Entertaining topics of 2019 (Happy New Year)
I wanted to share some of the more entertaining stories that I’ve personally followed this year. Take a look at the list below.
Continue reading “Entertaining topics of 2019 (Happy New Year)”
Review: Dark Phoenix
Most of the time when I am going to watch a movie or any other type of entertainment, I try not to spoiler myself. This time was different. The story in Dark Phoenix could be considered some type of reboot because in the 2006 movie X-men: The Last Stand we met the on-screen version of Dark Phoenix played by Famke Janssen.
To my surprise, the 2019 reboot of Dark Phoenix played nothing like the 2006 version. I am not sure if that is a good thing. I left the theater thinking, is that how they wanted to end this rendition of X-men?
Spoilers ahead
I won’t go into the movie scene by scene because if you’re curious you should go see this for yourself. However, the lasting impression of Dark Phoenix was less than stellar for me. I don’t know if the directors did this on purpose, but most of the action parts of the movie can be seen in the trailer.
The movie itself had a slow start and when things finally did pick up, Jean Grey was so over the top and confusing. After taking in the Phoenix during a rescue mission in space, Jean just wakes up and is so stimulated that she wants to drink and party.
Okay.
However, she ends up having a meltdown at the sight of fire. This causes her to send a shock wave out, almost kill everyone around her, and then pass out.
Fine.
I understand the Phoenix power is something she can’t control. Her senses are heightened and so are her emotions. However, that does not explain why she is running around for the rest of the first half of the movie like a teenager with an attitude problem.
Jean is extra for no reason the entire time she’s under the influence of Dark Phoenix. Not once did I think, Jean really has no control. It always seemed like Jean was just irritated with people trying to help her, so she would throw a fit.
Example A, she kills Raven or Mystique (whichever name you prefer) while they are having a perfectly normal, non-threatening conversation.
HUH?
Poor Raven. All she wanted to do was stop being in the X-men and live happily ever after with Beast.
Example B, she runs to Magneto’s compound where he is actually living happily ever after and brings the military to his doorstep. And while he’s trying to cover for her, she comes out and tries to kill everybody with a helicopter.
HUH?
Magneto was legitimately trying to save you. Why would you do that?
Perhaps I never truly bought into the split personality in this movie. As I mentioned before, Jean Grey didn’t seem like she was changing personalities. She just seemed annoyed by everything. It was like the Phoenix powers acted on her impulse.
As a result, I was not excited when she went into space at the end and sacrificed herself to rid the world of the dark power. In my head, I was thinking, “You’ve been rude this entire movie, and I’m supposed to feel happy that you changed your mind?”
No.
The most interesting part of the movie:
The most interesting part of the story, which did not get explored nearly enough, was the Beast having an issue with Xavier. Beast was mourning the death of Raven so he called Xavier out for not really caring about the gifted children and using them for self-gratification.
Before her run-in with Jean Grey, Raven also mentioned that Xavier was conceded and only using the X-men as a way to fit in with humans versus protecting the mutants. Raven planned on leaving the X-men but the whole Dark Phoenix thing happened.
After Raven’s funeral, Beast was upset that he didn’t let her leave when she mentioned it. He confronted Xavier about his use of the mutants. He said it’s not the world the gifted children need protection from, it’s Xavier.
That was actually the best part of the movie.
From what I gathered, Xavier is to blame for Jean Grey going off the rails because he didn’t pay enough attention to her while she was growing in power and angst. He was too busy trying to unite the world, which is why he couldn’t calm her down when she eventually went off the deep end.
Sidenote:
Can we talk about how Beast can transform
There was a scene with Magneto and Vuk where he pointed a gang of guns at her and started lighting her up. It was a short scene, but it was exciting and I liked it.
Jean Grey did have a scene before she went out to space where she blew up a few henchmen and they dusted away. That was cool too.
Overall, Dark Phoenix isn’t in the top 20 of the best comic book movies created for the cinema. Maybe this reboot was best left untouched. The X-men have plenty of stories to tell and perhaps in the future, we will get to see them adapted to the big screen.
Opinion: You’re not invited to the X-Men Reboot with Disney and Marvel
Best 3 moments in the Avengers: Endgame special look (trailer review)
The entire new trailer opens up the window to what could possibly be the first act of Avengers: Endgame. I assume it’s the first act because I refuse to believe the Russo brothers would waste all the hype of the last year just to put out a trailer. In all honestly, Marvel Studios didn’t even need to release anything else. I’m already invested.
But against my better judgement, I watched the new special look trailer for Avengers: Endgame. There were a few things that hit me my bucket of feelings and I’ve listed them below.
By the way, everything that I mention in this blog is based on the trailer linked below. So feel free to watch it first and then come back to my writing.
If you agree with me, please leave a comment below with the date April 26. Also, if you see something I didn’t catch comment that too!
1: Tony Stark looks at a picture of Peter Parker
At this point, I’ve already cried every time I’ve watched Avengers Infinity War and (spoiler alert) Spidey turns to dust in the arms of Stark. But showing Tony obviously still broken up about the events and the fate of his young protege made me let out a sad sigh.
2: War Machine stating the obvious
Bruce Banner, Thor and War Machine are having a conversation about what to do in response to the Thanos snap. Bruce Banner states the team is short handed and War Machine states the heartbreaking truth when he says all of their friends are dead. I immediately said, “Ouch”. That’s a hard hitting truth.
3: Iron Man vs. Captain America
I assumed from the first trailer that Tony Stark was going to make it back to earth. However, I could have done without seeing the full reconciliation of Captain America and Iron Man. That is a huge plot point isn’t it?
Maybe it’s just the tip of the iceberg so the Russo brothers decided, eh why not.
Either way, I’m pumped and there’s less than a month until the movie hits theaters!
Avengers: Endgame | Is it April 26 yet?
If you weren’t pumped for the climax to the last 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) before, you should be now. Marvel Studios released new posters of the survivors and the fallen from Avengers: Infinity War.
I can’t lie, I cried a bit during the happening of the previous installation and I was in my feelings when I realized I had to wait a full year to find out it’s conclusion. I’m honestly not thinking past Endgame even though Spider-man: Far From Home comes out in July. I’m just not there yet.
Are you feeling as excited as I am to see the climactic ending? Maybe Endgame will act as a true beginning to the next saga. Perhaps it’ll be a love letter to the past decade while still putting over the next generation.
There will be a full review up on this blog when the time comes. Until then, feel free to keep dropping photos and trailers Marvel. I’m all for it!
Avengers: Endgame comes out April 26. There’s 1 month left. Take a look at this feature released by Marvel Studios on twitter (click the tweet below) and view these awesome posters to hold you over.
