Genies & Gems
Games and Entertainment
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Thieves have stolen the jewels from the Palace and there is only one person who has the power to get...
Dust: An Elysian Tail
Games and Entertainment
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"This is one of the best games I've played on iOS this year." 5/5 - Touch Arcade The award-winning,...
The Dawn Watch: Joseph Conrad in a Global World
Book
A visionary exploration of the life and times of Joseph Conrad, his turbulent age of globalization...
history
Checkers 10x10
Games and Entertainment
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PLAY CHECKERS 10x10 LIKE MILLIONS OF OTHER PLAYERS around the world and join a network of 100K's...
Graphic: Inside the Sketchbooks of the World's Great Graphic Designers
9.5
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We are constantly surrounded by design—in advertisements, in books and magazines, on the Internet,...
A Square Meal
8.0
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Book
James Beard Foundation Book Award Winner From the author of the acclaimed 97 Orchard and her...
Great depression FDR food history
LeftSideCut (3776 KP) rated Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) in Movies
Sep 5, 2021 (Updated Oct 2, 2021)
However, the things I did like about Shang-Chi are also extremely clear cut. For a starter, I'm just generally stoked that the character himself has his own movie. We've come a long way since X-Men blew the superhero genre wide open back in 2000.
It has a great cast, including lead Simu Liu, as well as the likes of Tony Leung and Michelle Yeoh. The inner comic book nerd in me was beyond excited to see minor villains such as Razor Fist and Death Dealer on screen, and then of course (no spoilers!) a third act villain that is a true deep cut from the comics. Tony Leung's Wenwu aka The Mandarin strikes an imposing presence as the main big bad, and the subsequent theme of power and family gives the movie a beating, if tragic, heart.
Pretty much all of the fight scenes are great, and any flaws that I found were completely obliterated by the batshit insane final third, that honestly verges on live action anime at times.
The general tone of this movie feels like something new for the MCU. From street level fighting, to crazy fantasy style set pieces, to the exploration of Asian culture, Shang-Chi is a fresh new entry for the MCU, as the studio steps a little further out of its comfort zone. Please try to see it on the big screen if you can!
Saffron & Stories: A Culinary and Poetic Fusion
Book
Embark on a sensory journey through the heart of Persian culture with "Saffron & Stories: A Culinary...
The Messenger of Luci
Book
Have you ever felt as though you were being watched? Have you ever had the feeling that there was...
Self-help Family Personal development
DaveySmithy (107 KP) rated Venom: The Last Dance (2024) in Movies
Dec 4, 2024
One of the highlights of this film is, unsurprisingly, Tom Hardy. His commitment to playing both the brooding Eddie and the wisecracking, gluttonous Venom remains the beating heart of this franchise. Their banter is sharper than ever, delivering both laughs and surprisingly tender moments as their unconventional “relationship” reaches new levels of complexity. Hardy’s performance makes it easy to forgive some of the film’s narrative shortcomings.
Visually, Last Dance is a mixed bag. The action sequences are bigger and flashier than ever, with symbiote battles that explode across the screen in frenetic bursts of CGI. Some of these moments are thrilling, but others veer into sensory overload, leaving me wishing for a bit more clarity and restraint. The film’s attempt to lean into darker, more gothic visuals works in some scenes but feels inconsistent overall.
The plot, while ambitious, tries to juggle too many elements at once. A new villain, played with gusto by a high-profile (but slightly underutilized) actor, brings menace to the story, but their motivations are murky and underdeveloped. Meanwhile, the film’s exploration of Venom’s origins is intriguing but feels rushed, leaving me craving more depth and fewer loose ends.
Despite its flaws, Venom: Last Dance manages to deliver an entertaining and emotional farewell to the character. It’s messy, but there’s a charm in its willingness to embrace the absurd. Fans of the series will find plenty to enjoy, though it’s unlikely to win over newcomers. For me, it’s a 7/10—an imperfect but enjoyable final ride with one of Marvel’s most unpredictable antiheroes.