Joel Bailey

Another well done DC animated movie that ties into the last world ending series, Flash Flashpoint Paradox, a series of DC films that began at the end of the Timm verse movies and began the more anime styles animation run. Crisis is the ending of the series of DC animated run that followed with a well done homage to what had come before, delving, surprisingly, into some true animation nostalgia, and prefacing the next wave of DC animation stories.

Interesting Norwegian take on Norse mythology, part high school teen drama, half low budget Marvel series. Beautiful location shots. Capable actors.

Pilot episode is a nice, well tuned opening that takes some of the best tonal qualities of the 1977 Chris Reeve Superman, the cinematic vision of Man of Steel, and the home spun tales of Smallville.

Thor as a comedy. Works fine in small doses but as a whole left me feeling underwhelmed. Christian Bale excels but I think Director Taika Waititi was pulling him in different directions…shadowy menace and cackling loony. Hemsworth enjoys the comedy and has good timing and Natalie Portman revealed decent action hero chops, although the pathos necessary for one aspect of her character was not deeply developed. Kids over ten should enjoy it. Solid 5.5 out of 10.

The Russo’s have already proven they have the chops for action films and with time, it is clear that the best MCU films were the four the Russo brothers helmed. Citadel so far has a Marvel vibe, in that the two opposing clandestine forces seem to have a S.H.I.E.L.D. vs. Hydra dynamic. Only three episodes in and the leads are charismatic enough so far, although their backstories are scant. Not as entertaining (yet) as their Netflix film, The Gray Man, but intriguing enough to stay tuned for upcoming episodes.