It came as a shock to the world when the Black Panther himself, Chadwick Boseman, passed away in 2020 after years of battling colon cancer. It was an unprecedented situation where the lead of a mainstream superhero franchise died while still active in the role. In spite of the loss, Marvel moved forward with the Black Panther sequel and decided to lay the character of T'Challa to rest as well. Many have disagreed with this choice given superhero recastings of the past and normally I would agree that an actor shouldn't be bigger than their character. But this is different. One, this isn't some behind the scenes drama like with what happened with Terrence Howard and Edward Norton in their respective roles. Two, the first Black Panther movie was a cultural milestone with Boseman's performance being a key factor. And most importantly, it's too soon. There are people still grieving for Boseman's death, including the cast and crew of the first film, who returned for the sequel to both process their grief and honor their fallen friend. At this point, it would be cheap and disrespectful to swap another actor in. So will we ever see T'Challa in the MCU again? Well, the multiverse and variants are in play now, so there's certainly a chance. Right now, we have "Wakanda Forever", which acts as a powerful tribute to the past and a moving path to the future.
As much of the MCU post-Endgame has dealt with how one processes loss, "Wakanda Forever" probably has the most poignant portrayal due to the real world connotations. Much like Boseman, T'Challa's death is due to illness, which is respectful to the actor's memory and shows that a hero's death can be the normal kind of tragic and not due to some sort of supervillain's plan. After a one year time jump, we see how his passing still affects those closest to him and the world at large which reflects how anyone could deal with such a loss. Some bury themselves in their work, some ignore their emotions, some try to make the world a little better as a way to honor their memory, some feel anger and the need to release it, while others are more opportunistic (which kind of ties in with my thoughts in my "Ms. Marvel" review with the direction the MCU may be heading).
It's an overwhelmingly emotional film full of many outstanding performances with the best coming in my opinion from Letitia Wright as Shuri, the central character of the film. As T'Challa's sister, she seems to be hit the hardest by his loss, especially since she was trying to cure his condition before his passing. As such, we see her go through much mental anguish, processing her own grief while dealing with the new threat to Wakanda. Her arc reminds me much of T'Challa's back in "Civil War" and Killmonger's motivation in the previous film as she tows the line between duty and self-satisfaction.
Our main antagonist of the film is Namor, with Tenoch Huerta Mejia successfully bringing one of Marvel's oldest characters to live action for the first time (and is actually less dickish than I thought he'd be). Similar to Black Adam, he is more of an anti-hero than a villain and there are many parallels with his story and Shuri's. Namor is the ruler and protector of the underwater civilization of Talokan. Much like the introductions of Wakanda in the first Black Panther and Ta Lo in Shang-Chi, the film does a good albeit brief job of establishing another new world to the MCU with its Mayan influence helping it stand out. Since Talokan is also rich with Vibranium, it puts its warriors on even footing with the Wakandans, making for some well-done fight scenes. I believe the similarities between the two cultures ties in with the political message of the film which calls back to T'Challa's speech to the UN in the previous film, and it's something that's still relevant today as division still rears its ugly head in society.
A new hero is introduced in the film in the form of Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams. A nineteen year old genius, she's able to build her own prototype Iron Man armor before using the resources of Wakanda to craft the perfected Ironheart suit for the film's climax. Thorne gives a good performance for a young character thrown into some superhero craziness but wants to do what she can to help. We don't learn too much about her, but it should be enough to get people interested in her Disney+ series coming next year. While the film seems to connect her more to Black Panther in the MCU rather than Iron Man like in the comics, I would still like to see her and Spider-Man interact at some point in the future and maybe compare notes.
I still prefer the first Black Panther film due to some of the action being more appealing to the eye, but I know action (as good as it was) isn't the driving force for "Wakanda Forever." As the film pours out so much emotion that you'll still be processing it long after the ending, we're given a successful tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman and T'Challa's legacy as well as one of the best entries in the MCU in its own right.
Another era of Doctor Who has come to an end as Jodie Whittaker has completed her final adventure as the series' Thirteenth Doctor. It's been an interesting time to say the least, and it seems only right to give my thoughts on the show's last few years from the Doctor herself, her companions, the storylines, and the game changing moments that came about.
As I said in my previous Doctor Who post, Whittaker brought a lot of youthful energy very reminiscent of both David Tenant and Matt Smith and an optimistic personality that never wavered even when her whole universe was literally crashing down around her. I really have no negative notes as her performance was a joy from beginning to end.
The Thirteenth Doctor's initial companions included Ryan Sinclair, his former school mate Yasmin "Yaz" Kahn, and his step-grandfather Graham O'Brian. Having three main companions was a real change of pace for the revival era with the diversity of the characters creating more of a family dynamic, hence the Doctor constantly referring to them as "fam." I really liked them all and what they brought to the show, particularly Ryan and Graham's relationship as they grow closer while still mourning the loss of Grace, Ryan's grandmother and Graham's wife, in the season eleven premiere. Admittedly though, it was a bit of a juggling act getting to know each one and who got more focus in an episode, especially since this era seemed to give just as much focus to an episode's guest characters as the main ones. Ryan and Graham left the show after season twelve, leaving Yaz as the Doctor's sole companion for the time being. It was by this point that it became evident that Yaz had romantic feelings for the Doctor; it may feel like it comes out of nowhere, but a rewatch shows these seeds were being planted since episode 11.4, "Arachnids in the UK". While they could have returned to formula with the Doctor and their companion with romantic connotations, the thirteenth season introduced Dan Lewis as a new fellow companion. Now Dan was a fun character, but his introduction kind of highlighted this era's penchant for constantly adding characters. More importantly though, it made it seem like the people behind the scenes didn't want it to be just the Doctor and Yaz on adventures. It's as if they either didn't have the skills to write stories for just the two of them or they didn't want to commit to a same-sex relationship for the Doctor without someone of the opposite gender in the mix somehow. I'd also be remiss if I didn't talk about Sacha Dhawan as the new incarnation of the Master. He reminded me much of John Simm's portrayal, having this manic energy and penchant for theatrics that highlighted his psychopathy. He made a great archenemy to Whittaker's Doctor with his reveal alone being one of the best moments of her era.
When it comes to the stories of the Thirteenth Doctor, there's nothing I can really say that I couldn't about any other Doctor's era. You have some great episodes, some are less so, but the performances of the actors are always on point, usually resulting in entertainment to some degree. I do think her first season was the best, as doing done in one stories with no overarching plot was a fun change of pace. The main criticisms I've seen during this era are that the show became "woke" or that the messages of an episode were too blatant. To the first one, I refer you back to my comments about toxic fandom from my She-Hulk review. On the second, honestly in this day and age, some people need to have things spelled out for them. I will say though that in their efforts to harken back to the Tenant and Smith eras, they may have borrowed and remixed ideas from Tenant's episodes a bit too much (which makes the next regeneration funny, but we'll get to that). The following is a list of things I noticed that happened during both Tenant and Whittaker's runs: * The Doctor leaving a pre-recorded message that seemed to respond to its recipients in real time. * A black and red bug themed monster of the week. * The Doctor's memories being contained in a pocket watch. * The current Doctor's end being prophesized with the message hanging over their head up to their final episode. * Companions from the classic era returning and making the current one feel less special. * The Master copying his genetic template into someone without their consent. * The Doctor and a large group of allies working to save the day (twice in Whittaker's case). It just seems a little too coincidental if you ask me.
Of course, the biggest development in Doctor Who to come from this era is the Timeless Child revelation. As it turns out, the Doctor was not born on Gallifrey, but was found as a child and brought there with their ability to regenerate discovered and then implanted in what would become the Time Lords. At some point, the Doctor had their memories erased before regenerating once more into a child that would eventually become the First Doctor introduced when the series began in 1963. The implication that there were multiple regenerations before the First Doctor has had a polarized reaction within the fanbase. Some applaud it for doing something new with the franchise while others see it as a needless change that brings complications more than anything. I'm a bit torn on the matter. I started watching with Tenant, so I don't think I'm allowed to be as mad about this as those who have been lifelong fans. Besides that, Doctor Who has been no stranger to retcons, with John Hurt's War Doctor being a prime example. More relevant though, the rules of regeneration have been a little fast and loose within the show's history, but the prominent standing has been that Time Lords are only allotted twelve regenerations (though the Doctor received another set of twelve at the end of "The Time of The Doctor"). However, the classic era episode "The Brain of Morbius" from 1976 implies that there were more incarnations of the Doctor before the First and is referenced during Whittaker's era. I do sympathize with some fans' anger though who adhered to the established rules of regeneration and that William Hartnell was the true First Doctor. The Timeless Child revelation has felt like a black cloud over the show ever since. I was honestly expecting them to retcon the retcon after the fan reaction and reveal it was the Master who was actually the Timeless Child, but they stuck to their guns and I respect that. However, it does feel like this is something that the showrunners moving forward will avoid referring to, similar to how Marvel didn't talk about the Spider-Man Clone Saga for years after its completion. When the Doctor retrieves a pocket watch that contains her pre-First Doctor memories, she asks the TARDIS to hide it away, and it's not brought up again for the rest of Whittaker's run.
When it comes to the Thirteenth Doctor's final episode, "The Power of the Doctor", I thought it was overall fine if a bit rushed. The premise was interesting and there were a lot of good ideas used, though not to their full potential in my opinion, especially since this episode also seemed to be serving as an anniversary special as well. Nonetheless, it was a good way for Jodie to ride off into the literal sunset. Overall, I think Whittaker's time as the Doctor will be viewed as infamous not because of her but because of story choices made during her run. It's kind of a shame because there were still plenty of good moments these last few years.
I'm about to go into SPOILER territory now concerning the Doctor's latest regeneration and what it might mean for the future, so I'd advise to stop reading now if you haven't watched "Power of the Doctor" yet.
First off, I'm sure the TARDIS appreciates that the Doctor actually landed this time and regenerated outside. Of all the regenerations I talked about, this one is definitely the most optimistic and fits Jodie's Doctor well. Even in the end, she was just happy to give someone else a turn. During the course of the episode, the Master had actually prompted a forced regeneration on the Doctor and transfer himself over to her body, intent on ruining the legacy of the name (sort of a Superior Spider-Man situation, which is funny because I used this comparison in my Iron Fist season two review and it was Sacha Dhawan there too). Inside the Doctor's mind though, she was alive and encountered manifestations of her previous incarnations (with actors reprising their roles) who tell her she can still return. Thanks to Yaz's efforts, the regeneration was reversed and the Thirteenth Doctor came back and saved the day. As a proper regeneration was triggered by the episode's end, it seems that despite looking forward to the future, some part of her was still looking back and threw a curveball as she regenerates into another previous incarnation with David Tenant returning to the role. And they've since made it clear that this isn't the return of the Tenth Doctor; the version Tenant is playing now is indeed the Fourteenth Doctor. While it feels like a stunt to bring David Tenant back as the Doctor (in addition to Catherine Tate as Donna Noble) for a few special episodes in hopes of bringing back fans who may have given up in the last few years, it is still David Tenant after all. The man's original tenure as the Doctor brought in a new generation of fans (myself included), is regarded by many as the best version, and they even considered ending the show again when he wanted to retire. His reputation precedes him, and it will be fun to see him on new adventures and it could be interesting to see how Fourteen may be different from Ten.
Doctor Who won't return until November 2023, but like Thirteen, I'll be hopeful for what the future brings to the Doctor and the fans.
Sometimes a song is so good that other artists will want to put their own spin on it. And sometimes those versions become iconic in their own way. I've heard a lot of song covers over the years, and while a lot of them are very well done, there are some that have left such a personal impact that I can't help but think about them even when listening to the original versions. The following isn't necessarily a "better than the original" list, but more so just my thoughts on how these specific versions stood out to me. So without further ado, these are my top five favorite song covers.
5. "THE BOYS OF SUMMER" BY THE ATARIS
Original version by Don Henley
In 1984, Eagles vocalist Don Henley produced a classic song about lost youth and summer love with "The Boys of Summer". In 2003, the Ataris took the song and were able to put a pop punk spin on it, resulting in the band's most successful single. Both versions are able to deliver emotional vocals and encapsulate the sound of the decade they were released in. Where I think the Ataris' version shines best though is how it closes out, screaming out the final verse with the music gradually reaching a stopping point rather than continuing while slowly fading out. Even when I'm listening and singing along to Henley's version, I'll still belt out the end as if it were the Ataris' for that strong conclusion.
4. 'RUNNING UP THAT HILL" BY PLACEBO
Original version by Kate Bush
Kate Bush's 1985 song "Running Up That Hill" has seen a resurgence this year thanks to its inclusion during the fourth season of "Stranger Things", resulting in a considerable amount of radio airplay. Personally though, the first time I actually heard this song was as a cover by Placebo. I first heard it when it was used in a video package hyping up the match between Shawn Michaels and the Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI, later on in episodes of CSI and Bones, and I even felt it could be used to describe Peter and Harry's relationship in the Amazing Spider-Man films. Through all that though, it wasn't until this year that I realized it wasn't Placebo's song to begin with. When you compare the two versions, it's clear how Placebo made the song their own. A haunting tone coupled with the unique vocals of frontman Brian Molko brings about darker implications of the song where you can really picture someone desperate and at the end of their rope.
The resurgence of Kate's original is honestly what prompted me to make this list because Placebo's version always comes to mind whenever I hear her's. It made me start thinking about what other song covers impact my listening of their originals.
3. "CARELESS WHISPER" BY SEETHER
Original version by George Michael
This is another instance where I heard the cover version first and it took me awhile to really appreciate the original. Seether's cover of "Careless Whisper" was released in 2009 while I was a senior in high school and the hard rock sound resonated with my young emo heart about to close a chapter of my life with graduation. George Michael's original just felt tame to me by comparison. As I matured and my musical tastes started to expand, I began to enjoy the original "Careless Whisper" in its own right.
There's much to love about both versions when you think of them as two sides of the same coin when it comes to the pain of lost love. George Michael is more somber and reflective while Seether's is raw and frustrated. Still, whether it's a saxophone or guitar, either version of "Careless Whisper" should be able to get you in the feels.
2. "PATIENCE" BY CHRIS CORNELL
Original version by Guns N' Roses
Before his death in 2017, Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave fame recorded a number of cover songs. This collection would be released posthumously in 2020 on the album "No One Sings Like You Anymore". One such track included his own take on Guns N' Roses' 1989 hit, "Patience." The song had significance for Cornell, recording his version in 2016 after teaching his daughter to play the song and learning of GnR's recent reunion. While this may seem blasphemous, in my opinion, Cornell's version truly outdoes the original. I just feel Cornell got right to the point of the song. I don't think it's out of line to say you could look at the Guns N' Roses version as a tad drawn out and its message could be missed in the long musical interludes. Besides trimming some of the fat so to speak, I feel Cornell's iconic vocals helped elevate the song and including one last chorus at the end was a stroke of genius.
The big reason this is one of my favorite covers though has to do with the time of its release. 2020 was a tumultuous year to say the least that affected everyone to some degree. Cornell's version received some significant airplay upon its release and hearing it repeatedly during this time made me think about who and what was important to me. I think a lot of people had some similar introspection in 2020; Chris Cornell's "Patience" just had a hand in my personal journey.
And my number one favorite song cover is...
"UNDER PRESSURE" BY THE USED AND MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
Original version by Queen and David Bowie
I will admit that my being a big fan of My Chemical Romance might have played a part in this being my top choice, but it's nevertheless a great cover.
In a collaboration between Queen and David Bowie, these legends of rock released one of the greatest and most beautifully crafted songs of all time in 1981 with "Under Pressure." 2005 saw the song covered when The Used and My Chemical Romance joined together in an effort to provide relief for the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami through profits made from the single's release. As two of the biggest alternative rock bands at the time, they were able to bring their own style to the song and create a version that rivals the original. The faster pace gives it high energy that matched the "Revenge" era MCR while the distinct vocals of Bert McCracken of the Used and Gerard Way complement each other just as Bowie's and Freddie Mercury's did.
Both versions have merit in my opinion for their unique compositions and duets, and much like the message of "Under Pressure", it goes to show what can be accomplished when people are able to come together.
Do you agree with my choices? What are some of your favorite song covers? Leave a comment below and let's get the conversation started.
When I started watching wrestling in 2001, one of the biggest stars of the time was Dwayne Johnson, better known by his ring name of The Rock. It was during this time when the Rock was starting to branch out as an actor. Initially splitting his time between WWE and Hollywood, I would go to see whatever movie, usually action based, was being promoted at the time, including "The Scorpion King", "The Rundown", and "Walking Tall". As Rock began spending less time in WWE and started to do more than action movies, I was less inclined to see a movie of his unless it interested me. He may be using his real name for starring roles and he's more actor than wrestler now, but to me, he'll always be The Rock. When it comes to "Black Adam", this has been a passion project for Rock, having been attached since 2014 when the larger DC Extended Universe was still being planned out after "Man of Steel". It's taken some time, but the film that's been hyped up to forever change the DCEU has finally arrived. Was the hype warranted? While it certainly delivers repercussions that will be felt later in the DCEU, the film itself I can at least say is worthy of the Rock.
Of all the DCEU entries so far, "Black Adam" feels the most like a popcorn action flick. If you like seeing the Rock kick ass, you won't be disappointed. And personally, this is the most fun I've had watching a movie starring the Rock in a very long time. I didn't really have high hopes going in to this, but it started to win me over after the first action scene. And said action in the movie is the most unexpectedly brutal I can recall from a superhero movie from either DC or Marvel, and it apparently had to be toned down to avoid an R rating. The style as well as overall visuals of the film reminded me much of Zack Snyder's work (and that includes a lot of slow-motion), which really hasn't been seen from DC since his Justice League, despite the fact he doesn't seem to have been involved here. People who complained about the violence in Snyder's DC films will see he's actually been outdone here.
As Black Adam, the Rock's performance is the driving force of the film. Black Adam is intimidating and straightforward with a bit of a dark comedic side, making him a force to be reckoned with throughout. There's also a bit of an emotional arc to him as well; this isn't as surprising as John Cena in "Peacemaker" since the Rock has proven to have that kind of range, but I just didn't expect it here.
Admittedly though, the film is chock full of superhero movie tropes with many visuals and plot points that feel ripped from multiple DC and Marvel films. The most prominent way to describe the film is a darker "Shazam" (obviously), even down to a superhero fanboy offering advice to our protagonist, with the "fish out of water" plot from "Wonder Woman" thrown in. But I can honestly forgive all this though just because I was so entertained by the film.
One criticism I have could be seen as more nitpicky, but it's the Justice Society. For the most part, the Justice Society are fun characters in the film with their costumes and powers displayed well, not to mention their role offers an antithesis to Adam's methods and points out some hypocrisy in doing things by the book. I also must praise the performances of Aldis Hodge as Hawkman and Pierce Brosnan as Doctor Fate. Quintessa Swindel as Cyclone is fine while Noah Centineo Atom Smasher had the same awkward comedy Ezra Miller brought as the Flash, but they get less focus compared to their older teammates. Despite all the good they brought, my main problem is their inclusion in the film actually kind of undermines them. They're either there to get jobbed by Black Adam or to act as support to him in defeating the film's main villain Sabbac. Their introduction also raises a lot of questions like how long the team has been active and how and why they work for Amanda Waller. The team honestly could have benefitted more from their own movie.
Personally, I think the overall plot of "Black Adam" could have been reworked into a "Shazam" sequel with Billy and his foster siblings filling the Justice Society's roles fighting Adam and eventually working together to defeat Sabbac. Considering Black Adam is Billy's archnemesis, the fact Rock wanted him to have his own movie first makes it feel like he didn't want to play second fiddle in such a movie or go full villain. The film we did get shows Adam's heroic ambitions despite his villainous actions and that same character arc could have applied to a "Shazam" movie. But it is what it is.
Despite some small issues and personal takes on how the story could have gone, "Black Adam" was still better than I thought it would be. It will quench the thirst for action and entertain for what it is. And based on the mid-credits scene (which had me freaking out as much as the one in "Spider-Man: Far From Home"), it seems the DCEU may have a plan moving forward after years of disarray. The promise of change in the hierarchy within the DCEU has been delivered, but time will tell whether we see what that entails.
The character of She-Hulk has been an interesting one since her creation in 1980. Unlike her male cousin of the same namesake, Jennifer Walters is able to maintain her rational personality, which has allowed her to live a more balanced life as a gamma powered individual. For the most part, She-Hulk has been depicted as a fun-loving character with stories to match. Going into her Marvel Cinematic Universe Disney+ series, I feel that most need to know that beforehand.
In the case of "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law", this is basically Marvel's take on a workplace comedy, with emphasis on the comedy. Tonally, this show is a bit more over the top compared to other MCU movies and shows; I think it's because of that sitcom nature that makes "She-Hulk" feel the most like a Marvel TV show since "WandaVision", especially with episodes being mostly able to stand on their own. It has its serious moments, but its biggest strength is its comedy, which allows for some of Marvel's more sillier characters like the Wrecking Crew or Leapfrog to make their live action debuts. Before Deadpool debuted, the She-Hulk comics would frequently break the fourth wall, an aspect that has carried over to live action. Without spoiling much, the finale shows the fourth wall being obliterated in a way that not even the Deadpool movies have done (yet); the results of which I'm a little mixed on, but I still admire the risk and craziness of what was produced. A point of worry that worried some since the show's first trailer was the CGI, especially for our title character. Thankfully, most of the issues with that seemed fixed in the final product. There are a few scenes where the character seemed a little off, but I think She-Hulk was well rendered in a serviceable way for a majority of the series. There isn't a ton of action, which makes sense when you consider the nature of the show. What action that is present is still well done, and I think there was a lot of thought put into those scenes since they knew there wouldn't be a lot of them. When you boil it all down, "She-Hulk" is a show where you're just supposed to have fun, and not everything has to be taken so damn seriously.
I really have to applaud Marvel for calling out a lot of toxicity in their fanbase. Since the mid-2010's, there have been a certain subsection of comic fans accusing Marvel of "replacing" their well-known characters, typically white males, with new ones, whether they be female or a different race, using the same monikers, not even waiting to read the stories they star in before decrying them (Jane Foster's Thor or Sam Wilson's Captain America being examples). Within the show, She-Hulk is the target of Intelligencia, a men's rights group who inexplicably hate her and think she doesn't deserve the power or attention. And if you feel personally attacked with how Marvel portrays the group or individuals within it, you're kind of proving their point. I wish this was a problem solely within Marvel, but unfortunately many fandoms have these kinds of individuals. Star Wars, Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, and even freaking Scooby Doo are only a few examples. It's people like this who give geeks with more open minds a bad name. It's kind of ironic when you think about how before geeky things became mainstream pop culture that those who liked this stuff were made fun of, and now some of those outcasts are now trying to exclude others from something they like. Before I get off my soapbox and back to the review, I'll just leave this message for those people:
Leading actress Tatiana Maslany does a good job at selling the average 30-something Jennifer Walters. Despite being thrust into the spotlight as She-Hulk, all Jen wants is to have a normal life working as a lawyer, with the primary conflict of the series being how having celebrity thrust upon you can get in the way of those goals. In addition to turning in some good comedy, Maslany's performance really shines as both Jen and She-Hulk when we see how she reacts and opens up about her feelings of inadequacy over how her Hulk form is able to open doors for her when she's still Jen inside. You really feel for her when life is kicking her down. I also really enjoy how the first episode shows how she's different from her cousin Bruce. When Jen becomes a Hulk, Bruce is all ready to take her on his multiyear journey he used to reach the Smart Hulk state he's in now. However, Jen is quick to show that she has a more stable mindset to control her form compared to when Bruce first transformed. It goes to show that not all Hulks are the same (which can also apply to Abomination).
Going off of that, there are a couple things I'd want to talk about with the MCU's Hulk. The first, which came about while watching this series, is I really wish the character got some more spotlight after his 2008 film. This show goes into detail about why Jen is able to control her Hulk form, but why was Bruce different? The comics go into detail about this, but the MCU never did; I would really like to see a deep dive into Bruce's psyche and learn how his Hulk manifested the way it did. Another thing is a long time fan complaint about Hulk being "nerfed" after "Ragnarok" and how turning into Smart Hulk made the character weaker than he was before. Let's just think about this. It's established that Hulk is as strong as he is angry, especially when he's in the driver seat. Smart Hulk is an amalgamation with Bruce's smarts and Hulk's strength. The comics have shown this combination, but when Bruce relinquishes control, we get our classic, savage, indestructible Hulk. Shouldn't it stand to reason that the same could happen at some point in the MCU with Bruce letting go of control? And even if it doesn't, shouldn't we just be happy that Bruce has been able to find some happiness in his life after so many years of strife?
Of course, what many fans were excited to see in this series was the return of Daredevil. After a cameo in "No Way Home", Charlie Cox once again reprises his role as Matt Murdock and suits up for the first time in four years. Despite the hiatus, Cox has not missed a step in either identity. He still kicks ass and has a way with the ladies, having immediate chemistry with Jen. And while some fans worried about adding the classic yellow to the new suit, it really works here and plays well with the more lighthearted depiction presented. It just makes me more excited for his series to return on Disney+ in a couple years and any team-ups with heroes he's yet to meet.
Overall, while it's nothing outstanding and is yet another needlessly divisive entry for the MCU, "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" is still a good show when you know what it's trying to accomplish.
Since her debut in 2014, Kamala Khan took the comic book world by storm as the new Ms. Marvel with her solo series garnering widespread praise and multiple awards. Does her debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe rival such accomplishment? I like to think so.
While the MCU has already focused on teen superheroes like Spider-Man and the Runaways, Ms. Marvel is able stand out and put its own take on teen drama while also subverting some of the genre's tropes. Lead actress Iman Vellani does an excellent job as Kamala Khan; compared to someone like Peter Parker, she's really an average kid still finding her path. She's an Avengers and Captain Marvel fangirl, which sort of makes her a surrogate for Marvel fans and introduces us to a cultural landscape of meta proportions as we see people within the MCU idolize and cosplay as their heroes as much as in the real world. She loves her family but wishes they were more understanding of her interests, which makes for nice drama and resolution by the season's end. What I really like is how the show uses visuals that allows us to really get into Kamala's head. She likes to daydream and fantasize with these ideas manifesting themselves in interesting ways for the audience to see (including some music sequences). This also applies to when she's texting friends as the messages take up much of the screen, which I feel represents how important texting can be for teens especially in the moment. What's really interesting is as the series goes, such visuals become less frequent as her fantasies start to become reality.
Much like Black Panther and Shang-Chi, Ms. Marvel has a lot of cultural exploration as we see her Muslim background showcased in a natural and positive way; for example, I greatly enjoyed her brother Aamir's wedding in episode three and the activities shown. The show isn't afraid to shy away from darker subjects though. It touches on post-9/11 racism and delves into the 1947 partition of India; on the latter, it felt similar to how the Watchmen HBO series talked about the 1921 Tulsa massacre in how they're both tragic racially charged events that don't seem to be taught to the degree they should be.
Some die-hard fans of the comics may be upset about how they changed Kamala's powers for the MCU. In the comics, she gains elastic powers like Mr. Fantastic. The show changes this to hard light energy projection which kind of makes her more similar to Green Lantern. Since the MCU hasn't shied away from changing aspects of well known characters in the past, I don't really mind this change. I don't know if her elastic powers may not have translated well to live action, but her hardlight powers do create some nice visuals throughout the series; I'd also like to think it's representative of it being her time to shine.
I'd advise skipping this next section if you want to watch the show without spoilers, but it's a topic that warrants discussion.
**********SPOILERS**********
In the season finale, it's revealed that Kamala is actually a mutant, making her the first one we know of in the sacred MCU timeline. While the specific word used is "mutation", I swear the music afterwards includes a flourish of the 90's X-Men animated theme similar to the one used when 838 Xavier first appeared in "Multiverse of Madness". This changes her comics origin as an Inhuman, which I don't mind. Inhumans were being pushed at a time when the MCU couldn't use the X-Men but the brand didn't take off like they wanted and with the TV series being the final nail in the coffin.
While this reveal is a harbinger for the X-Men's arrival, it's also a signal for dark times coming for the MCU. The show's display of post-9/11 racism goes hand in hand with that part of the metaphor mutants represent. At this point in the MCU (2025 by my calculations), Damage Control is apparently on the look out for unknown powered individuals and are using the Stark Drones appropriated from Spider-Man to track them down. All this sounds like a precursor to the Mutant Response Division and Sentinels, especially when the hunt for Kamala was headed by someone with clear xenophobic tendencies like Agent Deever.
It's crazy to think that Mysterio's actions in "Far From Home" may have created bigger repercussions than we realized. Not only has he wrecked Spider-Man's reputation, but he may have reignited a level of distrust in superheroes not seen since "Civil War". We saw how fickle the public are in the MCU with how Peter got treated in "No Way Home" so it's not hard to see them turning on other heroes despite everything they've done for the world. The fact that Damage Control is using Stark tech in the manner they are is also an insult to Tony's legacy and sacrifice.
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While I think an additional episode or two could have been beneficial to help flesh out some supporting characters and villains, Ms. Marvel was nonetheless a true delight and without a doubt one of Marvel's best Disney+ shows. Kamala Kahn is literally a shining example of the next generation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and I look forward to where that light spreads.
For all intents and purposes, Chris Hemsworth's Thor is the last Phase One leading MCU hero standing with "Love and Thunder" marking his fourth solo film. Following the success of "Ragnarok", it was obvious that director Taika Waititi would return for any follow-up. So does lightning quite literally strike twice here? Well, there's a bit of give and take.
Obviously the tone from "Ragnarok" carries over, but even some of the story beats in "Love and Thunder" are similar to its predecessor. To name just a few, we have Thor briefly working with other heroes who have their own series, a silly side villain (though to Russell Crowe's credit, his depiction of Zeus is more accurate than the Hercules Disney animated film), and a main antagonist with a death motif.
In many regards though, there are many aspects where "Love and Thunder" shines better. For starters, there's the music which continues Waititi's use of classic rock for his Thor films. While "Ragnarok" used Led Zepplin's "Immigrant Song" for two pivotal scenes, we now have quite a selection of Guns N' Roses songs to give more variety and more of an "umph" to certain scenes. More importantly though, I feel there's more emotion to the plot this time around in two particular ways. The first is the relationship between Thor and Jane Foster, with Natalie Portman returning to reprise her role and now wielding Mjolnir herself. While we haven't seen Jane since "The Dark World" and we can only guess about how Portman's relationship with Marvel soured afterwards, I really enjoyed having her back with this film. Waititi does a great job at recapping their relationship, goes into more detail about her and Thor drifted apart, and makes the viewer fall in love and root for them all over again. I will say that of all the Guns N' Roses songs used for the film, I feel it was a missed opportunity not to include "Patience" in regard to the two. Then you have Christian Bale as Gorr the God Butcher, our main villain. Sometimes I forget how much Bale puts into his roles, and Gorr is no different. Bale delivers what is probably the scariest MCU villain to date, both in his look and a performance that can be mesmerizing to take in. With the Necrosword, Gorr is cursed with both his body and mind seemingly being ravaged as he works toward his goal of killing all gods. But there's definitely more of a sympathetic aspect to him compared to Hela, where you understand what's motivating him and still feel for him even as the film reaches its climax.
In terms of the action, I don't think there's one bad fight piece in this entire film with some of the most brilliant choreography and cinematography we've seen yet in the MCU. When it comes to the comedy though, it doesn't always land quite as well as it did with "Ragnarok". It can get a little grating at times with the most annoying aspect to me being the damn screaming goats and I wish that meme would just die off already.
Everyone who's returned from previous films does a great job here but I really have to hand it to Chris Hemsworth. Whenever we see Thor in a Marvel film, it's always different as we see the character progress. "Love and Thunder" shows him still emotionally dealing with events from past films and now that he's passed rulership of New Asgard to Valkyrie, he's looking for purpose. This film is essentially Thor's midlife crisis and Hemsworth does a good job at showing that as his character appears more unsure of himself than we've ever seen him before. With how the film ends and Hemsworth seemingly still on board for more, it'll be interesting to see how Thor will be when we see him again.
While I do seem to be giving more praise than criticism comparing "Love and Thunder" to "Ragnarok" as I hinted at at the beginning, I honestly think "Ragnarok" is still the better of the two. "Love and Thunder" does improve on a lot of what "Ragnaork" did, but it does still feel like a copy in some ways. And to me, "Ragnarok" still serves as a grand conclusion to Thor's original trilogy while "Love and Thunder" makes it clear there's still story to tell. Whichever film you prefer, it's clear that Taika Waititi is the best fit for this corner of the MCU.
It's certainly been awhile since I've talked about Power Rangers. I'm a little late on this one than I thought I'd be, but it's time to talk about Beast Morphers, the first season of the Hasbro era of the franchise and the direct sequel to my all-time favorite season, RPM.
To be clear, Beast Morphers appears to take place in the main Ranger timeline that began with Mighty Morphin'. What connects it to RPM though (in addition to appearances from Dr. K and Colonel Truman) is the return of Venjix (going by the name Evox for a majority of the series), marking the first time that a main villain from a previous season returns to fill the same capacity. When this is revealed, they sell the dread very well and gave me goosebumps. This is the artificial intelligence that all but conquered his dimension's Earth; since his defeat, he's bid his time for years, surely growing vengeful the longer he waited, and his goals now seem multiversal. If anything, Beast Morphers once again sells Venjix as the franchise's most dangerous villain.
It actually seems overall fitting that a bridge was built between RPM and Beast Morphers. For one, the team symbols have very similar designs (hell, even their Sentai source footage have similar names with Go-Onger and Go-Busters, even though those series aren't connected).
But for a comparison with more substance, the plots are also pretty much the same: a Ranger team with a motif of animals and vehicles protecting their world from a computer virus and its army of robots. Even if they didn't bring Venjix back, Beast Morphers can be seen as the main timeline's version of RPM's events and very well could have been similar to what RPM could have been had they taken the light-hearted approach instead of going post-apocalyptic. Hell, Beast Morphers even includes robot animal sidekicks for the Rangers that help pilot their zords, which is similar to what Go-Onger did where their zords were actually sentient and could talk (an aspect that wasn't carried over to RPM considering the route they took). I guess the difference is that considering the main timeline has had far more Ranger teams than RPM's, they've had more experience in preparing resistance to a threat like Venjix but not taking it lightly.
Character wise, there's not too much to say about the initial three Rangers. Red Ranger Devon is a gamer who has a strained relationship with his father but doesn't get much of a character arc once they finally see eye to eye. Yellow Ranger Zoey has a very girl next door personality who has a penchant to help the environment but it doesn't come up too much. Blue Ranger Ravi probably has the most complex arc of the three, being the son of Grid Battleforce's commander and expected to follow in her footsteps but has a passion for painting he doesn't want to reveal out of fear of disappointment; much like Devon and his father though, there's not much arc for Ravi once this is also resolved.
My favorite Rangers of the season though are the ones that join later in Nate and Steel. Nate is a child prodigy and the lead scientist at Grid Battleforce, developing the Rangers' powers, arsenal, and zords. When he's kidnapped by the villains to build a robot body for Evox, he's able to trick them by using the tools at his disposal to become the Gold Ranger. As a byproduct though, the robot body somehow becomes sentient and acquires Silver Ranger powers; and if the science behind that isn't questionable enough, the robot also becomes infused with Nate's DNA and is designated as his brother, naming him Steel. Nate's creation of Steel helps fulfill a wish he had for a sibling given he was an only child and had parents who worked overseas most of his life; there are some clear abandonment issues there and it's something that does get nicely resolved in the series. Steel is essentially Nate's idea of an ideal brother: cool, somewhat smug, but caring above all else. While he is mostly robot, Steel repeatedly points out that he's part human and attempts many times through the series to feel more like one, wanting to appreciate the little things some humans may take for granted like eating or owning a pet; it actually makes for some of the most entertaining episodes. Steel's a very unique Ranger in the franchise in that despite not having facial features to express, the show still does a good job at giving him arcs and character moments; compare that to Sam from SPD where he was always morphed or a ball of light throughout that season and had basically nothing else going for him. Despite their differences, the brothers essentially help each other grow.
The main comic relief of the season are the characters of Ben and Betty, employees at Grid Battleforce who pretty much have jobs because their dad is the leading general. The main schtick is that they're very clumsy with their attempts to help usually resulting in physical comedy. While I guess some found them annoying, I found them very entertaining and pretty funny; I feel like it's what it would be like if Awkwafina and Jacob Batalon were a comedy duo. What I really liked is that they always had this upbeat personality that never faltered despite how things go awry for them so often. There are a few times where they do get a win and successfully contribute help to the Rangers, but I really wish they had a bigger role in the final episodes similar to Bulk and Skull as the Zordon era came to an end.
There isn't much difference production wise as we transition from the Neo-Saban era to Hasbro since much of the same people behind the show carried over despite the change of ownership. The only thing that seems affected going forward is the theme song. The Beast Morphers theme is serviceable if not simple, being another remix of "Go Go Power Rangers" with a few new lyrics. It's also really short and it took me awhile to realize that only the Rangers were featured in the opening credits with none of the other regular cast members serving as supporting cast or human looking villains as all previous seasons have done, which I feel slightly diminishes those characters' importance to the series. The biggest problem though is that the theme song now doesn't start until a third of the way into an episode, basically when the main action has already started. If they're not going to begin an episode with the theme or play it after a cold opening, then why even bother doing a theme anymore?
One of my favorite plotlines of the season, albeit a short lived one, was Devon receiving a Fury Mode that while powerful was corrupting him and his judgment. I found it similar to Spider-Man when he had the Venom symbiote and is something I thought would be a good idea to see in Power Rangers.
Conversely, I have to bring up that I think the worst episode of the season is "Goin' Ape". It's Ravi and his girlfriend Roxy's anniversary and a misunderstanding leads Roxy to believe Ravi is cheating on her, and instead of just explaining things, Ravi turns it around by accusing Roxy of not trusting him. This overdone sitcom/rom-com trope is infuriating enough, but the episode by the end makes it seem like Roxy was in the wrong for accusing Ravi when he was the one who overreacted. I haven't really cursed in a Power Rangers post since talking about Megaforce and Operation Overdrive, but man, f*** this episode.
The season features another major team-up, bringing back the past dinosaur themed teams in Mighty Morphin', Dino Thunder, and Dino Charge. I know what you're thinking; why did a season not having to do with dinosaurs do this? Well, in terms Super Sentai, Kyuryuger (the source of Dino Charge) came after Go-Busters and when it came time for the annual team-up, they decided to celebrate the dino theme by also bringing back the Zyurangers and Abarangers (the sources for Mighty Morphin and Dino Thunder). Beast Morphers decided to adapt this footage, and much like Go-Busters, the team became fourth fiddle for this event, though it feels even worse considering this happened in their own series.
While I would like to say every Ranger of each team came back, Power Rangers unfortunately doesn't have that kind of money. The only Mighty Morphin' alum to return is Austin St. John as Jason while Dino Charge Rangers Tyler, Chase, Koda, and Ivan appear on screen with Shelby and Riley only providing voicework in their Ranger forms. The other Mighty Morphin' Rangers and Dino Thunder team appear only in costume with very minimal dialogue from them in an attempt to not draw attention to the fact it's not the old actors. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't love seeing them all fight together for an extended period of time. I mean, Beast Morphers didn't have to adapt the Go-Busters/Kyuryuger team-up, but I think they knew fans would love some attempt at it if it meant seeing the older teams and even their Megazords working together, not to mention Goldar's own return. And honestly, any kind of effort put in is appreciated after the laziness of Megaforce and their so called "Legendary Battle."
In many ways, Beast Morphers is a culmination season. Along with being an RPM sequel and featuring a team-up with three past Ranger teams, Beast Morphers makes it a point to show that all of Ranger history is connected. Building off the anniversary team-up of Ninja Steel, we see there is regular communication between the different Rangers' timelines, sharing intel and technology. Grid Battleforce even has an archive of past Ranger weapons and morphers donated to study and build off of (in addition to being Easter Eggs for long time fans), an idea touched upon briefly back in SPD.
That being said, I think Beast Morphers is a satisfying season, with good acting and well written episodes with some having real emotional moments. There's nothing to really hate about it (and even the weirder elements I didn't mind this time around), but there's nothing really exceptional either. While there's a lot to like about Beast Morphers in its own right, a lot of what I enjoyed most were its connections and references to past Ranger seasons, which is a problem when you want something to stand out on its own; it'd be like if Tommy kept referencing his old Ranger days in Dino Thunder. Besides that, there were moments throughout the season where I kept seeing similarities and making comparisons to character traits and plot elements from past seasons. I was making a mental list for whenever I got around to this post, but it kind of grew out of control by the end. The few examples I will give are Devon's aforementioned father issues being similar to Wes's in Time Force, Blaze and Roxy reminding me of Jarrod and Camille from Jungle Fury in being able to morph into their own pseudo-Ranger forms, and Nate and Steel joining the team as bug themed Rangers like Hunter and Blake did in Ninja Storm.
I'd say the writing has become uninspired and maybe Hasbro was playing it safe for their first attempt at Power Rangers, but then I had to consider the franchise has gone on for nearly thirty years (and fifty for Super Sentai), so maybe it's becoming harder to come up with new motifs and unique characters; I mean, the season after this one is dinosaur themed again.
Again, I have no ill will towards Beast Morphers. It just seems in some regard that we're at the point where Power Rangers may be showing its age and trying to relive its glory years. We'll have to see if things get better next time for what could very well be the final Power Rangers series...for reals this time. To explain, it was reported in 2020 that Hasbro was cutting ties with Toei, the company that produces Super Sentai, meaning acquiring footage and adapting Sentai will soon be a thing of the past; in conjunction, Hasbro and Netflix are also planning to reboot the Power Rangers franchise with cinematic universe goals in mind (because of course there are). There's also rumors of a 30th Anniversary special next year bringing back the original Mighty Morphin' team to give a proper conclusion to the whole series, but that's getting ahead of ourselves. Between Hasbro working out the bugs of their first production and possibly needing to stick the landing for the whole series, Power Rangers Dino Fury will have a lot to live up to (and I'm hoping to get my thoughts on that season out much faster than this one).
Since its premiere in 2010, "Young Justice" has managed to position itself as one of DC's best animated series with a dedicated fanbase that was able to revive it years after its cancellation. As the show's fourth season (with the subtitle of "Phantoms") finally wraps, the creators prove they're not running out of steam with what may be some of their finest work.
As always, the writing of the show is on point. It's brilliant, compelling, and continues to get an emotional response for the character's personal stories. The mature evolution of the show's tone from last season has only gotten stronger here as it delves deeper into real world topics and makes the universe even more inclusive with some characters being revealed to be non-binary or polyamorous. The animation is probably the best it has ever been this season with great fight scenes and some great visuals in general. What sets this season apart structure wise is that while there is a season long story, it's split up into six arcs, the final arc being a converging point of the previous five. I kind of liked this process as it gives those like myself who prefer to space out their series viewing over a few days clear groupings to watch episodes in. And while the cast continues to be vast, the main focus of the season and each arc is on the original members of the Young Justice team (as seen in the poster above) as they eventually all come together for the final arc. Considering that this season takes place ten years in universe since the series first began, it felt like a nice way to celebrate the show and team's long run with plenty of flashbacks and parallels to boot.
If there's a prevalent theme for this season, it definitely is "Phantoms". While that's true literally, it's even more true metaphorically, as traumas from the past come back to haunt heroes and villains alike this season. When you take into account how much these characters have been through over ten years (not to mention how long superheroes have operated since before the show began), obviously there will be some underlying issues that need addressed. Whether these characters have gone through different kinds of losses, had horrible upbringings, cracked under pressures of the job, or have had relationships that impact or have been impacted by one's wellbeing, this season displays a variety of factors that can impact mental health and how one can get help. "Phantoms" not only does as good as "Steven Universe: Future" at exploring mental trauma with young heroic characters but is a better version of what "Heroes in Crisis" could have been without the murder mystery or pretentious writing. As taking care of one's mental health has become even more of a priority especially over the last two and a half years (and I'll admit that I've had to come to terms with some personal issues myself within that time), I applaud the people behind Young Justice for displaying that anyone, even heroes, can have deep problems and there are ways to try and heal from them.
A few other things that really stood out to me this season:
* Brent Spiner returned to voice the Joker for an episode after playing the character only once back in the first season. When that first episode aired, I absolutely hated his performance. In my latest watch-through of the series on HBO Max building my way up to "Phantoms", I found that Spiner's Joker didn't bother me as much this time and I actually enjoyed his return this season. The only thing I can think of that brought this change is that I found him similar to Jared Leto's Joker in the Snyder Cut. While Leto's Joker is still divisive (and I've made no secret that I'm a fan), is it possible that Spiner's Joker was just ahead of its time?
* During the season's fifth arc, it's established that "Young Justice" and "Green Lantern: The Animated Series" take place in the same universe with the introduction of Razer to the series. Not only does Jason Spisak reprise his role but his story has picked up years after where we left him at the end of the Green Lantern series. Those who remember the old DC Nation Saturday morning block on Cartoon Network in the early 2010's know that the two series aired back to back and were both beloved before their untimely cancellation, so I'm willing to bet that others like myself love there's now some official ties between the two. It makes me want to both go back and watch the Green Lantern series and see it revived for a third season even if it had to transition to 2D.
* Some minor spoilers, but General Zod is our big bad for the season and there's one part where his soldiers in the Phantom Zone are singing a chant/mantra to his glory. I just found it very akin to a Disney villain song like "Be Prepared" for Scar or even "I Go Looney" for the Joker in "The Killing Joke" animated adaptation.
Whatever cons I have are very minor (like story choices and some voice acting), but overall, "Young Justice: Phantoms" is another homerun of a season that celebrates the series and its characters, faults and all. I think season three is still my favorite, but this is definitely a close second. At the time of this writing, the show has yet to be renewed for a fifth season. Before finishing the season, I thought even if it wasn't renewed that this would serve as a satisfying series finale. After the post-credits scene though, I'm really hoping we do get a fifth season. So let's get #RenewYoungJustice trending and keep rewatching the whole series on HBO Max to convince DC, WB, and Discovery not to end this story just yet.
To close this out, whether you're hoping that the series will be renewed or more importantly seeking to improve your own mental health, I'll leave you with words that came to mind during this season:
Coming off the heels of "Spider-Man: No Way Home", there's a lot of hype for the Doctor Strange sequel as it continues to explore the concept of the multiverse within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As "Multiverse of Madness" attempts to both continue Strange's character journey and build up the inevitable multiversal war, the film does succeed but not without faltering somewhat along the way.
In terms of Strange's arc in the film, Benedict Cumberbatch does a good job at conveying his internal conflict as the character wrestles with the choices he's made across the movies, both personal and for the "greater good". As he learns of different versions of himself, it really raises questions about his morality and based on the ending, one of them will be if it will only go so far. Without spoiling too much, the Scarlet Witch is the main villain of the film as Wanda officially breaks bad. Elizabeth Olsen outdoes herself from "WandaVision" as her character's story seems to come to its natural conclusion. It creates a nice parallel with Strange's story about how far one would go to achieve their goals, again, whether they be personal or for the "greater good". That being said, "Multiverse of Madness" was the first real test for Marvel about whether one truly needs to view the Disney+ series when their plot elements eventually spill over into the films to grasp the story better (taking into account that not everyone has Disney+). Sadly, it fails with this instance. While the film does discuss the events of "WandaVision", you'll have a deeper appreciation of the story and understanding of Wanda's motivation after having watched it since it's without a doubt the most crucial part of her character journey. The rest of the main cast is rounded out well by Benedict Wong once again killing it as Wong, Xochitl Gomez carving out her place in the MCU's next generation as America Chavez, and Rachel McAdams having a more prominent role as Christine Palmer compared to the first film.
Director Sam Raimi is known for his work on the original Spider-Man trilogy and the Evil Dead series. With "Multiverse of Madness", he's able to bring both his lighthearted and demonic touches to the film resulting in some of the most creative imagery seen in an MCU film, especially on the latter category. Marvel succeeds in what they wanted to be their first horror film, with it at times being very graphic, unsettling, and packed with so many jump-scares that they seem bent on giving you a heart attack.
Of course, the main draw and most hype toward this movie was the multiverse aspect as the rumor mill for this movie had people speculating on what new characters would be introduced and what former non-MCU Marvel stars would be returning. It does seem that after seeing all the big screen Spider-Men together in "No Way Home", people were expecting a smorgasbord of cameos; I won't deny I had some thoughts on the matter myself (particularly of the Deadpool variety). My point is, please temper your expectations. With what we do get though, I felt very satisfied with who does end up appearing, but not so much with what happens to them; if anything, it at least opens up sacred timeline versions for some of these characters to appear later on. Going off that though, I'm a little disappointed that Chiwetel Ejiofor's return as Mordo is that of a variant and not the one from the first film. It seems implied Strange did battle with his version off screen, but it leaves the set-up from the post-credits scene still without any real payoff. Which is what brings me to the main issue I feel with "Multiverse of Madness". While it continues Strange's story, it doesn't feel like a continuation of the first film whereas the hype of the multiverse will disappoint those expecting more. While I feel the film does succeed in what it wanted to do and have it both ways, one could see one aspect overshadowing the other.
Overall, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" is a very entertaining and bloodcurdling film bolstered by Strange and Wanda's storylines and another taste of the MCU multiverse. The only advice I can give going in is not to expect another "Endgame" level film just yet.
While the previous Marvel Disney+ series have focused on those could consider side characters in the bigger films, "Moon Knight" marks the first where the main protagonist is being introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From a first glance, Moon Knight has been compared to Batman, but dressed in white and with even deeper mental issues. He's a very complex but cool character, so it makes sense that his Disney+ series matches up.
The best way to describe "Moon Knight" is a mix of psychological character study and treasure hunting adventure with supernatural elements. While the latter is done well (if a bit slow at times) and adds more to the MCU's mythos, it's the former where the series truly shines thanks to the lead, Oscar Isaac. For a character with split personality, Isaac does a brilliant job bringing both Marc Spector and Steven Grant to life in such a way that I sometimes forget it's the same actor even when they share the screen at the same time; and in that regard, I have to give props to the special effects team for making said scenes seamless. As the two personalities conflict early in the season, I found myself siding with both at different times where I'm either going "Marc, stop messing with Steven's life" or "Steven, don't get in Marc's way". It's very rewarding by the time they get on the same page, becoming like brothers, and after we learn of their complex and heartbreaking backstory while still leaving some mystery about the character.
Strangely enough, I actually found the series to have similar plot elements to Iron Fist, specifically the second season. Both leads are chosen guardians given powers to carry out a grand mission having to battle an antagonist with similar goals but more brutal methods along with a love interest who may be better suited for the job than the protagonist. In regard to the love interest, I really enjoyed May Calamawy as Layla, who's a strong character in her own right while also having good chemistry with Isaac as both Marc and Steven. The Steven interactions are most enjoyable as it's like watching her fall in love with her husband all over again. As for our lead villain in Arthur Harrow, Ethan Hawke gives a very charismatic performance as a religious zealot who can even fool the likes of gods.
While the series is at its best with its character moments, the action stuff that is present is nothing to scoff at. The best examples that stand out are the car chase in episode one and the final battle in episode six. And when it comes to the show's use of CGI, it's literally 50/50 with the second half of episodes clearly better than the first. Obviously the second half definitely had more need of it, it's a little disheartening to see corners cut when these MCU Disney+ series are supposed to have the same budgets as the films.
All in all, while I don't really hold it in high regard as some may think, "Moon Knight" is still a very solid stand-alone entry for the Marvel Cinematic Universe thanks in large part to Oscar Isaac and I look forward to where Marc, Steven, and company go next.
Since the first trailer dropped at DC FanDome 2020, it was clear we were in for something special with Matt Reeves' "The Batman." And for me personally, there was a certain kind of excitement for the first solo Batman film in 10 years outside the larger scope of the main DCEU. Well, if you still had doubts about this movie because of certain casting or design choices, you can lay them aside. The hype is real as a unique new take on the Dark Knight has arrived.
Director Matt Reeves has delivered on so many fronts. The Gotham City presented is a perfect mix of the gothic nature of Tim Burton's films and the grounded reality of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy; it's really the first time since "Batman Begins" where I've felt Gotham had its own landscape and atmosphere. I think the fact that we start the story with Batman already being established also helps make this world feel like its own and not just trying to fit Batman in our's. Story wise, Reeves has crafted a grand mystery and deep conspiracy to uncover; while there's a lot to unpack within this nearly 3 hour movie (which means you can probably get even more out of subsequent viewings), you'll be completely immersed not only thanks to the film's tone, but also to the engaging characters with no performances not to like. I also have to give a lot of praise to Michael Giacchino's score, who joins the ranks of Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer of iconic Batman movie composers, creating unique themes for Batman, Catwoman, and Riddler. While I've talked before about the film's comic inspirations back in my "Ego" review, my first viewing of the film brought to mind which ones are the most prominent. The heaviest influence on the film from what I could see were the "Earth One" series from Geoff Johns and Gary Frank along with the neo-noir writing style of Frank Miller's "Year One" with a splash of the Telltale video games (that last one making a certain twist in the film honestly not much of shock to me). Put them all together though, and it certainly brings a live action Batman not seen before.
As previously mentioned, I couldn't think of one performance I didn't like from this film. It's such as star-studded cast with Andy Serkis as Alfred, Zoe Kravitz as Selina Kyle, Jeffrey Wright as Gordon, Colin Farrel as Penguin, and John Turturro as Carmine Falcone. But of course, it's our main protagonist and antagonist who shine brightest. * Like Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck before him, Robert Pattinson had a lot of hate to overcome in his Batman casting, mostly due to a certain series of films he starred in (and again, it's really time to get over that). Like his predecessors, Pattinson has risen above and delivered a new take on the character that will stand the test of time. Pattinson's Batman is probably the most intense portrayal of the character yet, as the deep seeded anger of the character exudes whenever he's on screen. There's also this raw realism to his fighting style that brings Charlie Cox's Daredevil to mind, where even if you get a hit in on him, he'll make sure you'll get hit back harder. Plus, while it can be scary for Batman just to appear, there's a feeling of dread that can arise just from hearing his footsteps as he approaches. His Bruce Wayne portrayal is also quite different in that he'd rather not be Bruce Wayne; this struggle of balance is reminiscent of Keaton's version, but Pattinson's Bruce hasn't reached the point of caring about that, wishing to be Batman 24/7. It's a good starting point for this version of the character as future sequels can show how Bruce can change, doing good for the city under his real name while also realizing that Batman has to be more than just an outlet for his childhood trauma. I also loved his relationships with other characters, from his partnership with Gordon (which is probably the strongest we've seen between the two characters before on film), his budding romance with Selina, and the strained father-son dynamic with Alfred (which culminates in a scene between the two that nearly got me chocked up). * Paul Dano delivers a terrifying performance as the Riddler. As a terrorist bringing Gotham to the edge, it reminds me of Heath Ledger's Joker, but not as refined and rough around the edges. Since Dano did study serial killers for the role, I found his performance very believable and how such a person would behave in real life. And while this version is vastly different from Jim Carrey's in "Batman Forever", I surprising found a similarity between the two; whether it was Bruce or Batman, Riddler felt a one-sided kinship with the man he would eventually call his enemy. In Dano's case, his Riddler is inspired by Batman, believing himself a hero and taking the crusade against the city's corrupt further, even becoming a cult of personality himself in the process; I can't recall a villain in a Batman or comic book movie that was able to create a following out of normal citizens.
And while not technically a character, I loved this film's interpretation of the Batmobile. For one, its design is truly believable for an early years Batman in a grounded setting. More importantly though, I can't remember when a Batmobile can stoke as much fear and be as unstoppable as Batman himself, which isn't surprising since Stephen King's "Christine" was cited as inspiration in its depiction. The sound of its engine being the loudest thing you can hear whenever the Batmobile was onscreen and how it reverberated through the theater was a nice touch.
Overall, with Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson at the helm, it would appear that the future of the Dark Knight on film (and its HBO Max spin-offs) is a bright one.
While I've covered plenty of DC TV series on this blog the last few years, this marks the first to be directly connected to the films of the DC Extended Universe. Spinning out of "The Suicide Squad", James Gunn returns to put the spotlight on the character of Peacemaker, portrayed once again by John Cena, for a new clandestine mission to save the world. What results in my opinion is a slow burn of a rollercoaster that winds up being a ride worth taking.
On a first glance, Peacemaker seems like such an odd choice to receive a solo project, possibly banking on John Cena's action star power to get attention. As it turns out though, the series does a great job at giving Peacemaker depth with an emotional backstory and engaging crisis on conscience that adds development to the one-note character he was in his debut appearance. It's honestly quite surprising to see Cena turn in such a performance. The best way to describe the character is a mix of Star-Lord and Deadpool. Like Star-Lord, he had a rural upbringing and a love for music tied to a lost loved one. And much like Deadpool, he's an incredibly raunchy anti-hero who will constantly roast superheroes and celebrities. My favorite part of his journey though is how he slowly bonds and builds friendships with the members of the team assigned to him, including Harcourt, Adebayo, and Economos (portrayed by Jennifer Holland, Danielle Brooks, and Steve Agee respectively). It's just another example of James Gunn successfully bringing a team together that we slowly but surely become emotionally invested in as we reach the story's climax.
On that note, James Gunn's style is still on point with this series, retaining some of the bizarre nature of his Suicide Squad film, as well as his trademark comedy and use of music to enhance the scenes they're included in. On the latter, I think it's some of his best selections, especially the use of "Do You Wanna Taste It" by Wig Wam for the series' opening theme and in the season finale's climax.
That being said, part of me feels that Gunn may be stretching himself thin when it comes to TV compared to movies. I felt myself dredging along during the first half of the season when there wasn't much excitement happening, whereas things seemed to really take off in episode five onwards and I started to become more invested. And while the comedy usually hits the mark, there are often times where it feels out of place or the bits just run for too long; it's like they filmed the actors improvising all the jokes they could think of but decided not to cut it down to the best ones. My point is, I think Gunn could benefit from tightening things up a bit, whether it be for the next season of Peacemaker or his other planned Suicide Squad spin-off in the works.
Overall, it took a little while for Peacemaker to really take off for me compared to Gunn's other projects, but when it does, it reaches the freaking stars. And with where many of our main characters are by the season's end, I'm really interested in seeing the direction they go when the show returns.
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