#JustaQuickePlease: Marvel's Luke Cage Spoiler Free Review

Netflix has had success story after success story when it comes to their Marvel series, with no end appearing to be in sight.  Well, that undefeated win streak has finally come to a close with their latest installment, Luke Cage.  Originally, Iron Fist was slated to be the next entry in the franchise, but Cage's story was bumped up, in what I can only assume, was a move to reflect the topical issues saturating the media over the last year.   The first seven episodes are empowering, compelling, imaginative, and raw, with exceptional acting and storytelling.  The characters are authentic and thoroughly engaging, with each cast member bringing their dramatic incarnations to exuberant life.   However, the fight and action scenes are a bit disappointing, feeling rushed and poorly choreographed.  That, unfortunately, is a trend that runs throughout the collection of episodes especially compared to the previous two Daredevil entries which set a whole new bar in that area.  It is not, however, that deficit that ruins this production.  Rather, as the series progresses, it becomes incoherent, contradictory, and at points, nonsensical.   Points I will expound on in the spoiler filled review next week.  It appears, as though, there was decided direction that was purposefully altered at the last moment.   The message suddenly becomes overtly preachy, evolving into what seems like propaganda at one point.  In tandem, the characters begin to gradually lose their identities, sacrificing them to a deliberate ideological agenda that steals all of the genuineness of what the first half of the series was conveying.   In the end, instead of empowering, it moves to disenfranchising, appealing to a particular opinion and alienating everyone else.   What's worse, the final payoff is so lackluster and unsatisfying, that it makes the time spent getting there feel like a tremendous waste of time.   A contemporary story could have been effectively told, but bowed to a particular narrative that corrupts the sincerity of its totality.  However, there are some very cool nods to the comic canon and a few Easter eggs that will please the most devout Fanboy or girl; not to mention, the return of a reoccurring fan favorite character that becomes a true highlight of the series.  This is one of my favorite Marvel manifestations, and it is a shame that the message of equality, responsibility, and rising above tragedy and trial, represented by this incredibly inspiring icon, devolved into another status quo, politicized piece.  3 out of 5 Kernels: with my rating, I'm being gracious, because, overall, it is not a total loss, but extremely frustrating for those who have waited so long to see the Power Man brought to life on screen.

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Grade: A

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Grade: A Spoilerpalooza.... 1. Okay..Disney, enough with the crossovers already...now we are mixing Marvel with the cast of the Haunted Mansion ride.... 2. If Daisy gets any more EMO she is going to have to be played by 1990's Winona Ryder... 3. This episode's title: Simmons visits the Upside Down... 4. May May just went all Kray Kray... 5. Gratuitous Peggy Carter references in 3...2...1.... 6. Best way to tie up an Inhuman with earthquake powers....bungee cords...who knew... 7. Ghost Rider...Human Torch...is the only real difference a better wardrobe? 8. The new director is a super strong Inhuman with the personality of an Amway salesman...thanks Coulson... 9. Anyone else missing Ward like I am.... 10. Can we make it any more obvious we are moving to a Dr. Strange Promo...no...really...okay..next week Coulson gets a really cool necklace and cape...and, there you go... #MarvelRocks

#JustaQuickiePlease: The Magnificent Seven (2016) Review

Training Day director Antoine Fuque successfully reunites Washington and Hawke and joins them with a stellar cast to present a masterful retelling of one of the most iconic cinematic westerns of all time.   Most reboots fall flat; this incredibly crafted update wins on every level with authentic performances, well timed and ingenious humor, rich characterizations, riveting action sequences, and stunning cinematography.   Pratt excels, as does D'Onofrio and the remaining ensemble, with Sarsgaard nicely rounding off the group as the utterly believable and wonderfully despicable villain.   My only complaint, we weren't able to explore these incredible incarnations in more depth, but runtime and storytelling simply couldn't afford it.  Today, Westerns are a hard sell, its unfortunate but true.  This film charges through that stigma like a stampeded of wild stallions.  5 out of 5 Kernels: This is how the west is won!

#JustaQuickiePlease: The Finest Hours Review

An amazingly accurate film representation of the most dangerous and heroic Coast Guard mission of all time.  Pine plays yet another captain, but truly embraces this role and sells it with passion and authenticity.   The remaining cast is solid, with only a few stale performances.  The most disappointing is Pine's love interest Holliday Grainger who is as cold as a winter tempest without any of its excitement. The special effects are incredible, so realistic I felt the chill of both the storm and sea.  Historic cinematic recountings are either incredibly stiff or indisputably compelling, with little middle ground.  Thankfully, this is the latter by all counts.  4 out of 5 Kernels: A well-told tale, filled with heart, hope, and hazard; keeping you at the edge of your seat until the very last minutes.

Gotham Grade: B+

Apparently, the Joker sabotaged the sound files...

Spoilers abound....

1. Ivy really sprouted, didn't she...

2. Barnes is as effective as a City of Charlotte Curfew...

3.  Quicksilver looks like hell....

4. Hillary Clinton runs the Court of Owls...who knew...

5. Was that Killer Croc this time...or another Jurassic Park wannabe...

6.  Penguin + Fish = the "feels"

7. This episode was one big, "Tim Burton We Love You," thing...wasn't it... 

8. It went from 0 to Purge real damn quick,,,didn't it...

9. Jim Gordon nails the reporter right as Leslie arrives back in Gotham...wow...that wasn't predictable at all...

10. Next week...two words...Mad Hatter....

Seriously guys fix the sound next week...

#DCTVrocks

Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Grade: A-

Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D Grade: A-

Spoilers...with a side of vengeance...

1. Gratuitous Daisy derrière...

2. There is always that one person who has to walk right into the middle of shite...

3. Coulson+Mack=Backgammon

4. If you have a problem...

...if no one else can help...

...and if you can find  them...

...maybe you can hire...

...The May Team...

*cue music*

5. The new director is apparently Rainbow Brite...

6. COOLEST GHOSTRIDER EVER!!!!

7. And, suddenly Ebay exploded with custom leather jacket orders...

8. Fitz gives Coulson a hand...also, technically, Coulson gave Fitz a hand job...

9. It only took one look and we all knew...Fitz is going to have robot sex...

10. Jemma in Charge of S.H.I.E.L.Ds days and their nights...

...Jemma in Charge of May's wrongs and her rights...

...so, Fitz says...I want Jemma in Charge of me...

...you know you sang it in your head...

11. Gotta give'em fifteen...first episode...

12. New season title....Marvel Agents of Shield: The Conjuring....

13.  On that note....

Who you gonna call....

May Busters...

14.  Quake gives a whole new meaning to carpal tunnel syndrome...

15. Time it took to mention an Avengers or Captain America Reference...

5 minutes...

New record...

#Marvelison!

Gotham Grade: B+

It's a new season...and the spoilers shall abound...

1. Two words...MAN...BAT!!!

2. Jim Gordon...ancestor to Boba Fett...who knew...

3. Wait, was that Killer Croc...LOOK out for that truck...Oh...nevermind...

4.  Hugo Strange is played by the actor who portrays the scientist, in Jurassic Park, who makes dinosaurs...ladies and gentleman, I give you Stegasaurus Guy... was literally waiting for Chris Pratt to ride in on a dirtbike to provide Gordon with the assist...

5. You know what this show needs...a stereotypical female reporter...cue Ms. Valerie Vale please...

6.  Did Enigma just open Lemarchand's box...whoa...well that was a crossover I wasn't expecting...

7. Jada Pinkett Smith as Fish Mooney...she's like the Purple Man in drag...

8. Court is in session...if you get that reference...you just leveled up...

9. Why don't we just call this show Penguin is Awesome and be done with it...

10. Barbara Keen...freak on the streets...you won't live long enough to find out about the whole sheets thing, though....

11. The first episode of the season...so it earns 15 instead of 10...

12. How can the same actor be epic as one character and act like a first-year drama student as the other...

13. Ivy is going to sprout...ain't she...

14. Butch is off the REO Speedwagon...he just can't fight that feeling anymore...

15. How many more days until Jerome comes back again...

#DCTVRocks