Category: Superhero Movies
Ant-Man 3: Big bite, little sting
by Matt Ward
Kevin Feige has some major problems. The longtime head behind Marvel Studios and overseer of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has often felt untouchable, almost invincible in a way due to his cultivation and crafting of a seemingly endless stream of comic book franchises. But at this point, comic book fatigue combined with too much concern for spectacle and laziness in storytelling have left … Read More Ant-Man 3: Big bite, little sting
Black Panther Wakanda Forever: Masterfully uneven
by Matt Ward
As the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) continues to expand now 30 films deep into its plethora of movie and television franchises, it’s become exceptionally hard for the comic book studio to produce quality entertainment that doesn’t feel repetitive and increasingly mundane. Studio head Kevin Feige has done a more than adequate job attempting to fill this gap by finding directors with unique visions to … Read More Black Panther Wakanda Forever: Masterfully uneven
Thor Love and Thunder: Thunderstruck
by Matt Ward
As has been the case for several films now, Marvel Studios finds themselves at a crossroads in a post-Avengers: Endgame era of their cinematic universe. Many of their most popular characters are gone from the franchise and the massive decade-long arc came to a head several years ago now, leaving fans clamoring for the breadcrumbs of what’s to come in every single new movie, … Read More Thor Love and Thunder: Thunderstruck
Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness: Strange magic
by Matt Ward
Marvel Studios, the comic book film division of Disney, has pushed audiences for more than a decade that a bigger plan is always in the offing. It took three phases and over 20 movies for producer Kevin Feige to complete his Infinity Gauntlet saga culminating in Avengers: Endgame and along the way there were times in which things didn’t make a whole lot of … Read More Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness: Strange magic
Morbius: Big teeth, no bite
by Matt Ward
Nowadays it seems that studios aren’t really trying as much to hide their greed, especially when as it relates to comic book movies. Just one month after Warner Brothers dropped a fantastic, original, and darker take on a classic comic book hero with The Batman, audiences have to suffer through the complete opposite. Pushed off for nearly two years due to both the COVID-19 … Read More Morbius: Big teeth, no bite
The Batman: Darkest night
by Matt Ward
How is it possible to craft a completely original take on a character that has been reset, rebooted and reimagined countless times in print and on the silver screen over decades? It feels as if audiences, especially those soaked in comic book lore, have already seen every possible iteration of reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne and his nocturnal vigilante alter ego Batman. But director and … Read More The Batman: Darkest night
Eternals: Reach for the moon, land amongst stars
by Matt Ward
There were five movies of build up before Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Black Widow, Hawkeye and the Incredible Hulk teamed up to save New York City from an invading horde of aliens in 2012’s The Avengers. But with the ever expanding universe of spinoff streaming miniseries, fill-in-the-blanks back stories and new character creation, Marvel Studios simply doesn’t have time to develop the necessary … Read More Eternals: Reach for the moon, land amongst stars
Venom Let There Be Carnage: Let there be mild amusement
by Matt Ward
With originality dwindling in the blockbuster cinema marketplace, it’s often that viewers might feel like they’re watching the exact same film all over again. Three years ago, Sony broke through the comic book ranks with a quirky cult hit spin-off for a classic Spider-Man villain that had a unique charm with an awkward buddy comedy dynamic mixed in with Marvel lore. Returning to the … Read More Venom Let There Be Carnage: Let there be mild amusement
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Two-thirds of perfection
by Matt Ward
Marvel’s latest action-adventure comic book movie, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is groundbreaking in a number of ways. It’s the milestone 25th film in their cinematic universe to be released and the first to feature an Asian lead, predominantly Asian cast and an Asian director in Destin Daniel Cretton, a massive step forward for representation in American cinema. The film also comes … Read More Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: Two-thirds of perfection
The Suicide Squad: Second time’s the charm
by Matt Ward
After failing to generate a full-fledged spinoff franchise in 2016, Warner Brothers and DC Comics return to the villain-turned-reluctant-hero well for a second time with The Suicide Squad, a film that adds a word to the title and far brighter, more inventive filmmaking. Director James Gunn, who’s largely responsible for making an obscure Marvel comic book into its own successful movie series with Guardians … Read More The Suicide Squad: Second time’s the charm
Black Widow: Filling in the gaps
by Matt Ward
Marvel has taken a two-year hiatus from the big screen following the climatic events of Avengers: Endgame. Although the studio has produced several successful miniseries in the meantime for Disney+, fans had to wait an extra year for Phase IV of Marvel’s feature film franchise to begin with the COVID-19 pandemic delaying the release of Black Widow, expected to be the final entry in … Read More Black Widow: Filling in the gaps
Zack Snyder’s Justice League: Same ingredients, brand new dish
by Matt Ward
For years, Marvel Studios has dominated the blockbuster landscape with countless feature films debuting superheroes, building team-ups and raking in cash. Its natural comic book rival, DC Comics, has always been behind the curve, attempting to play catch up by fast-tracking their way through Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman films to get to Justice League, their answer to The Avengers, a Joss Whedon movie … Read More Zack Snyder’s Justice League: Same ingredients, brand new dish
Cinematic Considerations 