Category: Marvel

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2016 Is The Year That Expanded Universes Came In To Their Own!

Ever since Marvel showed that audiences will buy in to Expanded Universes, movie studios have been rushing to cash in, and in 2016 we finally saw it happen.

We got not one, but two DC movies in the same universe (Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad), and while they were critical failures, they still brought in a combined $1.5 Billion.  Warner Brothers was also able to kick start the Harry Potter Universe films by successfully opening Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.  It may not have been as big as they were hoping for, but it will bring in north of $750 Million off of a $180 Million budget, and that is a return on investment studio heads will make every day of the week.

Meanwhile we are in the middle of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story‘s run, and it has already cashed in almost $400 Million, so it should get to about $1 Billion.  Not bad for a movie that isn’t about a Skywalker.  Sure there is one in it, but this is not Darth Vader’s story.  Between the Marvel Universe and the Star Wars Universe, Disney may not be the House of Mouse anymore, but the Universe of Movie Universes.

After 2016 I am pretty sure every blockbuster being made will somehow link to another movie in some way.  The links may be small like Fantastic Beasts, the fictional writer of one of Harry’s text books, or more substantial like Rogue One, the events leading directly in to A New Hope, but they will be there.  I can’t wait for the Jurassic World Raptor Team solo film.  I am sure it will be filled with intrigue.  In all seriousness though I hope the Expanded Universe films they are making are at least in a universe worth exploring.  The Hasbro Expanded Universe they are working on sounds like nightmare fuel, but hey at least we are getting that M.A.S.K movie! (said no one ever)

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The First Look At Mavel Studios’ Take On Spider-Man Is Finally Here!

So here is Spider-Man: Homecoming’s first trailer, and it is pretty good.  Peter is back in high school, doing high school stuff, and oh, Iron Man is around, so that should be fun.  Michael Keaton’s Vulture looks pretty sweet.  He should be a good first villain for this new young Spider-Man.  Anyway it looks like Sony will finally get the web-slinger franchise they have been after.

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Disney Keeps The Streak Alive With Doctor Strange!

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It has been a while since Marvel/Disney has released a bad film, and with Iron Man Doctor Strange, Disney continues its hot streak.  I don’t think Doctor Strange will be remembered as one of Marvel’s best, but it is a fun film that adds some visual flare to the standard Marvel superhero origin story.

Like with many other superheroes, Doctor Strange starts with a rich white guy (Benedict Cumberbatch) who looses his ability to make himself rich.  In this case he is a star surgeon who after a car crash can no longer keep his hands steady.  He tries everything to fix them, to no avail, so as a last ditch effort he decides to try Eastern Spiritual Medicine, but he gets more than he bargained for, and instead becomes a superhero sorcerer.  Not a bad trade.

The overall plot is not Doctor Strange’s strong suit.  I mean if you close your eyes you may think you are watching Iron Man again.  Jerky rich guys are born to be superheroes I guess, and Marvel still needs to find an interesting movie villain.  We can’t hope for Loki to show up in every movie.  Not that the plot or the script are bad.  It is just that we have seen them before from Marvel.

Luckily to cover up the lack of originality director Scott Derrickson amps up the visual craziness.  Doctor Strange still has Marvel’s signature look, but it has been smashed together with a neon version of Inception.  The movie looks great, always showing you something new and interesting.  If you can’t tell the movies apart based on their plot at least you will know what you are watching based off the special effects.

Benedict Cumberbatch was born to be a Marvel superhero.  He delivers the witty dialog with aplomb.  He will be a great addition to their lineup.  I can’t wait to see him stand up with the rest of the gang.  Though it is time for Marvel to try and diversify the makeup of their heroic cast.

Despite having seen this story before, at least it is a good story, and one that they were able to amp up visually.  Doctor Strange may not be the new direction Marvel needs to find to stay relevant, but at least it is an entertaining flick, and one that I can recommend to people who like Marvel’s formula.  If you are looking for something different, you may have to wait a bit longer.