Thor Ragnarok

Thor Ragnarok
3D Movie Review

Written By James Tate

3D

Thor Ragnarok, following the trend of the more recent Marvel Cinematic Universe films, makes an effort to appeal to audiences experiencing the film in 3D. For this film though I actually believe that viewing this in 3D improves the overall experience. The action scenes especially, with people flying around and punching people across the room it just looks a lot better because of the 3D. I enjoyed the use of multiple layers of 3D and overall how good looking the 3D visuals are within this movie. I’m impressed with this 3D, and would actually recommend seeing it with the 3D glasses than without.

Final Verdict: Great 3D

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Movie

Thor Ragnarok is the third film in the Thor franchise, and possibly the best of the series? Thor Ragnarok picks up where we left him in Avengers Age of Ultron. Thor has now been searching the galaxy for the infinity stones for about two years now but to no luck. Returning home to Asgard he meets up with his brother Loki and they both get themselves into a mess of trouble when they accidentally meet up with the character of Hela. Hela is stronger than either of them and seeks to rule Asgard . Thor eventually finds himself stranded on a gladiator planet where he meets Hulk as well as another asgardian. Thor must gather a team, return to asgard, and save the day from Hela.

Typically the films in the Thor series have just been okay in quality . In the previous Thor Movies many of the story elements fell flat, and it always felt like the filmmakers were holding something back. Like if they weren't fully comfortable embracing the Thor character or his mythos. To a large degree the previous two Thor films have taken themselves a little too seriously. Ragnarok fully embraces the Thor mythos while adding its own spin on the character and even the lore. Another thing that Thor Ragnarok can be praised for is the fact it doesn't take itself completely seriously and puts in the right amount of comedy. And it's not an overdose of comedy either, like the case with the film Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2.

I'd have to say that this is the best MCU ( Marvel Cinematic Universe) film of 2017, and arguably the best sequel to a film series. It's not a disappointment like Guardians of the galaxy  2  and its a stronger film than Spiderman Homecoming, Thor 3 has it all. It has a great cast, great humor, many great actions scenes, and to its credit it has a very memorable villain. This is why I have to give this movie a 10/10. Thor Ragnarok is my favorite film of this entire year(2017) and is everything I could want from a Marvel movie . 

Final Verdict: 10/10

©2017 MARVEL © Disney. All rights reserved.

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Spider-Man Homecoming 3D Movie Review

Spider-Man Homecoming 3D Movie Review

Review Written By: Adolph Vega

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3D

The 3D for this movie is not spectacular or amazing but it is good. It can be fun to watch this movie as Spider-Man travels around New York and objects fly from the background to the foreground. One early scene with a bank robbery was very interesting to watch in 3D because many dollar bills were floating around and popping out of the screen. The 3D visuals looked nice but it didn’t blow me away or really capture my imagination.

Final Verdict: Good 3D

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Movie

This is the sixth overall Spider-Man movie but the first within the Marvel cinematic universe. This movie feels new and different and makes sense within the grander marvel cinematic universe.

The main plot of this movie is simple yet effective. This movie showcases Peter Parker / Spider-Man after the events of "Captain America Civil War”. Peter Parker / Spider-Man wants to have another big adventure, but is stuck in high school. Eventually Spider-Man discovers that local criminals are buying and selling some powerful weapons and he attempts to stop them. Peter Parker has to balance his school related priorities, being a superhero and his personal relationships all at the same time. Secret identities are not a big aspect within the marvel cinematic universe, but it works perfectly within this movie. Tom Holland's portray of Spider-Man / Peter Parker is very charming and funny. The movie has a fantastic supporting cast that work well together. This cast has a wonderful chemistry together and they play off each other’s lines in a realistic and enjoyable fashion. I never doubted that these actors felt right in a high school setting, and they did a fine job of showcasing “the high school experience" without falling for all the typical clichés and usual tropes. The movie works well as both a superhero movie and a high school friendship movie.  

The main villain of this movie is that of the Vulture. The Vulture is an interesting character, and the movie does a wonderful job of setting up his backstory. As the viewer you can clearly understand his motivations and you can easily sympathize with this character. This villain is fleshed out and is not a one-dimensional archetype. The great Michael Keaton expertly portrays the Vulture. I found him to be threatening yet grounded in reality, and I really enjoyed his performance on screen. The Vulture is easily one the best marvel cinematic villains. The vulture is not interested in world domination or conquering the universe, he just cares about himself and his family. I find this simplicity to be very refreshing. The Vulture is an excellent addition to this movie and is a well-developed villain.

This movie is set in the grander Marvel Cinematic Universe and generally it works well for this story. You will see several mentions of the previous Marvel movie stories and marvel characters within this movie. The movie has many Marvel superhero cameos. Sadly we don't see any cameos or mentions from the current Marvel TV shows.           I understand that the Netflix TV shows have adult content (Dare Devil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist) and are a different demographic from typical Spider-man movies, but the fact remains that this movie and those TV shows are all set within the same New York City. It seems bizarre to why Marvel refuses to connect these TV shows with the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe and why this movie refuses to acknowledge those Marvel TV shows. At times the movie feels overstuffed with Marvel cameos so why they couldn’t include a quick Dare Devil line or something small like that is beyond my understanding. At times it seems like Spider-Man can simply phone a friend for assistance at any time, and it can become jarring when some characters enter the scene at the most convenient moment. The marvel cinematic universe references work well to fill in the details of the story, but at times it can be a little too cute.

I do have some minor issues with this movie. I have a problem with how it changes a key aspect of the character of Spider-Man. It just doesn’t feel right to exclude this distinctive Spider-Man attribute within this movie. Another negative aspect is how clumsy Spider-Man is portrayed within this movie. Spider-Man looked more agile and seasoned in "Captain America Civil War" (which happens before the events of this movie) than within this movie. It seems like a blatant continuity error and it seems very odd. Some of his sloppiness can be explained by the story elements within this movie, and how his suit is more advanced because of the technological engineering of Tony Stark (Iron man). This sloppiness makes Spider-Man more relatable but at the cost of cheapening his character’s abilities . I also had a problem with how the movie rushed many story elements. The movie refuses to allow Peter Parker to enjoy many scenes with his school friends. The movie never allows Peter Parker to enjoy his life, even for a little bit. I understand that the character has to make sacrifices to be a superhero, but it seems rushed for the sake of revealing the next action scene and is not totally natural to the story. I also had a problem with a specific action scene toward the end of the movie. This action scene feels anticlimactic and slopped together with cheap special effects. The problems I have with this movie are relatively minor but are worth mentioning. 

The movie is extremely entertaining and has a wonderful sense of humor. The movie tells its story seamlessly and it hits all the right tones with the cast. I have seen all the previous Spider-Man movies but I have never seen one exactly like this one. This movie feels fresh and new and works well for what it is. I enjoyed the different locations the movie visits and how creative it is with the new Spider-Man suit. The movie has a wonderful villain and many enjoyable action scenes. The movie flows well, is fast paced and is tightly edited. The movie does have some problems but they don’t substantially ruin the movie. Overall this movie succeeds more than it disappoints and delivers a fun enjoyable movie. Tom Holland is an excellent Spider-Man and I look forward to seeing more of his web slinging antics in the future.

Final Verdict: 8/10 

MARVEL and all related character names: © & ™ 2017 MARVEL. 
Spider-Man: Homecoming, the Movie ©2017 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. and LSC Film Corporation All Rights Reserved.

Doctor Strange 3D Movie Review

Doctor Strange 3D Movie Review

Written By: Adolph Vega

 

3D

Doctor Strange has some amazing visual effects and the stereoscopic 3D element perfectly complements this movie. I feel this is the first movie made by Marvel Studios where the 3D element is a critical element of the cinematography and not just an after thought. Doctor Strange primarily uses depth-based 3D and creates an impressive diorama effect.  The 3D element really feels like your peering into the movie. The movie looks sharp, colorful and vivid in 3D. If you have the opportunity to watch this movie in IMAX 3D I can easily recommend viewing it in that larger screen. The depth of field presented within this movie really makes things look more impressive and gives some fantastical elements a better sense of being realistic. The 3D is used in some close up shots and gives you a better sense of the emotional state of the actors. This usage of 3D makes the viewer more invested into what is happening on screen. The stereoscopic 3D element of this movie is so well done; I wouldn’t want to watch this movie in 2D and is easily one of the best uses of 3D in a movie released in 2016. 

Final Verdict:

Great 3D, Editors Choice Award for 3D

Movie

Doctor Strange is a radical departure for Marvel Studios suite of films. Doctor Strange has a fantastic setting, incredible psychedelic visuals, and mystical eastern themes, and simply feels totally different from anything else released from Marvel studios.

Doctor Strange is a self-contained origin story for the character. Doctor Stephen Strange is a brilliant world renewed surgeon, and due to an unforeseen accident he needs the assistance of eastern medicine. Doctor Strange learns of the mystical arts and trains to protect this realm of existence from threats from another dimension. Benedict Cumberbatch portrays Doctor Strange as an arrogant self absorbed cocky character. I really enjoyed this performance from Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. I found him very likable, well acted and is a perfect fit the role. In many ways this performance reminds me of the performance of Robert Downey Junior as Ironman. Since this movie is an origin movie, many times Doctor Strange acts as the avatar for the audience and asks questions about what is going on. The main story revolves around a group of people who want and extra dimensional entity to consume the earth and Doctor Strange and his comrades must find a way to stop it. Magic has never been an aspect of the marvel comic's movies and this movie does a good job introducing it into the marvel cinematic universe. Sadly the story itself feels rushed and many of the details are quickly glossed over and under explored. Several aspects of the story fall a little too perfectly into place and seems convenient for the plot to advance. The movie ends in a clever way that is both satisfying and unique. Even if I have problems with the story being under explained I still found myself extremely entertained and interested in what was happening on screen. 

The movie has a large cast of characters that all work well together. Christine Palmer is the love interest to Doctor Strange and they have a complex history and good chemistry on screen. Tilda Swinton is “The Ancient One” and essentially is the master of the mystical arts who teaches Doctor Strange. This character is odd because her comic book version is vastly different from this film version. I really enjoyed this film version, which has a great motherly vibe and is well acted. The only problem I had with this character is that she seems out of place in this eastern setting. Another notable character is that of Wong, who watches over the library of mystical arts and acts as comic relief and a sidekick to Doctor Strange. The movie itself has a very corny sense of humor that mostly works to lighten this movie. Overall I really enjoyed the entire cast of Doctor Strange. 

This fantastical setting is brought to life with truly spectacular visual effects. The visuals of Doctor Strange look amazing and perfectly compliment the surreal storyline. I cannot understate how well executed and well shot these special effects are and how integral they are for this movie. The visuals of Doctor Strange are easily the best special effects that I have seen this year and possibly in the last decade. The movie has very fast pacing and flows well from one scene to another. The movie doesn’t try to teach philosophy or religion, which is interesting because you would expect that from this type of movie.

Doctor Strange is a fascinating movie from beginning to end. The movie has amazing visuals that are a real treat for the eye. Sadly the story of Doctor Strange feels rushed and glossed over. It’s not a perfect movie, but I definitely enjoyed entering this mystical magical world of Marvel comics. 

Final Verdict: 8/10, Editors Choice Award

 © 2016 MARVEL / Disney

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