The original Ant-Man is one of Marvel’s lesser movies; a fun action movie that was undercut by bad and obvious jokes and a predictable plot. But while Ant-Man And The Wasp isn’t a complete reversal of course, it is a notable improvement in many ways.
Black Panther is not only one of the more interesting and accomplished superhero movies ever made, it’s also the smartest and most socially-aware Marvel movie. Which is why it’s gratifying that the Black Panther Blu-ray has so many great extras, but also frustrating that it’s missing some key ones.
In 2008, about a week before The Dark Knight hit theaters, Warner Home Video and DC Comics released Batman: Gotham Knight, an excellent collection of six anime shorts from the studios behind Ghost In The Shell [Production I.G.], Paprika [Madhouse], Steamboy [Studio 4°C], and Noir [Bee Train]. Now, ten years later, we have its spiritual successor in Batman Ninja (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital combo pack, DVD, digital; with digital 4K to come), a full-length anime movie that ranks alongside Batman: Gotham Knight as one of the most unique, intriguing, and exciting Batman animated movies.
We all deal with heartbreak in our own ways. Some people eat, some write poetry, and some smash things they may or may not regret smashing later. In the case of writer and artist Lisa Maas, she turned hers into the new graphic novel Forward (paperback). Though in asking her questions about it for the following interview, she also noted that it was inspired by other people’s stories of love.
It would be easy to spend a thousand words talking about the technical achievement that is Avengers Infinity War. How it makes such a massive cast all fit without sacrificing any of them; how it’s the culmination of everything that Marvel Studios have been building towards over the course of eighteen films; and how it feels like a comic book come to life. And I’ll get to that. But if you know nothing else about Avengers Infinity War, know this: it is a kick ass action flick that’s clever and funny and heartbreaking and probably the most fun you will have at the movies this year.
Writers often consult professionals in other fields to make sure they’re getting things right. Mystery writers, for example, will sometimes talk to cops, detectives, or FBI agents. But in the new science fiction graphic novel Legend Of Sumeria (hardcover, paperback) by Jay Webb and Biju Parekkadan, PHD, it was actually the doc who was asking for advice.
Though it had flaws which kept it from being DC’s answer to Marvel’s Avengers, the super hero team-up movie Justice League did end up being a halfway decent superhero action flick. Not surprisingly, the home version — which is available as a Blu-ray, DVD, digital combo pack; a 3D Blu-ray, DVD, digital combo pack; a 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, digital combo pack; and on DVD — also ends up being fun but flawed. Or maybe that should be flawed but fun.
While it was far from perfect, Thor: Ragnarok was still an exciting and unapologetically fun action movie.
Not surprisingly, you can say the same about the home versions — the Blu-ray, DVD, Digital combo pack; the 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, Digital combo pack; and the DVD — which have a lot of fun extras…but should’ve been better.
Ever since Marvel Studios began their box office hot streak with 2008’s Iron Man, some so-called “serious” film fans and critics have lamented that these movies are nothing more than cinematic popcorn, devoid of any real substance. But that’s the last thing they’ll be able to say about Black Panther, which is not only the most serious Marvel movie to date, but the most socially-conscious and thought-provoking as well.