X-Men: Dark Phoenix is the best example of a movie that suffers from an improper title and sloppy direction. The X-Men are now in 1992 now with a favorable view in the world and a mission places Jean Grey in contact with a force that imbues her with cosmic powers, or does it? See, the movie doesn’t really know.
An sloppy timeline
The break down begins almost at the beginning as the events take place in 1975, two years after the events of Days of future past and yet Professor Xavier is not behaving as a mutant who is in full control of his abilities. We are provided information that Jean has latent abilities that she has difficulties controlling and its not until exposure to the “force” that she begins to act out. She already did that in X-Men: Apocalypse! Tension is manufactured to move the plot forward and characters are introduced with no exposition as to why.
The lesson of continuity
The X-Men franchise rebooted their timeline to fix continuity so they could have stretched out this story to provide the proper vision, or not tell it at all. There is a lot of potential in a story where a mutant is not in control of their powers and the X-Men are in turmoil with how to address that. The segments where Hank, Erik and Charles respectively called back to their past worked because it showed an authentic thread of growth. Simply slapping a title on something for fan service and being messy with the timeline to get there will no longer work.
In the end
The Dark Phoenix wasn’t even dark. It was more sad. This was not the way to end the X-Men franchise, but I do take solace in knowing that Marvel has the franchise proper now. I await to see what happens next.
A thank you to those who have watched since the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
A great mixture of introductions for the characters
One of the better villains in cinema
The Time has come to Assemble the Stones
Avengers: Infinity War bar none is an excellent movie! There really is no way around it. From the moment Tony Stark announced to the world that he was Iron Man we were awaiting this moment. We knew it was going to be epic when caught a glimpse of Thanos at the end of Avengers, but we had no idea how epic it would be. War has come to the Avengers and all the decisions and mistakes that were made have finally caught up to them.
The Story
The story is very simple as the build up has been traced through several of the previous movies. The story here is to stop Thanos from collecting all six of the Infinity Stones. If he gets them he will wipe out half of the Universe. This is not a spoiler so don’t roll your eyes, it was in the trailer. This is all the story you need. I will warn you; however, do not go see this move as your first venture into the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
You need to see the following movies first to truly appreciate this film:
Iron Man
Captain America: The First Avenger
Thor
The Avengers
Thor: The Dark World
The Guardians of the Galaxy
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Captain America: Civil War
The Black Panther
Thor: Ragnarok
The Heroes
Each character has their own moment to shine in this film. It is amazing how the Russo Brothers are able to make the characters meld and mold so fluidly. Part of their magic is that they do not force friendships on groups. It is fun seeing the different dynamics between people in and out of battle. Watching Dr. Strange interact with Tony Stark is just as fun as seeing Thor interact with the Guardians of the Galaxy. You are reminded quickly that plot elements from past movies are still in play because this is a not simply a cinematic universe, but a connected universe. It goes without saying that care was taken into remembering open plot threads and closing them where they could.
The Villains
It has always been my opinion that the “villain” problem in movies is because Hollywood believes that villains have to be laughing lunatics hell bent on telling jokes or being insane to be plausible. There was none of that here. Thanos and the Black Glove had a purpose for every action they took and the stakes were never at their highest. There were moment where chills went up my spine when seeing Thanos deal with the Avengers.
The Final Verdict
This movie is worth seeing and worth your silence so that others have a chance to see it and enjoy. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has unfolded for 10 years and this represents the culmination of that Universe. Enjoy!
An excellent movie that introduces the world of Wakanda to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and how the Black Panther will continue to be a key figure in future events.
Story
The Black Panther is set immediately after Captain America: Civil War and tells the tale of T’Challa, new King of Wakanda, as he learns what it means to hold the throne. We are introduced to the world of Wakanda and gain insight into the intricacies that make up the thriving nation. We realize that while T’Challa’s birthright is the throne, he must earn it through a right of passage that garners him acceptance of the people to become their king. We are also introduces to Eric Killmonger an American Black Ops soldier with a score to settle with the nation of Wakanda. He wants to start a revolution and see the resources Wakanda has as the means to obtain it.
The story concludes with both a physical and philosophical battle in which Wakanda grows as a nation and is ready to begin being an active participant in assisting with the protection of the planet.
Black Panther Review
It is equally important to not get caught up in the hype that certain movies bring. The Black Panther is one movie that lives up to the expectations and then some. Here are the ways you can digest this movie:
If you are looking for a movie that depicts women in a positive light, you found it.
If you are looking for a movie that displays strong yet humble figures, you found it.
If you are simply looking for another marvel film that moves the main story, you found it.
If you are looking for a movie that will allow you to think about the motivations behind the characters, you found it.
The excitement starts at the opening credits and every scene is deliberate. Each character puts their heart into the characters and you can feel as if the acting stopped and they were being themselves.
Who stole the show?
This is a tough one. Every character had their moments, but there were two that really did it for me:
1. Eric Killmonger: To call him a villain is to not understand him. He had a differing perspective, but not one that was completely foreign to Wakanda. Yes, he had his own ambitions, but at the end of the day he was completing his father’s plan. Not dissimilar from T’Challa.
2. Okoye: She was pure in every sense of the word. You felt the commanding power in her words as well as her actions. I was hoping see more of her on the screen and was excited every time.
Final Thoughts
This is a movie that is worth seeing at least once. I will be seeing it more than once myself. It has the elements that make it a Marvel movie while presenting a story that has something for everyone.
I received a message this morning that Marvel released the first trailer to Ant-Man and the Wasp. I needed a moment to actually watch it as I enjoyed the original, but still a bit skeptical as to how this movie would work. Take a moment to watch the trailer below and then I’ll share my thoughts.
A doubter no more!
This trailer was well done and makes me excited to see the movie. I am not aware of much, but what it does show you is pretty good. There is a nice blend of comedy and action, which is a staple for Ant-Man now. What I especially appreciated were the following:
The acknowledgement of Civil War and the direct fallout for Ant-Man. This is further evidence that things didn’t just magically right itself afterwards
It seems like Wasp has been active for sometime based on the initial convo, which is good. No need for an origin story on her getting used to the Wasp suit.
Hank Pym having a bit more screen time. I actually appreciate Dr. Pym as a character so seeing more of him is ok in my book
This is not a continuation of the main Marvel theme. The will be released in between Infinity War 1 and 2, but it doesn’t seem to have major correlations. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
In the end, I am amazed at how Marvel Studios can take these properties and keep you interested. I really enjoyed how they emphasized the grace that Wasp when manipulating her height while Ant-Man is more brute force. It really shows the different styles.
Remember, this is the first trailer though and as such I am not over hyping anything. Initial thoughts are that this will be a fun movie and it will not disappoint those who are fans of Ant-Man.
I have been thinking about what it takes to create true character development after discussions about recent movies and I know of two characters that are perfect examples. This post is about Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and the Captain America trilogy. It is amazing how similar the beat patterns in the movies, but that is what makes them excellent trilogies. Note that I am not trying to pit them against one another. I enjoy both trilogies equally.
Character Development the right way
A character goes through true development when the audience can understand their motivation. Batman is driven by the loss of his parents, which drives him to eradicate crime. Captain America is driven by the desire to stop the Nazi’s and protect the little guy from bullies. Both Batman and Captain America are taken to the brink, mentally and physically, in their journeys. Both characters grow and change throughout the course of their respective trilogies and you are able to see their perspective change. This is the definition of character development. Characters who are one dimensional are good for the short term, but is never able to capture a monumental spark.
How are the trilogies similar?
Consider the following:
Bruce Wayne and Steve Rogers faces tragedy that changes them fundamentally
They both train to become who they are destined to be. Bruce joins the League of Shadows and Steve joins the Army
They create symbols to embody their mission.
They undertake huge sacrifices for betterment of others
Their beliefs are questioned by their opposite, The Joker and Winter Soldier respectively.
They realize that their sacrifices ultimately meant nothing
They give up their symbols
Lessons learned from these movies
Christopher Nolan took major risks in his trilogy of Batman. It is not often that we see a Batman that is flawed and making mistakes, but that was a part of the trilogy. Bruce did not want the burden of being Batman forever. He knew he was going to give up the mantle once his heir presented himself. Batman is not typically portrayed as vulnerable, but we accepted it without question in this trilogy.
Captain America went from being the star-spangled hero, to the destroyer of SHIELD and ultimately a war criminal. It is true that his story is part of a larger narrative; however, his trilogy is the best of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Risks were taken to deconstruct his character in such a way that would make him vulnerable as well.
It is no surprise that The Dark Knight and Captain America: The Winter Soldier are both viewed as excellent sequels and overall films. The key is not to be afraid to explore the characters from all aspects. They must grow mentally and physically. Also, it is important to put the right opponent in front of them to make things meaningful. Just because a villain is cool in one medium does not mean it works in others, Im looking at you venom! My suggestion for anyone wondering what it means to have great character development is to study these movies.
By now we are all aware that Disney is in talks with Fox to acquire its studio and television assets. Many people are excited about the fact that the X-Men will now be in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I am more excited for the appearance of Doctor Doom.
Just who is Doctor Doom?
Victor von Doom was tortured in his early life when Mephisto killed his mother. His father died soon after that. Doom was so obsessed with the thought of saving his mother that he studied science and magic to beat Mephisto. Reed Richards and Ben Grimm met Doom while at State University. Doom ignored a warning from Reed Richards out of arrogance and his face was scarred after the project exploded during a trial. Doctor Doom returned to Latveria, scarred and embarassed, determined to attain the power he truly wanted.
Doom in the Cinematic World
If I had to choose the biggest misstep in 21st Century Fox’s portrayal of the Marvel Characters it would Doctor Doom. The reason for this very simple. Movies play to specific archetypes in order to establish a sense of comfort with the audience. For instance, the villains in comic book movies tend to move towards an over the top, spectacle of a campaign to cause destruction. There are some exceptions to the rule, but you can almost tell when a writer or director has no idea of who the character is when you see this representation.
Doom is not an over the top cackling fool who cracks jokes and fawns over a woman. Doom simply wants power and believes he is superior to all who appears before him.
Portraying Doctor Doom with Respect
Doctor Doom is as much a Marvel villain as he is a Fantastic Four Villain. Consider that Doctor Doom:
rules Latveria.
Is rivaled only by Reed Richards in terms of intelligence.
Has been considered for the title of Sorcerer Supreme.
Has Diplomatic Immunity.
Comparatively has similar results as a ruler like the Black Panther.
Is able to go toe to toe with the strongest in the Marvel Universe.
It is clear to see that depictions of Doom as a rich business tycoon or lab assistant bent on destruction because of a broken heart is insulting. This is not to say by any means that the movies have must portray Doom exactly like the comics, but there is much more that can be done.
How Marvel should introduce Doom
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an established world with known characters and sub-characters that we understand as an audience. This makes it very easy to introduce Doctor Doom into this world. The way I would approach it is through the Black Panther.
King T’Challa will meet the new ruler of Latveria, Victor Von Doom, as both would have a seat in the United Nations. Doom would realize that the magical artifact he seeks is currently sitting in Wakanda. T’Challa of course would forbid anyone from just coming onto his land and so eventually Black Panther would square off against what he believes to be Doctor Doom. Black Panther would win but discovers what he was fighting was nothing more than a Doom Bot, orchestrated to learn more about the land and vulnerabilities. Doom stole what he needed from the Black Panther during the battle.
This movie ends with the introduction of the Fantastic Four as T’Challa expresses a set back in scientific discovery with his science team who just happens to be collaborating their United States counterparts who resides in the Baxter Building.
I will be excited to see Disney acquire Fox Studios and happier to see Doctor Doom in the MCU. It would be about time!
(2.5 / 5)
(4.5 / 5)
