Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy (2021) Review

Another game that I have played before, but I recently replayed Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy and thought the game deserved a review as it seems not too many people have actually played it so here is my review for the game. The premise of the game sees the newly formed Guardians of the Galaxy attempt to raise their profiles when they get drawn into an intergalactic threat which threatens the entire Galaxy.

Characters

Jon McLaren plays Peter Quill/Star-Lord and I love the depiction of the character here. He has that boyish charm and swashbuckling nature but there is also a real depth to his performance and is a character that I really rooted for and wanted to see him succeed as the leader of this ragtag group. 

Kimberly-Sue Murray plays Gamora and I really liked her performance. She is really struggling with her previous role as an assassin and sees the group as a fresh start and Murray really sells the emotion and issues that the character has gone through and I really liked Gamora. 

Alex Weiner plays Rocket and he is a loudmouth annoying little racoon but it just really works and Rocket goes through some serious character development throughout the game and I really liked how he was used during the game. His relationship with Groot who is also great, is another big highlight. 

Jason Cavalier plays Drax and he is easily my favourite character in the game. He is a warrior but has quick comedic timing and you really get lots of information about the character and he is depicted amazingly well. 

There are other great characters too such as Mantis and Lady Hellbender and I love the way this game fleshes out the characters and the universe. 

Last thing is obviously people will compare this group to the version from the films and I just think they are completely different and great in their own ways. I really grew attached to the version in this game and that is down to the smaller names but fantastic voice performances. 

Story

The story is awesome, as I mentioned above I really enjoyed the world building that this game does and ensures that it has its own identity compared to other Marvel properties. The characters are handled really well and all have development throughout the game, I really cared about this ragtag bunch and thats a big thing for me. The story has twists and turns, comedy and real emotion and is a wonderful story about these people. 

Side Content

Unfortunately, the one big criticism of the game is that it is a pretty linear experience and is quite one dimensional. There was some really great collectibles, Peter can collect items throughout the game and then when you are back on the ship you can talk to the other characters about them and it really fleshes them all out even more. But I wish this game had a little more of a RPG feel as that could have made this game truly perfect. 

Gameplay

This game decides to only have Star-Lord as a playable character and I think this was the right decision. We have seen in Marvel's Avengers that making more characters move sets can cause other areas of the games to be lacklustre but that is not the case here. The gameplay is good and I like how they use the other Guardians to assist with Quill and his own abilities which evolve during the game. 

Graphics

The game looks great, it gives all the characters definitive looks that make them stand out and as I have mentioned I really liked the way the world is presented and it really got me invested in the game and its characters. 

Overall

Overall, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a fantastic game that really stands out in the super hero genre. It is such a shame that people didn't support this game as I think there was potential to get a real franchise here and I would highly recommend giving this game a go. 

Rating - 9/10

Captain America: Brave New World (2025) Review

The biggest film in the world right new is Captain America: Brave New World and yesterday I had a chance to watch the film and here is my review for the first Sam Wilson Led Captain America Film. The premise of the film sees Captain America trying to work with the new president when a ruthless plan is put into place to take them both down. 

Main Character

As mentioned above, Anthony Mackie plays Sam Wilson and he fully embraces his role as Captain America and he is really great in this film. He slips into the role extremely well and is a really likeable character here. They do their best to progress his character and though it isn't perfect, I am happy with how it ended up for him in the role. 

Supporting Characters

Harrison Ford takes over the role as President Ross from the late William Hurt and is fantastic. He really adds a lot to the character and is given a great character arc which is enhanced by Ford really trying his best and being enthused in the project. 

Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres & Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley see their roles enhanced after the events of The Falcon & The Winter Soldier. Torres is trying to become the new Falcon and he is a good partner for Sam and has his own character arc. It is nice to see the position Bradley is in at the beginning of the film and he has a lot of adversity to face throughout the film. 

Tim Blake Nelson reprises his role as Samuel Sterns from The Incredible Hulk and he was a good villain here. They give him reasonable motivations for his actions and sells the creepy character that he has become. 

Shira Haas plays Ruth Bat-Seraph and her casting and character caused a lot of controversy but It didn't distract me from the film and didn't offend me. Her character was functional for the film but didn't really stand out. 

Giancarlo Espositio plays Sidewinder and usually I wouldn't mention him but Esposito is a tremendous actor and he nails it in this small bad guy role. 

Story

The story has good character development for its main characters and does a pretty good job of selling the espionage angle and keeps the audience guessing throughout. However, this film does feel more like a sequel to The Incredible Hulk then a Captain America Film, Sam Wilson sometimes feels like an afterthought in his own movie and that is a shame. Also the last act feels really rushed and doesn't hit the levels that I wanted with my high expectations. 

Script

This film takes itself more seriously then the majority of Marvel films but does have some chuckle worthy moments and some moments of drama that feel worthwhile. But it never hits the level where I really got invested or fully cared about the characters and story and that is encapsulated by the ending. 

Style

There are some excellent action sequences in this film. It feels really grand on screen and seeing Sam Wilson as Captain America allows for some different action scenes then previous Captain America films. As shown in the trailers we get Red Hulk and when he is on screen, he is awesome and causes plenty of destruction but he just isn't on screen enough. The film has an issue with pacing, the last act is really rushed and I think this film needed a longer runtime to really deliver on what it promised. Also, some of the VFX Effects leave a lot to be desired, especially for a big blockbuster action movie. 

Overall

Overall, Captain America: Brave New World is a good film that ahs plenty of positives. It maybe doesn't hit the really high expectations that I had for it but I would say if you are a fan of super-hero films then you will enjoy this film and what is here. 

Rating - 7/10

Ranked - Cobra Kai

It is pretty amazing that Cobra Kai basically exists because of an episode of How I met Your Mother and we got six seasons of the highest quality and became one of the biggest shows in the world over the last few years. A legacy project after The Karate Kid films that just does it right and should be the blueprint for franchises that want to put a fresh twist on an older title. Before ranking these seasons of the show, I have to stress that I really enjoyed all of the seasons of the show and this is the ranking for all of the seasons of Cobra Kai. 

6. Cobra Kai Season 4 (2021)

The fourth season of Cobra Kai is great and does some things really well. It does a fantastic job of building to the All Valley Tournament and showing the beliefs of the numerous dojos. The characters and performances are also really fun and continues the real essence of the show. However, the reason that this season is in this position is because some of the story is a bit jumbled and I kind of got fed up of Johnny and Daniel arguing after all these years. But a Great season of Television. 

5. Cobra Kai Season 5 (2022)

The next few seasons on here are pretty interchangeable and I have just gone on gut feeling because season 5 of Cobra Kai is fantastic. Terry Silver getting way more to do and transitioning into the main villain adds some freshness to the show that was required. The back half of episodes are really great and I was really satisfied by the end of the season. Where this season slightly falls down is at the beginning of the season where the characters are split up and the story between Miguel and his dad is probably the biggest fumble that the show has ever done. But overall, this is a fantastic season that I loved watching. 

4. Cobra Kai Season 3 (2021)

Another fantastic season of television with the third season of Cobra Kai. This season really does an effective job of building on from the brutal events of the previous season. Ralph Macchio & William Zabka really shine in this season and their characters are really defined and developed. The cast are fantastic and the show has a great final few episodes. The only issue for me is that the show takes a little bit of time to get going and the show took a bit longer to get going then I would have liked but again a fantastic series of TV. 

3. Cobra Kai Season 1 (2018)

The season that started it all is next and the first season of Cobra Kai did a fantastic job of getting me invested into this show. I got so much enjoyement watching the rebuilding of Cobra Kai and once again Zabka & Macchio really carry the weight of the show on their shoulders, though the youngsters do their best. The final episode is up there with the best ever of Cobra Kai and it encapsulated the great elements of this show. The only thing that holds it back is that the teen drama is on full display here and the actors aren't quite good enough with it here that it is a bit jarring but it is a really memorable first season of a show. 

2. Cobra Kai Season 6 (2024/2025)

The final season of Cobra Kai really delivers and lives up to the huge expectations that I had. It gives the characters and story a fitting conclusion that it deserves and the last few episodes are some of the best episodes of television that I have ever seen. William Zabka as Johnny and Peyton List as Tori were the standouts and really delivered with their character arcs. I am still annoyed about the way Netflix released these episodes and I think certain elements of the story weren't given the attention they deserved but overall this was such a satisfying ending and deserves its spot this high in the list. 

1. Cobra Kai Season 2 (2019)

For me Season 2 of Cobra Kai is easily my favourite and the best overall quality. Everything is better here and increases the level of programming. Performances, flow and action scenes are all better and the show builds through it towards more then just a tournament and the season finale is excellent with real consequences and had me really into it. I loved this season and even though the entire show is top quality, this season just stands out to me as a slight step ahead. 

Overall

Overall, Cobra Kai is one of my favourite shows of the past few years and I really love it. I'm sad its over but it gave fans a really satisfying conclusion and I am glad that I spent my time watching Cobra Kai. 

Cobra Kai Season 6 (2024/2025) Review

Ever since Netflix purchased the rights to Cobra Kai and put the series on Netflix. I have been a huge fan of the show and after 6 seasons and 65 episodes today saw the end of the show and I have watched all the episodes of the final season. I watched the first part when it was released in 2024 but the last two parts over the last week together and combining all of these parts, here is my review for the final season of the show. The premise of the season sees both Miyagi-Do and Cobra Kai preparing to take part in the World Karate Championships which sees all their friendships and relationships put into question. 

Main Character

William Zabka plays Johnny Lawrence and I really feel like this season focuses on him more and gives him the material to really help progress his character and give him the depth that this show has been truly building over the last few years. Zabka delivers his best work here and I really rooted for him. 

Ralph Macchio plays Daniel LaRusso and he is also great in the role. He also has his own journey and I really like how it links to Johnny. Over the seasons we have seen their uneasy relationship develop and this continues here but there is more depth added and Macchio does a good job at it. 

Supporting Characters

Martin Kove is back as Kreese and I really love watching him in this show. We get even more depth added to him by learning more of his backstory and Kove is clearly having a wonderful time playing the role and it makes him such a cool character to watch. 

Lewis Tan is cast as Professor Wolfe and is a sensei of The Iron Dragons who is a new dojo threatening the other dojos and I really liked him in his role. He owns this bad guy role and though it isn't a role with the largest screen time but when he is introduced he adds a new dynamic. 

The younger cast all return and again do great jobs, Xolo Mariduena as Miguel is great, Tanner Bucahanan as Robbie is great and Mary Mousser as Sam is great. But the star really is Peyton List as Tori. She really has great character development and shows how tough life can be, especially for someone from a poorer income. 

Overall, everybody is fantastic and they deserve great credit for their performances over the six seasons of the show. 

Story

The story is really effective, it gives its characters real development and the last few episodes really up the stakes and puts our characters through a lot. I felt real emotion for what was going on and realised that this was about more then just a Karate tournament with a very satisfying family. However, there are elements of the story that didn't quite hit towards the end of the film and felt either rushed or not given the importance that I thought it deserved. 

Script

The script is fantastic, yes it is really cheesy and you have to understand that when you get into watching this show but I have grown to love the cheesy humour and romance stuff. But the drama really delivers here and there are some really emotional scenes that is great.

Style

The style is great, this is such an easy show to watch. The episodes being only 30/40 mins means you can breeze through them pretty quickly and enjoy the time you watch it. The fight scenes are fantastic and just so well choreographed and feels fitting for the culmination of this show. 

Overall

Overall, Cobra Kai Season 6 is a fantastic final season of the show. It truly delivers and nails the feeling of Cobra Kai and the time we have spent with these people and this story. I am a huge fan of this franchise and I think people need to give it a watch and the love that this show deserves.

Rating - 9/10

Virdee (2025) Review

Going through the shows and films that are coming out, I saw this one advertised on the BBC and decided to watch the new crime drama Virdee. I got through the 6 episodes over the last couple of days and here is my review of the show. The premise of the shows sees a police detective attempt to find a killer who is targeting the Asian community while dealing with his own demons. 

Main Character

Staz Nair plays Harry Virdee and he is fantastic in this show. He absolutely nails it as this hard boiled cop and he was a character that I really wanted to root for. He gives a really strong well rounded performance that fits the overall feeling of the show. 

Supporting Characters

Vikash Bai plays Riaz Hyatt who is an unlikely ally of Harry and is also involved of the shady parts of Bradford. He is great and I really liked the dynamic between him and Harry and how the show does a great job of building their dynamic and relationship. 

Aysha Kala plays Saima Hyatt, who is Harrys wife on the show and she is also great. I really believed in their relationship and the two of them have great interactions and story progression that makes them both strong characters. 

The rest of the characters come from either Harrys work or both Harry and Saima's families who don't get along. Everyone does really great jobs in their roles whether they are big parts of the show or small parts. They make this feel like an authentic show that delivers on what it promises. 

Story

The Story is good. There is a real mystery about who Harry is chasing, mixed with family and personal situations that feel realistic and a bit fresher then expected. However, I didn't find the reveal who was the killer to be that interesting and certain elements of the plot didn't seem that important and like it kind of fizzled out. 

Script

The script has some smart writing and creates interesting characters to populate this show and aid in these great performances. But sort of linked above, I don't think the shows actual story and structure was great and was the part of the show that could have been improved. 

Style

The show looks great, it really encapsulates the city of Bradford. The show is violent and moves at a great pace that I kept wanting to watch and became hooked. The action scenes are well filmed and the grit really adds a lot to the show. 

Overall

Overall, Virdee is a great sleeper hit and a show that should be watched. I had a great time with Virdee and I hope we do get more from this show in the future and I would say, give this show a chance I think people will really enjoy it. 

Rating - 8/10

Surviving Black Hawk Down (2025) Review

I caught a clip for this show and I am a big fan of the film of the same subject matter. I decided to give the documentary Surviving Black Hawk Down and here is my review for the Limited series. The premise looks at the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993 where US & Somali forces battled which ended up being called Black Hawk Down. 

The show does a good job in interviewing Soldiers & Civilians from both The US & Somalia in a way to try and create a more equal argument and it somewhat works and I thought the people themselves were keen to discuss the topic. 

I did get a good sense of the brutality that took place on the days involving Black Hawk Down and adding the re-enactments actually did kind of help here. 

Though, this show does have some issues. Mainly the fact that if you have seen the film or any slight info surrounding this event then this documentary doesn't offer anything new. The only part I wasn't fully aware of gets briefly talked about towards the end of the last episode and that was a shame. 

There is a pacing issue here too, I just am not sure we needed 3 hours to tell this story. It could have been made into a film instead and really focused on the interesting parts, instead of dragging it out and having some big lulls. 

Overall, Surviving Black Hawk Down is an average Documentary. It just exists and offers incredibly little to this conflicts history or its story. Respect to all the soldiers who had to go through this awful situation but I think this a documentary worth skipping, maybe watch the film instead. 

Rating - 5/10

Thunderbolts* (2025) Trailer 2 Review

Last night was the Superbowl and as tradition that means we get trailers for big upcoming projects. However, it seems that this year was pretty light. Though we did get a new trailer for the upcoming Marvel film Thunderbolts* and I think there is enough to talk about following the first trailer that we saw. 

The Avengers are officially disbanded

Ever since the events of Avengers: Endgame, we have seen characters from The Avengers in their own standalone projects but there has been very little understanding on the status of the team and who is leading them. At the beginning of this trailer we see Valentina in a courtroom stating that The Avengers aren't going to help against large threats anymore. It seems the death of Tony Stark and the retirement of Steve Rodgers caused The Avengers to go their own ways for the time being. 

Bucky Barnes recruits The Thunderbolts

We initially speculated that Valentina was the one who recruited all the members of the team but it seems like Bucky is the one who decides on the team members for the group. Later in the trailer Valentina even mentions how they were bad choices. It makes me curious as to why Bucky chose these people, especially John Walker who he has a grudge with. 

Taskmaster is going to die at the beginning of the film

Between the two trailers we barely get any screen time with Taskmaster played by Olga Kurylenko and that is because I believed she is killed at the beginning of the film when the big bad is revealed. Unless, this is a big fake out I wouldn't be surprised if this happens which is a slight shame as Taskmaster has been wasted for sure. 

BOB AKA Sentry is revealed to be the main villain

For a while now we have been speculating on who the main villain of this film will be but now we have confirmation. BOB played by Lewis Pullman will transition into Sentry who is basically Marvel's version of Superman and will turn evil. We see him attacking the team and killing civilians, so it will be interesting to see how the team intends on taking him down considering they are so much weaker then him.

Overall

Overall, this trailer adds to the hype for this film and I am actually looking forward to seeing the teams dynamic on screen. I am hoping it doesn't come across as just a Suicide Squad rip-off and stands out for itself. 

The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) Trailer Review

I'm a couple of days late but I have watched the new trailer for The Fantastic Four: First Steps and I really enjoyed it and wanted to talk a little about it. So here is my review for the trailer and everything that I saw and potentially what to expect in the film. 

The Film is set in the 1960's in a different universe to the MCU

It was reported a while back that this film would be set in the 1960's and this trailer does a fantastic job of making it feel like the 60s with a bit of extra tech to it. It is also clear that this isn't set in the current main timeline of The Marvel Cinematic Universe giving them more freedom in how they can present these characters. 

We see Herbie and The Baxter Building

There has been 3 Fantastic Four films and this is the first time that we are being introduced to the robot butler of the team Herbie and it seems like he is fitting into the team well. We also see The Baxter Building which is clearly highly advanced especially for the 1960s, it also has slight comparisons to Avengers Tower which is a pretty cool comparison. 

We get a brief look at The Origin Story

We have been promised that there won't be a re-tread of the origin story that we have seen a few times before, at least in depth. Though we get some shots of the group going into Space before they get their powers and how the accident has really affected the group since. 

The Thing Looks Awesome

This trailer does not hide from showing The Thing in all of his CGI glory and I think he looks fantastic. He looks just like he does in the comic books and I just think this is a great interpretation of the character, especially as this is the first time we see him in this universe. 

John Malkovich is playing a villain

We get a very brief glimpse of John Malkovich who has been confirmed to be playing a villain in the film. Looking up the information, the biggest theory is that he will be playing a character call The Red Ghost who is obsessed in recreating the accident that gave The Fantastic Four their powers. If they did this, it could lead to the arrival of a much bigger villain. 

Galactus is here and Looks Perfect

After being teased with Galactus in Rise of the Silver Surfer and them not delivering. I was really excited to hear that he would be appearing in this film and the very brief shots look incredible. It looks just like I would imagine from the comics and I am so happy that we are finally going to get a faithful depiction of the character. 

The Costumes Look Great

At the end of the trailer, we get a glimpse of the costumes and I really like them. They really pop out with the Blue & White Colours and again look very close to what they wear in the comics which is fantastic to see. 

Will Galactus destroy this Earth?

We see Galactus and it is clear that he is up to his usual plans of devouring the world and I actually think he will be successful in the film. I think he is a character that you don't just use in one film and this event will allow an explanation for The Fantastic Four to join The Main MCU Timeline for future team up films. 

Will Doctor Doom Appear?

Ever since Robert Downey Jnr was announced to be playing Doctor Doom in future Avengers films, people have been theorising if he will appear in this film. I think he might have a small role and I can totally see the destruction of his planet being a motivation for him in future films. 

Overall

Overall, this trailer was fantastic. It isn't long but gives us exactly what we needed and introduces us to the new interpretation of Marvel's First Family. I am really hoping this film is good, as I think it is going to vital for the future of The Marvel Cinematic Universe.