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Superman Review

It’s been twelve years coming now, but I can finally say it: we have a Superman movie that feels like a Superman movie!

I’ve always been a big Marvel fan, but I’ve also had a lot of respect for DC and its IPs. And while I got to see Marvel dominate the 2010s, I also had to see DC try too hard to catch up, only to largely miss the mark and crash and burn. Considering how DC had already done what they were trying to do in cartoon form a decade earlier, it was beyond frustrating. By the time The Flash came out (and I didn’t see it), I was glad to see the reset button get hit. It was time for DC to do what they should’ve done and start over. And while I didn’t care about who it was, I think putting James Gunn in charge was a good move.

His work on Guardians of the Galaxy was enough to give me a little confidence in him. And I am glad it did, because when I went to see Superman for its IMAX fan event at my local AMC, I was in for one of the best movies of the summer. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it was the best Superman movie since the 1978 film with Christopher Reeve. And I am prepared to die on that hill!

A Revised Universe

Since this film is a reboot of Superman on the big screen, one would think that this first film would reestablish his origins. However, since the DCU is a soft reboot of the DCEU, it chooses to start things with Superman already having three years of hero work under his belt. In fact, the opening crawl reveals that in this rebooted timeline, metahumans have been a part of society for three hundred years, meaning they’re already well-established as a part of society.

Some people might complain about the decision not to revisit Kal-El’s origin story, but to me, it feels like the right call. It’s like what Marvel did when they added Spider-Man to the MCU. They were betting that at that point, everyone already knew his origin story, thus making retelling it a waste of time; and they were right. We have had at least two films telling Spidey’s origins in the last fifteen years. We didn’t need a third!

At any rate, that’s not the most interesting aspect of the film’s opening. Remember that scene in the trailers where Superman’s lying bloody on his side in a crater in Antarctica? Normally, that would a scene reserved for the halfway point of a film. But here, it’s the opening scene, with the title crawl revealing Superman just lost a fight for the first time. And then he has to deal with Krypto’s doggy antics before being dragged home to heal.

A More Classic Superman

The trailers had already made it a point of emphasizing that this version of Superman, played by David Corenswet, would be different from Henry Cavill’s grimdark version. He’s kind, optimistic, and always wants to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences. The film manages to do a great job of continuing to demonstrate how nice David’s Superman is. At one point while fighting a Kaiju, he takes a moment to save the life of a squirrel that was in danger! That’s how much he cares about the lives of others! Superman has often been jokingly called the big, blue Boy Scout, but unlike Cavill’s version, he lives up to it! And while I know some fans, especially those who like Snyder’s films, are going to complain, I think it’s the right decision.

If you’ve read my blog, then you know how I’m a big fan of My Adventures With Superman. Part of it is because of the show’s overt anime influences, but another part of it is because it feels like such a breath of fresh air. Ever since Batman Begins came out twenty years ago, it feels like DC has largely been trying to recapture the grim and grounded aesthetics of the Dark Knight trilogy. Ultimately, that’s culminated with shows like The Boys and Invincible, each with their own corrupted version of Superman.

It’s no secret that Homelander and Omni-Man were inspired by Superman. Homelander was created to be his universe’s version of the hero, while Omni-Man seemed to share his alien origins. However, what I think some people have forgotten is the fact that the two are meant to be corrupted copies of the real deal. Omni-Man is a soldier from a militaristic culture like the Saiyans. And Homelander? He’s a product of what happens when a soulless corporation tries to raise a hero without the emotional support they need: a menace! And while there are versions of Superman that wind up being evil, they’re ultimately the exception rather than the rule. But that isn’t what who Superman generally is at the end of the day, and MAWS and James Gunn both seemed to want to remind of this.

James Gunn Just Gets Superman

See, James Gunn and My Adventures With Superman? They get it. They’ve looked at all the versions of Superman that have come before, and they understand the root of his character. A main theme of MAWS, in particular, seems to be the debate between idealism and cynicism. Superman serves as as the argument for idealism, while his enemies like Amanda Waller represent cynicism. Waller, in particular, is so quick to declare that Superman is evil that she sees his altruism as an act for something sinister he has planned. Whereas General Lane ultimately realizes that Superman is as nice as he says he is, Waller just doubles down on her beliefs even when everyone else is saying she’s wrong. And by the end of the second season, she’s been humiliated and forced to watch as Superman invalidates everything she believes to be right.

Gunn and the guys in charge of MAWS must have been doing their homework, because this is who Superman is as a character. It already shows in MAWS, but Gunn’s Superman film does it even better. He has David play who Superman is at his core: someone who wants to do the right thing.

Some, like Lois, may call his decision to stop a war to be reckless and violating rules and procedures, best shown in the trailer with their mock interview. But as that trailer showed and the film expands upon, he’s not doing it to flaunt his power. He’s just the kind of person who doesn’t waste time on red tape when doing so could mean more people dying. When he wants to do the right thing, he won’t let anything stop him. In other words, he has no tolerance for bs, and that’s something I think is a good thing.

Like a Shonen Protagonist

Beginning in my tween and teen years, I spent a lot of time reading Shonen manga like Naruto and One Piece. One of the reasons why I like them so much is because of how honest and straightforward characters like Naruto and Luffy are. They know they’re in complicated worlds with complicated problems that need solving. And while they recognize that they’re not the smartest people in the room and can’t always understand the complexities of what’s going on, they habe a different kind of wisdom to them.

They’re naturally good people at heart, and when they see something going wrong, they don’t take too long to think about what to do. They just go ahead and do it. Luffy, in particular, is smart enough to understand that the simplest solution can be the best one: finding the root cause of the problem, and beating it up. Superman is way smarter than Luffy, but at the end of the day, he does the same thing. And as shown in MAWS and this movie, that winds up not only being right, but something the world needs to remember right now.

Superman is an Immigrant

Besides criticism from people who liked Snyder’s version better, the new Superman film has gotten its fair share of flak for being “too woke.” A big reason for that is because a big part of the film is centered on the fact that Superman is a refugee and an immigrant. He came from another planet as a baby and has lived in the US almost his entire life. He is as American as they come, but critics claim Gunn put particular emphasis on that fact. And while I was a little preoccupied with enjoying myself, I can see where they’re coming from, and why that would get flak. Immigration has been a hot-button topic over the last few years, especially since we got our new/old President.

In the months since then, I’ve seen plenty of news about deportation and detainment of immigrants, and while the sources might be biased, that doesn’t change the fact that all of this is still happening. They just want to be entertained when they see a movie and not have to think too much about. But the thing about storytelling is that the best stories are often the ones that give their message without being too overt about it. And Superman does that.

I can’t possibly understand all the legal issues that goes into immigration rules and policies, and I doubt I will. But I didn’t see any of that in the Gunn’s Superman film. Maybe it was because I was spending too much time enjoying the story l, but I fail to see why people would complain about it being woke. Is it because some people dont like immigration being associated with an American icon, and thus America itself? News flash: Superman has always been an immigrant. America was founded by immigrants. Almost everyone in America is descended from immigrants.

Maybe the fact that Superman is bringing that up at such a volatile time in our history is Gunn’s way of trying to tell us something. That underneath all the fog and haze and politics, we should remember to treat each other with basic kindness and decency. Because at the end of the day, Superman is about being a decent person to everyone for the sake of it. If people think that’s woke or too political, that’s their opinion. It doesn’t change the fact that Superman is still a good movie, and a lot of it is thanks to the cast.

David Corenswet Owns Superman

There have been many people who have played Superman over the years, and many have their favorite. I’m partial to Tim Daly and Jack Quaid’s voice work, and I think Christopher Reeve is the definitive, live-action version of the hero. However, if I had to pick a close second, I think my choice would be David Corenswet.

David absolutely clinches it as both Clark Kent and Superman. He instills into the character a lot of the adorkableness found in Jack Quaid’s performance while also giving him the air of nobility that comes with being Superman. While some people like Cavill’s performance, and again, I appreciate his attempts to be more grounded and realistic, Superman is still Superman. He’s generally going to be a larger-than-life Boy Scout, and needs to reflect this. And David does this in spades. He combines the dignity and nobility that Christopher Reeve brought to the character with the adorkableness that Jack Quaid gives him in MAWS. Most important of all, though, he gives the character the sense of humanity that he should always have, and this is best shown in his interactions with Lois.

Rachel Brosnahan is Great as Lois. And Jimmy was unexpected!

At the start of this film, Lois and Clark’s relationship with each other is already well-established, with them already being in a relationship for three months. She’s the only one outside his parents who knows he’s Superman and serves as his anchor to humanity. However, that does not mean that they do not come to blows. This is best shown when the two have time alone together, with the interview from the trailer shown to be every bit as stressful in the actual film.

The two spend more time arguing the morality of what Clark did than answering the questions, and it ends poorly. Their relationship is really on the rocks for much of the film, really. But compared to other incarnations of Lois that I’ve seen in live-action, I think Rachel Brosnahan is the most in-line with what I’ve seen in the cartoons. She’s not Tomboy Lois, but she’s more like the Lois from the DCAU. She’s confident.

The real surprise, though, was how the film handled Supe’s best friend, Jimmy Olsen. I was surprised when I saw that the film had him as this chick magnet! Having never read the comics, I didn’t realize that he was popular with women in there! Though I do ship his MAWS variant with Kara!

Outside of David, though, I think the biggest stand-out has to be Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

Nicholas Hoult Gave us a real Lex Luthor

With all due respect to Jesse Eisenberg, I hated how Snyder wrote Lex Luthor in Batman vs. Superman. The Lex I knew from watching Superman: The Animated Series was this bald, menacing, and egotistical evil billionaire. But Jesse? I don’t know what he was playing, but it was not Lex Luthor! If anything, it felt more like the Joker!

In contrast, though, Nicholas Hoult got Lex Luthor to a tee. The bald head, the ego the size of a planet, and the irrational hatred of Superman that gets him a spot in the hater’s hall of fame. All of it was there and on full display, as it should come as no surprise that Luthor is responsible for every threat that Superman faces in this film. He even goes the extra mile by kidnapping Superman’s dog and using monkeys to spew out hate for him on social media! And that’s not even the most evil thing he does! He kidnaps this one citizen in Metropolis, Malik, who gave Superman a falafel once. And then he kills right in front of a captive Superman just to hurt him! That is next-level hating!

Nicholas Hoult knocked it out of the park as Lex Luthor in this film. Whoever wrote his lines into the script knew what they were doing. And while the film ends with Lex getting what he deserves ad infinitum, there is no doubt that we have not seen the last of him. Hoult’s performance deserves an Oscar nomination, and his Luthor deserves a place in the haters’ hall of fame! Especially for kidnapping poor Krypto!

Ruff, Ruff, and Away

Krypto the Superdog, aka the best doggy in the universe…is what I would like to say. My only exposure to him was through the 2000s animated cartoon on Cartoon Network, but I know he’s one of the more campy elements in Superman’s mythos. So I was looking forward to seeing him as part of the rebooted canon. Unfortunately, for those expecting him to be a loyal and super smart dog, keep dreaming. Krypto is one wrong move away from obedience school!

This version of Krypto is the kind of dog that would make Marley from Marley and Me proud. He’s an embodiment of chaos, doesn’t really understand boundaries or how to do what he’s told. One of the clips shows him explicitly having torn up the Fortress of Solitude! He’s a very big source of frustration for poor Kal-El, and as someone who has had many dogs in his life, I feel for him. He’s also a big part of the film’s comedy, with his antics clearly designed to make people chuckle. It does help that things can be explained by Gunn being inspired by his own dog, who somehow managed to destroy his laptop. Write what you know, you know! Fortunately, when it comes down to it, Krypto is still a loyal dog who helps save Superman’s life several times.

Superman was Truly Amazing!

So, yeah. I loved the new Superman movie. It’s not perfect and it does throw a lot at us in its two-hour runtime. But it is trying to set up a new universe, and this time, it has to do things right. It has to make up for what was, whether we want to admit it or not, was decade long misfire on DC’s. And in that regard, it manages to do a great job!

Yes, there are people who are going to complain that it’s too woke or too corny, but in case you haven’t noticed, that’s what Superman often is. He’s an optimistic view on mankind meant to inspire us to do better! They want grim and gritty, then stick to Batman! I’ll take my Superman sunny with a side of optimism.

Judging by what people are saying about it, it seems like James Gunn made the right call, too. By the time the movie was over, everyone in the theater was clapping and cheering because of how good it was. That’s an encouraging sign! If the film can keep up this momentum until Fantastic Four: First Steps comes out, it might be a financial success! I may even have to go back for another round, because I don’t wanna wait until it comes out on streaming! This is what we should’ve gotten twelve years ago, and I’m glad that DC is starting to make up for lost time.

I Give “Superman” a 4/5

Tetris Review

Tetris. It’s one of the most famous video games of all time. It’s a game that is so simple in premise but can be absolutely addictive if you let it. I’m pretty sure I still have my old Game Boy copy of Tetris sitting around in my personal effects somewhere in my house. Now, I was never that big on Tetris growing up, but even I can appreciate how important this game is in video game history. It’s one of those video games that everyone knows about even when they don’t, and with more video games becoming movies, now seems like the perfect time to do so. The question is, how do you make a movie out of something like Tetris?

Apple TV+ has the answer: you don’t. Instead, you make a movie about the crazy, mostly true story of how Tetris got out of the Soviet Union and became one of the biggest games of all time. This is that movie, and it is one of the best I’ve seen in 2023. 

The Game That Dreams Are Made of

The year is 1988, when video games are still in their infancy and companies are struggling to form the food chain. That’s when Tetris starts coming out of the Soviet Union. A Dutch-American game designer named Henk Rogers sees it, sees how much fun it is, and realizes that he has to be the one who shares this with the world. He makes a deal with Nintendo to get the liscencing agreements to the game, and they will package it with the then-upcoming Game Boy. The problem, it turns out, is that the person he originally thought had the rights to license it overseas didn’t have the rights. So Rogers and these other guys all head to Moscow and start trying to negotiate with the Soviets to get the rights to license Tetris overseas. Meanwhile, the game’s creator gets torn between his desire to provide a better life for his family and trying to keep them safe from the KGB’s wrath. 

I looked most of the stuff that happens in Tetris up, and, besides the standard dramitization from Hollywood, the whole premise is true. There was this whole insane legal battle between Rogers, this corrupt CEO named Robert Maxwell, and this other corrupt software salesperson over who got to sell Tetris overseas. And from what the movie says, the Soviet government was playing all of them off each other in the hopes of raking in the best deal and making tons of money. Money is the main driving factor of the conflict to all of this. 

‘Tetris’ is One of the Best Gaming Movies Ever

By 1988, plenty of people knew that the Soviet Union didn’t have long for this world, including the Soviet government. One of the film’s fictional characters, this KGB agent, admits to Maxwell’s son that the Soviet Union’s dying and that everyone’s trying to loot what they can before that happens. It’s this whole confusing mess that I could barely wrap my head around even as it was being explained in front of me. All I knew is that it was nuts, addictive to watch, and one of those things in life where truth is crazier than fiction. 

At the heart of it all, though, underneath the intrigue and the epsionage and underhanded dealing, Tetris is a movie that serves as a love letter to a video game and the lengths people went to in order to make it a success. I especially liked the relationship between Henk Rogers and game creator Alexey Pajitnov. The friendship they forge is both historically accurate, with the real Henk and Alexey becoming friends and business partners after the Soviet Union fell, and touching. They’re the only ones in the room who don’t just see Tetris as a way to make money. They see it as something fun that everyone in the world should get to enjoy. It’s a testament to the power that games can have to bring people of different backgrounds together through a shared love for them. That’s something that is worth fighting for, and I love how Apple captures this.

In short, if you’re a gamer, or just have fond memories of playing it growing up, go watch Tetris. It’s funny, dramatic, and far more entertaining than you’d think.

I Give ‘Tetris’ a 5/5

Werewolf by Night Review

I never saw the Universal Monsters movies before, but I know about their impact on pop culture. They provided the public with definitive versions of famous monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein’s Monster. Now, even the MCU’s trying to emulate the classic monster movies for Halloween. The end result, Werewolf by Night, is a triumphant masterpiece. A perfect blend of classic horror and the often-overlooked horror elements of Marvel comics.

Monster Hunters Ain’t That Surprising

In a universe filled with heroes, gods, magic, time travel, does the existence of monsters come as any surprise for anyone? The answer is a resounding no: monsters exist in the MCU, and so do the people that hunt them. Thus, when the most famous monster hunter of all, Ulysses Bloodstone, dies, the best hunters in the world congregate to choose his successor via a trial. 

There are several candidates that show up, but the ones that should be the main focus are Jack Russell, an unassuming guy with a high kill count, and Elsa Bloodstone, Ulysses estranged daughter. It’s never explained why, but it seems that she left her home due to not being on good terms with her stepmother. To be fair, though, her stepmother is a very unpleasant woman! The only reason Elsa returned is so she can gain her father’s bloodstone, which provides longevity, among other powers. Thus, we get to the main event of the special: the monster hunt. Each hunter enters a maze to chase a monster with the bloodstone attached to it. The first one to kill it and get the stone wins.

On the surface, it seems like a simple premise. However, it soon becomes clear that it’s not so simple.

Not Evil, Just Misunderstood

As it turns out, Jack wasn’t interested in getting the bloodstone for himself. He just wanted to help out the monster, AKA Ted, AKA Man-Thing, a being that’s the product of a science experiment gone wrong combined with mystical energy. Despite his monstrous, plant-like appearance, though, Man-Thing’s a gentle giant, and a friend of Jack. He only acts threatening to those that seek to do him harm, as he chooses to spare Elsa when she chooses to not attack him. 

I picked up on it early on, but I want to say it anyway: most of the monster hunters are racist Van Helsings. They automatically assume that anything that looks like a monster is a threat and must die, regardless of whether or not it actually is a threat. In this case, Man-Thing’s not evil; just misunderstood, as is Jack. 

As it turns out, Jack is a werewolf, albeit one that goes out of his way to make sure he can’t hurt anyone when he turns into a werewolf. Despite this, Mrs. Bloodstone and the other hunters don’t care, since they capture him and Elsa and trap them inside a cage with the goal of having Jack, the Werewolf by Night, kill Elsa.

Sometimes, the biggest monsters in the universe are the ones who think they’re doing the world a favor. In reality, they’re just being bullies who need a swift kick in the butt. In this case, Jack delivers a well-deserved ass-kicking as he proceeds to break free as a werewolf and kills all the monster hunters. Except for Ulysses Bloodstone’s widow; she dies at the hands of Man-Thing. 

The Monsters Win!

Thus, the story ends with Elsa reclaiming her birthright, the bloodstone, and her dad’s home. As for Jack and Man-Thing, they get to walk away. Happy ending for the good guys!

Overall, I thought that this was a very fun Halloween special for Marvel to do. It pays homage to classic horror with its black-and-white appearance. It doesn’t go too heavy on CGI in favor of practical effects. There’s even a shout-out to The Cryptkeeper in the form of Ulysses Bloodstone’s corpse acting like an animatronic. It’s a lot of fun. Hopefully, Marvel will decide to do more horror-themed stuff in the future. I wouldn’t mind seeing this sort of stuff for Halloween.

I Give “Werewolf by Night” a 4.5/5

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Lightyear Review

One of the earliest memories I have as a kid was watching the original Toy Story on VHS. Or listening to the book version on cassette tape. The bottom line is that Toy Story was a big part of my childhood, and at its heart were Sheriff Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Like most kids, I loved Woody and Buzz, but I think I liked Lightyear a little more.

Like many kids who dreamed of being astronauts, Buzz Lightyear seemed like the coolest as a kid. He was in video games, he had his own spin-off show; he was just awesome. So, when news came out that Pixar was making the actual movie that made Andy love Buzz, I was intrigued. Enough that I decided to see it two days early via the Andy Experience. Despite the review bombs, Lightyear manages to reach infinity…though not quite beyond.

Chris Evans Was a Good Fit. Change My Mind!

Firstly, it needs to be said that Chris Evans proved to be the best choice to voice Buzz. While fans complain about Tim Allen not coming back, Chris gives us a different kind of Buzz. While not as larger-than-life, Chris’ Lightyear is no less heroic. Early on, though, the film makes it clear that he’s not living up to his full potential.

Lightyear as a Flawed, Nuanced Character

Buzz Lightyear’s always been defined by his determination to finish his mission, no matter what version he is. However, the film reveals this determination comes at the cost of neglecting those around him. He thinks he can do things on his own, that he doesn’t need help, and that leads him to make mistakes that could be avoided. By the film’s halfway point, it costs him almost everyone he knew.

A hero’s only as good as the people helping them, and that’s essentially what Buzz learns in his character arc. It’s recycled from the cartoon’s pilot film, but it still works.

Good thing that Buzz’s team is pretty endearing. Sox is adorable and acts as this constant helping Buzz cope with his emotions. Izzy’s the one who really helps bring Buzz out of his emotional isolation. Darby makes for a good cynic. And Taika Watiti as Mo makes for good comic relief.

The character that proved to be just as interesting as Buzz, though, is Zurg. I can’t say too much about him without spoiling the big twist, but it was something that I did not expect. Good job, Pixar.

A Decent Flick for Toy Story Fans

So, the Lightyear movie isn’t anything groundbreaking, but it is still entertaining. It’s filled with callbacks and references to the Toy Story franchise, and does the character Justice. Pixar could make more films out of it if they wanted…but they probably shouldn’t. Or, at least make a movie finale to Woody’s Roundup.

I Give Lightyear 3.5/5

Twenty-five years ago, Warner Bros gave us the most unlikely of films, Space Jam. Combining live action with 2D animation, that film saw Bugs Bunny …

Space Jam: A New Legacy-Fun Film Weighed Down By Warner’s Insecurity

Thanks to COVID-19, it’s been more than two years since the MCU graced movie theaters. And while that problem was somewhat alleviated by the string of MCU shows on Disney+, it’s no substitute for sitting in theaters and waiting for the post-credits scene with your friends and family. This weekend, though, that drought came to an end with the arrival of Black Widow. This was a film that was long overdue for the titular hero in more ways than one.

Black Widow’s Past

Set in between the events of Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, Black Widow, first and foremost, sheds light on what Natasha Romanoff did while on the run. At first, she tried to hide from everyone, but with a past as checkered as hers, hiding isn’t possible for the Black Widow. When an old enemy that she thought to be dead returns, Natasha’s forced on a globe-trotting adventure to put the demons of her past behind her for good. And without the Avengers to help her, she’s got to rely on allies from her Red Room days.

If the Red Room sounds familiar to anyone, then there’s a reason for it. It’s the official name for what’s been dubbed as the Black Widow Program. While flashbacks and Natasha’s own accounts of the program have hinted at what it was like, the MCU gave us our best look back in the short-lived Agent Carter series on ABC. Essentially, it was a Soviet black ops program that spent decades brainwashing young girls and turning them into master assassins. And Natasha was one of those unfortunate girls subjected to it. While she managed to get out thanks to the help of Hawkeye, it’s clear that she’s still haunted by what she went through. And whether she wants to or not, the film sees her confront her past.

A Family Story

The thing that’s most surprising about Black Widow is the central theme. Under the James Bond meets Jason Bourne meets Mission Impossible action, Black Widow is a family story. Granted, it’s a story about a very dysfunctional found family.

When she was a kid, Natasha was raised alongside another Black Widow trainee, Yelena Belova. The two were raised by a Black Widow veteran and the Russian supersoldier known as the Red Guardian. They acted as a family unit in deep cover, and much of the film’s emotional arc comes from Yelena still seeing them as such. Albeit, they’re a broken and dysfunctional one. 

Firstly, while Yelena still sees Natasha as a foster sister, she can’t hide her resentment that Nat indirectly left her behind in the Red Room, or that she went on to become a celebrated member of the Avengers. In addition, there’s Red Guardian, who’s the Russian equivalent to Captain America if Captain America were a drunk wash-up. That is what Red acts like in much of the film. He alternates between genuinely caring about his former charges and lamenting about his lost glory days. Then, we have Melina, the Black Widow veteran and scientist who trained Nat and Yelena. She acts like she doesn’t care about the girls and seems to have a lack of empathy at times. In one scene, she shows how she trained a pig to stop breathing for several seconds, much to Nat and Yelena’s discomfort. That was pretty messed up!

In other words, the four are a very unlikely family with strained relationships. And much of the film’s drama stems from them having to work out their many problems. But once they do, the four end up kicking ass.

The Big Bad is Such a Jerk

Then, we have the main villain of the film, Dreykov. If Red Guardian is the washed-up alcoholic father that wants to be better, then Dreykov is the abusive dad. He spends all of his time onscreen berating, beating, and mentally abusing the girls in his Black Widow Program. He doesn’t even see his Black Widows as people, but just resources he can replace. In other words, he’s an abusive, violent, oppressive misogynist with no redeeming values whatsoever. 

While the MCU’s been known to give us both flat and three-dimensional, realistic villains, Dreykov’s one of the flattest out there. He’s a hate sink that makes everyone around him miserable, and the kind of person everyone can easily root against. That’s not a bad thing, though. The MCU doesn’t have to make each of its villain’s as great as Thanos, Loki, or Killmonger. 

The MCU Has Returned

After spending almost two years without any MCU films, it felt really great to be able to sit in theaters again alongside my fellow fans. Black Widow offers us a return to the franchise that, for better or for worse, has dominated our culture for the last decade or so. Black Widow’s fans have wanted to see her get her own movie for years, and Black Widow delivered. 

However, the film also emphasized that, as of Phase 4, the MCU’s not just going to be about the films. It’s investing more into its TV shows and miniseries. Case in point, rather than tee us up for a sequel film, the post-credits scene connects the film to the upcoming Hawkeye series on Disney+. It’s the first time the MCU’s done that, and represents a shift in how it will continue in the future. Here’s hoping the next decade continues the franchise’s success.

I Give “Black Widow” a 4/5

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Godzilla vs. Kong Spoiler-Free Review

The following was written by me and posted onto The Game of Nerds website. I have reposted it here for your enjoyment. #GodzillavsKong

Who would win in a fight? That’s probably one of the most asked questions throughout the course of human history. Since the dawn of story-telling, people have pitted their heroes and cultural icons against each other, wanting to know who would win. There’s the likes of Mario and Sonic, dueling icons of video games. Batman and Superman, the titans of DC Comics. And, of course, there’s the legendary rivarly of Godzilla vs Kong.

Godzilla and King Kong stand at the very pinnacle of the giant monster genre. They are east meets west, mammal vs. reptile, two of the biggest monsters in all of fiction. They fought once sixty years ago, but fans have eagerly kept asking for them to reunite for a final match to see who would win. This Spring, 2021, these cinematic titans finally reunite in Godzilla vs Kong. And it is everything that fans could ask for!

The Backdrop and the Human Story of Godzilla vs Kong

It’s been five years since the events of Godzilla: King of the Monsters and the defeat of Ghidorah. Under Godzilla’s rule, the Titans have kept quiet and left humanity alone while also fixing the damage we’ve done to the planet. Life seems peaceful for everyone. Then, out of the blue, Godzilla seems to go rogue and start attacking cities around the world. Left without a clue as to why, humanity decides that the best solution is to get another Titan to fight Godzilla. Their pick: a now-adult Kong, who’s had to leave a now unstable Skull Island in search of a new home. As a result, MONARCH takes him to this underground world once ruled by his ancestors and discovers what may be the key to beating Godzilla. But has Godzilla really turned on humanity, or did some dumb humans just anger him?

As with the other movies in Legendary Films Monsterverse, Godzilla vs. Kong takes place against the backdrop of a human-influenced plot. Unfortunately, the human half of the film focuses on the humans dealing with the same problem they dealt with in every Monsterverse film. They try and meddle with forces they don’t understand, and it ends up biting them in the butt. Hard. Of course, there are the heroes who understand the bigger picture of the Kaiju and play a key role. However, they get overshadowed by the bad humans who insist on trying to find a way to surpass the Titans and fail to understand that that’s what’s provoking them.

If you’re looking for a deep, philosophical story from the human perspective of Godzilla vs Kong, there isn’t any. The film knows that the audience is only there to watch giant monsters fight, so that’s what it focuses its energy on, and is better for that!

The Fights Succeed Where Batman vs. Superman Failed

Remember Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and how that film promised that Batman and Superman would slug it out on the big screen? That was what every comic book lover had probably dreamed about for years! It should’ve been one of the greatest moments in cinematic history. What we got was an uninteresting, 9 minute fight wedged into a 152-minute long movie. In other words, it failed. MISERABLY.

When it comes to great pop culture rivalries, it’s not just the question of who would win the fight. It’s how they would win the fight, and the fight itself, that matters. Essentially, the fight needs to be a spectacle that’s worth the audience’s time. No matter who wins, someone’s going home disappointed, but it wouldn’t feel as devastating if people walk away thinking that both sides gave it their all. Also, when they have to team up against the inevitable enemy mine and then part ways, everyone can feel satisfied.

Where Batman vs. Superman failed, though, Godzilla vs Kong delivers. The film writers knew that fans would be upset no matter who won, so instead of focusing on getting a winner, they focused on making the fights between the Titans as long and as epic as possible. The first fight occurs at seas around 1/3 through the film and both Monsters get a chance to show off their full might. The rematch begins in the final third of the film in Hong Kong, and neither side holds anything back. Kong has that axe from the trailer, Godzilla’s got his atomic breath, and the neon lights of the city make for a legendary smackdown. I won’t say who wins, but I know that both groups of fans will be able to leave saying “good fight. Really good fight.”

One of the Best Movies of 2021

Godzilla vs Kong is a cinematic event almost sixty years in the making. And for fans of both characters, getting to see them clash in the 21st century is a dream come true. It has action on a scale that only a film about Kaiju could bring, the fights give both combatants a chance to show off their strengths, and the ending makes it clear which of them is the top dog. Yeah, we still have to deal with the human plotlines in between everything and how stupid the bad guy’s justification can be. But at the end of it all, it’s still worth having to sit through the muck in order to get to what we all want to see: giant monster fights. I’m probably going to go watch this movie again on the big screen sometime.

I Give “Godzilla vs Kong” a 4/5

Click here to read about some more exciting tie-ins to the film

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or don’t pay attention to it, then you have to had heard of Disney Investor Day 2020. On December 10th, 2020, Disney did a four hour stream showcasing their plans for the entertainment industry over the next few years. And to sum them up with a gif:

Yeah, it was really good! I meant to do this sooner, but I couldn’t find the way to appropriately communicate my thoughts on everything. After thinking it over for three days, though, I’m ready to give my thoughts on everything we learned at Disney Investor Day!

The Force is Strong with Lucasfilm

Since they acquired LucasFilm in 2012, Star Wars has become one of Disney’s most profitable franchises. While they arguably stumbled with the Sequel Trilogy and the lack of a coherent story, Disney managed to rally with The Mandalorian. Throw in the final season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Star Wars is more popular than ever. And they’re going to build that success over the next few years.

• As everyone thought, Ashoka’s getting her own live-action show, Ashoka!
• Star Wars: Visions, an anime anthology series
• The Obi-Wan Kenobi is coming up, and Hayden Christensen’s playing Vader again. Taking place ten years after Revenge of the Sith, this could see the former Master and Padawan fight in a previously unknown rematch!
• The Clone Wars is getting a spin-off starring the Bad Batch as they go through the rise of the Empire
• LucasFilm is bringing Harrison Ford back for Indiana Jones for one last time, and working with The Jim Henson Company on another project
• Star Wars: Acolyte will take us back to the final days of the High Republic

Bottom line, Disney has a lot of plans Star Wars.

The MCU Returns Better Than Ever

Thanks to 2020, the MCU’s taken several heavy hits. Firstly, this marks the first time in ten years where we have no new Marvel movies or shows. Secondly, we lost Chadwick Boseman to cancer. So, it’s been a dark year for Marvel. However, Disney is ready to make up for lost time.

Starting in 2021, Phase Four of the MCU will start with a bang, with more shows and movies than ever.

• On January 15th, WandaVision premieres on Disney+. Part sitcom, part mystery, we see the mysterious return of Vision after his death in Infinity War. Having read the comics and seen how mentally unstable Wanda can be, I know she has something to do with this.
• Armor Wars and Ironheart will see War Machine and a new character deal with the legacy left behind by Tony Stark
• Falcon and The Winter Soldier premieres in spring 2021, and it will be glorious
• Loki is getting his own show! I’m still confused as to whether it takes place in an alternate timeline, though
• Groot’s getting his own series of shorts.
• Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special. ‘Nuff Said.
• Disney is going to do the Fantastic Four justice at last!
• Black Panther 2 is still on, but they will not recast for Chadwick Boseman!
• So many more annoucements!

Disney Animation and Pixar

Disney Animation and Pixar aren’t being lax, either. They’ve got plenty of new things in the works.

• A new musical show based on The Princess and the Frog, Tiana
• Moana is getting its own series.
• Zootopia and Big Hero 6! are getting their own series.
• Win or Lose, Pixar’s first animated series.
• A series for Pixar’s Cars.
• A new series about iconic Pixar characters starts in January.
• Dug from UP is getting his own series, Dug Days.
• Lightyear, an origin film for Buzz Lightyear, premieres in 2022 and stars Chris Evans (SO PSYCHED FOR THAT!!!!!!!!)

Disney: The Path To Global Conquest

At this point, I’d think it would be crazier to deny the idea that Disney is on the path to achieving total hegemony on Western Culture. On the one hand, this doesn’t bode well for healthy competition in the Entertainment Industry. On the other hand, Disney makes a lot of good stuff, and as long as that keeps happening, people may not care. Either way, Disney looks set to remain on top for the 2020s.

A big key to the company’s long term plans seems to be Disney+. With a large chunk of its library available on the streaming service, Disney has begun to dominate the streaming business. As a result, they’re willing to raise the subscription costs by a dollar because they think they can afford it. And to be honest, I think so, too.

Overall, I’m very happy with all these announcements from Disney, and I think that it’s going to make them more money than ever. Anything that you guys are excited for, though?

Phineas and Ferb Are Back, and It’s Like they Never Left.

It feels surreal knowing that it’s been five years since Phineas and Ferb took a bow, and now here we are. The show’s back, and with a new movie on Disney+, no less! Now, I literally just got done watching Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe, and it’s everything that Dan and Swampy promised. In all honesty, it feels like the show never left. More like it went on vacation for a while.

Candace Against The Universe- The Title’s Not Exaggerating

In the universe of animation, there are laws that get upheld with almost no exception. Wil E. Coyote never catches the Road Runner (except for one time). Plankton can’t get the Krabby Patty Secret Formula. And Candace can’t bust her brothers. And if they do succeed, it never lasts. It’s fun to watch, but you have to admit, you can’t help but feel sorry the Plankton’s and Candace’s after a while.

In the opening moments of Candace Against the Universe, we see how much stress this has caused Candace when she fails to bust her brothers for the umpteenth time. All her Mom had to do was literally turn around, for goodness’ sake. As a result, Candace breaks down and lets a Summer’s worth of frustration at the unfairness of the universe out before running off crying. Honestly, it’s sad. Then this leads her (and Vanessa) to get abducted by aliens and going on a journey of self-discovery as she comes to terms with a big question: why does she want to bust her brother’s so much?

The show never directly addressed it, but I had my theories as to why she wanted to bust her brothers. Part of it’s out of concern that they’ll get hurt one day. Then there’s the jealousy at the fact that they can get away with this stuff when she can’t. But over the course of the film, Candace has an epiphany about her need to bust. It’s because deep down, she feels inadequate compared to her extraordinary brothers. Most people would: Phineas and Ferb are basically child prodigies who will grow up to become rich and successful. Compared to that, Candace would feel insecure about herself. So when the aliens that abduct her say that she’s their “chosen one”, she feels special for the first time ever, and doesn’t want to leave.

It ends up leading to a full-blown alien invasion.

So Many Songs, So Many Laughs

Existential crisis’ aside, Candace Against the Universe contains everything that made the show such a huge hit. All the jokes and comedic timing remain intact, while also updating for the changes in the thirteen years since it came on. For example, when Doofenshmirtz joins the kids to find Vanessa, he tracks him down on the alien planet using social media posts.

Speaking of Doofenshmirtz, he was my favorite part of the film. He spends a lot of time around the kids. Unlike last time, though, they don’t focus on him being a semi-evil scientist. Instead, we see him bounce off his interactions with the kids. Isabella, in particular, gets annoyed by him and his insistence on being in charge, when she’s the smarter one. I never thought I’d need the two singing about “Adulting”. But I did, and it’s hilarious!

Oh, Perry also has his comedic moments, too, but he’s not the focus of the film. Mostly because he can’t let anyone see him without blowing his cover.

The Verdict: Still Fun After All These Years

So, what’s the verdict to this? Well, I don’t think that it’s as awesome as Across the Second Dimension. To be fair though, that movie was basically a blockbuster on TV with millions of viewers. Fortunately, Phineas and Ferb is already such an awesome show that anything it does is going to be awesome by default. Also, in the climax of the film, we see Candace fight an army of alien soldiers with a t-shirt cannon.

So, it may not reach the epic heights of Across the Second Dimension, but Candace Against the Universe makes up for it with its blend of emotion, music, and comedy. A perfect return for Phineas and Ferb and definitely worth the hype built around it.

I give Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Candace Against the Universe a 4.5/5

Click here to see my reviews for various films.

Dudes and dudettes, so far 2020 has been, like, bogus! First Australia was on fire, then that bogus Pandemic shuts down everything, and then the protests. Then these evil murder wasps show up and start, like, wrecking everything. This world needs something to unite the world and remind everyone to be excellent to each other. This world…needs the Great Ones.

THAT’S RIGHT, PEOPLE! Bill and Ted are coming back with their third big-screen adventure. Now, I’ve never actually the Bill and Ted movies (but I will this weekend!), but I know the premise: Bill and Ted, two simple but good-hearted dudes trying to become big rockstars. And their music ends up being so awesome, it unites the world and creates a utopian society in the future. Excellent!

There’s no denying it, people: humanity’s going through some dark times right now. People are at each other’s throats over so many things. If there were ever a time for two lovable slackers to unite everyone in the real world, it’s Bill and Ted.

What I’m trying to say is, we need this Bill and Ted film now, to help us get over all the bogus stuff we’re going through. I’m totally going to go watch it!