Haiku Revieu | Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Infinity War
★★★★½

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

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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.

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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.

Nerd News | Ant-Man and the Wasp trailer

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!

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Also of note:

• While we're talking Marvel: Clark Gregg, Lee Pace, and Djimon Hounsou have all joined Captain Marvel. (The movie takes place in the 90s, so the Avengers still don't know Coulson's alive. *grumble*)
• And here are 57 YA book recommendations based on the MCU movies. Some of my favorite books/book series are on this list! (Also, some duds. Happy to tell which is which, if you are interested.)
• The next Abramsverse Star Trek movie will be the first to be directed by a woman.
• The Fast and Furious spin-off starring The Rock and Jason Staham is a go. Also, there's a Fast and Furious cartoon—yep, you read that right—coming soon. 
• "The Five Types of Nicolas Cage Movies."

Haiku Revieu | Black Panther

Black Panther
★★★★★

Representation
Wakanda forever
Shuri is the best

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T'Challa, the King of Wakanda, rises to the throne in the isolated, technologically advanced African nation, but his claim is challenged by a vengeful outsider who was a childhood victim of T'Challa's father's mistake.

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It's been a little more than a month since I saw Black Panther, but it's impact remains fresh in my mind. The hype is definitely real with this one; it's one of the best Marvel movies to date—and stands on its own as an excellent film, not "excellent for a superhero movie." (Side note: I hate that descriptor. Just because movies have superheroes in them, or space battles or faeries or whatever, doesn't mean they can't be just as impactful as all those "serious" ones.)

Although we were introduced to T'Challa and Wakanda in Captain America: Civil War, we really get to know the character, his family and friends, and the amazing place that is Wakanda in Black Panther. It expands the MCU, in a figurative sense, immensely; the culture and the colors and the music and the people are all so different than what's come before, and it's so, so welcome. Yes, I'm a privileged white American woman, but I understand how deeply representation matters, and the portrayal of Wakandan culture made me tear up with happiness. As much as I love the MCU, it's about damn time that someone other than a white man gets to be front and center.

That said, it's not just T'Challa who shines bright in this movie—though Chadwick Bosman does a fantastic job—his support system is made up of amazing women who steal the show; particularly Leticia Wright as Shuri and Danai Gurira as Okoye. As the canon smartest person in the MCU, Shuri is an amazing role model for young women everywhere, and Wright played her perfectly as the "kind of annoying, but totally awesome" little sister. Okoye belongs in the Badass Ladies Hall of Fame alongside Diana of Themyscira, and Gurira has such presence onscreen. I'd be remiss not to mention Lupita Nyong'o and Angela Bassett, too, whose characters show that Wakanda is an advanced civilization in more ways than just technology.

Another standout was Winston Duke's M'Baku, who shows a range of character growth in a short period of time. And Michael B. Jordan was killer (heh) as Erik Kilmonger; charismatic and intelligent, he's the kind of villain who makes it easy to see why some people root for the bad guys.

The characters aren't the only thing I liked about Black Panther, mind you. I was also super impressed with the variety of African cultures the filmmakers incorporated into the movie. The settings and costumes were absolutely stunning, and helped Wakanda skyrocket up my list of fictional places I'd love to visit. In a visual sense, Black Panther is more akin to the Guardian of the Galaxy movies and Thor: Ragnarok than the other main Avengers films. It's a delight for the senses.

I couldn't be happier than Black Panther is doing so well, and I really hope Hollywood takes note. (They'd be stupid not to, but ... you know.) Have you seen it yet? If not, what are you waiting for?!

Check it out:

Nerd News | Avengers: Infinity War official trailer

I'm not going to watch this¹ but I so badly want to.

I'm really not prepared for this movie. I've already bought tickets to see it two different times opening weekend, and I'm considering taking the following week off work to recover.

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Also of note:

• There's finally a trailer for the fifth season of The 100, and it unsurprisingly suggests that the season will be as fight-filled as the ones before it. CAN'T WAIT.
• There's a new Lara Croft/Tomb Raider video game releasing in September. I am a huge fan of the rebooted games, so this is exciting news. 
• Ava DuVernay (Wrinkle in Time) has joined the DCU and will direct a New Gods movie. I know nothing about the New Gods, but I'm hoping her hiring means that DC's realized that their lady directors are the ones who actually know what they're doing. (You know, 'cause the dudes keep giving us things like Justice League.)

1 I avoid anything more than the first teaser or two these days so that I'm not spoiled about the movie. Trailers tend to reveal more than I'd like.

Nerd News | Legion: Season 2 teaser

Are you ready for another mind-bending, totally insane season of Legion?

April 3 can't come soon enough.

H/t to Colt for the link.

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Also of note:

• The creators of the Game of Thrones TV series are planning a new series of Star Wars films.
• Here are a bunch of photos from Solo: A Star Wars Story. Still not sold on Alden, but Donald is KILLING IT.
• Have a Venom trailer. How long did it take you to realize that was Tom Hardy doing the voiceover? 
• And, as a palate cleanser, here's a Deadpool trailer.
• This episodic Wolverine podcast sounds neat. I love that "old" art forms (e.g., radio serials) are coming back in new forms. Also, Richard Armitage is an inspired choice for Logan.
• Will Kilgrave be back in Jessica Jones' second season? The purple at the end of this trailer is sure leaning that way.
• After so many years of waiting, is this Incredibles 2 teaser kind of a let down?
• Firefly's back! (In book form.)
• I am HERE for this new Doctor Who logo and promo image. Can't wait to really meet Thirteen.

Have y'all seen Black Panther? Wasn't it awesome? Haiku Revieu to come soon!

Nerd News | Solo: A Star Wars Story trailer

If you were watching the Super Bowl last night, you probably saw the teaser for the Solo: A Star Wars Story ... teaser ... that released early this morning. If you missed either, here they both are:

I'm still not totally sold on Alden Ehrenreich as Han, but I'm going to reserve final judgment until I actually see the movie. I'm digging the look and feel of the teaser, and damn if Donald Glover isn't oozing that Lando charm, even in the short time we get to see him. (That coat, tho!)

Honestly, it's hard for me not to get excited about new Star Wars movies, regardless of my feeling about them when I actually see them in theaters. (Related: I'll try to get my Last Jedi Haiku Revieu up later this week.)

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Also of note:

• A new spot for Avengers: Infinity War dropped during the game as well. Not embedding it in case you're like me and only want to watch the first trailer, but linking it here in case you want to see. (Full disclosure: Because I was a party for the game, I ended up watching it. It doesn't spoil much, plot-wise. It's just a lot of attractive people preparing for a fight. And Cap's beard is in FULL effect.)
• The Men in Black franchise is getting a total reboot.
• David Harbour—who is a total delight, and who definitely won the Super Bowl commercials competition with his Tide ads—promises that his role as Hellboy won't ruin his Dad bod.
  

Nerd News | Ant-Man and the Wasp trailer

Lookie what dropped today!

I am a little apprehensive that this sequel won't have the humor and the heart of the first one, but I trust that Marvel knows what it's doing. (And it's been certainly leaning in to the humor as of late.) Also, I am super excited that a lady superhero actually has her name in the title of one of the MCU's films and is getting equal billing with her male counterpart. 'Bout dang time.

Not that it needs to be said, but ... Marvel stan FOR LIFE, y'all. #noregrets

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Also of note:

• I am HERE for this Ocean's 8 trailer. And the whole movie, natch.

I'm feeling really behind on my Nerd News lately, thanks in large part to being sick practically the entire month of January. What've I missed? Let me know in the comments!

Haiku Revieu | Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarok
★★★★★

The end of Asgard?
Waititi's Thor is stellar
Oh hai, Loki <3¹

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Imprisoned, the almighty Thor finds himself in a lethal gladiatorial contest against the Hulk, his former ally. Thor must fight for survival and race against time to prevent the all-powerful Hela from destroying his home and the Asgardian civilization.

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When I first heard that Taika Waititi was going to direct the third Thor movie, my response was: "huh." I didn't love What We Do in the Shadows, and wasn't familiar with much of his other work, but I knew it was quirky—and a quirky Thor film would be very far removed from Kenneth Branagh's Thor. I didn't see how a more comedic Thor would really work with the preceding two, but I understood that the MCU powers-that-be wanted to move it closer to the feel of Guardians of the Galaxy. After seeing the first trailer, however, I was more excited than hesitant. And after seeing the movie, I am utterly and completely sold.

I LOVED Thor: Ragnarok. It's far and away the best of the Thor movies, and it easily took a spot in my top 5 MCU movies. Waititi found a perfect balance between silly humor and serious moments, and the changes he made to familiar characters only made them better. Chris Hemsworth's comedic timing shines; Hulk actually as a personality; Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie is flawed and fabulous; and Tom Hiddleston's mastery of the mischievous is yet again perfect. (Side note: THAT BLACK SUIT THO.) The addition of Jeff Goldblum as Grandmaster was delightful, regardless of the fact that the character was pretty much just Goldblum being Goldblum. Cate Blanchett was wonderfully over-the-top dramatic as Hela; it would be really hard not to want to follow her charismatic brand of evil. And Waititi's Korg totally stole the show. The volume of quotable dialogue in the movie—and eventual volume of GIFfable moments—is second-to-none.

Watching Hulk and Thor battle it out while being the Grandmaster's pawns was so much fun. Prior to this movie, I wouldn't have thought they'd work so well together without the rest of the Avengers, but Ragnarok has a surprising buddy comedy vibe that worked well with all the action. Unsurprisingly, I also adored the amount of Loki that Waititi graced us with, as well as the genuine moments of brotherly love/brotherly hate between Thor and Loki. Loki's a complex character, and I an thankful that Waititi took the time to examine his anti-hero (not villain) aspects.

I will say that the Hela/Ragnarok storyline was a little rushed, and her defeat a little too easy. I also worry about Loki backsliding from his "I want to be a good guy but just can't help myself sometimes" new outlook on life thanks to that scene with the [REDACTED] close to the end. But that's just me picking nits.

I can't recommend seeing this movie enough. Give me a shout if you're heading to a theater—I'd happily go with you!

Check it out:

¹ This is pronounced "heart," in this usage, not "less than three."

Nerd News | Avengers: Infinity War trailer

HOT DAMN.

My emotions are all over the place. There will be NO work done today.

I also just realized that I never posted about the Black Panther trailer. Shame, shame on me. Here it is in all its awesomeness:

I also owe y'all a Thor: Ragnarok Haiku Revieu. Spoiler alert: I'm giving it 5 stars.

Everything's coming up MCU, and I am HERE. FOR. IT.

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Also of note:

• Here are a bunch of Vanity Fair covers and a myriad of other photos featuring the ridiculous number of (gorgeous) people who will be in Infinity War.
• Deadpool brings me such glee; I love this new teaser for Deadpool 2. Warning: The language is a little NSFW, unsurprisingly.
• Stephen Hawking published his thesis online, if you want to read and be awed.
• Have you been watching Marvel's latest TV show, Runaways? Here's the trailer. (If you're caught up, come chat with me about the show at Forever Young Adult!)
• The thirteenth Doctor will have three companions?

Nerd News | Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer

It's been a while. And for that, I'm sorry. Life gets in the way! But I'd be remiss not to post this trailer, even though—full disclosure—I haven't watched it, or nor do I plan on doing so. Supposedly, even the director thinks this trailer gives away too much, and I'm really looking forward to being surprised come Dec. 14.

Have you, or do you plan to watch?

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Also of note:

• The first full trailer for Pacific Rim: Uprising was released last week. It looks more like a Transformers movie than I might like, and the song at the end is terrible, but I'm still excited. Side note: Does John Boyega always sound so much like Idris Elba?
• Here's the final trailer for Justice League, too. Unsurprisingly, it still looks awful. 
• This photo of David Tennant and Michael Sheen from the set of Good Omens is perfection. I can't wait to see this adaptation. 
• Have you watched the Tomb Raider trailer? Alicia Vikander sure looks the part. I don't know if I knew that it was going to be such a straight adaptation of the first new game, however.
• This Thor: Ragnarok 80's-style trailer is a delight.
• And, old news, but: The John Wick universe will expand with a new, female-driven movie called Ballerina. This reminds me that I still need to see John Wick 2.

Nerd News | SDCC goodness

It was hard keeping up with the news coming out of San Diego over the past few days, and but here are some highlights. If I missed anything important, add it in the comments!

Is it November 3 yet?

I loved Pacific Rim. (I'm still longing for a Jaegar pilot bomber jacket.) So I'm super stoked for the sequel. However, it was an actual shock to hear John Boyega's real accent in this teaser; I'm so much more used to him sounding like Finn.

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Also of note:

• The Avengers: Infinity War concept art posters show a bearded Steve Rogers. Here 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 iiiiiitttttt 👏🏻.
• Captain Marvel will be set in the 90s. 
• Michelle Pfieffer has signed on for the next Ant-Man movie, Ant-Man and the Wasp.
• This new Inhumans trailer hints at some serious plot points.
• Here's a new Justice League video. I'm only supporting this movie for Wonder Woman.
• Speaking of, Wonder Woman 2 (plus a bunch of other DC movies) was officially announced at the con.
• Syfy's working on a Man of Steel prequel series called Krypton; here's a teaser. 
• Noah Hawley (Legion) is working on a Doctor Doom movie.
• A Harley Quinn/Joker spinoff film is in the works.
• Stargate returns in a new prequel series! 
• Here's a look at some props/costumes from Star Trek: Discovery.
• Lots of changes ahead for The 100's season five.
• Bright, a Netflix movie about orc cops, is not a joke. I'm totally going to watch this.
• Added to my Christmas List: Toys-R-Us is releasing a kid-size Star Wars landspeeder.
• Here's some scoop on the Doctor Who Christmas special.
• And not out of SDCC, but nonetheless entertaining: The Rock x Siri Dominate the Day.

Nerd News | The Thirteenth Doctor

In case you missed it yesterday:

I'm excited. I love that they're trying something new with a woman Doctor, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the show goes out from under Moffat's thumb. (This article talks a bit more about Whittaker and the "prep" for the Doctor regenerating into a female form.)

I wish Peter Capaldi would have stuck around for another season, though. I really enjoyed 12 when Clara wasn't around, and I don't think one season without her was really enough time for him to truly shine.

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Also of note:

• There was a lot of news out of D23 over the weekend (and there's likely even more to come at Comic Con this upcoming weekend). Star Wars, natch, was a hot topic of discussion. These The Last Jedi posters are particularly striking, and this behind-the-scenes video is supposedly really great. (Haven't watched yet and am not sure that I will; I'm avoiding spoilers at all cost.)
• Marvel also shared some news at D23, including information about and a trailer for The Avengers: Infinity War, Part 1. (We'll likely see an official trailer hit the 'net post-SDCC, but there are bootleg versions available, I'm sure.)
• Also out of D23: Disney has found its live-action Aladdin (and Jasmine and Genie).
• Here's a first photo from the upcoming Ready Player One film.
• There's a Supernatural spinoff in the works called Wayward Sisters.
• Here's the official trailer for Marvel's latest TV show, Inhumans.
• And a trailer for Amazon's The Tick.
• And one for the upcoming A Wrinkle in Time movie.

Haiku Revieu | Spider-Man: Homecoming

Spider-Man: Homecoming
★★★★¾

No more origins
Peter is adorable
Tom is my Spidey

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Peter Parker, with the help of his mentor Tony Stark, tries to balance his life as an ordinary high school student in New York City while fighting crime as his superhero alter ego Spider-Man when a new threat emerges.

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I'll fully admit to rolling my eyes when I heard that we were getting yet another Spider-Man, so close on the heels of the Andrew Garfield film (which were so close on the heels of the Tobey Maguire ones ...). But after seeing Tom Holland in the role in Captain America: Civil War, I was on board. And after seeing more of him in Spider-Man: Homecoming, I have to say: I think Tom's by far my favorite Peter.

Spider-Man: Homecoming isn't another origin story, and I'm very thankful for that. Instead, it delves more into the person behind the mask, and shows how much of a regular kid Peter Parker truly is. Sure, he occasionally gets to fight alongside (or against, as the case may be) the Avengers, but he also deals with serious teenager things like crushes, homework, and Academic Decathalon meets. Holland plays him to an absolute T—it's hard to believe that he's 21 in real life—and brings a new energy to the role that hasn't ever been there before.

The movie also benefits from the tie-in to the larger Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and I don't think that's just me, the massive MCU fan, saying that. The movie felt more cohesive, and they toned down the cartoony elements that, although fun, made the other sets of movies feel more silly than serious. Not that Spider-Man: Homecoming is all that serious, mind you, but the humor and the occasional bit of more thoughtful, darker plot in the film meld very well. (Like the other MCU movies. Not that I like to harp on things or anything.) Plus: I love that Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) got more screen time, and watching Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) attempt to act like a father figure was hilarious in itself.

I really dug the villain twist, too. No spoilers, but I didn't see it coming at all.

I do have a couple of nitpicks: I don't think the movie showcased enough of Peter's intelligence, choosing instead to focus on his spidey skills. (That said, does he have the "normal" spidey senses? A friend brought this up in a post-viewing discussion of the movie, and it's a good question, since they never really talked about Peter's powers. I just sort of assumed that everything, power-wise, was the standard stuff.) And then there's the whole thing with Zendaya's character—highlight for spoilers—why name her Michelle if she's playing MJ (which stands for Mary Jane, for those not in the know)? That "reveal" was all-too-reminiscent of the "Benedict Cumberbatch IS NOT PLAYING KHAN, but he's totally playing Khan" debacle of '13.

I'll be interesting to see where Sony takes the Spider-Man universe from here, now that new life has been breathed into the franchise.

Check it out:

Nerd News | Black Panther teaser trailer

Hot. Damn.

I know practically nothing about the Black Panther comics, but this movie looks amazing. The mix of culture and technology already blows me away, and this is only the teaser trailer.

And how BEAUTIFUL is everyone in this cast? Ridiculous.

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Also of note:

• These Vanity Fair Star Wars covers give me all sorts of feels.
• Tom Hardy has signed on to play Venom in a 2018 movie about the character. (*insert joke about masks and/or weird accents here*)
• And speaking of Toms: Tom Holland will play a young Nathan Drake in an upcoming Uncharted movie.

Haiku Revieu | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
★★★★½

Quill has dad issues
Save the galaxy again
All heart eyes for Groot

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Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team's adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill's true parentage.

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The first Guardians of the Galaxy is probably my second favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe movie (after The Avengers), so to say that I was excited about this sequel is a bit of an understatement. I love pretty much everything about this franchise, from the music to the characters to the colors that saturate pretty much every scene. And, for the most part, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 didn't let me down.

It was great being able to jump right in with the Guardians crew (as much as I enjoyed watching them come together in the first movie), and everyone played their roles to a T. Chris Pratt plays Peter Quill/Star-Lord's mix of swagger and insecurity so well, and Dave Bautista's Drax never fails to make me laugh, hard. Rocket was snarky and endearing, in equal parts, and I love how I tend to forget that he's voiced by Bradley Cooper, if that makes sense? (How about this: The character is so well done, and feels so "realistic," that it's easy for me to separate the voice actor from the role.)

Zoe Saldana's Gamora was a little underused, but her scenes with Karen Gillen's Nebula were some of the most powerful of the movie. There was an overarching theme of family, whether blood or found, in this film, which gave it a lot of heart. And Michael Rooker's Yondu really made some huge strides in character growth. The smattering of cameo appearances by celebrities were also delightful, but I won't spoil who all appeared.

Unsurprisingly, Baby Groot (Toddler Groot?) stole the show. From his opening credits dance party to his post-credits scene, everything he did was either adorable, hilarious, or a combination of the two.

The plot of this movie was the only thing that I felt was a little lacking. Although the story line surrounding Ego was interesting, and was a good story on its own, the movie felt overly "bridgy," like it was there to get us from GotG to Infinity War without making too much of an impact. That said, I loved it. It made me laugh, it made me tear up, and it made me want to listen to the soundtrack on repeat. (To be honest, however, the soundtrack of the first movie was better, too.) If that's not a good time at the movies, I don't want to know what is.

Check it out:

Nerd News | Star Trek: Discovery trailer

The first trailer for Star Trek: Discovery has dropped:

The teases of the story we get here don't quite blow me away, but man if I didn't get emotional watching ladies—and POC ladies at that!—taking the lead.

I'm going to reserve judgement until I actually see the show (unlike the YouTube commenters ... yeah, I peeked), but one gut reaction I have: James Frain is not Sarek.

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Also of note:

• This GQ profile of The Rock is absolutely delightful, natch.
• The Blade Runner 2049 trailer looks good.
• Spider-Man will have a part in the fourth Avengers movie.
• The Psych gang will reunite for a holiday TV movie.
• Hot Topic has a new Wonder Woman collection. Do I need the Armor Faux Leather Jacket or do I need it?
• FYA has a bunch of news from this week's TV Upfronts.
• The Dark Crystal is getting a prequel series on Netflix.

Nerd News | Star Wars: The Last Jedi teaser trailer

Well, dang. It's a good week to be a a fan.

So many questions, but for right now I'm just basking in the glow of it all. Here's a look at the first poster for the movie, too:

#TheLastJedi poster has been revealed. #SWCO pic.twitter.com/fqnf1bQtPu

— Star Wars (@starwars) April 14, 2017

Also, this is beautiful:

What a gift she was.

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Also of note:

• Josh Brolin has signed on to another Marvel franchise: He'll play Cable in the Deadpool universe.
• Here's a trailer for Transformers: The Last Knight. I haven't seen the previous one, but they just keep knocking them out.
• I hadn't seen/heard about this movie until today, but Atomic Blonde is totally my aesthetic.¹

¹ Thanks, Colt!

Nerd News | Thor: Ragnarok trailer

YOU GUYS.

This is me right now, if not literally, then definitely on the inside.

Unlike some (many?) people, I do like the Thor movies—and, no, not just for Tom Hiddleston's Loki. They're not at the top of my Marvel Cinematic Universe movie ranking, but they're not at the bottom either. (I'm looking at you, Iron Man 2. And don't even get me started on The Incredible Hulk.) They've never really stood out among the other movies, however ... until now.

This trailer is so much more epic than either of the previous movies. I don't know what that means for the film itself, but I now have high, high hopes.

Excuse me while I go watch it again. Then go find all the GIFs. Then watch it again.

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Also of note:

• Also super excited by this Spider-Man: Homecoming trailer.¹
• Not so much for this Justice League trailer, though. Regardless of the Jason Momoa.
• In perfect casting news: Rainn Wilson will play Harry Mudd in Star Trek: Discovery.
• The Raven Cycle—one of my fave YA series—has been optioned for a TV show.

¹ Thanks, Colt!

Nerd News | American Gods trailer

Dayum, son—this trailer looks AMAZING.

I read American Gods years ago, so I don't remember many details, but I do remember loving it. (I'm a huge Neil Gaiman fan, in general.) I'm wavering on whether I want to read it again before the show airs; on the one hand, I'd help myself remember the characters and plot, but on the other, there's that whole "adaptations aren't always accurate" issue.

We'll see. There's time before April 30.

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Also of note:

• Here's a new Wonder Woman trailer that gives a bit more insight into Diana's "origin." (I'm going to stop watching trailers for this starting ... now.)
• And a new trailer for series 10 of Doctor Who. I'm really, really sad that I no longer get excited about this show.
• Jason Isaacs has joined the cast of Star Trek Discovery.
• EW released the first photos from Thor: Ragnarok, featuring a very short-haired Thor. Also: Did we know Jeff Goldblum was in this movie? 
• And here's a teaser trailer for Pixar's next movie, Coco.

Haiku Revieu | Logan

Logan
★★★★

Wolverine is old
Taking care of Charles X.
They both curse a lot

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In the near future, a weary Logan cares for an ailing Professor X somewhere on the Mexican border. However, Logan's attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are upended when a young mutant arrives, pursued by dark forces.

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Going into Logan, I only knew two things: The movie would be a hard one to watch—I tear up every time I see the trailer with "Hurt" played with it—and it wasn't an X-Men storyline I was familiar with. (I've never read the Old Man Logan comics, which I heard the film was loosely based on?) Still, I wanted to see it, particularly because it featured an R-rating, and I was curious to see how the Wolverine and Professor X we "know" would translate to a more adult film.

And Logan is definitely a more adult film. I'm not typically squeamish when it comes to action gore, but there were a few scenes in which Logan stabbed someone with his claws and I cringed and hid my eyes. Little Laura (newcomer Dafne Keen, who is awesome) is brutal, too. And hearing Professor X spout the F word is jarring. (Hearing Logan call someone a motherf**ker, however, is actually really fitting for his character.) All of the more adult themes fit with the movie's plot and feel, though—the film is bleak and heartbreaking, and watching someone get stabbed through the chest in a ridiculously over the top manner adds a bit of levity¹ to a movie that otherwise might break you.

That's not saying it didn't break me. I cried—hard—and for way more of the film than I'd been expecting. (Yes, even with my feelings toward the "Hurt" trailer in mind.) Watching Logan and Professor X as old, broken men, rather than superheroes, did a number on my emotional state. Add to that the fact that Old Charles reminded me of my own father, and the fact that the day Patrick Stewart leaves us² will be a day I call out of work sick because I will be that distraught, and I felt like I'd taken a beating alongside Logan. And that's not even taking into account when [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] happened. (Happy to chat about the REDACTED moments in the comments.)

All that said, I think the movie was great, and I love that although part of it was an ending, it left the door open for further adventures with Laura and the rest of project X-23.

Check it out:

¹I know that's a strange word to use in this situation, but I think you know what I mean.
²Knocking on all wood that this NEVER HAPPENS.