Birds of Prey

After having played Harley Quinn in 2016's Suicide Squad, Margot Robbie not only returns for Birds of Prey but she also helped produce it with her own production company due to her love of playing the character and convincing Warner Bros to make an all women comic book film that's directed by an Asian woman with small credits and is rated R. For the most part, all of that really works with this dark comedic take on the genre similar to the Deadpool films and a bit with Joker. After the Joker breaks up with Harley, she doesn't take it well until finally deciding to put her life together and make sure everyone in Gotham knows. This unfortunately leads to many criminals in the city to go after her due to past grievances as she doesn't have Joker's protection anymore. Through this, she ends up in the middle of Black Mask's plot to obtain a rare diamond that eventually culminates in Harley meeting several women who all have something to do with Mask. Huntress wants to kill him and his men for the death of her family, Renee Montoya is a detective wanting to build a case against Mask, and Dinah Lance wants to get out of his abusive service. All four work together to keep a young Cassandra Cain safe after she steals the diamond and swallows it to hide it. Cathy Yan's direction is full of quick moments and montages while also putting the camera in unique positions, thus giving us a very unique look different from the rest of the DCEU. The cast is incredible, with Robbie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jurnee-Smollett Bell, Rosie Perez, and Ella Jay Basco all providing a fun and exiting chemistry between each other. All the while Ewan McGregor plays up his charm to portray such a fun and engaging villain who is convincing at making you scared whenever his anger rises. Though the writing isn't very unique, and constant flashbacks happening either too much and then not as much, it is full of so much energy and very wild and fun moments with references to the comics while not giving us a standard superhero film like one would expect. Due to having one of the John Wick directors working on the action scenes, a lot of the set pieces aren't just so well shot and choreographed but very creative due to the different fighting styles each character employs. Of course, Birds of Prey still has issues that plague it throughout such as the fact that despite being set in Gotham, Batman is only mentioned once and never explained why he never makes an appearance. While Basco's performance is great, one problem is that this is the first live action adaptation of Cain, a unique character who only communicates through body movement and is considered one of DC's most capable fighters, and turning her into an average teen who needs to be rescued feels like they just gave her the name for the recognition. There's also its R rating, since some of the excessive violence and swearing feels like it's trying too hard to show how serious the DCEU can be as well as trying to copy Joker's success. Birds of Prey may not be a direct sequel to Suicide Squad, but it succeeds where that previous entry failed with much more engaging and fun characters, well done action scenes, and though it has several issues it still makes you want to see more of Robbie as Harley. Over all: 92%
2020 top list so far:
1. The Gentlemen
2. Birds of Prey
3. Bad Boys for Life

Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys

As my first comic centering on Spider-Man, whereas past stories I had featured him in either a supporting role or small cameo, Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys showcases powerful moments in the hero's life. Collecting issues 88-92 and 121-122 from the first volume of Amazing Spider-Man in the '70s, it focuses on the lead up to and eventual death Captain George Stacy due to a fight between the web slinger and Doctor Octopus, the fallout that paints Spider-Man as a murderer and strains Peter Parker's relationship with Stacy's daughter Gwen, and then later the return of the Green Goblin, the kidnapping and eventual death of Gwen, and the final fight between the two enemies. What makes this collection unique is that the events from these issues is what lead to the end of the lighter Silver Age of Comics to the more serious Bronze Age. The death of both of the Stacys was treated in a very serious way that really affected Spider-Man, whether as a hero or in his regular life. Stan Lee and Gerry Conway's writing does such a great job at balancing the dark pathos with the fun super heroics, though their over-relying on Spider-Man talking or thinking about every situation takes you out of it at times since they don't let the artwork speak for itself. Much of the dialogue is well written, though certain conversations between characters can either feel too sappy or too serious. The artwork and coloring is well done, with good amount of detail such as with the backgrounds or even the fight scenes. With the last two issues having a different penciller and colorist than the earlier ones, you can tell how different 121-122 are compared to 88-92 due to having a darker palette. This is best shown with more detail to shadows in people's faces and the more noticeable anger in Parker's face. Though a huge flaw throughout all issues is that when he wears the mask, Spider-Man's mask doesn't emote how he is feeling and gives the same look despite whatever happens. Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys is a collection of very powerful but very tragic moments in the hero's life and you can tell that everyone involved put their all into it. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 2nd set of comics:
1. Doctor Who: Free Comic Book Day 2018
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #6
3. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #5
4. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #4
5. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #3
6. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #1
7. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #2
8. Spider-Man: Death of the Stacys
9. Howard the Duck Vol. 1 #1
10. Deadpool Kills Deadpool
11. DC Comics Presents: Shazam! #1
12. Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness
13. Wonder Woman: Rebirth (2016) #1
14. The Tick: Free Comic Book Day 2018
15. Free Comic Book Day 2018: James Bond 007-VARGR
16. Free Comic Book Day 2018 Invader Zim: Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy
17. The Legend of Wonder Woman (2015-2016) #1
18. Free Comic Book Day: The Legend of Korra & Nintendo ARMS 2018
19. Ant-Man (2015) Vol. 1 #1: Second-Chance Man Part 1
20. Batman/The Flash: The Button
21. The Adventures of Superman Vol. 1 #500
22. The Unworthy Thor (2016-2017) #1
23. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #5
24. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #6
25. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #4
26. Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1 #1
27. Wonder Woman Free Comic Book Day 2017 Special Edition (2017-) issue #1
28. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2
29. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1
30. Incredible Hulk (1999-2007) #92: Planet Hulk Part One
31. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3
32. Wonder Woman (2006-2011) #1
33. The Astonishing Ant-Man (2015-2016) #1
34. Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation #1
35. Tate's Not At Comic Con Local Indy Anthology #8

The Gentlemen

The Gentlemen is Guy Ritchie's return to his mob comedy roots that kickstarted his career, like Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. Starring an ensemble cast that includes Matthew McConaughey, Hugh Grant, Colin Farrell, Charlie Hunnam, and Henry Golding, this film has amazing performances with well written and witty moments. Centering on an American-born and Oxford dropout cannabis drug lord, played by McConaughey, as he deals with competition, sabotage, and the prospect of his business being bought out. Most of the film is told in this unique style wherein Grant's private investigator is telling the drug lord's right hand man all the information they may need as a film screenplay pitch so as to bribe them for the information they need. You'd think a story like would be very straightforward and involve what you expect from other mob movies. While it does, this film also adds viral video creating amateur boxers, a former KGB agent turned Russian oligarch, and a pig. Ritchie crafts such a hilarious film with well paced editing, a phenomenal cast, and small bits of great detail that you wouldn't think were that important until you get to the end. What makes McConaughey's performance really unique is that he manages to be scary even when his character is calm. If there were a few problems it would be that because of the fast dialogue and many character's thick accents, it's sometimes hard to tell what they're saying. While I have not seen Ritchie's previous mob comedies, I have no doubt that they'll have the same level energy and fun that The Gentlemen has. Over all: 100%
2020 top list so far:
1. The Gentlemen
2. Bad Boys for Life

Top Short Films of the 2010s

2010                      2012                                                                      2013
1. Day & Night       1. Paperman                                                         1. Get a Horse!
2. The Crush         2. Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare"
                              3. Dirty Laundry

2014                         2015                                       2016
1. Feast                    1. Power/Rangers                  1. Piper
2. Lava                     2. Frozen Fever                      2. Inner Workings
3. Party Central        3. Sanjay's Super Team

2017                                        2018      2010s
1. Deadpool: No Good Deed   1. Bao   1. Get a Horse!
2. Olaf's Frozen Adventures                 2. Paperman
                                                              3. Deadpool: No Good Deed
                                                              4. Piper
                                                              5. Power/Rangers
                                                              6. Day & Night
                                                              7. Maggie Simpson in "The Longest Daycare"
                                                              8. Bao
                                                              9. Feast
                                                              10. Dirty Laundry
                                                              11. Frozen Fever
                                                              12. Olaf's Frozen Adventures
                                                              13. Inner Workings
                                                              14. Lava
                                                              15. The Crush
                                                              16. Sanjay's Super Team
                                                              17. Party Central

Top Direct to Video Films of the 2010s

2010                                                         2013
1. Batman: Under the Red Hood              1. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
2. Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
3. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
4. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
5. DC Showcase: Jonah Hex
6. DC Showcase: Green Arrow

2014                                                    2010s
1. Son of Batman                                1. Batman: Under the Red Hood
                                                            2. Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy
                                                            3. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse
                                                            4. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths
                                                            5. DC Showcase: Jonah Hex
                                                            6. DC Showcase: Green Arrow
                                                            7. Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox
                                                            8. Son of Batman

Bad Boys for Life

With Michael Bay giving directing duties to Belgian duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah after helming the first two film, with the first being his directorial debut, Bad Boys for Life sees Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reunite as Miami detectives Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. After Lowrey is nearly killed by a shooter in a motorcycle, he becomes obsessed with the assailant that is going after him and others associated with a case from when he fist became a cop in the early '90s. Needing to convince Marcus to get out of retirement after the birth of his grandson, the two must work with a team of tech based young officers who must find clues and leads that get them closer to a dark part of Mike's past. Right from the get go, you can tell this isn't done by Bay due to a more focused style and direction, more polished editing, and balanced action scenes. Smith and Lawrence's performances are powerful in not only making their characters believable but also the strong chemistry they share in making us believe they've worked together for over twenty years. While the story is nothing new, and can sometimes feel cliched, it is well told and lands some great surprises. Another indication of Bay's absence is the humor is better than what he offers in many of his films, mainly how juvenile and immature they can be. Though not all of the jokes land and at times can either feel a little forced or don't work that well as running gags. The action scenes are captured a whole lot better than Bay's usual frenetic, over editing, and shaky cam style, but many of them lack more music to it that makes it less exiting. Bad Boys for Life is a fun throwback to over the top action films of the '80s and '90s, much like Bay's early films, but doesn't reach the same heights. Over all: 85%
2020 top list so far:
1. Bad Boys for Life

Doctor Who: Free Comic Book Day 2018

Doctor Who: Free Comic Book Day 2018 is a collection of stories telling different tales from various versions of The Doctor that either relate to a story or just give us a small and fun adventure. The first story is a first person perspective of a Tenth Doctor companion lost in  space but found by the Twelfth. In the second, the Seventh Doctor and Ace stop an alien army from invading other civilizations and is a lead up to a storyline. With the third, the Eleventh Doctor stops at an alien diner for a snack and helps out two other aliens from starting a fight. The final story is just a one page lead up of the Thirteenth Doctor landing the TARDIS on an alien planet and stepping out into the unknown. Each of the stories have their own writers and artists and all of them do a fantastic job at capturing the fun and spirit of the show. Much of the artwork for each story is unique and different to one another, like the first story's diary drawings compared to the third's more realistic style, though with some small but noticeable touches that show some similarity. Each story is also written differently, thus showing the many ways Doctor Who can be told without alienating long time fans. The first is a touching and slight tearjerking first person narrative, the second has epic action sequences, the third is a comedy befitting the era of the Eleventh Doctor, and the intro for the Thirteenth Doctor is all about getting people excited. Much like the series, Doctor Who: Free Comic Book Day 2018 has such amazing artwork that its impossible to put down while writing that could also worked in as actual episodes. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 2nd set of comics:
1. Doctor Who: Free Comic Book Day 2018
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #6
3. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #5
4. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #4
5. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #3
6. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #1
7. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #2
8. Howard the Duck Vol. 1 #1
9. Deadpool Kills Deadpool
10. DC Comics Presents: Shazam! #1
11. Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness
12. Wonder Woman: Rebirth (2016) #1
13. The Tick: Free Comic Book Day 2018
14. Free Comic Book Day 2018: James Bond 007-VARGR
15. Free Comic Book Day 2018 Invader Zim: Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy
16. The Legend of Wonder Woman (2015-2016) #1
17. Free Comic Book Day: The Legend of Korra & Nintendo ARMS 2018
18. Ant-Man (2015) Vol. 1 #1: Second-Chance Man Part 1
19. Batman/The Flash: The Button
20. The Adventures of Superman Vol. 1 #500
21. The Unworthy Thor (2016-2017) #1
22. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #5
23. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #6
24. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #4
25. Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1 #1
26. Wonder Woman Free Comic Book Day 2017 Special Edition (2017-) issue #1
27. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2
28. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1
29. Incredible Hulk (1999-2007) #92: Planet Hulk Part One
30. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3
31. Wonder Woman (2006-2011) #1
32. The Astonishing Ant-Man (2015-2016) #1
33. Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation #1
34. Tate's Not At Comic Con Local Indy Anthology #8