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The Incredibles 2 (2018)
The Incredibles 2 (2018)
2018 | Action, Animation, Comedy
On Par With the Best
If The Incredibles isn’t one of the top five superhero films of all time, it’s definitely top ten. For awhile, I had it billed as the greatest. It has everything you need which created a tough act to follow. But follow it they did fourteen years later with The Incredibles 2. The sequel continues the story of the superhero family and their dealings with being abnormal in a normal world.

Acting: 10

Beginning: 10

Characters: 10
Jack-Jack. Just…Jack-Jack. I could go into sophisticated detail about the depth of each of these characters and their internal struggles, but all you really need to know is Jack-Jack.

Cinematography/Visuals: 10
The animation in this movie is, for lack of a better word, incredible. Pixar seems to age like a fine wine, constantly improving upon themselves. Facial features are crisp, colors are vivid leaving the screen bursting with life. It operates just like a big budget superhero film and, in some ways, even better. Animation has a leg up because it allows you to always capture the desired moment at the perfect time. Watching the family work in tandem and seeing all their powers come together on screen is reminiscent of the first Avengers film.

Conflict: 10
No good battles arise without a good villain and Incredibles 2 doesn’t disappoint here. The movie is action-packed beset with high stakes. There are a handful of slow points where the film hiccups, but the fight sequences more than make up for it. Any scene with Dash in it and you never know what’s going to happen! He’s growing in his powers but still has yet to realize his own strength which makes him fun to watch.

Genre: 8
Doesn’t quite rank in the upper echelon of top superhero movies of 2018 (Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War), but it’s not too far behind. It makes you feel, it makes you laugh, it makes you wow. Three things that make it a top choice for the year.

Memorability: 10
Jack-Jack Vs. The Raccoon is a scene I could watch a million times. Never gets old. The attention to detail in that scene and the way it unfolds is flawless. I also liked the fact that this movie seemed even darker than the first appealing more to adults at times than children. The first one toed the line, but the sequel jumped right over.

Pace: 8
As I mentioned earlier, there were some points in the movie where things got slow and you were waiting for it to pick back up. It didn’t happen often but definitely enough to be noticeable. Nothing that derailed the movie too much however as the action and hilarity more than made up for the slow points.

Plot: 8

Resolution: 10
Solid ending that ties the film up perfectly. It leaves you wanting more but, at the same time, if the series concluded here, I’d be good with it. No spoilers, but I’ll just say you’ll be satisfied.

Overall: 94
Incredibles 2 gets off to a fast start and doesn’t let you go. There is a scene with Edna and Jack-Jack that just makes me happy as hell and sums up my feeling for the whole movie experience. See it and love it.
  
Doom Patrol
Doom Patrol
2019 | Action, Adventure, Comedy
Mr. Nobody played by Alan Tudyk is very charismatic, and funny; Nice to see some of DC's other hero/characters and not just "Leaguers", How great is it to see Brendan Fraser in something again. (0 more)
This show is really weird and far out there, I am not big on breaking the "fourth wall", show is kinda all over the place not knowing what it wants to be (0 more)
Not Your Average Superhero Show - 7/10
Doom Patrol Is a 2019 action/sci-fi, comedy/drama superhero TV series based on the DC comic created by writers Arnold Drake and Bob Haney and artist Bruno Premiani. It was developed by Jeremy Carver, and produced by DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television for DC Universe. Doom Patrol is a spin-off of Titans, a superhero TV series also on DC Universe. Starring Brendan Fraser, Timothy Dalton, Alan Tudyk, Matt Bomer and April Bowlby.


 Doom Patrol picks up after the events of Titans, and finds the titular heroes in the town of Cloverton, Ohio. However they are a long, long way from being anything resembling heroes. The group consisting of Robotman/Clifford "Cliff" Steele (Brendan Fraser), Negative-man/Larry Trainor (Matt Bomer), Elasti-woman/Rita Farr (April Bowlby) and Crazy Jane/Kay (Diane Guerrero) are taken in by Chief/Dr. Niles Caulder (Timothy Dalton).

 They each have suffered horrible accidents that have left them scarred or disfigured but also imbued them with superpowers. They have come together in Doom Manor under the guidance of Dr. Caulder to try and overcome their own demons. However when the good Dr. leaves the manor, a quick venture into the town for the team has far-reaching consequences. An enemy called Mr. Nobody (Alan Tudyk) comes to exact revenge and takes the doctor and everyone in the town with him. Luckily they are left with a possible new member and old friend of the doctor, who has come to check on the town and him, Cyborg (Jovian Wade) from Titans.


 This show is really weird and definitely not for everyone. I didn't have the opportunity to watch the Titans show before this, so I don't know how much it affects it in anyway or if it's in the same vein. I also never read the Doom Patrol comics. It didn't seem to me like there was a clear plot at first but the writers are definitely going for a unique and captivating way of grabbing the audience. It's also rated TV-MA and it feels like they're kind of going for that Deadpool audience and a dark humor comedy feel. That being said it's not terrible, it really grows on you. To me the first episode was kind of hit or miss but by the second episode it really pulls you in. The characters motivations and backgrounds are very unique and emotionally appealing. The general atmosphere of the show was kind of all over the place; I mean it's a little bit drama, a little bit action, sometimes slightly horror and kind of gory and a superhero element on top of all all of it, plus sci-fi.

 There is a pretty exclusively entertaining character, the narrator/villain Mr. nobody who is played by Alan Tudyk. He is very funny and charismatic and isn't afraid to break the fourth wall, right away in the beginning of the first episode. I guess it's a pretty good show but not for everyone, I would give it a 7/10.
  
Lady Bird (2017)
Lady Bird (2017)
2017 | Comedy, Drama
Saoirse (pronounced Sersha) Ronan (2 more)
Charming screenplay
Slice of life
Sometimes a tad random (0 more)
I took my 16-year-old daughter to this film instead of going to yet another superhero flick and we were both mesmerized with its joy, wit and poignancy. All the acting was top notch especially Saoirse Ronan. She completely delvers on her character in every way. She is also a dialect master as having a thick Irish accent in real life.
The situations Lady Bird finds herself in are real and touch you in your heart especially if you have teenage children. The way she handles things and the way the story winds itself along keep you enthralled the entire time and not wanting it to end.
Highly recommended for those seeking more than just comic book blockbusters.
  
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
2014 | Action, Sci-Fi
Epic fight scenes (2 more)
Detailed character building
Great casting
Excellent follow on
MCU takes you on a roller coaster ride of emotions as you follow Steve Rogers trying to settle into modern day life. We are introduced to Sam AKA Falcon who becomes a major character in the MCU and an old face is brought back.
Steve has to decide who he can trust, while dealing with the reveal of who the Winter Soldier actually is.
While Bucky Barnes was Steve's oldest friend and protector while growing up in the first movie, we see Steve gain a supportive and understanding friend in Sam, someone who can see beyond the superhero, to the man behind the shield.
The ending of this one, while leaving a few loose ends naturally, has a much better overall feel to it
  
Marvel's The Defenders  - Season 1
Marvel's The Defenders - Season 1
2017 | Action
I love the cinematography in this series! The color schemes, the camera work, the choices that are made throughout are great. The story likewise, though it is quite slow through the first couple of eps as the team is re-introduced and brought together. Jessica Jones' snark is great, Luke Cage is strong and thoughtful as always, Matt Murdock steeps in his angst a bit more than I'd really prefer, and Danny Rand...is a spoiled, immature child playacting at being a superhero as before but everyone else's reactions to him make him a bit more palatable. The discussion between Cage and Rand in episode 2 was great.

Overall this is a good addition to Marvel canon. It's only as strong as its story and its weakest link, but still an enjoyable show.
  
Wonder Woman (2017)
Wonder Woman (2017)
2017 | Action, Fantasy, War
Wonder Woman is visually beautiful, fairly well paced, and delivers great action. If you like superhero movies, it's definitely one to go see. Gal Gadot plays the bright-eyed and slightly alien Diana with aplomb. The plot is definitely weak in places. This movie has one or two moments where things would be solved much more swiftly if the characters weren't keeping secrets for very flimsy reasons, and also fails to give answers to some things, such as Diana's wrist guards. All in all, though, this movie had heart and I appreciated it for refusing to fall into grit and darkness. It's hard to craft a character who is brave and honest and quintessentially good and also make them not incredibly boring. This movie did that very well.
  
Fantastic Four (2015)
Fantastic Four (2015)
2015 | Action
Nothing (0 more)
You name it (0 more)
Worst Hero Movie Ever
As a person that loves superhero movies, all I can say about this one is: What were they thinking??!! I had heard it was a disaster to begin with because the actors and actresses couldn't get along. But as for the movie, the only thing that was done right was the origin story. It was based on the Ultimate FF4 universe. Besides that Doctor DOOM was terrible, The Thing was terrible. Jordan's character was like Johnny Storm, but a black Human Torch. Let's at least try and stick with the way the characters look for once. I can't say enough bad things about this movie so I will end it here. One word of advice..DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE. Its a big waste of time
  
The latest Metalman superhero film is being filmed in Half Moon Bay, and DeMarco’s aunt is a producer. However, the set visit she arranges for Nick, Tesla, DeMarco, and Silas leads the four friends to believe someone is trying to sabotage the film. Can they figure out who?

This is a fun mystery with great clues and red herrings. The characters could be a tad better, but the middle grade audience certainly won’t care. I didn’t at that age. There are also instructions for projects to build later, including zombie make up. What more could kids want?

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2015/05/book-review-nick-and-teslas-special.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.