The Fate of the Furious - 玩命關頭8

The Fate of the Furious (玩命關頭8) is an 2017 film. The film stars Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Scott Eastwood, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Pataky, Kurt Russell, and Charlize Theron. This is the eighth movie of the franchise.

We start out with a race in Cuba where Dom comes out a winner and makes a friend. While on a raid, he's tempted away by Cipher to do her bidding. The group luckily doesn't die and is super confused. Why would Dom turn on his friend. Think about it for a bit, you have your answer. The crew continues on with their mission with Dom, but time and time again, Dom messes them up. How do you defeat Dom? You don't. Dom comes around and saves the day. Some driving involved, but lots of airtime too.

This is the eighth time out. None of the folks here have been in everyone. Because with #2 and #3, no one wanted to be around. But when Justin Lin put the cool back in, all the folks wanted back with #4. But its now running long in the tooth and even the box office is responding now. Can there be too much of a good thing? Can Hobbs And Shaw's spinoff do well. Shaw still killed Han, never forget. But the international market trumps the box office of the US, so they'll keep pumping them out. Vin has announce that they'll make it up to a final 10th film. Not including the spin offs.

It's been on HBO non-stop recently so I've caught parts of the movie, but there wasn't a time that I stopped to finish to the end.

Logan - 羅根

Logan (羅根) is an 2017 film. The movie stars Hugh Jackman and Dafne Keen. The supporting cast include Patrick Stewart, Boyd Holbrook, and Stephen Merchant.

In the near, but distant future of 2029, Logan is working as a limo driver. When a young X23 type girl shows up, they head on a adventurous road trip. At the end of this road trip, will they get to paradise? Along the way, Logan must contend with the organization that developed X23 as they aim to get her back. But wait, Logan's not his old usual self.

Apparently, Hugh Jackman announced that this will be his last turn as the venerable Wolverine. Hugh Jackman has played Wolverine/Logan since the first X-Men movie. It was also based on the Old Man Logan version.

I liked the movie a lot. I liked the 2029 timeline. Still the future, but not far enough that the tech still looks familiar. I also liked how they handled Professor X and the future's bleak take for the mutants. It's too bad this will be Jackman's final time as Wolverine.

Doctor Strange - 奇異博士

Doctor Strange (奇異博士) is an 2016 film. The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange. The supporting cast include Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Benedict Wong, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton It is the fourteenth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Strange is a successful and pompous surgeon. In an accident, he damages his hands. A year later he's still trying experimental treatments on his hands, but he's got no more money left. At his wits end, he goes on a journey based a healing. Off to the mystical far east. There he meets the Ancient One and learns the mystic arts. But it doesn't come easy. Frustration and character growth is needed if he's to become the Sorcerer Supreme. As Strange is learning, a former student is causing havoc and this draws Strange into the fight. Eventually this leads to an epic showdown in Hong Kong.

This was a pretty easy movie to watch. Lots of drama and it kind of sticks to what I remember Strange's origins to be in the comics. With some slight variations. But very close. And than its spun into the MCU with the mid credit scene.

Avengers: Infinity War - 復仇者聯盟:無限之戰

Avengers: Infinity War (復仇者聯盟:無限之戰) is an 2018 film. The movie stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Dave Bautista, Zoe Saldana, Josh Brolin, and Chris Pratt. This is the nineteenth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).



Thanos is after the Infinity Stones. As Thor: Ragnarok (雷神索爾3:諸神黃昏) reveals Thanos at their heels. We see him take one stone, but he's already got one. With the Space and Power stone in his grasp, he sets on his quest for the other 4. We already know Vision and Doctor Strange have two, respectively. The third with the Collector. The soul stone, the last one is unknown. The massive group is split as they go on their arcs to all eventually fight Thanos. Will Thanos succeed and end half of life in the universe?



I just watched this. Writing this up within the hour. I have so much to process and all of it is good. I am not sure where this ranks in the MCU, but its a pretty amazing piece of cinema. Does it stand up against Black Panther (黑豹) or Thor: Ragnarok (雷神索爾3:諸神黃昏)? Or the many other MCU movies before. As the nineteenth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), you've got a lot to live up to and surpass.



I need to watch this again or three. But I must say, it was a lot of story, a lot of characters, a lot of things that make the MCU massive and at the same time, your investment in the characters paying off.



If you're a fan of the MCU, you must watch this movie.

Thor: Ragnarok - 雷神索爾3:諸神黃昏

Thor: Ragnarok (雷神索爾3:諸神黃昏) is an 2017 film. The movie stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor. The supporting cast include Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, and Anthony Hopkins. It is the seventeenth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The sequel to Thor: The Dark World (雷神索爾2:黑暗世界), who was a sequel to first Thor (雷神索爾) movie.

Thor is trapped in a cell and gets out to defeat Surtur. Returning to Asgard, he sets some things right and than gets sucked into another world. Thor is captured, gets his hair trimmed, and has to fight gladiator style. Thor needs to get back to Asgard to defend it, but is trapped. What can he do?

This movie was so funny. It's a comedy with action. The story was the main draw and major MCU implications. You don't even need to have watched the previous two Thor movies to start with this one. You could have followed along just having seen Thor in the Avengers. The addition of the Hulk was special too. All around great film. I dare say it is my favorite MCU movie of 2017.

Spider-Man: Homecoming - 蜘蛛人:返校日

Spider-Man: Homecoming (蜘蛛人:返校日) is an 2017 film. The movie stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker, the Spider-Man. The supporting cast include Michael Keaton, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Donald Glover, Tyne Daly, Marisa Tomei, and Robert Downey Jr. It is the sixteenth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Peter returns home after the events of Captain America: Civil War. Days turn into weeks. Weeks turn into months as he waits for more action with the Avengers. Peter keeps busy by solving local petty crimes. High School life is a bore as he waits for the Avengers to call. However, he stumbles on a arms deal that has to do with alien tech. The investigations leads him down a rabbits hole. Can he stop the alien tech, live out high school, and join the Avengers?

This movie was very kid friendly. My kids loved the movie way more than I did. If it weren't for the special suit and Iron Man showing, I would have been bored. But its a great introduction into the MCU's version of the Spider-verse.

I laughed a whole lot in this film, but it is about an high schooler trying to find his way in life. Not something I am all the familiar with anymore at my ancient age.

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 - 星際異攻隊2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (星際異攻隊2) is an 2017 film. The movie stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, and Dave Bautista. The film also features the voices of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper. The is a sequel the first Guardians of the Galaxy. It is the fifteenth installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The Guardians have been hired to take down a big octopus like monster on the planet where the Sovereign race inhabit. Their payment is the captured Nebula. On their way out, Rocket steals a battery that they were defending. The Sovereign race find out and give chase. While they make their escape, they are met in space by Ego. Ego invites a few of them to his planet, while the rest stay behind. Quill, Gamora, and Drax goto the planet and meet Mantis, a servant of Ego who has empath powers. Yondu Udonta captures those that stayed with the ship. Nebula goes after Gamora. Ego reveals who he is and his relation to Quill. Let the fun begin if it hasn't already.

If you liked the first Guardians of the Galaxy, you'll like this one. I compare it to a television series you like and binge watch. In this cast, Vol. 2 is really the second episode of the Guardians series. Same cast, same director, same writer. Same feel. Because the character development was at a minimum, the action in this film was off the charts. More crazy off world, this is another galaxy type stuff. They don't have the restrictions of earth rules to bog down their storyline.

I recommend a watch as it reveals much about the cosmic side of the MCU.

Ant-Man - 蟻人

Ant-Man (蟻人) is an 2015 film. The movie stars Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, Anthony Mackie, and Michael Douglas. The movie takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the twelfth film of the series.

Scott Lang plays a high tech robber in the San Francisco area who gets caught and sent to jail. When he gets out, Scott is recruited by Henry Pym to help him steel secrets from his own company. Scott eventually agrees and gets trained by both Pym and his daughter, Hope van Dyne. Together, they work to reclaim Pym's company from an already happened hostile takeover.

This was a comedy with some action. Plain and simple. Peyton Reed does a good job of replacing the original Edgar Wright. Thank goodness in my opinion as I have not been a fan of Edgar Wright films, but have been entertained by Peyton Reed's previous films, like Yes Man. Paul Rudd pretty much plays himself, but just as Ant-Man. Evangeline Lilly does her thing as the tough as nails and looking great doing it thing, a la Lost.

In all, I've watched Ant-Man more than a few times and would stop while channel surfing.

Wonder Woman - 神力女超人

Wonder Woman (神力女超人) is an 2017 film. The movie stars Gal Gadot and Chris Pine. The supporting cast include Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen, and Elena Anaya. This movie takes place in the DCEU.

Diana is working at a museum when she receives a photo during World War I and recalls her past. Back to her time on Themyscira or also known as Paradise Island. There, Diana was trained from an early age to be a warrior with no match. During World War I, Diana sees a plane crash land off the coast. Diana immediately springs into action and saves the person, but the Germans pursue him and find the island. A deadly battle ensues where the Amazon's primitive weapons took heavy causalities to modern guns. Diana decides to go stop the war. The adventure begins.

The movie was pretty fun to watch. Many plot holes but every movie has them. In this case, no explanation is given to why she goes silent for almost another hundred years before battling Doomsday. But that's not the point, Diana needs to join the Justice League.

It's been on HBO recently and I've stopped to watch bits here and there, but never kept on to the end. Not sure why, but once through was enough for me.

Beauty and the Beast - 美女與野獸

Beauty and the Beast (美女與野獸) is an 2017 Disney film. The movie stars Emma Watson and Dan Stevens as the Beauty and Beast. The supporting cast include Luke Evans, Kevin Kline, Josh Gad, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Ian McKellen, and Emma Thompson. This is the live-action remake of the 1991 animated Disney film of the same name.

In a village, a father and daughter pair must make things work when the mother passes early. Maurice is a expert clock maker that gets captured while making a delivery. Belle volunteers to exchange herself for her father's freedom. The Beast is cursed and when the last rose pedal falls, he'll stay a beast forever.

If you saw the 1991 version when you were younger, which I don't remember, you'll like this one. The technology of today in some sense makes what would have been animated in yester-year live action today. You just need the doe to make the film. Which Disney has plenty of.

Emma Watson's turn as Belle was excellent and it wasn't a damsel in distress, but a strong female character who bucks the trends of tradition for the freedom of today.