Tag: Comic Book Movie

REVIEW: First step for ‘Fantastic Four’ is fine, but not phenomenal

A “Fantastic Four” movie where Dr. Doom isn’t the main antagonist? That’s allowed?

Apparently it is, because good ole Victor isn’t the big bad of “First Steps.” Instead, the family of heroes including Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), his wife Sue (Vanessa Kirby), brother-in-law Johnny (Joseph Quinn), and colleague Ben Grimm (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) face something from the depths of space.

Having picked up their powers a few years ago, the four have become celebrities, known for their contribution to science and several heroic moments. Things are going well, but that’s about to change. In addition to Sue getting pregnant with a potentially super-powered child, a planet-eating threat known as Galactus is on its way to Earth.

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REVIEW: ‘Superman’ loses shine due to clumsy story, despite dedicated cast

About 15 years after his first go round in the genre with 2010’s dark comedy “Super,” James Gunn presents his latest film featuring the most well-known hero around.

Yes, the Man of Steel is back on the big screen. It’s a new era for DC heroes in cinema, with the Extended Universe in the rearview, ending with an Atlantean chomping on a cockroach-topped burger. Now, we have a whole new universe, where Superman and other heroes are well established in society.

Things aren’t going well for Supes lately, though, as public perception has been turning against him recently for his independent involvement in a geopolitical conflict involving a U.S. ally. As Clark (David Corenswet) navigates the situation and his romantic relationship with co-worker Lois Lane (Rachel Brosahan), he also has to deal with the latest plot from Lex Luthor (Nicholas Hoult).

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REVIEW: Fun adventure of misfits makes ‘Thunderbolts’ enjoyable

Are we back, Marvel?

It seems like that could be the case with the latest film from the comic book adaptation studio, “Thunderbolts.” The film mainly centers on Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), who finds herself a bit rudderless. Outside of doing missions for the CIA, Yelena lacks any appreciation for the life she’s living, especially since the death of her sister, Natasha, the Black Widow.

Things only get more complicated when she’s sent on a mission that brings her into conflict with several other secret operatives working under CIA head Valentina de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus).Realizing they’ve been set-up by de Fontaine, the group reluctantly join forces to stop a new and potentially dangerous project the CIA leader is working on.

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REVIEW: New ‘Captain America’ is more bland than brave

This film is the culmination of an origin movie from over a decade ago. “Captain America: The First Avenger?” No, 2008’s “Incredible Hulk.”

“Brave New World” picks up a few years after the events of the “Falcon and Winter Soldier” series. Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) is now Captain America and he is assisted in missions by a sidekick, Joaquin Torres (Danny Ramirez). The film picks up with Sam and friends attending an event at the White House where General Thaddeus Ross (Harrison Ford) is now president.

During the event, an attempted assassination takes place and a friend of Sam’s is framed. Captain America sets off in the aftermath to clear his friend’s name and bring the plotters to justice, before world relations breakdown as several nations are also vying for a new valuable mineral.

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REVIEW: ‘Venom’ finale amuses but ultimately lacks substance

Some trilogies are made up of three films that have one overarching narrative while others feature standalone stories with ongoing character arcs. “Venom” fits the latter.

This time around, Eddie (Tom Hardy) and his alien symbiote Venom are fugitives because of events in the last film. Spending time in Mexico, the two are considering what to do next and decide on going to New York City where there’s an official who could help clear Eddie’s name.

Unfortunately, the duo are being hunted by another alien force seeking the pair out because they could play a role in releasing a powerful-but-imprisoned super being. The U.S. government, which wants to study the symbiotes on Earth, is also after the duo.

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