Star Wars: Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith- Imperial Machine

Finished reading Star Wars: Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith- Imperial Machine, beginning Marvel's second Darth Vader series as writer Charles Soule goes back to the early days of the villain picking up shortly after the events of Revenge of the Sith. The book opens in the closing moments of Revenge of the Sith as Darth Vader has just been given his cybernetic enhancements as Palpatine gives Vader a mission to find a new lightsaber for himself by taking it from a Jedi and forcing the Kyber crystal inside to bleed red. However since the execution of Order 66 finding a Jedi will be very hard which leads to Vader to use different resources to find one. The second story within the book sees Vader back on Coruscant as he comes face to face with the Inquisitors when the Grand Inquisitor goes to the archives of the Jedi Temple and Vader believes him to be an intruder. The final story by Chris Eliopoulos sees a small droid helping Vader as multiple generals come to him with bad news that strongly displeases Vader. Overall this was a great book as it dives into a time period of the Star Wars timeline that has been previously untouched by Marvel as writer Charles Soule delves into the early days of the Galactic Empire through the eyes of Darth Vader as he try's to find himself a new lightsaber in order to serve the Emperor. The use of little dialogue with in the book especially from Vader who barely speaks in the book helps to making him feel more of a threat to people who go against him while also giving more of an effect to story and the supporting cast on their reactions to Vader. The art by Giuseppe Camuncoli is amazing as thanks to the uses of different angles showing off how Vader fights without a lightsaber and relying on his force abilities even look breathtaking in places with how creative Vader gets with his attacks. 8.5/10.

Pacific Rim: Uprising Film Review

Finished watching Pacific Rim: Uprising, directed by Steven S. DeKnight and starting John Boyega, Cailee Spaeny, Rinko Kikuchi and Scott Eastwood. The film opens up ten years after events of the previous film as Jake Pentecost (John Boyega), the son of war hero Stacker Pentecost, is living in the ruins of the California coast, where he’s swapping valuable items for food such as old Jaeger parts. While trying to retrieve a Jaeger power core he notices that someone has got there before him and when he’s follows them he’s attacked by the person he followed, Amara Namani (Cailee Spaeny)who has built her own one manned Jaeger when the authorities find them after Jake was followed. After being arrested Jake finds himself re-enlisting into the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps to teach the cadets with Amara being their newest member thanks to the help of Jake’s sister Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi). Once at the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps, Jake is meet by Nate Lambert (Scott Eastwood) who he reluctantly works with in training the cadets and co-piloting Gipsy Avenger with him. While on a mission to Australia where Jake and Nate are accompanying Mako to a council meeting where a vote on the use of the new drone Jaegers will be at. While at the conference a rouge Jaeger attacks which leads to the death of Mako and begins the plan of something much sinister. Overall this was a good film as it delves back in the the world as the next generation of Jaeger pilots as the find themselves on the verge of becoming obsolete as the possibility of drone Jaeger allows for an interesting connection to the Kaiju threat. The action set pieces are great as there are some great camera angles used to show off the movements and attacks while the CGI looks almost realistic in places thanks to how well it’s been rendered. The character interactions within the film are good as they help to show the relationships each character has with one another however there is a lot of development for the character though as while some relationships do strengthen not may of the characters have their own story arc over the course of the film. 7/10.

Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel Review

Finished reading Star Wars: The Screaming Citadel, crossing over with the main Star Wars book and the Doctor Aphra book as writers Kieron Gillen and Jason Aaron bring the second crossover of Marvel's Star Wars books. The book opens with Luke Skywalker going to a bar on the planet Horox III where he gets into a fight with the locals along with Doctor Aphra who has come to talk to him about a proposition she has that can help her with an artefact she recently found that can also help Luke with is Jedi training as the artefact contains the archived personality of an ancient Jedi. This leads to Luke and Aphra travelling to the citadel of Ktath'atn to meet with the planet's queen in hole to unlock the secrets within the artefact. However once Sana, Han and Leia discover where Luke has go the decide to follow him and Aphra as there could be something quite sinister at play. Overall this was a great book as it sends the characters on a great adventure that takes them to the planet Ktath'atn where they find themselves having to work together when the planet's queen plans on enslaving everyone. There is a great amount of comedy within the book that comes from the great interactions between the cast of each series thanks to the way they have different views in the situations they find themselves in. The art throughout the book is amazing thanks to the way each art team is able to make the characters emote and some of the location designs look breathtaking in places. 8.5/10.

U.S.Avengers: American Intelligence Mechanics Review

Finished reading U.S.Avengers: American Intelligence Mechanics, picking up from where writer Al Ewing’s New Avengers series left off as the team lead by former New Mutant, Roberto Da Costa begin a new mission statement. The book opens with the team making shots videos stating what the live about living in America as they are in a fight trying to stop a floating volcanic island from reaching California. After stopping the island the team are met by Danelle Cage, the Captain America of 20XX who has come in need to the teams help to stop a villain from her time, the Golden Skull. The next story sees the newest Red Hulk, General Robert Maverick on a mission to stop a rampaging American Kaiju in Lichenbad where Maverick finds himself having to work with Deadpool. The penultimate story sees Roberto meting Captain America, his boss at S.H.I.E.L.D. to talk about recent events and his role within S.H.I.E.L.D. and with the book then counting by tying with the beginning of Secret Empire as Steve becomes more of a hands on boss. Overall this was a great book as it begins a new series that reinvents the A.I.M. based Avengers team due to its ties with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the American government along with a slight chance to the teams roster. The amount of character development within the book is great as each team member is given enough time to develop as characters along with the relationships they have between one another and show how these effects the team overall. The art throughout the book is great as it brings the action scenes to life incredibly well while also doing a great job in bring the more drama based scenes to thanks to how well each character is able to emote. 8/10.

Tomb Raider Film Review

Finished watching Tomb Raider, directed by Roar Uthaug and starring Alicia Vikander, Kristin Scott Thomas, Dominic West and Derek Jacobi. The film opens with Lara Croft (Alicia Vikander) training at a mixed martial arts club before heading to work as a courier where she gets into a race with her colleagues which leads to Lara being arrested when she hits a police car. At the station the business partner of Lara’s father, Ana Miller (Kristin Scott Thomas) bail’s her out as the conversation turns to the estate that her father, Richard Croft (Dominic West) as he’s been presumed dead for years and Lara needs to sign some papers for his estate to be sorted out. While about to sign the papers to declare that her father is legally dead she is given an item from one of Richard’s associates (Derek Jacobi), which leads to Lara fining a secret room belonging to her father which leads to pick up from where her father left off on his many archeological adventures in hope to retrace her father’s steps which takes her to the island of Yamatai. Overall this was a good film as it brings some good characters interactions that helps to enforce each character’s role within the film and to each other with the way they effect the story. The film also does a good job in building Lara Croft as a character before going on an adventure which helps to make the film more personal for Lara and waiting for the action set pieces worthwhile. Additionally there is a nice amount of tension with the action scenes and the time the film takes place on the island of Yamatai with parts feeling unpredictable in what will face the character next. 7/10.

Captain America: Steve Rogers: Empire Building Review

Finished reading Captain America: Steve Rogers: Empire Building, as Marvel’s Secret Empire event looms on the horizon as writer Nick Spencer begins to put the pieces of Steve’s plan together. The book opens with Steve going to a comatose Tony Stark where he begins to reflect on the recent events that transpired within the Marvel universe while becoming the new director of S.H.I.E.L.D. The book then continues with Steve in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D. as it’s newest director which leads to him putting Zemo in charge of continuing to build his Hydra forces. While in Bagalia former S.H.I.E.L.D director Maria Hill mets with Taskmaster and Black Ant who have footage of Steve’s alliance to Hydra, however before Maria can retrieve it the tow villains are giving a proposition to join Hydra by Elsa Sinclair, the woman who made Captain America a Hydra agent before the Second World War as she to is on a recruitment drive for Hydra. Overall is was a great book as it sets up marvel's Secret Empire event as Steve Rogers beginning to use he fallout and distrust within the superhero community thanks to what transpired within the most recent superhero civil war. The continuing storyline of Captain America's twisted past continues to be great as it helps to inform what motivates Steve and shows where his plans for Hydra along with how his relationship with Elsa Sinclair. The art throughout the book is good as each art team does a great job in bring the story to life in their own parts of the book, however the constant changers become a little jarring in a few places due to how often it changers. 8/10.

Moon Knight: Birth and Death Review

Finished reading Moon Knight: Birth and Death, concluding this Moon Knight series as writer Jeff Lemire sends Marc Spector into his final conflict with the Egyptian god Khonshu. The book opens with a flashback to Marc Spector's past where his Steven Grant persona came to life which begins his life of being inside an asylum for most of his young life before running away to join the military. Meanwhile in the present Marc begins to head back towards the hospital he and his friends escaped towards the beginning of the series to take the fight to Khonshu. Overall this was a great book as it brings an end to the series with Marc Spector finding his way back to the real world while coming into conflict with the Egyptian god Khonshu who is the reason why he's alive and stuck in an Egyptian like New York. The present day story of Moon Knight trying to get to Khonshu is great on its own but the way that it's juxtaposed to the telling of Marc Spector's origin which is also a great part of the book and helps to mirror the events of the present. The art by Greg Smallwood is amazing as it brings the Egyptian aesthetic and the flashbacks of Marc's to life exceptionally well thanks to the amount of detail that is put into the art while colourist Jordie Bellaire helps to elevate all of the art to even being breathtaking in places. 8.5/10.

Gringo Film Review

Finished watching Gringo, directed by Nash Edgerton, and starring David Oyelowo, Joel Edgerton, Charlize Theron and Thandie Newton. The film opens with Harold Soyinka (David Oyelowo) traveling to Mexico with is bosses Richard Rusk (Joel Edgerton) and Elaine Markinson (Charlize Theron) on a business assignment to check on the manufacturing for their company's product. While in Mexico Harold soon discovers that his bosses what to get rid of him and that his wife, Bonnie (Thandie Newton) is having an affair which leads to Harold traveling to a cheap hotel where he plans to get money of his employers by faking a kidnapping only for things to spiral out of control when the Cartel mistake him for being the boss of the company he works for due to the company having a worked with the Cartel. Overall this was a decent film as does a good job in in having multiple stories centring around different characters that all flow into one another extremely well and are each used to inform and are affected by each other. The comedy while good it doesn't always hit its mark as some jokes fall a little flat in places. 6.5/10.

Spider-Man 2099: Apocalypse Soon Review

Finished reading Spider-Man 2099: Apocalypse Soon, continuing the adventures of Miguel O'Hara in the present as he and the Captain America of 2099 find themselves working with Elektra in their fight against the Fist. The book opens with Miguel and Captain America from 2099 taking a plane to Denver where the organisation the Fist are currently based. While on the plane Miguel is met by Elektra who is also on her own mission to bring an end to the Fist which leads to the three working together where they find themselves working towards the same goal, especially when the group find out that the Fist are planning an attack on an environment seminar in Chicago. Meanwhile in a Parter Industries medical facility Miguel's fiancée, Tempest wakes up form her coma which leads to the news going to someone very surprising when Miguel is unable to receive the news. Overall this was a great book as writer Peter David continues the series as Spider-Man plans on brings the Fist down around the same time the Fist themselves begin to escalate their own plans. The team up with Spider-Man, Captain America and Elektra is great as brings a new angle to how the Fist is affecting the wider Marvel universe which also bring some great interactions between the characters due to the different reactions they have with the situation they find themselves in that also bring a nice amount of comedic moments within the book. The art by Will Sliney continues to be one of the most amazing batts of the series thanks with the way the set and character designs work well together along with how well the action scenes feel cinematic in places. 8/10.

Captain America: Sam Wilson: End of the Line Review

Finished reading Captain America: Sam Wilson: End of the Line, continuing the Sam Wilson centric Captain America series as writer Nick Spencer puts Sam in a difficult position when he discovers that one of his allies have fount themselves arrested after being attacked by the private police force know as the Americops. The book opens with Sam finding out that Rage has been arrested by the Americops after trying to stop a robbery at a local shop. Sam mets with Rage with the hope to help him only for Rage to decline as he wants to show how the justice system will perceive him regardless of the fact that he is innocent. Which leads to Sam taking more of a back seat while trying to help rage the best he can while Rage is on trial. The final part of the book features the first appearance of Rage in a classic Avengers story. Overall this was a great book as it continues the series a Sam is continuing to find it hard to live up to the mantle of Captain America with people's reaction to Rage's trial along with its aftermath, which eventually leads to him to step down as Captain America at the end of the book in quite a shocking way. The whole story centring around Rage is very intriguing that's to how writer Nick Spencer brings some social and political commentary that helps to inform to the drama and helps to build the suspense within the books story. The art throughout the book is great thanks to the way the whole art team brings the courtroom drama to life along with bringing each character's emotional responses to the events that transpiring within the book. 8/10.

Game Night Film Review

Finished watching Game Night, directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein and starring Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Billy Magnussen and Sharon Horgan. The film opens by showing how married couple Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) met at a pub quiz and how competitive they are as a couple. The film then jumps to the present where Max and Annie are having trouble tiring to have a child around the same time as Max's brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) comes to town who invites them along with their friends Kevin (Lamorne Morris), Michelle (Kylie Bunbury) and Ryan (Billy Magnussen) who brings his date Sarah (Sharon Horgan) to come to his own Game Night. When everyone goes round to Brooks' place where he has set up a game where he will be taking away and the rest of the group will be tasked to find him only for Brooks to actually be kidnapped which sends everyone on a real life hostage situation. Overall this was a great film as it is able to blend together the suspenseful tone of the mystery behind Brooks' kidnapping with the brilliantly timed comedy that contains some amazing hilarious moments which includes some great running gags over the course of the film. The relationships between each of the characters within the feel very organic and very real thanks to they way they interact with one another which is a credit to the film's script and the actors. 8/10.

The Mighty Captain Marvel: Alien Nation Review

Finished reading The Mighty Captain Marvel: Alien Nation, starting a new series for Captain Marvel as writer Margaret Stohl sends Carol Danvers in the middle of an alien refugee crisis. The book opens with Carol in therapy due to having trouble sleeping since the events of Civil War II after cutting the session short Carol to check on her team in the Alpha Flight Space Station before reminiscing her past when she gets a box of personal items delivered before having to suit up an help a ship of refugees having trouble slowing down. The book then continues with Carol and Jessica Drew going to the set of the Cap'n Marvel tv show that is being use to help fund Alpha Flight. After leaving the set Carol gets a call about an attack on an alien refugee camp where a Kree child is being kidnapped before Carol intervenes and takes the kid to Alpha Flight where the team start to bond with the kid while trying to stop the bounty hunter who's after her and also dealing with the fact that Carol starts to lose control of her powers. Overall this was a great book as sees how Carol is dealing with the world in a post Civil War II landscape by focusing on how it is affecting her more personally as the inclusion of Spider-Woman and the A.I. Tony Stark helps to bring some great interactions for how each character is reacting to what just happened within Marvel's Civil War II event and what's happening within the story of the book. The book has some great comedic moments within it that helps to further develop the relationships each character has with one another while also showing how each character reacts to some situations. The art throughout the book is great as each art team does a great job in bringing each character interaction to life extremely well while also giving each action scenes a great feel of the action. 8/10.

Avengers: Unleashed: Kang War One Review

Finished reading Avengers: Unleashed: Kang War One, staring a new Avengers series after the fallout of Marvel's Civil War II event writer Mark Waid sends the Avengers on an adventure that spends the whole timeline of the main Marvel universe. The book opens with the Avengers teaming up with Hercules to fight a Frost-Wolf when Sam Wilson offers Herc a place on the team since losing members during the fallout of Civil War II. The team then meet at the Baxter Building after all of them got invitations from Peter Parker who hopes to help fund the team since Tony Stark is currently indisposed. Before making a decision the Avengers notice a large explosion in the city as Kang is attacking Vision after he kidnapped a baby Kang which causes Kang to multiple versions of himself as due to the baby Kang being in the present is creating multiple time paradoxes. Overall this was a great book as it brings an end to Kang's conflict with the Avengers that stated at the beginning of All New, All Different Avengers by sending the team on a time traveling adventure that has some great moments of tension with the whole existence the Avengers as a team and a concept. The book does a great job is giving each character enough spotlight within the book, surprisingly Kang gets his own story within the book that delves into his origin and is he was able to build his own empire. The art by Mike Del Mundo is amazing as the time traveling is drawn in the most weird way thanks to the way it takes advantage of the different aesthetics of each time period while also bring some breathtaking action scenes and emoting of each character helps to give more impact on the dialogue. 8/10.

I, Tonya Film Review

Finished watching I, Tonya, directed by Craig Gillespie and starring Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Alison Jenney, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale and Caitlin Carver. The film opens with former Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie), her ex husband Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan), Tonya's mother LaVona Fay Golden (Alison Jenney), Tonya's coach Diane Rawlinson (Julianne Nicholson) and producer Martin Maddox (Bobby Cannavale) tell the story of how Tonya became an Olympic figure skater and how her image was tarnished by the assault of Tonya's teammate Nancy Kerrigan (Caitlin Carver). Overall this was a great film as it dives into the life of Olympic figure skater that brings some great character interactions the tension between characters in some scenes. The use of the film being structured around interviews of each character is great as it gives multiple (prospectives) to the events that transpire within the film while being able to give some great insight to each character's own reactions to the events in the film. 8/10.