Misfits*

Last night I watched Thunderbolts* on Disney+.  I was a big fan on the team when Marvel launched it way back in 1997.  That team was made up of a bunch of criminals disguising themselves as heroes in a time when the Avengers were nowhere to be found.

This new team is made up of B-List Heroes with a ton of baggage.  The new Black Widow, U.S. Agent, the Red Guardian, Ghost, the Winter Soldier, and Sentry are manipulated by Allegra de Fontaine into first fighting each other, and then coming together to save New York.  

I'm sorry but this film just didn't work for me.  Taskmaster ( a great Marvel character) was killed off in like the first 10 minutes of the film. What a waste!  The Red Guardian got on my last nerve in a hurry. Bucky, a U.S. Congressman, what???  I never cared for the Sentry character and after the film I like him even less.  The story was just too cheesy to be good.

On the upside, Florence Pugh's acting was fabulous.  Kudos to Julia Louis-Dreyfus as well.  Hannah John-Kamen did a great job as Ghost who was constantly saving the team's backsides throughout the film. (I love this character and would like to see more of her in the future.) 

SO, fan boys and girls, that's my 2 cents on the film for what it's worth.  Peace, Out, Sauerkraut! 

Family Matters

I saw Avengers: End Game on Sunday.  While I didn't like it as much as Infinity War, I still thought that it was good.  I thought that the story got off to a slow start and then seemed rushed at the end.  I also feel that sometimes too much was done which may or may not lead to other movies down the road.  Well, that's my gripe.

What I enjoyed was that most of the entire film was about family.  In the end, what mattered most was loved ones.  They were what was most important to nearly all of the characters.

Tony Stark finally realizing that he had to sacrifice himself to save all the loved ones for the others ahead of his own family's needs has one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen on film.

To see Steve Rogers finally able to be with his one true love, Peggy Carter, warmed the heart.

And the list goes on:  Clint reunited with his.  Natasha referring to the Avengers as her family and then making the ultimate sacrifice for her friend and teammate.  Bruce trying to bring Natasha back, knowing that she had loved him.  Scott risking everything to see his daughter.  Thor's reunion with his mother and Tony's encounter with his father.   Peter's excitement at seeing his father figure, Stark, still alive.  The sadness Clint and Wanda felt knowing that loved ones would never return.  Other Avengers are also reunited with family.  It is tremendous and it drives the film.

Rocket acknowledges that the Guardians are family.  We even see the family dynamic between Nebula, Gamorra, and Thanos (as dysfunctional as it is!).

The theme of family and love permeates the film.  It also involves friendships: Bucky and Sam with Cap, Happy and Tony, Clint and Natasha.  But even those are based on the characters love and caring about one another.

With all of that love, family, and friendship, how could I not like this film.  In the end, that is what won the day.  Kudos to the directors, Anthony and Joe Russo for a film that can be enjoyed by all (especially, we long time fans of Marvel Comics and characters).  As Stan the Man would have put it, "Excelsior!"

March Magic and Such

I have decided to try something different this year as far as my miniature hobby goes. Starting in March, I am going to alternate monthly between whether I am painting fantasy or scifi figures. Thus far, I have completed a set of Reaper Bones Pirates and am now working on a set of their goblins.  (I love their stuff!!!)  Pics to follow later.

I ordered some figs from Megacon Games.  I purchased a set of their Mercs figures (KemVar) and a set of their Banner Saga figures.  Not crazy about the Mercs, the Banner Saga stuff is great.  My only gripe about the BS figs is that some of their weapons are horribly bent.  I'm hoping that the old boiling water/ice water trick will work to straighten them out.

Tried some Sam Adams '76 last weekend.  As much as I normally enjoy their products, I gotta say this one missed the mark with me.  It tastes too much like an IPA and seemed to have a grapefruitish aftertaste.  Not my cup of tea.  Speaking of beer, I'm headed down to the Hoffbrauhaus this week, I'm looking forward to it!

Also missing the mark was Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok.  The Thor and Avengers Movies have been great so far.  This one however, came up short.  The Thor character seemed a bit out of character.  Too many attempts at humor like in the Guardians of the Galaxy.  While it works there, it didn't in Ragnarok.  The Warriors Three were out of the film in a heartbeat.  No Lady Sif and no Natalie Portman....boooooo!!!!  The Executioner and Korg characters were weak at best.  The portrayals of Loki, Hela, Heimdall, and Valkyrie were amazing!!!! LOVED the Hulk in this!!!!  The talents of Jeff Goldblum and Anthony Hopkins were completely wasted.  (Is Odin the new Yoda?!) I'm hoping that the new Avengers movie will be better.  We will have to wait and see.