stealing the show with their legendary charisma and charms. Ego is a unique villain in that he initially doesn’t seem like the villain, but it’s eventually discovered he is. The dynamic between Russell and Pratt works really well, and the two actors have great chemistry together. The rest of The Guardians are given their moment to shine, and their relationships are greatly expanded upon. Plus, while originally a side character, Yondu is made much more significant here.

    Like the first film, this one has an incredible 70s and 80s soundtrack that greatly compliments the film. In fact, one of the film’s main songs, Brandy by Looking Glass, plays an integral role in the plot. But what truly makes the film special is how it plays as more of a family drama that explores relationships. It has a message of realizing the thing you search for most is just right beside you all along. By the end of the film, each of the characters has grown stronger and become more of a family. Like before, this film is insanely funny and has some witty dialogue, but it also mixes in some dramatic moments. When Peter learns the truth about his father, it’s a gut-wrenching scene, and the last 15 minutes are a tear-jerker. Overall, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 improves on the original in every way.

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