Does Krypton Soar?

Krypton debuted on the SYFY channel this week with a family story where the past and the present collide to dictate the future. Superman’s grandfather, Seg-El, learns of an impending threat to destroy Krypton, all to prevent the birth of his future grandson.

When I first learned of this new series, I wondered if it would only appeal to die-hard Superman fans.

I’m a die-hard Superman fan, so that wouldn’t bother me. However, for this show to succeed long-term, it can’t just rest on the laurels of its mythology.

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Retrospective of The Last Jedi

I absolutely loved The Last Jedi. I saw it three times in the theater, and I’m going to buy it on Blu-ray next week. I listened to the audiobook of The Last Jedi, which expands the film’s narrative. I didn’t like it, and you can click here to read my review.

One thing that listening to the audiobook did was cement my stance on the film’s most divisive moments. I understand why some people are disappointed with the finished product. However, after two years of rampant fan speculation and there are still unanswered questions.

Let’s discuss the most divisive moments of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

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Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Non-Spoiler Review)

A distressed Luke Skywalker’s words of warning to an unwavering Rey: “This is not going to go the way you think,” impeccably sets the tone for the Rian Johnson-helmed Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Stunning visuals, a fantastic story augmented by old, returning, and new characters, along with a plethora of impactful moments, hurl the audience on a journey that they will never forget, regardless of how they feel about the film.

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Crisis on Earth-X: Review

While DC Comics is having difficulty getting their act together on the silver screen, their television properties are coming up all aces. The CW Network’s yearly crossover event premiered last week as Crisis on Earth-X saw the heroes from all four “Arrowverse” television shows battle Nazis from Earth-X.

A little history lesson. There are 52 versions of Earth in the multiverse. The heroes from Arrow, Flash, and Legends reside on Earth 1 while the crew from Supergirl live on Earth 38. Interdimensional travel called breaches allows the heroes to travel between parallel Earths where they sometimes meet different versions of themselves, aka doppelgangers.

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Justice League: Review

Divisive is the name of the game when it comes to DC Comics’ films. Man of Steel, Batman v. Superman, and Suicide Squad all received mixed reviews. Wonder Woman was a bonafide hit with everyone, but now it’s back to the status quo with the latest film in the series, Justice League.

Digital mustache removal, crappy CGI, inept story, and a botched Superman resurrection led to a massive critical lambasting of the film. Bad reviews don’t scare me out of seeing a movie because I need to see it for myself before casting judgment.

Is Justice League another step down for the DCEU? Is Justice League worth your time and hard-earned money? I’m here to report that Justice League is freaking amazing despite any minor problems, and these issues do not distract from an enjoyable movie. Continue reading “Justice League: Review” →

Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Trailer Review

The official trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi was released on Monday night, along with the official movie poster. There are some beats borrowed from The Empire Strikes Back, however, it seems that they will be molded into something different.

Yes, there will a Jedi master reluctant to train the newbie with the refusal based on fear as opposed to doubt. Sleight of hand plot points round out the highly anticipated two minute and thirty-five-second preview of the Rian Johnson directed film.

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Spider-Man Homecoming: Review

The sixth film featuring everyone’s favorite wall-crawling superhero has the added caveat of officially being a part of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe. Spider-Man: Homecoming not only presents a different on-screen version of the titular character but also its most endearing.

High School is the name of the game here. While Sam Raimi and Marc Webb used Peter Parker’s high school experience as a set piece to establish a bigger narrative, Director Jon Watts etches it in Homecoming’s DNA. Homework or crime fighting? That is the question.

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Wonder Woman: Review

It’s fair to say that the DCEU slate of films stumbled out of the gate. Man of Steel received mixed reviews, with the needle slightly towards positive. Three years later, Batman v Superman seemingly pissed off everyone on the planet, and Suicide Squad was a bittersweet victory for Warner Bros.

Much like how The Force Awakens had the unenviable task of bringing that “Star Wars Feel” back to the franchise, director Patty Jenkins had her own uphill battles to climb with the latest blockbuster superhero film. It had to be great, not good, while not only reinvigorating a shared universe, but it needed to be progressive in a manner fitting contemporary society.

And it all had to be done with a female lead.

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Alien: Covenant – Review

I recently treated myself to back-to-back movie viewings at my local theater. This is something I used to do all the time. I keep planning to do them, but something would always come up at the last minute. This time…success! My two escapes were a bumbling pirate and a deadly extraterrestrial.

Alien has an unfortunate downward trajectory when looking at the films within its universe. Alien and Aliens are revered; Alien 3 has some debated admiration that is highly disparaged, and Alien Resurrection…F&%$ that movie.

Fifteen years later, we got Prometheus, which took fans on a “secret” prequel voyage that overpromised and underdelivered. Famed director Ridley Scott returns to the franchise he created and sought to make up for previous wrongs while expanding upon a nearly untapped mythology with Alien: Covenant.

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Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales – Review

I recently treated myself to back to back movie viewings at my local theater. This is something I used to do all the time. I keep planning to do them but something would always come up at the last minute. This time…success! My two escapes were a bumbling pirate and a deadly extraterrestrial.

The fifth outing in the popular Disney franchise tells the story of a down on his luck Capt. Jack Sparrow who is looking to escape the ghostly wrath of the revenge-laden Capt. Salazar. Jack’s only hope is to find the legendary Trident of Poseidon, and to do it, he will need the help of an astronomer and a young Navy man with ties to his audacious past.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales brings fun and adventure back to the franchise, and it is the best film since the original. That may or may not be high praise since Pirates 2, ,3 and 4 left a lot to be desired. Still, this was an enjoyable movie-going experience that had some hits and misses.

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