Spoiler-Free Review of Marvel's Black Panther - The Hype is Real!

The hype for a solo Black Panther movie started as soon as he made his debut in Captain America: Civil War. As we get closer and closer to the film's opening date, the hype is real. I have been lucky enough to attend the World Premiere of Black Panther and just watched it last night again for a media screening at The Walt Disney Studios. My already high expectations for this movie were blown out of the water the first time and the second screening just made me love the movie even more. This is easily the best of the MCU to date!

This will be a non-spoiler review and I will do my best to keep it so.

Let's start off with director and writer Ryan Coogler, whose two previous works in Fruitvale Station and Creed are already two of my favorite movies. If you have seen either movie then you know that both films are quite remarkable in terms of character development, story and cinematography. Take that knowledge into Black Panther and you get one of the most powerful, relevant and important stories of any superhero film to date.

The film is deeply character driven and you understand each of the characters and their own particular motivations throughout the movie. The cast is amazing and they take an already solid script to a whole new level. Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya,  Letitia Wright, Forrest Whitaker, Angela Bassett, Andy Serkis, Martin Freeman and others take on their characters and bring a reality to all of them. Their character dynamics and relationships are as complex as real relationships. The events within the movie will change all of these characters forever. There are elements of heroism and courageousness come not only in the ways we expect in a superhero film but also in the way that some of these characters have to question their own beliefs.

The country of Wakanda is created here in a spectacular fashion. It is a real, breathing place that is seen in several different lights. It is seen how others see it from the outside, how the citizens see it and how others who know of it's dark past and what may become of the country depending on the actions of the main characters in the story.

Without getting into spoiler territory, Michael B. Jordan as the villain is a standout here. One of the things lacking in many Marvel films is a true villain or antagonist. Make no mistake, his character of Killmonger has a point of view, believes his actions are justified, and for all intensive purposes believes that he is the hero. His story arc truly makes you understand why he is the way that he is and if you walked a mile in his shoes, you too might feel the same way that he does.

The action is stunning and even as each action sequence breaks out, each one is different in terms of look and style from the other. This truly creates a visual tour-de-force. Costumes and designs are some of the best for Marvel yet. And the score and soundtrack will be on my top 10 list at the end of the year for sure.

Black Panther is visually stunning and one of the smartest, action-packed movies in a long time.  It is fun, funny, relevant in a deeply emotional way. There is a new king and it is Black Panther!

Spoiler-Free Review of Star Wars: The Last Jedi

It has been two years since we last saw our friends and enemies in The Force Awakens. They are all back with new friends for the eighth installment of the Star Wars Saga, The Last Jedi. Just as in my review for The Force Awakens, this will be a spoiler-free review and I can tell you that the trailers and TV spots really give away nothing.

The Last Jedi takes the spirit and the energy of The Force Awakens and keeps right on running forward with it! The pacing is perfect and while listed as the longest running time of any Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi could have easily gone another hour and we would have never known it. Every shot is about moving the story forward. There is so much going on and so much to process but yet at the same time you do not feel overwhelmed. And while this is perhaps the most emotionally powerful of all the Star Wars films, I would even go out on a limb and say that it is the funniest as well. A perfect balance of emotion and humor keeps this movie rolling right along like BB-8.

Mark Hamill and Carrie Fischer shine here. This is easily both of their best performances in a Star Wars film.  But their performances are easily overshadowed by Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver. As Rey and Kylo Ren, they knock it out of the galaxy.  They take their characters to places I never thought they would go and they excel every step of the way. And new comer Kellie Marie Tran as Rose is a sensation. You will fall in love with her.

While some accuse The Force Awakens of paying too much fan service to A New Hope, The Last Jedi does pay some homage to The Empire Strikes Back but this is not a rehash of that film. The Last Jedi explores each of the characters more deeply as we learn so much more about each one of them. The characters are at the forefront, pushing themselves and the story forward. And there are some emotional payoffs that were decades in the making.

Immediately, I rank this as my third favorite Star Wars film right behind The Empire Strikes Back and A New Hope. The Last Jedi is powerful, emotional, funny and just epic. There are also some of the most spectacular action and stunning visuals of the entire saga.

Rian Johnson and his team move the saga forward in powerful and stunning ways. Never afraid to take big risks and the payoff is huge. I cannot wait to see what happens in Episode 9 and I cannot wait to see what Rian Johnson has in store for us with his own Star Wars trilogy.

My advice is to avoid spoilers at all costs!

Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens in theaters December 15.

Pixar's Coco - Non-Spoiler Review of my Favorite Pixar Film to Date!

Let's start off by telling you that Coco is a triumph from a studio known for knocking it out the park. It is easily my favorite Pixar film ever and it will quickly become yours as well.

Coco is deeply rooted in the Mexican culture and features an almost entirely Hispanic voice cast. This is one of the most emotional Pixar films since those first memorable moments from UP. I am a sappy movie watcher and have no problem telling you that I cried ugly tears during Coco, as did my friend Sara. We both recommend that you do yourself a favor and bring some tissues with you.

This will be a non-spoiler review and I hope that no one will spoil this wonderful film for you. From the trailers we know that this film follows young Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez), the youngest member of a family that has banned music from their lives. The explanation is given in the simple and charming opening sequence. But Miguel has dreams of being a musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), and after a fateful decision he ends up in the Land of the Dead. But with the help of his deceased relatives, a dog named Dante and a new friend Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal), Miguel tries to get back to the Land of the Living.

The film will not only just tug on your heartstrings but it is a fun adventure filled with the gorgeous animation. The clothing, the colors, the food and the celebration of the extended family shines here. Even though the film is centered on the Mexican culture, we are all reminded that even though we are all different people from different places and backgrounds, the love of family is universal.

Solid storytelling and vivid animation give us another animated classic from Pixar. It is art come to life, music that will stay with you long after the end credits are over and just a gem to behold.

Guardians of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 Is The Perfect Start to Summer (Non-Spoiler Review)

The Guardians of The Galaxy are back in a movie that is even more action packed and visually stunning that the first! And at the same time, it is also a more deeply personal story, exploring the ever changing dynamics of the relationships between the characters. We find out even more details about the characters, what truly motivates them and sometimes with very surprising results. This isn't to say that there are role reversals but instead that these are real people with many sides to them.

One of the best things about Marvel is that they love flawed characters and showcase their issues as a conflict between who they are and what they do. Here, The Guardians of The Galaxy fight evil alien creatures and yet at the same time have a strong sense of loyalty.

One of the greatest strengths in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is shown here in Guardians of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 and it is in the very characters themselves. We love the Marvel characters because of their flaws, they remind us of ourselves, and that maybe, just maybe we can also overcome our own flaws and achieve something more. This movie is more so about family than even the first one. And just like an real family, blood relatives or not, there are times we fight against one another but in the end we work together because we are stronger united.

While all of this deep character development is going on, there is still over the top action and humor that you have come to expect from the first one. If you didn't want all the Groot things before the movie, you will want them after! You will get everything that you expect and more, but the thing you will most remember is what you didn't expect from this movie. The character arcs brings some of the characters closer to one another or further apart. All the returning cast is excellent here. They take to their roles like they have been in them their entire lives. The characters of Nebula and Yondu are the defining arc here. Kurt Russell ass Ego is a welcomed addition to the cast and one can image him as Peter Quill if this film was made in the 1980s.

Guardians of The Galaxy, Vol. 2 is a pure joy. The visuals are spectacular, the humor has been cranked up from the first film, and yet it is emotional and full of heart. The nostalgia factor also plays a wonderful role here with great references to the past, Baby Groot is a winner for all age levels, a solid story and summer movie season is off to a flying start!