Drew’s Movie Reviews Turns 9! My Fave Five New Movies I Watched in Year 9 + Hiatus Announcement

Hello, friends!

Wow, it’s been a while since I’ve started a post with that greeting! I know I’ve been a bit quiet lately and I will get to that later. But first, it’s celebration time as today marks the ninth blogiversary of Drew’s Movie Reviews! Like 2021, I set a goal to watch a film from my chosen director every month and this year’s chosen director is Steven Spielberg. I’ve been through some amazing films of his in these first seven months of 2022. Not surprisingly, one of his films crept onto this post’s list. Since the films on this list are not based on the calendar year, one of the films from last year’s chosen director, Alfred Hitchcock, that I watched after last year’s blogiversary made it to the list as well. Before I get into my list, as what is tradition for my anniversary celebration, I watched a film trilogy to lead up to my blogiversary. This year, with Jurassic World: Dominion coming to theaters and concluding the Jurassic Saga, I decided this year was a good year to review the Jurassic World trilogy for my celebration. If you missed any of those reviews, here are links to all of them:

Jurassic World
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Jurassic World: Dominion

Here are my five favorite films I watched during my ninth year of blogging:

5) Saving Private Ryan

I chose Steven Spielberg’s filmography to focus on in 2022, similar to what I did with Alfred Hitchcock’s filmography in 2021, because although I consider him as one of my favorite film directors, I knew there were many of his highest rated movies I have not seen. Saving Private Ryan is one such example. I knew many of the references and memes but never saw the full film myself. I don’t know how I waited this long to finally see this film! This has quickly jumped to a top spot in my list of favorite Spielberg films. The casting is great, the story is emotional and gut-wrenching, and the action is exciting. I really was missing out not seeing this sooner.

4) Top Gun: Maverick

In this current Hollywood era of cashing in on nostalgia, many of the sequels to decades old films during this time are, to put it kindly, not very good. However, every now and then, a film comes along with a crew that has love and affection for the franchise and wants to do right by what came before; Top Gun: Maverick is one such example. Top Gun is one of my quintessential 80s films, never failing to make me smile or make me feel good by the end. Tom Cruise and the crew of Top Gun: Maverick clearly took their time to craft a story that not only honored the 80s original but thoughtfully built on the characters of the 80s original. It’s rare that these nostalgia-focused sequels are as good as the original and it’s even rarer that the sequel is arguably better.

3) Psycho

There is no doubt that Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most important and talented directors in Hollywood history. His ability to use suspense to manipulate his audience is unrivaled. The way Hitchcock frames his shots in Psycho is a masterclass. Anthony Perkins delivers one of the best performances I have ever seen as Norman Bates. And although color films had been out for several years by the time Hitchcock started on Psycho, he still chose to shoot in black and white, which added a noir aesthetic to the film that added to the suspense. Psycho is a much watch for any fan of cinema.

2) Free Guy

At the start of 2020, Free Guy was at the top of my most anticipated list of films for that year. Then the pandemic hit and Free Guy was pushed to 2021. Just as quickly as this movie was delayed, it became one of my favorite films of the year after it finally came to theaters. If you want to watch a feel-good movie or need a pick-me-up, Free Guy is the movie for you. I don’t even believe Ryan Reynolds plays different characters anymore, he just shows up on set and plays himself while the director films him. As a gamer, I appreciated all the easter eggs to games and gaming culture. For me, this became an instant classic.

1) Spider-Man: No Way Home

I am a HUGE Spider-Man fan, and particularly of the Spider-Man films. The Tobey Maguire films were from some of my earliest independent theater-going days, and while Andrew Garfield’s films might not have been as successful, they still did some things right by the character and hold a special place in my heart. The last thing I ever expected was to see the Maguire and Garfield together with current Spider-Man Tom Holland. When that happened I was ecstatic. The shot of all three Spider-Men together during the climactic scene of the film is up there with the “Avengers Assemble” moment from Avengers: Endgame. There is no other film worthy of the top spot on this list.

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Hiatus Announcement

Now, for one final announcement. In the beginning of this post I mentioned I have been quiet lately. Unfortunately, that will not be changing anytime soon. I started this blog nine years ago as a means to occupy my time and try something new. I found myself watching movies very often and wanted to try my hand at writing about them and sharing my enjoyment with all of you. In these last few years, and these last few months in particular, my interest in writing reviews has been waning. I am still watching movies, though not as frequently as during this blog’s early years, but my desire to write up my thoughts has drifted. I’ve tried a few different approaches to writing my reviews to continue writing in a way that would take less time or feel fresh, yet nothing has stuck. And in the same way I was using this blog as a hobby, I have picked up other hobbies that I enjoy more at this moment than writing.

In a decision I do not make lightly, I am announcing Drew’s Movie Reviews is going on hiatus. I don’t know when, or if, I will return to writing reviews. And I haven’t yet decided what will happen with my weekly Trailer Round-Ups. I do enjoy watching new trailers every week so that may continue but we’ll see.

I want to thank each and every one of you for my nine wonderful years of blogging. Interacting with all my readers and forming friendships has been the best part of this experience and I will cherish it always. Thank you all for the support! I wish you all the best of luck in your blogs and other endeavors. Here’s to hoping this isn’t a “goodbye” but a “see you later.”

Cheers!

Drew’s Movie Reviews Turns 8! My Fave Five New Movies I Watched in Year 8

Hello, friends!

Today is a very special day of the year because today is Drew’s Movie Reviews blogiversary! That’s right, today this little site turns 8. I’ll be honest, the last year hasn’t been exactly what I expected for this blog. My activity isn’t as high as past years and I haven’t posted many non-review posts, which are some of my favorite posts to write. However, I’ve posted when I can and have kept up with my weekly Trailer Round-Up series. At the beginning of 2021, I set a goal for myself of watching at least one Alfred Hitchcock film a month and so far I’ve kept that goal. It’s also proved to be a fantastic endeavor in regards to this list as you’ll see. But before I get into the list, as part of my blogiversary celebration, I watched and reviewed the first three live-action Transformers films. If you missed any of those reviews, here are the links to all of them:

Transformers
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

And with that out of the way, there are my five favorite films I saw during my eighth year of blogging:

Honorable Mention) Rope

I know that this is a “Fave Five” list but I wanted to throw an honorable mention towards the third Alfred Hitchcock in my top three Hitchcock films (so far). The first of many collaborations between James Stewart and Hitchcock, Rope was one the first film ever to accomplish the “one continuous shot” approach to the story and Hitchcock pulls it off spectacularly. This film is based on a stage play of the same name so that approach fits. Also, the leading trio of John Dall, Farley Granger, and James Stewart play off each other well and help elevate the tension. Although I have watched several Hitchcock film since watching this one, Rope remains one of the most suspenseful Hitchcock films I’ve seen so far.

5) Bridesmaids

Bridesmaids is one of those films that I heard great things about but never really got around to watching. This year’s Ultimate Decades Blogathon proved to be the perfect time for me to finally sit down and watch it, showing me what I’ve been missing the last decade since its release. Every scene is filled to the brim with laughs and Kristen Wiig has amazing chemistry with every co-star around her. The script is raunchy, something unexpected from female-led comedies at the time, and shows off the talent of all of its stars. Paul Feig knew he had something great on his hands and proved it to the rest of us.

4) Rear Window

At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect when going into a film that takes place solely in a man’s apartment but Hitchcock proved that even that can be suspenseful. A lot of the suspense in Rear Window comes from the fact that the audience is only in Stewart’s character’s apartment, not knowing exactly what is happening in the other apartments around him, which are characters all their own. James Stewart is great as an “every man” character and this film puts his talents to good use. And of course, Grace Kelly, one of the most beautiful actresses of the era, is always pleasant to watch in any movie. With Rear Window, Hitchcock proved you don’t need a lot to accomplish so much.

3) Soul

I am amazed at the leaps and bounds modern film animation continues to make. Soul offers up a very simple story and yet is one of the most beautiful animated movies I have ever seen. Don’t let the film’s beauty distract you, Soul is one of Pixar’s more mature films in their library. I can see younger audiences not being as drawn to this movie like they could be to other Pixar films but there are some valuable lessons to be learned for any viewer, regardless of their age. Led by the talented Jamie Foxx, Soul takes you on a journey that will change you once you’re on the other side.

2) Palm Springs

I almost forgot about this film because I watched it right in the beginning of my eighth year and never wrote a review for it. The concept of characters being stuck in a time loop has been done many times throughout cinematic history but Palm Springs manages to take a tired formula and make it unique. The comedy duo of Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti are a perfect match, whose senses of humor complement each other. Add in the always great JK Simmons and you have one hell of a cast. With it being released exclusively on Hulu, I’m not sure how popular it was but if you haven’t seen Palm Springs and have access to Hulu, I definitely recommend you give this one a watch.

1) Shadow of a Doubt

Shadow of a Doubt was the second film in my journey through Alfred Hitchcock’s filmography and it remains my favorite six months later. The idea of a potential murderer coming to a small town and sowing seeds of uncertainty among his family seems simple but Hitchcock keeps you on the edge of your seat. Joseph Cotton adds the perfect amount of affection and menace to his character that you’re never exactly sure what to make of him. As the film progresses, there is a change in several characters that only adds to the tension. I didn’t expect to find a clear favorite so early in my journey and I’m afraid that Shadow of a Doubt is going to be hard to beat as I continue to progress through my collection of Hitchcock’s films.

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And that’s Year 8 in the books! Thank you so much for everyone who has been sticking with me, even as my activity has fluctuated. Your support means so much to me. Your continued views, likes, and comments have kept me going. I’m excited to see what in store for the next 365 days and I couldn’t ask for any better support than you by my side. 🙂

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay positive. Stay weird.

Until next time, cheers!

Drew’s Movie Reviews Turns 7! My Fave Five New Movies I Watched in Year 7

Hello, friends!

Drew’s Movie Reviews has turned seven! That right, yesterday was my blogiversary which means I have been blogging for a full seven years now. Where does the time go? To celebrate, over the last few days I have posted reviews of all the Vacation films, beginning from the 1983 original to the 2015 “reboot.” If you missed any of those reviews, here are the links to those posts:

Vacation
European Vacation
Christmas Vacation
Vegas Vacation
Vacation (2015)

Lastly, to close out my blogging year, here are my five favorite films I saw during my seventh year of blogging:

5) Good Boys

When I first saw the trailer for Good Boys, the first thing I thought of was Superbad but with elementary school kids. And being a big fan of Superbad, I was instantly sold. This is a very crude film. When I say it’s like Superbad but with kids, I mean the sense of humor and language is exactly like Superbad so watching young kids curse like sailors might not be for everyone. However, that’s one of the reasons that this film was so funny to me. Mix that with their naivete and you have a mix for some outrageous and humorous moments. All of the young actors did great and I was laughing from start to finish.

4) Knives Out

After Star Wars: The Last Jedi, I was weary of watching another Rian Johnson film. I’m so glad I gave Knives Out a chance because it was one of the most refreshing films to be released in 2019. This movie is filled with twists and turns. When you think it’s going to zig, it zags. From the time the mystery is introduced to the final scenes, Johnson keeps you guessing. Knives Out breaks the conventions of what you expect from a murder mystery film and that’s part of the enjoyment. On top of that, the cast is top notch. Everyone is great in their roles and it’s nearly impossible to pick a favorite. A second or even third watch is worth it just to better see how each of the pieces are laid out throughout the film and better appreciate how it’s all brought together at the end.

3) Uncut Gems

Adam Sandler is often pegged as a comedic actor, so when I saw he was going to be in a more dramatic role, I wanted to check it out. At the center of Uncut Gems is Sandler’s Howard Ratner, a New York City jeweler with a gambling problem and an overall terrible person. Most movies give some sort of redeeming quality to their main character so the audience can root for them. Uncut Gems does not. From the get-go, Howard is set up as a protagonist that is nearly impossible to get behind. The entire movie I was expecting the worst to happen, and this is where my enjoyment of this film comes from. I found myself constantly on edge watching and waiting as Howard’s life goes from bad to worst and he continuously makes bad decisions. And the entire time Sandler is in top form, maybe the best he’s ever been. Uncut Gems is an unusual film but that’s part of its disturbing charm.

2) Ready or Not

I went to see Ready or Not in the theater on a whim. As it turns out, it was a good whim to follow. I would be lying if I didn’t say that part of the reason this film has ranked so high is from the surprise factor. Ready or Not did not receive much advertising or fanfare before its release so I knew little about it going in and I don’t blame you if you missed this one on its release. If you haven’t seen it yet, you’re missing out on a fantastic dark comedy horror. Despite a talented cast around her, Samara Weaving manages to carry the film as the latest member of the Le Domas family. I constantly found myself both sitting on the edge of my seat and laughing at this dark comedy. What an unusual and fascinating combination.

1) Eighth Grade

Surprisingly, Eighth Grade was the only film not released in the last twelve months that made it on this list. I guess this last year was not good for me in terms of watching great movies at home. I chose this film for my first entry of the Ultimate 2010s Blogathon to serve as a snapshot of the decade. It was my first time watching it (hence why it’s on this list) and I was blown away. I thoroughly believe this is the best coming-of-age film I have seen. This movie is so raw and accurately captures the pressures of being a teen. Kudos to Elsie Fisher for giving such an outstanding performance that I did not expect from someone her age. For the second year in a row, a coming-of-age film has made my list of essential watches. Not too shabby.

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Year seven is now officially closed! Thank you for all the support over the last year! I appreciate all of the comments, likes, and views. I wouldn’t keep blogging if it wasn’t for all of you. 😀 Thank you for being here with me on this journey and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings for Drew’s Movie Reviews.

Follow DMR on Facebook, Twitter, and Letterboxd to stay up to date with my cinematic adventure.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay positive. Stay weird.

Until next time, cheers!

My Fave Five Romantic Comedy Films

Hello, friends! And happy Valentine’s Day!

Today is a day of expression. Today is a day of love. Today is a day of romance. When it comes to romantic films, they aren’t usually my cup of tea. However, if you combine romance in a movie with my favorite genre, comedy, well then I’m a little more likely to check that movie out. Over the years, there have been some pretty fantastic romantic comedies, particularly from directors like Gary Marshall, Nora Ephron, and Judd Apatow. I’ll admit that my experience with romantic comedies is pretty limited, not extending much before my lifetime, so all the entries on this list are fairly recent. However, I still believe you will find these to be some pretty solid selections. So without any more delay, here are my five favorite romantic comedy films.

5) Hitch

Of all the films on this list of romantic comedies, Hitch is the closest to being a pure romance film. It’s entertaining to watch Hitch, a man who has helped dozens of men find love and relationships, struggle to take the advice he so often hands out. The charismatic Will Smith has magnificent chemistry with Eva Mendes, who plays his love interest, as well as Kevin James, Hitch’s lovable insecure client. While Smith does much of the comedic heavy lifting, James provides a lot of laughs in classic James fashion. There is plenty of heart to be found in this film which is why I find myself continuously coming back to it.

4) She’s Out of My League

Jay Baruchel is the embodiment of awkwardness and my spirit animal. When his character, Kirk, meets Molly, a woman he perceives to be “out of his league,” he begins overthinking and gets in his own head. I feel that. As much as I like Baruchel, the supporting cast is top notch in this film as well. With actors and actresses like TJ Miller, Nate Torrence, Kyle Bornheimer, Krysten Ritter, Debra Jo Rupp, Geoff Stults, and Hayes MacArthur, there are laughs aplenty. While some of those names might stand out, their faces surely will. She’s Out of My League gives hope to those of us who might be a little socially awkward that there is someone out there for everyone.

3) When Harry Met Sally…

When Harry Met Sally… is the oldest film on this list and one of my more recent watches, having first seen it just three years ago. Immediately I understood why it is hailed as a rom-com classic. Vital to any romantic comedy is the chemistry between the two leads and Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan have this in spades. Their bantering feels natural and their improved story during the couples’ stories segments sounds too real to be improvised. What makes this film stand out among other romantic comedies is that it’s story doesn’t follow the same pattern as most similar films, which is refreshing when most films in the genre have a very predictable and similar template. And who can forget that diner scene? I’ll have what she’s having.

2) The 40-Year-Old Virgin

Judd Apatow has had several big hits, especially during the 2000s, but The 40-Year-Old Virgin stands out above the rest. Steve Carell is simply charming as the titular 40-year-old. Carell’s unique brand of humor mixed with Apatow’s signature style make a perfect pairing. Every scene is memorable. Catherine Keener is every bit as sweet and charming as an Ebay saleswoman as you’d expect. Together Carell and Keener with Apatow’s direction, give performances that are heartfelt and delightful. Like I’ve commented on about other films on this list, the supporting cast helps make the film. Actors like Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, and Seth Rogan make it so Carell and Keener don’t have to carry the film alone, making every minute enjoyable and memorable, a true mark of an instant classic.

1) Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Everyone who has been through a break up knows the heartbreak that often accompanies it. Sometimes you just have to get away to move on. Unfortunately for Peter, he decides that place was Hawaii, where he and his ex-girlfriend Sarah had talked about visiting together. Surprise surprise, he runs into Sarah in Hawaii. Jason Segel is an amazing choice to play the deadpan Peter, which I guess makes sense given the film was written by Segel. Opposite him is Kristen Bell who, in my eyes, is fantastic in everything she does. Throw in the likes of Russell Brand, Mila Kunis, Jonah Hill, and Jack McBrayer and you have a rom-com all-star cast. Forgetting Sarah Marshall is the perfect storm of cast, writing, and directing, offering the perfect mix of comedy and romance in a romantic comedy.

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My honorable mentions are Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Yes Man, Home Again, There’s Something About Mary, and Crazy, Stupid, Love.

What are some of your favorite romantic comedy films?

Until next time, cheers!

My Fave Five X-Men Films

Hello, friends!

As you may have noticed, I have been going through an X-Men film phase of late. With the end of Fox’s era of X-Men films, I decided to go back and watch the entire franchise, reviewing the films I had yet to review on the site along the way. Kicking off with 2000s X-Men and concluding with next year’s New Mutants, and consisting of three spin-off series, the franchise has had its ups and downs over its nearly twenty-year run. Recently, I created the definitive viewing order for all twelve of the currently released X-Men movies. But now, it’s time to look at which movies I liked most in the franchise. Here are my fave five X-Men films.

5) X-Men: Days of Future Past

I can hear you saying “What? Days of Future Past is only number 5??” Yes, but that’s nothing against the film. Days of Future Past is a magnificent film. However, it lacks the heart that most of the other films on this list has. But it does have an abundance of everything else: action, excitement, character development, and Wolverine. This is great to bring all the major characters from the core X-Men films up to that point together and gave the series the much needed reboot it needed (even if the continuity continued to make no sense afterwards). It deserves all of the praise that it has received but it is not the best film in the franchise in my opinion.

4) Logan

Over the last twenty years, the superhero genre has exploded and, dare I say, has become saturated. With the genre becoming congested, new entries need to do something different. Logan did just that. Rather than go the traditional superhero route, James Mangold and company told a western / noir film that happened to feature superheroes. The result was one of the best character studies in the genre. With the success of Deadpool the year prior, Fox elected to make this film R-rated, which enabled Mangold to give us the unleashed Wolverine we have been waiting for since he hit the screens in 2000. Over the years, Hugh Jackman came to embody the character of James Howlett, aka Wolverine, aka Logan, and Logan was the perfect farewell to the character, a sobering film filled with emotion and weight, yet brimming with hope and optimism.

3) X-Men: First Class

After the conclusion of the X-Men trilogy with X-Men: The Last Stand, spin-off films for Wolverine, Charles Xavier, and Magneto began being talked about. Wolverine’s spin-off became X-Men Origins: Wolverine whereas Xavier’s and Magneto’s became X-Men: First Class. Set in the midst of the cold war between the United states and Russia, First Class shows how the X-Men came to be, breathing a breath of fresh air into the franchise after the critical flop that was The Last Stand. First Class centered around the idea that the X-Men are family, way more than X-Men or X2: X-Men United did. It might not be the flashiest or most exciting entry of the franchise but if offers some of the best character-driven moments of it.

2) X2: X-Men United

For the longest time, X2: X-Men United was the benchmark the series needed to follow to create a great X-Men movie. It was clear since X-Men that Wolverine would play a prominent role in Fox’s X-Men franchise. X2 puts Wolverine front and center, making his unknown history the focus of the story. But where this film excels is that even though the main plot line focuses on Wolverine, the movie isn’t about him, not entirely anyway. Plenty of time is spent with the younger mutants, showing how the Xavier’s and Magneto’s conflict and general discrimination affects them. The heart in this film has never been captured since (First Class came close). And for that reason, X2 has continued to rank so high for me.

1) Deadpool

While I’ve talked a lot about heart and emotions so far, Deadpool doesn’t have the same emotional impact as the other films on this list, it was the first to be different. Despite an abominable version of the character in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Ryan Reynolds never gave up on the character of Deadpool. Thankfully his perseverance paid off and we all won because of it. Like Jackman and Wolverine, Reynolds uniquely epitomized Deadpool. Deadpool is one of my favorite comic book characters so to see him brought to the big screen so perfectly and accuratly brought me great satisfaction. This continues to be a film I can watch over and over again and the jokes never get old or any less funny.

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And there you have it! Next year will see the release of New Mutants, the final X-Men film before Marvel Studios brings the characters into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). It’s doubtful that New Mutants will find its way onto my top five given the caliber of the films on it but who knows, maybe I’ll be surprised!

What are some of your favorite X-Men films? Are you looking forward to a reboot of the characters when the appear in the MCU?

Until next time, cheers!

Drew’s Movie Reviews Turns 6! My Fave Five New Movies I Watched in Year 6

Hello, friends!

Today is a special day. Today is my the sixth blogiversary! I celebrated the occasion by reviewing Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy. If you missed any of those reviews, here they are:

Spider-Man
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 3

Since “Year 5” was a bit extended due to my six month hiatus last year, I haven’t seen as many movies during Year Six as normal. However, I still did see some pretty fantastic films during that time. Here are my fave five films I watched during my sixth year of blogging.

5) Aquaman

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) doesn’t have the best track record. I think Warner Bros. recognized that directors should have the freedom to make their movies their way, even if they exist within the larger universe, which is exactly what James Wan is allowed to do with Aquaman and it payed off. This movie has its share of problems but that doesn’t mean it isn’t still a ton of fun. Wan injects a blend of humor and action with a sprinkle of his signature horror elements in the right spots to create an enjoyable action adventure, leaving me actually excited for a DCEU sequel.

4) Juno

I’ve heard of Juno and how good it was for years but it was one of those films that I never watched for one reason or another. When discussing this year’s Ultimate Decades blogathon with my co-host, she recommended this 2007 film to me and I figured “what the heck?” After watching it I was saying to myself “what the heck!? Why didn’t I watch this sooner?” It is extremely heartfelt and way more captivating than I expected it to be. Ellen Page and Michael Cera were phenomenal, playing off each other’s senses of humor  wonderfully. Dramas are hit or miss with me but this was a definite hit!

3) Spider-Man: Far From Home

After the epicness that was Avengers: Endgame, we needed a more relaxed film. That’s not to say Spider-Man: Far From Home is a walk in the park but it does lack the scale of Endgame. Tom Holland has really come into the role of Peter since Captain America: Civil War, and has probably become my favorite Peter Parker between the three actors to have portrayed him since 2002. Jake Gyllenhaal has a unique take on Quentin Beck, adding to the relatively unimpressive comic book version of the character. The end of the film finally sees Spidey swinging through NYC, making me even more excited for Holland’s third solo Spider-Man film.

2) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse immediately makes itself standout from other Spider-Man films with its truly one-of-a-kind animation style that makes you feel like you are watching a comic book come to life. We’ve seen plenty of big screen versions of Peter Parker so Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse takes a different approach and presents us Miles Morales, the Ultimate Spider-Man, for the first time. There is a lot to enjoy between the characters, story, and animation. Opening up the multiverse creates literally endless story possibilities and I can’t wait to see what they come up with for the inevitable sequel.

1) Avengers: Endgame

Avengers: Endgame. Wow. What an emotional end to what is now being called the “Infinity Saga”. Marvel Studios crafted one of the finest pieces of pop-culture history. Where Avengers: Infinity War brought together story threads from all the previous Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, Endgame wraps up those story threads in an emotional and exciting way, closing out the chapters of most of the Avengers we have followed since 2008. It is hard to believe we will see another cultural cinematic event like this anytime soon. Love you, 3000.

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What a year for superhero films, huh? It’s probably good that we are getting a breather from the MCU for now, now that the Infinity Saga has finished. There were some pretty amazing announcements that came from the Marvel panel at San Diego Comic Con this year so I can’t wait to see what Phase Four brings. Unfortunately, the Fox’s X-Men series went out with a whimper with X-Men: Dark Phoenix. Hopefully under the Marvel Studios banner, the X-Men characters can return to their former glory. As for the DCEU, well they seemed to have distanced themselves from a shared universe and are focusing on stand alone stories, which honestly is probably their better option right now.

And that does it for another year at DMR! Thank you to all my followers, and anyone who has liked, commented, shared, or simply visited the site. You all make this worthwhile and an enjoyable experience. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next 12 months. 🙂

Until next time, cheers!