Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) ***½ /5: Good film that establishes the importance of the Wasp to the marvel universe. The film is a bit too small scale for its own good.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is a pretty good film and does not even aspire to reach the shocking high of Avengers: Infinity War or the cultural high of Black Panther. It is the third marvel film to be released for 2018 and will be the one that least inspires major discussion on social media. In some ways that is a good thing but the latest box office numbers for the film suggests that it won’t add much to the Marvel studios behemoth.  Relatively speaking it will still be counted as a success regardless. The film doesn’t have such a massive budget anyway and that is reflected in the overall presentation.  The only question is that based on the smallness of the film with very few giant moments is it really worth the price of a movie ticket. 

Ant-man and the Wasp  is the follow up to the minor Marvel hit Ant-Man. It continues the adventures of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) as Ant-man after the events of Civil War where he is currently under house arrest after cutting a deal with the government. On the other hand Hope Van-Dyne/the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) and Hank Pym (Michael Douglas)will need Lang’s help in navigating the quantum realm. Added to the mix are villainous characters seeking to gain access to Pym’s cutting edge quantum technology for various reasons.

Positives

The primary positive of this film is the contained atmosphere that allows for a different perspective to the grand Infinity War episode.  Eventually it does cross paths with Infinity War with the first post-credit scene but up until that point it has its own story to tell. It’s a very personal story that is much less about Scott Lang and more about Hank Pym and Hope/the Wasp and their relationship with Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), the original Wasp. Lang’s story is pretty straightforward and not much is added to the original in that regard but the story of Hope/the Wasp is much more affecting. She is the star of the show and the film is appropriately titled Ant-Man and the Wasp as opposed to Ant-Man 2.  The Wasp genuinely adds to the direction of this small franchise and should be a mainstay going forward. There are also some great moments between the two leads which demonstrate why it’s natural that they come together (apart from the usual romance).  This contained atmosphere which focuses on the very personal story of Hope-Hank-Janet is a welcome deviation from the major epic drama of Infinity War. There is also the addition of new characters which also expand the small world of Ant-Man in their own way.  It remains to be seen if the mainstays of the franchise will be given the chance to add to the grander Avengers 4 saga.

One other thing which also stood out was the quantum realm. The quantum realm as it is discussed and portrayed  does add a crucial dimension to the film and, by extension, the franchise  and the wider marvel universe. It makes the small world of Ant-Man and the Wasp more than just a Tv sitcom. Eventually if Ant-Man is going to contribute to the efforts of the Avengers in Avengers 4 then the quantum realm will play some role. The film got me very interested in reading up on quantum mechanics and it made me realize why it fits perfectly with the world of Ant-Man and the Wasp. The quantum realm was briefly featured in the original Ant-Man but here it takes centre stage and knowing marvel studios this means that it will play a major role going forward.

The franchise continues the same comedic streak which began with the original. Obviously we now realize that the Ant-man side represents the comedic elements whereas the side of the Wasp represents the more serious or dramatic side. How the two sides come together is the real strength of the partnership and the film.

Lastly, I appreciated seeing how everything comes full circle with the two generations of Ant-man and the Wasp. This should mean good things going forward for the franchise

Negatives

The primary negative of this film was the very small scale of it all. Apart from the few giant moments the overall film has a smallness which borders on the inconsequential.  The action is not great, the villains aren’t impressive and the atmosphere is isolated from the grand scheme of things. At times while watching the film there were lapses that made you feel you were watching a regular TV series. The small scale of the film is not radically removed from that level of production in parts. Things really got going when the quantum realm came into play and the personal moments came to the fore. So it’s not a surprise that the film isn’t lighting up the box office. At times it didn’t feel like it was  worth the price of an admission ticket although it is a well made film.  It was the post-credit scene which featured the tie in to Infinity War which really got some members of the audience going. So hopefully we will finally get to see Ant-man play a crucial role in the wider marvel universe apart from turning big.

The comedy was a drag and makes you wonder how relevant Ant-man is as a character. Still looking forward to the time when he’s truly tested or when he reveals his more dramatic or serious side. This is why I am glad that they included the side of the Wasp. She should bring out more of the serious moments going forward and so make the franchise relevant. I am still looking forward to the time when they blend more effectively but based on what I’ve seen from the opposition I’m not so sure that any of their villains will truly test their resolve.  The franchise will need to bring out moments that make these characters resonate and so far only the moments with the Wasp have done that so far. A bit more will be required for this franchise to remain relevant. This franchise needs its own serious moments (without tie ins to the grand marvel universe) to get the people talking.  This is a good start

Avengers: Infinity War (2018) ****/5: Best Avengers film released by Marvel because Thanos is such an imposing physical villain. Thor is the standout heroic character. In terms of quality it is not on Black Panther's level and this is largely due to the superficiality of Thanos' philosophy of balance.

Avengers: Infinity War is a very epic film yet limited by its own scope. I was expecting much more from this film and so while it flashed by in a very entertaining package I found it difficult to come to terms with the lack of transcendence.  The scale does mask the lack of originality present in some areas of the film which is not a big issue for the most part but it can give a sense of grandiosity which is incomprehensible. At least for some parts if you can say that this has been done before and Infinity War is applying it to a grand comic book  epic about the universe then it’s not so bad. The film is also incoherent in parts because it is so grand yet so limited. I say this because if it was to address every issue then it would have to be at least 180 minutes and incorporate some more places and more characters to give this film a truly universal feel. It’s clear from watching Infinity War that a lot is missing. This is clearly why it’s one of a two part film but the film could have stood more effectively on its own if it wasn’t deliberately one of 2. This film is the set up for a more eventful and climactic battle in Avengers 4….I hope.

 With that said this is still the best Avengers film ever released up until this point even though only a few things really stick with you (Are the Guardians of the Galaxy Avengers? Why couldn’t they just call it Infinity War to avoid the confusion between the Guardians and the Avengers?) The creative team had to be selective in terms of the focus placed on particular characters and I can see why Thanos and Thor are the two heavy hitters here: Thanos for the destructive or evil side and Thor for the Avengers. Iron Man/ Tony Stark is still about with his fancy tech but in terms of power hitting he is second to Thor. Thor is the standout power hitter here on the side of good, not the Hulk.

This film is basically about the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy trying to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his Black Order (Black Order? Really? In 2018) or Children of Thanos from acquiring all 6 infinity stones to place in his infinity gauntlet which would give him unimaginable power and the ability to inflict his destructive will on the universe.

Positives

The primary positive is the epic scope of the film which brings together several characters from the Marvel cinematic universe which we have come to know since Iron Man was released in 2008. New characters are also introduced. Obviously non-comic book fans will have trouble keeping up with all the characters and will be justified in scoffing at some of the looney toon like characters.  The presence of all these characters obviously means that not everyone gets the same sort of focus or attention; which is why they have solo movies I suppose. There are not many individual character arcs despite the proliferation of characters and this is why we’re confronted with the Thanos story arc which is the most affecting individual based story in the film. Next up would obviously be Thor.

Other major characters such as Iron Man and Dr. Strange are just reacting to events as they unfold but in terms of affecting the story in a profound way and giving it meaning then Thor and Thanos are the standouts. More so Thanos who dominates the screen time and spends a lot of time justifying his desire to balance the universe and demonstrating that only he is capable of carrying out the task (with a heavy heart of course). It is clear that not many people will be able to identify with the mad titan Thanos but they will be impressed, like I was, with his physical presence which provides a suitable challenge to the Avengers and the Guardians. He is the physically dominant foe that the Avengers have been lacking. Loki and Ultron were not very effective in imposing their presence on the Avengers which Is why those films were not as effective. Thanos does have some serious power and he demonstrates that pretty early with his beat down of the Hulk and Thor, the two most powerful Avengers.  He has the serious presence that I like to see from a villain and Bane from The Dark Knight Rises had a similar dominant physical presence.

Obviously Thanos is even more formidable when he starts collecting the stones which is why the many heroes have to band together to tackle him and only on Titan are they close to defeating him. The battle against Thanos on Titan is the most impressive action sequence in terms of super powered battles and visual spectacle. The battle in Wakanda is also fairly well done. When I see them as battles within the grander contest of an infinity war I can make better sense of the film.  There is also some emotional resonance involving Thanos and Gamora, a member of the Guardians (or the Avengers?) which was impressive although I didn’t really react emotionally because Marvel has not done well enough in establishing an emotional connection with many of its heroes. It was a good attempt to humanize the character of Thanos but it did not resonate enough for me.( Gained the whole world at the cost of your soul? I just hope they were not trying to be so corny) It’s interesting that marvel wants us to sympathize with a man determined to extinguish half   of humanity and I’m sure that his philosophy of balance would resonate with many in favour of racial cleansing or those who wish to purify the line. Although Thanos doesn’t preach hate ironically but I guess those in favour of racial cleansing were not in tune with the higher order (or black order) of the faith. The only way Thanos can make sense as a character is that he must embody something or he has some essential features which make him embody a certain concept. We hear a lot in the comics about Thanos and his love for mistress death so maybe he too is the embodiment of death and destruction. A malevolent force given form as a particular purple giant. He would also make sense if he was one of a kind. It’s not clear if he’s the only member of his race still existing but one gets the sense that he took centuries to become the major force that he is. With that said the creative team at marvel studios delivered in presenting the Marvel heroes with a very tough opponent.

As for the heroes there are a lot of standouts such as Iron Man and Dr. Strange but Thor takes the cake for me. Carrying on from Ragnarok Infinity War seems to continue Thor’s story and push it forward.  By the end Thor emerges as the one individual capable of defeating Thanos in a physical brawl. While Thanos has his infinity gauntlet Thor does create a new weapon known as STORMBREAKER, a massive hammer and axe in one. It’s a powerful weapon and makes Thor look like the superman of Marvel. Yes I’m spoiling it (a bit) but Thor’s journey in Infinity War does give him a certain heroic quality that’s not seen with the other heroes. There’s one particular scene where Thor recounts briefly the development of his life. It’s very reflective and unlike the humorous approach taken in Ragnarok. In that moment Thor came across as a legendary figure or cut from the Norse legends. In that reflective moment Thor assumes the stature of a godlike figure. I never knew he was so old lol. It’s only fitting that he is the one most capable of challenging Thanos physically.

The action was pretty good and so were the visuals but it’s nothing out of the ordinary. This is all expected but the palette was not very distinctive especially since this is some cosmic adventure. I was expecting more in terms of presentation of new worlds. The journey of Thanos, the Guardians and some of these Avengers throughout the universe is pretty impressive in its epic scope and I am a big fan of epics. Although you’re vested in some stories as opposed to others it does give the sense that some thing big is taking place only if you look at it from a cosmic point of view. Earth is a mere footnote in the story here and one understands Marvel making its world more cosmic as opposed to being based in the realm of Earth.

The ending was pretty affecting and again it just goes to show that Thanos is a powerful individual when wielding the infinity gauntlet with all the 6 infinity stones. But knowing that Infinity War is part 1 of 2 makes the ending less impactful unless things remain as is by the end of Avengers 4.

Some fans of Black Panther will be very disappointed in Infinity War although the final battle does take place in Wakanda. The Black Panther story doesn’t really move forward here and is more of a reaction to what’s going on in the outside world. I have a feeling that Marvel didn’t expect Black Panther to be such a monster hit or it would have included more about Wakanada. The ending is only impactful for me because Black Panther is my favourite marvel property.  As usual marvel wants its white heroes to save the day, including a very unimpressive Steve Rogers (former noble idiot, Captain America).

Negatives

Some of the main downsides of this film are the same that most critics out there have with Infinity War. The many characters in this film makes it difficult to care about all of their fates, even those you thought you would care more for. It goes to show that despite all this world building a significant amount of the marvel universe is very superficial and is more based on various characterizations from the comic books coming to life on the big screen as opposed to these characterizations having real meaning. So while it’s commendable that the Marvel cinematic universe has been going strong for ten years Infinity War, as the culmination of all that world building, does expose all its shortcomings as a franchise. The film flies by but doesn’t leave much of an impact in many areas despite the many instances of characters coming together for the first time. Characters coming together has been one of Marvel’s strong points however. Obviously Marvel is known very much for its humour which is overdone in this film although not as much as in Ragnarok. Marvel is also known for having a threadbare story in many areas although with Infinity War as the culmination of everything it does make sense in the long run although one wonders what it was all about. It is yet another demonstration of character vs. character or characters coming to life. Character clashes don’t register without the characters serving core functions.

 If Infinity War seems so threadbare in terms of plot then what does it say about the entire franchise as it went from episode to episode. Did we really have to wait 10 years for Thanos to arrive? When he does make his grand entrance it does seem a bit anti-climactic when considering that only now does he decide to assemble all the Infinity Stones (How convenient that he decides to assemble the stones as Marvel prepares to  celebrate 10 years). In previous installments when Thanos was featured all he did was sit on a chair; now all of a sudden he wants to go after the infinity stones. What was he doing for all of these centuries in that chair? Was he tallying the entire population in the universe or waiting for life forms to proliferate before he decided to balance it? Is he some high judge or god of the universe? What is his actual role as an individual? How did he come to these conclusions concerning his philosophy of balancing the universe? His philosophy would only make sense if he was a force of nature. As a living being his actions come across as maniacal or burdened by madness. His hypocrisy becomes even more startling when you realize that he isn’t prepared to take his own life if needs be.  This is why Thor is a good counterpoint to the Thanos character. Humanizing Thanos actually backfires to some extent if one considers all these points. His character needed much more exposition and backstory to go beyond the odd emotional moment.  The plan of Thanos reminded me a lot of the functions of the League of Shadows led by Ra’s Al Ghul in Batman Begins and so I came away thinking about the lack of originality in this used up villainous philosophy. Every comic book fan knows about Darkseid’s  search for the anti-life equation. The creation of the Thanos comic book character was influenced by Darkseid which obviously preceded him.  So how profound is Thanos really in terms of reasoning?

The philosophy of balancing the universe is also skewed and is not effectively challenged. In practical terms it manifests as wiping  out a half of the universal population however that is actually bad for business. If life does not continue to grow then the possibilities for development and expansion are limited. So his philosophy needed some more quantification, apart from the usual pronouncements, to be more effective. Wiping out the entire universe doesn’t necessarily make sense if one doesn’t know the numbers. If Thanos is all knowing then he should be some genius. So he must have crunched the numbers to come to these conclusions about the universe filling up beyond capacity. With no numbers behind his philosophy of balance then the rhetoric of Thanos is empty and inconsequential and is just a vehicle to make him into  a high powered villain. I got no numbers from  him and humanizing a character whose philosophy promotes genocide is strange. Infinity War must be an adaptation of Hitler’s Mein Kampf (Hmmm).

Last main criticism of the film is the apparent limited scope of the film. I thought the film would be bigger as presented here. There were big moments but not the scope I was expecting. I was expecting more of a cosmic presence than was actually presented in the film. For instance I was hoping for more indications that life on other planets throughout the universe were being affected by Thanos’  quest especially when one considers what happens at the end. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 a t least tried to show the consequences of Ego’s plan for many planets throughout the universe. This  concern with the life on planets throughout the universe is not sufficiently formulated in this film. We see the effects on Earth but not enough universally which would continue to emphasize the greater impact of Thanos’ quest.  This is why I was hoping to see what happened to Xandar which would have made infinity War more of a war than just a series of battle involving the Avengers and the Guardians. So in one sense the film could have been more effective by focusing on a universal war with Earth included as opposed to a series of battles for  the gems. The battle in Wakanda is the closest we get to an on the ground battle that can have massive consequences. The battle for the gems is important but it should have been connected to a wider issue of universal war against the forces of Thanos. It just did not a feel like a genuine universal war and the infinity war was just a series of superpowered battles against Thanos and his Black order. . Hopefully this will be addressed in Avengers 4 which would emphasize the role of beings from other planets taking part in the fight against the forces of Thanos. We could even do with more from the earth.  While Wakanda is on the verge of destruction where were its allies? Was the world oblivious? Why did it not take up the dimensions of a global struggle? Where were the news reports? And not just the one in the post credit scene? Was this just another example of Wakanda’s isolation from the world? So I ask all these questions just to demonstrate that there are a lot of disconnected parts. So the heroes jump from place to place but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are connected. A lot still seems to happen in isolation despite the supposed scope of the film. Hopefully Captain marvel will provide the necessary cosmic dimension that will link the story to the wider universal struggle.

It was still a good film but apart from the dominant physical presence of Thanos he does come across as superficial in a lot of areas. In the realm of physicality in this film at least there is STORMBREAKER. What a weapon that is

Black Panther (2018) ****½ /5: Best film to come out of the marvel cinematic universe but clearly limited by formula in some areas.

Black Panther is one of the greatest superhero films of all time; up until this point of course. It comfortably joins the pantheon of The Dark Knight and Spider-Man 2. It is transcendent. It is also the best film produced and directed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Yes, it is better than the famous Iron Man. I am not just saying this because I am black. Historically, Marvel has worked with a particular story template, especially since the MCU was first launched with Iron Man in 2008. There are also elements (Soundtrack etc) in Black Panther that are taken from Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man films. What has occurred in Black Panther is a perfection of this Marvel template which began with the Sam Raimi Spider-man films and was first perfected in Spider-Man 2. I could even say there are even some elements of  Thor: Ragnarok which can be seen in Black Panther. So Black Panther is not the most original of marvel films in some areas; I think I even found some comparisons to Blade. There are other comparisons with The Dark Knight Trilogy, especially The Dark Knight Rises.  

Black Panther has simply perfected the Marvel template but also added some weighty dramatic heft. Marvel was able to restrain itself and stay grounded in Wakanda. Wakanda is fully realized with all the weight of its experiences as a special African country. What it does have is a very  sincere director in the seat in the form of Ryan Coogler who has brought out the humanity in the characters portrayed in this film. There is weighty dramatic heft here that goes along with the Wakandan perspective. The Wakandan perspective is clearly important and intrinsic to the film and forms an organic synergy not clearly seen in other marvel superhero films. Where places in the real world, as portrayed by some other superhero films remain ephemeral, Wakanda forms a core that will obviously put it at the centre of the MCU. It can no longer be ignored. The closest comparison to Wakanda as a fictional space in superhero films, in terms of quality, is Gotham City in The Dark Knight Trilogy. Gotham formed the backbone of The Dark Knight trilogy. Now the issues that place the fictional Wakanda in the spotlight make the central conflict engaging.

The film is about T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) who becomes king after his father’s death. While T’Challa and others are contemplating the route that Wakanda should take (do they open up and share  or do they  remain isolated) Erik Killmonger (Micheal B. Jordan) arrives to expose the divisions in the society and challenges T’Challa’s worthiness to be king.

Positives

Now while I said that Black Panther is not necessarily original I was just illustrating a point that, historically, nothing is truly original as it stands because there is a process of development that must be adhered to. The creation of Wakanda as a fictional African country, which is so advanced that it is probably the richest country in the world, is the major positive for me. As a black person you can’t help but be moved by its grandeur. It’s because it’s so technologically advanced that issues arise about the extent of Wakanda’s contributions to the world; not just to black people. The reality, however, is that it is a nation in the continent of Africa and could be a beacon for black people all over the word. Wakanda is a nation that has been untouched by colonialism and the rapacious greed of white capitalists who would have surely drained the nation of its precious vibranium long ago if they knew about it. In one scene Agent Ross (Martin Freeman ) is referred to as a “colonizer”. It was absolutely brilliant. The core issue, however, is: why Wakanda didn’t do more for its people on the continent? Why not unite the tribes of the African content and protect the people from the ravages of the slave trade which depopulated Africa and set it back for centuries? Credit to Coogler, there is an important scene in the beginning which shows what could have been if Wakanda was actually real. Just imagine if black people had an African country it could look to and see real progress. I’m not trying to steal the spotlight but it’s something I’ve always discussed. Countries with majority black populations are most likely poor, corrupt and torn by war and strife. It is the reality. It was the vision of our great black leaders like Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X that we stand on our own together and raise our standards to the level of the advanced nations. We, as black people, should also demonstrate to the world that we can be a force in the world.

Unfortunately, in the real world a lot of black people have been brutalized, almost beyond repair, especially those that suffer at the hands of institutional racism and international classism. Institutional racism has denied us the possibility of reaching our full potential especially in a country such as America which has the largest black diaspora. Obviously some in America will see themselves as strictly Americans but historically there is a lot that unites the black people of the world which is why they are a part of the diaspora. Only when there is an Eric Garner situation do some realize their blackness. The integrationists will think differently, of course, but how far have we really progressed as a people when the majority have been brutalized beyond repair and our standards are those of the whites. If Wakanda were not a fictional country these issues would have been addressed a long time ago. This is why in the film we have the character of Erik Killmonger.

Technically, Killmonger is not a villain based on how things unravel and this is why what he does is understandable. He is portrayed like a villain to promote the film and these films must adhere to the template of hero vs. villain in order to satisfy corporate greed. These films must have a satisfying conclusion. Killmonger is not a villain. Obviously I can’t reveal too much until after the opening weekend but his connection to the throne is understandable, his motivations are clear and his views on how Wakanda should be run differ greatly from T’Challa’s. This does not necessarily make him a villain. Historically, his approach would be revered by some black people. If Killmonger is Malcolm X then T’Challa is Martin Luther King Jr. It’s just a matter of preference. As a black person it’s difficult to see one or the other as hero or villain. By the end of the film you will see how Killmonger has shaken things up and forced real change. Does that make him a villain? I don’t think so. It is probably one of the limitations of the film why he’s cast as a villain because the world has embraced integration. Killmonger’s upbringing represents the real struggle of black people throughout the world whereas T’Challa’s upbringing represents one of privilege and outrageous fantasy. T’Challa and his fellow Wakandans have a head start but have done nothing with it. For me Killmonger is not a villain. Yeah they tried to say that he has a lot of kills on his record but he worked for the CIA so he was just doing his job. Actually, the presence of Everett Ross, in some scenes, is troubling because he is placed on the side of the good. What a joke.

The film does have a strong supporting cast. It is the supporting cast which contributes to the organic synergy of the film. As a nation the supporting cast does represent some particular section whether it be as part of a tribe or part of the King’s bodyguard, the Dora Milaje. The female characters are truly impressive  such as the general Okoye (Danai Gurira), Shuri (Letitia Wright),  Nakia (Lupita Nyongo) and Ramonda (Angella Bassett) but the male supporting cast is just as impressive, especially M’baku (Winston Duke) and W’Kabi (Daniel Kaluuya). All these characters make you realize that Wakanda has depth and that it’s not just a fictional place on a map. They all have their roles to play and because the scenes are so well acted it gives a more transcendent feel to the whole film.

 My favourite supporting character was M’baku.

The film also does capture the essence of Africa such as the music and the production design. Africa might be a continent but the various African countries also have many similarities in terms of culture and this is evident in the film with notable differences. So while Wakanda is fictional the essence of it is real in many respects; apart from the fictional vibranium of course and the fictional idea of an advanced super state in Africa. The explanation of the rise of the Black Panther was pretty well done at the beginning.

I loved the ending of this film and I was genuinely moved but I obviously can’t spoil it for those who haven’t watched the film. Let’s just say it is a welcome sign of hope for the black struggle which still goes on. Just to be clear I’m not talking about the 2 post credit scenes. I’m talking about the scene right before the end credits. What happens in the final scene shows why heroes like Iron Man and Captain America are wasteful and idiotic. They don’t really save anyone. Iron Man did so in 2008 when there was no burden of marketing placed on him and ever since he has regressed into a tormented megalomaniac; and Captain America is the embodiment of idiocy. The final scene of Black Panther showed how you truly save people; this is why Black Panther is superior to films like Iron Man and Winter Soldier in the MCU.

Ryan Coogler is an exceptional director. I’m pretty sure he was constrained by Marvel executive Kevin Feige or he would have made an even greater film. Black Panther is the best marvel film made since Spider-Man 2

Negatives

The primary negative I have is that Killmonger has been vilified as a villain while characters such as Everett Ross magically wind up on the side of the good. For me that was the most absurd part of the film especially since Ross is on the side of those with disparaging remarks about Wakanda even if he acts as one from the outside world learning about Wakanda for the first time. It was a pleasure to see how M’baku dealt with Ross at one point. Killmonger is not a villain no matter what the marketing execs at marvel or those in the press want to say. A character such as Killmonger has been limited by formula. It is because of this formula why the film couldn’t be even more transcendent.

The formula is clearly a limitation because Black Panther must fit within the grander project of the MCU. The trailer for Infinity War made it clear that T’Challa would survive whatever troubles he faced in Black Panther. In the real world of filmmaking why should T’Challa survive the troubles he faced. By the time Infinity War comes around it will be back to business as usual. I am not blaming Coogler, the director; I am blaming the producers at Marvel such as Kevin Feige. The MCU formula has limited the potential of the Black Panther film and has taken away, somewhat, from its standalone qualities. Spider-Man 2, for instance, benefited from being uninterrupted and was able to reach a certain level of quality. It is testament to Coogler that he surmounted some, if not all, of these limitations. However the line of T’Challa must be preserved since he is supposedly the hero; I just hope that when Infinity War comes around that the white avengers don’t end up stealing the show and make Wakanda into some play ground. I don’t want to see the idiotic Steve Rogers, the former Captain America (the greatest idiot and greatest representative of imperialism in the MCU), trying to upstage T’Challa in his own country. I’m not saying it will happen but it’s likely. Lol I am starting to sound like M’baku, my favourite supporting character. If Coogler knows what’s best then he should turn to making some real films about Africa or the African Diaspora and don’t let marvel call him up to place even more restrictions on him. Coogler shouldn’t return to the MCU unless they give him more freedom to do what he wants. I’m pretty sure that Coogler knows of the limitations placed on the character of Killmonger; not just in story but because he must be cast as a so called villain.

Because of the formula then Black Panther couldn’t surmount some of the troubles associated with the MCU but it has perfected the formula and so Infinity War definitely has a lot to live up to. I am pretty sure Infinity War won’t achieve the same level of synergy as the Black Panther. Infinity War will certainly be more extravagant but it remains to be seen if it will be a better film.  

The Last Jedi (2017) ****/5: This is one the best Star Wars films I've seen in awhile. Rey and Luke Skywalker were the standouts for me. The shifts in perspective were also impressive. Snoke is a unimpressive character.

(image courtesy of Star Wars.com)

The Last Jedi is one of the better Star Wars films I’ve seen over the years. What it does represent is a full break with the past and new battles to be fought by a new generation of heroes. The idea that this is the last time we’ll see the Jedi is  pretty profound historically considering they are the backbone of the franchise with various forces (Sith, First Order) embracing the dark side. Without the Jedi it means that going forward the Star Wars of the future should have its own identity. The character of Rey is so important to this thrust and one can see the possibility of several storylines with the final shot of the film. The Skywalker legacy will still live on through Kylo Ren but the character of Rey represents a fresh break with such an overwhelming family legacy; the Skywalker family story being inextricably tied to the storyline of 6 episodes of the Star Wars franchise. The Last Jedi is also a big improvement over the very derivative The Force Awakens because it’s more original in tis outlook. I didn’t see much traces of The Empire Strikes Back in The Last Jedi but I did see too much traces of A New Hope in The Force Awakens.

The Last Jedi stars, yet again, Daisy Ridley as Rey as she come to terms with her heritage and the force within her while the Resistance led by Leia (Carrie Fisher) faces its greatest test as the First Order is in the ascendancy and hope appears to be extinguished. The biggest name here is Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) who represents the last of the old order of Jedi and represents the bridge between the old and the new as his two disciples will be battling out in the foreseeable future. The other characters return such as Kylo Ren, Finn, BB-8 & Poe. A major newcomer to the team is Rose who will hopefully be featured more prominently going forward. His maturity in this film is impressive when compared to the young, swashbuckling Luke Skywalker of old.

Positives

The main positive for me are the characters of Rey and Luke Skywalker; the new and the old respectively. I was impressed with her story and what it means for the franchise as a whole. Her story represents a significant break with the Skywalker legacy. The story of the Star Wars franchise has been the story of the prestigious Skywalker family and its enduring legacies. There were other major Jedi knights before but once there was the purge and Obi wan Kenobi died then the Skywalkers were all that’s left of the Jedi. After The Return of the Jedi it seems that Luke trained a new cadre of Jedi knights, including Kylo Ren, but this came to an end when Kylo Ren was seduced by the Supreme leader Snoke, one of the most unimpressive new characters. Ren seems to have destroyed all that Luke stood for and forced him into hiding or retreat as a failure. This film finally gives the necessary back story and there is some connection established between Rey and Ren but with the advent of Rey it brings back the familiar adage that a hero can come from anywhere. This is very democratic or a good exercise in expansive story telling. It’s actually a relief knowing that Rey might not be yet another Skywalker. If she is then it would be very limiting to the franchise going forward. There is a moment where Kylo Ren dismisses Rey’s supposedly lowly heritage in comparison to he who is from a very prestigious line. This is a major storytelling element because now that the force has awakened it means that new heroes must emerge. The line of the Jedi might end but the force is still present which means the way of the Jedi may become diffused throughout the universe. It might no longer be seen as a holy doctrine with sacred texts but will become a part of everyday life like all great theories or practices. What will remain the same is that only a few people will be able to use the force. The final shot at the end is telling. Maybe by the time of Episode IX Rey will be much wiser and alongside her will be other individuals strong with the force but not necessarily Jedis.

 I loved the final shot in the film. It reminded me of the good old days as a young person when you would stargaze and wonder about the great universe and then think to yourself if these great stories of Star Wars lore were real or wonder about other forms of life in the universe. Star Wars, and others, did that for many then, and The Last Jedi comes close to being as evocative although I’m much older now. In the case of the child in the final shot of this film there are great battles to be fought. It shows that the resistance to tyranny cannot die. The resistance to tyranny is essentially a democratic movement. There is also an important part of the film where Finn and Rose go to a planet where the citizens are very wealthy and are living lavishly where once it was a cesspool. One would consider that this is a positive but when the truth is revealed showcasing the negative- that it was a haven for war profiteers- my perspective shifted and I became aware that this is a thinking film. It’s the first time a Star Wars film has made me think or made me consider something realistically beyond the presentation of this fictional world through the medium of film.  Normally I watch Star Wars films at a distance but there are several moments where shifts in perspective are so important to understand clearly what’s going on in The Last Jedi. Poe has to learn the hard way as does Kylo Ren and Rey, to some extent. Rian Johnson, the director, deserves a lot of credit.

The action in this film was very impressive, especially the space battles. The opening sequence is the most impressive action set piece I have seen in a Star Wars film, especially as a space battle. The only other major space battle of the Star Wars franchise that made such an impression on me was the battle against the Death Star in A New Hope.

The visuals are also very impressive. I really liked the layout of the island where Luke was located. It has a very organic feel and look.

Negatives

The primary negative is that I still don’t get the First Order. They just appeared out of nowhere led by Supreme Leader Snoke. Snoke is such an unimpressive character and the Emperor of the previous trilogies was definitely more sinister. This is probably because the structure of the story was much more elaborate for the previous 2 trilogies which explains why they are still so influential even now. Snoke and the First Order are like an afterthought. I am just not impressed by their development. It will always stick with me that they are a carbon copy of the original malevolent forces led by the Emperor. The comparisons aren’t so clear cut in this film but the presence of Snoke is so unimpressive. At first I thought he was a giant lizard but he has apparently shrunk in this film. I hope that there is some back story in the next installment explaining how Snoke and the First Order came about. This backstory must have some implications for the films going forward. His bodyguards seem to be very strong with the force as well. This will always be a weak point of this new trilogy: no proper explanation about the rise of the First Order.  Say what you want about Episodes 1-3 but in terms of developing the political backstory they were impressive. An effective resistance movement needs a great tyrannical force. The First Order is going after the rebels but how much of an impact is this having on the wider galaxy. Does the First Order have a major presence throughout the Galaxy? Are their forces stationed throughout? I am just not convinced that the First Order is a major force. It’s just roaming about the universe attacking the rebels. In terms of building the universe it does not seem as effective in its incorporation into the physical environment of the universe; the various planets, moons etc. You just don’t get the sense that the First Order is an ever present force apart from when you see them in space battles.

Without a proper outline of the First Order then the resistance loses shape as well. I was not clear who the allies of the resistance were and how widespread is the rebellion. These anonymous allies better show themselves sooner rather than later. The resistance seems to exist in a vacuum as well. What about the political structures which govern the galaxy? These political structures were in place when the emperor seized control in episodes 1-3 but it’s not clear what they are or were in this new trilogy. After this trilogy it’s something these filmmakers will have to improve on instead of just throwing these new developments in our face.