Captain Marvel and Male Fragility

I didn’t watch Captain Marvel. I actively avoided the film…because I don’t like Brie Larson. I personally find her to be a boring performer who lacks any charisma. Cursory online surfing revealed many other people were also avoiding Captain Marvel, not because they don’t like Brie Larson, but probably because they don’t like women as a whole.

There was a lot of male rage directed at the “feminism,” “political correctness” etc. on display in the trailers, since a female lead was being marketed as a powerful action here. This is a tired trend at this point, with Mad Max: Fury Road, Halloween and Terminator: Dark Fate being more recent victims of male rage.

Captain Marvel was trending again recently, due to the deleted scene above. For those that can’t watch, “The Don” hits on Marvel in the most douchey way possible, even after she makes it clear she isn’t interested. She then twists his arm (literally) and takes his bike (the scene appears to be a Terminator reference).

People are complaining about this scene as if it is the only one where a main character or lead steals from someone. Off the top of my head, Logan also gave us Wolverine stealing cigars. However, the hypocritical red pill or black pill (incel) idiot will see this scene as another example of how women have more rights and terrorize men.

From the way some people described this scene e.g. “HOW IS SHE A HERO. SHE STOLE FROM A RANDOM GUY!” I thought that this scene would show Marvel assaulting a guy that was just minding his own business. The fact that some men are so upset by this reeks of red pill rage. The men upset by this scene are probably upset since they have been The Don at one point or another. They might view Marvel’s reaction as a lame feminist power fantasy, but they also view the situation as a nightmare since they have probably interacted with girls who wished that they could use their super strength to get a creep away from them.

The outrage over this scene is a textbook example of toxic masculinity.

Bridging The Divide

I recently got back in touch with a former coworker, who I was reminded of due to my newfound desire to enter the comic book industry. I knew that this coworker had previous experience attempting to pitch comics to publishers, and also had experience teaming with an artist. As I continue my writing, I have been working on getting a short story published, so that I can have a published credit before seeking an agent. Additionally, I wanted to see if writing comics, or possibly turning one of my books into a comic book, could be a way in. My friend informed me most comic book companies want art and writing submitted as a package, meaning they won’t accept writing by itself and pair writers up with an artist. Nevertheless, his info still led me to two comic book publishers who accept writing, who I will try to reach out to.

The more interesting part of the conversation actually didn’t come from our discussion of writing comics. My friend brought up the point about the Big Two comics (Marvel and DC) making less money off their comics since people don’t like the diversity revamps. As my friend saw it, the revamps were just a politically correct move. His comment also brought up an assumption that many conservatives make: That diversity and talent are mutually exclusive. It turns out he never read any of the new revamps. I told him the X-23 (successor to Wolverine) stories were good and he was surprised. I also explained that these “revamps” are not reboots that erase the original e.g. Miles Morales to Peter Parker. They are just the tales of a successor, and why does the successor have to be another straight while male instead of someone who represents an America that’s become more diverse since the original was created?

When I spoke to this coworker before, I never picked up on their thoughts about these issues. We talked about movies, comics and video games but the more political side of them never emerged. I genuinely don’t think this person is racist, like the alt-right ilk, but he does have some assumptions and thoughts in common with them. He isn’t a Trump supporter but our conversation, which went on to cover a wide range of political topics, revealed how someone who genuinely seems enlightened can still take on negative talking points e.g. liberals are hysterical.

I was actually able to get my friend to see things differently. I began to wonder if our conversation would have gone the same way if we discussed this issue online as strangers. The level of respect I had for him, and hopefully him for me, led us to really take the time to read the other’s argument (communicating via text) instead of rushing to the keyboard to snap back. Would that have happened online? I make a conscious effort to understand the point someone is making, so that I don’t respond with some trite straw-man argument. However, I have debated with many people who don’t seem to go through the same process.

Is there a chance that some of the people I’ve argued with online, who clearly didn’t understand or read the arguments I was making, would have paid closer attention to what I was saying if we knew each other? I don’t want to get too idealistic. I am sure there are still plenty of people who would be rude and stupid if you met them in person, but online communication tends to bring out the worst in people due to the anonymity or the distance it gives us. Maybe 90% of people I have argued with online would be trolls in real life too, but maybe there’s 10% who would be able to try to see where I’m coming from if we met in person or knew each other beforehand.

Just a little positivity going into the weekend.

Luke Cage Season 2 Thoughts/Review

Note: Obviously, this review will have spoilers for any Marvel Netflix show that preceded it.

The first season of Luke Cage had a lot to love. The music, the setting, the portrayal of black America and Cottonmouth. Then there were also some things to loathe, like Colter’s range as an actor and Diamondback. After the somewhat underwhelming Defenders and second season of Jessica Jones, I couldn’t help but wonder if the Marvel Netflix shows had peaked after their first seasons. The second season of Daredevil began strong, with The Punisher stealing the spotlight, but the second half is pretty forgettable.

I was worried that the second outing for Luke Cage would continue the Marvel Netflix trend of disappointment, but I am happy to see that was not the case. The ending was a disappointment, and I may just need to do a spoiler review or post to discuss that properly. However, the disappointing ending here only comes in the latter half of the 13th and final episode, as opposed to the slow death that the first season suffered once Cottonmouth died.

This season picks up after Defenders, with the series making reference to Daredevil’s death (if you’ve seen the post-credits scene from Defenders you know Matt is still alive). Luke Cage’s status as Harlem’s Hero has turned him into a full-blown celebrity and the season brings up all of the issues that come with this attention. Cage is going steady with Claire and Misty Knight is back on the job after losing her arm in Defenders. Mariah and Shades are still in power, even though Defenders said they skipped town once Cage went to jail.

Mariah and Shades are both trying to go legit, trying to sell their guns while planning an investment that can bring in clean money. To start, Shades is arguably the breakout character of this season. His performance in the first season fluctuated between good and hammy, far too often. This time around it seems like Theo Rossi has truly entered his character’s mind. A big part of his development is tied to Comanche (Thomas Q. Jones), who we previously saw as a Seagate prisoner that attacked Luke Cage alongside Shades. Upon release, Comanche joins Shades as one of added muscle.

As I tried to pick my favourite characters from the season I realized that there were plenty to choose from, even among the characters who only appear in a few episodes. Comanche is one, Dontrell “Cockroach” Hamilton is another, Raymond “Piranha” Jones is another. The characters come and go, but their appearances don’t hamper the plot. Each one contributes to the end game since they are all tied to the main villain. Mariah is a scene-stealer but a new villain overshadows her.

Bushmaster comes to Harlem, straight out of Kingston, carrying a grudge against Mariah and wishing to take Harlem for himself. Mustafa Shakir brings the character to life, embodying power, menace and empathy. However, his performance does bring up one issue of the season. The Jamaican accents could use some work.

Shakir’s is the best one we hear, but even his is spotty in places. His right-hand man is brutal at times, Bushmaster’s Uncle sounds Nigerian at times, and don’t get me started on the other Jamaican characters. Some of the characters sound alright when they speak a word or two, but end up butchering the accent more when they have to string multiple sentences together. Shakir’s performance is somewhat hampered by his accent but it wasn’t enough to ruin it fortunately. However, hearing him and other characters speak just made me wonder why no Jamaican actors were selected for the parts, especially since Jamaicans feature so heavily this season. It’s not as if the actors we got were so marketable that replacing them wasn’t practical.

Despite the accents, I did love the attention given not only to black America, but also the black America composed of first or second-generation immigrants. Like the first season, the show isn’t afraid to touch on issues that are often deemed “divisive’ nowadays. It’s Mariah who brings up Jamaica’s reputation as a place for “Marley, marijuana and murder” and its enslavement to the World Bank. Bushmaster’s powers are also rooted in Jamaican lore and history.

It may be a spoiler, but Bushmaster doesn’t leave us halfway through the season and it’s interesting to see his conflict with Mariah play out. While Cage would like to have them eliminate each other, Bushmaster’s tactics tend to draw attention or leave other people in the crossfire. I have read some articles criticizing Cage as the most dull part of the season, and I didn’t want those articles to sway my own opinion. Cage may be the least interesting, but I don’t think he’s dull. This season features him reuniting with his father and also facing his own demons, with his newfound brutality creating a rift between him and Claire. I also feel like Colter’s performance has actually improved with each series, from season one to Defenders, to season two.

Colter always played the chill, charismatic role well. He struggled when asked to do more. There are still moments of that here, especially when he’s paired with an actress like Rosario Dawson, but I will say that overall I was pleasantly surprised.

Another thing I was happy to see is the evolution of the fight against Cage. When thugs confront him in the first episode they explain they “still have to try” taking him down. Weapons such as grenades also make an appearance, showing that crime bosses are realizing bullets could be useless. Cage also says that people are still tempted to “see if they myth is real,” since they might think his bulletproof status is the work of urban legends. However, there are still moments when the fight scenes can get dull or repetitive in season 2 since they just feature yet another scene of bullets bouncing off. Which is why the Bushmaster fights were a welcome change. Bushmaster has the strength to take Cage on hand-to-hand (without a terrible suit like the one Diamondback wore) and also uses a flashy capoeira style to do it.

The last episode is disappointing due to a decision that Cage makes in the last half-hour. There is an explanation given for the decision but it ends up feeling insufficient when Cage’s behaviour is also factored in. The change in his character feels inconsistent with what we saw leading up to it and just ends up being a disappointing destination for the lead.

Overall though, this second season is the first one to truly deliver.

Netflix MCU Rankings

  1. Daredevil
  2. Jessica Jones
  3. Luke Cage Season 2
  4. The Punisher
  5. Daredevil Season 2
  6. Defenders
  7. Jessica Jones Season 2
  8. Iron Fist

Deadpool 2 Review

Needless to say, this film carried a lot of hype and a lot of expectations. The first film was a profane, 4th wall-breaking breath of fresh air. Sometimes it is tough to follow up on a film like that, since part of its appeal is the novelty. Can it really be as entertaining the second time around? While I think I prefer the first film over this one, I will say that Deadpool 2 is a worthy sequel.

Deadpool follows the Merc With A Mouth as he tries to save Russell Collins a.k.a Firefirst (Julian Dennison) from time-travelling Cable. As you may be able to guess from the trailer, Cable is on the hunt for the teenaged mutant due to something that Firefist does in the future. It is tough to describe this film’s plot well without spoiling too much, since there is an important inciting incident early on that shapes Wade’s character for the rest of the film. You may have heard that Deadpool 2 has more heart than the previous one, and I have to agree.

I had some worries going into this film due to the director switch, and chatter from some friends worried about the film possibly trying to do too much with its addition of X-Force and Cable. However, I tried to cut out all the chatter from other people and go into this film with an blank slate. I will say that this film is darker than the first. While the first film undoubtedly has dark moments, such as Wade’s transformation scene, the darker moments are more prevalent in this one. That was no problem for me though. Hating on anything dark is fashionable nowadays (Wade takes a stab at the DC Universe) but darkness is fine if it fits the story. Deadpool isn’t always happy-go-lucky in the comics and I am glad to see that the creative team behind this film realize that. Deadpool 2 still does a better job balancing its serious moments and humour than most of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films do. Humour is always more rewarding when it isn’t overused.

The performances are great all-around. Ryan Reynolds continues to embody Deadpool, whether in an irreverent moment or a serious one. Dennison is a newcomer to Hollywood but his previous experience in New Zealand’s film scene is evident. His character is probably the most interesting one in the film: A young mutant whose powers make him a danger to himself and those around him. Dennison’s story also brings up the theme of abuse, which actually becomes important to the plot instead of being something tacked on. Zazie Beetz got plenty of hate online since fans didn’t want a black actress playing Domino. Some of the hate came from just from the announcement of her casting, while some criticism came after the look was revealed. Sorry but I am unsympathetic to the people who complained simply about a black actress since I bet some of them belong to the same horde who vehemently defend whitewashing. The double standard in people’s reactions to whitewashing vs blackwashing annoys me to no end.

Anyways, Beetz is arguably the film’s breakout star and I think there may be a lot of new Domino fans after the film. Brolin puts in a great performance as Cable, but I almost feel like his character could have had a bit more development or screen time. The writers also did a good job of getting some humour out of Cable’s interactions with other characters, without neutering his character like the MCU films consistently do with theirs. Cable’s motivations are clear and tragic, but maybe Brolin’s performance just left me wanting a bigger role. Nevertheless, I’m excited to see where they go with the character from here. The supporting cast also returns, with Karan Soni’s Dopinder having one of the best moments in the film.

For those worried that all the members of X-Force would drag the plot down too much, let’s just say the writers did a good job of handling the characters’ screen time. Leading up to the third act, Wade Wilson is seeking a sense of purpose and belonging, or more importantly a family. Through Russell, Domino, Colossus etc. he begins to find that and evolves as a character. The main conflict arises between Deadpool and Cable since Deadpool wishes to try and save Russell, while Cable wants to kill him. This conflict is handled well throughout but there is another villain introduced just prior to the third act. For the nerds (like me) who follow the online chatter, you may already have an idea who the villain is. The villain comes across as an entity introduced just so that Colossus and the other heroes have something to fight, while Wade and Cable try to deal with Firefist. The villain’s lines are sparse, and if you don’t know his background in the comics you’re left in the dark here. Additionally the villain sports some of the weakest CGI in the film.

Speaking of CGI, the villain isn’t the only person to feature some bad work at times. Colossus and Cable’s effects, from the arm to his weapons, seemed to get the lion’s share of the budget. Meanwhile, a lot of other scenes, from car crashes and so on looked very cartoonish in comparison. The budget was nearly doubled for this film and I can’t help but think some more practical effects could have worked wonders, if possible. Then again, director Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) has said CGI is faster and cheaper. However, I feel like some of the effects in the film were not worthy of a $110 million budget, regardless of how resources got divided. Then again, the budget displayed might include some costs for actors, marketing etc.

Leitch may not have balanced all of the film’s pieces as well as Tim Miller, but I will say that the John -Wick-esque choreography is a welcome addition. While Deadpool 2 might sport a weaker third act, due to a tacked-on villain, the third act also has some of the film’s best moments. Deadpool 2 manages to fit in another 80’s tribute that is actually more touching than half the moments I’ve been forced to watch in sappy rom-coms. The film can make you laugh but also provides a lot more. I’ll see it again in theatres if I can, but until then I highly recommend it. If it wasn’t for the addition of the tacked-on third act villain I could probably say I liked this film more than the original.

Venom Trailer Thoughts

Tom Hardy is one of my favourite actors, and Venom is one of my favourite comic book villains. So you might be wondering why I’m a little late giving my thoughts on the latest trailer.

Despite the lead and the character, the film never interested me much because it is a solo film on a villain (or anti-hero in this case) that works better when paired with a hero. Venom was interesting to me because of his link to Spider-Man. The symbiote (judging by the trailer I have been pronouncing it wrong or the director insisted on pronouncing it wrong) felt rejected by Spider-Man and found another host. In many adaptations, Eddie Brock has his own reasons to hate Spider-Man, creating an interesting scenario where he and the symbiote have a mutual enemy. Once Venom’s origin is stripped of his connection to Peter Parker/Spider-Man, a big part of what made the character interesting to me is gone. Therefore, the film doesn’t hold as much appeal, regardless of who plays Eddie. Although people may feel like The Joker overshadowed Batman in The Dark Knight, The Joker needed Batman as a foil in order to truly shine. The below scene is the perfect example.

The trailer itself generated some more excitement from me, after a very lacklustre teaser. I understand that teasers don’t show much but there have definitely been better teasers than whatever Venom gave us. Off the top of my head, The Raid 2 comes to mind. Great images that get our attention with only a cursory look at the plot.

So first, the plot seems somewhat generic in comparison to what we could get if Venom was simply in a Spider-Man film. Reporter goes against evil businessman… we can see where this will go. I’ve never been into car or motorcycle chases much so most of the action that this trailer focused on didn’t interest me that much. The most visually appealing scenes were actually the simplest ones, when the symbiote defends Brock against the intruders in his apartment. The big reveal at the end is a moneyshot of course, but the effects look like they need to be cleaned up. According to some articles, a full-suited Venom isn’t even in the film for that long but Tom Hardy has debunked these rumours according to IMDB trivia.

The symbiote voice is done by Hardy as well, and actually reminded me a lot of Dr. Claw from Inspector Gadget. Not too much to say otherwise. I doubt I’ll check this movie out in theaters, probably save it for online. Sorry Hardy.