The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) Review

After many years, Marvel Studios finally have the rights back to The Fantastic Four. It is pretty well known that the history of The Fantastic Four on the big screen has been pretty poor, so in preparation I was hoping that this could be better. Here is my review for The Fantastic Four: First Steps. The premise of the film sees The Fantastic Four, who are celebrities and well liked facing their biggest test when a Herald arrives setting up their planet for destruction. 

Main Character

When Pedro Pascal was cast as Reed Richards I was sceptical as I have got a bit tired of him. But he was great in this role and really delivers as Reed. He nails the intelligence and darkness of the role and I think this is the most interesting that the character has been. Vanessa Kirby plays Sue Storm and she is also great, the film puts her front and centre and she really delivers. This is more of a co-leadership this time around and both of the actors nail it. 

Supporting Characters

Joseph Quinn plays Johnny Storm and he is great in the film. This is a very different performance to what we have seen in previous iterations. He really gets the chance to show his intelligence and value to the team, he also probably gets the most action scenes and it is cool to see his powers on show. 

Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays Ben Grimm and he is also very different, he probably has the least development of all of the characters. For the most part he seems to have accepted his transformation and is loved and enjoys it. It means there is less complexity but I can't help but say that this is a fun performance and a fun interpretation of the character. 

Ralph Ineson plays Galactus and after a disappointing previous version of the character, I am happy to report that he is awesome as Galactus. He isn't on screen loads but they nailed the design and the voice. He is an interesting character and a character I have been waiting to see on the big screen for a long time. 

Unfortunately, there is one element of the cast that I didn't care much for and that is Julia Garner as The Silver Surfer. The actress does a good enough job and the design is great but the character is super dull. They rush through her character arc and we don't spend anywhere near enough time with the character and the film doesn't give a good enough reason for me to care about her. 

Story

The story is good, I really liked how this version of the characters were really sold as a Family and felt like people who have been doing this for a while. The chemistry between the actors is great and I like how the film focused on the groups relationship with the people and how they really want to save them. However, I think this plot isn't as big as it wants to be, it falls flat in terms of conveying its stakes and I wanted to see there be more peril considering Galactus is planning on destroying the planet. 

Script

The Script is okay, there are some funny moments and occasionally the drama does work. However, similar to the plot I think that the writing just falls a little flat. There aren't too many memorable moments and huge character moments. 

Style

The film has a very colourful style and I really liked it, the costumes are great and the action sequences are well done. Especially when the team comes face to face with Galactus which feels like something straight out of a comic book. However, this film does have a pacing issue, it feels quite long and the first act is really slow which made it difficult to get into the film. 

Overall

Overall, The Fantastic Four: The First Steps is a good movie and is easily the best Fantastic Four film. It has a lot of enjoyable things and is worth a watch, but I don't think this is the ground-breaking film Marvel Studios wanted and would say it isn't one to rush out and go watch. 

Rating - 7/10

Ironheart (2025) Review

After Black Panther: Wakanda Forever it was pretty clear that Marvel Studios had big plans for the character of Riri Williams. After a few years of development and waiting we finally have the Ironheart series and I have watched all the episodes, here is my review. The premise of the show sees Riri return to Chicago where she has to make money in order to become the hero that she believes she can be. 

Main Character

Dominique Thorne reprises her role as Williams and she is clearly a talented actor and I actually think she shows some real promise for the future of her career. The show does give her some good dramatic scenes and shows her charm. But the writing for the character is all over the place and Riri actually comes across as quite annoying and rude to everyone else on the show. They try and make her flawed and relatable but it fails for the most part. 

Supporting Characters

Alden Ehenreich is a really talented actor that just hasn't quite made it huge in Hollywood and he is probably my favourite character on this show. There is a real intrigue to his character and I did have some real sympathy for him. Though the show does rush through his story arc and it feels tacked on compared to the rest of the show. 

Anthony Ramos plays The Hood and is basically the villain here. He had real potential to be a great villain here, unfortunately it just fell flat for me. His motivations aren't explored enough and are incredibly basic and Ramos can't rise above this lacklustre writing.  

Lyric Ross plays Natalie who is an AI based on Riri's now deceased best friend and I found her really annoying. First, the fact that this is the first AI we have seen have a body and real personality with Iron tech feels like it doesn't work. What is worse though was that I didn't buy their chemistry and there wasn't a big enough reason given for me to care about their relationship. 

The rest of her support system and the other bad guys in the crew are all written poorly and not given enough time to really care about their characters and their performances. 

Though there is a character who debuts in the final episode played by a big actor who was highly entertaining and a really crucial part of this series and future MCU shenanigans. 

Story

The Story has some good concepts to it. It portrays Riri as a complex person and it is nice to see her dealing with human issues and not dealing with them well. But as a whole this story feels really rushed and doesn't give the characters real depth or development with an ending that feels underwhelming and kind of goes against the character of Riri. 

Script

As mentioned above, I have criticised the writing for the show. But, I will say there are some genuinely good moments which are both heartfelt and funny. Though, these are few and far between with the majority of the writing feeling incredibly weak and that they don't care about the story they are telling. 

Style

The show has a big budget and has some great action sequences. It is a genuine joy to see an Iron suit that isn't nanotech and feels old school. It is a shame that this show has terrible pacing, it only has 6 episodes and tries to cram everything in which causes nothing to get the time required to really hit the levels it needs. 

Overall

Overall, Ironheart is an Average Show. There has been highs and lows in Marvel Television and unfortunately, Ironheart is the latter. There are some good ideas here but they just weren't executed particularly well and this is one MCU Property you don't need to watch. 

Rating - 5/10

Thunderbolts* (2025) Review

With The MCU now into its 17th year we are getting new projects and new ideas and the newest of those is Thunderbolts* I saw the film today and here is my review. The premise of the film sees a group of dangerous operatives brought together in order to survive and potentially make themselves better. 

Main Character

Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova has become a much loved character in supporting roles but here she is given the real spotlight and is easily the main character here. She is given lots of the character development and the themes of the film really go through her. Pugh is fantastic and really deserved this opportunity and Yelena is a great lead character. 

Supporting Characters

Sebastian Stan as Bucky is the most experienced MCU actor here and he does a good job. It takes a while for him to actually get involved with the group but he becomes the driving force for the group and it was cool seeing Bucky in this leadership role. 

David Harbour is back as Red Guardian and he was a true joy here. He is clearly the comic relief character but he really embraces it and has so much fun. The relationship between Yelena and him is at the forefront of the film and Harbour adds plenty to that. 

Wyatt Russell reprises his role as John Walker and he was a fun addition here. He has great chemistry with the rest of the cast and I just enjoy him in this role. They kind of try to make you care about him but it doesn't really work and he is mostly just an entertaining loudmouth. 

Lewis Pullman plays Bob and he is also great. The trailers pretty much spoiled his role in the film but the film does a mostly good job in making you care about him and the struggles that he goes through and Pullman does his best with the material. 

Hannah John-Kamen plays Ghost again after her somewhat forgettable appearance in Ant-Man and The Wasp and although she does a good job, Ghost really gets put into the background as the film progresses and once again she just isn't given enough to do. 

Story

The story does a good job of bringing these dangerous and unlikeable people together and getting them to work together to bring the best out of each other. It really handles Yelena's character well and the theme of redemption being important for these characters. However, this film makes some weak creative decisions and the scenes between Val and Mel felt pointless and really drove down the overall feel of the film. Its ending also feels a bit rushed and I felt like there was more that they could have done with it. 

Script

The script is good. I laughed quite a bit throughout the film which means it is a return to form for MCU writers. I also believed in the emotional scenes and the development that the characters are going through. For a big superhero film it does an effective job at a character study and the emotional side of these people. 

Style

The film looks great, there are some great action scenes and they take advantage of having all these dangerous people who have different abilities to best effect. The film is also paced well and it kind of flew by but in a good way as I was never bored. 

Overall

Overall, Thunderbolts* is a real return to form for The Marvel Cinematic Universe. I really enjoyed this collection of characters and I think some of the more mature tones really worked and I would definitely recommend a watch. 

Rating - 9/10

Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 (2025) Review

Ever since Daredevil was cancelled at Netflix, I think everybody has been hoping for a revival of the show. We have seen Daredevil appear in other MCU Projects but now it is his time to once again get his own show and I have watched all of the first season of Daredevil: Born Again and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees after a life changing event, Matt Murdoch stops being Daredevil, until arch enemy Wilson Fisk becomes the new mayor of New York. 

Main Character

Charlie Cox reprises his role as Matt Murdoch/Daredevil and he is literally perfect in the role, I literally can't imagine anybody playing this role. He adds so much depth to the role, whether he is in lawyer mode in the day or violent vigilante at night it just works and Cox deserves all the credit for playing one of the best superhero characters there is. 

Supporting Characters

Vincent D'Onofrio reprises his role as Wilson Fisk and he has been one of my favourite Marvel characters for the last few years and he continues his stellar work here. There are added layers here and D'Onofrio clearly loves playing Kingpin and I also can't see anybody else playing this role. 

Margarita Levieva plays Heather Glenn and I thought she was a great addition to the cast as Matt's new girlfriend. She really links to the world well and I actually really liked her story arc as she goes through the events of the season. 

Ayelet Zurera is also back as Vanessa Fisk and this is easily the most spotlight she has ever received and I love her character arc and dynamic with Wilson. She is more confident and involved with the bad guy stuff and it is really nailed this series. 

Deborah Ann Woll as Karen Page, Wilson Bethel as Bullseye and Jon Bernthal as Punisher all makes their returns here and though their roles aren't huge they are super impactful and I don't think the show would have been as good if they weren't in it. 

Story

It was well documented that this shows narrative went through huge changes to make it closer to the original show and that was clearly the right decision. The story is fantastic really showing the development of both Matt & Wilson and I just love how it is a continuation but also feels fresh and new. It does enough to keep me invested throughout the show and that is because the story is really engaging. 

Script

The show is fantastically well written, the balance of darkness and emotion with the slight humour really added to the grittiness and slight realism that they wanted to include here. It feels like a flashback to the best written MCU Products. 

Style

The style of the show really doesn't hold back. It has the mature feeling that the original show had and it somewhat rises even above that. The show is really well paced too with each episode being interesting. However, I will say that the overuse of CGI did hurt some of the action scenes and I don't think that element was as strong as the previous show. 

Overall

Overall, Daredevil: Born Again Season 1 is a fantastic show and it really delivers. It lives up to the hype and is basically season 4 of the Netflix show. Everyone should watch this show and give it the attention that it deserves. 

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

Agatha All Along (2024) Mini Series Review

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

Main Character

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

Supporting Characters

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

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

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

Story

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

Script

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

Style 

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

Overall

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

Rating - 6/10

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) Review

With Marvel Studios trimming back on its film releases in 2024 it made Deadpool & Wolverine the most anticipated film of the year. Today, I managed to watch it and here is my review for Deadpool & Wolverine. After rejecting an offer to join The Marvel Cinematic Universe, Deadpool must find Wolverine in order to save his timeline. 

Main Character

Ryan Reynolds plays Wade Wilson/Deadpool and he is just born to play the role and he does give a great performance in this film. He is just really funny and does manage to deliver on the occasional emotional scenes that are required. Hugh Jackman also makes his return as Logan/Wolverine and he is just fantastic here and I love watching him in this role. The chemistry between Jackman & Reynolds is 

off the charts and easily carries this film and seeing them together is great. 

Supporting Characters

Emma Corrin plays Cassandra Nova and she is a fun addition to the film. She is clearly revelling in her role and I liked how her powers were shown. I wish she had a little more screen time and her motivations were better but I think she does enough to create a fun villain. 

Matthew Macfayden plays Paradox who is the TVA Agent in charge of the situation and it is a lot of fun to watch him on screen with these other performers as he is incredibly charming and quick witted with his dialogue. 

The film has a bunch of decently sized roles from people not announced before the film so I will not mention them here but they are good fun. Though if you are a fan of the supporting cast from the first two films then you will be disappointed because they play minimal roles here. 

Story

The story does a really good job of progressing the characters of both Deadpool & Wolverine and the relationship that they have and I very much felt satisfied by the end of the film. However, this film does really lack plot and interesting motivations for the villain. It does sometimes feel like Deadpool and Wolverine are just meeting people for comedic value and not necessarily for narrative reasons. 

Script

The script is really funny, there is so much material to work with for Deadpool to break the fourth wall and he uses it to the maximum amount and it usually nails it. The drama is also pretty well done and it manages to flesh out the two main protagonists. 

Style

When Deadpool moved to Marvel Studios there was a fear that it would be nurtured a little bit but that is not the case. The violence is huge mixed with the bad language and the action scenes are fantastic with some really creative battles on the screen. But, I actually thought the pacing of the film was a little off, it rams so much into it and the first act is a bit slow that I did find it a bit disjointed at times. 

Overall

Overall, Deadpool & Wolverine is a great film. If you are a Marvel or Deadpool fan then you will enjoy this film and I am glad that the essence of this franchise still exists and that this film does deliver in being a fun summer blockbuster. 

Rating - 8/10

Avengers: Endgame (2019) Review

Just over 5 years ago, the culmination of the first 3 phases of The MCU came to a head with Avengers: Endgame. This was one of the biggest Cinematic events to ever take place and with it hitting its 5 year anniversary, I thought I would give it a rewatch and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees the world in turmoil after the events of Avengers: Infinity War, with one last chance to make things right, The Avengers reunite to take on their biggest challenge. 

Main Character

Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark was the real start of this whole cinematic universe and he is brilliant in this film. He really delivers a strong performance, you see how the events of the previous film really affects him and motivates him to come to terms and once again become Iron man. He still has the funny quips and narcissism that made his character famous which is great. 

Chris Evans is back as Steve Rogers and similarly he does a great job with this iconic role. He has great chemistry with Downey & Scarlett Johansson and I thought this film did a great job putting him back in the spotlight and having him being an emotional centre of the film. 

Supporting Characters

Now this might be the largest cast in film history, so I will definitely miss some people out but everybody delivers on their performances and really bring the comic book characters to the cinema screen. 

Mark Ruffalo reprises his role as Bruce Banner and I actually liked the direction they take his character in this film. They make him a more enjoyable character to watch and it is really good seeing The Hulk getting a bit more time to shine after missing for the majority of the previous film. 

Scarlett Johansson plays Natasha Romanoff and they really did some really good work with her character of Black Widow. She really struggles with the weight that comes with being one of the leaders of The Avengers who failed and Johansson is strong in her role here. 

Chris Hemsworth is back as Thor and after the events of Infinity War he is really the character that is effected in a really interesting way. The film handles his failures in a way that I don't think anyone could have expected and it is handled well with Thor developing a lot during the film. 

After missing Infinity War, Jeremy Renner & Paul Rudd are back as Clint Barton & Scott Lang respectively.  The film really focuses on the issues that Barton has gone through since the events of the previous film and it is pretty dark and easy to relate too. Paul Rudd is mostly used for comic relief but is a lot of fun and when he needs to deliver some more dramatic scenes he is good at that too. 

Don Cheadle gets more screen time as Rhodey and does a good job, Karen Gillan is given her best work yet as Nebula and Thanos played by Josh Brolin is a great villain, though he is clearly not the most important character like he was in Infinity War. 

Story

The story is great, it really fits the drama and feeling of a world in disarray after what happened in the previous film and the performances delivered on it. Despite having lots of characters and lots of story beats to hit, it really delivers on it and has twists and turns that wouldn't be expected and really drive it up. There is plenty of comic book film fun though and the last act of the film is pure cinema and an experience unlike any other, especially for fans of these films that have been watching since the beginning. 

Script 

This film actually feels a little different to others in the MCU in that it is more serious. It realises the situation that the characters are in and realises it has to be a bit more serious and have these characters have emotional issues and I am glad they went in this direction. The film does have plenty of humour though and these people are naturally funny which does help. 

Style

The film has great action sequences, there is a lot of green screen and CGI but it looks great throughout and the way they managed to make the film seem really epic is through this. The film is 3 hours long but it really doesn't feel like it, it is paced really well and allows the audience to be invested in the story.

Overall

Overall, Avengers: Endgame is one of my favourite films. Being a huge fan of Marvel, this felt like the apex of what could be achieved and the fact that everybody involved nailed it so well made it a truly special event and one that needs to be seen. 

Rating - 10/10

Loki Season 2 (2023) Review

Out of all the MCU Disney+ shows Loki was the best for me and it is also the only one so far to have a second season. The second season has finally finished and I have watched all 6 episodes and here is my review for it. The premise of the season picks up right where the last one finished with Loki trying to figure out what is going on with the branching timelines while trying to save the TVA from He Who Remains and his variants. 

Main Character

Tom Hiddleston has been playing Loki for so long now but this is easily his best performance in the role. He nails every aspect of this character to make him on of the most interesting in any film or TV show. Loki isn't the villain he once was but he still has those traits and the inner conflict is there and it is shown beautifully. He is scared after the events of the previous season and Hiddleston does an amazing job of conveying all types of emotion and he deserves awards for this amazing performance. 

Supporting Characters

I remember when it was revealed that Owen Wilson was cast as Mobius that I didn't understand how it would work. But he gives the best performance of his career here, the dynamic between himself and Loki is fantastic and is one of my favourite parts of the show. He has a real arc here and I loved seeing it progress throughout the season with Wilson nailing it. 

Sophia Di Martino is back as Sylvie and though this season doesn't revolve around her as much as the previous one does she still plays an important role and Di Martino nails it. She is clearly conflicted over her actions in the first season and throughout the show it puts that at the forefront of the performance and she does a great job. 

The only really major addition to the cast for this season was Ke Huy Quan as OB, an inventor at the TVA who helps Loki and Mobius. He is so energetic and adds so much to this show, he just really fits in with the crew and it is really cool seeing him in great roles lately. 

I am not going to mention his legal issues but Jonathan Majors is back in a larger role this season and he is fantastic, he plays a few different roles and I love how he is projected throughout the show and how he has been making all the variants feel very different despite being played by the same man. 

Story

The story is fantastically created. It follows on from the major cliff-hanger of the previous season and makes it even better. It improves on all of the characters and makes us care about them, especially with Loki himself who goes on a great character journey leading to the final which is an amazing episode of television. 

Script

The show is really written well, people criticise Marvel for an overuse of comedy sometimes but that is not present here. Here we have a brilliant blend with great characters being written really well and I can't stop praising it. 

Style 

The show looks beautiful, you can clearly see the care that has been put into it and the huge budget behind it. No matter what time period it is showing it nails it and kept me engaged throughout. It flowed really well and I was never bored during the 6 episodes. 

Overall

Overall, the 2nd season of Loki is a masterpiece and should be seen by everybody. They have taken this supporting character and turned him into the best character in the franchise, it feels like a fulfilling story arc over 2 seasons and I think this is one of the best things Marvel has ever done. 

Rating - 10/10

The Marvels (2023) Review

I think most people can agree that this isn't currently the best time for the Marvel Cinematic Universe and some of their projects haven't got the best responses. The next film to come out under this banner is The Marvels and I saw it the other day and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Captain Marvel get her powers entangled with Kamala Khan & Monica Rambeau forcing them to work together in order to try and save the world. 

Main Character

Ever since she was cast as Captain Marvel it feels like Brie Larson has received a bunch of unnecessary criticism and I am going to say that I thought she was really good here. It seemed that she was actually having a lot of fun here and she made Carol Danvers a likeable character and one that I actually cared about. She has progressed as a character and the film does a good job in making her less over powered then she has been in previous films. 

Supporting Characters

I wasn't a huge fan of the Disney+ show Ms Marvel but I can't deny that I really enjoyed Iman Vellani's performance as Kamala Khan in this film. She is a complete fangirl here and she added so much energy to the film and was really fun as part of this larger project. 

Teyonah Parris reprises her role as Monica Rambeau and I thought she was very good too, she is the most serious of the three characters and the film does an okay job of showing that but Parris sells it well and makes you care about how her character has been affected by other characters actions. The chemistry between these three characters is what carries this film. 

Samuel L Jackson is once again back in the role of Nick Fury and he is clearly having the blast. The serious character from Secret Invasion is gone and he is here for comedic relief and though that is a little frustrating I can't deny that it was fun watching him here. 

Zawe Ashton plays the main villain Dar-Benn and she does a decent job, this won't be one of the most memorable MCU villains but I thought the character was pretty well written and Ashton did the best she could with the amount of screen time she had. 

Story

The story is okay, I think it does a really good job of establishing the three characters in case you haven't seen the Disney+ shows that Kamala & Monica are in. It establishes a bond between the three main characters and the issues that concern them, they also give the villain an interesting motivation that makes some sense. But the issue is that none of it is developed enough, it feels a bit rushed and like certain arcs aren't given enough time to shine and that holds the film back a bit. 

Script

The script is also just okay. There is some pretty good humour and some moments of conflict that hit hard but there just isn't quite enough. It doesn't take many gambles and is quite generic which leaves it a little short. 

Style 

The film looks pretty good it avoids the CGI issues of some previous MCU films and has some fun action sequences that due to some certain story choices allows for some real creativity. It's more of a pacing issue that the film has, it takes a bit of time to get going and then seems to rush at other times which makes it a little jarring. 

Overall

Overall, The Marvels is a good fun film. It will not save the MCU but it is a quick and easy fun film to go see, I think the reviews have been pretty harsh and I think it is worth a viewing especially for comic book fans. 

Rating - 7/10

Secret Invasion Season 1 (2023) Review

Over the last few years Disney+ has released Marvel shows to different levels of quality. The next one is Secret Invasion and it finished up its run today and here is my review for it. The premise of the show is set after the events of Avengers Endgame, Nick Fury has returned to Earth and attempts to aid his allies in order to stop a potential World War 3. 

Main Character

Samuel L Jackson makes his return as Nick Fury and he is fantastic in the role. The is easily the most development this character has ever gotten and Jackson has been playing it for 15 years. Fury is clearly older and weaker but he still has his tactics and plans, Fury has always been a slightly morally grey character and that does continue here. It is nice to see him open up a bit more and you can tell that Samuel L Jackson is really enjoying the performance. 

Supporting Characters

Ben Mendelsohn reprises his role as Talos from Captain Marvel and he is brilliant. The chemistry between himself and Jackson is superb and easily one of the highlights of the show. He has been clearly affected by working for Fury all of these years and he is really split by his loyalty. 

Emilia Clarke plays his on screen daughter Gi'ah who we met in Captain Marvel. Clarke is really good, especially in the first few episodes of the show. Clarke clearly cares about the role and there is depth with the relationship between herself and her father Talos. 

Don Cheadle has played Rhodey for over 10 years now and I just feel like he has never really been given a time to really shine, but here this is his best performance as the character. He is actually given depth to his performance instead of just cracking jokes and seeing his performances alongside Samuel L Jackson is great to see. 

Kingsley Ben-Adir plays the villain Gravik and I think he is great. You really see this interesting character develop over the show and Ben-Adir is very captivating in this role. His character has gone through some traumatic things and he is using that to aid his plans and it is interesting to see how he leads the Skrulls. 

For me the real start was Olivia Coleman as Sonya Falsworth. She is clearly having a blast here and her character is pretty mysterious and intriguing here. The show really needed her energy because this is a pretty serious show and she manages to make these serious scenes more entertaining. 

Story

The story starts really strong, it is this more espionage thriller more in line with Captain America Winter Soldier and it really had me invested into where we are going with the show. Seeing these great performances with these good characters makes it worthwhile and I cared about all of them and their fates. The problem is that the show's plot comes across as quite predictable and rushed, it needed more episodes and the 2nd half of the season kind of falls back into Marvel habits. Also, Secret Invasion was one of the biggest comic arcs of all time, this could have been an Avengers film threat but it doesn't feel like there are huge stakes here. 

Script 

Again, the first few episodes are written really well with the intrigue and espionage. Gone are the jokes at awkward times that the Marvel Cinematic Universe can beheld by and replaced with interesting character work. But the show starts to fall, the longer the show goes and some things just doesn't make too much sense. Things become more generic and typical MCU which lets this interesting show down. 

Style

The show has some pretty big action sequences which are pretty fun to watch. It is filmed to make everything seem to be sceptical and untrustworthy with a good use of action. But it does end up becoming very generic to other Marvel films which again is a shame. Also this show just needed a few more episodes to tell its story in a really effective way, it just feels a bit rushed at times. 

Overall

Overall, Secret Invasion is a good show that feels like wasted potential. The acting is great and the set up for the show is really done well. But the show becomes too slow and generic as it goes on, focusing on setting up future MCU projects and not so much itself. But I did enjoy it, so would say if you love this franchise then it is worth a watch. 

Rating - 7/10

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) Review

After many years, we have made it to the end of the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy with Volume 3. I have now seen it and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees the Guardians trying to recover from the death of Gamora, when they have to work together to save a member of the team and try to save the world once again. 

Main Character

After the events of Avengers: Infinity War Starlord played by Chris Pratt was the most hated character in the MCU. But I think the time has come for people to move on from that and appreciate how good Pratt is in the role. His character sees really development in this film and I think the character was balanced with his humour and some real seriousness that I think was truly vital and effective. 

This is the first Guardians film where I see another member of the cast as the main character and that is Rocket voiced by Bradley Cooper. To be honest, he is the emotional depth of this entire film, by examining his past it adds way more depth to the character and I really cared about how he was treated here. 

Supporting Characters

Chuckwudi Iwuji plays the High Evolutionary and he is the best villain in this trilogy. He is so evil and creepy to watch, he has the presence that is required for this character and I really liked seeing how his character comes across and was a great villain for the protagonists. 

Karen Gillan as Nebula has had one of the best character arcs in the entire MCU. For me, this is her best performance in this role. There has been a clear progression from the villain she originally was and I loved her chemistry with the other members of the team. It is clear that her time with The Avengers has raised her leadership and it is a role that aids the characters development. 

Zoe Saldana is back as Gamora and as mentioned she is playing the same version of Gamora that we met during the events of Avengers: Endgame. She is definitely harsher here then she was in the previous films but it does work, there is an uneasy relationship between her and the Guardians but it does progress well. 

The rest of the Guardians are great. Drax, Mantis & Groot all have amazing moments here with Mantis in particular being the best she has ever been in any of the films. The crew are at their best here and it really feels for the first time that this is a family working together. 

Story 

The story is really well written. the characters development is at the foreront of the story telling and that is nailed pretty much perfectly. As I mentioned above, this is the first film where the crew really feel like a family and that is presented really well. I cared about the stakes that were provided and the ending was great. But there is one problem and that is the story for one character and it really annoyed me as they were one of the things I was excited about. I won't say who it is but people can probably work out who and I thought it wasn't exactly well handled here. 

Script

The Guardians of the Galaxy films have been mainly known for their comedic writing and that is still here and it is pretty funny. But the main strength of the film is the emotional and dramatic moments and dialogue. They are fantastically written and I really cared about all of the members of the group. 

Style 

The Style of the film looks great, the effects both practical and CGI are superb and feel worthy of the big screen. The action scenes are really exciting and again seeing the team together is really effective. The film is quite long, but it was paced really well and I was never bored at any points throughout. 

Overall

Overall, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a fantastic film that brings back the stronger films of the MCU. It raises the bar and hopefully this level of film is the standard that is going to be set for the future films in the franchise. 

Rating - 9/10

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) Review

We have made it to the 31st film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the start of Phase 5 Ant-Man & The Wasp Quantumania, I have watched it now and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Ant-Man, The Wasp & their family sent into The Quantum Realm, where they come face to face with Kang The Conqueror. 

Main Character

Paul Rudd is back as Scott Lang and I think once again he does a great job. He has plenty to do this time and his character has truly progressed since his first film. He is more confident as an Avenger and this shows in how he acts. His character has a clear progression and it is great to see Rudd deliver this really fun performance. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for The Wasp played by Evangeline Lily. The only reason I am putting her as a main character is because her name is in the title but she is given nothing to do in the film. Lily has shown that she can give development to Hope Van Dyne but she is really pushed to the side for other characters as that is a shame. 

Supporting Characters

The real star of the film for me though was Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror, Majors knocks it out of the park and provides a chilling and charismatic performance as this new antagonist. He has huge shoes to fill from Thanos and I was worried he would be saved for his future appearances but he is in this film a lot and he is given a chance to thrive and give a glimpse of what could be to come. Michael Pfeiffer plays Janet Van Dyne and she is given so much screen time here, we learn more about her time in the Quantum Realm and Pfeiffer does a great job in fleshing out this character that we have barely seen on screen. Kathryn Newton is the recast for Cassie Lang and she is a fun character here, the dynamic between her and Rudd is well realised and she is given plenty to do here which I mostly like. Michael Douglas is back as Hank Pym and despite having less to do, he is still enjoyable and still seems to have his passion for the character and the role. 

Story 

The story was okay, my favourite parts were learning more about the backstory of Kang and what exactly Janet was up to during her time in The Quantum Realm. It was nice seeing some progression and development in Ant-Man from his actions in Endgame. But as I mentioned before, the film completely underuses Wasp and as a major character that is a big shame. Also, the final act makes some decisions that I am not sure works for what the audience are told in the film with way too much taking place. 

Script 

The script was good. With it being an Ant-Man film there was plenty of humour here and the majority worked for me. It also had good drama and for the most part the two tones are separate and work well together. 

Style 

The film is mostly set in The Quantum Realm and that means there is plenty of CGI here and for the most part it looks great. The visuals are very striking and colourful which makes it interesting and dynamic. The film is also paced pretty well, with the runtime feeling appropriate. But I felt like the action scenes could have been filmed better, there was a lot of shaky cam going on especially early on that made it hard to focus. 

Overall

Overall, Ant-Man and The Wasp is a good film that does an effective job of delivering an interesting film that sets up the future of The MCU. It probably fits in the middle in terms of quality of Ant-Man films but if you enjoy these films then it is worth a watch. 

Rating - 7/10

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) Review

Ant-Man and The Wasp Quantumania is released today and before having a chance to go and see it, I decided to go back and rewatch the previous film Ant-Man and The Wasp and here is my review for it. 

The premise of the film sees after the events of Captain America: Civil War, Scott Lang is under house arrest when he is recruited to once again venture into the Quantum Realm. 

Main Character

Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lily play the roles of Ant-Man and The Wasp and they are both really good here. They get more screen time together in this film and their dynamics are great. Their romance at the end of the previous film didn't quite work for me but it progresses nicely here and feels more earnt. They are both entertaining and it feels like a natural development from the first film. 

Supporting Characters

Michael Douglas is back as Hank Pym and he is really great. As I mentioned in my previous review, it seems like he really cares about the role and wants to sink his teeth into what he is given here. He has to provide quite a lot of the emotion here and his character has plenty of the limelight shined on him. Hannah John-Kamen plays Ghost and I thought she was an okay villain, I think she is better then Yellowjacket but not by much. Everything was there for her to be a great villain but she feels a bit like an afterthought and something that just didn't quite click. Michael Pena is back as Luis and this is a film where I actually found him quite annoying, they took everything that I liked in the first film but ramped it up and made it too obnoxious and like they didn't quite understand what he was good at in the first film. Walter Goggins plays Sonny Burch and he was a bad villain, he is just some businessman but there is nothing unique about him and he comes across as quite annoying throughout. Laurence Fishburne plays Bill Foster and he is fine but completely underutilised in a role that could have been really good. Fishburne is a great actor but for me he wasn't given enough to work with. 

Story

The story has a mixed time, it is interesting seeing our 3 main characters trying to get back into the Quantum Realm and showing how the effects of a previous film affected the story being told here. There is some heart and emotion, though I do feel like this is more of a Wasp film then an Ant-Man one but maybe that is just me. There is just way too much going on here, there are multiple villains that have nothing in common and are just there and the rushing of the final act also didn't really work for me. 

Script 

The script is decent, there is good humour as you would expect and also some decent drama. But this film does fall fowl of a common MCU trend of not really knowing how to balance humour and drama. It clashes at times and considering the stakes of the film I felt like this was a bothersome thing. 

Style 

The film looks great, the action scenes are still fresh and unique. The addition of The Wasp adds some freshness and seeing the pair fight Ghost is some of the more entertaining parts of the sequences. This is a pretty short film and it does fly by, but the pacing isn't that great with the focus being in the wrong places at times. Also, I don't know if it is just me but I really struggle with films that constantly change aspect ratio and this film does it a lot, I would rather a film pick one or the other. 

Overall

Overall, Ant-Man and The Wasp is an above average entertaining film. It is a bit of a let down of a sequel but I think fans of the original film will like this one. 

Rating - 6/10

Ant-Man (2015) Review

After a hiatus I am back reviewing Films & TV Shows and I start back with Ant-Man. In prep for Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania, I decided to go back and watch the first film in the trilogy and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees an ex-con recruited by a tech genius to become The Ant-Man and save the world. 

Main Character

Paul Rudd plays Scott Lang and he is great in the role, he is just really likeable in the role and plays the role well. He comes across as this everyday guy, but has that charm to be a super hero in this universe. It was probably a bit of a risk to use Scott Lang as the first main Ant-Man but I think it paid off here due to how fun Rudd is. 

Supporting Characters

Michael Douglas plays Hank Pym who is the original Ant-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and I think my favourite part of this film is the chemistry between Rudd & Douglas. Pym is a super interesting character and seeing Douglas really care about this character and this role elevates this character to new heights. The Mentor role fits him really well here and this was great casting for this crucial role. Evangeline Lily plays Hope Van Dyne and she is also really good, her character is cold at first but as the film progresses you grow to like her and understand where she is coming from and Lily does an effective job of making the audience care. Michael Pena plays Luis and this is a very enthusiastic and over the top performance. I get the feeling you will either really like this character or hate him, luckily I liked him and felt he wasn't overused here. Corey Stoll really tries as the villain Darren Cross but it just didn't work for me, it isn't that he gives a bad performance but his character is so bland and his motivations are really generic that I just thought he was an afterthought in the film. 

Story 

The story is a pretty good origin story, I like the character of Scott Lang and his dynamic with Pym & Hope is an enjoyable dynamic. His relationship with his daughter was also handled well with it providing an emotional hook to the film that really worked. But when it boils down to it, it has a pretty basic plot line and most of that has to do with the motivations of Cross as a villain. He just wants to get rich, that worked back in Iron Man, but this is the 11th film in the MCU and I expect more from the villain here. 

Script

The script is really good, with Paul Rudd involved it does have its humour that you would expect which for me mostly works. It also has some really well done drama here, the two father-daughter relationships contrast each other well and make you care about these characters. 

Style 

The style of the film is a bit of a mixed bag. The action scenes are really well done and unique to this character, it literally bought the test footage that was leaked to the screen in a really effective way. But this film has a pacing issue, this film isn't overly long and we don't see Ant-Man really do anything till over an hour in. I enjoy all the training, I just think it could have started earlier or been shorter to allow us to see Ant-Man do even more. 

Overall

Overall, Ant-Man is a really fun new addition to The MCU. It brings a bunch of new characters into the universe with an enjoyable experience. 

Rating - 8/10

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) Review

After the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, the future of the Black Panther franchise was up in the air but now we have Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees after the death of T'challa, Wakanda is at the mercy of other countries and a force which has chosen now to rise up. 

Main Character

Letitia Wright gets more of the centre stage as Shuri and her character has changed a plenty. Gone is the fun and charming teenager and in her place is this dark and brooding young woman who is clearly angry at the world. Considering the story the film is trying to tell it works and Wright does a really good job in her role and you clearly see a journey that she goes on in the film. 

Supporting Characters

Danai Gurira reprises her role as Okoye and she is really good, she is a really talented actress and her character gets some development here. She is good in the action sequences too with her filling this role as a warrior really well. Angela Basset gets a pretty substantial role as Queen Ramonda and this is the performance that most people have been talking about. She is fantastic in her role, you see the pain that comes from her after the events of the previous films and she does a great job in this royal role. Tenoch Huerta makes his debut as Namor and he is fantastic, even though he is technically the antagonist in this film his character is so well written and realised by Huerta that you can't help but kind of see his point of view on things and that is great to see. Dominique Thorne also makes her first appearance as Riri Williams, she is a lot of fun and her performance reminds me of what Shuri was like in the first Black Panther film and I think that was on purpose. 

Story 

The story is incredibly heavy and emotional, it just feels real. The first act in particular feels like a true tribute to Chadwick Boseman and the character of T'Challa. But it also plays into the story and takes this group of broken people and makes them face this threat from a group of people who are also suffering. This is when the film is at its best, but it does have some issues. There is one part of the story that feels really out of place featuring a returning character that just feels shoehorned in. Also the last act had a few things that didn't quite sit well with me and let the film down a bit from a storytelling point of view. 

Script 

The script is incredibly dramatic, this isn't your typical Marvel film and deals with the true consequences of grief and trauma. The jokes are alright but that isn't why we are here, the characters are well written and proper time is given for us to care. 

Style 

The style of the film is a bit of a mixed bag. The soundtrack and overall sound design is really awesome and Ludwig Goransson continues his great streak of awesome music in film & TV. The film looks beautiful too, Wakanda & Talocan (Where Namor lives) are both very vibrant and nice to look out. But I don't know if it was just me who found the majority of the action scenes a bit jarring to watch, especially at the beginning of the film. There is plenty of shaky cam and it doesn't allow these performers to deliver as well as I think they can. Also the film does drag a bit, it is over 2 Hours & 30 Mins and I think a good 10/15 mins could have been cut off and the film would have been better. 

Overall

Overall, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a great film that feels like a real classy tribute to Chadwick Boseman but also tells its own story that resonated for me and I think it will any fan of this franchise. 

Overall - 8/10

She-Hulk: Attorney At Law Season 1 (2022) Review 

After a long break, I will hopefully be back reviewing on a consistent basis. I have finally forced myself to finish the first season of She-Hulk: Attorney At Law and here is my review for it. The premise of the show, sees after an accident turns her into a Hulk, Jennifer Walters must balance her new parts of her life and her life as a Lawyer. 

Main Character

Tatiana Maslany plays Jennifer Walters and she is easily the best part of this show. You can tell she really cares about making this character fun and interesting, her comedic timing and delivery is really good. She carries this show on her back and especially when she is Jen I really liked her. 

Supporting Characters

The best part of the supporting cast are the ones who aren't really in the show that much but are the most recognisable. Mark Ruffalo is back as Bruce Banner/Hulk and the dynamic between Bruce and Jennifer is one of the better elements of the show and his character is developed a bit here, but he isn't here enough which is a shame. Tim Roth is back as Emil Blomsky/Abomination and though I wasn't a huge fan of the direction they took his character, I can't deny that Roth is fun to watch and that drags through some of the episodes. Finally Charlie Cox is back as Matt Murdoch/Daredevil and I am so happy that he is back and he is handled really well. He is a bit more humorous but the character from the Netflix show still remains intact and that is fantastic to see. But it was the new cast that failed to me, Ginger Gonzaga as Nikki, Jameela Jamil as Titania and Josh Segarra as Pug are examples of pretty annoying new characters that get nothing real to do, Segarra is disappointing in particular because he is a really talented actor.  

Story 

The story is a complete mess and the show even addresses that multiple times. It really tries to do way too much and it ends up making the audience not really care about any of it. Just because you have a character that breaks the fourth wall, that isn't an excuse for poor storytelling which is highlighted by the season finale which just doesn't work. 

Script 

The script doesn't take itself too seriously, the humour for the most part made me laugh so that is a step in the right direction. But the show never hits the note on its drama and sometimes comes across as annoying and like it has its own agenda. Plus as I have mentioned above the story is written so poorly. 

Style 

The style of the show also is a big failure. The CGI is probably the worst in the MCU history, when your main character spends a good portion of their time in CGI and it sucks that isn't good. The pacing is also atrocious, there are so many filler episodes that they have to rush the ending and by then I just did not care. 

Overall

Overall, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law is a below average show that is a bit of a black eye on the MCU. It has its funny moments, good cameos and likeable lead but that is it and is definitely not worth the time that is required to watch it. 

Rating - 4/10 

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) Review

One of the most hyped films, Thor: Love and Thunder is out and I have now finally had a chance to watch it and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees Thor attempting to work himself out when he must team up with his ex Jane Foster in order to stop a new enemy. 

Main Character

Chris Hemsworth has now played Thor for 11 Years and he could play the role in his sleep. He is great in this film and he is just so good as the character and has made him into a really fun lead character. Thor had a great story arc in Avengers Endgame and it kind of continues here with his character getting an interesting deep dive with a continued progression which is good to see. 

Supporting Characters

Natalie Portman as Jane Foster was a pretty dull part of the previous Thor films but I actually liked her here and I definitely feel like this is the best she has done. Seeing her take up the role of Mighty Thor is really entertaining and seeing the two Thor's in action adds something fresh to the film. The story between the two of them is well handled and I thought this was the most chemistry that Portman and Hemsworth have had. Tessa Thompson is back as Valkyrie and she is pretty fun once again, her character doesn't get much development but she is always entertaining and Thompson is clearly having a lot of fun in the role. But there are some falters here, Christian Bale plays Gorr The God Butcher and it just didn't work for me. He was a dull villain who wasn't given enough time for you to really care and Bale switches from intense to goofy too often for me and it just makes his character feel inconsistent. Korg is one of my favourite characters in the MCU but he is in this film way too much and his overuse of comedy is too forced and takes away from the overall product. I think it shows that he is best in smaller doses and they shouldn't have him as front and centre as he is here. 

Story 

The story is at its best when it focuses on the relationship between Thor and Jane. There is some real drama here mixed with some nice humour, in interviews it was claimed it would be the biggest part of that film and it succeed here. But the story just feels incredibly rushed and a bit all over the place, it tries to balance really serious moments with comedy and it really doesn't work at all with an ending that also didn't quite work for me. 

Script 

The script is actually quite funny, its not as funny as Ragnarok but there are some chuckle worthy moments. There is some good drama here that is actually quite dark which I don't think people would be expecting to see here. But the film goes way too hard on the comedy and it just doesn't work, the two things clash and create this mess of a script. 

Style 

The film looks really good, the action is pretty exciting and in this day of age the CGI looks really good. Seeing the two Thor's in action is really fun and made the action scenes a bit more fun then it would have been if it had just been Thor. But the film isn't paced very well, it clocks in at around 1 hour 45 and it feels rushed. Also as good as it is, there wasn't one action set piece that really stood out for me. 

Overall

Overall, Thor: Love and Thunder is an above average film that has its moments but it falls way short of expectations and I think only big MCU fans will appreciate it as much as me. 

Rating - 6/10

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) Review

After a long wait, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness has finally come to cinemas and today and I have watched it and here is my review for what was my most anticipated film of 2022. The premise of the film sees after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home. Stephen Strange has to deal with more misgivings with the Multiverse that could lead to major ramifications. 

Main Character

Benedict Cumberbatch is once again back as Dr Stephen Strange and he is fantastic in the role. The film does a really good job of expanding his character, as in the recent team up films we haven't had a huge chance to do that. This film continues his character journey from the original film and Cumberbatch absolutely nails it. 

Supporting Characters

After WandaVision I truly realised just how great Elisabeth Olsen is as Wanda Maximoff and she shines here. Her character is given real shine here and her development is probably my favourite part of the film and I am glad it is given the time and justice for the character and actress. Benedict Wong gets more screen time as Wong and he is actually one of the most underrated characters in the MCU and I love the dynamic between him and Cumberbatch as they have developed into one of my favourite partnerships and this is the most we have seen of it. Xochitl Gomez plays America Chavez and she is a fun character, I don't really know anything about her character in the comics but she was a well fleshed out character here. Again the dynamic between her and Strange is well realised and feels like a friendship that we can care about. Rachel McAdams is back as Christine Palmer and she is better realised here then she was in the previous film and I liked how her character was used throughout the film. 

Story 

The story is good, this film does plenty of good character work and the main characters progress nicely and it really helps with the plot. You understand where they are all coming from and how things progress feels fluid. But, this film doesn't hit all the points, there are things from the previous film that are seemingly ignored and I understand it couldn't quite fit here but I was disappointed that it was clearly ignored. Also one character's ending didn't quite work for me and I think it could have been handled a bit better. 

Script 

The script is really good, the mix of humour and drama is really well realised. This film actually feels quite unique considering it is in the MCU but the writing is still really clever and it just suits this film. 

Style 

The film looks amazing, he film doesn't jump all over the place with its aspect ratio this time which is great. The CGI looks amazing and the tone is so interesting. This is the closest the MCU will ever get to a horror film and these elements feel really unique to a Marvel film and that made it really stand out to me. It is actually paced really well, which I was a little worried about and despite a lot going on it manages to all link up well. 

Overall

Overall, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a fantastic film, you have to have watched the first Doctor Strange and WandaVision to truly appreciate it but this unique and entertaining film is definitely worth the watch. 

Rating - 9/10

Doctor Strange (2016) Review

I am off to see Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness in a few hours, so I decided to re-watch the original Doctor Strange film and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees an arrogant neurosurgeon get drawn into the mystical arts in order to try and cure himself. 

Main Character

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Doctor Stephen Strange and he is great in the role. He plays both the arrogant Doctor and the Sorcerer really well and he feels natural as both. He is quite funny and as the film progresses and you see his character develop and grow an understanding on what he has to do as the character of Doctor Strange. It is a great introduction to the character and would lead to him being a big addition to the MCU. 

Supporting Characters 

There was some controversy when Tilda Swinton was cast as The Ancient One but I thought she was really good and there is real depth to her performance. You go in expecting one thing and the film makes you thinking other things about her and this is big credit to the performance from Swinton. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Mordo and he is was a pretty cool character too, he takes up a mentor role for Strange but his character also gets time to develop and he progresses nicely with this new arrival totally changing his role as a sorcerer. Benedict Wong plays Wong and he is good in the smaller role he is given, the chemistry between him and Cumberbatch is good and it is a nice taster to what we would see in later film. Rachel McAdams plays Christine Palmer & Mads Mikkelsen plays Kaecilius, both are fine in there role and do nothing wrong it is a slight shame they weren't given more to do but they are both decent actors that try their best. 

Story

This is an effective origin story for Doctor Strange, it isn't the most unique one but it does a good job of building this character up and bringing this crazy wizarding world into play that was new to the MCU at this point. But some of the plot doesn't quite hold up, mainly the romance and villain plots, they just feel underdeveloped and like they were an afterthought which is a shame as it is a big part of the film. 

Script

The script is good, it is what is to be expected for a film in The MCU. There is a good blend of humour and drama and it pretty much all works. The characters are developed well and the plot is handled well enough for an introduction of a new character. 

Style 

The film looks amazing, the magic looks incredible and so unique. Seeing this on screen is mind blowing and there wasn't really much that could reach these levels. When it is in the IMAX shots it looks stunning and absolutely incredible. Unfortunately, the film transitions between the IMAX and normal Aspect Ratio way too much and it is really jarring, I wish they had stuck to one or the other as it really takes away from this amazing looking film. 

Overall  

Overall, Doctor Strange is a great origin film and does a really effective job in building this character for his debut and it is worth a watch for sure. 

Rating - 8/10