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Category: Action

  • Thor (2011)

    Thor (2011)

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    Most superheroes tend to be humans either gifted with superpowers or with enough resources to make themselves stronger. But, in 1962, Stan Lee, along with Jack Kirby and Larry Lieber, decided to create a superhero from a god. Since most people knew of the Greek and Roman gods, Lee decided to base the character on Norse gods. So, The Mighty Thor debuted in Journey into Mystery #83 in August 1962, and became another Marvel household name. Interestingly, plans for a Thor movie date back to the early 90s, with Sam Raimi wanting to direct. Over the years, the film went into various stages of development hell, with the rights going to various studios. Eventually, Paramount acquired the rights, director Kenneth Branagh was hired to helm the project, and Chris Hemsworth would play Thor. So, three years after Iron Man kickstarted the MCU, we have Thor.

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    In the far-off realm of Asgard, the god Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is set to become the new king. That is until a group of frost giants invade and attempt to make off with a powerful weapon. Believing this an act of war, Thor travels to the home of the frost giants accompanied by his friends. Unfortunately, this breaks the truce between Asgard and the frost giants, so Odin (Anthony Hopkins) strips Thor of his powers. Meanwhile, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) is conducting research on star patterns when she runs into Thor with her car. As Thor stumbles around Earth trying to reclaim his power, his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) takes over the throne. In addition to Thor, his hammer Mjolnir has landed on Earth, and SHIELD is investigating the phenomenon. Thor must learn what it means to be a true king and reclaim his power before it’s too late.

    When I decided to revisit the MCU, this was one of the entries I was looking forward to the least. While this movie has its flaws, I’m happy to say it’s not nearly as bad as I remember. Starting off, much like Robert Downey Jr with Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth is perfect casting as Thor. His charisma literally flies off the screen, and he’s also very sympathetic in many of the more dramatic scenes. Tom Hiddleston as Loki is probably one of the best villains the MCU has had, largely thanks to his performance. While not as over-the-top as in the later films, you can tell Hiddleston is having fun in the role. The rest of the Asgardian cast does a fine job, even if they’re not given much screen time. Speaking of Asgard, the production design is breathtaking, and Kenneth Branagh’s direction is top notch.

    Unfortunately, while this movie is enjoyable, there’s also a lot that drags this movie down. For one, while the regular human cast is ok, they’re very underwhelming compared to the Asgardian cast. Natalie Portman and Stellan Skarsgard are decent, but Kat Dennings can get pretty annoying, especially with her sitcom-like dialogue. Also, while the scenes on Asgard are visually stunning and interesting, the scenes on Earth are just hohum. The movie tries to set up a romance between Hemsworth and Portman, but they don’t seem to have much chemistry. If anything, I more so bought Hemsworth and Jaimie Alexander as Lady Sif as a couple. In the end, this movie is a bit of a mess, but it’s still has some enjoyable moments. Overall, Thor is very middle of the road, not amazing but not terrible either. It’s better than the sequel, but that’s for another time.

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  • Iron Man 2 (2010)

    Iron Man 2 (2010)

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    With the success of Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk in 2008, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was born. While there weren’t any new entries the following year, a follow-up to Iron Man was released in 2010. Many of the same people from the original returned for the sequel, including director Jon Favreau and the original cast. However, in between movies, Terrence Howard, who played James Rhodes, was replaced with Don Cheadle. It’s unclear what led to the recasting, but sources say that it was due to a pay dispute. However, there are also sources claiming that Howard and Favreau did not get along on set. Regardless, given how successful the first film was, it was only inevitable that a sequel was in the works. So, two years after the original, Jon Favreau and company treated audiences to Iron Man 2.

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    Synopsis

    Six months after the events of the original, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) is on top of the world. He’s considered an international hero thanks to his Iron Man suit, and he’s ushered in a new era of peace. However, not everyone feels that way about him, particularly Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), who has a personal grudge with Stark. At the same time, the US government is demanding that Tony turn over the Iron Man technology to the military. On top of that, the palladium core keeping Tony’s chest arc reactor is slowly killing him. Soon, Ivan attacks Tony using similar technology, which makes everyone doubt if Iron Man can save them or not. This catches the attention of rival weapons manufacturer Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), who partners with Ivan to bring down Stark. All the while, agents from SHIELD are keeping a watchful eye on Iron Man.

     

    Review

    Given how amazing the first film was, naturally this sequel had some pretty big shoes to fill. For the most part, this movie does succeed in continuing what made the first film work. The returning cast, especially Downey Jr, still deliver solid performances, and the new cast works just as well here. While Terrence Howard is missed, Don Cheadle is a good replacement and he works well with Downey Jr. Mickey Rourke makes for a very intimidating villain, and Sam Rockwell has some pretty funny moments. Scarlett Johansson is good as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, but it feels like she hasn’t quite nailed the character yet. She comes across a bit too stoic at times and just seems to be trying to hard to be serious. Going back to Downey Jr, he once again shows how he really was perfect casting for Tony Stark.

    However, as good as this movie is, it doesn’t quite reach the same heights as the first one. After the first 30-40 minutes of the movie, there’s a huge stretch where not much happens. It isn’t until about an hour and twenty minutes in that another action sequence happens. Much of the in-between time is spent with Tony trying to find a suitable replacement for his palladium core. It does help to advance the overall story, but the scenes tend to drag out and grind to a halt. Also, once Sam Rockwell enters the fray, Mickey Rourke takes a backseat as the villain. Not that Sam Rockwell is bad, but they introduce Mickey Rourke as this powerful adversary and he doesn’t do much. Despite these problems, Iron Man 2 is still an enjoyable time thanks to strong performances and fun action.

     

    Buy Iron Man 2 from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GcfDze.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Iron Man 2 (2010)

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  • The Incredible Hulk (2008)

    The Incredible Hulk (2008)

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    After finding success with The Fantastic Four, comic creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby worked on a new unconventional hero. Inspired by the 1931 versions of Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, they created a sympathetic yet monstrous character. Dubbed “The Incredible Hulk”, he first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 in May 1962 and was a massive hit. Interestingly enough, the Hulk was originally supposed to be grey, but due to a printing error was turned green. When Marvel adapted their characters to television in the 70s, they struck gold with the Hulk TV series. Starring Bill Bixby as David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk, the show ran for five seasons. Then in 2003, famed director Ang Lee brought the character to the big screen with mixed results. Five years later, after Iron Man, it was decided to add The Incredible Hulk to the MCU.

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    After a science experiment gone wrong, Bruce Banner (Edward Norton) is on the run from the US government. His experiments doused with toxic gamma radiation, and he’s been searching for a cure, but without much luck. Unfortunately, he doesn’t stay hidden for long as General Ross (William Hurt) tracks him down to Brazil. In addition to the general, a highly-trained soldier named Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth) is after him, but for different reasons. Turns out Bruce’s experiments caused him to transform into a hulking beast whenever he gets angry. While trying to find a cure, Bruce meets back up with an old flame, Elizabeth Ross (Liv Tyler). Wanting to take on this Hulk, Blonsky wants to undergo the same experiments as Bruce, to become even stronger. Unfortunately, things go wrong and Blonsky turns into a giant abomination that only the Hulk can stop.

    While I have seen the 2003 version of the Hulk, it’s been so long that I honestly don’t remember much. That being said, this version is definitely an improvement over the Ang Lee version, though still not quite there. The first thing to mention is the cast, who all do a fairly good job in their roles. Edward Norton makes for a very likable lead, and he has great chemistry with Liv Tyler. Tim Roth also does a great job as the obsessed Blonsky, determined to get his shot at the Hulk. William Hurt, while not giving an amazing Oscar-worthy performance, still does fine as the stern general. Also, for the most part, much of the CGI holds up here, and it is visually stunning. Director Louis Leterrier really takes advantage of the shooting locations and has tons of sweeping camera shots.

    While we don’t see much of the Hulk until 50 minutes in, it’s still cool when he shows up. Though the action sequences aren’t as memorable as those in Iron Man, there are still some stand-out moments. The biggest action sequences are probably the fight against the military at the college, and the final battle with Abomination. But this movie is more focused on character development than straight-up action, which is welcome but also somewhat disappointing. While the more character-driven scenes aren’t bad and the acting is strong, those scenes tend to drag the movie down. Also, this movies sets up some loose ends that’re never touched upon in any of the subsequent films. Regardless, this is still fairly entertaining early entry and well worth revisiting, even if it is slightly rocky. Overall, while it has its problems, The Incredible Hulk packs enough punch to keep superhero fans entertained.

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  • Iron Man (2008)

    Iron Man (2008)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_video src=”https://youtu.be/0IVb8XnBg0c” _builder_version=”4.17.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_video][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}”]The 1960’s were a time of counter-culture revolution and young people being upset at what the government was doing. With this in mind, comics writer Stan Lee decided to create a superhero that would be the antithesis of this. Taking inspiration from industrialist Howard Hughes, Lee created Anthony “Tony” Stark, who was a multi-billionaire, weapons manufacturer, and womanizer. The idea was to create a character that would be everything the readers hated, and yet still be likable. With scripter Larry Lieber, and artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, Tony Stark, aka Iron Man, was born. He first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 in May 1963, and quickly became one of Marvel’s most popular characters. So, when Kevin Feige decided to create a shared cinematic universe, the first character to be adapted was Iron Man. Cut to 2008, when Jon Favreau directed the first Marvel Cinematic Universe entry, Iron Man.

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    Synopsis

    While in Afghanistan for a weapons demonstration, weapons manufacturer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) is attacked and captured by terrorists. He’s held captive with local doctor Yinsen (Shaun Toub) and ordered to build weapons for the terrorists. Seeing that the terrorists are using weapons his company made, Tony instead to build a suit of armor to escape. With help from Yinsen, he’s able to complete the suit and escape, but at the cost of Yinsen’s life. Once he returns home, Tony decides to stop manufacturing weapons and instead focus on refining his armored suit. With his new suit, Tony decides to go and destroy all of the weapons caches the terrorists have. Unfortunately, this doesn’t settle well for his business partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), who’s been supplying weapons to the terrorists. Stane manages to build his own suit, and Tony has to stop him before it’s too late.

     

    Review

    While on the surface it seems like a giant explosion fest, there’s a much deeper story going on here. When he first meet Tony, he’s self-centered, egotistical, irresponsible, and doesn’t seem to care about anyone other than himself. After his experience in Afghanistan, he returns a changed man who wants to undo his past mistakes. It’s a classic story of redemption that anyone can relate to, helped by Robert Downey Jr’s fantastic performance. Not only is he very charismatic and funny, he also sells the more emotional scenes and really shows his skills. It also helps that he’s supported by a great cast, including Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, and Gwyneth Paltrow. For someone who’s known for playing heroes and chill guys, Bridges is surprisingly intense and frightening as the villain. Paltrow is also quite good here, and she has great chemistry with Downey Jr.

    Of course, a superhero movie wouldn’t be much without some thrilling action, and this one has it in spades. From Tony fighting off terrorists with his initial suit to the final battle with Iron Monger, it’s fun to watch. What helps is that we get to know the character so well that we actually care about the action. Admittedly, the final battle does go into CGI-overkill, but even still, because the characters are well-developed that it’s ok. At the end of the day, this movie shows that even the most self-centered people can change for the better. As the start to a major cinematic universe, this was the best way to get things started. Honestly, other than some dated 2008 references, this movie still holds up even in 2019. Overall, Iron Man works thanks to a strong lead performance, exciting action, and a well-developed story.

     

    Buy Iron Man from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GfIupq.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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  • Hellboy (2019)

    Hellboy (2019)

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    In 1993, comic book writer and artist Mike Mignola introduced the world to Hellboy in San Diego Comic-Con Comics #2. The comics became so popular that a film adaptation was made in 2004 directed by Guillermo del Toro. Starring Ron Perlman in the title role, the film was well-received by critics and a minor box office success. Four years later, a sequel was released entitled Hellboy II: The Golden Army, once again directed by del Toro. Like the previous film, it was well-received critically, even receiving an Oscar nomination, and was a box office hit. Unfortunately, while both films were hits, a third film was, ironically enough, lying in development hell for several more years. While del Toro, Perlman, and everyone else involved were all on-board for a third installment, everything fell through. Ultimately, it was decided to reboot the franchise instead and, in 2019, we have a new Hellboy.

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    Synopsis

    During medieval times, King Arthur dismembers Nimue (Milla Jovovich), a powerful witch who unleashes a deadly plague across the land. The King has her body parts sealed in caskets and has them hidden in various parts of the country. Cut to present time where Hellboy (David Harbour) is taken to the BRPD (Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense). His adopted father Trevor Bruttenholm (Ian McShane) initially tasks him with meeting the Osiris Club and hunting down some giants. There, Hellboy learns about his past: he was found on an island during WWII after being summoned by the Nazis. Soon, the Osiris Club tries to kill Hellboy because it was prophesied that he would bring about the apocalypse. Eventually, they find that Nimue’s remains have been stolen and is being revived. With the help of young Alice (Sasha Lane) and agent Ben Daimio (Daniel Dae Kim), Hellboy must stop her.

     

    Review

    Let me start off by saying that I loved the previous two films, and I’m disappointed there’s won’t be anymore. While I was going into this reboot with low expectations, I wanted to give it a fair shot. Unfortunately, even without comparing it to what came before, this was a huge disappointment and one I cannot recommend. While it’s welcome that this is R-rated as opposed to the previous films being PG-13, that can’t save this film. Even though Perlman is damn near iconic in the role, David Harbour does what he can given the material. Ian McShane is completely wasted, mostly delivering exposition and backstory, and he doesn’t have much chemistry with Harbour. The rest of the cast is pretty forgettable, though Jovovich is clearly having some fun playing an over-the-top villain. Even though there’s some action, there’s no reason to get invested because we’re never given character development.

    While the previous two films mixed practical effects with CGI, this movie is mostly all CGI, and it looks poor. In general, this movie has a very cheap look, even with its $50 million budget. What’s disappointing is that the film’s director, Neil Marshall, has made good movies before, like Dog Soldiers and The Descent. At the time I’m writing this, there are reports coming out about some studio meddling causing much of its problems. You can see how, conceptually, much of this should’ve worked, but, in execution, a lot of it falls flat. For instance, there’s a scene where Hellboy fights off three giants, which sounds awesome, but was done poorly. Ultimately, I’d recommend just staying home and rewatching the first two movies over seeing this. Overall, while there’s some good ideas here and the cast does their best, Hellboy is a very unnecessary reboot.

     

    Buy Hellboy from Amazon: https://amzn.to/4oERQw1.

    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 Hellboy (2019)

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  • Shazam! (2019)

    Shazam! (2019)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}”]Following the success of Superman and Batman, comics publisher Fawcett Publications decided to capitalize on the new trend. In 1939, they commissioned writer Bill Parker and artist Charles Clarence Beck to create a superhero that could rival Superman. The two created the character Captain Marvel, and the character debuted in Whiz Comics #2 in February 1940. He proved so popular that it even outsold Superman, which led DC Comics to file a lawsuit for copyright infringement. Eventually, Fawcett ceased publishing the character in 1953, and the character rights were sold to DC in 1972. Soon, Captain Marvel became a prominent figure in DC Comics, but was renamed to Shazam to avoid trademark conflicts. The first live-action adaptations was a twelve-part serial in 1941, known as Adventures of Captain Marvel. Flashforward to 2019, where a new film adaptation has been released as part of the DC Extended Universe, Shazam!

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    Synopsis

    Young Billy Batson (Asher Angel) has been bouncing around between foster families while searching for his long-lost mother. He ends up moving into a new foster home, where he meets Freddy Freeman (Jack Dylan Grazer), a superhero fan. After defending Freddy from some bullies, Billy gets chased down and eventually outruns them in the subway. While on the subway, Billy is teleported to an ancient realm, where he’s greeted by an old wizard (Djimon Hounsou). The wizard says he’s been searching for a champion to inherit his powers, and he chooses Billy as his champion. By saying the wizard’s name, “Shazam”, Billy is transformed into an adult superhero (Zachary Levi). Soon, Billy aka Shazam is confronted by the villainous Dr. Sivana (Mark Strong), who wants Billy’s powers. Now, Billy has to rise up and find the hero inside himself in order to save the day.

     

    Review

    Without a doubt, this is easily one of the best entries in the DCEU, somewhere between Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Zachary Levi does a great job as Shazam, exhibiting a boyish charm and feeling like a kid in a man’s body. Also, many of the younger actors, including Asher Angel and Jack Dylan Grazer, give great performances. While this is clearly a superhero movie, at its heart, this is a film about family. The scenes with Billy’s foster family are fun and heartwarming without going too overboard and feeling sappy. While Billy and Freddy are given the spotlight, the other kids in the family are given their time to shine. It’s also refreshing to see a more realistic view of what a kid would do if he were given superpowers. Seeing Freddy and Shazam goof off and have fun with his powers is enjoyable and provides plenty of laughs.

    Any complaints I have here are very minimal and really don’t detract from the film overall. While Mark Strong does a great job and has an interesting backstory, the character just falls into standard villain territory. But, that might’ve been intentional as he’s more an obstacle for Billy/Shazam to overcome rather than a compelling villain. That said, this is definitely one of the better superhero movies released lately and is a fun time all around. While the fate of the DCEU is in limbo, given the latest entries, it seems things are picking up. It also helps to have a fun and lighthearted superhero movie to offset the big gamechanger, Avengers: Endgame. I apologize for not having much more to say, but when it’s this enjoyable, it’s hard to say much. Overall, Shazam! is a fun superhero adventure with tons of heart and great characters.

     

    Buy Shazam! on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3NNIMEu.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.

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    Where to watch Shazam! (2019)

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  • Captain Marvel (2019)

    Captain Marvel (2019)

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    In 1967, Marvel introduced the character Dr. Walter Lawson, aka Captain Marvel, in Marvel Super-Heroes #12. Created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan, the character was given his own series in 1968, but without much success. However, in Marvel Super-Heroes #13, a side character named Carol Danvers was introduced, who eventually became the superhero, Ms. Marvel. She was given her own series in 1977 and was considered socially progressive for its time. Over the years, she’s been rebranded and given new names, such as Binary in 1982 and Warbird in 1998. Eventually, Danvers would become the new Captain Marvel in Avenging Spider-Man #9 in 2012, and joined the main Avengers team. Of course, there was another Captain Marvel published by DC, but for obvious reasons, the character was renamed to Shazam. So, with that brief history out of the way, let’s look at the movie version of Captain Marvel.

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    On the planet Hala, Starforce member Veers (Brie Larson) keeps having recurring dreams of a past life on Earth. However, she has no memory of this past life, and she keeps questioning what it all means. She is a member of the Kree, an alien race that is at war with the shapeshifting Skrulls. During a rescue mission, Veers is kidnapped by the Skrulls, who scan through her mind for information. She manages to escape into an escape pod that crash lands on Earth in 1995, specifically in Los Angeles. Her presence attracts the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D agents Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Now being pursued by S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Skrulls, Veers has to track down a Dr. Lawson before the Skrulls do. Over time, she starts to piece back her memories and soon learns that not all is as it seems.

    That’s the basic setup we’re given, but trust me when I say that this movie plays with your expectations. Honestly, I’m shocked at the hate this movie’s getting because I thought it was pretty amazing. While it’s cliche to say every new MCU movie is the best one, this is easily one of the best. First off, major props to Brie Larson, who is funny, charming, instantly likeable, and can throw a punch or two. Plus, the chemistry between her and Samuel L. Jackson is great, as they have some good banter with each other. Speaking of Jackson, the CGI deaging used for him and Gregg is some of the better-looking CGI I’ve seen lately. The rest of the cast does a great job too, especially Annette Bening, Jude Law, and Ben Mendelsohn. Also, Goose the cat easily steals the whole show.

    As with many great MCU movies, the action sequences are a ton of fun, enhanced by some great 90s music. Speaking of, I’m glad that this film didn’t force feed how this is set in the 90s. While there’s some fun 90s references here and there, the main focus is on the story and characters. Beyond the fun action and cute references, this is a very inspiring movie, and it has tons of heart. Our lead is always told to stay down and never fight back, but she keeps getting back up every time. Plus, what makes this stand out from other superhero origins is how different the structure and pacing are. It’s definitely unlike any of the other MCU movies, and I’m excited to see Captain Marvel return in Avengers: Endgame. Overall, Captain Marvel is an entertaining and heartfelt superhero movie and is easily one of the MCU’s best.

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  • Aquaman (2018)

    Aquaman (2018)

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    After the success of Batman and Superman, DC comic book writer and artist Paul Norris and Mort Weisinger created Aquaman. First appearing in More Fun Comics #73 in 1941, Aquaman first gained pop culture fame with the 60s animated series. While he’s one of the founding members of the Justice League, he’s often been the subject of ridicule and jokes. Many simply look at his abilities to breath underwater and communicate with fish, and they don’t go much further. Because of this, future comics tried to reinvent the character to be more brooding and series with less-than-stellar results. He even had a video game in 2003 called Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis, one of the worst games ever made. With the introduction of the DCEU in 2013, the character was reintroduced in Batman v Superman. Played by Jason Momoa, he reappeared in 2017’s Justice League before getting his own movie.

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    During a thunderstorm, lighthouse keeper Thomas Curry (Temuera Morrison) rescues a woman who’s washed up on shore. After being restored to health, she reveals herself as Atlanna (Nicole Kidman), a princess from Atlantis fleeing an arranged marriage. They fall in love and have a son together named Arthur, but she is soon forced to return to Atlantis. Years later, Arthur (Jason Momoa) has grown up to become Aquaman, who recently joined up with the Justice League. He’s visited by Mera (Amber Heard), who warns him about his brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) and his plans. Orm is planning to start a war against the surface world, and only by becoming king can Arthur stop him. While reluctant initially, Arthur agrees and they visit Vulko (Willem Dafoe), who tells them to find the Trident of Atlan. With time running out, the two must find the trident and stop Orm before becoming Oceanmaster.

    While I am generally a fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, much of the DC Universe has been very underwhelming. Man of Steel was mediocre, Batman v Superman was dreadful, Suicide Squad was a mess, and Justice League was meh. However, 2017’s Wonder Woman was surprisingly good if somewhat flawed, so things seemed to be looking up. Much like Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa was one of the better elements of the movies, especially in Justice League. And just like her, his spinoff movie is easily one of the best entries in this series. This movie has an overall sense of fun and they take full advantage of just how ridiculous the premise is. At times, it feels like a live-action 80s Saturday morning cartoon, even with the casting of Dolph Lundgren. The big battle sequence in the last act perfectly emphasizes how over-the-top this is.

    Jason Momoa, much like in Justice League, is easily the best part of the movie, thanks to his overwhelming charisma. Amber Heard, who was a nothing character in Justice League, is much improved here and given more to work with. Patrick Wilson makes for a great villain, and he even has his moment of redemption towards the end. The rest of the cast, including Kidman, Dafoe, and Lundgren, all do their jobs well and make this more grandiose. James Wan, primarily known for horror films like Insidious and The Conjuring, directs the film well and has great ambition. If there are any flaws, the runtime could be much shorter and the pacing is a bit messy. Also, sometimes it can be hard to keep track of what’s going on with all the exposition and backstories. Despite those flaws, Aquaman a fun superhero adventure that does the character justice.

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  • Bumblebee (2018)

    Bumblebee (2018)

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    In the early 80s, the Japanese toy company Takara produced a line of transforming robot toys, namely Diaclone and Microman. Fresh off the success of the G.I. Joe toyline, the American toy company Hasbro purchased the rights to the toyline. Along with the new toyline, which they dubbed Transformers, there was a Marvel comics series and a cartoon show. The toys became insanely popular thanks in part to the animated series, which even spawned a theatrical film in 1986. Overtime, new toy lines were introduced and various tie-in animated series were created, but there never was another movie. Then, in 2007, Paramount hired director Michael Bay to helm the first live-action Transformers movie, which became a massive success. This led to four sequels, each one costing more than the last and making millions at the box office. However, with the franchise losing steam, we’ve been given a new spin-off, Bumblebee.

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    On the planet Cybertron, the evil Decepticons have all but won as the heroic Autobots lead a resistance force. During a particularly intense battle, Autobot leader Optimus Prime orders his fellow Autobots to escape and establish an off-world base. One of these Autobots, dubbed B-127, is sent to the planet Earth, where he first meets Agent Burns (John Cena). Burns’ men start firing on B-127, believing him to be a threat, leading to a fight with the Decepticon Blitzwing. B-127 manages to defeat him, but loses his speaking ability in the process, and he soon collapses, his memory fading. We soon meet teenager Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld), a car enthusiast who is recovering from her dad’s death. For her 18th birthday, she gets an old VW Bug from a junkyard, only to find it’s B-127. Dubbing him Bumblebee, she must protect him from the military and two Decepticons hunting him.

    When the first live-action movie came out in 2007, I enjoyed it for what is was, despite some dumb moments. As the sequels came one after another, the series just got worse and worse, and hope seemed lost. They were too long, the Transformers took a backseat to the worst human characters ever, and the humor was cringe-inducing. I had all but given up all hope on there being a decent live-action Transformers movie, until this came out. After several loud, bombastic, and confusing failures, this is the breath of fresh air the series so desperately needed. Instead of over-complicating things and having so many characters that look so similar, this one drastically simplifies things. Plus, the robots have a very distinctive look, are distinguishable from one another, and have their own unique personalities. From the opening scenes on Cybertron, it felt like the live-action Transformers movie everybody wanted.

    What also helps is that the human characters are both likable and better acted than the previous films. Hailee Steinfeld does a great job in the lead, and her scenes with Bumblebee are both fun and touching. John Cena, while a villain, is still understandable in his actions and eventually realizes the error of his ways. The two main Decepticons, Shatter (Angela Bassett) and Dropkick (Justin Theroux), make for great villains and are insanely ruthless. Unless the previous films, the action sequences are pulled back enough to where you can see what’s happening. But as good as the action sequences, what really makes this movie so special is how much heart it has. The only major flaw here is that it borrows probably too much like ET and has almost the same plot. Aside from that, Bumblebee is easily the best Transformers movie since the ’86 original.

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  • Commando (1985)

    Commando (1985)

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    In the 1980s, Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the biggest and most iconic action stars of the decade. His first claim to fame was as a bodybuilder in the 60s and 70s, becoming Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia. He first got into acting in the 1969 comedy Hercules in New York, where he was credited as “Arnold Strong.” Unfortunately, the film didn’t do much for his career, and he mostly took smaller roles in the 1970s. However, Arnold soon became a superstar with the release of the 1982 sword and sorcery epic, Conan the Barbarian. While the sequel Conan the Destroyer didn’t go over well, he rebounded with the more well-received The Terminator. Arnold was soon rising to superstardom, even being considered Sylvester Stallone’s rival throughout the rest of the 80s. Then in 1985, Arnold practically became an action movie icon with the release of the action extravaganza, Commando.

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    The film opens on a montage where several guys are being killed off one-by-one by a group of mercenaries. We soon meet former Special Forces Colonel John Matrix (Schwarzenegger) living in the mountains with his daughter Jenny (Alyssa Milano). He’s visited by his former superior, Major General Kirby (James Olson), who comes with some bad news. Turns out the men killed earlier were part of John’s former unit, and Kirby has soldiers placed around Matrix’s home. Unfortunately, things go south fast when the mercenaries storm the house, kidnap Jenny, and knock out John. John wakes up to the mercenaries’ leader Arius (Dan Hedaya) who wants him to kill the president of Val Verde. Realizing that they’ll kills Jenny no matter what, Matrix decides to go after Arius and his men. Along with flight attendant Cindy (Rae Dawn Chong), John fights his way through the mercenaries to rescue his daughter.

    This movie is a blast to watch, so long as you don’t think too hard about the plot. It’s a full-on cavalcade of gunfights, explosions, slimy characters, iconic one-liners, and 80s machismo that just emanates from the screen. Arnold is practically an action movie god here, spouting off one-liners like nobody’s business and just mowing down bad guys. What separates Arnold from other action stars like Stallone and Norris is that he clearly is in on the joke. He knows the movie he’s in is ridiculous, and he’s just having a blast and making the most of it. The rest of the cast does an admirable job, Alyssa Milano and Rae Dawn Chong doing well despite their roles. In any another movie, they would come across as stereotypical and annoying, but here, they hold their own very well. Plus, be sure to look for a small appearance from Bill Paxton.

    But what’s a great action movie without an awesome villain for the hero to go up against? Here, we have a great selection of some of the best working character actors for the villains. There’s Bill Duke, who Schwarzenegger would rejoin in Predator two years later as a member of his team of commandos. Then there’s David Patrick Kelly, who’s just as slimy and sleazy as usual, and gets a great death scene. Dan Hedaya does a decent job as the leader, but it’s really Vernon Wells as Bennet who steals the show. He absolutely dominates the film and his fight scene with Schwarzenegger towards the end is easily the highlight. As I mentioned before, the movie is pretty mindless, but it’s enjoyable mindless as opposed to being just stupidly mindless. In summation, Commando is the kind of action film that’ll put you in a good mood.

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