Trailer Time: Superman (2025)

Ok.  I have some thoughts.

First of all, I think the visuals are beautiful.  The last half of the trailer gave me chills.

My favorite part was how Ma Kent said she had Clark's boots ready.  There was something so grounded and motherly about that which warmed my heart.

I also loved that one moment with Guy Gardner slinging his ring.  I think they are going to get this character perfectly (at least the 1980's version of the character).

I've always known that Rachel Brosnahan would be perfect as Lois and she proved me right.  She is strong and smart and she didn't give Superman an inch of wiggle-room.

To my surprise I really like Nicholas Hoult as Lex.  He has this air of confident genius with the right mixture of madman.  He perfectly delivers the line about Superman being an "it."

This brings us to Superman himself, David Corenswet...

This may sound petty, but I really hated the way he was chewing gum in the beginning of the trailer.  Maybe this is to show him as a regular, folksy guy.  But when talking about important issues, he comes off as callous.  And then when he sighs in exacerbation over Lois' questions, it makes him seem arrogant and dismisive, something that Superman isn't.  Say what you will about Zack Snyder's Superman, but he didn't appear like that.

To be fair, this scene did a great job of showing how Lois is his match in personality.  She has journalistic integrity and won't be pushed around, even by Superman.  And in the end, she digs enough to get at the core of Superman: he is someone who doesn't want to see anyone die.

I am still cautiously optimistic, but for the first time in this process I saw something I did not care for.  But I am open-minded enough to wait to see the whole context.

Thoughts?

Film Review: Thunderbolts*

 

Sexuality/Nudity Acceptable

Violence Acceptable

Vulgarity Acceptable

Anti-Catholic Philosophy Acceptable

The key to enjoying this movie is to understand what it is.  The Avengers were the A-list, best-of-the-best elite of the MCU.  But the Thunderbolts are the underdogs, the Bad News Bears, the Dirty Half-Dozen of the MCU.  DC tried to do this with both Suicide Squad movies.  But Thunderbolts is able to do it better.

The movie centers around Yelena (Florence Pugh), who is in a malaise as she continues to try and find purpose in her life by doing missions for Valentina (Julia-Louise Dreyfuss).  Her pseudo-father Alexi/Red Guardian (David Harbour) provides no real guidance.  So she agrees to one more mission, where she encounters John Walker/The US Agent (Wyatt Russell), Ava Starr/Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), and the mysterious civilian Bob (Lewis Pullman).  I won't spoil the context in which they encounter each other, but together, along with Red Guardian and the Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), they get pulled into a mission to potentially save the world.

Does the movie match up to the pre-Endgame MCU?  No.

But for post-Endgame, it is very enjoyable.

Unlike the Avengers, these Thunderbolts all have messed-up pasts that they are trying to run away from.  There is a reason why they are not the A-Team of Marvel.  But the story leans into this and explores how broken people try to move forward and be good.  Some have labeled this movie depressing.  But it is simply looking at heroism from another perspective.  Steve Rogers was always quintessentially good.  Tony Stark wasn't proud of his past, but he never felt villainous.  Natasha Romanov had a bleak past, but we never saw it.  With these characters, we see how they messed up and so we intuitively understand their redemption arc.  This is also one of the things that makes this better than the Suicide Squad movies: we come into this movie with a history with most of these characters.  To be sure, some of that history is small (I remember very little about Ghost), but it is still something to build upon.  Another thing that this movie has over its DC counterpart is that these characters really are on a quest to become better people.

This theme is very potent.  As someone who works with young people, I've noted a growing sense of self-hatred over the years.  So many of them cannot get free from their mistakes in the past.  This movie speaks to that and shows a way forward.

One of the interesting things about this movie is that it treats the character of John Walker the same as in Falcon and the Winter Soldier with the same results.  What I mean is that he is constantly put down by the other heroes as a "jerk" (I cannot write the vulgar term they usually use for him).  And yet he is by far my favorite character in the movie.  I think the movie wants to make him the toxicly masculine butt of the joke, but I think he is the closest thing to a Han Solo character in the movie.  

The performances are very enjoyable and the group, for the most part, has really good chemistry.  Pugh has to ground the entire film as someone caught between apathy, guilt, and goodness.  You can see that she is constantly at war with her nurturing and violent natures.  Russell swaggers into every scene as Walker in a way that I always enjoy.  In his head, this is not a Thunderbolts movie, but a US Agent movie and it actually makes him pop on the screen better.  There is a wonderful moment of empathy and connection between him and Pugh that is only a few seconds and has no words.  But in that space, the characters seem to understand each other.  Harbour plays Alexi as broadly comedic, but that works for what the movie needs.  Stan plays Bucky with a world-weary reluctance as always.  

The real standout is Pullman.  He has to play someone who at times is as innocent as a child and then as dangerous Thanos.  His emotional swings are unpredictable and wild, but he manages to pull all of them off with sincerity and intensity.  In the space of a few seconds with the simpliest change in body language and facial expression, he can go from funny to terrifying.  I think that if any actor will benefit the most from this movie, it will be him.  The rest of the cast does decently.  Dreyfuss is funny and charismatic, but she lacks the deadly screen presence that Viola Davis had in Suicide Squad.  

The script by Eric Pearson and Joanna Calo is decent by post-Endgame standards.  Everyone since the original Avengers has tried to capture Joss Whedon's voice, but no one has quite cracked the code.  There contrivances and plot-holes galore (e.g. Valentina talks about her evil plans in front of her limo driver), but they only become problematic if you stop enjoying the movie.  The advantage of having pre-stablished characters is that the movie can move right into the action.  But this means that to really enjoy the film you have to do your MCU homework.  But because of this, the film moves on and does a lot in its two-hour run time.

The writers want to focus more on the theme than the plot, which accounts for some of the weakness.   Some of the characters (especially Ghost) do not feel nearly as fleshed-out as they should be.   However, I thought that some of the things they explore thematically were very rich.  I was surprised how they explored the Jungian idea of the shadow self.  Jung said that this darker side of our personality should not so much suppressed in us, but instead it should be appropriately woven into our personality.  If we suppress it, we can make it stronger.  We see this happen visually in the film.  

As a Catholic, I love how the movie focuses heavily on redemption.  Each of the characters has a reason to give into despair.  But in finding this community, they are able to help each other.  I love the quote: "The Church is not a museum of saints, but a hospital for sinners."  In finding each other, they help heal the broken parts in them.  

Director Jake Schreier does a good job with the action set pieces and the quieter moments.  Knowing Pugh is actually jumping off the building at the beginning of the movie made it more thrilling.  The visual representation of the main antagonist is something I haven't quite seen in a movie and it was incredibly interesting.  I couldn't help getting the feeling that his budget kept getting slashed.  For example, there is a sequence where Yelena has a flashback on what is clearly a soundstage.  Schrieir wisely doesn't try to hide this fact, but instead uses the artificiality for a specific effect.  Sometimes this works very well and sometimes it doesn't quite work.  But he does a good job with what he has.

I know that many of you have not been fans of the post-Endgame MCU.  But this might be the best of those movies since Spider-Man: No Way Home.  Because as they say:

Every underdog must have his day.

Happy Mother's Day 2025

(repost)

 Happy Mother's Day!

My prayers and well-wishes go out to all mothers today.  You shape the lives of your children in ways that no one else in the world can or will.  Today is a day when we honor not just what you do but who you are.  

I was reflecting today on how I no longer have any earthly mothers.  My mother, mother-in-law, and all of my grandmothers and great-grandmothers have gone home to heaven.  And yet, they are all still a part of me.

I pray for them every single morning, and I make special note to tell my mom and my mother-in-law that I love them still.  I know I had many failings as a son (and son-in-law), but I know that my relationship with them has not ended nor will it ever.

CS Lewis once wrote, "Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. "  Every great physical work of man will one day come to dust.  But the souls of men and women are immortal.  

Mothers: your work is the work that lasts.  Your work is the work of immortality.  Long after the Mona Lisa has turned to dust, the masterpiece you crafted in your children's hearts and souls will last for all eternity.

May God bless all of you mother today through intercession of our Most Blessed Mother Mary!

Film Flash: Thunderbolts*

 

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

A better Suicide Squad than both Suicide Squad movies.  The Bad News Bears of Marvel.

New Evangelizers Post: The Conclave – What Happens Now?

                  

I have a new article up at NewEvangelizers.com.  

On Wednesday, May 7th, the cardinals of the Catholic Church will gather for the conclave to choose our next pope.

So what exactly happens?

The cardinals, those in charge of Church government, will be the ones to vote. Only cardinals under the age of 80 can vote for the next pope. These are known as “cardinal electors.” Currently there are a total of 252 cardinals, 135 of which can vote in the upcoming conclave. Of these electors, there are representatives from 72 different countries.

For the past few days, the cardinals have been gathering for prayer and discussion about the needs of the Catholic Church today. These meetings are called the “General Congregation.” This is an important part of the process, because the needs of the Church may be different today than they were when the last pope was elected. For example, we currently have a major military conflict in Europe and in the Middle East. These may be factors in deciding who would be the best pope to promote peace. I am not saying that this will be an integral factor, but these may be some of the topics that the cardinals bring up.

On Wednesday, all of the Cardinals will go to St. Peter’s Basilica. There, they will celebrate Mass together and as that the Holy Spirit be with them in their discernment.

The cardinals will then enter the Sistine Chapel. When they enter, each cardinal will place his hand on the Gospels and swear to uphold the secrecy inside of the conclave.They will not have access to the internet, phones, television, radio, or anything else from the outside world. They will remain in the Sistine Chapel, their dorms, or eating areas until the conclave concludes.

There will be four rounds of voting a day. The cardinals write on a paper ballot “Eligo in Summun Pontificem” (“I elect as the Supreme Pontiff”) and then the person’s name. The ballots are counted by three selected cardinals. A two-thirds majority of the conclave must agree in order for a pope to be elected.

If there is no two-thirds majority, then the ballots are burned with a special chemical to produce black smoke. This will indicate to the outside world that no one has yet been elected.

How long with the conclave last?

No one knows. In the Middle Ages, there was a conclave that lasted three years. However since the election of Pope Pius XII in 1939, the conclaves have averaged about two days.

When the cardinals confirm a two-thirds majority, the person elected is asked if he will accept the office. He does have the choice to refuse. Joseph Ratzinger, on seeing that he was getting the most votes, asked the other cardinals not to vote for him. However, one of his friends asked him if he would refuse the office that God called him to. So Ratzinger accepted the election and became Pope Benedict XVI

Once he accepts, he chooses a new papal name. This usually has a significance that he wants to convey to the world. Pope Francis named himself after Francis of Assisi, especially focusing on his love for the poor. Popes John Paul I and John Paul II named themselves after the two Vatican II popes, thus showing they would continue with the reforms of the council.

The ballots are once again burned, but this time, white smoke comes out of the chimney to indicate to the world that a pope has been chosen. The faithful then gather outside of the papal balcony waiting for the announcement. The senior cardinal deacon declares “Habemus papam!” which means “We have a pope!” He will then announce his name. The new pope will then present himself to the Church and the world. and offer his first papal blessing.

So now that you know, what can we the faithful do?

You can read the whole article here.

Sunday Best: Top 10 Greatest Star Wars Deaths

 May the Fourth Be With You!

Happy Star Wars Day!

There has been a great deal of debate in the fandom (when has there not been) about the state of Star Wars.  Many people have been saying things like "Star Wars is dead."  

I am not here to debate that point.  But the two concepts got me thinking: death and Star Wars.

So while it might sound morbid, I thought I would make a list of the Top 10 Greatest Star Wars deaths.

By "greatest" I mean the most impactful emotionally.  But that doesn't always mean that the emotion is positive or negative.  In fact, I find one of the deaths consistently funny.  But here, it has to make a lasting emotional impression.  For that reason, I can imagine that these will be highly subjective.  Feel free to disagree or debate me on these points.  

Be warned:  SPOILERS FOR ALL STAR WARS MOVIES AND TV SHOWS BELOW.

10.  Greedo (A New Hope)

This scene is amazing for a number of reasons.  You learn so much about Han Solo in this scene: he plays like he a cool guy, quick with his wit.  But beneath the surface, he has such lethal intent.  The version where Han shoots first emphasizes this point so well.  Even though I know this death is coming, I am constantly drawn in by how Han feigns relaxation only overtake his enemy.

9.  Admiral Ozzel (The Empire Strikes Back)

I laugh every time I see this scene.  There is something so darkly humorous about all the elements.  First of all, Vader kills him over what is essentially a zoom call.  Second, Admiral Piett squirming as he steals glances at Ozzel while trying to keep his attention on Vader is incredibly funny.  Finally, when Ozzel does keel over, the technician in the background looks down and then at the camera and then back to work while Ozzel gestures to someone off screen to collect the body.  One of the funniest moments in the series.

8.  Darth Maul (Rebels)

This is not the seeming death found in The Phantom Menace, but the one we see in Rebels.  You expect a knock-down epic battle between him and Obi-wan. Instead, it is over before you know it and in the end you are filled with an overwhelming sense of sadness, despite all of the evil he committed.  Very well done.

7.  Qui-Gon Jinn (The Phantom Menace)

Arguably the most significant death in the entire series, since his loss leads to the tragedy of the the saga.  Everytime I watch it, I ams still on the edge of my seat.  Qui-Gon stood as the most heroic figure of this film and to see him fall has a big impact.

6.  Han Solo (The Force Awakens)

I know a lot of people cry fowl on this one, but I think this was a powerful death scene.  It is also one of the best scenes that JJ Abrams shot for either of his Star Wars movies, with the interplay of color, light, and shadow.  But what was powerful about this is the feeling of a father doing anything to save his son, even if the son is too far gone to be saved at this point.  And then even after that ultimate betrayal, Han's last act is to caress his son's face with love.

5. Yoda (Return of the Jedi)

The entire scene is filled with sadness. Almost all of the deaths in Star Wars are violent ones.  But this captures the feeling of losing a loved one to age.  It is a tender scene that is filled with a profound sense of loss, where the final parental figure is gone and Luke now has to stand on his own as a man.

4. Kanan (Rebels)

Whenever I think of Rebels, this is the first scene that comes to mind.  It was so shocking to watch, because there didn't seem to be anything in the set up that this scene would be anything other than a typical rescue mission.  But then when the moment arrives, you can feel the weight of the moment.  The visuals and music are perfectly done.  And it stirred me deeply that his eyesight was restored one more time so that the last thing he saw was a vision of those he loved.

3. The Ewok (Return of the Jedi)

One of the most profoundly sad moments in the entire saga is this death.  Two ewoks are running through the woods when laser fire explodes.  Both fall to the ground.  One gets up and grabs the hand of the other to keep running.  But the other does not stir.  The standing ewok shakes his friend, but he still does not move.  Realization comes over him and despite the danger around him, the living ewok falls to his knees and embraces his dead companion.  The scene is only a few seconds long without any words.  But to every child who saw it, it conveyed the horrors of war and how the good guys can die and have their hearts broken.

2. Obi-Wan Kenobi (A New Hope)

Watching this moment in the context of the prequels, Clone Wars, and the Obi-Wan Kenobi show, you can feel an even greater weight to it than when it was originally shown in the original Star Wars.  Obi-Wan's entire journey leads him to this moment.  And then while fighting with his best friend, he looks over and sees Luke and Leia together for the first time since they were born.  And in that moment, he knows that it is his time to exit the narrative.  That knowing smile he gives always fills me with sadness as he serenely raises his lightsaber and sacrifices himself so that there can be born a new hope.

1. Anakin Skywalker (Return of the Jedi)

Everything about this death is amazing. It brings Anakin's entire story to a close with his move to redemption.  He cannot live because he has to pay for his sins.  But he gets to die as a man and not a monster.  He sheds his Darth Vader persona to reveal the scarred and broken good man who had been hidden deep down all along.  Luke finally sees his father as he is: not as a legend or a demon but simply as a man.  And it sums up the beautiful themes of the series when Luke says he has to save Anakin, his father simply replies, "You already have."  Anakin learns the lesson that he failed to learn with Padme: ultimate salvation is not of the body but of the soul.  And then as he dies they play that Imperial March, but as individual strings plucked in gentle morning of a lost father.

Thoughts?

Film Flash: The Minecraft Movie

  

15 words or less film review (full review to follow soon)

"This movie was not made for me" applies perfectly here.  Dumb. dumb, dumb.