Deadpool (2016)

Title: Deadpool

Year: 2016

Director: Tim Miller

Rating (by the MPAA): R for strong violence and language throughout, sexual content and graphic nudity

Official Synopsis: Based upon Marvel Comics’ most unconventional anti-hero, DEADPOOL tells the origin story of former Special Forces operative turned mercenary Wade Wilson, who after being subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopts the alter ego Deadpool. Armed with his new abilities and a dark, twisted sense of humor, Deadpool hunts down the man who nearly destroyed his life. (via 20th Century Fox)

Official Page

Official Trailer

STEPH SAID

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Knowing only the toned-down version of Deadpool that appears in kid’s cartoon TV shows, but having heard much about its reality, I can say this movie does not disappoint. At all. In fact, I can safely say this movie is pure perfection. I found nothing wrong with it! Nothing!

The pacing was perfect. The movie opens in the middle of the action and takes a few breaks to explain how we got there. Or so I thought. The movie divided parts of action in the present and moments of drama in the past so well that I didn’t notice into how much detail the “narration” of the story went. The pacing was so perfect that I was halfway through the movie, super entertained and hadn’t noticed that most of it was the explanation for why we were there. I love that they didn’t take much time to explain that mutants existed in this world. Just one line and we already knew what we were dealing with. They didn’t take much time to develop the love story, just a few scenes over the years, the Deadpool way. They also didn’t take much time developing the Deadpool alter ego or his suit. These were all straight to the point and back to the action. It is a "origins story" and yet, it didn't feel like it.

What I enjoyed the most was, Deadpool’s sense of humor. His fourth wall breaking, his allusions to actors' names and production budgets were hilarious. The way he makes fun of everything could have gone bad, could’ve felt campy and forced, but it wasn’t. It was naturally funny.

This is a movie done right. This is an adaptation done right. Just give the fans (and soon-to-be fans) what they want. Is that so hard to do? I don’t think so! It was done perfectly in this movie. I hope they can keep this up in the sequel.

Allegiant (Divergent #3)

Title: Allegiant

Author: Veronica Roth

Year: 2013

Synopsis: The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris's new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend to complexities of human nature - and of herself - while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love. (via goodreads)

STEPH SAID

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After the disaster that was Insurgent, my expectations were really low for this book. And maybe because of that it managed to surprise me. The pacing was really good, enough to be entertaining. It was also really nice to have Tris back. The smart, quick girl from the first book is back.

However, the plot was basically the same as the previous books. There's an evil government and a group of rebels revolts against it. The specifics of this story, the reasons behind the factions and everything, actually makes sense. So, I have to give the author that. Yet, it was riddled with plot devices in order to move the story forward. Instead of letting the story come alive, the author already had an idea in her mind and manipulated some characters and situations to get her way. For example, the fact that Four is not divergent, but genetically damaged, is bologna. Caleb and Peter are the perfect example of genetically damaged people. They can't help themselves. Even after Peter was reset, his traits came back, because that's the way he is. That’s how a genetically damaged person should be, according to the reality of the book. But, Four was not damaged by his genes, he was damaged by his upbringing. There's a difference between them. And even with his damaged past, Tobias was able to be smart and selfless and brave. Of course, we could start the old nature/nurture battle to defend one point or the other, but I believe that is not the point of this story.

But what ruined the whole story for me was Tris' ending. It was stupid and unnecessary. The author only did it for the shock value. And, every writer should know that that is the worst reason to write something into a story. It lacked a purpose, a motive, an ideal, a sentiment, a message, anything.

If she had died due to the death virus -- if it had taken her slowly, and after releasing the memory serum she collapsed and died -- it would have been a glorious death, the death of a hero. That death would’ve had purpose: to save everyone. Nevertheless, she survived the death serum and is shot by a guy in a wheelchair. She could've thrown something at him and wrestle him for the gun. But instead she just stayed there while he shot her.

Everything afterwards was unimportant.

To be honest, I like that peter reset himself. I think that Tobias should’ve reset himself as well. That excuse that Tris wouldn’t have like it was rubbish because, first, she wasn’t there anymore, so who cares. Also, it is OK for Peter to reset himself because we don’t agree with him or like his way of doing things or his personality, but it is not ok to let Four do the same because we like him. That’s not equality and it’s not fair. If it’s wrong for Tobias to reset himself, then it is wrong for Peter to do so.

The author gave us an epilogue to try to tell us that everything worked out in the end; Chicago is finally free. As I finished the book I asked myself, how many years is that happiness going to last? 

The 100 - Season 2

Title: The 100

Season: 2

Broadcasting Station: The CW

Official Synopsis: Season Two kicks off with Clarke and her friends trapped inside Mount Weather, a nuclear-hardened underground city where no one is safe, especially The 100. When Clarke escapes alone, it sets off a chain of events for our trapped heroes, the adults on the ground and even the Grounders. Alliances will be made, friendships will be broken and justice will be served. With everyone fighting for their right to survive, our heroes will have to ask themselves a very important question: How far will you go to save the people you love? Many will fight, some will die, all will be changed forever in 16 earth-shattering, action-packed episodes.

Official Page

STEPH SAID

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I came to this season with high expectations. The first season of The 100 was amazing, immediately turning the series into one of my favorites ever. I was afraid that this second season would drop the ball, that it would be able to maintain its intensity, suspense and wonder. I’m happy to say it didn’t.

What is most amazing about The 100, as a series, and that it’s perfectly exemplified in this second season, is the ease with which it portrays raw human nature. They reduce every character to their most basic instinct: survival. It is a series about war, after all. Everyone is trying to save themselves and their people. And for that, they are willing to make tough decisions; they will do whatever it takes. To the point where they all become warriors, and the only thing they know is survival.

I can’t believe that the characters I disliked the most in the first season are now very likable. Octavia is now one of my favorite characters. She has shown uncanny strength. In a surprise twist she became a kick-ass Grounder warrior, leaving the whiny, capricious girl behind. Clarke is still not my favorite, but she behaved better this time around. Her choices were the perfect balance between heart and mind. And, even though not everything went according to her plans, I don’t believe it was her fault. 

There was only one storyline that I didn’t enjoy. When Finn killed many Grounder innocents, old people and kids, he was sentenced to be tortured until he died. For a while Clarke and her gang tried to save him from his fate, endangering the new alliance with the Grounders. In this kill-or-be-killed world they now live in, Finn deserved to die. I know they love him or whatever, but seeing Clarke trying to save him was exasperating. However, the storyline had an acceptable resolution and I overlooked the less appealing parts.

The ending of the war against the mountain people was beautiful and fitting. It was tough and heartbreaking, but hopeful. It seems like a closed chapter that might be revisited at will, but that could be left unattended for a while. The season’s ending gave us a taste of what’s to come and it seems the series is going to take a new turn; it’s going to focus on a different story. Yet, apparently, the war is not over. What I’m hoping for is a different setting, but the same core human struggles.

Thor (2011)

Title: Thor

Year: 2011

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Rating (by MPAA): PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence

Official Synopsis: The epic adventure "Thor" spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is The Mighty Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth and forced to live among humans as punishment. Once here, Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth. (marvel.com)

Official Page

Official Trailer




STEPH SAID

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No substance. That is the reason behind the low rating. It was a watch like any other action movie: little plot, flat characters, fights and flashy colors. The movie didn't have many, long battles, or dramatic scenes, or comedy fillers, or much character development. I really can't tell on what were the two hours wasted. This movie was definitely made, only as a prequel to The Avengers. Thor is going to be in The Avengers, so the audience need to know who he is, and where he came from. And that's what the movie is. “This is Thor; this is Loki. You'll see them in The Avengers”. That's it. The movie didn't have any other purpose.

There wasn't much of a story to tell. Thor is banished to Earth and loses all his powers. Within two days’ time he recognized the wrong of his way and becomes a worthy man. Loki on the other hand became villainous within two days’ time, with no apparent goal or purpose. He may have said it was to prove his worthiness to Odin, but he has lied so many times before I doubt that was his real intention. Two hours, and two days, served to only “develop” the personality of a flat character, Thor (see below); and to ignite a fire within Loki. 

Most of the characters were flat, including the title character. Thor is a bratty prince who is banished from home to learn a lesson. There, I explained who Thor is in one sentence. Definitely a flat character; there is nothing else to him. Jane, Erik, and even Odin are also flat characters, able to be described in one sentence. What you see is what you get. (In fact, it was really weird to see Natalie Portman acting as a love-struck teenager hiding behind the face of a scientist.) The other characters are even more flat, if that is even possible. Thor's Asgardian friends, his mother, and Darcy are in the movie to fill space. 

Loki was the only character that had some substance, that was a round character, and thus, was interesting. You thought you knew what he was up to, and then he'd surprise you by doing the exact opposite. I still don't know what his intentions were and are. He is so good at deceiving people that I don't know what to expect from him. He could seem a conflicted bad boy with a sensitive heart – I bet most girls think (wish?) this – but I don't think he is that simple.

In the end, Thor exists to have another character in The Avengers, to span their horizons. And, as we will see, to have a villain good enough to round up a bunch of people with superpowers. There is no other reason to it. The movie in itself was a plot device. Looking at it in the light of the whole MCU, I can let slide a plot device. But, seeing as it is a stand-alone movie, it is just a waste of everyone’s time.

Alphabear (App)

Title: Alphabear

Developers: Spry Fox

Official Page

Alphabear is available for Android phones and iOS devices.



STEPH SAID

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Review:

Alphabear gives a new twist to puzzle word games. You have to create words with the small number of letters you have available. Each letter you use is one space where bears can grow, giving you points and power ups. Each letter you don't use gets a number from its countdown subtracted. Once a letter reaches zero, it turns to stone and a bear can't grow in its place. You also get cute, squared bears on each level. You can use them later to give you boosts. 

It is simple, yet challenging and addicting. Having a small amount of random letters to choose from makes you think hard for clever ways to use most of the letters in one go.  The timed version is even harder. So, you are exercising your brain without even realizing it. As an added bonus Alphabear has beautiful graphics and an easy to understand interface.

The only thing I don't enjoy is the currency to play games. You have to use honey to enter a game, but even if you have the full amount of honey you can have at one time, you'll only be able to play two games in one go. Then, you'll have to wait for the honey to fill up again. Which means that when I want to play, I can't, and when I can, I don't remember to. You can always buy more honey with real cash, of course. 

Doctor Who (2005) – Series 5

Title: Doctor Who

Series Number: 5

Broadcasting Station: BBC One

Number of Episodes: 13

Original Release: 3 April 2010 – 26 June 2010

Official Site








Official Trailer

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With a new Doctor, a new companion, a new Tardis, a new sonic screwdriver, as well as a new showrunner (Steven Moffat), this season feels like another reboot of the series. And let me tell you, I like Doctor Who a lot more now. Moffat is doing wonders for this show. It is young and fresh, and its fast pace makes you feel like you are living an adventure yourself. As opposed to Davies’ series which were more slow and dramatic.

After watching the first episode of the season, “The Eleventh Hour”, Matt Smith’s Doctor became my favorite Doctor yet. This feeling was only strengthen after each episode. He is energetic, smart, witty and super crazy. I love how Matt Smith has made a more physical Doctor. With his constant hand gestures and his moving about you get a glimpse of the craziness inside his head.

Amy is also a really good character, worthy companion for The Doctor. I don’t like the sense of ownership she has over The Doctor, but I can deal with that. She is strong, decided, and unafraid. She leads The Doctor more than he leads her. Their friendship is a story for the ages.

The other traveler in the Tardis this season, Rory, caught me by surprise. He seemed like an ordinary scrawny doofus in the first episode and I didn’t give him much thought. Until the very end of the series. His love and loyalty towards Amy left me speechless. The sacrifice he made for her brought tears to my eyes. I will not look at him the same way again, no matter how dorky he still looks.

It was also super fun to see River Song again. That one-off Moffat character that knows The Doctor’s name. Her flirtations with this younger, super awkward Doctor are hilariously cheeky but cute. She is a sexier female version of The Doctor and I love it. Still, the mystery continues. We don’t know who she is or how she knows The Doctor. We know that she likes to order him around and that she flies the Tardis like a pro, better than The Doctor himself. But that’s not much.

Moffat has changed Doctor Who for good. This whole season was amazing, full of remarkable character, laughs, and feels. It has many extraordinary episodes like the one where you meet The Doctor: “The Eleventh Hour”; the laugh-out-loud funny: “The Lodger”; and the one that makes me cry every time I watch it: “Vincent and The Doctor”. Not every episode in this series is grandiose, but they are all really good. And even the ones that I consider a bit slow, (like “The Vampires of Venice”) are way better than most of the episodes of previous series. Moffat is definitely off to a great start.

Marvel's Jessica Jones

Title: Marvel's Jessica Jones

Season: 1

Broadcasting Station: Netflix

Official Page and Netflix's Page

Official Synopsis: After a tragic ending to her short-lived super hero stint, Jessica Jones is rebuilding her personal life and career as a detective who gets pulled into cases involving people with extraordinary abilities in New York City.

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Stupid is too little a word to describe Jessica Jones, both the character and the TV series. I’ve used stupid so many times that it has lost all its meaning  I changed to rubbish in honor of David Tennant’s British English, but I still feel like a need a stronger word to describe this series.

Yes, the acting is really good, still Jessica Jones has many problems, and the biggest one is Jessica herself. I can’t believe that the most annoying character in the series was the one to express the simplest yet most powerful truth of the whole series. “Would this Kilgrave cat have hurt any of you if Jessica Jones hadn't pissed him off? […] Each of his atrocities can be traced back to her.”

Every problem in this season could have been prevented if Jessica were smart enough. For example, she knew that Kilgrave’s effect lasted 12 hours, so she should have left Hope in her house for 12 hours until the effects wore off. Just like she did with Luke later on. She was free from Kilgrave’s influence ever since she killed Reva and she hadn’t noticed. She needed a big reveal, ten episodes in, to know it. Jessica had Kilgrave unconscious after he had proven that Hope was to be released. She could’ve killed him, but instead decided to tie him up and make a call. She was also knocked unconscious by the weakest character in the series, which meant that Kilgrave got to Hope first, after her release from prison. Jessica had Kilgrave eating from the palm of her hand and decided to screw that and torture him into confessing, something that was obviously never going to happen. And so on and so on.

Jessica is just so idiotic and ignorant! Kilgrave’s parents said he was going to die so they injected him with an experimental virus that could prologue his life and all she thought to say was “So you infected him?” in an accusatory tone. She’s supposed to be resourceful yet she lets Kilgrave deceive her in every turn. And she is followed everywhere she goes. She’s resourceful but she can’t even get an address right or a doctor to stich her up when her ribs are broken. She’s resourceful but she can’t get herself locked up in maximum security even after delivering a human head to a police officer. She’s resourceful yet Kilgrave escapes due to a cut wire.

Kilgrave and Jessica’s relationship is also questionable. She hates him because he made her kill someone (even though, as he mentioned, all he said was take care of her, not kill her). I believe this made Jessica romanticize their relationship. And she turned all her guilt for Reva into hate for Kilgrave. He gave her the opportunity to escape, the opportunity she had, apparently, been waiting for since the first day. She had it and decided to contemplate the street and do nothing. Thus, I believe Kilgrave is not as evil as Jessica tries to make him. At least at first he isn’t. I’m not saying he’s good. I’m just saying he’s not evil either. He is in the gray area. It was Jessica who turned him into the monster he was at the end. 

The “plot” was so thin that the writers had to recur to lots and lots of fillers to make 13 50-minutes episodes. However, they didn’t even create full blown plots. They only managed to introduce characters that talked enough to consume time. Like the drug addict that turned out to be the spy, (I saw that one coming). Like the annoying twins that served no purpose. Ruben’s death could’ve been replace by an unnamed character and the effect would’ve been the same. And Robyn does nothing but complain about her brother through the whole series. Hope did nothing but kill her parents in the first episode. Hope was actually Jessica’s frustrations personified. She was an ideal. Therefore, she was not needed. Luke, was kind of cool, I admit. But again, did nothing for the plot of the series. Hogarth and her story was the only proper subplot, yet it was unrelated and unnecessary to the story. I know Simpsons will turn out to be important, but so far nothing. The only sub-story I enjoyed was Jessica and Trish’ origin story. That was a worthy subplot. That should’ve been the primary story: Jessica as a teenager, living with Trish and being kidnaped by Kilgrave. Yet, they reduced that plot to a couple of scenes.

People probably like Jessica Jones because is different, but different doesn’t mean good. She drinks hard and has powerful sex, but that’s all she really does. Well, that and whine about her crappy life. She’s considered good because she wants to help people but people without superpowers do more every day than she ever did in this TV series. Think of cops, firemen, caregivers. The only persons Jessica helps is Trish, because they are sisters, and Hope, because Jessica sees herself in Hope. And no Daredevil cameo? Come on! This series turn out to be so bad, that not even David Tennant’s performance could save it.