Spider-Man: No Way Home (No Spoilers)

Between the latest release of Marvel Spider-Man movies, for some odd reason I got the notion of Spider-

Man being in a some far away world or dimension. And at the time I assumed it was due to the snap that happens in Avengers: Infinity War. 

Spider-Man: Far From Home seemed to be the ideal candidate, but no. It was just a trip to Europe, a rite of passage for any middle class, and higher, North American college student. The premise was meagre at best and didn't seem to offer anything except a side quest far far from anything worthwhile.

Neither that nor this latest release - Spider-Man: No Way Home - has our titular hero far from anything in the standalone series. Just far from unambiguous and inspiring titling.

Also with the recent Disney imbued Marvel releases being completely lackluster and insipid 2nd tier movies - I'm looking at you Shang-Chi and Eternals - I wondered if this would be good. 

Being the first movie I've seen in a cinema (or cinema in the thee-yatre if yer British arrr matey) since Thanos' Snap, er I mean Covid-19 took the world stage, this still carries the traits of Marvel movies from the golden era. By golden ear I mean just the last decade or so since the first Iron Man.

It's not bombastic, instead has beautifully choreographed, visually gorgeous action scenes, mixed with a the subtle and well spliced comedic interludes that only Marvel seems to be able to execute flawlessly. Except for Captain Marvel, that was a train running on asphalt. 

And to top it all off, it pays homage to the originals. A magnanimous tribute, a reconciliation of iterations, an existentialist untangling. Emotionally provoking, this movie (Britsh: film-picture with sound) signals that Marvel franchise is still cable of producing stellar movies, not just in terms of box office numbers but also of pure entertainment. Mostly because Sony owns the rights and somewhat allowed Marvel to step away from the white glove clutches of the House of Mouse from dropping another dud.

"GO WATCH IT"

- Martin Scorsese

Don't worry, Spider-Man: No Way Home did the thing with the Spider-Man Meme

Kirsten Dunst Teases Possible Spider-Man Return After Tobey Maguire's Comeback

Andrew Garfield Reveals Only People He Felt Bad Lying About No Way Home To

Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel, another surefire gem in Marvel Studios crown? No spoilers but typically I recommend people watch a movie first before reading anything about it. All in all somewhat rough around the edges but still a good movie to watch. I'd give it a 2.75 out of 5.

The early part of the movie has jokes that fall flat, character interactions that come off more awkward cringe rather than awkward ha ha - surely feels like b-roll material that was hastily patched together. One visual gag where Ver (aka Captain Marvel) asks for Fury's pager seems poorly executed and shot, almost as if the other actor was oblivious or forgot to read the script. Some of the jokes and setups are blase mostly by the way they are telegraphed that a person can almost anticipate what would happen, if not, quote exactly what will be said.

The niggles do tend to lessen as the movie progresses and seems to somewhat even form an enjoyable little turn of storytelling which redeems the title. However, the laissez faire treatment of the main character's development leaves a lot to be desired. Particularly when characters who have almost no recollection of their past or when thrust into a completely alien, and potentially hostile environment, conducting themselves in a completely relaxed and jovial manner is beyond me. Then again Ver seems to have been jovial by nature from the early scenes so this could be more easily overlooked than say the likes of Cable in DeadPool 2.

Another gripe is the relatively little showcased in terms of the character's mythology, demeanor and not to mention power scaling. A little more development of how the powers manifested, pseudo-scientific explanation and tribulations as Ver would have questioned, struggled and come to grips with her new world would have made this a more solid piece. Instead we see someone who instantly reneges her hitherto training and conditioning, while combating a species that has the ability to assume a person down to the DNA level, and almost immediately strikes up a rapport with an alien agent. Captain Marvel truly deserves a better build up than this movie allows. Especially since she is bound to play a very pivotal role in the overall continuum.

It's a shame that titles such as these are just seen as stop gaps, or worse, money grabs as people are clearly enamored with anything Marvel and even a bad showing will still be lapped up and often overlooked. They are very relevant for the Marvel movie canon as most people would not be privy to the larger Marvel universe and story line except for the movies.

Most of this could be chalked up to Marvel probably focusing more on the main course - Avengers Endgame. The result of which could be less resources being spent on this movie.

It's happened before with Thor Ragnarok being delectably under cooked and being the lead up to Avengers Infinity War which was a much better orchestrated and performed piece. If history is anything to go by, this bodes well for the next Marvel release - Avengers Endgame.

After Earth

After Earth is a coming of age, re-conciliatory trek slash science fiction. Starring Father-son duo of Will and Jaden Smith, this offers a subtle blend of special effects. The interior design is somewhat more of a new age tryst than the straight lined, modular designs prevalent in most sci-fi. Earth is typical in its tapestry and not unfamiliar to what could be found in most unspoilt wildernesses.

Based on the plots main setting, Earth circa 1000 years from now, where most life evolved to hunt down humans is misleading in more than one way.  Firstly, how can a planet devoid of humans evolve to hunt humans, unless if they meant something similarly sized and physically inferior. And less than a handful of animals were shown to engage the young Jaden Smith. That too with minor adaptations if any to hunt humans.The only exception is the alien lifeforms that came aboard the craft as a training specimen for new recruits.

The pace is somewhat languishing and the uptake similarly from most viewers lukewarm, if the snores of one of the audience members is anything to go by. There are intermittent plot hitches spread at almost regular intervals to ensure some level of interest.

The core myth is hardly tenable to provide likelihood of offshoots. It was hardly tenable for the plot itself.

An appealing movie if you liked Soldier (Starring Kurt Russell, 1998) and/or whole wheat bread.

Related articles

• After Earth: Review [2013]
• After Earth (preview)
• 9 Reasons Why Will Smith's 'After Earth' Is A Total Disaster
• After Earth: Why Those Harsh Critics?
• "After Earth" Stars, Will & Jaden Smith, Coming To Miami
• Fresh Prince Doing The Dance With Jaden Smith(Video)
• After Earth: The Spoiler FAQ
• Film review: After Earth - Will and Jaden Smith star in yet another silly movie from M Night Shyamalan
• Is Will And Jaden Smith's 'After Earth' Being Sabotaged By Racists?
• After Earth's Photography Technology

Underworld: Awakening 3D

Image via WikipediaThe latest edition of the Underworld continuum, Underworld: Awakening in 3D holds up to its predecessors. Not the most engrossing or revealing of Vampire lore, but what it lacks in depth more than makes up for with well executed, not to mention meticulously detailed, gore.

The special effects, although realistic, doesn't offer anything extraordinary. The earlier versions offered more spontaneity and impact than this one. Computer imagery aside, when it comes to some of the actor based sequences, most notably the new hybrid offspring in the movie, is relatively flat and seems to have been based on run of the mill demonic possession rather than vampiric slash werewolf infusions.

Apart from that there is a noteworthy incongruity which HAS to be mentioned. A particular scene where archival information is being viewed had a CRT monitor in the library. Now the movie is set 12 years from certain events since the last installation. Relatively speaking, it wouldn't be far fetched to assume that flat panel screens would be de rigeur.

That been said, there are enough plot twists and surprises to ensure that this Underworld sequel is entertaining and a recommended watch.

Related articles

• Underworld Awakening delivered! Spoiler Alert! (darkerme.com)
• Movie Review | 'Underworld: Awakening': 'Underworld: Awakening,' With Kate Beckinsale - Review (movies.nytimes.com)
• : Underworld ~ Awakening : (realmsofanopenmind.wordpress.com)
• "Underworld 4 Awakening" Slays The Competition at the Box Office (houseofvampires.wordpress.com)

Kung Fu Panda 2

Here begins my summer or lack lustre movies. First off, Kung Fu Panda 2.

Considering how thoroughly entertaining and wise the first one was, I was hoping for a something equally moving and tickling. However the jokes barely had a pulse. At one point, a little girl in the audience just blurted, "That's not funny," which nicely contained the entirety of the film.

In keeping with kung-fu movies, training ever continues. However, this falls short as Po is only required to sequester the art of inner peace. Which he overcomes with relative little, so not much for the audience to absorb there. The story also reveals Po's origins and how he ended up being adopted by a noodle selling goose.

The strongest point of the movie, very emotional for yours truly, is the confrontation of both Po and his dad when he finds out he's adopted and the images of a baby panda so helpless and dependent just pulls at your heartstrings.

The movie does pick up around the midpoint with a generous offering of action, thereby not completely denigrating the experience. However, this sequel pales like a nausea induced visage to the original.

Related articles

• Must Watch! : Kung Fu Panda 2 (ahdalin.wordpress.com)
• Kung Fu Panda II (itchythroat.wordpress.com)

Thor, the movie

Image via WikipediaFinally a movie that lends to the capabilities of 3D rather than film makers exploiting the medium to further sales, even though it wasn't primarily shot in 3D.

Thor was an exquisite blend of mythology, marvel comic-dom and the cinematic. The early split narrative, mixed with stunning, stunning visuals, appropriate smattering of comedic relief, and proper story-telling made the movie thoroughly enjoyable. 

The movie by itself, and as a continuum of the spring/summer movie offerings, is a massive respite from the horde of movies which have failed to deliver. And deliver it has.

On a side note: The mingling of S.H.I.E.L.D. and mention of Stark, as in Tony Stark of Iron Man fame, in this and a few other marvel movies, foreshadows, hopefully, a cumulative movie with all avengers characters. So here's to hoping and probably a sequel to Thor and/or any other Marvel offering.

Related articles

• "'Fast Five' races ahead of 'Thor' overseas" and related posts (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• Filming Begins on 'The Avengers'; Chris Evans Wraps Up 'Captain America' & 'Thor' Leaks Early (moviefone.com)
• Some Thoughts on Kenneth Branagh's THOR; Plus Video Blog Review (collider.com)
• New Thor Images! (geeksyndicate.wordpress.com)
• 'Thor': The Early Reviews Are In! (mtv.com)