Black Widow

Originally meant to be the first project in the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Fourth Phase until the pandemic delay led it to be released after three Disney+ shows already aired, Black Widow had to go through a lot for it to finally be released. Set between Civil War and Infinity War, this sees Scarlett Johansson's final performance as the former KGB spy turned hero as she reunites with people from her past to take on a threat that she once was a part of. Initially just wanting to remain low from government officials due to violating the Sokovia Accords, an attack from Taskmaster leads to Natasha to reunite with her fake family, from when they were spying against the United States in the 90s, and learns that the same program that trained her when she was young has been restarted but with more sinister intentions. While yes, this movie should have been made a lot earlier and we know what happens to Natasha later on, that shouldn't take away from how well told and made it is. Despite having some of the typical aspects that the MCU is known for, much of Cate Shortland's direction does give us some unique takes on them and a few new things that let it be fresh, such as part of the opening taking place when Widow was young and using a cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit. Shortland also gives the movie a more gritty eye, a lot of that thanks to Gabriel Beristain's cinematography, than the other entries and often feels more like a spy film, a lot of that thanks to Lorne Balfe's scoring, than a superhero one. Some of that grit comes from how the fight scenes are done whether through their choreography and showing how the fights affect the characters. That's also helped by some great effects, though should be acknowledged that not all of the effects are perfect but only occur in small doses The story and its writing by Eric Pearson, Jac Schaeffer, Ned Benson are really good, especially in delving into Natasha's past without being too distracting from the main story. As usual, the comedy isn't always going to work but you know when it does and paired that with the drama you get an exceptional script. The strongest aspect, by far, is the relationship and chemistry between the spy family and how, despite pretending to be one, believable the cast make it. Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz all work amazing together all thanks to the dialogue between them and the events that they go through. While some are angry over the reveal of who Taskmaster was and how the character was handled, I don't really mind as who's to say there won't be more development and time to flesh the character out in the future. If there was ever a sign that the MCU is slowing down and losing team, I can assure you that Black Widow is not that sign as it lets us say goodbye to a beloved character we've seen since 2010 in a wonderful way while giving us some setup for the next chapter of this universe. Over all: 99%

2021 top list so far:

1. In the Heights

2. Nobody

3. Black Widow

4. A Quiet Place Part II

5. Raya and the Last Dragon

6. Cruella

7. Wrath of Man

8. F9

F9

Just when you thought the Fast & Furious franchise couldn't get any crazier, after already involving tanks and submarines, F9 steps up the over the top high octane insanity while reminding us how family is important. This entry sees Dom and his team taking on his long lost brother, Jakob, who has formed his own crime organization and managed to capture Cipher, Charlize Theron's villain from the last entry. Eventually, this mission leads them to learning about the survival of a long thought dead friend, going into space to destroy a satellite, and a highway chase using powerful magnets. All throughout we get flashbacks to when Dom and Jakob were younger focusing on their father's death and their eventual fallout. As usual with this franchise, if they manage to think of a way to create the most insane of stunts involving cars then you bet they're putting in this film. The usual cast of Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Nathalie Emmanuel return as well as Jordana Brewster, Theron, Sung Kang, and newcomer John Cena. Considering what type of movie everyone knows they're in and this being the tenth film in the franchise, the performances are always strong with great dramatic reads and well done comedic bits. That's not to say that the writing is awe-inspiring, it's the typical tough action film with lots of formulaic moments and plot holes galore. But everyone involved is so committed that often you don't really worry about that, all thanks to returning director Justin Lin's eye for awesome action sequences. Though some of them can feel either too over the top by breaking the laws of physics that it takes you out of it or may be over edited, but only a few have that specific problem. One of the strongest points is definitely the flashbacks as we get to dive deep into Dom's past and how he became the man he is today. And yes, at one point we do have a sequence set in space and while a crazy idea, is only done near the end and does feel earned. So even if F9 just another typical action film, these characters we've come to love over the years and the crazy adventures and stunts they pull off is exactly why we keep coming back. Over all: 80%

2021 top list so far:

1. In the Heights

2. Nobody

3. A Quiet Place Part II

4. Raya and the Last Dragon

5. Cruella

6. Wrath of Man

7. F9

Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1

Serving as the first of many stories that would lead into Infinite Crisis, Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 is a 80 page DC Comics issue that is told through various flashbacks to tell a story involving conspiracies and superhero identities. Ted Kord, billionaire and superhero Blue Beetle, investigates the theft of funds of his own company that leads him to something much larger that could threaten even the Justice League. Despite no one in the League, bar Wonder Woman, and other heroes, especially Batman, doubting his claims, and only Booster Gold giving him aid until an explosion injures him, Kord must use the remaining tools and resources he has to solve this issue. While he does manage to figure out that Maxwell Lord, a former Justice League associate, is leading the Checkmate organization with files of the secret identities to many superheroes and planning to kill all metahumans, he is killed when he rejects Max's offer to join him. If I can compare this comic to anything I'd say it plays out like a new-noir mystery through Blue Beetle's narration, the mystery sleuth story, the change of different time periods, and the conspiracies involved. The writing between Geoff Johns, Greg Rucka, and Judd Winick is astounding whether between the dialogue, going through the flashbacks, and especially in the relationship between Beetle and Booster. This issue's biggest accomplishment however is that it succeeds in drawing you in at what the story this is meant to be lead in to. With Ed Benes as the artist and multiple people behind the pencilling, inking, and coloring, you have a brisk and well flowing artwork that doesn't just show great action sequences and detailed emotions, but with a certain mood that adds to its new-noir story. So whether or not you have read what comes after, or were too afraid due to DC having so much history, Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1 is a great issue to read on its own or even as a prelude. Over all: 100%

Top list so far for 3rd set of comics:
1. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers FCBD 2018 Shattered Grid Special

2. Countdown to Infinite Crisis #1

3. Free Comic Book Day 2018: 2000 A.D. Regened

4. DC Universe: Legacies #1

5. Free Comic Book Day 2017 I Hate Image

6. Shang-Chi (2020-2021) #1 (of 5): Brothers & Sisters Part One

7. Champions (2020-) #1

8. Infinite Frontier (2021) #0

9. Green Lantern Vol. 2 #76

10. DC Retroactive: Green Lantern - The 70s #1

11. Star Wars: Doctor Aphra (2020-) #1
12. Showcase (1956-1978) #17
13. Werewolf By Night (2020-) #1 (of 4)

14. Free Comic Book Day: Bongo Comics Free For All 2018
15. Free Comic Book Day 2017: Riverdale
16. Marvel Comics (1939) #1

In the Heights

In the Heights is a musical drama based on the stage show created by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes. Much like the stage musical, the movie looks at the lives of the predominantly Dominican Washington Heights neighborhood in Upper Manhattan particularly during a heat wave. The main story has bodega owner Usnavi de la Vega interacting with friends and family in the days leading up to his moving to the Dominican Republic to restart his father's business. Whether or not you're Hispanic, this movie is beautiful, relatable, and a blast of fresh air after over a year of the coronavirus lockdown. The cast involved, such as Anthony Romos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, and Melissa Barrera, not only give powerful acting performances but all of they're singing and dancing are just as effective. This having music and numbers that were initially created by Miranda, they are all done with so much passion, energy, and creativity that even if there were songs that you don't like you'd still find it hard to not be absorbed by them. What helps make many of the musical numbers so effective is the well done editing by Myron Kerstein and choreography from Christopher Scott, whom director Jon M. Chu had worked before in past films and shows. If there are a few negative things in this movie it's that it does tend to be a bit long and the pacing a little slow. Also, while the casting is effective at giving us actual Hispanic actors but not a lot of those with darker skin color, I don't blame it too much on the filmmakers and hopefully it will inspire others to do so in the future. For anyone who is wondering whether or not they should go out and see a movie for the first time in over a year, In the Heights is the perfect choice. Over all: 100%

2021 top list so far:

1. In the Heights

2. Nobody

3. A Quiet Place Part II

4. Raya and the Last Dragon

5. Cruella

6. Wrath of Man

Cruella

Let's get it out of the way, the beginning of Cruella wherein the title character's adopted mother dies from being pushed off a cliff by Dalmatian guard dogs is really silly and laughable, but doesn't take away from how good the rest of the movie is. While one questions how you make a movie about Cruella de Vil, someone known for skinning puppies for fashion, and make her compelling and relatable the answer is to do what Maleficent did with Sleeping Beauty's own villain. That being to do an alternate take that gets some of the characteristics and similar aesthetics but changes just enough so that they'd be seen as more antihero/antivillain. So despite the fact that Glenn Close, who played the character in the live action versions of 101 Dalmatians, is a producer in this it isn't a prequel to those films but just happens to be set mostly in the '70s and has a younger version. This movie is actually quite compelling when it comes to Cruella's origins, helped by Emma Stone's performance. She lost her mother, ended up an orphan, survived with two friends for ten years as petty thieves, got the job she wanted at a prestigious fashion company, and got to work with the woman who inspired her. It was during her time working with the Baroness, played by Emma Thompson, that Cruella, then known as Estella, learned about the truth of her mother's death. This would lead to Estella adopting the Cruella persona, sabotage the Baroness's fashion shows, and eventually learning about her true parentage. As someone who isn't into fashion, I was truly enthralled by the designs all thanks to costume designer Jenny Beaven and his approach to the punk rock movement of the '70s. The development that Cruella goes through is believable and handled very well thanks to the combination of Stone's performance, the writing done by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, and Craig Gillespie's direction. Though certain aspects at the start of the movie do happen way too fast and we don't get to see much of young Estella's childhood crimes with Jasper and Horace. While the reveal of Cruella's true parentage is such a huge cliche, the way this film handles it just adds to the crazy aesthetic that it's had since the beginning. While the soundtrack, editing, and cinematography are all great throughout, it's during the montage of Cruella ruining the fashion shows that uses all three in such powerful ways. So while Cruella may seem like just another of Disney's live action remakes and it does have a few silly moments, this one stands out from the rest by trying a lot of unique ideas. Over all: 95%

2021 top list so far:

1. Nobody

2. A Quiet Place Part II

3. Raya and the Last Dragon

4. Cruella

5. Wrath of Man

A Quiet Place Part II

Beginning with how the alien invasion first began to right where the first film ended, A Quiet Place Part II is a superb sequel to the 2018 original. While John Krasinski only briefly reprises his role just as the invasion started, he does come back to direct and write. Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe do return as the rest of the Abbott family with Cillian Murphy and Djimon Hounsou joining the cast. After figuring out a way to defeat the noise based aliens using audio feedback from a hearing aid but with their home in ruins, the Abbotts must find other survivors in order to get word out about the monsters' weakness. They end up finding Murphy's Emmett, an old friend of the Abbotts from before the attacks, who has lost his family and become so despondent that he doesn't want to help anybody. The Abbotts soon learn of a radio signal playing a song that gets repeated which Regan, the deaf daughter, believes is a message to sanctuary. With her brother injured and infant sibling in toe, Regan goes against her mother's wishes and sets out to investigate with Emmett reluctantly helping her. As the two find an island safe from the aliens due to their inability to swim, the rest of Regan's family must find ways to survive while looking for supplies. While most sequels tend to put a lot more than what the first one did, this film does the smart move of focusing more on the story and build up its characters rather than bigger action scenes with huge explosions. The effects for the aliens and the chaos they cause is just as important and well thought out as the performances by the cast and the characters' actions. Just like the first, the use of sound is once again used in such a way that you feel your heart skip a beat anytime something even remotely noisy happens. It really helps that since Regan has a lot more focus this time around there are great transitions between regular volume and near deafness and through that the horror is amplified as she doesn't notice the danger coming at her. The minimal score is just enough to amplify the sheer terror and used sparingly and not when you don't want it. Polly Morgan's cinematography isn't nothing too special, but when it comes to scenes set in the dark, it's just as beautiful as the scenes set outside in the day. If there are complaints it's that while the slow pace is methodical, it does often hinder with some drawn out scenes here and there. Irregardless, A Quiet Place Part II is not just a well made sequel, but a movie that stands on its own thanks to the cast and crew. Over all: 98%

2021 top list so far:

1. Nobody

2. A Quiet Place Part II

3. Raya and the Last Dragon

4. Wrath of Man

Wrath of Man

The fourth collaboration between director Guy Ritchie and actor Jason Statham, and the first time in 16 years, Wrath of Man is an action thriller that is reminiscent of Ritchie's past crime films but having a much darker and serious tone and with no big comedic moments and dialogue. Initially told in a linear style, there are moments wherein it goes into a past event before then going back to the present so as to better explain the story and the characters. Statham plays Hargreaves, the head of a crime syndicate whose son gets killed by armored truck thieves due to being a witness. After he's unable to find the thieves involved through attacking other crime organizations, Hargreaves realizes that the attack on the armored truck was an inside job. Thus he changes his identity so as to get hired at the same armored truck company from which he suspects someone may be in league with the criminals that killed his son. All the while, we see what the armored truck thieves' lives are like, all of them from the same military platoon and discontent over their lives after the fighting, eventually getting into robbing armored trucks. Jeffrey Donovan plays the leader of the thieves, while Scott Eastwood is the hotheaded Jan and Holt McCallany is the mole in the company. After months of Hargreaves on the job, which includes an attempt to rob a truck by another group of thieves that he took down by himself, and the platoon planning to steal from the truck facility itself, it all culminates in a violent and bloody shootout. While the story itself isn't entirely new, being a remake of a 2004 French, it does tell its story really well and Ritchie's use of flashbacks does make it stand out from many crime films. There are moments in the beginning that you start to question but are answered clearly through the flashbacks. They never feel forced and come in during a scene that is much slower then what came just before and then coming back just at the right moment. The performances from Statham, Donovan, Eastwood, McCallany and everyone else are all well done and strong. One issue being how composed Hargreaves is when on the armored truck job even when they're being hijacked. Sure, he took down thieves with ease and some backed away when they saw his face, but most of his coworkers should be more weary of him but act like its completely normal. Statham is great and his motivations are understandable, but when he gets the truck job he should have given him more personality so as to avoid suspicion. The score from Christopher Benstead and Alan Stewart's cinematography aren't anything too exciting but they're perfect for such a gritty and violent movie. By and by, Wrath of Man is a standard crime film but is a lot more thanks to Ritchie's direction, the performances, and how it tells its story. Over all: 92%

2021 top list so far:

1. Nobody

2. Raya and the Last Dragon

3. Wrath of Man