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

Marvel's Avengers (2020) Review

After recently having the displeasure of playing Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, it made me think about going back and playing the Marvel equivalent Marvel's Avengers. So I did and here is my review for the game, though I have to stress I didn't play any of the DLC, just the main campaign and its side missions. The premise of the game is set 5 years after The Avengers split up, a superfan attempts to bring them back together to fight a new threat.

Characters

The lead character of the game really is Sandra Saad as Kamala Khan, which I thought was handled pretty well. She is a bit annoying at times but I liked how she interacted with the other Avengers and how her own personal development is handled. 

This has all the trending high level video game voice actors playing these iconic super heroes and it is a bit of a mixed bag. The best is easily Nolan North as Tony Stark & Troy Baker as Bruce Banner. They are given the most time to shine and the chemistry between the two of them and Kamala is probably the best part of the game. 

Laura Bailey plays Black Widow, Travis Willingham plays Thor & Jeff Schine plays Captain America and they are all functional. The issue is that they are really poorly used and the games doesn't do a very good job of making you care about them because they are given smaller roles in the story. 

The villains aren't very interesting either, MODOK is pretty bland and the twist at the end of the game does very little to make me interested in the rest of the content. 

Story

The story has a lot of potential and I did like the conflict in The Avengers and how the story does make you question whether The Avengers cause more damage then good but the game doesn't do enough with the story. The Avengers reunite way too quickly and a lot of the hostility seems to disappear quickly, the ending of the game also feels more like setting up future content instead of giving players a satisfying ending to the campaign. 

Side Content

There is lots of content in this game, which is to be expected from a live service game. All the main Avengers have story quest lines but the problem is all the side content is incredibly repetitive and feels like you are just grinding through to level up your characters and give them better gear, which never feels like it really does anything. The payoffs to this content isn't worth the hassle and it doesn't really add much to the characters and thus is a waste of time. 

Gameplay

The main positive I can say for the gameplay here is that all of The Avengers feel unique and play like I would expect them. The Hulk feels like Hulk, Thor feels like Thor etc etc and it makes gameplay feel okay. But the problem is that it feels very hollow and repetitive, every mission is the same and there is literally no variety to it with next to no boss battles which is a big problem in a Super Hero Game. 

Graphics

I actually don't mind the base costumes given to the characters and I really like the variety of costumes for each character including costumes from the films. But the game doesn't look very next gen and at times looks a bit ugly especially with its facial animations, it doesn't feel like the blockbuster that it really should. 

Overall

Overall, Marvel's Avengers is a Below Average Game that literally just exists to take money from its players and relies on its licence that has been beloved by fans. This should have been a game for the ages but it falls heavily on its face and is forgotten and should not be played. 

Rating - 4/10

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

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

Morbius (2022) Review

I have wanted to watch Morbius for years and never found the time, but a 13 hour flight was the perfect chance to watch this film that I have heard so much about in the past and here is my review for Morbius. The premise of the film sees a doctor try to cure himself of a blood disease but accidentally infects himself with Vampire Blood. 

Main Character

Jared Leto plays Michael Morbius and I really didn't like him in this role. He is obviously a good actor but between Morbius and The Joker, I think he should stay away from comic book roles for the rest of time. I don't think he is helped by other things going on but he is really bland and there is just no reason to care or support Morbius and that is a shame. 

Supporting Characters

Matt Smith plays Milo and he is so over the top that it is really cringe, but he is clearly really enjoying his screen time and giving it his all and he is the only person who can actually say this. His dynamic with Leto isn't particularly good but Smith has so much charisma that I couldn't stop watching it. 

Adria Arjona plays Martine Bancroft and is basically here just to give a romance for Morbius. She is a talented actress but she offers nothing here and she is one of the duller characters that you will meet in any comic book film. 

Jared Harris plays Emile Nicholas and I think he was okay here but he barely has any screen time. He feels like he is just a plot device for the story but I feel like Harris could have been a better part of the film and how he is used is a disappointment. 

Tyrese Gibson plays Simon Stroud and this might be the most offensive performance in the film. Gibson is mainly known for his energetic role in The Fast & Furious films but here he is so boring and monotone that it makes me wonder why they even bothered casting him and he felt really out of place. 

Story

The story is all over the place. The ideas presented here could have worked but they tried to do them all together which meant they didn't work. The focus should have been more on the relationship between Morbius and Milo and I mean it should have been written a lot better but it has a romantic story and seeing Morbius against the police. The plot doesn't make much sense and is another low point for the film. 

Script

The script is also pretty bad, the drama didn't make me care about anybody in this film and the humour is super cringy. The blend of the two isn't handled well and the writing of the plot just makes no sense and it fits this films rubbish tone. 

Style

Now there are a few decent action scenes and I enjoyed the fact that it pushed the envelope for its 12 rating which I do appreciate. But a lot of the CGI is rubbish and some of the action scenes are lacklustre. The films pacing is all over the place too, it felt really long even though it is actually a normal length film. 

Overall

Overall, Morbius is a pretty terrible film that lives up to the expectations that I have been told. No good things come from this film and should be avoided at all cost. 

Rating - 2/10

Madame Web (2024) Review

With Marvel Studios taking on more responsibility involving Spider-Man, Sony have decided to try and build a universe involving smaller characters from the same lore as him. We have had Venom and Morbius and will get Kraven The Hunter later this year but here we have Madame Web. I saw this film last night and here is my review for Madame Web. The p[remise of the film sees a women bestowed with powers where she has to save 3 girls from being killed by a villainous foe. 

Main Character

I must be honest that I have never been a huge fan of Dakota Johnson and she plays Cassandra Web here and I have to be honest she isn't particularly good here. She is overacting everything here and her character is super unlikeable and hard to care about. She is clearly hampered by the awful writing in this film and she can't rise above it and give us a lead role to support or care about and Cassie Web will go down as one of the worst leads in a comic book film ever. 

Supporting Characters

Sydney Sweeney, Isabela Merced & Celeste O'Connor play the three girls that are in the view of the villain and they are all pretty awful. Their characters are really awkward and not particularly likeable, the film tries to force you to like and care about these characters but it comes across poorly and these actresses aren't good enough to make me care. 

Tahar Rahim plays Ezekiel Sims and he is one of the more frustrating parts of this film because I have seen him be a good actor and this character had some potential but the film really flops here and makes him this over the top villain that is so stupid that it really takes you out of the film. 

Adam Scott as Ben Parker is probably the best person here but he isn't really given much to do and it still upsets me that he plays Ben Parker and it is really clear that this was just done to provide some stupid fan service that actually annoys me even more. 

Story

The story is nonsensical and completely stupid. The plot makes no sense and characters do things that make no sense, Cassie Web in particular is one of the dumbest characters that I have seen in recent movies. This film also tries its best to ruin the character of Spider-Man even though he isn't in the film and it is just the backdrop to this pretty dull and horrendous adventure. 

Script

This is a really awfully written film. Things make no sense, characters are unlikeable and there is no humour here at all. There are so many plot holes it is crazy and the film has nothing interesting about it at all. 

Style 

I mean I guess the action scenes are okay and the bad guys suit was okay but that is it. The film is filmed really poorly, the editing looks unfinished and at times it is actually quite jarring to watch it. There are way too many jump scares especially for a film that is not a horror film. The trailer shows things that barely happen in the film and it feels like we were sold a different film that never got made. 

Overall

Overall, Madame Web is a truly disastrous film. This is up there with one of the worst films I have ever seen and is up there with the worst comic book films of all time. Though I am glad I saw this film to have this experience but at all cost avoid this garbage and do something better for 2 hours. 

Rating - 1/10

Spider-Man 2 (2023) Review

Over the last few years Insomniac have released two fantastic Spider-Man games. This has led to much anticipation for the sequel to the original game and its spinoff Miles Morales. I have played through this entire game and here is my review for Spider-Man 2. The premise of the game is set a few years after the original game, both Peter Parker and Miles Morales are Spider-Man and using their powers to help New York but not succeeding in their personal lives. However, the return of an old friend and a new powerful enemy forces them to work together to face their biggest enemies. 

Characters

Yuri Lowenthal reprises his role as Peter Parker and he is fantastic, to me he is an absolute perfect choice for this video game Spider-Man. He plays the experienced version of the character well and this game pushes him in different ways that the previous one does. He is brilliant here and I think he deserves to be in the same discussion as the iconic film versions of the character. I have even got used to his new face here and I am totally fine with it. 

Nadji Jeter also reprises his role as Miles Morales and he is also great in the role. We have really seen his journey over the three games and the chemistry between him and Peter is fantastic. He is given a really interesting story here and it shows a more serious side that maybe his game slightly missed. The game does ebb and flow but it does feel like two equal lead characters and that is fantastic to see. 

Laura Bailey is back as Mary Jane Watson and she is once again great in her role. She supports both the Spider-Men really well and they give her a story herself but it doesn't overshadow the main plot and she does the character real justice. 

Graham Phillips is here as Harry Osbourne and he is fantastic, it feels like these characters have known each other for years and credit to Phillips who has joined the cast and felt like he has always been there. He also has a really interesting character arc and it follows up really well with what we have been told about him in the previous games. 

Jim Pirri plays Kraven The Hunter and I love this portrayal of the character. He is physically intimidating but you see how his mind works throughout the game and what his motivations are for the actions that he takes. He is a great villain that is perfect for the story that is being told here. 

Also he was in the trailer so I will say Venom is fantastic when he is used here and that is all I will say. 

Story 

This story is fantastic, it does a fantastic job of showing Peter and Miles in their own difficult situations but also situations that affect both of them in their personal life and as Spider-Man. It weaves characters into the story and provides plenty of emotion throughout with a solid ending here. Personally, I actually think I preferred the story in the first game but that doesn't mean this one isn't fantastic in its own way. Some are arguing that it isn't long enough and I kind of get that, but I think it uses everything effectively and it still took me around 18-20 hours to complete which for me is plenty for a video game.

Side Activities

The game has plenty of side content and it is a bit of a mixed bag. There are some excellent side missions, one in particular really hit me and made me realise that the game developers really cared. They also do a really good job of setting up future threats for Peter & Miles which is something a bit fresh here. But the majority of the side missions end up seeing either Spider-Man doing the same activity multiple times and it just gets a bit repetitive. I know most open world games has this but it felt like it here and I wasn't a huge fan of it this time. 

Gameplay

Insomniac decided to go with a more revolution over evolution of the gameplay. It is pretty similar to what we received in the previous two games. This game is pretty clear that Miles & Peter play differently and it provides fresh gameplay in different activities. It provides fantastic action and web swinging along with the web wings allowed for easier traverse across New York. Also yes the MJ missions are back and at first I sighed but they are way better here and I didn't actually mind them and appreciated that Insomniac decided to improve this factor instead of just getting rid of it. 

Graphics

This game looks beautiful. The character models are great and I love how both Spider-Men look in their costumes and it is great to see them in action. The other villains also look fantastic with Kraven, Lizard and Venom all being beautifully represented here. It shows New York in a fantastic way and made me care about it, overall it is a great looking game. 

Overall

Overall, Spider-Man 2 is a fantastic game and one of the best superhero games that has ever been made. It tells an amazing story and manages to showcase both Peter Parker and Miles Morales in a really great way. It falls a little short with its side content and overall length but It is still absolutely worth a purchase and anyone with a PS5 must give it a playthrough. 

Rating - 9/10

Spider-Man: Miles Morales (2020) Review

After the amazing Spider-Man game came out on the PS4, it was clear that a sequel was coming. But it probably came earlier then anybody expected with Spider-Man: Miles Morales. This game was rushed out the door so it could be one of the first games for the new Playstation 5, I've replayed the game and here is my review for it. The premise of the game sees Miles Morales as the only Spider-Man in New York, while he learns how to do his new role conspiracies in Harlem threaten to destroy the city. 

Characters 

Nadji Jeter reprises his role as Miles Morales from the first game and it is really fun to play as him instead of Peter this time. Building on the story from the first game, we see Miles develop as a character and go from a bit of an imposter to his own version of Spider-Man. He feels different to Peter Parker and I think that deserves plenty of credit and I definitely got invested in his character here. 

Yuri Lowenthal does reprise his role as Peter Parker but he has a really small role in this game. The scenes that the two Spider-Men share together are great but this is just a teaser as to what we can expect in the future. 

Other characters are great too, Miles Mother, Rio Morales is back from the previous game and they actually do a good job of developing her character arc and how the events of the previous game affected her. The two of them have great chemistry together and it is one of the nice relationships in the game. 

They introduce Ganke, who is Miles best friend who knows he is Spider-Man and is basically his guy in the chair. There is a strong chemistry there and they have a fun relationship that basically takes place over the phone. 

Other new characters such as Aaron Davis, Phin Mason & Simon Krieger voiced by the amazing Troy Baker are well done and enjoyable characters, even if they aren't as strong as characters from the previous game. 

Story

The story is okay, Miles personal story is fantastic and something different to what we had in the previous game. This was an inexperienced Spider-Man, trying to fully understand the role he has and how he can help people in his district and all of New York. But, the overall story is pretty rushed and flies by, probably because Sony rushed Insomniac in making this game. The villains aren't particularly written well and the way they are handled towards the end of the game is pretty weak. I think with a bit longer development time and better writing, this could have been a special story, instead of just decent. 

Side Content

This game has enough side content and I love the idea of Spider-Man having an app where people give him side missions. The side missions are fine, there is one in particular that I enjoyed with links to the previous game. But, some of them are pretty much replicas from the last game, and none of them stand out anywhere enough to be memorable. There is very little inspiration or care put into these and I have to be honest there wasn't enough motivation for me to complete them all. 

Gameplay 

The gameplay is great, Miles moves differently to Peter and I am glad for that. He swings differently and has way less gadgets but different ones, it made me work in my action scenes and have to come up with unique ways to take down opposition. There is still a good skill tree that made me feel like I was making progress and this linked to the Venom Powers. The unique part of the gameplay was the Venom, The Bioelectricity powers Miles has and this was used really well and I enjoyed this different aspect of the character. 

Graphics

As mentioned above, this game was pushed through early to reach the PS5 and it looks amazing because of that. The cutscenes are beautiful and some of the best you will ever see, the game flowed really nicely and allowed the transitions from cutscene to gameplay to be the best it has ever been. This game is set at Christmas time and they did a good job of creating New York in that level which was different to the previous game. 

Overall

Overall, Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a great game. It follows on really well from the previous game and really puts the shine on Miles Morales which is great for the future of the franchise. If it had been given more time, I think this game had the potential to be as good as the previous game but it falls a bit short. Still it is a great time that is definitely worth a playthrough. 

Rating - 8/10

Spider-Man: The City That Never Sleeps (2018) Review

After Spider-Man on PS4 was a huge success both critically and financially, next came the DLC, The City That Never Sleeps. It was released in three chapters and followed on from the story of the original game, I have now played it and here is my review for it. The premise of the DLC sees after the events of the main game, Hammerhead decides to rise up with his forces and sees Spider-Man and his allies having to take him down. 

The gameplay is still fantastic

I mean there has been pretty much no change in the gameplay here and it is still great. Spider-Man still moves really well and can take on many opponents at once, they do introduce new enemies for Spider-Man to fight and it actually made it more challenging then the main game in my opinion and that was nice to see. 

The story is really fun and interesting 

The story is really well done. As I mentioned above, Hammerhead is the main villain and they do a really great job of showing him as a major threat to Spider-Man. I always saw him as a lacklustre villain but this DLC does a fantastic job in building him up for this whole DLC. The use of female characters Black Cat, Yuri & Sliver Sable was great, they are given loads of time to shine, way more then they got in the main story and it is nice to see. You see how Peter has been changed even from the main story and how events in this DLC affects him and will move onto the sequel. 

The story builds to the future of the franchise

Usually, DLC is fun but doesn't always build to the sequels of a game but this one does. Not only does it develop Peter's story but it does a really great job of building character arcs and set up for sequels which made this a worthwhile purchase. Though, one character has their future relegated to a side mission and it definitely should have been a main story mission as I think it will be important for the future and is one of the best parts of the DLC. 

New York feels quiet and there isn't much to do

I finally have a legit issue with the game and that is because in this DLC, New York feels really quiet and there is very little to do. It was one of the major positives of the main game and it just feels quiet and dull, there are a few new side missions to do but most don't really excite that much. I wish they could have kept side missions that you don't complete in the main game here as it would have added to the game. 

J.Jonah Jameson is a real highlight

I didn't have a chance to mention J.Jonah Jameson in the main game but I think his use is fantastic. He has his own podcast and you can listen to it throughout the game, the voice actor is fantastic and he continues to be here as you really feel the rage he has for Spider-Man. 

Overall

Overall, The City That Never Sleeps is a fantastic DLC, it isn't quite as good as the main game but still has the feel and flow of it and puts the effort in to deliver a great story with great characters and it is definitely worth a purchase and a playthrough. 

Rating - 9/10

Spider-Man (2018) Review

In a couple of months we are getting Spider-Man 2 on the Playstation 5 and I am so hyped for this game. In prep for it, I decided to go back and replay the original Spider-Man game made my Insomniac in 2018. This review doesn't include the City Never Sleeps DLC Expansion as I will review that Separately. The premise of the game sees after 8 years as Spider-Man, Peter Parkers life is changed forever when he has to take on old and new enemies in order to attempt to save New York. 

Characters

Yuri Lowenthal plays Spider-Man/Peter Parker and this might be my favourite rendition of the character ever. He is an experienced Spider-Man and you see the things that he has gone through during this time. His work/life balance is clearly still a problem and that is a cool part of this character. He is really funny with quips that feel really organic and natural for the character. But there are also some really emotional and dramatic scenes that he knocks it out of the park and I truly love this version of the character. 

Tara Platt voices Yuri Wantanabe and she is the main police contact with Spider-Man and she is one of the characters that Spider-Man interacts with the most. Their chemistry is fantastic and considering how much time the two of them spend talking to each other, I thought that was really important. 

William Salyers voices Otto Octavious and this is easily the best version of this character (sorry Alfred Molina) The actor is incredible and provides so much interest and character development for Otto. The dynamic between him and Peter is the highlight of the game and adds so much to the quality of this game. 

Stephen Oyoung plays Martin Li and he is also incredible. He isn't the most popular comic book character but we learn so much about him that it actually makes you feel so much sympathy for him, despite his troubled nature. Hopefully, one day we can see a live action version of this character so it has an even greater exposure. 

There are so many quality characters here that If I spoke about them all in depth then I would be here all day. Aunt May, Norman Osbourne, Mary Jane & Miles Morales pay major roles in this game and are all fantastic, there isn't a bad character or performance here and they all deserve massive credit for this. 

Story

This is also one of the greatest Spider-Man stories of all time. We skip the origin story and pick up 8 years into his time as Spider-Man, clearly a lot has happened in his life so far but there is plenty more to come. We are introduced to new characters and iconic classic characters and it works extremely well, there acting is superb and the chemistry between all of the performers are off the charts and every character was amazing. 

Side Content

This game is absolutely rammed with side content. You have your crimes around the city that are nice and simple. Then you have the more interesting side missions such as the battles with Taskmaster and the search for Black Cat. Completing, these missions allows the player to unlock more abilities, upgrade gear and unlock new costumes. They all feel different enough that they never really get boring and they are a nice addition here. 

Gameplay 

Spider-Man has had plenty of games over the years, too mixed success but the gameplay here is amazing. First of all, the swinging mechanics, they are very simple but it allows you to traverse New York really well and it allows for a greater flow in the gameplay and even in action. When it comes to the fighting mechanics it clearly takes inspiration from the Batman Arkham games but it adapts it enough for it to stand out on its own and flow even better then that trilogy did. The game has some stealth missions where you play as MJ & Miles and when I first played them I hated them, but this time I thought they were okay, they broke up the game well and gave some other characters the time to shine. 

Graphics

The game came out for the PS4 and looked fantastic, seeing New York in all of its glory is a real pleasure and makes travelling a nice experience. The characters all look fantastic and the cutscenes flows incredibly well. The game was re-mastered for the PS5 with the major difference being the change of face for Peter Parker to make him look like Yuri Lowenthal and at first I did not like this change. But this playthrough, I realised that it didn't upset me anywhere as much, I still prefer the old Peter Parker but this one is just fine. 

Overall

Overall, Insomniacs Spider-Man is one of the best video games I have ever played. I am a huge Spider-Man fan so this was already on a good start for me but it plays so well and uses its characters and stories in a brilliant way. If you are a fan of video games, you have to play this one even if you know little about the character. 

Rating - 10/10

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023) Review

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse was one of my favourite comic book films ever, and after all these years the sequel, Across The Spider-Verse has been released and I have finally had a chance to watch it and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Miles Morales travel across the multiverse where he meets other Spider-Men that at are charged with protecting it, Miles must understand what it takes to be a true hero. 

Main Character

Shameik Moore is back as Miles Morales and he is fantastic. He plays the teenage spider-man very well and he is easily likeable which is great to see. There is more to him though, Moore adds real emotion to the story of Morales and the things he goes through is well done. Gwen Stacy voiced by Hailee Steinfeld gets way more to do in this film and I would argue her character is as important as Miles. She gives such an emotional performance and Gwen is a character that we learn a lot about and see how she really fits into this story. The dynamic between both characters is really well delivered and I am glad it worked so well. 

Supporting Characters

This film has probably the most amount of characters a film ever has, so I certainly won't be going through all of them but I will acknowledge that they are all great. 

Brian Tyree Henry and Luna Lauren Velez return as Miles parents and they are a large part of this story. Seeing how the dynamic between Miles and his parents goes down is a really crucial element of this film and the two performers did a great job. 

Oscar Isaac plays Miguel O'Hara and is fantastic. It seems like he is becoming the king of comic book films and shows and he is no different here, O'Hara is the leader of the team of Spider-Men and he is the most serious character in this film. As you learn more about him, you understand why he does what he does and it makes him a really interesting character. 

Jake Johnson is back as Peter B Parker, though he has a much smaller role. Even though he isn't in the film a huge amount he is used effectively and I felt like he was somebody that added to the overall story of the film and how it affects Miles life. 

There are some other great characters specifically Jason Schwartzman as The Spot, Issa Rae as Jessica Drew and Daniel Kaluuya as Spider-Punk. They all were fun additions to the cast here. 

Story

The story is fantastic. As I mentioned above, it focuses equally on Miles Morales & Gwen Stacy and it deals with both stories incredibly well. This film exceeds what the majority of people would expect for an animated film with the amount of depth and emotion that goes ahead with these characters and the situations that they are put in. This is also a great ending, which feels appropriate for the film and effects every character that has been a spotlight of the film. 

Script

The script is really great. The comedy is well written, this film is funny and not in a childish way. It is clever with its comedy and it picks appropriate times to use it. But the drama is where the film succeeds, you really do care about these characters and how the events in the film change the characters. 

Style 

The first film was amazing to look at and so creative in its design. This film is even better, you can't take your eyes off the screen because of the colours and use of technical devices that no ever film does like it. This films pacing is great too, it clearly has different acts to the film and I was never bored, 

Overall

Overall, Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse is an Epic film that just like its predecessor is one of the best comic book films ever made. Ignore the fact that it is an animated film, this is an amazing film and especially for Spider-Man films needs to be see. 

Rating - 10/10

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) Review

We now reach the end of The Amazing Spider-Man franchise with the second film and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Peter Parker dealing with his difficult relationship with Gwen Stacy when Oscorp causes more issues for Spider-Man. 

Main Character

Andrew Garfield plays Peter Parker/Spider-Man and he is really good. I actually think this is a really strong performance and he delivers really well as both characters. Peter goes through a lot and really struggles with the consequences from the previous film another thing I really enjoyed was seeing Peter actually as a genius which is done really well here. After the first film Spider-Man is now seen as a positive part of society and that leads to his own issues especially when it comes to his connection with the villains. 

Supporting Characters

Emma Stone is back as Gwen Stacy and even though there are elements of the plot that I didn't enjoy about her I can't deny how good she is in the role and how good the chemistry between her and Garfield really is. In terms of the romantic element they are easily my favourite one out of all The Spider-Man ones and it adds so much to have a couple you actually care about. Sally Field is pretty good as Aunt May, her character is the most oblivious in film history but I liked her dynamic with Peter as they do have a good chemistry. But the rest of the cast aren't particularly good and I am looking at the villains, Jamie Foxx plays Max Dillon/Electro and this is one of those performances that is so bad that you end up laughing at it, he plays this nerdy guy who gets turned into a supervillain. He is just filled with awful one liners and laughable motivations that just really doesn't work. Dane DeHaan plays Harry Osborne/Green Goblin and he is also pretty bad. He is really shoe horned into this film, and it starts off okay but he just becomes really over the top and cliché and then things get even worse when he turns into the Goblin. 

Story 

The story is easily the worst part of the film, it is all over the place and makes no sense. The film tries to focus on so many different story arcs but none of them get the time for the audience to get invested in. The ending is also terrible, the film has a clear ending but it decides to go on for another 10 mins or so and it really drags down the overall quality of the film. 

Script 

The script is just about passable, the humour with Spider-Man is really good and it is nice to see a confident version of the character on show. The dialogue between Gwen & Peter works well because the two of them have natural chemistry, not because of the actual writing. The overblown narrative is a huge issue and the drama just doesn't land as much as it should apart from a couple of moments. 

Style 

There are some very entertaining action scenes here and web swinging has never looked better. The Spider-Man costume is brilliant and seeing him in action is a lot of fun. But the looks of Electro, Green Goblin and Rhino are all awful and make a mockery of these characters. The pacing of the film is really hindered because of the amount of story arcs and length of the film. 

Overall

Overall, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is an average film. There is just way too much going on and it over reaches which is a big reason why this version of the character ended the way it did. 

Rating - 5/10

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) Review

Next on my Spider-Man review series is the reboot The Amazing Spider-Man and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Peter Parker become Spider-Man and have to stop a new mentor from changing New York forever. 

Main Character

Andrew Garfield plays Peter Parker/Spider-Man and he is very good in his role. His Peter Parker is really different to Tobey Maguire's and it does seem like this interpretation of the character has been more modernised and it works pretty well. He is really great as Spider-Man, he nails the quips well and I think overall this is a different but effective showing by Garfield. 

Supporting Characters

Emma Stone plays Gwen Stacy and she is really good, she is a fun love interest that doesn't ever annoy me. The chemistry is amazing on screen which is probably helped by some off screen chemistry, it really raises the quality of the film and it makes the whole romance angle of the film an actual joy to watch. Rhys Ifans plays Curt Connors/The Lizard and he is also decent, I have some complaints about the character but his performance is pretty strong and if given more attention this could have been a top villain instead of just a decent one. The late Irrfan Khan, Martin Sheen, Dennis Law and Sally Field are also all good in their roles and fit the world very well around the other three more prominent characters.

Story 

The story is good in terms of introducing us to a new Spider-Man and it does certain elements that are new and fresh in this world. I just wish it had leaned into these more focused instead of things that are quite generic or that we have seen before. This is a clear origin film and it just feels really rehashed, maybe something else could have been done to change it up or just have him be Spider-Man at the start of the film. Also Lizard's plan is just absurd and makes no sense, it feels underdeveloped and rushed just because the film needs a villain. 

Script

The script has some good one liners from Spider-Man, he feels funny and like you would imagine a young man as a new super hero would. But the drama is a bit of a mixed bag, the romance is good and I cared about it, but some of the other drama doesn't work. It feels like it isn't fleshed out enough and doesn't do enough to really make me care. 

Style 

The film looks really good, Spider-Man's costume and swinging look fantastic and I really liked how it did the POV shots of him swinging as it felt like we were swinging with him in the rooftops of New York. But some of the action scenes didn't really hit with me and I wasn't a huge fan of Lizard's look in the film. The pacing isn't great either with the first act in particular dragging for me. 

Overall

Overall, The Amazing Spider-Man is a good film. If you are a fan of the character you will enjoy it but it could have maybe done a bit more to stand out. 

Spider-Man 3 (2007) Review

With less then a week to go to Spider-Man: No Way Home, I have now finished the original trilogy and here is my review for Spider-Man 3. The premise of the film sees Peter Parker coming into contact with an alien symbiote while his life is thrown into turmoil by villains and his complicated love life. 

Main Character

Tobey Maguire is once again back as Spider-Man and unfortunately this is easily his worst performance in the role. He is fine, as he could play the role in his sleep at this point. It is just Peter is pretty unlikeable in this film and the writing for him is poor. Maguire is only doing what is asked but you can't help but think that he doesn't give as much to this film as he does the others. 

Supporting Characters

Probably the best character in the film is Flint Marko/Sandman played by Thomas Haden Church. He isn't just an average bad guy, he has interesting and has compelling motivations that if in a better film could have been explored to a greater length. JK Simmons is once again back J. Jonah Jameson and he is great in his small role here, again I kind of wish he could have been on screen more but he is always entertaining to watch. Kirsten Dunst is back as Mary Jane Watson and this is the film where I couldn't stand her, she is just really unlikeable and the plot tries to make you care but you just really won't. The film focuses way too much on her and her own story and it just doesn't work and she comes across poorly. The same could be said of James Franco as Harry Osborne, he was set up really well in the previous film but he is really wasted here and it just feels like he was an afterthought which is disappointing. Topher Grace plays Eddie Brock/Venom and he is just bad, I think the actor has even admitted he isn't good in this film, he was just horribly miscast in the role. It doesn't help that he is barely given anything to do and feels really tacked onto the story here. 

Story

The film is all over the place in terms of its storytelling. It tries to focus on so much that it ends up failing on the majority of its fronts. You have three villains that are fighting for screen time, romance and action, it has been reported for years that the studio forced Venom into the film and it really shows with this mess of a movie. 

Script

The script also isn't good. The drama isn't there, it comes across as cringe and weak. The charm worked in the previous films to a certain extent but it fails here. The humour isn't there either and really turns the characters into idiots and kind of ruins them from the previous films. 

Style 

The action scenes are pretty decent, in particular the Spider-Man vs Sandman subway fight. The Black Suit Spider-Man looks great and the CGI is pretty effective for a film that came out a long time ago. But the film is paced really badly, again as I complained about earlier, there are too many plot threads to focus on and it messes up with the pacing and tone of the film. 

Overall 

Overall, Spider-Man 3 is a poor film. It is a big let down to finish the trilogy and its one that all involved would like to forget. 

Rating - 3/10

Spider-Man 2 (2004) Review

Next in my Spider-Man Review series comes Spider-Man 2 and I re-watched it today and here is my review for it. The premise of the film is set 2 years after the first and sees Peter Parker struggling in balancing his life when a new threat comes to New York. 

Main Character

Tobey Maguire is great as both Peter Parker & Spider-Man. I actually think he is better in this film then he was in the original, his character goes through a real arc as both Parker and Spider-Man and that can sometimes be a real difficult thing to balance in a film like this. He is still to this day known for his portrayal of the character and that is due to his great work, I think especially in this film. 

Supporting Characters 

Alfred Molina plays Dr Otto Octavius and he is fabulous in this film, as Doctor Octopus he is one of the better comic book villains we have seen on screen. He also has a real character arc and Molina really cares about this performance which ranks him up and easily raises this overall film higher up. James Franco gets a bigger role in the film and I actually liked the way the film took Harry Osbourne, his lust to get revenge on Spider-Man is well handled and saw him through his own story in the film. Kirsten Dunst is back as MJ and again I thought she was fine, I felt like the dynamic between her and Maguire was better in this film and I thought she was better written though not perfect and I will give her the benefit of the doubt here. A real scene stealer is JK Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson, they give him more to do in this film and he is amazing, I couldn't stop laughing watching him and as I said in my previous review he is one of the best castings ever made. 

Story   

The story is really effective in this film and that is because it takes more care with its characters and focuses less on the whole relationship dynamic on the film. It balances Spider-Man & Peter Parker really well and characters like Harry & Doc Ock are really given interesting arcs that get you invested in the film. It balances the narrative well and I really was invested in pretty much everything, even the not amazing romance. 

Script 

The script is also better in this film, it isn't as cheesy as the previous. The drama is interesting, with the characters written better. I also found myself laughing more watching this film and that is a credit on the balance that is achieved with this film. 

Style 

The action scenes are really great, I mean the train sequence alone is one of the greatest comic book action sequences ever made. Seeing Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man clash is really exciting and feels completely different from the action scenes in the previous film. But this film has one issue and that is with tone, it is a bit all over the place, with dark moments and really cheesy moments. It isn't the biggest issue in the world but it is here and holds it back from getting my top score. 

Overall

Overall, Spider-Man 2 is a fantastic film. It raises the stakes and delivers on a great superhero action film that should be seen. 

Rating - 9/10

Spider-Man (2002) Review

With Spider-Man: No Way Home set to come to cinemas in a couple of weeks and the reveal that characters from previous Spider-Man films will be a part of it, I thought I should go back and watch previous Spider-Man films and here is my review for the first Spider-Man film. 

Main Character

Tobey Maguire plays Peter Parker/Spider-Man here and he just fits the role really well and is really fun to watch. You see him grow from this really uncomfortable nervous nerd to this confident super hero and it is executed really well. Maguire, brings emotion and humour to the role to really create this interesting and sympathetic hero that you can really care about. 

Supporting Characters

Willem Dafoe plays Norman Osbourne/Green Goblin and he was literally born to play this role. He nails the duplicity of the role and the insanity that comes across from the Goblin, the costume isn't great but he is a very memorable villain for sure. Kirsten Dunst plays MJ and she does her job to the best of her abilities. The character isn't written very well and is basically a damsel in distress but I thought she had good chemistry with Maguire and it just about worked in this film. Similar with James Franco as Harry Osbourne, he isn't given that much to do but he is decent when on screen despite some of the plotting for the character not being that great in this film. Cliff Robertson and Rosemary Harris are both very good as Uncle Ben and Aunt May and you see the impact they have on Peter's life and how it moulds him as a superhero. Onto the show stealer which is JK Simmons as J Jonah Jameson, when people ask what is the greatest casting in a comic book film he is the answer I give. He hasn't got a huge role in the film but when he is on screen he knocks it out of the park and is literally the only person who could ever play this role in live action. 

Story 

The story is good, I think it is a really effective origin story for Spider-Man and really gets us invested in the character and moves at a quick enough pace that it never feels dull or slow. But this film does suffer a bit in their handling of some of the subplots, like the whole romance story. The characters of MJ and Harry are really underdeveloped and made to come across as bad people which doesn't make sense when the performers are really trying their best. 

Script 

The script is effective, it is funny at times and the drama mostly works. You care about the main conflict and Spider-Man which is the most important part of the film. But there is no denying that some of the writing is incredibly cheesy and feels dated, making me cringe. Plus as I said some of the story elements just don't work. 

Style 

The style of the film still holds up. The action scenes are very exciting and cinematic, I may have complained about the Goblin costume but the Spider-Man costume is amazing and so iconic. The film is paced really well and kept me interested and enjoyed throughout. 

Overall

Overall, Spider-Man is a great film. It is one of the superhero films that started the craze of these type of films and it still holds up really well. 

Rating - 8/10

Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021) Review

It's been a busy week but I have finally found the time to watch Venom: Let There Be Carnage and now here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Eddie Brock and Venom have to figure out their relationship while going against a serial killer and his own symbiote. 

Main Character

Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock and voices Venom and he does a pretty good job. I just find his performance as Brock entertaining and clearly somebody who is enjoying himself. He doesn't get much character development but I think there is just about enough here to give Hardy props for his role in the film. Venom is actually given more development and it is executed pretty well, I actually felt feeling towards the symbiote. He is also pretty funny and for me the dynamic between Venom and Eddie Brock is probably the highlight of the film. 

Supporting Characters

The first Venom film suffered from not creating interesting supporting characters and it is a shame that this film is the same. Woody Harrelson reprises his role of Cletus Kassidy/Carnage from the post credit scene of the first film and I just never got invested in his character. He just came across as a weirdo and a guy with no character. Harrelson is clearly enjoying himself but the character of Carnage is not given the justification that he deserves here. Naomi Harris plays Shriek and unfortunately, she is even worse. She just has these terrible one liners and her over the top bizarre performance is just too much for me and does nothing for me. The great Stephen Graham plays a police officer and it's not even that he is bad, he is actually alright but his character is dull and there is literally no reason to care and it is a shame that such a talent is wasted here. Michelle Williams is back as Anne from the first film and she is just as boring here, I just don't like the character and I have felt like Williams phones it in and signed a contract that she had to be here as she does very little here. 

Story 

The relationship between Eddie and Venom is represented quite well here and I like how we saw more things from Venom's point of view this time around. But it is flawed, the dynamic between Carnage and Venom fails and the dynamic between Brock and Cassidy doesn't work either. The characters don't get enough time to develop and you won't care about anybody apart from Venom and maybe Eddie. 

Script

The script is okay, the humour was something I was worried about in the trailer but I can't deny that it worked for me. I chuckled quite a few times with Venom having some funny one liners. But the drama falls really flat and is so rushed that when it comes to the big showdown I kind of didn't care. 

Style

Both Venom and Carnage both look great and the clash between them is way easier to follow then the action in the first film. But the pacing is all over the place, it starts off at 100 miles an hour and then slows down and ties to focus on way too much. It needed a longer runtime to make the audience care about the characters. 

Overall

Overall, Venom; Let There Be Carnage is an average film that doesn't rise above its predecessor. It is okay and I don't think will bring any new fans but there is a huge post credit scene and that is all that people will be talking about coming out of this film. 

Rating - 5/10

Venom (2018) Review

With Venom: Let There Be Carnage coming out in The UK tomorrow, I thought that I had to go back and watch the original Venom film which I have only seen once before and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a struggling reporter bonded with an alien parasite who have to save the world. 

Main Character

Tom Hardy plays Eddie Brock and he does a decent job here. You can tell he is fully committed and giving everything to the role and because he is a good actor it mostly pays off. It's not one of his best performances but he has a bit of charm and humour to him that does enough and his interactions with Venom is the highlight of the film. Hardy also voices Venom and is really good at it, the dynamic between the two of them is really good and I just wish there was more of it in this film. 

Supporting Characters

Michelle Williams plays a romantic foil for Eddie Brock and I just couldn't get invested in her as a character. The dynamic between her and Hardy is just never there for me and it just feels like that there has to be a love interest but they didn't put much time and effort into it. Riz Ahmed plays a bad guy and honestly, I have never been a huge fan of his and he is just really bland in this film. This is a mixture of poor writing and a weak performance that doesn't hold up against Hardy who is really trying. This cast is so small and unfortunately, apart from Venom and Eddie there are no character that stands out.  

Story 

The story is also a mess, things just don't make sense and none of it is interesting at all. The bad guys plan doesn't add up and the plot is really not given the focus that it needs. It takes way too long to get to the meat of it and even then it doesn't do enough to keep your interest. 

Script

The script actually has some funny moments, the dialogue between Eddie and Venom is decent and thank goodness for that because the drama is poor. The relationship drama doesn't work and the conflict between our protagonist and antagonist is not done well to say the least. 

Style

Venom himself looks great, the CGI is really good and I really like how large he is compared to the previous iteration that we saw in Spider-Man 3. Some of the action scenes are decent as well, but I do wish they could have pushed the violence a bit more as it seems a bit tame for Venom. The pacing for the film is a bit all over the place too, it takes too long for Venom to actually come on screen with the film being quite short, it doesn't use its time effectively. 

Overall

Overall, Venom is a below average film. Tom Hardy really tries but the rest of the cast aren't great and the story is all over the place so lets hope the sequel will be better. 

Rating - 4/10

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018) Review

So with the new Spider-Man Miles Morales Video game coming out, I thought this would be a good time to watch the much acclaimed film Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse and review the film. It is funny, when this film came out I was against going to the cinema to watch and animated film so today is the first time I have ever watched this film and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a teenager granted the powers of Spider-Man and must unite with five Spider-Powered heroes from other dimensions to stop a threat to every universe. 

Main Character

Shameik Moore plays Miles Morales and I thought he was fantastic here, Miles is just such a likeable character, the film does a great job in making you care about him and want him to succeed throughout. This is the first Spider-Man film to focus on Miles and it is done wonderfully, Moore adds humanity to this role and despite it being an animated character you feel the humanity and how well rounded he is as a character to make this one of the best main characters in a superhero film you will see. 

Supporting Characters 

There is a long list of supporting characters here, Jake Johnson plays Peter B Parker and he is so good here, this is a really interesting take on the character and something we have never seen on the screen. He is more of a burnt out veteran and seeing his dynamic with Miles is really cool and you see just how much both of them need each other and it is a nice story arc. Hailee Steinfeld plays Gwen Stacy and she also does a good job, her friendship with Miles is a nice part of the film and makes her more likeable, again they do something unique with her character and it fleshes her out and adds something fresh to that character. But my favourite character might be the fact that Nicolas Cage, yes that Nicolas Cage plays Spider-Man Noir and he is brilliant, he is so cool and Cage is clearly loving playing this part and he is a really interesting cool character that I want and need to see more of in the future. Liev Schreiber plays Kingpin and this is a really interesting antagonist, it would have been really easy to make him this by the numbers generic villain, but they don't, they really flesh his character out and make him interesting, his motivations are actually relatable in some weird way which really rises the film up. Chris Pine, Mahershala Ali & Brian Tyree Henry all do really good in there roles too. 

Story

The story is really interesting and makes some bold choices, it isn't afraid of getting dark in order to tell a more rounded story and it helps it stay fresh. There is alot going on here, but it never feels like too much, everything is important here and all the characters are interesting and well written and that is mainly due to the care and depth that they are given. The plot is fresh and tells an interesting story with these different Spider-Men to build a new world that I really want to see more of with sequels and spinoffs. 

Script

The script is fantastic, this film has plenty of humour and a lot of references to the live action Spider-Man films which was nice to see. But there was also plenty of heart and emotion in this film and when you consider this film to be a family film it is pretty dark and adult which was a great choice for me and made this film accessible for more Spider-Man fans then ever. 

Style 

The style of the film is superb, the animation style is so vibrant and colourful that it really stands out. At times it looks like a comic book bought to life and there isn't really anything like it around. The action scenes are great and really feel true to the Spider-Man mythos and will be a film for new generations which older fans will love too. 

Overall

Overall, this is and important movie, I honestly cannot believe how good this film is, it is honestly one of the greatest comic book movies ever made and if you haven't seen this film then you must see it as soon as possible. For many this is there introduction to Miles Morales and this can be a great Black hero that can be an inspiration for a new generation that might even see him as the main Spider-Man in the future which is exciting times. 

Rating - 10/10

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) Review

Finally, I have made it the final film in my X-Men review series and it is Dark Phoenix and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees after an accident on a mission in space Jean Grey is infused with an alien force and takes on a new destructive personality. 

Main Character

Sophie Turner plays Jean Grey here like she did in Apocalypse but I found her performance much weaker here. The issue is that we never have time to spend with Jean as a character, we are introduced to her in the previous film and then she turns so quickly here that we learn so little here that it makes it hard to care about her. Turner also doesn't add that much to the performance which also doesn't help with the character, though maybe with a stronger script she would have had a better chance. James McAvoy is back as Xavier and I thought he was good here, I actually like how they treat his character, he is seen more harshly and you really see a different side to him here that we have never seen in previous films. I mean this is his weakest performance as the character but he gives enough to be satisfied. 

Supporting Characters

Michael Fassbender as Magneto has been my favourite part of these newer X-Men films and he does try here and again similar to McAvoy I give him credit for that and it is enough for some praise but his character is so dull and actually pointless here. After Apocalypse for me his character arc was finished but they have to force him in here even though it actually doesn't make any sense. Now onto the rest of the cast and just how boring they are, Jennifer Lawrence is back for a small role as Mystique and she just doesn't even try here, you can tell she wasn't interested in being in the film but signed a contract. Same could be said about Nicholas Hoult as Beast who also is performing half hearted and really his character makes some decisions that don't really make any sense for him and it just screws the character over. Tye Sheridan plays Cyclops and he should have been a really important part of this film due to his relationship with Jean but he is so wasted here. He has no charisma or charm here at all and the issue is that you don't buy into there relationship at all due to the fact that we never actually see it on screen for long enough. Also if you came here to see more of Storm and Nightcrawler from the previous film then you are out of luck as they do nothing interesting here and don't get me started on Quicksilver who is ignored completely and he might as well have not been a part of the movie at all. Jessica Chastain plays a villain here and she is so generic, this is a really boring and wooden performance for a character that has nothing memorable about them at all. 

Story

First things with the story is just pretty much ignore everything from the previous films as they are never addressed and this film actually contradicts things from those films which is just crazy. This film doesn't have a clue what it is trying to tell with its story, it doesn't give us enough time or effort to care about Jean Grey as a character making it hard to root for her in any way. It feels like there is a film missing here between Apocalypse and Dark Phoenix, the characters don't get developed here and it feels like that the film rushes the characters arcs so you feel lost and confused as to exactly what you should be interested in. Also why is this film set 10 years after Apocalypse, it is unnecessary and actually makes no sense with the actors looking no different in 10 years which also takes you out of the film or at least it did with me.

Script

This script is bad, there isn't one bit of memorable dialogue at all, I literally watched the film and I cannot remember any particular lines from the film. The characters, especially Jean Grey are written so poorly that you are given no reason to care, except maybe for Xavier and Magneto because we have seen more of them as characters. 

Style

Now the one thing this film will get credit for is the action scenes, they are actually really good here. They are exciting and well filmed and do a good job of showcasing the different powers that are in screen, it also shows Jeans powers better then The Last Stand did. But this films pacing is just weird, for a nearly 2 hour film it feels like a 90 minute movie. It ignores character development and intrigue to focus on action and exciting this which really holds it back. Also what the hell happened to those awesome costumes at the end of Apocalypse, the X-Men costumes here look awful and cheap similar to First Class but even worse that they should never been seen. 

Overall

This film is just really bad, even for big X-Men fans this isn't worth a watch and I would advise that you don't put any time or effort into this film. When Disney eventually reboot the X-Men I hope they stay away from the Dark Phoenix story as it seems to not work well on the big screen. 

Rating - 3/10