MCU picks its
blonde Wonder Woman to fight
shapeshifters and Jude
Click the pic below to watch the TRAILER:
Tag: Chris Evans
AVENGERS: Infinity War (2018) movie review
All of the souped up super heroes from ten years of Marvel magic unite to share 2.5 hours of slightly tedious exposition and some hard kicking to defeat Thanos.
That formidable enemy with a righteous thirst for universal domination has only to injure the one closest to each stone keeper for them to give it up.
Kudos to Marvel writers for balancing so many plot lines and sticking to the story Bibles from a decade of character re-creating. Inventing action with matching one-liners for comic relief is no small task. Every character gets one-line comic glory. Here are a few of my favorites:
“That was gross.”
“An hour.”
“That’s what killing is.”
Despite the gaggle of famous faces, they somehow leave room for a few surprise guests: Voldemort as dementor, Tyrion as oxymoronic giant dwarf, purple Hellboy, Loki’s CG twin sister, an Iron Hulk, and the Demogorgon.
Don’t worry. Thor is still the thunder god, Cap the hot moralist, Scarlett’s Black Widow kicks the crew into action, and Tony Stark boasts ever newer and better tech. Wakandans, Bruce Banner, and all of the Guardians of the Galaxy run madly toward battle fronts covered in Orc-like goblin goons and the godlike children of Thanos.
It’s a little like those charity performances that combine all of the chart-topping vocalists to help heal the world. Rod Stewart and Sting get their stand-out moments next to Aretha. All maintain personal style, but you hope that together they won’t make a cacophony. Infinity War meets the challenge in vignettes with unique groupings combining efforts and quirks. 
Back in NYC, over African countrysides, and across the universe, backstory runs a long legato strain under moments of humor and triumph. All Avenge, though not all are present. Ant Man, Hawkeye, and others wait in the wings for the next star-studded film experience.
Thematically sparing one life at a time, they sacrifice all in the process to show Marvel’s minion fans that they too can suffer long. After an Empire Strikes Back-esque cliffhanger, part 2 with Brie Larson as Captain Marvel won’t appear for yet another year. Just remember that this is a comic series and that the Gauntlet, covered in stones, now controls space, mind, time, reality, power, and soul. All is not lost.
GIFTED (2017) movie review
Chris Evans plays stand-in father to a child genius mathematician in this gift of a film. Strikingly smart banter dots the canvas as the expected plot becomes a landscape of hope full of both sweet and heart-wrenching moments.
The questions within this film seek to drown out fears founded by insecurities. What is family? How do we best care for one another? How do we help foster and nourish peoples’ gifts without exploiting or discouraging them?
It seems the stage-mother phenomenon is not limited to entertainers and little pageant queens as Gifted shows the pitfalls of seeking personal prestige and fame over integrity and selfless love. It challenges families to deal with conflict through lovingly honest communication.
Leaving a legacy looks unique for each person. Some people offer their gifts to the world in such a way as to gain the world’s approval, applause, and praise. The higher road can be lonelier, but leaving a legacy of selfless love is of greater worth than fame. Caring for people may be less glamorous, but it is by far more rewarding.
BEFORE WE GO (2014) movie review
Perusing Netflix recently, I came upon a film that a friend suggested I watch. She knows that I dig a decent, sweet RomCom now and then. I had no idea at first click that I would be watching Chris Evans’s directorial debut. It turns out Captain America can act and direct; Evans stars in it, as does Alice Eve.
It may seem like a common, re-run romantic comedy on the outset, but the script is lovely, refreshingly honest, and well acted. I also found the film work unique and thoughtful. It helps that I love New York City. I enjoyed the detail and the color choices, and the ability to continue hearing a conversation while watching the outcome and next steps. We see Eve hang up the phone, dig through her purse for change, hail a cab, etc, all while listening to the end of her phone conversation. Brilliant use of movement and timing on Evans’s part.
It’s feels a bit like Before Sunrise (’95) in that it’s the journey of two strangers learning about one another and helping each other conquer their greatest hurdles in just one night in New York City.
It reminds us of the bravery it takes to have and build relationships with anyone, to be honest, to be kind. It shows the potential reward for small good deeds because we never know what one bravely kind good deed could lead to.
Splatter: on FILM 