(series review) - The Penguin

 

The Penguin is a show that stars Colin Farrell, a character from his short but electric performance in the film 'The Batman'. This series tells the story of The Penguin's rise to power within Gotham City and how he has an elevated status by the end.  The series introduces a few mob families and gangs but other than that, I do not think this show would be a MUST-SEE if you were watching 'The Batman' and then went onto 'The Batman 2' (or whatever they plan to call it) feeling like you missed out on something huge and major. With that said though, if you do not watch this show, ultimately, you HAVE missed out on something HUGE and major, which is the brilliant storytelling, acting and rise of one of Batman's many rogues gallery villains and the part he plays in Gotham amongst the cities crime families and seedy underworld. The Rise of the Penguin.



This is not a show for kids, not to say there is much nudity or sexual content, but there is violence and swearing involved with a few gruesome deaths. The show delivers a gangster-style story of essentially, rags-to-ritches, or at least as the story is told. I jest a little, but when you watch this show, you will learn of the many many truths and half-truths Oswald Cob tells throughout the season. How Oswald manages to stay one step ahead in some situations or slither his way out of others. Oswald demonstrates how he thinks on his feet and will always have an idea to get one up on someone, even if it means doing terrible things himself.



This show introduces a few characters that help us understand the kind of person he is and has grown to be. Without going into any spoilers whether or not you have seen the trailer, there is an old person introduced in this show that shows us one side of Oswald and there is a young person also introduced in this show that shows us another side. These two sides give the audience something to relate to helping us to feel some warmth towards the character, so although you will watch the show and you might gravitate towards Os and start to like him as a person, the show will show you the reason why this character is the villain and why you should not root for him at all. 



In short, this show is simply amazing! It is the character development you could not get in 'The Batman' movie with a two-hour run time. It is great acting from great actors executing great dialogue in some really intense scenes giving us great storytelling. Two of my favourite scenes occur in the same episode and involve one woman talking to two different women at two different times and the scenes had me on edge as I did not know what was going to happen to either woman. The crime world represented in Gotham is not candy floss and gum drops, people can die or will die at the drop of a hat, so these two scenes really had me flip-flopping thinking, "They are gonna die. No, they are going to get spared. No actually, they are going to die. Actually, they might come out alive". One thing I will say is that I knew someone was going to die in this show and I was absolutely correct on who that was and although you do not see it coming, the entire series has already told you that nobody is safe and anybody can die and if you are paying attention to the show, all the clues are there.

As I stated in my episode one review, "Matt Reeves directed a great film with a great story and great actors. From that film, the character ' The Penguin', played by an unrecognisable Colin Farrell, was simply amazing", so it will be interesting to know if Colin will be back in the sequel to 'The Batman' as there are talks of 'The Joker" also having a spin-off show and that he might be in 'The Batman' sequel. Personally, I do not want a Joker in the sequel and would like to see other Batman villains from his huge rogues gallery as he has lots of enemies to choose from, let us see someone else. I feel like, just because he is Batman's main villain, it doesn't mean we need to have him in every iteration of a Batman IP. It is like The Spider-Man IP, always having the Green Goblin as an example and this time around, Sony/Marvel used Mystero in the second "Home" trilogy of Spider-Man movies. I loved that. There are more compelling characters to explore.

There really is not much more to go into about this show other than (and I will tell you this so you do not get your hopes up) Batman is not in the show, so if you are expecting to see the caped crusader, you are fresh out of luck. I feel this helps to keep the focus on The Penguin and his story rather than Batman coming in and the show called 'The Penguin' becomes all about Batman. She-Hulk from the Marvel Television show had that same issue when Daredevil came in and nobody would stop talking about that episode, totally disregarding the rest of the show and how different and good it was (obviously subjective as I know that show has fans of the Marvel movie franchise hate it). The Music, and the special effects are all great. We are given characters with layers in a world that expands just the movie. If there is ANYTHING I would have liked for this show, would be the mentioning of other characters, just to open the world a bit more. This could be from news articles or news broadcasts with smalls details alluding to something going on in Gotham pertaining to other possible characters. It is bad enough we will think and speculate, this person is a Doctor Hugo Strange or this person is a Dr. Johnathan Crane, but other than that, this show was excellent and I will definitely recommend it. More spin-offs like this, please. Excellent work.

(trailer review) - Captain America: Brave New World

 

First of all, that first teaser trailer was quite delicious. We saw Sam Wilson, now with the title of 'Captain America' due to the events that took place at the end of 'Avengers: Endgame', but we now see Thaddeus Ross being played by Harrison Ford (RIP William Hurt) as the President of the United States. We see Isaisah Bradley as some kind of sleeper agent, now that he has been brought out into the light due to the events of Falcon and the Winter Soldier and it all seems to be orchestrated by some shadowy group pulling all the strings. A little like Hydra being deeply embedded into Shield and the government. 
This trailer on the other hand, not only gives us more of what we got before, but damn, the move-set from Sam Wilson the new Captain America, is on levels where it seems as though his upgrade and upgrades have enhanced his skillset to the point he thinks he can take on a Red Hulk? That aside, this trailer is awesome!

The first trailer was good but this one is so much better. We see Isiah Bradley in prison because it is likely after the events of him "attacking" the president and whilst it looks like Sam Wilson is trying to protect the president, it seems as though the president does not seem to care about the possible assassins or sleeper agents that might be around him because he can turn into a Red Hulk!? A Shadowy man in a hat looks like he is behind it all, but near the end, you actually see the hand in the sea which was from the Eternals movie. I feel like so many people have been crying about how the hand has not been mentioned in recent Marvel stories, so here it is. Let's see what this storyline is all about as this is definitely giving me a "who can you trust" vibe, something Secret Invasion should have done and Marvel thumbled that terribly. That Shockwave line, was amazing. Cutting the vehicle into two, was amazing. That aerial shot flying past the naval ships was amazing. Marvel needs to stick this landing as well as Thunderbolts and maybe, just maybe, the fans will come running back and all is forgiven...only if they stick this landing.

(film review) - Venom: The Last Dance

What I will say first and foremost is that, Tom Hardy and his portrayal of these two characters are what has made these Venom movies entertaining. If you are around my age and know anything about the Venom character and where he came from, you will know it was from out of space, it latched onto Peter Parker as Spider-Man and Spider-Man had access to all these advanced powers. When the Venom symbiote was disgarded, the symbiote latched onto Eddie Brock and Eddie had all the agility and 'spider-man-like' powers going forward. The Symbiote was an entity all by itself, but what sold the character for many (or at least myself anyway), was his proximity to Spider-Man, how he was bigger, faster and stronger than Spider-Man whilst also being able to avoid Spider-Man's Spider-sense making him a formidable foe. The Spider-Man animated series from the 90's showed me that, especially as I never read the comics. The love for Venom is HUGE, so many thought the character would only work if Spider-Man was involved in the movie some how, but Tom Hardy is the person who has made it work. I would say the first movie did really well because it was the curiosity that led to people wanting to see a Spider-Man villain movie without Spider-Man and how it would work along with the love for the character. The second movie was ok, but not as good as the first and felt a little lackluster because Carnage is a serial killer and very villainous, so to have his character toned down took away from the movie and ultimately, the movie did not have Spider-Man in it. This third and final movie or at least, final with Tom Hardy, well...it is not terrible, it is not great, but then, were any of them great?

After the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Eddie Brock and Venom are "taken back to their universe" and Eddie is now on the run. Wanting to clear his name, Eddie decides to travel across America to clear his name but when the King of all the Symbiotes Null realises he can be released from his prison by killing Venom and Eddie and harnessing the matrix bond they have created, Null sends out a hunter to track them down. Eddie and Venom must find a way to clear his name and also not get caught by the hunter which will free Null and who will destroy life on Planet Earth 

It is entertaining. The story is lackluster but when you are watching a venom movie, it is more of the fighting scenes and banter you are looking for rather than anything else. Null is a forgettable villain, the hunter is terrifying and in regards to anything else, it is a short film that drags a little but is still fun but also pointless. The film almost feels like it was made to make a trilogy movie set more than anything because a lot of the stories scenarios felt forced and some were out of place. There was a scene where a character turns up in the movie and the whole scene felt forced and pointless although you understood why they did it at the time, it was still a bad decision, you knew it going in, and it turned out exactly how you thought it would.

In regards to the music, nothing special, the acting was fine, the special effects and tight scenes were really good, but other than that, the film is definitely nothing to write home about. I felt like Stephen Graham, a brilliant actor, was wasted. Certain story plots were telegraphed and ultimately, obvious. There is a scene with a family which felt a little forced, but although I enjoyed the dynamics personally, it also felt pointless being in the movie.

Would I say to go and see this, probably not and that is simply because you really do not need to waste your time if you think there is going to be a connection to the MCU, a connection to a wider Spider-verse or anything remotely exciting going forward especially as it is the last from Tom Hardy. But if you want to see Tom Hardy and this character, what they are getting up to this time around and you also want something fun, go for it. Like I said, it is entertaining, but not trash.

(series review) [STREAMING] - Agatha All Along

 

When WandaVision started, it was after the film 'Endgame' and within the timeline and also set after the events of Endgame. Spoilers Alert...but Vision did not make it out of the fight with Thanos, so it was a wonder what the storyline for this show was going to be. From the trailers, Wanda and Vision live in a suburban home with children. How does that work? They introduce a variety of other characters AND...Spoiler Alert (Again), the big bad of the show was a woman named Agatha. WandaVision was set up as different television shows through the ages of television, and this was all explained by the end of the season. At the end of WandaVision, Wanda confines Agatha to a Hex, which this show continues from, but also after the events of Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.

From the very beginning of this season of 'Agatha All Along', we pick up with Agatha in the hex playing out a TV show. Her "co-worker" invites her to help investigate a dead body, and not long after, she is visited by an old friend. Agatha stops a thief and, upon investigation, she realises that things are not quite what they appear to be, so she must form a covenant and travel the 'Witches Road' to get her powers back.



By the end of episode 2, the witches are now on the Witches' Road, where they will be tested. They find themselves inside a house with a puzzle they will need to solve before the time runs out, or they will all die! By this point in the show, I was already sold on the mischievously evil character of Agatha and how Katherine Hahn sells the character to us. You want to follow her, but you cannot trust her, and in the episode, this is alluded to several times. There are a few times I actually burst out laughing due to the things Agatha and Sharon said or did. I actually feel like Sharon stole episode 3 and has done, ever since the beginning of the series, but by this point, we still do not know who the Teen is, but we do get a bit more insight into these other characters.



By the time we get to episode 6 and after the reveal in episode 5, the show gives us a heavy-handed flashback that is full of exposition, but done in such a way that the episode was still entertaining and answered a lot of questions that were on our lips. Who is the Teen? What is their purpose, and where did the Teen come from and why? Who put the protection spell on the teen and why? Does Agatha know who the teen is and what will their relationship be like now since the mystery of who the Teen is has now been revealed? Will we learn who Rio is and what happens at the end of the Witch's Road? There are still a lot of questions that require answering but by this point, I would not be surprised if we are given more questions as this show winds down, we will learn a lot more about Agatha, her abilities, the Teen and the rest of the covenant and their role in this show going forward.



Episode 7  is where everything is running full steam ahead, and without going into spoilers, the only thing I kept thinking whilst watching this episode was, how did they do that? This episode connects with a lot of the previous episodes that came before it and moreover, the big reveal (which was guessed or figured out earlier in the show if you are savvy enough) hits you with so much crystal clarity, that it makes sense as to why and how things happen the way they did. Your many questions throughout this season get answered slowly through these last few episodes, and this episode is the icing on the cake for a particular character. At this point in the show, I had my theories on whether the Witches Road was ever a real thing and who might have put it there, because a lot of what seems to be going on seems to have been initiated or thought of by specifically one person.

The last two episodes were a chef's kiss to TV production and a well-done from Marvel. Say what you want about comic book fatigue. Say what you want about Marvel falling off. Say what you want about 'Agatha All Along' not being any good, but these final two episodes off the very back of the phenomenal storytelling, wrap this season up in a nice bow leaving only a few questions to be answered and the fans wondering where do we pick the rest of this story up from?

We get answers earlier in the season as to who the Teen is, but now we know who Death is. Agatha, the Teen and Jennifer try to continue on the road, but after another trial, Agatha and the Teen come face-to-face with Death themselves.
The final episode explores Agatha's past, and we finally get to see someone Agatha actually cares for. It explains how Agatha has lived for so many years and what happened to the son, which was alluded to in WandaVision. Everything is explained with another big reveal, and the show concludes, leaving the viewers with the question, "So where do we go next?"



This show has a lot to say about trauma and letting it go. Most of the characters in this show have trauma, and part of the show dealt with identity, who we are, emotional baggage and confidence in yourself. Masterfully crafted, from the very first episode until the very last, we spent time with these characters understanding what happened in WestView during the events of WandaVision with the neighbours during and after. We understand where Agatha came from, why she is the way she is (to an extent) and why she was drawn to WestView. We understand who the Teen is, his skills, how he came about and what his goal is, along with his own personal trauma. We understand all the other witches' roles and a backstory on each of them. If you are savvy enough, you will also notice the sequence of the trials on the Witches Road is in the same order as the Infinity Stones and how they were introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If there is any criticism I have with the show, is that we do not get much from the Salem Seven, but considering everything story-wise that is going on, it actually makes a lot of sense.



Without going into spoilers, 'Agatha All Along' is a direct sequel to both 'WandaVision' and 'Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness', which may lead to upcoming projects such as 'VisionQuest' or something else like 'The Young Avengers'. Although these are not necessarily a "need to watch", the show and film may help with the understanding of the characters going in, how things have come about and the fleshing out of the world within the MCU on Magic and Witchcraft. The acting, whilst somewhat difficult to gauge at first from Kathryn Hahn and what the show is trying to achieve, combined with her multi-layered performance, once you understand that some of the actings are purposely performative along with understanding the character of Agatha, the show becomes easier AND it helps that, episode by episode, more of the story, the characters and the many questions you have are answered episode by episode making the show stronger from week to week, just like WandaVision. The performance of Aubrey Plaza is great, and her dynamic with Agatha plays a lot better at the end of the season. Joe Locke is great as the Teen and he plays the character very well. There are many layers to him and a duality he pulls off superbly. The dynamics between him and Agatha, including their banter, is great and also towards the end, you get to understand Agatha's behaviour and her choices. It cannot be stressed enough, that the thought processes behind this show and the execution are up there with the likes of WandaVision (but better [in my honest opinion]) and Moon Knight and is definitely a show you would want to re-watch as there will definitely be bits you missed in earlier episodes as they continuously drop breadcrumbs in plain sight leading you to realise that certain imagery or phrases/sentences make more sense on the reveal at the end and likely on the rewatch.



If you are not sure of the series, you may need to give it a 4-episode birth to understand what you are getting yourself into. If you are open to watching WandaVision, that will give you the tone/theme/direction of the show and Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness will give you more of the story after WestView. Either way, the show does not hold your hand, so you can go in without seeing these as they loosely let you know what is going on, but this is an excellent watch. Marvel may actually be back on the rise.