Ant-Man and the Wasp Review: Sizes Up as A Entertaining Sequel

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe many heroes have risen to stardom. The likes of the Avengers and Spider-Man being major players is no surprise, but this movie continuum has also featured more obscure characters such as Doctor Strange and the Guardians of the Galaxy; and they have proven to play a vital role in this shared franchise. Among the MCU alumni is none other than the minuscule Avenger: Ant-Man. Ant-Man made his cinematic debut in the 2015 blockbuster and managed to make an impression as his solo film was filled with wit and style. Needless to say that it would not be long before moviegoers would see Ant-Man again as the character not only appeared in Captain America: Civil War but the small time hero received a sequel in the form of Ant-Man and the Wasp. Once again directed by Peyton Reed, the sequel features Ant-Man teaming up with his iconic partner the Wasp. The film has been receiving good buzz (a shocking revelation if I’ve ever heard one) as the likes of critics have praised the movie for its sense of fun. Yet the prospect of a Marvel movie being fun is not enough to sway this Film Adventurer. Truth be told I have not been ecstatic for Ant-Man and the Wasp as details surrounding the film have made me skeptical. Regardless I journeyed to the cinema to see this new superhero film, and after it was all said and done I have to say that Ant-Man and the Wasp was...enjoyable.

The story of Ant-Man and the Wasp deals with Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) teaming up with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) who seek to enter the quantum realm in order to find the long lost Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeifer). The story of Ant-Man and the Wasp is perhaps the weakest part of this movie. The story’s concept was not bad but when it came down to it there was little to no substance within the plot itself. The main conflict lacked impact and the story had a tendency to rely on tropes and conveniences too much. Yet this was not to say everything about the story was disappointing. The plot’s adventurous aspects, for the most part, was enjoyable while certain dilemmas ,like Scott dealing with his house arrest, gave the plot a grounded nature. It was these factors that made the plot an enjoyable experience even if the lacking details prevented the superhero tale from reaching its full stature.

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.

Thor Ragnarok Review: The Weakest Marvel Film Yet!

The Holiday Season is about to get underway which means that it is time for a big time blockbuster; or to be precise it is time for another film from Marvel Studios. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has already had it's share of films this year with the likes of the Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 and Spider-Man: Homecoming. Now the studio brings its year to an end with none other than Thor: Ragnarok-.the next solo adventure for the God of Thunder. Directed by Taika Waititi Ragnarok puts the Mighty Avenger in a cosmic journey that also serves the MCU's version of the Norse End of Days. With a distinct design and the appearance of a certain Avenger, Ragnarok looked to be an exciting blockbuster that could certainly be another hit for Marvel Studios. However what I experienced was quite possibly the weakest Marvel film to date.

Ragnarok features Thor (Chris Hemsworth) trying to stop the goddess of death Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying Asgard. Yet this proves to be a task for Thor after he loses his hammer and is trapped on the planet Sakaar where he is forced to compete in the Grandmaster's (Jeff Goldblum) Contest of Champions; which also features the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) as a contender. The plot of Ragnarok, in of itself, was not bad. The tale to this superhero film had interesting ideas and plenty of moments that ranged from being enjoyable as well as captivating. However how this story was handled is what made the difference for me, and in this case the latest chapter in Thor's journey left much to be desired. While the story had good ideas it did little to implement them. The plot was suppose to be the MCU's take on Ragnarok and yet the Asgard element loses its impact because the story focused on being a space adventure Now this would not have been a problem if the adventure was compelling, but sadly it was not. The reason for this leads to the other problem in the story: the plot's pacing.  As soon as Thor lands on Sakaar the story starts to move at a snail’s pace which it made it increasingly difficult to sit through the movie. When it came right down to it this was a story that relied to much on convenience and padding which suggest that this movie had more important things to worry about then telling a good story.

Spider-Man Homecoming Review: Spins a Dynamic and Refreshing Web!

Many superheroes have transcended the pages of comics into the realm of pop culture-particularly film. Among these heroes is none other than Wall Crawler himself: Spider-Man. Often labeled as Marvel Comics poster child' Spider-Man has become an icon in pop culture as the character has had the likes of television series and video games to his name. The likes of movies has not escaped the iconic hero as Spider-Man has swung onto the silver screen on five different occasions. Now the Web Slinger returns yet again to big screen in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Directed by Jon Watts Spider-Man Homecoming starts a new adventure for the icon as the latest blockbuster marks Spidey's first solo film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The new prospect from both Marvel and Sony looked promising for the franchise, however certain elements (like the marketing's excessive use of the MCU) left this Film Adventurer a little worried about Spider-Man's latest outing. So is Spider-Man: Homecoming a defining entry in the franchise or does this summer blockbuster get stuck in its own web?

Homecoming tells the story of Peter Parker (Tom Holland) who continues his role as Spider-Man (after the events of Captain America: Civil War) and tries to maintain balance in his school life. Though Peter is active in his role as the "Friendly Neighborhood" Spider-Man the young hero feels that he can do more to protect the city. Peter gets a chance to prove himself when he stumbles on a criminal operation run by Adrian Toomes/The Vulture (Michael Keaton) to sell high tech weaponry to the criminal underworld. Peter's determination to stop the Vulture gets the better as him as he quickly realizes that with great power comes great responsibility.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 Review: A Hard Rocking Sequel For Marvel Studios

It is the start of the summer which can only mean that things kick off with another superhero blockbuster, and who better to start the season then with the Guardians of the Galaxy? What was a wild card for Marvel Studios became one of the most successful superhero movies of all time as the 2014 film received a massive amount of success. Now the intergalactic team is back in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2. Once again directed by James Gunn this 2017 sequel continues the Guardians' adventure in a way that Marvel knows best. With the first film being such a success it is no surprise that this new film has had a lot to live up to. So does this sequel blast off as another success for Marvel, or are the Guardians just a one hit wonder?

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 once again centers on the team of Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel). After a mission goes south the Guardians encounter a man named Ego (Kurt Russell) who turns out to be Peter's father. Ego takes Peter, Gamora and Drax to his planet where he hopes to reconnect with his son. However things are not as they appear to be which leads to the the Guardians dealing with a galaxy scale conflict; not to mention deal with problems such as the vengeful high priestess Ayesha (Elizabeth Debecki), Yondu (Michael Rooker) and his Ravangers and Gamora's sister Nebula (Karen Gillan).

Doctor Strange Review: Redefines Movie Magic!

Since 2008 the Marvel Cinematic Universe has taken moviegoers on many adventures. We have seen heroes unite in the likes of The Avengers and have gone to the far reaches of space in Guardians of the Galaxy. At this point it is hard to imagine that there is any new concept that can be brought to the MCU, but that may not be the case thanks to the anticipated fall blockbuster: Doctor Strange. Directed by Scott Derrickson Doctor Strange brings something new to Marvel by dealing with the concept of magic and the mystic arts. Along with new ideas Doctor Strange looked to be a must see this year thanks to its sense of spectacle; but could this Marvel film enchant its way to success or is this blockbuster a poor magic trick?

The Marvel film centers on Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch): a egotistical neurosurgeon who loses the use of his hands after a car accident. Using all of his resources Stephen tries to find a way to fix the damage in his hands, but no procedure can be done to fix his nerves. In a final attempt Strange travels to Kathmandu after hearing that someone there can heal his hands. Sure enough Strange finds the  person he is looking for in a being known as the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), Rather than healing his hands the Ancient One shows Strange the mystics arts and the role it plays in the universe. After witnessing the astral plane for himself, Strange seeks to learn from the Ancient One which she reluctantly agrees to. With the help of Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Wong (Benedict Wong) Stephen Strange becomes prevalent in a way of mystic arts, but the doctor soon discovers the role the sorcerers play as the world is threatened by Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelson); who seeks to release the being Dormammu from the dark realm.

Film Ventures: Doctor Strange IMAX Preview

Film Ventures returns as Timdiana checks out the IMAX Preview to Doctor Strange. Does the preview raise the excitement for the film? Find out on Film Venture.

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Will Captain America's Avengers Appear in Black Panther

Captain America Civil War is now playing in theaters. The latest film from Marvel Studios raises stakes for both Captain America and Iron Man as the two lead heroes against one another. The film included many of great deal of things, and among Civil War's major moments was the introduction of Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman). The character made a strong debut in the new film and made me ecstatic to see more on T'Challa. Fortunately it will not be long til Black Panther returns to the silver screen as the character will have his very own film in the winter of 2018. With Creed's Ryan Coogler set to direct, I am curious to see just where Marvel takes the King of Wakanda. However, due to events of Civil War, I wonder if Black Panther will be the only hero to appear in the upcoming film.

Read the full article now on Moviepilot/Creators.

Captain America Civil War Review: Marvel's Latest Blockbuster is Overpowered and Dynamic

It would not be the start of the summer season if a superhero blockbuster was not starting things off. This trend as seen many heroes take center stage for this season's opening month, but none may be as prominent as films of Marvel Studios which has started May with massive blockbusters such as The Avengers. This year things are a little different as the stakes for the Marvel Cinematic Universe are raised for the start of the Studio's Phase 3. Continuing this year's motif of heroes fighting heroes is the long anticipated third installment to the Captain America film series-Captain America: Civil War. Once again directed by the Russo Bros, Civil War is loosely based on the popular comic story in 2005 which pitted Captain America against fellow Avenger: Iron Man. The new movie follows the footsteps of its source by placing the two iconic heroes on different sides; and with appearances from heroes both old and new to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this was a summer blockbuster that was hard not to be excited for. So is Civil War the next hit for Marvel Studios or is this installment too overpowered with it heroics?

The story of Captain America: Civil War follows the First Avenger: Steve Rogers (Chris Evans); who now leads a new team of heroes.  After a mission goes wrong, the governments of the world seek to control the Avengers by turning into an asset. It does not help matters that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and a handful of Avengers are eager to sign with the government which creates a wedge between Capt and his teammates. To make matters worse  Steve's best friend, Bucky (Sebastian Stan), becomes the prime suspect of a bombing which makes him a target for the government, Stark and a vengeful Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman). This leads to Capt and teammate Sam Wilson (Anthony  Mackie) to help Bucky escape his pursuers which solidifies the rift between Rogers and Stark that leads to an all out battle between heroes.

Doctor Strange Trailer Reveals a Dynamic Film from Marvel Studios

The Doctor is in. Yesterday Marvel fans and moviegoers got their first look at the Sorcerer Supreme in the teaser trailer to Doctor Strange. The film centers on Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch): a renowned surgeon who loses his ability to use his hand. To regain what he lost, Strange travels across the world and discovers a being known as The Ancient One who teaches the Doctor about the world of magic. The trailer was announced to debut this week, and sure enough the preview appeared during The Jimmy Kimmel show; along with the film's star-Benedict Cumberbatch. Like many others, I eagerly awaited the debut of the trailer; but I what I saw went beyond my expectations.

As expected the trailer focused on the origin of Doctor Strange. Yet what caught me by surprise was the overall presentation of the preview. The trailer gave viewers just a taste of the movie's spectacle which was shown off with some dynamic cinematography. Watching the trailer, I could not help but get excited for this upcoming Marvel film because if this preview is any indication: then Doctor Strange may in fact be the studio's most dynamic film to date.

Read the full article now on Creators.

Spider-Man and his Amazing Friend?

If you are like me then you probably want to know more about Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Last year it was revealed that Spider-Man would be heading to the MCU and his first appearance would be in the 2016 summer flick- Captain America: Civil War. So far information on the character's debut has been limited; but then again this is no shock. Marvel is likely keeping everything on Spider-Man close to the hip and all content for the character will not be released until May 6th. This move makes sense but it doesn't help to ease the excitement to see this new interpretation on the Wall Crawler. However there is some new information for Spidey's direction for Captain America: Civil War. It turns out that Spider-Man will be making a friend in the upcoming film; but who will it be. I have an idea of who would suit that role, and you can find which hero that is in my new article on Moviepilot.com. Just click here to view the article or press the image above.

How to Bring She-Hulk to the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The future for the Hulk is up in the air. Though it is confirmed that the Avenger will appear in the Phase 3 film-Thor: Ragnarok, many fans are still upset that another Hulk movie is not in the near future. While there are several reasons why moviegoers may want another Hulk film, one factor that is prominent is seeing more supporting characters from Hulk's story. It would be great to see a cinematic version of characters like Rick Jones; but out of all of Hulk's supporting cast: a certain superheroine is long overdue to make an appearance. With Hulk's various appearance on the silver screen, we have yet to see a cinematic adaption of She Hulk. Since gaining powers after her cousin Bruce donated his blood, She Hulk has been a prominent (and loved) character in Marvel Universe. Having this character appear in the MCU could be another great addition to the studio's expanded franchise. Unfortunately the best way to introduce She-Hulk would be to feature her in a Hulk movie, but that scenario does seem likely. However there are other ways to bring She Hulk into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Read the full article now on Moviepilot.com

Where in the MCU is The Time Stone ?

As we leave Marvel's Phase 2 and prepare for the next part in the MCU, four out of six infinity stones have been accounted for. In Captain America: The First Avenger, as well as The Avengers, we witnessed the power of the Tesseract; which was confirmed to be the space stone. Then in Phase 2 three more stones appeared. Thor faced against the power of the Reality Stone, known as the Aeather. While the Guardians of the Galaxy witness the force of the Power Stone which was contained inside the orb. Finally in Avengers: Age of Ultron it was revealed that Loki's Scepter housed the Mind Stone. Now two stones remain: the Soul Stone and the Time Stone. While I have a pretty good guess where we might see the Soul Stone, Time is one that has me scratching my head. As the name suggest, the Time Stones allows the user to manipulate time. The stones powers include time traveling, premonitions and even manipulating age. Out of all the stones, the Time Gem is the hardest one to place just where it should debut. With everything that has been presented, I have narrowed the search to at least three places where the Time Stone could make an appearance. Note that this is speculation, but for now, these are the best areas I can think of that would suit the Time Stone.

Read the full article now on Moviepilot.

4 Suits for Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Spider-Man is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This point is pretty clear by now but one cannot help but be excited to see the web head with the likes of Captain America and Iron Man. Played by newcomer Tom Holland. Spider-Man will be making his MCU debut in next summer's massive blockbuster-Captain America: Civil War. After that Spider-Man will get a solo film that will hit theaters in the summer of 2017 with Jon Watts helming the superhero blockbuster. So it is safe to say that there is plenty to excited about when it comes to Marvel's Spider-Man. Though there is much to look forward to, there is still much on the Spidey's involvement in the MCU that we do not know about as details remain a mystery. One of these mysteries is a most prominent details in Spider-Man: his outfit. Everyone knows the iconic blue and red spandex and it is likely that Spider-Man will be donning this classic attire in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However one of the most intriguing things about the MCU is how the heroes show off an array of outfits. Spider-Man has had a variety of costumes changes in the comics so it is more then likely that the character will feature other outfits in his coming films. So out of all the costumes that Spider-Man has had over the years, here are just some of the outfits that I would like to see interpreted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Read the full article now on Moviepilot.

Ant-Man Review: A Big Time Adventure

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to get bigger and bigger. We have seen the likes of The Avengers and Guardians of The Galaxy grace the big screen; while on the small screen has featured the likes of “Agents of SHIELD” as well as “Daredevil”. Now on the silver screen is Marvel's smallest superhero: Ant-Man. Though the character has played a major role in Marvel Comics, Ant-Man has been all but unknown in the eyes of general audience. So a movie based on the character would not be easy to accomplish. However director/writer Edgar Wright was content in making this movie happen, and Marvel was happy enough to produce it. However the film went through some major changes as Wright left the project. Fortunately director Peyton Reed came in to helm the project and after some revision, the blockbuster was set to arrive in the 2015 summer season. So with the latest Marvel film now out, does Ant-Man size up or is the movie the studio's first flop?

The story of Ant-Man follows Scott Lang(Paul Rudd): a former ex-con trying to redeem himself for his past crimes. When things do not go according to plan, Scott decides to return to a life of stealing. However the house he robs belongs to retired scientist Hank Pym (Michael Douglas).  Scott steals is an odd looking suit which he discovers has the ability to shrink the wearer in size. Scott finds out that Hank Pym was once a hero named Ant-Man; and Hank has been watching Lang so he can take up Pym's mantle. With the help of Hank's daughter Hope (Evangeline Lilly) and Scott's Crew (Michael Pena, Tip T.I  Harris and David Dastmalchian), Scott becomes the Ant-Man and must steal from Darren Cross (Corey Stoll) who is bent on using Hank's formula as a weapon.

Holland and Watts-New Faces For Marvel's Spider-Man Could Be Amazing!

The time has finally come. After a long wait,and likely a lengthy debate, Marvel and Sony have announced who will be playing Spider-Man; as well as who will be directing the upcoming film. Announced by the studios it has been confirmed that British actor Tom Holland will donning the role of Peter Parker and director of Cop Car,Jon Watts, will helm Marvel's Spider-Man. Producer Amy Pascal  made this statement about matter and why they as well as Sony have every confidence in their decisions.

“Sony, Marvel, Kevin and I all knew that for Peter Parker, we had to find a vibrant, talented young actor capable of embodying one of the most well-known characters in the world. With Tom, we’ve found the perfect actor to bring Spider-Man’s story into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.”

This announcement was a bit surprising. Well maybe not too surprising.  After Asa Butterfield was passed, it looks as though Tom Holland was the likely candidate to play the wall crawler. Even though the announcement did not take me by surprised, it was comforting to see Marvel and Sony reach a decision; but what can we learn from this move? With Spider-Man officially cast in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a set director for Spidey's solo film, it does brings some thing to light. There is still plenty of time before the Marvel's Spider-Man swings into theaters, but this is what I gathered from the announcement and why it could be beneficial in many ways.

See the full article on Moviepilot.com. 

Matthew McConaughey as The Green Goblin?

Rumors can be a funny thing sometimes. While it is usually speculation, you cannot help but wonder if there some truth in rumors; particularly when they deal with the Marvel Cinematic Universe . A new rumor on Marvel Studios' Spider-Man caught my attention last night. There are many factors to this reboot that need to be answered; such as who will be playing Spider-Man and will be the film's director? However, the latest rumors has nothing to do with either question as this report has to do with Spider-Man's arch nemesis: The Green Goblin.

Since Spider-Man's debut on the silver screen, the Green Goblin has emerged in some form or way; whether it was Willem Dafoe's interpretation in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man, or Dane Dehaan's take on the Goblin in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. So it only make sense for the Green Goblin to join Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However according to this new rumor, not only will Norman Osborne be in the upcoming film but the man speculated to play the villain is Matthew McConaughey.

Read the full article on Moviepilot.com

Cinematic Reviews: Avengers Age of Ultron

Kicking off the summer is the continuation to The Avengers. Check out what the Film Adventurer thinks in this official cinematic review to Avengers: Age of Ultron.

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Cine Club's Top 5 Moments of Avengers: Age of Ultron

There were plenty of moments to take away from Avengers: Age of Ultron. Here is Maria Garcia's Top 5 Moments to Age of Ultron.

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Stay tune to Monday for my Cinematic Review of Avengers: Age of Ultron.