Movie: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

X-Men: Days of Future Past
Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

I love X-Men... need I say more? I don't think so but of course I will...

So many awesome characters, so many awesome actors. We got to see everyone we wanted to see, even if the main X-Men we're used to didn't get that much screen time. I'm a little peeved Anna Paquin got cut to a bare 3 seconds at the end of the film but I'm sure we will see more Rogue in the extras when the DVD is released. Shawn Ashmore as Bobby/Iceman, Daniel Cudmore as Collossus, Booboo Stewart as Warpath, Lucas Till as Havok... and I haven't even brought out the big guns yet!

So the story revolves around Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) of course. I have no idea where Kitty (Ellen Page) got the send-someone-back-in-time power from. Did she have that in the comics? I can't remember... But anyway, she sends Logan back because apparently he's the only one who can handle it. Young Xavier, played by the amazing James McAvoy, is in a bit of a slump after Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence) left him for Erik/Magnito (Michael Fassbender/Ian McKellen).. oh, yeah, and Erik crippled him... So this film is (mostly) set after the events of First Class. Logan has to pull Xavier out of it with the help of Beast (Nicholas Hoult) in order to save both the mutant and human populations from destroying themselves with giant killer robots called Sentinels (seriously, The Matrix again anyone?) designed by antagonist Dr. Trask (Peter Dinklage). Like giant sentient robots are ever a good idea!

Quicksilver was one of the best things about this film. I remember when the trailer came out some people thought he would be lame.. but no, he is awesome! The small part he plays in the film really stuck in my mind and when I watched it recently for the second time, he was just as good. He's played by Evan Peters from American Horror Story who does a fabulous job. Hope we see more of him in the next films. I also thought the meeting of the two Xavier's was excellent, how cool to meet your future self... and who else would be able to kick young Xavier's ass back into gear but older, wiser Xavier (Patrick Stewart)? Stand out performance was definitely James McAvoy.

I'm a little disappointed that Taylor Kitsch's role of Gambit hasn't reappeared. Gambit was always one of my favourite X-Men and the little teaser we got of him in Origins: Wolverine just wasn't enough for me. I would have thought the timeline would be perfect for him too... Bring back Gambit! Also, the reappearance of Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) and Cyclops (James Marsden)! I did a little swoon there but we all knew they were both coming back didn't we? Yes, I watched the cartoons as a kid... And you can't have an X-Men film without Storm (Halle Berry).

I love X-Men. Keep 'em coming. Which X-Men is your favourite? Who do you want to see in the next film? Let me know in the comments!

4 out of 5 Marvels...

Bonus Post: Guardians of the Galaxy - Trailer 2!

Oh Marvel, we do love you so! 

Movie: The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro

The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro
Action, Adventure, Fantasy

I actually really enjoyed the first one of these and was surprised to hear some people though it was crap. Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) as Peter Parker is funny! He has this wicked sense of humour I love in the character. Then there were people bitching about how they've just made the Spider-Man movies and why remake it again... but this is a different time in Peter Parker's life and Tobey Maguire did pull out so they had to remake it if they wanted to make any Spiderman movies at all, so yer. *shrugs*

Shall we talk about Mary-Jane (Shailene Woodley) who was supposed to be in the movie but had all her scenes cut? I saw a few interviews about why that happened and they pretty much said they didn't want Peter to look like a sleezy player. We all know that Peter and Mary-Jane have this thing going on later but right now it's all about Gwen and to introduce another love interest into it would distract from the Gwen storyline, and gosh are they cute together. I've got such a huge girl-crush on Emma Stone and everything she does. It is unfortunate we didn't get to see Mary-Jane in this one but we will see her eventually.

I'm a little disappointed in Jamie Foxx.. I don't know why... maybe because Django Unchained was so good and this role is so different. Dane DeHann on the other hand, wow! He is amazing, every role I see him in just gets better and better; Chronicle, Kill Your Darlings and now this. I also LOVE that Stan Lee appears in all of the Marvel movies, it's always makes me laugh to see him.


I do love superhero movies!

4 out of 5 spiders on drugs...

TV: Agents of SHIELD SE1 EP6

Agents of SHIELD
Action, Drama, Sci Fi

I'm hearing along the grapevine (aka the internet) that I am not the only one disappointed in this show. They made this huge deal about it; this great new sci fi spin off of The Avengers. Sounds good on paper, what could go wrong? You would think with the combined genius of Joss Whedon (Buffy, The Cabin In The Woods) and his brother Jed Whedon (Dollhouse) together with the amazing world of Marvel with access to god knows how many actual superheroes would give us a freaking awesome show!... but no, not quite. The potential is there but it seems like they're falling short.

I was excited to see Cobie Smulders in the first ep, but not too excited because I had heard she wasn't a permanent fixture to the show. Maybe she will join after How I Met Your Mother finishes later this year? Then there was that two minute cameo by Samuel L Jackson (Django Unchained, Pulp Fiction) which was pretty cool. On the superhero side of things there was J. August Richards (Angel) with his climbing/jumping stuff (woo) and then Scorch (Louis Ozawa Changchien). Now we have Asgardian artifacts which has potential too...

Even with all this potential and the occasional minor super power, Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) and his pretty stereotypical team seem to be just another glorified black ops group. Even though they keep mentioning the portal opening in New York and gods, aliens and people with powers, they just don't seem to play a major role in the show. I was kind of hoping for a Dark Angel or Dollhouse kind of thing. There is the mystery surrounding Coulson's death... 

I will give it a season and see how it plays out, but honestly, I expected more... is it just because I haven't read any of the comics?

2 out of 5 crappy superheroes...

Movie: Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance (2011)

Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
Action, Fantasy, Thriller

Lots of people have something against poor Nicolas Cage (Face Off, Kick Ass) but you know what, I like him! That's right mum, I said it! ...Okay, so maybe I don't like him in this but he's done some other films that were fantastic! Nic, my boy, don't you think you're getting too old to play a lead in an action film? Especially in the super hero / comic book era such as this... sort of... Ghost Rider isn't really a hero now is he?

The whole idea of this being a film is a bit ridiculous, there was no way they could have made this and done it justice. A flaming skeleton can only be done properly as a cartoon, in my opinion. They've tried to steer aware from the whole paranormal side of the story and make it more of an action flick, which they can do fantastically. Action distracts from the rest of the crap.

So the story goes; this poor fella's dad is sick, so he goes and makes a deal with the Devil, as you do, and becomes possessed by a demon that prays on the wicked. Okay, doesn't sound too terrible right? Right. Except, the demon sees the wickedness in us all. *evil laugh* Come on, you know you can't win with the Devil, haven't you see Supernatural? Tard!

I do have to admit, that Nic has a fantastic voice for a semi-evil doer. Maybe he should try being a voice actor instead? Beside ol' Nic, this stars Italian singer / songwriter Violante Placido. I've never seen her in anything before but she does make a very pretty leading lady. Also making appearances are the legendary Christopher Lambert (Mortal Combat, Highlander) and Buffy's Anthony Head, as well as Johnny Whitworth (Limitless, Empire Records) starring as the big bad... besides the Ghost Rider of course...

When someone tells you that they will give you the thing you most want if you do so-and-so for them, you know it's a trap, right? Right?! You would think so... Apparently being possessed by a demon impairs your intelligence.

I don't know if it's because I walked into the movie feeling negative before it even started or whether it truly is as terrible as I think it is... Someone please tell me I'm right!

2 out 5 bonfires...

[Best Bit]
All the flaming machinery! Awesome!