The New Review - Thor: Love and Thunder

Copyright by Disney/Marvel

Thor: Love and Thunder

Director: Taika Waititi

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale

Concept: Taika's go with Thor, a sequel to Ragnarok. And the 4th in the series. And this one... we get introduced to Mighty Thor, aka Dr. Jane Foster!!!

Slightly Spoilery. That is your warning.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: Hemsworth Thors it up again. You know it. Tessa Thompson with a great support role. Natalie Portman did a great job as the hero. But the highlight of the movie is Christian Bale. His Gorr the God Butcher was amazing. Creepy. The other 3 brought their A game, but Bale brought his A+ game. Score: 18/20

Presentation: Rockin' soundtrack. Bright and colorful. But... equally depressing and dark. And one of the most depressing starts to an MCU movie do far. Straight to the heartstrings. And set a tone that permeates the whole movie. But... the humor, while expected, did take away from the movie a little bit. It wasn't OVERLY funny, like Ragnarok was. But the timing of some of it was out of place. Korg... isn't necessary anymore. Score: 17/20

Chronicle: this is movie with two stories: one for the heroes(Thor, Jane, Valkyrie) and one for the villain(Gorr). The hero story was... happy, positive with a tragic ending. The villain story was dark, depressing with a somewhat peaceful ending. And... that yin yang type works... just know, they feel like two different movies melted together. Not a bad thing... most of the time. And in this case it does, for the most part. The hero side of the story was filled with so many clichés and tropes(but not the one I expected), but it also turned one around(fridging into a hero's death). The villain side... once again, the villain's motivation was justified. But... justified in both sides(the God he worshipped personally... and then the Gods Thor went to for help). The audience understood why. But... methods are what made him a true villain. So... understandable motivations... but despicable actions. A well developed character, portrayed by one of the best actors. Yay to well developed villains. Boo to cramming in too many clichés. Score: 26/30

Impact: Taika Waititi is the first director to repeat in the Thor franchise. And... I was worried going in that Taika would fall into his own trope: overly funny until a serious tone shift. That DIDN'T happen this time. Yes... some of the jokes weren't necessary. But a few were pretty damn good.

"Call the Axe."

"You need to call the dentist." That... worked so well. But the tone was split. Colorful with happy/dark with dreary. And setting up the concept for a sequel. Taika isn't one of favorites when it comes to directors, but because he DID subvert by negative expectations, he is my only choice for the next movie. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: Let's address the negative. And then the positives. The negative... TOO MANY CLICHÉS AND TROPES IN THIS MOVIE. It was a love letter to the 80s action/adventure films. But... that means all the crap with it. And it CAN work. Just don't fill a 1 lb sausage casing with 2 lbs of sausage. It doesn't all fit. And shouldn't. It was cool. But might be too much cool. Make sense? Does to me. But... one tired trope got turned on its head. Fridging. Fridging is a trope where someone dies(usually female)to motivate the hero(like in Deadpool 2). Jane Foster dies in this movie. The power of Thor is accelerating her cancer. She chooses the let the power take the last of her strength so she could help Thor defeat Gorr. She died a hero instead of the motivation(and post credits show he joining Heimdall in Valhalla for it). And that was a great touch. And lastly, I can't say enough about how great Christian Bale was. Easily top 5 role for him(because he has so many great ones). Helps me forgive the movie for the clichés, but doesn't eraae them. Score: 8/10

FINAL SCORE: 89/100

FINAL GRADE: B+

Conclusion: The duality of the movie makes this one a bit different than the other MCU movies. And both sides are equally understandable and tragic. Overstuffed with 80s tropes without being an overly 80s movie, but balanced enough that it doesn't matter as much.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: Thor Love and Thunder is a pretty good movie with a decently woven story to tell. I was pleasantly surprised. And it is absolutely one of Christian Bale's best roles. As for the movie, I do recommend seeing it, just like most of the other MCU movies. It isn't a top 10 MCU movie, but it is one of the better Thor movies...

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There you have it folks! Thor: Love and Thunder has gotten......... an 89!!!!

Did you see it? What did you think? What would have changed about Jane's death? What would you have done about Gorr's story?

Comment and share!!

Until next time...

Don't forget...

The New Review - Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness

Copyright by Marvel/Disney

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Directed by Sam Raimi

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, and Xochitl Gomez

Note: I am changing how this movie should be addressed... given the noir horror nature of this movie, it is now "The Multiverse of Madness" Doctor Strange is just starring in it. It isn't his movie. It is the Multiverse's movie.

Concept: MCU Sequel for Doctor Strange... and Spider-Man: No Way Home... and WandaVision. Strange is going to travel to the Multiverse

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch should've been the only choice when they first casted for Strange, and in this film, he plays MULTIPLE distinct versions that are just him showing off how good he is. Benedict Wong was perfect... again(Wait... did I just realize that they casted a Benedict for Wong... and his last name really is Wong?!?... woah). Elizabeth Olsen shows off that creepiness we got a glimpse of in Age of Ultron, and dialed it up to 13... they leaned HARD into her being a villain. Xochitl Gomez did a wonderful job as the MCU newcomer, looking forward to seeing what more she brings to the table. And nice seeing Rachel McAdams have more involvement in this movie compared to the original. Score: 20/20

Presentation: The MCU meets Sam Raimi horror, topped with some Danny Elfman movie soundtrack magic. It is HEAVY CG, but it needed to be. Difficult to do most of that with practical effects... but to Raimi's credit, he packed some really great practical effects, that he is know for, in this movie. And for movie to be the scale of this movie, it never once feels overwhelming. Some CG moments did look a bit choppy. But... no fault to Raimi or FX crew... there would be no way to have done it more smoothly. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So... how do you make a sequel to one of the most visual impression MCU movies? And make it a sequel to a trilogy of a different franchise? While making it a bridge to other franchises? And referencing pieces of your television franchises? AND setting up the future of the MCU? Well... with this movie. Sam Raimi weaved together SO MUCH going on in the MCU(past, present, future), but it never felt like that was all going on. It felt like... a Doctor Strange Sequel. Which is what it was supposed to be. A love story, a tragedy, and a horror film all wrapped up in a neat, magic filled package. And I need to highlight that. This did NOT feel like an MCU movie to me. It felt like a Sam Raimi horror film... but doesn't at the same time. It filled a mold... but breaks the mold... without having a mold in the first place. It is... unique. And... with this being the 28TH MCU film, that is one of the best compliments I could give one of these.

All of this praise because Sam Raimi pulled off a PG-13 MCU Horror Film. Someone finally did it. It pulled off what VENOM was supposed to, but failed to deliver on. A PG-13 Superhero Horror Film. Score: 32/30

Impact: As I just said, it is unique. A mold maker... a mold breaker. And that leads me to believe that some other directors should look at as a lesson. Cookie cutter works for a share universe project, but Unique makes you stand out. And this movie stands out. And with Sam Raimi already signed up for Dr. Strange 3, you bet we will all be watching as he does it again. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: Spoiler Section here. But... it has to happen. The Illuminati cameos. Woah. John Krasinski as Reed Richards better not be a one off. We got a glimpse, we need more. Hayley Atwell as Captain Carter, that was good for my health. The use of Maria Rambeau as Captain Marvel was slick. Anson Mount IN the Black Bolt suit and fully utilizing his powers was a pay off I've wanted since they screwed up the TV series(and I caught that sign language). And... having Charles Xavier coming in with the COMICS LOOK with the Green Suit, Floating Chair, AND the X-Men '97 theme!!!! Wow. I could say how it might be a wasted scene... but it did EXACTLY what it needed to do. Created a crossroads of Comic book movie past, present, future, what if, and what we never thought we would get... without it taking ANYTHING away from the story, and without it taking a large chunk of the run time. Would I have wanted more time with these characters? Sure. But... we had character introduction, slight development, a backstory, and in the moment purpose... and still a fraction of the run time. Wow. And... not even my favorite scenes in the MOVIE!?! Score: 13/10

FINAL SCORE: 105/100

FINAL GRADE: S-Tier!!!

Conclusion: I know Sam Raimi's work. I know how good he is. I also know what can happen when the studio interferes. So I had high expectations for Sam Raimi's return to superhero movies... high hopes that Disney/Marvel/Feige would just let Raimi be Raimi. And... it surpassed my expectations. Vibrant... and dark. Hopeful... and depressing. Magical... and horrifying. Just... Wow.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: GIVE THEM YOUR MONEY!!! SAM RAIMI NEEDS THE SUPPORT!!! Go see this movie. As soon as humanly possible. You all need to see this movie. SEE THIS MOVIE!!!! Have I mentioned that you should see this movie!?! Because if not, you should totally see this movie!!!

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Well, there you have it folks... Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness has gotten...... a 105!!!

An S-Tier movie... it deserves the extra credit for the extra praise.

Extra note from me. Going into 2022, my most anticipated film for the year was The Batman. And while The Batman is one of the GREATEST DC movies I've seen... it no longer has the spot for my favorite movie of the year. And I'm saying this now, Thor: Love and Thunder won't be capable. I know... we have over 6 months left, but I might need to lock this in as my "Good" for 2022.

Extra extra note from me. All of that time making Wanda out to be the strongest superhero in the MCU... looked like it was a great lead into making her one of the strongest VILLAINS instead.

Sam Raimi. Welcome back to Superhero movies!!!

Also... thank you Sam Raimi for the 2 for 1 Bruce Campbell Cameo!!!

Thank you reading...

Until next time...

Don't forget...

The New Review - Spider-Man: No Way Home

Rights belong to Sony and Marvel

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Directed by Jon Watts

Starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Benedict Cumberbatch

Concept: Jon Watts is the first to complete an MCU Trilogy with this 3rd MCU Spider-Man movie. Set directly after the event of Far From Home, Peter needs to navigate the aftermath... while making a stupid decision that brings villains from past franchises to the MCU.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: As I said, Tom Holland is back, Zendaya is back, Jacob Batalon is back... and Benedict Cumberbatch is along for the ride. And they each has significant character growth here. But we also get Willem DaFoe, Alfred Molina, Jamie Foxx, Thomas Haden Church, and Rhys Ifans back(with their respecting villains)... and it doesn't seen to be overwhelming. It is extremely balanced... and I don't get how. Worries me that I missed something, but I didn't. Packed tight, yet very balanced. Score: 20/20

Presentation: I've said this before: it is a Marvel movie. Great soundtrack mixed with stunning visuals. But... this movie had some scenes that had WAY too much going on, but you can still see all of particle effects and it looks beautiful. For me, it is most visually impressive MCM movie, above and beyond the typical Marvel/Disney movie. Score: 21/20

Chronicle: So, I'm going to compare it to Raimi's Spider-Man 3. I had an issue with Spider-Man 3. There were at least 3 MAIN plots going at once, and the movie couldn't focus. No Way Home has MUCH MORE GOING ON, yet they found a way to make it focus on ONE main plot, AND balance all of these villains. I told Bob(yes... that Bob) that it felt balanced. And that is one of the best compliments I could ever give a movie with all that they packed in. But not all is sunshine and roses. There is a plothole that carries with you... one the movie addresses, but never explains why it happens. And... not a spoiler, it's in the trailers. Supposedly, these villains came over due to the botched spell... and they are villains that knew Peter Parker is Spider-Man.....  except one of them didn't know: Electro. He never knew. So why was he there? The movie addresses that he didn't know, but it forgets to figure out why he was there if he didn't know. It is a glaring plothole, but Jamie Foxx is SO good, I can't dock too many points. But... it can't be ignored. Score: 25/30

Impact: Without spoiling the movie, it is definitive within the grand scheme of the MCM... AND for a Spider-Man movie. Reports of a SECOND MCM Spidey Trilogy, this movie ends one ENORMOUS arc, but sets up Spidey as we know him... Solitary and somber. Also... the 3rd largest opening weekend of all time, it is promising for the theater industry. You can't really argue with success... and considering how many chances we have had since the Covid pandemic, the theaters need a win. If you completely ignore the movie itself, the success it has so far...... it is VERY important. Score: 20/20

Extra Oomph: I highlighted this already, but I must touch on it again. The balance. But the balance goes much further than that. It balances how much Strange is involved, how the villains were used, the personal crisis that Peter Parker is having through the movie, the terrible choices he had to make, and balancing him stuck to Iron Man's legacy to him setting out on his own... and it didn't drop a single plate(the Electro thing is like dropping a glass). I went in and expected something HUGE to not fit in, and everything just be a mess(again, like Spidey 3), but it subverted my expectations. And what we got was beauty that was both cohesive and chaotic...... beautiful controlled chaos. Score: 10/10

Final Score: 96/100

FINAL GRADE: A!

Conclusion: I can forgive them for the plothole, because the story balanced how exciting the situation was with how depressing it was going to be. Many characters... but none of them felt like they weren't important to the story overall. Massively cohesive.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: No Way Home is my favorite Spider-Man movie so far... and it is easily the best of this MCM Trilogy. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it. Not just recommend it once... watch it twice. And don't just do it for me... do it to help your local theater. But... yeah... do it because it IS an epic movie.

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There you go, readers... Spider-Man: No Way Home has gotten a 96! That is pretty damn good.

What did you all think about it? What could they have done better? What do you hope for the next Trilogy? Comment... share...

Until next time, don't forget...

The New Review - The Eternals

 Copyright for Marvel/Disney

Marvel's The Eternals

Directed By Chloé Zhao

Starring Richard Madden, Selma Hayek, Gemma Chan, Angelina Jolie

Concept: Some of Marvel's earliest players are finally in the MCU.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: There are PLENTY of characters in this movie. Maybe even too many. It makes sense, but it also doesn't. And hard to explain without spoiling some twists in the movie. The actors and actresses all do a very fine job of making their characters shine. This "team" is much different than what we have seen in the MCU thus far... and... the beginning of the movie lack enough exposition to fully introduce the characters fully... and 2 of them are killed. It makes sense in the overall scheme of things, but the lack of connection between audience and characters make it so I didn't feel anything when the two characters die. Again... it make sense overall, but in the moment, it was jarring. On a second watch I bet it'll feel different, but hindsight isn't always a good thing for a movie. Each cast member did great... it was the writing for character development that hurts... even if the movie explains it away. Score: 13/20

Presentation: This one is easy. It is a Marvel Movie. Soundtrack is excellent. Visually stunning, and that is including the Celestials. Stunning, as per the course for the MCU. Score: 20/20

Chronicle: So, as with the character development issue, the story is tied directly to that. And the film does a good job of explaining why things are the way they are. A surprise twist involving a traitor(it wasn't who I was expecting). But there is this problem with the time jumps. It goes to when they landed on Earth, to Present day, back to a different era, back to Present Day, back to a different era. And it makes sense in context overall, but still feels confusing a bit. Believe me when I say, it makes sense...... but it is still jarring. Just a forewarning. Score: 25/30

Impact: So as of now, there is very LITTLE Impact on the MCU. But the potential it has could easily make Eternals the sleeper when it comes to shaping the future of the MCU overall. The implications for Marvel Cosmic are limitless. But that is the point... potential. If they end up not making a sequel, that all goes to pot. So... we have to see how much this movie/franchise has for the MCU. Because of it being POTENTIAL, I have to dock some point. I can only hope that it works out... we will see. Score: 18/20

Extra Oomph: I could talk about how the inclusion of Dane Whitman is an AWESOME thing, but he is barely in it.(I get it. Not his movie). Instead, we are going to highlight one of the implications that were briefly mentioned in Impact. The connection that Arishem has to the Eternals in the movie, it lays some very important groundwork... the blueprint on how Galactus is connected to his Heralds. It is a VERY similar relationship between the Celestials/Eternals as it would be for Galactus/Heralds... ultimately ending in similar results for the planets. If this relationship was indeed the blueprint for getting Galactus in the MCU, then dammit... this makes the movie VERY important to the MCU. I know that I docked points in Impact for potential, but since Eternals isn't the only reference to Galactus I think we've seen, it makes the Comic Nerd in me very excited. So... bonus points? Bonus points!!! Also, I would be doing a disservice to the movie if I didn't mention the LGBT representation. Phastos has a homosexual relationship with a human guy with a kid. He had a family. And... it didn't feel shoehorned in. It felt natural. It was a good spot... made sense... and gave Phastos some real stakes. It gets a bonus point too. Score: 13/10

Final Score: 89/100

FINAL GRADE: B+

Conclusion: In the face of the issues I had with the movie in real time, Eternals also explains it. I feel it does, might not do it exactly right, but it does it. The time jumps can be jarring... it DOES make sense. And deserves a watch. It's like a jigsaw where the pieces are blank to begin with, but eventually the image appears to look like what is on the box. And the best part... it is entertaining enough to keep you engaged.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: I do recommend seeing this movie. I feel it will be important to the MCU(or can we start calling it the MCM now?). It is entertaining, the action sequences are amazing, and I wanna see more Kumail Nanjiani!

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There it is... Marvel's The Eternals gets a B+!!!!!

Honestly, I originally didn't want to see this movie. It didn't look interesting to me. Now that I have seen it, I'm glad I did. Better than I expected, and some really cool concepts. It was worth the money.

Who has seen it? What did you think? Leave a comment. Share the post.

One more MCM movie to go, and I'm excited. And with it, 2 more chances for ANOTHER perfect score.(Matrix being the other chance).

Glad the movies are pretty much back, and I'm looking forward to the slate in 2022!

Until next time, don't forget...

The New Review - Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Copyright by Marvel/Disney

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

(Long title lol)

Directed by: Destin Daniel Cretton

Starring: Simu Liu, Awkwafina

Concept: MCU first Asian led movie, looking at Chinese lore mixed with MCU lore. Like an Asian Thor movie.

Execution

Cast: Simu Liu comes through with the young Asian win. Tony Leung was spot on as Wenwu. Support cast was pretty solid. Only issue I have... is Awkwafina. Like with Raya and the Last Dragon, Awkwafina showed us she can be serious, and she isn't annoying. But when she tries to be funny, she rubs me the wrong way. And... well... she is part of the comic relief. It works... but... still. Walking, talking Asian stereotype. Her saving grace is that Ben Kingsley makes his return and assumes the role of comic relief for the rest if the movie. Score: 18/20

Presentation: I've said this before... Disney/Marvel has this penchant for making things look amazing. Every fight scene seems flawless, set pieces look amazing, the cgi even LOOKED real. Even a CGI Dragon looked real. Soundtrack... well... a little bit of it was distracting. A little. Specifically the song during the scaffold fight scene...... it was awkward. But... still fit the film. And as the fight kept on, I forgot the song was playing still...... Score: 20/20

Chronicle: Overall, I wasn't sure what to expect. I don't know enough about Shang-Chi. And I know marginally more about Wenwu. So... I didn't have much to go on, lore-wise. That being said... I'm gonna first say, if it weren't for the cameos of Wong and Abomination(not spoilers... in the trailer), I wouldn't be able to say this was an MCU movie. It was a martial artist epic style movie. Gorgeous locations filled with emotionally driven fights... all wrapped up with some Chinese lore... mixed with family ties that bind... topped two redemption stories going opposite directions. Sounds like alot, but... it isn't. It just all builds together beautifully. There wasn't a scene in the movie that didn't serve a purpose, either to build a character arc or to connect it to something else important. No wasted time. Ecen the fights... each fight scene told a story, and references the story as a whole as you go along. As I said... Martial Arts Epic... like the MCU take on Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon... mixing with an entertaining fight/camera Jackie Chan film. Score: 28/30

Impact: Movie sets up Shang-Chi as an important member of the MCU going forward. Maybe as a member of the Young Avengers? Who knows. But what ai do know that this movie deserves praise for making me start to like Awkwafina. But as a movie, it is also the first MCU movie since Covid to NOT be simul-released in theater and Disney+ premium. It also already shatted the box office Labor Day weekend record, even before actual Labor Day. Plus, the first Asian led MCU film... culturally, that can be important, Shang-Chi definitely showed he can stand within the MCU. I'm hoping those that enjoy the movie but don't know about the character in the comics... I hope it leads to more people checking out Shang-Chi in print. Score: 19/20

Extra Oomph: First all all, dammit... Ben Kingsley's return as Trevor Slattery... makes up for his same role in Iron Man 3. And the inclusion of Wong, though brief, has turned him into more than just an assistant/side-kick... maybe the new Coulson? But... best of all, let's talk about the identity of this movie... so many people were like "why make a movie about this relatively unknown character?" Because, look how well Guardians did? And they were relatively unknown(to most). And then...... the MCU movies are superhero films, but the best of them don't feel like superhero films: I.E. like Ant-Man(heist), Ant-Man and the Wasp(prison break), Winter Soldier(spy thriller). So they made a Martial Arts Epic. It doesn't do it AS well as the examples, but you have an MCU film with a relatively unknown character in a non-superhero style movie. Score: 10/10

FINAL SCORE: 95/100

FINAL GRADE: A

Conclusion: This is a really good movie. I went in with no expectations. Only 2 keypoints I wanted them to cover(was Wenwu the Mandarin we wanted him to be and was there a certain "Space Dragon" in it?... yes, to the first... and no to the second, but we got something just as cool). And what I got was a modern Martial Arts Epic. It was smooth... solid... and even gets away with fridging for a different motivation, while NOT making a forced relationship out of a platonic friendship(at least for now). One of the BEST mid-credit scenes in MCU history. This is a wonderful film.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat" that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: If you haven't seen it yet, you need to see this movie. Personally, it makes up for my issues in Iron Man 3... and I will even recommend it to those who don't like the MCU, but still like the Martial Arts Epics. Unless you know the MCU references, you wouldn't even know. And there are no REQUIRED MCU movies to see before this one. Remarkable. And fun. Go watch this movie... and if you can, support your local movie theater...... but either way, don't forget to mask up.

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There you go! Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings gets a 95!

While I didn't go in with expectations, I had hopes that it would be at least a good movie. I am very pleased that it was much better than I hoped for. Top 10 MCU for me.

If you've seen it, what did you think? Leave a comment below. What are some suggestions for current or upcoming movies you want to me to check out and review? Leave those below too.

Until next time...

Don't forget...

Renewed Top 10 - MCU Works

Copyright belongs to Disney/MarvelStudios... because... look at it.

Previously, I did a list of non-MCU works. Simple... nothing that involves the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Well, here is the MCU list. Before I set this list, let me preface by saying I don't think there are many MCU works that are bad. But... there are a few. Most are good... and some are GREAT. Not everyone is going to agree on the order, there are a few that will absolutely be on everyone's list.

The rules are simple. Movies. Disney+ shows. And remember, this is only up to this point. So much more content is coming for the MCU.

Enjoy.

Top 10 Marvel Cinematic Universe Works

Honorable Mention 1: Captain America: The First Avenger: Chris Evans. The Jokester actor. Didn't feel like he could take this role on. We were wrong. This period piece in the MCU just felt all kinds of right. And sets a different tone for the overall franchise.

Honorable Mention 2: Iron Man: The First movie in the MCU. Before the MCU became a thing. And while it was hard to put this movie out of the Top 10... it's important. There were rumors that Tom Cruise was supposed to be Stark. And I was worried. But when it came out that Robert Downey Jr was cast, it felt perfect. The movie is the foundation, and it worked.

Honorable Mention 3: The Falcon and The Winter Soldier: A series about moving on. Post-Endgame. Sam Wilson had to move on from losing his mentor. Bucky had to move on from his assassin days for HYDRA. An almost street level buddy cop show about image... both in the public eye and your own self-image. So glad Sam is getting his own Captain America movie.

10. Doctor Strange: In his titular movie, Thor referred to Asgard as a place where magic and science are the same. And then we never got magic in the MCU(not officially). Doctor Strange introduced the MCU to Eldritch Magic and different dimensions of existence. Benedict Cumberbatch pulled off the asshole gets redemption story. Visually stunning. Don't do any drugs before this movie. You won't need them.

9. Ant-Man: I do not consider this movie a superhero film. It is a heist movie. And a great one at that. Paul Rudd is funny as he always is. A scene stealer. And it is his movie. Michael Péna kills it. Another redemption story with a great villain... and Michael Douglas as the classic Ant-Man, Hank Pym. Unexpected hit. But it deserves all of the praise.

8. Black Panther: RIP Chadwick Boseman. I wasn't for sure how they would get to this movie, but they did. A frightening villain, but an understandable villain. With a movie that has a vibe like The Lion King(thanks to my dad for that one). And they even got the CGI to fix the eye of Forrest Whittaker! So much good with this movie... and I'm just now pointing out how awesome Andy Serkis is in this as well. RIP Chadwick Boseman. Gone too soon.

7. Spider-Man: Homecoming: The first MCU Spider-Man movie. It held onto Iron Man a bit too much... but we got(in my opinion) the best version of a live action Peter Parker. Tom Holland gave us the life-juggling experience of innocence meets superpowered responsibility. And Michael Keaton was spot on as a villain who was more misguided than sinister. Whatever he had to do to provide for his family.

6. Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame: These are together because they were always together. Originally part 1 and part 2 of Infinity War. The ensemble movie of ensemble movies. 10 years, and 20+ movies in the making. It was the culmination of numerous stories and directors and story arc all intersecting. A massive undertaking... and it paid off.

5. WandaVision: Thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic, this show wasn't supposed to be the first Disney+ MCU show, but it happened. It captured me in the same way Season 1 of the CW Flash series. Each episode made me second guess my theories on the villain, until it was shown that the first guess was correct. The style of the show was unique at first, paying homages to sitcoms throughout the decades. Very well done. And still not the best show so far...

4. Thor: Ragnarok: So this one needs a preface as well. I'm a HUGE Kenneth Branagh fan. Top 3 directors for me. He directed the first Thor. Very good. Very Shakespearean. But... Ragnarok gets the BEST of the Trilogy. This movie is silly. Overly silly. This movie is damn funny. Maybe tooooooo funny. But... there is a tone shift going from Slapstick comedy... to knowing they failed. It is the first MCU where the heroes FAIL. And you can feel it... when THEY feel it. Taika Waititi is such a great director. And he is getting close to being in my top 5 directors. This movie is different than ANY of the other MCU movies(it is...). And it deserves more praise.

3. Loki(Season 1): Loki getting his own series. Why? Because it was great. This isn't the same Loki that was killed in Infinity War. This is a Loki who didn't get ANY of the character development from Dark World or Ragnarok. And they were to pull all of that off before the end of the second episode. Tom Hiddleston is one of the best actors throughtout the entirety of the MCU. And this series shows him off. Some good fight scenes. But so much character development... story driven. And I enjoyed every bit of it. Also, I learned my lesson about second guessing the "villain". I told a certain friend who I thought it was. "Oh they wouldn't do that in a series." They did(Joe... they did). Oh, and Owen Wilson... so impressed my his contribution to this series. Season 2 will be awesome. So much Wow.

2. Guardians of the Galaxy: Guardians of the Galaxy. The biggest risk that anyone has attempted in the MCU. Largely unknown comic book characters. In largely unknown part of the comic's universe. Starring an actor who was ONLY know for comedy... a wrestler who isn't The Rock... and having Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel do VOICES. It was funny, it was pretentious, and it just worked. One of the best MCU movies... one of the best Superhero movies... one of the best Soundtracks... one of the best MOVIES of the modern era. James Gunn should get all of the love.

And now... my number one favorite work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is...

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier: This isn't a superhero film. It is a layer spy thriller. Uncovering secrets and changing the MCU as a whole. Top notch action. Great storytelling. A thrill around every turn. Chris Evans best turn as Cap, ScarJo's best turn as Black Widow, gave us the first appearance of Anthony Mackie as Falcon, and the return of Bucky was very well done(even though we knew it was him). Not only is it the best of the MCU, it is one of the best movies I've ever seen. It is just that good. And the Elevator fight is such a wonderful piece, they even parodied it IN Endgame.

There you go! Another great list in the bag.

Tell me what you think. What would you add? What would you take out? Leave a comment. Share the post. Get others involved. Steal an Infinity Stone.

Next will be the end-all posts for the Comic Book list series. Stay tuned for those!

The New Reviewed Renewed - Black Widow

Copyright owned by Disney/Marvel

The New Review

Black Widow

Starring Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh

Directed by Cate Shortland

Concept: The Avengers' resident Femme Fatale got her own movie. Explaining what she went through between Civil War and Infinity War.

Some spoilers ahead...

Execution

Cast: ScarJo is back, being her Black-Widowy self. Florence Pugh went from being a relative unknown, to being a powerhouse actress, she is the perfect counterpoint to ScarJo's Natasha. It is as much her movie as it is ScarJo's. And it works. David Harbour is pretty funny, Rachel Weiss is stoic... but both seem wasted. Explanation coming. And a great villain, and not the one you are thinking from the trailers. They needed more... but still had enough.

Score: 15/20

Presentation: The Typical MCU fanfare is what this movie was. And it likes to jump around to different locations, we don't spend enough time in any location long enough to matter. The prison break was a fun sequence, but it reminded me quite a bit of the House Party Protocol in Iron Man 3, with the scaffolding and quick cuts... just in the snow. The soundtrack... was boring, but it starts with a cover of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit", if it was written by a depressed teenage girl...... and it sounded pretty damn good. Not enough to save the soundtrack.

Score: 15/20

Chronicle: The MCU has developed an amazingly complex spy thriller. It was called "Captain America: The Winter Soldier". Black Widow was NOT that level. Because it wasn't that complex. It was a straightforward spy thriller with extra extra action... with a bit of a broken family reunion story mixed it... and there wasn't enough of it. Definitely made to set up Yelena as the new Black Widow, and they did just that. The villain had a face(Ivan Dreykov), but the real villain was the Red Room itself. It didn't dumb down the child trafficking, and remembered the pheromone angle from the comics. But the story didn't feel like it had enough solid footing. It's a fun film, but it won't make or break any major story line. It was a spy movie... an action movie... a broken family movie... a sister film... but doesn't want to superhero. And it just doesn't do enough in any direction aside from the sister film.

Score: 19/30

Impact: The MCU BIG female character finally getting her own solo film. It will effect the MCU going forward, but the movie could've been so much better. It's nice what happened with Nat between Civil War and Infinity War... but it didn't feel like it was an important as it was made out to be. And that made up for the hype. It was self-contained, and aside from poking fun at Natasha being an Avengers, it was quite separated from the overall MCU. You knew it was MCU, but no other Avengers make an appearance. If was released when it was supposed to, it would be a much better fit. But no fault from Disney on that. So I will be lenient on that. So... recap... it will affect the MCU going forward, but still not affected by the MCU as a whole. Got it?

Score: 17/20

Extra Oomph: This is your spoiler section. First up... Red Guardian definitely wasn't a hero. Not...a...hero. And he had NO redemption in the movie. None. And I love that idea. It wasn't his movie. He doesn't need it. The mission he had making the fake family with Natasha and Yelena to cover for his real mission. Then basically giving those girls up to the Red Room, knowing what Dreykov was going to do to them...... Alexei is no hero. And they never pretended he was. Second... The Taskmaster. I went into the movie hoping it WASN'T Tony Masters like in the comics. I was hoping for a different payoff: the seemingly throw away comment with about Dreykov's Daughter from the first Avengers movie. The thought I had was... Nat tried to kill Dreykov and thought she killed his daughter as collateral damage. And... dammit... that is EXACTLY what they did. And I LOVE it. He got off unscathed, but his daughter was burned. He turned his daughter into the Taskmaster, complete with mimic skill the character is known for. And it FIT the narrative. Tony Masters wouldn't have fit... there was enough exposition, we didn't need this too. So this was the direction it was supposed to go. Even covered in clichés... this was the right call. So... it gets bonus points for that.

Score: 13/10

FINAL SCORE: 79/100

FINAL GRADE: C+

Conclusion: It's an MCU movie. So, at minimum it had to be good. But... that's it. It was good. Not mind blowing... not even great. Just... good. Happy that Natasha finally got her solo movie, but it ended up not being just her movie. It was a shared experience to "pass the torch" to her "sister" Yelena Belova. So I guess they still makes it a Black Widow movie regardless. The official start of Phase 4. But... only the post credit scene. And... it didn't do Nat justice. It should've been a much strong film...... and it wasn't.

It's all a matter of opinion: I cannot stress enough that THIS is MY opinion, you can either agree with me or not. I don't have to justify my opinion, because *clears throat* that's what this blog is about. Whether I like it or not doesn't mean you have to or not...... I'ts just my justification behind MY recommendation... Which leads me to my FINAL JUDGMENT...

FINAL JUDGMENT: If you love the MCU movies, you need to see this movie. And I'm a fan. I want to watch it again. It was a good spy action film. But not good enough. I want to love it. But I can't. I can at least say I liked it. And will watch it again. And I think you all should to. Up to you if you want to do that in theater or on Disney+, I recommend it.

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So Black Widow is finally out. And it gets an 79.

Worth the wait from Covid? I'm... still not sure on that. Not the worst MCU movie. But not the best. It needed to be a mini series. More time on the individual aspects. But it was still a good enough movie to watch.

Tell what you thought. Did you see it? Gonna see it? What could they have done better? What did they do just right? Leave a comment. Share this review on social media.

And don't forget...

We Are The Audience.

No idea what the next review will be, but stay tuned for more lists and some new concept posts coming through.

Thank you for any support!

The New Review - Black Panther

The New Review

"Black Panther"
Directed by: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o

So Here We Go...