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!"

One Inch Man vs. Flying Woman

I recently saw a couple of movies that I enjoyed to varying degrees.  The movies were Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

I thoroughly loved Guardians 2.  From start to finish I thought that it was great.  I liked it even better than the first movie.  It has it all:  action, love, laughter, friendship, family and family issues, heartache, self-doubt, betrayal, devotion, and Stan Lee (maybe I should have written Howard the Duck???).  The film takes you on a wild roller coaster ride of emotions.  Someone that you hated a few scenes ago is now a character that you find endearing. Great film!  I can't say enough good things about it!

The Last Jedi might be the last Star Wars movie that I ever go to see.  YAWN!!!!!!  The film seemed to drag on forever.  It took like 10 seconds to kill Snoke.  Phasma's gone is a duel with Finn (WHAT?!).  And we can't forget a nearly dead flying Princess Leia.  COME ON!!!

There's a terrible scene in a casino.  There's a terrible scene with a terrible Yoda (the CGI throughout was bad).  There are too many scenes with Kylo Ren (the poor man's Vader).  There are some great scenes with the characters: Rey, Rose, and DJ, unfortunatetly very few of them.

I've been there since the beginning.  We all know some movies have been better than others and some characters as well.  As much as I loved Rogue One is as much as I disliked The Last Jedi.  I hope that the Force is strong with the creators of the next movie.  Remember, folks at Disney, Yoda's words: Do or do not.  There is no try!