*****Spider Man: No Way Home: Movie Review

 In my mind the movie of the year 2021.  It is the movie that made the most money, and the movie I have enjoyed the most.  The three Spider Men is just cool and brings back so many fond memories.  This is the funnest movie of 2021 and the highest grossing.  You have Spider Man (Tom Holland) interaction with Dr. Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and also interacting with MJ (Zendaya).  In addition to past Spider Man versions making an appearance; you also have the bad guys, Green Goblin, Electro, Octavius, Dr Connors/Lizard, and Sandman.  This movie is a good time.  It is no wonder it has made loads of money at the box office.  I wish the Oscars would wake up and reward the movies people like.  The only Oscar nomination is best visual effects.  The Oscars have become less relevant as they focus too much on someone's definition of woke (not mine).  But this movie has it all, nostalgia, love, heartache and action.

In Theaters: Avengers: *****End Game (2019)

Avengers: End Game:  This is the most anticipated movie in some time; and it more than lives up to all the hype.  From Thanos’ “I am inevitable” to “I am Iron Man” and all the ride along the way, this movie is great.  Of course the thing about this movie is having all the characters together.  There is too much here to give a plot summary, but suffice it to say this movie entertains and appeals to Avenger fans, as well as Guardians of the Galaxy and Dr. Strange.  It has all the characters taking part in their turn.  There is a part during the major battle where all the women are going to protect the glove and it just seemed to miss as tried to make a politically correct statement.  And then of course the fumbled the glove anyway as Thanos had said, :He is inevitable.”  However that is my only complaint.  A couple of our major Avenger friends will not be coming back it appears, but there are plenty others who are ready for the continued Avenger Universe, including Peter parker and Spider man later this year.  This is a must see.  In fact it warrants going back and seeing all the Avenger movies.

Robert Downey Jr.     Tony Stark/ Iron Man
Chris Evans                Steve Rogers/ Captain America
Mark Ruffalo               Bruce Banner / Hulk
Chris Hemsworth        Thor
Scarlett Johansson     Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
Jeremy Renner            Clint Barton / Hawkeye
Paul Rudd                   Scott Lang / Ant-Man
Benedict Cumberbatch  Doctor Strange
Chadwick Boseman    T'Challa / Black Panther
Brie Larson                  Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel
Tom Holland                Peter Parker / Spider-Man
Karen Gillan                 Nebula
Zoe Saldana                Gamora
and many more
Marvel Universe

Christmas Movie: ****^ Dr Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)

****^ Dr Seuss’ The Grinch (2018)  I think this is the best of the theater Christmas movies this year.  I especially like the character of Cindy-Lou Who (Cameron Seeley) who is determined to capture Santa Clause so she can make a special request for her mother for Christmas.  Her personality really shows in this animated format.  Of course The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) shows up for Christmas, taking the tree so he can repair it.  In truth he has taken everyone’s Christmas.  This was a very enjoyable remake.  There are bits with the reindeer that are fun, and the relationship between the Grinch and his neighbor.  

Movie Review: ****Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Here is a movie that combines two film dynasties, the Avengers and Defenders of the Galaxy.  Even with their combined strength, they still are a bit inadequate to confront Thanos (Josh Brolin voice) and his hoards.  Thanos is on a quest to retrieve the five stones with which he will have all power: The Power Stone, The Reality Stone, The Space Stone, The Time Stone and The Mind Stone.  He destroys Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) hammer in retrieving the Space Stone.  He is successful in getting three stones, but the Mind Stone is in Vision’s (Paul Bettany) forehead, and the Time Stone is kept safe by Dr. Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) deceptions.  Thanos is gathering the stones to complete his life-long task of killing half the people in the universe, and thereby eliminating hardship and hunger.    Thanos is the father of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Nebula (Karen Gillam).  Gamora and Dr. Strange have the best chance of stopping Thanos.  There is a confrontation with Thanos on his home world with Iron Man ((Robert Downey Jr.), Spider Man (Tom Holland),  Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff),  At the same time Thor is off to forge a new hammer.  He travels with Groot (Vin Diesel voice), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper voice).  Others prepare for a confrontation on the Black Panther world of Wakanda.  They are joined by many as the attempt to destroy the Mind Stone without killing Vision.  These are: Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Don Cheadle-War Machine, Chadwick Boseman-Black Panther, Elizabeth Olsen-Scarlet Witch, Anthony Mackie-Falcon, Sebastian Stan-Winter Soldier.  There are many more in this epic battle.  I must admit, the ending of this movie left me with a bad feeling of despair.  Thor battles hard, but with all five stones in place, Thanos has unlimited power.

Marvel Universe

Movie Review: ***^Doctor Strange (2016)

Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a neurosurgeon.  He is in a bad car accident, and after he cannot keep his hands still, and surgery is out of the question.  He finally turns to Eastern medicine, and meets the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) who not only teacher him how to control his hands, but how to use his mind to create different realities and how to great fire weapons.  Turns out some of the Ancient One's students have turned against her, and joined forces with an evil creature from the Thor world.  To fix things, Doctor Strange must first confront this being.
I didn't really care for this movie, neither did Tony who watched it with me.  I really couldn't get into it and it seemed confusing.

Movie Review: ****^ Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013)

This movie is very good, and brings Khan back to the Star Trek series.  Khan saved Star Trek (as an enterprise) at one point after the first movie did not do very well.  Khan brought some excitement to Star Trek, and it kept going from there.
This movie works because the enemy is within, and catches everyone off guard.  Khan (Benedict Cumberbatch) is just as evil as the original Khan played by Ricardo Montalban.  However he is retaliating, which is what sets him off to become and enemy of The Federation.  From Wrath of Khan, the are a genetically engineered race, who were put into a frozen state.  Khan was found, and unfrozen.  The rest of the crew were put into torpedoes to be shot at the Klignons.  The battle follows the first Khan, loosely, with a few twists.  Perhaps the hype of Caleb was a bit overblown, but I can see why he said best ever.  This movie is very emotional, and yes Spock is emotional in his way.  It is also just as miraculous as the original series.  Chris Pine stars as Kirk, and Zachary Quinto as Spock.
Highly recommended.