Benz Eye View: Secret Invasion

Welcome back to the MCU Marathon where we are going to look at the first Phase 5 MCU TV show. Will this show have much of a critical impact as its comic-book counterpart with such a fantastic concept about the Skrulls disguising themselves as your favorite characters to invade Earth, or will it be wasted potential just like how the MCU (and Disney) is going through these days? Let’s find out with the new MCU TV series: Secret Invasion.

Pros:

1.) I will give this show this: Secret Invasion is taken completely seriously. I mean that there is no indication of the typical MCU humor that has been plaguing the universe for a long time. I appreciate that Marvel Studios is actually willing to do a more serious tone that has not been around since The Incredible Hulk. It is not going to save this show, but I will give it credit.

2.) If there is one character I actually like, it is Sonya Falsworth (played by Olivia Colman). She is not only shown to be competent in her job compared to Nick Fury (played by Samuel L. Jackson), but she does with a confident smile that makes her seem a bit sadistic considering what she does to the Skrulls. She is what I expected Nick Fury would do in this show with the exception that she is more brutal than I expected. She was cool, and I am somewhat hopeful to see Sonya again assuming that Marvel Studios gets a better-talented crew.

3.) The idea for this show is a fantastic one. In the comics, the Skrulls are invading Earth by disguising themselves as many people from the Avengers to the X-Men to the Fantastic Four to the members of the Sanctum Santorum to the people in the US government to many people on Earth. This causes a huge conundrum in figuring out who is the ally and who is actually a Skrull; which leads to the tagline, “Who do you trust?”

Even the marketing for the Secret Invasion comics was fantastic.

While it is understandable that the show has to take some different liberties due to the changes made with the Skrulls and the MCU itself, it still has a great idea to be a fantastic political thriller that involves the Skrulls infiltrating the governments and causing a war with the entire world. It is unfortunate that it was changed to a smaller scale compared to the original comics, but if the MCU version of Civil War is done well in its own way compared to the comic book Civil War, I am willing to give this version of Secret Invasion a shot…

Cons:

1.) …However, I am sad to say that this show is riddled with issues. Firstly, I believe Nick Fury is completely out of character here. This man is articulate in his planning which may not always go well, but he is determined to keep on going even if he does not make any friends along the way. This show makes him look like an idiot, and many characters keep saying that he lost his touch and is too old for this job. They came up with a reason for the Blip affecting his decisions, but he did not seem to be the type to let that affect him, especially the last time we saw him was him relaxing in a Skrull base. Nick Fury felt neutered here and he became less interesting in the process, and I am not looking forward to how he is done in The Marvels.

2.) The main antagonist, Gravik (played by Kingsley Ben-Adir) is as compelling as Karli Morgenthau in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, and that is not a good thing. These characters wanted a better world for their people, so they are willing to cause trouble in order to make things better for them even if it means killing others in the process. That is not an interesting character, and I am frankly tired of relatable antagonists in the MCU, especially when they are the same motivations as that. I argue that Gravik is even worse than Karli due to the fact that he seems to despise his own race to the point where even some of the Skrulls call it out, and none of them want to leave him. Add that he also makes some dumb decisions like Karli, and he is one of the more forgettable villains despite the actor doing his best.

3.) I am amazed how they used an amazing story and idea in the comics and somehow made it boring. It had a decent start in the first episode, but it went downhill from there with characters that are not that compelling, plotlines that are boring and predictable, twists that people will see coming, questions will be raised on how the Skrulls did not have a bigger role in the MCU considering what they have done (other than they were not created until Captain Marvel), topics that are brought up that does not fit for Nick Fury and this show, and character deaths that I surprisingly do not care about especially since they have been around for a long time. In fact, considering the context of why the Skrulls are attacking Earth, Nick Fury and Captain Marvel did a terrible job helping these people find a new home (you see how much I am not excited for The Marvels?). This should have been an Avengers film that sticks more closely to the comics, but what we got is a boring show that has wasted potential.

Overall:

The Secret Invasion storyline in the comics is one of the most interesting events that happen in Marvel Comics. If you have seen the two videos I posted on the last pro, that event was frightening considering that your favorite superhero could potentially be a Skrull in disguise planning to take over the Earth. With the announcement of a Secret Invasion show, I was slightly excited but worried considering that this is a lower-stakes version of the comics. After painfully watching through all six episodes, I can safely say that this show has completely wasted its potential. Instead of our favorite Marvel superheroes and many parts of Earth being potential Skrulls trying to take over to fulfill a prophecy, we got a boring revenge plot that we have seen many times except the Skrulls are involved now. Nick Fury is not the man we once knew, the Skrulls are barely interesting thanks to the changes from villains to refugees due to Captain Marvel, and a great storyline from the comics has been reduced to a story that might as well have been part of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (and I thought that show was all right).

The only reason I would recommend this show is that it may be mentioned in the upcoming The Marvels movie, but is anyone looking forward to that? With few exceptions with its films and TV shows, the MCU’s future is looking bleak, and this so-called Secret Invasion is hardly one at all.

Skip It

Benz Eye View: Oppenheimer

Pros:

1.) All of the actors did a fantastic job in their roles, but the lead actor, Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer, is this film’s stand-out actor. He can play a scientist highly motivated by quantum physics, concentrated on creating the atomic bomb, and dreaded the aftermath of his creation. You can see his fantastic performance mainly through his eyes, especially when he looks soulless after realizing what he has created. Cillian Murphy deserves praise for his role alongside his other cast members.

2.) I love the build-up to the atomic bomb. From cut-away shots of explosions due to Oppenheimer’s visions to the scientists planning and creating the bomb, the escalation is amazing. It is a slow burn, but the slow pacing is worth it when the inevitable explosion is shown. When that atomic explosion occurs, it is a glorious (or in this case, horrifying) sight to behold. The slow build-up and pacing were worth it…

3.) …The biggest reason why is the fantastic writing. Firstly, the film shows Oppenheimer learning as a student and becoming a professor, becoming involved in the Manhattan Project, and forcing to be part of several trials after World War II. As those occur, the writing made sure you know what Oppenheimer is thinking (with the help of Cillian Murphy’s performance) while going through many parts of his compelling life from his politics to his scientific work. Though it is written in Christopher Nolan’s non-linear fashion, it is easy to follow for the most part, and I think this is one of his best writings (and directorial) in films ever made…

Cons:

1.) …That being said, I can see issues that some people will have with the writing and pacing. This film is 3 hours long, and you are going to feel it. Certain scenes can be a bit tedious at times like Oppenheimer’s affair with Jean Tatlock (played by Florence Pugh) or some of the trial scenes with Oppenheimer and Lewis Strauss (played by Robert Downey Jr.). In fact, after a certain point, I was surprised that the film kept going for a little while longer. Maybe if certain scenes are shorter or removed, I would consider this film a masterpiece.

2.) I should have pointed this out in my Tenet review, but I assumed that was my theater and I eventually learned that everyone was experiencing this: the voice audio is inconsistent at times. For some reason, Christopher Nolan occasionally mixes his audio where it is hard to hear what the characters are saying because the music or other sound effects are overlapping the voices. Here is an audio lesson: unless it is on purpose, the voices should be clear and loud enough for the audience to hear. I thought Nolan knows this, but for some reason, he does not want to do this sometimes. It is not as bad as in Tenet, but it is noteworthy.

Overall:

J. Robert Oppenheimer is one of the most compelling men in science and history due to his creation of the atomic bomb. The aftermath of his own creation shows him becoming soulless as evident in this video:

With such a huge weight on his shoulders for what he has done, there must be something interesting about him. Fortunately, a film about Oppenheimer was created by one of my favorite film directors: Christopher Nolan. I have been looking forward to this for a long time (especially with the latest trailer hyping it up more), and while it may not be Nolan’s best film, it certainly is close to being one. If you wanted to look into the mind, creativity, and guilt of J. Robert Oppenheimer, this film is the best representation of him as far as I know. If you are not interested in watching a three-hour film about the man who created a weapon that can potentially destroy the world, the Barbie movie is your next bet. This film is fantastic enough that not only ends with a bang but also a whimper…and Christopher Nolan made it work.

9/10

Benz Eye View: Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1

Pros:

1.) The setup for the action sequences in these films is always excellent. Ethan Hunt (played by Tom Cruise) has to deal with a scenario that is highly difficult at best and impossible at worst, and he manages to do so by the skin of his teeth. While I can see the argument that some of his obstacles can be convenient (i.e., a piece of equipment he would normally use may end up breaking before the mission), it is still a great challenge to see how Ethan can get past them. The setups are creative, and these filmmakers still got it…

2.) …As for the action sequences themselves, you should know that these filmmakers will give it their all. From the purposely awkward car chase in Italy to the tough fights on top of a train in Austria, I love that Tom Cruise can still dish out these sequences alongside his other castmates. In fact, one of the action scenes reminds me of the train sequence in Uncharted 2 I would not be surprised that they got their influence from that just like in one of the last Mission: Impossible films. If there is only one action scene I did not like, it is a tight hallway fight scene due to how close and shaky the camera is. Other than that, I cannot wait how the next film tops this.

3.) As for the story, the stakes have never been higher than this. I am not going to give too much away since the trailers did the same thing, but let’s just say what Ethan and his friends are facing next truly is Mission: Impossible, especially with how it may pay off in the next film. If it works, this will be one of the most worthy and amazing finales of a film franchise similar to Avengers: Endgame in the MCU from Phase 1 to Phase 3. Until then, this film has a fantastic setup with a hopefully fantastic payoff.

Cons:

1.) One antagonist named Gabriel (played by Esai Morales) seems like an interesting villain, but the problem is that the film does not give him much characterization and screen time. The only big description about him is that he influenced Ethan Hunt to join IMF, and he is loyal to the main antagonist. There are hints to his character, and not much else. Maybe it will pay off in the next film, but until then, he is no Jim Phelps or Solomon Lane.

2.) I will not spoil this, but something happens to one character that is obvious due to how it was set up. The scene with this character is done well, but looking back, it is fairly predictable what is going to happen. The film spends time with this character with another, and it is supposed to be a happy moment until they have to go on their mission. It is obvious what was going to occur despite still hitting hard.

Overall:

From its origins being a television show to a big film series, the Mission: Impossible series has delivered on its action that is backed up with great stories. One has to wonder if Tom Cruise will stop anytime soon, but this film will be one of the two last films of the series that will be a send-off to Ethan Hunt. Will it pay off in the end? So far, this is a great start to this two-part film. I hesitate to call this the perfect Mission: Impossible film since there is one more continuing this story, but if the next one hits its mark, it will be a fantastic way to end Ethan Hunt’s run. I do not need to recommend this film to anyone since you are likely going to watch it anyway, and we will see if these last two missions will truly be accomplished.

9/10

Benz Eye View: Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Pros:

1.) I will give it that this movie has the skin of Indiana Jones. There is a treasure, several locations, and a couple of action scenes that Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) can do despite his old age. That is one of the few best things about this movie without going to the cons or mentioning some generic positives/decent points.

2.) I can also say that something happens in the last act that was interesting and new despite not making some sense. It is an area that Indiana Jones has never been through, and I thought it would have been made into a compelling main plot point if the movie went through with it all the way. It was a good try.

3.) The movie’s first twenty minutes were pure Indiana Jones fun. Indiana fights against Nazis during World War II while doing his usual hijinks and action was nice to see as though it was a continuation of his story since we saw him back in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade. The de-aging effects cross with an older-sounding Indiana with dark lighting is distracting, but it is the best part of the movie…

Cons:

1.) … This is not a good sign at all for several reasons. The first reason is after those twenty minutes, we spend more time with an older Indiana Jones, a man who loves archeology and adventure, but now becomes a bitter old man who does not like adventure anymore and is dragged into one instead of willingly. This is tremendously disheartening since he is one of the best movie heroes of all time now becoming part of a trend of heroes turning disgruntled into their old age. The movie gives a reason why he is like this, but I am getting sick of this trend happening since the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy. He deserves better than what he got here.

2.) Helena Shaw (played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is one of the worst characters I have seen in the Indiana Jones franchise. The movie tries its best to make her one of the more likable and compelling characters. Still, the problem with her is that throughout most of the movie, she has been backstabbing Indiana several times for money (making her a female Nathan Drake in my opinion) while proclaiming she is better than him in some cases. He still travels with her despite all of that. She did most of the archaeological work until the last third when Indiana did the rest of it, making Indiana look worse.

Helena got uncharacteristically better by the third act (with no payoff of an arc), but it was far too late for anyone to find her compelling (although one thing she does near the end of the movie I did like). It is a bad thing when I prefer Mutt Williams over her any day.

3.) It honestly feels like this movie has no soul because it feels like a paint-by-numbers movie with Indiana not feeling motivated to go on this adventure. I found the treasure to be quite dull, the puzzles and riddles feel bland, and the journey lacks any interesting elements or fun as the previous films. Even most of the action scenes are kind of boring and typical for an Indiana Jones movie. Add that it has plenty of ludicrous and stupid moments that make no sense (i.e., a subplot with Indiana being framed for murders that does not go anywhere; an inexperienced child somehow managing to drive a plane; and the main villain, Jürgen Voller (played by Mads Mikkelsen) is somehow not as old as Indiana) and this movie is making the nuclear fridge scene from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull look good. How can the filmmakers screw this up harder than Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull?

Overall:

The Indiana Jones films are one of the best film series ever made, and they were created by Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark is a certified classic film that everybody should watch. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom may not have been as good as the last film, but it has plenty of great moments that stood out. Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was nearly as good as the first film due to another interesting treasure and the introduction of Indiana’s father. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is the black sheep of the film series, but I admit to not hating it as much as everyone else. With Disney now involved in this franchise after screwing up Star Wars with their Sequel Trilogy, how did you think they would screw over Indiana Jones?

I admit to not having big hopes for this movie, but I somewhat remained optimistic, and it was not worth it. Say what you want with the last movie, at least there was an attempt to do something interesting with it whereas Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was boring. Instead of feeling like an Indiana Jones adventure (which was only around during the first twenty minutes), it felt like a typical archeological adventure that any movie studio can make. Though if the rumors about the original cut of this movie being worse than what we have now are true, then I guess you can consider yourself lucky, but that is not saying much. Indiana Jones should have remained retired for his old age now that this movie just puts the final nail in the coffin, and removes any more trust from Disney to make any more of these movies unless some serious change in staff is in order.

4/10