#Deadpool2

[VIDEO] Last week, I saw Deadpool 2 in an early showing at about 7 PM. This was the first time I did so since seeing Justice League last year. I hadn't felt like going back home yet after getting off work earlier in the afternoon and just decided to go see this latest Marvel movie.

I had been surprised to find hours before buying a ticket that the early showings of Deadpool 2 hadn't sold out. It was my intention to see Avengers Infinity War early however no matter what theater those early showings from 7 PM onwards had been sold out. It's especially surprising since Deadpool came out two years ago and made some good money being a high grossing R-rated film. Though I can't say how the film did when it premiered in early showings. I do have to add there was a double feature at the theater I visited which was sold out that showed both the Deadpool films.

So anyway Deadpool 2 was a great movie. Deadpool is a mutant who is adept at causing mayhem and that's giving him a bit too much credit. You could say he's something of a ninja for hire with the ability to heal and generate after a severe injury. He goes around murdering bad guys and shows some heroic traits, however, he's not your typical superhero. You can say Deadpool is the ideal anti-hero. That is we can root for him, but he won't show the traits of other superheroes who the public identifies with such as Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, Iron Man, Spiderman, Capt. America, Black Panther, etc.

We don't think of superheros as very sexual and clearly outside of the costume Deadpool is. Deadpool is a bit of a wiseass and often belts out four letter curses like candy - the cursing we don't attribute to superheroes. Deadpool sure likes to kill bad guys and that's definitely not the trait of a superhero although let's be honest some bad guys die at the hands of superheros. If it's not about killing them them someone a superhero is forced to kill a villain to save the day.

And besides to go to another superhero movie Batman Begins, was is right for Batman to leave Ras al Ghul to die in a crash of a monorail train? Batman said it himself he wasn't going to kill him, however, he doesn't have to save him and he didn't. I felt that was the most un Batman like thing even seen. Anyway....

A lot of unexpected moments in this movie and it was to be expected. A character I never expect to see on the big screen made his debut in this film, perhaps I should show the video well at the end. This time Deadpool attempts to save and redeem a young mutant who was being abused at an orphanage. Deadpool attempts to form a superhero team that largely doesn't survive. And again Deadpool fails to join the X-Men. LOL!

Now I want to see how the Deadpool series will top the first two now that there will be a Deadpool 3! This is how well Deadpool 2 did last week it toppled the recent Avengers film.

Now here's the character that appears in Deadpool 2 [VIDEO]

ABL reviews #BlackPanther

[VIDEO] On a whim I saw the film on Friday, and not long after writing yesterday's post about the SJWs complaining that the film didn't contain much representation of LGBT people. I will add my own thoughts about the film as we go along here, however Anthony Brian Logan shares some of his own thoughts in video above.

Now there were some SJW elements in the movie and he says they weren't overwhelming. There was a mention of ancestors who died in the ocean - he's talking about the Atlantic slave trade. There was a pro-Black message imo, however, this is still a superhero movie above all. So yes, we have a movie featuring a Black superhero who rules an African nation that is a modern technological marvel (no pun intended).

Some of what Logan discusses in this video was reports - probably through social media especially - was that there was a lot of "cosplay" (and I have no idea what that really means other than people dress up like their favorite comic book character). Logan reports that throughout the nation many dressed in some form of African garb. In some cases some walked around banging on bongo drums. I've seen African dancing in a theater on FB. When I went to a theater in downtown Chicago, this wasn't something I experienced although there were people who were about to see the movie that did sport some African garb.

Logan also addresses reports of harassment and while it's not entirely clear whom was doing the harassing and whom was being harassed I have little to say about other than this. It's a shame when people can't just enjoy a movie in peace. Knowing that Black Panther is a movie that is produced, directed, written, and acted by Blacks - though certainly it wasn't produced and distributed by a Black production company - one segment of the population aren't the only ones who enjoy the movie. And also it's also been reported that some harassment were proven false.

As far as my own thoughts, it was a great movie. Very action packed as comic book movies are and if most saw this as a reflection of African culture - or certainly the best of it - it did it's job. I'm tempted to write a post on my neighborhood/community oriented blogs with regards to how Black neighborhoods could be transformed into a Wakanda (the fictional African nation where the "Black Panther" rules). Sure there are some political messages of not being isolationist or protecting the borders. Certainly in having a hand helping the world solve its many issues.

Regardless if Black people were looking for another positive portrayal Black Panther is one. Though lets not forget that this is a comic book movie. Someone out there will see this movie and find an issue where Black Panther is a featured character (if not with his own comic book) and they'll want to be him. Perhaps they won't be king of an African nation though they'll always fight for what's right.

Saw Spider Man Homecoming....twice

[VIDEO] Spider Man Homecoming is a movie I enjoyed seeing twice. The iconic Marvel Comics superhero is essentially part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Tony Stark featuring heavily as something of a mentor to this young teenage meta-human. And yes for the most part comic book fans already know his origin.

When you think about it, this isn't an origin film. Basically the movie starts after Spider Man's cameo appearance in Capt. America: Civil War facing off against needless to say Capt. America and his allies. Then back to NYC where Peter Parker is juggling adolescence, superhero business, school, etc.

Even weirder Spider Man's suit is the coolest suit ever seen and near the end he had it taken away from him. Parker had to rely only on his meta-human abilities and identity essentially concealed by a homemade customer consisting of sweatpants and a hoodie. The suit is made by Tony Stark and has all types of cool bells and whistles which for a brief time was also taken away from him.

BTW, this movie's version of Aunt Mae, I'd be trying to gain favor from her also. The youngest and most prettiest incarnation of her ever. Although for most of her portrayals she had little clue of Parker's double-life. Time may tell if future movies go with this, but it looks like now she knows!

How this film was portrayed? Well you're reading the blog of a man who used to be a fan of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I wanted to know martial arts like they did and wanted to be a hero. A kid likes to think about heroes and probably wishes they could be like Peter Parker with heart and the ability to beat bad guys.

I feel as if I gave away some plot points, but before that film leaves theaters near you go see it. Spider Man Homecoming essentially is the third superhero move of the summer. I was glad to see almost two months after a June release Wonder Woman is still going strong and having seen Guardians of the Galaxy which was also a good movie to see.

And I almost forgot about Logan which is a movie that rubbed me the wrong way. Main thing about that movie was that it ended on a depressing note and it was mostly a very dark feature. Although to be fair perhaps a fitting note to end Hugh Jackman's time as Logan/Wolverine.