Highbrow Magazine - marvel comics https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/marvel-comics en ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Lives Up to the Hype https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/19070-spider-man-no-way-home-lives-hype <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Fri, 12/31/2021 - 11:46</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1spiderman.jpg?itok=d5BbUoGC"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1spiderman.jpg?itok=d5BbUoGC" width="480" height="253" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">It would be almost impossible to talk about this movie without some light spoilers, nothing you wouldn’t see in a trailer though, but be forewarned. After all the anticipation, the third Marvel Cinematic Universe Spider-Man film is here, and it’s arguably not just the best of the trilogy, but the best in the entire franchise. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>Spider-Man: No Way Home</em> takes risks with its wide cast and somewhat convoluted plot, but they all pay off to make for a great superhero flick.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">After Peter Parker’s secret identity as Spider-Man is revealed, he becomes desperate to protect his loved ones from the attention and danger it brings. He asks Doctor Strange to cast a spell on the whole that would undo it, but it gets interrupted and ends up dragging people from different realities into theirs. The current Spider-Man (played by Tom Holland) is then tasked with curing the various villains of their ailments before returning them to their proper realities.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2spiderman.jpg" style="height:600px; width:315px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Returning villains like Doc Ock and Green Goblin all retain their original actors, but Alfred Molina as Doc and Willam Dafoe as the Goblin almost steal the show. Past Spider-Men, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield, also put in great performances and in addition to Tom Holland, they make a trio that plays really well off one another. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Like <em>Avengers: Infinity War</em> and <em>Endgame</em> before it, this movie does a great job of juggling all its characters, while also giving them a good amount of development. Past villains are humanized more and given their own arcs and their interactions with past Spider-Men is highly entertaining. Holland’s performance cements him as the best Spider of the bunch, so it’s a shame that he doesn’t want to return to the role anytime soon. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Disney is in the middle of changing the fabric of their Marvel Universe, and concepts like time travel and multiverses will become more prevalent in their shows and movies. They’ve fallen into some confusing pitfalls and contrivances on the way, but the highs, like this movie, have been worth it. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3spiderman.jpg" style="height:281px; width:500px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">However, this film isn’t free of plot holes --  which isn’t surprising considering the concepts it’s dealing with. So while parts of it bothered me, it definitely didn’t ruin what is definitely a great film with a considerable amount of heart.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">You would have a hard time finding another movie that has so much fanservice in it. Even then, it doesn’t feel like it’s insulting the audience’s intelligence or using past characters to cover up a bad script or lack of depth. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Disney will have a hard time topping this one, but it’s not a bad problem to have.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Author Bio:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>Ulises Duenas is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/spider-man-no-way-home" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Spider-Man: No Way Home</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tom-holland" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Tom Holland</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/andrew-garfield" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">andrew garfield</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvel-comics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">marvel comics</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/doctor-strange" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">doctor strange</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/peter-parker" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">peter parker</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/new-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">new films</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/comic-book-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">comic book films</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Ulises Duenas</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">In Slider</div></div></div> Fri, 31 Dec 2021 16:46:13 +0000 tara 10826 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/19070-spider-man-no-way-home-lives-hype#comments The Legacy of Marvel Comics’ ‘What If,’ and Its Implications Within the Marvel Cinematic Universe https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12592-legacy-marvel-comics-what-if-and-its-implications-within-marvel-cinematic-universe <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Fri, 09/24/2021 - 11:35</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1whatif.jpg?itok=E0qKRcHv"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1whatif.jpg?itok=E0qKRcHv" width="480" height="241" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">What if Tony Stark never escaped from The Ten Rings? What if Hela, the Goddess of Death, obtained the infinity stones before Thanos? What if The Winter Soldier killed Uncle Ben? The possibilities are infinite, and each drastically changing the outlook of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Any of these changes drastically reinvent the events and story arcs that emerge through the franchise. With the release of any Marvel project, fans fervently discuss the film often leading to the question, “But what if this happened instead?” The MCU’s newest show, <em>What If, </em>sheds light on such ideas.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The idea for <em>What If</em> stems from the comic line of the same name. Developed by Roy Thomas, the apprentice of Stan Lee, Thomas’s inspiration came from an exercise Lee practiced while writing. During the draft process, Lee would ask himself the question, “What if?” to determine the outcome of his storytelling and decide whether that was a satisfying outcome. Having been a staple writer for the Fantastic Four series of the 1970s, Thomas wished to blend the science-fiction nature of his writing, while also celebrating the legacy and history of Marvel comics. Yet, he was adamant in his desire to not interfere with other writer’s story arcs, rather to add a creative spin to the characters that fans would enjoy.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2whatif.jpg" style="height:338px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><a href="https://me.ign.com/en/tv-shows-1/172059/feature/marvels-what-if-will-tell-the-tales-that-never-happened-in-the-mcu">In 1977, Roy Thomas’s idea came to fruition.</a> Entitled <em>What If</em>, the comic series revisits iconic moments in Marvel’s comic history and introduces a point of divergence and its said consequences. The first issue followed an alternate reality of Spider-Man’s first solo comic series appearance. In <em>Spider-Man #1</em>, Peter Parker wishes to earn money by joining the Fantastic Four and is rejected. <em>What If #</em>1 tells the alternate history of Spider-Man joining the team and how his character arc diverges from there. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><a href="https://www.looper.com/319918/marvels-history-of-the-watcher-explained/">Uatu serves as the narrator of the story</a>. First appearing in <em>Fantastic Four #13</em>, Uatu is part of a species known as Watchers. <a href="https://www.looper.com/319918/marvels-history-of-the-watcher-explained/">The oldest beings in the universe</a>, Watchers observe the events of the universe, yet are forbidden from interfering. Ikor, leader of the Watchers enacted this policy of refraining after his own interference led to a genocidal nuclear war on the planet of Prosilicus. Ikor dispatches the Watchers across the universe and stations his son, Uatu, to planet Earth. Before leaving, Ikor warns his son that he must never interfere, even if it means ideally watching as the planet is destroyed. Thomas utilized the character of Uatu to both serve as a narrator of the comic series, as well as the historian of the Marvel comic universe. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>What If</em> is unique in its storytelling. Each issue has its own artistic style and a plethora of guest writers. This allowed different creators to storyboard ideas and gauge readers’ responses. Readers were not required to read the previous storylines, in theory making it accessible to new comic fans. Yet, its inventiveness and disconnection proved to be a detriment to the comics sales’ numbers. New readers were not invested in the history of Marvel comics; thus the premise of the comic series was of no interest. The series was canceled in 1984 after 47 issues. However, Marvel revisited the series in 1989, and since has released in total 13 series all under the anthology series, <em>What If</em>.    </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3whatif.jpg" style="height:560px; width:1239px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">In April 2019, Marvel Studios announced the development of an animated television series <em>What If,</em> which shared the same premise as the anthology comic series. Jeffrey Wright was announced as voicing the role of Uatu who would serve as the narrator for the show. Actors from the MCU were announced to be signed on to reprise their characters in the series, including Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Strange, Benicio del Toro as the Collector, Michael Rooker as Yondu, and posthumously Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa. In describing the series, showrunner A.C. Bradley and Kevin Feige stated that <em>What If</em> would serve as a celebration of the Marvel Cinematic Universe while still impacting the overall storytelling. They did not elaborate on how this would be achieved. That is until the season finale of <em>Lok</em>i debuted on July 14, 2021.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The implications of the <em>Lok</em>i season finale cannot be understated. For a refresher, the episode, “For All Time. Always” introduced Jonathan Majors as He Who Remains, a variant of Kang the Conqueror. A 31st-century time-traveling scientist, He Who Remains prevented a multiversal war between the evil variants of himself that would destroy “everything and everyone” in every existing universe. <a href="https://nerdist.com/article/marvel-multiverse-explained-doctor-strange-wandavision-loki-mcu/">He Who Remains placed all the parallel worlds into one timeline known as The Sacred Timeline centered around Earth-19999</a> (which happens to be the timeline in which all MCU movies take place). Despite multiple realities existing in isolation, these realities all share one identical detail. Every reality in the Sacred Timeline results in the birth of He Who Remains in order to prevent the birth of his variants Kang the Conqueror. That was until his death at the hands of Slyvie, causing the Sacred Timeline to expand infinitely -- thus creating the multiverse.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">For those who are lost, don’t worry; it’s meant to be confusing. Dr. Strange says in the new <em>Spider-Man: No Way Home</em> trailer that "the Multiverse is a concept about which we know frighteningly little." The introduction of time travel and multi-dimensional parallel universes are inherently overwhelming and requires further attention to the stories that are unfolding. Fans of the MCU may be asking themselves why Marvel Studios would want to focus heavily on the multiverse. which is so complex and often convoluted? Yet, <em>What If </em>serves as an excellent starting point to dive into the mysteries of the multiverse, and to showcase its drastic impact on the franchise.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/4whatif.jpg" style="height:317px; width:602px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">It is no coincidence that <em>What If </em>debuted less than a month after the season finale of <em>Loki</em>. <em>What If </em>is the first piece of media within the MCU that focuses solely on the multiverse. With the destruction of the Sacred Timeline, these infinite universes can now interact with each other, which means whatever happens in <em>What If</em> could potentially be crossed over with the characters on Earth-19999. Alternate variants can make their way into the main universe. For instance, in the first episode of <em>What If,</em> Peggy Carter takes the super-soldier serum instead of Steve Rogers, leading to her transformation into Captain Carter. <a href="https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/what-if-captain-carter-live-action-movie-tease-hayley-atwell/">Reprising her role as Peggy Carter, Hayley Atwell now has the possibility to see Captain Carter cross over into her own live-action movie</a>. Variants of the MCU’s film characters can now appear in the “main timeline,” which very well could explain why Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock is present in the <em>No Way Home</em> trailer, despite existing in the Sam Raimi <em>Spider-Man</em> films. The multiverse now makes it possible to explain that these films could exist within the multiverse and that Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man is merely a variant of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man. While none of this is confirmed, do note that Sam Raimi is directing the 28th MCU film installment, <em>Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.</em></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>What If </em>presents itself as a new testing ground for the MCU. Feige and creators are now able to utilize the format of the show to test some of their wilder concepts and see which ones prove popular with fans. If audiences respond well to a certain storyline, Feige can then utilize that element in an upcoming Marvel project. If audiences respond poorly to an event that happens in <em>What If,</em> Feige can simply choose to ignore it. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">However, the brilliance in this creative strategy means <em>What If</em> can feel unimportant. In a franchise that has now created infinite universes, focusing on one singular universe that is not taking place on Earth-19999 can feel insignificant. While it is a spectacle to see Captain Carter punch Nazis, witness Hank Pym kill the Avengers, or see all the heroes as zombified versions of themselves, ultimately, they are one-offs. Inherently, having one-offs can serve as a wonderful tool for creative innovation, yet the show struggles with the same pitfalls inherent to its comics series. Its anthology storytelling makes the series feel unnecessary. While well made, it never felt like a show I eagerly anticipated watching every week, rather a series that I enjoyed watching when time allowed… until Episode 4 debuted.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/1loki_0.jpg" style="height:312px; width:594px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The episode follows an alternate universe where, instead of Dr. Strange losing the usage of his hands in a car crash, his girlfriend, Dr. Christine Palmer, is killed. Grief-stricken he learns the mystic arts to manipulate time to prevent Christine’s death, despite warnings that doing so could destroy reality. Strange’s arrogance causes him to ignore the warnings and resurrect Palmer, resulting in the destruction of that universe and ending its timeline. The universe implodes into a small gem where Strange is left to grieve alone. Omnipresent for the destruction of the universe is The Watcher, and in a jaw-dropping sequence as Dr. Strange is trying to save the universe, he turns his head and speaks directly to The Watcher, begging him to save this universe. The Watcher refuses, telling Strange, “If I could fix this, if I could punish you instead, I would. But I can’t interfere… One life, one choice, one moment, can destroy the entire universe,” and the screen cuts to black.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The significance of this episode cannot be overstated. First, it marks the bleakest and darkest turn for the franchise to date. Strange, left sobbing as his universe is destroyed, is a shocking reality of the consequences of the multiverse. Without He Who Remains keeping the timelines in check, it leaves every universe vulnerable to destruction. Time manipulation can lead to the destruction of any and every universe within the multiverse and messing with time is kind of Dr. Strange’s gimmick. This episode displayed that Stephen Strange not only has the power to singlehandedly destroy a universe but also to communicate directly with The Watcher. Up until this point, there was no indication that the characters were aware of The Watcher’s presence, let alone could communicate with him. This further emphasizes Strange’s pivotal role in Phase 4 of the MCU and sets precedence for The Watcher’s role of being more than just an omnipresent narrator. Strange’s appearance in both his next solo outing and <em>Spider-Man: No Way Home</em> spells trouble for the multiverse.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/5whatif.jpg" style="height:271px; width:604px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Author Bio:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>Ben Friedman is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/what-if" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">what if</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvels-what-if" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">marvel&#039;s what if</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvel-cinematic-universe" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">marvel cinematic universe</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/spiderman" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">spiderman</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/loki" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">loki</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/dr-strange" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">dr. strange</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/fantastic-four" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">fantastic four</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvel-comics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">marvel comics</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tv-shows" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">tv shows</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Ben Friedman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Fri, 24 Sep 2021 15:35:21 +0000 tara 10645 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12592-legacy-marvel-comics-what-if-and-its-implications-within-marvel-cinematic-universe#comments ‘Black Widow’ Pays Homage to Female Empowerment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12389-black-widow-pays-homage-female-empowerment-marvel-cinematic-universe <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Fri, 07/09/2021 - 12:30</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1blackwidow.jpg?itok=qgmmCee6"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1blackwidow.jpg?itok=qgmmCee6" width="480" height="270" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong><em>Black Widow</em></strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Directed by: Cate Shortland</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Rachel Weisz, O-T Fagbenle, Ray Winstone</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence/action, some language and thematic material.</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Available: In theaters and with Premier Access on Disney+</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Although the push for a more inclusive movie industry should be both applauded and perpetuated, I am regularly frustrated by the way some media outlets blindly embrace the marketing wings of film studios. Readers likely remember the onslaught of stories about the representational importance of the 2019 blockbuster <em>Captain Marvel</em>. Not only did that movie break the glass ceiling of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, some argued, but it was an important move forward for cinema in general. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The progressive ideas expressed in such reviews are well meaning because representation does matter, and <a href="https://assets.uscannenberg.org/docs/aii-inequality_1300_popular_films_09-08-2020.pdf" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline">women are notoriously underrepresented on screens both big and small</a>. Even a cursory look at the movie and TV industry demonstrates that – at least in the mainstream wing of the business – women get fewer key roles, are often presented primarily as sexual objects, and struggle to land work behind the scenes. In fact, it’s sad that the scales are this uneven more than two decades into the 21<sup>st</sup> century. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2blackwidow.jpg" style="height:600px; width:405px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Because of that, it was a big deal when Marvel decided to throw a bone to women by allowing a female character to lead her own franchise. Trouble is that too many pundits decided that Marvel’s decision to simply deliver <em>Captain Marvel</em> was enough.  The creative forces behind the MCU were widely praised for the simple act of doing the right thing, and far too many failed to call <em>Captain Marvel</em> what it is: a subpar Marvel picture. In other words, when a female character was finally given the spotlight, she was forced to prove her worth with a script that was recklessly shoehorned into a cinematic universe that had been mostly assembled with meticulous care. While the intent may have been more than tokenism, the movie sure seemed like a haphazard stab at stemming legitimate accusations of sexism.  </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Now that a few years have passed, I suggest we rethink some of the glowing reviews for <em>Captain Marvel</em> and remember the film for what it was: a halfhearted step in the right direction. Fortunately, 2021 proves that <em>Captain Marvel</em> wasn’t a one-off attempt to silence critics. With <em>Black Widow</em>, the MCU and director Cate Shortland have delivered a movie that is both better than <em>Captain Marvel</em>, and more empowering. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>Black Widow</em> is still far from perfect. It’s a comic book film and comes with all the flaws inherent to the genre. There are ridiculous moments, plot points that could be better developed and action sequences that are more about dropping jaws than exercising brains. But that’s the case with many films in the genre. Remember, for instance, that <em>Iron Man 3</em> and the second <em>Avengers</em> films were merely serviceable. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em>Black Widow</em> is a good, albeit not great, MCU film, yet it punches far above the class of <em>Captain Marvel </em>in several ways. First, the title character is not the only high-powered female on display. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The film, for those who have somehow avoided the hype, takes us back in time, filling in blanks surrounding Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson) – aka Black Widow – the female Avenger whom we’ve watched fighting alongside Captain America and company in so many previous efforts. The movie primarily focuses on events that occurred right after those in <em>Captain America: Civil War. </em>That said, one needn’t go back and watch all the previous MCU films to enjoy this one. Knowing that Romanoff is a famous Avenger is preparation enough. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3blackwidow.jpg" style="height:400px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The plotting puts Romanoff in touch with her long-lost sister – Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh). Viewers quickly learn that neither had an ideal childhood and that Natasha isn’t the only badass in the family. That means we have not one powerful female figure but two, and there are more as the film progresses. In fact, the only male figure in the film portrayed with as much import as the Natasha and Yelena is a Russian superhero dubbed Red Guardian (David Harbour), and he is largely used for comic relief. In other words, Natasha and her sis don’t need men to save them. Rather, it’s the men who get lessons in courage and determination.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The plot also seems perfect in the #MeToo era because Natasha learns that many young, Russian women are being manipulated into becoming elite assassins with a powerful mind-control device. This is an obvious metaphor for the fact that women are too-often treated as property or means to an end, especially when the prime villain, Dreykov (Ray Winstone), makes a point of stating that his army was built from the one resource the world has an overabundance of: women. This isn’t a subtle moment, but it is meaningful, in that too many in the world seem to agree with Dreykov. None of the thematic elements in <em>Captain Marvel</em> were this progressive or thoughtful. Rather, that film was heralded as a standout simply because Brie Larson was given a costume and the majority of lines. Shortland guides <em>Black Widow</em> with an adept hand and makes certain that this picture walks the talk. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">As with most films in the MCU, there are plenty of moments requiring high-level suspension of disbelief. For instance, Natasha is ridiculously hard to kill for someone with no actual super powers. But she is a superhero, so you have to give her that, right? The plot could be smarter … or more inventive, in that “Black Widow” is a straightforward action movie. We learn about Natasha’s background, she learns about a great evil, and we follow her and her sister as they try to take it down. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">The story doesn’t revolve around potential Armageddon (refreshing since most comic book movies have world-ending stakes these days), and we don’t get cameos from other Avengers. We also don’t get the immense creativity seen in the recent MCU TV series <em>WandaVision</em>, which – by the way – was also a better nod to female empowerment than <em>Captain Marvel</em>. But we do get an enjoyable picture that moves like lightning, packs a load of impressive action sequences, and punctuates the journey with characters who are likable and funny. In short, this is an MCU film that feels like it belongs in the MCU.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/4balckwidow.jpg" style="height:338px; width:600px" typeof="foaf:Image" /></span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">There is no obvious tokenism, and although Johansson and Pugh are quite beautiful, they aren’t (at least from my perspective) overly sexualized. As a man, making such a statement is dangerous … so I present it with humility. Perhaps, my perceptions have been adversely colored by decades of viewing the world through male eyes, and I apologize if so. But I think most would agree, this is a step up from the skimpy costuming of Wonder Woman and the ever-present onslaught of films where women are shown primarily as bikini models. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Natasha and Yelena wear well-designed costumes that do hug their bodies but also seem believable as combat apparel, in that they aren’t showing off as much skin as possible. Rather the outfits offer protection against a constant onslaught of shrapnel, yet seem flexible enough to allow the sisters to perform stunning feats of athleticism. This is a welcome choice because it encourages viewers to see these characters as more than eye candy, while also requiring a less-dramatic suspension of disbelief. I mean who hasn’t questioned why Wonder Woman would go into combat wearing the equivalent of a one-piece bathing suit, impenetrable skin notwithstanding? </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">As with all MCU films, you want to stick around for a post-credits sequence. It’s a good one that presumably plants seeds for future movies, while also sticking to the theme of female empowerment.  </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif">Perhaps the most striking thing about <em>Black Widow</em> is that it’s good enough that a sequel is an appealing concept. The architects of the MCU made that possibility more difficult than one would hope in the last Avengers movie, but I’ll hold out hope. These characters inhabit a comic book world, and movie producers have a way of milking them for as much as they can. If <em>Black Widow</em> is the hit I suspect it to be, I’m sure cinematic life will find a way.   </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>Author Bio:</strong></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><em><strong>Forrest Hartman, a </strong></em><strong>Highbrow Magazine</strong><em><strong> contributor, is a longtime entertainment journalist who teaches at the Department of </strong></em><a href="https://www.csuchico.edu/jour/" style="color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline" target="_blank"><em><strong>Journalism &amp; Public Relations at California State University, Chico</strong></em></a><em><strong>.</strong></em></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:16px"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif"><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></span></span></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/black-widow" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">black widow</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/captain-marvel" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">captain marvel</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvel-cinematic-universe" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">marvel cinematic universe</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/scarlett-johansson" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">scarlett johansson</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/comic-book-films" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">comic book films</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/avengers-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">avengers</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvel-comics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">marvel comics</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/female-superheroes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">female superheroes</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/superheroes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">superheroes</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Forrest Hartman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Fri, 09 Jul 2021 16:30:04 +0000 tara 10497 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/12389-black-widow-pays-homage-female-empowerment-marvel-cinematic-universe#comments Marvel Universe Fans Are In for a Treat With ‘The Wakanda Files’ https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/11000-marvel-universe-fans-are-treat-wakanda-files <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/books-fiction" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Books &amp; Fiction</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Wed, 10/28/2020 - 07:35</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1wakandafiles.jpg?itok=Jn5lMxI3"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1wakandafiles.jpg?itok=Jn5lMxI3" width="480" height="253" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p>The Marvel Cinematic Universe might have slowed down this past year, but that makes it a good time for fans to reflect on the whole series. Epic Ink has published Troy Benjamin<em>'s The Wakanda Files</em>, an encyclopedia and archive of technology and characters from across the entire Marvel universe.</p> <p> </p> <p>This is sold as a premium product for the retail price of $60. The big gimmick for the book is an included Kimoyo bead with a UV light inside that’s used to decode notes and messages left by Shuri. The bead itself is made of plastic and can be somewhat difficult to use because of its small size. The light is activated with a small button that has to be held down instead of working on a toggle. It makes reading notes and other messages more of a pain than it should be, but the notes do add a layer of context to what’s on the page. </p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/2wakandafiles.jpg" style="height:606px; width:597px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>I really like the idea of decoding notes in a book that’s meant to be an archive of high-tech gadgets and secret dossiers. Using the UV light added to the immersion of reading through the book, but the minor annoyance that came from the bead’s quality got in the way of that immersion. The notes and messages give some good background information on what the scientists of Wakanda thought of the events of the <em>Avengers</em> movies while they watched behind the scenes. Hardcore Marvel fans should especially view the notes.</p> <p> </p> <p>All 160 pages of this book showed some nice variety. Organizations, people, weapons, vehicles and more are explored, but I wish some sections offered more detail. My favorite parts of the book were those that went over the technology built by Tony Stark. Looking at blueprints of his suits and the stuff he built for Iron Man made me wish that there was a more detailed breakdown of what made those things work. However, it was great to see so much original art displayed in the book.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/3wakandafiles.jpg" style="height:570px; width:570px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Presentation and detail matter a lot when it comes to products like this. <em>The Wakanda Files</em> nails the presentation well, but I still would have liked to see more detail in the content. Asking $60 for this book is actually fair, considering its size and quality.  I just wish the bead was easier to us.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong><em>Ulises Duenas is a contributing writer at</em></strong><strong> Highbrow Magazine.</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>For Highbrow Magazine</strong></p> <p> </p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvel-universe" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marvel Universe</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/wakanda-files" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">The Wakanda Files</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/shuri" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Shuri</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/tony-stark" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Tony Stark</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/iron-man" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">iron man</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/comic-books" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">comic books</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvel-comics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">marvel comics</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Ulises Duenas</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Epic Ink, Marvel Universe</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Wed, 28 Oct 2020 11:35:10 +0000 tara 9935 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/11000-marvel-universe-fans-are-treat-wakanda-files#comments ‘Gravity,’ Nebraska’ Arrive on Home Video https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/3765-gravity-nebraska-arrive-home-video <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/film-tv" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Film &amp; TV</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Tue, 02/25/2014 - 10:33</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/gravity.jpg?itok=tNE1cZb9"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/gravity.jpg?itok=tNE1cZb9" width="480" height="360" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p>It’s a fantastic week for home video with several good movies – including two nominated for multiple Academy Awards – moving to the small screen.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Gravity</strong></p> <p><strong>3½ stars (out of four)<br /> Rated PG-13 for intense perilous sequences, some disturbing images and brief strong language<br /> Warner Brothers<br /> Available on: Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Director Alfonso Cuarón’s “Gravity” is tied with “American Hustle” as a No. 1 contender in this year’s Oscar race. Both films earned 10 nominations, including nods for best picture, best director and best actress.</p> <p> </p> <p>Sandra Bullock nabbed the latter honor for her memorable portrayal of Dr. Ryan Stone, a fledgling astronaut who is stranded in space when a fast-travelling band of debris disables the shuttle that she and her colleagues launched in. The space junk not only renders the craft unusable, it kills every member of the crew with the exception of Stone and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (George Clooney).  Realizing the desperation of their situation, Stone and Kowalski decide to spacewalk to a nearby station in hopes of returning home. Their journey is dangerous because they have limited oxygen, the orbiting debris will return, and there is no guarantee they can safely board the station.</p> <p> </p> <p>Cuarón often pulls his camera back to show how small the astronauts are in the vast expanse of space. The grandeur of the cinematography is reminiscent of “2001: A Space Odyssey,” but “Gravity” isn’t as slow moving as that epic.  </p> <p> </p> <p>As Stone and Kowalski attempt to save themselves, they encounter one horrifying situation after another, and the movie actually takes the tenor of an action film. This makes it exciting, but it also reduces the credibility. For most people, being lost in space would be horrifying enough. In “Gravity,” the predicament is compounded by an ever-increasing number of threats, some of which seem like overkill. Cuarón could have dialed the action back because Bullock, who has the movie’s biggest role, delivers a nuanced performance that invites empathy from viewers.</p> <p> </p> <p>The biggest drawback to watching “Gravity” on home video is the screen size most viewers will be saddled with. This is a visual film, and the sheer mass of theater screens will always offer the best presentation. Fortunately, advances in home theater equipment have allowed at least some people to create theater-like experiences at home. Those who have large screen TVs or projectors will get more from the film than those attempting to watch on a laptop or tablet. Those set up for Blu-ray 3D may even begin to approach the multiplex experience.</p> <p> </p> <p>Blu-ray and DVD extras include multiple making of features and a 22-minute documentary about the space debris that currently orbits our planet.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/nebraska.jpg" style="height:348px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Nebraska</strong></p> <p><strong>3½ stars<br /> Rated R for some language<br /> Paramount<br /> Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Director Alexander Payne is one of today’s most exciting filmmakers, and he continues to impress with “Nebraska,” a compelling black-and-white dramedy about an elderly man convinced he’s become a millionaire.</p> <p> </p> <p>The movie opens with Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) slowly shuffling down a busy road in Billings, Montana. When a police officer asks the white-haired man what he is doing, he says he is walking to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he plans to collect a $1 million sweepstakes prize. Concerned about the man’s safety, the officer takes Woody to the police station where his youngest son, David (Will Forte), retrieves him.</p> <p> </p> <p>David immediately recognizes his father’s sweepstakes letter as a scam, but Woody continues to demand a trip to Lincoln. Despite continued protestations by his mother, Kate (June Squibb), David agrees to drive his father to Nebraska. He hopes the trip will ease the old man’s mind, and he uses it as an opportunity for Woody to reconnect with relatives in his hometown of Hawthorne.</p> <p> </p> <p>As Woody reunites with long-lost friends and family, word spreads that he has struck it rich, causing a commotion that David is poorly equipped to handle. The strange circumstances also allow him to delve into his father’s past and understand the man in a new way.</p> <p> </p> <p>Payne tells his story at a leisurely pace, allowing plenty of time for his actors to develop their characters. This results in deeper-than-usual performances, two of which were rewarded by Oscar nominations. Dern is up for best actor and Squibb is nominated for best supporting actress.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Nebraska” also earned nominations for best picture, best director, best cinematography and best original screenplay, making it one of the top contenders at this year’s ceremony. Whether or not it turns any of the six nominations to gold, the film is a touching and worthwhile meditation on family ties and the way a man’s history is inextricably linked to his future.  </p> <p> </p> <p>The “Nebraska” DVD release has no extras. The Blu-ray has a making-of feature.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/Thor%20-%20Horizontal.jpg" style="height:258px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Thor: The Dark World</strong></p> <p><strong>3 stars<br /> Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence, and some suggestive content<br /> Disney<br /> Available on: Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Marvel Comics is on a remarkable roll. Although superhero films seem custom made for bland, bombastic sequels, the publishing giant has done a superior job moving its brand forward by focusing on quality.</p> <p> </p> <p>The great thing about Marvel’s comic book movies is the company seems to realize that dazzling special effects and colossal action sequences mean nothing unless tied to a good story. Whether trotting out the web-slinging adventures of Spider-Man, the high-flying antics of Iron Man or the multi-character drama of the Avengers, Marvel directors attempt to foster an emotional bond between characters and their audience.</p> <p> </p> <p>Of course, the quality of the Marvel movies varies by degree. If we use “The Avengers” as the gold standard, “Thor: The Dark World” is a solid, mid-tier entry. The movie, like its predecessor, focuses on a beefy, blonde hero based on the Norse god of thunder.</p> <p> </p> <p>In the movies, Thor is not presented as a god, but as the denizen of a distant realm called Asgard. The people of this realm possess powers far greater than average humans, and they live for thousands of years. This presents something of a problem for Thor (Chris Hemsworth) who fell in love with the human scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) in his first cinematic outing. </p> <p> </p> <p>In early scenes, “Dark World” director Alan Taylor establishes Thor’s greatness as a warrior (even by the standards of Asgard) and the fact that his heart remains with Jane. Despite this, the hero sticks to his own realm until he receives word that Jane has gone missing. This prompts a return to Earth, where Thor discovers that Jane has been exposed to a strange, otherworldly element known as the Aether. Further investigation shows that the Aether has awakened an ancient evil determined to use the element to plunge the universe into eternal darkness.  </p> <p> </p> <p>Armed with this information, Thor attempts to protect Jane while finding a way to destroy the Aether and those who would wield its evil power. The astoundingly high stakes even prompt Thor to request help from his treacherous brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston). This is a nice twist considering that Loki was the primary villain in both the first Thor movie and “The Avengers.” The plotting is complex for a comic book movie, and that adds to the enjoyment, although it does take time to tune into the film’s intricacies.</p> <p> </p> <p>Hemsworth has rapidly become a major star, and he is perfectly cast as Thor. His flowing hair and bulging muscles make him completely believable as an otherworldly hero, and his sharp, theatrical diction add to the character’s mystique. Hiddleston is, as always, a blast as Loki, and Taylor uses his impressive supporting cast wisely. Portman, Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba, Rene Russo, Kat Dennings and Stellan Skarsgård play central roles in the plotting, and each actor does a nice job.</p> <p> </p> <p>Taylor, who inherited the Thor franchise, maintains the tone set by director Kenneth Branagh in the original movie, but he avoids the redundancies that plague many sequels. “The Dark World” advances the key characters by placing them in challenging, new situations. This allows viewers to connect while setting the stage for future installments to the still-promising franchise.   </p> <p> </p> <p>Blu-ray and DVD extras include a feature about the film score, a bit about the relationship between Thor and Loki, deleted scenes, a gag reel and an audio commentary with Taylor, Hiddleston, producer Kevin Feige and cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/bluemovie.jpg" style="height:425px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Blue is the Warmest Color</strong></p> <p><strong>3 stars<br /> Rated NC-17 for explicit sexual content<br /> Criterion Collection<br /> Available on: Blu-ray, DVD, digital download and on demand</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>Writer-director Abdellatif Kechiche has received considerable acclaim for “Blue Is the Warmest Color,” his film adaptation of Julie Maroh’s like-titled graphic novel. The movie, like the book, focuses on the sexual awakening of a French high school girl who begins a passionate relationship with a slightly older woman from a nearby college. </p> <p> </p> <p>The film, presented in French with English subtitles, was the darling of the 2013 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Palm d’Or. It also generated controversy when lead actresses Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux complained that Kechiche had them working under nearly intolerable conditions, including 10 grueling days devoted to a single explicit sex scene. That sequence, which lasts approximately seven minutes and features footage of Exarchopoulos and Seydoux in nearly every imaginable lesbian sex position, also drew criticism from a handful of viewers, most notably Maroh. She described the sequence as alternately surgical and pornographic, and her comments are fair.</p> <p> </p> <p>The movie was released with an NC-17 in the United States, and the nudity and sex is so prevalent and graphic that at least portions of the picture could pass for soft-core pornography. That said, the film is also beautifully shot and thoroughly engaging on a dramatic level, making it a fascinating mix of high art and eroticism. </p> <p> </p> <p>“Blue” begins by introducing viewers to Adèle (Exarchopoulos), a teenager who studies literature, hangs out with friends and spends evenings with her loving parents. It’s a typical teen life until she meets Emma (Seydoux), a confident and artsy lesbian drawn in by Adèle’s intelligence and beauty. Not long after they meet, the two begin a fiery affair punctuated by the lengthy sex scenes.</p> <p> </p> <p>Although the sex has drawn most of the headlines, “Blue” is at its best when Adèle and Emma have their clothes on. That’s because they have a relationship most anyone – male or female – can relate to. What starts as an inferno, slowly loses steam and becomes routine. This, and the creeping evils of jealousy, threaten to undo an otherwise remarkable romance.</p> <p> </p> <p>Exarchopoulos and Seydoux give earthy, restrained performances that allow viewers to crawl inside their heads. Although neither actress received an Oscar nomination, both were considered contenders, and they received considerable attention from critics’ groups early in the awards season.</p> <p> </p> <p>Despite its beauty, “Blue” has flaws, most due to Kechiche’s excesses. The movie runs three hours yet leaves several dangling plot threads, all exacerbated by the director’s failure to adequately represent time. For instance, the movie transitions Adèle and Emma from youthful, clandestine lovers to an established couple in a matter of minutes, but it is impossible for audiences to know how much time has passed. Neither actress appears to age during the course of the film, yet it is obvious that years have gone by. Even more troubling is the fact that Kechiche never shows Adèle coming out to her parents, although he takes considerable time to establish their importance to her life. Likewise, Adèle’s high school friends are given screen time early in the film, but they are all but abandoned as she begins her relationship with Emma.</p> <p> </p> <p>Obviously, a movie can’t tie every dangling thread, but Kechiche could have done better. In fact, he could have gained five or six minutes just by trimming the gratuitous sex scenes to a reasonable length. One might argue that the graphic sexual encounters are necessary to “Blue’s” storytelling, but this doesn’t wash. Director Ang Lee delivered an even more powerful meditation on gay relationships in “Brokeback Mountain,” and his sex scenes were just long enough to establish the depth of his characters’ love.</p> <p> </p> <p>Because of Kechiche’s excesses, “Blue” is not the masterpiece Cannes voters would like us to believe. It is, however, a beautifully acted, coming-of-age story that asks viewers to think about love and the many ways it manifests itself.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Blue is the Warmest Color” is a bare bones release, with extras limited to an essay by critic B. Ruby Rich.</p> <p> </p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/muscleshoals.jpg" style="height:410px; width:625px" /></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>ALSO OUT THIS WEEK</strong></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>“Muscle Shoals”:</strong> Documentary centered on Rick Hall, the Alabama music producer credited with creating the famed “Muscle Shoals sound.” Directed by Greg “Freddy” Camalier.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>“L.A. Law” – Season One</strong>: It’s somewhat shocking that this popular 1980s and ’90s legal drama is just now coming to DVD.  Nevertheless, the Steven Bochco- and Terry Louise Fisher-created series is finally getting its due. This release includes the first 22 episodes. Harry Hamlin, Susan Dey, Jimmy Smits, Jill Eikenberry, Michael Tucker and Corbin Bernsen star.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>“The Middle” – Season Four:</strong> Twenty-four episodes of ABC’s sitcom about middle-class family life. Patricia Heaton, Neil Flynn, Charlie McDermott, Eden Sher and Atticus Shaffer star.  </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Criterion Collection releases:</strong> Along with “Blue is the Warmest Color,” the Criterion Collection is releasing fresh restorations of three classic titles. Among them is “King of the Hill,” director Steven Soderbergh’s first Hollywood studio production. Also out is “Tess,” director Roman Polanski’s 1979 adaptation of “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” and “Breathless,” director Jean-Luc Goddard’s first feature-length film. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>“Lesson Before Love”:</strong> Independent drama about urban professionals looking for romance. Kenneth Brown Jr., Shamea Morton, Peyton Coles and Reece Odum star. Written and directed by Dui Jarrod.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p><em>Forrest Hartman, a</em> Highbrow Magazine <em>contributor, is an independent film critic whose byline has appeared in some of the nation's largest publications. For more of his work visit <a href="http://www.ForrestHartman.com">www.ForrestHartman.com</a>. </em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/gravity" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">gravity</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/nebraska" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Nebraska</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/bruce-dern" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">bruce dern</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/sandra-bullock" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Sandra Bullock</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/george-clooney" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">George Clooney</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/blue-warmest-color" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">blue is the warmest color</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/thor" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">thor</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvel-comics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">marvel comics</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Forrest Hartman</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Tue, 25 Feb 2014 15:33:53 +0000 tara 4326 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/3765-gravity-nebraska-arrive-home-video#comments Meet the New Face of Marvel Comics (Female, Muslim, Pakistani) https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/3233-meet-new-face-marvel-comics-female-muslim-pakistani <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/media" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Media</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Fri, 12/06/2013 - 11:02</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1msmarvel.jpg?itok=MBZAao9c"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/1msmarvel.jpg?itok=MBZAao9c" width="480" height="298" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p>From PRI’s The World and our content partner, <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2013/11/meet-the-new-ms-marvel-a-female-muslim-pakistani-superhero.php">New America Media</a>:</p> <p> </p> <p>Who are some of the first superheroes that come to your mind? Superman, Spiderman, Batman, the Hulk, Ironman, Captain America... and what do they have in common? They're all white dudes.</p> <p> </p> <p>Comic companies are trying to diversify their superhero ranks. There have been non-white characters, and even a few Muslim heros.</p> <p> </p> <p>Marvel Comics announced a new superhero comic book series featuring Kamala Khan: a Muslim, Pakistani 16-year-old who lives in New Jersey. She'll be taking on the name of Ms. Marvel, after the former Ms. Marvel, who is now going by Captain Marvel.</p> <p> </p> <p>"We've had many diverse characters at Marvel," said Sana Amanat. "But nobody at the forefront, on this scale."</p> <p> </p> <p>Amanat is one of the editors who came up with the idea for Kamala Khan. It sprung from a conversation she had with a senior editor, Stephen Wacker. Amanat told a few anecdotes about growing up as a Pakistani Muslim in Jersey.</p> <p> </p> <p>"In the town that I grew up in, there weren't many people who looked like me or who had my background," Amanat said. "In different ways, not only in terms of me being Muslim or Pakistani, but just in terms of my personality and how my family was."</p> <p> </p> <p>This gave Wacker an idea. He asked, "Wouldn't it be nice if we had a superhero for all those girls that are growing up the way that you did?" Amanat recalled.</p> <p> </p> <p>They reached out to G. Willow Wilson, a comic book writer in Seattle who converted to Islam 10 years ago. Once Wilson was on board, Amanat and Wacker pitched the idea for Kamala Khan to the Marvel creative committee.</p> <p> </p> <p>"They green-lit it almost immediately," Amanat said.</p> <p> </p> <p>Kamala Khan's story involves her struggle to figure out who she is, while dealing with the discovery of her superpowers. She's a polymorph, which means she can shrink, grow, and shape shift.</p> <p><img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/2msmarvel.jpg" style="height:443px; width:570px" /></p> <p>"We wanted to stay away from typically girly superpowers — things that sparkle, moving things with you mind, floating in the air," Wilson said. "We wanted to give her something more physical, a little bit more unexpected."</p> <p> </p> <p>Though Kamala Khan is Muslim, that's not the central theme of the series, Amanat says it's just one factor in who she is.</p> <p> </p> <p>"I don't think I necessarily wanted this to be about religion at all," Amanat said. "That's just one aspect of who she is. It forms one piece of her identity."</p> <p> </p> <p>Shelina Janmohamed, a Muslim author in London, was excited to learn about Marvel’s new series. She wrote an opinion piece for <em>The Telegraph</em> entitled “Hallelujah! Even Muslim women can now be superheroes.”</p> <p> </p> <p>“I really wish for my own sake that I’d had a superhero like Kamala Khan to try and help me make sense of angst,” Janmohamed said. “And just once in a while to come out of that geeky, angsty, slightly awkward teenage phase and see that I, too, could be some kind of superhero.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Amanat says Marvel hopes to attract readers who may relate to Kamala Khan’s struggles and background.</p> <p> </p> <p>“I’ve got nieces and I’ve got nephews, and for them to look out into the landscape of pop culture and see versions of themselves … I think that will make them feel a little more comfortable in their own skin,” she said.</p> <p> </p> <p>Janmohamed said she has never read comic books before, but she’s planning on picking up this one when the first installment hits shelves in February, 2014.</p> <p> </p> <p>"I think they've done something very savvy in terms of business,” she said. “But also, they've made a very interesting social development.”</p> <p> </p> <p><em><strong>PRI's The World</strong></em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvel-comics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">marvel comics</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/ms" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ms</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/marvel" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Marvel</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/kamala-khan" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">kamala khan</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/cartoons" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">cartoons</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/comic-books" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">comic books</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/super-heroes" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">super heroes</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Emily Files</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Fri, 06 Dec 2013 16:02:46 +0000 tara 3919 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/3233-meet-new-face-marvel-comics-female-muslim-pakistani#comments