Showing posts with label Marvel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marvel. Show all posts
Blockbuster sequels have a huge hill to climb to conquer the shadow of their predecessor. Some films have broken through those barriers and continued the train of success while others failed to measure up. So, when a much-anticipated sequel is announced for an extremely popular movie, the expectations are usually set pretty high. Luckily, we didn't have anything to fear this time around.
The next installment for this campy superhero flick stuck to its style of raunchy jokes, quick wit, and its tradition of breaking the fourth wall. On the other hand, while the film had everything we wanted for this superhero series, the final product didn't stand out more than the original movie. The move I will be writing about today is the sequel to the foul-mouthed and fun superhero Deadpool series: Deadpool 2.
The Premise: After a shocking death shakes up his life, Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) assembles a group of misfit superheroes to do some good and save the life of a tortured Mutant. Unfortunately for him, the mysterious Cable (Josh Brolin) returns from the future to stop his plans.
The Good: Deadpool 2 is a movie defined by its raunchy attitude and quick-witted zingers. The sequel stuck to its style with plenty of fun moments that added a lot of humour and heart to this hilarious anti-hero. Ryan Reynolds excelled in his role as Deadpool. You could tell that he had a lot more fun revisiting this character now that he proved a Deadpool movie could work and that people loved the character.
In addition to Deadpool, a majority of the supporting cast did an excellent job rounding out the ensemble. Out of the new characters, Josh Brolin as Cable mixed the darkness of the character with a nice light-hearted approach to be a good hero/villain, Yukio (Shioli Kutsuna) offered funny gags, and Domino (Zazie Beetz) was the perfect new addition in her seriously underrated role. Plus, the return of returning favourites, like Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand), were always a pleasure to see after their stand out portrayals in the first film.
The Bad: Whereas a large portion of the cast was on their A-game, some of the new characters fell flat. In particular, Firefist (Julian Dennison) didn't have the same punch. He's still pretty new to the world of acting, so we can give him some slack in this regard. However, there were times were he was over-acting or trying to measure up to the talent of his co-stars.
The biggest problem for Deadpool 2, however, is the plot. As compared to the first film, the stakes for the sequel were substantially lessened. There was no clear villain or threat for much of the film, and Deadpool was left adrift until he decided what mission he wanted to set himself on. For a superhero movie, Deadpool 2 didn't utilize the potential for what the character of Deadpool, and his group of heroes, could bring to the screen.
Also, the sequel presented a HUGE plot hole that did not make near the end of the film. Without giving too much away in spoilers, a certain action made by a character should have negated the events of the film. But, that's a debate for another day.
The Results: 4/5!
Deadpool 2 returned to offer fans an entertaining adventure. All of the tropes you've come to a expect from a Deadpool movie returned, like death, action, nudity, dirty jokes and zingers. When it came to the plot, there wasn't much substance to keep the story afloat and at times, the cast was left adrift waiting until a purpose was made. If you like superhero movies and mindless comedy, Deadpool 2 is the movie for you. Don't go into the theatre expecting anything groundbreaking, this is a popcorn blockbuster and you will get your laugh in the end.
Marvel's MCU is back at it again with the next hero in their long list of movie releases. After making his big debut in Captain America: Civil War, this superhero burst into the scene with one of the most anticipated films of the year. And, it was all worth the hype! The movie we will be discussing today is the action-packed superhero flick: Black Panther.
The Plot: After several Wakanda artifacts are stolen from a museum, Black Panther (played by Chadwick Boseman) and his allies' search for the robber leads them to a bigger mystery involving a powerful and deadly mastermind, Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan).
The Results: 5/5!
Black Panther is one of the best movies to be released by the MCU yet. If I could rate this film higher than a perfect score, I would. T'Challa/Black Panther was an inspiring and fun hero to follow through his adventure. The supporting characters were equally as amazing and well-written, with Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, Lupito Nyong'o, and Winston Duke being some of the best additions to the MCU. In fact, every performer featured in Black Panther stood out as a great addition to the series!
When it came to the villain, Killmonger might be one of the best villains in the MCU. The only downside, however, was the strange plot treatment to Okoyo's (Danai Gurira) love interest - the story should have stuck to what was originally written in the first draft. If you like action films (or superhero films in general), you should check out Black Panther.
I've never been the biggest fan of the Wolverine movies. After the destruction of the first movie's timeline and the strange plot of the second movie, I didn't have high expectations for the third and final film in the series. In fact, I wasn't originally going to watch it. If it had not been out of sheer curiosity, who knows what would have happened. Though, based on my mini movie review today, I'm glad that I did. The movie I will be reviewing today is the last installment in the mutant superhero trilogy: Logan.
The Plot: Set in the near future, Logan (played by Hugh Jackman) is retired, a drunk, and works as a limo driver to make a living. After responding to a ride order, he encounters a mysterious woman with a small child, named Laura (played by Dafne Keen), who are being hunted by a military group. Logan teams up with familiar friends and new to protect Laura.
The Results: 5/5!
Logan is a dark and gritty action-filled thrill ride that will keep you hooked until the very end. The final part of the Wolverine trilogy makes up for the two lackluster films which proceeded it. Hugh Jackman brings emotional heart to this tired character we've seen for over a decade now, and this may be the first time an X-Men movie has reached a perfect mix of thoughtful drama and action. Dafne Keen does an amazing job of working alongside Jackman, especially with the few words she utters throughout the movie. The action is stunning, the pace is thought out, and the ending is emotionally gripping (there may have been some tears). However, if you're not one for bloody superhero fights and a grittier side to these X-Men characters, you may not initially enjoy the flick.
I would recommend to check out Logan. It's the last film in the trilogy and the last one featuring some of the iconic actors (this is Patrick Stewart's and Hugh Jackman's last X-Men role). This a fun popcorn flick to see in theatres.
Let's get this out of the way: I'm a bigger DC fan than Marvel. This may be due to being a diehard Batman fan or growing up with the films/TV shows that came from the DC world. However, that's not to say I'm not a Marvel fan. I am! It can happen. Who says I have to choose only one?! I'm a big X-Men fan and I've watched many Marvel series, which is why I am reviewing this film today. The latest movie I will be reviewing is the third adventure in this Marvel hero's series: Captain America: Civil War!
The Plot: The world has been divided in opinion on superheroes after the recent destruction caused in the previous Marvel movies. Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downing Jr.) lead two factions of Avengers heroes against each other to determine what to do with a global crisis.
The Results: 4/5!
Captain America: Civil War is a thrilling blockbuster with captivating special effects and thought out dialogue. With such a big cast included in this one movie, it was great to see each character receive some form of character growth, resolution and screen time. The introduction of Black Panther, Spider-Man and Ant-Man didn't come across as heavy handed; it felt natural for their inclusion into the film. And I was surprised that I did leave the film with a clear, definitive choice on which superhero/group I would side with!
My problem with Captain America: Civil War is that it came across less of a Captain America movie but more of a mini-Avengers movie. There are SO MANY CHARACTERS in this film that sometimes I had to piece together who was siding with whom. There's a reason we go specifically to watch ensemble movies - I wished Captain America would've had his moment. Though, it was still great to see a clear focus and direction. Captain America: Civil War is fun, fresh and a good time. You should check it out and join in the chat on which side you would choose.
Who else is surprised I watched ANOTHER SUPERHERO MOVIE? (Anyone?!) This is a film I've been eagerly waiting to see for a while. It might be due to the star cast, the humour or the fact this character was previously portrayed before to less than stellar results. Either way, this was a must for my friends and I. The movie I will be reviewing today is the less than serious (and proud of it!) superhero flick: Deadpool.
The Plot: Wade (Ryan Reynolds), a no nonsense gun for hire, is transformed into the crime-fighting mercenary Deadpool by a mysterious organization. After escaping the facility and years of tortured, Deadpool goes on a mission to hunt down everyone who might've been the cause for his pain and transformation.
The Results: 5/5!
To sum up everything: I loved Deadpool. It was fun, witty, cheeky, and completely self-aware about how ridiculous the movie is. It pokes fun at itself as well as the audience who is watching it. The fight scenes are excellently choreographed, the dialogue isn't too self-serving and the characters feel like real (and despicable) people. Ryan Reynolds works as the titular role and it's a great move that he returned to done the suit again after the terrible version used in the Wolverine movie. Deadpool is Ryan Reynolds and vice versa - they're a perfect mix and that's one of the reasons Deadpool the movie works as a whole. If you like superhero action movies or simply a funny popcorn movie to watch right now in theatres, Deadpool is the one you should see. I already can't wait for the sequel; let's hope they don't mess with success by going too far off course.