Special: Ranking Disney+ Original MCU shows

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season thus far but we are not quite done yet. I've usually taken this time of year to talk about the baseball hall of fame ballot or to start off my year end lists. I'm not prepared to do the latter and I have a podcast that covers baseball, specifically the Toronto Blue Jays but we do lots over there MLB wide (www.anchor.fm/insidethedome) so baseball thoughts will likely stay there. But what we did get recently is a new Disney+ Marvel show in Hawkeye, the 5th that takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all of which that were released this year so I thought it would be fun to rank them based on how much I enjoyed them.

5. What If?

I'll be honest, I haven't finished What If? Maybe it's because it's a series of one offs instead of cohesive story telling? I'm not sure. When I watch it I do enjoy it it just hasn't been must see tv like the other 4 shows on this list have been despite being the only animated show, and animated expertly might I add at that.

4. Loki

I feel like Loki might have suffered most from the pandemic as there were several episodes that seems to just have Loki by himself or with one or two other people simply talking. I enjoyed the time authority reason for existing and the villain shown at the end but despite being excited to see Loki go solo, his storyline was pretty stale overall.

3. The Falcon & The Winter Soldier

This was a fantastic show and very nearly took the #2 spot but it just came up a little short. Doing a lot in only 6 episodes, this show not only deals with the financial toll of being a Superhero (Falcon) but also the mental toll it takes on your psyche, especially if you were brainwashed and did some regrettable things in the past (Winter Soldier). Oh also race in America is a big thing still in 2021, who knew?

2. Wandavision

Like I said, Wandavision and Falcon & Winter Soldier were very close. Ultimately it'd be easy enough to say Wandavision got an extra three episodes so that was the difference maker but the first three Wandavision episodes overall didn't do much for me, what it did do was keep me coming back for more to try to unravel the mystery at hand and once we got into normal MCU mode I was invested in following Wanda's journey of grief over Vision.

1. Hawkeye

I'm probably going to get a lot of hate here but I absolutely love this Hawkeye series. I will not speak specific spoilers but the way they combined another Marvel show into this one was brilliantly done and we still get the emotion from other series with Hawkeye and Yelena dealing with Natasha not being around anymore in their own ways. But overall this is based on the Fraction/Aja run of Hawkeye which has been my favourite Marvel Comics book of the last I dunno, 20 years? So yeah. Hawkeye definitely deserves this placement. Oh and I will also be watching this series every Christmas from here on out as this is essential viewing now.

Special: Eternals, The Addams Family 2, He's All That Mini-Reviews

Eternals

Synopsis: Marvel Studios' Eternals features an exciting new team of Super Heroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years. Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, an unexpected tragedy forces them out of the shadows to reunite against mankind's most ancient enemy, the Deviants.

My thoughts: Eternals leaves a lot to be desired in a regular vacuum. Through the lens of a Marvel Cinematic Universe movie and it's even worse. Eternals does somewhat follow the MCU formula with some world saving action paired with jokes and heart from (mostly) sympathetic characters however I couldn't be sold on any of it on the whole. I'm sure I'll come to enjoy some of the characters as they pop up elsewhere in the MCU and I'm willing to give Eternals another watch down the line but this flick did little for me.

Final verdict: 3 lackluster MCU movies out of 5.

The Addams Family 2

Synopsis: Everyone's favorite spooky family is back in the animated comedy sequel, The Addams Family 2. In this all new movie we find Morticia and Gomez distraught that their children are growing up, skipping family dinners, and totally consumed with "scream time." To reclaim their bond they decide to cram Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester and the crew into their haunted camper and hit the road for one last miserable family vacation. Their adventure across America takes them out of their element and into hilarious run-ins with their iconic cousin, IT, as well as many new kooky characters. What could possibly go wrong?

My thoughts: A definite step down from the first film (which had it's own separate issues). This is a departure from the classic characters we know which I'm sure was intentional it just didn't work. It's basically an excuse to make a family movie and they made the characters The Addams Family to have some name recognition.

Final verdict: 3 hairy cousins out of 5.

He's All That

Synopsis: In this reimagining of 1999's She's All That, teen social media influencer Padgett's humiliating on-camera breakup goes viral, leading her to make a risky bet to save her reputation: she swears she can turn scruffy antisocial Cameron into prom king material. But things get complicated when she finds herself falling for him IRL.

My thoughts: The acting is real bad, let's get that out of the way. The premise is fun enough and they gave the lead a more realistic transformation than in 1999 when they took her glasses off and gave her a dress. There was also a few fun callbacks to the predecessor and had a decent enough message but outside of that and a few chuckles the script was not good. 

Final verdict: 3 gender swapped remakes out of 5.

Special: Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings, Candyman, Pixie Mini-Reviews

Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings:

Synopsis: Marvel Studios' "Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings" stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization. The film also stars Tony Leung as Wenwu, Awkwafina as Shang-Chi's friend Katy and Michelle Yeoh as Jiang Nan.

My thoughts: Saying I had low expectations for this film would probably be wrong but they were low by Marvel movie standards and all Shang-Chi did was completely destroy them to give us not only one of the best stand-alone Marvel movies in years but definitely in the running for best of 2021. The visuals were spectacular as you can tell they took their world creation inspiration from Black Panther but with an Oriental twist and the acting was top notch as the actors had a lot to play with given the strong script with loads of heart, humour and emotion as well as the typical real life issue angle which they went with Millennial careers and family structure which was not the obvious choice.

Final verdict: 5 sealed gates out of 5.

Candyman:

Synopsis: For as long as residents can remember, the housing projects of Chicago's Cabrini-Green neighborhood were terrorized by a word-of-mouth ghost story about a supernatural killer with a hook for a hand, easily summoned by those daring to repeat his name five times into a mirror. In present day, a decade after the last of the Cabrini towers were torn down, visual artist Anthony McCoy and his partner, gallery director Brianna Cartwright, move into a luxury loft condo in Cabrini, now gentrified beyond recognition and inhabited by upwardly mobile millennials. With Anthony's painting career on the brink of stalling, a chance encounter with a Cabrini-Green old-timer exposes Anthony to the tragically horrific nature of the true story behind Candyman. Anxious to maintain his status in the Chicago art world, Anthony begins to explore these macabre details in his studio as fresh grist for paintings, unknowingly opening a door to a complex past that unravels his own sanity and unleashes a terrifying wave of violence that puts him on a collision course with destiny.

My thoughts: I liked the angle they took with Candyman, not seeing the original I'm glad they built off it without leaving new viewers confused. The twist wasn't too much of a shocker but it had enough elements that I didn't see coming to be entertained and although horror isn't my preferred genre I wasn't upset I watched this even if the script could've drawn out more story instead of showing some random killings of characters we barely know.

Final verdict: 3.5 hook hands out of 5.

Pixie:

Synopsis: Pixie Hardy sets out to avenge her mother's death and attempts a heist that will give her the means to leave her small-town life behind. When the plan goes horribly wrong, she's forced to team up with a pair of misfits who are clearly in over their heads. On the run from a criminal gang of priests and nuns, the trio tries to scheme and swindle anyone they come across.

My thoughts: Pixie was just a little too weird for me. I'm not sure if British fare isn't for me, or it was just this movie in particular but Pixie sounded like something up my alley but this just didn't do it for me. Not to say this movie is all bad. The actors did well with what they were given, the cringe parts were meant to be that way and there was some genuine laughs I'm just not sure I'll ever revisit this flick.

Final verdict: 3 interrupted threesomes out of 5.

Special: Black Widow, The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, The Mitchells Vs. The Machines Mini-Reviews

Black Widow:

Synopsis: Natasha Romanoff, aka Black Widow, confronts the darker parts of her ledger when a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past arises. Pursued by a force that will stop at nothing to bring her down, Natasha must deal with her history as a spy, and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

My thoughts: Give me all the Yelena (Florence Pugh) content going forward. I never really felt connected to Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow as she was always kinda stuck in the background and now that she's no longer in the MCU in real time. Marvel decided to give her a movie that takes place after Civil War, only to be outshined by the younger, more interesting and more personable character of Yelena. It's clear the Marvel brass has big plans for this character now and I'm pumped. The movie also had enough comedic bits to keep my wife entertained so that's always a plus for me personally. 

Final verdict: 4.5 tightfitting superhero suits out of 5.

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It:

Synopsis: "The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It" reveals a chilling story of terror, murder and unknown evil that shocked even experienced real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. One of the most sensational cases from their files, it starts with a fight for the soul of a young boy, then takes them beyond anything they'd ever seen before, to mark the first time in U.S. history that a murder suspect would claim demonic possession as a defense.

My thoughts: They slapped the Conjuring name on this flick but it feels like a spin-off more than the main line series. This could be because Wan stepped away from the Director's chair and he was sorely missed. This third installment, although oddly not named Conjuring 3, is a step above the recent spin-off's from the Conjuring franchise but a far cry from the original two movies that made this a behemoth of a movie franchise.

Final verdict: 3.5 Warren files out of 5.

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines:

Synopsis: Young Katie Mitchell embarks on a road trip with her proud parents, younger brother and beloved dog to start her first year at film school. But their plans to bond as a family soon get interrupted when the world's electronic devices come to life to stage an uprising. With help from two friendly robots, the Mitchells must now come together to save one another -- and the planet -- from the new technological revolution.

My thoughts: The newest flick from Pixar delivers! Wait what? This was a Sony movie... Are you sure? The Mitchells Vs. The Machines offers eye-popping animation, a ton of laughs, a ton of emotional moments, a great heartwarming story with an incredible message attached (sound familiar?) This Sony flick they released for free on Netflix is basically an instant animation classic that I would watch over The Incredibles any day.

Final verdict: 5 family road trips out of 5.

Special: Avengers: Endgame, Long Shot, Dragonball Super: Broly Mini-Reviews

Avengers: Endgame:

Synopsis: The grave course of events set in motion by Thanos that wiped out half the universe and fractured the Avengers ranks compels the remaining Avengers to take one final stand in Marvel Studios' grand conclusion to twenty-two films, "Avengers: Endgame."

My thoughts: This was a highly satisfying movie. I will not give away anything spoilery but I will say the film takes a few unexpected twists and turns each more enjoyable than the next. The Avengers were due for change after Infinity War and Endgame provides it as a step up from it's predecessor. The 3 hour run time feels like 1.5 since you're so invested in what's happening with lots of comedy, enough action and even some drama blended in for good measure. Can't wait to see what the next 22 films have in store for us.

Final verdict: 5 snaps out of 5.

Long Shot:

Synopsis: Fred Flarsky (Seth Rogen) is a gifted and free-spirited journalist with an affinity for trouble. Charlotte Field (Charlize Theron) is one of the most influential women in the world. Smart, sophisticated, and accomplished, she's a powerhouse diplomat with a talent for... well, mostly everything. The two have nothing in common, except that she was his babysitter and childhood crush. When Fred unexpectedly reconnects with Charlotte, he charms her with his self-deprecating humor and his memories of her youthful idealism. As she prepares to make a run for the Presidency, Charlotte impulsively hires Fred as her speechwriter, much to the dismay of her trusted advisors. A fish out of water on Charlotte's elite team, Fred is unprepared for her glamorous lifestyle in the limelight. However, sparks fly as their unmistakable chemistry leads to a round-the-world romance and a series of unexpected and dangerous incidents.

My thoughts: Honestly I went into this thinking this was a solid 3 since I don't do halves but I'm having a hard time getting it that low. The chemistry between the stars is undeniable even if sometimes it reverts back to typical Seth Rogen fair but you quickly forget when the script gets sharper.

Final verdict: 4 embarrassing boners out of 5.

Dragonball Super: Broly:

Synopsis: A planet destroyed, a powerful race reduced to nothing. After the devastation of Planet Vegeta, three Saiyans were scattered among the stars, destined for different fates. While two found a home on Earth, the third was raised with a burning desire for vengeance and developed an unbelievable power. And the time for revenge has come. Destinies collide in a battle that will shake the universe to its very core!

My thoughts: I was pretty disappointed with this. I've enjoyed the last few Dragonball movies quite a bit and I got the hype for this one since it made Broly cannon as he previously only appeared in GT, a series widely panned and quickly wrote off as not cannon but people loved Broly. I never watched GT so I didn't have that attachment so for me this film introduced me to him and it did very little. The fight scenes as always was exciting and I enjoyed the ending we got however there wasn't a whole lot going on here, much to my chagrin,

Final Verdict: 3 Saiyans out of 5

Special: Marvel Cinematic Universe Ranked Worst To Best

With Captain America: Civil War hitting theaters last weekend the MCU now features 13 films and what better time than now to rank them? Okay maybe pre-Civil War at the conclusion of phase 2 would've been cleaning but semantics... On to the ranking!

13. Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2's biggest flaw was Whiplash... Not that he isn't a good character, in fact I thought Mickey Rourke's take on physicist Ivan Vanko was quite good. The problem then? He wasn't the main villain! Instead Sam Rockwell is, that's right Scary Sam himself. We get one showdown between Iron Man and Whiplash and it's in the first half of the movie... Snooze!

12. Thor

Thor was a fun fish out of water story, unfortunately it didn't do much else well. Sure they could've done some Norwegian God epic, but we knew when Marvel hired Shakespearean actor-director extraordinaire Kenneth Branagh to helm it we we're getting something different, and a lot of times different is a good thing.

11. The Incredible Hulk

I stand by the fact that Ed Norton made a great Bruce Banner, unfortunately this film underwhelmed and led to the re-casting which brought in Mark Ruffalo. Too bad the script was all over the place as was the films tone... And Liv Tyler? Really? No amount of Norton and Roth could overlook the fact that they decided to cast Steven Tyler Jr. in this film,

10. Thor: The Dark World

Nothing more than a popcorn flick... But I go to the movies to be entertained and eat popcorn so it's not all bad I just can't say I left the film saying "wow I really loved what they did there" or "when the director shot that I got chills" like the movies above it on this list.

9. Captain America: The First Avenger

"...I had a date" of the feels! Let's be honest this film is so campy but it makes the proceeding Cap films better by understanding the nature of Bucky and Steve's relationship... But again it's oh so campy.

8. Iron Man 3

Bumbling actor Ben Kingsley's Mandarin aside, Iron Man 3's only real flaw is the fact that it didn't have any real consequences. Sure Tony wanted to save Pepper but I mean it's not like he was going to kill her. The iron legion was confusing but their appearance in Ultron made them make sense at least.

7. Guardians Of The Galaxy

I didn't love Guardians as much as the rest of the world did but I can't deny that's it's not a great movie. The upbeat soundtrack, the characters that you buy into each and every move they make because you're so invested in them which keeps the plot moving because you want to see them succeed for various reasons depending on which Guardian you're looking at. Great space opera, but the bottom line is space opera's aren't really my thing so when I want to see comedy in the MCU I'd look to...

6. Ant-Man

Ant-Man is a fun ride, everyone including crotchety Michael Douglas is perfectly cast. Sure there are some minor flaws but nothing that you can't look past with ease. Although this movie turned out so magnificently I can't help but wonder what would've been had Edgar Wright stayed on course and helmed this flick... Probably would've found itself in the Top 5 but how high could it of gone? We'll never know.

5. Avengers: Age Of Ultron

I know this movie had it's detractors... Hell I was one of them. After the first viewing I pointed out all the flaws I seen which made for an underwhelming experience. But watching it a second time a few days later I was able to appreciate it for what it was, warts and all. It still was inferior to it's predecessor on the great movie scale but at least Ultron seemed to be a villain that would actually require all of The Avengers to stop (sorry Loki), so at least that was believable.

4. Captain America: Civil War

The newest entry into the MCU! Only time will tell if this movie trends upwards or downwards after a couple of viewings but right now it's firmly in the Top 5. I don't get the Avengers 2.5 argument, sure they were mostly all there and had a fight at the airport but other than that it was basically the Cap stars (Widow, Falcon, Cap, Bucky) and Iron Man. It's a mature take on it's content like it's predecessor but this was still lighter fare, which is fine... It is the Russo's specialty after all.

3. The Avengers

Alright I admit that I'm likely reaching with this one. Sure The Avengers is not a bad movie but is it a top 3? Most would argue no. But dammit, I can't help but feel good about it. We waited four years to get to the point where Hulk, Cap, Thor and Iron Man would team up against a major earth threat (Loki? Really?). In any event the event did not disappoint as The Avengers broke all kinds of box office records and showed us that Marvel is not slowing down anytime soon!

2. Iron Man

People seem to forget as time passes how incredibly important Iron Man, it wasn't just the launching point of the MCU but had it of been a dud we likely would've never gotten the MCU. Remember Disney did not yet own Marvel so the Marvel Studios folks were co-producing with Universal at the time and although the dream was to eventually have an Avengers film they needed to make money first so they took out a 225 million dollar revolving loan to produce it. Had Iron Man of bombed I'm sure they would've scrapped the idea altogether. Fortunately it was an incredible success at the time that only Batman and Spider-Man films had any degree of recent success. Too bad it wasn't strong enough to beat our #1 film.

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

The Winter Soldier was old school action at it's finest. The CGI was at a minimum compared to it's counterparts giving us hard-nosed action. All this with a backdrop of a political thriller proved that the Russo brothers knew how to handle a Marvel franchise. The Iron Man franchise had tried to dabble in the political thriller waters and has mostly failed so The Winter Soldier was a breath of fresh air setting up the notorious Hydra agency led by a diabolical and suave Robert Redford. Not to mention our first look at Sam Wilson's Falcon, a role that seems to be turning into the Nick Fury of old since he pops up everywhere.