The Defenders: Mid-Binge Thoughts

Marvel Netflix's titular The Defenders isn't the grand slam we had all hoped for. It's more like a double that only knocked in a run or two. Here's why:

• Finn Jones and Danny Rand continues to be uncompelling. This man child chi-user seems out of place from his counterparts. I cannot fathom seeing this version of Danny becoming best friends with Luke Cage. Centering this show's entire premise was not a good idea. 

• You would think with the episode order cut from the Netflix average of 13 down to just 8 that this team-up would need to pick up its pace in order to tell a cool and action-packed narrative for the first meeting of its heroes, but sadly this is not the case. The main plot moves at a snail's pace with a few dust-ups sprinkled in (Don't worry, the hallways and dark alleyway fights for which we have become accustomed are there). But unlike the current season of Game of Thrones, which also saw it's episodes cut, The Defenders is not using it's short schedule to make all 8 episodes exciting. The series so far just doesn't feel worth it. Maybe this should have a 2 hour Netflix movie instead?

• To the show's credit, it has delivered some great character moments. With at least a full season of stories devoted to each of the main protagonists (Luke, Matt, Jessica, and Danny), the audience knows these characters pretty well, but seeing them all finally interact with one another is exciting (even if it takes several episodes to finally happen). The side players (Foggy, Colleen, Claire, Misty, Rachel) are delegated to the background but each of them is always a welcome prescene, as is the great Scott Glenn's Stick, who plays an incredibly angry old man just the way Frank Miller intended.

                                       

Overall the show is just solid. So much of our media is thought of as either great or shit. Well guess what there is something called the middle and that is where The Defenders lies. My suggestion: Cut each individual show's episodes down to ten a piece and make the next Defenders a team-up movie. But hey I'm only mid-way through, maybe the second half is great and I'm just a whiny ass. I sure hope so.

P.S. Add in Blade, Punisher, or Ghost Rider to the mix for the next round.

Spiderman: Homecoming is my Favorite Spiderman Movie

The night is always darkest before the dawn. Truer words have never been spoken. 3 years have past since the darkness that is The Amazing Spiderman 2. Making it's poor use of Spidey's world fade into a distant dubstep memory. Now it is time for the dawn aka Spiderman: Homecoming to rise and save the web crawler from cinematic mediocrity. Marvel Studios and Sony Picture have co-authored the best Spiderman movie of all time. It could even be my personal favorite MCU movie. It has heart, charm, and humor in spades. Tom Holland (Captain America: CW) embodies a teenage Spiderman. He is now officially my favorite Spidey. The character has never shown his age before quite like this on screen. Spiderman: Homecoming much like Peter Parker's actual life feels like a high school comedy seamlessly mixed with a superhero blockbuster. The whole cast is terrific and director Jon Watts (Cop Car) deserves serious praise. Also can't believe how many references and easter eggs are in this film as well. If you love Spidey what are you doing reading this shit, go to see Spiderman: Homecoming right now.

P.S. One of the only flaws with the film was that this amazing scene wasn't adapted. SHOCKER!!!

Wonder Woman is Truly Awesome

Back in December of 2013, Zack Snyder (300) announced that model turned actress Gal Gadot would play the part of Wonder Woman in Batman V Superman. I remember feeling very uneasy about an inexperienced actress taking on the role of Diana. Flashfoward to now now and I will openly admit I'm a goddamn moron. Gal Gadot IS Wonder Woman. She truly embodied what comic readers have loved about the character for the past 76 years. As for Chris Pine (Star Trek) he can act in anything he wants until the end of time. He was incredible. Last thing I wanna say is NO MAN'S LAND. Wow that scene is truly epic, meaningful, and beautiful. If you dont have a ticket yet, go get one. Go see this movie ASAP.

P.S. Thank you Patty Jenkins. You rock.

Thor: Ragnarok is Already the Best Thor Movie

Thor movies are the powdered donuts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They are in a donut box populated by the more popular flavors such as Boston Creme and Glazed. If you have to choose a Thor movie you would because it's in the box, but no way would you pick it as your favorite of the dozen of Marvel's other offerings. Thor: Ragnarok on the other hand is set to change this franchise's dry powdery past. Director Taika Waititi's (Hunt For the Wilder People) Thor movie looks bonkers fun. Check it out.

Come Together For The Justice League Trailer!!!

The first trailer for Zack Snyder's Justice League is here.

Aquaman on the Batmombile!!!! That is everything! 

Justice League hits theaters Novermber 17th.

Don't Want A Matthew Vaughn Superman Movie, I Need It

Rumor has it that Warner Bros is interested for Matthew Vaughn (Kingsmen, X-Men: First Class) to direct their upcoming Man Of Steel sequel. 

My Reaction:

Make this happen! It just needs to. Matthew Vaughn brings incredible action sequences, heart, and a great sense of humor. All which a Superman movie should have in spades. 

Just imagine this with less guns, more Brainiac bots, and a 100% more Henry Cavill (Man Of Steel). Now that's a home run.

Follow me @cstrand73 on Twitter for more breathtaking insights.

Logan Is The Wolverine Movie You've Been Looking For

Let me be the 700th person to tell you that Hugh Jackman's last outing as Wolverine is not only his best outing as the fan favorite character, but perhaps the best X-Men movie that Fox has ever produced. Logan is a truly great film that has brutal fights, relatable characters, and incredible emotional beats. Unlike last year's X-Men: Apocalypse, Logan lives up to the hype and cements Hugh Jackman's legacy as an amazing Wolverine. 

• Director James Mangold had shown he could make a kickass western with 2007's 3:10 To Yuma. Now a decade later, he used a similar western backdrop for his superhero film. The story and characters fit the setting perfectly and create a comic film that feels like no other. That's a good thing because if comic book movies want to continue their dominance they need to continue to dip their toes into other genres. Such as how CA:TWS is a 70's political thriller, or how Deadpool is an R rated action comedy. Keep spicing up our superhero movies. No one wants a generic hero origin anymore. That's how you end up with Green Lantern.

Screenjunkies hit the nail on the head

• Everyone has been praising Hugh Jackman and Patrick Stewart's performances and deservedly so. But two actors who also crushed in this movie were Boyd Holbrook, who played Donald Price, and newcomer Dafne Keen, who plays X-23/Laura. Holbrook was a real evil son of bitch and I appreciated whenever he was on screen. I'm excited to see him as the lead in Shane Black's new Predator. As for Dafne Keen, child actors are extremely hit or miss. Many fail on any level to be compelling. Dafne Keen does not fall into that category whatsoever. For most of the film she rarely speaks, but her body language says it all. As for when she does speak it hit you right the gut. Very impressive for a child to stand out in a film with so many experienced performers.

• "Logan makes the R rating fucking count. They fucking say fuck so many fucking times and Wolverine fucking butchers so many motherfuckers." That is my submission to Fox for the Blu Ray cover quote.

Overall I'm giving Wolverine an A. Great film. Great cast. Great ending. Go see it!

Go see if you love: Wolverine, westerns, sadness, loss of limbs, old people, bald people, body scarring, road trips, eternal pits of darkness with a tiny lights of hope that shine through that you can never actually reach, limo driver.

Follow me @cstrand73 on Twitter for all my dumb thoughts on everything from movies, tv, sports, and comics.