Movie Review: Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker

PLOT:

While the First Order continues to ravage the galaxy, Rey finalizes her training as a Jedi. But danger suddenly rises from the ashes as the evil Emperor Palpatine mysteriously returns from the dead. While working with Finn and Poe Dameron to fulfill a new mission, Rey will not only face Kylo Ren once more, but she will also finally discover the truth about her parents as well as a deadly secret that could determine her future and the fate of the ultimate final showdown that is to come.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

So long, Princess.As everyone knows, Carrie Fisher, the actress who portrayed Leia passed away a year prior to the release of Star Wars: The Last Jedi causing worry about how her death would be handled. As it turns out, most of her scenes had already been shot. I am sure there was some slight alteration to her story arc, but rest assured, we do get a good farewell to our beloved Princess that is worthy of her character and all that she has done for the franchise.

Character arcs. Speaking of character arcs, thinking back to where many of these characters were when we first saw them, whether it was in the holy trilogy or one of these newer films. Rey has gone from a scavenger girl to a jedi. Finn has gone from a renegade Storm trooper to a strong member of the Rebel Alliance. Kylo Ren was a whiny Vader disciple at first and now he is a full fledged villain. Who would have thought?

Right the ship. There has been no shortage of articles, videos, thought pieces, etc on how Rian Johnson allegedly “ruined” the franchise. Personally, while not a fan of everything he did in the last film, I don’t think he is solely responsible for the current state of this once proud..um…empire. That said, J.J. Abrams has come in as someone with genuine affection for the property in an attempt to the right the ship. I won’t say that he has done so, mostly because I don’t believe that Herculean task could be done by anyone other than 70s era George Lucas, but he lays some foundation down for whatever is next., as well as corrected some mistakes that have been made

What didn’t I like?

Flawless victor. A review I saw on Youtube mentioned that in these 3 films, Rey has taken little to no damage. As I was gathering my thoughts for this review, I started to think about that and realized that he was right! I think the most damage she took was in the first film, when it seemed as if Finn was going to be a bigger part of things going forward than he ended up being (more on that shortly). Also, it should be mentioned that this girl, who has no formal Jedi training, save for a couple of lessons from a grumpy, disgruntled Luke Skywalker and some mentoring from Leia has seemingly more control of the Force than many of the Jedi masters we have seen in this entire franchise, including Yoda. Yes, we are supposed to see that she is extremely powerful, but there comes a point where it is just too much!

Does it matter?  There are two characters from the original trilogy that seemingly come to their end fairly early on in the film. Given that we have seen both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker sacrifice themselves in the previous films and there is no way Leia can make it through this film, for obvious reasons, this isn’t that much of a surprise. I have to take umbrage with the fact that the audience doesn’t get to mourn their demise before they return. Both of these characters could have had an emotional return had they not been rushed.

Waste of potential. There is so much potential with this film but it is squandered away. Many plot points and new characters are introduced that seem as if they could go somewhere, such as who else has the planet destroying technology that the Star Destroyer cannons were using, what about the bounty hunter Poe knew…and how does he know her, the renegade storm troopers on Endor, who are the Sith druids, etc. None of these were answered. Perhaps in comics, novels, and such they will be, but would it have hurt to get some answers on screen? It just seems as if there was no overall plan for these 3 films, unlike the holy trilogy and, regardless of what you may think of them, the prequels.

Final verdict:

When Disney bought the rights to the Star Wars franchise a few years ago, everyone thought they were going to hit it out of the park. With the release of The Force Awakens, it seemed as if big things were on the horizon…until the release of The Last Jedi. The Rise of Skywalker is not going to be as polarizing as its predecessor but, as a film that brings this sage to an end, it feels as if it limps to the finish line. As I mentioned earlier, so many plot points and characters that could have been explored further, with main characters Poe and Finn chief among them. Heck, there was so much that could have been done with Finn, a Storm trooper that defected, but never came to fruition. Still, there is plenty to be excited about with this film, the return of Lando, a certain cameo, the remains of the Death Star (you can’t say you haven’t wondered what happened to that thing after it blew up), call backs to the previous films, etc. For me, I liked it, but didn’t love what I saw. The reverence to what has come before is what gets a few extra points for this flick. Do I recommend this? Yes, but proceed with caution. This isn’t the epic event that Star Wars films used to be. Sadly, I think we will never see those days again due to oversaturation so many clones and copies.

4 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Desperado

PLOT:

Director Robert Rodriguez picks up where his successful independent debut El Mariachi left off with this slam-bang South of the Border action saga. Bucho (Joaquim DeAlmeida) is a wealthy but casually bloodthirsty drug kingpin who rules a seedy Mexican border town. Bucho and his men make the mistake of angering El Mariachi (Antonio Banderas), a former musician who now carries an arsenal in his guitar case. Bucho was responsible for the death of El Mariachi’s girlfriend and put a bullet through his fretting hand, making him unable to play the guitar. Bent on revenge, the musician-turned-killing machine arrives in town to put Bucho out of business, though he finds few allies except for Carolina (Salma Hayek), who runs a bookstore that doesn’t seem to attract many readers.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

En fuego. This was made in the early-mid 90s, a time when Antonio Banderas’ star was just starting to rise and we were introduced to a young, hot, curvaceous Latina actress by the name of Salma Hayek. The chemistry between these two is off the charts, so much so one has to wonder two things. First, is there something actually going on between them and second, why haven’t we had more pairings of these two. As far as I know the only other time they have been together is as voice actors for Puss in Boots. At any rate, watching the fire these two make together will surely get your pulse racing, and that’s long before they even get to the bedroom scene!!!

Shoot ’em up! Who doesn’t love a good shootout, right? As a fan of old westerns, I was all but raised on scenes like this, so of course this was a bright spot for me. What makes it really standout, however, is the creative use of weaponry. Sure there is the traditional pulling guns from the holsters, but have you ever seen a bazooka in a guitar case? How about a small arsenal hidden under a fake guitar in another guitar case? No, well, those are just a couple of the innovations you can find watching this flick. Now, don’t get me started on how bloody brilliant the violence throughout the picture is…emphasis on bloody!

Keep it simple, stupid. If you listen to these grumpy old directors that are coming out of the woodwork lately bashing superhero films, you’d think it was a deadly sin to make a film that is just fun. They seem to believe every film is supposed to make your brain go a million miles a minute. I hate to inform them that audiences just want an escape, especially in today’s world. This is what this film excels in. The plot is a very simplistic case of revenge. Nothing more, nothing less. Sometimes that’s all you need.

What didn’t I like?

Down time. There is something to be said in action flicks for scenes where things slow down. The calm before the storm, if you will. What doesn’t work in these situations, though, is when said scenes all but grind the picture to a halt. Now, this film doesn’t suffer from this as much as some other films, but it is a noticeable yellow light for the rapid pace it was on, mostly spurred on by the antagonist, which was odd.

Tell me a story. Earlier, I praised this film’s simplicity. I do not back down from that sentiment, but I do have a small issue with the lack of a story. Granted, this is a sequel to a film I’ve only seen one time and that was many years ago on late night TV as I was studying for a test in college. Much of the story that is lacking I feel was covered in the previous film. Still, there could have been a few more story beats in this grand tale of bloody revenge.

Just when I was starting to like the guy. Not to spoil anything, but if you start to like a character in this film, I suggest you not get attached, save for our protagonist. There is a very high body count that gets racked up in a short amount of time, including some rather big name actors that appear. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, other than it being a trope that many films tend to gravitate toward. That is luring the audience into a false sense of security with a character, mostly due to the actor playing them, and then kill them off. Personally, I don’t care for it.

Final verdict.

Desperado is an underrated gem. Why is this? Is it because Banderas, Hayek, as we all as director Robert Rodriguez have gone on to bigger things? Perhaps, but I think this is just a product of its time. Watching the film, you can’t really tell if it is set in the past or present day, save for the cell phones they use, which usually leads to film having staying power or a legacy. The mystery will continue, though. For me, I love this film! Nothing more exciting to me than just mindless violence as an escape from the weight of the world. As a bonus, Salma Hayek. Need I say more?!? Seriously, though, this is a film that is worth watching if you’re not into the heavy stuff. Give it a shot sometime!

5 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Midway

PLOT: 

On Dec. 7, 1941, Japanese forces launch a devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. naval base in Hawaii. Six months later, the Battle of Midway commences on June 4, 1942, as the Japanese navy once again plans a strike against American ships in the Pacific. For the next three days, the U.S. Navy and a squad of brave fighter pilots engage the enemy in one of the most important and decisive battles of World War II.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

In the air. Being an Air Force brat, I grew up amongst airplanes. To this day whenever an aircraft flies overhead, I find myself looking up in awe. In this film, a good chunk of screen time is devoted not only to the planes in battle, but also to the pilots issues with said planes (oxygen, fuel, etc). That said, the real highlight is on the dogfights in the air. Great care was taken to ensure these battles looked real and authentic, rather than something out of a sci-fi film.

Tactics. How many war movies actually take the time to show the tactics being laid out in the war room? I can think of a couple, such as The Alamo (which also starred Patrick Wilson and Dennis Quaid), but even in that film, the strategy scenes were short, few, and far between. With this film, no we don’t get a full on tactic session depicting Sun Tzu The Art of War, but we are privy to how the US and Japanese forces played a bit of a chess game(or maybe Battleship would be the better analogy) with each other in an attempt to get the upperhand in the war.

Simplicity. Sometimes simple is better. Director Roland Emmerich, who is known for his grand explosions and flair for the dramatic manages to reel himself in for this film. Rather than depending on special effects to drive the narrative, he lets the story and actors tell the tale, with the effects and explosions placed in the correct place. Some have said this feels more like a film from the old days of Hollywood because of his restraint. I won’t go that far, but I do see where they are coming from.

What didn’t I like?

Cram session. There are a lot of characters in the film, perhaps too many. Understanding that Emmerich was attempting to give all the pertinent players from this point in history their due time to shine, soe of them could have been left out so that the focus could be places squarely on the primary story. For instance,the Dolittle raid is mentioned and he even shows up for a couple of scenes. However, this small cameo was not needed. Hell, we learned all about that mission in Pearl Harbor. It is obvious the focus of the film was meant to be split between Ed Skrein’s Lt. Best and his flying and Patrick Wilson’s Lt. Layton as he does his best to avoid another disaster like Pearl Harbor. Everything else could have been left out or, at the very least, briefly mentioned.

Effects. When I first saw the trailer for this, I noticed some of the comments mentioned how huge the cast was and that all the money must have been spent on them, rather than effects. I figured this was just how they looked in the trailer and the film would make things look more polished. Turns out I was mistaken. The effects in this film aren’t great, but they also aren’t what you would expect for a film that was released in theaters, but rather something you would see on television back about 10 or so years ago. Maybe if they made some of those cuts i mentioned earlier, they could have used that money for better effects.

Missing history. As the title suggests, this is about the Battle of Midway. However, we skip the rest of the war. We get the attack on Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt’s “Day that will live in infamy” speech, and the aforementioned Doolittle raid, but that’s all. No mention of why the US has hasn’t been in the war, no mention of the Japanese and the Axis of evil, no mention of the Nazis, none of that. Again, I’m not saying we needed to cram any of this into the film, but there should have at least been some mention of it, otherwise these flyboys are just out there shooting down Japanese and vice-versa.

Final verdict.

A while back, I had the chance to watch an old John Wayne (non-western) film, In Harm’s Way. I have found this to still be one of the best war films I have watched to date (one of these days I will get around to watching Saving Private Ryan). Midway has its moments that are fun to watch, great acting (Ed Skrein comes off like he watched a bunch of early Sinatra movies), and some realistic circumstances that you wouldn’t think you would see in a PG-13 film *GASP* smoking *GASP* That said, when there isn’t a battle going on, the film does tend to drag and that is where this film has its ultimate downfall. Do I recommend this? Yes, if you’re a fan of huge fan of WWII like myself. This should especially be seen on the big screen, but chances are when it hits the home market, we’ll have forgotten what this was.

3 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Aladdin

PLOT:

A kind-hearted street urchin and a power-hungry Grand Vizier vie for a magic lamp that has the power to make their deepest wishes come true.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Always bet on brown. This may seem like a small thing, but I have to give credit to the casting director for casting people that at least seem to look like they are from this area of the world, even if they aren’t. Hollywood has a history of “whitewashing”, so this is a pretty big thing.

She’s so pretty. Naomi Scott is a gorgeous creature. Princess Jasmine has long been one of the prettiest of the Disney princesses, so for me she was perfect casting. However, let me now just focus on her beauty, because she kills it as an actress. She is able to portray the more delicate and vulnerable flower, for lack of a better term, as well as the fierce princess ready to defend her people. Watching her flip the switch is pretty impressive, even there are aspects of her character that I didn’t dig on (which I will touch on shortly).

Culture. Middle Eastern culture is full of vibrant colors, extravange robes, and percussive dances. At least that’s what this film would have us believe and, while this isn’t all the culture has to offer, it is a part of it…one director Guy Ritchie (it can be debated later whether he was the right guy for this film or not) chose to highlight. Say what you will, the designs of the dresses, specifically Princess Jasmine’s are breathtaking.

What didn’t I like?

Some people should not sing. By now, you can read review after review praising Will Smith’s portrayal as the Genie and how he didn’t dare try to repeat what Robin Williams did. When you think about it, no one could really recreate that magic. What is not being talked about is how Smith sings in this film. Will Smith initially rose to popularity as a family-friendly, comedic rapper in the late 80s/early 90s, but he has never been one to belt out a tune, which makes it weird that they chose to have him do so in this film. Granted, a lot of of it is sing talking, but the rest…well, he isn’t horrible, but you aren’t going to go out and download a bunch of files of Smith singing. Couldn’t they have let someone else do the singing for him?

Feminist agenda. This is sure to ruffle some feathers and for that I am sorry, but this is my blog and my opinion. I prefer Jasmine’s character arc from the cartoon. In this adaptation they have made her want to be sultan which makes absolutely no sense. She’s a princess, albeit a strong-willed one, and nothing in her backstory suggests that she would ever want to be sultan. Oh wait…there is this movement where women have to have all the power, be strong, and not need a man. Nothing wrong with that, but when we see it in every….single…thing…it gets tedious, especially when it doesn’t particularly fit the character. Sure, a Jasmine that just sat around pining for a guy would not work, but the reverse doesn’t do anything for me, either. In some ways, this characterization ruined the character for me.

Jafar. We are all familiar with the tall, dark, and menacing Jafar. Not only is this the one that was used in the original animated version, but he is also based on the royal vizier from the silent film The Thief of Baghdad. So, what is wrong with this version? Well, if you were to run into the animated version in a dark alley, there would be a sense of fear and intimidation before he even spoke a word. With this one, other than his anger issues and background as a street thief, one isn’t really intimidated and that really takes away from the character. I mean, this is supposed to be the main antagonist and he doesn’t really cause one to quiver with fear.

Final verdict:

Like other reviewers, I was surprised by how much I actually enjoyed Aladdin. This is a film that has received alot of bad press, starting with that horrible picture of Will Smith as the Genie. Rest assured, though, he kills it, as does Naomi Scott as Jasmine. I with the same could be said for Aladdin, but our main character takes a backseat for a good portion of the film. The songs are all given a hip hop edge to them that I could take or leave and Jasmine has a new feminist power song that I sort of like, but not enough to be belting it out like “Let It Go”, from a few years ago. So, with all this said, I have to say that it is best to stick with the original Aladdin. This live action remake is serviceable, but nothing compares to the original

4 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Avengers: Endgame

PLOT: 

After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the universe is in ruins due to the efforts of the Mad Titan, Thanos. With the help of remaining allies, the Avengers must assemble once more in order to undo Thanos’s actions and undo the chaos to the universe, no matter what consequences may be in store, and no matter who they face…

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Big payoff. 11 years. 22 movies. It has all been leading up to this epic confrontation between the Avengers and the Mad Titan, Thanos. Was it worth the wait? Some will say yes and some will say no. I am a member of team yes. While I would have liked a more direct confrontation with a Thanos that was more in line with the source material, I can’t complain with what we got. The stakes couldn’t have been any higher for this epic conclusion. Honestly, the MCU could end with this film and I don’t think anyone would complain.

Lighten up. With such high stakes, you would think this would be a very dark and serious film with little to no levity. In true Marvel fashion, there are plenty of moments that will make you chuckle and lighten the mood. Everything can’t be all gloom and doom, even in the face of utter destruction.

Tug on the heartstrings. I know that I am a little late with this review and the spoiler embargo and been lifted, but I still won’t put any in here, out of respect for those that have yet to watch this film, or may be reading this months or years from now and have forgotten what happened. With that said, if you are an emotional person, you might want to bring a box of tissues with you. The emotional arcs in this film regarding certain characters will surely move you. I have been referred to as a robot, due to my lack of emotion/compassion, but even I felt something for one of these characters’ storylines and how appropriately it was handled.

What didn’t I like?

Rules of time travel. There are numerous time travel myths out there. For me, I prefer the Back to the Future rules but, of course, this film took those rules and threw them out the window…Tony Stark even jokes about it with Ant-Man. It isn’t so much that this film uses different time travel rules, but more that it is a bit of a douche when mentioning the other universes that use time travel and making all the work that was put into developing said rules seem fruitless.

Girls, Girls, Girls. In the climactic battle, there is a scene where a character, who shall not be named, gather to protect them. This came out of nowhere, many of these women have had little to no interactions with each other. I know, I know…this was meant to be a reference to the A-Force from the comics, but it seemed more like a fan service moment and/or a cheap girl power attempt. No, I’m not being sexist. I just feel that if they were going to do this, at least give it some build up. There was no hint at this happening and all these women came from all over the battlefield to do this. It just felt forced.

Rescue me. In the comics, Pepper Potts is likable. In the MCU, she started out that way, but over the films, she became more of a nagging shrew. In Iron Man 3, she is given some temporary powers and outfitted in an exosuit to save the world. It was believed that was a one time thing, but lo and behold, here we see her in a suit that doesn’t even resemble her comic counterpart. On top of that, non-comic fans would be totally lost as to why she was wearing armor.

Final verdict:

Avengers: Endgame didn’t disappoint. Yes, there are some issues, like the hour or so that weighs down the middle half of the film, but overall this is a satisfying conclusion to this saga and I am looking forward to where the MCU goes in the future. I mentioned earlier that this would be a fitting end for the MCU. Not that I want it to, but how poetic would it be, with most of these characters having been created by Stan Lee to end with his death (this is his final cameo). That isn’t happening, though. Spider-Man: Far from Home is coming out this summer and following its release, we should know more about what the future holds. As far as this film goes, well, there is no reason to not see it multiple times. I also suggest watching Avengers: Infinity War beforehand to refresh your mind, though.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Shazam!

PLOT: In Philadelphia, Billy Batson is an abandoned child who is proving a nuisance to Child Services and the authorities with his stubborn search for his lost mother. However, in his latest foster home, Billy makes a new friend, Freddy, and finds himself selected by the Wizard Shazam to be his new champion. Now endowed with the ability to instantly become an adult superhero by speaking the wizard’s name, Billy gleefully explores his new powers with Freddy. However, Billy soon learns that he has a deadly enemy, Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, who was previously rejected by the wizard and has accepted the power of the Seven Deadly Sins instead. Now pursued by this mad scientist for his own power as well, Billy must face up to the responsibilities of his calling while learning the power of a special magic with his true family that Sivana can never understand.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

No time to brood. In the past, we have seen so many superheroes lamenting the “curse” of the powers they have been given. Shazam does just the opposite, he embraces his powers and has fun with them. I suppose I would too if I suddenly became super strong and invincible. Still, it is refreshing to see this trend of superheroes enjoying what they have, rather than being Debby Downers.

Fun in the sun. On the topic of fun, remember when the DC Extended Universe was dark, grim, and no fun? I think it was Batman v. Superman when they decided to shift to a more fun style of film, starting with Wonder Woman. This was also aided by Zach Snyder’s departure, which may not have been for the best reasons, but has definitely been for the best. Watching Shazam ham it up for most of this film (in the comics, he is sometimes referred to as “the big cheese”), and the fact that they didn’t even try to mute the bright red costume like they did with Superman’s outfit in Man of Steel is another sign that the powers that be have decided to go in a lighter direction; finally realizing that every superhero is not Batman.

Adolescence. The biggest challenge in making this film work was getting a nearly 40 yr old Zachary Levi to act like he was a 15 yr old boy who was just given all the power in the world. Levi has a manchild quality about him naturally, so I imagine this wasn’t too big of a challenge. Watching the progression of Shazam, I couldn’t help but think that his actions are exactly what I would have done if I had been given that much power at that age. Yes, I would have gone into a strip club, given a lightning powered street performance for money, bought and tried (nasty) beer, etc. What 15 yr old boy wouldn’t have done these things?

What didn’t I like?

Tonal shift. Earlier, I mentioned how fun and lighthearted this film turned out to be. However, there are a few instances that suddenly shift the film’s tone. Murder, child abandonment, teen pregnancy…are these things you would expect to see in a film aimed at a more family oriented audience. Granted, these elements brought in some much needed conflict to film that is mostly fluff, I still felt they were a bit too heavy handed in how they were handled, particularly the stuff involving Billy and his mother.

Padding. The Shazam suit looks great and about as close to the source material as humanly possible. However, I do have a small complaint. The tone of this film and the nature of Shazam are more cartoonish in nature than all of the other superheroes we’ve seen, so his look should be a bit more cartoonish or exaggerated. Initially, I was fine with this until I started thinking. If the time comes and we see Shazam team up with Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, Aquaman, the Flash, etc, pending changes to their suits he is going to look quite out of place. I say this thinking of how Captain America looked in the first Avengers and how his look has changed. I’m not saying Shazam needs to totally alter his appearance, mostly just making an observation. Also, I read the Zachary Levi packed on some muscle to play this role, but with all the padding, you can’t see the work he did.

Scum and villainy. There is still a problem in superhero movies with trying to use too many villains. With this picture we have essentially 8 in 1. The “big” bad is Dr. Thaddeus Sivana, played by Mark Strong. My only issue with him is how different from the source material he is, going so far as to use the Seven Deadly Sins as a super power. Yes, I said the Seven Deadly Sins. I equate this to Parallax in the Green Lantern movie (which also starred Mark Strong). They are just a CGI threat meant to make an exciting final fight. The focus should have been either on them or Dr, Sivana. I suggest Sivana and upon his defeat they are awakened, leading to the sequel.

Final verdict:

Shazam! is probably one of the first superhero films in recent memory that feels like it could change people’s opinion on the genre. Does it have its faults? Yes, but who goes into a superhero flick expecting to see something akin to Citizen Kane? The important thing is that this is a fun flick you can take the whole family too. I highly recommend it!

4 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Captain Marvel

 

PLOT:

After crashing an experimental aircraft, Air Force pilot Carol Danvers is discovered by the Kree and trained as a member of the elite Starforce Military under the command of her mentor Yon-Rogg. Six years later, after escaping to Earth while under attack by the Skrulls, Danvers begins to discover there’s more to her past. With help from S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Nick Fury, they set out to unravel the truth.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Sense of humor. A big controversy surrounding the film before it was even was released revolved around Brie Larson not cracking a smile in all the images we saw of her as Captain Marvel. Rest assured, this is not the case. Larson cracks jokes left and right and seems to be enjoying herself as a superhero. For me, this really works because Captain Marvel isn’t really that interesting a character. Giving her some personality was a wise decision.

Tone. Keeping on the train of thought, I was going into the mindset that this was going to be a serious, feminist-type flick. Thank goodness this wasn’t the case. Yes, there are some female empowerment moments, but these are not shoved down the audience’s throat. There is a light tone to this film that works. Also, the nostalgia factor is high for someone who came of age in the 90s. I doubt we would have had those Easter eggs had this been given a more serious tone.

Stan Lee. The great Stan Lee passed near the end of the year. Rumor is he filmed a bunch of cameos before his death, so that we won’t miss him. Actuality is his cameo in this film, Spider-Man: Into the Multiverse, and the upcoming Avengers: Endgame were his final times on film. Interesting how he plays himself in this one, reading the script to Mallrats. Also, i have to mention the beginning. Normally, when the Marvel logo music rolls we see the Marvel characters, Captain America, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Scarlet Witch, etc. This time around, though, it was all about Stan Lee, a fitting tribute to the man who created or had a hand in creating long before anyone ever thought of a Marvel Cinematic Universe.

What didn’t I like?

Nick Fury. We know Col. Nick Fury as the badass, no-nonsense head of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the man who started the Avengers initiative. Watching him as a young agent, you would never guess this, as he is more or less glorified comic relief. Realizing that the years and time take its toll and change a person, the elements of who you become are still there, and with this version of Fury, I was…and still am struggling with how this guy is going to become the Fury we all respect. Conversely, Agent Coulson, same guy we’ve known from the first Iron Man all the way to Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. So, perhaps there is something else that happens to Fury that changes him, but for now I’m left scratching my head.

Oh Captain, my Captain. Marvel is banking on Captain Marvel being a big to-do in the MCU. Also, they want her to be a big selling point for girls (totally ignoring Black Widow, Scarlet Witch, Shuri, and the Dora Milaje). Apparently, she is supposed to be the most powerful being in the universe, from what I’ve been reading. I argue that Thor has more power, but that’s not point here. I give Brie Larson props for the training and all she went through for this role, but I don’t see her as Captain Marvel. I see someone more along the lines of Charlize Theron, Jessica Biel, etc. Carol Danvers has lived a life and it has made her a hard woman. Watching Larson, I couldn’t help but think of a girl playing dress-up. Having said this, while I still protest that she does not have the right body type to play Wonder Woman, I have come around on Gal Gadot. Perhaps the same will happen with Brie Larson.

Kree-Skull war. The war between the Kree and Skrull is such a big event in the comics that i find it strange that it was crammed into just this one film. Surely we’ll be getting more, right? If not, then surely there are other stories that could have served to give us Danvers’ origin, right? As it stands, we have been introduced to the Kree in Guardians of the Galaxy and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., the latter of which also has mentioned Skrulls (I can’t recall if any actually appeared, though). So, general audiences are pretty much aware of these two species in the MCU. Hopefully, this was just the beginning, though. Who knows, perhaps the Kree-Skrull war is where the MCU will be heading after Thanos’ defeat.

Final verdict.

Captain Marvel defied my expectation. I have never been excited for this film because of the blandness of the character and the way everyone has been using her as a feminist icon, for the sole purpose of her being a female superhero. That being said, other than having to leave the theater very early on with a stomach issue, I rather enjoyed myself. This isn’t the greatest entry in the MCU, but it is far from the worst. I’m probably going to give this another go, but as it stand in my head right now, it is most assuredly worth your time.

4 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

PLOT:

As Hiccup fulfills his dream of creating a peaceful dragon utopia, Toothless’ discovery of an untamed, elusive mate draws the Night Fury away. When danger mounts at home and Hiccup’s reign as village chief is tested, both dragon and rider must make impossible decisions to save their kind.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Growth. Over the years this franchise has been going, we have seen the characters grow and mature which, for animation is exceptionally rare. Just look at The Simpsons, they’ve been stuck in basically the same character arcs since the show started back in 1989, with slight tweaks now and then. Watching Hiccup, Toothless, and the rest of this lot come into their own in this final film of the trilogy knowing what a ragtag bunch of misfits they were in the first film is something these filmmakers should pat themselves on the back for accomplishing and, above all, making it believable!

Scenery. When I log on to my computer everyday, there is a different beautiful bit of scenery from around the world. Today, I think it was Jackson Hole, WY. While animation cannot quite capture nature’s beauty, when they go all out and do it well, it can take you breath away, just the same. In the 3rd act of the film, Hiccup and Astrid head down the titular Hidden World and we are treated to a visual feast. Not only are there multiple species of dragons, but the colorful rocks, stalactites and such will have your jaw on the ground!

Specimen. With each film, there have been more and more dragons added. Keeping track of them is a challenge, but I am sure someone has taken the time to catalogue them all. Where they find the time, I have no idea! What I like about the dragons, though, is each one is different. Even those that are of the same species seem to be different. Take for instance Toothless and the light fury. She seems to have more abilities/powers than he does, yet he has more power…of course, he IS the alpha, after all.

What didn’t I like?

Mating ritual. I get it, I get it! The mating ritual between Toothless and the Light Fury was meant to be cute and help solidify their relationship. I just felt it went on way too long….and it happened twice!!! They could have cut some of that out and it wouldn’t have hurt a thing. One can only see Toothless make a fool of himself for this seemingly unlikable female opposite of him so many times before you are ready to move on.

Grim villain. Is it me, or has every villain in these movies been out to capture dragons? Grimmel, voiced by F. Murray Abraham, may be the least threatening. Not because he doesn’t get results, but because he is more reserved about the way he does things. Someone said he is more like a Bond villain…cold and calculating. While there is nothing wrong with that, personally I feel this film needed a flashier villain.

The voice. There is nothing he can do about it, really, but Jay Baruchel’s voice got on my last nerve. Dude is now the chief of this village, shouldn’t he have some bass in his voice and stop talking out of his nose? One of the characters even mentions this to him. Yes, this one of the things that sets him apart from everyone else, but I can imagine at some point watching the entire trilogy and his voice will become like nails on a chalkboard when I get to this one, if not before.

Final verdict: For some reason, I wasn’t feeling this today. That isn’t to say this wasn’t a good film. I enjoyed it, but the love wasn’t there. It was sort of like watching something on YouTube and then doing something else in another window. Also, the audience was much older than what i expected for this film. I think there may have been 2 kids in there, maybe 3. The rest were my age or older. Anyway, this is an enjoyable, well made film that is a fitting end for this trilogy. If you are an emotional person, I highly recommend you bring your tissues, because the end will choke you up. This is definitely worth a shot, especially if you can check it out at the theater in 3D.

4 out of 5 stars

Movie Review: Bumblebee

PLOT:

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken. When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug.

REVIEW:

What did I like?

Taking it back to the old school. I grew up in the 80s, so it pretty much goes without saying that Transformers were a big part of my childhood, both as toys (Bumblebee may have been my first) and as a cartoon, not to mention the comic. When Michael Bay’s Transformers was released in 2007, I was super excited about it, but underwhelmed and a little upset about the new designs. Fast forward to this film where Travis Knight, who actually is a fan of the property gives us Transformers that are what we all expected to see back in ’07. On top of that, this is set in the 80s, which makes perfect sense for this franchise!

Bigger isn’t always better. Explosions are a signature of Michael Bay, along with patriotism and scantily clad females. Bumblebee does have a few explosions but, unlike in the Bay movies, these are few and far between, only happening when needed so as to not take away from the story and character development going on with Bumblebee and his human companion, Charlie, played by Hailee Steinfeld.

Humanism. A common complaint that I have with these films is the constant use of humans as opposed to the robots. In a movie called Transformers the focus should be on them. With this film, I still feel the same, but Steinfeld is much more of a likable and relatable character than Shia Lebouef and Mark Wahlberg’s protagonists were, which makes the time spent on her actually worth watching. Also, many of her scenes are with Bumblebee, rather than some random fleshbags wasting oxygen and screen time.

What didn’t I like?

Family matters. Continuing on the topic of Steinfeld’s Charlie, we could have done without her family drama. Sure, it helped to make her a sympathetic character, but there was a part of me that was feeling as if this was doing nothing more than pad out run time, at the expense of developing the villains.

Military. A huge pet peeve I have with movies is how trigger happy the military tends to be, often time causing more problems that they are supposed to be solving. When we first see them doing some sort of recreational training exercise, Bumblebee crashes to Earth and gets spotted. Immediately, they assume he is a threat and go on the offensive, even after seeing him attacked by the Decepticon jet, Blitzwing! To their credit, this isn’t the Army, Navy, Air Force, etc., but rather Sector 7, the secret government agency, in this universe, that protects the planet from alien invasions and whatnot. There is even a small cameo by a young Agent Simmons!

Triple goop. The Triple changer toys were awesome, from what i recall. As the toyline came to an end, they started bringing in 6 changers! What is my problem with the triple changers in the film? Well, first thing is the irony of introducing triple changers and then having Blitzing, who was an actual triple changer trick fans in the trailer into thinking he was Starscream. Next, i appreciate the new characters, but they could have very easily used Blitzwing, Astrotrain, Octane, etc., for the villains. Hell, they could have even uses Thundercracker and Skywarp or Thrust and Dirge, at least these would have been a connection to the G1 lore that, let’s face, most of the audience that saw this and keeps these movies in production wants to see. Lastly, Dropkick is quick to kill humans, but when he does, they turn into this silvery goop, which is never explained. My theory is to keep from having blood on the screen, but that could have been handled by not having him kill everyone!

Final verdict: As a Transformers fanboy, Bumblebee rocketed up my anticipation list the moment I saw how it was a love letter to G1 and not a bunch of whirling parts where the audience can’t tell who’s who. The opening scene on Cybertron turned me back into a 6 yr old watching the cartoon (side note: I did go see the re-release of the 80s movie in theaters back in September and had a similar reaction), as did a scene near the film’s end, which I will not spoil. The plot is a little thin, but no one comes into a movie like this expecting some award-winning writing. I liked that Steinfeld’s character was likable and that she didn’t try to steal the spotlight from Bumblebee in his own movie, but now I’m wondering where is she now, in relation to the current films. Hmmm…

4 out of 5 stars