Thunderbolts

Image credit: IMDb

Reluctant, unexpected, and antiheroes are characters that always add a bit of fun and spice to a genre that can be stifled and restricted by its narrative binaries of good vs. evil. While the superhero genre works similarly to fantasy, with magic being replaced by science-fiction explanation, it ventures further into the unexplored frontier of the human condition than the former, examining the swings between anticipated and contradictory behaviours in people in tandem with their personalities and their social, mental, economical, and geographical environments. The narrative aspect of the antihero or unexpected hero is a popular one in the superhero genre, as it explores the dichotomy of good and evil by truncating and localising it to within the personal parameters of the individual. It then grows from there, case in point: Batman.

What station did this train of thought come from? I recently sat down and watched Marvel’s Thunderbolts.

A group of mercenaries are sent on an assignment by CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fonataine to eradicate some loose ends that tie the director to the O.X.E Group’s ‘Sentry’ project to create a new ultimate superhuman. But upon arrival they realise that the assignment is a trap and they are the ‘loose ends’. Working together to fight their way out, the group then make it their mission to ensure that Valentina is impeached for her crimes, but things take a turn when one of their number is revealed to be a successful patient of the ‘Sentry’ procedure. Unfortunately, the procedure also empowered the dark alter-ego of Bob, the amnesiac patient, and suddenly a quest of revenge turns into one of saving the world from The Void.

Thunderbolts has been loosely labelled as Marvel’s Suicide Squad, but the similarities between the two films really do stop at the fact that the superhero group is made up of not-superheroes. While Suicide Squad was about villains being put into a position where they have to save the day, Thunderbolts is made up of a rag-tag team of impressive people who are remorseful about their past actions. The line-up includes former Black Widow Yelena Bolova, Red Guardian Alexei Shostakov, Captain America understudy John Walker, Ghost Ava Starr, and the Winter Soldier Bucky Barnes.

Image credit: IMDb

The film is an exploration into the mental minefield of anxiety and depression and the ways we can get through it. Imposter syndrome rans rampant throughout the team, but it’s through external support as well as internal fortitude that they can overcome their mental humps and help other people. While subtlety is not necessarily at the forefront of the film, with the Big Bad being a literal bipolar opposite to the Sentry, the nods to and explorations of various mental illnesses as well as everyday anxiety and depression bring the heroes down to earth and delivers a very encouraging message about exceptional people going through the same shit we do.

Like its predecessors, the film is a good balance of action, narrative exposition, character development, and comedy, with a refreshing take on the Avengers origin story of a group of exceptional people brought together to become something more.

Director: Jake Schreier, 2025

Cast: Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lewis Pullman, David Harbour, Wyatt Russell, Hannah John-Kamen, Geraldine Viswanathan, & Wendell Pierce

The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Image credit: Disney

Leaving the shores of black and white for a jaunt into the more modern age, this weekend saw me diving back into the MCU with The Fantastic Four: First Steps. I’ll admit there was some trepidation, after all there hasn’t yet been a Fantastic Four movie that has been particularly good: the one from the Naughties I recall with a bit of embarrassed nostalgia and honestly, I never bothered seeing the remake in the 2010s. But of course, there have been too many hints that the cosmic-hero quartet were muscling into the MCU, so I had to go see it. I’m glad to say that I was pleased with the experience.

Reed Richards, Ben Grimm, Susan and Johnny Storm have been the protectors of the world since venturing to space and coming back with superpowers. Now they are about to voyage to a whole new frontier: parenthood. Shortly after announcing Sue and Reed’s pregnancy, a mysterious silver surfer comes to Earth heralding its destruction. The four heroes suit up and follow the herald into space where they discover a monstrous, consuming entity named Galactus, who agrees to spare their world in exchange for Reed and Sue’s baby.

What’s nice about Fantastic Four: First Steps is that it works as another standalone Marvel movie. Despite taking place within the multiverse, no prior knowledge of the various other universes and timelines is really required. Like the later Thor movies or Multiverse of Madness, First Steps is another enjoyable genre piece, paying homage to the comics’ Silver Age in the 1960s. Set in a campy, retro, yet somehow also space age NY, it’s got the feel of a classic ‘60s sitcom or cartoon – the predominant vibe is The Jetsons -  with a refreshing edge of not being over dramatized.

Where a slight bit of discombobulation comes in is from the scenes that take place in outer space, in which the modern computer wizards have free reign to remind us that this is an MCU movie. The special effects of Galactus and Shalla-Bal are visually very impressive and the battle sequences that take place both in space and NY are reminiscent of The Avengers, Thor, or Guardians of the Galaxy. But the jarring contrast between the ’60s futuristic sets and the great beyond is fleeting and doesn’t really dampen any of the fun cinematic experience of the film.

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With great performances, funky set designs, and classic Marvel special effects, Fantastic Four: First Steps is a fun instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Director: Matt Shakman, 2025

Cast: Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Joseph Quinn, Ralph Ineson, Julia Garner, Mark Gatiss, Sarah Niles, Matthew Wood, Paul Walter Hauser & Natasha Lyonne

Ghost Rider

Image credit: Wikipedia

It’s funny to think that there are so many great stories and characters and narrative ideas out there in the world and many of them get picked up and turned into bad or mediocre movies. Indeed, it’s a funny industry that allows for terrible pieces to be created, distributed, and then left to age and (sometimes) outlive us all. For every groundbreaking masterpiece or commercial blockbuster that breaks the Box Office, there are dozens, hundreds even of mehs and megaflops. It’s a delightful world of content that we live in.

This train of through is partly influenced by a very interesting book that I am currently reading about a century of Hollywood flops and partly inspired by a dumb foray into a lesser celebrated Marvel movie that I saw for the first time recently: Ghost Rider.

When he discovers that his father has cancer, motorcycle stuntman Johnny Blaze (Nicholas Cage) sells his soul to Mephistopheles to save him. But a deal with the Devil never goes the way as planned and now, years later Johnny is forced to serve as Mephistopheles’ ‘Ghost Rider’ – an agent of vengeance. His task: eradicate a group of rebellious demons that seek an ancient and powerful scroll that would bring about the end of the world.

Falling into the category of Marvel antiheroes, Ghost Rider seems to be a movie that was made because a) Marvel characters had never really left our cinematic consciousness and it was about to have a real resurgence, and b) the idea is metal as Hell. Director Mark Steven Johnson definitely went in for a camp, metal, romp with a simple story that allowed for computer wizards to have fun with making demons, devils, and leather-clad, flame-wreathed skeletons. It’s a stupid and fun lone-gunman type metal western that rides on its silliness, which is made even more enjoyably ridiculous by the special effects. I mean, we’ve got a leather-clad, chain-wielding, skeleton who is on fire riding a motorcycle directly up the side of a skyscraper!

Having said this, the now-dated and janky special effects are completely what carries this movie. The story is simple and ‘eh’, but the characters are as boring as unseasoned rice water with both Nicholas Cage and Eva Mendes delivering performances that felt like they had no idea who their characters were. Johnny Blaze and his love interest are like that film that covers soup when it’s left to cool: a flimsy coating that you have to mash with your spoon to get at the good stuff.

Image credit: Fangoria

Ghost Rider is not a good movie, but it is a dumb fun movie and sometimes that’s the vibe you want on a Friday night.

Director: Mark Steven Johnson, 2007

Cast: Nicholas Cage, Eva Mendes, Matt Long, Sam Elliott, Raquel Alessi, Brett Cullen, Donal Logue, Wes Bentley & Peter Fonda

Captain America: Brave New World

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So after the epic bout of finality that was Infinity War plus a few movies to test the waters of new characters and see how best to further the tales of those characters who’s stories hadn’t quite finished, the Avengers cycle feels like it’s starting anew with Captain America: Brave New World – a mirror film that I think audiences were a bit dubious about, but honestly stands as a solid instalment in the MCU saga.

The film follows Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) doing his best to follow Steve Rogers’ footsteps as the new Captain America. Saving the world one international threat at a time, Sam comes up against his biggest challenge when President Ross (Harrison Ford) asks him to recreate The Avengers Objective. Sam’s conflicting thoughts on the job are put on hold when an assassination attempt on Ross sends him on a hunt for a villain whose schemes of revenge against Ross are so grand that they could even spark war.

This movie has been only warmly received as far as I’m aware, which is a fair response as it really is a generic Marvel movie. All films adhere to the unspoken/unwritten codes of their genre to deliver a certain type of cinematic experience to its audiences – you go to a Marvel or superhero movie with the expectation of a mixture of action, comedy, and a little drama. Brave New World delivers all this, but does not go above and beyond, making it a safe film that people can’t be mad about because it’s what they expected to see in the cinema.

What I personally liked about this movie was that it was a return to bare bones narrative conflict and action. There is no multiverse mayhem to muddy the waters, no aliens, no space travel, no Lovecraftian horror that could open a third or fourth eye – it’s just an exceptional man trying to find the truth and save his country. Even the arrival of Red Hulk – not a spoiler, he’s literally on the posters - doesn’t come until the third act and isn’t even really made that a big a deal of. This movie was really just about Sam finding his feet as a great hero’s replacement and learning how to make the job his own.

Image credit: comicbook.com

In a very sweet dramatic scene, made better with a metafictive gag after the emotional talk, Bucky Barnes says to Sam, “Steve inspired hope in people, you inspire ambition”, which really sums up the film and Mackie’s performance. His Captain America is also an everyman, but an everyman that has gone through trauma and is determined to see the bright side. Where Steve Rogers’ overcoming adversity schtick was physical, Sam’s is emotional and manifests in an attractive, almost magnetic, emotional pull to the man once you meet him.

Harrison Ford replaces William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross and I really enjoyed his performance because, even though we’re primed to not like Ross due to his past actions in other Marvel films, in Brave New World he is a man shooting for redemption and there is something about Ford’s face that houses this amazing internal conflict between being absolutely enraged and desperately heartbroken. Ford can flit between the two emotional states with superhuman speed and because of that natural softness he has in his features, he turns Ross from a loathed character into a liked character.

There have been hints of Disney’s plan for the MCU in a lot of the films that have come out since Infinity War: a bunch of Doctor Strange escapades across the multiverse, the Fantastic four are coming, the X-Men are coming, and even an Avengers Junior team, oh and let’s not forget about the Eternals. Whether all of these ideas come through is anyone’s guess, but Captain America: Brave New World seems to have really raised a torch to light the path we’re set to follow.

Director: Julius Onah, 2024

Cast: Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbley, Giancarlo Esposito, Xosha Roquemore, Tim Blake Nelson, Takehiro Hira & Liv Tyler

Deadpool & Wolverine

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It’s always wonderful to go and see a movie that you have been looking forward to for ages and have it absolutely live up to your expectations. That feeling is just, mwuh, chef’s kiss. I got to experience the deliciousness of it last weekend when partner and I took ourselves to the cinema and saw Deadpool & Wolverine.

Wade Wilson’s (aka Deadpool) world is in peril. Serious peril. After a visit from the TVA, Wade learns that the sole person anchoring his timeline to reality is gone and without them, the whole timeline is doomed to crumble and disappear completely. Not so jazzed about this, Wade travels through multiple timelines to find a replacement for the anchor that his timeline has lost: Wolverine. Bringing back a Wolverine who has failed his own timeline, Wade is convinced that he has saved the world and earned his place amongst its mightiest heroes, only to discover that the TVA division who visited him have their own agenda. Sent with Wolverine to The Void, Wade must find a way back home, inspire a drunk and violent Wolverine to become a hero, and stop Charles Xavier’s psychotic sister from engulfing not just his timeline, but every timeline.

I was so excited for this movie and it did not disappoint. From the opening credits, the entire film is a blood-soaked, foul-mouthed, meta-stuffed joyride that had partner and I laughing from the first minute.

Coloured by the signature metafiction, fourth-wall breaks, and not-so-subtle digs at Disney’s cinematic history that made the first movie so effing hilarious, Deadpool & Wolverine carries a weighty story of emotional growth and character development underneath the waves of sarcasm and crudity. Wade is on a journey of self-importance and discovery, beginning the film unsure of his own importance without the mask and trying to find a way to make his life and his talents have meaning. In true Deadpool fashion, he achieves this in a really violent, verbal, and round-about way that even he’s not sure will pay off.

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Hugh Jackman is back as a sulky, dispirited, and short-fused Wolverine who also goes on a trip to discover his self-importance and become a hero. The relationship forged between the two is delightfully standoffish, aggressive, awkward, competitive and makes for a very fun time: mostly laugh-out-loud funny, but with a very subtle sweetness underlying it.

Without a doubt though, the star of the show are the writers who have managed to cram so much meta and social commentary comedy into the mix that it runs the risk of exploding. Between the resurgence of characters that the Marvel universe forgot and the broken Fox Studios sign that reminds us of the final scene of Planet of the Apes, this film is a gut-buster: a complete, shambolic, chaotic, insane, gut-buster. And I loved every minute of it! If there’s one movie you see in cinemas this year, make it this one!

Director: Shawn Levy, 2024

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfayden, Dafne Keen, Jon Favreau, Morena Baccarin, Rob Delaney, Leslie Uggams, Jennifer Garner, Wesley Snipes, Chris Evans, Aaron Stanford, Wunmi Mosaku, Karan Soni, Tyler Mane, Channing Tatum, & Henry Cavill

Madame Web

Image credit: cine.com

It should come as no surprise that studios are still scrabbling to get a piece of the Marvel multiverse action. Marvel is now a label that instantly draws an audience, even when the trailers and marketing of the project is not particularly interesting. It’s a real shame then when a character or comic series from the Marvelverse gets picked up excitedly by a crew and then through the filmic process becomes something far below the initial expectations. This is the case with a film I went and saw last night (thank goodness I had free tickets): Madame Web.

Cassie Web (Dakota Johnson) is a paramedic who, after technically dying on the job, comes the realisation that she has the power of foresight. Unsure how to control or what even to do with this power, Cassie sees a vision in which three girls are attached by a man that can crawl, spider-like, on the ceiling. Suddenly Cassie finds herself in charge of protecting these girls who will one day have powers like her and use them to save the world.

This could have been good. The characters are interesting enough to root for, the story is just different enough of a superhero origin story to pique interest, and there are some cool moments for special effects to take the wheel. Let us have a moment of silence for what could have been.

The film looks fine. There are some fun bits where we get to see Cassie’s powers at work, although if you’re unfamiliar with the comic or character in general, it can take a little bit of time to work out what’s actually going on. Ultimately what really brought this film low was the script. I saw this with a friend and they turned to me during the credits and said, ‘I think that script was written by AI’. It’s a very boring and generic script with no flavour to speak of: no salt, sweetness, or even tang. And then there are the ham-fisted references to Spider-Man, which are really, really on the nose. 

And because the script was boring, the performances were boring too. Fair play to the central cast for trying to inject some life into a dead spider, but sometimes there’s just no coming back from lifelessness. I think everyone gave up midway through. Johnson as a reluctant heroine is fine and there is some chemistry between her and the three girls that’s sweet and heartwarming. The villain is a real letdown, quite possibly the most uninteresting villain that I have seen in a superhero movie.

Image credit: imdb

If you have any interest in seeing Madame Web, I would recommend waiting until it comes to a streaming service, it’s certainly not worth the price of a ticket.

Director: S.J Clarkson, 2024

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Adam Scott, Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced, Celeste O’Connor, Tahar Rahim, Jose Maria Yazpik, & Emma Roberts

The Batman

Image credit: moviemeter.nl

We know the story of Lazarus; restored to life four days after his death in a miracle performed by Jesus Christ. The term is constantly used in scientific and popular culture when discussing a phenomenon that includes resurrection or restoration. In cinema there are number of characters that are subjected to the Lazurus treatment, usually superheroes. I woke up thinking about this this morning because last night I finally got around to watching the newest escapade in one of cinema’s most favoured resurrectionists: Batman. I’m very late to the party, but I finally bit the bullet and hunkered down for the two and a half gritty hours that is The Batman.

For two years Batman has been a symbol of fear and vengeance in Gotham City, but that has not stopped the city from plummeting further into decay, corruption, and hell on Earth. Thugs rides the subways, a decent day’s work ends in a mugging, and the rich, selfish, and corrupt are in power. A serial killer is on the loose, leaving his victims’ bodies riddled with messages, one of which is always addressed to The Batman. As Batman and Commissioner Gordon delve deeper into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with this Riddler, they unearth some very disturbing truths about Gotham; a city that seems so far beyond hope that the only chance to save it might just be destroying it.

I remember this film getting good reviews when it came out despite the complaint that it was on the long side. That’s really the mark of a good movie today isn’t it: when you don’t notice the length? And yes, this is actually a rather good Batman movie. The first thing that was refreshing about it was the fact that it wasn’t another retelling of Bruce Wayne's childhood trauma that turned him into a masked vigilante. At this stage I think more people know the story of Batman better than the alphabet. In this thriller, the character of Batman is already established and in a very precarious position as to what he represents. While Robert Pattinson, who delivers a very good performance, broodily answers the question of ‘who are you’ with ‘I’m vengeance’, the character goes through a very interesting arc as he’s feared by the petty criminal masses, hated by the local law enforcement, and inspiring to the neglected and disturbed who would become killers. The entire film, while narratively being the hunt for a serial killer, is an identity movie: one in which Batman’s own values and legacy goes through a centrifuge.

Gotham has always been a spectacularly gritty, dirty, and dank destination. When you think about it, it’s a portrait of a metropolis on the verge of dystopia. This is why directors such as Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan have best depicted it in their Batman movies. Director Matt Reeves, continues with the Nolan-esque filter of dank dim lighting and harsh orange morning tones. Some pretty excellent action sequences serve to further push this harsh city closer to the edge with a car chase that doubtless killed at least twenty people and caused a major pile-up that would put the highway out of action for months. It’s interesting to think about how the coolest sequences are often the ones that show the most flagrant disregard for human life, especially in Batman movies.

Image credit: mubi

A cross between Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and Silence of the Lambs, The Batman is a pretty good addition to the Batman arsenal, though admittedly I struggled a little bit with it because I personally have begun to feel disinterested in Batman because there’s so many of them. But in terms of film, the story is sound, there’s a good array of beloved characters including Catwoman and the Penguin, and it’s nice to see some familiar faces resurfacing after a bit of a hiatus; I couldn’t help thinking, ‘what have Robert Pattison and Paul Dano been up to? Haven’t seen them in a while’.

Director: Matt Reeves, 2022

Cast: Robert Pattinson, Andy Serkis, John Turturro, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Peter Sarsgaard, Jayme Lawson, Paul Dano, and Colin Farrell

Spider-Man: No Way Home

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I don’t know how this happened, but somehow it appears that I missed out on reviewing this movie after I went and saw it in cinemas. While that oversight is strange and disappointing, the silver lining is that I can review it now having actually sat down and watched it a second time. While I am a collector of movies and there are many that I go back and revisit, I have found that in the last several years, there are few films that I’ll watch at the cinemas, buy the DVD or Bluray, and then sit down and watch again. One of the few films that I have revisited within this period has been Spider-Man: No Way Home.

After Mysterio’s final stab of outing him as Spider-Man, Peter Parker turns to Doctor Strange for help. But disaster strikes as Peter attempts to rewrite the spell too many times and ends up creating a tear in the multiverse. Suddenly there are a handful of strange villains appearing out of nowhere and attacking Peter and his friends. While he’s never seen them before, they certainly seem to know him, or at least Spider-man, and soon it becomes apparent that not only is his city and friends in danger from these guys, but the whole multiverse. With great power comes great responsibility, and as Peter battles and plans how best to save multiples worlds, he learns what it really means to be Spider-Man.

One of the truly most emotionally moving stories about coming of age and finding one’s identity, Spiderman: No Way Home is a fantastic film that gently yet solidly allows audiences to come to grips with the multiverse, a confusing concept that has already been established within the franchise, but only really fleetingly and still rather vaguely. Translated by an insanely smart teenager, the whole thing becomes a lot less intimidating and this movie does a fantastic job of exploring the idea of the multiverse while having fun at the same time.

The story is emotionally gripping and heartbreaking while the action is captivating and memorable and there are fabulous pops of that classic comedy peppered throughout that gives this film its fun and rollicking edge. But the best, the absolute best, part about this movie is the appearance – or rather reappearance- of characters and their actors from the other Spider-Man movies. Our favourite villains are back on the screen with Jamie Foxx, Alfred Molina, and Willem Dafoe stealing every scene they’re in while Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield are swinging about and providing a lot of humour about the problems of being a slightly more mature superhero.

Image credit: spidermannowayhome.movie

Considering that there is a lot happening in this movie, it’s perfectly balanced and an absolute romp from beginning to end, with a beautifully handled scene of signature Spider-Man drama and realisation in the middle. Hands down, one of my favourite movies in the post-Avengers wave of Marvel films!

Director: Jon Watts, 2021

Cast: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jon Favreau, Benedict Wong, Jamie Foxx, Aldred Molina, Willen Dafoe, Marisa Tomei, Andrew Garfield, & Toby Maguire.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

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It’s a sad, yet somewhat liberating feeling that comes with the realisation that the highest point of a phenomena that you love has passed. That the doors are about to close, that the next instalment won’t be nearly as good as the one before. I’ve been experiencing this sort of cinematic melancholia in regards to the Marvel movies. With the exceptions of Shang-Chi, Multiverse of Madness, No Way Home, and Quantumania practically all of the latest films have left me with a feeling of ‘eh’ at the end, replacing what was previously excitement and stimulation. My conclusion that – at least for me- the high-flying time of the Marvel films has passed has been cemented by the last instalment I sat down and watched: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

When a strange assassin attacks the Guardians and leaves Rocket in a critical condition, Peter, Mantis, Drax, and Nebula determine to go on a rescue mission and find the passcode that is the only thing that can save Rocket’s life. Doing so means delving into Rocket’s past and going up against The High Evolutionary, a deluded being with a god complex who’s mission is to create the perfect race of beings. To make matters a little more difficult, the Guardians enlist the help of the Ravagers which includes Peter’s lost love, Gamora.

I’ve loved every part of the great Marvel ride that has featured the Guardians, so I was really looking forward to this one. Perhaps this is what made the disillusionment all the more pronounced at the end, but hey that’s how emotions work. Half told in flashback and half-chronicling the present narrative, the film centres on Rocket’s story and really is a haphazard baton-pass in the Guardians story. The parts that tell Rocket’s backstory are by far the more engaging of the two narratives, filled with a lot of emotional shaping and really sweet characters. While the central rescue story is sturdy, but lacks the fun of the other two films.

A little like the last Disney movie I saw, which was The Little Mermaid, it felt like everyone was phoning it in with this one. That fresh and fantastic flare that captured audiences with the first film has faded completely, Quill’s character feels distant and uncertain (arguably that is the point considering the ending, and by extension of this argument Pratt does a very good job), and there’s a strange either tension or communal lack of enthusiasm that colours everything here. Special recognition has to be awarded to Chukwudi Iwuji who plays the villain. Maybe he sensed the same lacklustre infecting everything that I did and bless him, he tried to add flavour and spice to the mix with his performance. It’s a shame that this villain wasn’t more interesting, but I really do applaud Iwuji for giving it his damnedest.

Image credit: Radiotimes.com

While I am still invested in this cinematic universe, it can’t be denied that this interconnected cinematic and televisual work is one of the most interesting recent movements in the artform, Guardians 3 has really hit home that feeling of burn-out that comes with oversaturation. But despite this, I still did enjoy this movie just fine. It does still hold good action scenes, enjoyable banter and meaningful dialogue between the characters, and a fun soundtrack. It’s not a terrible film, it’s just a delicious fruit that’s a bit past its prime.

Director: James Gun, 2023

Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Chukwudi Iwuji, Sean Gunn, Will Poulter, Linda Cardellini, & Sylvester Stallone

Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse

Image credit: Filmaffinity.com

It’s been a while since I really looked forward to the release of a new movie. What with the pandemic making us forget about the cinematic experience and a lot of new content simply being churned out, there isn’t a lot to get excited by. But the 1^st of June brought out the new animated Spiderman movie and you better believe that partner and I were planted firmly in that cinema as soon as we were able. I absolutely loved Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse; the freshness of the animation and art style was mesmerising and when I learnt that a second one was upcoming, whoo baby, was I excited!

Miles Morales is one of your friendly neighbourhood Spider-Mans, stopping bad guys in his dimension and struggling with trying to live the life of a normal teenager. With the prospect of college and heading into the wider world looming, Miles is facing even more challenges, but these get thrown out the window when a strange, interdimensional leaper called The Spot labels Miles as his nemesis and vows to take away everything his loves. When Spot’s actions trigger an anomaly in the interdimensional timeline, Miles joins Gwen and some new friends in the Spiderverse to try and take him down. But things take a dramatic turn when Miles finds out some upsetting truths about how he came to be Spider-Man.

This film is a definite upswing in the visual department. The wizards who designed and brought to life this incredible painted, pixeled, and perfect world deserve all of the accolades. In this film we get to visit other dimensions within the Spiderverse, and each one has a different art style that is just breathtaking. Be sure to keep an eye out for the differences in the backdrops because the intricate layers that make up the brilliance of this movie absolutely begin with the different art styles and visual achievements of the art department and computer wizards.

We then have this fantastic and intricate story that centres on the universal turmoil of actions and consequences. While certain aspects of the story are a mite predictable, most of it draws the appropriate amount of laughs and gasps from the audience. And the script is absolutely delightful, being a perfect blend of heartfelt life lessons and clever comedy. The dialogue is sharp and full of wit and the injection of meme culture into the mix adds even more delightful humour. There are some seriously funny gags in this film. Watch out for them.

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I would absolutely recommend a night at the cinemas to see Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse. It’s fresh, funny, heartfelt, and just all around brilliant!

Director: Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers & Justin K. Thompson, 2023

Cast: Shameik Moore, Hailee Steinfeld, Bryan Tyree Henry, Luna Lauren Velez, Jake Johnson, Issa Rae, Jason Schwartzman, Daniel Kaluuya, Karan Soni, Andy Samberg, Jharrel Jerome, Mahershala Ali & Oscar Isaac

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

Image credit: SpringCinema.com 

Continuing on with the ‘popcorn movies to keep us in bed over the long weekend’ that was going on last weekend, partner and I decided that the Spiderman universe was where we wanted to live, so after the credits rolled on Morbius, we flicked over to the sequel to Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

Journalist Eddie Brock has come to learn how to live with the symbiote Venom sharing his body. And while the perks of having an alien granting superhuman abilities is very cool, the harmonising out of combat is not so much. Eddie and Venom’s relationship becomes so strained that Venom leaves and the timing could not be worse. In an attempt to resurrect his career, Eddie interviews death-row serial killer Cletus Kasady, who then becomes the host of another symbiote, escapes from prison, and decides that Eddie is his next victim.

What I liked about the first Venom movie was the dark, buddy comedy route it took. Eddie and Venom forced to become unlikely friends is a real fresh twist on the buddy movie and it ties in with the humour that flavours some of the other Marvel movies. Let There Be Carnage plays on that humour further, extending the relationship and becoming more like a twisted version of Wedding Crashers or Romy and Michelle, where the solid friendship is already established, but suffers strain and falls apart. Where the first movie was about Eddie and Venom becoming friends, this one explores what happens when friendships (especially ones that feature a live-in aspect) start to crack. This sweeter side of the story is highlighted by the unbelievable drama of having a serial killer with an even stronger alien tenant out to get you and while the film is shot in a very serious way; lack of colour, grimy and grainy filter, etc, the humour that comes from the sheer ridiculousness of Eddie and Venom’s relationship really shines through and makes is a dark and funny popcorn flick.

Image credit: Polygon

The performances are all good and the combat sequences are pretty epic, but ultimately it’s the weird, odd-couple style central relationship that really drives this movie. If you enjoyed the first Venom, then you’ll like this one too.

Director: Andy Serkis, 2021

Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris, Reid Scott, Stephen Graham, Peggy Lu & Woody Harrelson

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

 

Image credit: theepoctimes.com

And finally, bringing us up to date with the MCU, a much lighter expedition into a whole new world: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. After Wakanda Forever, I feel that it was important to have a light-hearted romp as the next instalment of the MCU, and what better way to do that than with Ant-Man.

Personally, I have a real soft spot for these movies. They began as the fun, family film of the bunch, but of course Ant-Man ended up being crucial to saving the world. I don’t think anyone really put that much stock into them, but I feel that they are the real underdog films of the MCU and I love them for it. With an Ant-Man film, you know you’re in for some fun and Quantumania was no exception.

Scott’s life is a funny thing. He went from being a crim, to a superhero, to an Avenger, to a best-selling author. Right now life is comfy and safe, but that’s not enough for some people. Scott discovers that Cass, amidst her stints in jail for actively protesting various things, has been conducting research into the Quantum realm and disaster strikes when, during a demonstration, her signal is picked up and reversed, pulling her, Scott, Hope, Hank, and Janet into the Quantum Realm. Separated from the others, Scott and Cass quickly become the prisoners of a powerful being called Kang, who compels Scott to find Janet and retrieve something very powerful that she stole from him. Meanwhile Janet comes clean about her time in here: a time of betrayal, rebellion, and attempts to keep the monstrous Kang, exiled to the Quantum Realm, from breaking free and wreaking his revenge on the multiverse.

Similar to Thor: Love and Thunder, this movie is just another enjoyable romp in the MCU. Touching on the multiverse, the infinite timelines, and the dangers of divergents and incursions, a la Loki, Quantumania sees Scott even more out of his depth than he’s ever been before, literally.

Falling into a universe beneath ours, the design and execution of the Quantum Realm is very cool and rather reminiscent of the classic sci-fi adventure stories of Jules Verne and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are some definite inspirations taken from Journey to the Centre of the Earth, which gives the movie a subtle throwback vibe to Disney’s adventure movies of the 1960s. Only with much more CGI. The computer magic is fabulous, as has come to be expected from the Marvel films, mixing sleek and shining Wakanda-esque architecture with effervescent, primal space jungles. It’s all very cool.

Image credit: ohhword.com

The emotional journey of Scott centres on a theme that got touched on in Hawkeye: after saving the world, how do superheroes live? Do they ever really retire? We know life can never go back to normal for Scott, but the film begins with him happily living the closest thing to an everyday existence. This is what causes tension in his relationship with Cass, as she tries to convert him to her cause of helping people. While Scott doesn’t necessarily go on an emotional journey of self-discovery, he does get a taste of the concept of ‘the bigger picture’ and I guess his journey is one of the mind seeing further than its own immediate bubble.

Packed with action, adventure, some heart warming scenes, and a whole lot of comedy, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is perfect for a fun trip to the pictures. What more can I say? It’s a romp!

Director: Peyton Reed, 2023

Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors, Katy M. O’Brien, William Jackson Harper, & Bill Murray

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

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 Continuing on with catching up on my Marvel movie reviews, it’s time now to talk about one that I think many people were nervous and, of course, saddened about: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. May Chadwick Boseman rest in peace. I have to say that this film was a beautiful dedication to the late superhero, visually stunning and with some truly moving performances.

Wakanda’s relationship with the rest of the world is strenuous. Their technology and resources are great, but their allies are non-existent, as other countries attempt to steal their resources, forcing them to remain in isolation, as they mourn the loss of King T’Challa. So when a group of highly weaponised and outlandishly tech-savvy bandits attack an American ship searching for vibranium, Wakanda is falsely accused. The same bandits attack and kidnap Princess Shuri and, with no allies to call for help, Wakanda is forced to protect their home from an invasion of ancient and powerful beings alone.

This is definitely the more dramatic of Marvel’s cinematic instalments to date. Alongside the central drama of invasion and Wakanda trying to make friends in the world, it’s a film about coping with grief, rising to inherited responsibilities, and growing into the person you need to be. The central character arc is, of course, that of Princess Shuri who struggles with the loss of her brother, the fear of her responsibilities as future queen, and her anxiety that, should she take the Black Panther journey, she would find that she’s more like Killmonger rather than her brother. It’s a very emotionally loaded movie and applause must be given to the central cast, who rose to the challenge and gave absolutely incredible performances.

Image credit: bojtv.com

We then have the visual aspect to talk about. In every Marvel movie, but more and more in the recent ones, we get to discover a whole new world. Some original and breathtaking feat of imagination, design, and computer magic. In Wakanda Forever, it’s the underwater city of Talokan. The city and its people are a truly stunning display of wizardry with the underwater scenes being some of the most beautiful and mesmerising of the film. Everything from the costume design to the architectural artwork, to the CG execution is absolutely breathtaking and the film is worth seeing for it alone.

While it’s a filler movie keeping us up to date with Wakanda and how its people are coping after the tragedies of Endgame, it still manages to keep audiences intrigued with new villains and potential long-game drama. But absolutely the power of Wakanda Forever is in the performances from the central cast, in memorandum of our king.

Director: Ryan Coogler, 2022

Cast: Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Tenoch Huerta, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michael B. Jordan, & Martin Freeman

Thor: Love and Thunder

 

Image credit: dvdreleasedates.com

It’s been a while since I wrote a movie review, the main reason being that I haven’t really been going to the cinemas very much anymore. It’s not that my love and adoration for the medium has been extinguished, rather I’ve just been preoccupied with streaming services and online content. But, seeing as I now have a spare moment to catch up where I’ve fallen behind, it’s time to share my thoughts on a few of the latest Marvel movies, starting with Thor: Love and Thunder.

Thor has been travelling around the galaxy with the Guardians, unable to settle after the events of The Blip and Thanos’ brief reign. Listless and uncertain about his own purpose and relationships in the world, a glorious distraction comes his way when he learns that there is a being terrorising the galaxy, one that has the ability to kill gods. Unable to face this great evil on his own, he enlists the help of Valkyrie, Korg, and Jane Foster to save the gods from extinction.

Taika Waititi broke the mould with Ragnarok, giving Thor a fantastic character turn and his films, their own unique edge in the MCU. I guess the problem of doing something so good and having it received so well is that when the opportunity comes to do it again, the higher powers become adamant that it needs to be a repeat of the predecessor. Love and Thunder is a whole lot of fun, visually impressive with memorable action scenes, relationship drama, and a whole lot of heavy metal homages.

However, having spoken to other people who watched the film around the same time I did, the common thought was that it was a mindless filler movie: a fair amount of fun, but nothing particularly critically linking in ways of an over-arching story. Almost like a stand alone Thor film to remind people he’s still here. The feeling I got was one of phoning it in. The humour and the visual aspect were very good and reminiscent of Ragnarok, but the film did have this slightly lacklustre vibe of just doing what it was told, rather than everyone really putting the love into it. A going-through-the-motions sort of vibe. This is the risk I mean when I talk about filmmakers doing something that’s received so well, that the money-grubbing higher powers don’t let them take new risks and try new things when they get the green light for another film.

But, to be fair, this is the only area in which I can say that the film was unsatisfying. Everything else is really rather great and in keeping with what we’ve come to expect from a Thor movie. The balance of action, comedy, and drama is perfect, the costumes, special effects, and set design is immaculate, and the performances are all great. Special shout out has to go to Christian Bale who makes an excellent villain.

Image credit: nme.com

The problem with the MCU at the moment is that most audiences are suffering from Marvel fatigue, a come-down that’s particularly affecting how audiences view the movies. Disney has done a very smart thing to have the TV shows happening simultaneously and tying a lot of crucial plot points into them. Without that crucial move, the entire phenomenon could have just fizzled out. As it stands, there is the threat of Marvel fatigue about, but the shows are working to lessen and soothe the symptoms so that the films don’t suffer as much at the box office.

Director: Taika Waititi, 2022

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Christian Bale, Tessa Thompson, Idris Elba, Chris Pratt, Karen Gillan, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Kat Dennings, Bradley Cooper, & Russel Crowe

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

 

Image creditL IMDb

Well, the new Doctor Strange movie is out and for partner and I that means date night! So last night we catapulted ourselves back into the MCU with Disney’s latest venture into the Marvelverse: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. And believe me ‘catapult’ is absolutely the word to describe this experience!

Awakened from a horrible dream in which he dies, Stephen Strange goes to Christine’s wedding a little conflicted and on edge: a feeling that’s validated when a giant monster attacks the city in pursuit of a young girl named America, who also featured in Stephen's dream. Strange and Wong learn that this girl has the ability to travel the multiverse and that some demon is after her power. Their only clue to the demon’s identity is strange mystical runes that surrounded the monster, so Strange tracks down Wanda Maximoff for help. However this doesn’t really go as planned, as he quickly discovers that Wanda is the one after America’s powers and will stop at absolutely nothing to get them. Soon Stephen and America are racing through the multiverse in search of an ancient book that will give them to the power to save America and the infinite number of worlds from the reign of Scarlet Witch.  

It goes without saying that one can expect a whole lot of crazy, psychedelic, fractured, and visually intense experiences with this movie because it’s a Doctor Strange flick. But where the film stands aloft from the other Marvel films is that Sam Raimi has been called in to direct and has ingeniously taken Multiverse of Madness into the realms of horror. I mean, with a Lovecraftian title like that, how can you not? While there are many typical awesome Marvel action sequences reminiscent of the other MCU films, there is a lot in Multiverse of Madness that is reminds us of The Evil Dead (not to mention the signature Bruce Campbell appearance) and I was absolutely here for it! 

Considering the emotionally complex characters of both Strange and Wanda; especially after Wandavision, which I recommend watching before this otherwise you might struggle with what’s going on, going for a more horrific rather than actiony-sci-fi film was a really good choice and it perfectly brings the darker side of the MCU and its various stories into the light. Seriously, people in control of all this power is hells scary!

Image credit: Slash Film

Visually the movie is another triumph, with the multiverse-jumping scenes being very trippy and very cool. The film also features one of the most original magical combat scenes, which I’m sure composer Danny Elfman had a lot of fun with, watch out for that one. 

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness sits firmly in the MCU’s awesome filmic canon and is absolutely a good, albeit dark and creepy, time. 

Director: Sam Raimi, 2022

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Rachel McAdams, Xochitl Gomez, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Hayley Atwell, Michael Stuhlbarg, Anson Mount, Lashana Lynch, John Krasinski, Charlize Theron, and Patrick Stewart

Eternals

 

Image credit: IMDb

Continuing on with the newly-reignited glee that comes from physically going to the cinemas, last week the partner and I took a little date night (seems like it’s been forever since we had one) and went and saw Marvel’s newest achievement: Eternals. Great night!

The film follows a ragtag team of ageless, magical beings who have been on Earth saving the human race from the monstrous deviants that invaded thousands of years ago. Still awaiting the all-clear to go back to their home world of Olympia, the estranged team reunites when a clutch of new deviants emerge and take out their leader. Things continue to snowball when the true nature of their mission is revealed and the people and planet that they’ve come to love is threatened. 

No doubt I have before mentioned that I’ve gone into all these Marvel movies completely unfamiliar with the original source material, so it’s fair to take my opinions of narrative and character progression with a grain of salt. However, my lack of knowledge allows me to interpret these movies as movies and not as adaptations, to comment on the craft and not rave or moan about how characters or key plot points get screwed up. 

Having absolutely no idea about who or what the Eternals are really made me appreciate this movie as an introductory film in the new phase of the MCU as well as appreciate the cleverness of the screenplay and the performances, both of which are mwuh (chef’s kiss). 

My absolute favourite thing about the screenplay was how big it was on show-don’t-tell. There are some pretty deep and strong relationships that are going on within this group and rather than using words to say how deeply they love one another, it’s all done through lingering camera shots and actions. The most gorgeous being the relationship between Gilgamesh (Ma Dong-seok) and Thena (Angelina Jolie): mostly unspoken and on the surface rather unromantic, but I still could not stop the lump rising in my throat and the hot tears forming when drama struck. The writing is just so raw and good, it’s an organic blend of sight and sound with important plot points being vocalised and key dramatic points being just shown, not hammed up with dialogue. 

Image credit: The Guardian

The narrative structure and plot itself is far from perfect, but for the sake of introducing a glut of new characters into a wider story world, we can let the questionable red herring plot device slide. Actually, it’s not so much a red herring more of a narrative catalyst that then lost its entire meaning and point of existence when the real Big Bad came into focus. But I’ll let you all be the judge of that. 

Despite the iffy trailers and movie posters that made it sort of look like Dune, I came out of Eternals really satisfied and quite impressed. While the story itself is kind of predictable, the performances are great, the narrative structure is really good and expertly piques interest in these characters, and the achievements in costume, set design, and special effects are extraordinary. Not to mention this is the first Marvel film which features a same-sex kiss, very gorgeously and naturally shown. I would absolutely recommend this movie!

Director: Chloe Zhao

Cast: Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Lia McHugh, Kumail Nanjiani, Brian Tyree Henry, Lauren Ridloff, Barry Keoghan, Harish Patel, Ma Dong-seok, Salma Hayek, Kit Harrington, & Angelina Jolie

Black Widow

Image credit: IMDb

I have to admit that, with the world being the way it is currently, I have found that my passion for cinema has taken a bit of a battering. Indeed it feels like ages since I watched a new movie, I have only just reignited the flame. The most recent addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe has hit shelves now, so it seemed the perfect time to come out of retirement. 

Black Widow, as its name suggests, focuses on the elite assassin Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson). Taking place after the events of Civil War, the film chronicles Natasha’s war against Dreykov when a strange chemical is sent to her. When she discovers that the man who controlled her violent past is still alive and continuing to subject young girls to torture and mind control to turn them into assassins, Natasha does the unthinkable; reunites with her estranged ‘family’ to take down Dreykov once and for all. 

I’m sure like many people I was quite excited for this film. Black Widow is a kick-arse female lead and, finally, there is now a film devoted to her. A film that honestly doesn’t really meet expectations I’m sorry to say.

But let’s first start with a compliment, as the sandwich technique is always good. I did appreciate the fact that this was a feminine action movie. There’s enough fight sequences, explosions, and brawls to satiate anyone’s need for testosterone, but there can be not doubt that girls rule, as the only male characters with faces and lines are the villain and a loveable supporting character. But even praises for it being a feminist movie must be taken with a grain of salt, as the approach is very ham-fisted, clumsy, and rather annoying when you consider that the main message is about having a family; apparently women are unidentifiable without them.

What is most disappointing though is that the film brings absolutely nothing to the character or to the wider universe. We don’t really learn anything about Natasha that hadn't already been explained or hinted at, which makes Black Widow a bit of a lame filler movie to bridge the gaps in the timeline. Indeed it seems like the main reason this movie is in existence is for introductory purposes, hinted by the stinger at the end. 

Image credit: Variety

The central characters and their complicated relationships are kind of fun and interesting enough, however there was a rather half-hearted feel to the script, which dissuaded any sort of emotional attachments towards the characters. This is perhaps the worst thing a film can do, it robs the audience of the voyeuristic adventure and leaves a dissatisfied feeling, which no one wants. 

The actions sequences are all very cool and the performances are great with the central cast chemistry being quite entertaining and providing the film with some of its funnier and more touching moments, but ultimately Black Widow is just another action movie; and sadly not one that stands out in any way.

Director: Cate Shortland (2021)

Cast: Scarlet Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz, O-T Fagbenle, & Ray Winstone

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Image credit: Amazon

I’m actually quite satisfied that the immediate Marvel release after Endgame has been a second Spider-Man movie because, right now, a return to good, wholesome superhero movie fun is what audiences need after all the emotional turbulence and time-travel. And, as ever, Marvel hasn’t disappointed.

Far From Home chronicles young Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) (a.k.a. Spider-Man) return to a ‘normal life after the events of ‘the Blip’. Peter spends his time (spoiler of you’ve been under a rock) mourning for Tony Stark and preparing for a school trip to Europe where he plans to tell MJ how he feels about her. But disaster strikes when strange elemental monsters start attacking the city and Nick Fury himself calls in the help of Spider-Man. Alongside Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) –a man from another world- Peter helps to fight the monsters, but he soon discovers that he really needs to step up if he’s going to save the world.

This movie ticks all the boxes for a fun and exciting family film. Though not as much of a typical ‘teen’ movie as its predecessor, Far From Home is more like that awkward stage between high school and the rest of your life where you spend a number of years learning who you are without the institution of school. There’s a new layer of adult world that is inserted into the story and the character journey, which is exciting to watch and particularly nice because everyone can kind of relate to it.

The story follows a trajectory that we’ve all seen before, but if it’s not broke don’t fix it! Similar humour that worked so well in the first movie is reinstated in this one, perfectly getting the laughs and establishing that lovely and warm feeling that comes with just a good, fun movie.

And then we have the characters and their journeys. Peter’s emotional journey speaks for itself and Holland plays the role perfectly, the only difference between him and the rest of the world being that he’s got superpowers. Jake Gyllenahaal as Mysterio is brilliant, a timeless villain made the more fascinating because you can’t hate him. Like Keaton’s Vulture in the first movie, the villains here are cleanly established and also (as is the way of Spider-Man) sort of relatable to, in that you can totally see where everyone is coming from, with their feelings and reactions being totally human. 

Image credit: Hollywood Reporter

It’s actually super nice to see that Marvel hasn’t just gone the way of DC and said ‘well in a world gone mad, crazy is the new normal character trope’ (I’m looking at you Harley Quinn), but instead their world and its inhabitants accept that aliens, and time-travel, and superheroes are a thing and still strive to retain their humanity and normalcy. Can you imagine how easy it would be to have a Marvel universe that went nuts and ended up like a Mad Max dystopia? It could have happened! But Marvel keeps its characters grounded in their human faith and structure and that’s why I love these movies.

Spider-Man: Far From Home is a classic superhero movie that gives its audience everything it could want. There’s comedy, action, romance, betrayal, emotional growth, wonderful character development, and a whole bunch of treats that will make fans of Sam Raimi’s films giggle and squirm with delight. It’s fantastic!

Director: Jon Watts, 2019

Cast: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, Angourie Rice, and Cobie Smulders