The New Review - Morbius

Copyright by Sony Pictures and Marvel Comics

Morbius

Directed by Daniel Espinosa

Starring Jared Leto and Matt Smith

Concept: Marvel comics scientist searching for a cure for his own condition, but turns himself into a Living Vampire.

Execution

Here we go...

Cast: Jared Leto gets too much hate for his Joker. He really does. And... somehow, he is getting hate for this role too. And I saw, it is unfair. Leto did a GREAT job with playing Michael. And I can say...... I would love to see him again in this role. Matt Smith as the "antagonist"... he looked like he was having fun and was a superb counterpart to Leto. A waste of Jared Harris. Tyrese Gibson was okay. And... dammit... Al Madrigal... I enjoy his work. I think he is a funny guy. He should NOT have been in this movie. His delivery and involvement made me cringe. So... Summary... Jared Leto and Matt Smith did amazing. Everyone else... not so much. Score: 12/20

Presentation: Dark, melacholy. Like a story about a Living Vampire should be. And a critic I pay attention to said that the action scenes were so confusing... I disagree. Compared to the first Venom fight scenes(especially Venom vs Riot)... this was SMOOOOOOOOTH in comparison. Some physical CG was weird, but overall, it wasn't THAT bad. The particle smoke effects... I enjoyed that so much. Score: 18/20

Chronicle: So... I will go back and mention that Jared Leto and Matt Smith both did great. And here is why. I am going to bring up the Hulk. The MCU Hulk. The Edward Norton movie is the only Hulk appearance where Bruce Banner was actively trying NOT to unleash the Green Beast, even in bed with Betty. But starting with the Avengers movie, the Hulk was just a super suit(screw you, Joss Whedon). There has been no real repercussions on Bruce's mind. Look at Age of Ultron... he went on a Wanda-Rampage, leveled some city blocks. But... afterwards, Banner felt... embarrassed? Little to no remorse. Same for Stark. But Leto as Morbius, he felt remorse. He didn't want to take a human life. And I felt his pain with it. The opposite of that with Matt Smith. His character showed to remorse because he didn't have any. Great "two sides of the same coin" aspect. But outside of the character building of those two, there wasn't anything special about this movie. Instead of Character Driven... it was character-only. It would've been better as Episode 1 of a mini series. Score: 15/30

Impact: This isn't a game changer. But it isn't a game breaker. Proof that maybe Sony should stop. But at this same time, it was a still a decent horror/hero movie. Not the worst movie I've seen. Not the best movie I've seen. But again... the performances of Jared Leto and Matt Smith might be a great template. I want to see Leto/Morbius in other Spidey-verse movies. Score: 14/20

Extra Oomph: There is nothing here. But it isn't a detractor. I might double down on the waste of Jared Harris. But I would then need to double down are the performances of Leto and Smith. So... let's call it a wash there, but the shorter runtime compared to ALL of the MCU, it is still a win. Score: 8/10

Final Score: 67

Final Grade: D+

Conclusion: The movie overall isn't great. It isn't. But the performances are worth seeing. If I would score it just for those, it would be a B or a B+. But you have to have movie with your roles.

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: It's been awhile since I've said this... DON'T go watch this movie. Wait for digital rental. Or purchase if you are a collector. But I feel it doesn't deserve the in theater support. That being said... Jared Leto absolutely CAN be supported. So... the Final Judgment for the studio is... use Leto/Morbius in OTHER Spidey-verse movies, but this movie doesn't deserve a sequel. If it gets one, learn how to make a movie.

-

-

-

-

-

There it is, folks. Morbius recieves a 67!!!

But remember the performances deserve a MUCH better grade.

Did you see it? What did you think?

Comment and share.

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.

-

-

-

-

-

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...

Renewed Top 10 - Non-MCU Marvel Works

The next part of the Superhero lists through out this Summer.

If you read the the title, you may wonder what it means to be a Non-MCU work? Well, it could a Fox movie... it could be an animated series... it could be from BEFORE there was an MCU. So there are quite a bit of stuffs to pick a list from.

So... how about it?

Top 10 Non-MCU Works

Here we go...

Honorable Mention 1: Ghost Rider: So... yes, this movie. It is cheesy. There is plenty of awkward Nic Cage craziness. And some forced attempts at horror. And introduced us to Rebel Wilson. But overall, the movie is entertaining AND Peter Fonda makes a great Mephisto. I stand by this movie. Just... don't watch the sequel. Don't do it.

Honorable Mention 2: The New Mutants: New Mutants was wonderful. It really was. An attempt to make a superhero universe horror film. And it worked. It would've been on the list proper if it were a completed story. It was planned for a Trilogy. It was planned to have a HUGE X-Men villain. But due to the acquisition of 20th Century Fox by Disney, this ended up being the FINAL Fox Marvel movie instead. Unrealized potential is why it didn't make the list proper.

10: X-Men 2 X-Men United: The first X-Men movie was the catalyst for the modern superhero craze. But it was only finding its footing. The sequel, however, stood firm. A man plotline for the story, but seemlessly wove in the subplots. Starting from one of the best opening scenes I've ever seen. Sequels are usually worse. This one is one of the greatest examples of why that isn't always true.

9: The Punisher (2004): Frank Castle will show up more than once here. This time around, he have Thomas Jane at the titular character. Instead of killing his wife and kids, this time around JOHN TRAVOLTA has his entire family murdered. And a few hand to hand fight scene that are fun AND brutal. Not to mention this movie introduced me to the late great stand-up comedian John Pinette. And it was also shot in half the time of a normal action flick. That... is impressive.

8: Spider-Man 2: Tobey... Tobey... Tobey. Engaging story about Peter's PTSD... mixed with a plot revolving around a wonderfully written Doc Ock. Another example of the sequel being better. And... fixed an aesthetic issue I had with the first movie...... ever notice the buildings don't reflect like the should in the windows in the first movie? Yeah......

7: X-Men & Spider-Man Animated Series: So no, this isn't the same show. It is 2 different shows. But I put them together for a reason. Fox was on fire with 90s animated series. And these two had a unique formula... with multi episode arcs, like the comics and outfits ripped straight from the comics as well. They also belong together because they were part of the same animated universe. Comics came to life in these 2 shows.

6: Big Hero 6: Baymax is on this list. Yes, this is a kid-friendly adaption of a Marvel comic. And I... keep forgetting that. It could be because the comics are much less kid-friendly... and this movie is tons better. Unique. Smart. Cute. Makes me cry EVERY time.

5: X-Men Days of Future Past: This was a risky movie. Taking the original X-Men Trilogy and the First Class stories combine. Seemingly natural. Dynamic between the future dystopia and the old school feel. With a great story showing us how branching through time should work. This also had the first Quicksilver slo-mo scene, and THAT alone was a masterpiece.

4: Punisher (Netflix)(Bonus: Daredevil season 2): If I had finished this series yet, I would put it higher. But the fact it is HERE without it being done yet speaks volumes. The BEST live action version of Frank Castle in Jon Bernthal(like Matt Ryan is to DC's Constantine... no one else can play him now). Now... why include Season 3 of Daredevil? Specifically, that is when they debuted this Punisher. And the graveyard scene is by far one of the most emotional scenes Non-MCU or MCU combined(one of...).

3: Logan: The final outing for Hugh Jackman as Wolverine. It felt like a Clint Eastwood epic. Dark, gritty, sad, gory, fun. And it made me cry. Twice. Like a baby. So well written. With an unexpected villain... Logan's own health. And it is responsible to introducing Dafne Keen, the young actress who played Laura. One role is all it took to see she has a bright future(and now she has her own series on HBO called His Dark Materials). Hard R Rating... and it needed it. Logan finally got to be the feral beast we know and love.

2: Deadpool 1 & 2: If there was ever a labor of love in comicbook movies, it is Deadpool. Ryan Reynolds IS Wade Wilson. Even if you don't like comic book movies, this is Van Wilder in Spandex. Gory, funny, 4th Wall Breaking. And 2 DIFFERENT movies. Different writers... different crews. And somehow, it makes BOTH movies better. I don't know what else I can say about Deadpool that you can't hear from Ryan Reynolds himself... so... do that. And watch those movies. Unless you are a kid. Then no. These movies have a HARDER R than Logan. Yes... I mean it. Not for kiddos.

And the Number 1 Non-MCU Work...

(After that last one, WHAT could be better?!?!)

1: Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse: From the people who brought us Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, this is a MASTERCLASS in animation. So much so... it won an Oscar for it. Beautiful colors, glitchy twitches that told the story, and speaking of story... it focuses on Miles Morales and not Peter Parker. Juggled a coming of age story with an origin story with a multiverse story. And... never dropped one of them. Introduced multiple versions of Spider-Man... making a unique origin for each, without throwing up all over Miles' story. Including voices from Nicholas Cage, Hailee Steinfeld, Jake Johnson, Mahershala Ali, Kathryn Hahn, Liev Schreiber, and a BREAKOUT performance from Shameik Moore... this is one of the BEST animated movies I've ever seen... and a surprise Oscar Issac alluding to his involvement with the sequel. It stands out. Watch it.

And there it is. The Top 10 Non-MCU Works.

Any you think I missed? What do think about the ones that made it? Comment and Share...... and above all else... watch them if you haven't.

Part 3 of many is down.