Avengers: Endgame Trailers Breakdown

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

We're in the endgame now. After a year of waiting, we're only a few weeks away from finally discovering the fallout from Avengers: Infinity War. Can The Avengers make a comeback from the devastating loss after Thanos snapped half the universe away? Since December 2018, Marvel Studios has been steadily releasing more footage. We've all been expecting our favorite characters to retrieve the ones they loved, but it's hard to tell if expectations will match reality. Let's take a look at the trailers so far and talk about what is going on. Once we go through the easter eggs, I don't know if we're going to be able to handle it.

Are you ready for Avengers: Endgame? Let me know in the comments!

Captain Marvel (2019) Proves Her Power

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Fandom hatred for Carol Danvers was sparked long before she hit the screen. From Brie Larson calling for more inclusiveness with film criticism to her heroine being pitted as better or worse than Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel had “something to prove” to the haters, the box office, and the barriers Black Panther obliterated. Despite being underestimated, the film has been knocked down but fights to live another day.

On the planet Hala, Vers (Brie Larson) and her fellow alien race of Kree are fighting a brutal war against tyrannical shape-shifters called Skrulls. Curious and haunted by the mysterious dreams she has of another life, she escapes capture to Earth to uncover the truth about where she comes from and who the real enemies are.

Everything I Love About Captain America in Avengers: Infinity War

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

After a devastating smackdown against Tony Stark in Captain America: Civil War, Steve Rogers relinquished the iconic shield and stepped away from the Accords. The 'Star-Spangled Man With A Plan' became the Nomad, living undercover alongside other rogue Avengers such as Black Widow, The Falcon, Scarlett Witch and Vision. Called to reunite with old friends, they rally with T'Challa, Bucky, and Thor to take down Thanos.

Appearing in Avengers: Infinity War alongside a dozen other superheros, Nomad's appearance caps in at six minutes and forty-five seconds. But that doesn't mean his limited time isn't intricate to the longstanding arc of his own series. In fact, pinpointing how deep his appearance is in Avengers: Infinity War was a fun challenge to accept while waiting for the next installment Avengers: End Game. In continuing my series about Captain America, here is a breakdown of his role and the connections to his past films. Hope you enjoy! (This post is gif-heavy and click on the image for credit).

Avengers: Endgame (2019) Trailer Reaction

The Avengers taught us love. The Avengers: Age of Ultron taught us patience. Avengers: Infinity War taught us pain. What are we going to learn from Avengers: Endgame? Probably, how to file a class-action lawsuit against Kevin Feige for our collective therapy bills.

Marvel dropped us the gift that everybody and nobody wanted: the new trailer for the next Avengers film. So let's check it out! This post definitely contains spoilers.

Venom (2018) Makes Comic Book Movies Fun Again

Sony Pictures

Why so serious comic book genre? This is the big question that pops up in my mind over the intense division, even backlash, over Venom. Sony's latest attempt at their own comic book universe is an unexpected detour from the expected adaptations we've seen over the years, and reminds us of how the genre used to be: purely fun for fun's sakes. Venom's splash of action, sci-fi, and rom-com is not the most traditional story of its kind, and that works both for and against the film.

Humankind is depleting all of its natural resources. So much so that it's gonna need a better planet. Creator and inventor of the Life Foundation Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) uses his spaceships to bring back aliens known as symbiotes with the hopes of finding human hosts, but they’re deadlier and dangerous than even his multi-million dollar corporation ever planned for. Enter Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), an investigative journalist who uncovers shady dealings with Drake’s corporation and inadvertently becomes the host of a violent symbiote called Venom. Forced to act as a hybrid, Eddie and Venom work together to take down the Life Foundation.

Venom is an absurd comic book movie that embraces how absurd it is, and honestly, the pure joy of the film comes out of its leading performance by Hardy. Already having a reputation for going all in for his characters, he makes no shift in changing his methods now, and here it really works – he’s not only playing Eddie but gives Venom his voice and comically, awkwardly, and believably acts like there’s an alien taking over his body - it's some of the best, and most importantly playful (and not method-esque performances) he’s ever given. As much as the film includes the typical CGI combat scenes between the two of them against Drake's cronies, there are a few set pieces of Eddie fighting his body's reaction to Venom's invasion and embracing Venom until they end up creating a weird bond of compromise and trust. Their arc from enemies to frenemies and friends is one of the best on-screen relationships to come along in a long time, especially in the "superhero" genre. It’s almost impossible to think that another actor could’ve carried the film as entertaining as he does.

Following behind Hardy is the supporting cast who aren’t “bad” in any sense of the word, but in comparison to Hardy don’t have as much to carry in terms of showy performances or transformations. Riz Ahmed as Drake is sort of your typical Marvel villain as a rich inventor who will stop at nothing to get what he wants, but Ahmed is charismatic and tries to rise above some of the cliche tropes his character has. More minor characters are filled in nicely: Jenny Slate as one of the few doctors who questions the lengths Drake is willing to go to; Celphas Jones as Eddie’s steely boss are fine the roles that they have; Reid Scott as a doctor who tries to help Eddie. The only casting that felt out-of-place was Michelle Williams as Eddie's girlfriend Anne; she's well-balanced as stuck between loving or leaving Eddie, but the chemistry between herself and Hardy didn’t quite gel - I had a hard time trying not to imagine someone else in the role.

Therein lies a small crux to Venom: it entirely rests on Hardy’s beefy shoulders. If his performance works for you, it’s guaranteed to be a good time; if it doesn’t, well, the whole film falls apart.

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) Makes Superhero Movies Feel Good Again

Since Avengers: Infinity War left us in an exhausted heap of feels, Marvel offered their least suspected characters to cleanse our palate after everything changed with a snap of Thanos's figures. Surprisingly, against the odds that one of the Avengers' smallest heroes could fill in the summer gap, that's exactly what Ant-Man and the Wasp does: pick up the pieces from Infinity War's devastating wake and gear us up for the next leg in the Avengers' recovery with Captain Marvel in 2019.

Starting where we left off in Ant-Man, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his daughter Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lily) have rekindled their relationship and are determined to return to the quantum realm to find their long-lost matriarch Janet (Michelle Pfieffer). However, in the two years since Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) sided with Captain America in Captain America: Civil War to fight Iron Man over the Accords, he made a plea deal and was put on house-arrest to avoid going to jail. Brought in to help Hank and Hope on their quest, they're on the run from the FBI, and together, they must race against time and a new form of Ant-Man called the Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) who is hellbent on stealing their new quantum technology.

Quick Reviews: Deadpool (2016) and Deadpool 2 (2018)

20th Century Fox

Diagnosed with stage four cancer after falling head over heels with the love of his life Vanessa (Morena Baccarin), Wade Wilson's conned into becoming something he never wanted: a superhero. Duped by a mysterious recruiter Francis (Ed Skrein) who promises an experimental cure for cancer, Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) is taken prisoner and his body is tortured into awakening mutant genes that cures his illness but leaves his body disfigured. And Francis isn't done yet: he also kidnaps Vanessa. There's only one thing left on Wade's mind: to do whatever it takes to save his girlfriend.

Deadpool is very much like the titular character: it's not like any superhero we've seen before. Unapologetic in its wisecracks and sarcasm, Ryan Reynolds's performance breaks the fourth wall and favors the deadpan humor he's developed throughout his career in Hollywood. The film is easily tailored to his comedic sweet spots, which isn't surprising because he was extraordinarily passionate about bringing this character to the big screen (especially after he was mutilated in Wolverine: Origins).

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) Trailer Reaction

When we think of The Avengers, the originals like Iron Man and Captain America might be the first team members come to mind. As the Marvel cinematic phenomenon starts filling out their universe with Black Panther and Spider-Man, one tiny funny and heartwarming installment Ant-Man stole our hearts and continues to slip under the radar. After the depressing but exciting hellfire that was Avengers: Infinity War, we've been blessed with the adventurous, lighthearted sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp. Let's see what the gang is up to lately. Hold tight as we zoom into the new trailer! SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Throws Down the Gauntlet (spoiler free)

It all comes down to this. From Star Wars to Harry Potter, even Twilight, one film of several sequels inevitably ends up being responsible for "the beginning of the end". For Marvel, eighteen movies left a trail of breadcrumbs for its biggest cinematic villain over the past ten years, Avengers: Infinity War (and its sequel to-be-released next year) throws down the gauntlet like never before.

Loki's alien invasion, Ultron ripping apart Sokovia, and disagreements over the Accords were a walk in the park for the Avengers. Nothing has prepared Earth's Mightest Heros for Thanos (Josh Brolin), a dark lord who's been wreaking havoc across the universe determined to collect the Infinity Stones - gems that represent Time, Mind, Soul, Reality, Space, and Power. Once he possesses all six stones, he can wield their power with the snap of his fingers, and he has some deadly plans in mind once he succeeds. Spread out across Earth and space, our favorite superheros unite to put an end to his limitless power.

Everything I Love About Captain America in Age of Ultron and Civil War

Marvel Studios

We started with his origin Captain America: The First Avenger where we fell in love with the kid from Brooklyn. His identity began to build in The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier. In the third part of this series, everything comes to a head for the Star-Spangled Man with a plan in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Civil War. In the next leg of his own series and the Avengers spin-off, Captain America is tested to stand up for what he believes in as always, but also starts to fail a little - being a superhero is not what it is cracked up to be. There's a real human cost to saving the world. Hope you enjoy!

Everything I Love About Captain America in The Avengers and The Winter Soldier

Marvel Studios

In my previous post about everything I love about Captain America, I focused mainly on Captain America: The First Avenger, which explored his origins as the kid from Brooklyn who became Captain America. After being frozen for seventy years and reintroduced into the 21st Century, the following movies The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier starts to unpack who Steve Rogers is without his super-patriotic alter ego. This second part is all about what I love about the man and the myth. Hope you enjoy!

Everything I Love About Captain America: The First Avenger

Marvel Studios

When you look at the Marvel franchise and its vault of superheros, the casting has been incredible so far. Rarely does an actor miss a beat from the larger-than-life comic book character they're playing, but there a few that stand out above the rest. As humble as Chris Evans is, just like his All-American alter-ego, he has been an incredible asset throughout his own installments and The Avengers films. Along with the direction and writing, Captain America has honestly my favorite character in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the fate of his arc up in the air for the epic Avengers: Infinity War duology, here is an endless list of reasons why I love Captain America starting with Captain America: The First Avenger (the others will come in part two). 

Did your favorite moment make the list? Let me know in the comments below?

10 Must-See Moments of Marvel's Superheros Off-Duty

Comic book adaptations such as Marvel's The Avengers have created amazing moments on-screen. But what about when the cast travels the world to promote their franchises or funny moments that go down in-between filming? As we get ready for the biggest addition to the Marvel universe so far with Infinity War, let's soar down memory lane for all of the spectacular press tours over the past several years. From a Mini Thor meeting The Avengers to Tom Hiddleston's impersonations of a velociraptor, here are ten must-see moments of The Avengers (including Guardians of the Galaxy and Black Panther) from interviews and skits to bloopers. What are you favorite moments with all of the different casts? Let me know in the comments below.

5 Marvelous Things To Do Before Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Infinity War is only one of the biggest movies in comic book history. Connecting superheros from all over the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie ties in years of franchises and spin-offs for one of the biggest battles ever. The Avengers's epic third film is only part one of this ginormous fandom-tastic event (part two will be out next year) and will be hitting theaters April 27th (in the U.S.), which means fans only have a few weeks to catch up on the Marvel franchise. Are you ready? Assemble your calendar - Here are five marvelous ways to prepare for Avengers: Infinity War. Hope you enjoy!

Black Panther (2018) Reigns Supreme in the MCU

Photo Credit: Marvel Studios

When a new movie enters the Marvel Cinematic Universe, critics expectantly hail it as a game-changer before it even hits theaters. Facing a mountain of expectations and pressure to deliver, sometimes the final product isn't worth the excitement or gets lost in the shuffle among all the other pending projects. As one of its most anticipated movies of the year, Black Panther had a lot to overcome. Entertaining, socially relevant, and engaging, the long-awaited film soars to the occasion and conquers the predictable MCU hype.

After his father's passing in Captain America: Civil War, T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman) must claim his throne as the King of Wakanda, a technologically-advanced African utopia that's shielded itself from the outside world. The transfer of power is challenged as his country questions hiding their innovation and culture to protect themselves in fear of being conquered. His journey is further caught in the crossfire when a black market arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) and special-ops agent Erik Stevens (Michael B. Jordan) aims to tip Wakanda out of the shadows whether the nation is ready or not.

As kings of separate courts on a road to self-discovery, Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan lead the story with intensity, passion, and heart. On the one hand, T'Challa is of noble birth, but to guide his people means facing his role model's darkest secrets that puts his own reign in jeopardy. Though he's earned his place on the throne, his decisions about his country's future will ultimately mirror the kind of person he wants to be, a shift that possibly dismantles the cherished legacy his father built. But he has to do right by his heart and what's best for Wakandans everywhere.

In his opposition, Erik Stevens grew up on the streets of Oakland, California; lost and forgotten he was formed by the corruption and oppression. He's not so much a villain, but someone who's left to think that destroying the world is his only option for justice. Hailing from opposite sides of the world but facing similar obstacles makes their feud so much much more than good versus evil; it's a search to do right by themselves and their people; how a system and its leaders has the power to build or break its people; to be seen, validated, and integrated into the world. It's the kind of story superheros often pursue but also become so formulated and repetitive. Here, they feel less invincible like we know masked crusaders to be, and more powerful by showing their humanity in its many different layers.

The film's cast is one of the most solid ensembles to come. Together and individually, as a family they bring their own brand of emotional and physical bad-assery. Rarely do action films harness the power of one headlining lady, let alone several. Here everyone gets to shine, working together for the greater good: Danai Gurira as Okoye, a traditionalist general of the all-female special forces of Wakanda; Letitia Wright as T'Challa's effervescent sister and innovative backbone of Wakanda's scientific and technological advancements; Lupia Nyong'o as Nakia, an undercover spy trying to will Wakanda out of its old ways. Together and individually, they are smart, clever, protective, passionate, generous, funny, vulnerable, and ready to kick-ass. They are a few highlights (including Angela Bassett, Forest Whittaker, Daniel Kaluuya, Martin Freeman, Andy Serkis) who bring an enthusiastic, fierce vibe to the T'Challa and Erik's clash.

Like Patty Jenkins and DC's monumental step-forward with Wonder Woman, director Ryan Coogler brings everything to the table. As a superhero movie, Black Panther is vibrant, rich, funny, action-packed and an emotional rollercoaster ride. Sure, it's fun to just go to the theaters and just enjoy a good popcorn-worthy showdown. But what truly elevates an entertaining, fulfilling story is the elements it weaves throughout. Black Panther packs great storytelling, intense fight sequences, and a wicked sense of humor, into a superhero movie. But it's not just a superhero movie.

Echoing Batman's Gotham or Superman's Metropolis, Coogler lets us Wakanda burst to life in gorgeous costumes, indigenous traditions, and the advanced technology it thrives on. Its soundtrack blends beautiful African tribal music with hip-hop and R&B, playing with the vibes of ancestral homages and modern music. Beyond delivering representation and long-deserved diversity, the story solidly weaves issues of race and blackness, political diplomacy, cultural differences between rich and the poor, and an identity for minorities that has been ignored and suppressed for too long. Black Panther is a fun ride, but its power also lies in blending reality into fiction, using storytelling to tell some potent, necessary truths. And, it's done with a deep well of passion that pours onto the screen.

In the same vein that all of the right cards had to be in place for Wonder Woman to receive her own feature film, Black Panther finally claims its throne. Why did it take so long? Because the industry is still stuck in its own web of what they think sells. A lot of films have come along to slowly but surely crack the glass ceiling - Get Out knocked it out of the park. Wonder Woman proved complex female heroines are important. And now, Black Panther has shattered expectations. The rest of 2018 has a lot to live up to. Long live the king.

Rating: ★★★

Have you seen Black Panther? What did you think?

The Avengers: Infinity War (2018) Trailer Reaction

After nearly twenty movies following every other superhero in the Marvel catalogue, the fight between good and evil all comes to a head with The Avengers: Infinity War. Earth's mightiest heroes unite to fight against Thanos, a superbeing causing destruction throughout the galaxies on the hunt for the Infinity Stones. Hype has been building for this galactic movie since Comic Con this year, and why not - it's filled with every actor of the Marvel Cinematic Universe all kicking butt and taking names.

Hold onto your Spidey-senses as we get straight into the new trailer! SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT

MegaCon Orlando Celebrates Stan Lee On His Farewell Tour

The Man, the myth, the legend Stan Lee comes to MegaCon Orlando. The beloved comic book creator stopped by for an exclusive panel as part of his farewell tour for convention appearances. Sitting alongside Lee was his events co-ordinator Max, both of which took part in the panel to share stories of their adventures working together and answering fan questions.

His entrance into the conference room was electrifying. Everyone in attendance couldn't help but cheer the man who created so many of our favorite comic book characters. Afterwards, Max shares a brief story of Lee wanting to make a trip over to Universal Studios theme park Islands of Adventure, where there is a Marvel land featuring all of his creations, and the mishaps that went down. I apologize for the shakiness of the footage. It's hard to keep the camera steady when you're excited!
The panel was full of golden moments, and we almost never wanted it to end. He answered a lot of fan's questions (his favorite superhero is Spiderman) and what keeps him going in life at his age (breathing). Stan was as sharp as could be answering fans questions, which had us all in stitches. With the idea in mind that this debatable is one of his last appearance at a Florida convention, when an admirer asked what should fans do to uphold his legacy, Lee responded that he's never thought about it, doesn't matter to him, and sets the fans free to do what they want.

Lee starting out the panel with answering a fan's question, which ranged from what kind of advice Tony Stark would give at a college graduation ceremony to his love of movies and what inspired him to write. The chemistry and camaraderie between Lee and his manager Max kept the fans roaring with laughter to create a panel that will be as memorable as the Marvel creator's legacy.

If You Love Agent Carter, You Might Like....

Peggy's legacy is one of the most beloved and inspiring examples of female characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hoping her journey on television would fare better, it was a disappointing loss when Agent Carter was one of many, many shows to be cancelled.

Even though the spirited leader's spin-off was critically acclaimed and adored by fans, ABC studio execs weren't convinced to keep the crime-and-sexist fighting maven around longer.

Marvel and ABC may be short-sighted in fully exploring the female protagonists we want to see more of. For what it's worth, we'll always have both seasons of her show and Peggy's presence in the Captain America franchise. We know the value of Miss Carter, and anybody else's opinion doesn't really matter.

If you're still head over heels for the brains, brawn, and beauty kick-assery that Peggy inspired, you might like some of these similar books, movies, and tv shows. Know of a book or movie that's not on this list? Feel free to share below in the comments! Hope you enjoy!

Read

Letters Home by Bernice Falk Haydu - avaliable here
Bernice Falk Haydu attempts to become and remain a pilot in the 1940s. Her mother's saved letters of their correspondences describe her training and tour of active duty. It's recommended this book is purchased at Wasp Letters Home as profits will go to towards the WASP scholarship fund.

Millions Like Us by Virginia Nicholson - available on here
This account doesn't simply one protagonist, but multiple accounts of women who raised families, worked, and stepped up to the frontlines.

The Wolves At The Door by Judith Pearson - available here
Virginia Hall is one of history's greatest spies. As a secret espionage, she slinked all over Europe to come to the Allies' aid, leaked the sources for weapons and money exchange, among other dangerous exploits.

Stream

Bomb Girls - available on globaltv
Venturing to Canada, this mini-series profiles four women who work in a munitions factory beginning in 1941. Fans prized the show for its ability to explore gender roles, female-centric storylines, and tackling difficult issues from PTSD, physical abuse, sexual harassment, and patriotism/nationalism.

Jessica Jones - available on Netflix
Former superhero Jessica Jones uses her gift as a private eye to open up a detective agency and hunt down a past tormentor. (Thematic warnings for the show include rape, assault, and posttraumatic stress disorder - so it's definitely for a mature audience!)

Supergirl - available on CW
Melissa Benoist balances life in and out of her superheroine persona known as Supergirl. So this may be a DC series, but Supergirl explores the journey of a human being really realizing their potential!

Watch

Keep Your Power Dry - available on DVD
Lana Turner, Laraine Day, and Susan Peters star as three women from very different backgrounds who join the WACs (Women's Army Corps) during WWII.

Restless - available on DVD
Hayley Atwell stars in an adaptation of William Boyd's novel of a young Russian woman who is recruited as a spy by the British secret service in World War II.

So Proudly We Hail - available on DVD
Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard, and Veronica Lake star as U.S. Army nurses when their active tour duty begins after the attack on Pearl Harbor. At the time of its release, the film's situations realistically portrayed what female service members experienced as they came to the aid of wounded soldiers.

Favorite Captain America Tumblr Posts

Tumblr is a pretty amazing epic blog space for everything and anything you're a fan (or hater) of. So this post doesn't even scratch the surface of Captain America awesomeness you can find on there from gif sets to artwork and meta.

I couldn't resist putting together just a smidgeon of my favorite posts. (Credit links are available where I could adequately find them!) Follow an awesome Steve Rogers / Captain America tumblr I should know about? Feel free to leave a link in the comments!

Celebration of Marvel's Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers

I love Peggy Carter and Steve Rogers. They might be one of, if not, my biggest OTP. With Captain American: Civil War coming soon, there's no way we can't celebrate this amazing realtionship. It's too complex and touching for words.

From gifs to illustrations, here is some incredibly heartfelt artwork of the life they shared in the films (and could've shared beyond them). Hope you enjoy and that I don't break your feels!