April has begun; meaning spring showers, love and the start of the blockbuster movie season. I knowâŚI know, it feels too early for that. Canât we wait for May? With studios getting more anxious, each one sits poised at the starting gate. Executives are eyeing down the track like jockeys ready to bolt with their prize ponies. Theaters are starting to open up more to the possibility of a better summer, although streaming is still on the rise.
No matter the form in which entertainment comes, some early previews of upcoming attractions look promising. So ,in the words of the late Mark Elliott, now is our feature presentation.
All of my friends and acquaintances know the praise I fawn onto the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly the Captain America films. So when it was announced that Disney+ was producing âThe Falcon and the Winter Soldier,â my interest was sealed. Leads Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan have great chemistry together which propels the rest of the show forward. After a slow start (episode two and parts of three), the series picks up with the reintroduction of arch-villain Baron Zemo played with class and a wicked sense of humor by Daniel Bruhl. The events of âEndgameâ come more into play here than in âWandavision.â So, if you are not into or caught up with the films, one can sit this out. Even though there is a lot new here, the creators get into the weeds with callbacks and references. More of the runtime is devoted to character development than just fight scenes, which is good.
However, if that is not your thing, you can head for the big dumb fun of âGodzilla vs. Kong.â Do I even need to explain any further?
The spoiler is the title. Well, that is a little misleading to say. Besides the main event, human-like detritus populate large swaths of the narrative. Not that anyone would care in the slightest. Yes, you got Alexander SkarsgardâŚand Rebecca HallâŚand Kyle Chandler but not one line of dialogue requires their specific presence. Honestly, when someone died so spectacularly over the top, I almost dropped my popcorn in a fit of laughter. Director Adam Wingard has shown he is a script master with âYouâre Nextâ and âThe Guest.â But here he seems more interested in action set pieces than cohesive plot. Is that a bad thing? No, not if that is what you are going in for. Make no mistake, the visuals are the main draw here if you are seeing it at the theaters or HBO Max until April 30.
Also on HBO Max we have been rewarded( or inundated depending on how you see it) with Zach Snyderâs âJustice League.â A little bit of backstory, in 2017 Snyder was helming his third DC Comics movie after âMan of Steelâ and âBatman vs. Superman:Dawn of Justice.â However, he and his wife Deborah lost their daughter Autumn tragically, which compelled them to step down from the project. In turn the powers that be at Warner Bros. tapped Joss Whedon to finish directing duties in order to make the release date. The result was a messed-up pastiche of conflicting styles and a variety of plot-holes, not to mention questionable visual effects choices (see Supermanâs lips).
Now after the CEO was forced out, Zach is back to complete his vision after a massive fan-led campaign that even included the filmsâ stars. And the verdict is complicated. A much more consistent film with many characters drastically repaired, some might find this long at slightly over four hours. Fortunately, Snyder provides us with part breaks which can help divvy up the film like a miniseries. Much like the many cuts of âBlade Runnerâ and Richard Donnerâs âSuperman II,â it is a fascinating look for film buffs in how tone and style can change a movie. And it is an entertaining film and love letter to fans. Any way you splice it, happy viewing readers.
