Kevin Feige Speaks on Avengers: Endgame and the MCU

Kevin Feige Speaks on Avengers: Endgame and the MCU

Kevin Feige, head of Marvel Studios, has given some key updates on the future of the MCU as well as the marketing of the highly anticipated Avengers: Endgame. Here's what he had to say regarding the trailers and when asked whether the film would show more than the first fifteen to twenty minutes:

'I'd call it somewhat accurate. As was the case with a lot of our films, this one in particular, being able to generate a lot of excitement without giving away one of the many, many, secrets ... I think the Disney marketing team is the best in the world and we'll be able to pull it off.'

Speaking about the the title of the new film, 'Endgame', Feige also confirmed that the title was put in place well before Infinity War was released, which is why they put the line from Doctor Strange in the film in the first place.

Also speaking on James Gunn, Feige had this to say:

'I went to see Aquaman last night and I really, really enjoyed it. I don't see a rivalry. I see cool things being made. One thing you know about James Gunn [director of the upcoming DC film, Suicide Squad 2], he makes cool things.'

Avengers Endgame hits theaters on April 26th, 2019

Captain Marvel Unveils New Posters, Sneak Preview, with Tickets NOW ON SALE

Captain Marvel Unveils New Posters, Sneak Preview, with Tickets Now on Sale

Captain Marvel is on the horizon, and now the wait is even closer to being over, as tickets are now OFFICIALLY ON SALE. Additionally, Marvel has released three new posters, as seen below, as well as a new sneak preview that's about two minutes on the College Football Championships. See the new promotional material below. Click HERE for the latest trailer. 

Captain Marvel hits theaters on March 8th, 2019 - get tickets NOW!

Captain Marvel star Brie Larson talks 'Captain Marvel' and 'Avengers: Endgame'

Captain Marvel star Brie Larson talks 'Captain Marvel' and 'Avengers: Endgame'

Captain Marvel is just over two months away. And with its release date being just over a month before the highly anticipated Avengers: Endgame, Brie Larson, hitting theaters as the new superhero Carol Danvers AKA Captain Marvel, spoke to USA Today about the struggles of filming Avengers: Endgame before her own solo film, even though Endgame chronologically takes place much later than Captain Marvel. She said this:

"I Just never wanted to feel like I was going to slip up or that I was going to say the wrong thing. I feel like 'I can't live with myself being the one that spoils something.' So I really just deleted it. I tried my best to journal it. If I want to recall it and go,  'Oh yeah, that was a crazy time.' And I'm excited when the movie comes out to finally be able to talk about it and go, 'Yes, this was crazy.' But my family doesn't know. I haven't talked to anybody about anything because I'm just a very diligent secret-keeper.'

Larson continued by speaking about her experience with working on set with veterans of the MCU and the comic book movie genre:

"I just got be like junior superhero and ask them questions like, 'Hi. I'm the new kid! So what kind of protein bars do you eat and where do you train? Is your costume comfortable?' I was just able to learn so much, and everybody was really kind and helpful. So I got to learn the ropes a little bit before I was thrown into this thing where I'd be by myself."

Captain Marvel hits theaters on March 8th, 2019, followed shortly by Avengers: Endgame on April 26th, 2019

The 2018 Blockbuster Awards

The 2018 Blockbuster Awards

Ladies and Gentlemen, 2018 has come to a close. As 2019 brings its fair share of gargantuan movies, time to look back on some of the best and worst that big-budget filmmaking had to offer us. Here are my picks for the first annual "Blockbuster Awards"! Keep in mind that these picks are not definitive and are completely subjective. This is my opinion. Enjoy~

Most Disappointing and Worst Blockbuster of 2018: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindewald

Most Average and Forgettable Blockbuster: Solo: A Star Wars Story

Most Overhyped Blockbuster: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Most Unique/"Out There" Blockbuster: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Best Popcorn Flick: Aquaman

Best Visual Effects: Aquaman

Biggest Miscast: Peter Dinklage as Eitri (Avengers: Infinity War)

Best Performance (Male): Michael B. Jordan (Black Panther)

Best Performance (Female): Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins Returns)

Best Score: Mary Poppins Returns

Biggest Laugh: Violet and the Water (Incredibles 2)

Biggest Shock Twist: The Snap (Avengers: Infinity War)

Best Villain: Thanos (Josh Brolin - Avengers: Infinity War)

Best Story/Pacing: Incredibles 2

Best Character Development: Incredibles 2

Best Script: Avengers: Infinity War

Best Picture: Avengers: Infinity War

Top Ten Blockbusters of 2018

Top Ten Blockbusters of 2018

As this site is Access Blockbuster, I make it a point to watch as many of the big blockbusters that come out every year. While I was not able to see all of them, I did see enough to make a top ten list. I like to think that a blockbuster will qualify as a film that has a budget of at least 100 million, or at the very least, films that have a mass appeal and big promotional campaign. With that being said, here are my top 10 favorite blockbusters from 2018. I will not go into detail on these; this is just a list. Reviews for almost all of these films are on the site if you would like to know my in-depth thoughts on each one. Available reviews for each one will be linked. 

10. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

9. Bumblebee

8. Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet

7. Ant-Man and the Wasp

6. Mary Poppins Returns

5. Black Panther

4. Deadpool 2

3. Mission: Impossible - Fallout

2. Incredibles 2

1. Avengers: Infinity War

Mary Poppins Returns - Review: Mary Poppins returns to bring joy to the Banks family and to our hearts

Mary Poppins Returns - Review: Mary Poppins returns to bring joy to the Banks family and to our hearts 

Release date (US): December 14th, 2018

Starring: Emily Blunt, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Meryl Streep, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Waters, Colin Firth

**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

Having read the Mary Poppins books many years ago, I was familiar with the famous nanny and her antics. But having not seen the original Julie Andrews film, I was not familiar with her performance. Thus, I went into the new sequel with an open mind, excited to see what Emily Blunt had to bring to the role.

I was absolutely floored. There are no two ways around it. This is one of the greatest performances this entire year. Emily Blunt, while evidently not dipping too much into Julie Andrew's character, has made this role her own. From the very millisecond she appeared onscreen, I knew that this was Mary Poppins. Granted, perhaps it was better that I didn't know Julie Andrews' performance. Maybe that helped me appreciate Blunt more. I had heard from others who remember the original film that Andrews brought a really fresh look on the character.

But for what it's worth, I think Blunt's performance is insanely good. I haven't seen an actor commit to a role this year more than Blunt has. I cannot say enough good things about her. She nailed the role, and deserves all the credit in the world. 

Aside from Mary Poppins herself, the ensemble cast is one of the best that I've seen all year. It did, admittedly, take me a little bit to get used to the film. This film is unabashedly unapologetic, and takes you right back to thirty years ago. The film quality is that of the films that exist today, but the tone, the dialogue, the way characters interact, it is so refreshing to see this different kind of youthfulness. There is a layer of innocence with this film that you NEVER see anymore, not even with kid's films. This isn't really a kid's film per se; I would strongly recommend taking most kids to see it simply because I know they'll enjoy it, but this is really a film made for almost everyone. 

The movie is warm and joyful, and apologizes for none of it. From the very get-go, characters have smiles on their faces and they are just filled with glee. That's not something you see often in a day and age where everything is jaded and hardened. 

The Banks family has been brought back wonderfully; Michael and Jane are now grown up, and while I'm not familiar with their characters from the original, you can tell that these are grown ups that, while having been slightly hardened in the past twenty years, are still representations of who they were as children. And the Banks children, or more accurately, the grandchildren of George Banks, are delightful as well. Their acting, while not top-notch, fits this film more than adequately, and I think that's a testament to director Rob Marshall. 

Rob Marshall knew EXACTLY what kind of film he was making. And because of that, I'll say it again, he makes no apologies. He goes for it in every single shot and frame. There isn't a single moment where you don't feel a raw energy and passion, and that's what I loved about the movie. It was delightful. 

Lin Manuel-Miranda also has a significant role in the movie, essential the co-star to Emily Blunt. His character is charming, and while Miranda isn't quite the best actor in the film, he does give it his all. There was just something missing from him that you could see in Mary Poppins. It felt like he could have been an extra; there wasn't quite anything that stood him apart from the rest of the cast. But still, the Hamilton creator gets to shine in his own right. A tiny slight against the film might be that I don't really know why he was in the movie for as long as he was narratively. There isn't much of a narrative justification for him to be in as much of it as he was.

But then again, there are quite a few spots like that in this film. This film doesn't focus too much on narrative. It takes a rather simple premise, and within that premise weaves an adventure. It's not so much about where they're going but how they get there. It takes heart and determination, and a little push. That's what makes Emily Blunt the perfect Mary Poppins. She has just the right amount of stern discipline while also having a little twinkle in her eyes when she needs to. 

But you're not going to Mary Poppins Returns for a riveting action set piece. No, you're going for the music. Let me say this; each and every song is fantastic. They each have their own soul, and right away you can tell a lot of thought was put into writing each song. That's what makes them fit into the movie so well. They all align with the film's main purpose, which is just to be a joyful romp. But in doing so, all of them feel the same.

While I loved all of the songs in the moment, I can't tell you any of the lyrics. I could name a couple of titles, but I couldn't sing any of them for the life of me. And while I think that's what sets this movie apart from a film like The Greatest Showman, where I knew the words to every single song, I felt that the music was serviceable. It was actually more about the set piece than the actual song. The backdrops and the musical numbers and dances were spectacular. They were so pure and so musical. It was brilliant.

I think, personally, that as good as the songs were in the film, the score was even better. Mark Shaiman and Scott Wittman do a masterful job with the score. It's brilliant. As a musician, just taking in the music was something that made the film worth the price of admission. The bombastic orchestra, to the saxophone runs, this film had it all.

In Conclusion: There's not much to not love about this film. This film is everything. It's for the whole family and just brings a sense of warmth to your heart. You just need to sit back, open up your mind and heart, and let the film take you places that you forgot all about, just like Mary Poppins did for Michael Banks. The music and the setpieces are incredible, and paired with some brilliant casting, Mary Poppins has now become one of the best films of 2018. 

Daredevil (Season 3) - Review: While inferior to the previous two seasons, season 3 introduces interesting new elements while retaining everything you love about the show

Daredevil (Season 3) - Review: While inferior to the previous two seasons, season 3 introduces interesting new elements while retaining everything you love about the show

Release date (US): October 16th, 2018

Starring: Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, Eldon Henson, Joanne Whalley, Jay Ali, Wilson Bethel, Stephen Rider, Vincent D'Onofrio

**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

With the cancellation of Daredevil from Netflix, this is it. This is the last time we will see these characters again, at least as far as we know. It's doubtful that we'll ever see Charlie Cox as the Man Without Fear. And perhaps that was an influencing factor. Perhaps this was partly the reasoning that I cherished each episode. Because I knew that there would be no more time spent with these characters that I have grown attached to.

And I can personally say, that as a compliment not just to this season, but rather to the previous two seasons, that I care so much about these characters. Regardless of whether or not I like some of the performances, I genuinely care what happens to them. And that really pays off in Season 3. When some of these characters were in danger, I was genuinely muttering under my breath, "No, come on, come on," and when some characters were finally getting what they deserved, I found myself actively cheering. Not many films, not many shows, and not many forms of storytelling can do that. But this show somehow managed to reach to me in a place that I didn't think was possible when I first started this endeavor. 

Season 3 picks up right where the Defenders leaves off. In fact, it even shows some of the ending scenes to that season. And without giving anything away, I can tell you that Matthew Murdock is in a very, very bad place when he begins the film. There will be no major spoilers for The Defenders, a show that I have reviewed and highly recommend you check out. But after what happened in that show, Matt Murdock is essentially dead. Because the person living inside the body, played by Charlie Cox, doesn't know if he wants to be Matt Murdock anymore. He just wants to take up the mantle of Daredevil. And because of that, we see significantly less of Matt being Matt, attorney by day, as we do Matt, moping vigilante who is depressed at church.

This, right off the bat, is something to get used to. And it took me awhile. I can't honestly say that I ever did. Personally, I felt that seeing Matt be an attorney, be someone who helped other people using the law was something that added that extra layer that his character needed to be meaningful and to be human. And while I can understand why Matt Murdock may have needed to narratively, it still feels unsatisfying at times. The previous three seasons have built up this case for Matt Murdock to be an attorney, someone who helps people using the law. And to the show's credit, no spoilers, but there is a little bit of that again. So I can understand the motivation behind wanting to build up to a grand return to form in episodes 12 and 13. The only problem with that was it was too little, too late. After 11 hours of television, I wasn't as invested as I had been after season 2 was over.

And because of what happened in The Defenders, Matt Murdock spends a majority of the time out of costume being, quite frankly, a jerk. He alienates his friends, what's left of his family, and tears apart his relationships. To me, this angle would have worked much better if this hadn't happened before. We've seen Matt put his friends in harm's way. Now's not the time to be a jerk about it. What frustrates me about the season is that I can completely understand Matt's motivations, and I know where he's coming from. It's just that none of it really ever clicked for me until the very end. 

The side characters, the recurring ones at least, were not nearly as strong as they used to be. Foggy Nelson, played by Eldon Henson, is very one note. He is given some to do, but not as much as season 2. And for what he's given, he plays it safe. A lot of time is devoted to Karen Page. My liking for the character has gone down with each subsequent season that she's in, and I think it has little to do with the character and more to do with the actress. Ann Woll plays the character the same way, a very panicked, frustrated, but strained kind of attitude that doesn't quite mesh well. There's an entire episode devoted to her backstory, and for the first time in 3 seasons, including The Defenders, I found myself watching going, "This is completely filler". 

That's the main problem with this season. There isn't a lot of focus and it meanders a lot more than the other couple of seasons. Granted, season two could have been split in two and focused on the Punisher and Elektra. But they were focused in their own respects. This season, when it was locked into gear, was REALLY locked into gear. It was just those moments that it wasn't that bothered me, and that's when the show dragged. There is a lot of backstory revealed about each of the big three, Matt, Karen, and Foggy, and those were the moments that I felt the show wasn't its best.

But moving back to more positive things, the action, once again is spectacular. There are more hand to hand fights and they are more in the vein of the first season. Matt is really on his own in this one, reverting back to his old costume, and what ensues are some epic fight scenes, through offices, through hallways again, and more stairwells. The dialogue as well is, once again, sharp and witty. The dialogue for this shows has always been something I've taken for granted, but it is as good as it has ever been. 

Like I mentioned earlier, when the show really picks up is when it's focused on its main storyline. And in this season, it's back to Wilson Fisk. What I loved the most about this season was how streamlined the plot felt. Wilson Fisk's plan and motivations are completely laid out to you; they're not easy either, it's not like they're handed to you on a silver platter. But you're able to follow them and you know them before the other characters do, and because of that you can see his plan spring into action as all the main characters do.

I think season 3 really nailed the villains. Yes, I still am not on board with Vincent D'Onofrio's portrayal of Kingpin. It still feels awkward and stilted, which I know is the point, but it's never connected with me. But his character this time around is much more fleshed out and come episode 13, he's truly a sight to behold, not just because of his brutal physicality, but also because of how much you understand him.

We also get the introduction of classic Daredevil villain Bullseye, though thankfully never referred to as such. They nailed, no pun intended, his character. Ben Poindexter is a truly broken man, which is what makes him so interesting. And on top fo that, they nailed his action, too. It's terrifying to be in a fight at long distance with him because he can throw anything at you and he will NOT miss. And I mean that. Everything he threw did not miss its target, and it was terrifying to see, especially when he was using things like shards of glass.

There are other new characters that are introduced that we follow throughout the series, and I think that a lot of them were fantastic. There's one in particular by the name of Ray Nadeem that we follow all season. I think that his character arc was one of the most compelling through the three seasons, and given how much the show focuses on him, they develop his character a great deal. 

In Conclusion: There's a lot to like in Daredevil season 3. Charlie Cox once again kills it as Daredevil and Matt Murdock. He brings a different kind of brutality to the role that we haven't seen yet. The action, dialogue, and especially the plot are fast, brutal, and engaging. The new villains, as well as the old mesh perfectly together. There is, however, a lot more filler in this season than in seasons past. There is a lot of screen time devoted to subplots that I didn't believe deserved that much time. That being said, this season is still top notch, albeit a tier below the first two, and I truly am sad to think that I'll never see these incarnations of these characters ever again.