MY HERO ACADEMIA hits another milestone with unrelenting action and tension. Rivalries are stoked and stakes are raised for the young heroes. Even though the Provisional Hero License Exam ends, this episode doesn’t lose any momentum. MY HERO ACADEMIA clearly knows how to keep viewers enticed. This episode proves the show has a mastery over its world.
The end of the Provisional Hero License Exam brings about some serious change for the series. As expected, not every 1-A student passed – what’s surprising is the two who failed. Katsuki Bakugo and Shoto Todoroki not passing is a great twist to end the Exam arc on. Toga impersonating Camie was totally unexpected, and the reveal was well done. Ending the episode on Bakugo challenging Izuku Midoriya to a fight was a stellar cliffhanger to end a solid entry on. MY HERO ACADEMIA packs a lot into one block, but it’s all great in its own way.
The theme tying this episode together is rivalries. MY HERO ACADEMIA has several pairs of enemies, and this episode utilizes them well. Midoriya’s rivalry with Bakugo is, in many ways, a backbone of the show. This episode explores how that feud has evolved – particularly for Bakugo – and it’s fantastic. The conversation between All Might and All For One is also strong. While the villain’s “you’re just like me” bit is a tired trope, the two powerhouses have an intriguing argument, highlighting their history. Even Todoroki and Inasa Yoarashi get a nice beat, following their mid-exam fight. These various interpersonal conflicts fuel an excellent episode.
Throwing Midoriya from one fight to the next is great. Not only does the action continue, but it’s another landmark for Midoriya’s development. This episode mostly highlights Bakugo’s evolution, but Midoriya has clearly grown as well. Midoriya sees his license as a testament to how he’s matured. Now, a jealous Bakugo is testing that maturity. In many ways, this challenge is as big a test as the License Exam. Whether Midoriya fights Bakugo or not will prove how much he has – or has not – grown.
MY HERO ACADEMIA uses this episode to prove how much the series still has in store. All the young heroes are still growing, as are the threats against them. “A Talk About Your Quirk” touches on so much of the show’s universe, but it’s all handled nicely. There is a lot of resolution, but there is also no shortage of conflict. MY HERO ACADEMIA crafts a strong episode with a large scope.
Matthew McConaughey was at the Toronto International Film Festival Friday night and spoke to the media before the screening of his latest film White Boy Rick.
About the film: Set in 1980s Detroit at the height of the crack epidemic and the War on Drugs, WHITE BOY RICK is based on the moving true story of a blue-collar father and his teenage son, Rick Wershe Jr., who became an undercover police informant and later a drug dealer, before he was abandoned by his handlers and sentenced to life in prison.
Matthew McConaughey stars as Richard Wershe Sr. in Columbia Pictures’ and Studio 8’s WHITE BOY RICK.
White Boy Rick is directed by Yann Demange from a screenplay from Andy Weiss and Logan & Noah Miller. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Richie Merritt, Bel Powley, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Brian Tyree Henry, Rory Cochrane, RJ Cyler, Jonathan Majors, Eddie Marsan, Bruce Dern, and Piper Laurie.
Tom King and Andy Kubert team up to bring a brand-new, multi-part Superman story within the pages of SUPERMAN 100-PAGE GIANT #3, out this weekend.
Superman 100-Page Giant#3
‘Up In the Sky’ Part 1 Written by: Tom King Art by: Andy Kubert Inks by: Sandra Hope Colors by: Brad Anderson
When a child is abducted by aliens from Gotham City, the Man of Steel must travel across the galaxy to save her!
Story
“Up in The Sky” is not a complicated Superman story or setup. Tom King, a writer whose stories are usually dense and thick, has taken it down a notch and written an easily accessible story that can be picked up by just about anyone. You will find many of the classic Man of Steel tropes present; everything from Perry White’s classic “Great Ceaser’s Ghost” catchphrase, to Clark and Pa Kent having a heart to heart on the farm. What elevates this story from mere filler and repetition is the affection and attention to detail that King always brings to his work; the flair in the dialog, the perfect use of a supporting cast, and of course the grounding of everything in simple and relatable emotions.
However, this is just part 1 of 12. We readers have to wait and see if King is able to carry this narrative and mystery forward and tell a longer tale. But if his track record with long arcs is any indication, we should fine.
Art
Andy Kubert is a legend. His work here is solid and rooted in a more classic, almost 90’s era DC style. It’s a look that fits the tone of the story. When you add in Sandra Hope’s inks and Brad Anderson’s colors, it becomes a total package. It’s the kind of comic book art that is easy to read, yet no less dynamic. It’s still great to look at, but the layouts and panels are ‘simple’ and easy to pick up for someone who may not have a veteran’s grasp of comic language and structure.
Conclusion
The goal of these DC 100-Page Giants is to create new and easily accessible stories for the ‘casual’ comic book reader (among reprinted material). “Up In the Sky” succeeds there. It delivers a good story that will entertain hardcore DCU fans, as well as the average reader.
Next Gen is a beautiful, computer-animated film from Netflix that is a direct challenge to the uber-powers of Pixar that combines slick animation, top-notch storytelling, and a bit of a punk rock attitude.
The opening minute or two is a brilliant sleight-of-hand choice by directors Kevin R. Adams and Joe Ksander. It all starts like a saccharine family cartoon and gives the sense this is going to be a Pixar clone before it switches gear with a pop-punk track from composers Alexis and Sam. From then on, this story takes on a life of its own that feels very Pixar but certainly has it’s own unique attitude. If Pixar’s main competitor is Dreamworks, then Netflix with Next Gen nestles into a sliver of space somewhere between the two.
“One in every home!”
As the story goes, young, sweet Mai grows up to be an angsty, rebellious teenager who wants nothing to do with all the robots that have infested the world. In Next Gen, just about everything is a robot, reminiscent of Futurama. Hairbrushes, cars, refrigerators, and toothbrushes are all robots, maniacally trying to do their best job whether humans like it or not. Mai doesn’t like it at all, while her mother, Molly (Constance Wu) loves all the tech.
It’s an interesting juxtaposition to the current typical paradigm that kids are lost in tech and parents can’t connect. It seems, in this world, tech-obsessed millennials grew up to be tech-obsessed adults (arguably, today’s Gen Xers, too), and their children want nothing to do with it. Well, Mai, anyway. Most other kids love it all too which further disconnects our feisty hero from those around her.
As we get to know Mai, we come to meet Justin Pin (Jason Sudeikis) a Steve Jobs-like tech giant who produces the Q-Bot, a two-foot-tall AI assistant that everyone has; like the cellphone of this future world. Pin unveils the latest Q-Bot and gives one to every audience member at the keynote. Later, Pin declares he wants “One in every home.” Pin says this to Dr. Tanner Rice (David Cross) the designer of the Q-Bot (“The Woz” to Pin’s Steve Jobs). The context in which Pin delivers this line makes a big difference to the story moving forward.
“I hate robots!”
During the keynote, Mai gets in a bit of trouble and during a chase stumbles upon Dr. Tanner’s secret laboratory where Project 77, a prototype robot, is housed. Mai interacts with Project 77 but quickly runs away since she doesn’t like robots to begin with. However, Mai leaves behind her backpack which Project 77 now wants to return at all costs. And the intro to Project 77 as a character, the AI’s determination and, um, onboard skillset is fantastic.
There’s no doubt that Netflix’s run at original films has been a years-long streak of hits and misses. However, that’s in part due to growing pains. Here, Netflix has scored a big win, not only visually but narratively. The film’s characters are instantly memorable because, in part, they lovingly borrow from great films from before (what story doesn’t?), but they also do the work early on to establish their world, it’s culture, people, and the robots in it.
“…Next Gen delivers.”
Next Gen is a tightly put together film from start to finish, with no forced jokes or constant barrage of humor that appears in a lot of movies of this ilk (and even too many live-action films). Additionally, Next Gen doesn’t seem entirely aimed at children but teenagers with continuous bleeps of profanity and even the death of a non-robot. Still, none of it happens gratuitously. Next Gen stays within the realm of family-friendly animated fare.
The film also ends with a spectacular battle sequence that’s as over-the-top and explosion-y as any action film fan could want. To be fair, it might be a bit long for some, but if you’re hooked into the story by that point, you’ll likely find some tears jerked out of your eye-holes while all the eye-candy is happening.
It’s easy to recommend Next Gen to just about anyone. The animations are exquisite; on the level of the best stuff out there. The pacing is about as good as it gets as the movie feels wonderfully balanced with no suddenly sluggish points for some unnecessary side story or rushed story points. Mai’s emotional journey is as fun to watch as are all the action spectacles that Next Gen joyfully delivers. Next Gen is the kind of film that Netflix certainly needs more of and the kind of film that will keep them on top of the streaming service mountain.
Marvel’s Iron Fist hits Netflix Friday and as we binge watch the show Monkeys Fighting Robots will live-blog each episodes review.
The Fury of Iron Fist – S02E01
Marvel’s Iron Fist
Marvel’s Iron Fist Season two hits Netflix Friday, and the first episode ‘The Fury of Iron Fist’ brings a refreshing new tone to the series as the drama moves from the boardroom to the streets of Chinatown.
‘The Fury of Iron Fist’ has excitement, with two major action sequences and a few quick spurts of hand to hand combat. The cinematography is what stood out most about the episode, with most of it filmed at night. There’s a gritty dampness to the scene selection, giving a feel of evil creeping into the city. The last few minutes of the episode had no dialogue and relied on the cinematography to convey the emotion, and it does. You will be compelled to watch the next episode.
The plot of the episode is straightforward and sets up the series well. The weight of the world is about to be dumped on Danny Rand, and it is up to the Iron Fist to dig himself out. Danny’s relationship with Collen evolves well to where you feel for the couple and want to see them succeed. As soon as you see Ward Meachum, you can’t stand him. It will be interesting to see what his story arc is for the season. Joy, on the other hand, is at the beginning of her origin story and the path she takes will be exciting to watch.
Marvel’s Iron Fist
Finn Jones finally feels comfortable as Danny and the Iron Fist, and his surfer delivery fits the character. Jessica Henwick (Colleen) seems to have the most compelling on-screen presence, and Tom Pelphrey (Ward) has the ability to steal the show. The cast has grown in the acting craft since the first season.
The only issue is with Davos; it is hard to find him intimidating. The Steel Serpent needs to become pure evil and strike fear in the hearts of men. Sacha Dhawan is a good actor, but the size difference between Jones ruins all the tension. All the praise I gave the cinematography crew above, they need to work on finding a better angle when Davos and Danny are on screen together.
Overall, now that the show is past the origin the series will improve immensely. Season two can get to the good stuff like the Iron Fist battling it out, and the viewer can sit back and enjoy the binge.
The City’s Not for Burning – S02E02
Marvel’s Iron Fist
Episode Two of Season Two of Marvel’s Iron Fist gives every fan of the character the money shot we so deserve. Danny Rand is wearing the Iron Fist mask in the battle versus Davos for the right to fight the dragon Shou-Lao. That sentence alone should give you goosebumps.
The battle is through flashbacks throughout the episode which gives ‘The City’s Not for Burning’ a quick pace as tension builds. The struggle to save Chinatown continues which is a million times more interesting than the boardroom drama of Season One. All the chess pieces are in play, and we are just waiting for the reveal.
Again, the cinematography is what shines so far in the season. The darker setting, whether at night or the use of a cloudy day give the series a better feel. It helps to suck the viewer into the episode.
The fault in the episode and possibly the season is the development or origin story of Mary Walker (Alice Eve). The show is having a hard time capturing her dissociative identity disorder. Mary has the potential to breakout star of season two, but through two episodes it’s slow going.
The arrow is still pointing up, and there is no need to stop binging now.
This Deadly Secret – S02E03
Marvel’s Iron Fist
Each episode gets better and better, with episode three the most impressive so far. Ward is the best asshole money can buy, and Colleen continues to be a dominant force on the show. Mary is still not the strongest aspect of the season, but her plot thread starts to come into focus.
The commitment to the dark cinematography helps cover all the goofiness of a superhero show and dramatically changes the feel. Season 2 is not bright and cheer; deep emotional conflicts are at war.
As mentioned in the review of the first episode, Tom Pelphrey has a chance to steal the show, and he did in ‘This Deadly Secret.’ Pelphrey’s explosive behavior at the AA meeting is brilliant. Speaking of meetings, Jessica Henwick cuts through the bullshit at the dinner party with Davos, Joy, Danny, and Colleen. Henwick is what keeps the show on its toes and exciting for the viewer.
The arrow continues to trend up as the binge continues.
Target: Iron Fist – S02E04
The season slows down a bit with ‘Target: Iron Fist.’ Davos and Joy visit Mary and Mary’s plot thread is explained. Misty Knight also pops in to progress the plot as well. Mary’s story arc should have had a better reveal and added a bit of horror as she bounced through her multiple personalities. Not developing Typhoid Mary properly was a missed opportunity for the series.
The final scene of the episode, while fascinating and somewhat part of the comic book mythos looked like something out of The Craft. The set design was weak and could have some refinements.
‘Target: Iron Fist’ was necessary to move the plot along, but did no favors for the season.
The arrow has peaked for the moment, hopefully, episode five rebounds.
Heart of the Dragon – S02E05
‘Heart of the Dragon’ is the perfect mid-point of the season episode as it resets the season and starts the path to the finale. There needs to be highs and lows in a season, but the beats need to be appropriately played to keep the audience involved. The first three episodes come blazing out of the gate; now we are in the calm before the storm.
Also, the conversation in the episode had weight and carried emotion. Davos becomes an empathetic character to a certain extent. His motivations are revealed, and they come from a place that is understandable.
The Misty and Colleen relationship is developing nicely over three seasons so far. They are compelling enough characters to where their own series would get attention. Sidenote, I’m not sure if I’m shipping Misty and Ward yet, but that was an interesting exchange, and I wasn’t expecting that type of response from Misty. Stay tuned to see if love blossoms.
The arrow is holding steady, but some action needs to show up soon as the crowd is getting restless.
The Dragon Dies at Dawn – S02E06
‘The Dragon Dies at Dawn’ was a very artistic episode with the opening scene straight from a Spike Lee film. The camera angles were also very dramatically different coming from a low perspective. The main character also takes a back seat to the drama which gives others a chance to shine.
Colleen and Misty versus the Crane Sisters is the best fight so far in the season. The shot location and the combatants involved worked very well. A tattoo shop in a warehouse creates a playground of opportunity visually. As mentioned earlier Colleen and Misty’s relationship continues to evolve into a buddy cop film with each complementing the other perfectly.
Mary Walker is finally developing into a complex character with significant flaws. Instead of being used as a plot device for the first half the season, Alice Eve now feels like part of the cast.
With a mild cliff-hanger, ‘The Dragon Dies at Dawn’ gets the arrow moving north again. With four episodes left, it’s going to be a wild ride to the finish.
Morning of the Mindstorm – S02E07
The season starts to lose steam with episode seven, but the artist opening works well to introduce the coming depression. A drunk Ward is probably the best Ward. The video message from Mary to Walker was a unique angle on the character. Davos and Joy are not very good villains. The part of the first few episodes was Danny and Colleen’s relationship, but that looks to be heading south.
Citadel on the Edge of Vengeance – S02E08
Why does Danny need to train? Isn’t he the Immortal Iron Fist and he trained half his lifetime to become a kung fu master. This does not make any sense.
The supporting cast shines in this episode, with the highlight being the Ward / Mary team up as crazy meets crazier. Speaking of crazy, Joy has a death wish, and Davos thinks he’s a priest in the Temple of Doom.
Sidenote – K’un-Lun would not get a good Yelp review as its savior doesn’t know what he’s supposed to do, and the runner-up wants to kill everyone. Where is Mr. Kesuke Miyagi when you need him? Also, Danny picking training over his relationship with Colleen doesn’t make sense, especially when you can give Luke Cage or Jessica Jones a call.
The plot twist with Colleen is great and adds a new dimension to the mythos of the Iron Fist.
War Without End – S02E09
Colleen and Misty need their own show, and after this episode, it makes more sense than ever. With the reveal of Colleen’s backstory, she becomes a major player in the Netflix MCU. The white fist could look better special effects wise, but will just keep moving forward.
Davos continues to be a weak villain, he comes off like a spoiled brat, but what he did to Joy was surprising, dramatic, and it looked like the showrunners were going to be bold. For a show about martial arts, they don’t want to push the envelope with how it’s filmed. Daredevil set the bar high with hand to hand combat scenes, and Iron Fist doesn’t measure up.
The death of BB was shocking and sad. You don’t realize how attached you get to a little hood-rat till they’re gone.
A Duel of Iron – S02E10
Two Iron Fists battling it out, and Danny takes on Walker. The Mary / Walker dynamic is where the show drops the ball. Mary has three personalities, and we never get to see the savage one. What were the showrunners waiting for? You might never get another season! Plus, if Danny can barely beat Walker, then he is awful at kung fu, and K’un-Lun made a horrible choice.
The special effects in the finale are inferior and viewers should expect better.
Ward’s story arc was the best of season two, and Danny and him road tripping across Asia would be a perfect season three. The final scene is fascinating for Iron Fist nerds and gives us hope.
After you binge watch the show come back and give us your thoughts in the comment section below.
As you binge-watch Season 2 of Iron Fist on Netflix today make sure to stay for the post-credits scene after episode 10 as Daredevil has a confession for you.
“I once believed that justice could be found in a court of law, and in the light of day. But I was fooling myself. Darkness only responds to darkness. And the truth is, I’d rather die as the devil than live as Matt Murdock.”
Matt Murdock, all bloody and in the black suit is sitting in a confessional talking to someone. It is a very quick scene and doesn’t add to Season 2 of Iron Fist, but it does get you excited for Season 3 of Daredevil.
It’s funny; I always forget how much I love Charlie Cox as Daredevil during the season breaks, but as soon as hits the scene all the emotions from the previous seasons come rushing back.
Daredevil returns to Netflix in October. You can see him and Iron Fist fight alongside each other in Marvel’s Defenders.
Are you excited for Daredevil Season 3 on Netflix? Comment below.
Burt Reynolds, known for his iconic roles in The Longest Yard and Smokey and the Bandit, has passed away at age 82.
The actor reportedly went into cardiac arrest at a hospital in Florida Thursday night. His family was by his side at the time of his passing.
Reynolds made a name for himself in 1972 with his performance in Deliverance. He went on to become one of the biggest names in Hollywood starring in numerous hits throughout the 70s and 80s. In 1997, he was nominated for an Oscar for his role in the Mark Wahlberg led Boogie Nights.
The coming months were going to bring the icon to the forefront once again. In December, his movie, Defining Moments, is set to release. He was also currently filming Once Upon a Time in Hollywood alongside Brad Pitt and Leanardo DiCaprio.
What was your favorite Burt Reynolds performance? Let us know in the comments below.
The newest adventure of the Super Sons continues to be a fun ride!
While the summer of 2018 is coming to a close, the Super Sons’ is only just beginning. As their school year comes to an end, Jon and Damian plan an epic summer of Superheroing. While preparing for their first big adventure, they learn of an attack by a Sasquatch in Metropolis. On the approach, they discover the beast isn’t alone.
Along with him is a group of kids based on supervillains called The Gang. Their leader, Rex Luthor, demands to surrender to them before pulling out Gold Kryptonite to fight the Boy of Steel. Just who are these crazy kids?!
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
Before we return to the present, we get a background on our villains. Rex and the Gang are actually aliens from a far-off planet, where they love the culture of Earth. The children, however, connect more to the villains of Earth and plan to follow in their footsteps. To have The Gang grow into the legion Rex envisions, they need a hyperspace cube. This is why they attack Superboy and Robin, as the Boy of Steel knows his father has one in the Fortress of Solitude. After bringing forward a hostage, the Super Sons reluctantly let themselves get captured to find the cube.
This story is ridiculous, silly, and I love every moment of it. There isn’t as much action as one would hope, sticking with fleshing out our antagonists. The origin of the Gang basically boils down to a group of Fanboys going a bit too far. Knowing how far they went to look like the villains, especially with Rex, I can’t help but laugh. These are the ultimate villains for the Super Sons, as they have done the exact same thing.
There are also moments when the silliness fades just to remind us there are stakes. Our heroes reluctantly giving up only to try to stop Rex from killing the hostage shows off the heroism within our characters. It’s a mixture between that and the villains that make this issue a great read.
Art:
The story is able to walk a line of silly cartoony fun with moments of seriousness and the art helps perfect it. Carlo Barberi masterfully illustrates this issue and the world of the Super Sons has never looked better. The overall style may look cartoonish, but there are times that can capture seriousness as well. This art is only made better with the fantastic colors of Protobunker. They make the world feel more alive and pop right off the page. It’s a great look for an already great book.
Conclusion:
I love this freaking comic. It’s a ton of fun to read and a feast for the eyes. I recommend this comic to anyone who wants a fun, campy comic adventure. Hop on the Super Sons train while the series is just starting!
Snotgirl #11 by Brian Lee O’ Malley and Leslie Hung is out now. Though it’s been five months since issue #10 wrapped up our last arc, the latest issue doesn’t waste any time.
First, let’s dive into the shocker sprung on us at the end of issue #10…specifically, the fact that this issue doesn’t really address it much. It’s always present, but definitely takes a backseat. O’Malley and Hung are setting us up for a slow build as we enter this new phase of the story, and I love how it gradually ratchets the tension.
Still, fans of the series up to this point will find plenty to like with this latest issue. We get some development of the relationship between Lottie and Caroline, while somehow leaving things just as ambiguous as they were before. In fact, thanks to the convenient haze of mushrooms, not even Lottie knows where the two stand. There’s awkward tension between multiple characters, and it’s in all the right places.
The art is on-point in this new issue. The ink work is stronger that in issues past. I got more expression from the faces, which really helps push the story. The bright, pastel day colors and darker, rouge night tones from colorist Rachael Cohen accent the soft line work.
Snotgirl #11 is a great way to dive back into this story. While some readers might be a little annoyed by the shift of focus away from the broader mystery, I actually appreciate it. We have the chance to reacquaint ourselves with these characters and enjoy the lighter, human drama, which is always surprisingly compelling. If you’re behind on it, this is a great time to catch up.
In the latest episode of Kieran’s Movie Space, Kieran delivers his spoiler-free review of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, the brand new Amazon Original Series starring John Krasinski. Is this a series worth bingeing? Is Jack Ryan another win for John Krasinski? Listen to the review below and find out!
If you like what you hear, it would be awesome if you hit the like/subscribe buttons and drop a comment in the appropriate section.
Kieran’s Movie Space is an insightful, fun and reliable new podcast for fans of all things cinema. Host Kieran McLean delivers in-depth reviews of the latest movie releases, from small indie movies to massive blockbusters. New episodes weekly…or whenever I feel like posting.
Author Tom Clancy introduced the character of Jack Ryan in a series of books before Ryan headed to the big screen in several films. Now the former U.S. Marine is featured in an episodic series for the first time, with John Krasinski portraying Ryan in this Amazon original thriller that centers on Ryan as an up-and-coming CIA analyst. He is thrust into a dangerous field assignment for the first time and uncovers a pattern in terrorist communication. That launches him into the middle of a dangerous gambit with a new breed of terrorism that threatens destruction on a global scale.
