Everything I Love About Captain America in Avengers: Endgame (Part 2)

After breaking down the Captain America and The Avengers films, we're finally reaching the end of my series, which has been an ongoing tribute to Steve Rogers and his arc throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Today, I'm picking up with part two from covering Avengers: Endgame.

It's hard to believe that we're coming to the end of his series. I hope enjoy! (This post is picture-heavy. Credit can be found by clicking on the images.)

Miss Americana (2020) Shines A Light On the Swift Narrative

Everyone has an opinion on Taylor Swift. Millions of fans around the world have grown up with her music and followed her through the highs and lows. Outside of her loyal Swiftie community, the world over either loathes, ignores or maintains a bitter impression about Swift. Netflix's latest documentary Miss Americana (2020) strives to challenge what both fans and haters alike believe about the beloved yet divisive celebrity.

In 2016, after the massive success of her fifth studio album 1989, Swift reached a new height of media overexposure and a public feud with Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian. When #TaylorSwiftIsOverParty trended worldwide for 24 hours, Swift was effectively canceled. The musician thought the world wanted her to disappear, and so she did – for a year. The question on so many fans’ minds will center on where Swift went during that time she disappeared, and this is where the documentary steps in.

Everything I Love About Captain America in Avengers: Endgame (Part 1)

After breaking down the Captain America and The Avengers films, we're finally reaching the end of my series, which has been an ongoing tribute to Steve Rogers and his arc throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

In Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos did exactly what he was going to do: wipe out half of the galaxy. Now the Avengers are left to pick up the pieces after losing everyone they loved. Steve Rogers and and the team reunite one last time to track down Thanos and the Infinity Stones to bring everyone back.

The only way I could feel it would be right to finish the franchise is to go out with a bang. Because Avengers: Endgame itself is such a massive finale to culminate the past twelve years of Marvel, this post will be split into two parts. I hope you sit back and relax 3000 as we track Cap into the future and stroll down memory lane. (This post is very picture-heavy. Credit can be found by clicking on the images.) Spoilers to the entire MCU is ahead.

Quick TV Reviews (The Bachelor, The Good Doctor, and The Conners)

The Bachelor, The Good Doctor, and The Conners are close to wrapping up their latest seasons. I'm not even waiting for the finales to share my two cents because it's been quite a doozy watching them through the winter break. None of my reviews contain major spoilers. Have you watched any of these shows or watching something else in 2020? Feel free to share in the comments!

Best Reactions from Stranger Things Season 4 Teaser

Stranger Things season three left fans heartbroken but optimistic. To save face from spoilers, for those who don't know, a beloved character was seemingly killed off in the latest season finale. Fans mourned their death with the characters' loved ones and assumed that was the last we'd see of him.

Cue to the teaser of Stranger Things's season four and fans suspicions - ones who believed the character was still alive - were surprisingly confirmed before more details of the next season came to light.

Of course, the fandom responded as it does - with the best reactions on social media. Here are some tweets helping us celebrate and anticipate the next season. 

This post contains spoilers. Read at your own risk.

To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You (2020) Recaptures The Rom-Com Magic

To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You / Netflix

From Set It Up to Always Be My Maybe, Netflix has become the new home for romantic comedies. Adapting the best-selling novel by Jenny Han into a three-film franchise, To All the Boys I've Loved Before captured the hearts of bookworms and movie lovers in 2018. And the streaming platform's plans to keep the series's heartfelt success going for its next two features continue strong.

Lara Jean Song Covey's (Lana Condor) secret love letters that were never supposed to see the light of day end up in the mailboxes of her old school crushes. To save face from embarrassment and coming in-between her sister and an ex (to whom one of the letters is sent), Lara and one of her crushes Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo) start a fake relationship. Their attempts at keeping up with appearances while getting to know each other personally gives way to real feelings.

We last left the couple on the lacrosse field optimistically declaring their feelings for each other, but going back to Adler High School behind is tougher than they think. After risking it all and willing to take a chance on love, Lara Jean and Peter are no longer pretending to be a couple - they're the real deal. As Lara struggles to navigate her first real relationship, a fellow love letter recipient John Ambrose McClaren (Jordan Fisher) springs back into her life, leaving Lara to question what being in love truly means.

Where To All the Boys I've Loved Before brought us along on the journey of Lara Jean's struggle to trust giving her heart over to a real relationship instead of a fantasy, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You brings into view the expectations Lara places on herself as she falls in genuine love for the first time. Both Lara Jean and Peter have to confront insecurities from past relationships (namely with Peter's ex Genevieve played by Emilija Baranac) - they must learn to shed the restrictions of their fake-ship and invest in each other wholeheartedly.

As perfect as love stories might read on the page, it's an entirely different challenge to experience them in real life. Offering a perfect mix of rom-rom chemistry and grounded, relateable performances, Lana Condor and Noah Centineo pick up where they left off, vibing off of each other as the characters gradually grow up. As the beating heart of the series, Lana Condor once again brings humor, heartbreak, and self-awareness to her role as Lana. She perfectly fulfills the role of the conflicted and personable heroine we don't often see in romantic comedies anymore. Next to Centineo's Peter whose energy is as contagious as over, Jordan Fisher's John steps into the role of the sensitive and artistic dreamboat who might steal Lara's heart with ease.

Despite the first film's release two years ago, it doesn't feel as if time has passed at all between the two films. The sequel makes a few major switches behind the scenes - the director's chair passes from Susan Johnson to Micha Fimognari, while Sofia Alvarez adds J. Mills Goodloe as her screenplay partner. From her splendidly bold and colorful costumes to cinematography by, Lara Jean's world takes us back to the nostalgic sphere of rom-coms that sweep us off our feet. Also serving as cinematographer, Fimognari keeps the visual palette from the first film, giving the trilogy a consistent atmosphere and look that you can't get enough of.

For the most part, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You recaptures the same charm as its set-up, revitalizing the nostalgia for rom-coms of the past. It has more adorable characters, gorgeous costumes, and tender mishaps between the letter-writing love triangle that'll make you swoon as rom-coms should do. At times, it also expands its missteps, namely failing to let Lara Jean explore life outside of the confines of her view about and by Peter or John Ambrose. While the first film explored the similarities between Lara and Peter but balanced out the hiccups of their unorthodox arrangement, the consistent string of miscommunication and mix-ups limits the foundation of who they are individually. Some issues throughout their relationship, particularly Peter's inability to look past Genevieve, never exactly feels resolved or that the main relationship grows as much as it could. Subsequently, the cast's chemistry makes the story work even in its strongest and weakest moments where you can't help but feel like rooting for them.

Ringing in the old days of John Hughes's movies, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is a rare gem, continuing the magic of the first flick and becoming a solid follow-up for a trilogy. Led by effervescent star Lana Condor, the film offers an enthusiastic and heartwarming diversity to a round of complex and endearing characters. The story reminds us of what it's like to fall in love and the journey of learning to communicate and be vulnerable in a relationship. As a romantic-comedy series for a new generation, the charm and joy from the mini-franchise leaves us wanting more for its final and third installment.

Rating: ★★1/2☆

Have you seen To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You? What did you think?

Please Note: I was provided with a screener in order to watch this film. To All The Boys I've Loved Before and To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You is currently available to watch on Netflix.

Top 10 Favorite Movies Of the Decade

While pondering my favorite movies from the past ten years, I second-guessed myself as always. Should I choose movies that I re-watch the most because they're comforting? should they be movies that impacted me the most the year they were released, but I haven't watched in a long time? should they be movies that are considered perfect by everyone and sit at the top of countless Best-Of lists?

Narrowing down the past decade of movies was nearly impossible, so it's a good thing I made a back-up of all my runner-ups on letterboxd. And for the lucky ten that made the top spot, I went with a combination of all of my doubts- there are movies that I re-watch the most when I'm down, that impacted me when they were initially released and still do in some ways, movies that might not be technically perfect to other critics but ones that I wouldn't change. Here are my top ten-ish favorite movies of the decade.