REVIEW: Marvel’s Agent Carter – “Bridge and Tunnel”

I'm Jeffrey Rex Episode Review - Agent Carter
On the 18th of February 2015 Danish Netflix released the episodes that have aired on ABC of Marvel’s Agent Carter. This is my first time watching and reviewing it, though I am aware of the fact that most Americans have had the opportunity to watch it
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We need more great female characters, and I fully expected one to come out of Agent Carter. One of the things I love about this show is how they write Carter as a strong female character – she’s equally smart, and like she proved in the premiere she doesn’t need anyone’s protection. She’s perfectly capable.

One of the great things about episodes following the pilot – and what’s great about sequels in general – is that they don’t have to explain themselves or their characters. This can help any show settle in, and in Bridge and Tunnel this show becomes much more settled. No actions are forced, and the plot is much more nimble and free-flowing on the screen.

I love The Captain America Adventure Program radio opening – it fits in perfectly with the time period – and I like to see how the general world is coping with people like Cap having fought for them. Having Carter as the star, the hero, when hearing the radio program later in the episode was also perfect. Atwell is great again, and her little attempt at finding the supposed photograph of her at the club was as fun as it should be.

I am beginning to really like Jarvis, who is actually quite fun in this episode. He wants to help, he feels that it is his responsibility – which doesn’t always jibe with the very capable loner, Peggy Carter. I want to see more from Lyndsy Fonseca’s character – and she did appear quite a lot in this episode – I really like that actress.

This show is really pleasing me, even though I don’t care a lot about Leviathan yet. The characters are interesting, and the way they write Peggy Carter is stellar – this show is entertaining, much more than Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was 2 episodes in.

B+

I’m Jeffrey Rex

REVIEW: Marvel’s Agent Carter – “Now Is Not The End”

I'm Jeffrey Rex Episode Review - Agent Carter - Episode One
Today, the 18th of February 2015, Danish Netflix released the episodes that have aired on ABC of Marvel’s Agent Carter. This is my first time watching and reviewing it, though I am aware of the fact that most Americans have had the opportunity to watch it.

For the uninitiated, Marvel’s Agent Carter is about Margaret ‘Peggy’ Carter – the love interest of Steve Rogers in Captain America: The First Avenger. They decided to create the show due to the popularity of the Marvel One-Shot titled Agent Carter. Now back to basics. I really love the cast of Agent Carter. Hayley Atwell is back as Peggy Carter, and is joined by James D’Arcy, Chad Michael Murray and Enver Gjokaj. Gjokaj already appeared as a NYPD cop in The Avengers, so that should be annoying for True Believers.

Peggy is a strong character, and the show, thankfully, doesn’t hide that. She’s confident – the hero of her own story. D’Arcy’s Jarvis has a weird introduction, but quickly evolves into the lovable British assistant he was meant to be. Gjokaj’s character is very nice to Peggy, whereas Chad Michael Murray’s character is much more arrogant – and definitely a hotshot.

The information dump in this episode is huge, which is to be expected when watching a show about the 1940s – and especially since it’s about the timeline of Captain America: The First Avenger. But – the scene introducing Carter’s roommate has one awful line of information dump – one that’s absolutely unnecessary.

There are some nice reference in between the story and its information dump – and I actually thought this episode did much better than the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. pilot in appeasing me, and appealing to my interests. This show definitely has potential, and it should improve in due time – seeing as it isn’t as tied down to the MCU timeline as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Finally, I’d like to add that the villains of the show aren’t that original. Their internal interaction was basically stolen from Fringe – and they don’t seem scary.

B

I’m Jeffrey Rex

Marvelous Monday #5 – 5 Ways to Reboot Spider-Man for Marvel

I'm Jeffrey Rex' Marvelous Monday #5

For the uninitiated: This is a new weekly feature on the blog wherein I, I’m Jeffrey Rex, discuss all things Marvel.

On this, the fifth ‘installment’ of I’m Jeffrey Rex’ Marvelous Monday, I’ve decided to pitch my ideas for the Sony Pictures/Marvel Studios co-production film. If you don’t know what I am talking about, then sit back, relax – and follow this link. Continue reading “Marvelous Monday #5 – 5 Ways to Reboot Spider-Man for Marvel”

BREAKING: Spider-Man is in the MCU

screenrant.com

Confirmed. It has been confirmed. Calm down, Jeffrey. Calm down. … ARE YOU KIDDING ME THIS IS AWESOME.


Okay, let’s process what just happened. Today – on February 9th in the US, February 10th in Europe – Marvel Studios has released the following information: “Sony is bringing Marvel into the amazing world of Spider-Man.” This means that everyone’s favorite webhead ‘will appear in a Marvel film from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe’, and thereafter be featured in a Sony Pictures film on the 28th of July 2017 – which will be co-produced by nerd-king Kevin Feige – and mark the beginning of ‘a new creative direction for the web slinger’.

Disney and Sony announce that Kevin Feige will team-up with Amy Pascal to bring forth ‘the next chapter’ for Spider-Man. There are couple of notes that one should not read too hastily – Sony will ‘continue to finance, distribute, own and have final creative control of the Spider-Man films’; it seems we’ll get a new Spider-Man – but they do mention Peter Parker.

Miles Morales isn’t likely then, but, regardless, I think Marvel and Sony just won over nerds and geeks across the globe – now that Sony listens to Marvel, we have the opportunity to get the Marvel Cinematic Universe we deserve.

What does this mean for Andrew Garfield, though, is he gone for sure? It seems so.

We must note that the release dates for some other phase 3 films are changed due to this – but I think I speak for every Marvel geek when I say – that I’m just glad Spidey’s home.

I’m Jeffrey Rex

Source: Marvel Entertainment

Marvelous Monday #4 – What If Spider-Man Had Returned to Marvel in 2010?

I'm Jeffrey Rex' Marvelous Monday #4 (What If)

For the uninitiated: This is a new weekly feature on the blog wherein I, I’m Jeffrey Rex, discuss all things Marvel.

On this, the fourth ‘installment’ of I’m Jeffrey Rex’ Marvelous Monday, I’ve decided to give you the very first ‘What if’-post. The entire setup of a ‘what if’-post is different, for while regular casting-speculation posts might talk about what could happen, the ‘what if’ posts are much more fact based – at least that’s my intention.

The very first ‘What if’-discussion centers around the epilogue of the Sam Raimi-era of Spider-Man. Let’s look at the bare facts here. Sam Raimi’s first Spider-Man film premiered in 2002, its leads where Tobey Maguire, as the titular hero, James Franco, as Harry Osborn, Kirsten Dunst, as Mary Jane Watson, and Willem Dafoe, as the one-off villain Norman Osborn. Two years later, the beloved sequel premiered – with the same basic cast – and another one-off villain – this time Alfred Molina playing Dr. Otto Octavius. Three years thereafter, the third film in the franchise premiered. The movie wasn’t a success – critics criticized its many subplots, and many villains, who, all, were underdeveloped and underused.

This was to be just a slight bump in the road, Sony clearly wasn’t done with the franchise – and, seemingly, not done with the leads and Raimi. Years went by as Sony and the fans were left wanting more – waiting – waiting – losing patience. There was talk of Vulture or Carnage appearing – but time and time again rumors were shot down. Raimi was unable to find a suitable script for his story, and, eventually, Sony and Raimi went their seperate ways in 2010.

Now we all know that Sony would treat this as yet another bump in the road, march on and make more films – though with new actors. Andrew Garfield was cast as the titular hero in the rebooted franchise, and in 2012 Sony had released their first film in the Marc Webb-era. But what if the disappointing scripts, the departure of Raimi – and bad reviews had scared Sony into selling the film-rights back to Marvel Studios?

Continue reading “Marvelous Monday #4 – What If Spider-Man Had Returned to Marvel in 2010?”

Marvel’s Daredevil (2015-) Teaser Trailer Review

Today Marvel and Netflix released the second video from the new Netflix series ‘Marvel’s Daredevil‘. The first one was, of course, just a logo – and some Hell’s Kitchen sound. The second teaser trailer has been released, and it has given us much more to go on. The trailer should be available above. Continue reading “Marvel’s Daredevil (2015-) Teaser Trailer Review”

Marvelous Monday #3 – Who Is Marvel’s James Bond?

I'm Jeffrey Rex' Marvelous Monday #3

For the uninitiated: This is a new weekly feature on the blog wherein I, I’m Jeffrey Rex, discuss all things Marvel.

On this, the third ‘installment’ of I’m Jeffrey Rex’ Marvelous Monday, I’ve decided to take a look at the characters in the current Marvel Cinematic Universe – and see if any of the characters can go the James Bond-route, and if any character could switch both actor AND character without losing comic book logic.

This discussion is based on the fact that Kevin Feige was asked, by Badass Digest, about the possibility of making Tony Stark into a superhero James Bond. Here’s Feige’s response:

“I think Bond is a good example. Let’s put it this way: I hope Downey makes a lot of movies for us as Stark. If and when he doesn’t, and I’m still here making these movies, we don’t take him to Afghanistan and have him wounded again. I think we James Bond it.” – Kevin Feige.

Now, Robert Downey Jr. won’t be making Iron Man-movies until the end of time – sadly – but, thankfully, he’s still here. I fear what a Downey-less MCU means to the survival of the Superhero genre. It’s not that Marvel hasn’t survived a switch in actor (Norton -> Ruffalo), but this would be a much bigger change. Not only was The Incredible Hulk not much of a success, but the Downey-led films are the most successful for Marvel.


The Hemsworth films aren’t making enough money for Marvel to let Downey go – sooner rather than later the Marvel Cinematic Universe will be much different. Which, obviously, is why they’re adding all these new characters in Phase 3.

I don’t consider the Tony Stark as James Bond-idea to be viable for Marvel, seeing as you’d have to get an actor at the same level of talent – or his stock would plummet. I’m not saying that you kill the character when Downey leaves, but maybe it’s time for Stark to leave his suit at home, and lead a new generation of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Give Downey a Samuel L. Jackson-like workload.

Similarly, you could just have Stark be the leader of the Avengers – the brains of the operation – and have him appear in a handful of scenes in every Avengers film, and every other solo-film.


 

There are, however, two characters that can easily survive a new actor or actress. A simple answer would be Thor. Recently Marvel Comics made Thor Odinson unworthy, and gave Mjolnir to a female Asgardian. I would love to see this happen one day, when Hemsworth needs a break. But there’s a much easier answer to the conundrum.

The real answer is, of course, Captain America. To my knowledge 9 different characters have been Captain America – the symbol – the leader. Our current Cap, Steve Rogers, is of course the most recognizable – but the MCU can already give Chris Evans a break. They already have two future Captain America-characters in the MCU SPOILERS Bucky Barnes & Sam Wilson.

Some people even recognize Agent 007 as a symbol, a codename, more than a single person – so yeah, to me there is only one James Bond in the Marvel Universe, and his rank is ‘Captain’.

Stay Marvelous!

– I’m Jeffrey Rex.

Marvelous Monday #2 – Thematic Pattern of MCU’s Phase 2

I'm Jeffrey Rex' Marvelous Monday #2
For the uninitiated: This is a new weekly feature on the blog wherein I, I’m Jeffrey Rex, discuss all things Marvel.

On this, the second ‘installment’ of I’m Jeffrey Rex’ Marvelous Monday, I’ve decided to go over the second phase of Marvel‘s Cinematic Universe – fully aware of the fact that it’s still going strong – but trying to uncover the general theme or motif of Marvel‘s potentially most succesful phase yet.

Continue reading “Marvelous Monday #2 – Thematic Pattern of MCU’s Phase 2”

Report: Chiwetel Ejiofor Possibly Starring Opposite Cumberbatch in Dr Strange

Chiwetel Ejiofor, who starred in 12 Years A Slave, is possibly going to star opposite Benedict Cumberbatch in Marvel’s Doctor Strange in 2016. Ejiofor has not signed anything yet, apparently, and, as of right now, he is only in talks to become a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It is unlikely that Ejiofor will play the Ancient One or Wong, I wonder if he’s eyed for the role of Baron Mordo. If Ejiofor is in for a big role in the Doctor Strange universe – but not as Mordo, Wong, or the Ancient One – then Marvel may be looking for Dormammu.

Scott Derrickson is directing the Doctor Strange film, which premieres the 4th of November 2016 in US cinemas.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

– I’m Jeffrey Rex.

Marvelous Monday #1 – Casting Carol Danvers

I'm Jeffrey Rex' Marvelous Monday #1
Hey there! Recently, I was looking for some sort of New Year’s Resolution for the blog – a true commitment – something that mattered, and something that was important. I’ve decided to launch I’m Jeffrey Rex’ Marvelous Monday, which is a new feature to the website/blog, a weekly post about Marvel.

One week I may write about a recently released comic book from Marvel Comics, the next I may write about the state of Marvel Entertainment – and thereafter I may write about Marvel Studios (or another studio with rights to a Marvel Comics character). This does not mean that I won’t ‘break’ Marvel news on other weekdays, but every Monday will give me an opportunity to speculate about all things Marvel. The subject of the first Marvelous Monday ever is ‘Casting Carol Danvers’. Continue reading “Marvelous Monday #1 – Casting Carol Danvers”