The first full trailer for Avengers: Infinity War has landed, and it is as epic as you would expect for something that eight million movies have been building towards. It was fun to see everyone in one trailer, and it looks like it will be a good flick. It won’t be long now until we see the first real finale in the Marvel Cinematic Universe according to Marvel Studio boss Kevin Feige.
Batman Works On His Relationships In Enemy Within Episode 3!
While what happens in Batman: The Enemy Within, Episode Three, The Fractured Mask, depends on what you did in the previous episodes, and in this episode’s case the last game, no matter what, Bruce Wayne will be dealing with his relationships. Which is something new for Bat-fans. Especially in the dynamic that Telltale has setup for us.
Bruce will somehow have to try and keep Batman’s friendship with Jim Gordon on the up while being forced (maybe not) to work for Amada Waller’s Agency. All while his favorite thief Catwoman arrives back on the scene, and trying to help (or not) John Doe (Proto-Joker) with his relationship with Harley. In other words it is an almost impossible task, and how all those relationships fit together depends on how you have been playing the game.
This is the first episode where my failures as Bruce/Batman have really come back to bite me, and it was fantastic. Doing everything I can to keep everything working to the good, and watching myself fail to do so. Things just keep crumbling around me. Not to mention with all my previous knowledge about Batman, wondering if I can save poor John Doe from his fate. I am guessing not, and I hope Harley’s fate has nothing to do with his pre-destined fall. Because I love her as an independent, and quite scary, criminal mastermind.
While I will say I do miss the old style adventure games of the past, Telltale really knows how to weave a good story together, and this Batman tale has been one of their finest. If you haven’t played either of their Batman games yet, you really need to because Batman: The Enemy Within has been fascinating. I keep looking at my Steam queue hoping to see Batman update, and then I play it right away when it does, and so should you!
Hang Out With Coco’s Dead Family!
It used to be that every Pixar movie was a sure thing. Then Cars came along, and after three mediocre Cars movies, a Bad Dinosaur, and an okay princess, people are wondering if Pixar can still deliver the goods. Coco is here to prove that they can. It is fun, heartwarming and it will make you cry like the finest films Pixar has ever produced, so please spend some time with Coco’s family both living and dead.
Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) wants to play guitar like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), but due to some unfortunate family history, music is not allowed in his household. However, there is a big talent show on Dia los Muertos, but instead of playing in the show like he plans, he takes a detour to the Land of the Dead.
I have to admit the setup for the movie is its weakest link. Banning a kid from playing guitar over something that happened generations ago is far fetched at best, and down right mean at worst. However, once Miguel gets to the underworld this movie really takes off story wise. Having Miguel deal with his issues while dealing with his dead family’s issues just works, and ended up being some of Pixar’s best work.
Speaking of Pixar’s best work, Coco is visually arresting. It has to be one of Pixar’s best looking films, and it is one of the prettiest animated movies in existence. The rich colorful world they created will be hard to forget, and I am sure that it will ignite the imaginations of children young and old for years to come.
Honestly the only real complaint I have about this movie is the twenty minute Frozen ‘short’ that is shown before the movie. With Coco being so good, it is a shame that it is weighed down with one of Disney’s least inspired Christmas specials, and that is saying something. At twenty minutes, the Frozen mini-movie is at least ten minutes too long. Though it does get somewhat better as it goes along.
Another issue that some people may have is for those worried about Dia los Muertos’ pagan roots, and I don’t have a lot reassure you. It depicts a pretty straight up version of the holiday, so you can decide if that is right for you and your family or not. All that being said, I loved this movie, and the people at Pixar and Disney should be proud of this film. I hope Coco is a return to form for Pixar as a studio because I am really looking forward to Incredibles 2!
Baymax Returns But He Has Lost Some Dimension
Big Hero 6: The Series had its big premier with the short film (AKA two part episode) Baymax Returns, and while it was entertaining and fun, it was missing some of what made the original movie so good. Namely, emotional depth. The feature film Big Hero 6 was all about family and the importance of properly dealing with loss. Big Hero 6: The Series is apparently going to be an easy breezy kids show.
Baymax Returns is pretty much what happens in the credits of the Big Hero 6 movie. Hiro finds Baymax’s chip and starts to recreate him. Meanwhile Fred is trying to convince the team to continue to be superheroes. They on the other hand feel that their job is done. Of course this would be a crappy show if they were right, so they are forced to continue to protect San Fransokyo from new threats. Also, it turns out that they really like being superheroes.
I had a good time watching this show, and if you are a kid in the eight to thirteen demo, you will probably love this show. It is hilarious, and the animation is well done (at least so far). Plus, it has a great cast of characters. The series just doesn’t pack the emotional punch that original Big Hero 6 did, and honestly it makes sense that a weekly TV show wouldn’t. Disney is trying to sell merch not make kids cry, but it just feels hollow in comparison.
I am not going to rag on Disney XD anymore for making a pretty good show. It will no doubt be another hit to add to their already impressive staple. I just hope that Big Hero 6: The Series is successful enough to warrant another film, so we can explore the emotional dimensions of these characters further. Instead of just laughing at their silly jokes and gaping at the pretty, fast moving action.
The Justice League Has Finally Been United!
It has been a long time coming, but the Justice League has finally made their big screen debut, and for nerds like me it was a pretty great moment, but for everyone else it was probably just ‘fine’. The movie had too many things to do and not enough time to do it, but the characters themselves were awesome. Showing that if nothing else DC has a great casting director.
The movie starts pretty soon after Batman v Superman, and the world is still mourning the loss of Superman (Henry Cavill). AKA The monster that everyone hated after Man of Steel because he destroyed Metropolis, but I guess you don’t know what you got until it is gone. Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) has decided to take Lex Luthor’s (Jesse Eisenberg) advice seriously and get ready for an invasion, so he has to get a very special team together.
The team is far and away the best part of the Justice League. Ezra Miller and Jason Momoa are great as The Flash and Aquaman. Bringing their characters to life with so much fun and flare. Ray Fisher was fine as Cyborg, but he wasn’t given much to do other then brood, so I will need to see more of him before I pass final judgement. Gal Godot as Wonder Woman continued to be great, but the movie needed to pick up the camera off the floor when filming her scenes. We get it, she has a nice butt. Ben Affleck was given most of the heavy lifting in this movie to try and connect everything together, so sadly a lot of his dialog was exposition, and his character suffers for it. Making him the least convincing member of the League. I am not going to say much about Superman, other than he finally gets to genuinely smile, and it is fabulous.
Unfortunately the movie built around this great cast was not great, and honestly unlike everyone else I am not upset about the fact their villain was another gray blob. When introducing three new characters you don’t have time to develop a villain, so random angry alien guy makes sense. The problem was this movie was rushed. The special effects are garbage. The reshot scenes seemed to be filmed with a different type of camera on cheaper sets, so they stand out in bad way. All in all this movie needed more time, and Warner Brothers/DC will no doubt pay the price for not delaying Justice League until early next year.
The fantastic cast of well acted characters made the Justice League work for me. It has been a lifelong dream to see the League all together on screen, and slapdash special effects and poorly edited added scenes were not enough to ruin that for me. For other people, maybe wait to rent or stream Justice League. Though you will want to see it. If only to get ready for Aquaman because after Jason Momoa’s fun performance you will be as pumped for it as I am.