May 2018 Entries - Falcon's Blog

Avengers: Infinity War

Greetings, Avengers: Infinity War was a long anticipated instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which began in 2008 with Iron Man, and is the latest movie to be released in this major interlinked project which currently spans 19 films. All of its main characters were joined together in this picture, with a few exceptions, after previously staring in their own separate adventures. Notable absentees from Infinity War’s line up include Antman and Hawkeye who are only referenced in passing. Some of the most noteworthy actors or actresses include Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Scarlett Johansson, Zoe Saldana, Mark Ruffalo and Josh Brolin. Even though there is a strong cast of numerous heroes and heroines, there is still another batch of supporting characters who play a more minor role in the plot such as Gwyneth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts, Idris Elba as Heimdall or Peter Dinklage as Eitri. The music was composed by Alan Silvestri who had been involved in conducting the score for previous Marvel films in the series.

The plot begins where Thor: Ragnarok’s post-credit scene ended in which an Asgardian refugee ship is approached by an unknown vessel. It is revealed that the ship belonged to the Mad Titan Thanos. The villain attacks the ship, which was escorting the Asgardian survivors from the events of the previous film, in the hopes of retrieving one of the Infinity Gems known as the Power Stone. There are six of these gems scattered throughout the universe and Thanos has already acquired one before the opening scenes. Once they are all inserted into the Infinity Gauntlet wielded by Thanos, he will have harnessed unimaginable power and is able eradicate half the universe with the click of his fingers. The Asgardian ship falls to Thanos and his forces despite being protected by Thor, the Hulk, Loki and Heimdall. Thanos successfully captures the stone that was aboard the vessel, killing both Heimdall and Loki in the process but not before Heimdall transports the Hulk to Earth via the Bifrost. Thor is left badly wounded in the crumbling remains of the ship as Thanos departs for Earth in search of the Time Stone which is guarded by Doctor Strange.

Avengers: Infinity War

The Hulk crash lands into the abode of the aforementioned Doctor in New York City and warns both Strange as well as his assistant Wong that Thanos is coming for them. In light of the news, Strange opens a portal to another location in the city where Tony Stark, better known as his alter ego Iron Man, is enjoying a walk in the park with Pepper Potts. Doctor Strange quickly relays the news and recruits Stark in his fight against their approaching enemies. A space ship arrives in the centre of New York, heralding the arrival of the Mad Titan’s henchmen by the names of Maw and Obsidian. The appearance of the vessel draws the attention of Peter Parker who then investigates the scene as his superhero persona, the friendly neighbourhood Spiderman, before quickly getting involved in the fight for the Gem. Maw is unable to steal the Time Stone due to an enchantment Strange had sealed upon it and so he decides to kidnap the defeated sorcerer while the others are engaged battle. Stark and Spiderman notice the ship is about to depart with the captured Doctor on board and find a way to enter it without raising any suspicions as it leaves Earth’s atmosphere.

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie. The encounter with Thanos had been teased for a long time since its initial set up in the original Avengers film from 2012. I believe the Cinematic Universe as a whole, even though I have yet to see some of the more recent releases, has actually improved in quality since its earlier works. I certainly felt the previous Avengers film, Age of Ultron, was a lower point in the series that has since been vastly eclipsed by Infinity Wars in terms of entertainment value. There is plenty of good humour throughout the movie. I particularly enjoyed the comedic back and forth exchanges between Thor and the Guardians of the Galaxy. The whole group of heroes never team up in one scene altogether as it eventually splits into two distinct groups who are trying to halt Thanos in different locations. In my opinion, the film was impressively handled in relation to spreading out the screen time between its large cast but of course some characters such as Black Widow were effectively reduced to a much more minor role. While this isn’t going to be everyone’s idea of good fun, I definitely enjoyed watching Infinity War and am very interested in seeing the next instalment because, in part, of a suspenseful cliff hanger.

Plot=10/10

Characters=10/10

Special Effects=10/10

Overall=10/10

Quote of the Day

TOGA! TOGA!

Bluto

Animal House

Written by Falcon, Thursday 31 May 2018
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Mad Men

Greetings, Mad Men is an award winning television show composed of seven seasons that ran from 2007 to 2015. Mad Men has a highly skilled cast of numerous actors and actresses which include Jon Hamm as the iconic character Don Draper, Elisabeth Moss, January Jones, John Slattery, Christina Hendricks, Vincent Kartheiser, Robert Morse, Aaron Staton as well as Jared Harris to name but a few. There is also a large number of supporting actors as well, some of whom disappear from the series entirely after a few seasons or take on a more diminished role, such as Community’s Alison Brie as Trudy Campbell. The original soundtrack was composed by David Carbonara but also utilises contemporary music throughout, especially in the lead up to the end credits of most episodes. A great range of artists were featured in Mad Men’s score. Popular songs from well renowned entertainers including Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Roy Orbison, Vic Damon, Bobby Vinton and the Beatles were incorporated into the show.

The plot begins in 1960 and concludes its run in 1970 with the season seven finale. Don Draper, creative director for a small advertising agency called Sterling Cooper, is contemplating how to sell cigarettes in the backdrop of increased public awareness about the harm the product causes. Don isn’t satisfied with creating an advertisement based on an academic psychological report that suggests customers could be allured to cigarettes precisely because of the dangers it poses to their health and wellbeing. A frustrated Draper needs to get his creative mind stimulated and decides to visit his paramour. In what becomes a common trait with Don and the women he seduces, he has his way with her, before getting some clarity on his solution. He manages to create a winning strategy which focuses not on the debate about the impactful effect on health but on how the cigarette is produced. The straightforward but inventive manoeuvre impresses executives from the Lucky Strike Tobacco Company and is a small introductory indicator of how he earned his reputation in the advertising business. Draper heads home in a scene which reveals to the audience that he has two children, Sally and Bobby, as well as that he was cheating on his stay at home wife Betty with another woman. The character of Don and the potential troubles he will face becomes clearer to the viewer at this point.

Mad Men

At the same time a young woman named Peggy Olsen takes up her first job in Manhattan as Don’s new secretary. Peggy seems enthusiastic to be an employee in New York with all the freedoms or opportunities it provides her with but she is all too aware of the large bustling, city and how foreign its ways are to her. On her arrival, Peggy meets office manager Joan Holloway who quickly shows her the ropes and pecking order of the workplace. A large part of her advice centres on making Peggy as attractive to her male co-workers as possible in the interest of Olson’s career progression or the possibility of finding a future husband. It isn’t long before Peggy is introduced to a few of her new colleagues which includes Peter Campbell, Ken Cosgrove, Harry Crane and Paul Kinsey. Peggy eventually begins to settle into the culture of Sterling Cooper, which can be often very turbulent, and starts to dream of breaking new ground by becoming the company’s first female Copy Writer.

Overall, I was really impressed and entertained by Mad Men which kept my interest hooked from start to finish. It is a very stylish show that tackles various topics such as racism, sexism, homosexuality, drug abuse and alcoholism through the lens of culturally shifting 1960s America. Mad Men also includes important historical events into its storylines. Some of these become the main topic of the episode, such as the assassinations of Kennedy and King, notorious murders or race riots in the United States. While the series has a large range of characters, it mostly centres on the evolution of Olson and the breakdowns of Draper due to his suffering relationships or the unravelling of his past. Don’s complex identity and a hard upbringing is a core aspect of Mad Men’s appeal. It drives much of his story-arch and shapes his character with vices such as his alcoholism and his constant need to womanize with a long list of mistresses, paramours or sexual conquests despite already having a partner. In conclusion, Mad Men is a television series that I would definitely encourage people to watch if they haven’t seen it as of yet.

Plot=10/10

Characters=10/10

Special Effects=10/10

Overall=10/10

Quote of the Day

You... you've got me? Who's got you?

Lois Lane

Superman

Written by Falcon, Wednesday 16 May 2018
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