New Superman Trailer Has Us Looking Up

 It seems as though my last blog post was in regard to the first Superman trailer.  Either I don't post enough, or I must really like Superman.  I think it's a lot of both.  Today the newest trailer for James Gunn's Superman movie dropped online.  This film will help kick off the new DC Comics shared TV & film universe; or DCU.  A lot is riding on this film.  Gunn is not only directing the film but is also head of DC Studios along with Peter Safran.  The ending of the DCEU left a lot of fans disappointed as the films slowly made less and less money.  This film has to bring back "hope" for the DC characters, and in the DC brand.  It has to silence the Snyder fans who think this movie sucks before they even see it.  It has to be good enough to help make the next film, Supergirl, a success.  And it has to help Warner Bros get out of the financial hole it's in.  Everyone is counting on the Man of Steel to save the day.

As this trailer opens, we see Lois interviewing Clark as Superman. We know this film isn't an origin story, but I'm curious if Lois knows Clark's secret identity when the film starts.  They discuss a situation where Superman stopped a war, but not everyone is happy about it.  This idea was present in the DCEU as well, most notably Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.  Superman wants to help people, but in the modern political landscape a person cannot just cross borders and do as they like, regardless of how many people they save.  Clark seems to be upset that Lois is pressing him, but I think we all know Lois is just trying to prove a point as to how some people see him.

This also makes me think about other shots like Rick Flagg Sr. and members of The Authority arresting Superman.  The most interesting shot in the trailer to me is Superman being beaten in a cell with Metamorpho behind him.  We also see another person in the cell next to them, and another view shows many cells.  My guess is that any metahuman who doesn't want to take orders from the government is in a cell.  So, I can only dream of all the DC characters that are in there!

We see Lex and the Engineer enter the Fortress of Solitude and destroy some robots and get into a fight with Krypto.  So God help me, if anything happens to that dog!!  I'm curious to know who the guy in the golden armor is.  With some kind of blast, that might be heat vision, he could possibly be another Kryptonian, whether he/she is from this reality, I can't say.

We get a few shots of his parents, Ma and Pa Kent, who were probably the most lackluster part of the trailer for me.  I'm used to Smallville's John Schneider and Annette O'Toole being a big part of Clark's story.  I think they'll serve their purpose, but maybe not a big part in the film. I also don't think either of them will die, at least in this movie.  

We see shots of Cat Grant taking a selfie during a fight, Jimmy and Clark messing around, and Guy Gardner bitch slapping some soldiers.  Remember, this film takes place in world that superheroes have been around for a while, and most have become cynical.  Superman is coming in to show them the light and bring hope to the world. Another shot shows a citizen coming to help Superman after he fell out of the sky, perhaps inspiring people to help others.

The part of the trailer that hook me was when he said "Hey, eyes up here," and took off.  While Superman isn't a funny guy, he likes to keep things light.  One of my pros for the theatrical version of Justice League was Superman post-resurrection.  He had a happy attitude instead of brooding.  As he said, he "liked being alive."  This also makes me think Superman was trying to get the bad guy away from people where they could be hurt, another thing the DCEU never really addressed.

A big thing this trailer told me is what James Gunn has said, this film is very much focused on Superman AND Lois.  Rachel Brosnahan and David Corsenswet's chemistry looks like it'll be good.  We just had four seasons of show about Superman and Lois, and it ended too soon in my opinion. We heard John William's theme, and even got the classic Superman fonts swooshing in to let us know July 11 is gonna be awesome!!! 

 

MY THOUGHTS ON THE DCU'S SUPERMAN TEASER TRAILER

To start off, I wasn't a fan of the electric guitar John Williams theme.  I just felt like they are trying to fool audiences into thinking this movie is "cool" with an electric guitar.  But the first shot we get is Superman bleeding.  This is great, because a lot of general audiences think Superman is too perfect or powerful.  But the first thing we see is this powerful hero beaten and bleeding.  So, who beat him?  Well, in this trailer we see him fight a fire-breathing monster, we see him about to face some kind jelly fish-looking orb while having a moment with Lois, but my money's on the baddie he is fighting on the Metropolis Meteors field.  Who is this villain taking on the Man of Steel?  I don't know, but I don't care to know right now.  This movie is 7 months away, we got no plot details or dialogue in this trailer; except Superman asking his dog to take him home.

Speaking of Krypto, I showed this trailer to a co-worker who said they weren't a big Superman fan, but when Krypto comes racing through the snow he said, "Oh they got his dog in this?  I'm down for the dog."  Proof that everyone loves a faithful, furry, companion.  We also get a shot of the Kent farm and Clark with his father, probably having a heart to heart.  Not a big farm, or what I'd think to see, but maybe there is a story behind that too.  Again, I don't need to know now.

We see shots of Superman and Lois working at the Daily Planet, and we also see newpapers, which suprised me.  I know newpapers exist, but I'm curious if the debate of print media vs digital will be a slight topic for these journalists.  Or maybe even modern journalism in general will be a topic of the film.  While we're on Lois (I wish) I'm "super" excited to see Rachel Brosnahan has Lois Lane.  Based off her previous work I think she'll make a great Lois.  There are several shots of Lois kissing both Clark and Superman in this trailer.  This makes me think Lois knows, or finds out, that Clark is Superman in this film.  One thing I've enjoyed in modern interpretation of Superman like Man of Steel and My Adventures with Superman, is that Lois knows Clark is Superman, and they don't have to make the world's greatest reporter seem clueless.

In this movie we know we are getting other superheroes.  James Gunn says in this DCU that superheroes, or meta humans, have been around for a while.  We see Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner looking like he's holding back a mob so Superman can have a moment to himself.  Not a fan of Fillion's hair, but look at Guy Gardner in the comics.  That's his hair.  Plus, his character is know for his overconfidence, so maybe the comic-accurate hairstyle is a gag. 

We see Isabela Merced fly through the air as Hawkgirl, and Edi Gathegi use his super brain to protect someone as Mister Terrific.  The most interesting thing about that shot for me is that the armored gunmen colors are green and purple.  These colors are most associated with Lex Luthor's armored suit.  Finally, we had a close-up shot of Anthony Carrigan as Metamorpho.  I didn't realized that's who that was until I noticed his purple shoulder.  Another Metamorpho easter egg is the sign "Stagg Industries" in the background in one shot.  Simon Stagg is an advesary of Metamorpho in the comic books.

Nicholas Holt shows up in several shots as Lex Luthor, one of them he appears injured, and in another he is holding a gun, with perhaps a kryptonite bullet in it?  We'll see.  We don't see in the trailer Superman staple characters like Perry White and Jimmy Olsen (though we did see Jimmy with the Daily Planet staff in the teaser to the teaser) and I'm ok with that.  Again, the movie is 7 months away, and this teaser is just to give us a feel of the movie.  And Superman getting stuff thrown at him by an angry mob definitely envokes feelings.  

The last few shots I want to mention are ones of the Fortress of Solitude and world politics.  Superman is crouching over a robot in one shot that looks like he is in the Fortress of Solitude.  Is that his Fortress robot Kelex?  The only other words in the trailer besides Superman talking to his dog, is a boy in trouble, calling to Superman, and holding a flag with the shield on it.  Another shot shows a television with the headline "Boravian Troops Amassing At Borders."  This goes into a modern covnersation about superheroes.  The conversation in Captain America: Civil War asks if enhanced individuals have the right to interject in conflicts that have geo political consequences.  "What if this panel sends us somewhere we don't think we should go? What if there's someplace we need to go and they don't let us?  We may not be perfect, but the safest hands are still our own."  This DCU is said to be a more cynical society and Superman is a light of hope that comes in with opposing views on how things should be happening.  It's the kind of discussion topics I'm looking forward to most in this film, and in the DCU.  

The most important things about this film is that it will be released on my birthday.  A new Superman film that appears to be looking good, and kicks off a new DC Comics Cinematic Universe. Happy Birthday to me!  This film also has a lot riding on it.  It's Warner Bros first outing to try and win back the audiences after the previous DCEU films declined critically and financially with every film.  This film doesn't need to make $1 billion, but it does need to be good to try and win back some hearts and minds.  Otherwise, "hope" may be lost for WB and the DC superheroes on the silver screen.

Dayspring Discussions: May 19, 2024: X-Men '97 Season 1 Review

Star Trek: Strange New World's Strange Sophomore Season

I always start off talking Star Trek by saying I don't consider myself a Trekkie. I like Star Trek, but if I'm watching something ST it's a movie with Chris Pine or the Next Generation crew, or a TV show that Jack Quaid has been on.  Strange New Worlds just finished its second season on Paramount+. The Discovery spin-off came out with a great freshman season.  We saw some characters we already knew on this Enterprise crew before James T Kirk becomes its Captain, and we met new characters not from the original series as well.  What keeps me coming back to watch this series is its characters.  Any great movie or TV show has characters you care about and get invested in.  Pike is cool, and relatable to me.  Spock is awkward and funny.  Uhura is innocent and smiley.  I like going back onto the Enterprise and hanging out with its crew.  The other reason I like Strange New Worlds is its production. They've updated ideas from the 1966 to 2022. I try to watch each episode on my big 4k TV, with all the lights off, and in total darkness, because each episode is movie quality.

I think a lot of long-time Trekkies were in an uproar when a musical episode was announced at San Diego Comic Con, the same day they announced the Star Trek: Lower Decks crossover episode was dropping on Paramount+ in a few hours. With animated crossovers, musicals, and an episode where Spock becomes full human, but still has to pretend to be Vulcan, I can see how some Star Trek fans could see these things as gimmicky and be turned off by them.  But I believe that some people take their fandom too serious.  I'm a big Star Wars fan, but I know I will not like everything Star Wars. I understand Star Trek is a franchise that is filled with metaphors about humanity, and our own modern problems being twisted into a sci-fi context.  I get it. But sometimes, it's good to just have some fun and be silly.  We had those serious episodes like the season finale, and then the episode before it, everyone was singing.  While I'll probably skip Subspace Rhapsody in future rewatches, I'm ok that it was made, and it put a smile on my face as I watched it.

One of the things I enjoyed about season 2 was the growth of the characters.  We got more into the history of Dr. M'Benga and his issues with Klingons.  Nurse Chapel and La'an had some great character moments in this season as well.  Plus, Erica Ortega finally got to go on an away mission, and might not come back from it.  We'll see. We also got what some might call fan-service cameos.  James T. Kirk was in this season so much, people thought he was a crew member. But in the 4 episodes Paul Wesley played him in the series, the true Kirk has only been in 2 out of 20 episodes. I also loved seeing James interact with Sam, and their relationship is something I want to see more of.  In the season 2 finale we got a young Scottie, which means we've met four out of the seven TOS crew members in SNG. I can see how it might be a little too cheeky and shrinks this universe, but again, it's fantasy. Just try to enjoy it for what it is. 

I mentioned above the modernization of original Star Trek concepts like the better special effects and cooler looking props and sets, and also aliens.  We were teased the Gorn last season as almost xenomorph type creatures that were similar to those in Alien.  It's a far distinction from the rubber reptile suit we saw in the 60's. But in the season finale we got a better understanding of how these beings can seem so formidable.  The Gorn start as little creatures, gestating in a warm body, then become these four-legged predators.  In Hegemony, we finally see an adult Gorn, which instantly made me think of Slithe from Thundercats and how badly I want a movie of that childhood cartoon.   The Gorn seem to have mastered space-travel, but up to this episode, we've only seen them as wild beasts. This adult Gorn I think has given us still only a fraction of the true threat they cause to the Enterprise and the Federation.  I see them as the opposite of the Borg.  Instead of being merciless opponents who are very "robotic", the Gorn seem to be primal, but still intelligent at a mature age.  Their more vicious nature I think will set them apart from other Star Trek villains like the Klingons, the Borg, and the Romulans. 

Overall, I enjoyed this second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds because of its variety.  It has serious episodes, and silly episodes.  It had drama, action, and comedy.  And I'm a fan when I can get all three of those things in one show.  As to when we will get the next season, I don't know due to the continuing writers and actors strikes going on. But until then, I will enjoy discussing with people their thoughts on this season, and what choice they think Captain Pike will make, knowing his own fate is set, but his decision will affect everyone else's fate.

Superman & Lois Continues To Be The Superman We Need

 The fanboys were in a tizzy this week as it was announced that David Corenswet will play Superman in James Gunn's upcoming Superman: Legacy. People online debated whether Henry Cavill should have stayed or whether audiences will even turn out to see this newest interpretation of the Man of Steel on the big screen.  Meanwhile, on the small screen, we have continued to get a solid Kal-El for three seasons in the form of Tyler Hoechlin on Superman & Lois.

The CW series was on the rocks as to whether it would return for a fourth season. The show is CW's #1 show, but also its most expensive. With The CW cancelling shows, and knowing an integrated DC Universe was coming, I knew this series would not have a long run, but I was hoping for another season before we get a new live-action Superman in Corenswet. And then word came down from high that we will get a shortened season four with a smaller budget, and possibly losing some supporting characters because of the money constraints. No matter what, I am excited for this show to return for one more season. Since the season one episode where Clark tells his son about the struggle he faces every time he puts on that suit, and the complete control he must have every time he does, I knew the people making this series get what Superman truly is, and where the character's strengths lie. 

Season 3 gave us a great Superman story. People say the character isn't interesting because he's too powerful and perfect.  But that is what makes a good Superman tale. In this season, his wife, Lois Lane, is diagnosed with cancer.  This isn't some villain trying to take over the world or destroy Metropolis. This is something Superman can't fight.  The most powerful being in the world is helpless to save his wife. That is a good Superman fable. You give him something he can't fight, like his father having a heart attack.  You make this alien human.  And then you have a scene where his sons argue with him about using Kryptionian technology to help, but come to find out Lois and Clark have made the decision not to use it, because it wouldn't be fair to all the other millions of people who have cancer.

My favorite scene this entire season was the diner scene. Clark is frustrated with his wife being sick and comes to find out a man hit his son and pulled a gun on his wife. He walks into that diner, knowing he could kill this man with his pinkie.  But he doesn't. He barely touches him. The control Clark has to have in that moment is remarkable. 

As good as season three is, it does have a few faults for me. Lex Luthor came into the season with two episodes left.  Instead of focusing on Bruno Mannheim most of the season I thought Lex should have been brought in sooner. Although the idea of a man just trying to save his wife from cancer by using any means at his disposal was interesting. The new actor playing Jonathan Kent took some getting used too. But now I think I like this actor better than the other. As for Jordan, well, I've always thought Jordan was a little bitch, and when he started to disobey his parents, I would have taken him to the Fortress of Solitude and put him in a crystal like in Superman II until he gained some perspective. John Henry and Lana hooking up I called back in season 2, and I could care less about Kyle and Chrissy.

They brought back Bizarro in the season finale and did something interesting. The season two premiere saw a beast coming out of the ground, which I thought was Doomsday, and I thought it was too early to bring that character into the series. But the creators tricked us when under the suit was Bizarro. But now, they've almost walked that deception back, and turned Bizzaro into Doomsday. Honestly, I'm not thrilled with it. I think fighting a newly brain-washed Bizarro would have been sufficient. Plus, less costly to the budget. But that last shot of the two characters about to rumble on the moon was cool. My favorite live-action version of Doomsday is still from the Syfy series Krypton.

This season of Superman & Lois gave us a very human story. And that's what this series continues to do. It tells the tale of a man who is burdened with being the most powerful being in the world, but can't save everyone, even those closest to him. Clark is constantly being told by people what he should do but tries to continue to do what he feels is right, and protect all life, not matter how hard it is. I'm going to miss this Superman, and I can only hope James Gunn is going to give us one who, as Mark Waid once wrote, doesn't make the 'Super' more important than the 'man'.

The Flash Can't Seem To Find It's Footing

I like the character The Flash. I'm a big fan of Geoff Johns time writing the character, and one of the storylines he wrote being Flashpoint, the book this film is based on. I was also a fan of The Flash TV series, which, like a lot of TV shows, continued way longer than it should of.  Flashpoint was a way for DC Comics to do one of their patented reboots of their universe, and with the upcoming regime change at DC Studios, I expected this film to kind of do the same for the DC film universe. This movie was originally supposed to be released in 2018.  It was announced during the first season of The Flash and now being released after a nine-season run of The CW series has ended.  This film went through several writers, several directors, and a lot of personal trouble from the film's star, Ezra Miller. Some thought The Flash was never going to be released.  But now that it has, was the marathon it took to get to this finish line worth it?

The last time we saw Ezra Miller on the big screen as Flash was 2017's Justice league.  Miller was the comic relief in a film that had it's own production drama. I didn't mind Miller's character in the film, but I thought he in no way represented who Barry Allen is. Grant Gustin plays it a little closer to Barry's personality on The CW show, however, Miller's Flash entertained me, and that's the most important thing. In The Flash, Barry is supposed to have been the Flash for over two years now, and still acts like a newbie. Granted, he knows how to do a few things, but his attitude as a hero is ridiculous. Which comes to a head when he talked to Bruce about going back in time and changing reality, warning him of the consequences. In the original storyline, Barry goes back in time to save his mother in a moment of weakness, out of nowhere, but Batman just told Barry not to do it, and then five minutes later he does it. 

So Barry puts a can of tomatoes in a shopping cart, and causes a ripple effect in time that evidently made Ben Affleck turn into Michael Keaton. In the original Flashpoint story, Barry's actions cause time ripples like Kal-El's ship not landing in Kansas, or Bruce Wayne dying instead of his parents in that alley. But I'm not sure how a person gets a completely different look. I knew Keaton was put in the film just as a nostalgia cash-grab, but he just logically seems out of place. Had they knew they needed a Batman, and found Keaton's from another reality, I would have accepted that better than, "well we wanted Michael Keaton back as Batman. So we just did it."

Sasha Calle plays Kara Zor-El in this film, aka Supergirl.  Though, her look is more like Lara Lane-Kent, the multiversal daughter of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. To me, Supergirl was the standout in this film with little actual screen time. In the original Flashpoint, Kal-El's ship landed in Metropolis instead of Smallville. It killed thousands of people, and he spent his entire life as a lab rat, and never became Superman. Kara Zor-El left Krypton as a teenager, allegedly charged to look after baby Kal when they both got to Earth. In this film, Kal was intercepted by Zod, who killed him, and Kara was captured by Russians and tortured for 30 years.  So why is she still a teenager?  Also, wasn't Zod supposed to be trapped in the Phantom Zone when their ships left Krypton?  I know you can say "multiverse" as your plot hole, but at least tell us if Canon is different. Kara is also allegedly in possession of the Codex, the thing Zod was looking for in Man of Steel. The McGuffin of the entire first DCEU film, that has stll led to nothing after 10 years of stories.  

The conclusion of this film is finding out this new reality's Barry is the bad guy, or Savitar.  And basically, that is what this film comes down to for me.  This film has had a long road with multiple creatives working on it for years, and it just feels like a blend of all these ideas that never meshed. The film was at constant war with its plots and characters.  I've not only seen Flashpoint in the comics, but also I've seen it on TV and in an animated movie. This was the worst version. I've seen Barry Allen in live-action for years.  I've even seen future Barry try to fight past Barry as Savitar. And I know, a lot of general audiences didn't watch The Flash TV series, and don't have these comparisons, but I can't watch the Ben Affleck Daredevil film because the Charlie Cox version is so superior. I can't watch Val Kilmer or George Clooney as Batman because I feel they are inferior to other versions. That's the life we live as fans of properties that have been around for generations.

And as I just said above, this film just seems inferior to what it could have been. They made CGI pictures of past DC film characters, when just images from those films and series I think would have been better. Actually, put CGI characters of possible future films and let audiences see that. A Michael B. Jordan Superman project has been rumored. Show a fake version of that and let people go nuts wondering if it will ever come to fruition.  This film looked back when it should have looked forward.  The Clooney cameo was a fun, cheeky, laugh.  It was a waste of scene between Bruce and Barry where Barry tells him about all the possible multiverses out there, one of which could be describing the forthcoming DCU cinematic universe. The post credit scene with Jason Momoa could have got people excited for the upcoming Aquaman sequel, a film that needs all the good buzz it can muster, but instead it was a pointless scene that made Arthur Curry look like a drunken idiot rather than King of the Seven Seas. 

I always believe you should judge a film on what it is, and not what you want it to be.  But within this film I saw the sections where they could have done something different and chose what they chose, and thus made it a lesser film. And maybe that's because I've seen other versions and have seen what is possible with the Flash and Flashpoint. When I boil it down this film is another good idea that wasn't executed properly.  And so, it never gets a chance to reach its top speed. 

  

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 SPOILER Review: James Gunn's Goal To Make You Cry Any Way He Can

It's 2012 and Kevin Feige has announced that the Guardians of the Galaxy are coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and everyone said, "who?"  I had heard of the Guardians, Rocket Raccoon and Groot, but never read the title before.  But after Kevin said a film was in development, I decided to check out these soon-to-be live-action heroes. So, I went and investigated the 2008 series by Dan Abnett, and then started reading the 2013 series by Brian Michael Bendis. By then, I couldn't wait for this movie to come out.

Cut to the first trailer. I'm sitting in the theater with my wife when the teaser is played and she says, "we don't have to see that, do we?" Cut to the morning of opening day for Guardians of the Galaxy. I'm at work, getting the store ready to open, listening to my iPod, dancing through the sales floor.  Cut to the opening titles in the movie. I laugh my ass off and immediately feel a connection to Christ Pratt's Star-Lord. Cut to the closing credits of the film. My wife asks if we can go see the movie again.

Aside from the Captain America films, Guardians of the Galaxy has been my favorite property in the MCU. The characters are whacky, and a mess, and so much fun to watch. I had every faith that James Gunn was going to stick the landing for several reasons. First, before he was fired (and then rehired) by Disney, Kevin was setting Gunn up to take control of the MCU's galactic division. Second, Gunn proved he could do more than just Guardians when I saw The Suicide Squad. And finally, the entire Guardians cast rallied around Gunn when he was let go from Marvel, proving how much they love James Gunn, and how much fun they have making these movies.

From the early reviews I was expecting a film that was going to be a tearjerker with a lot of deaths. Especially since it was the last film Gunn was doing before switching teams to DC, and a lot of the cast said they were not planning in doing any more in the MCU.  I was very surprised none of the Guardians died. The one that came closest (besides Rocket) was Peter, and in that moment, I remember Chris Pratt being the only cast member in interviews saying he'd come back for more films.  I thought those quotes were a visaed to make us think Star-Lord was the only safe character, but then kill him. For several seconds, I thought Marvel was pulling off a great "gotcha" moment. But they weren't.

Some of the weak points in the film for me were the villain and the slow motions shots. I'm not saying Gunn is as bad as Michael Bay, but slow-mo I think is most effective when you only have it in one or two points in the film to show the importance of that scene. Any more than that, I think it loses its emphasis. The MCU isn't known for great villains, and the High Evolutionary wasn't a bad villain, but he also wasn't that menacing to me.  He wanted Rocket back, to create new life, and he spazzed out when things didn't go his way. He's nowhere near top MCU villains like Thanos, Loki, or Vulture in my eyes.

The things that stood out to me in this film were obviously the music, and the relationships. Between the hallway scene and The Marvels trailer, the MCU has got me relistening to the Beastie Boys music on my iTunes.  The first film brought this group of misfits and loners together.  The second film solidified them as a found family, and this film showed us what that family meant to each of them. The Guardians did everything they could to save Rocket, without hesitation. And like the rest of the MCU, the heroes shined enough that you didn't mind that the villain wasn't as strong. I was expecting a little more out of Adam Warlock, but I think this is a good start for the character with lots of potential to grow. 

As for Peter and Gamora. I think that went exactly how it should. This Gamora never tried to steal the orb from Peter on Xandar. She never traveled to Nowhere with them to see The Collector, and never refused to leave Ego without Peter on board. I wasn't expecting them to get together, and they may never do so, especially with Zoe Saldana saying she's done playing Gamora, but the one sound that is louder than "no" is "cha-ching" and a dump truck full of money.

The film ended with Rocket leading a new team of Guardians that I'm curious to see, but no really excited for as some of favorite Guardians are no longer on the team. However, I do expect to see those former members show up in other MCU projects. But, the new additions of Adam and Phyla-Vell (who has a connection to Captain Marvel) could lead to some interesting storylines.  I think the success of this film also has to do with its disconnection to The Multiverse Saga. You can go straight from Avengers: Endgame to this film and be fine, unless you want to watch the Holiday Special on Disney+, which you should have already done!

Confession Time. There are several sad moments in this film that made the people I saw it with cry. But my tears came at a time I did not expect and had only a little to do with the movie. The morning I was about to see Vol 3 my Facebook Memories were of my grandfather's funeral 8 years ago. So, with that on my mind, when I saw Peter hug his grandfather after decades apart, I lost it.  I started to sob like it was Happy and Morgan Stark on the porch 4 years ago. 

I think James Gunn showed everyone in the entertainment industry looking to adapt comic properties that you can take unknown characters and make them popular by highlighting why they have endured and making a great movie around them. Batman, Superman, and Spider-Man are great, but I can't wait for people to meet Kyle Rayner or Ben Reilly!

The Mandalorian and The Problem w/ Grogu

When season 3 of The Mandalorian was about to start I thought about what it was going to be like. I thought it might be about Bo Katan and the Armorer battling over the true Mandalorian way with Din Djarin stuck in the middle; a battle for his soul.  That did not happen. Instead, the Armorer and Bo teamed up to save all of Mandalore from Moff Gideon and pretty much tied up the three seasons into what could be a series finale.

This season of The Mandalorian was hit with a lot of complaints from fans saying how it wasn't the same quality we had come to see from the previous seasons.  And to that I somewhat agree. But I also think, like the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's a victim of its own success. We've come to expect such a high level of entertainment in this Disney+ series that when it's just good or fine, we think it's crap.  I feel the same way I feel about the final season of Game of Thrones. I like how it ended, but not satisfied about how we got there.  

Looking back at this eight-episode season, I feel like it could have been a tight six-episode season.  Yes, I'm talking about Episode 4 where Jack Black and Lizzo send Bo and Din on a droid detective hunt.  I didn't mind the story, but just that it was placed in the middle of the season storyline and served no purpose to that story. It was a detour in a season where we already had a semi-detour on Coruscant with Dr. Pershing and Elia.  I didn't mind either of the episodes individually but thought we didn't need a break from an already short season of TV.  Also, that bird story in Episode 4 was pretty bad. Sorry Dave. 

The series main character, Din Djarin, did very little as far as character growth this season. Most of that went to Katee Sackhoff as Bo Katan.  And this was another thing people complained about. In order for Bo to be the ruler Mandalore needed, she needed that development, and I thought Bo's renewed faith in herself, and in Mandalorians, was the highlight of the season.  In the final episode I realized Pedro Pascal probably never once stepped foot on set all season because Din never took his helmet off once this year.  Which is probably why the other two actors in the suit got a little more credit in the credits. Pedro was probably recording his voicework in his pj's at his house.

Having watched The Clone Wars when it aired, I knew the bad Mandalorians were Death Watch, and that the Armorer was leader of the Children of the Watch.  So of course, I've never really liked her, and thought she might be the other spy in Episode 7. But we found out she was more a catalyst for Bo, to push her towards what she needed to do, to bring all Mandalorians together for the betterment of their planet, regardless of their beliefs. That metaphor was a nail on the head.  I'm still not a huge fan of the Armorer, but I'll ship her and Bo over Bo and Din any day.

The return of Moff Gideon this season we knew was coming, but too late in my opinion. Wasn't it Episode 5 when we learned he had escaped his imprisonment? He should have been more of a looming threat throughout the season instead of all these silly side stories we got.  Plus, he seemed less menacing now since we know Din already defeated him once back in Season 2. He just seemed so meek, especially with the talk of Thrawn and the eventual return of Palpatine.  I almost laughed when Gideon started hating on Thrawn.  Gideon isn't even good enough to piss on Thrawn's shoes, and I hope general Star Wars viewers will get to see that in the next few years.

They did wrap up the Grogu storyline this season, for the most part this season.  We know why Gideon wanted him so bad, and we know how Grogu escaped the Jedi Temple during Order 66. One of those plot points I want to see more of, the other I thought was just another Imperial thinking he could be cool as Darth Vader. Ya can't son.  My theory as to why Grogu was thrust back into the show after such a dramatic exit last season was Disney's demand to sell toys.  That's the only true purpose Grogu severed this season, and why this character is becoming problematic.  His appeal is his is small, cute, stature.  Yoda was training Jedi by the time he was 100 years old. Grogu is about 55 years old and can't even talk or wield a lightsaber. But Disney can't let Grogu grow-up. Any sitcom runner will tell you the show starts to lose its appeal when the kids grow-up and aren't cute anymore.  Which is why I think the show should have let Grogu be gone longer and come back more mature, or just be done with the character all together and continue to focus on Din. But, again, they need to sell toys.

Was this season a step down from the previous two?  I believe so.  But I still have faith in where the series could go next season.  I like the character of Din, and I'm excited to see his adventures working for the New Republic, and I'm excited to see the upcoming crossover event that was spawned from his series success.  I'm glad the Grogu storyline is allegedly wrapped up, but I feel now this character will continue to be a weight on this show's developing body, keeping in down in exchange for merchandising.

DC Studios Plans For "A Better Tomorrow"

It's 2013. Henry Cavill is about to make is debut as the newest actor to play Superman. Zack Snyder is about to start his idea for a multi-film storyline that will tell an epic tale. And Warner Bros Studios is about to start counting their money thinking they have a cinematic universe that will rival Marvel Studios at the box office. It's ten years later, and things didn't go as everyone hoped. Henry Cavill isn't playing Superman, Zack Snyder got fired before he could finish his plan, and Warner Bros has fumbled the DC characters to where, now, it's a brand that regular moviegoers no longer trust.

Enter film maker James Gunn and producer Peter Safran. They are the heads of the newly created DC Studios, a division of Warner Bros Studios, created by WB studio head, David Zaslav, in hopes of turning the DC Comic brand into something consumers will think positively of.  Tuesday, James Gunn announced the beginning stages of their plan in regard to the DC Universe moving forward.  A plan that will include theatrical films, HBO Max series, and animated projects.  

This comes as a disappointment to some fans that still believe in the film universe Zack Snyder started, and still campaign for WB to "Restore the Snyderverse" even though I believe Zack Snyder's vision is the reason the DC characters are now held in such low esteem. Anyway, Gunn announced five films and five series that is just a sneak peak in what he has in store for the DCU, which includes some heavy hitters like Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern, but also leaves room for more fringe characters like Creature Commandos, The Authority, and Swamp Thing.  

I liked Henry Cavill as Superman, even though I wasn't as warm on the films he played Superman in.  As my favorite superhero, I didn't agree with some of the story plots. I mean, you're doing the biggest event in comic book history, The Death of Superman, in your second film? In the words of Red Foreman, "Dumbass!"  Just the description of these first few projects makes it seem like Superman could be the lynchpin to the whole universe. Superman could be the beacon of light in a cynical world that has lost its hope, and that is what Superman should be, and what makes me believe that's what we're going to get. 

One of the lesser-known titles announced, The Authority, is like a group we might compare to The Boys super team, The Seven. They are powerful, and get the job done, but they aren't nice about it. Their leaders, Apollo and Midnight, are comparable to Superman and Batman, but as I said, they aren't as nice, and they are lovers. I know The Authority, but not very well. I can very much see them being the catalyst of this universe, and its hopeless tone. But then Superman arrives, decides things need to change, and perhaps he starts to gather his own "super friends" to rival this gang of anti-heroes. 

Included in the films set to release is a Swamp Thing film, and a Supergirl film based on a recent miniseries, Woman of Tomorrow, that I started to read and never finished. The miniseries has a less happy Kara Danvers than we are used too, which again feeds into the overall theme of this universe. But why not? This teenager saw all her friends and family die when Krypton exploded. That'd be a buzzkill to anyone. As for Swamp Thing, I've never been a big fan of the character, but I hope we get some cameos from other would-be Justice League Dark members to set-up that team. 

And no, I did not forget about Batman. The final film planned is The Brave and the Bold, another storyline in this line-up based on the works of Grant Morrison. This film will see the first live-action appearance of Damian Wayne, Bruce Wayne's blood son, who was raised by The League of Assassins. So, as you can imagine, his morals may be a bit looser than his father's. Gunn promises something we've never seen in a Batman film to date, the appearance of the Bat Family, which hopefully includes appearances by Nightwing, Batgirl, Huntress, Batwoman, and many more.

Over on the TV side, we have the thing I'm least excited for, a Wonder Woman prequel, Paradise Lost, and also Creature Commandos, a titled I've heard of but never read. However, this seems right up James Gunn's alley as it even features a character he's put in one of his films, Weasel. A team full of monsters I believe can also be a tie-in with Swamp Thing. 

Lanterns is a series that will feature the two most famous Green Lanterns, Hal Jordan and John Stewart.  It's said to take place on Earth and be like a True Detective show. Green Lanterns are space cops, but they patrol space. To me, the GL's(like Batman) is a section of the DCU that can stand on its own because of its deep mythology and many characters. To me, Green Lantern is an epic space opera. To widdle it down to a TV series makes me sad because of the budget restraints that will be placed on this show. However, knowing it is connected to feature films gives me hope that the scope of the GL's will expand as this universe of characters does.

Booster Gold is another fan favorite character that DC scholars have been hoping to see on a larger scale. The character is from the future but goes back in time with future tech to make himself seem like a superhero and get famous.  If you want the 411 on BG I recommend the comic series 52, or the Justice League Unlimited episode, The Greatest Story Never Told.

I saved the series Waller for last because I think it raises the most questions about the overall plan. The Flash is said to change the DC films, and I believe that was always its purpose. But I believed it was going to be a hard reboot with different actors. However, with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom coming out after The Flash we still have Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. Gunn also mentioned Waller including the Peacemaker cast. So, it doesn't seem like a hard reboot if we still have some of the same actors. Henry Cavill was a fan favorite. Why does he not get asked back if other actors are?  My best guess is twofold. 1) Superman is so essential to the new plan they wanted to make sure there was no comparison to the Snyderverse version of Superman to what the first film released will be. 2) We don't yet know all the pieces of this first chapter so, for now, we are left with questions that will just have to be answered later.

Overall, I like what was announced. I think there are a lot of safe choices, mixed with bold choices, to give everyone something to look forward to, and possibly make it distinguishable from Marvel. Of course, I have that fear that it could fail, but I trust James Gunn, and with the characters he has announced I can possible how they will fit into an overall story. Remember, Gunn worked very closely with Kevin Feige, and was almost handed a piece of the MCU kingdom as his own. But now he has been given his own kingdom to create.  And I wanna see what happens. 

MY THOUGHTS ON DC STUDIOS POSSIBILITES

 A few days ago, Jason Momoa walked out of Warner Bros Studios after taking a meeting with the new heads of DC Studios, James Gunn and Peter Safran. Momoa was gleefully excited, praising the duo and WB studio head, David Zaslav.  This was a different tone than we've seen recently from DC actors coming out of their Gunn and Safran meetings. Dwayne Johnson announced after his meeting with the studio duo they would not be moving forward with him as Black Adam at this time.  Before that, the Batgirl movie that was being made for HBO Max will not be released.  Zaslav supposedly feels the film wasn't good enough and would serve the studio better as a tax ride-off. Wonder Woman 3 is not moving forward, and Superman, Henry Cavill, is not coming back for another pass as the Man of Steel. All these things add up to the end of the DCEU that will finish with Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom in December.  But if Jason Momoa is no longer going to be the King of Atlantis, why is he so giddy?

Let me start off by saying I think Zach Snyder is decent director. But when he was picked to direct a Superman movie, I looked at his previous work and knew this was not the character for him. Warner Bros put him in charge of creating a cinematic universe to rival Marvel, but when the audience response didn't go how they wanted, or the box office numbers, they decided to play hopscotch with reworking The Suicide Squad and Justice League. By then, the damage was done.  In the eyes of general audiences DC's cinematic universe was less than Marvel's, despite having more heavy hitters like Superman and Batman. After years of trying to recover, and new leadership at WB, the DCU looks like it's about to get a fresh start. Zaslav's first priority was establishing its own studio for DC, much like Marvel had got years ago.  Then, putting two superhero movie veterans in charge of it, director James Gunn and producer Peter Safran. Safran has been helping make DC movies for Warner Bros the last few years, and James Gunn is a geek God with films like Slither, Guardians of the Galaxy, Suicide Squad, and Peacemaker. 

So, what could these two have planned? James Gunn is very active on social media and has been talking about the importance of both Superman and Batman in their plans. We know they are looking for a younger actor than Henry Cavill to play a new Superman, in perhaps a Year 2 storyline like The Batman was.  We also know these plans involve Jason Momoa and his mile-wide grin. And we know that Gunn and Safran are meeting with The Batman director, Matt Reeves, and his plans for future related films.  Gunn has also stated that a few (not all) things they are planning will be announced by the end of January. With a little over a week to go, I think I'm part of the group that is drooling to find out what is to come.  But here are some of my ideas.

Superman. Clark Kent. Kal-El. The Man of Steel. The Last Son of Krypton. The Man of Tomorrow. The Big Blue Boy Scout.  I think WB and Zach Snyder were right to start their cinematic universe with a Superman movie.  He's the most important hero of them all. But what they failed to do was capture the hope and fun of the character.  The only time I saw Henry Cavill smile in those three films was when he was beating up Steppenwolf, or in a bathtub with Lois.  Superman is about inspiration. He doesn't want to lead; he wants us to strive for a better world.  Hope. That's what was missing from Zach Snyder's films, and that's what a Superman movie should be about. Hope. The first job I think Gunn and Safran are going to do is put the Big Blue Boy Scout back at the top of the DC food chain. Seeing Superman reveal himself to the world will not open the door for other heroes to step out into the light, but also draw enemies to Earth to face the challenge of the Last Son of Krypton.

Batman. Bruce Wayne. The Dark Knight. The Caped Crusader. I'll start off by saying, I love The Batman. And I think he has a big enough rogues gallery, and allies, to stay separate from the other DC characters. And that could be what they will do with Reeves Batverse, seeing how it's grounded in a world without super-powered aliens and mythical Gods.  But my fear is that Battinson will get the ax just like all the rest.  Of course, Batman will have to mix it up with the Justice League, but it won't be Robert Pattinson, and are we going to get two Batman character franchises running at the same time? I would like to see Reeves build on his version of The Caped Crusader, but I can see how it could end for the good of starting a new cinematic universe in the DCU.

Jason Momoa. Aquaman. The King of Atlantis.  At least he will be till the end of this year.  As an Aquaman enthusiast, I understood why Momoa was cast in the role years ago. He broke the stereotype of what Aquaman was perceived as.  I get it and I liked Aquaman.  But let me put it to you like this, if Cavill doesn't get to stay, nobody does.  I think the grin on Momoa's face after his DC meeting is because they gave him another part. A meatier, juicer, part. Lobo the space bounty hunter.  Google Lobo and tell me that doesn't look like Jason Momoa.  Watch any media with the character and tell that's not Jason Momoa.  He could be the perfect Lobo, and a linchpin in a new DC cinematic universe. My introduction to the character was in Superman: The Animated Series. In the episode, Lobo was hired to capture the Last Son of Krypton for an intergalactic collector, who collects rare things. I'd say the lone survivor of a dead world counts.  Lobo could come to Earth looking for a young Sups, then drag him out across the galaxy, thus opening Kal-El's eyes to all the beings and threats in the universe.  And Lobo is the exact kind of character James Gunn loves to play with.  If Gunn is writing a Superman movie, I'd say this kind of story may be something he'd write.

And if we step out into the galaxy, we're going to run into space cops, The Green Lantern Corps. Like Batman and his supporting characters, I think the GL's have enough for their own separate franchise. They are so diverse in their membership even if you just include the Earth Lanterns.  And don't get me started on the other color corps's. This mythology is ripe for the telling. 

Kevin Feige once said that the stories of the Marvel characters already exist with decades of publishing.  He and his team just have to adapt them for the screen and the cinematic universe.  That's what Warner Bros has failed to do these last ten years. They need to find out why Superman, Batman, and the rest of the DC pantheon of characters have been imprinted onto fanboys for generations. Why do we love them, and what are their best stories that can be interpreted to reach a wider audience?  It's not an easy code to crack, and I do not envy the clean-up job Gunn and Safran have ahead of them.  But I'm cheering for them, not because I dislike what Zach Snyder did, but because I love these characters and I want more people to love them as I do. Now, everyone hold your breath, cross your fingers, and look, up in the sky.

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.