The Marvelous Ms Marvel

 Let me start off by saying the only comic book I've read Ms Marvel in was the pages of Champions when she was teamed up with Miles Morales and a young Cyclops from the past who was in the present (whole 'nother story there). When I saw the preview for this Disney+ series I thought it looked cute, but not really up my alley. But I wanted to check it out just so I could have an opinion on it.  By the time Kamala and Bruno get to Avengers Con I was hooked.  The series is cute, and innocent, and small-scale.  And that's perfect!

The end of the Infinity Saga in the MCU left a lot of us guessing what was to come next.  How does Marvel move on after achieving cinematic history?  Something that all other studios have tried to copy and have all failed?  I think the most obvious answer is they couldn't.  After three Phases, Marvel Studios had set itself a high bar, one that, like the original Star Wars trilogy, was never going to be reached in the eyes of their fans. Kevin Feige has never been one to play to the crowd.  He has his ideas, and his plans, and sticks to them (for the most part). One thing we've seen out of Phase 4 is risks in different kinds of storytelling. Eternals, Loki, What If, and The Multiverse of Madness are all examples of Marvel trying to experiment and make different kinds of movies and shows.  And when that happens, it doesn't work for everyone.

Ms Marvel to me is the MCU's attempt at not only something a little bit different, but also scaling back. Much like Spider-Man: Homecoming. By the final episode Kamala is really just trying to save the neighborhood. Iman Vellani lights up the series as a young Pakistani girl from Jersey who idealizes Captain Marvel.  Her innocence is something we all can relate too, regardless of ethnicity.  And the style of this series mirrors Kamal's personality with the texting and music.

What really brings this show to the top half of MCU projects is Kamala's supporting cast.  Her parents are a complete delight, along with her brother.  Her friends are there to support her, but they have their own lives to live like school admissions and mosque elections.  And of course, Kamala seems to be juggling several boys, and out of the three potential suitors she seems to lean towards the worst one for her. I'm fine with Bruno or Kareem. Her entourage enriches this series. If you can take a superhero story, but take out the superhero portion, and you're still left with good characters in a good story, then that is a good superhero story. This series was about a young girl learning about her family history, finding confidence, and learning to trust the ones she loves.

Now, as far as faults go, it's the same one a lot of MCU projects have, the villain.  From the moment Najma and her minions showed up asking about the bangle, I knew she was a bad guy (or girl). But it seems in her final moment she sacrificed herself to save the world her son lived in and gave him a form of protection at the same time.  At least that's the way I saw it. Maybe we'll get more clarification later.  Meanwhile, the DODC was hunting Kamala and Kamran, led by a very typical, uninteresting villain, Agent Deer. Deer had no depth, but it didn't help that we were focused on Najma most of the time as the antagonist and then switched the primary focus in the last episode to Agent Deer.

Watching this series has now made me more excited for The Marvels. Especially after that post-credit scene. To keep it short, my theory is that in the film we will be following Carol Danvers on an adventure and then she is magically transported to a bedroom filled with poster of her.  How that is connected to Kamala and her bangle, I'm willing to just wait and see.

Did he say 'mutation'?  Of course, it is the line every fanboy is talking about.  It's been years since Disney bought 20th Century Fox and regained the rights to make X-Men films.  And since then, we've all be wondering when Marvel's Mighty Mutants will make their debut in the MCU.  We still don't know exactly how, but this line, with some classic musical notes played after, is confirmation that mutants are coming, and Ms Marvel is indeed one of them, or at least connected.  In the comics, Kamala is an Inhuman, but thanks to the god-awful ABC series that name has been tarnished.  And given that Kamala's powers are different than the comics anyway, let's all just say it's a multiverse and move on.  Because nothing in the MCU is exactly the same as in the Marvel comics.  And that's ok to me, just as long and it's good storytelling. Though to be honest, I have issue with Sharon Carter's MCU treatment, but, instead, let's wrap this up.

Ms Marvel turned out to be the spunk the MCU Disney+ shows needed.  I think some Disney+ series are being handcuffed by the 6-episode format, but showrunner Bisha K. Ali did a great job with the task she was given.  This series from the first episode made us fall in love with Kamala, her family, and her whole world. And in classic superhero fashion, her mom made her suit. Now I just want Kamala to team-up with Kate Bishop and Peter Parker. I think those local heroes could have some fun adventures.

Thor: Love & Thunder Brings Down The Hammer

 I remember when it was announced that Marvel Comics was turning Thor into a girl.  They were bringing in a female Thor, or Lady Thor, as she would be nicknamed.  I had never been a Thor reader, but it bugs me how DC and Marvel change up characters who have been around for decades just to try and plead new readers to pick up a book.  But, when it was released, I decided to check out this Lady Thor so that I could have an honest opinion on it.  I'm not sure I actually read too many Thor comics to that point, but since then, I haven't stopped reading Thor!  The Mighty Thor was an amazing run by writer Jason Aaron and turned Jane Foster into a tragic hero we were all cheering for.

Taika Waititi's first run on Odinson was Thor: Ragnorak and it took the character in a completely different direction in the MCU.  And I did not like it.  To be fair, I also disliked the previous Thor film. However, the first film in the character's franchise I still think is one of the MCU's best.  To me, Thor is galactic Shakespeare. He has a troublesome brother, a merry band of friends, and his dad can be a dick.  Thor: Ragnorak was a film that felt more like Flash Gordon than Shakespeare.  That's why I say, to me, it's an entertaining movie, but not a god Thor movie. I believe Taika Waititi is a good filmmaker.  I just don't think his style fits with what Thor is.

When it was announced Waititi was coming back for Love & Thunder I was disappointed because of my feelings on Ragnorak.  And when it was announced that they were bringing back Natalie Portman to play Mighty Thor I was excited for the storyline to be told, but kept my expectations in check, again, because of Ragnorak.  I mean for Christ's sake Waititi killed the Warrior's Three, which were part of the greatness of that first Thor movie!

In this Phase 4 film, Thor is bumming around with the Guardians of the Galaxy when trouble arises in the form of Gorr the God Butcher.  I know this character in the comics, but I'm not too familiar with him.  He is waging a war on all Gods because of their vanity and has set his sights on Thor Odinson. He kidnaps the children of New Asgard, including Heimdall's son.  Remember when Multiverse of Madness said Dr Strange and Mordo were mortal enemies, but last we saw Mordo in the MCU he and Strange where cool? Heimdall's son appearing in this film is kinda like that. Christian Bale as Gorr is great.  He's an actor who knows the assignment.  He knows what kind of movie he is in, so his performance can seem a bit extravagant, but he pulls it in enough to where it works. I'm not sure I'd put him as a top MCU villain, but he's up there.

Another actor I loved in this film was Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie.  She was a highlight of Ragnorak for me, and again in this film.  Like Bale, she knows who her character is, and how not to make it too big or goofy.  She is badass, and that makes her hot as hell!  Waititi himself returns to voice Thor's best friend, Korg, and while for a moment there I thought they were actually going to kill him for dramatic effect, they couldn't be without the film's comedic sidekick. Plus, Korg was the one telling the story. 

Ever since we found out Chris Hemsworth has great comedic timing the MCU has treated Thor as a dumb jock.  My favorite outing as Hemsworth playing the character is actually Infinity War. He had bits of comedy, but still had the serious attitude overall.  That's the perfect blend for me.  This film had moments of seriousness, and when it did, I thought they actually worked great.  Jane revealing to Thor she has cancer, and the trio be captured by Gorr were some of my favorite scenes.  And then, you take a great actor like Russell Crowe and make him a joke called Zeus in a scene whose sole purpose was to show off Chris Hemsworth's bod.  There is one scene like this in every Thor movie. My wife doesn't seem to mind. But don't even get me started on hammer jealousy.

Like I said before, the Jane becoming Thor storyline is great in the comics, and with an Oscar winner like Natalie Portman, it could've been great.  But I honestly didn't think they leaned into it enough. This is cancer, but I never felt the gravitas of her disease till the end.  Waititi just wanted to tell a romantic space comedy, I get it.  To me, a film like Love & Other Drugs with Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway is a great example of a romantic comedy that can have a serious situation blend beautifully. And I know Taika Waititi has the chops to tell a story with that kind of balance.  I've seen JoJo Rabbit. I just felt like because it was MCU, and a Waititi Thor film, this movie never had a chance of really digging into Jane's emotional despair, and why she wielded Mjonir.  

In regards to the credit scenes, my ears perked up with the mention of Hercules earlier in the film.  In the mid-credit scene we saw Zeus alive and tell his son, Hercules, to go and rain vengeance on those who no longer respect the Gods. Whether that will be in a fifth Thor film, or another MCU film, I don't know.  But I was more surprised by the actor playing Hercules; Ted Lasso alumni Brett Goldstein.  He's not who I pictured would play the demi-god, and I've never seen the actor in anything except the Apple+ series.  But because of Roy Kent, and the fact that Marvel usually does a great job of casting, I'm willing to go on a little faith that Goldstein can play Marvel's Hercules.

The post-credit scene sees Jane in the Viking heaven of Valhalla. There, she is greeted by Idris Elba's Heimdall that explains she gets to live in Valhalla due to her heroic sacrifice. Now, in the comics, Jane dies as Mighty Thor saving the universe.  And as her reward, she is given a second life, as a Valkyrie.  I don't think that will happen.  I think much like how Harrison Ford was convinced to do The Force Awakens because he was promised a fitting end, this was Jane Foster's swan song. Portman was known to have wanted out of The Dark World when filming began. Which is why we haven't seen Portman in the MCU since.  I think Waititi wanted to do the Mighty Thor storyline, and convinced Portman to come back by giving her a gracious ending.  I'm not 100% on that theory, but I would be willing to bet $100 Portman is done in the MCU.

Thor: Love & Thunder dived deeper into the comedic zaniness we saw in Thor: Ragnorak. And to me that tone is fine for a group like Guardians of the Galaxy, but not Thor.  This is a romantic comedy that didn't seem that romantic or comedic to me.  The parts I did respond to most were the serious ones, but there weren't enough of them to make me give this film a thumbs up. However, I do want to see this film at least once more, because it is littered with easter eggs, including a statue of Utau the Watcher. The film ends with Thor and his new daughter (who is Hemsworth's daughter in real life), but by that point I just didn't care.  As the credits started to roll, I was jammin to the bitchin soundtrack, but I don't care if I see Thor the space jock in the MCU ever again.  But I'm sure we will, and I'll still give it a fair look, just like Lady Thor.

Strange New Worlds Boldly Goes To A New Past

I've never been a big Star Trek fan. Growing up, there was the classic Star Trek vs Star Wars battle. I, of course, was team Star Wars, still am. But as I aged, I started to appreciate Star Trek more. I learned how this future was supposed to be one of hope, and one to aspire too. And that every episode, and every alien race they encountered, was a metaphor for a portion of the human experience. In recent years I've enjoyed the Kelvin films, even though I know some long-term Trekkies don't. I, however, couldn't get into Star Trek: Discovery, and I was disappointed with Picard after the season 1 finale. But Strange New Worlds looked intriguing to me being that it was based on the original failed Star Trek pilot episode. After learning the plot of this series, I actually went and watched sed pilot that didn't see its way to TV screens till years later, after Star Trek was considered a success.

Having done my research before the series started, I knew the fates of Pike, Spock, and Uhura, but the series still had enough new characters that keep me guessing what their fates would be since they were not on Kirk's Enterprise crew. The character I took too most was Captain Pike. The man whose hair kept getting bigger every episode, according to my wife, and the rest of the internet. Anson Mount's portrayal of charm, wit, and compassion make him ideal to lead this cast into the unknown. Even though the series is more episodic than serialized, each character still had a through line in the season. Pike's was the knowledge of knowing his own fate, and whether he would accept it, or possibly change it. His Number 1, played by Rebecca Romjin, has her own secret, and that comes to a head in the season finale, and sets up the drama for season 2.

Probably the most known character in the Star Trek franchise is Spock. In this series he is played by Ethan Peck, and we all knew he was going to immediately be compared to not only Leonard Nimoy, but Zachary Quinto as well. I thought Peck did a fine job as the mixed-race Vulcan. In this season Spock struggled with his commitment to his finance and his duty to Starfleet. Spock's friendship with Kirk is legendary, and the foundation of that is laid with Pike, and maybe a bit too much in my eyes. It seems that in Star Trek mythology Spock doesn't warm up to humans that much till Kirk, Bones, and the rest of the original series crew. He and Pike just seem too cozy for he and Kirk to then later become besties. It also seems too obvious Spock's growing relationship with Nurse Chapel will be the undoing of his engagement. However, seeing how I am enthralled with the character of Nurse Chapel, I can't say I blame him.

The other new character I really like is the pilot, Erica Ortegas. Even though she hasn't had much in regards of her own storyline she's involved with the other members of the crew, and she gives some of the best one-liners of the series. Security Officer, Lieutenant Singh is someone the season focused on quite a bit, but to be honest I wish they focused more on Dr. M'Benga more and the quandary with his daughter's health. I felt that storyline was not only wrapped up too soon, but it was also my least favorite episode of the season.

Rounding out this season's cast was Celia Rose Gooding as Cadet Uhura, who is still trying to decide if she even wants to be a Starfleet officer, which is far from the character we get Nichelle Nichols playing in the original series. But I did enjoy her interactions with the other crew members and was both impressed and saddened by Engineer Hemmer's valiant sacrifice before parting words of wisdom to the cadet.

Again, some long time Star Trek fans don't like how Canon is being played with, no episode more showing of this than the crew's encounter with the Gorn that seemed more like the film Aliens than Star Trek. To this I say, Star Trek was a dying franchise until 2009. It has been revitalized and is now reaching a whole new audience. As a life-long comic book reader I can sympathize though. Canon is often overlooked or washed away in hopes of attracting new readers. But in an "adapt or die" society the helmsmen behind Star Trek are hoping to keep this ship flying because there is something special about this franchise that has lasted over 60 years. It is the hope of a better tomorrow, which we often don't get in TV and films these days.

I think that is why I have been drawn to Star Trek more as I've gotten older. My outlook on the world's future gets bleaker, but Star Trek reminds me of the possibility of what it could be. Season 1 of Strange New Worlds was a season I kept up with every week but didn't love every episode. The characters are solid, and the finale I believe finished its freshman year strong. Some Trekkies have complained that it isn't quality stories like Star Trek used to tell, but my rebuttal to that is this. My number one priority in media is caring about the characters, and Strange New Worlds does that enough for me to boldly go where I've never gone before: watch an entire season of a Star Trek show.