Peter Parker

Movie Review: Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

~ Alyxwrites ~ 1 Comment

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Summary: Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.
Spoilers for Endgame. So, if you haven’t seen that, then why are you even here??
Pros:
Cast and Characters.
  • Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man. Peter is dealing with a lot in this film, he of course is still a superhero with spider-like abilities, but he just wants to be a teenager and deal with teenager things. In Homecoming, he wanted to have more responsibility but now that things have changed, and he wants some of that responsibility to just go away but all the adults are telling him to “grow up! Step up!” and he just wants to go on vacation and be with the girl he likes. I think that’s a very relatable plot for Peter to have because any person would think that way, especially after the trauma he just experienced. He deals with a lot emotionally in this film and I take my hat off to Tom Holland who just kills it as both Peter and Spider-Man. I think he manages to handle Peter’s awkwardness and earnestness well. Whenever he’s flubbing over how to talk with MJ is cute, when he’s talking to Happy or even Beck, the little bits of emotion he goes through is handled really. Tom Holland is great in the role, Peter is very emotional due to Tony’s death and I really feel for him. He’s so great and likable, plus that one scene at the end when he catches something, the look on his face was so good that I just could not even handle it.
  • Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury. He is the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D who has returned from The Snap or they call it “The Blip” and he’s trying to get Peter to work for him. I don’t think he quite understands how to handle Peter as he’s a teenager compared to handling Tony, Steve, Thor etc. He’s not very understanding, and he very much thinks that Peter is just too preoccupied with stupid high school problems. He needs to be a mentor but it’s not quite working out. Fury is interesting in this movie once you find out the things you find out and when you watch it again, you may just pick up on it the second time around. Sam Jackson is always great, he’s always great as Fury and I enjoy seeing him flounder just a bit because Fury is used to knowing everything, always being involved and he’s not quite getting that here.
  • Zendaya as Michelle / MJ. She is Peter Parker’s classmate, friend, and love interest. MJ is a bit odd in that she’s not quirky, at least not in the way we’re used to seeing people be quirky. She is very brutally honest, she’s awkward and comes off a little dark in terms of her interests. I love her deadpanned delivery and humor because it’s great and it’s different from what normally see from Peter’s love interests. I love Zendaya and I think she is great, and I think she has great chemistry with Tom Holland and I love that she is both cool and awkward. It really fits for this new character they created for her. I also love that she gets to keep her curls.
  • Jon Favreau as Harold “Happy” Hogan. The head of security for Stark Industries and former driver and bodyguard of Tony Stark who looks after Parker. Things are a bit hard for him too as Tony was his best friend, but he has found companionship in Aunt May, whether it’s an actual dating relationship or not, lol and he has become a mentor for Peter. He’s probably the only one in that “Avengers” world that Peter can still trust who was close to Tony. Happy’s always just been there for me, he’s been Tony’s friend, but I never thought he had that active of a role, but he gets a bit to do here. Jon Favreau is likable, and I also like his adult awkwardness when it comes to “flirting”, not to mention the great chemistry he has with Tom Holland.
  • Jacob Batalon as Ned Leeds. Parker’s best friend and first confidant. Ned is Peter’s “man in the chair” and in this movie, he’s in his corner as to what Peter wants to do, but he also wants him to stop worrying so much about MJ and just have fun in Europe. Ned also gets a little cute side plot in the film and while it is random, it’s cute and it works out the way it needs to. I know that Ned is based off Miles Morales’ friend in the comics, but I like that they created him for Peter because he’s someone Peter can bounce ideas off who isn’t an adult and someone he can trust wholeheartedly. Ned is a great friend and I think the friendly chemistry between Jacob Batalon and Tom Holland works so well.
  • Jake Gyllenhaal as Quentin Beck / Mysterio. He is a hero from Earth-833 in the Multiverse. He gets recruited by Nick Fury to help Spider-Man stop the new threat that has emerged. Beck has this cool demeanor and he in ways takes Peter under his wing, being that he is a more seasoned hero. They end up creating this relationship that is almost a mentor-mentee relationship which I think is interesting considering what happened with Tony in Endgame. I like how that is portrayed in the film. I won’t go into more detail because it will spoil things, but I have always liked Jake Gyllenhaal and I think he does a great job in the role, he gets to have some interesting developments to do in this film. He is really compelling in the role which is quite interesting.
Really Funny and Charming. Spider-Man is always funny and charming, well if he’s written well he is, same with Peter. Tom Holland of course does a great job doing the awkwardness of Peter and the confidence that he has but also lacks. Peter is going through a lot in this film, but he just ultimately wants to be a teenager with teenage problems. He doesn’t want to deal with the whole responsibility of being a superhero so those moments where he’s just like “I just want to be on my trip with my friends and talk to the girl I like” and that’s his mantra but things of course don’t work out the way he wants them too. Zendaya also has great funny moments for MJ. In the first movie, I liked her a lot, but she wasn’t that involved, so in this one, they show her way more, she’s just a bit socially awkward and loves to point out things that other people might not want to point out. That’s her thing lol. Also, moments between Happy and Aunt May and things with Ned and his side plot. Honestly, you’ll probably laugh quite a bit in the film and I think you’ll smile a lot as well.
Emotional Weight. This movie is set right after Endgame, which means it’s five years into the future where the characters we know and love from Homecoming are still the same age, so we can assume that along with Peter, Ned, MJ, Betty, Flash and all of them got snapped. Which works out because we get to see our familiar people return, though it would have been interesting if Betty Brandt didn’t get Snapped so she could just be older, I always thought she was older than Peter anyway. But particularly from Peter and Happy who have both lost an instrumental person in their life from Tony Stark’s death and it’s still fresh for the audience, if you saw Endgame that you completely understand it. The movie doesn’t make us relive any of the Endgame deaths, but it does honor those characters. Plus, Peter partially feels that it’s his fault, if he was better and stronger and all of that.
The Story. The film picks up after Endgame and it’s in an interesting place. They refer to “The Snap” as “The Blip” as some people just “blipped” out of existence and then five years later they just returned, the same age they were five years ago, unchanged. They give us a quick update in a smart way, and some people are still shocked because some teens come back and their younger siblings are now physically older than them and it is a shocking situation but the movie doesn’t make a big deal out of it, which is good because we’ve already one movie that did that and we need a little lightness in our lives after that lol. But you know the whole “with great power comes great responsibility” in this Peter’s like “NO, I just want to be a kid!” and I like that this movie does that and it’s like the antithesis of Spider-Man: Homecoming where he wanted more responsibility.
Great Action Sequences. Ya’ll! All the action sequences in this movie are great. Some are more memorable and better than others, but I think they’re all choreographed well, with great visual effects and are super cool. I believe all the action starts to happen when they get to Europe and while it’s not necessarily nonstop action, whenever it’s shown on screen, it’s badass. Most memorable is the entire sequence at the end.
The Human/Teenage Stuff. One of the most charming things about Peter being portrayed as a teenager is that we get the teenage angst, drama and all that and it works. I know people often talk about the fact that they prefer when Peter is an adult compared to a teenager, but we have tons of adults in the MCU, it’s nice to follow a teenager because his problems are going to be different and everyone can probably relate to them because we’ve all been teenagers at some point in our lives. It really works for Spider-Mand and plus, it allows them to get more movies out of him and I’m down for that.
A Particular Scene. I can’t go into this without giving it away, so I won’t but there is a scene in Berlin that is SO GOOD that I literally was blown away. I mean BLOWN AWAY. Maybe not literally blown away but it was so good that I am still thinking about it now. Just the emotional turmoil from Peter, the effects and the dialogue. Man, it’s just so good. Great job movie. GREAT JOB!
Cons:
Some Visual Effects. Obviously, you expect great effects considering what MCU has done with The Hulk, Thanos and some other things, but of course when you have a character like Spider-Man who does a lot of agile stuff, it might be harder to make it look real. There are a few times where it’s clearly CGI and it wasn’t even like “oh that CGI is CGI but it’s pretty good” it’s more like “eww that’s CGI and it doesn’t look good” it happens a few times, where I kind of was taken out of the movie, particularly in my favorite scene where there’s like an illusion of a bunch of somethings (no spoilers see!) and it was pretty jarring. Then the elemental beings we get, those also don’t look that great a lot of times either. What happens is cool and I guess it’s explained buutt I don’t think I would think those were real if I was in this world.
Overall, I loved this movie. I think it’s my second favorite Spider-Man film (Spider-verse being first of course) and my favorite live action Spider-Man film which is high praise lol but I loved a lot of what this movie did. I think the characters, particularly Peter and MJ have grown a lot, which makes them more likable and I think Zendaya really shines in her role here. I think if anyone didn’t like her much in the first one, you’d find that might have changed here. Tom Holland is a great Peter Parker and really shows the emotional trauma and loss he feels, not to mention, his need for normalcy. I get it Peter, I do. He’s so good with emotional scenes that I just want to hug him lol. The other characters are good as well, Jake Gyllenhaal was a great addition to the Spider-verse (see what I did there? lol) and I hope we see more of him in the future… in any form he may take lol. Far from Home is also funny, but not like that “look it’s funny!” kind of humor that GOTG does but just more everyday humor and it’s cute plus it’s super charming. The emotional weight is really felt but a lot of that is because of Tom Holland even Jon Favreau. Plus, so much more. This movie was a great bit of light and hope in the wake of the sadness that came from Endgame. I don’t have many negatives, believe me I tried to think of them lol, but I think mainly the CGI was inconsistent and I was like “meh” on certain points but it’s not glaringly bad. ANYWAYS, if you haven’t seen Spider-Man: Far from Home yet, then get on it, it’s a great watch.
Rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars.
Have you seen Spider-Man: Far from Home? What are your thoughts?
What is your favorite Spider-Man film?
Thanks for reading and keep an eye out for more reviews!

Movie Review: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse (2018)

~ Alyxwrites ~ 1 Comment

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Summary: Miles Morales becomes the Spider-Man of his reality and crosses paths with his counterparts from other dimensions to stop a threat to all reality.
Pros:
Cast and Characters. 
  • Shameik Moore as Miles Morales / Spider-Man. Miles is a regular teenager, he has artistic abilities, has an interesting relationship with his dad and goes to a school for really smart kids. He seems to be very popular in his neighborhood. He is half Puerto Rican and half African-American, lives with both of his parents in Brooklyn. We don’t really know how old he is, I would assume 14-16 and he acts like a teenager which I appreciate. Another Spider-Man who is the right age! He’s trying to figure out who he is and once he gets his powers, he feels this need to live up to Peter Parker who he got to meet before his death. He’s determined to do this throughout the movie, but he struggles with the fact that he doesn’t know how to become Spider-Man. We see a lot of growth from Miles throughout the film and I think Shameik Moore’s voice was a great blend of youthful innocence and a kid who is trying to figure out who he is. He was great! He’s funny and endearing and whenever he was being emotional, I was on his side!
  • Jake Johnson as Peter B. Parker / Spider-Man. At first, I was very much against this casting because I could not stand his voice. He sounded too much like a bum and I also did not like how he looked like a bum because Peter Parker IS NO BUM! But it turns out, not only is he from a different dimension but he has gone through a lot to where he is basically a bum lol. A disheveled version of Spider-Man. He becomes a mentor for Miles but not willingly. He doesn’t really want to teach him or really deal with him since he doesn’t really care for kids lol. He goes through a nice arc throughout the film as well. We’ve never seen this version of Peter before and while I was against it at first, it works for the movie.
  • Hailee Steinfeld as Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman. She is spunky and “free-spirited” and pretty much super cool! We meet her a little early on but I’m sure most probably won’t know who she is until later but she’s dope! When she first shows up in her white outfit, first of all, she lands on her toes! Like pointe! I think it’s so cool! We learn about her background in ways and it’s clear she cares about Miles in that she’s also young and wants to help him, but she doesn’t think he’s ready. I think she believes in him but doesn’t think he’s ready to do what they need to do to win. She’s sassy and Hailee Steinfeld’s voice works well for the character. I would be interested in seeing her again.
  • Mahershala Ali as Aaron Davis. We see him for a little bit and he and Miles have a special relationship. One that Miles doesn’t really have with his dad and it’s nice. Miles feels like he can be himself with Aaron and Aaron tries to be someone that Miles can look up to. He even takes him somewhere where he can use some of his artistic abilities. Mahershala Ali’s voice is amazing, and I could listen to it all day, but he gives a lot of nuance to the character.
  • Brian Tyree Henry as Jefferson Davis-Morales. He is Miles’ father and a police officer. In the comics he is not a cop but it’s cool and it works for the movie. He’s funny and has great chemistry with his son (which is funny since it’s animated lol) and you understand him because he is a father and he just wants to protect his son. Do right by him and what not. There are also some great emotional moments as well. I don’t think I’ve seen Brian Tyree Henry in anything, but I thought he did well.
Supporting Characters. There are a lot of these but they all help propel the film forward and I’ll just give a little sentence or something.
  • Lily Tomlin as May Parker. In Miles’ universe she has a bit more of an active role in what’s going on. She helps when she can and is also sassy.
  • Luna Lauren Velez as Rio Morales. I wish we saw more of her but perhaps if they do a sequel we will. She loves her family and is bit more lenient with Miles as she thinks her husband can be a little too hard. I also love the fact that she often speaks Spanish which allows the viewers to see that Miles is biracial and that his mom’s side is important.
  • John Mulaney as Peter Porker / Spider-Ham. I thought it was Nathan Lane at first lol, but he is an animal version of Spider-Man from a cartoonish universe. He’s like a looney toon. He’s funny lol.
  • Kimiko Glenn as Peni Parker. A young Japanese girl from an anime-like universe who co-pilots the biomechanical suit SP//dr with a radioactive spider. She’s super cute and has some laughs as well. There is also an emotional moment at the end and it was handled well.
  • Nicolas Cage as Spider-Noir. A dark and monochromatic version of Spider-Man from a 1930s universe. He was the one outside of the other Peter and Gwen I wanted to see the most because I find the idea of that kind of Spider-man so interesting. He was lol. Nic Cage’s voice fit with the character as he was clearly inspired by actors in classic film with the way he spoke. I actually would be interested in seeing a film about Spider-Noir.
  • The Villain. I don’t want to give up who he is, you see a quick glimpse of him in the trailer, but they kept it under wraps. We don’t see him a ton but when we do, he makes a lasting impression. I think they handle him well by keeping him scary but you also kind of understand his motivations.
Beautiful Animation. Ya’ll the animation in this movie is absolutely beautiful. The picture I chose at the top was one of my favorite screen grabs from the trailer so seeing it in the movie was even cooler. It was so dope. I wonder how the movie lends itself to 3D because it does seem like it would work well in 3D. The environment is well realized and while it’s animated, New York feels like a real city. We don’t see a ton of it, mostly Brooklyn and it’s very contained but you feel like you’re really in this world. The animation really brings you into the story. All the characters have their own look, even the two Peter Parkers we see without their masks look like different people. I thought that was important. I also love how we get a quick introduction for each of the Spider-people and we get to see them in their universe and the animation is different for each person as their universes aren’t the same as Miles’ or even Peter B.’s so it’s really cool. Such a beautiful movie.
Amazing Soundtrack. The soundtrack is also great. I think it fits what teens like Miles would listen to especially since our introduction to Miles is him singing a song. We also get introduced to that song again later and it was a great and humorous moment. When Miles goes to his Peter’s grave, the music playing over that scene was lovely. I would listen to this soundtrack with a nice mixture of the hip-hop, pop and the composed instrumentals.
Intriguing Storyline. So, I had an idea of what the movie would be about in terms of the other Spider-people because of the comics. In the comics, there are different worlds where different versions of the same people exist. There is a Peter Parker in Miles’ world but after a mission gone wrong, Miles decides he wants to help by using the powers he was given after being bit by a spider. He has most of the same abilities, so we get to see him try to learn how to master them and that’s a journey, which is fun and humorous. You also get to know the villain and why they’re doing what they’re trying to do and while you get it, you also dislike him. Miles is such a compelling main character that you care what happens to him, you want to see him succeed and you want him to reach the end of his journey in this movie victorious because it’s WHAT HE DESERVES!
Strong Message. One of the main messages in the film is “no matter who are you, anyone can be a hero (Spider-man)” or “what makes you different makes you a hero”. There is also family, friendship, understanding who you are… there are a few different nuggets in the film and Mary Jane says it best at Peter’s memorial. I think there is something for everyone in this movie.
Tense Moments. Ya’ll there are some moments when I was on the edge of my seat. Not literally since I was in a recliner and very comfortable, but I would have been otherwise. When Miles witnesses Peter’s death, he makes a noise and Kingpin sends The Prowler after him and that entire chase scene was so tense that I think I held my breath. Not to mention, the music for The Prowler was so scary! There’s another scene in an apartment with Miles and the Prowler. Then the main boss fight at the end, I was ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT!
Emotional. There are a few moments where I legit teared up. There is a great scene with Miles and his dad while Miles is in his room at the school, that was probably one of my favorite scenes. A scene with Miles and his uncle in an alleyway was also great, not to mention the scene on top of a house. There are just so many good things in this movie that it makes for a very solid movie going experience. I would not be surprised if you cried while watching this movie. They are earned moments as well.
It’s a COMIC BOOK. Listen, when I first saw the trailer, I was like wow, it looks like a comic book and it really does. The animation is beautiful and whenever they zoom in close on the characters, you can see the little dots like it’s straight from a comic book. Also, whenever Miles is thinking, they show thought bubbles! Also, when they would do certain action moments, like when Miles or any of the other spider people would jump off cars, they would do like a comic book like “wham” background thingy. You’ll know what I mean when you see it lol.
Great Action Scenes. Listen, the animation for the fights scenes were handled well. Whenever they were swinging through the air, it was like you were there. One of the first major fight scenes with Miles is in the woods and you can just feel the fear and determination from both sides.
Cons:
Ummm, I don’t have any lol.
Overall, IF YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THIS MOVIE THEN WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU? If you are a Spider-Man fan, then take yourself to see one of the best superhero movies I have ever seen. Obviously, people will think differently but this is such a great Spider-Man movie, a great superhero movie, that I am into them making more. Just when you think Sony isn’t doing their job with Spider-man, they but this one out. Perhaps they should only do animated versions because the people who worked on this film put their heart and soul into it and it shows. All the characters, all of them, are interesting and awesome to watch. The voice acting is done very well, Shameik Moore was a standout as Miles. He really manages to capture the essence of this teenage boy who is trying to find out his footing and he’s compelling. I want more movies just, so we can see them in their universes. The animation is beautiful and the little quirks they had for the characters, like how they looked different due to being from a different universe worked. The music is engaging and doesn’t feel out of place. It has so many great and tense moments, I jumped once or twice lol, and the emotional moments hit you hard. I think there are about 5 or 6 that I can remember distinctly being affected by. Just GAH this movie was so good. GO SEE IT.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.
Have you seen Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse? No? What’s wrong with you? lol, no I’m kidding, not really, it’s a great movie lol. Let me know your thoughts down below!
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Movie Review: Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

~ Alyxwrites ~ 1 Comment

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Summary: The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
Pros:
Cast and Characters. All of the characters we have met are pretty much in this film so it’s a lot. I feel like I have to talk about most of them. Some definitely have way more to do than others but they’re all important in their ways.
  • Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man. We find Tony in a different place in this movie, it’s been two years since Civil War and he and Pepper are talking about the future. However, Tony feels a threat coming and he wants to do whatever he can to protect Earth. But he still is a bit hung up on past things and sometimes can’t get out of his own way, as per usual. Throughout this movie, Tony is trying to be a leader, trying to work with everyone he comes into contact with and I think he has to learn that things don’t always out the way 
  • Chris Evans as Steve Rogers / Captain America. Following the events of Civil War, Steve is a fugitive and the leader of a faction of the Avengers. Steve is always as unshakable as he always has been. When he gets the call about Thanos, he shows up and immediately gets into action, especially with the hope of not sacrificing anyone. If Steve can save you, he’ll do it. If he can throw himself on the grenade for you, he’ll do it and he does that here. I think it’s easy to tell that he’s a little different. After everything that’s happened, he’s seen a lot and he definitely seemed to be in a more “somber” place, not that Steve is ever really that upbeat, but he just seems different. I love his look, with the beard and the longer hair. I also loved how his uniform still had an air of his old uniform, but with darker colors because his whole story was him questioning everything he knew and loved. I think Chris Evans is fantastic as Steve and I’m going to be very sad when Marvel Studios finishes with our main heroes’ stories and we move on because Steve has just been this pillar for me. Chris Evans manages to keep Steve likable while also making sure his values, morals and ideals are never shaken. He’s a true leader. I’d follow him anywhere.
  • Chris Hemsworth as Thor. His story picks up right after Thor: Ragnarok which is an interesting place because he has super emotional motivations considering where we left off in that movie. He wants to protect his people, including his brother (where’s Valkyrie by the way?) and throughout the movie, he just wants to find a way to harness his power. He lost his hammer in the last movie, so now he’s on a mission to do something to help against Thanos. I’m so glad they allowed Hemsworth to really do some humor as Thor because he’s funny and I think Thor deserves to be a balance between funny and serious. I love his new look, I love all of his interactions with everyone, he always has great chemistry with the people around him.
  • Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner / Hulk. In this film, Banner starts off as The Hulk with Thor and Loki in the beginning. Heimdall uses his power to send him back to Earth, and Banner spends a lot of the movie trying to reintegrate with the Avengers since Hulk left in Age of Ultron. He keeps trying to tell everyone how dangerous Thanos is and I think the biggest thing is that we’re starting to see… is there that much of a difference between Bruce and Hulk these days? We really get to see more of Bruce in this one, see him become an Avenger over his giant counterpart. I love Mark Ruffalo, I think he’s a great actor and I very much enjoy him go between playing Bruce and playing Hulk.
  • Scarlett Johansson as Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow. She ends up being with Steve, despite being against him in Civil War, and not ending up with him in the end. She must have found them. She’s changed her look (I don’t care for the blonde) and she’s like Steve’s right hand, which I like because I do like the fact that they have such a great friendship. I don’t think she does much until the fight on Wakanda, where she kind of teams up with Okoye which is awesome in many ways. I’ve never been a ScarJo fan but she’s fine in this role. She does also have good chemistry with her coworkers as well. 
  • Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange. Doctor Strange gets involved when Bruce falls into the New York sanctum. He also has the Time Stone so obviously he’s a target. Strange definitely is a bit more humble coming from his first film, but he’s still a bit of douche. Which is why his scenes with Tony were so great. Cumberbatch and Downey Jr. worked really well together. The thing about Strange is that his goal to protect the time stone and he doesn’t care about who gets in the way of him doing that. His character arc in the film I think is the most noticeable. Cumberbatch is still fine in the role, I think his American accent was better this time around but I really liked Strange a lot more in this then I did previously.
  • Tom Holland as Peter Parker / Spider-Man. Peter is back and I love him still. He’s a kid so it’s great to see him reacting to things and especially with him being kind of new to this, he throws himself head first (which is why I want him to really interact with Steve, he’s so much like him) and is willing to do whatever he can to help. He’s following Tony and Strange’s lead but he always pulls his weight. Tom Holland is great still, and he has a great emotional scene at the end that really got me.
Supporting Characters. I definitely thought there was a distinction between the characters we saw the most and the ones who would be considered “supporting”. I mean, everyone is good so if I don’t really go into detail about everyone, it’s kind of for a reason.
  • Don Cheadle as James “Rhodey” Rhodes / War Machine. The last time we saw him was in Civil War, where he was paralyzed. Tony creates an apparatus so he can walk again but it’s easy to tell that he’s a bit reluctant to put on his suit again after what happened. However, he also seems to be regretting the side he chose in Civil War, mostly since he was only on that side because he’s Tony’s best friend. I’m sure Tony feels responsible for his injury but they hardly interact in this movie, since Rhodey is with Steve most of the time. But I think he definitely is regretting things. Cheadle is fine as always, he has a commanding presence as Rhodey but I don’t think he has a lot to do in the film.
  • Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa / Black Panther. Picks up right after his movie, he’s the king of Wakanda. He’s housing Bucky Barnes, and Steve takes his team to Wakanda with the hope of Shuri being able to help remove the Mind Stone from Vision. T’Challa welcomes them and I think he and Steve could also have a great friendship. I also liked that while on Wakanda, everyone took the lead from him. Chadwick is great as always in this role. He’s regal, kingly, and he looks good while doing it lol.
  • Paul Bettany as Vision. He has the Mind Stone in his head so he’s definitely a target as well and important. He’s with Wanda and they’re attacked by Thanos’ lackeys for his stone. They fight but are overwhelmed, Steve, Sam and Natasha show up and Vision has definitely become way more human so he’s willing to sacrifice his life but Steve believes everyone can be saved. Vision is willing to do what he can to live, but at the same time, save the others. Paul Bettany is great as Vision because you can clearly see the conflict he’s feeling when it comes to wanting to be with Wanda but also not wanting to be a part of destroying the world.   He’s really hopeful in this, he definitely doesn’t feel like an untouchable android.
  • Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch. I believe she is the youngest of Steve’s faction of Avengers. She can harness magic and she’s really powerful. I really hope they allow her even more to use her magic to its full ability because in the comics, Wanda can warp reality. But anyway, her goal is to save Vision without him dying because of love. I like Olsen in the role, I just wonder if they got rid of the accent because at times it was very faint and other times it definitely seemed like it was gone completely. She’s also great at emotional moments.
  • Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes. I LOVE Bucky, I just wish he was in these movies more but whatever. He’s been on Wakanda, living life, getting better and his hair’s all healthy and stuff lol. He’s the White Wolf lol. Once he’s told that he’s needed, he gets his new arm and gets right back in the fold. Sebastian Stan is also always good and he’s great as Bucky. Give him more to do!
  • Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson / Falcon. A member of Steve’s faction of Avengers, he doesn’t have much to do other than being a wingman (lol pun intended) and to fight from the air. I love Sam though and I hope he gets more to do later on.
  • Tom Hiddleston as Loki. He’s always great as Loki, so memorable and he has some great stuff right at the beginning. We’ve really seen Loki fluctuate through the last 10 years and I think he’s still an interesting character. Tom definitely understands him and made him not only a memorable and one of the MCU’s best villains, but also someone who can be a hero when he needs to be.
  • Zoe Saldana as Gamora. She is a Guardian but also Thanos’ daughter. We know that she has daddy issues period but this film really allows that to take shape in how she’s reacting to everything. Gamora knew this day would come and I think part of her hoped that he wouldn’t go through it, while the other part of her wants him to try to fail. Zoe Saldana had a lot of emotional moments in this movie and she does well. I really felt it.
  • Karen Gillan as Nebula. I guess she’s a member of the Guardians now, at least loosely lol. She is also an adopted daughter of Thanos but she doesn’t seem to be the favorite, or even one he truly cares about. However, her and Gamora have gotten closer thanks to Vol. 2 which Thanos exploits that relationship. I enjoy Nebula, she’s very entertaining and it’s interesting to see the opposite side of Thanos’ relationship with his daughters. I haven’t really seen Karen Gillan in anything but these movies, but I think Nebula is a bit sad in how her life seems to be, which works. Makes you feel bad for her even though she can have an attitude lol.
  • Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer. I normally find Drax annoying, however he was funny in this, I loved his “invisible” scene. It was really funny. He seeks vengeance against Thanos for killing his family. He can get a little “tunnel vision” because of that but his relationship with the other Guardians is great. They all have a great relationship period. Dave Bautista is fun when Drax isn’t being annoying.
  • Vin Diesel as Groot. Of course Groot is like a teenager in this film, so he has a bit of an attitude. His teeth even look like he has braces lol. Like you want to pop him for just the tone. He spends a lot of the time on a video game just so unbothered about everything happening around him, till he has to rise up and take initiative and it was so beautiful. Vin Diesel is still great as the voice. It’s fun watching him do behind the scenes of the voice and how he just does different things even if all Groot says is “I am Groot”. 
  • Bradley Cooper as Rocket. A genetically engineered raccoon-based bounty hunter and mercenary, and is a master of weapons and battle tactics. I love Rocket, he’s my favorite of the Guardians and he decides, along with Groot, to travel with Thor and he gets to play Captain while Thor is thinking about the events at the beginning of the movie. Bradley Cooper is still great as the voice, he manages to put a lot of emotion into Rocket’s voice and Sean Gunn does great with his motion capture.
  • Chris Pratt as Peter Quill / Star-Lord. He is the leader of the Guardians. Quill starts off the movie with his group and they run into Thor. The Guardians split up among different missions and Quill goes through some things on his mission. He has to deal with what’s happening with Gamora and how she’s revealing things to him. He also does something really stupid that I’m still mad at him for. I don’t know if it was part of a plan or not, but still stupid. Chris Pratt is fine at Quill, I actually enjoyed seeing him bounce off of Downey Jr., Holland, and Cumberbatch. He also has good chemistry with Saldana.
The Villain. So Thanos gets his own section from our heroes because he deserves it. For a character that’s been teased for years and movies, I think he lives up to his hype. He’s threatening, he’s big, he’s scary and ironically he does have emotional moments. Thanos isn’t just trying to be a bad guy, in his mind, what he’s doing is for the good of the universe. I mean, it’s selfish because he think it’s his mission, he’s really doing it for himself. I think he’s a complicated villain. Josh Brolin does a great job with him as well. His movements and facial expressions for Thanos I thought were handled very well. Even though I HATE HIM, he’s fantastic.
I cried. So it’s emotional. I can’t say that everyone will cry, nor will you cry all at the same places of the movie. I think it depends on the person and on whether or you’re a crier. I’m a crier. However, I felt an array of emotions during this film. The first 20 minutes had me in my feelings, my friend had to constantly calm me down throughout the movie because I was so upset. Something else happened, I like that character so I was upset but I wasn’t like how I was in the first 20 minutes. Then… the big one, the ending. I know all about people’s contracts, and the movie lineup so it’s easy to sooth one’s feelings but in the emotions and turmoil of the movie, that stuff packs a wallop and I felt all of that. Upset. The theater was dead quiet, and I think I definitely heard sniffling, not just coming from me. After I see it again, and hopefully do a Spoiler Talk (those are so hard to do lol), I can go into more detail but everything they wanted me to feel, I felt it. I’m sure there will be people who will scoff at the emotions the movie wants you to feel, and that’s fine, but for me, I felt all of that. Anger, sadness, hope, confusion. All of it.
I laughed. I think Infinity War, has a great balance of humor and somber tones. It’s very funny which can’t helped considering the cast and the humorous characters. There will be a lot of laughter throughout and different kinds, so, if you don’t find Drax funny, which I normally don’t because he annoys me, you’ll see Peter Parker say or do something that is funny. It definitely varies from humor types and I loved that.
The Beautiful Visuals. Marvel Studios has been building up to this for ten years (Which I love the 10 in the Studios of their logo) and it definitely shows. Tony has a new suit and the way he uses it, it’s definitely his best suit yet. Also, Spider-Man’s Iron Spider suit, that thing was awesome, definitely reminiscent of that suit in the comics. There are a few parts where certain things happen, ugh spoilers lol, but there’s a scene on Knowhere that was pretty cool where the effects are used for Drax and Mantis and I was shocked because that was so different! Then of course I thought Thanos looked really good and real on-screen. There’s a really cool scene with Nebula, I mean it’s not cool for her, but it was cool to look at. Plus, the characters using their powers, or their weapons, or whatever, it’s all handled so well that you don’t get lost in who is doing what. You know it’s Steve running all super fast alongside Black Panther. Or that it’s Peter swinging around with his webs, or Doctor Strange using his sorcery to fight and warp dimensions. *Sighs* It’s so beautiful.
The use of Sounds/Music. What I mean by this is usually Marvel films start out with an upbeat, or some type of familiar music when the logo is on-screen. This movie starts out so ominous that it puts right into the head space of this film from the jump. I knew what I was getting myself into but I knew it was going to be a hard one. There are moments throughout where the music swells and you’re excited, or when you go to a location, for example Wakanda and drums are being played. Stuff like that. They’ve done so much world building that you know where you’re going when you hear the music. Plus, the music at the end… wow.
Cons:
The Story Narrative. So, I think the story was a bit weak. I mean, I get it. But it’s really just action moving forward more than the plot moving forward. Yes, the movie about our heroes saving the world from Thanos, while it’s also about Thanos, who probably can be considered the main character of the movie. We learn a lot about him, but it just feels like our heroes are just popping up, being introduced in the movie and teaming up. Compared to The Avengers, which I think has a more solid storyline, I think this movie kind of lacks a clear narrative. It’s not like it’s not there, I just think it’s weak. There’s so much being juggled that I think the story gets left behind, especially when we cut to different characters and what they’re doing.
Stakes. There were times where I was unsure what or who was going to happen, or whatever. They want you to feel like everyone is in danger, and while that’s true sometimes, I think it shies away from taking some bigger risks that it could have, and probably should have taken.
Overall, I loved this movie. My problems with it did not prevent me from enjoying it and having a great time watching it. I was very emotional from the beginning and remained in a heightened state of stress throughout the rest of the film. I think all of the characters we have come to know and love were all great in their own right. I do wish we got to see more of certain characters but there was a lot to cover and I think they did well. It was funny, the movie knew how to balance the humor with the emotion and I think the writing was handled in a mature way that didn’t make the humor seem juvenile. However, I did cry. It’s very emotional throughout the movie and the ending packs a wallop I think. I also loved the visuals, we got to revisit Wakanda which is just as beautiful (even though we didn’t see a lot of it) as it was in the movie, and all of the visuals were handled in a way that I’m sure would be great to see it in IMAX. Thanos was a great villain. He really came in and effed everything up which made me hate him, but I also liked him. I also think the way music was integrated in the film. It’s always important to have an engaging soundtrack and I think the movie does that. Plus, the way it took sound away so it was only the visuals, made me stress out even more. On the other hand, I did notice a few things, I thought the story was a bit weak and it just felt like a series of actions more than an actual plot flowing throughout the movie. The stakes   are high but at the same time it doesn’t always feel organic. I think things would have been different if the ending was just a tad different, it might have been a bit more emotional. HOWEVER I love this movie and it destroyed me. I’m still upset about it now lol but it’s a great movie.
Rating: 4 out 5 stars.
Have you seen Avengers: Infinity War? What did you think about it? Let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to like and follow this blog for more reviews!

Movie Review: Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

~ Alyxwrites ~ 2 Comments

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Summary: Several months after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Peter Parker, with the help of his mentor Tony Stark, tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens, New York City while fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man as a new threat, the Vulture, emerges.
Pros:
Cast and Characters.
  • Tom Holland as Peter Parker. So I’m going to say it. I’m sure other reviewers have and many people agree but I think he is the best Peter Parker AND Spider-Man. Look, Maguire was a pretty good Peter (too whiny for me at times) and Garfield was a good Spider-Man (though I thought he did well for Peter just a bit more modern). But Tom Holland I think is perfect. He was perfect in Civil War and seeing him in this film solidified that for me. He really manages to find that perfect balance between his predecessors. There was definitely freshness in there but it also felt familiar. Peter is 15 in this film, it follows the events of Civil War and he hopes that Tony will call for his help again. He craves to be part of the action and to figure out who he is in this super hero world. He is also dealing with every day teenage problems: liking girls, his aunt talking about puberty, the homecoming dance and he also wants to save the day. I love Peter, I always have and I don’t think I’ve loved him in film as much as I did here. Tom Holland really brought the character to life and I really appreciate that he looks and sounds young and the character IS young. He’s a sophomore! Room to grow! Definitely a Spider-Man/Peter Parker to remember. I can’t wait to see more.
  • Michael Keaton as Adrian Tooms. He will always be my Batman, but I thought he was great here. He is definitely a fantastic villain. The beginning shows us him working on cleaning up the mess from the first Avengers film. When his business is shut down, he becomes an arms trafficker where they steal what they can from armored trucks and Avengers’ sites and make new weapons. He is determined to protect his family. Michael Keaton is threatening, intimidating and terrifying as this guy which is a feat as the comic character is so lame looking. Keaton manages to make him cool! Plus, you understand him. He is definitely one of MCU’s best villains  as you understand him, you may even feel for him and of course he’s brilliantly acted.
  • Jacob Batalon as Ned. He is Peter’s best friend, he’s his “guy in the chair”, his “right hand man” among other best friend titles. Ned is great comic relief at times, but he also obviously cares for his friend and wants to help him while also helping himself. It’s not malicious or anything but ya know, their in high school and unpopular. He got a lot of laughs. I thought Tom and Jacob had great chemistry as friends, and that Jacob managed to be not only similar to Tom as Peter but the level head when it was needed.
  • Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark. I mean, what else can be said about RDJ as Tony Stark. He’s not in the movie as much as the trailers let on, those scenes they showed and maybe one more is all. But I thought he was a great addition as Peter is similar to him in ways. He of course comes off as a rude dude due to the fact that he pulled Peter into the fight in Civil War but then just drops him off back at home and expects that kid to not want to be involved more. I was like meh Tony, and I get it but seriously. He has great chemistry with Tom Holland and while he’s still funny Tony Stark, he definitely falls into the role of “mentor” a lot of times. It’s nice to see a bit more of a mature nature from Tony, the events of Civil War definitely took their toll.
Supporting Characters. There are many who show up, Aunt May (who is great), Flash Thompson (Tony Revolori), Bokeem Woodbine, Jon Favreau (Happy).
  • Zendaya as Michelle. She is a bit weird, she’s intellectual, a bit unkempt and very into her books. She’s a mysterious character in who she is exactly but I’m sure people have their theories. But I love Zendaya, whenever she was on screen, my eyes did move towards her. She has a relationship with Peter but it’s like the beginning stages of one. She’s funny and odd but I loved it. Zendaya is great and I hope they allow her character to grow in future movies and that we get to see a character expansion, but I’m also definitely okay with a slow burn for her too considering the comics.
  • Laura Harrier as Liz Allen. There’s a definite twist with her that I did not see coming, it was great BUT I thought she was very cute. She’s very smart, the Captain of their academic team and very sweet. We see her reach out to Peter in different ways, especially being that he’s a Sophomore and she’s a Senior. It works and it’s cute. I thought for the first high school crush she was a good character to introduce and that Laura was a great addition to the cast.
It’s Diverse! I mean sure, the two leads are white males, but I was quite pleased to see that most of the surrounding supporting cast were people of color. Tony Revolori was Flash Thompson, Michelle, Liz Allen, Ned, even one of Adrian’s main henchmen was Bokeem Woodbine. I’m interested to see how they handle everyone else who plays a major role in Peter’s life.
The Humor. Spider-Man is known for being witty, for talking a lot during a fight and I love it. I thought the humor for the most part was great and it landed. Tom Holland has a natural knack for humor and I think he handled Peter’s awkwardness and Spider-Man’s wit very well.
The Action. Spider-Man is interesting in his fighting style. He of course has his powers, not to mention his web shooters but he can actually fight pretty well. I wonder who taught him. Did he teach himself? Those are questions in these movies that no one ever answered that I think would be nice to just throw in there. I know that he has taught himself but it would be a good line in there or something. But anyway, Spider-Man has always had a unique fighting style where he uses everything he has in tandem and overwhelmed his opponents (which is why I love him so much) and I thought they were able to capture that well. He’s still a bit new at this so he’s clumsy and makes a mess of things, but it’s so interesting watching him work. The fights between him and Vulture were great, especially in the air. I love the scene at the end, it was handled so well.
The emotional parts. There’s not a lot of them or anything but the ones that they have are some really good ones. There’s a scene between Peter and Aunt May that was subtle but emotional and then one later on with Peter having to save himself. That was a really good moment as well.
Nods to the comics/Easter Eggs. I mean every comic book movie does this, but I thought this was handled so well, especially since this version is put out by both Disney/Marvel and Sony (I wish Sony would just give it up though). I just loved the nuggets, like even though they didn’t talk about Uncle Ben or show anything about him, you knew that it was recent and that May was still affected by it. We even saw Betty Brant, she was a school reporter which is a nod to her future at the Daily Bugle.  I will discuss this more in the Spoiler Review. 
The Opening Scene. We definitely get to see Peter’s point of view of his involvement in Civil War and it was so cute and something a 15 year old would do. It puts right into Peter’s personality and I loved it. I grinned like an idiot.
Cons:
Slow in the beginning. I think it has a nice buildup, we really get to sit and be with Peter while he tries to be a neighborhood Spider-Man but it does take a moment to get it’s momentum. It didn’t bother me much as I like slow burns, but I can definitely imagine that some people would squirm because they’re ready for the action.
Too heavy handed with the humor. I really liked the humor but sometimes I don’t think the jokes hit every time. I know that Spider-Man is iconic for his quips, especially when fighting etc. but it doesn’t always translate well each time. Sometimes it was joke, joke, joke and I was like blah blah. Of course humor is subjective
The Tech in the suit. So, obviously since Tony Stark made Spider-Man’s suit, there’s a lot of tech in there and it was helpful but there were a lot of times when I rolled my eyes at it because it was too much like Iron Spider and we’re not there yet.
Overall, I really loved this film. I definitely think that Tom Holland managed to make Peter Parker and Spider-Man his own while being the best at balancing the two. He led the film very well, especially as we spent so much time with him. Michael Keaton is a great and intimidating villain and I think he was a worthy opponent for Peter. The action is great and fun to watch, especially watching the cool things Peter can do in that suit (even though I thought it was too much at times). The other characters are great and feel important to the story and aren’t just there to just be easter eggs for the comics. I loved the introduction to Peter in the film with his little mini movie detailing his Civil War perspective. The emotional bits make you miss things that they miss even if the viewers weren’t forced to watch things we’ve seen many times before. I appreciate that it’s not an origin story but puts us right in the thick of it. It’s diverse, it’s funny, the easter eggs are great and it feels fresh. On the other hand, the humor can be a bit childish and the jokes don’t always land, sometimes the action can get a little hard to see especially when it’s close fighting, I don’t care for the tech in Peter’s suit much but it served it’s purpose.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Have you seen Spider-Man: Homecoming? Where do you think it ranks in the MCU? Which Peter Parker/Spider-Man is the best?
Let me know in the comments below!