Avengers: Infinity War packs a punch in Marvel's longest movie to date

Movie Title:    Avengers: Infinity War

Grade:  A

Rating: PG-13, 156 minutes  (the longest Marvel film to date)

In a Nutshell:  Starring…well….EVERYONE!  All of your favorite Marvel superheroes get spotlighted, a difficult task that the Russo brothers capably tackled.

As the 19^th film released by Marvel Studios in the past 10 years or so, with more to hit the Big Screen next month and into the summer of 2018, clearly, Marvel is the big boy at the Box Office.

I've been looking forward to this movie for a long time and I don't want to include a bunch of spoilers here, so this review will be, surprisingly, quite short!  I want you to be able to experience all of the fun excitement and heartbreaking drama for yourself. 

The one word that truly describes this movie is EPIC.

                                            

Uplifting theme: 

·    Hope and desperation

• Sacrifice for others
• Revenge
• Love
• The price of war
• Friendship, forgiveness, mending old wounds
• Genocide

Tips for parents: 

• Some profanity, but no F-bombs.
• LOTS of violence, sometimes with bloody, brutal deaths.  Super high dead body count.   
• LOTS of destruction and people in perilous situations.
• Some characters we have come to know and love actually die in this movie.  Your heart will break.  It’s a bit surprising and especially sad for people who really love these characters.
• Some creepy, scary monsters and characters.

                                                         

Things I liked:

• I loved it when the superheroes met each other for the very first time. The audience I watched the movie with especially howled with laughter when the Guardians of the Galaxy (my favorite Marvel characters) meet Thor.
• Josh Brolin as Thanos is awesome.  Thanos is a truly evil villain because of his motivation.
• The humor is perfect.  The characters play off each other really well with extremely entertaining banter.
• I’m not a fan of the “shaky cam” technique, so I was grateful that the Russo brothers were careful not to use it much.  There is, however, a LOT of action, so you'll want to sit towards the back of the theater in order to see it all without getting dizzy.
• Marvel’s storytelling has an unpredictability to it that makes it even more fun for viewers and fans. You just can't always predict what's going to happen.  
• Keep watching after the rolling credits for a final scene that hints at what’s to come.  The good news is that there is more to come! 
• I love it when Marvel gives Stan Lee a cameo spot.  It’s always so fun to see where they put him in the movies.
• Iron Man’s new nano-tech uniform was super cool.
• I adore Paul Betany and loved seeing him “not” red for a short time.
•  Fantastic fight and action sequences.
• Impressive CGI.  It's truly amazing what they can do in film nowadays.

Things I didn’t like:

• When you mix that many bigger-than-life characters, the film is bound to be crowded, busy, and uneven in tone.
• The ending is a bit vague and unfinished.  We don’t quite know what happened, but one thing is certain…there will be a grand finale!  It kind of feels like the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, which was good, but somewhat unsatisfying because you knew you’d have to wait another year for the rest of the story.
• Quite a few Avenger-related characters were not present.
•  You really need to have seen all of the recent Marvel movies in order to understand the back stories of the characters and appreciate the many Easter eggs and jokes.

Funny lines:

• “Fun isn’t something one considers when balancing the universe, but this does put a smile on my face.” – Thanos (Josh Brolin
• “Hunk a Hulk of burning love is our favorite.” – Wong (Benedict Wong)
• He’s not a dude.  You’re a dude.  He’s a man.  A muscular man.” – Drax (Dave Bautista) talking about Thor.
• “It’s like a pirate had a baby with a angel.” – Drax talking about Thor
• Kevin Bacon joke.  Ha ha Love it.
• “I seriously don’t know how you fit your head into that helmet.” – Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to Ironman (Robert Downey Jr.)
• “You speak Groot?” – Rocket (Bradley Cooper)

“Yes, they taught it on Asgard.  It was an elective.” – Thor (Chris Hemsworth)

• “We do not want another single pop culture reference out of you during this trip.” – Ironman to Spiderman

Interesting lines:

• Why would I lie?” – The Collector (Benicio Del Toro)

“I imagine it’s like breathing for you.” – Thanos

• “Reality is often disappointing.” – Thanos
• “You’ve got some nerve.” – Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt)

“You could use some of that right now.” – Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson)

• “If life is left unchecked, life will cease to exist. It needs correction.” – Thanos
• “The hardest choices require the strongest will.” - Thanos

Movies you need to see to better understand this one:

      

                                                           

                                           @trinaboice

Justice League gets mixed reviews

Movie Title: 
 Justice LEAGUE

Grade:  B

Rating:   PG-13, 110 minutes

In a Nutshell:  With this much superpower force, this movie should have been awesome, but is getting very mixed reviews.

The gathering of the Avengers in Captain America: Civil War brought together fun and quirky personalities that created a super spark that surprised and delighted audiences, something that this movie struggles with.

Uplifting theme: 

• “Hope is like your car keys – easy to lose, but if you look around, you can find it.” - Superman (Henry Cavill)
• “Hope is real.  All you have to do is look…up in the sky.” – Lois Lane (Amy Adams) 

Things I liked:

• I think Gal Gadot is gorgeous and I was looking forward to seeing her again after her successful Wonder Woman movie. Unfortunately, she gets a little lost in all the testosterone and frenzied action.
• Keep watching ALL the way to the very last of the rolling credits to see two more clips.
• The Amazonian women are awesome.  Their battle sequence was one of the best in the entire movie.  Their costumes and hair were dramatically changed from what they looked like in the Wonder Woman movie.  Hmmm...which one is going to stick?
• Most of the CGI is really great.
• I like Ben Affleck as Batman.  He’s certainly the solid leader in this league and his fans will think his opening scene is really cool.
• I thought Jason Momoa made a cool, bad boy Aquaman and I'm excited to see him in his own feature film for this character, which comes out December 21, 2018 in the USA.

Things I didn’t like:

• I was excited to see how DC was going to handle Superman’s death, and was pleased to see he was given so much respect in this movie.  I really like Henry Cavill as Superman in Man of Steel (2013) I think Henry Cavill is so handsome, but what was going on with his CGI face?  It turns out that he had a mustache for his upcoming role in Mission Impossible and Paramount forbade him to remove it, so they used CGI to brush over the stash.  Weird, right?  I thought it was ridiculous that Batman beat Superman to begin with in Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice.  Superman is way better than Batman. You can read my movie review of Batman vs. Superman here.
• Some of the action sequences seemed so rush and chaotic that it's hard to see what's happening.  You don't see a lot of civilians in the fighting areas, which tends to make the scenes feel less dangerous and urgent.
• The DC movies are much more dark than the Avenger films.  Based on huge box office sales at Marvel movies, audiences seem to prefer a more light-hearted superhero action flick.  My youngest son explains it by saying, “Marvel is self-aware and doesn’t take itself so seriously.”  Yup.
• I would have loved to see more of Atlantis.
• Barry Allen/The Flash played by Ezra Miller is supposed to provide the comic relief for the movie, but a lot of the humor falls flat.  He also looks really strange when he's running. Weird, since that's his big talent.
• People who aren’t familiar with DC Comics may not know who Steppenwolf is, other than they’ve heard of the rock band with the same name.  ha ha  We first saw a blurred glimpse of Steppenwolf in a deleted scene in the movie Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice, which was later released online.  He’s scary, mean, bad, and angry, but there are rumors we’ll learn more about him and the Darkseid in future movies.
• JUSTICE LEAGUE had to undergo a lot of reshoots and redo’s, because it was directed by two different directors.  Unfortunately, the first director’s daughter died, so he pulled out of the project.
• The character introductions seemed rushed for the new superheroes like Aquaman, Cyborg, and the Flash.  Warner Brothers has tried to keep their superhero movies at 2 hours or less, but this movie could have benefitted by longer backstories that explained character motivation better.  Comic book fans who are familiar with the characters and stories will be able to fill in the missing gaps, but the general public won’t.
• It always bugs me when trailers have lines and scenes that aren’t even in the final movie.
• Once you see the movie, you’ll probably forget it.

Interesting lines:

• “Technology without reason, without heart, destroys us.” – Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot)
• “I believe in truth, but I’m also a big fan of justice.” - Superman
• “What are you?” – bad guy

“A believer.” – Wonder Woman

• “You’re out of your mind, Bruce Wayne.” – Aquaman

“Doesn’t mean I’m wrong.” – Batman

• “Darkness, true darkness is not the absence of light, but the conviction that the light will not return.” – Lois Lane

Funny lines:

• “What are your super powers again?” – Barry Allen (Ezra Miller)

“I’m rich.” – Batman

• “It’s good to see you play well with others again.” – Alfred (Jeremony Irons)

“Dressed like a bat.  I dig it.” – Aquaman

“It may be temporary.” – Batman

• “Children.  I work with children.” – Wonder Woman

Tips for parents: 

• One of the superheroes drinks alcohol.
• Some profanity.
• Shootings, violent fighting, death of humans and other creatures.
• Lots of butt shots and skimpy clothing on Wonder Woman.  I really liked her movie, but she's treated like just another pretty object in this one.

@trinaboice 

Thor hammers into our hearts with entertaining humor and action

Movie Title:
  Thor: Ragnarok

Grade:  A

Rating: PG-13, 130 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Count them…17!  Thor: Ragnarok is the 17^th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  New Zealand director Taika Waititi directs this super colorful, funny superhero movie presented by Walt Disney Pictures.  He also voices the lovable character Korg.

It’s fresh and fun family entertainment that makes us love Thor even more.

Uplifting theme: 

• Brother’s keeper
• Forgiveness
• People are more important than places.
• Teamwork, unity
• Love, service to others
• “A wise king must never seek out war, but must always be ready for it.” – Thor
• “I choose to run towards my problems and not away, because that’s what heroes do.” - Thor

Things I liked:

• Chris Hemsworth is awesome, but everyone else in the cast also steals the show.  It’s a collection of fantastic actors who each contribute unique, entertaining characters to the story.
• Tom Hiddleston is a better Loki we’re learning to love.
• I have adored the talented, beautiful Cate Blanchett for many years.  How is it that she never ages, but I do?  She makes a fantastic villain.
• Anthony Hopkins is always epic.
• Awwww, Benedict Cumberbatch.  Doctor Strange has an amusing visit with Thor.
• Mark Ruffalo spends more time being The Incredible Hulk, but Hulk is really endearing in this film.
• Jeff Goldblum is hilarious.  I love him in everything he does.
• Fun surprise cameo towards the very beginning of the movie.  No spoilers!
• It appears that Marvel has finally learned that audiences love fun, funny, irreverent, out-of-the box thinking superhero movies.  Ever since the first Guardians of the Galaxy (Plus Bonus Features)thrilled audiences, superhero movies have lightened up a lot more, don’t you think?
• Female fans get to see Chris Hemsworth with his shirt off.  Wow, those arms are the size of tree trunks!  For those who love his long, golden locks, you’re in for a surprise.
• I love that Marvel puts Stan Lee in every movie. I always look forward to seeing what funny line they give him.
• Stay until the end of the first set of credits to see more.  Then, stay until the very, very end of all the credits to see another funny scene with the Grandmaster.
• In an interview, Taika Waititi said that 80% of the movie was improvised.  What?  That’s crazy and amazing!
• Led Zepplin’s Immigrant Song really rocks the final battle scene.
• The Gladiator scene with Thor and Hulk in the arena was extremely entertaining.
• Some new creatures and characters fill the Marvel Universe with even more creativity and fantasy.
• Energizing soundtrack: Thor: Ragnarok 

Things I didn’t like:

·    Some fake video-game looking fight scenes.

• Some of the jokes don’t quite get the reaction I’m sure the director hoped they would.
• It helps to have seen Thor and  Thor: The Dark World and know the characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  You'll enjoy the movie more.

Funny lines:

• “Yes!  We know each other!  He’s a friend from work.” – Thor talking about when he first sees Hulk in the arena
• "I have been falling for 30 minutes!" - Loki

Tips for parents: 

• Superhero violence and destruction.
• You see the naked backside of Hulk.
• Some profanity
• Young children may be frightened by a big, fiery monster

MOVIE REVIEW MOM

@trinaboice 

Saban's Power Rangers fans relive the cheesy glory days

Movie Title:  Saban's Power Rangers

Grade:  C+

Rating:  PG-13, 124 minutes

In a Nutshell:  Does anyone actually care about the Power Rangers anymore?  My 4 sons absolutely loved it…back in the day, but I didn’t think it was even relevant to kids anymore.  

Seems like just a morphin cash grab to me in more ways than one.

Uplifting theme: 

• Friendship, loyalty, teamwork, sacrifice 

Things I liked:

• Fans of the Power Rangers will probably enjoy it just for old time’s sake.
• The characters are pretty well fleshed out with back stories, which pleasantly surprised me.
• The training sequences were pretty fun.
• Bryan Cranston is awesome in everything.  Did you know he actually voiced some of the characters in the original 1990’s TV show?  Cool.  Billy Cranston’s character in the movie was actually named after Bryan Cranston.  Even cooler.
• Their outfits have definitely gotten an upgrade.
• There is plenty of trivia for fans to sink their teeth into as the movie does a pretty good job paying homage to the source material.

Things I didn’t like:

• Krispy Kreme gets HUGE product placement.  Kind of weird, right?  Product placement always kind of annoys me, because it's so manipulative and an obvious cash grab. In this case, it’s a BIG part of the story line. Did you hear that Krispy Kreme is actually changing the name of the company in England, because customers there can’t figure out how to pronounce it correctly?  True story.
• Most of the lead teenagers are super annoying delinquents who are rude, self-absorbed, and whiny. They almost try to out-do each other to see which one of them is least understood and outcast. Even before the five teenagers get their special powers, they’re involved in very dangerous activities.  These kids are not great role models.  Of course, they finally figure out how to work as a team and sacrifice for each other (not a big spoiler alert), but I didn’t like most of them.  On top of that, they all buy into killing Rita within minutes.  I did, however, think R.J. Cyler (Blue Ranger) was the most compelling Ranger and did a great job.
• Rita Repulsa.  What a name. Ha ha.  Instead of declaring her intentions to conquer the world or the universe, she pretty much just trashes a little town.  Ha ha  Elizabeth Banks’ accent seemed off, but I appreciate that she was trying to go over-the-top campy like the original TV character did.
• Some bad editing moments.
• The original 90’s TV show was super cheesy and knew it.  That’s what made it really fun.  This movie mixes up the cheese with serious drama, so it often feels disjointed in tone.
• For an origin story, it’s fairly cliché.
• There are some really inappropriate jokes.
• It’s kind of like the directors picked out what special effects they wanted to use and then built a story around it.

Funny lines:

• “Yippee Kayay, Mother Fu….Mother.  Mother’s good.” – Blue Ranger (R.J.Cyler)
• “You five are the Power Rangers!” – Alpha 5 (Bill Hader)

“Are we like Iron Man or Spiderman?” – Blue Ranger

• “My guess is we have 11 years.  No, days.  Eleven days.” – Alpha 5
• “I’m pretty sure I’m a super hero.” – Pink Ranger (Naomi Scott)

“Pee in that cup!” – Kimberly Hart’s mom

• “Jason, did you just slap her?” – Blue Ranger

“I did.  Weird, right?” – Jason Lee Scott/Red Ranger (Dacre Montgomery)

• “Sorry, Bumblebee!” – Blue Ranger (Transformers reference)

Dumb lines:

• “Take that!” – Pink Ranger
• “Bring it on!” – Pink Ranger
• “We got this!” – Pink Ranger
• “My family is so normal.  Too normal.” – Yellow Ranger (Becky G)

Tips for parents: 

• Lots of fighting and destruction.
• A surprising amount of profanity.
• There are some subtitles you’ll have to read for little ones.
• There are several inappropriate jokes that will, hopefully, go over the heads of most kids.

If you love the Power Rangers and can't get enough, check out Saban's Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - The Complete First Season on 6 Dvds - 60 Episodes Uncut

@trinaboice 

The next Captain America will be black

In an explanation posted on its website under the headline, “It’s time for an all-new Captain America,” Marvel announced that the next Captain America will be black. 

The change comes after the retirement of Captain America’s longtime alter ego, Steve Rogers. He will hand the persona off to his friend Sam Wilson, who is the identity behind Falcon. 

 The news comes a day after Marvel announced another major change when it revealed that Thor would be reintroduced as a woman. The changes to the characters will be limited to the comic-book pages, and not yet on the big screen.