Black Panther: A spoiler free review

I saw Black Panther last night and I was caught like an antelope in headlights. The movie itself is a gorgeous representation of African folklore, culture and the people of Africa. From the music to the costumes and the details on set, Black Panther offers an amazing look at the lives of warriors, princesses and of course a good king. 

The characters are memorable and well dimensioned. Even the villain of this story is not what he seems to be. Of course the special effects are great, the plot is well crafted and the women are represented as strong and resourceful characters. 

What I loved most about the film though were the mythical elements interwoven in the story that tie to African fairytales and mythology. 

The goddess Bast is mentioned, but the journey T’challa makes throughout the film echoes the spiritual path of great warrior tales in legends. 

The focus on the importance of ancestors and carrying the role of those who came before is an important plot point and it is one of my favorite scenes in the film. 

The country of Wakanda carries traditional customs and characteristics of historic African tribes. The introduction to African shamanism plays a role in the film that follows T’challa’s character growth and ties tradition to modern day culture. 

I don't want to spoil the film, and I want to make sure that I discuss this film with the respect it deserves. But I will say this:

The film deserves all the recognition it has and more, and the representation of an entire culture is a story worth telling. 

Five out of five claws. 

Before I wrote this review, I watched this video to better understand the customs and traditions represented in the film: 

https://youtu.be/uAZh5wu4dEU

Doctor Strange: A Movie Review

Doctor Strange was a magnificent film with incredible special effects and a powerful philosophical story line. 

When Doctor Steven Strange loses the ability to use his hands, his beloved career as a neurosurgeon and his sense of purpose and productivity go with it. Despite the care of Christine, his trusted friend and confidant, Strange feels broken and lost. 

After seven surgeries and physical therapy sessions, Strange becomes angry at the world, and he goes on a quest for answers. He travels to Nepal in search of a place called Kamar-taj, rumored to be a healing sanctuary of spiritual enlightenment. 

He meets a person called The Ancient One, and his perspective is changed by the possibilities of the universe. As Strange learns about the rules of magic, he makes a choice about who he wants to be, and he learns that you can't control anything, except your own perspective. 

Steven Strange was a great character, and watching him grow from an arrogant man into a noble hero is the heart of the film. Benedict Cumberbatch did a wonderful job representing a broken man on his way to healing and purpose. His strength and weakness is his curiosity, and his desire to learn all he can about the world around him. 

Matters of the heart are more complicated, but he relies on his trusted friend Christine to be there for him in his time of need. 

Every character in this film is interesting. The Ancient One was more complex than she appeared, and the audience is left to decide what is wrong and what is right. 

Under the plot of the film, a powerful message about the benefits of failure and the strengths of losing the ego is delivered. One of the most important lessons in life: that it goes on, even when you believe it is the end of the world, and that only you can decide your own limits. 

In terms of the rumors going around about the ethnicities cast in the film, each minority had representation in a well written character. The order of Kamar-taj was universal, with alliances all around the world. Many ethnicities were given representation, and the roles of women in the film were focused on their personalities, and not their sexuality. 

All in all the film was amazing, and I will give it five out of five cups of tea. I can't wait for the next adventure! 

Captain America: Civil War: A Movie Review (Spoilers Ahead!)

First of all: Wow! This is the kind of writing that I enjoy- full character exploration with very real emotions involved. A conflict that relates to a flaw in humanity and some interesting consequences. 

So, you're probably wondering, which team am I on? Team Cap or Team Iron Man? 

Well I'm Cap all the way, but it is obvious that Steve Rodgers made some rash decisions. Now Tony Stark made rash decisions too. Both are at fault here, and Vision explains that, but they both have their reasons that we all think: what would I do in that situation. 

First: let's talk about the title: Ciivl War. A war fought from within and allies turning to enemies. This is what happens to the Avengers. The Vision explains that they are headed for catastrophe, but neither Steve or Tony head his warning. Both believe they are doing the right thing- and that kind of perspective leads to arrogance, vengence and ultimately loss. 

What's interesting is that both Steve and Tony make their decision with the same emotion. Grief. 

Tony grieves his parents, and Steve grieves for Peggy and Bucky. Their argument begins as a decision over right and wrong about the number of casualities they cause, but it turns into a deeper conflict about processing loss, and allowing that grief to determine their decision. 

Why do they do this? Their human. They aren't perfect, but because they are super hero's, everyone expects them to be. 

Now, let's look at both sides of the argument. 

Tony believes that the government should control the Avengers to some degree, because they have made mistakes before, and they have caused innocents to suffer because of it. 

Steve believes that the Avengers should have the freedom to decide what to do and how to solve external conflicts. 

Both of them choose this out of grief. Tony thinks of the boy whose mother reminds him was killed in one of the Avengers' missions. Steve thinks of Bucky who had no choice in his thoughts and actions when he became an experiment with Hydra. These storylines make the line even more grey as to whose right, whose wrong and if there is a right or wrong way to determine how battles should be fought. 

Vision observes this, and he tells Wanda that because they think they are right- they are dangerous. 

Watching the battle unfold, as the heroes choose their sides is a deeply emotional conflict that makes the film even more powerful to the audience. 

Thestory of the movie was well done, and I believe it brought up a few questions we can ask ourselves in our daily lives. Questions about loss, grief, friendship and war. 

Even with a serious storyline, the film did a wonderful job balancing humor with the chaos. 

Spider Man took the cake! And Antman was charming. Some of the inside jokes between the characters were wonderful as well. 

I also loved the relationship development between Scarlett Witch and Vision. 

Panther was amazing! I loved his confrontation with the real Villian in the film, and his wise choice relating to vengence. 

I give this film five out of five orange slices ^_^ 

Captain America: A Good Man

Today is July 4th. Independence Day, and the birthday of Steve Rodgers or Captain America. 

Cap'n is my favorite Avenger. And it's not just the man in the suit, or Chris Evans. 

It's his character. 

Captain America begins as Steve Rodgers, a man who wants to serve his country, but lots of obstacles stand in the way. He is physically weak, he has asthma, and he loses a lot of fights with bullies. But he doesn't give up. He goes to many army enlisting booths and changes his name, age, health and tries until he gets caught by Dr. Eskvine. 

Doctor Erskine asks him why he wants to enlist in the army, and this is Steve's response. 

"I don't want to kill anyone. I don't like bullies. I don't care where they're from." 

It is this repsonse that convinces Erskine to choose Steve Rodgers to be first super soldier. 

Despite Erskine's choice, Steve doesn't pass challenging physical tests, but the moment he takes a "grenade" for the team, his true strength is revealed: the test of character. 

Before Steve takes the serum, and becomes a super soldier, Doctor Erskine tells him: 

"The serum amplifies everything that is inside, so good becomes great; bad becomes worse. This is why you were chosen. Because the strong man who has known power all his life, may lose respect for that power, but a weak man knows the value of strength, and knows... compassion." 

As Chris Evans says, "He's good for the sake of good." This is why Captain America is such an amazing character. He does the right thing, and he never gives up. 

Once he finds out that his best friend Bucky has been captured, he goes after him, proving that he can lead troops into battle and stop Schimdt from conquering the world. 

Once he suceeds in saving Bucky, Steve becomes the soldier he always wanted to be, and more than that, a captain.

He also teams up with the incredible Peggy Carter, and he defies more and more of Schmidt's plans for HYDRA. But when Steve loses Bucky, he becomes even more determined to foil Schimdt's plans. 

But the ultimate act of good for good's sake is when Steve manually crashes Schimdt's plane to save millions of lives from the bombs that Schimdt set up in the plane. 

Captain America saved the world, but he paid a price: seventy years of his life. 

He wakes up in modern day America, with a new goal- to maintain the dream he had and to adapt to the changes that the world has gone through while he was gone. 

The first challenge he faces after waking up is to work with others on the Avengers project. 

He gets a lot of slack from the other heros for being old fashioned, but as Agent Coulson put it, "The world could use a little old fashioned." 

SHEILD wants him to work for them, but Steve doesn't trust their secrets. 

He goes to Peggy and tells her, "For as long as I can remember I just wanted to do what was right. I guess I'm not quite sure what that is anymore." 

A new challenge is presented to Steve when SHEILD is comprimised, and he faces his most challenging enemy, his best friend Bucky, brainwashed and weaponized. 

Steve must determine what he believes is the right thing to do, and he decides to stay true to himself and do what he believes is right. 

While saving SHEILD from HYDRA, Steve says, "The price of freedom is high, but it is a price that I am willing to pay." 

In that moment, Steve Rodgers is himself again, and he knows what he wants to do. 

Before Doctor Erskine gave Steve the serum he said, "I want you to promise me one thing. No matter what happens after tomorrow, you will stay who you are, not a perfect soldier, but a good man." 

Captain America is a great hero because he strives to be the best he can be. This is an admirable trait, and the mark of a great hero. 

S.T.A.T.I.O.N

Attention all fellow S.T.A.T.I.O.N. Agents: 

Due to the secrecy and limited time frame of this assignment, it has been confirmed that I can share my test results to bring more information to the public about the S.T.A.T.I.O.N. project in Itaewon, South Korea. 

Thanks to special technology aquired during this mission, this blog is untraceable on H.Y.D.R.A's search engines, and it is Phil Coulson approved. 

S.T.A.T.I.O.N. stands for Scientific Training And Tactical Intelligence Operative Network. 

Thanks to the brillance of Dr. Helen Cho, with cooperation of S.H.I.E.L.D. the S.T.A.T.I.O.N. project was created to give the public more information on the world we live in, and to conduct research to help the Avengers protect the world. 

This process was an intense and exciting experience, but there are a lot of details you must know before you can participate. 

First: This project takes place at many different locations. 

My location was Yongsan-gu the War Memorial of Korea in Itaewon. 

Upon your arrival, you must purchase a ticket- S.T.A.T.I.O.N. wants this to seem like an exhibit instead of top secret research. 

When you arrive, you are given a touch screen watch to record your progress. The watch is a device to store information and take the test after your research. 

Each watch has a code that reacts to specific areas to record your progress. 

Once you recieve your device, S.T.A.T.I.O.N. will decide if you are eligible for the project. 

Your first test is an ultimate scan, where four powerful S.H.I.E.L.D. scanners will check you for weapons, and any other threatening objects. 

If you pass, you are shown important Avengers footage and you are given your assignment by Dr. Cho's assistant. 

 After a brief introductory video, you are brought into the science labs where the Avengers are explained in detail. Your first assignment is to learn about Captain America. 

My watch showed me this screen when I was given my assignment, and a survey to discover how much I knew about the man behind the shield. 

Captain America had humble beginings as Steve Rodgers, but he used his ambition and ability to emphathise with others to become the great hero he is today. 

He also worked with the incredible Peggy Carter, also known as Agent Carter: founder of S.H.I.E.L.D. 

We learned much of Steve Rodger's bravery, sacrifice and rejuvenation. 

Captain America is my favorite Avenger, so I took a picture for personal reasons. Steve Rodgers is an inspiration to all heroes. 

The lab made a replica of Captain America's shield for research purposes. 

Across from Cap's information display was information on Hawkeye: 

and Black Widow: 

Replicas of their current weapons were also on display: 

After recording the information, it was time to start our first test. The average human strength compared to Captain America's. 

The machines we used for this research, were made by Stark Industries. 

My results were better than I expected:

But my strength is nothing compared to Captain America's. 

After we finished the tests, we moved on to an important item- the very serum that made Steve Rodgers a super soldier. 

Our next test involved experimentation in the Bio lab, monitoring the Hulk's mannerisms. 

We did many tests on what makes the Hulk's brain different from the average human: 

We studied the Hulk's behavior patterns by learning more about the function of the brain. 

I suspect this is useful to better improve the lullaby that Tony Stark created for Bruce Banner. 

After recording our results, we had an interesting test to perform, to prove our resistance to the power of the Tesseract. 

This was a dangerous test that risked Gamma Radiation, but I decided it was worth the risk. 

This experiment was carefully monitored, and the Tesseract was placed in a device to protect us from its power. 

There were safety procedures for those that were worried. 

You simply placed your hand on the touch screen, and the Tesseract acted according to your ability to withstand the object's power. 

 It was a little blinding. 

The screen behind the Tesseract recorded your ability to encounter different waves. 

After the Tesseract, we were given detailed information for Thor, god of thunder and protector of Earth from the cosmos. 

There was much to learn. 

Thor's mythical and almost unbelievable explanations of Asgard were backed up by Jane Foster's research. 

There were also maps of the galaxy, provided by N.A.S.A.

Using the constellations as a guide, it was interesting to see just where Asgard actually was in the universe. 

I decided to take a cosmic selfie :) 

Across from the information center were replicas of the alien relics that the Avengers have dealt with so far. 

They even had a preserved alien body: 

The next and final test was next to an imformative and flashy display of Iron Man's suit. 

This information was mostly about the armor, the creation of J.A.R.V.I.S. and the important Hulk- inspired Exosuit. 

There were stations to test out your skills using the suit like Iron Man. 

Next to that was an opportunity to create a new element, much like Tony Stark did when he made his second suit. 

The generator was also provided by Stark Industries. 

Next to the generator were Iron Man's many suit designs: 

There were many different prototypes: 

The last info station was a brief description of The Vision. 

The Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. do not know much information about this new Avenger. 

These are my final results, and my official ID. I'm am pleased to announce that my research was a success, and I passed the test! 

I may yet work with S.T.A.T.I.O.N. again soon. But I may not be able to talk about it.