Starring Russell Crowe, Karen Gillan, Márton Csókás, Thomas M. Wright, Harry Greenwood, and Tommy Flanagan, check out the trailer for the upcoming film SLEEPING DOGS.
Crowe plays ex-homicide detective Roy Freeman suffering from a memory loss and is forced to solve a brutal murder he can’t recall. As a man’s life hangs in the balance on death row, Freeman must piece together the brutal evidence from a decade-old murder investigation, uncovering a sinister web of buried secrets and betrayals linking to his past. But as evidence uncovers secrets tied to his forgotten past, he is led to a chilling truth – sometimes, it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie.
In Theaters on March 22, 2024, SLEEPING DOGS is directed by Adam Cooper (Allegiant in 2016, Assassin’s Creed in 2016 and Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014), and written by Adam Cooper & Bill Collage and based on “THE BOOK OF MIRRORS” by E.O. Chirovici.
Today, Marvel Studios announced that advance tickets are now on sale for the highly anticipated third and final film of James Gunn’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” trilogy.
On Wednesday, May 3rd, fans can be among the first to see “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” by attending the exclusive “The IMAX Guardians of the Galaxy Marathon.” Experience all three films back on the big screen in IMAX and receive an exclusive, commemorative poster & lanyard. Check your local listings for a participating IMAX theatre near you. Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” will fill the entire IMAX screen as intended by director James Gunn, allowing moviegoers to experience more of the images with unprecedented detail and clarity. Combined with next generation IMAX precision sound, audiences are in for a truly spectacular and immersive experience. Get your tickets now to see it in Dolby Cinema here: https://dolbylabs.co/GotG3
Revealed by James Gunn earlier this morning, the track list for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Awesome Mix Vol. 3 Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is a collection of 17 songs and is set for release on CD and Digital Download May 3. The soundtrack will also be available on 12” 2-LP vinyl on May 5 and will be followed by the cassette version on July 7. The Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Original Score digital album featuring music by composer John Murphy (“The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special,” “Suicide Squad”) will be released on May 3.
Listen to the Guardians of the Galaxy: The Official Mixtape playlist here.
Advance tickets for both Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” and the IMAX “Guardians of the Galaxy” Marathon are on sale everywhere tickets are sold, including Fandango.
In Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere. But it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life—a mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
The film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot and Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter and Maria Bakalova.
James Gunn is the director and also wrote the screenplay. Kevin Feige produces with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nikolas Korda, Sara Smith, and Simon Hatt serving as executive producers.
Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” opens in U.S. theaters on May 5.
Today, during the Big Game, Marvel Studios and James Gunn released a poster and brand-new, action-packed trailer online for “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” the final film in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise, spearheaded by James Gunn.
In Marvel Studios’ “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” our beloved band of misfits are settling into life on Knowhere. But it isn’t long before their lives are upended by the echoes of Rocket’s turbulent past. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him on a dangerous mission to save Rocket’s life—a mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
The film stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot and Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter and Maria Bakalova.
James Gunn is the director and also wrote the screenplay. Kevin Feige produces with Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nikolas Korda, Sara Smith, and Simon Hatt serving as executive producers.
The Galaxy’s Favorite Guardians Take One Last Ride May 5.
Hot off the heels of the highly successful THE GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY HOLIDAY SPECIAL (review) on Disney+, comes the first trailer for GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3.
Today at CCXP22 (Comic-Con Experience 2022) in São Paulo, Brazil, Marvel Studios debuted the preview. Kevin Feige, President of Marvel Studios, introduced Zoe Saldana, who plays Gamora in the franchise, before delighting the enthusiastic fans with the trailer debut for the highly anticipated upcoming feature film, releasing in U.S. theaters on May 5, 2023.
In Marvel Studios “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” our beloved band of misfits are looking a bit different these days. Peter Quill, still reeling from the loss of Gamora, must rally his team around him to defend the universe along with protecting one of their own. A mission that, if not completed successfully, could quite possibly lead to the end of the Guardians as we know them.
James Gunn writes and directs “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” which stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, featuring Vin Diesel as Groot, Bradley Cooper as Rocket, Sean Gunn, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter and Maria Bakalova. Kevin Feige is the producer and Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Nikolas Korda, Simon Hatt and Sara Smith serve as executive producers.
DUAL, in Theaters April 15th, stars Karen Gillan, Beulah Koale, Theo James and Aaron Paul.
Check out the scary trailer:
Upon receiving a terminal diagnosis, Sarah opts for a cloning procedure to ease her loss on her friends and family. When she makes a sudden and miraculous recovery, her attempts to have her clone decommissioned fail and lead to a court-mandated duel to the death. Now she has one year to train her body and mind for the fight of her life.
The morning of the big day has finally arrived. The toys are opened and the house is “knee-deep” in glossy wrapping paper. After a big breakfast or brunch, what are you going to do when the tots start to bounce off the walls? Well, you pile them in the car and head out to the movies, at least that’s what the studios are hoping. So after playing with the toys from Santa, how about a new animated kid flick that’s about toys? We’re not talking about Woody and Buzz (so last Summer), but high tech spy gadgets and gizmos aplenty. Bond won’t be back for a few more months, and he’s a bit too “randy” for the wee ones, so who’s more family-friendly (especially in ‘toon form’ than Will Smith? He has had a busy year, going from Genie to Gemini Man and now he’s one of the SPIES IN DISGUISE.
But we don’t meet “big Willie” when the story starts. It’s a flashback, fifteen years ago, with a little guy who amuses his policewoman mom with his cardboard and paste devices that explode in glitter. He seems to be a grade school spy guy. Flash forward cut to now, as the real deal, super-secret agent Lance Sterling (voice of Smith) infiltrates a snow covered fortress. His mission: stop Killian (Ben Mendelsohn) from acquiring a list of all active undercover agents from data kingpin Kimura (Masi Oka). After evading the horde of assassins and hitmen, Lance almost succeeds until he’s tripped up by a bit of tech. But the pursuit of Killian has to be put on hold as he’s called back to HQ in D.C. (under the pool at the Lincoln Memorial). On the way in he dresses down and fires newbie gadget inventor Walter Beckett (Tom Holland), the now-adult kid from earlier. But the routine meeting with Lance’s boss Joy Jenkins (Reba McEntire) goes off the rails when she shows him a video of the data thief, who now has Lance’s face (though with Killian’s robotic hand). Suddenly the doors burst open to reveal the head of the agency security, Marcy Kappel (Rashida Jones) with her aides Eyes (Karen Gillan) and Ears (DJ Khaled), who are there to detain and question Lance. But he escapes, hoping to clear his name. He’ll need some more gizmos so he goes to the home of the guy he just fired. Luckily Walter’s working on the ultimate disguise formula and shows the agent some of his new projects. Thinking it’s a glass of water, Lance gulps down that formula and changes into a…pigeon. It’ll take Walter 18 hours to make a possible antidote, but Marcy has tracked them down. They’ve got to avoid her and her crew while following Killian’s trail from a swanky Mexican ocean resort to the streets and canals of Venice. But how can Lance accomplish this when he’s (in his own words) a “feathered street rat”?
The voice cast brings a great deal of energy and expert timing to the often meandering script. Particularly entertaining is the chemistry between the film’s “action buddy” pairing of the lead duo. Each of them brings a lot of their previous feature film personas into these roles. Smith’s Lance has much of the cool swagger of his MEN IN BLACK’s Agent J mixed with the bravado of his last real secret agent roles in the box office fizzles GEMINI MAN and WILD WILD WEST (whew that one still smells after 20 years). And he’s just got a way with the wisecracks as he’s walloping a nearly endless stream of thugs. He’s an engaging counterpart to Holland’s brainy but timid Walter who’s a not so distant cousin to Peter Parker (minus the arachnid abilities and Stark upgrades). Luckily he’s got an infectious enthusiasm and appears to enjoy getting away from the lab, despite his trembling qualms. These two truly “play” well together. And they work splendidly against Mendelsohn who seems to be doing a whimsical comic “riff’ on his many sneering baddies as Killian. Jones makes Marcy most endearing as Marcy, who’s a more quick-witted take on the old “good guy who figures out she’s trying to nab another good guy” ala Tommy Lee Jones in THE FUGITIVE. And McEntire is a terrific “boss Lady” as Joy, though I really thought it was Holly Hunter when she first ordered Lance about.
Hard to believe, but this is the 13th feature film from Fox’s animation branch Blue Sky Studios (the first ICE AGE was in 2002), but the film certainly deserves a place at the “table’ along with the Disney/Pixar folks and Illumination. The movement is fluid and the colors, especially in the exotic locales, really pop off the screen (hopefully 3D doesn’t dull their luster). Particularly impressive is the character design work with Lance and Walter really resembling their human actors, but with some fun “tweaks”. Lance really captures Smith’s head shape, with subtle shading to denote a chiseled cheek, which flows right into the puffed upper body (perhaps the legs could be a bit thicker to support that torso). Walter’s got a clown-like bulbous nose which is well framed by his frizzy-mopped hair, all atop a gangly body that recalls many a silent movie clown. Really, the visual performances of the two are terrific. Unfortunately, lance spends a bit too much time in pigeon form, with a bowling pin design that’s weighted at the bottom, making him move like a billiard ball in a wet sack. The other birds they encounter aren’t much more visually interesting, despite the weird thing (a stick candy “drop”) on the head of one (guess he’s “zany”). The first time feature-directing duo of Nick Bruno and Troy Quane handle the big action set piece with vigor, but the film falters a bit in the quieter moments. That may be the main fault in the script which too often goes for easy “gross-out” gags (massive Kimura is without his robe while losing control of his “functions”). And Lance is much more interesting in his human form (the lil’ ones may be impatient for more funny spy action minus the feathers). But it’s a relief that the moral of learning to ask for help and not getting too “cocky’ isn’t “hammered” home as in too many family-friendly flicks. SPIES IN DISGUISE has enough eye candy, wit, and vocal talent to be a pretty painless post-holiday trek to the multiplex. It doesn’t soar, but the flick never crashes, as Lance does at his first flight attempt. Maybe for the follow-up they’ll lose the avian angle.
So what’s a favorite gift that’s usually under the Christmas tree, usually straight from the North Pole? Aside from the dolls (and action figures), craft sets, and sports equipment. a staple would be a game, more specifically a board game. That was the thinking of the celebrated author of children’s’ books, Chris Van Allsburg, when he came up with the beloved “kid lit’ classic that was made into an even more beloved 1995 fantasy adventure flick, JUMANJI. Twenty-two years later “reboot fever'”struck Sony/Columbia Studios (along with most of Hollywood), so they decided to do an upgrade. First, they tossed out the dice, spinners, and all the board game fixtures and opted to go high tech (somewhat) and make it a video game. Mind you, it was somewhat “old school” with a cartridge, console, and joysticks, rather than the computer and internet systems. Oh, and instead of things escaping from the game, the players would be “sucked in” and become avatars (played by a quartet of adult stars). This “re-imagining” was a box office smash two years ago, so here comes the third (if you count 2005’s ZATHURA: A SPACE ADVENTURE) spin-off/reboot/sequel, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL.
As Christmas break approaches, the four young heroes of the last film, then high schoolers, now college freshmen, are looking forward to reuniting in their New Hampshire hometown. Well, all but Spencer (Alex Wolff), who’s just not adjusting to life at his NYC school. Hey, he’s even taking a “break” from his new, now long-distance GF, Martha (Morgan Turner). When he does make it to the family house, he finds out that he’ll have to share a room with his cranky Grandpa’ Eddie (Danny DeVito), who’s nursing a hip injury. That first morning, while Spence’s mom is at work, they get a surprise visit from Eddie’s former business partner Milo (Danny Glover). Things are tense between the two, so Spence, instead of joining his old pals at the town diner for Brunch, retreats to the basement and digs out the, now busted, Jumanji video game. Sometime later, Martha along with Bethany (Madison Iseman) and “Fridge” (Ser’Darius Blain). drop by to see why Spence didn’t show. They get their answer when they head to the basement to find the game now repaired and sending out sparks. It activates and pulls in Martha and Fridgein, via a glowing green light. Boom, they’re back in the jungle with the same avatars. But some things have changed. Martha is still Ruby Roundhouse (Karen Gillan), but Fridge is now Prof. Oberon (Jack Black). Both are stunned to find that Milo is “Mouse” Finbar (Kevin Hart) and Eddie is Smulder Bravestone (Dwayne Johnson) Seems the guys upstairs get zapped, too. Where’s Spence and Bethany? Nigel (Rhys Darby) soon shows up to explain their mission: something about retrieving a mystical magic jewel stolen by Jorgen the Brutal (Rory McCann) and his legion of nasties. Can they succeed, this time facing sand and ice, before using up their game lives (only three), and finally return to the real world? Again? Otherwise, it’s game over…for reals!
The returning cast slips into their roles with ease, though they get to put on new spin via their “real world” players. Most entertaining may be Hart (never thought I’d say that) who expertly mimics the slow, measured line delivery of Glover, quite a change from his usual manic, motor-mouthed characters. Less successful, but still committed, is Johnson doing a crotchety ole’ East “Coastaaar” as DeVito, while still looking fierce in his Doc Savage cosplay (whatever happened to the movie project). Black, as the Fridge-filled Prof is still a comic whirlwind as he riffs on RDJ in TROPIC THUNDER. And free from the blue make-up of her Marvel role, Gillan makes a terrific action heroine, as she exchanges those short shorts for a snowsuit (and this time she does “dance fighting” and twirls a mean set of nun-chucks). Also returning is Nick Jonas as “Seaplane”, who appears to be auditioning for an Indiana Jones prequel (or maybe a slightly older Jonny Quest). Adding to the avatar mix is Awkwafina playing master thief Ming, though she’s not given much to work with in the script. It’s a shame that this gifted comic actress (a true scene-stealer) is saddled with bits and one-liners that fall flat. On the other hand, we’re treated to the still sharp comic skills of Mr. DeVito, who continues to get laughs with just a glare or his slow shuffle. And his pairing with the affable but meandering (get to the point already) Glover as Milo is pure comedy team gold. Let’s get them their own “buddy comedy” because neither is “too old for this…er…stuff”.
Jake Kasdan also returns as the director and co-writer, though he ‘s often a traffic cop/tour guide getting us and the principals from one familiar set-piece and sequence to the next. Sure they’ve changed locales, quickly going from the previous jungle settings to the deserts of 1980’s action epics, to the snowy mountains right out WHERE EAGLES DARE or where the Avengers fought Baron Strucker, but they go through the usual routines of bicker, fight, and flee, then repeat. All this is toward thwarting a most generic villain, who we are told is “brutal”, but who mainly towers over Johnson while yelling orders to a platoon of extras who may have wandered off the set of the next Mad Max movie. Sure the CGI beasties are much better than those in the 95 original, but they often seem to have little real “weight” with the manic mandrills bouncing from one rope bridge to another with little impact. Although, big kudos for somehow making the ostriches intimidating. Still, youngsters will get a kick out of Johnson’s cartoon heroics as he slaps the baddies into solid walls (is he part Kryptonian), and at the slapstick antics of Hart and Black, but those a bit older may be tempted to check the time (it could use a good 15 minute trim). At least with the two Dannys, JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL often rises slightly above the level of the usual sequel. Now turn off that game and go outside and play, you kids!
In Jumanji: The Next Level, the gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own, they discover that nothing is as they expect. The players will have to brave parts unknown and unexplored, from the arid deserts to the snowy mountains, in order to escape the world’s most dangerous game.
The cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, Awkwafina, Alex Wolff, Morgan Turner, Ser’Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, with Danny Glover and Danny DeVito.
JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL opens in theaters December 13.
Enter for your chance to win two free passes to the St. Louis advance screening of JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL. The theatrical sneak preview will be on December 9 at 7pm.
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20th Century Fox has released the debut trailer, first look and poster for THE CALL OF THE WILD. Based on the legendary adventure, witness the cinematic experience of a lifetime. THE CALL OF THE WILD releases in U.S. theaters on February 21, 2020. The film stars Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford and Colin Woodell.
Check out this exciting trailer:
Adapted from the beloved literary classic, 20th Century Fox’s THE CALL OF THE WILD vividly brings to the screen the story of Buck, a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Alaskan Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team–and later its leader–Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master.
As a live-action/animation hybrid, THE CALL OF THE WILD employs cutting edge visual effects and animation technology in order to render the animals in the film as fully photorealistic–and emotionally authentic–characters. Directed by Chris Sanders from a screenplay by Michael Green, based on the novel by Jack London, the film was produced by Erwin Stoff, with Diana Pokorny serving as executive producer and Ryan Stafford as co-producer and visual effects producer. THE CALL OF THE WILD stars Harrison Ford, Dan Stevens, Omar Sy, Karen Gillan, Bradley Whitford and Colin Woodell.
It may be the last weekend of April, but the Summer movie onslaught has officially begun. Who says so? Marvel Studios, that’s who. And they’ve got the clout after being around a few weeks shy of eleven years. Originally the first Friday of May was their “beachhead”, but that was switched (concerns over piracy and early international openings) to this weekend last year for AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (AIW). That film was to be the focal point of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) ten-year celebration. However, as most fans will soon discover, the celebration really ends on a high, stratospheric really, note with this colossal entertainment extravaganza. Gosh, I sound a bit like that much beloved comic book “carnie’ barker” we lost in November. Aw, why not go “all in” and try to mimic “The Man”? Here goes…face front (really, don’t turn away from the screen ’cause you’ll miss something special) true believers, it’s kickoff time for AVENGERS: ENDGAME!
In the aftermath of the ultimate triumph of the mad Titan Thanos in AIW, planet Earth is a dark, quiet shadow of its former self after the initial chaos caused by Infinity Stone-fueled finger snap. Half of the population has dissolved, vanished like “dust in the wind” (cue the classic 70s rock anthem). “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes” aren’t feeling so strong after their dismal defeat. Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) is awaiting death as he floats through the far reaches of space with the cyborg daughter of Thanos, Nebula (Karen Gillan) on the heavily damaged cruiser the Milano. And back home Captain America (Chris Evans) is attending a “survivor support group” because he can’t “accept and move on” when he’s not at Avenger HQ trying to track down the “retired Titan”. At least they got a big break due to an “up till now” unknown force which, as the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) might say, gets the “band” back together. Ah, but it’s a “known force”, Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) who we last saw trapped in the Quantum Realm at the end of ANT-MAN AND THE WASP, who contacts the downbeat group and sets in motion a “fantastic voyage” to restore the planet and return all that was lost on the battlefields of Wakanda.
Really, that’s the story that drives this three-hour blockbuster? Well, that’s as much as I care to reveal and what has been seen in the earliest of trailers (I try to go on “lockdown” in the six weeks prior to release, avoiding any further clips online). Though it sounds simple (another iconic song), this “final game” is full of tangles and unexpected twists pulled together by the formidable screenwriting duo Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, the talented team who wrote the previous Avengers epic, the second Thor solo film, and the Captain America trilogy (and they created that delightful broadcast TV spin-off “Agent Carter”). These men dive into the deep, dark depths of the MCU core and return with true glistening gold, or golden moments and dialogue might be more precise. Sure, we get the big exciting action set pieces and hilarious comic interaction (maybe double the last flick), but the big surprise here is the depth of emotion with scenes that grab at the heartstrings as much as any of the senses. After twenty plus movies, fans may think they know everything about the team members, yet the two Mr. M’s present new insights into these men and women (and a couple of aliens). If only more action and fantasy franchises would strive to be this emotionally complex and rich.
Fortunately, this superb cast is more than up to the challenge of this multi-layered story and script. While the main focus, perhaps the true “star”, was the villain Thanos, here the “plot driver”role is split between the “big three”, the MCU trilogy of Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America. It’s hard to believe that this is Downey’s tenth film (counting THE INCREDIBLE HULK cameo) as genius-industrialist Tony Stark, because his work here is as fresh and unpredictable as ever, showing us sides of the “wise guy” hero we’ve not seen before. In the first act, Tony’s angry and bitter, almost spewing venom at his family/team (a lot of rage in that frail frame). Then we see more of his gentle nurturing paternal side (hinted at with Spidey) in the second act. Meanwhile, Evans as Cap tries to project a sunny confident attitude as team leader, but we see (especially at his “group”) how defeat has battered his psyche. But he’s still a fighter, and in the rousing third act, Evans gives us a hero whose inner strength dwarfs the “super soldier” formula. Then there’s Hemsworth as the Thunder God who should have aimed higher (literally a couple of feet) whose depression is more physically manifested. His comedic talents (last seen in the unfairly maligned GHOSTBUSTERS reboot) are showcased here as the one big team “hold out” that’s more essential than he thinks. But it’s not all chuckles as Thor must make a decision that seems to emotionally tear him to pieces. These fellas’ are one tremendous trio, full of smarts, strength, and soul.
Hey, that’s not to say that the rest of the cast are mere “set dressing”. Absent from last year’s entry, Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye channels his shock and despair into the “darkness” (truly a “punisher”) until the loyalty of his best friend, the Black Widow reaches into that “black pit’ and pulls him back into the light. But Johansson shows us that Ms. Romanoff can barely keep herself from being swallowed by the shadows as she ponders her violent past and her almost empty personal life. On the brighter side, there’s Mark Ruffalo whose Bruce Banner has forged a solid “truce” with the “big guy”, his alter ego the Hulk (via some expert CGI and “Mo-cap”). Speaking of bright and funny, Paul Rudd brings those familiar shadings to Scott Lang AKA Ant-Man while giving him a harder edge as he deals with his frustration at not being taken seriously and his own “lost time”. He’s the “odd man out” trying to bond with these seasoned hero “vets”. One of the toughest may be Don Cheadle as the “under control” all business James Rhodes AKA War Machine was still has a moment for a prank or a “harsh burn”. Gillan as Nebula is one of the most conflicted as she seems to discover her caring empathetic nature while adrift with Tony, the half-machine finally tapping into her repressed humanity. Bradley Cooper delivers Rocket’s snarling asides with a touch of sadness, as he mourns his Guardian family, all but him turned to ash. And, of course, Josh Brolin is back as Thanos, giving us a couple of new variations as the Titan we loved to hate, but somewhat understood, in the last outing.
Also returning from that last outing is another terrific team (aside from the writers), the dynamic directing duo, the brothers Russo, Anthony and Joe (look for his cameo role). After guiding the “shield slinger” to greatness in his last two solo flicks, these men have done the same for this two-part MCU epic. Excuse the cliche’, but they set a very “high bar” with the previous Avengers flick and handily leaped past it (remember the cheering in the multiplexes when Thor and his pals arrived in Wakanda in the last flick…well, there are at least four moments like that in this outing). It’s truly a new “gold standard” for big studio action film franchises. Yes, the big final “smackdown” is exhilarating, but so are the intimate, human moments. And the comedy! Much of the plot is a variation on the classic heist flicks, from the “Oceans” series to the ongoing MI adventures, with a no “wiggle room”, no “do over” scheme that, naturally (these are the Marvel heroes, ya’ know), goes “sideways”. These complications combine tension and laughter with neat effortless ease. And all this fun is ably aided by the thrilling pulse-pounding score from Alan Silvestri (with snippets from other MCU themes). All the craftspeople that worked on the film are at the “top of their game’ in crafting a real “love letter” to the fans of the Marvel show (many have said that each new film is another episode in an incredible TV show, one that the “tube” could never afford). There are entrances and exits, arrivals and departures, all with a feeling of coming “full circle”. You bet there will be more MCU entries (Spidey’s back in July), but this spectacular would be a fitting farewell. It’s a warm, enveloping “thank you” hug from “master overseer” Kevin Feige, and all those talented artists involved. AVENGERS: ENDGAME will stand as a most inventive, entertaining inspiration to all who continue on this legacy. I’ll bet somewhere, underneath those purple-tinted glasses, Stan is flashing a great big grin ’cause his “kids” are in very good hands. Nuff’ said…for now!
