Top 10s for The MCU (SPOILERS)

With Endgame having been recently released, I feel it fitting to do some Top 10s for the MCU up until this point. With so many great movies, moments, and characters, this was truly challenging to make, but here we go regardless:

NOTE: There will be some ties in the Top 10 Movies list. I just couldn't choose between some.

Top 10 Moments
 10. "Come on Spider-Man" (Spider-Man: Homecoming)
 9. "Bucky?" (Captain America: The Winter Soldier)
 8. "Death was better than Bondage" (Black Panther)

 7. "We are Groot" (Guardians of The Galaxy)

 6. "He may have been your father, but he wasn't your daddy" (Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2)
 5. "I am Iron Man" (Iron Man) 4. The First Assemble (The Avengers)
 3. The Snap (Avengers: Infinity War)
 2. "He's my friend/So was I" (Captain America: Civil War)
 1. The ENTIRE final act (Avengers: Endgame)

Top 10 Movies
 10. Thor Ragnarok
 9. Black Panther
 8. Thor
 7. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
 6. The Avengers/Avengers: Age of Ultron
 5. Spider-Man: Homecoming
 4. Iron Man
 3. Captain America: Civil War
 2. Guardians of The Galaxy/Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2
 1. Avengers: Infinity War/Avengers: Endgame

Top 10 Characters
 10. T'Challa/Black Panther
 9. Scott Lang/Ant-Man
 8. Peter Parker/Spider-Man
 7. Thanos
 6. Loki
 5. Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow
 4. Steve Rogers/Captain America
 3. Thor
 2. The Guardians of The Galaxy
 1. Tony Stark/Iron Man

And that's it for theses Top 10s, guys! Tune in for more on the way :)

Avengers: Endgame (SPOILERS)

Part of the Journey is the End...

It all led to this. After 11 years of moviemaking, the MCU has brought us the true culmination of everything they have been building towards since it all began with Iron Man way back in 2008. After the emotional turmoil Infinity War put audience members through, it was up to the Avengers to settle the endgame and reverse the damage that had been done, whatever it takes. Now honestly, I couldn't formulate a full opinion until I saw it a second time because while I do think it offers up a truly satisfying conclusion to this story, it has a few issues that Infinity War didn't. Now let's get into what makes Endgame the perfect conclusion to the Infinity Saga and what doesn't:

UPS

1. The movie is 3 hours long, and yet it never feels like it's completely bloated and breezes right through all the same. There's a lot to unpack in this film, and I feel that for the most part, the runtime allotted for it nicely. There were definitely some things that could have been trimmed down (some of which I will mention later,) but for a movie as big as this one, I think it worked just fine. 
2. Though I have issues with the concept of time travel itself, it was great revisiting big moments from some of the other movies, particularly the Battle of New York and Peter Quill dancing to "Come and Get Your Love." There's also a couple of nice scenes where Tony is able to have a heart-to-heart with his father, which plays a big part in what is to come, same with Thor and his mother. Overall, while I feel the movie still falls under the issues of time travel, I think seeing these moments and taking a trip down memory lane was a real joy to behold. 
3. The final battle. Yes, the big, grand, absolutely epic final battle that featured everyone, and I mean EVERYONE!!! Filled with so many fist-pumping moments and having every character get a chance to shine, it was incredible to see this pulled off, and I wonder if there will ever be a scene to top it. As of right now, all I can say is that it truly seems impossible!
4. This being the end of the Infinity Saga, it also sees the end of several mainstays who've been there since the beginning. Thankfully, many characters get the proper conclusion to their arcs up to this point and have the seeds planted for future endeavors. Particular standouts, for me, are Nebula, Black Widow, and Captain America. To start off, Nebula has been a very intriguing character throughout the MCU ever since she debuted in Guardians of The Galaxy, and this movie sees the culmination of how far she's come since then. While there are issues regarding the scene where she kills her past self, it is a perfect symbolic moment that reinforces her development, and I look forward to where she will go in Guardians 3. Now Black Widow shocked me. I did not see her death coming, and while I think the way the scene played out was kinda ridiculous, I've come to see that this fits her character, as she has always tried to find ways to atone for her past, and taking the ultimate sacrifice so that half the universe could return is about as noble as you can get. Finally, Cap is one that really pleased me because given the buzz surrounding what seemed like his inevitable death, it was simply refreshing to see that not only did he survive, but he also was able to live out the life he always wanted, share that long awaited dance with Peggy Carter, and pass down the torch to Sam, who will now go off  on adventures with Bucky to carry on their old friend's legacy. Now, there were many great conclusions, but of course, there was one that managed to stand above the rest and deserve its own spot in the UPS section. Let's discuss it...
5. "I love you 3000." At the end of the day, it was none other than Tony Stark who made the final sacrifice to ensure that the universe would be saved and everything would go back to normal. It was a perfect ending to a character who has shaped this franchise into what it has become and it really shows how far Tony has come since everything began way back in his first solo outing. Robert Downey Jr. gave it his all, and while the future still looks bright for the MCU, it will never be the same without him.

DOWNS

1. While I thought the time travel was done well for the most part and offered up some nice moments that were mentioned in the UPS section, I still think there were issues that left me scratching my head in confusion. I know they tried to explain it off by saying the past wouldn't affect the future, but to what end? A lot happens in this movie that makes you wonder how everything pieces together, such as wondering what happens now that Nebula and Thanos from 2014 die in the present and 2014 Gamora is now running around as well. Does that mean Guardians of The Galaxy never happened, or it did but under drastically different circumstances? How about the fact that Cap went back to the past yet managed to return to where he was in the present, but this time as an old man, and where did he even come from? This could be me overthinking, but I've always had issues with time travel as a story concept given how incredibly complex it can get, and trying to comprehend it seems to make me even more confused than before.  
2. The humor. While I thought Infinity War had some of the best humor in the MCU, here it was rather hit or miss. Particularly jarring was the jokes that went on for longer than they should, like where Hulk is offering to let Ant-Man take a picture with those kids and when Thor and Quill argue over who is in charge of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Some jokes were good, but sometimes the movie seems to indulge itself too much in the comedic side of things that it simply falls flat and leaves more of an eye roll than a chuckle.
3. Okay, Cap wielding Thor's hammer was fine, but I felt him twirling it around and being able to shoot lightning was a bit of a stretch, at least in regards to the MCU (I'm not too familiar with how this moment plays out in the comics.) Yes, it was already alluded to in Age of Ultron, with many saying he was already worthy even then, but it just seems like it was too easy for him to become so skilled so fast.

OVERALL

Avengers: Endgame is a perfect conclusion to this grand and epic saga. Yes, there are flaws, but everything it accomplished is unbelievable. I still think I need some time to ponder how I truly feel about it, but for now, I can't be anything but satisfied and grateful that I was able to watch this universe unfold the way it did. I don't think anything can match the impact this franchise has left and will continue to make for years to come.

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

Gotham Top 10s (SPOILERS)

With Gotham officially over, it's time to take a look back and do the usual top 10 bests. Without further delay, let's get into it:

Top 10 Moments
 10. "I'm the King of Gotham!" (Season 1 Episode 22 "All Happy Families Are Alike")

 9. "See you in Hell, Theo" (Season 2 Episode 20 "Unleashed")

 8. Bruce meeting Ra's Al Ghul (Season 3 Episode 21 "Destiny Calling"/Season 3 Episode 22 "Heavydirtysoul") 7. Jerome revealing his true colors (Season 1 Episode 16 "The Blind Fortune Teller")
 6. Bruce sparing Matches Malone (Season 2 Episode 14 "This Ball of Mud and Meanness")
 5. Bruce sparing Jerome (Season 3 Episode 14 "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies")

4. Jerome's death/Jeremiah going mad (Season 4 Episode 18 "That's Entertainment")
 3. Jeremiah becoming the Joker (Season 5 Episode 7 "Ace Chemicals")
 2. Jeremiah shooting Selina (Season 4 Episode 21 "One Bad Day")
 1. Batman (Season 5 Episode 12 "The Beginning...")

Top 10 Episodes
 10. "All Happy Families are Alike" (Season 1 Episode 22)
 9. "Destiny Calling"/"Heavydirtysoul" (Season 3 Episode 21/Season 3 Episode 22)
 8. "The Blind Fortune Teller" (Season 1 Episode 16)
 7. "The Last Laugh" (Season 2 Episode 3)
 6. "This Ball of Mud and Meaness" (Season 2 Episode 14)
 5. "The Gentle Art of Making Enemies" (Season 3 Episode 14)
 4. "No Man's Land" (Season 4 Episode 22)
 3. "Ace Chemicals" (Season 5 Episode 7)
 2. "One Bad Day" (Season 4 Episode 21)
 1. "The Beginning..." (Season 5 Episode 12)

Top 10 Characters
 10. Lee
 9. Jim
 8. Ed
 7. Barbara
 6. Selina
 5. Harvey
 4. Oswald
 3. Alfred
 2. Bruce
 1. Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska

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

Retro-Reviews: Gotham: The Final Season (SPOILERS)

Hidden in Darkness, there is Light...

I love superheroes. I don't think I need to elaborate on that too much. While I haven't been an avid reader of comics, I have grown up on several movies and television shows that have been my gateway into falling in love with so many colorful characters and the worlds that they populate. While I have time and time again stated that my all-time favorite superhero is Spider-Man, I find it downright criminal of me to run this blog so long without any real mention of Batman, who is easily my second favorite. I guess it all boils down to the fact that the Caped Crusader has not had many great iterations in the past few years. Thankfully, there was one show that's been running for the past few years that has been a mostly solid depiction of the origin of the Dark Knight. That show is Gotham, and its final season has recently concluded, so I feel it fitting that I deliver my thoughts on the final run for this rather underrated show. 

UPS

1. The season's overarching storyline. For the past four seasons, there have been several mini-arcs spread throughout an entire season, and while each one was incredibly solid, it doesn't stand to make each season fully coherent. In contrast, this season has one clear arc that is told throughout the entire season, partly due to a smaller amount of episodes. As such, it's easier to feel more engaged and more necessary to tune in each week to see what happens next because everything flows and builds upon what came before. Overall, this season in comparison to the others feels tighter and better paced. 
2. This being the final season, we would need to see the culmination of everything that has been building since the beginning. By the end, every major character has gotten the proper conclusion to their series long arcs: Jim is promoted to Commissioner, marries Lee, and raises a daughter with Barbra, who is able to fully atone for her past misdeeds and start a new life. Likewise, other characters like Oswald, Ed, and Selina fully embrace the roles that they were meant to play in the future, and of course, the big two are Bruce becoming Batman and Jeremiah becoming the Joker. Yep, that's right, after several twists and turns, we finally have a fully fledged Clown Prince of Crime to compliment our Dark Knight, and it is glorious, with Cameron Monaghan knocking it right out of the park.

DOWNS

1. While the shorter episode length did benefit telling a more coherent overarching storyline, it still meant that not everything was able to fit in. Case in point, there were several villains like the Mad Hatter, Mr. Freeze, and Scarecrow who were present throughout the series and were barely present here or simply did not show up at all. Again, I thought the storyline we were given more than made up for these shortcomings, so maybe I'm being counter-productive, but I do think this season would've benefited from a few more episodes if not the full 22 like previous years.

OVERALL

Gotham: The Final Season was a worthy conclusion to the show. I would have liked just a little bit more, but I'm more than happy with what we got. Fingers crossed that there's a chance we may get a full-fledged Batman show with this cast and crew sometime in the near future. I doubt it, but a guy can hope.

And that's it for this post, guys. Tune in for more on the way and until then, take care :)