Avengers Infinity War Review: A Marvelous Epic

For ten years Marvel Studios has become a household name in the world of cinema. What started off with Tony Stark suiting up in Iron Man became a worldwide phenomenon with hit films such as The Avengers. However this extensive lineup has been leading to one event and at long last that event is finally here-Avengers: Infinity War. Directed by the team of Anthony and Joe Russo Infinity War brings Marvel's iconic team together with other superheroes in one huge blockbuster. On the eve of its release comic book fans and moviegoers alike came to see the colossal movie, and among the attendance was one Film Adventurer. When the dust settled and the film faded to black, I found myself practically stunned from the experience as Avengers: Infinity War is perhaps Marvel Studio’s most ambitious film to date.

The story of Infinity War centers on Avengers coming together again to face another threat, but this times the stakes have never been higher as Thanos (Josh Brolin) has emerged to find the Infinity Stones and bring “balance to the universe”. The plot was a massive one as it not only brought elements from the previous Avengers films together but it added threads from the likes of Guardians of the Galaxy. It was certainly a lot to take in but the execution of this superhero tale was handled admirably. The story scattered across the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the characters were placed in their own parts of the story. This kind of storytelling was akin to the likes of Lord of the Rings and it was an ambitious direction for the plot. However, while it was effective, spreading out the story so much hinder it a little bit as parts of the plot could get lost in the thick of things. Fortunately the individual stories came together in the end which led to a conclusion empowered by excitement. Filled with twists and big moments this plot was a culmination of storytelling, and though it may have been perfect it was still an effective story to bring everything to a head.

Black Panther Review: A Noble Superhero Film

The superhero genre continues to grow. For years this subgenre of movies have been defined by heroes such as Batman, Spider-Man and The Avengers. However these days the concept has branched out and brought a number of new faces to the silver screen. A cased point is latest hero to leap onto the silver screen: Black Panther. The Marvel hero made his cinematic debut in 2016’s Captain America: Civil War but now the character has his own adventure to have with director Ryan Coogler helming the superhero film. Quality wise Marvel Studios have been staggering on top of the mountain with their Phase 3 lineup, but Black Panther looked to be a strong entry for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After watching the new superhero movie I can safely say that Black Panther did not disappoint.

The movie tells the story of T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who fights for his country Wakanda as its guardian the Black Panther. After becoming king, T’Challa’s title and character are put to the test when Erik Killmonger (Michael B.Jordan) seeks to take the throne from T’Challa and bring a dark age to Wakanda. At first it was hard to get into the plot of Black Panther, but as it progressed  the story behind this superhero movie turned out to be quite engaging. The story’s structure, though effective, was a little too formulaic for its good. The narrative did work for the character of Black Panther, but it also created few surprises and several plot points were too predictable. However it was in the plot’s themes that made all the difference for the movie. At first the themes felt contrived , but as the film progressed the thematic elements flourished making this superhero tale a complex one that handled its ideas with care. Along with its strong themes was the story’s ability to create an interesting world within the boundaries of Wakanda. From its hierarchy to its spiritual side Wakanda was a realm filled with investing concepts that only enriched the plot in all the right ways. The plot lived up to the adventurous aspects that most superhero movies have, but it was through its keen presentation that aided this kingly story to stand out from the rest.