Solo: A Star Wars Story (SPOILERS)

I've got a good feeling about this...

Well, it was probably happening one way or another, I guess. Whether you like the Star Wars franchise or not, it is safe to say that almost everyone knows who Han Solo is. From shooting down Greedo in the Cantina Bar, to finding himself trapped inside a case of carbonite, all the way to meeting his tragic death at the hands of his own son, he is a character who has more than ingrained himself into the world of pop culture for a while now so it seems quite inevitable that the Star Wars executives would want to capitalize on that success and give it a film that explains everything that happened to him up until Luke Skywalker and co meet him for the first time. The question is, was it really necessary? Honestly, the idea is a nice thought, but alas, this was a film that really had no business being made, serving up a product that really didn't deliver on anything that was truly exciting or fresh in terms of what we expect in Star Wars. That said, it's not all bad, and here is what I enjoyed about SOLO, and what I didn't: 

UPS

1. Alden Ehrenreich was surprisingly solid as a young Solo. I, like many, many others, was quite uncertain about how well he would do with his performance since he had little to no resemblance to Harrison Ford. What certainly didn't help matters was the news of an acting coach being hired for him. All in all, it looked like a recipe for disaster. That thankfully was not the case, as Ehrenreich was able to channel the core aspects of the character to a tee, playing him exactly as Ford did all those years back. All in all, he was certainly a pleasant surprise who was able to carry this otherwise mediocre venture the whole way through. And I do believe it's safe to say that he shot first this time ;)
2. Han's relationship with Chewie was very well handled. I think that if they really wanted to make a Han Solo movie, they would just need to take all the scenes focusing on him and his Wookie pal and go from there, because all of it made for some of the best parts of the film and was convincing enough to show how close these two are to each other and how no matter what happens, they always got each others' backs. 

DOWNS

1. The rest of the cast was, for the most part wasted. Donald Glover, who otherwise was solid as Lando, was not the scene stealer the trailers made him out to be, while others like Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, and Paul Bettany did their very best with otherwise lackluster material. I think they were fine otherwise, but more could've been done to make them and this movie even better.
2. It was boring. SO boring. Like I said before, this movie didn't really offer up anything new and exciting, which would be fine if it didn't feel like such a slog to sit through. The only scene that I found to have any thrills whatsoever was the part where they were flying through the asteroid field and trying to escape the giant space monster, but once that was over it returned to being a snooze fest. 

OVERALL

SOLO: A Star Wars Story was about what I expected while simultaneously being better and worse, if that's really possible. It wasn't as disappointing as The Last Jedi was, but it still isn't very memorable either. 

And that's it for this blog guys. Tune in for more on the way :)  

Deadpool 2 (SPOILERS)

He's Back...

Love him, hate him...it doesn't matter. What matters is that the Merc with the Mouth has returned for more wild, wacky escapades. After suffering through a showing that did a massive disservice to the character, Ryan Reynolds got the showing he deserved when the first film came out in 2016. Now, in the year 2018, we have gotten the follow-up to that venture, and was it as good as, or even exceed, the original? Honestly, no, but that doesn't stop this movie from being an enjoyable ride all on its own, and in this post, I will break down what made Deadpool 2 work so well, and what didn't:

UPS

1. Ryan Reynolds still soars as the titular antihero. He retains his witty nature from the first film while also adding some real, raw emotional depth to an otherwise wacky character. It serves to bring a more nuanced performance to the table and one we will not soon forget. 
2. Josh Brolin is awesome as Cable. Though this wasn't his year-defining role (we already know what that was,) Brolin still delivers a solid interpretation of this character, sharing great chemistry with Reynolds and the other members of the cast while having a very dark and tragic backstory surrounding him. Overall, great character who provided some interesting morally grey areas to explore. 
3. There were some neat cameos and surprises in this movie. For example, they actually managed to get the cast of the new X-Men trilogy to stop by for a hilarious gag, and even Brad Pitt got a cameo as an Invisible Mutant who joins the X-Force only to hit a live wire, but the biggest and the best, of course, is that of the MOTHERFUCKING JUGGERNAUT!!! Yep, that's right, he, like Deadpool, got a chance at redemption and it paid off tremendously. 
4. This movie was surprisingly emotional. For starters, Deadpool loses the love of his life, Vanessa, and then there's Cable's whole backstory involving the death of his family at the hands of Russell. These moments truly pushed the movie into darker and edgier territory, and while that kinda came at the cost of some good humor, it still proved to make the movie that much deeper and tense, so it served its purpose well. 
5. Finally, 2 out of the 3 post-credits scenes in this movie were glorious. If there was any better way to laugh at and mock the shortcomings of Ryan Reynolds, THIS was the way to do it. 

DOWNS

1. It wasn't as funny as the original. While I was fine with the darker elements of the plot, I still think it could've had a lot more humor to balance those elements out since this is, well, Deadpool. It doesn't help that it rehashes a lot of jokes from the original, so while a few standout scenes held a laugh here and there, I wasn't too impressed. 
2. The other post-credits scene. Aside from those two mentioned above, this one kinda ruins the movie by having Wade go back in time and save Vanessa, which essentially undoes the whole freaking plot. Again, this is Deadpool, so something that outlandish is plausible in his universe, but still, as he said, that's just lazy writing...
3. No Stan Lee cameo. Granted, the guy is going through a lot right now, but still, his presence is sorely missed :(

OVERALL

I liked Deadpool 2 despite the first one being better. It's always good to see this character in action and I can't wait to see what he does next.

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

The Walking Dead Season 8 (SPOILERS)

My Mercy prevails over my Wrath...

And so the dust has cleared; All Out War has officially come to a close. There was massive devastation with lots of casualties, with one in particular being the biggest death in the entire franchise. That death was none other than Carl Grimes! Yeah, who would've thought? It is clear that this death will change the direction of the show from this point on, for better or for worse. For all that's said and done, what's the deal with Season 8? Well it was, like many of the past seasons, a rocky roller coaster of ups and downs, but if I'm going to be honest, I didn't think it was that bad; in fact, I think it was one of my favorite seasons overall, mostly because it ended up wrapping all plot threads in a satisfactory way despite many of the flaws that plagued it. Now if I may confess, I was never a huge fan of the "All Out War" storyline in the comics. It felt very underwhelming for all the massive buildup surrounding it and ultimately ended on a rather anticlimactic note; that's why I had high hopes that the show would figure out a way to expand upon the story arc to make it better. They did make some changes, kept some things the same, and then took a huge departure from the comics to lead up to the ending. While there will be (and has been) massive repercussions going down the road, I think for the most part the show did its best in telling the story at hand, so let's see what Season 8 got right, and what it didn't:

UPS

1. The season, for the most part, was very well-paced. A major problem with the show is that it stretched many story arcs far too thin to fill the 16-episode slot, but this season did pretty well in moving the story along. It had a few sags here and there, but not one moment passed where I felt the showrunners were spinning wheels to get to the inevitable conclusion. Right off the bat, this season fixed a major problem that overstayed its welcome.
2. Morgan and Carol were in full form this season. Both characters have shared an arc for the past few seasons now that has been a major highlight for the series, and this season finally brought those full circle. On one hand, Carol is at her absolute best here, embracing her inner warrior while retaining a warm, motherly persona that showcases the humanity she has held onto all these years, while Morgan is at his lowest and darkest point here, and you wonder if he could ever truly come back before he makes a change at the end that sets him on a journey into a whole new world. All in all, both characters have both had equally compelling stories, and no matter where this world takes them, they always seem to come out on top. 
3. There is a great amount of showcase for a lot of characters this season. It really helps when a few of them needed this kind of showcase to bring them back into good graces with viewers. A few particular standouts are Ezekiel, Negan, Rosita, Simon, and Jadis of all people. Though a few characters got the short end of the stick, characters like the five mentioned really went above and beyond in stealing the spotlight and coming out of recent blights to their name, and that allows people to care so much more for them as time goes on.
4. Though I can never defend the decision to do so (which I'll get to in a bit,) I did end up liking how they worked Carl's death into the overall story, making it the catalyst that determined how the end of the war would play out. It certainly left a huge impact, that's for sure, and while there probably will be some consequences to exactly how the future of the show will look without him, I think they managed to handle the situation quite well for the time being. 
5. Overall, the ending of this season really moved me. It almost felt like instead of giving us something that I (and others) wanted, it gave us something that we needed! I'm sure a lot of people were going in expecting Negan to bite the dust and that the war would probably end in a massive bloodbath, but honestly, I was fine with the way it actually ended. After everything Rick and the group have been through, all the hell, pain, and devastation that led to this moment, it is honestly beautiful to watch as not only was Rick able to fulfill Carl's dying wish, but he now sees the world that could be rebuilt; a new beginning, so to speak. What a perfectly bittersweet way to end this season, and honestly, I wouldn't complain if this was the official finale of the whole series (and in a way, it kinda is.)

DOWNS

1. Okay, so I was fine with the idea behind Carl's death, but does it mean I'm okay with the decision: HELL NO! Honestly, of all the routes the showrunners could have taken, they thought this was the best move. Seriously, what the hell were they thinking? Did they honestly think they could get away without having massive repercussions along the way. I think not, no sirree. This will definitely go down as the single worst decision of the entire show, regardless of how well it was handled. 
2. Jesus, oh good Lord, JESUS!!! Out of all the adapted characters, he is quite possibly the worst translation from page to screen. He made a great first impression in Season 6, was heavily underused in Season 7, and then took a nosedive out a window this season when he took a complete 180 in his characterization, becoming the pacifist character (a staple characterization that has been recycled over and over again throughout the series) who will not kill, even though he shot a guy point blank in the head at one point and is more than happy to help Maggie kill Negan if push comes to shove (I know Scott Gimple said Negan was an exception, but still.) All in all, despite Tom Payne's excellent performance, one of the best characters from the comics has become one of the show's worst by far.
3. A lot of the OG characters weren't at their best this season. Daryl has been reduced to a grunting rabble rouser, Eugene spent the whole season talking in cryptic clues and rambles that made absolutely no sense while still making us wonder exactly whose side he really is on, and Maggie looks like she'd rather be anywhere else half the damn time. Rick was also kinda hard to root for, since it seemed he was all too willing to let revenge and bloodlust overtake him and prioritize that over the wishes of his dead son! Rick and Eugene were able to redeem themselves in the end, and Maggie is safe from her decisions on account of Negan, well, killing her husband, but it's really disappointing to see a character like Daryl lose a lot of what made him so great when it seems that he'll be taking over as the main character (oh yeah, we're gonna get to that.) 

OVERALL

Season 8 was, overall, a great season, and it was a step-up from the past three seasons for sure. Despite that, though, I still realize that as much as I love it, the show is starting to wear thin. With the ratings dropping consistently and the news that both Lauren Cohan and Andrew Lincoln (yes, RICK MOTHERFUCKING GRIMES) are exiting the show after Season 9, it seems the end is practically inevitable. Where does that leave me? Well, I have been wrestling with this decision for a while now, and I honestly have no idea what to do, but here is what I have set at the moment: I will still watch the show, and I will see where things go from there, but as for this blog, I probably most likely won't be posting as much about it anymore. I will still most likely do a review for Season 9, and I am going to post new updates of the Top 10 lists I have created with Season 8's end, but things such as predictions will probably come to a close. I will still remain a viewer and I will always remain a fan, but this blog will start to shift focus towards other things as time goes on. 

Well that's it for this rather somber post, guys. Tune in for more coming your way and till then, take care :)

When mom died, she told me I was gonna beat this world...you will...

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 :)