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

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) Review 

Finally, I am going to see Spider-Man: No Way Home tomorrow morning so I had to finish my Spider-Man review series and that ends with Far From Home and here is my review for the film. The premise of the film sees after the events of Avengers: Endgame, Peter Parker is looking to have a vacation but he is tasked to save the world again by Nick Fury. 

Main Character

Tom Holland is back as Spider-Man and it comes across that he was born to play the role. He is so good as both Peter & Spider-Man and I think this film does a really great job of showing the difference and how he wants a break from Spider-Man after saving the entire universe. He is just really likeable and it is really reinforced that he is a kid and that is handled well to really make you realise just how crazy this whole situation is. 

Supporting Characters

Jake Gyllenhaal plays Quentin Beck/Mysterio and this is personally one of my favourite villains in The MCU. When I was growing up I watched the Spider-Man cartoon and Mysterio was one of my favourite characters so to see him on the big screen was a joy. The look is incredible and does it justice, the character is super interesting and Gyllenhaal knocks it out of the park. Samuel L Jackson is back as Nick Fury and I liked how his character had changed since the real last time that we saw him in The MCU. This is a slightly more transparent version of the character and one that is clearly frustrated with the situation that he is in after the events of previous films and it makes for some funny interactions. I didn't mention it in my previous review but Zendaya is great as MJ, she is given more to do here as she becomes more of a romantic interest for Peter. Their chemistry is great and feels very natural here which is a good change from some of the awkward chemistry between Peter and Liz in the first film. Marisa Tomei as May is side-lined for the majority of the movie but is good on screen and Jon Favreau is really fun to watch as Happy Hogan as he has a more hands on role here. 

Story 

The story is good, they do a really affective job of showing the inner turmoil going on in Peter's life and how the events of Avengers: Endgame has really affected him. It is a great change from Homecoming and shows how the events of The MCU take its toll on him and develop him into a proper Avenger. The issue is some of the smaller side plots don't quite work, like there is a love triangle thing and it just doesn't work and some of the other kids stories became annoying and like they could have been cut from the film. 

Script

The film has some good humour and some clever writing to really make you care about Peter and the situation that his character is in. But I don't know it just feels weaker then the Homecoming script, I didn't laugh as much and I didn't feel the weight as much as I did with the previous film. 

Style 

The action looks great, seeing Spider-Man in action is a lot of fun and as I mentioned above Mysterio looks amazing. It is also nice to see the film going to the different locations in Europe, it makes it stand out from other Spider-Man films. But this film has a pacing issue, it took a bit long to get going for me and sometimes struggled to keep me as invested. 

Overall

Overall, Spider-Man: Far From Home is a good film. It has a lot to enjoy and as a fan of Spider-Man it is an easy watch, it also has one of the best post credit scenes ever seen which does help. 

Rating - 7/10

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) Review

It's ironic that with the week that The Falcon & The Winter Soldier came to Disney+ the next film in my Marvel review series is the one that saw both characters debut - Captain America The Winter Soldier. I watched the film today and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees Steve Rogers trying to adapt to the modern world working for SHIELD when a mysterious enemy called The Winter Soldier targets him. 

Main Character

Chris Evans once again plays Captain America AKA Steve Rogers and he is fantastic in this film, he has transitioned from the naive boy scout and is a really well developed character here. Evans has a charm and charisma that really works for the character and makes him so likeable but you see how his ideals really come out and conflict with this modern world that he has become a part of. He is great in the action scenes and provides the emotion needed for a really great super hero. 

Supporting Characters

Scarlett Johansson plays Black Widow again and she is also great here and a spotlight is really placed on her here more then in previous films and she shines. Her character is given really great development and you see how her friendship with Rogers has changed and adapted since The Avengers and it makes her the most interesting she has been in the films here. Samuel L Jackson is always great as Nick Fury and he is the same here, his character is examined closely here and the dynamic between his methods and Rogers believes is highlighted and explored in an interesting way. He is also part of one of my favourite MCU action scenes in this film so there is that. Robert Redford plays Alexander Pierce and I always find it crazy that one of his last roles is in a Marvel film and he is also really good, he is just a solid hand in his role and he seems to be having a good time. This is the first time we see Anthony Mackie as The Falcon and I actually forgot just how good he is here, he is a really nice character here and his down to earth nature really fits well alongside the Avengers we already see on screen. Sebastian Stan plays The Winter Soldier and this is one of the best villains in the MCU, he is mysterious and a really awesome threat to the heroes and feels like he is truly capable of taking out Captain America. 

Story 

The story for this film is really great, the whole character of Captain America gets explored in depth and this film has a clear message to it which it shows in a mature and unique way. Then there is the interesting stuff involving the villain of the film and what that means, with twists that are genuinely surprising it mixes to have a story that will keep you engaged throughout. 

Script

The script is also fantastic, a really good mix of humour and drama. This film is funny when it needs to be but it also hits some emotional moments that feel deserved and like they actually have weight to them. The film keeps you on your toes with its developments and it is written very well in this case which rises it above other films in its genre. 

Style 

This films style is one of the best parts of the film. The action scenes are some of the best you will see in not only comic book films but also action films in general, this film made Cap one of the truly best fighters in the MCU and that is great to see. Hell, every character is great in their action sequences and they all feel so different that it never gets dull. 

Overall

Overall, this is a truly epic film. The Winter Soldier has intrigue, great characters, great action scenes and twists and turns. This is one of the best MCU films there are and comic book film fans and just film fans alike will love it. 

Rating - 10/10 

The Avengers (2012) Review

On my way to reviewing all the MCU films I have now made it to the end of the first phase which means I have made it to The Avengers and I re-watched it today and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a group of superheroes have to come together to save the world from an alien force. 

Main Character

He was the first star of the MCU and he is one of the main focuses here, I'm talking about Robert Downey Jnr as Tony Stark AKA Iron Man and I think he is great in the film. He has so much charisma and the one liners are coming at a really high rate in the film, the key thing for me though is that his character develops and I think what this film does really well is show you how much has changed in him since the first Iron Man film. Chris Evans is back as Captain America and it is fun seeing this man who is from another time having to deal with modern times, I also like how his character interacted with the others, also in the action scenes Cap still shines and this film doesn't even montage past all of it. The dynamic between Downey Jnr & Evans is great here and shows just how different their personalities are and how difficult it is for them to work together despite the world literally being on the line. 

Supporting Characters

Okay, there are so many characters so in order for this review to not be longer then it needs I will try and keep this as short as possible. Chris Hemsworth is great as Thor, he adds more humour and presence in the role and like all the other characters he really gets to excel by bouncing his presence off of the other characters. Tom Hiddleston plays the villain Loki and what a shock he is great too, we saw the start of the character in Thor but he has clearly progressed since then and I liked how the relationship between the two brothers develops from the previous film. Scarlett Johansson is back as Black Widow and she is much better here then she was in Iron Man 2, she is actually given a character and real time to shine and the best thing I can say is that she stands alongside these gods and super powered beings and doesn't look out of place. Jeremy Renner plays Hawkeye and they don't give him that much to do, or more like they handle the character poorly, but by the end of the film I came around to Renner in the role and given more to do he is a great fit for the character. Over the first phase of the MCU we have seen flickers of Samuel L Jackson as Nick Fury but this is the most we get of him so far and he is great, he is just so cool and interesting with his motivations not being as black and white as you would expect for this film. Now onto The Hulk, Mark Ruffalo takes over the role in this film and he is great as Banner, yes it is different to Edward Norton but he feels like a natural fit and I really liked his character here. But The Hulk is the star of this film, when he gets going he is amazing and looks incredible, The Hulk has never been better then he is in this film I believe and credit has to go to him for that. Clark Gregg, Colbie Smulders & Stellan Skaarsgard are also all good in their roles. 

Story  

As you can see by the lengthy cast list there is plenty going on here but it all balances nicely. I love the fact that the film shows that despite these characters all being heroes they don't all necessarily get along and have different views on things and it adds some much needed drama. I think the fact that we have seen their solo films aids in that as the film doesn't have to waste time with backstories and that allows the film to move at a really fast pace. Yes, there are some conveniences but I don't care, this film is so fun and the final act is comic book film greatness and delivers truly memorable moments. 

Script

The script is great, it just has that very snappy dialogue with plenty of one liners and dialogue that just fits the characters appropriately. There is also some depth and drama to this popcorn blockbuster film and that is good and credit to the people behind the script as this aids in making these god like characters interesting and a bit relatable. 

Style 

The style of the film is one of the best things about the film. As I mentioned above, the pacing of the film is incredibly quick and that aids in making this an incredibly fun film. The action scenes are huge in scale and the CGI is at its best here then any MCU film that came before. Which brings me onto The Hulk, he looks amazing, the action scenes involving him are the the most exciting part of the film and finally the MCU had a Hulk that delivered in looking and fighting like he deserved. 

Overall

Overall, The Avengers is a special film that is a must watch for not just Marvel fans but all film fans. I think because of what The MCU now is we sometimes forget about this film and take it for granted. But without, The Avengers there wouldn't be an MCU and it is an amazing film that is honestly one of my favourite movies possibly ever. 

Rating - 10/10