Spider-Man: Far From Home (SPOILERS)

I LOVE LED ZEPPELIN...

After the emotional roller coaster Infinity War and Endgame took us fans on over the course of 2018 and 2019, the MCU decided to press down on the break and takes things slow with a little adventure starring our friendly-neighborhood Spider-Man...or is he Iron Man? Anyway, with the release of Spider-Man: Far From Home, Tom Holland's tenure as the web-slinging superhero continues to grow. It's safe to say that he's here to stay, at least for now. That being said, how does his latest venture stack up? Surprisingly not that well if I'm going to be honest. While the film has received incredible praise elsewhere, I cannot find myself enjoying this film as much. Let's start with what I did like about and then get into why Spider-Man: Far From Home is one of the most disappointing films of the year and one of my least favorite Spider-Man films by far:

UPS

1. The cast is great, even if they're stuck with not so great material. Tom Holland remains as endearing as ever as the titular hero even if the movie fails to reward his efforts. Jacob Batalon may not have been given as much to do this time around, but he still remains just as lovable as he was in Homecoming. If I had to pick two real standouts aside from the one I'll mention in my next UP, I'd have to go with Zendaya as MJ and Tony Revolori as Flash. Zendaya really gets time to shine this time around, and the romance between MJ and Peter is easily far superior to the practically non-existent one between him and Liz. Flash really surprised me in the best possible way. As opposed to the stuck-up, one dimensional jackass he was in Homecoming, Far From Home dials back on his jerkiness to add more layers to his character, making him more likable and even sympathetic when you witness the little moments that detail the relationship with his parents. Now of course, there is one who stood above them all, and that's none other than...
2. Jake Gyllenhal as Mysterio. Going into the movie, the sole thing that absolutely sold me on this film was how Gyllenhal would portray this classic villain, and boy did he deliver. Despite the awkward reveal of his true nature and his rather lazy motivation, Gyllenhal's performance allows the character to really shine, making him charming and likable when he puts on the facade of a noble, charismatic hero then twisting it around to reveal the true slimeball he is at heart. Of course, the scene where he throws Peter into a whirlwind of mind-trip illusions is easily one of the most unique and inventive sequences in the entire MCU and he manages to do something no other villain has done in a Spider-Man film by revealing Peter's identity to the world! Yeah, Mysterio truly left his mark.
3. It is and forever will be a true, honest to God blessing to have J.K. Simmons back as J. Jonah Jameson. At the end of the day, he truly is irreplaceable.

DOWNS

1. This movie hasn't really changed Peter in my eyes. By the end, he still remains the same young, dorky, happy-go-lucky kid that he was back in Civil War. He hasn't matured, he hasn't felt the weight of consequence, and he certainly hasn't learned that with great power comes great responsibility, which is ridiculous since I felt Homecoming did such a great job in that regard. If I'm going to be frank, Mysterio was only delaying the inevitable by revealing his identity since Peter did such a terrible job keeping it a secret in the first place. All in all, this allows me to jump into my second point...
2. Not letting Spider-Man come into his own. It's nice to see him integrated into the MCU, but can't we have a movie that's just about Spider-Man and not feel the need to connect it to the overall universe. I mean, I like all the appearances from characters like Nick Fury or the Skrulls, but I came here to watch Spider-Man, not see set-up for the next string of movies coming in Phase Four. And finally, stop comparing him to Tony! When going into this, I was interested to see how Peter would process Tony's death and how that would affect his story going forward, but the direction the movie went with was not something I ended up being fond of. Again, it all comes down to the fact that the producers of this film don't seem to want to let Peter become a hero on his own, relying on the need to compare him to Tony and make it out like it's his destiny to take his place instead of being...well, you know, SPIDER-MAN! What's worst of all is that they seemed to get the memo and show a scene in which Peter and Happy have a heartfelt talk about how Peter should not get riled up over trying to live up to Tony and instead be his own hero. It was such a great scene and gave me hope that this would truly shape Peter into the hero he was always meant to be...and then Happy blasted AC/DC and it all flatlined again. 
3. It may just be me, but it seems like the characters were written to be quip machines. Of course, not every character is like that, but I found it very distracting that every single scene has a character saying or doing something that was meant to usher in laughter. Of course, this being the MCU, it was inevitable that we were going to be showered with a dose of humor, but still, for every joke and quip, I think there needed to be more room for more dramatic moments that allowed the characters to show off more facets to their personalities, and that simply wasn't there. 

OVERALL

Apologies for my mini rant of sorts. I just wasn't pleased with how this film turned out and feel that the MCU is taking Spidey in a direction that doesn't do him justice. With the bombshell the movie left us with in the first post-credit scene, I hope we can get a more personal and dramatic story that allows Tom Holland's acting chops to kick in full gear and give us all the heart and soul we have come to expect from a Spider-Man film because as of right now, I'm just not feeling it. 

And that's it for this post, guys. Tune in for more coming your way :)

In The Mind Of: Sheriff Woody Pride (SPOILERS)

Reach for the Sky...

We all have that one toy that holds a special place in our heart, so much so that we even consider it a living person that we can call a friend. For me, it's my camel. For Andy Davis, it's a cowboy doll with a snake in his boot. For as long he can remember, Woody has always been Andy's best friend, and they would always do everything together. For that reason, there is nothing he wouldn't do for Andy, even if it's not always the best course of action. When a new toy by the name of Buzz Lightyear arrives and becomes Andy's new go-to plaything, Woody's jealously gets the better of him, which in turn alienates him from his friends and puts him and Buzz in danger. Here, though, is where both he and Buzz come to realizations about themselves that allow them to grow and become friends. Together, they escape certain doom and return to Andy as partners who will look out for each other and share Andy's love equally.

Over the course of the Toy Story series, Woody has been in several situations where he questions his purpose in life. On one hand, his sense of loyalty makes him feel obligated to making a child, be it Andy or Bonnie, happy. On the other, he also wants to live a life outside of obligation, one where he can truly live of his own accord. Ultimately, once he is reunited with his old flame, Bo Peep, Woody discovers the life he has always wanted, only that it comes at a cost. Because he chooses to follow his own path, he has to leave his old friends behind, including Buzz. 

Woody is the heart of the Toy Story series. It was he who kept everything and everyone together, and through him the other toys have been able to find their own sense of belonging in the world. Woody himself grows from the experiences he shares with others as they do from him. By the end, he now can truly live life of his own accord. To Infinity...

And Beyond...

Retro-Reviews: Toy Story 4 (SPOILERS)

Being there for a kid is the most noble thing a toy can do...

The Toy Story franchise holds a special place in the hearts of many. The original trilogy is easily one of the greatest there is, holding a lot of heart, emotion, and all around fun for the whole family to enjoy. It also had one of the most perfect endings to a story ever, so when it was announced that a fourth film would be released, there were obviously concerns. I myself thought that this being Toy Story would mean that it would at least be enjoyable if not something that would be treasured the way the first three are. Once I saw it, I, like many others, do feel it is the weakest of the four but nowhere near as bad as many of those more bitter about the announcement would believe it to be. Let's get into why Toy Story 4 was worth the release, and why, if necessary, it wasn't:

UPS

1. For starters, the animation. It's come a long way from the first movie to say the least. Just take that sequence in the rain! Absolutely gorgeous. 
2. The new characters were welcome additions. I wasn't sure how I felt about Forky at first, but as the movie progressed, he ended up being one of the best characters in the movie let alone the entire series. Likewise, Ducky and Bunny were a perfect comic relief duo who are the centerpiece of easily the funniest moment in the series. Then there's Duke Caboom, and can I say more about how great he is? YES I CANADA!!! Alas, I'll leave it there and continue on to the next three characters who shared the greatest spotlight. 
3. The arc of Gabby Gabby. When you compare her to the other villains, it almost seems cruel to call her one despite the fact that she does several morally questionable things in her quest to accomplish her goals. Still, it's easy to root for her once the extent of her pained and broken nature is out in the open. Once she is able to find herself a kid who will love and cherish her, you can't help but shed a tear at how happy it is to see things go right for her. 
4. The return of Bo Peep. One of the advantages this movie had was being able to tie up any loose ends that weren't wrapped up in the third movie; most glaring of all the whereabouts of Woody's old flame. While it was great seeing her return, it was even better to see them give her a complete revamp on her character. In the place of her previous characterization, Toy Story 4 shows off Bo's more adventurous and active lifestyle, allowing us to see a different side that adds new layers and not only makes her a better character but one that has a clear impact on Woody's arc. Speaking of which...
5. After leaving this movie, it's easy to see that this movie was made to offer a fitting conclusion to the story of Woody. It was really interesting to see that as Bonnie began to divert her attention to other things, Woody started to question his purpose in life, making it his mission to make Bonnie's life happy even when he himself is not. It makes it all the more emotional when he helps Forky see the meaning behind being there for a child (which gives him newfound purpose,) offer Gabby Gabby a chance to find her happy ending, and finally choose to stay with Bo and her friends to go on adventures of their own. While the ending itself may not hit as hard as the one in Toy Story 3, it still packs the punch when you see Woody say goodbye to his old friends which leads to the fact that this may very well be the last time we ever see the old gang together again. At least we have the assurance that even though Woody will no longer be with Buzz, Jesse, and the others, they will still hold a place in his heart. 

DOWNS

1. Though we managed to get the emotional goodbye scene at the end, the fact of the matter is that the other toys were sidelined for the most part. While it can be justified considering this movie focused more on the culmination of Woody's journey as well as introducing the other toys, it is still jarring to see characters like Jesse placed in the background and showcased for a single scene or so. Buzz had it better than the others for sure, but even he feels like a bit of an afterthought in the grand scheme of things. Still, what we got from Buzz was great and of course the ending made up for the lack of screentime the others were given. 

OVERALL

Toy Story 4 is the kind of movie that didn't need to happen but at the end of the day, almost no one is complaining that it did. For that, even though it may not be as revered as the first three, it will stand by them with pride. 

And that's it for this post, guys! Tune in for more on the way :)

To Infinity and Beyond...