Superman (2025) Trailer Review

After the failure of the DCEU, James Gunn and DC are attempting to launch there new cinematic universe and the first film that will take place in the new DC Universe is Superman coming out next year. Yesterday, we finally got the first trailer for this film and it showed enough to get people excited. 

This is a great portrayal of Clark Kent

Over the years, it has been a running joke that it is ridiculous that people can't tell that Clark Kent is Superman as they are literally the same person. However, here David Corenswet looks completely different as Clark Kent to what he looks like as Superman, it truly looks like a portrayal that would make nobody suspect that he is Superman and I am looking forward to seeing that. 

Is Martha Kent Dead? 

In pretty much every adaption that we have Jonathan Kent dies when Clark is pretty young whether from a heart attack or being killed by a tornado. But we see a film here with Clark and Jonathan Kent where they are both emotional. Logic would dictate that they have reversed the fortunes of Clark's parents and his adopted father survived instead of his mother and it will be interesting to see how this affects the film. 

Krypto The Dog is here

We knew that we were getting Krypto The Dog and we are introduced to him very early. I am glad he is included and seeing him save Superman here after a brutal fight is pretty cool but I can't lie that Krypto looks pretty rough. James Gunn used his own dog is nice but it doesn't quite work for me, maybe a bit of CGI to make him look a bit more over the top would be nice. 

Nicholas Hoult makes his debut as Lex Luthor

It was reported that Nicholas Hoult had been cast as Lex Luthor and we see him in this iconic role. He has shaved his head and just looks like how I would imagine Lex Luthor to look in the modern age. He is already the head of his own corporation and looks like he is manipulating acts from afar here. 

The People Turn on Superman

I found it interesting that Superman is seen having protests against him as he enters a room. This is a concept that has been slightly looked at before but I find it interesting that in the first film for this version of the character we are already seeing the people have problems with him and don't see him as this god like character. 

We are introduced to Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho & Mr Terrific. 

It has been confirmed for a while that we would be seeing members of The Justice Society of America here and we get glimpses of all the members here. We see Nathan Fillion playing Guy Gardner and he looks ridiculous which is comic book accurate but is quite distracting. We get a quick glimpse of Hawkgirl and Metamorpho but not much here. We also see Mr Terrific and his costume looks fantastic and it sounds like he will play a big part in the film so it will be interesting to see how he is used. 

Does Lois Lane know Clark Kent is Superman?

We see two shots in the trailer that are slightly confusing. We see a scene where Lois Lane and Clark Kent are kissing, later on in the trailer we see Lois Lane and Superman kissing. Now either, Lois knows that Clark is Superman which seems a bit early to make that reveal or she is trying to hook up with both personas which doesn't look good for her character. 

This is a very hopeful Superman

We have seen some criticism for the dark tone of Zack Snyder's depiction and this film seems to have realised that and it is more vibrant and colourful. It has a feel of Superman being a real hero and though there is clearly going to be darker elements it seems like a more hopeful character. This is also emphasised by the modernising of the iconic John Williams score and it just adds so much here. 

Overall

Overall, I really liked this trailer. I am ready to see a new depiction of Superman on the big screen, I have enough faith in James Gunn and the group of people involved with this film that we are going to get a great Superhero film. 

Ranked - Sony Spider-Man Universe Films

In 2015, it was announced that Sony were willing to share the rights of Spider-Man with Marvel Studios in order for him and his other characters to appear in films and shows in The Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, this also convinced Sony that they could make their own comic book films involving villains from Spider-Man's gallery without the titular character ever appearing. After a number of failed projects it sees like Sony have finally given up on this endeavour, so here are my rankings for the Sony Spider-Man Universe Films from Worst to Best. 

6. Madame Web (2024)

Just to pre-face that this is a bad list of films, so Madame Web is the worst of the worst. This is easily one of the worst comic book films ever produced and was laughable to watch. The acting was some of the worst I have ever seen, mixed with awful CGI and action scenes mixed together made Madame Web a disastrous film and a dark day for Sony. 

5. Morbius (2022)

This film was so bad that it spawned numerous memes and became known for being truly awful. Morbius is slightly better then Madame Web but it is still a terrible film. Jared Leto & Matt Smith give laughably bad performances and the dialogue felt like it was written by a high school student. This film looked terrible in its trailers and really delivered on that promise. 

4. Kraven The Hunter (2024)

The last film of the SSU is also a terrible experience. Aaron Taylor-Johnson sleep walks through his performance as Kraven and it just feels like his character is completely ruined and so is The Rhino. It has some okay and bloody action scenes and a fun Russell Crowe but Kraven The Hunter is a really bad film that just encapsulates the problem with this shared universe. 

3. Venom (2018)

The film that started it all is next on the list. Venom is a weak film but leagues above the films that have already come on this list. Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock and Venom is a fun partnership that carries this film. But the rest of the cast are super boring and the film chooses a less violent approach which totally nerfs this film and makes the enjoyable action scenes seem less brutal and less fitting the character of Venom. Overall though this film fails and wasn't a good start for this character. 

2. Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)

I am one of the few that actually thinks Venom: Let There Be Carnage is an improvement on the first film even though it is only slightly. The film does a decent job of building Eddie and Venom's relationship and has a bit more violence to it. But Woody Harrelson gives a bizarre performance as Carnage and the film ultimately falls flat on delivering this epic confrontation. It ends up being an average film that is incredibly forgettable. 

1. Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

Onto the best film of the SSU and that isn't saying much. Venom: The Last Dance is an okay film and had the most quality out of all of these films. The relationship between Eddie & Venom is at its best level yet and this film did its best job with it. The action is way more violent here and felt grander in scale which was cool to see. But the story falls incredibly flat and is way too convoluted, also the rest of the cast aren't great and their individual stories makes little sense. 

Overall

Overall, The Sony Spider-Man Universe has to be one of the worst shared universes ever and this list really reminded me of this. It is full of bad films and even the best film here isn't particularly good so I am glad this is the end and hopefully the rumours of Sony selling all of the Spider-Man rights to Marvel Studios are true so this nightmare can be forgotten about. 

Kraven The Hunter (2024) Review

Over the last few years, we have seen Sony attempt to make their own shared universe using Spider-Man villains and here is their latest and probably last attempt for the time being - Kraven The Hunter. With a lack of interest, I found the will to go and watch the film today and here is my review. The premise of the film sees after receiving super powers, Kraven goes on the hunt after people that do bad deeds. 

Main Character

Aaron Talyor-Johnson plays Kraven and unfortunately he is incredibly boring in the role. He just seems to not really care about the role and that he is sleep walking through it just to get his pay check. I always thought he was a weird choice for the role and that is what came to pass. A big issue is the writing, the people who wrote this film know nothing about the character and changed him so much that he doesn't even feel like Kraven anymore and that is a big shame. 

Supporting Characters

Fred Hechinger plays Dmitri Kravenoff and he does a decent job here. This film is built on family and the family relationships here and pretty much all of the heavy lifting comes from Hechinger and the next actor I will mention. 

Russell Crowe plays Nikolai Kravenoff and though he has a slightly silly accent it works and Crowe shows he has star power. He is clearly the person who really cares about the film and his role which hasn't always been the case so credit to him for that. 

Ariana DeBose plays Calypso and she is the most useless character in this film and I don't know why she was included. It just seemed like they needed a companion for Kraven, she never helps him and there is no real development and backstory for her character. 

In the trailer it was revealed that Alessandro Nivola would be playing Aleksei Sytsevich AKA The Rhino, but this was not a version of The Rhino that comes across well at all. He is a bit of a weirdo and that actor really overplays it, it just feels nothing like the character in the comics which adds to the idea that the people making this film didn't really understand the characters. 

Story

The story is completely nonsensical and is awful. They are forced to turn Kraven into this hero for justice which goes against the traditional nature of the character but the film is just dull and convoluted. They spend 30 mins trying to explain how he got his powers but they do it in such a poor way that I still don't understand it. The film rushes way too much and doesn't explain any of the characters and why I should care about what is going on. 

Script

The Script is really bad. It tries some really bad humour, they try and make Kraven a bit funny which is again not like his character in the comics but none of it works and Taylor-Johnson doesn't deliver them very well. I didn't care about any of the characters or the situation they are put in and that makes it feel pretty lifeless. 

Style

The film has some entertaining action sequences and a big part of that is the level of violence incorporated which makes it stands out, which is funny that is R-Rated but none of the Venom films were. But some of the action scenes are very short and just as they get going they stop and the CGI is pretty terrible throughout, especially that of Rhino, who looks like a cartoon character. 

Overall 

Overall, Kraven The Hunter is a really bad film. It has everything poor about it in a comic book film and it should never have been made. The action isn't good enough and the characters are not well realised leaving this an utter mess and one of the worst comic book films that you will ever see. 

Rating - 2/10

 Moana 2 (2024) Review

After a big release in 2016, we now have the sequel for the hit Disney animated film Moana. I watched the film today and here is my review for Moana 2. The premise of the film sees Moana forced to go on a journey to unite the people of the ocean. 

Main Character

Auli'i Cravalho plays Moana and she is great again as she was in the first film. She has a bit more of an arc in this film and Cravalho does deliver in this role. Moana is a great lead character and one that is pretty easy to root for and care about. 

Supporting Characters

Dwayne Johnson is back as Maui and though his role is slightly reduced he is still really fun to watch and he is also given a bit more depth towards him. He just oozes charisma on film and Maui is a great character. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast really does suffer. This film sees Moana take on a crew of characters called Moni, Loto & Kele but they are all pretty boring and offer very little in this film except being a reason for Moana's development which is a shame. 

There is a villain, but they are really underdeveloped and it just doesn't have enough to really make you care or understand them. 

Story

The story is okay, there is some better development for Moana & Maui in this film which I can give credit to. But overall, similar to the original this film is incredibly paint by numbers and doesn't offer much new. In fact if you examine it, the plot of the first film and this one are pretty much identical and it did make me sigh and notice the predictable nature of the film. 

Script

The film probably does have a bit more drama to it but in the end it does come across as a bit forced and lacks the stakes to deserve it. Also the humour just doesn't have the same feel to it here and definitely feels like it has been dumbed down to younger children. 

Style

The film continues to look beautiful, the colours are really well realised and it is lovely to see such fantastic animation on the big screen. However, the pacing is a little bit off and there were some large lulls in the film. Also the songs are just not as good here, the departure of the great Lin Manuel Miranda is sorely missed. 

Overall

Overall, Moana 2 is an Above Average Sequel. It is a decent film and will fill its job of being great for young children and families. But it doesn't do enough to make it stand out and lacks the joy and feel of the first film which means this a less enjoyable time. 

Rating - 6/10

Moana (2016) Review

I am going to see Moana 2 tomorrow, so I thought it would be a good idea to finally find the time to watch the original film and review it here. Well, now I have done that and here is my review for Moana. The premise of the film sees a young girl attempt to find a demigod to try and stop a curse on her people that he caused. 

Main Character

Auli'i Cravalho plays Moana and she is great in this film. This character was strong, smart but also funny. She was a great protagonist for this film and I think it was the perfect time to have a great character for young girls to root for and see succeed without any love interest to be seen here. 

Supporting Characters

Dwayne Johnson Plays Maui and he brings all his charisma and enjoyment to the role and he was a blast to watch. The film mostly focuses on the dynamic between Maui & Moana and Johnson added a lot to this and the dynamic between the two of them is a great highlight. 

The rest of the cast aren't in this film much but a big part of the film is Rachel House who plays Gramma Tala. Their is a really sweet relationship between her and Moana and it really catapults the films plot well. 

Temuera Morrison plays Chief Tui and he is good in his role. We see how he is an overprotective father but also the head of his tribe and how the two things kind of conflict and leads Moana onto her journey. 

Story

The film does an effective job with showing Moana on this journey and having Maui along for the ride with them continuously interacting. However, the film is a bit generic with its storytelling and I don't think it does quite enough with its characters to make me care enough unfortunately. 

Script

The script is alright, I chuckled throughout the film and some of the drama is really well handled. But as I mentioned above, the film doesn't quite do enough with the writing of the film or the characters to make them really stand out. 

Style

The film looks beautiful, it really nails the colour pallet and makes it come across as this beautiful and exotic place. The animation is really well done and the film flows very nicely and didn't overstay its welcome. The film doesn't have loads of songs but the ones it has are great and memorable. 

Overall

Overall, Moana is a great film that delivers as a fun family friendly film. It isn't exactly ground-breaking but does enough to keep you interested and entertained throughout. 

Rating - 8/10 

Wicked (2024) Review

I wasn't planning on seeing Wicked, but my mum and sister are big fans of the stage musical and with the global marketing, I decided to go see the film and here is my review. The premise of the film sees two people with very different upbringings and personalities forced to come together and accept each other. 

Main Character

Cynthia Ervio plays Elphaba and she is fantastic in this film. She really makes you care about her and support her in the role. She is obviously great in the singing scenes but she really encapsulates this performance and Ervio deserves great credit on taking this iconic character and making it really work. 

Supporting Characters

Ariana Grande plays Galinda and she was also fantastic in the film. She has great charisma and chews up every scene that she is in. The chemistry between her and Ervio is really great and it is the bedrock of the film.. She is also obviously great at the signing sequences and overall a great performance from Grande. 

Jonathan Bailey plays Fiyero and wow I really enjoyed this guy in this film. He comes in as the film does start to slightly lull and adds so much energy and charisma to the film. He is magnetic on film and he has an incredibly bright future and we will see him in many more big projects in the future. 

Michelle Yeoh plays Madame Morrible and she is good in the role. She isn't in the film a huge amount but plays an effective role in the film and Yeoh does bring her star power to the role 

Jeff Goldblum plays The Wizard of and this is really a glorified cameo but I can't help but enjoy watching Goldblum on screen and he does great work with the limited screen time he is given. 

Story

The main story of the film is the relationship being built between Elphaba & Galinda and I think the film did a great job at it and the actors really delivered in making us feel the emotion and heartfelt interactions between the two. I couldn't decide whether I liked the ending because it does feel mostly like set up for the sequel, but the more I think about it the more I am fine of it because it does end at an effective moment and feels more complete the I expected. 

Script

The script is pretty well written and there was plenty of emotion in the relationship between the two main characters. Obviously, there is plenty of singing and it is really well realised here. But this film doesn't quite nail the dialogue and some of it is cringey and that is a shame. 

Style

The style of the film has had some big discussion but I personally thought the look of the film really complimented the story that they were trying to tell. It doesn't look real but that is kind of the point and the fantastical element is really well realised. But the film has some pacing issues, for me the 2nd act of the film does drag a bit and it made the film feel a bit longer then I would have liked. 

Overall

Overall, Wicked is a great film that really delivers for fans of the franchise. It is a film you need to see in the cinema and it is a big blockbuster movie with exciting potential for its 2nd part that comes out next year. 

Rating - 8/10

 Gladiator 2 (2024) Review

After 24 years, Ridley Scott has decided to release a sequel to his much acclaimed film Gladiator. It is an amazing film and I was very excited to go watch this film and here is my review for Gladiator 2. The premise of the film follows a man see his homeland invaded by Romans and everything taken from him. To get revenge he is recruited to become a Gladiator. 

Main Character

Paul Mescal plays the lead and he is good in his role. He can't quite live up to Russel Crowe but he does a decent job and really gets better as the film progresses. I liked his characters development throughout the film and he was a good protagonist here. 

Supporting Characters

Denzel Washington plays Macrinus and he is a lot of fun to watch, I mean he just plays himself but he is super charismatic and entertaining to watch. He oozes charisma on the screen and I really loved watching this generational actor do his thing. 

Connie Nielsen reprises her role as Lucilla from the first film and she does a great job. She has clearly gone through a lot since the first film and it is really easy to sympathise with her in the situation she has been put in and it is nice to see her back here. 

Pedro Pascal plays Marcus Acacius and I thought he was fantastic. I was expecting him to be this generic Roman General but he really wasn't. They give so much character to him and Pascal absolutely nailed it making the most of his screen time. 

Joseph Quinn & Fred Hechinger play the two Emperors and they are a lot of fun to watch. They aren't as good as Joaquin Phoenix was as Commodus but they were fun and crazy. 

Story

The story does a good job with Pescal's character and thought it is pretty simple it is handled really effectively and aided with his development. The film does embrace its more political side and I think this story was handled well and showed that these fights are about more then just bloodshed. But this film does have a slight issue with really nailing the emotion in the story, it has the right ideas but just misses the mark. I also thought this films ending is a bit abrupt and doesn't quite deliver on what I was hoping for. 

Script

The script is a mixed bag and does feel like it is written by two different people. There are some cool speeches and as I mentioned they deal with the political side of Rome really well. But there is some silly writing here and some moments just don't work and don't add to the film. 

Style

For the most part the film looks fantastic, the action scenes are really well realised and the violence is on point if not a little bit stylised. Despite the film being pretty long it flowed nicely and I was never bored throughout. But the film has some really noticeable CGI and it really took me out of the film and I just wish there could have been a bit more practicality and grit to the film. 

Overall

Overall, Gladiator 2 is a good film but falls flat compared to its predecessor. It is still an enjoyable film and I think it is a worthy film to see at the cinema and can recommend it but maybe just slightly lower your expectations. 

Rating - 7/10

Gladiator (2000) Review

I am a bit late to the party, but I am going to see Gladiator 2 today, so I decided to watch the first film in the franchise Gladiator and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a Roman General betrayed and on the hunt for revenge after being sold to slavery. 

Main Character

Russel Crowe plays Maximus and he is fantastic in this film, this is such an iconic role and he absolutely nails it. He plays this gladiator so well and makes it so believable in the action scenes but there is a real depth to Maximus and Crowe really delivered in making us care about his character and the situation he is in. Crowe won the Oscar for this role and that is truly deserved here. 

Supporting Characters

Joaquin Phoenix plays Commodus and he is truly amazing and deserves real credit for playing one of the biggest scumbags I have seen in film. He is a petulant and angry man who just wants power and recognition. He contrasts Maximus so well and this is an iconic performance and up there with his very best. 

Connie Nielsen plays Lucilla and I really liked her performance. She is introduced as a strong character but you really see her problems and how she is treated throughout the film drives her to drastic decisions and Nielsen is a good addition to the cast. 

Oliver Reed plays Proximo and it is sad that Reed died before the end of filming so he never got to see the film and it caused the production to have to adapt to keep him in the film. He is great and I loved him as the gladiator owner here, he truly believed in Maximus and their relationship is a highlight of the film. 

Richard Harris and Djimon Hounsou play small roles here but they also add to the quality of the cast and show that the film is full of great performers. 

Story

The film does a fantastic job with its story. In theory, it is quite a simple revenge story but there is just so much more to it and the film does a fantastic job at it. There are political machinations going on that links to Maximus plan to take down Commodus and they contrast really well and adds to the depth of the story. The ending is also great and truly fits the story and tone of the overall film. 

Script

The script is fantastic, there are quite a few really memorable quotes here that people use in every day life. There are so many memorable scenes and even a bit of charm and humour to Maximus and this really fleshes the character out. 

Style

The film has a fantastic style, the cinematography is brilliant. The actions scenes are really well filmed and the landscapes and backgrounds are beautiful. The film is paced really well and I thought it flowed between action and dialogue incredibly well. The score and all the music adds so much to the film and is really iconic. 

Overall

Overall, Gladiator is an Epic Film and needs to be seen by every person. It is really well directed has great action and is acted brilliantly so this is a must watch and a film that is truly legendary. 

Rating - 10/10

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024) Review

It has been 5 years since I bought a Call of Duty so close to its release date, so I thought I would dive into the newest Call of Duty which is Black Ops 6. When I was younger, I loved the first two Black Ops games and I have recently played Cold War, so hopefully this game can live up to all its hype and deliver. The premise of the game sees Woods & Adler assemble a new team in an attempt to take down a new rogue enemy called The Pantheon. 

Characters

So in this game you play as Case, an operative of the CIA and unfortunately just like Black Ops: Cold War he is a silent protagonist. I complained about it there and I will do the same here as I really do find it hard to connect to a silent character and I just wish a voice actor could have been found. They do some things to try and make him interesting but it isn't enough and it is a shame that this isn't a memorable protagonist. 

Luckily, the rest of the cast are great. Damon Victor Allen reprises his role as Frank Woods and Bruce Thomas reprises his role as Russel Adler and both are great. Adler does take a bit of a step back and isn't as vital here, but he still plays a decent part in the game and I really like the character. This game is set after the events of the past storyline in Black Ops 2 meaning a lot has happened to Woods and I really liked how the game handled that issue and made Woods feel like a more sympathetic character. 

Y'lan Noel Plays Troy Marshall and he is a great new character in the franchise. He is the de-facto leader of the new team and I liked how he struggled to handle it sometimes but was also a strong character. He was just a cool addition to the game and a great new protagonist. 

Karen David plays Sevati Dumas & Seamus Dever plays Felix Neuman and these are also great members of this team. Sevati is a trained assassin but has a bit of a tragic past and struggles with the fact that she is good at her job. Felix is struggling with causing violence and this moral dilemma is bought up quite a lot and it is something new for a character in a Call of Duty game. 

Story

The story is definitely a tale of two halves. Firstly, I really liked the team dynamic and the interactions between your squad mates, it made the world feel alive and that these characters were developing throughout. The missions are mostly really fun and I will credit the game developers for adding some real variety here and showing they really cared about this campaign. But this game overdoes it at times and doesn't feel like a COD game, it seems like it loves Zombies so much that they wanted to put it in the campaign too and it was really overused here. The ending is also really weak and feels completely out of place, focusing on a secondary character that isn't even that interesting. 

Side Content

This game has absolutely loads of content here and it is once again a bit of a mixed bag. The online multiplayer is fantastic, I have maybe never had so much fun on a Call of Duty as I have had on this one when it comes to online. It does have some lag issues but it didn't hinder me too much and hopefully that will get sorted as the future content is released. 

Also Zombies is back and to probably nobody's surprise, I didn't really care for it. They have just really commercialised Zombies and it doesn't have the same grit as it did before, it is all over the place and the story offers very little. I appreciate, I am in the minority in terms of not caring for zombies but I just can't deny that I am not a fan. 

Gameplay

The gameplay is fantastic, as I mentioned above I had some much fun playing this game. It had that feeling of 1 more game, I couldn't stop playing and that is because of how fast it moved, how good the weapons are and how much I enjoyed the majority of the new maps. The issues I had with Cold War are mostly gone for me and this is just so much fun to play. 

Graphics

The game looks fantastic on the PS5, it is a huge upgrade on Cold War and the characters look fantastic. The backgrounds are great too with the maps standing out from each other and all adding their own little bit of flavour. The weapons are also really well realised, they sound great and the game allows you to design it to your own desire.

Overall

Overall, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is a good game. It improve its graphics and gameplay and shows potential in its campaign. But it falls a little short in being this legendary shooter and that is a slight shame. Hopefully Call of Duty takes all the good things they did here and look to build on that for its eventual sequels. 

Rating - 7/10

The Penguin (2024) Review

After 8 Episodes, we have finally made it to the end of The Penguin and I have watched all of the episodes and here is my review for DC's newest show. The premise of the show sees after the events of The Batman, Oz Cobb looks to take his spot as the head of the crime families and deals with the trials of tribulations for this. 

Main Character

Colin Farrell is back as Oz Cobb and he is truly amazing here. He is unrecognisable and this is a brilliant interpretation of the character. The show does a fantastic job in making you support and root for this bad character and Farrell is a huge part of this. This is a really strong lead performance and is a huge step up from his already great performance in The Batman. 

Supporting Characters

Cristin Milioti plays Sofia Falcone and for me she is the star of this show and gives one of the best performances that I have ever seen in a comic book property. You really get an insight into her character and the way she thinks and works and I genuinely felt sorry for her. Milioti is superb and this is a mesmerising performance that should be challenging at The Emmys. 

Rhenzy Feliz plays Victor and I really liked his character and the development he goes through this season. He builds up this relationship with Oz and it allows him to become more confident in his life and he portrays that really well on screen. 

Deidre O'Connell plays Francis Cobb and this is a really strong performance that adds a lot of value to the show, especially as the show progresses. Her character gets a tonne of development over the show and they expand on her relationship with Oz really well. 

The rest of the cast are also fantastic and everyone really delivers on being an amazing cast of characters. 

Story

The story is fantastic as we see the ambition and rise of these 3 characters Oz, Victor & Sofia and it is handled wonderfully. The strong performances and strong writing really progress the plot well and shows how the gang world is interreacting in this new Gotham. The ending of the series is really brilliant and dark and feels really appropriate for this shows tone and themes. 

Script

This show has fantastic writing and creates nuanced characters that blur the lines between good and evil. This world has been built up so well and I loved the mix of drama and really dark humour that was nailed on. 

Style

The style of this show continues the artistic feel from The Batman and it does it so well. It is dark, gritty but also quite beautiful, the cinematography makes Gotham feel like another character and why these characters stay here. The show holds nothing back in terms of violence and that absolutely worked for this show and added that extra layer. 

Overall

Overall, The Penguin is one of the best Comic Book shows ever created and I loved The Penguin. It is an amazing watch and should be seen by everybody, especially fans of Batman characters. This is going to be hard to be topped and is the new standard bearer for other shows in its genre. 

Rating - 10/10

Captain America: Brave New World (2025) Trailer Review

After the events of The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Sam Wilson officially became Captain America and was moving forward in the role. A few years later and we get his first solo film in Captain America: Brave New World and a trailer was released last night with plenty to talk about so here are my thoughts of the trailer. 

Isaiah Bradley tries to assassinate the President

We were introduced to Bradley in Falcon & Winter Soldier as a super soldier who was mistreated after his service. Here in the beginning of the trailer it is made clear that he is trying to kill the President of the United States. The Trailer heavily implies that he is brainwashed to do this and it makes me wonder if this is similar to the brainwashing that Bucky Barnes received in The Winter Soldier and that someone else is using him as a weapon. 

General Ross is now The President

Due to the passing of William Hurt, Harrison Ford has been cast in the role of General Ross but here he is now the President of The United States. For years we have seen this character try and manipulate and use the super heroes to his advantage, so now that he has more power he will be trying to manipulate Sam Wilson. 

The Attack Starts World War 3

In retaliation for this assassination attempt it seems like World War 3 is started. It looks like the attack is blamed on a country and someone is manipulating a situation in order to start this major conflict which can aid them. 

Joaquin Torres is the new Falcon

We met Torres played by Danny Ramirez briefly in The Falcon & The Winter Soldier and he is getting a big promotion in this film. With Wilson becoming Captain America, he gets to step into the role of The Falcon and hopefully he is a fun addition to the cast and gets more to do here. 

Samuel Sterns makes his return as The Leader

Back in 2008, Tim Blake Nelson played Samuel Sterns. At the end of the film he gets infected with The Hulk's blood and this started his transformation into the villain The Leader. We have not seen this character since, but he is hear clearly manipulating the situation to his benefit, he is probably the one who causes the destruction of The Red Hulk. 

The Celestial Tiamut makes an appearance.

At the end of Eternals, The Celestial Tiamut was defeated and ended up being frozen in the ocean. There has been a lot of ridicule in the fact that nobody has mentioned this event in films and shows since but that changes here. We briefly see an action sequence taking place around the corpse of The Celestial and it is a cool visual. 

Giancarlo Esposito Plays Sidewinder

The amazing Giancarlo Esposito finally gets his wish to join The Marvel Cinematic Universe here and he is taking the role of Sidewinder. Now I think this will be a small role, similar to Batroc The Leapers role in Captain America: Winter Soldier but I expect him to appear in future projects and I am sure he will do a great job. 

President Ross finally becomes The Red Hulk

Ever Since General Ross appeared in The MCU, people have wanted to see him become The Red Hulk like he does in the comics. It is a shame that William Hurt didn't get the chance to do this due to his unfortunate passing but Harrison Ford looks fantastic here and it looks fantastic for this film and I am sure will have some great fight scenes. 

Overall

Overall, This trailer looks great and I am really excited for this film. It seems to be very serious and has the political intrigue that a film in this universe hasn't had since Captain America: Winter Soldier. I hope there are no more trailers for this film and we can go in and see a fantastic film. 

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020) Review

The new Call of Duty game - Black Ops 6 came out last week and I am set to play it this week. But before that I picked up the previous game in the franchise for cheap and decided to play through it so I had an understanding of the plot in the new game, so here is my review for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. The premise of the film is set between Black Ops 1 & 2 and sees a group of CIA Operatives trying to stop a mysterious organisation from destroying Europe. 

Characters

The character that we play as is Bell and I have a mixed feeling about this character. This is a silent character and can be any gender. They do some really interesting things with the character and I found the twists and turns as pretty interesting. But I just feel like silent characters aren't fit for purpose in modern gaming and a voice actor would have made this role much better. 

Bruce Thomas plays Russel Adler who is the leader of the team and he is a cool character. He is pretty mysterious and the more the story progresses, the more you learn about him and I liked his introduction to this universe. 

Frank Woods & Alex Mason are back but they have different voice actors in Damon Victor Allen & Chris Payne Gilbert. It doesn't work as well as before but I felt like they were a great addition here and having them around is great for fans of the Black Ops Games. Allen as Woods is really good and doesn't feel too different, whereas Gilbert as Mason feels quite different and doesn't fully work for me. 

The rest of the cast are pretty dull. The other members of the team are Sims, Park & Lazar. I didn't really care about any of them and the game does have some dialogue with them but it just isn't enough to make me care about them and their backstories. 

Story

The story is actually quite interesting here. It sees our team hunting down this shady operation and I appreciate the different styles of missions and the way that they look to progress the story. Unfortunately, the single player isn't a priority and it feels very underdeveloped, there is a lot of potential here but it just doesn't give enough time and care for it. There are 3 endings and in different ways they are all pretty bland and feel like they are just setting up future games instead of actually completing the story here. 

Side Content 

The priority of this game is its online and multiplayer section which includes Zombies. I actually had a lot of fun playing the multiplayer here, I mean pretty much everybody is playing Demolition in 2024 but it is still plenty of fun and there is so much content here to sink your teeth into. 

Though, I didn't really care about Zombies. To be honest I have never been a big fan of Zombies and this isn't the mode that makes me fall in love with it. It seems they have really tried to modernise the mode and it lacks the grit, I don't care about any of the characters involved and it just feels a little tacked on. 

Gameplay

The gameplay is plenty of fun. The gunplay is good and is just an easy game to jump into with previous COD experience and just play. It has all the good things that Call of Duty provides with its multiplayer gameplay and the campaign tries some unique stuff which is cool to see. 

But there are some issues with both matchmaking and Spawn Kills in the multiplayer that become super infuriating and feels like it supports the best players and the players that camp and that become pretty annoying as I played for longer. 

Graphics

The Graphics are pretty cool, it provides the epic action sequences and the look/sound of the weapons is on point and added a lot to the feel of the game. Though, I think some of the character models in the campaign looked strange and like they weren't fully finished especially when it came to their hair. 

Overall

Overall, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is an average game that just continues the trend of Call of Duty games becoming this yearly game that disappoints. There are clearly good things here but there is just as many bad things for sure. I reiterate that I wish these companies had longer to spend on these games and truly build a special first person shooter. 

Rating - 5/10

Agatha All Along (2024) Mini Series Review

After a rather timid year for Marvel Studios we now have finished the newest TV series on Disney+ with Agatha All Along. I have watched all the episodes and here is my review for the series. The premise of the show sees Agatha escape from Wanda's spell and goes on a journey to recover her power that she lost. 

Main Character

Kathryn Hahn reprises her role of Agtha Harkness from WandaVision and I have mixed feelings about her character and performance. She clearly cares and has a lot of fun in the role and there is some charisma to her. But the character is just really unlikeable, there just isn't many good things about her and yes I know she was a villain but here she is the protagonist and there has to be some good things about her but there just isn't and it is a shame. 

Supporting Characters

The Supporting Cast does much better, We have Joe Locke who plays Teen and he is great, he has a great dynamic with the rest of the cast and he was an interesting character. As the show progresses it becomes clearer that he is a big part of the show and there is more to him that meets the eye. 

Aubrey Plaza Plays Rio and she is fantastic, she is charismatic and charming that you can't help but become entranced in her performance and for me she is the most entertaining part of the show and I kind of wished she had more screen time. 

The rest of the witches Coven are great. Patti LuPone as Lilia is brilliant, especially in her episode 7 which is her standout. Sasheer Zamata as Jennifer & Ali Ahn as Alice are solid additions and they work together well as well. 

Story

The story is okay. I liked the supporting characters stories and their motivations for going on this journey with Agatha. Some of Agatha's story worked but a lot of different and I was just hoping and expecting more. The finale leaves a lot to be desired and it just feels like setting up for future projects instead of giving us a satisfying conclusion to this story. 

Script

The script is okay, there are some chuckle worthy moments and some drama that made me care about some of the characters but it just isn't enough. There isn't much that makes me go wow and it actually is quite forgettable which is a let down. 

Style 

The show has decent cinematography, it does an effective job of selling this show as a show about witches and the occult that they share. But the show does have some pacing issues, I found it quite repetitive around the mid season mark and I think the show could have handled things better. 

Overall

Overall, Agatha All Along is an Above Average Show that while decent does fall a little flat. A great supporting cast and some fun here and there makes it an entertaining watch, but this isn't a show you need to rush to see and it is one of the more forgettable comic book projects of recent memory. 

Rating - 6/10

Ranked - The Venom Films

We seem to be at the end of the Venom solo films, so after this very mundane trilogy here are my rankings from the 3 films starting from worst to the best. 

3. Venom (2018)

The first film in the franchise is the worst in my opinion and that is mainly due to how dull it is. Tom Hardy does a good job as the lead and he does really care about the role but the rest of the cast offered very little. Michelle Williams & Riz Ahmed are so bland and forgettable in their role with a plot that makes no sense and nobody will care about. It is cool to see Venom in all of his glory but we don't see it enough and this film was a big let down for me. 

2. Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)

After the financial success of the first film we got the sequel Let There Be Carnage and I think it is slightly better then the first film but it is still a big let down. Again Tom Hardy is good as the lead and still tries his best but the rest of the cast isn't great. The introduction of Carnage should have been great but Woody Harrelson is bad in the role and they even waste the great Stephen Graham. It has some more entertaining action scenes and a slightly better story which is why it is slightly higher in the list but it still isn't a good film. 

1. Venom: The Last Dance (2024)

The third and presumed final film in the franchise is the best film in the trilogy but it still doesn't rise to the lofty heights that it wants to. Eddie & Venom's relationship is great and Hardy nails it in this film, I also liked Rhys Ifans role in the film. This film is more violent and has more fun action that previous films lacked. But the film is really messy with its story and most of the supporting cast are wasted, when you have Chiwetel Ejiofor & Stephen Graham and don't use them well that is really bad. It is a decent film but that is all. 

Overall

Overall, The Venom Franchise will go down as one of the most mediocre trilogies that has ever existed. None of the films are particularly memorable and apart from Tom Hardy's decent performance in all 3 films there is nothing that rises above average and that is a shame and continues to show the shortcomings of Sony's handling of Marvel Properties. 

Venom: The Last Dance (2020) Review

Venom: The Last Dance (2024) Review

With good box office performances but pretty weak acclaim, the Venom films have been interesting over the last few years and now we have the third and possibly last film in the franchise with Venom: The Last Dance and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Eddie & Venom on the run when they are hunted by an intergalactic hunter and The U.S Government. 

Main Character

Tom Hardy is back as both Eddie Brock & Venom and I really like his performance and the buddy performance that he has captivated here. He is less weird in this film and though they bicker, this is the film where both Eddie & Venom feel like friends and that they have a singular goal and that is a nice change of pace. Hardy adds a lot to the performance and this is probably my favourite performance that he has as the character. 

Supporting Characters

Rhys Ifans plays Martin and he is probably my favourite supporting character in this film. He is an Alien enthusiast that bumps into Eddie on the road with his family and he just came across as pretty likeable and endearing and I actually cared a little about him. 

Unfortunately, the rest of the cast do not do so well. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays General Strickland and he just feels like a really generic character which is such a waste of his talents. He is this typical army guy and he offered very little to this role, especially with the ability of the actor. 

Juno Temple plays Dr Teddy Paine and I really don't like this character. She is introduced into this film and they give her this really weird backstory and tries to make you care about her character and I really didn't. She offers incredibly little and her character isn't given any satisfying conclusion here. 

Stephen Graham reprises his role as Mulligan and he is totally wasted here, this is one of the most talented actors out there and he is just here for exposition and that frustrates me, especially where they set his character up in the previous film. 

Story

The film does a great job in continuing the relationship between Eddie & Venom and this is where the film is at its best. The duo are at there best here but the rest of the story just falls short. The whole reasoning as to why they are on the run doesn't quite make sense and feels like a last minute decision and certain storylines and characters are weak and not given enough time and complexity. The films ending mostly works but I just think it could have been better if certain things happened in the film. 

Script

This film has a good blend of humour and drama but that mostly takes place between the characters of Eddie & Venom. It is inconsistent with the other characters as the majority of humour doesn't work and only a little bit of drama works and that is just strange. 

Style

The film is a comic book film and does embrace that, especially over its last act where we see all these aliens fighting in comic books style. The film is pretty brisk and moves at a fast pace but that has its pros and cons, it makes it an easy watch but it also tries to balance too many things and thus things feel undercooked and are not developed enough. 

Overall

Overall, Venom: The Last Stand is an Above Average Film and in my opinion is the best Venom film. It is messy but is pretty entertaining that at some point is probably worth a watch but it still falls way short of being a great or even good comic book film. 

Rating - 6/10

Joker: Folie a Deux (2024) Review

I loved the first Joker film but I have always thought a sequel was unnecessary and there has been lots of negative responses to Joker: Folie a Deux and I have finally had a chance to see this film and here is my review. The premise of the film sees Arthur Fleck locked up after the events of the previous film and meets someone who gives him a new lease on life. 

Main Character

Joaquin Phoenix reprises his role as Arthur Fleck and he is really trying here. He still clearly has passion for this role and their are elements of this performance that are similar to the first film. But there just isn't that depth that he had in the first film and the character is completely butchered here. There is no development of his character and it feels like he actually goes backwards and it was really disappointing. 

Supporting Characters

Brendan Gleeson plays a Security Guard and he is good in the film. He is really unlikeable but the dynamic between him and Arthur is actually pretty interesting, it's just not a huge part of the film and doesn't really get any resolution. 

Lady Gaga joins the cast as Lee Quinzel and I thought she was pretty weak here. I didn't care for her dynamic with Arthur and the fact that she doesn't fit the role that she was hired to play and the character was weak. It feels like she was just brought in to sing and no care was taken to her character. 

The rest of the cast are given little to work with and some are only in like one scene. The guy playing Harvey Dent did nothing to convince me that he is this iconic comic book character and that was a shame. 

Story

The story doesn't really exist, it is incredibly messy and doesn't take advantage of the fantastic ending from the previous film. It focuses on the relationship between Arthur and Lee and that is really dull so that doesn't help. The first act of the film could have been removed and the film would be better for sure. The ending of the film is also terrible, it comes across as over indulgent and makes no sense and I hated it. 

Script

The script has a few chuckle worthy moments and a few darker moments and that managed to salvage a few moments in the film. But overall the writing for this film and the characters isn't good enough and makes all the characters seem worse and poorly written. 

Style

The film took the bold approach of being a musical and it really doesn't work here. First of all Joaquin Phoenix is a poor singer and it totally goes against the tone of the film. All the intense situations are just broken up by these over the top singing sections which means there was no reason to ever care about anything. The film is way too long as well and really drags making it a pretty dull time at the cinema. 

Overall

Overall, Joker: Folie a Deux is a bad film that is a huge step down from the previous film. The film is boring, dull and offers nothing new to the table. It feels like a cash grab that failed at that even, don't waste your time on this film. 

Rating - 3/10

Joker (2019) Review

In a few hours I am finally going to see Joker sequel, despite its bad reviews so I decided to go back and watch the first film and here is my review for Joker. The premise of the film sees a failed stand up comedian attempt to survive in a poor society that will cause him to lose control. 

Main Character

Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck and he is truly amazing here and he was well deserved to win the Oscar for Best Actor for this role. He creates so much sympathy for Arthur that you feel so sorry for him and even slightly root for him in this twisted role. His development and characterisation is fantastic and sees him transform into this iconic character. 

Supporting Characters

Robert De Niro plays Murray Franklin who is a talk show host in Gotham and he is great here. It is really nice to see that when he truly cares and has motivation that De Niro can still deliver really strong performances and he delivers in the scenes that he is in. 

Zazie Beetz plays Sophie who is a neighbour to Arthur and I thought she was good in the film, she doesn't have loads of screen time but her chemistry with Phoenix is great and I really liked how her character impacted the plot. 

Frances Conroy plays Penny Fleck and she is great here, she plays Arthur's mother and the whole thing is a bit of a crazy dynamic and she drives into that and it works. As the film progresses we learn more about her and how she affects Arthur. 

Brett Cullen plays Thomas Wayne and the film does a good job in having his story tie into the main plot and the character of Arthur. It doesn't feel shoehorned in and I thought it was well done with an interesting ending. 

Story

This film details a man who is truly lost and alone, as things get worse for Arthur he starts to go down a really dark path and it is hard to see. We see this evolution from Arthur Fleck to the Joker and I like how it affected all the characters in the film and the city of Gotham as a whole. This films story is really effective and is great. 

Script

The film is really well written, you feel so much for Arthur Fleck and want to see him succeed, just not in the way that he acts. The dramatic dialogue and intentionally not funny dialogue is really well written and fleshes out this character. 

Style

This film nails its style and shows Gotham in real disarray and that links to the personal plight of the main character. The music by Hildur Guðnadóttir is sensational and really fits the character and the difficulties that he is suffering. This films only issue is that it has a slight pacing issue in the 2nd act and I found myself a little bit bored but it does pick back up in the final act. 

Overall

Overall, Joker is a fantastic film that is a true character study. It isn't your traditional comic book film and isn't one for an often re-watch but it is one for an in depth character study and a film abut the true plight of an individual. 

Rating - 9/10

Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) Review

Alongside watching Rings of Power, I thought I would go back and play another element of Middle-Earth lore with the game Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor. It took me a while to do but I have now completed the game and its two DLC expansions and here is my review. The premise of the game sees a Ranger of Gondor and his family killed by the forces of Sauron, upon his resurrection he must team up with a shadowy wraith to get his revenge. 

Characters 

The playable character is Talion and Celebrimbor who are bounded together through the story. Talion is the main protagonist and though he is voiced by the excellent Troy Baker I just found him incredibly bland. There is just no real development for him and his motivations are basic which made me not particularly care about him. 

But Celebrimbor is more interesting voiced by Alastair Duncan he is more harsh and brutal then Talion. He has similar motivations, but it feels more personal due to his past relationship with Sauron and how he really wants to exact his revenge, you get a greater idea of this in The Bright Lord DLC. 

Relatively late in the game we are introduced to The Dwarf Torvin played by Adam Croasdell and I found him an enjoyable companion. You go hunting with him and the banter between him and Talion is some of the more interesting dialogue, his role gets further expanded in one of The DLC Expansions. 

The rest of the cast are incredibly dull, whether it is the one note villains that get no chance to develop or make you truly interested in taking them down. The allies of Talion offer little either and it seems like he dislikes all of them and you wonder why they even want to team up with him. 

I mean Gollum makes an appearance here but it feels cheap and just an excuse to get a well known character into this game who plays a small and largely unimportant role. 

Story

The story is a bit of a mixed bag, I liked how Celebrimbor is bringing out the worst in Talion and forcing him to align himself with Orcs in order to get his revenge on Sauron. It is great seeing your forces grow and be able to take down the opposition and is easily the most enjoyable part of the game. 

But the story lacks complexity and feels quite strange in the way it progresses. The story at its heart is a basic revenge plot and they cover it up with some fancy window dressing in gameplay mechanics and I just didn't care about Talion enough for it rise above its basic narrative. 

Side Content

This game has huge amounts of side content and it deserves a lot of praise for that. The amount of Orc captains that you can take down through the Nemesis system is amazing and shows the hard work that the developers went into to make that happen. Doing Missions to upgrade your weapons were pretty cool too and it was cool to see actual progress. The other smaller missions are fun too and alongside a long challenge mode and two long DLC Expansions, there is plenty to do here. 

Gameplay

The gameplay is really good even though it is basically an Arkham clone and it is really clear that the same people made this game. The main reason it is so good is the nemesis system as you go against and recruit Orc captains to weaken Sauron's army and strengthen yours. The action can get a bit repetitive but it is a lot of fun and trying to manage different scenarios is a welcome challenge. Though the final boss of the main game is really lacklustre and way too easy but the final boss in The Bright Lord DLC just about saves it. 

Graphics

The game has okay graphics, I love the different designs for the Orcs and the fortresses that you have to storm, with the cutscenes being well rendered and good on the eye. But the actual maps that you play on are pretty dull and I understand that they are going for the darker and grittier look but it doesn't quite work for me. 

Overall

Overall, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor is a good game and I enjoyed it. If you are a fan of the lore then I would say give it a go and because of its huge price drop this is a game that is worth playing. 

Rating - 7/10

Speak No Evil (2024) Review

I haven't been to the cinema for a while and I saw this film being marketed so I decided to go today and watch Speak No Evil and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees a family invited to spend a weekend with a family that they met abroad but everything is not quite as it seems. 

Main Character

James McAvoy plays Paddy and he is fantastic in this film, he is one of the best actors working today and roles like this clearly proves it. He is so charismatic and just the way he delivers his lines are fascinating and he is giving a brilliant performance that you just want to learn more about him and see him more on screen. 

Supporting Characters

Mackenzie Davis plays Louise and Scott McNairy plays Ben and they are the couple spending the weekend with McAvoy and his family and they are really great. They play their roles really well and even though they are frustrating at times it works for this film and Davis in particular really shines in her role and I want to see her in more things. 

Aisling Franciosi plays Ciara and is the wife of Paddy and she is really good. Even though McAvoy is the clear standout she has great chemistry with him and she delivers a strong performance and she added so much to the tension and drama that is going on. 

Even the child actors are great, Alix West Lefler as Agnes & Dan Hough as Ant really deliver on their roles. In fact Ant is one of the more interesting parts of the film and when we meet him we see why he is a bit different and how difficult a role this is and how well he really did. 

Story

The story is interesting, the film takes its time in getting you invested and make you care about the characters in this film. You see the different characters perspective and you know it is building into a big reveal towards the end and it delivers on that well. I just think the film ends really abruptly, I understand why but it did leave me feel like I didn't really get any answers. 

Script

The characters are written extremely well and they are interesting and really fleshed out, the way the film progresses is really well handled and you gain a greater understanding of the circumstances. But the film did make some of the characters a bit stupid at times and some of the storytelling devices are slightly repetitive. 

Style 

I really like how the film presents itself and the way the film uses tension to bring in the viewer and make this a pretty scary situation. It isn't a horror film and uses minimal horror tropes which I am really thankful of and made me enjoy it more. However, the film has some slightly odd pacing. It just takes ages to really get going and I feel like this film would have been even better had it been cut down by like 10 mins and more killer, less filler being in the film. 

Overall

Overall, Speak No Evil is a good film and a pleasant surprise of 2024. It's not perfect, but keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout and McAvoy gives a truly special performance. I think if you have some spare time then Speak No Evil is a worthy time at the cinema. 

Rating - 7/10

Thunderbolts* (2025) Trailer Review

After a relatively quiet year for The MCU, Marvel Studios have today released the first trailer for one of their films next year Thunderbolts* There has been plenty of leaks and info released about the film but this is our first official look and here are my thoughts of this trailer for the upcoming film. 

Yelena & Bucky will be the leads

The beginning of the trailer makes it pretty clear that Yelena is going to play a major part in this film and after her redemption in Hawkeye, I am looking forward to seeing her in a leading role here. The end of the trailer also makes it clear that Bucky is once again going to be in the leading role. I do wonder how his character has got in this situation after the events of Falcon and The Winter Soldier but I am sure we will have plenty of time to find out. 

It seems like the characters lack purpose. 

We hear Yelena talking about her lack of purpose, while we see Bucky entering a court room and John Walker reading articles about his failure as Captain America. We also see Red Guardian with no work and down on his luck, it gives a decent reason for them all to get involved in the story. 

The Main Characters are set up

We See Yelena, John Walker, Ghost, Taskmaster & a man called Bob bought together seemingly trying to kill each other. They quickly realise that there dark histories has led to somebody wanting to kill them and take them off the board which will force there team up. 

Ghost & Taskmaster have new costumes

Ghost played by Hannah John-Kamen and Taskmaster played by Olga Kurylenko are two of the least used villains in The MCU and they are back for this film and they both have new costumes. I like the fact they have streamlined Taskmasters costume and actually makes it look like a woman is the one beneath the costume. The Ghost costume is completely different and I am not a huge fan and think it looks a bit clunky and cheap. 

We are introduced to Bob AKA Sentry

While the characters fight, we are introduced to Bob who will be played by Lewis Pullman. The characters know nothing about Bob and we are given hints to what we can expect from him. Sentry in the comics is similar to Superman and is extremely powerful, we even see the Sentry logo later in the trailer so it seems he will be a big part in the film. 

Bucky is on his own mission tracking Valentina 

We see that Bucky isn't with the other members of the group straight away and is on his own mission. The trailer makes it clear that he is spying on Valentina and trying to find out what she is up to. Valentina has basically been the Nick Fury assembling these characters together so that will be how these characters come together. 

Are the Thunderbolts working for Valentina?

Later on the trailer we see Red Guardian, Bucky, John Walker, Yelena & Ghost meet with Valentina and find out what is going on. It even links to a moment earlier in the trailer where Bucky asks Valentina what the plan is. 

Bob isn't in this shot, my initial theory makes me think that once he becomes Sentry he is going to turn and become the villain of the film and the threat that the group has to take on. 

What is the * in the title?

There was recently some big interest in a slight change to the title with the addition of an Asterix next to Thunderbolts. It seems likely that the group of characters that we see in the trailer aren't actually the Thunderbolts and they are going to go against the real group led by Sentry. 

Can it escape The Suicide Squad comparisons?

Ever since this film was announced it has drawn huge comparisons to DC's offering of The Suicide Squad and on the surface I can see why. Obviously, this is a different group of characters and I am hoping that this film does some things to stand out and be different then those other films. 

Overall

Overall, I am excited for Thunderbolts* and this trailer did add to my hype and I am looking forward to seeing this film and hopefully can be another hit for Marvel Studios.