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Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
2013 | Action
Phil Coulson (0 more)
The grand-daddy of the Marvel TV shows (no longer canon?)
The grand-daddy of the Marvel TV shows which, while it started out connected to the mainline cinema offerings, eventually split off and became its own thing somewhere after the events of Thor: The Dark World (at least, that's the last time I remember their being a direct correlation from the events shown in the films!); definitely after the time of 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' (which is where the show suddenly 'took off').

It's also hard to rate as a whole, with some season better than others, and with the alter seasons themselves often split into 'mini-seasons'.

For me, the best season was probably either the one with the Framework, or with Ghost Rider (finally done properly!).
  
Black Widow (2021)
Black Widow (2021)
2021 | Action
Good actors (1 more)
Plenty of action
Great to have a Marvel film back
Great to have Marvel back on the big screen. While not quite an origin story, we do get to see the Black Widows early years as a child at the start. Most of the film is set around the Civil war film in the time line. While on the run her past catches up with her.
The cast is very good and David Harbour is good as the Red Guardian. Russia's answer to Captain America. He generally has most of the funny moments in the film as well.
The action scenes are great and Sfx look great. Nice to have a blockbuster film to enjoy in the cinema again.
The credits are about 6 minutes long and there is a scene after them.
  
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)
2021 | Action, Adventure
Marvel does Mystical Martial Arts
Marvel (the film branch) is mainly known for its superhero movies.

We've had Origin stories (upon origin story upon origins story ...)

We've had 'fish out of water' comedies (see: Thor)

We've had outright sci-fi/sci-fantasy (see: Guardians of the Galaxy)

We've had political thrillers (see: Captain America: The Winter Soldier)

We've had team-up (see: The Avengers)

We've had crime capers (See: Ant-man)

Up until now, we've had no Martial Arts movies (sorry, Netflix's 'Iron Fist': you don't count as a movie).

We've also had no movies with a mainly Asian cast. Until now.

This also brings back the 10 Rings organisation (first name-dropped all the way back in 2008's 'Iron Man'), with the plot outline of the movie actually quite different than what I expected - lots of Martial Arts sequences (the fight on the bamboo scaffolding is a high-light), the usual Marvel musings on family, and one or two character inclusions that I wasn't expecting (but really should have been) ...
  
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
2014 | Action, Sci-Fi
For Captain Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), the two years following his exploits in “The Avengers” has not been easy. He is still coming to grips with being a man out of time, as the world around him is a much more dangerous and complicated place than the one he grew up in.

He runs missions for S.H.I.E.L.D. under the command of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), and is often accompanies by a team of agents as well as his fellow Avenger Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

A recent mission has lead the Captain to question some of the tactics used by S.H.I.E.L.D. and Fury decides it is time to be more open with Rogers about the pending plans of the agency which involve launching three Super Carriers that will eliminate threats before they happen.

Naturally this sort of “Gunboat Diplomacy” does not sit well with the highly ethical Rogers but Fury tells him he needs to get out of the past and become aware of just how different and dangerous the world they live in has become.

Fury believes that the Captain does have some valid concerns and uncovers that things may not be as they appear. When a vicious and well coordinated attack happen, Captain America is called into action and soon finds himself facing a deadly assassin known as The Winter Soldier.

The heat soon rises making Rogers soon question whom he can trust as a deadly conspiracy that holds the fate of the world in the balance erupts, and only Rogers and his team can save the day.

The film is an intense thrill ride that mixes the best elements of the Marvel films with solid action and a dramatic thriller. There are strong performances all around and the addition of Anthony Mackie and Robert Redford to the already strong ensemble was a masterful plan.

Directors Anthony and Joe Russo (Who are said to already be signed for the next Captain America film), clearly have a grasp on the material and they deftly combine action with a human story full of ethical dilemmas and personal motivations to deliver a film that is so much more than the usual FX laden films that are common with comic book related films.

Marvel Studios has once again upped the ante and have continued their amazing run of film success and keep getting better and better. There are several hints dropped about other characters and events in the upcoming Marvel cinematic universe as well as plenty of treats for fans. You will want to stay for the two additional scenes that take place during the credits as they give fans a hint of what is to come next year with “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”.

Until then, “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is a spectacular summer event film, as an it is a non-stop thrill ride and a textbook example of how to bring the best elements of a comic book to life.

http://sknr.net/2014/04/04/captain-america-the-winter-soldier/
  
Captain Marvel (2019)
Captain Marvel (2019)
2019 | Action, Adventure
Lived up to MY expectations!
I loved this! Captain Marvel isn’t really one of the comics that I’ve read before, so I didn’t know what to expect (other than what my 14 year old Marvel-officianado son had lectured me about ?). I loved the storyline, I loved the soundtrack (I’m going to find it on Spotify and probably play it to death), and I loved Brie Larson. Oh, and Nick Fury. Great cast, great story. I’ll stop gushing about it now.
And as usual, there were a couple of extra bits at the end of the movie. I still can’t understand why people leave before the end - surely everyone knows they do this now?! And THESE extra bits actually drew gasps from the audience (and this is England, folks! To gasp is tantamount to a riot!!)!
  
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Kristy H (1252 KP) Mar 9, 2019

I'm so excited to see this!

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ClareR (5726 KP) Mar 9, 2019

@Kristy H my hyper-critical friend went to see it today and said HE enjoyed it! So it must be *quite* good!?