Avengers: Infinity War (50TH POST/SPOILERS)

We're in the Endgame now...

It has all lead to this. The moment we've all been waiting for. The culmination of ten years worth of moviemaking. The MCU has come along way since it began with Iron Man way back in 2008, and now we have reached the point where everything will change. After years of planning, years of build-up, the Mad Titan Thanos has finally arrived, and with him comes the greatest challenge Earth's Mightiest Heroes have ever faced. With all this hype that's lead to this moment, the question remains: did it live up to the hype? The short answer is one big YES!!! This movie not only met expectations, but it exceeded them. Now let's find out what makes Infinity War stand the test of time:

UPS

1. You'd think that when you have a movie with as many characters as Infinity War, it would almost be expected for at least some of them to be pushed to the side in favor of others. Surprisingly, that is not the case here. Every character gets a chance to shine, even if it's for a couple of minutes. There's not a moment where everyone feels wasted, and it really does help that we got to know these characters since this all started. Overall, I was immensely pleased and impressed with how each character's role was handled, and it gives me hope that movies like this one can indeed work.
2. The tone is, to quote Thanos, perfectly balanced. It still retains the trademark humor that the MCU is so well known for (and this movie could possibly hold some of the funniest jokes in the entire franchise,) but unlike other movies, this one manages to go to dark places; the darkest the MCU has ever gone as a matter of fact. For one, characters actually die, and the fight the heroes endure is one where you're not too sure they could win. In the end, they don't, and there is no clear way to be sure where they could go from here. 
3. The surprise cameos. While we had all the other characters to focus on, the movie manages to throw in a few surprise faces to leave a mark. The one who takes the cake though is obviously the FREAKING RED SKULL! It was speculated, but who honestly would've outright expected him of all people to show up? Not me, certainly. Overall, this was one of the many pleasant surprises to populate this enormous film.
4. Before I get to the big moment, I think I should address the best element (or character rather) of this whole movie: THANOS HIMSELF! Despite all the time we spend with the heroes, this is the Mad Titan's story first and foremost, and he truly went above and beyond in delivering on the long build-up to his ultimate moment. What can I say about him; he's menacing, intimidating, has a great CGI design, a powerful performance by Josh Brolin, and he manages to be a full, engaging, three-dimensional character with a goal and motivation that makes him seem like he could be the hero...minus the mass genocide, of course. Oh, and he wins. HE WINS! That alone sets him above all the other villains the MCU has had to offer, and he could become one of the best villains in Marvel movie history. 
5. Snap! If there is one thing that I never thought they would do, it was that. It just seemed like such a hard decision to make that the fact that they did it and killed off half the cast is something that is totally worth applauding. It remains to be seen how much of Avengers 4 will undo this, but what remains for now is that the MCU is changed...forever. 

DOWNS

Other than the fact that I am not to eager to see Avengers 4 (mainly because of the reason stated above,) I have no doubts to discuss. I enjoyed practically everything, and that's all I could say. 

OVERALL

Avengers: Infinity War is, quite honestly, almost a perfect movie. This is everything I could've asked for when going into this, and I think it may rival Spider-Man as my favorite Marvel movie ever (it definitely runs far and away with the title of best MCU movie, that's for sure). I hope Avengers 4 doesn't reverse everything and basically make it out like it didn't happen. Fingers crossed...

And that is it for my 50TH POST! Can't believe I have made it this far. To everyone who has taken the time to check out my posts, I just want to say THANK YOU! I wouldn't have gotten this far without your viewership, which I greatly appreciate. With that being said, take care and let's reach 100 :)

A Quiet Place (SPOILERS)

Shhh...

Fear is everywhere. You can have fear of heights, fear of clowns, fear of spiders, fear of the ocean, maybe even fear of yourself. Now imagine being afraid to utter even a single word; where committing this simple action could lead to your inevitable demise. This concept is exactly what John Krasinski's A Quiet Place encapsulates, and why it's one of the most inventive and unique horror movies to come out in a while. In this review, I will go over what makes A Quiet Place stand out, and what doesn't:

UPS

1. The acting is great. Krasinski shows how much range he truly has in this movie, proving that he can expand his horizons outside of a corporate office building in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His wife, Emily Blunt, likewise, is just as good, and really sells the harrowing ordeal of being a mother having to deal with protecting her children and giving birth to another in a world where that seems impossible. Finally, the child actors round out the family well, especially Millicent Simmonds, who is the real star of the show. They are all incredible and really carry this movie well. 
2. The whole concept is, as mentioned before, incredibly unique and interesting, and I feel Krasinki makes the most of that concept and nails every aspect of it. It builds tension, makes you feel incredibly uneasy, and those monsters are freaky as all Hell. I distinctively remember feeling incredibly uncomfortable putting my drink in the theater seat's cup holder just because I didn't want to make a sound!
3. In addition to being incredibly scary and intense, this movie is incredibly emotional. The theme of family is heavily alluded to throughout the movie, and it helps make scenes like the deaths of the family's youngest son and Krasinki's character hit all the more harder. It's truly special when a horror movie can not only make you scared, but also move you in more ways than one.

DOWNS

1. This is more personal feelings than any real flaws, but I feel that Krasinki's character should have survived, only because of how upsetting it is. It's a powerful scene, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't mind if they kept him around to stick it through. 
2. The ending felt like complete sequel bait, which becomes more blatant when it turns out there is a sequel in the works. As incredible as this movie is, I feel it works best as a one-off story.

OVERALL

A Quiet Place is excellent, right up there with IT as the best horror movie to come out recently. I really hope the sequel is worth it. 

And that's it for this blog, guys. Tune in for my 50th post which will be my review for Infinity War! Till then, take care :)

Ready Player One (SPOILERS)

Welcome to the Oasis...

When asked the question of who is the most well-known movie director of all time, it wouldn't be much of a surprise if people were to say Steven Spielberg. The man has quite the record in Hollywood, and it's hard to imagine the industry without him. This year, he produced a movie that showed his passion for the industry and his attempt at a love letter to the ones who feel the same. In this review, I will go over what Ready Player One hits the mark on, and what it doesn't:

UPS

1. The movie is incredibly well-paced. Not a minute seems wasted and the story takes off and never stops going. While that hinders a few elements (which I'll get to later,) it makes the movie an incredibly fun ride that never spins its wheels. 
2. The Oasis is INCREDIBLE! It's such a vast and open world stacked to the brim with pop culture references that will ooze out every bit of nostalgic joy from people who grew up with these films and icons. Speaking of those references, the standouts have to be Chucky, the Iron Giant, and that crazy scene featuring The Shining.
3. The message the movie conveys is truly excellent, touching, and most of all important. Life can be challenging, and sometimes we just want to escape to a world where everything goes right and you can live the time of your life. While that's great and all, taking a step into reality allows one to see the true beauty life offers amid the hardships, and from there one becomes truly content with what they earn. It's uplifting, relatable, and something everyone can appreciate. 

DOWNS

1. Sorrento needed more fleshing out. Ben Mendelsohn does a great job portraying him, but the character never evolves from being a standard evil businessman and never gets more depth beyond that. I never really got a good sense of what his exact motivations were for taking over the Oasis, and I feel he could have benefited from scenes like the one where he reveals to Wade that he put a hit on his aunt. He's not bad, but I wanted a little more.
2. As much as I enjoy it, I feel the Oasis itself could have used more fleshing out as well. I feel Spielberg and the producers merely scratched the surface of the potential that could have come from expanding and building this world, and I must say it kinda disappoints me that they didn't do more with it. 

OVERALL

Ready Player One is a fun little flick. Definitely not Spielberg's best (I honestly feel it may be one of his weaker ones,) but an enjoyable experience nonetheless. 

And that's it for this blog, guys. More will be on the way :) 

Who Will Survive Infinity War? (and Who Will Die?) (SPOILERS)

Snap...

It has all come to this. At long last, in exactly one week, the Mad Titan will finally arrive and with him comes a conflict unlike anything Earth's Mightiest Heroes have faced before. There is a chance for them to prevail, but not without a cost. That's why in this post, I will go over the major players who I believe will survive this battle, who stands at a 50/50 chance, and who will sadly be crushed under the weight of it all...that is unless Thanos decides to give us a good 'ol snap of his fingers...in that case...they're fucked! Now without further adieu, let's begin: 

LIVES

 Thor: If any of the OG Avengers are gonna make it out, I'm gonna go with the God of Thunder. He's been to Hell and back already (if the poster was any indicator) and I feel it's only going to get worse, so I think it would only be fair that he survives...at the cost of everything else...

 Black Widow: Alongside Thor, I feel Natasha has the best chance of getting out of this one in one piece. She may experience a whole lot of pain before getting there, but the odds are in her favor in my opinion. Plus, we still gotta get that solo movie of hers.

 Dr. Strange: He's been shown to be in serious trouble in the last trailer courtesy of Mr. Ebony Maw, but I feel the mystical Doctor has a huge role going forward in the MCU, so I think he'll be alright. 

 Spider-Man: WELL HE BETTER!!! Personal feelings aside, I don't think the executives of the MCU are ready to let the web-slinger go. He's a long ways away from getting where he needs to be. Though don't expect him to come out unscathed, if that one promo is anything to go by. 

 Black Panther: With the success he's been garnering, I don't think T'Challa is going anytime soon, and there's a good chance he'll take up the reigns of becoming the Captain America (figuratively speaking) of the MCU alongside Dr. Strange's Iron Man (if that analogy makes any sense.)

 Scarlet Witch: I don't see why it would be necessary to kill her off, and I think there could be potential for doing more things with her. That said, I can almost guarantee that she will experience great loss from this battle, so it's not an entire win for her.

 Falcon: I think at least one of Cap's buddies should make it out, and between him and Bucky, I think Sam has a better chance. I mean, someone's gotta take up the mantle if, well, we'll get to that...

 Mantis: As sweet and innocent as she is, I believe, and particularly hope, that Mantis is a survivor of the chaos, and I'm sure she will be :)

 Groot: We'll get to Rocket later, but Groot is definitely among the safer ones when it comes to the Guardians of the Galaxy.

 Star-Lord: No way is Star-Lord dying. Honestly, out of every character in this film, I'd say he is the safest. 

 Shuri and Okoye: Black Panther did a good job of making these two ladies way too popular to kill off at this time. 

50/50 (From Least Likely to Most)

 Drax: I honestly don't feel that any of the Guardians are going to perish in this film, and even if one were, I don't think it would be Drax, but seeing as though he's got a bone to pick with Thanos and isn't known for being one to plan ahead, he could stand to be in real danger.

 Gamora: Again, I think most if not all the Guardians are safe, but like Drax, Gamora could be in trouble due to her connection to Thanos, but I feel that may play a part in his inevitable defeat. 

 Rocket: Here is the character I feel will perish if they choose to kill a Guardian off. Rocket stands as the clear candidate since I feel there isn't much more that could be done with him, and given how he acted during Vol. 2, a sacrifice to protect the ones who are like a family to him wouldn't be completely out of character.

 The Black Order: This one's a clear 50/50, as while I feel Ebony Maw and Proxima Midnight will survive, Corvus Glaive and Cull Obsidian will most likely perish.

 Hulk: There isn't much that can be said about Bruce Banner. There is no clear path for him to take, as he will forever be burdened with the curse of the Hulk. Maybe Infinity War will be the chance he gets to gain the closure he deserves; to use his new power in a way that will be beneficial as opposed to detrimental, possibly at the cost of his own life. 

 Thanos: The Mad Titan himself. While I feel it would make sense to have him taken down by the end of this film, it would be rather wasteful if it were to happen before he gathered all the Infinity Stones, so while I feel he will be defeated, he'll most likely stick around to rear his ugly head once again. 

 Bucky: The Winter Soldier has finally reached full circle in his quest for redemption, and Infinity War will definitely show how that all plays out. What that could entail is a possible heroic sacrifice much akin to Rocket if that were to happen. Still, we may need him if...well, why don't we discuss that, shall we...

DIES

 Rhodey: Here I was thinking Rhodes was going to be the big casualty of Civil War. It seems he's gotten better from that little mishap, so it's practically given that he's living on borrowed time, and that time has most likely run out...

 Vision: The one character that everyone predicts is a goner, which makes sense given what is keeping him alive. When this will happen is debatable, but I am quite certain Vision is a goner.

 Loki: Everyone's favorite God of Mischief is another candidate living on borrowed time, and I don't think it's possible for him to weasel his way out of this predicament.

 Wong: I can totally see him not making it out of this, especially if he tries to save Strange from the clutches of Ebony Maw and fails.

 Nebula: Yeah, I can't see Nebula surviving this, though I can see her landing a detrimental blow to her father before she perishes.

 Iron Man or Captain America: Here they are, the two big ones. There's only one thing that I can say for certain, two actually: one of them is NOT making it out alive, and killing both of them would be overkill. While Cap is the clear choice for many people, I feel Iron Man is going to be the one, seeing as though Infinity War will be a game changer and what better way to do that than to kill off the one who started it all. All in all, it doesn't look good for either of them, so bring your tissues ),:

And that's it for this blog, guys. Tune in for more on the way, and until then, get ready for the end. 

The Walking Dead Season 8: 5 Characters Most Likely to Die in the Finale (SPOILERS)

This is it! All Out War is officially about to come to a close. Season 8 has been one heck of a roller coaster this entire year. It had an incredibly fast-paced beginning to the first half until it started to sag towards the end before hitting what appeared to be the show's ultimate rock bottom...until the second half swooped in to save the day. Overall, this season has done a lot to change the direction of the show as we know it, with Morgan crossing over into the world of Fear The Walking Dead, the Commonwealth from the comics possibly being introduced, and, of course, the death of Carl Grimes. Overall, the future has never been more uncertain, and it's even more unclear as to how All Out War comes to a close and, more importantly, who will make it out alive? With so much to consider, I give my predictions as to who will bite the dust as the smoke clears on this grand final battle, but before I do that, let me first do a quick breakdown of the ones who will surely make it out alive and those who are up in the air, to say the least...

SURVIVES

• Rick
• Daryl
• Maggie
• Michonne
• Carol
• Morgan
• Rosita
• Aaron
• Jesus
• Ezekiel
• Enid
• Siddiq
• Dianne 
• Nabila
• Judith
• Gracie
• Henry
• Cyndie (if she shows up at least)

DEBATABLE

• Tara
• Negan
• Gregory
• Jadis
• Alden
• Jerry
• Any given Alexandrian, Hilltopper, Kingdomer, Savior, and/or Oceansider (if they choose to show up)

Now onto the list:

 5. Scott: One of the recurring Alexandrians who outlasted his comic counterpart by a longshot, I feel that this will be the place for Scott to go, being one of the first major casualties in the surprise attack by the Saviors.

  4. Kal: The only character that I can predict for sure is a goner, it seems that Kal is being set to receive his comics death. Not much more to say, but you won't be seeing him for much longer.

 3. Dwight: Heading into the major leagues now, we've got Dwight, who was a wild card for me throughout the entire time he's been on. From how it seems, he's not in a good place at the moment, and while there is always a chance for him making it out, the chances don't seem high. I hope he gets to prove how far he's come before he bites the bullet. 

 2. Gabriel: Poor Gabriel been through absolute Hell this season. The guy just really can't catch a break. Like Dwight, things aren't balanced in his favor. To be fair to the both of them, they fare much better than my number one pick...

 1. Eugene: Eugene's been a particularly frustrating character this season. While I've always held onto the hope that joining Negan was a ploy, these last few episodes have broken my confidence in that being the case. There's still a chance, and even if his treachery is genuine, he'll probably change if the survivors decide to lock him up, but if a major character is set to die in this finale (and I assume there will,) then the mullet-wearing Judas has got to go. 

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

Black Panther (SPOILERS)

Wakanda Forever

In today's day and age, representation has overseen a huge part of everyday life, both in and out of the world of media, so leave it to the MCU to bring something similar to the table and you've got Black Panther. Now, for all intents and purposes, Black Panther is an excellent addition to the MCU's roster that collects a fascinating story with entertaining characters and deep messages. That said, it's not perfect, and as per custom, I will go over what made Black Panther work, and what didn't:

UPS

1. T'Challa is an excellent leading hero. I enjoyed his debut in Civil War, but I think what makes me like him more in his solo outing is how the movie takes the time to show that despite being a superhero, he is still human. What I mean when I say that is that he shows vulnerability, compassion, and righteousness in a way that makes him relatable and different from the previous protagonists of the MCU. Add in Chadwick Boseman's moving performance, and you've got an amazing character to look up to and root for.
2. Really, every character is fantastic. They're all so enjoyable and fun to watch that you can't get enough of them. Of course, certain standouts are Nakia, Okoye, M'Baku, and Shuri, but really everyone is great in their own way. Alas, among all these GOATS, there is, after all, one true standout...
3. ERIK KILMONGER! If I can sum him up in a few words, it'd go a little something like this: BEST MCU VILLAIN EVER! Better than Vulture; Better than Ego; Better than Loki! The MCU has really gone above and beyond in fixing their villain problem during [hase Three, and I think they've found the pièce de résistance with Kilmonger. His backstory is sympathetic, his motives are compelling, and Michael B. Jordan's performance is spellbinding! You almost feel for the guy despite his atrocities, and in the end his death is practically moving.
4. The visuals are absolutely beautiful! This is hands down the most visually impressive of all the films in the MCU, and that's quite a feat considering we've had movies like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 come out last year with spectacular visuals of its own.
5. The last thing I'd like to mention is that this film tackles its deep messages in an incredibly mature way. Throughout the film, T'Challa has had to tackle with the consequences of his father's actions in the form of Kilmonger, and what it leads to is one of the deepest and most personal conflicts in all of MCU history. The idea of not letting the past define the future is handled incredibly well, and if there was anything that made Black Panther truly stand out, this would be the reason.

DOWNS

1. KILMONGER SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED! It really is that simple. He was too fantastic a villain to kill off in one solo outing, and while the death itself was well handled and there is always a possibility for him to return, I just feel an opportunity was wasted here. The same can be said for Klaue, whose hammy, over-the-top villainy really brought life to the first half of this film. All in all, with great villains such as these, what was the necessity in killing them off? 
2. The pacing was a bit off. It really took a while to get going, and that really only started when Kilmonger began taking center stage. It did serve in fleshing out Wakanda and the other characters more, but I think it would have benefited from more momentum a bit sooner. 

OVERALL

Black Panther is great and I enjoyed it. It's a bit overhyped, of course, but it's still a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Go check it out as you, and I, eagerly await the arrival of the Mad Titan himself...

And that's it for this blog, guys! After a long hiatus, it sure feels good to be back :) Tune in for more on the way...