Aquaman

This review comes with a bit of a disclaimer: Truth be told, Aquaman is my all-time favorite superhero and has been since I was a little kid, so I was all in on this movie from the very first trailer. If you're looking for a purely objective view on this particular film, then take this blog post with a grain of salt because I'm coming at this one as fan who never thought he'd get a live-action, big budget, Aquaman film. 

Aquaman is the latest live-action superhero flick based on a DC character. Directed by James Wan, the film stars Amber Heard, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Nicole Kidman, Yahya Abdul Mateen II, Willem Dafoe and, of course, Jason Mamoa as the title character. The acting is pretty solid overall, and the story kept me engaged throughout. Being a comic book film and with significant portions taking place under water, I was a little worried going in that the CGI effects would be distracting but I feel that most of it was done well. 

While I don't know how this one will hit with audiences overall, for any fans of Aquaman this one offers a bit of everything that makes those comics interesting: It features Aquaman's two most iconic villains Ocean Master and Black Manta, sea monsters from the Trench, Mera, and Atlanteans fighting with tridents... it's all there. 

I had a blast with this one, and it's the most fun I had with a comic book movie this year.
4.5 out of 5 


*Also, If you want to know how all of the DC films stack up for me you can click HERE to see my rankings

The Spider-Man Films

Spider-Man is one of the most iconic characters in all of comic book history. So, it's only fitting that there have been several big-budget films made starring the wall-crawler, and after rewatching them all, I've come up with my worst-to-first ranking of all 7 Spider-Man films. Venom (2018) will not be included because Spider-Man isn't in it. Additionally, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) isn't included because this list is only for live-action films.

#7 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

This film is a mess. Sony tried to jam so much into the 2+hr runtime and none of it really works. Jamie Foxx as Electro doesn't work, the hints to a Sinister Six movie feel tacked on, the Green Goblin storyline feels shoehorned in, etc. Plus, the filmmakers had no idea what to do with Paul Giamatti and that is one of the great crimes against cinema.

#6 Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Toby Maguire's last film outing as Spider-Man suffered from being overstuffed with villains. In an effort to 'give the people what they want' Sandman and Venom were shoved alongside the James Franco turning into Green Goblin subplot that had been building since the second film. The Venom storyline (with someone other than Topher Grace) or Spider-Man vs Sandman could've been interesting movies on their own.

#5 The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

This movie is a total mixed-bag. For every thing the film gets right, it gets just as much wrong. The Lizard is a good Spider-Man villain but this film doesn't build Dr. Conners up as a mentor to Peter. Emma Stone knocks it out of the park as Gwen Stacy, but Andrew Garfield's Peter Parker skateboards to Coldplay... 

#4 Spider-Man (2002)

This is an overall solid superhero flick. It's well paced, pretty well written, and the cast is good. There are a few flaws and some of the CGI hasn't held up that great, but if you're looking for a Spider-Man film you can't go wrong with this one.

#3 Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Of every film on this list this is the one that I feel is the best Peter Parker story. That's not to say Alfred Molina isn't great as Dr. Otto Octavius, or that the Spider-Man elements are bad because both of those aspects are good. However, it's a film about choice, what it means to be a hero, the risk involved etc. and that sets it at the #3 spot.

#2 Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

Tom Holland continues to be my favorite big-screen version of Spider-Man. Even though I didn't like this one quite as much as Spider-Man: Homecoming, I still had a good time and thought the movie was a ton of fun.

#1 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Unlike Spider-Man in 2003 or The Amazing Spider-Man in 2009 which featured Peter Parker getting superpowers and being a hero almost immediately, this film shows a a kid who is still learning and making rookie mistakes throughout. Yes, there is a lot of good comedy and yes the MCU tie-ins are nice but it is that aspect of feeling like this is a real teenager who wants to be an Avenger but still has a lot to learn that makes me enjoy this film above the others. Plus, Michael Keaton.

Spider-Man: Homecoming

It's no secret that we are living in something of a golden age for comic book movies. With even more obscure characters getting a lot of love at the box-office, it's no surprise that the big Hollywood decision makers keep green-lighting films about the most marketable of all superheros; Spider-Man.

Just within the last 15 years we've had Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and now Spider-Man: Homecoming. So, is it really worth spending you're hard earned money to see yet another Spider-Man movie? Yes, because this time I think they nailed it. I'm not going to give a bunch of spoilers away because this film is new and I do think it is worth going to see.

  

Now, for starters, the previous five Spider-Man films have ranged from good to awful. Both Toby Maguire and Andrew Garfield have taken up the role of the title character and both received mixed reviews. The general consensus is that Maguire didn't fully capture the Spider-Man side of the character and Garfield wasn't a believable Peter Parker. This time around they got it right, as Tom Holland was a great casting choice. He's believable as both a high school age Peter Parker and as Spider-Man, making it easy to become fully invested in this character. The supporting cast of Peter's friends and classmates is solid, Marisa Tomei is great as Aunt May, and Robert Downey Jr. delivers the goods as Tony Stark like he always does. However, the real standout in the film is Michael Keaton as the Vulture. It's easily one of the best villain performances in the MCU.

Which brings me to my next point; this is a Marvel Cinematic Universe film. Previously, because of Sony holding the movie rights, Spider-Man films have existed off in their own little world. Now, we have the extra complexities of Spider-Man wanting to become an Avenger and prove himself Tony Stark. Being part of a movie universe that includes Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Hulk, etc. allows this film to have a simple story without the need to make it about saving all of New York city. The film does have some good action and spectacle, but for the most part it all takes place Queens. It's established that the Avengers will save the world, Peter should just focus and on being a "friendly neighborhood Spider-Man" and that really works in the movie favor.

Overall, the movie is fun, it has a lot of heart, and it exceeded my expectations. If you're a Spider-Man fan then you're going to have a ton of fun watching this one. It's by far my favorite Spider-Man movie to this point, and I highly recommend it.

I give this one a 4.5 out of 5.

If you'd like to see how I think Spider-Man: Homecoming stacks up against the other films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, you can check out my complete MCU rankings by clicking here.

Wonder Woman

'Wonder Woman' is the latest attempt by DC Comics and Warner Bros. to get the ball rolling on a successful, cinematic universe that they hope will rival what the folks at Marvel Studios have been doing since 2008. 'Man of Steel' was underwhelming, 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice' was overstuffed and kinda boring, and 'Suicide Squad' was just a mess. So, is Wonder Woman the shot in the arm the DCEU needs and is it a film worth checking out? The answer to both is 'Yes'... for the most part. 

'Wonder Woman' is the best this extended universe has to offer thus far. It's not perfect but the good outweighs the bad. I did enjoy it being set during WWI as most movies set during a World War opt for WWII (probably because everyone knows the Nazis were bad, and that makes for an easy good vs bad dynamic). I think Gal Gadot was a great choice to play Wonder Woman and the rest of the cast is good enough. Also, in contrast tosome of the previous DCEU entries this isn't a bleak, gloomy movie. There are action scenes that aren't in the dark or the rain, and there's even some comedy that works. However, while the scenes with Wonder Woman kicking ass are genuinely entertaining, the rest of the film is pretty average. 

Overall, if you like comic book movies (which I do) then this is probably a good one to check out, but if super heros aren't your thing then this isn't a 'must-see' that's going to blow you away. 

I give it a 3 out of 5


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Today's Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

This one has been out for a few days now so I figured I'd check it out. Now,  I wasn't a huge fan of the first 'Guardians of the Galaxy' film from 2014 but I thought it was a fine comic book movie. (If you want to see where I have it ranked among the other Marvel Cinematic Universe films click here to check out that post.)

So, as usual, since this one is still in theaters I'll try to avoid any major spoilers for those who are interested in seeing the film. However, I will give you a few things I liked, disliked, and my overall rating.

First off, some of the problems I had with the first movie are still present in this one. Now, the film is well made so these are more personal preference things than anything else. Like it's predecessor this movie is jam packed with comedy and, for me, it's a bit much. I like some levity in my comic book films, after all they are about masked heros fighting super villains and the concept is inherently a bit silly. But there are a few too many jokes here and at times it felt like the comedy was slowing down the plot and got in the way of dramatic tension that should have existed. Additionally, I'm still not crazy about all the characters in this film franchise (Nebula, for example is one I just don't care for) so that does knock the movie down a peg for me.

I don't want to get too nitpicky because I did enjoy the film, so I'm going to move on to some highlights. Kurt Russell gives a standout performance in just about every movie he's in and this one was no different. I thought he was great in the movie, I liked his character, and his interactions with Star-Lord (played by Chris Pratt) we're some of the best moments of the film. Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) was my favorite character in the first 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and, even though I mentioned earlier how the film is a bit overstuffed with jokes, all of the comedic moments with Rocket worked for me again in this one. I also enjoyed the inclusion of Mantis (played by Pom Klementieff) and baby Groot, who I thought going in might be more annoying than anything, had some legitimately funny moments. Also, as in the first film, this one has a pretty good soundtrack that perfectly compliments the overall vibe of the movie.

Overall, I enjoyed this one a little more than the previous 'Guardians of the Galaxy'. There are some pacing issues but I did get a few laughs out of it and there was some growth to many of the characters. If you liked the first film then I recommend checking it out.

I give it a 4 out of 5.

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Tonight's Movie: Logan

I had some moderately high expectations going into this one; I had heard good things, read a couple of positive reviews, and the movie currently sits at a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes... So, while I'm not saying the movie is terrible by any stretch of the imagination, I do think it is a bit overrated.
Also, like I often do when reviewing a new film, I'm going to avoid any plot points that may spoil the movie and, instead, offer up my overall impression of the movie.

Now, while I do love the X-Men comic book characters, I have always been pretty critical of the big screen adaptations but, the one consistent positive is Hugh Jackman. Like so many good and bad X-Men films that came before (all of which I've ranked in a previous post that you can check out by clicking here) it's hard not to love Hugh Jackman as Logan/Wolverine. It is one of the all-time best live-action/comic book character castings, and Jackman doesn't disappoint in this one. And the same can be said for most of the acting throughout, I generally enjoyed most of the performances. Patrick Stewart is pretty solid as always and the girl who plays 'X-23' was good as well.

The overall look and feel of this film is a bit different than all the previous X-Men movies; It has a somber tone and a bit of a Western feel (which I liked), and also carries an R-rating which seemed necessary to tell this particular story. It's easy to feel some superhero fatigue with as many of these comic book movies that come out now but, this one felt like something fairly fresh in a formulaic genre. There are some great action scenes but, there are also a few times when the film drags a bit and the 137min runtime could've been cut down slightly. I didn't find the film's villain all that interesting , and there is at least one character that could've been completely cut from the film without it really affecting the plot at all. The first and third act I enjoyed but, it was the middle of the film that started to run on a bit. Additionally, if you are familiar with all of the previous X-Men movies then you may end up with a few unanswered questions throughout the film.

Overall, this is a movie that I really wanted to love and, while it is enjoyable as a whole, it's far from perfect. Maybe this one is worthy of the high praise it has received thus far, but I found it to be a slightly below what I was hoping for.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5.


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Ranking the X-Men Movies

 Well, it seems like the time has come to rank the X-Men movies. I've always loved the X-Men characters in the comics but, I find the films in this franchise to range from pretty good superhero movies at best, to barely watchable at worst. Now, I'm going to keep this to just the six films featuring the the actual X-Men team. So, spinoffs like the Wolverine solo movies and Deadpool aren't on this one. It's an interesting collection of films to compare because the films are also notorious for plot holes and continuity issues. That being said, here's how I rank them:

#6 X-Men: First Class (2011)

This was the first film to back track and show the formation of the X-Men many years prior to the events of 2000's X-Men film. Unfortunately, as with many prequels, this would start opening up plot holes and start really screwing with the continuity of the franchise.

#5 X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

There are moments in this one that were enjoyable but, overall, I didn't like the film. As with the two films in the franchise that proceeded this one, I'm not a fan of a lot of the cast and many of the effects are sub-par. Plus, the plot is all over the place.


#4 X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

It was close between the #3 and #4 selections, because I think both films are kind of a mixed-bag. However, the boring plot and the fact that I like the original cast better lead to this one falling to the #4 spot. Also, while having Hugh Jackman back is a plus, it kinda gets canceled out by having Jennifer Lawrence as Mystique being a main character again.

#3 X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

This one I think is often regarded as a much worse movie than it actually is. There are some dumb moments and some of the characters introduced in it just don't work (for example: Juggernaut was horrendous). On the other hand, I thought Kelsey Grammer as Beast was a good choice. It's still watchable.

#2 X2: X-Men United (2003)

 This was a good follow up to the original, and in some ways was the superior movie. It's fun and there is some decent action. It's not my favorite, but it's several notches above all of the previously listed film on this list.

#1 X-Men (2000)

 To me the original did it the best. It's not a perfect film but I thought the cast was solid, the plot was straight-forward, it kept me entertained throughout, and I think it's the most rewatchable of the bunch.


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Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

I already talked briefly about this one in my Marvel Cinematic Universe piece saying, among other things, "...The characters are fine, and the story was alright but had some pacing issues". And that pretty representative of my overall feelings about this movie: I don't hate it, but I don't love it either, it's a mixed-bag. Rather than go into all the plot details, I'm just going to pick apart some of the good and bad about this one. 

First off, if you haven't seen it, it has a pretty big cast of characters: The Guardians are comprised of Star-Lord played by Chris Pratt who has a funny line here and there, but overall I think he's just OK in the film. One of the creatures joining him is Groot, who's gimmick is just saying "I am Groot" (a perfect role for someone with as little acting range as Vin Diesel). Along with Groot you have the wise-cracking 'Rocket' Raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper, and easily my favorite character in the film. Filling out the team you have Gamora played by Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, and they're both decent choices for their respected roles.

 The main villain of the film is Ronan the Accuser and I don't find him to be all that menacing but, I don't think that was actor Lee Pace's fault, I think it was just dull writing. There's also a little bit of Josh Brolin as Thanos but not enough to really comment on. Some of the other supporting characters are played by a decent cast made up of John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio del Toro, Karen Gillian... and everyone is serviceable in their roles. The only one that stands out in a negative way is Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta, I prefer to fast-forward past all of his scenes.

Moving on past the characters, the plot revolves around a metal orb that contains one of the Infinity stones. This is a bit of a problem that pops up from time to time in the MCU; Thanos needs all of these Infinity stones for a future movie (Avengers: Infinity War) and sometimes it hurts the plot of the movie you're currently watching. Guardians of the Galaxy may be the worst victim of this. The film takes place in space with a unknown number of cool, epic stories that could be told, but the plot is instead beholden to the Infinity stone thoughline. It doesn't tank the whole film but, it makes what could have been a big, space adventure movie feel very small, and this is probably an even bigger issue if you don't follow the MCU and have no idea that Thanos is trying collect all six stones.

I know I'm ragging on this movie a lot but there are things about it I do like. Like I stated earlier the character of 'Rocket' Raccoon is my favorite in the film, I get a decent numbers of laughs out of the movie and most come from him. While there are some pacing issues here and there, the film contains a number of really fun scenes (the prison break scene being my personal favorite) and top-notch cinematography. There are definitely a few Marvel films I prefer over this one but, if nothing else, it's pretty entertaining.

I give this one a 3 out of 5.

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Best of 2016

2016 has come to a close and, as with every year, there were plenty of great movies and disappointments to hit theaters.
 I originally thought about doing a sort of every-man version of the Oscars and pick my favorite actor, director, supporting actor, film score, etc. from this year, but I ended up with just too many categories. So, I decided to break it down into three categories that stood out to me after all my trips to the theater this year.

Best Comic Book Movie:

Captain America: Civil War

Comic Book movies get their own category because now more than ever before there is no shortage of action-packed hero flicks hitting the big screen every year. There was a lot to be excited about going into 2016, but i would say there were more negatives in this category than positives. Civil War was pretty awesome and Dr. Strange was good but, for me, movies like X-men: Apocalypse, Deadpool, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, and Suicide Squad either didn't live up to the hype or were flat-out disappointments. Some of these movies would have a good action scene or a fun character but Captain America: Civil War was thoroughly enjoyable and, as a result, was the one that really stood out from the rest of the pack.

Best Animated Movie:

Moana

Much like the Comic Book category this wasn't a close call for me. It had been a while since an animated film came around that I absolutely loved, and then Disney's Moana came out. I wasn't the biggest Finding Nemo fan so I didn't expect Finding Dory to thrill me,and it didn't. I found Trolls hard to sit through, Storks was funny, I didn't even get through all of Secret Life of Pets, Zootopia didn't really move the needle for me, I skipped out on yet another Ice Age sequel... Moana was the only one that really had me entertained, and I even went back to see it a second time.

Best Thing I wasn't Expecting:

Hacksaw Ridge

There were a quite a few movies I really enjoyed this year that caught me off guard. I was surprised how much I liked The Jungle Book remake, but the toss up was really between Hacksaw Ridge and In a Valley of Violence. Both were films that weren't even on my radar until right before they came out, and I thought both were really entertaining. In this category, I give the edge to Hacksaw Ridge because I think it's a bit of a better all-around film but I do recommend checking out both of them if you have the opportunity. (Here are links to both reviews Hacksaw Ridge, In a Valley of Violence)
As a bit of a side note: One movie that wasn't quite as good as I was expecting was Rob Zombie's 31. I liked it but it didn't blow me away.

  A big thanks to everyone who has been reading my reviews this year.

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Today's Movie: Doctor Strange (2016)

 

The film Doctor Strange is a based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch. The film has only recently come out so for those who have yet to see it, I'll do my best to give a review without spoiling it.

My expectations going in were pretty high, and I felt the film lived up to those expectations.

The plot is very similar in structure to one of my favorite MCU films: Iron Man. Like that movie this features a main character that is brilliant but also quite arrogant. Then, after a tragedy, he sees the error of his ways, and by the end of the film he's a hero. Simple idea but when it's done well make for an enjoyable viewing experience. One of the unfortunate things, as with many MCU movies, the villain wasn't great. However, despite a lackluster villain the movie does have a lot of positives going for it. First off, the film is visually stunning, with a ton of really cool effects. I really liked Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange, and I thought they did a solid job of bringing that character to life while also keeping the film moving along at a decent pace. There are some lighthearted moments scattered throughout and most (but not all) of the jokes and quips hit there mark.

Overall, I'm not quite sure where I'd rank this film among the others in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after only one viewing, (a ranking of all the other MCU films can be found by clicking here: http://onlyinthemoviesblog.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-marvel-cinematic-universe.html) but it's a fun, enjoyable film and I definitely recommend going to the theater and checking it out.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe

With Marvel's newest film ‘Dr. Strange’ coming to theaters soon it seems like a good point to look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe up to this point.

I’ve ranked the films worst-to-first based on a variety of factors; story, villain, initial viewing and rewatchability etc. But most importantly, the list is simply about how much I enjoyed one film over another.

#13 The Incredible Hulk (2008)

This one, for me, is the most forgettable of the MCU films. Edward Norton is solid but the CGI doesn’t hold up and the movie just isn't much fun.

#12 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Just because it’s #12 doesn’t make it a bad movie, it just doesn’t stack up well against some of the others on the list. The characters are fine, and the story was alright but had some pacing issues. I guess overall, it just didn’t ‘Wow’ me.

#11 Iron Man 3 (2013)

This one is a bit of a mixed-bag. Initially I didn’t care for it, probably because I had such high expectations going in, but over time and a few repeat viewings I’ve found a good number of things I really like in the movie.

#10 Thor: The Dark World (2013)

This sequel to 2011’s ‘Thor’ is a solid movie that just suffers from a forgettable villain. We get to see more of Asgard in this one which is a plus.

#9 Iron Man 2 (2010)

This movie isn't bad, but at times it feels like more of a setup for future MCU films than an Iron Man one. On the plus side, War Machine and Black Widow are fun additions.

#8 Ant-Man

I was kind of surprised by how much I enjoyed this one when I first saw it. It’s a really fun movie. There is the one big MCU tie-in when Ant-Man comes across Falcon, but like ‘Iron Man’ the movie is able to stand on its own without relying too heavily on the rest of the MCU.

#7 Thor (2011)

The film doesn't have the most compelling Marvel hero and it isn't the most action-packed of the bunch, but it's a solid entry and Chris Hemsworth is another example of great casting by the folks at Marvel.

#6 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

I probably like this one more than most people. I think it's a really fun and well done movie, especially since origin stories so often end up being boring.

#5 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

While it is a really fun action packed movie, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.  I liked the larger roster of Avengers, but I didn't find Ultron all that menicing.

#4 Captain America: Civil War (2016)

 This was one of the hardest to rank, and over time I may even move it a slot higher or lower after a few more viewings. There are a lot things I loved about it and a few things I didn't, but overall it's really entertaining.

#3 The Avengers (2012)

There was nothing quite like seeing Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Hawkeye all fighting alongside one another for the first time on the big screen. It’s still one of the coolest MCU moments.

#2 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

This almost made the #1 spot. It’s an action packed thriller, and one of the all-time best comic book movies.  great addition to the MCU.

#1 Iron Man (2008)

The film that started it all still holds up as my favorite. The plot isn't overly complicated, and Robert Downey Jr. is excellent as Tony Stark.

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For more comic and movie content be sure to also check out the Psycholander Podcast:

https://youtu.be/noMQyeFUVhg

*Update* 'Doctor Strange' has been released and you can check out my review for that movie here:

http://onlyinthemoviesblog.blogspot.com/2016/11/todays-movie-doctor-strange-2016.html?m=1