HONEY, I'M HOME! // A REVIEW OF "WANDAVISION"

BY MATEO MORENO

It's been a long wait, but Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is here! And unlike the past four phases, this one includes, and kicks off with, the television world (or streaming world, however you look at it these days). Marvel has had television series in the past (Agents of Shield, Runaways, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage to name a few) and although each series would hint at the larger cinematic universe, none of them were officially tied to it. Now with WANDAVISION, the first of several Disney+ series planned, the TV and film universes are one world. And since the line-up to Phase Four seems to heavily rely on altered reality and the multiverse, WandaVision is the perfect launching pad.

From the very moment the first episode starts, we can see that it's unlike any other Marvel project to date. For one, it's a sitcom. Specifically, a sitcom from the 1950's. Shades of I Love Lucy hangs all over the black and white pilot which features Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) living the perfect suburban life. They have just moved into the neighborhood and to their neighbors, they are just another couple. Little do they know, Wanda can make things float and fly and Vision is actually a Cyborg. They hide their true identities in a retro sitcom way, much like Bewitched or I Dream of Jeanie. Wanda is a stay at home housewife while Vision works at a local company that does...well, no one actually seems to know what they do there. But Vision is really good at it and since he started, productivity is through the roof! Life seems good.

Yet something is off. Namely, how the hell is this happening? Anyone who's watched the Marvel films knows that Wanda and Vision are superheroes, part of The Avengers and in the giant battle to end all battles with Thanos, Vision was killed. So... how is he here? And why do neither of them seem to remember anything? No questions are answered in the first two episodes, building the series as a slow burn mystery wrapped in a retro shell. Surrounding them are several architype of characters, each building on the weirdness of the world. There's the nosy neighbor Agnes, played to perfection by Kathryn Hahn. There's Vision's boss and wife (Fred Melamed, Debra Jo Rupp) who are part of a very unsettling dinner in the first episode. Several others show up in the second episode, which has a time jump to the 60's yet no one seems to notice.

Yes, Virginia, this is a VERY different Marvel property and it works splendidly. Besides beings a new unique way to tell a superhero story, it's also a legit funny and charming sitcom with two fantastic comedic performances from Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany. Their comic timing is so good you may wonder why they haven't been doing comedic roles for years. A slapstick plotline in the second episode is simply sublime yet under all the comedy is the mystery of what's going on, slowly leaking out through weirdness sprinkled through the plot and strange commercials within the show. In the comics, Wanda can manipulate time and reality, so it's not a far jump to guess that's what may be happening here. But why and who's controlling it all? Set over nine episodes (the first two are now streaming on Disney+), WANDAVISION is the perfect antidote of both the hardcore and novice Marvel fan wanting to see their favorite heroes spin in new directions. And what a direction it is.

GRADE: A

BASED ON CHARACTERS FROM THE MARVEL UNIVERSE CREATED BY Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Roy Thomas SERIES CREATED BY Jac Schaeffer WRITTEN BY Jac Schaeffer, Gretchen Enders DIRECTED BY Matt Shakman STARRING Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Kathryn Hahn, Tayonah Parris, Fred Melamed, Debra Jo Rupp, Emma Caulfield Ford, Asif Ali, David Lengel, Randall Park, Kat Dennings. NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY PLUS

A MARVELOUS SHAKEUP // A FILM REVIEW OF "BLACK PANTHER"

BY MATEO MORENO

The Marvel Cinematic Universe have created a cinematic empire. Each film becomes a bigger event than the next and have all challenged each other to get bigger and more fantastical. But one thing that haven't always challenged each other on is depth. Now that's not to say that I haven't been a fan of the Marvel films; I most certainly have. But along with all of its success, Marvel has had a bit of "sameness" to their films. The forgettable villian challenges the team and they win in the end. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR started to shake things up and now we have the real shakeup with BLACK PANTHER, the most grounded, powerful and surprising Marvel film to date.

Chadwick Boseman plays T’Challa, the son of King T'Chaka who recently passed during the events in Civil War. Now T'Challa ascends to the throne, as King of Wakanda, the fictional African nation that on the surface seems like a third world country but is actually a booming futuristic society that is completely powered by Vibranium, a rare meteoric ore with energy-manipulating capabilities. T'Challa is also The Black Panther, the warrior from Wakanda who's suit is also powered by Vibranium. He accepts the throne and his place in the world, but two thieves have other plans. Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) is an underground arms dealer with a fancy suped up arm and Erik Killmonger (Michael B Jordan) is a man with a killer of a past and a lot of scars on his body to prove it. They both seemingly have the same plan to invade Wakanda, but when Killmonger's true plan is revealed it deepens the story and sets it off in a thrilling way.

Killmonger is brutal; he kills without remorse and believes the end justifies the means. But he also has a strong and very important message; that the balance of justice for the black community must be addressed. He has felt nothing but pain his entire life and seen the pain that racism has played and he wants no more of it. He's waited for this moment and he will take it no matter the cost. And that's where the story gets tricky. Wakanda is a vibrant African nation who has taken care of their people and thrived with the use of Vibranium. But they have also left the rest of the world in the dark, essentially ignoring the cries of the fallen. So that's the spin; the bad guy is fighting for a just idea and the good guys aren't completely good. It's a moral quandary that makes for a wondrous twist into the Marvel Universe. This is a film that challenges not only how our favorite Superhero franchise is built but also how we look at heroes and villains in film. 

The cast is extraordinary. Chadwick Boseman gives a powered and stoic performance as our newly minted King and questioning hero. It's a tough role to play; to be both regal, grounded, and still charming and fun. He's the opposite of some of the motor mouthed Marvel heroes and he excels at every turn. Michael B. Jordan's Erik Killmonger is hands down the best villain the Marvel Universe has brought on the screen (Sorry Loki). The character is layered, troubled, and full of confliction. And Jordan's performance is pure fire. He makes you question who is in the right and who isn't. His performance is electrifying.

Also of note is the fact that the female characters are all very well drawn: Lupita Nyong'o is no simple love interest. She's a badass warrior spy on her own who's calling is to help those who need help the most. She's not about to sit in a kitchen and wait for her man to come home. Danai Gurira (giving another powerhouse performance that's very different from The Walking Dead) is a thrilling presence as well. Powerful and funny, her Wakanda warrior is smart and aware of everything around her. She will question anything that seems out of line and Gurira gives her a sparkling soul. And as T'Challa's younger scientist sister Letitia Wright is hilarious, full of charm, and ready to jump into battle as well as tech up her older brother’s suit. No one simply stands around here. Also having a hellava good time is motion capture artist Andy Serkis, who's much less serious but a blast to watch.

Ryan Coogler's world of Wakanda is brilliant storytelling and one that will actually change the universe in a moral and ethical way. This is a film that speaks on so many levels, levels beyond just this franchise. It's the first big action blockbuster that truly feels important. And if feels that way because it is.

MATEO'S GRADE:  A

SCREENPLAY BY Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole BASED ON THE CHARACTERS CREATED BY Stan Lee and Jack Kirby DIRECTED BY Ryan Coogler STARRING Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Winston Duke, Sterling K. Brown, Angela Bassett, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis.

STILL HOOKED ON A FEELING // A FILM REVIEW OF "GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2"

BY MATEO MORENO

There's an old saying that goes, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Movie sequels often go by this logic and more often than not, they don't match up to what made the original so special. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 2 follows this same logic; same cast of misfits, new space adventure, same writer/director. But while it might fall slightly short of the magic of the first, it's only due to the fact that we've already met them once. There's a lot of magic left in this team of heroes.

Volume 2 starts out with a great credit sequence of chaos, much like the first film. This time the whole team (Star-lord, Gamora, Rocket, Drax, and an oblivious to the battle Baby Groot) is fighting, along with a now Baby Groot, who's oblivious to the action. Groot, it should be said, stays a baby for the entire time and it NEVER grows old. Truly comic gold. They are fighting to get a valuable group of batteries away from a huge monster, the Abilisk. If they get the batteries, they can trade them for the release of Nebula (Karen Gillan), the sister of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) from a space colony known as The Sovereigns. They do indeed grab the batteries, but as they're leaving realize that Rocket has decided to steal them as well, so they go after the Guardians to get them back. Let's just say they're not too happy about it.

The Sovereigns are lead by Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) and she hires the Guardians old Frenemy Yondu (Michael Rooker) to bring them to her. But his reluctance to kill the Guardians doesn't bode well for this search and destroy (it's really hard NOT to like Michael Rooker). While the "will he or won't he" internal battle is going on, The Guardians end up meeting Peter Quill's (AKA Star-Lord) father, the Celestial being named Ego the Living Planet (Kurt Russell). From there the movie kicks off into a hellava space ride and goes totally weird and bonkers, in the very best way.

Writer/Director James Gunn nails the tone and humor again without ever feeling like we have "been there, done that." The cast and their rhythms rival any super hero franchise out there and the added story for Nebula really gives Gillian a chance to shine (Her scenes with Saldana are all great). Everyone seems to step up their game here, including Bradley Cooper's motion capture performance, which is not only hilarious but emotionally satisfying. And lest we not forget Kurt Russell, the man who steps onto any film set and makes it better. He's fantastic as Ego and, though there isn't much I can say without spoiling this entire review, his performance and relationship with Chris Pratt is right on target. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOLUME 2 is absolutely worth it, and really gets you excited to see these space pirates start playing with the Avengers crew soon (Oh Infinity War. Can't you come any quicker...?). Also make sure you stay for the 70 additional scenes during & after the credits (okay, maybe there isn't 70 but there's a lot). They range from the important (brush up on those 80's comic references kids) to the hilarious (two words: Teenage Groot).

MATEO'S GRADE: B+

Written & Directed by James Gunn Based on characters created by Stan Lee, Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning, Steve Englehart, Steven Gan, Jim Starlin, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, Bill Mantlo, Keith Giffen Starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Kurt Russell, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff Now Playing in Theatres Everywhere

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 OFFICIAL TRAILER