Fantastic Four: First Steps is a fun joy ride, with memorable characters, a wonderful production design and exciting action sequences. One of the best science fiction films in years. Recommended. Continue reading Fantastic Four: First Steps
In one form or another, the MCU films released after the conclusion of the Infinity Saga have been trying to answer the same question: who will be in the next incarnation of The Avengers? The six years haven’t provided us with any definitive answers outside of Anthony Mackie’s version of Captain America, who appears to be in because of his brand. There simply can’t be an Avengers squad without some version of Captain America on it. Every other superhero we’ve seen so far appears to be in play for a spot on the roster, which is strange considering how well-planned Marvel’s films seem to be.
Continue reading “Thunderbolts*”
From what we see at the outset of Captain America: Brave New World, Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) has made great strides since he accepted being Captain America four years ago. His contacts in Wakanda have outfitted him with Vibranium wings, which emit a purple energy blast when he slams them on the ground. He’s also become proficient wielding his shield, so much so that the speed and complexity of the ricochets boggle the mind. I wished the movie had included one of those training montages that were mandatory in all superhero movies. I really would have appreciated seeing how Sam learned how to fling it so that it caroms off of walls, people and everything in between until it circles back like a gleaming frisbee. Where did he train? How did he become so adept at playing the angles? Did he start out by mastering billiards, or perhaps bowling? Did an elderly Steve Rogers train Sam à la Mr Miagi just before he checked out permanently? (No, Chris Evans is not in this movie.)
Continue reading “Captain America: Brave New World”
One movie? That’s all that Kevin f****** Feige is giving me in 2024? This hardly seems fair, considering how I’ve been among the party faithful from the beginning. I paid to see the very mediocre Black Widow, The Eternals, Thor: Love & Thunder and Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania. I’m one of the biggest defenders of Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness, for crying out loud. I did punk out on The Marvels, but that’s no reason to force me to go cold turkey, Feige.
Continue reading “Deadpool & Wolverine (review)”
This is the end of the road for the Guardians of the Galaxy. After pitching in to defeat Thanos and working as intergalactic mercenaries, the team has decided to hang up their guns and put down roots on Knowhere. You remember Knowhere, right? You know, the place that’s actually the severed head of a dead god. The place where Thor gave the Soul Stone to the Collector (Benecio Del Toro) at the end of Thor: The Dark World for safekeeping. The place Thanos destroyed after taking the Soul Stone from the Collector in Avengers: Infinity War. The place with Howard the Duck. Yes, MCU lore is dense. Thirty-two movies into the MCU saga (thirty-three if you include this one), you either jump-ship or swim. I’m still swimming, although the boat has been taking on water the last couple of years.
Continue reading “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3”
Life is good for Scott Lang (Paul Rudd). After helping the Avengers undo The Blip and defeat Thanos, everyone loves Ant-Man. The movie’s funniest bit is when it shows Lang walking carefree around San Francisco to the chorus of “Welcome Back” graciously accepting free coffee and meals because people confuse him with Spider-Man. (I would have chosen “Believe It or Not”, the theme song from “Greatest American Hero”.) Aside from his heroic exploits, Scott is just an all around good guy. Problem is, he doesn’t know what to do with himself in this post-Endgame world. As his daughter Cassie helpfully points out, he’s been content to rest on his laurels instead of choosing to engage with the world’s numerous problems. Fortunately (or unfortunately) for Scott, he lives in the MCU. Defeating one existential threat only means that an even bigger and badder one is on the way.
Continue reading “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania”
As far as the MCU goes, Wakanda Forever takes one of the biggest risks, if not the biggest risk of all of the movies in the franchise. Instead of recasting the part of T’Challa, it directly acknowledges Chadwick Boseman’s death … Continue reading Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel)
What if all Gods are jerks who couldn’t care less about the suffering of the faithful? For Gorr (Christian Bale), the sole surviving member of an extinct race whose daughter just died, the answer is simple: kill ‘em all! If I didn’t know better, I’d accuse Thor: Love and Thunder (or Thor4) of appropriating Nietzsche’s most famous quote (God is dead) for a plot device. Not to worry, this is the only deep thought the movie has to offer over its two hour run time.
Continue reading “Thor: Love and Thunder”
After the creative and dramatic pothole that was Black Widow, Marvel returns to form with Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings. Simun Liu stars as Shawn, a slacker (by choice) who spends his days as a valet with (platonic) best friend and fellow karaoke enthusiast Katy (Awkwafina). The past Shawn ran away from tracks him down, resulting in a bus ride that would have made even Sandra Bullock nervous. From there, Shawn reunites with the sister he abandoned, Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), and the father he ran away from, Wenwu (Tony Leung). After spending years hiding from his past, Shawn is forced to accept who he is, as well as confront his father, who’s plans may put the entire world in danger.
Like most Marvel origin stories, Shang-Chi follows the template, down to the obligatory training sequences that confirm what we already know. Fortunately, Shang-Chi colors outside the lines in ways that make this MCU entry exciting and engaging. Most importantly, the movie takes its time and gives scenes (and the audience) a chance to breathe, letting us become immersed in its world before the fireworks arrive in the end. The acting is exceptional all around, and supporting turns by Michelle Yeoh (as Shawn’s aunt) and Ben Kingsley (as misfit actor Trevor Slattery) add texture and humanity to the proceedings. Shang-Chi leaves the funny business to Awkwafina, who’s career ascent has been nothing short of remarkable. The special effects here are truly special, creating a sense of wonder instead of merely underpinning action sequences. Highly recommended.
Continue reading “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”
Detroit Cineaste 