• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Film
  • DVD
  • Editorial
  • About ScreenFish

ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • News
  • OtherFish
  • Podcast
  • Give

Arnaldo Reyes

The Mandalorian: This is The Way

November 21, 2019 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

Last week, I had the honor and privilege of attending the red carpet premiere of The Mandalorian. It was a fan event that had a Q&A in the beginning, and then a screening of the first three episodes.

First, a little backstory as to how this came about. I love Star Wars, and I also love giving back. Two years ago, I decided to merge those two loves together and started my journey out of my comfort zone into costuming. Fast forward to a year ago, and I became an official member of the Mandalorian Mercs Costume Club. I’ve had the privilege to do many charity works from hospitals, orphanages, charity walks, etc. The smile on the children’s faces is the only reward or perk that I need. Last week, however, the reward was an invitation by Disney/Lucasfilm to attend the premiere. Along with many fellow Mandos, we descended upon Hollywood Blvd at the El Capitan Theatre where we stood along the red carpet as stars and those who worked on the show arrived. It was an experience that can’t be described.

The Mandalorian isn’t like any Star Wars film before it (of course, it’s not a film but a series). Werner Herzog said it best at the premiere when he stated that, “This is the birth of a new mythos within the already established mythology.” As a fan of what the Mandalorian culture has been in Star Wars lore, having a live action series centered around that (and no longer be referred to as Boba Fett, who isn’t even a Mandalorian) had me filled with excitement and fear. Will it be done right? How will a series work? Will there be more and simply focus on just one? Of course, most of those fears were quelled when I heard Jon Favreau was working alongside George Lucas’ padawan himself, Dave Filoni (The Clone Wars, Star Wars: Rebels, Star Wars: Resistance). For Dave to move from animation to live action, taking all he learned from George and pass it on to this show, gave me peace about it.

Of course, this isn’t a rambling fan boy article. So, what about the show itself? Well, all those fears were erased within the first episode. The Mandalorian has arrived and is everything that it should be. Herzog wasn’t wrong in the notion that this is essentially creating a new mythos within the mythology that already exists.

And that’s what makes it even greater.

The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) in Lucasfilm’s THE MANDALORIAN. Photograph by Francois Duhamel/Lucasfilm Ltd

There is no question that the fandom can’t come to agreement with how Star Wars should expand (or if it should at all). The reality is that it should expand but it shouldn’t be based on what many fans wanted from it: the expanded universe (now known as ‘legends’). The Mandalorian, though giving fan service, feels fresh and new. The only knock against it that I feel is the run time…. I need more! It’s amazing that, for a character that never takes his “bucket” off, one can really see his emotions through his body language. Pedro Pascal works the camera in a way where you can tell if he’s frustrated, relieved, curious, angry and more. You get a glimpse into Mandalorian culture, how they are the best warriors in the galaxy and the most feared. As one of my favorite Marvel heroes say, ‘they are the best at what they do.’

WARNING SPOILERS

By now, the first two episodes have aired and, as I said, I saw the first three. I won’t focus too much on the first two episodes but be warned. This is about Episode 3 and how it eclipsed all of my expectations by signifying what makes Mandalorians the best. In Episode 1, we see The Mandalorian get an advance payment of Beskar, the metal that Mandalorians forge their armor from. It is unique to them and is part of a war-filled history. Some can be centuries old as it is past down form generation to generation. When the Great Purge took place, the Empire stole the Beskar. So, it makes sense for a former Imperial to have some in his possession after the fall of the Empire. Beskar is as rare as the Mandalorians themselves in this time period. It’s what made the first episode so significant to me. Yes, the rescue and the baby Yoda (no, it’s not Yoda) sequence was amazing and the Jawas in Episode 2 were hilarious. But it’s the moment after The Mandalorian gets the Beskar that really drew my attention. It took me three times watching it to realize, as The Mandalorian makes his way to The Armorer, that this hidden alley is filled with other Mandalorians.

That brief viewing and brief encounter brings us to Episode 3. The one thing about Star Wars is that it reveals the heart of a character. With Han, we see a scoundrel and smuggler who’s heart was good, noble, hero and a friend. We see that the good can be tempted and sometimes fall to the dark side, but they can be redeemed. The Mandalorian captures just that in this third episode. You see the real heart of a man who’s face you never see. You see how much the tribe means to him. Most importantly though, we learn how much his past makes his present and future important. Mandalorians are in hiding because the tribe is more important than the individual. But, sometimes, you have to make a choice that risks that very thing. For The Mandalorian, he could have easily went about his business. But that is neither his way, nor his tribe’s way. To do good, and to protect the foundlings (I have my own theories on that but won’t get into it now) stands above all. To him, a foundling isn’t just those around him, hidden from view. Knowing that they would be willing to kill the child for whatever devious plot they had, he saw himself and his fellow foundlings in the child that he brought in. His decision to go back and (quite awesomely) rescue him put all he had accomplished at risk. In fact, through his actions, he basically threw it all away.

But here’s what family is really about. What sets Mandalorians apart and has always appealed to me, is that it isn’t just the warrior spirit. It is that sense of community and family. When all hope seemed to be fading and effort lost, his family arrived, throwing all they had worked to protect away. Jetpacks, missile launchers, and a Heavy Weapons Gatling gun firing while hovering in the air warrior showed off all that is amazing about Mandalorians.

This episode felt like a season finale, yet we still have 5 more episodes to go. I’m not sure how they are going to top it but one thing is for certain: The Mandalorian is proving to be worth all the hype that it was made out to be. To see that pay off in theatre with some of my Aliit (family in Mando’a) is an experience one can never forget. The Mandalorian isn’t just about a lone warrior making his way through the galaxy with a youngling in tow (some of the great old Samurai film tropes). It is about family, loyalty, duty, and fighting evil even if it costs everything. This is the way!

The Mandalorian airs on Disney+ and releases new episodes every Friday.

Filed Under: Disney+, Reviews, SmallFish Tagged With: Baby Yoda, Disney, Pedro Pascal, Star Wars, The Mandalorian

Has Disney Killed Star Wars? Episode II

August 29, 2019 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

Somewhere, in a galaxy far far away, in an outpost called Anaheim, there is a disturbance in the force. Well, maybe it was just convention food for some people. D23 Expo has come and gone and with it a whole slew of breaking news and announcements and unsurprisingly their two big franchises really made an impact. Star Wars and Marvel left the weekend in a buzz, tho it is the franchise that many loud social media folks claim Disney has killed that really came out on top.

In Part One of my “Disney hasn’t killed Star Wars” take, we focused more on the misconception of Galaxy’s Edge and this past summer at Disneyland. To do a quick follow up, I have now been to Batuu two more times. Last week, blackouts were lifted on the many annual passholders with “lower tier” passes. I was there Sunday night. It wasn’t my first time going late in the day and in the parking garage I normally park in the third level. This time around, parking was only available at the very top level. Disneyland was jammed pack, thanks in part to no more blackouts and the swarm of tourists that made their way to D23 Expo. At Galaxy’s Edge, it was swarming with guests, the most I’ve seen all summer (again thanks to the above). And tho a small sample size, it helps reinforce my earlier take, that Galaxy’s Edge isn’t a bust but rather Disneyland is as it always has been, an annual passholders park. Meanwhile, Disney World has opened it’s platforms and begun transport to Batuu as of 5 AM Thursday 8/29/19. Within an hour, the area was filled to capacity and the wait time for the Falcon ride was at 5 hours. Of course, the detractors will say give it time. But at least for now, the rumors of Star Wars demise under Disney have been greatly exaggerated.

So now for part two, and in comes the aforementioned D23 Expo. We went into the weekend expecting announcements, trailers, timelines, etc. We were greeted with that and the buzz is going to last a while.  There were two trailers released, and as of this writing, one of them has generated 15 million views in 3 days while the other 12 million views within 24 hours. A week ago, the trailer for season two of Star Wars Resistance was dropped and it has nearly 500k views. Not bad for a dead franchise. A Canon timeline was released that also splits into three sections, Age of Republic, Age of Rebellion, and Age of Resistance. But all the hype from D23 is surrounded within three things.

The Mandalorian

The first official trailer for The Mandalorian dropped and the buzz around the Disney+ series is high. The first ever live action series follows the exploits of a bounty hunter in a time period after Episode 6 and before Episode 7. It brings the grittiness of Rogue One in an old western type of feel series that from the trailer looks to be drama filled and action packed. The stunning action sequences in this trailer leaves one wanting more. Having seen more footage at Star Wars Celebration in Chicago back in April, I can tell you that this series alone is worth the Disney+ subscription. As Mandalorian fan, I gladly speak for all of us Mando’s that finally, the time has come. This will be like nothing ever seen or done in Star Wars, and we can’t wait. Starring Pedro Pascal, Gina Carrano, Carl Weathers and Taika Waititi with show runners Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni, The Mandalorian comes at launch with Disney+ November 12.

Hello There

Rumors started swirling in the past few weeks that Ewan McGregor was in talks to reprise his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi for a new Disney+ series. With no confirmation from Lucasfilm or Disney, or Ewan himself; these were taken with a grain of Crait salt. But Ewan didn’t disappoint, and in a kind of dramatic fashion, showed up at D23 and was asked live on stage if he would reprise his role, to which was an emphatic yet. Obi-Wan series will take place after Episode III and focus on Obi-Wan’s time on Tattooine. It is before the Star Wars Rebels animated timeline, so unfortunately no Darth Maul. It will be interesting how they put this together considering the Empire was never aware of his whereabouts.

Dark Rey

After news broke of the trailer shown at D23, the interwebs were abuzz anticipating the public release the following Monday. And it didn’t take long after it released for it to be the #1 trending (and still is on YouTube over 24 hours later). The trailer was a nice tribute to the entire Skywalker saga. Starting with scenes from the original trilogy, to the prequels to then the new. Of course, a few things stood out. C3PO with red glowing eyes? Were those Imperial and not First Order Star Destroyers? Rey vs Kylo on what looks to be broken pieces of the RoTJ Deathstar. And of course, Dark Rey! Most likely a dream sequence, but it leaves plenty for imagination (be careful with that).

Star Wars is certainly not dead. Toy sales may be down, but the hype is still real. The dangers as mentioned in part one lies in social media. Already theory pages and videos have millions of views just because of the recent trailer. These all lay the mental trap of setting oneself up for failure. I’ll stick to my two go to, The Star Wars Show (from Lucasfilm themselves) and The Rexin Around Show. I’ll even throw in the Rogue Rebels Podcast, a fun family that just love Star Wars. But like before, enjoy what you enjoy, look forward to what’s coming. Star Wars will never die as long as it continues to reach different generations of fans.

And for those that were looking for Clone Wars Season 7 news, not much was given, except that it will premiere in February (that is the collective sadness of fans like me who were hoping it would be back at Disney+ launch).

Bright Suns and May The Force Be With You!

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Clone Wars, Disney, Disneyland, Ewan McGregor, Obi Wan Kenobi, Star Wars, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, The Mandalorian

Has Disney Killed Star Wars?

August 20, 2019 by Arnaldo Reyes 1 Comment

Has Disney killed Star Wars?

Ok, so before we get into it, let’s start with this… No, I don’t think Star Wars is dead. I’ve been a fan for almost my entire 38 years on this planet and I don’t recall Star Wars being as big as it is today (though internet and social media helps).

Star Wars is a franchise that transcends generations. The unique thing about Star Wars unlike others (Marvel and DC Comics, for example) is that every generation that has fallen in love with Star Wars has done so differently. My introduction to the galaxy was through the original trilogy. I know some who’s introduction were the prequels. Others fandom began with The Clone Wars animated series. Since then, you’ve had Star Wars: Rebels, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and, of course, the new trilogy. These aren’t the same characters rehashed or rebooted every few years to keep their interest alive. Star Wars has always gone the route of expanding their universe by adding to it as opposed to rebooting. When you do that, not everyone is going to be happy. I think that is something Lucas understood when he went back and made the prequels.

For me, I’m nothing special. I’m just a man, a dad, and a fan. I put on a Star Wars costumes as part of some clubs filled with crazy fans that do events for charity and fun because we love the franchise. Some of us do several events a month, which tells me Star Wars is not dead. The joy in it comes from the kids who’s faces light up when they see characters that they love face to face. Even the parents go crazy.

Why?

Because Star Wars is bigger than the negativity that the internet brings with it. Let’s be real, probably 30% of people (and I’m being generous) who watch blockbuster films actually go to sites and comment on them. Sites like Rotten Tomatoes can be manipulated on both sides of the coin that taking it seriously as the real thoughts of every filmgoer is a little comical. Star Wars, and pop culture in general, are like politics these days where one tends to only listen to or view those ideas which align with their thoughts and believe that that is the only right answer.

So, has Disney really killed Star Wars?

It’s two years later and people are still posting on rotten tomatoes new reviews on how bad The Last Jedi was. Solo “bombed” in theatres (I’m sorry, but general public isn’t interested in Han’s origin so I wasn’t surprised). And now the biggest indictment, Galaxy’s Edge is being called a bust because it doesn’t reference the Original Trilogy and therefore no one wants to visit. Without rehashing the films, I’ll stick to the Galaxy’s Edge but also let you know again, no…Disney has not killed Star Wars. If anything, social media is what has “killed” it.

I live in Southern California, and I’ve been to Galaxy’s Edge three times. I finally got an annual pass to Disneyland (thanks in part to my wonderful co-workers in my 9-5) and the main reason is Galaxy’s Edge. Each time I’ve been there, the area is filled with people checking it out (photo above). The Millennium Falcon ride since its opening has consistently had the longest wait line right there with Hyperspace Mountain. Star Tours has seen an uptick in riders since Galaxy’s Edge has opened as well. So if these things are true, then why is attendance down? It clearly is because “Disney killed Star Wars and didn’t include anything from the Original Trilogy”. Simply put again, NO! There are many factors, some of which are: Prices went up, CA international tourism is down (mainly from the Chinese market due to political reasons), only half of Galaxy’s Edge is open, Disneyland is not Disney World, half of its yearly attendance is annual passholders and more than half of those passholders are blacked out until September. These are just a few factors, none of which has to do with the land itself. Majority of reviews and fan reactions of the land itself is positive (I know, something you don’t see often). The reality is though, we don’t like positivity as a society. Negativity sells and that is also what is the loudest.

Why Social Media and not Disney is “killing” Star Wars

When you boil it all down, social media is the real culprit. Listen, Disney and Lucasfilm were never going to please the entire fan base. As I said above, Star Wars has transcended many generations that have fallen in love with it differently. Believe it or not, there are people out there that like the prequels more than the originals. There is a younger generation that would pick Finn, Poe, Rey over Luke, Han and Leia (gasp). There are people that created their own stories for 40 years in their heads that was never going to be fulfilled. It’s the perils of having such a large gap in time in films. There are fans that only know the films and don’t know anything else. If you dig, you will see that today, some of the more popular characters have never even seen live action (Ahsoka Tano, Thrawn, Ventress). If you go through YouTube, you’ll find thousands upon thousands of videos with theories where some even claim to have “inside sources”. I remember leading up to The Last Jedi I followed one and fell into the trap of letting the theories feel real. None of it panned out of course. But that’s a small example really. Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, podcasts, and anything else you can think of you will find a mountain load of stories and theories that if not careful will fill a story in your head that will never pan out. It’s rare to find shows that walk that line of both loving all things Star Wars while still being brave and willing enough to criticize that which needs to be criticized. One I love is The Rexin Around show podcast (on YouTube as well). I highly recommend them if looking for overall positivity.

Social media can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. The negativity stands out the most and on the surface it would definitely look like based on it, Star Wars is slowly dying. But I counter that with the idea to actually check store shelves. Outside of characters that no one asked for to be in toys, the sections sell out fast. Clothing continues to sellout. The hype surrounding The Mandalorian and Clone Wars season 7 on Disney+ is high. Star Wars Celebration nearly sold out Comic-Con style in just a few hours (the only thing you can find is Thursday and Sunday passes). Lucasfilm is still operated by the people George put in place, the dream is still there. My advice, love what you love and keep it moving. Star Wars isn’t and shouldn’t be a one size fits all franchise. They will never please all and they shouldn’t be held to a standard that they can never realistically achieve. Love the expanded universe, great for you. You are more Original Trilogy than anything else? Bravo. Love the video games more, awesome. Are the animated shows your cup of blue milk, as you wish. And if the new trilogy is yours, then save what you love. We don’t need to like it all, and we can still be a great fan base.  

If you made it this far down, I say to you, Bright Suns and May the Force Be With You!

Filed Under: Reviews

Spider-Man: Far From Home – Starting Over

July 7, 2019 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

The post Endgame era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is here.

After the universe changing events of Avengers: Endgame, Marvel ushers its new era with their next solo star, Spider-Man, on his own is a multi-million dollar marketing machine. Ever since Tom Holland’s first appearance as Spidey/Peter in Captain America: Civil War, he has exemplified what had been missing on screen with the character. He’s all Peter Parker and all Spider-Man at once. This film is no different.

Spider-Man: Far From Home brings together both the witty humor of Marvel and Spidey. The film’s action and visuals are stunning and provide ‘edge of your seat’ fun. The adventure and, for the most part, the story is good. Jake Gyllenhaal gives a superb performance as Mysterio and gives us a great example of being aware of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. (I mean, it is Mysterio after all.) As Matthew 7:15 reads, we need to beware because things aren’t always what they appear. In the Marvel world, with all that has gone on, it is easy to let one’s guard down, especially when you have a burden that is too hard to carry. Still, if you do fall for someone’s lies, we must have the strength to get up and trust that He who put you there believes in you and knows it is not more than you can handle.

Spider-Man in Columbia Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN: ™ FAR FROM HOME

Overall, the film offers exactly what you’d expect from Marvel–and therein lies the problem. As the first film beyond Endgame, one would expect some emotional carry over, especially considering the relationship they’d established between Tony and Peter. However, the film was a bit too much about Tony and not enough of just Peter. And as good as Gyllenhaal was, what motivates his character is the same trope as the first Spidey film and all three Iron Man films basically. By giving the same cookie cutter villain after they nailed it with Killmonger and Thanos leaves one feeling unfulfilled in a film that could (and should) be great and memorable. In a sense, this was the film to be free of the “Stark Crutch” and it partly felt it was more about Stark than Peter.

Spider-Man: Far from Home is a fun and action packed adventure and, if you love Marvel films, you’ll love it. 

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Disney, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marvel, MCU, Mysterio, spider-man, Spider-Man: Far From Home, Thanos, tom holland, Tony Stark

Captain Marvel: Nothing to Prove

June 17, 2019 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

There’s a lot to be said about longevity. Over the last ten years, Marvel Studios has released twenty-three films. Halfway through, many talked about superhero fatigue and yet, they’re still a seventeen-billion-dollar juggernaut that has fans coming out in numbers for the next wave.

As we drew closer to the much anticipated Avengers: Endgame, Marvel sent us back in time to the nineties for Marvel’s next origin film, Captain Marvel. After Infinity War, one of the biggest questions was, if Fury knew her beforehand, where was she? That question is definitely answered in this film (among others, like Fury’s lost eye). However, the film came with some early (and unwarranted) controversy. We now live in a world where taking to the interwebs and bashing a film one has not seen because of ‘made up’ reasons is okay.

Now, what about the movie itself?

First and foremost, thank you Marvel for that wonderful opening tribute. And THANK YOU STAN LEE!

As a film, Captain Marvel doesn’t land in the top five of Marvel films. It’s an above-average origin film that has funny moments and some good action scenes. Some of the CGI could have been better, but overall it is definitely a good film to watch. There are some tender and heartbreaking moments as well. Like all other origin films, Captain Marvel contains a message where the hero must find themselves and choose which path to take. This one stands out in that story because her path to get there was different. The twist is both expected and surprising at the same time. Though not perfect in terms of film making, this is easily the second most influential film Marvel has released.

The film isn’t the “social justice warrior” hogwash that “those people” will have you believe. It is, however, a film that inspires and empowers women, and rightfully so. It’s no coincidence that Marvel/Disney decided to release it on International Women’s Day. As a male, I cannot begin to fathom this era in films. But as a father to an eight-year-old young girl, I am thankful that, for her, there aren’t just princesses that need a prince or damsels in distress. My daughter now has princesses that are strong and courageous. She has leaders, Jedi, rebels and warriors in a galaxy far, far away. She has  Wonder Woman. She was warriors and tech genius in Wakanda that look like her. And she now has a Captain.

All these heroes have something in common and is what stands out in Captain Marvel. They have nothing to prove. They are strong and don’t need affirmation from men to prove it. They remind me of Queen Esther, as they are here ‘for such a time as this’. Forget the “rules” of the past. Kick open the door and present yourselves as worthy because your people, the next generation, needs you. This doesn’t mean that men are not wanted or that we are inferior. But as men we need to support and empower the women around us. The world is a better place with both strong men and women. When we value others by their own merits and not the standards that we place based on ours, we as a society can overcome.

Captain Marvel is a fun film that serves a deeper purpose than just film. Men, see it and enjoy. Appreciate that it isn’t for us, and that’s ok.

Again, THANK YOU STAN LEE….this film embodied your spirit.

Special features on the Blu-ray/Digital combo pack include commentary on the film, six deleted scenes, and a gag reel. But fans of the film will enjoy the special features about the heroine and heroes, “Becoming a Super Hero,” “Big Hero Moment,” and “The Origin of Nick Fury,” as well as a few bonuses, “The Skrulls and the Kree” and “Hiss-sterical Cat-titude.”

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Brie Larson, Captain Marvel, Disney, Disney Princess, feminism, Goose the Cat, International Women's Day, Jude Law, Marvel, MCU, Samuel L. Jackson

Avengers: Endgame

April 26, 2019 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

Eleven years, twenty-two films and a legacy that will never be matched in entertainment again. That is what Marvel Studios has accomplished leading up to the final chapter of this tale. What many believed wouldn’t last, lasted a decade. What many believed would lead to “superhero movie fatigue” culminated with a record breaking sixty million dollars for a Thursday night opening. Over eleven years, not all the films were great, but the past decade showed us that patience, casting, character-driven stories, and flat-out entertainment is sustainable in the film industry. What Marvel Studios has done probably won’t ever be replicated, not on this scale. And it all led up to this, the endgame. The final chapter in a tale that begun in 2008. The first of many end credit scenes that told us “it is all connected”.

WARNING, THIS REVIEW WILL HAVE SPOILERS. IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE FILM, DO NOT PASS THIS POINT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Three hours -just the very thought of that had the interwebs planning potty breaks and how to manage to last that long. As I’m walking out of the theater, I thought to myself, that did not feel like three hours. The film is a roller coaster of emotions: sadness, joy, optimism, shock, excitement and yes, more sadness. You will shed tears of joy, and tears of sadness. And in the end, after ten years, the film’s focus is exactly what it should be on the original Avengers.

In Endgame, the film mostly takes place five years later after the snap. The universe is not recovering as Thanos thought the universe would. It is a great portrayal of the nature of evil. You can eradicate half the universe, but evil still exists. The universe is in chaos. Tragedy, loss, hurt, and pain are not something that can easily be mended. There are two great things that if lost will destroy society and our very nature of being…Love and Hope. What Thanos took away for many, was both, and left a world worse for the change (except for Hipster Hulk, I love me some Hipster Hulk).

Oh but those two little words can move mountains. Love and Hope, that is what Endgame is about. And that is the driving force behind the Avengers. With everything we’ve seen in the MCU, it was inevitable that time travel would come into play sooner or later. How it’s handled is the key, and in this case, it was handled masterfully. It allowed the story to breathe without getting bogged down in a tangled web of loopholes. It brought about funny and touching moments. It was ambitious. To travel back in time to retrieve the stones and bring everyone back, but not to where they disappeared but rather to the current time. I thought that was very interesting. But when you think of love, it’s understandable. Let the world know what they lost, and what they gained back. Rebuild with a better understanding of love, and not take it for granted.

And of course, when they all got back, the action-packed climax was everything we expected. But most importantly, it was about the original Avengers and the passing of the torch to the others. On one side you have Thanos and on the other Cap, Thor, andIron Man. It was about them, and it needed to be about them. They gave Thanos everything they had, and when Cap was deemed worthy by Mjolnir, the eruption of the theater confirmed one’s own emotion, HOPE. And then the Russos hit you one of the greatest heroic scenes ever. A broken shield, a beaten-down Rogers, and Thanos with a army behind him. Cap rises, straps what’s left of the shield and in that moment, he represents everything he is, everything we should strive to be and everything the Avengers are about. Part of me wanted to see Cap go out like that, fighting an army and giving it all. But he didn’t have to.

As fitting as seeing the core three take on Thanos, it was even more fitting seeing the future Avengers arrive. And here we are, the Endgame. This was edge-of-your-seat, action-packed goodness. And in the middle of it was a big stamp on powerful women heroes in the MCU. This scene was nothing but pure joy and awesomeness. The women of Marvel are strong and have nothing to prove, and it showed. However, that joy quickly faded. We already had one heartbreak in the film, but this one….

“I am Iron Man.”

In 2008, before the end credits scene, before the Avengers Initiative, those were the words that sparked a universe. And it was fitting that they were the words that saved it. We knew it was coming, but we were not prepared. We knew it would happen, but we were not ready. The man who put all the pressure on himself, who finally shared that weight, in the end finally could rest. It was a job well done, good and faithful servant, now rest. Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, this is a character that can never be replaced, and I don’t think could ever be rebooted the same. The theater was quiet, but the sniffles were heard.

The End is just the Beginning

Eleven years, and now twenty-three films. But it is not over. This chapter closes, and a new era begins. New heroes, new Avengers. Can this new group carry on the spark and emotion that the others had? For now, we may not know. But has the music is playing, and that dance is finally had, we end with the message that was given to us for the past eleven years: Love and Hope.

Filed Under: Reviews

Alita: Battle Angel – The Eyes of the Soul

February 19, 2019 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

Let’s be honest, the average moviegoer probably has no interest Alita: Battle Angel… and I was one of them, when the first trailer dropped.
From the beginning, the CGI wasn’t working for me and I wasn’t sold visually on the anime-style eyes. Then, a few months ago, more trailers came out and my interest was peaked. James Cameron seems to have a way of giving us films that we may not think will work, yet end up doing so. So how does this manga series turned film actually hold up? Surprisingly, really well.
The year is 2563, and the times are apocalyptic. When Dr. Dyson Ido (Christopher Waltz), a Cyborg scientist, discovers the remains of young teenage cyborg, he takes her home and gives her a new body and a name. Little does Dr. Ido know that this discovery would change his world (and that of others) in a time where change, redemption and love are sorely needed.
Alita has a pinnochio feel to it but in a ‘cybernetic action film’ kind of way. Alita isn’t making the wrong friends but trying to discover who she used to be and who she chooses to be. Along the way, she finds that she’s more human than anyone else around her. This is what makes the film truly unique. Ironically, while most of the conversation before the film’s release conceded its use of CGI in her eyes, it’s actually in those eyes that we discover more.
There is a lot of heart in this film, and I think that’s why the story mixed with the visuals works well. In Alita, she’s more than just a cyborg. Through her we have a film where love conquers fear. Where love mends a broken heart. We find that love redeems even the greatest of sins. Alita teaches us that our upbringing does not and should not define who we are. We see that our own power is controlled by our choices. And again, that love conquers all. 1 Corinthians 13 teaches us this very lesson. We can have so much, but if we don’t have love, we have nothing. We try to seek it in all the wrong places, but sometimes, it is the most unexpected chance encounter that brings us back to love and we discover true happiness.
Alita is a film that may surprise you. It’s not only a fun flick, but also one with a lot of heart and character. Though the ending leaves much to be desired as I don’t like endings that are built for a sequel, I recommend the film. It’s a pleasant surprise and well worth it.
Alita: Battle Angel is in theatres now.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Alita, CGI, James Cameron

Solo: Love Finds a Way

May 25, 2018 by Arnaldo Reyes Leave a Comment

A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away….

Lucasfilm/Disney are now 4 films in on their revitalized Star Wars plans. The plans so far have been clear: Honor the past while looking toward the future and a new generation. Star Wars purists have had mixed reaction to the new canon, but there is no denying that the franchise is bigger today than ever before. A few years ago, they took a risk for a standalone story that fell within the timeline but introduced us to a band of new characters. Rogue One proved to be a very good to great film (or neither, depending on your view) that both felt like Star Wars but also stood on its own merit. The film worked on many levels and gave us new characters to love. It’s success certainly opened the door for more risks and standalone films.

Bring on Solo: A Star Wars Story, the next standalone film set within the timeline. Solo brings us the beginning of everyone’s favorite scruffy-looking nerf herder that helped save the universe and married the princess. The film introduces us to how Han became a smuggler, his first encounter with Chewbacca and how he got his ship from the stylish cape-wearing Lando Calrissian (and, of course, finally shows us the Kessel Run). The film itself is fast-paced, action-filled and, at times, even inspirational. However, it’s also forgettable and didn’t really knock it out of the park. It has several plot issues and character development issues that never quite move the film’s overall quality from decent to good (or even great). Solo is a heist film, mixed with a little Mad Max, set in the Star Wars world. It’s fun, but that’s about it.

“Let the past die, if you must, kill it…” Kylo Ren, Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Ren’s quote really resonates within this film. As a big Star Wars fan, I am in the camp that believes that, as much as I love nostalgia, Star Wars needs to move on from the status quo in order to last another 40 years of love, it . Rogue One got that right, understanding that we could stay in the time era as the originals and still feel new and fresh. Solo is a step backwards and mainly I believe that the issue in its execution. Outside of Donald Glover (who was amazing as Lando), the characters fell flat. It is hard to capture the essence of Harrison Ford, but Alden Ehrenreich tried and, unfortunately, fell kind of short. He just didn’t feel like Han Solo. I understand it’s hard to imitate someone else–and this is way before the scruffy nerf herder we meet in Episode IV–but everything seemed forced, trying to recapture his essence while trying to be different. There are moments where he shines, but the overall performance felt like a different character other than Han.

Going into the film, Q’ira (Emilia Clarke) was one of the characters I was most interested in seeing. To finally show Han Solo’s love interest before Leia, it seemed like there’s no better story to tell. Although their story is nothing out of the ordinary, it is the character’s development that is by far the most disappointing. From the moment we first meet her though, it seemed forced and really hard to believe. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that love is one of the most powerful forces in the universe. No matter what we’ve done or been forced to do, love finds a way. When used without conditions, love is patient, kind, forgives and gives itself up for others. Sin corrupts, and can make the heart go cold but love always penetrates deeper and burns hotter. Love even reminds us that, maybe, the “bad guy” is really good, and can change others as well. Q’ira’s arc defies this belief but, without proper development, it was hard to see how she could. (On a side note, her arc ends with a cameo appearance of a character that even canon wise, the films, books, animated shows, just doesn’t make sense in the timeline, especially if you are one who watched both The Clone Wars animated films and Star Wars: Rebels. I feel this character was nothing but fan service that did the writing a disservice.)

Still, the one character that offered a true representation of what it means not judge a person is Enfys Nest. This is the only character that I want to see more from (outside of maybe a Lando film). I want this character’s story to be told, either before or after Solo. This character was one of the most interesting parts of the film and the film leaves us wanting more of their story.

Overall, Solo: A Star Wars Story is an ok film that could have been better, but won’t rank at the top of the Star Wars franchise. In the end, it’s a fun ride with some good inspirational moments.

Filed Under: Film, Reviews, Star Wars Tagged With: Alden Ehrenreich, Chewbacca, Donald Glover, Emilia Clarke, Enfys Nest, Han Solo, Harrison Ford, Lando Calrissian, Q'ira, Solo, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Star Wars

Avengers Infinity War: The Hype is Real! (Spoiler Free)

April 28, 2018 by Arnaldo Reyes 4 Comments

It’s hard to believe when you look back at it that it has been 10 years since Marvel Studios–then on its own–embarked on a bold strategy to change cinematic storytelling as we knew it. What started in 2008 with Iron Man has evolved into what can arguably be called the standard of superhero film-making. Of course, during that time, many of the films have fallen between OK to amazing in terms of quality. Lately, the box office tallies have been record breaking (Wakanda Forever!). So, after 10 years, and the much anticipated Thanos showdown with the entire MCU, it is of no surprise that this weekend Marvel will shatter even more records. Still, the question remains whether or not the film actually lives up to the hype?

Ever since the first Avengers film, Thanos has been a lingering threat. Slowly, Marvel has moved towards the inevitable collision with the Mad Titan and we had to wait until now for, as Bobby Bouche’s mom tells him, “The chickens [to finally]come to home to roost.” I can say that, for the second film in a row, Marvel has knocked it out of the park with their villain (something they haven’t been able to do since Loki). Like Killmonger, Thanos comes off as a villain whose motive actually makes sense though in the mind of a mad man, it is insane. Josh Brolin is exceptional in this role, and we are given a character in Thanos who is not just menacing and powerful, but even almost relatable. In the midst of a high pace edge of your seat film, The Russo brothers were able to inject just enough of Thanos’ background to give us a glimpse into what makes this madman tick. If not for the fact that he wants to wipe out half the universe without remorse, one might almost feel bad for him. When Infinity War was over, I was left speechless and in awe and Thanos was a big reason as to why.

One of the questions many had going into the film is how managing all these characters in one film would work. There are some things that I question, but overall the Russo brothers did a great job in putting together a film that balanced the characters extremely well. Not an easy task, that’s for sure! There was balance between character screen time, pace, seriousness, and humor. Like most Marvel films, you find your self laughing out loud at parts, edge of your seat for some, and even tears for others. All emotions are tapped and some for the most unexpected of characters. From the ego filled banter of Tony and Dr. Strange; the camaraderie of Thor and Rocket; the respect of T’Challa and Captain America; to the relationships that take center stage of the film, each character gets a moment to shine like we know they can (even teenage Groot). My only gripe in relation to the characters has to do with a missing person, and what I consider a cop out near the end of the film. Outside of that, the film handled the balancing act very well.

From the start, this film was intense with a splash of fun added in for good measure. It truly brought the past 10 years of Marvel films together while showing us what heroism is. From the start, the heroes were over-matched and outgunned, as it should be. The children of Thanos (Black Dwarf, Proxima Midnight, Ebony Maw, and Corvis Claive) were a handful for our heroes on their own. From the beginning, we witnessed the power of Thanos. Still, similar to the scene in Captain America: The First Avenger, where a puny Steve Rogers is getting beat up and continues to get up, the heroes stood up to fight. We see that no matter what the enemy throws at us, we need to stand firm and fight. In the end, although we may be broken, battered, shattered, and feel like the world as we know it is ending, we can look to the horizon and realize there is still hope.

Avengers: Infinity War not only lives up to the hype, but I believe it may even shatter some expectations. There are story points that not even the cast knew would happen until they actually watched the film. The ending will leave the audience speechless, and some bold decisions might make some fans unhappy. However, in the end, this is what makes the film work. It stayed on point, never drifted away from what it wanted to do, and delivered what may one day be considered one of the best superhero films of all time. Avengers 4 comes out next year, and it has a lot to live up to.

Personally, I hope the Russo brothers can deliver again.

P.S. The film has no mid-credit scene. Though, there is a post-credit scene that really Marvels…

 

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Avengers, Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy, Iron Man, Loki, Thanos, Thor

Thor Ragnarok: Lies Destroy

March 13, 2018 by Arnaldo Reyes 2 Comments

The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues Phase 3 with the third solo film of Thor. The first Thor film was good, not great, but good. The second film was a big disappointment and a missed opportunity with one of Thor’s comic based greatest foes in Malekith. In Thor: Ragnarok, we get arguably the best film out of the three and Chris Hemsworth’s best performance to date. But does that make it a great film?

I guess it depends on you are as a viewer (I’ll get to that later).

At the end of Age of Ultron, we discover that Thor was in search for the Infinity Stones and the crazy dreams about the destruction of Asgard tells us what it means. This is where Ragnarok starts, as Thor gives us an introduction of what he’s been doing. Ultimately, he’s been trying to prevent Ragnarok from happening. Upon his return to Asgard, he finds Loki still pretending to be Odin and he exposes him. They then go looking for Odin who Loki put in a nursing home in New York. With the help of Dr. Strange, Thor and Loki get to Odin where the truth is revealed: Thor cannot stop Ragnarok because Hela (Cate Blanchett),the Goddess of Death, is coming. In their initial confrontation with her, they didn’t stand a chance and from there the race to stop Hela begins.

The other part of the film focuses on another Avenger who went missing after Age of Ultron, and that is Dr. Banner aka Hulk. Taking from the famed comic Planet Hulk storyline, Hulk is on a planet called Sakaar where he is a champion gladiator. Thor arrives and is forced to face him, all the while trying to escape and get back to Asgard.

As I said above, the film is the best version of Thor to date. It’s exciting and fun with great special effects and the Marvel staple of humor. It’s the type of film that shows where MCU is going, as they move towards a more ‘Guardians of the Galaxy-type’ loose fun adventure. (In fact, the opening sequence is a page out of James Gunn and the Guardians films in that it really lets you know that you’re in for a good time. The characters were great, and finally Hulk was given a personality rather than being portrayed as just a giant ape-like monster.

Of course, there are still those out there that won’t like it. I can see where many will think “nothing new here, same Marvel style film, bored of the formula, etc.” when they are looking for something different. For instance, my favorite film in the MCU is Winter Soldier because it is the one film that deviated from the formula and got it right, while others failed when they tried (Thor: The Dark World). But again, this film is extremely fun and definitely a good time for everyone.

However, and this probably the fanboy in me, I still left disappointed. Not because the film wasn’t fun, but because it left me wanting more. Hela was a formidable villain but I just didn’t get enough of her or the details of her background. I felt that I got two great stories crammed together and leaving me unsatisfied. Planet Hulk is one of the greatest Hulk stories in comics and this did it no justice. I would rather a full movie that stars this version of the Hulk (you know, the one with a personality) that details how he got to Sakaar and his rise in the gladiator world while working to liberate it. The film went too fast in parts where I wanted it to slow down and too slow in parts where I wanted it to speed up. By putting the story of Ragnarok and Planet Hulk together, we were cheated of great opportunities to flesh out the characters of Hela and Valkyrie as well as seeing Hulk as he should be and not just a mindless brute.

The one thing the film does well is in its message. Lies destroy, and Ragnarok came because of lies. In fact, most of Thor’s journey through all three films have come with him discovering the lies and sins of his father coming back to haunt him. Sin is a fickle thing. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death, and in this case it really was. Many times we fail to realize that the consequences of our actions don’t just affect us, but can affect those around us as well. It trickles down to our children, our friends and the world around us. Loki says it best when he tells Thor that, “it doesn’t feel good to find out you’ve been lied to your whole life”. Of course, his actions didn’t help in the matter. But the great thing about family curses is that all it takes is one to finally step up and put an end to it. In this film, it wasn’t just Thor taking that stand, but many of the characters needed to search within themselves and find redemption. Instead of running away from the problem, they must confront it and overcome it. A lesson we can all learn is that, to be worthy, we need to just simply believe in ourselves and do what is right.

Special features on the Marvel Studios Combo Blu-ray pack include “Getting in Touch with your Inner Thor” and “Unstoppable Women: Hela & Valkyrie.” There are deleted scenes, a gag reel, the director’s commentary, and the exclusive short, “Team Darryl.” Thanks to the Multi-Screen Edition, you can watch the film anywhere. 

Filed Under: Film, Reviews Tagged With: Hela, Hulk, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios, Planet Hulk, Ragnarok, Thor, Thor: Ragnarok, Valkyrie

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 8
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

THE SF NEWS

Get a special look, just for you.

sf podcast

Hot Off the Press

  • Arctic: Our Frozen World – Baby, It’s Cold Outside
  • Dear Edward: Sitting in Sadness, but Never Alone
  • 80 for Brady: Silly & Sweet and an Absolute Score
  • Erin’s Guide to Kissing Girls: Fresh Take, Same Quest
  • Knock at the Cabin: Knocking on Heaven’s Door
Find tickets and showtimes on Fandango.

where faith and film are intertwined

film and television carry stories which remind us of the stories God has woven since the beginning of time. come with us on a journey to see where faith and film are intertwined.

Footer

ScreenFish Articles

Arctic: Our Frozen World – Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Dear Edward: Sitting in Sadness, but Never Alone

  • About ScreenFish
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 · ScreenFish.net · Built by Aaron Lee

 

Loading Comments...