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Monday, May 28

Haiku Revieu | Avengers: Infinity War

Monday, May 28
Avengers: Infinity War
★★★½

So many people
How is my heart still beating
Is it next year yet



The Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.



This is a hard review to write, y'all.

A month later, and I'm still reeling from this film.

I mean, I had an inkling going in that not everyone was going to make it. But I wasn't prepared for that. (Since it's only been a month, I'll refrain from spoilers here, but those of you who've seen Infinity War—and if you haven't, what are you doing?—know exactly what I'm talking about.) Sure, I'm positive that a lot of what happened at the end will be undone, somehow, in Avengers 4, but that doesn't exactly make anything easier at this moment in time.

Nor does the stuff that likely won't get undone.

That said, I really loved this movie. I've been telling people that it's more Captain America: Civil War than Thor: Ragnarok, but like any good Marvel movie, it brings both the humor and the tears. Early on, I had my reservations on how a movie with this many personalities involved would work. But the dynamics between all of the characters are fabulous, and the way they flow between the various parts of the MCU franchise seems almost effortless. Even the most "standalone" of the MCU characters—i.e., Doctor Strange—meshes into the larger universe like it's no big thing. (He and Tony's animosity was particularly delightful to watch.) 

I really have to applaud all the people behind the scenes who made this happen. I don't know that I consider Infinity War the greatest crossover of all time, considering how much crossing-over took place before this film, but I certainly recognize how much work has gone on in the decade since the MCU started to make such a movie possible.

Some quick, not-too-spoilery highlights:
  • Steve's "on-the-run" look. HERE FOR IT.
  • Thor's intital meeting with the Guardians of the Galaxy.
  • Shuri's dressing down of Bruce/the tech that makes Vision who he is.
  • Steve and Groot's meet cute.
  • Everything Peter says.
  • Everything Drax says.
  • The subversion of the "dwarf" stereotype.
  • Loki's "redemption" (?)
  • That moment with Natasha, Wanda, and Okoye
  • Every one of our heroes being Heroes
  • The post-credits scene
(I'm sure I'm forgetting something.)

Do I have a few complaints? Sure: Black Widow has never been used to her full potential, and I don't get the blonde. (It's maybe a disguise, OK, but no one else went that far.) Thanos's universe domination plot is FILLED with holes. Where were Valkryie, Korg, Ant-Man, or Hawkeye? Shuri and Peter never made plans to take over the world (and snatch control from the olds). And, natch, all that I mentioned at the start of this post.

But overall, the MCU continues to impress me, and I'm still proud to be such a massive stan. I'm DREADING what's to come, but have faith that it'll all be OK1.

Check it out:



1 OK is such a subjective term, but even if my heart gets broken again, I trust that the reasons for whatever happens will make sense in the end.

Friday, May 25

Haiku Revieu | Ready Player One

Friday, May 25
Ready Player One
★★¾

Wade Watts is The One
Ladies don't get much to do
Not a great copy



When the creator of a virtual reality world called the OASIS dies, he releases a video in which he challenges all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune.



It's been a while since I saw this movie (like two months ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ), but I wanted to play catch up on my somewhat recent trips to the theater, and this was at the top of the list.

Let me preface this review with the fact that I didn't love Ready Player One, the book. I thought it was a fun novel, and I enjoyed all of the nerdy pop culture references—even if I didn't get all of them—but I really disliked Artemis' character and their "romance." (It felt very self-satisfying, as though author Ernest Cline was putting a fantasy to paper, rather than thinking about how to make their romance believable.)

I felt much the same way about the film adaptation. Fast-paced and great nerdy references, but terrible lack of depth to the female characters, even though I do appreciate that Artemis got more to do. The romance was actually worse in the movie, if you can believe it. I also didn't like the changes they made to the secondary characters; they had semi-fleshed out backstories in the books that were nonexistent in the movie.

Like I said, however, the many, many, pop culture references included in the film were impressive. I guess it pays to snag a director like Steven Spielberg, who just maybe has some connections. Tye Sheridan was a good Wade/Parzival. Lena Waithe could have been amazing as Aech, were she given more to do. And Ben Mendelsohn was great as Krennic Sorrento. (He has a very punchable mid-management type face.)

I tried not to go into this movie expecting a perfect adaptation, and I wasn't disappointed. I just had hopes that the few things I found fault with in the book would have been addressed or improved.

Check it out:



Friday, May 4

May the 4th Be With You!

Friday, May 4

Happy Star Wars Day!

Way back in 2011—before we knew we'd get to "live" in the Star Wars universe again—I started creating e-cards to celebrate May 4th. They're part Valentine, part cheesy pick-up line, but they're all fun. (At least I think so.)

I didn't make the time to create a bunch of new ones this year, but couldn't pass up the opportunity to get at least one new one in the mix.

Feel free to share these with your nerdy friends and loved ones! (Click the images for larger versions.) And May the Fourth be with you!

Solo


Rogue One



The Force Awakens



The Original Trilogy




FYI: Chewie's card reads "I'll let you pilot my spaceship any day." I used this translator for "accuracy."

Wednesday, May 2

Nerd News | Ant-Man and the Wasp trailer

Wednesday, May 2
If you were curious what's coming next from Marvel post-Infinity War:


Definitely a departure from the tone of IW, but it seems spot-on for an Ant-Man movie. (Which is a good thing.) I have a theory that—highlight to reveal; I don't want to spoil IW for those who haven't seen it—Ant-Man and the Wasp takes place at the same time as IW, and that's where Scott was. (Still unsure about Hawkeye, though.)

Have you seen IW? Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments, just please add a spoiler tag (<spoiler>text</spoiler>) tag around anything that's, well, a spoiler. I'll have a Haiku Revieu up soon!



Also of note:


Tuesday, May 1

Hey May | The 2018 Man Calendar

Tuesday, May 1



Desktop version:


Peep the rest of the 2018 Man Calendar here.
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