malivai-1

How did I not watch this earlier?!! I love Scorsese's grasp of using subtle cues and drivers to deliver groundbreaking work. It's 2019 and a movie like this would fit right in. Yes, it's been done over and over to far less success but what I'd give to have this kind of quality reimagined for an age where the internet and social media (let's not forget a sprinkle of fake news) is equally pervasive and ubiquitous. And I mustn't forget Deniro - all I can say is that he was always a legend, even before we knew it.

Hmmmmmmm. Left the theatre not quite sure how to feel. I really thought that the 'ok' trailers were something of a slight of hand, and though I wasn't prepared to be blown away, I've come to have relatively high expectations of Marvel movies. I mean, the last few alone, Thor Ragnorok, Black Panther, Infinity Wars & even Ant Man and the Wasp have been solid cinema experiences. This though left me feeling very "meh". Was looking forward to a cool Thursday opening night screening of Captian Marvel but left very underwhelmed.

Ok, enough of my experience. In a nutshell: 1) Storyline & script - very clunky trying to do too many things such as an origin story told in flashbacks, set up for a new Kreme & Skrull cinematic direction I believe the MCU will be exploring, ALOT of exposition (Jeez) - more showing, less telling please! A sort of buddy comedy/action set up btw Larson and Jackson's characters which doesn't quite nail the chemistry (although Jackson can now do these parts eyes closed) 2) Acting - Larson is a far better actor than she showed here. I'm not sure if it's down to the direction she was given or the script but she just doesn't sell anything more than a one dimensional character with the occasional nice moments. Maybe she needs to grow into it. Compared to Gadot's Wonder Woman I have to say GG was miles ahead in delivery of performance, even though I rate Larson the far superior thespian. Marvel, sort this out please! Jackson is ever reliable and I dare say he's actually the connecting glue in the MCU, more than Downey Junior's Tony Stark. He's got the Fury character nailed and I can't see anyone else playing him (yes, I'm talking to you Hasselhoff!). Mendelsohn - dude was so effortlessly charismatic and easily has the best moments in the movie. I'd say he was the stand out with Lashana Lynch (shame this thread didn't get pulled a little more).

Oh well, on to Endgame & Shazam!

I'm so glad I didn't switch off during the painful seasons 2-3. Not that they were bad, but with the array of quality programming available ones viewing time becomes a premium.

This season feels like the producers, writers, even the (already pretty good) actors all stepped up to the challenge and are saving this show from 'meh'. Wow! Episode 15 'Self Control' blew me away and it's gradually mainatained the high standard. Thought that episode may be a unicorn but the subsequent ones have been great and this has me scampering to write a review. There are finally stakes that really matter and the pacing is phenomenal.

Please please please keep this up. This is the new bar for AOS. Long may it continue (see what I did there?! ;)