Spider-Man:Far From Home – The Review

Spider-Man in the advanced Spider suit
4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

Spider-Man:Far From Home picks up immediately where Avengers:Endgame leaves off and serves a great jumping on point for those who are interested in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The premise

Peter Parker is trying to get back into the swing of High School after the death of his mentor Tony Stark and hopefully begin a relationship with MJ. In pure Parker fashion his plans are disrupted when series of monsters interrupt his plans during a class European trip and the arrival of a new entity arrives called Mysterio who is here to lend a helping hand.

The payoff

This movie does an amazing job of balancing the High School aspects of Peters life and Spider-Man. It continues to build the world of Spider-Man as a self-contained entity and a component of the larger MCU landscape. Jake Gyllenhaal plays an amazing Mysterio. I am not one to demand that characters are directly translated from the comic books, but this portrayal and representation is near accurate. The stakes feel high as the wrong moves would cost Spider-Man a great deal in this movie. He is growing up and he has to own the responsibility the comes with the power.

The fan service

There is a ton of fan service; however, the movie does a great job of explaining the current landscape. That in some ways could be its one weakness, but it is a small one. Considering that there are twenty-two movies that come before it, it helps that this one provides a recap for new viewers. You will be rewarded for sticking with the MCU since the beginning as always.

In the end

Spider-Man:Far From Home is an amazing movie. It has a great mixture of laughs and action. It is one of the best Spider-Man movies that have come out on film and I say that as a compliment to its predecessors. This movie is worth seeing and taking the family with you. I know I will see it a couple of times while it is in the theatres. Make sure you stay for the end credits scenes as well, there are two of them and they are amazing!

X-Men:Dark Phoenix – Going on with a whimper

Jean Grey as the Dark Phoenix
2.5 out of 5 stars (2.5 / 5)

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.

Avengers: Infinity War – A comical Minds Review

Avengers Infinity War Characters

The quick snapshot of Infinity War

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

  • A start to finish ride of excitement and emotions
  • 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!

Comical Minds Podcast #1: Black Panther Soundtrack and Killmonger

The Black Panther

Talking Soundtrack and Movie on the Black Panther

The first podcast takes a first non spoiler path into the inner workings of the Black Panther movie as we interpret the soundtrack and how the music vibes with the actual movie. Can you get a sense of what to expect just by listening to the music? Take a listen to our initial take on things.

The next cast

Our next cast will go into Spoiler territory as we talk about the meta content contained within the movie and discuss the impact the combination of music and film has on the overall experience.

Question of the Day

We are going to discuss this in the next Podcast, but what was your take on Killmonger? Was he a great Antagonist or was his ambition too righteous to be considered a proper conflict for the film?

Movie Review: The Black Panther

The Black Panther

4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

Synopsis

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.

#WakandaForever

 

Quick thoughts on Ant-Man and The Wasp

Antman and Wasp

Initial thoughts on Ant-Man and the Wasp

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.

Creating a Cinematic Universe

Cinematic Universe

I came across a site speaking about the difficulty of creating a cinematic universe and I began thinking about what it would take to put one together. I spoke a bit about it in my post about fixing the DCEU, but this time I want to make things more generic. Simply having characters appear in different movies doesn’t mean you have a cinematic universe. With that being said, here are seven things needed to have a cinematic universe:

1. Pick the right Cinematic Universe

This is not simply about creating movies with individual characters from a team. This is the glue that binds the movies together. Here is an example. In the Tarantinoverse the movies are connected through side characters, siblings, advertisements, and events. Some of these are subtle and doesn’t add to the overall theme of movies, but they are connected dots. This would be a loosely connected universe. Tightly connected cinematic universes would have a similar plot that flows through the main universe thread.

2. Do not force the connections

One of the major flaws in Universal’s Dark Universe revival was the fact that they came out the gate announcing it is a cinematic universe. There are even promo pictures released with characters we may or may not see in film. Yes, The Dark Universe is one of the original cinematic universes, but forcing it into the medium for today is a foolish move. Fans began to tear into the Mummy the moment the announcement was made. I am not suggesting that the criticism wasn’t justified, but I imagine if the movie was allowed to stand on its own it might have flown somewhat under the radar.

3. Make sure each movie can stand on its own.

This is highly dependent on which cinematic universe you choose to use. You do not want the audience to need to watch movies in a particular order. It should be a treat not a chore. The way this is accomplished is by making sure the individual movies stand on their own. For instance, could you jump right in and watch the Avengers? Yes, you can. You would definitely have questions, but none that would disrupt your experience in watching that film.

4. Remember what occurred in the previous films

This is extremely important if you plan to have the cinematic universe tightly connected. Characters are expected to develop, but it is key that you remember what those developments are. A character who is on top of their game in one movie can’t be an bumbling fool in the one following it chronologically. It must make sense; otherwise, the entire character thread becomes a waste.

5. Reward the fans for sticking with you

This can be done several ways, but here is pretty cool example to demonstrate what I mean with this one. There is a scene in Captain America: The Winter Soldier where Jason Sitwell is speaking with Senator Stern. The senator reveals that he is an agent of Hydra in that scene. The takeaway is two-fold. One would say, “Oh crap Hydra is in the senate”, if this is the only movie you saw, but if you saw Iron Man 2, you would also say,”Oh, that is why Stern was treating Tony that way”. It is a simple nod, but very rewarding.

6. Stick to the story being told

Fans will want every character to have their own movie once they know you are creating a cinematic universe. The challenge is to avoid the pressure and stick to the story. Remember that a character or group should have their own movie if, and only if, there is information about the character that requires its own movie to tell. How will the world develop by introducing this character? Marvel’s Iron Fist didn’t garner the same acclaim as the others because there was no new information about the world that came out of it. This is not the case for universes that are not tightly connected; however, main threads rules in that universe must remain true.

7. Have fun

It should feel like it is fun making movies in the cinematic universe. Actors and Actresses will be asked to do a lot to make the universe work and if they aren’t happy, the movies won’t be good. This does not mean that everyone gets their way, but the full vision should be known to them. Avoid telling everything in a press release because that only builds unnecessary expectations. An element of the universe needs to remain organic just in case changes have to be made. In the end, be satisfied with the story you have.

What do you think? Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!

 

Examples of true character development

The Captain and the Bat

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.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi – An Opinionated Review

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

The eighth movie in the core Star Wars series and ninth movie overall. The Last Jedi continues the story of Rey as she tries to discover who she really is and how she fits in this new world. Meanwhile, The First Order presses their assault on the rebellion who has lost a lot in the previous battles. How did this movie do? Here’s an opinionated review.

The Quick Look

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5)

The Good: Great story and daring evolution of characters.

The Bad: The second half is a bit slow.

The Ugly: Snoke is one ugly dude!

Recommendation: Wait? You haven’t seen this movie yet?!? Stop everything and go see it!

Synopsis

Picking up right where The Force Awakens left off, Rey approaches Luke Skywalker on the island home of the first Jedi temple; however, what she finds is not what she expects. Rey learns more about what happened to Luke through her encounters with him. Once Luke realizes how special Rey is he cautiously trains her as he notes that he has only encountered a power that strong once before and is now afraid of it. In his mind, he should be the last Jedi. Meanwhile, the rebellion wins another battle against the First Order, but at too great a cost, leaving them depleted and on the run.

The first order traps the rebellion and plays a cat and mouse game with them. Rey gathers enough information to determine that the best way to beat the First Order to turn Kylo Ren to the light. Finn and Poe Dameron continue to help the rebellion by doing what it takes. They both learn hard lessons throughout their journey to defeat the First Order. All the players converged on the battlefield in an epic fight that saw lines drawn and roles defined. Luke receives one more lesson from the force and provides a beacon of light for the rebellion and resistance overall.

Review

I have a simple belief when it comes to all things media, Tell a good story and I will be hooked! The Last Jedi tells an excellent story that continues to bridge the gap between the old characters and the new. Snoke is a great villain. He is twisted by the dark side, but never fully committing to the Sith. It is apparent that the old principles of the Sith are no more.

All characters have a moment to shine without overshadowing the conflict that sits within Rey and Ben Solo. Both are challenged in their way of thinking and are posed with figuring out if the path they are on is the right one. This movie captures the feel of the original trilogy by focusing more on war in the stars, rather than overindulging on the light saber battles. The conflict feels organic with shades of distrust in the rebellion being brought up again as displayed in Rogue One.

There is a lot of death and tragedy in this movie. Victories are hard fought and it is felt throughout the entire movie. I found myself on the edge of my seat a couple of times. Just when you think something is about to happen, the movie takes a turn. If you are a fan of film, you will enjoy this movie.

Shining moment

There are three:

  • Rey’s encounter with Snoke.
  • Luke’s character progression.
  • Finn’s realization of the truth behind the war

 

 

The Deal is Made! Disney acquires 21st Century Fox

Disney acquires Fox

Weeks of waiting have finally come to an end with the news that Disney has a reached a deal with 21st Century Fox. $52 Billion is what it took for Disney to acquire 21st Century Fox. Should we be happy? I will tell you why I am.

The Deal with Fox

Disney is acquiring the following assets from Fox:

  • Fox Film and TV Studios
  • Fox Television, including FX
  • Regional Sports Networks
  • Majority stake in Hulu
  • Star and Sky channels
  • National Geographic

It is understandable that you are beginning to hear people talk about the fact that Disney is becoming too powerful, but there is also chatter about Disney destroying the brand of some of the assets. For that I say bull! Disney currently owns, ABC, ESPN, Freeform, LucasFilms, Maker Studios, Marvel Entertainment, Miramax, the Muppets, and Pixar. Did you know that? Think about the content that is played on those forms of media. Does it all fit the “Disney brand”? Didn’t think so. That is right, all that Shondra tv raciness is on a station that is owned by Disney.

Why this is a good move

If it is one thing that Disney respects more than anything else is branding. If Disney wanted to destroy a brand it would have done so already in many ways. That is what not happens, far from it. Let’s take Marvel Entertainment for instance, Marvel Comics, their television shows, comic books, and movies all have their own brand that is separate from that of the Disney brand. You don’t see Mickey Mouse hanging around ESPN when they deliver sports. Disney will take care of the brand that is truly Fox related, but anything that needs to go to a proper location will do so. Case in point, the X-Men and Fantastic Four.

What will happen now

I expect Disney will do the following:

  • Form another television group to include Fox Television and FX, or merge that into the current Disney-ABC Television Group
  • Move all of the Marvel assets under the Marvel Entertainment umbrella
  • Utilize Hulu to become the streaming vehicle for all programming under the Disney Umbrella

This will allow each group to maintain its brand while providing a means for Disney to continue its normal programming through its normal channels.

Is there anything to be concerned about

There are things to worry about with any acquisition. There may be show creators who decide to not be a part of the Disney umbrella and leave. Some shows may get discontinued due to lower ratings per the Disney standard. Content will undoubtedly get moved to another location, which will make the consumer decide on switching. All that being said, the track record for Disney allows me to be calm and trust they will do the right thing with the newly acquired assets.

At this point all we can do is wait and see. As consumers we always reserve the right voice our concerns and based on experience, Disney will actually listen.