Film Review - "Avengers: Endgame"

*deep breath*…Ok, I'm ready.

Avengers: Endgame
Directed by Joe & Anthony Russo
Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, and the rest!

When I was younger, my love and interest of superheroes was fairly tame. I loved the idea of superheroes, drawing and writing stories of my own, but I never read the comics. I followed the likes of Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man on their respective animated series and films, who were at the time, the three popular and most well-known by the general public. The likes of Iron Man, Captain America, or even Ant-Man weren't on people's minds. But then, there was an idea…

Marvel began producing their own films, with the characters they still had rights to (a story for another day), and setting them all in this shared continuity. A cinematic universe. So when the time was right, they could do a big crossover film with these heroes known as The Avengers. As someone who loves and studies film, and works in video production, the storytelling concept of a cinematic universe really fascinated me. I didn't rush to the theaters to see the first Iron Man, in fact I watched it on-demand with my mom a quiet weekend months later. Things changed rather quickly.

I was as invested as the rest of the public, going to the theaters on opening weekends to see Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and so on. When I went to college, I met friends who knew all about these heroes from their days in comic books, and broadened my understanding of this Marvelous World and made me an even bigger fan. The Marvel Cinematic Universe became a major part of my life, their lives, and many others. We would have reunion weekends at least once a year to see the latest installment, and we would be in contact throughout the year discussing all the latest news, trailers, etc.

This is a long-way of saying, eleven years after this first saga of the Marvel Cinematic Universe began with Iron Man, Avengers: Endgame was poised to bring it to a grandiose, epic, and emotional conclusion. Boy, did it ever…

The spoiler ban has lifted but out of respect for the few that haven't seen it yet, I'll keep the plot summary brief. After suffering a devastating loss at the hands of the Mad Titan Thanos (Josh Brolin), which resulted in half of the universe being snapped out of existence, the Avengers left behind must pick up the pieces. As a true team, they strive to find a way to reverse the damage and resurrect their dusted friends, family, and allies. That's the barebones.

Finales are hard to do. Just ask any show-runners of a television series that's concluded. Endgame is the series (or season depending your viewpoint) finale of a 22-episode, cinematic television series. Everyone has or had in their mind an idea of how The Infinity Saga of the MCU should have concluded. All entertainment is subjective, and while I personally had my own thoughts and expectations dismissed (As will all of you), this film is as close to perfect as perfect could be. It's what a finale should be. It's jam-packed with amazing character moments, epic scenes of drama and action, and plenty, PLENTY of moments that will have you clutching your handkerchief. I admit I cry at movies a fair amount, but damn, the bar's been raised…a lot.

Infinity War was an MCU film that was not for the uninitiated. You couldn't go into it cold turkey, or having only seen a small portions of the films that came before it. Endgame is no different, in fact it is even more so not for the uninitiated. The amount of MCU films you've seen prior will undoubtedly reflect your level of enjoyment viewing it. Back on Infinity War, while it and Endgame are a two-part installment, they are very different films. Specifically, while the former had a lot of balls in there and was very fast-paced, the latter has a much more mainstreamed storyline, and goes a bit slower. Not to say that's a bad thing. There are some slow parts in the first half, but conversely in that first act are a lot of wonderful, very entertaining character moments.

That's really why we've devoted ourselves to this cinematic universes, because of its compelling characters, which is my segway into talking about the cast. It's no secret that this film has been billed as the final outing for many of the franchise's longest standing cast members, and in Endgame they turn in some of their very best work. Robert Downey Jr. deserves some sort of Oscar for his work as Tony Stark/Iron Man. The amount of charisma and heart he has put into this role, it's nothing short of iconic. Chris Evans is Steve Rogers/Captain America. Cap is given some of the very best moments in the film, and Evans delivers them all with the same gravitas and emotion of a true leading man since he first picked up the shield in 2011. I don't think enough has been said about all the good work Chris Hemsworth has done as Thor. His ability to juggle the comedic and emotional sides of his character is remarkable. Not everyone's going to like what the Russos do with Thor in this film, but it does work. Thor has had one of the most-fleshed out character arcs throughout the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Scarlett Johansson does a lot of heavy-lifting as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow. She's not just the emotional core of the original Avengers team, she's the emotional core of the film, and it was really nice to see her talent on full-display. Jeremy Renner, who has often been sidelined and overlooked as Clint Barton/Hawkeye, is a true highlight here. He's given a lot of material to work with in Endgame and he runs with all it. Karen Gillan continues to be a personal favorite as Nebula, and seeing her work with the Avengers, opposed to say the Guardians, is a lot of fun. I don't want to go down the list of the entire cast but lastly, I want to mention Josh Brolin as Thanos. Thanos has become one of the greatest villains of all time, largely in part to his performance. Avoiding spoilers best I can, but the Thanos in Endgame is a stark contrast to the one in Infinity War. While Thanos is a self-proclaimed messiah who takes no true pleasure in his mission, here he's far more evil, ruthless, and threatening. Brolin works wonders with this side of the character.

Much like Infinity War, Endgame's production design is truly a comic-book come to life with some remarkable shots, settings and set-pieces. I can't wait to see what artists do with some of this stuff at my local comic-cons (Sorry, wallet.). I know I said Composer Alan Silversti gave some of his best work in Infinity War, but I changed my mind. Here is where he gives his best work. Obviously he worked on both films back to back, and you can hear a lot of the same themes and pieces in the score, but he truly saved the best for last. This is some of the best music a film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has ever had, and if he isn't even nominated for an Academy Award I will set every copy of Bohemian Rhapsody on fire (I stole the framework of this joke).

I have come to love the Marvel films as much as I love the films of Disney and Pixar. They inform a lot of my opinions and taste in film and television, but they've also become a large part of my identity. These films have enforced lifelong friendships. I look around my apartment right now, and there is a Captain America magnet on my fridge, a throw pillow on my couch, a hand-crafted mini-surfboard with his shield hanging on my wall, and a Funko Pop of him fighting Thanos on my entertainment center. And it's some bizarre coincidence that three of this franchise's leading men are all named Chris, and the Chris that plays my favorite superhero is also from Massachusetts, but I digress.

The experience of Avengers: Endgame is unforgettable. Once in a lifetime. It's an epic, emotional conclusion to a story that began eleven years ago. Obviously, the Marvel Cinematic Universe will continue on, but it'll never be as it was. Nothing has ever or probably will ever touch this historic achievement of feature-film storytelling. Ten years from now, it's unclear if the superhero genre will still be as strong, or will have gone quietly to the sideline similar to the western. Rest assured, no one will soon forget the cultural impact of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and how The Infinity Saga, its first chapter, came to a ground-breaking conclusion with Avengers: Endgame.

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Credit to my friend Derek for this, the best work in Photoshop anyone has ever done ever.

Film Review - "Pokemon: Detective Pikachu"

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu
Directed by Rob Letterman
Starring Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, and Kathryn Newton

I was a big Pokemon fan back in the day. I had dozens of VHS and DVD's of the anime, which I followed all the way through the Diamond & Pearl series. I collected the cards and figurines, and  played the games all the way through the third generation (Fire-Red & Leaf-Green are the best games from up until that point. Fight me.). I loved the concept of Pokemon. I wanted to be a Pokemon trainer. I even kept a list of all the Pokemon I would want to capture and train *John Mulaney voice* You know, like a dork!

Obviously, time goes on, I got older, and I fell off the wagon. They're still making all the Poke-things; anime, cards, and games. But the games have definitely expanded since I played them, like Pokemon Go and Detective Pikachu, which would be the basis for the first live-action Pokemon film. I think, even if you were still an active fan, that announcement came with a bit of skepticism. All the skepticism  has subsided now. Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is a super-fun film that is a perfect way to reintroduce the world to the franchise, on the big-screen.

The film follows Tim Goodman (Smith), a young insurance agent who has given up on Pokemon training. He learns his estranged detective father Harry has died, and travels to Ryme City to get his affairs in order. Ryme City is a utopia where Pokemon Battles are outlawed and humans and Pokemon live together in harmony. Perfect for a guy like Tim. It is here where he meets a deerstalker-wearing Pikachu (Reynolds), who only he can understand. Pikachu has lost his memories, with his hat with Harry's address written inside as his only clue. Tim reluctantly team-ups with Pikachu to solve the mystery of his father's death and Pikachu's amnesia. As with most mysteries, they soon uncover something much bigger and sinister is in the works…

It was probably a smart decision to adapt a spinoff Pokemon game instead of one of the mainline RPG's for a feature film. I think watching a main character traveling the country collecting gym badges and fighting various bad guys would get a little stale, but that's probably not too far away, and we'll soon see…I don't know,  Dylan O'Brien? starring in a film as Red or Ash Ketchum? The story is fairly simple, dare I say predictable. The film conveys comparisons to the likes of Who Framed Roger Rabbit and The Great Mouse Detective (I'm calling it now. When Screen Junkies does their Honest Trailer, that's what they'll call this film.) If you've seen any mystery or film noir you might be able to pick up on where this is all going.

Well, at a base level you can pick up on where this is all going. Avoiding spoilers here, but in the third act things get a little ridiculous, and that's where some viewers might start to get turned off. If you played the Detective Pikachu game you might know what I'm talking about. I had no real knowledge of the game so I was genuinely surprised, and briefly thrown off, but the film sticks the landing.

Let's be honest though you didn't come to this film for the story. You came for the Pokemon. Most of them, if not all of them look fantastic. The filmmakers gave it their all with the CGI and these characters blend so well into a real-world setting. Again, I fell off the bandwagon so I couldn't name *every* Pokemon on screen, but I was so excited to see old favorites like Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and others in this new forum. The film warrants a second viewing alone just so you can (Forgive me) *catch* a glimpse of them all…

Justice Smith is a great as Tim. He brings a lot of heart and energy into the role, and he works nicely as a surrogate for the audience, who like him is getting their bearings in this new (or newish) world. Ryan Reynolds delivers an iconic performance as Pikachu. You wouldn't think his voice would work for a Pikachu, but for this Pikachu? Gold, and he and Smith play off one-another very well. I don't know if the film would have worked as well without the right voice behind Pikachu, but Reynolds certainly boosts the entertainment factor. Kathryn Newton is fine as junior reporter Lucy, who joins them on the case. She's charming enough, but her "quirky and ambitious reporter" character just feels like it was taken from another film I can't remember. Bill Nighy gives one of the most memorable performances from the film. That is all I have to say on that.

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu is a wonderful, fun, and solid start to this new franchise, and potential cinematic universe of Pokemon. If you're a fan, you'll probably love it more than those that are not, but I think everyone can enjoy this heartfelt adventure. It's a perfect family film, and just in time for summer blockbuster season. Heck, it might make you a new fan, or it might even reawaken the fan inside you, to a point where you just want to go out in the woods and start looking for Pokemon. Not that you could but…you get it. Well actually I guess you could in some ways, but I refuse to re-download the time and phone-battery killing Pokemon Go. I'll stick to my dorky lists thank you very much…

Guess I should probably talk about Endgame soon, huh? Ok...

Film Review - "How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World'

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Directed by Dean DeBlois
Starring Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, and Cate Blanchett

I cried. Ugly cried. A lot. And it's not the last time a film will do that to me this year I assure you. I just want to get that off my chest.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a wonderful film that brings this trilogy to an amazing, heartfelt conclusion. The film takes place a year after its predecessor. Hiccup (Baruchel), Toothless and friends work endlessly rescuing dragons from trappers, and bringing them back to their home. The Island of Berk has become a wonderful yet overcrowded viking-dragon utopia.

Due to the surplus population, Hiccup wishes to the find The Hidden World, the mysterious homeland of dragons. His dreams however will soon have to be made a reality. A group of warlords, wishing to control the alpha dragon, Toothless, and therefore all dragons, hire dragon hunter Grimmel The Grisly (F. Murray Abraham) to capture him. After Grimmel pays a not-so nice visit to The Island of Berk, Chief Hiccup convinces the citizens of Berk to abandon their home on a quest to The Hidden World. Thus begins a mass exodus of dragons and vikings. Meanwhile, Toothless falls in love with the mysterious dragon know as the Light Fury.

The story is simple and in some ways, you know where it's going to land, this being the last film of the series. That's because this trilogy has been carefully plotted from the beginning, and it doesn't hurt any less when the credits start to roll. God it hurts so much but I love it…The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless has been scripted so well across three films. We've seen them work and grow together, and this film deals with how their friendship can survive as life pulls them in different directions. It's an incredibly relatable and emotional story.

The animation in this series has always been spectacular but my God, how much has the technology changed the past ten years. This film is gorgeous. I saw this on a large-format screen and I was in awe at every detail, from the scales on the dragons, the sands on the beaches, to the clouds in the skies. I almost began to question if what I was watching was live-action. The shots where there are hundreds of different types of dragons are incredible, with so many different designs on screen. The filmmakers got really creative illustrating so many distinct looking creatures at once. It's almost sensory overload.

This series has always had one of the best-assembled voice-casts for an animated film. Jay Baruchel once again gives an amazing heartfelt performance as Hiccup combined with his style of dry humor. America Ferrera and Cate Blanchett provide plenty of warmth and wisdom in their supporting roles. The supporting cast is again very funny but not overused. Actually, weirdly, TJ Miller's Ruffnut gets a lot of attention. Well, he's not voiced by TJ Miller anymore, instead comedian and impersonator Justin Rupple took his place, because of Miller's…many issues. Rupple does a good job recreating his voice, but it's still just a weird story choice to give Ruffnut more screen time. Maybe because Baruchel and Miller co-starred in She's Out Of My League, so it seemed like a good idea at the time? Jonah Hill's Snotlout of Kit Harrington's Eret maybe would have worked better for the role, but I guess Miller had already done all of his dialogue and they already completed the animation, so they worked with what they had and Rupple just did an ADR performance. Anyway, I've already given too much attention to this minor detail.

Let's talk about the film's villain Grimmel. Abraham gives a very sinister and likable performance, and to be honest, this was the first time in a long time as a viewer, I saw a villain in animated film as an actual threat (Recent Disney & Pixar villains don't count because they're always hiding until the third-act). The scene where he and Hiccup first meet is actually chilling. However, his motivations are kinda thin. He's out for power over dragons, much like Drago in How To Train Your Dragon 2, though I'm not sure which character works more as a villain. At the end of the day, he's just an adversary for Hiccup and Toothless to defeat. At the same time however, he's a very real antagonist. He sees a species/type of creature (dragons) he doesn't like or understand, therefore wishes to control and/or eradicate them. That's actually pretty resonating for our times. You know what? Maybe he is a good villain…

Last thing I want to say is that John Powell, the man behind the music for the whole trilogy, once again delivers a powerhouse soundtrack. Honestly, I kind of want to sue him for the emotional attack his music inflicted on me. Those who have seen the film, know what I'm talking about.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World is a beautiful conclusion to perhaps one of the best film trilogies of all time. It stands toe-to-toe with the Toy Story trilogy, which many consider to be the gold standard of an animated film trilogy…Yes I know there's a fourth one out in a few months, and a fourth How To Train Your Dragon is always a possibility because Hollywood. These films will stand the test of time due to their powerful themes of growing up, sacrifice, loss, and the relationships that define us. These are themes that resonate with audiences of all ages, and ensure a film will have an impact that can last a lifetime. Gorgeous animation, wonderful characters, and a timeless story make The Hidden World, dare I say, one of the best films of the year so far.

And I'm just going to put it out there right now…I know we haven't seen Toy Story 4 or Frozen 2 yet, but we all know very well it's going to come down to these three at the Oscars for Best Animated Film, and I want this to win. It'd be a win for the whole How To Train Your Dragon trilogy, considering the first lost to Toy Story 3 (tough year), and the second one had its Oscar stolen, yes I said STOLEN, by Big Hero 6. Also, if Alan Silversti didn't just turn in like, his best work for Avengers: Endgame, I'd say give John Powell an Oscar too next year. Also also, I am damn not ready to talk about Endgame…

Maybe after My Top 10 Films of 2012, 2018, and a review of Shazam, but right now…damn not ready.

If you'd like to hear me speak about the production of the first film, click here to watch my presentation from the BCAT (Burlington Cable Access Television) Cinema Series.