Oh the Drama
Oh the Horror
Keep Me in Suspense
Feels like Sci-Fi
Isn't it Romantic
So-called Comedies
Western Unions
Comic Book Heroes
Kid Stuff
Fact not Fiction
Cinema Fantastico (Subtitles)
Just Seen
Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) After helping Iron Man in ‘Civil War’, 15 year old Peter Parker is rewarded with a very special spidey-suit designed by Tony Stark himself. While
struggling to become a crime fighter (sweet & hilarious) he’ll
uncover a dealer (Michael Keaton) crafting & selling alien
powered weapons; but when no one takes him seriously, a hero is born. Easily my favorite Spider-Man, fresh, original, amazing—Marvel wins again! My grade: A Plus
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) Marvel
Comics spares no expense in this blockbuster origin tale of Steve
Rogers, a 90 lb weaking in 1942 who only wants to serve his country, and
ultimately becomes the 'Star Spangled Man With a Plan'. A walloping
adventure done with great style, this is heroism at it's best. My grade: A Plus
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Six years in the making, Benedict Cumberlatch returns as Dr. Strange to
do battle with Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) of all people, who’s
become the Scarlet Witch—a dangerous villain. But why? (You should see
WandaVision before tackling this movie.) All I can say is, it’s epic,
giant in razzle dazzle & imagination, a feast for the senses. And
these two are my favorite in the MCU. My grade: A
Thor: Ragnarok (2017) After his father Odin dies, Thor discovers he has a sister who’s
returned from banishment—Hela, the Goddess of Death (wickedly played
by—Cate Blanchett!?) As he returns to Asgard to defeat her, he’s thrown
off course & lands on a planet of enslaved warriors where he
must defeat their champion—the Incredible Hulk! With hilarity, heart
and (literally) eye-popping awe, Thor and Marvel reign supreme! My grade: A
Wonder Woman (2017) After
Steve Trevor’s biplane crashes into the water near a mysterious island
of female warriors, Princess Diana will follow him back to the world of
men—and help to end a World War. From
the casting of Chris Pine as Trevor & Gal Gadot as Wonder
Woman, to her origins on Paradise Island, battles on the Front and with
Ares, God of War—DC Comics, you did it. You brought a superheroine to life, and it’s a spine-tingling spectacle. My grade: A
Captain America:
Civil War (2016) More a
follow-up to Avengers: Age of Ultron,
our heroes will fight their greatest enemies yet—themselves. Tired of the destruction from their battles,
the United Nations asks the Avengers to cease. When Cap America refuses, Iron Man will attempt to take him down—but Cap
has allies of his own. WOW. From surprise heroes to real introspection,
Marvel raises the bar again, daring their own formula for success. My grade: A
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) Chris
Pratt leads a team of coloful misfits (a talking raccoon, a green
lady, a muscle guy & a walking tree) to retrieve a mysterious
orb from a menacing warlord bent on destroying planets. It's big,
noisy fun--a sci-fi comic book brought to life for the 14 year old boy
inside you. (Well, I hope you have one inside you!) My grade: A
The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Marvel's
stunning remake of their popular Spidey franchise, with Andrew Garfield
well cast as our teen angst-ridden hero. (Sally Field as Aunt
May--brilliant.) Grittier & truer to the comic, right down to the cool
wrist web-packs, Marvel sure knows how to bring their superheroes to life. My grade: A
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Christopher Nolan's grand finale to his vision of Batman, with the
caped crusader coming out of exile to defeat the menacing Bane, who has
plans to reduce Gotham City to nuclear ashes. Huge & powerful
storytelling, but I'm ready to move on from all the heavy artillery and
back to more traditional bat-fare. My grade: A
Kick-Ass (2010) When a comic book fan wonders why there are no real superheroes, he
becomes "Kick-Ass" and an internet sensation. And just when things
couldn't get better... enter Big Daddy & Hit Girl! "Now switch... to kryptonite!" Nicholas Cage is crazy-ass awesome and I'm an instant
fan. My grade: A
Watchmen (2009) Set
on a parallel Earth circa 1985, this spectacular adaptation of Alan
Moore's book (which changed comics forever) tells the story of a USA
rich with retired, flawed & banned superheroes and the final
quest by one for justice. My grade: A
Avengers: Endgame (2019) 5 years have passed since THANOS used
the Infinity Stones to wish half of all life in the universe out of
existence. Earth’s remaining heroes have moved on (for better or
worse)… and then Ray Stark discovers time travel. In a farewell of
sorts to this Marvel Universe, every character will
return— some for the sentimental journey, but mostly to fight in a
battle of the ages. It’s a 3 hour epic, enjoyed it but am Marveled
out! My grade: A-
Black
Panther (2018) After the death of his father, T’Challa
(aka Black Panther) is now King of Kawanda—a futuristic hi-tech nation hidden
from the world. But there are those close to him who feel they should
emerge and share their technology, including one rogue royal who’d rather they
conquer the world instead. It’s a noble story, with a dazzling blend of
African cultures & shiny CGI—but methinks it’s been over-hyped some
too. (Marvel, you’re the one who set the bar!) My grade: B
Plus
Blue Beetle (2023)
Jaime Reyes is a young Mexican, fresh out of college and looking for a
job when he is chosen by an ancient scarab to be outfitted with a blue
‘Iron Man’ suit of armor, loaded with fantastic CGI weapons. But Kord
Industries (Susan Sarandon) wants to harness its power for her army of
robot soldiers. Jaime’s Latino family to the rescue! A stamped out
superhero movie with real ethnic flavor. Still… My grade: B-
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
WWII ended 40 years ago, and the immortal Diana Prince works as a
museum curator now, still pining for long passed Steve Trevor. And then
along comes a man with knowledge of an artifact and the magic it
possesses to grant wishes… Fans hated this, roasted
it. It’s nothing like the first movie. It’s glam, campy &
ridiculous. Accept this and what you’ll get is a fun, corny comic book
on the big screen. Merciful Minerva! My grade: B-
Captain Marvel (2019) She’s a Kree warrior with fists of fire,
escaping the Skrull (a green, chameleon race) when she crashes on Earth
in 1995—right thru the roof of a Blockbuster Video. There’s no Marvel
heroes yet, so she’s on her own—except for a detective, a younger Nick
Fury (Samuel Jackson) who’s intrigued. It’s a CGI-laden blastarama, kinda fun while it lasted and then forgotten. Quality over quantity, Marvel! My grade: B-
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) As
the world grapples with a Superman, powerful men like Lex Luthor
& Batman grow angry over one man having so much power. Things
will come to a head (spurred on by Luthor, naturally--but my favorite
scene was Batman going after Martha Kent's kidnappers, an awesome mix of
rage & skill.) Too bad this runs so long, the final 30 minutes
went over the top, reducing a smart story to comic mayhem. My grade: B-
Man of Steel (2013) It's
a bird! It's a plane! No, it's director Zack Snyder's dark &
brooding (but wildly imaginative & sci-fi driven) origin tale of the
Son of Krypton. The story packs a super-punch alright, but a few
too many--our hero deserves more color and a bit of humor than
this grim fare. My grade: B-
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) Chris
Pratt returns as Quill, captain of a dysfunctional alien crew who get
saved from the Sovereign (love these gold aliens!) by Kurt Russell—a
Godlike being who it turns out, is Chris’ dad with his own godly agenda. With
their gizmos & humor, 70’s music and razzle-dazzle color (I saw
spots for 2 hours afterwards) these guys are my favorite Marvel Comics
team-up—less Avengers, more Guardians please! My grade: B Plus
Doctor Strange (2016) In
the pursuit of non-Western medicine after a car accident ends his
career as a neurosurgeon, Dr.Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch)
discovers a mystical realm that protects our world. It's a somewhat
rushed introduction to Marvel Comic's wizard, but razzle dazzle spells? A magical cloak? Astral projection? The bending of time and space? Mads Mikkelsen as the baddie? Where do I sign? My grade: B Plus
Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
Helen Mirren & Lucy Liu were probably paid a small fortune to
portray the daughters of Atlas, who come to Earth for the Godlike powers
the wizard Shazam took from them—Zachary Levi and his foster sibs (the
Marvel Family) to the rescue! Bursting at the seams with CGI and
touchy-feely moments, it doesn’t have the funny charm of the original;
but if you’re under 13, you’ll dig it for sure. My grade: B
Black Adam (2022)
Friend or foe? Even Dwayne Johnson doesn’t know, in DC’s re-tooling of
an iconic Captain Marvel character from 3000 BC brought back to life in
the present. Will all his powers corrupt him again? The Justice
Society (Hawkman, Dr. Fate & Atom Smasher) aren’t about to wait to
find out. With tons of style and little substance, this is a CGI-romp
and little else. It’s not awful at all, but doesn’t feel too special
either. My grade: B
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Chris Hemsworth returns for his 4th movie as Thor, this time with love
interest Natalie Portman as Lady Thor (what the hell--whatever!) to take
down the ‘God-Butcher’, a sad being who’s been corrupted by a mythical
evil sword. Chris is great, Russell Crowe as Zeus was fun—but this felt
a little TOO campy. It’s a colorful Marvel comic on the big screen,
moreso now than ever. My grade: B
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
After the world learns Peter Parker is Spider-Man, he’ll ask Dr.
Strange to cast a spell over the planet to make everyone forget. What
happens instead is a tear in the ‘multiverse’, where former Spiderman
villains (and former Spider-Mans) arrive to fight, fight, fight. Lots
of big money action, but I was worn out halfway thru. It was too soapy,
too childish and a downer to boot. Where's the charm & humor,
Marvel? My grade: B
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) Peter Parker and his class
travel to Europe just in time to encounter a giant water monster in
Venice and a strange new superhero— Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal). The
monster defeated, Spidey & Mysterio become friends—or do they? Mind
games await, real comic booky ones, in this too silly, too long, too
much of everything adventure geared to younger superfans. It’s big,
colorful & Spidey is likeable, I’ll leave it at that. My grade: B
Aquaman (2018)
The hard drinkin’ son of a lighthouse keeper & the Queen of
Atlantis(!), when Princess Mera from that undersea realm comes to the
surface to request Arthur’s help, away we go—it’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, Excalibur & Finding Nemo rolled into one. Visually it stuns the senses, and wow
I love Amber Heard as Mera—but with the drench of underwater CGI
& extended fight scenes, I wish these seas were a little
calmer. Less is more, Marv— I mean DC! My grade: B
Batman: Return of the
Caped Crusaders (2016) Holy half-century,
Batman! FIFTY YEARS after hanging up
their capes, Adam West, Burt Ward (and Julie Newmar as Catwoman) reprise their
roles in this animated tribute to their campy 60’s tv show. (Adam’s voice creaks with age, but when he
turns evil & purrs “Groovy, baby” to Catwoman I felt like a kid
again.) Loved the Duel
of the Utility Belts, I can’t believe how much I enjoyed this! My Bat-grade: B Plus
Batman: Bad Blood (2016)
When the Batman goes missing after fighting a steroid-sized version
of himself aka "the Heretic", Nightwing (an adult Dick Grayson), Robin
& Batwoman join forces to find him. But there are complex
stories underfoot, including their own. With stunning artwork, a
haunting score (and new characters like Batwing), it's the Batman Family
like never before--wait, where's Bat--oh, there she is! DC Comics,
you're on the ball! My grade: B Plus
Batman: Gotham by Gaslight (2018) Gotham City
in the Victorian Age; orphans roam the streets by day, prostitutes at
night. But a menacing figure is in the
dark too, brandishing a knife and slashing these painted women, calling himself
‘Jack the Ripper’. Police are on the
hunt, and a vigilante too, he wears a mask & black cloak—the BAT-MAN. An R-rated toon for adults, It’s dark
surprising stuff—but still felt dumbed down a bit. Grow up DC, your fans did. My grade: B
Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015) Eggsy
is a young tough recruited by Michael Caine & Colin Firth to
join their "secret UK spy outfit", become a proper
gentleman & help save the world. It's James Bond for the
younger mindset (not too young--it's very violent with a bit
of bum). Enjoy the spy-gadgets & all the exploding heads, and
don't take it too seriously! My grade: B
Birdman (2014) In
the 90's, Michael Keaton was a superhero in a billion dollar Hollywood
franchise; but at the peak of success, he walked away. Now, as he
attempts a comeback with a Broadway play, he must deal with egocentric
actors, bloodthirsty critics, and an unrelenting comic book alter-ego.
Artsy & jazzy, Keaton is awesome; but this was more showcase
than story. My grade: B
Captain America: Winter Soldier (2014) Cap
is back, and hardly has time to reflect upon his life & what to
do with it, when he's pulled into an impossibly ginormous conspiracy
within SHIELD itself--by an organization intent on total control of the
planet. Calling Black Widow & Falcon to join the cause! It's
smarter than other Marvel movies, but it's a very busy, very pricey
superhero flick just the same. My grade: B
Thor: The Dark World (2013) Marvel
Comics Son of Odin returns to do battle with an 'ancient as the cosmos'
villain, who wants to extinguish our universe in favor of one without
light (ulp) in this visually stunning but standard clobber-filled
adventure. Hi Natalie Portman, nice to see you
too as Thor's love interest. My grade: B
Chronicle (2012) Three
teenage boys discover an alien artifact deep underground & yep,
soon develop amazing powers. But this is no superhero movie--what
begins as thrills and excitement soon turns into one dark reality after
another. (But dang this movie had some first-rate effects!) My grade: B
Iron Man 2 (2010) Robert
Downey Jr wrestles with the government, his superhero celebrity status
& a wicked Mickey Rourke in this megabuck sequel to Iron Man.
Critics claim it didn't live up to the original but it still kicked ass--oh
yeah, so did Scarlett Johannsen, literally. My grade: B
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) After
our team of Marvel heroes takes down
Hydra, Tony Stark (Iron-Man) gets the bright idea of using artificial
intelligence
they uncovered to give life to his peace-keeping robots; what he gets is
a
powerful robot gone mad who wants to bring peace to Earth by destroying
mankind. For all the chaos & confusion here (they blow up an
entire city!) there’s a lot
of heart, humor and self-examination too. I enjoyed this! My grade: B
Justice
League (2017) When green insect men are seen flitting about,
Batman (Ben Affleck) rounds up all the heroes he knows—Aquaman, Wonder Woman,
Flash, Cyborg—to take down this alien invasion. Oh wait, they work for some ancient god who
destroys planets! We’d better bring
Superman back to life. Yep, just like
that! It’s one big CGI fight show,
fight, fight, fight. Nothing more,
nothing less. Nice looking costumes
though. My grade: C Plus
Green Lantern (2011) Ryan Reynolds may not be the next Laurence Olivier, but he's well cast
as Green Lantern in DC Comics dazzling origin tale of the Emerald
Gladiator. Forget those stodgy critics, this movie lights up the screen
with a fun blend of sci-fi and superheroics--and one badass power ring! My grade: C Plus
Batman: The Killing Joke (2016) Considered
by fans the greatest Batman story ever written, the Joker kidnaps
Commissioner
Gordon with the intent of driving him insane--starting with the shooting
of his
daughter Barbara (not knowing he's ended the career of Batgirl). Published in 1988 to critical acclaim, it's unfortunate Alan Moore
& Brian Bolland weren’t used for
this animated re-telling. Choppy artwork
& a padded, juvenile storyline do not a classic re-make. My grade: C
X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) In the year 2023, as giant flying sentinels
(hint: robots) seek out and kill anyone having a mutant gene in their DNA
(hint: mankind), Professor X sends Wolverine back 50 years to 1973 to stop the
scientist responsible for these future killing machines—and hopefully change history. C’mon, this is The
Terminator! Predictable and toony with
CGI, I’m just not a fan of X-Men. My
grade: C
