War for the Planet of the Apes (SPOILERS)

I did not start this war...but I will finish it...

The Planet of the Apes franchise is one of the most beloved Sci-Fi franchises of all time, and recently, a prequel trilogy was formed. This trilogy has brought a lot of the things that were great about the originals and, in some ways, proves superior. The films follow the story of Caesar, who is a compelling protagonist to follow and carried by an amazing performance from Andy Serkis. War for The Planet of the Apes concludes Caesar's story. For the most part, it is a relatively satisfying conclusion. However, that's pretty much all I could say, since I found this to be a step-down from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. It's still a great film, but sadly disappointing considering the critical rave that it received. As per custom, it's time to look at what the movie got right and what it got wrong:

UPS

1. Andy Serkis as Caesar. For all this movie's faults, this may be Serkis' best performance in all three films. Everything that Serkis did great in the first two films is brought to the next level here, from his emotion, to his interactions with the rest of the cast, to bringing the completion of his arc full circle. Though it didn't work out entirely in his favor (more on that later,) Serkis really gave his A-game and I wouldn't be surprised if he managed an Oscar-nomination, which so many people have high hopes that he will. 
2. The rest of the cast, old and new, were great. Maurice continues to excel as Caesar's advisor and best friend; Nova provides some heartwarming scenes that show a relationship we have never seen before; Bad Ape is a real hoot, providing the funniest moments in the movie without ever coming across as a nuisance; Red has just as much of an arc as Caesar, one that provides a redemption that felt earned even though it cost him his life; and the Colonel is a great villain. He may be a step-down from Koba, but Woody Harrelson's performance and his tragic backstory really make him standout. Speaking of Koba...
3. His cameo scenes were great. Not only was it great to see the trilogy's best villain again, but the scenes also delved into the psyche of Caesar, showing his burden of guilt and fearing that he'll become a monster like Koba. All in all, his presence in the movie was welcomed. 
4. The themes of family, revenge, and forgiveness. They really carry throughout the whole movie, mostly through Caesar's interactions with his family, his friends, and his enemies. The scene where he allows the Colonel to kill himself when he succumbs to the Simian Flu shows how far he's grown from the suicidal revenge seeker he was at the beginning of the film. These themes make the film deeper and all the more stronger.
5. The music is just amazing. Listen to it here.  

DOWNS

1. Caesar's death didn't come off as well as it should have. After all that he went through, it just didn't feel right to have him die. In fact, it felt cruel. To make things even worse, the movie makes it seem like he's fine and has him stick it around to the very end, right as his people have finally made it to their newfound sanctuary, and he dies by a single arrow from the soldier he spared. Talk about a nasty kick in the balls. All in all, though the ending ends on a mostly optimistic note considering Caesar's people are finally safe and his son can grow up in a peaceful environment, it seems a little too bleak to have that child go through the hardship of losing his mother, his brother, and his father all at the same time just when it seemed like things were looking up for once. Although Caesar left a profound impact for the time that he was around, I just wish he could stick around to see his son grow. I could only imagine that more could be done with him.

OVERALL

War for the Planets of the Apes was a satisfying conclusion to a spectacular trilogy, but it was not as good as it could have been. I wanted to see more of Caesar even though we did get a complete story out of him throughout these movies. It's a great movie, but not the best. 

Well that's it for this blog, guys. Tune in for more coming soon :)

The Walking Dead Season 7 Review (SPOILERS)

The Day Will Come When You Won't Be...

Yeah, this review is way overdue, but I've been preoccupied as of late so my posting hasn't been very consistent. Thankfully, I managed to get some free time in, so what better way to spend it than finally writing my review for the seventh season of my one of my favorite TV shows, The Walking Dead. Negan has finally arrived and looking past an abominable cliffhanger ending comes a place that the survivors have never seen themselves in before. It seems as though the group has finally reached rock bottom throughout the season, but by the end, they persevere and keep the fact that they are the ones who should NOT be fucked with. Though that sounds like it makes a great story, response toward this season has been...less than stellar. Many people criticize the sluggish pace of this season as it sets up the "All Out War" storyline and just felt it grew very tiresome after awhile. This is clear in the massive ratings drop the show has suffered as of late. All in all, this season is looked to by many as the Black Sheep of the series, even more so than the infamously divisive Season 2. Where do I fall in this debate? Well, I do see where a lot of these criticisms are coming from, and I am going to be honest that the quality of The Walking Dead hasn't been as stellar as it should be. That said, I don't think this was the worst season ever. In fact, I think it's far better than the last two seasons, which is saying a lot since Season 5 is considered the show's best season ever.  Here are the reasons as to why I feel this way:

UPS

1. The season premiere. Remember when I said it would be hard to top "No Way Out"? Well I thought "Last Day on Earth" would do just that. I was wrong, so wrong. However, the Season 7 premiere did succeed in that regard, and produced an episode that shakes the core of The Walking Dead as we know it. Words cannot describe the sheer impact this episode had (for better or for worse,) and though the series' 100th episode should be just as stellar, it has massive competition to go up against if it wishes to be the series' pinnacle episode. 
2. Major Character Deaths are back. Season 6 was severely lacking in this regard, but Season 7 comes back in full force with not one, not two, but three major deaths, with one of them (you guys know which one) being the biggest death since Lori. I'm not saying it's necessary for characters to die to make the story great, but when done at the right moment, the stakes could be raised all the more higher and it makes things much more intense. For that reason, it's nice to know The Walking Dead has returned to its roots of no one (well unless you're Rick or Carl) being safe, and I hope the next season continues that trend.
3. The Kingdom. Whereas I feel the show's iteration of the Hilltop is pretty lackluster for the most part (more on them later,), the Kingdom is spot-on. Though David Fennoy would have been awesome as well, Khary Payton is perfect as King Ezekiel, capturing his hammy theatrics and balancing the more human side exceptionally well. However, the thing that is so great about the Kingdom is that Ezekiel does not overshadow the rest. Jerry provides excellent comic relief and is clearly the heart of the group; Benjamin plays an integral role in the completion of Morgan's arc; and Richard carries an arc that is a real standout in terms of being a secondary side character, and the way it ends is tragically fitting for him and the story. All in all, they kicked ass and...SWEET JESUS, how could I forget Shiva? Well, just watch this and see all there is to know about her ;)
4. Carol and Morgan's arcs are finally completed. While this doesn't necessarily pertain to their roles in the season, it mostly means that their journeys that began last season were finally brought full circle. This was done especially well in the case of Morgan, who really excelled this season in terms of where he was and where he is now. As for Carol, well, more on her later...
5. Finally, it's time to talk about the man himself. Despite the lack of bulk and the addition of the beard, Jeffrey Dean Morgan IS Negan. He captures the essence of the character so perfectly. While he spent a little too much time being all bark and no bite for parts of the season (which was another criticism for the season,) he excelled in most parts and was genuinely funny and intimidating. Of course, like the Kingdom, Negan does not overshadow the rest of the Saviors. Dwight is particularly compelling in his will he-won't he redemption arc, and Simon provides the perfect lackey for Negan to have, bringing a more subtle menace to Negan's more bombastic approach. Overall, these guys rocked as villains and will continue to do so for ALL OUT WAR! 

Of course, for every positive, there's always a negative. And here they are...

DOWNS

1. The Hilltop just isn't given much to do. While Tom Payne is great as Jesus and Xander Berkeley is a hilariously detestable presence as Gregory (RHETHORICAL,) their screen time is limited and ultimately they are given the short end of the stick here. Unlike the Kingdom and the Saviors, the two have the burdening task of carrying the rest of the Hilltop, since there is no presence in both the people and the setting. I hope they get more screentime in the future, but as it is, they are severely disappointing :(
2. Carol got shafted this season...hard. While her arc is completed and Melissa McBride excels as usual, she ends up getting the short end of the stick as well, especially when compared to what Morgan goes through to complete his journey. Though she seems like she's finally got her mojo back, this season was a major disservice to the character.
3. The simple fact that this season was, for all intents and purposes, a filler season. Did we need a whole episode dedicated to Tara? Did we need to be introduced to more groups? Did we need to wait till the end to find out the conclusion (or partial conclusion) of Dwight's arc? Did we need several episodes of hearing Rosita bitch and moan about how much everyone's lives suck? Did we really, seriously need a WHOLE fucking season to setup "All Out War." The simple answer is no. We could have gotten some form or shape of the war this season. Hell, they probably could've fit the whole thing into the second half and it would've been AWESOME! Alas, we got several story arcs stretched out to the farthest they possibly could and ultimately, as the ratings have shown, fatigue has set in. Hopefully this was all worth it, otherwise Season 7 may have well been the Black Sheep.

OVERALL

I enjoyed the Seventh Season of The Walking Dead. It's got problems, but I do believe it was better than the last two seasons. Season 5 turned me off with its disjointed narrative, severely bleak tone, and the death of Tyreese (BIGGEST DISSERVICE EVER BTW,) and Season 6 had a sluggish first half that was almost saved by a spectacular second half until AMC dropped the big one with...it pains me to think about it. Ultimately, though, I believe the show has lost the quality it had during its first four seasons, and as such I have actually lowered my expectations for Season 8 in hope that it blows me out of the water because quite honestly, if it doesn't, then my days as an avid viewer (don't worry I'll always be a fan) of The Walking Dead TV show may become numbered :( 

That's it for this blog guys. Hope to get more in as soon as possible. Until then, take care and always remember, the world is but a treat when you're on easy street...

Top 5 DC Films (SPOILERS)

For every Marvel contribution, there's a touch of DC to even out the playing field. As I mentioned in my last post, Marvel and DC are the pantheons of the comic book industry. Of course, this list is for the movies, so I'll be picking five films that truly stand out as the best DC has to offer, starting with:

5. Superman: The Movie: Now let me get this out of the way: I've never enjoyed Superman as much as I do others. Compared to many of the other heroes that populate the comic book world, he stands out as the most simple and therefore the most boring to me. However, I do enjoy his supporting cast and his rogues gallery even more, so I can't say I outright boycott anything related to the character. All that being said, I do enjoy some depictions of him in the media, with my personal favorite (and the one for many others as well) being the 1978 film starring Christopher Reeve. Reeve, for all intents and purposes, IS Superman, as he not only nails the part of making Superman charming, likable, and heroic, but he also manages to maintain the part that makes him human and relatable, which is important when dealing with a character like this. While it's quite clear that he's the star, he's also backed by an amazing supporting cast, with Margot Kidder as Lois Lane and Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor being standouts. All in all, this is a truly great interpretation of the Man of Steel. And who can forget the theme song!

Best Moment: Superman turns back time

4. Wonder Woman: The DCEU has had it rough the past few years. Thankfully, their bad luck has finally changed with this movie. Wonder Woman is fantastic in that unlike the previous DCEU films, it has a hopeful, optimistic tone that makes one feel good about the future, and Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman just as much as Christopher Reeve is Superman. Backed by Chris Pine and a terrific supporting cast, Gadot really brings things to the next level. While the villains were underdeveloped, the romance was a little rushed, and the DCEU still has a lot of fixing to do before it can truly be saved, Wonder Woman is a true standout and one that will be fondly remembered for times to come! Please don't let its success go to waste, Justice League!

Best Moment: No Man's Land

Click here to read my review for "Wonder Woman"

3. Batman: Before The Dark Knight, before Ben Affleck, there was one definitive Batman movie and one definitive Live-Action Batman. Michael Keaton does a fantastic job in the role, and the whole movie has a great story and cast to put it all together. Of course, who could forget Jack Nicholson as the Joker? Quite frankly, as fantastic as Heath Ledger was, I feel Nicholson felt closer to capturing the true spirit of the character even if he is no Mark Hamill. All in all, this movie was very well done and memorable, and like Superman: The Movie has a theme song that fits the character and his world so well!

Best Moment: "I'm Batman"

2. Watchmen: Zack Snyder is an extremely divisive director when it comes to comic book movies and this movie may be just as divisive as him. Watchmen is a monumental work of fiction in the comic book industry so this movie had a lot to live up to. For the most part, fortunately, I think they did a damn good job. It's about as faithful as it could be with changes that I feel were necessary, because quite frankly, how exactly were they going to work the giant squid from the end into the movie? This movie also has a great cast, with the clear standout being Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach. Watchmen is a story unlike anything in comic book history, and I think the movie did a fine job replicating it as faithfully as possible.

Best Moment: "Men get arrested, dogs get put down"

And my favorite DC movie (or movies) is...

1. The Dark Knight Trilogy: What can be said about these movies that hasn't already been said? This series is not only the greatest DC movie trilogy, but one of the greatest movie trilogies period, so it was too hard to pick just one! With Batman Begins, you have a great telling of how Bruce Wayne came to be Batman and the challenges he faces entering this sort of business. It provides a truly compelling origin story and is propelled by a great cast and director. Now in the case of The Dark Knight, the stakes are much higher, and Batman is pushed to his absolute limit, which provides some intense viewing. This one also gives us Heath Ledger and a performance unlike anything ever seen before! While I did say that I felt Jack Nicholson captured the spirit of the Joker, Ledger brought a whole new beast, giving us a Joker that was unlike the others and for that reason really stands out! God rest this man's soul! Finally, The Dark Knight Rises, as flawed as it was, offered the perfect conclusion to the story, having Batman hang up the mantle after being honored as the hero he was always meant to be, thus allowing a new hero to rise to the challenge. Throughout these movies, the psyche of Bruce Wayne is explored in heavy detail and Christian Bale does a great job portraying that, even if his Batman could've been a little better (seriously, that voice was ridiculous). Overall, these movies tell the story of Batman unlike any other and it gives Ben Affleck quite the challenge to face once his solo outing comes to pass (though I have high hopes he'll pull through :)

Best Moment: Batman Begins: "I'm Batman"

The Dark Knight: The Interrogation Scene

The Dark Knight Rises: The Ending 

Well that's it for this list, guys! Tune in for more coming soon :)

Top 10 Marvel Films (SPOILERS)

Comic Book magic was made when Marvel came about. Along with DC, it's at the top of the line when it comes to superheroes and comic books. Now of course, it's not all about the comics, as there are many adaptations that were made as well, from movies, to TV shows, to video games. A while back, I did a list of my top 5 favorite Marvel films. This list is an updated expansion, with new additions as well as spots being changed here and there. Now without further adieu, let's begin the list with the man himself :)

  10. The Avengers and Avengers: Age of Ultron: Yes they tie, and this won't be the only tie either! I just loved these movies, but I think they're both equally as great as each other. The first Avengers did a great job setting the Avengers up and each of them shared great dynamics with each other. It also had a terrific villain in the posterboy for MCU villainy, Loki, and overall provided a satisfying experience for everything that Phase One of the MCU was building towards while planting the seeds for the future. On the other hand, Age of Ultron is one of the more divisive entries in the MCU, what with all the clunky setup for Infinity War and the unnecessary Hulk/Black Widow romance, but putting that aside, you have a pretty solid movie that did everything a sequel should do: it further developed the characters, fleshed out their backstories, heightened the stakes, produced a great villain in Ultron, and introduced terrific new characters in Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Quicksilver. Now for what I love about both of them is the strong team dynamic between the Avengers, the performances from each of their actors, the action, the humor, and the fact that they're both just so damn fun. They are both entertaining experiences that will be remembered for what they brought to the table, and I hope Infinity War does just as well in that regard.
Best Moment: The Avengers: Avengers Assemble
Avengers: Age of Ultron: Lifting Thor's Hammer
9. X2: X-Men United: A lot of people love this movie, and for good reason. The stakes were higher, the relationships of the original characters were further developed, and new characters and elements were introduced to help build the world and story. To see the X-Men having to work together with Magneto to fight a common enemy in Stryker provided an intriguing dynamic that gave us interesting character moments between them. It also fleshed out Wolverine's backstory and delivered a memorable character in Nightcrawler, who provided one of the most memorable opening scenes in comic book movie history.
Best Moment: The Mansion Attack
8. Captain America: The Winter Soldier: Ah yes, everyone knows this one. This film is considered by many to be one of the best MCU films of all time. While I do think it's a little overrated (largely because the final battle is a little underwhelming to me and the Nick Fury twist is a cheap move,) I still think it's a damn good movie and must respect its importance in the MCU. Chris Evans gives a fantastic performance as Captain America, Scarlett Johansen kills it as Black Widow, Anthony Mackie proves to be a great addition as the Falcon, Robert Redford brings a subtle menace as Alexander Pierce, and the Winter Soldier provides probably one of the most deep and personal conflicts in all of comic book movie history. All in all, it's a thoroughly intense and thought-provoking film unlike anything the MCU has made before that time.
Best Moment: The Highway Battle
7. X-Men: As great as X2 is, it just can't top the original for me. Now the story for this movie is pretty simple for the most part, but the cast and crew really make the most of it. This movie is fun, intense, and just so entertaining the whole way through. Each character in the movie really gets the chance to shine here, and Magneto is at his villainous best as well. Also, that opening scene is legendary and really needs to be seen to be believed.
Best Moment: The Opening Scene
 6. Deadpool: What can I say about this movie that hasn't already said? The Merc with a Mouth has not done so well in cinema during the past, but this movie goes to great lengths to rectify that mistake and boy do they deliver. This movie is about as hilarious, over-the-top, and downright crazy as it should be, and Ryan Reynolds kills it in the role, being just as perfect as the comic design. Now while the plot may be a little too simplistic and Ajax may not be the greatest of villains (seriously, we really don't care about your name,) it's Deadpool, what's not to love?
Best Moment: Deadpool vs. Colossus
5. Captain America: Civil War: Overrated? Yeah, maybe a bit. But no one can deny the sheer epic scope and impact this movie truly has. Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans provide epic performances, the emotions are souring, and the stakes are high. Plus, this movie finally brings Spider-Man into the MCU, introduces a great addition in Black Panther, and has one of the best villains in the entire MCU with Zemo, who does something no one, not even Loki, could do: he beat the Avengers by tearing them apart from the inside. This is a regular human being we're talking about here! Overall, while this movie may not be the very best the MCU has offered, it is indeed the one that changed everything and gives Infinity War some major competition to top.
Best Moment: The Final Battle
4. Spider-Man: Homecoming: It's been a while since Spidey has found his footing in cinema, but the MCU has fixed that problem and finally found a place for him to stay. Now while it may not be the definitive cinematic take on the story of Spider-Man, Tom Holland proves to be the definitive live-action Spider-Man, Vulture is a great villain, and this movie is about as fun and exciting as it needs to be. Overall, it's a great take on the wall-crawler and I look forward to seeing his adventures in the future.
Best Moment: Interrogation Mode
Click here to see my review for "Spider-Man: Homecoming"
 3. Guardians of the Galaxy and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2: Guardians of the Galaxy should not have worked as well as it did, but with the great character dynamics, a fantastic soundtrack, and an off-the-charts fun factor, it proved be part of the best the MCU has had to offer. Now for all the problems it had, the sequel came along to improve upon that, providing an even better villain, deeper character moments, and high emotional stakes. Now these movies excel at being funny and fun, and together they provide one hell of an experience. To ask if they could be topped by anything else in the MCU going forward is a VERY hard question to answer...and at the moment, I can say it's almost impossible!
Best Moment: Guardians of the Galaxy: "Come and Get Your Love"
Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2: "Come a little bit closer"
Click here to see my review for "Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2"
2. Logan: Words cannot describe the emotional brutality this film brings. It's hard to imagine the world of the X-Men without Wolverine, but here we are not only saying goodbye to him, but to Professor X as well. This film is just epic! From Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, and Dafne Keen's breathtaking performances, to the sheer bittersweet beauty of it all, it's just something I can't even begin to express. While X-24 robs away some of the emotional investment that would have been had a different character been used, everything else is perfect, and I wouldn't have asked for any other way to end one era to pave the way towards something new.
Best Moment: "So this is what it feels like..."
Click here for my review for "Logan"

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for, my favorite Marvel movie (or movies), is...

1. Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2: You all know Spider-Man is my favorite superhero of all time, and as much I love Tom Holland as Spider-Man, Homecoming cannot top the sheer impact Sam Raimi's first film had on me. Spider-Man is not only my favorite Spider-Man movie, but quite possibly my favorite comic book movie of all time. It told the origin story perfectly, set up the world of Spider-Man beautifully, and while Tobey Maguire was topped by Holland as the definitive wall-crawler, almost all the supporting players were nailed. Despite that, I cannot neglect the greatness of Spider-Man 2 either. While I don't think it's as great as everyone makes it out to be, I do see where many of these people are coming from. Maguire gives easily his best performance here and the dynamics he shares with his supporting cast are taken to the next level. It also has a fantastic rendition of the Spider-Man theme song performed by Michael Buble. Oh, and Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molina kick ass as Green Goblin and Dr. Octopus. Now, can Holland top these two in the future? Probably Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man may be a bit more of a challenge, but as it stands, Sam Rami holds the key to producing the definitive version of Spider-Man.
Best Moment: Spider-Man: The death of Uncle Ben
Spider-Man 2: The Train Fight

Well that's it for this list guys. More blogs will be on the way soon! Take care :)

Spider-Man: Homecoming (SPOILERS)

With Great Power, Comes Great Responsibility...

What better way to start this review than with the words that encapsulate everything about quite possibly my favorite superhero of all time: Spider-Man! I've been a fan of him since I was introduced to him as a boy. Recently, the famous wall crawler has not seen good years in the media. The Raimi movies were cancelled due to disputes with Sony, then the same happened to Marc Webb's Amazing Spider-Man series. In the realm of animation, the awesome The Spectacular Spider-Man series was cancelled and replaced with Ultimate Spider-Man, which has since ended in time for a new series to come soon. To say Spidey hasn't seen good days recently would be a massive understatement. However, the MCU has been able to reach a licensing agreement with Sony and have finally brought him into their universe, and the final product has been quite successful. There was promise when he was introduced in Captain America: Civil War, but Homecoming has more than solidified the fact that Spider-Man has finally found a place to stay for however long that may be. That said, is it the truly definitive version that has come to pass? Well, not for me at least. And here is why that is the case:

UPS

1. Tom Holland is fantastic! Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield did great in their takes as Spidey, but Holland may just surpass them as the definitive live-action version of the character. He just feels so natural in the role and really embodies a gawky young teenager trying to balance out his normal life from his life as Spider-Man while also feeling like he's on top of the world thanks to his newfound powers. He really did a spectacular job and I can't wait to see more of his adventures as time goes on. 
2. The other cast members were great fun as well. Robert Downey Jr. is as amazing as always playing Tony Stark, but here there's a different side to him that I don't think we've seen before; the one where he acts (or at least tries to) like the father Peter never had, with the moment he takes Peter's suit being the highlight of that particular side. Meanwhile, Jacob Batalon does well as Ned, sharing a great dynamic with Holland that more than makes up for the absence of Harry Osborn and providing fantastic comic relief that makes him just as lovable. Laura Harrier also does a great job as Liz Allan, Tony Revolori does his best to make a badly written Flash Thompson work (more on that later,) and Zendaya delivers a unique version of MJ(!?) Marissa Tomei also does fine even if Aunt May doesn't exactly work this time around (more on that later as well,) and Jon Favreau even gets to do more this time around as Happy Hogan, who really gets the chance to shine here. All in all, the cast is great and I loved each and every one of them. Now of course, a good hero would not be complete without a good villain, and thankfully...
3. Michael Keaton is awesome as the Vulture! While it seems clear that he's stuck with playing characters who dress up as creatures that fly, Keaton just seems to kill it every time. The MCU has started a trend in creating villains that prove just as interesting and memorable as the heroes and aren't named Loki, with Vulture really kicking that into full force! He's got a motive that is compelling and relatable, while providing enough menace to be a genuine threat, and the twist revealing him as Liz's father was extremely effective and unexpected, raising the stakes for Peter and making things extremely personal. Also, his theme song KICKS ASS!!!
4. The tone really fits the film. It's got an upbeat feeling that works well with the high school setting and with Spidey's antics whenever the Vulture isn't involved. This movie is also very, very funny. A thing I like about the MCU, one thing I feel they excel at, is the humor, and this movie does that exceptionally well. All in all, this movie did a good job making you feel good, which I believe a Spider-Man movie should always carry with it. 
5. This movie, here more than anywhere else, is where I feel they captured the idea of Peter learning that with great power, comes great responsibility perfectly. Throughout the movie, Peter feels like he can do almost anything with his new powers, but he soon realizes that some things are too big to handle, even for Spider-Man. By the end, Peter learns that he should stick to what he's truly capable of doing instead of trying to be bigger than he actually is. And that is something we can all truly relate and inspire to.

DOWNS

1. The romance just didn't really go anywhere for the most part. I'm not saying it had to be a primary focus of the movie, but much like "Wonder Woman," I think it needed more time to grow. Oh well, I guess we'll see where Peter goes with Michelle...or MJ?
2. The suit doesn't really work for me. It just seems too animated and the technical stuff was too much (but I did like "Karen.") For all intents and purposes, all I'm going to say is sometimes, less is more. The suit introduced at the end looked pretty sick though. 
3. Remember how I said Tony Revolori and Marisa Tomei did fine despite problems with the way their characters were written, well that's all that could be said because Flash Thompson and Aunt May were written all wrong to me. While I understand why they portrayed them the way they did, it's just not who they are. Flash is someone Peter could never stand up to, only doing so because of the newfound confidence his powers had given him. Once that happens, the tension between the two starts to lessen as time goes on, with the two even gaining a begrudging respect for one another. Here, he's a rich jerk who wants to be better than Peter at his own game, which makes his rivalry with Peter totally different and much less interesting. In the case of Aunt May, I was already queasy about her when she was introduced in "Civil War," but just like it did with convincing me that Holland is the definitive Spider-Man, "Homecoming" unfortunately convinced me that this Aunt May just isn't going to work for me. While I'm not saying Aunt May has to be ugly or anything, it just doesn't feel right seeing her portrayed as a middle-aged diva who is hit on by pretty much every guy that's not Peter (or Ned.) She may get better with time, same for Flash, but as of right now, these two are going to have a hard time topping these two.

OVERALL
Spider-Man: Homecoming is the Spider-Man movie we needed for a long time now. I'm very happy to see that my favorite hero is now in a place where he belongs. Now of course, it's got a few flaws, and while I loved it, it can't top Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2. Thankfully though, it's still amazing and I'm looking forward to seeing Spidey swinging his way back into our theater for Infinity War and beyond.

And now time to close out this blog the only way it should...

Wonder Woman (SPOILERS)

It's been a rough time for the DCEU. It's been a mixed bag and while I quite honestly enjoyed Man of Steel and Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, I can't say the same for Suicide Squad and I can also understand the criticisms that were being said. It was quite clear that there was a darker and edgier feel to the DCEU, and as a result most fans weren't thoroughly satisfied and couldn't hold much investment in the franchise...until the Princess of Themyscira came along and blew everyone away. To say Wonder Woman is an achievement would be an understatement, as this is a really great movie, definitely the best the DCEU has had. For this review, I will go over what worked to make this film the DCEU's saving grace, and what didn't work so well.

UPS

1. Gal Gadot is Wonder Woman. She was considered by many to be a highlight of BVS, but Wonder Woman makes it clear she is one of the best, if not the best, thing about the entire franchise. From beginning to end, Gadot brings a lot of layers to the character. She's curious, caring, gentle, adventurous, tough, strong, brave, and at times can be quite adorable. Now, as great as she is, she's got a great supporting cast to back her up, with an awesome actor leading the way...
2. Chris Pine is great as Steve Trevor. He has great chemistry with Gadot and is a great character in his own right. Wonder Woman is just as much his movie as it is hers, and they both do a spectacular job sharing the spotlight. By the time his ultimate sacrifice comes along, it's greatly moving since Pine's job in making the character connect with us was complete. 
3. The rest of the cast was just as good as well. Connie Nielsen and Robin Wright are great in their respective roles as Hippolyta and Antiope; Lucy Davis is delightful as the sweet and hilarious Etta Candy; And Said Taghmaoui, Ewan Bremmer, and Eugene Brave Rock as Sameer, Charlie, and Chief Napi provide great comic relief while also having interesting character moments and proving themselves to be valuable allies. Danny Huston, David Thewlis, and Elena Ayana also do good jobs as the villains of the film, even if they weren't given much to do (which I'll get to later.)
4. The hopeful, optimistic tone. The DCEU hasn't really brought about much hope in the past, but here, it comes in full force. Diana sees now that the world is filled with evil, and while that cannot be changed, she will still fight for the ones who deserve it, spreading love and hope the whole way through. It's a great message to convey and the movie does it exceptionally well.
5. The matter of it being a standalone film, as it helps the movie tells its story fully and completely without bearing the burden of setting up the rest of the universe. This is mostly what hindered BVS, so it's great that Wonder Woman took the opposite approach and just did what it set out to do without any interference.

 DOWNS

1. The villains were kind of sidelined for the most part. Though their actors did well in portraying them, they just didn't get much to do, which is a shame because what we did get from them was pretty awesome and interesting. For that reason, I was a bit disappointed.
2. Diana and Steve's romance felt a little rushed. Despite Gal Gadot and Chris Pine's chemistry, I felt their relationship didn't develop enough. I think the first time they should have kissed was when Steve left to sacrifice himself. While it was sweet and the chemistry helped tremendously, it needed more time to grow. 

OVERALL

Wonder Woman was a great film, which really benefits the DCEU, a fact that I am truly happy to know. It may not be the best DC movie ever made, but I do think it's pretty high up there, so expect a list coming soon ;) Now it's up to Justice League to make sure this success isn't in vain.

Well that's it for this blog guys. More will be coming soon :)