Movie Review: "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" - Making Peace

 

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.

Changing of the Doctor Part Two: Final Thoughts on the Whittaker Era

 

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.

My Top Five Favorite Song Covers

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.

Movie Review: Black Adam - Electrifying

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.

TV Review: "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" - Good Green Fun

 

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.

TV Review: Ms. Marvel - Living the Dream

 

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.

Movie Review: "Thor: Love and Thunder" - Ragnarok 2, Electric Boogaloo

 

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.