Bumblebee - Review: For better and for worse, this film takes you back to the '80s for a charming, surprisingly small-scale adventure

Bumblebee - Review: For better and for worse, this film takes you back to the '80s for a charming, surprisingly small-scale adventure

Release date (US): December 21st, 2018

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Dylan O'Brien, Peter Cullen, John Lendeborg Jr., John Ortiz, Angela Bassett, Justin Theroux

**DISCLAIMER**: This is a subjective, opinionated article that does not have, nor should have any affect on your opinion. As such, my opinion is entitled to change over time and whatever is written here at this point in time may not and should not be held to me in the future. You are not meant to agree with me 100 percent of the time, because the nature of subjectivity is we see everything differently. If there is something you happen to disagree with, I absolutely respect your point of view if you will respect mine. Please keep this in mind. 

The Review

To be clear right from the start, I had zero investment in the Transformers franchise. I had never seen a Transformers film, not in its entirety at the very least. But I had things about the Michael Bay-led series. And very few of it was good. The reviews hailed the Transformers films as some of the worst ever, for its poor use of characters, Transformers mythology, terrible humor, mediocre action, and terrible plot. But, as it turned out, the films made money. A few of them did reach the billion dollar threshold, thanks in large part to overseas markets, which constituted more of the same kind of movie to make that same kind of money again. 

But profits began to dip ever so slightly, until it came to a point with Transformers: The Lsat Knight that the studio realized they couldn't be doing this anymore. They couldn't be churning out poor quality films like this, because people were starting to buy into them less and less. So, they did the only reasonable thing: they got rid of the problem in Michael Bay (mostly - he's still a producer) and replaced with more critically acclaimed Travis Knight, and rebooted, or at least soft rebooted, sending the franchise back into the '80s.

All this to let you know; I had zero investment in this franchise, but I had all this information stored before watching the film. This film had been hailed as one of the best in the franchise. So I went in blank, not knowing what I should be expecting from a film like this.

And despite a slow beginning, the film managed to charm me. The word "charmed" really manages to encapsulate my feelings about this film. It was much smaller in scale than I had originally imagined, and while the film opens with a bang, the smaller-scale tone kicks in about thirty minutes in and doesn't let go.

That's what Travis Knight gets right about the film. It's not a film about explosions and actions. And yes, while the film does have enough of those, it really isn't the most important part, which is surprising because of what I've heard about the franchise to begin with. Knight really takes time and effort to get the relationships, at least between Bumblebee and Hailee Steinfeld's Charlie, right and authentic. And for the most part, their relationship works. While the ending didn't pack as emotional of a punch as I had originally imagined, I was pleasantly surprised as to the amount of pain and heart they were able to wring out of an Autobot that couldn't talk for the majority of the film.

But as mentioned in the title, the film does indeed take place in 1987, and with that, come an abundance of '80s references. Throughout the movie, I was heavily conflicted as to whether I bought into how much the characters were alluding to the time period. Sometimes it really worked; for example, people were mentioning Russia a few times, which would make complete sense seeing as 1987 was the end of the Cold War. At the same time, although I understand that Bumblebee talks through music, the amount of '80s music does wear on you a little bit. Perhaps it's just me, having not lived in that era, but I didn't quite buy into it. 

However, it was consistent. It almost never used the music arbitrarily, like films like Suicide Squad or Aquaman. Films like Guardians of the Galaxy use the music in an organic way, through Peter Quill and his music players. This film does much of the same. Charlie is an avid music fan, and it's actually fairly integral to her backstory, which again goes to humanize her even more. A bit of time is spent on developing Charlie as a character, and a lot of it works really well. I really appreciate when a film takes the time to develop the lead character. She has a backstory, she has some motivations, and she has some reason for being able to connect with Bumblebee. 

And to the movie's credit, going with the theme of consistency, the film picks a supporting cast that, while not being the best actors, fill in their roles as needed. Can John Cena act? After watching this film, I'm still not quite sure. The movie wrote a role for him that perfectly fit his personality and his acting ability, so he was able to roll with it. That being said, the particular role he was given was not particularly interesting or inspiring. It's a very typical kind of character that you'd see in these kinds of movies, but Cena plays it as well as he can.

Charlie family surprisingly get a large amount of screen time as well. Here's what I will say about them. I liked how they tried to make it a realistic feel with the family. The film and the script tried to paint the family as one that's just "trying to get along" and just a normal, everyday kind of family. There are moments where you really see that, and you see the conflict in Charlie. She doesn't want to be a part of this family. But there are other times where characters, especially the mom, and at the end the dad, do some ridiculous things and say some ridiculous things. It's one thing to embrace the cheese and the '80s nature of the film, which I completely respect. And in the film, if you're caught in the moment, which for the most part I was, you totally buy it. But after walking out of the film, when I was really thinking about it, I began to see how some of the parts didn't work quite as well as others. 

But of course, no matter how small-scale the film is, it wouldn't be a Transformers film without the action. I will say that the film opens with a bang. I absolutely loved the first ten minutes. Granted, the first ten minutes clashed pretty terribly with the rest of the film, but I enjoyed both parts equally that it didn't bother me as much. The first ten minutes sets up a world on Cybertron that you really buy into, and the CGI is excellent. It's superb. The way the Autobots and the Decepticons move is so fluid, and the way they transform just seems so natural. 

The third act is more action-packed than you would think as well, but not in an unexpected way. The final fight devolves into the typical "blockbuster" third act, which is hard to avoid in a film like this. The fighting itself was rather generic and the goal for the heroes has been seen and done so many times. But what I liked about this film was the heart. Knight never lets go. Throughout the entire final thirty minutes, the movie is purely centered around Bee and Charlie. Of course, there are evil Decepticons trying to take over the world, that's fine. But even to the last minute, Bumblebee is trying to protect Charlie. 

In Conclusion: In reality, the film is centered around two characters, and that's okay. Unlike the previous five Transformers films, which had an overabundance of characters, this one takes a step back and focuses on a relationship. It's essentially a character study. Influenced heavily by films like E.T., the film takes great care to make the characters feel real, and it really works. Perhaps the film is a little too stuck in the '80s, but the sooner you can buy that, the sooner you can enjoy this film. The film has action, it has laughs, and it has great visuals, but above all, it has heart. 

Details on Carrie Fisher's Role in Episode IX

Details on Carrie Fisher's Role in Episode IX

Episode IX is coming out in just under a year. With the passing of Carrie Fisher being commemorated as it took place two years ago, her brother has provided some insight on what her character will be used in the upcoming JJ Abram's film. According to her brother:

“There’s a lot of minutes of footage. I don’t mean just outtakes. This is unused, new content that could be woven into the storyline. That’s what’s going to give everybody such a great kick. It’s going to look like it was meant to be. Like it was shot yesterday.” 

Top Ten #21 - Top Ten X-Men Characters (Movies) Ranked

Top Ten #21 - Top Ten X-Men Characters (Movies) Ranked

The X-Men universe is about to head back to Disney in just a few short months. So while we wait for the characters to come home where they belong, let's take a look at some of the best characters, both based on arc and performance, from the current Fox universe. This is my (opinion-based, completely subjective) ranking of the Marvel characters that exist in the current continuity of X-Men. Spoilers for all X-Men and Fox/Marvel films lie ahead. 

10. Hank McCoy/Beast: Though not one of my favorite characters in the X-Men franchise, the way that Nicholas Hoult portrays the character of Beast is very well done. I think he brings the right sense of physicality when he needs to, but when he's just the scientist, he plays it extremely well, being "nerdy" in a way, but also extremely intelligent.

9. Caliban: Granted, the odd, slimy mutant-trafficking version of Caliban that we saw in X-Men: Apocalypse was not the best portrayal of the character. But I gravitated towards Stephen Merchant's portrayal of the character in Logan. I think that Caliban had a sort of charm that balanced Hugh Jackman's Logan very nicely, and while he didn't have the biggest role, Merchant made the most of it. 

8. Nightcrawler: Showing up in both X-2 and X-Men: Apocalypse, the character of Nightcrawler was one of the most fun to watch. He has a very, very nervous energy about him, and that makes his power set all the more unique, with the ability to jump around and teleport. It's very interesting to see such a damaged creature and to see him played in such a way that it matches his power set very, very well.

7. Colossus: Colossus had been played by Daniel Cudmore in the main X-Men series before, but it was really in Deadpool and Deadpool 2 where I began to like Colossus. He plays such a perfect counter to Wade Wilson, as the two clash on almost everything, but they pair together so well that it's impossible not to like him. Colossus is the epitome of an X-Man, showing grit, heart, and determination in the face of battle, but also throwing in some jokes with Reynolds as well. 

6. Laura Kinney/X-23: When we were first introduced to X-23, I was absolutely floored by what Kinney, as a child actor, was able to bring to the role. She was able to match Hugh Jackman toe to toe, or claw to claw, and brought such a dynamic range to the character. Not only was she physical, but her facial acting was so incredibly good, especially during the Logan death scene, where she acted her heart out, rivaling many, many A-list actors. 

5. Quicksilver: Peter Maximoff, as portrayed in the X-Men films, is a very light-hearted and fun character. He arguably steals the show in both X-Men: Days of Future Past and X-Men Apocalypse, and he knows it too. It just looks as if Evan Peters is having the time of his life playing the character, and it makes it that much more fun to watch him go at it, throwing pans this way and that and saving people from an exploding mansion. 

4. Charles Xavier: One of the characters that has both an older and a younger counterpart, I actually gravitate more towards the McAvoy version of the character, although with Logan, I'm not quite so sure anymore. McAvoy brings such a damaged perspective on a character that we perceived as wise, flawless, and steadfast. And that vulnerability is what enables McAvoy to go so many different directions with the character. But let's not discredit Patrick Stewart; in Logan, especially, he is able to show that he still has something left to give to Xavier. He also makes the character more endearing, and yet so much more broken, that we care that much more for his character, and what he represents. 

3. Deadpool: Ignoring X-Men: Origins - Wolverine, Deadpool, as played by the one and only Ryan Reynolds, is a fantastic character, done so perfectly right. He doesn't change much throughout his two films simply because he's so meta, and so self-referential, and we miss the kind of character growth that we see in someone like Charles. But, Reynolds is so passionate about the character and knows exactly how to play him that it makes him so fun to watch on screen with soo many memorable lines and moments from both films. 

2. Magneto: Magneto might be my favorite villain ever portrayed in a Marvel film, and that might simply be because of how much thought, care, and time was given to fleshing out his backstory. We've seen it all; he's been held in a concentration camp by Sebastian Shaw, his entire family was killed right in front of his eyes - the man has been through everything. That's why, even though he does do some terrible things, we still care because we know just how hard of a time he's been through. Both Fassbender and McKellen bring such a different, yet consistent take on the character and it's just hard not to love those two playing the part. 

1. Logan/Wolverine: This was a no-brainer. Hugh Jackman is one of my favorite actors working today, and what he has done with the character for the past 20 years has been remarkable. From day 1, Hugh Jackman embodied the character so perfectly, and finished it off with a bang in Logan. He knows this character, and we have grown to know him and to love him, despite everything that he's done. Though Jackman's run may be done, Wolverine will still love on in the hearts and souls of X-Men fans everywhere for generations to come. 

Top Ten #20 - Characters in The Defenders (Season 1) Ranked

Top Ten #20 - Characters in The Defenders (Season 1) Ranked

The Defenders brought together a plethora of characters from all corners of the Marvel Netflix universe. And while some continued to be as charismatic and likable as they always are, some didn't translate into the series quite as well. This is my (opinion based and completely subjective) ranking of the characters in Season 1 of the Defenders. 

**WARNING: SOME SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST SEASON OF THE DEFENDERS LIE AHEAD. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.**

10. Danny Rand/Iron Fist: Perhaps I would have thought better of him if I Had seen his series. Or perhaps not, considering the amount of negative buzz that surrounded it. Regardless, I found the character of Danny Rand to be very poorly portrayed by Finn Jones. Rather than coming off as an impatient, troubled, yet humorous member of the team, Jones played the character with levels of Hayden Christiansen's Anakin Skywalker, with a level of angst that I did not expect. While he, thankfully, works in the grand scheme of things, I did not enjoy his character at all.

9. Misty Knight: Another side character that I had not been properly introduced to (she made her debut in Luke Cage) I was surprised to see how annoying her character got as the series progressed. She "made up for it" at the end, with a heroic action, but to me, that didn't make up for the fact that she spent the entirety of the series refusing to trust the main characters and playing the "good cop/bad cop" routine, when there were clearly bigger things at stake. 

8. Stick: Like I've said before, Stick is a character that I am very conflicted on. I'm not sure whether or not to like him because he is a man on a mission and while he is hard on his two prized pupils, Elektra and Daredevil, he is trying to protect them, or whether I should hate him. Ultimately, while Daredevil season 2 toed the line very cautiously, The Defenders almost makes stick seem like a villain towards the end, which didn't help his case at all. Yes, he may be full of wisdom, but he's also full of nonsense and aggressive dispassion sometimes as well. 

7. Alexandra: Sigourney Weaver was one of the best choices you could have picked for playing a villain in a series like this. Where very little physical presence was required, but more verbal and mental manipulation. And while Weaver played the character nearly perfectly, after a few episodes, it admittedly got a little old. I was glad to see they freshened up her character towards the end, but by that point, it was too little too late. 

6. Claire Temple: Rosario Dawson continues to be a staple of the Marvel Netflix shows in The Defenders. She has now migrated over from Daredevil to Luke Cage, where I personally thinks she makes a much better fit. In the show, she surprisingly provides a morale compass for some of the other characters. She has a lot to do, given how little screen time she actually has, and again, Dawson knows this character very well and knows exactly how to play her. 

5. Jessica Jones: It took a couple episodes to get used to Ritter's Jones. She's different, and for awhile, that's what made me dislike her more than the rest of the Defenders. But once I bought into her cynical sense of humor and her narcissism, I completely bought the portrayal and the character. She's a breath of fresh air amidst the Devils of Hell's Kitchens, and the unbreakable Luke Cage. Ritter knows the character and brings it once again in The Defenders. 

4. Colleen Wing: Colleen Wing was another character I wasn't all too familiar with, having not seen Iron Fist. The first episode was a little rocky for this character as she was admittedly given some pretty terrible dialogue, but her arc throughout the series was admirable as she makes her journey through self-discovery. Additionally, Jessica Henwick plays a charming, but determined version of the character, and it's very easy to like her. 

3. Luke Cage: Luke Cage was the one member of the Defenders that I was sold on, almost from the beginning. He didn't buy the idea of the Hand at all, not until he saw it with his own eyes. He was very clearly opposed to the idea of a mystical threat, but his moral compass and just wanting to help others attitude really sold his character for me. I enjoyed seeing how his relationships with other Defenders and supporting cast played out as well. This is a character that works best when he's in a group ensemble. 

2. Elektra Natchios/The Black Sky: If you've seen my review for Daredevil season 2, you know that Elektra Natchios is one of my favorite characters from Netflix Marvel. But as I was watching the show, I came to realize that I actually didn't like Elektra based purely on the character; I mostly enjoyed Elodie Yung in the context of her and Matt Murdock. They have such dynamic chemistry together, and thankfully, this show has its moments too. I loved the scene where she went back to his house; you could feel the palpable connection that was there. Unfortunately, this show botched her character in a minor way, and made it rather confusing what her end goal was. I wasn't clear on what her motivations were, why she was doing what she was doing in certain instances, and what she really cared about. That being said, Yung brings it again as Natchios, and hopefully if Disney revive Daredevil, they'll bring her back as well. 

1. Matt Murdock/Daredevil: But really, at its ore, Matthew Murdock, or the Devil of Hell's Kitchen, is the heart and soul of both the group the Defenders, as well as the show itself. Cox knows this character like the back of his hand, and he proves it here. He knows how to be charming, yet pained. He can play well with others, and on his own as well, and he makes the series center around his struggles while simultaneously not making the show just about him. That takes true skill to like a man who runs around in a devil suit, but Cox has done it. 

The Defenders (Season 1) - Review: Despite rough patches, at the end of the day, this is a team worth rooting for

The Defenders (Season 1) - Review: Despite rough patches, this is a team worth rooting for

Release date (US): August 18th, 2017

Starring: Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, Finn Jones, Jessica Henwick, Elodie Yung, Sigourney Weaver, Deborah Ann Woll, Simone Missick, Rachael Taylor, Rosario Dawson, Eldon Henson, Scott Glenn, 

**DISCLAIMER**: This is a subjective, opinionated article that does not have, nor should have any affect on your opinion. As such, my opinion is entitled to change over time and whatever is written here at this point in time may not and should not be held to me in the future. You are not meant to agree with me 100 percent of the time, because the nature of subjectivity is we see everything differently. If there is something you happen to disagree with, I absolutely respect your point of view if you will respect mine. Please keep this in mind. 

The Review

This is it - the Netflix Avengers, if you will. The culmination of five seasons of television, beginning with Daredevil and ending with Iron Fist. This is essentially Marvel's Phase 1, except on Netflix television, but with the same basic premise. Four heroes, each in their own separate corners of New York, are fighting the good fight. But when a force that they've all been tracking down, knowingly or not, enters Hell's Kitchen, the four are forced together to take down their mutual enemy. 

Let me start by saying this; I can say this from personal experience that it is not necessary AT ALL to watch every single season of all the shows preceding The Defenders. I will say that watching Daredevil season 1 and 2 is practically essential, because, and as it should, The Defenders spends a majority of time focusing on Matt Murdock and his arc. I began watching the first episode of Jessica Jones, and while many have said that they think it to be almost as good, if not better than Daredevil, I found I couldn't get past the first episode. And unlike a bad movie, in which you can slog through and grind your teeth for two hours, this is about 13 hours worth of programming that didn't seem worth it to me. Having heard mixed things about Luke Cage and negative reviews for Iron Fist, I headed straight for The Defenders. My only advice would be to at least read some light plot summaries of each of the shows you've missed, or at least have a general understanding of who the characters are and where they come from. This will go a long way to establishing their motivations and why they all come together. 

As aforementioned, Matt Murdock is back, and he has a large amount of screen time devoted to him and his character arc. This is why watching his show is so critical; not only do we get to see his character develop and struggle, but the characters from his show, one in particular, plays a hugely important role in The Defenders. I won't spoil who it is in case you haven't seen it, but this character is the center point of the second half, and becomes extremely important, which is why it's important to understand what connection Matt has with this character.

And once again, Charlie Cox brings it as Daredevil. This time around, he's not fighting alone, and so he has more characters to bounce off, which adds a new dynamic. His serious, "let's get it done" attitude is directly contrasted with the likes of Jessica Jones, the sarcastic "let's get this over with" character, and Finn Jones's Iron Fist, as well as Mike Colter's Luke Cage.

Now, again, I did not take the time to watch the other shows that led up to this series. BUT, what I thought was superb about this show was it take time to fill you in on each character. The advantage of a long format series such as this one is that you have time to explain where each character stands before jumping right into the action. So perhaps I wasn't as invested in Jessica Jones or Danny Rand as others would be, but I can say that I completely understood where each one was coming form.

As for first impressions and performances, it took me an episode or two to get used to Krysten Ritter. Her sardonic, cynical sense of humor and attitude were definitely unique and bounced off characters like Daredevil extremely well. Luke Cage is the morally straight compass out of the group. He wants to do what's right. And while Mike Colter indeed does play up to the physicality of the role, there is a heart to the character that I found endearing to an extent. You can see how hardened he's become, but also how much he loves doing good for others, which is what really drives him.

But then we get to Danny Rand, or the Iron Fist. Here's what I think about him. I think the writers horribly misunderstood his tone and humor in the context of the larger ensemble. There's a recurring joke that he keeps saying "I am the Immortal Iron Fist" and other characters brush him off, and while it's funny at first, it gets old extremely quickly when you realize Jones is taking a character that should have been the light-hearted, fun one of the group, way too seriously. The expression on his face is always way too serious in the context of a joke or a fun scene, or just in general. I felt that if they made Iron Fist the voice of humor, Finn Jones would have shined in the role. As it stands, I completely understand why people did not connect with him as the main character for an entire season, and I don't fish to see any more of him than I need to.

However, on a more positive note, the supporting cast members from each show that the show runners decided to focus on were excellent. There could have been a temptation to give each and every supporting cast member of the shows their due, but for the most part, the show focused on a few important ones. For example, Rosario Dawson as Claire Temple, who has been in a majority of the shows, has more to do than most. Colleen Wing, from Iron Fist, also plays a significant role, and although I didn't see Iron Fist, I can instantly see why she would be so important to the show. Foggy gets a little bit to do, but not enough to be annoying, and thankfully, Karen Page has minimal screen time. Not that I dislike Page or Woll's performance at all, but I think that her place in this kind of a show should have been minimal. The one character I thought should not have received nearly as much screen time as she did was Misty Knight. I think that while the character might have worked in Luke Cage, in this show, she comes off as pretentious and annoying. But aside from that, the supporting cast do their jobs and play an important role in the grand scheme of things. 

Now, I only have Daredevil to compare this show to in terms of quality in the Netflix MCU, but I think I can say that the action in The Defenders was not quite up to par with that of the rest of the Netflix shows. Granted, there were a few action setpieces that were excellent, and they mainly consisted of the four Defenders teaming up and fighting, but the other action scenes seemed a little weak and chaotic. The action scenes, like one in Episode 4, where all four of them are using their combined abilities to fight is when the show really has a chance to shine.

And to the show's credit, it takes its time. There could have been a temptation to throw all of the characters together from episode one and have them fight for the rest of the season, but Netflix took their time, establishing where each character is in their walks of life, and then slowly bringing them together. And it wasn't even like they all came together at once; I loved how different pairs of characters would slowly meet up in twos and then they slowly began to connect until they all met during an action scene. You see Matt Murdock interacting with Jessica Jones, and then Luke Cage and Iron Fist, and then Jones and Cage, before finally seeing the team together, and that makes it that much more exciting when they finally are able to set their differences aside and work together as a team. 

As for the villains of the series, we are once again dealing with the Hand. What I particularly enjoyed about the idea of facing the Hand was that they have been teased for the longest time in almost all of the individual series from what I know. The Hand has been an important presence in Daredevil, especially in season 2, as well as Iron Fist. So it would only make sense that the unifying force would be this villainous organization. But this time around, they are led by Alexandra played by Sigourney Weaver. 

Here's what I think about Weaver and Alexandra. I think that in a feature length film, about two hours long, Weaver would have been terrifying as a villain. She was intimidating, she was strong, but not in a physical sense. She was able to make her presence known immediately when she walked into a room of four super powered heroes without lifting a fighter. Even Stick was scared of her to a certain degree. Weaver plays that character so well to begin with, that by the time episode 6 rolls around, she's been playing the character the same exact way for 3/4 of the series. It actually becomes a little mundane. But, the season does some really interesting things at the very last minute with her character that work wonders to give the audience a completely different idea of what kind of a character she is.

There is also a villain that contains heavy spoilers. For the most part, I enjoyed their inclusion in the show. It was warranted, there was a logical (somewhat) explanation of why they would be there, and overall, their arc was fleshed out nicely. I just wish that the show had done a couple things differently with this character that I don't want to dive into during a non-spoiler review.

My one final comment and critique to the show; and this is opposite to most of the other shows that I've seen from Netflix; I actually felt that this show might be a little short. The first season is 8 episodes as opposed to the convention 13, and while 13 may be a bit much, 8 is the perfect amount to give us just enough of a series to feel satisfied. Yet, I feel like there could have been one or two more episodes fleshing out relationships with characters, giving us some more motivations behind Alexandra, and just giving us a little more than we already had. 

In Conclusion: The Defenders is not on the same level as either season of Daredevil. I think that there are enough flaws to be pointed out and there is still something to be missed from the show that I can say it didn't quite live up to its maximum potential. THAT BEING SAID, The Defenders is so much fun when you see how these four disparate characters fit together. They are each so different, which is what makes their teamwork work so well. This is a team that I would gladly see more seasons with, and even though Netflix has canceled the shows, I would love to see this team, with this cast, again onscreen in some form or another. The transition may not have been entirely seamless, but they got very, very close. 

New Promo Art for Avengers: Endgame Revealed

New Promo Art for Avengers: Endgame Revealed

Avengers: Endgame is now officially less than four months away, new promotional art has been revealed. The art highlights the remaining Avengers, as well as newcomer Captain Marvel in their fight to bring back those who were lost. Check out the below below: 

Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26th, 2019.

Captain Marvel Promo Art Reveals Jude Law is Actually Playing [SPOILER]

Captain Marvel Promo Art Reveals Jude Law is Actually Playing [SPOILER]

A mystery that has been surrounding the Captain Marvel movie for awhile now has been the identity of the character being played by Jude Law. Awhile ago, it was reported that Jude Law would be playing a character from the comics known as Yon-Rogg, a member of the Kree military. However, some promotional material seems to indicate otherwise. According to these unofficial promotional materials, Jude Law may be playing none other than Mar-Vell. In the comics, Mar-Vell was the male identity of Captain Marvel, and was where Carol Danvers received her powers from. Check out the image below:

Captain Marvel hits theaters on March 8th, 2019

(Merry Christmas!) What Constitutes a Christmas Movie?

(Merry Christmas!) What Constitutes a Christmas Movie? 

Merry Christmas! May you be blessed on this wonderful day and have time to reflect on the blessings given to you this holiday season! In honor of Christmas, I wanted to settle a debate, or at least give my own opinion on the matter. What qualifies a movie as a "Christmas movie"?

The debate has raged long and hard. This really began when a member of my family reminded me of a particular case. Is Diehard a Christmas movie? 

Many people seem to think so. But I am on the opposite side of that coin. I don't think Diehard should be considered a "Christmas movie".

Now, I understand that at this point, we're really just arguing semantics. I completely know what I'm getting myself in, but please indulge me in this. I think that saying a "Christmas movie" is equivalent to saying a "Robert Downey Jr." movie. What does it mean when we say "Oh, that's a 'Robert Downey Jr.' movie"? In my opinion, simply this - that the film headlines and showcases Robert Downey Jr. for the majority of the runtime and highlights him because he's integral to the film. So for example, Iron Man 1, 2, and 3 are "Robert Downey Jr." films. Spider-Man: Homecoming is not a "Robert Downey Jr. movie" under this definition because, yes, he is in the movie and he has a role that you could consider important, but it really is "Tom Holland's movie". I think even calling Captain America: Civil War a "Robert Downey Jr." film is incorrect in this case because the film is headlined by Chris Evans. 

I think essentially the same definition applies. If the film doesn't highlight Christmas, and if Christmas isn't integral to the plot, I cannot, in good faith, consider it a "Christmas movie". Again, there are varying degrees of this. For example, Diehard does utilize the Christmas setting, indeed, but it is not integral to the storyline, at least not in a truly, truly meaningful way. I would equate Diehard to Captain America: Civil War in this case. Robert Downey Jr. is a very, very important part of Captain America: Civil War, but I would argue that it's not a "Robert Downey Jr." film. 

Let's cross over the two ideas. Iron Man 3 takes place during Christmas. Would I consider it a "Christmas movie" then because it does? I don't think so. Because it's not important - it's not integral to the plot.

So - here's my bottom line: in order for me (and this is my opinion) to consider a film a "Christmas movie", it has to have Christmas highlight and heavily featured, as well as have Christmas be absolutely integral to the plot. 

Anyways, there's a little opinion piece to wrap up Christmas day. Enjoy the holidays! More posts will come through the rest of the winter - Happy Holidays! :)

Ranking All Major Comic Book Movies (2018)

Ranking All Major Comic Book Movies (2018)

It's fair to say that 2018 has been a huge year for comic book movies, and it's incredible to think that 2019 will be an even bigger year. But now, it's time to look at my ranking of the 7 major comic book movies that were released this year. This is purely subjective and based on my opinion, and should not be an indication of how you feel. Individual reviews have been posted for all of these films on this website, so feel free to check those out. I'll link them with each entry. Let's get into it, shall we?

7. Venom: In my opinion, Venom isn't even a bad film. That's how good of a year it's been for the comic book genre. If you've read the review, you know that I think Venom is simply a piece of entertainment. The story isn't all that great, nor is the conflict and the villains, but Eddie Brock, played by Tom Hardy, has enough charm to him that you end up rooting for the Venom character. Overall, the film is serviceable, and I think a few years ago, we would have hailed it as more of a modern marvel (no pun intended), but in 2018? It's number 7. 

6. Aquaman: Aquaman was noise, explosions, colors, and a lot of yelling. But there was great enjoyment to be had from the film. Jason Momoa makes a great Arthur Curry, and Amber Heard isn't so bad herself. The film has emotional moments, but none that really hit home, and by the end you feel like you've ridden an exhausting but exhilarating roller coaster. It took all the energy out of you, and there were a lot of parts that you'd rather not have gone through, but in the end, you had fun. Definitely a step up for the DCEU. 

5. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was one of a kind. It was visually gorgeous and had ambition like no other animated film. Absolutely, it had its shortcomings, in terms of plot and story, but overall, I enjoyed the film enough. It was going for something new, and while Aquaman was more consistent in terms of story, this film had a clear vision and went for something new, and that's something that I will always applaud. 

4. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Ant-Man and the Wasp was a step up from the first film, in my opinion. It brought back everything you love about the Scott Lang character and brings in Evangeline Lily, who really, really shines as the Wasp. Michelle Pfeiffer is great as well, and it was just enjoyable from start to finish. Nothing outrageously good, but nothing terribly bad either. The film won't be remembered as one of the MCU's finest, but it's definitely good. And that's all I can ask for. 

3. Black Panther: Black Panther was a triumph for the comic book genre as it introduced a whole new side of the comic book world and brought in a whole new demographic. The world of Wakanda is lush and it is plentiful, serving as Marvel's battleground in Avengers: Infinity War. There's no denying that this film has a heart and soul unlike any other MCU film to date. Yes, the film was a little overhyped to begin with, but I can't deny that this film works on so many levels, most of all, with its villain (Erik Killmonger) that this is a huge win for me. Oh, and 1.2 billion dollars for Marvel doesn't hurt either.

2. Deadpool 2: And you thought Deadpool 2 couldn't top the first. I'm not sure which one's better, but I know that this film is very, very good. The style of humor that Reynolds has embraced works on so many levels. On top of that, Josh Brolin and Zazie Beetz work great with the rest of the group. Deadpool never takes himself too seriously (we will ignore X-Men: Origins - Wolverine) and I wouldn't want it any other way. 

1. Avengers: Infinity War: Come April 2019, it's going to be very, very hard to top this movie. This is really the beginning of the end, and I loved every single second of this movie. This is such a triumph for Marvel and a testament to how hard they've worked on these 20 films. There is almost nothing negative I can say as a fan, and while there are some story issues and character motives I question as a critic, this movie was made for those of us who have followed the MCU for the last 10 years. It rewards our knowledge, our investment, and promises more. This is one of the greatest comic book movies ever made, and there is almost nothing that can dethrone it.

Minor Avengers: Endgame Updates and Concept Art

Minor Avengers: Endgame Updates and Concept Art

Avengers: Endgame is hitting theaters in just about four months. And while the major studios have largely remained quiet throughout the Christmas season, some new pieces of information and news have dropped concerning the film.

Benedict Wong has officially confirmed that he will have some kind of role in Avengers: Endgame. Set photos released before Avengers: Infinity War hit theaters saw scenes with Hulk and Wong, but nobody was sure whether or not this was from Infinity War or Endgame, considering both were shot back to back. However, speaking to Collider, Wong mentioned this in regards to his roles in Avengers: Endgame and his upcoming film, Deadly Crises:

"Yeah, there was a time when I was doing Avengers 4. Normally it would be a logistical nightmare with the hair and negotiating that, but it's great. I'm grateful to be on a double Russo Brothers production. It was streamlined."

This officially confirms that Wong will return come April 2019.

In other news, some unofficial concept art has been "leaked", showcasing some new looks at both Iron Man's new suit and Hawkeye in his Ronin garb. Check them out below:

Check out the Ronin/Hawkeye Concept art HERE

Avengers: Endgame hits theaters on April 26, 2019.

Top Ten #19 - Characters Through Daredevil Season 2 Ranked

Top Ten #19 - Characters Through Daredevil Season 2 Ranked

Daredevil, in both season 1 and 2, prides itself from the rich diversity of characters that Hell's Kitchen portrays. This is a ranking of all the characters from both seasons 1 and 2, recurring or not. This is a completely subjective and opinion-based list. Let's get into it, shall we? 

10. Vanessa Fisk: To be fair, Vanessa doesn't have much to do in season 1 and is non-existent in season 2. But it's less of what she does and more of what kind of impact she leaves on the character of Wilson Fisk. Vanessa is essentially the one thing that's holding Wilson together. And you can see how damaged and unhinged he becomes in season 2 when Matt Murdock goes to interrogate him. That being said, yes, she doesn't have much of anything to do. But for what she does, the performance is there and it'll be interesting to see where the character goes. 

9. Stick: Stick is an interesting character. He's a character that I go back and forth on liking and absolutely despising. Because really, Stick is a piece of garbage, no matter what kind of things he says to Elektra and Matt about the Hand the war. He treats his pupils terribly UNTIL the very, very end when he is somewhat redeemed and you can kind of see where he was going with this. That being said, it's too little too late, and i hope that in The Defenders, Stick is given a better developed character. 

8. Wilson Fisk/Kingpin: Many crowned Wilson Fisk as one of the best villains Marvel, both in movie and television, had ever seen. I did not go with this majority; I think that while the character was very, very compelling, Vincent D'Onofrio's performance was lackluster. I completely see what he was going for, but I just wish that he went more for menace than the intentionally stilted, draw own way of talking. It worked the first couple episodes, but it's since gotten old. 

7. Karen Page: At the end of season 1, Karen Page would be much, much higher on the list. But i just didn't find her arc in season 2 quite as compelling, and she became a little more of a nuisance as the season progressed. Plus, what was the deal with her and Matt? I much, much preferred Matt and Elektra, and I think that the people writing the character of Karen didn't really have a clear direction for her, which is why she ends up in a journalism company at the end of the two seasons. 

6. Frank Castle/The Punisher: Here's where it gets good. Jon Bernthal portrays a version of Frank Castle that is so brutal, so violent, yet so damaged and hurt. He manages to blend the two sides so well for MOST of season 2, and it's only towards the later episodes where you begin to question his motivations and what he's really after. I know that he has his own series, but I'm interested to see how well he can carry it, because while he's a compelling character in others' series, he's not quite the leading man caliber, at least not in this series. 

5. Claire Temple: A character that will become much more important in others' series, such as Luke Cage and The Defenders, Temple was first introduced in Daredevil Season 1 and was a welcome presence because of her grounded character. Men in devil costumes jumping around the city fighting crime, and she's there to juxtapose all of it, and to remind Matt that he's still human. She's the first one to know about his identity, and for that, she will be forever important to the Netflix MCU. 

4. Ben Urich: A character that didn't quite make it past season 1, his memory was remembered through Karen. I think that Curtis Hall's performance is what really elevated the character to the next level. The character was important, yes, but that's not what made him so likable - it was the performance. Ben Urich will remain one of my favorite characters simply because he was one of the least conflicted characters in a world of conflict - he knew what was right and he did it. 

3. Foggy Nelson: Some would be quick to brush Foggy off as just the comic relief, or a useless side character. But as the series progressed, Foggy progressively became his own character, and I love how Eldon Henson portrays that. A character that cares so deeply for Matt Murdock and Karen Page, but also knows what's best for them and for himself, and ultimately has to let go in order to be happy. That's a hero.

2. Matt Murdock/Daredevil: This series wouldn't work without Charlie Cox. Cox is everything that Matt Murdock is and the way he transitions from quite, confident attorney to crime0fighting vigilante, and is able to connect the two with a level of vulnerability is what makes the series click. All else fails and Matt Murdock is there to hold up the series on the weight of his shoulders. And Cox makes it seem so easy. But we know it's not. 

1. Elektra Natchios: I wasn't quite so sure about elektra when I first saw her. When she broke into Matt's apartment. But as season 2 went further and further along, I found myself drawn to Yung's performance more and more. She is able to bring out the best and worst in MAtt, while keeping a charming air about her. She's so playful and confident, yet brutal and dangerous, but also vulnerable and human deep down. And Yung is able to bring out al those qualities just like that. That's what makes her such a compelling character. Her chemistry with Matt Murdock feels so real, and they really do feel like thy care about each other, unlike Karen and Matt. There are stakes, fights, wars, and battles, but amidst all of it, Elektra swings through the villains with a cocky grin.  

Top Ten #18 - Characters in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Ranked

Top Ten #18 - Characters in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Ranked

Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse had no shortage of unique and dynamic characters, ranging from heroes, villains, and everyone in-between. This is my ranking of the top 10 characters from the film (100 percent subjective and based on my opinion). 

10. Kingpin: The main villain of the film, Kingpin AKA Wilson Fisk didn't quite live up to any expectations. He was a serviceable villain, but ultimately was put on the back burner due to the expansive nature of the movie. He does a given motivation, but I never quite found it compelling enough to care about him. Aside from that, the design of the character, no matter how comic accurate, was ridiculous and took me out of the movie almost entirely every time he was on screen. 

9. Peni Parker: The odd anime-style of Spider-Man was a surprise to me. I hadn't been paying much attention to the marketing, but I did know about Spider-Ham and Spider-Man Noir. But Penni Parker was a surprise, and not necessarily a good one. I myself am not the biggest fan of anime, so to see such a clashing animation style in a film that is exploding with colors and imagery was a little jarring, not to mention that her character served no real purpose other than to please anime fans. 

8. Aunt May: Surprise, surprise, Aunt May is in the film. To be fair, I shouldn't have been surprised because of course Aunt May would be in a movie with Spider-people. But I was surprised how large of a role that they gave her character. I found this version of Aunt May to be rather confusing because one moment she's entirely sentimental and kind, and then the next minute she acts like she's a CIA operative. It's rather strange. 

7. Peter Porker/Spider-Ham: A character that I expected I'd like a lot more, they didn't take full advantage of the ridiculous nature of a Spider-Pig. There was a gold mine of jokes that could have been mined, and to be fair, there's a very clever one at the end, but Spider-Ham, voiced impeccably by John Mulaney, didn't live up to his potential, in my opinion. 

6. Spider-Man Noir: Nicholas Cage is back! Who knew that he'd make his silver screen return as a version of Spider-Man - but to his credit, it works incredibly well. He doesn't have much screen time at all, but Spider-Man Noir fits Cage perfectly, and he didn't overact at any point in the film, which was welcome. I think Cage fit the personality of the character very nicely and was a welcome addition to the ensemble. 

5. The Prowler: Fans of the comics may understand why this character is so high on the list and why he might be more significant to this story. Knowing why from the beginning sets up a serious tension all the way through because you know the impending conflict that's going to occur. The Prowler is surprisingly given a lot of character development and relationship with the other characters, and I think the voice of Mahershala Ali was perfect for the role. 

4. Jefferson Morales: Here's a surprise; I think the father of Miles Morales, Jeff, was actually one of the strongest characters in the film. The movie takes time to flesh out his character and you really get to see what's going on inside his head as he grapples with his work life as a cop and his home life, dealing with Miles and coming to grips with who Miles is. And the voice actor behind him, Brian Tyree Henry, is so good at conveying the entire range of emotions that his character needs. The filmmakers actually place a lot of emotional emphasis on his character, and you can completely relate to him as a dad.

3. Miles Morales: The heart and soul of the film, while his character does feel a little stale, Miles is a true hero. He learns from his Spider-friends what it means to be more than himself and to be heroic, and that's why you care so much about him. His character arc is simple, and yes it's tried and true, but it's compelling and it works. Plus Shameik Moore does a great job at bringing the character to life, so that helps too. 

2. Gwen Stacy: Really, there isn't much to this character. She's just kind of there to counteract Peter's lethargic attitude and Miles' nervous demeanor with a bold confidence. But it's something about Steinfeld's voice that manages to capture the essence of a strong lead and give her a personality. Stacy is a character that, while not completely developed, has a beating heart and soul, and that's what makes her such a perfect addition to the group. 

1. Peter Parker: Even though it's not his film, Peter Parker manages to steal the show, at least for me. Parker, voiced perfectly by Jake Johnson of all people, is very different than we usually see him. He's not the usual confident version of himself that we find mentoring Peter. He's lethargic, he's tired, and he's beaten up, but it's through Johnson's voice work and Parker's character that he's able to get back up and be the hero that Miles needs. He's not really the hero that the world needed in the movie, but he's definitely the one Miles needed.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is in theaters now. 

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - Review: A Once in a Generation Experience, a Mediocre Movie

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse - Review: A Once in a Generation Experience, a Mediocre Movie

Release date (US): December 14th, 2018

Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Liev Schreiber, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Nicholas Cage, John Mulaney

**DISCLAIMER**: This is a subjective, opinionated article that does not have, nor should have any affect on your opinion. As such, my opinion is entitled to change over time and whatever is written here at this point in time may not and should not be held to me in the future. You are not meant to agree with me 100 percent of the time, because the nature of subjectivity is we see everything differently. If there is something you happen to disagree with, I absolutely respect your point of view if you will respect mine. Please keep this in mind. 

The Review

When going into a film entitled "Into The Spider-Verse", you know things are going to get weird very, very quickly. And yet, while the splashy coloration of images and the brilliant use of animation signal a new era, a modern way to tell a story, the plot and characters themselves feel as if they belong in the past.

Miles Morales is a teenager living in Brooklyn, and he believes that Peter Parker is the only Spider-Man in his universe. Fast forward a few minutes into the movie, and things start to spiral out of control as the Spider-universes collide, bringing all sorts of Spider-people together from all corners of the universe.

Right off the bat, I will say that I am a huge comic book genre fan. Whether this pertains to movies, television, merchandise, comic books, the lore fascinates me and always has. So with the way the film opens, i was hooked. The film opens in a very, very clever way that will entertain general movie going audiences but will please comic book movie fans like no other movie can. This really can be said for the majority of the movie. This film will be entertaining at best to the average audience, but will contain enough easter eggs and little references to tide over the major, hardcore fans such as myself.

And to the film's credit, the animation style is beautiful. Now, I did write on this website that after seeing the trailers, I thought the animation style looked rather terrible. I just could not see the kind of animation that was being portrayed in the trailers translating well onto a full-length feature film. But as always, my expectations were left at the door, and I walked in hoping for the best. And after a few minutes of adjustment, I completely bought the way the film was animated and loved it. 

Really the only way I can describe it is it was like a comic book had been taken, and literally plastered onto a movie screen and the characters moved. The way the animators were able to achieve this was incredible, and this really was a once in a generation type of project. Every single frame popped and there were so many colors, so many visuals that just screamed "comic book". For the average audience that I continue to reference, I'm not quite sure what they would think of this because the comic book medium may not be as native to them, but for someone like me? Absolutely perfect.

Another thing the film has working for it is the voice performances. Phil Lord and Chris Miller absolutely nailed the casting for the movie. From Shameik Moore as Miles Morales to Jake Johnson as Peter Parker, a choice that I didn't quite approve of at first, the voice cast immediately lend themselves to their respective characters. No one sticks out as "Oh look it's Samuel L. Jackson!" or something of the sort. You really feel as if Jake Johnson is Peter Parker, and that's something this film does very, very nicely. Hailee Steinfeld in particular delivers a sweet, but tough Spider Gwen that was nice to watch, especially when she interacted with Peter Parker. 

But underneath the flashing lights, the comic book easter eggs, and the wonderful characters lies a fundamental problem; the story is oddly generic. Now, to the film's credit, the set up at the beginning and the way characters are explained is very self-referential and a very unique way of going about it. But once the film kicks into the second and third acts, it becomes very stereotypical. 

There's, as always, something the heroes have to get at. I will stop and say that, thankfully, the "Macguffin" in this particular film wasn't the MOST important thing; it was more about Miles learning to be himself. But still, the second and third act don't lend themselves to being anything original narratively. Miles goes through the hero's journey that we've seen countless times, and no matter how self-referential the film may be, it can't hide that.

And maybe that's okay. Maybe that's not the point of a film like this. Maybe the point of a movie of this nature is to really show off the animation, to show that there can be something different in terms of animation and that there is a really vivid way to put a comic book onto a movie screen. And I applaud them for that. But at the same time, being as purely objective as I can, I just didn't feel that the story was all that compelling.

It doesn't help the film either that the first hour or so feels a little aimless. It's introducing so many different elements, that, granted, will become somewhat important later on, but the actual plot of the film doesn't begin to feel important or consequential until about thirty to forty-five minutes into a film that's not even two hours. 

In Conclusion: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is worth the price of admission alone for comic book fans just to see the amazing animation and the way the animators are able to bring a comic book to life. There's nothing like this and I doubt that there will be anything like this for awhile. The story works, it's decent, and the film overall is enjoyable. But for me, I found that the film suffered from a generic storyline that was held up by sparkly visuals and charismatic characters. Is the film bad? Not necessarily, no. Is it good? It's hard to say, but one thing's for sure. This movie will leave its mark on generations to come.