Black Panther (2018)

As a collector of comic books growing up, I was familiar with the character of T'Challa, Prince of Wakanda, aka Black Panther, mostly in his role as a member of the Avengers.  (I also picked up the 1st issue of "Black Panther" in Greece).

Movie poster for "Black Panther" (2018)

By 2018, Marvel Cinematic Universe fatigue was beginning to set in.  Nevertheless, I really enjoyed "Dr. Strange" (2016) and "Thor: Ragnarok" (2017), and so went into "Black Panther" with high expectations.

I was quickly impressed with the complexity of themes the film was willing to address.  Although primarily a superhero movie, "Black Panther" is nuanced and leaves the viewer with much to think over.

The score by Ludwig Goransson is fantastic.  (Goransson researched traditional African music, and even went on tour with Senegalese musician Baaba Maal, who contributed an original song for the film.)

"Black Panther" was the first superhero movie to be nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, winning three (for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, and Best Original Score).

Chadwick Boseman's unexpected passing a couple of years later due to colon cancer was truly saddening.  He was a gifted actor, and made such a tremendous impact during the time he had with us.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Ever since they were little, I would remind my kids that Wonder Woman was Greek (every chance I got).  In fact, she was the only member of the "Superfriends" who wasn't American (counting Superman as a naturalized citizen, of course).

Movie poster for "Wonder Woman" (2017)

My cousin Dina was a huge fan of the TV series starring Lynda Carter in the 1970s.  (I remember watching the pilot with my father in our living room at home.)  See also "13 Great Reasons to Watch the 1970s Wonder Woman Show - Ranked".

Finally, I was an avid collector of the 1980s run of DC's "Wonder Woman" by George Perez, which emphasized the Greek roots of the Amazon princess.  That's why I was so excited to see a big-budget Wonder Woman film.

Gal Gadot was a good choice to play Wonder Woman on the big screen (her pronunciation in the one Greek line was spot-on, by the way), and setting the action during WWII, as in the original season of the Wonder Woman TV series, was perfect.

However, the scene which really caused me to jump out of my seat?  When Steve Trevor says "British tea for the Germans, German beer for the British, and Edgar Rice Burroughs' novels for both" of course!  (You can check it out, here.)

Wonder Woman was originally created by psychologist William Moulton Marston.  I found the documentary "Professor Marston and the Wonder Women" (which I caught on a flight, pre-Covid) to be interesting, although somewhat disturbing.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" was the 11th movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, by which time the franchise was picking up pop cultural steam.  While not the best movie, it was the best movie I saw in theatre in 2015.

Movie poster for "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015)

My wife and I saw "The Avengers" in 2012 with friends from work (we went to Quatrefoil for dinner, beforehand).  It was a wonderful evening, and if not for "John Carter" would have been my pick for favourite film experience of 2012.

"Avengers: Age of Ultron" had more of an international feel, with locales including north-western Italy (standing in for the fictional Eastern European country of Sokovia), Johannesburg in South Africa, and Seoul in South Korea.

Quicksilver and The Scarlet Witch first appeared in early issues of "The Uncanny X-Men".  Back in the 1980s, it was revealed that Magneto was their father, although their true parentage has been revised a couple of times, since then.

I was impressed with the diorama featured during the end credits of the film (the story of its creation is an interesting one).  It evoked for me the realization that the Marvel Universe has become the mythology of our times.

Of course, I saw "Avengers: Infinity War" in 2018, (its conclusion felt reminiscent of the United States presidential election in 2016).  "Avengers: Endgame" in 2019 would turn out to be the last big movie event for some time.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

My wife and I got into the Marvel Cinematic Universe a bit after "Iron Man" was released (we saw it on DVD).  She was instantly hooked.  It's incredible how far the films have come in terms of their popularity, since then.

Movie poster for "Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014)

"Guardians of the Galaxy" turned out to be the first MCU film that I saw in theatre with my son.  It was a rare, carefree summer afternoon, and it had just rained.  The pavement in the parking lot of the theatre was still wet, but the sun had come out.

While most of the early MCU installments featured popular Marvel characters, "Guardians of the Galaxy" was a bit of a gamble, and an unexpected surprise.  The characters are original and compelling, and there's an undeniable chemistry between the group.

Seeing the film was like finding a new title in the spinner rack, when collecting comics in the 1980s.  Marvel's cosmic characters have a particular look and style.  Kudos to Kevin Feige for having the intuition to see this movie through.

Like most people my age who have seen the film, Peter Quill's "mix tape" of popular songs from the 1970s was pure nostalgia (there were always plenty of cultural references in Marvel comics).  It almost felt like being transported back in time.

I'm really glad that the success of the earlier MCU films means that we got "Guardians of the Galaxy".  It's a film that holds to repeat viewings (although I didn't like the sequel as much).  Will be interested to see "Volume 3" when it comes out.

X-Men: First Class (2011)

I was intrigued to learn of the reboot of the X-Men franchise in 2011.  I'd always had a fondness for the Stan Lee and Jack Kirby run of the original X-Men, published in the 1960s, (although wasn't familiar with the more recent "X-Men: First Class" comics).

Movie poster for "X-Men: First Class" (2011)

After the disappointment of "X-Men: The Last Stand", my wife and I skipped "The Wolverine" in theatre.  When we finally saw it, I was pleased for the most part, although felt that its conclusion missed the mark entirely.

So it was with no small degree of apprehension that we went to see "X-Men: First Class".  Happily, we were not disappointed.  In fact, it rekindled all of the excitement of the original film.  We were totally engrossed.

The picture really did a good job of capturing the look and feel of the 1960s.  The costumes and soundtrack were spot on, and I really enjoyed witnessing how the writers leveraged the Cuban missile crisis to thematic advantage.

We recently rewatched the film, together with our twin daughters (after the first two X-Men films, skipping the third).  They both really enjoyed it, and continued with the rest of the more recent instalments (except for "Logan").

Some people complain about the chronology of the X-Men franchise, but that's one of the things I love about it.  It's fairly representative (and not as convoluted ) as the actual X-Men comics, so quite appropriate, in fact.

300 (2007)

Both of my parents are from villages near the ruins of ancient Sparta, where there's an imposting statue of Leonidas, so I've always known who he was.  (We've even passed by the Leonidas monument in Thermopylae, on previous trips to Greece.)

Movie poster for "300" (2007)

I saw the 1962 film "The 300 Spartans" on TV as a kid, but it wasn't until I stumbled across the first issue of Frank Miller's "300" while browsing in a comic book store in Montreal, that I took a deeper interest in the story.

I re-read those "300" comic books with my wife, prior to our first trip to Greece (we had only been dating for a couple of months).  We later included color-photocopied panels from the series in a scrapbook that we made.

Zack Snyder's film adaptation in 2007 came as a pleasant surprise.  Our twin daughters had just been born, and my wife's friend Sue kindly watched the kids while we stole a quick date night to see the film.

I was blown away by Snyder's visuals.  He really captured the look and feel of Miller's art.  I haven't yet seen the sequel "300: Rise of an Empire" from 2014, but heard it wasn't as good (I plan to see it, anyway).

Most recently, Miller published the follow-up graphic novel "Xerxes: The Fall of the House of Darius and the Rise of Alexander" in 2018, (upon which "Rise of Empire" was partly based) which I also intend to check out.

X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

I started collecting X-Men comics after the Byrne/Claremont "Dark Phoenix" story arc, (my first issue was #148 (August, 1981) "Cry, Mutant").  I followed the series for years, up until issue #230 (June, 1988) at the beginning of the team's Australian phase.

Movie poster for "X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006)

I saw the first X-Men movie in 2000 in Montreal with good friends Don and Suzanne (I forgot my wallet, so Don paid for me.  I promised to pay the next time we went to the movies, although we've never seen another movie together).

A couple of years later, I rented the VHS from the Blockbuster at Westdale Mall.  My wife was initially reluctant to do so, but ended up loving it.  (I think it was the first superhero movie she ever saw, predating even "Spider-Man").

I had a trade paperback of the Dark Phoenix saga, which my wife read and enjoyed.  We saw X2 in 2003 in the VIP cinemas at the Varsity theater, and were tantalized by a glimpse of a phoenix-like shape in the closing shot of Alkali Lake.

As a result, we were pretty excited to see "The Last Stand".  It was a really busy time in our lives, and I'm pretty sure that it was the only movie we saw in theatre, that year.  Unfortunately, it wasn't that great.

Thirteen years later, I saw "Dark Phoenix" with my son, which was a much better treatment of the Dark Phoenix saga, although still flawed.  If you've never read the comic books, do yourself a favour and check them out.

Spider-Man (2002)

One of my earliest memories is of watching the Spider-Man animated TV series on Saturday mornings in the small, furnished basement of our old house.  (I was later surprised to learn that Ralph Bakshi was involved in the production of the show).

Movie poster for "Spider-Man" (2002)

 

Spider-Man was a ubiquitous character, even then.  His enigmatic appearances on "The Electric Company" were intriguing, and there was no shortage of merchandising (I had a Spider-Man action figure, Spider-Man coloring books, and even a Spider-Man cereal bowl).

As a Marvel fan, I collected several of the Spider-Man titles growing up, although soon gravitated towards the Uncanny X-Men, Conan, and later Thor, prior to broadening my range to include DC and many of the independent publishers.

Back in those days, comic fans had very little television or cinematic options to choose from.  Of course, there was "The Incredible Hulk" TV show, and I distinctly remember when "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" hit the Saturday morning lineup.

I saw "Spider-Man" with my wife, on a summer's night in Toronto, not long after we got married.  She absolutely loved it, and even purchased the movie on DVD, so that we could watch it, again and again.

While the first X-Men movie provided a glimpse of things to come, it was actually "Spider-Man" that broke new ground, establishing a mainstream appreciation for big budget movies based on comic book characters.

The Crow (1994)

The accidental death of Brandon Lee while filming "The Crow" generated a degree of advance publicity, although forever tinged the film with sadness.  I agree with those who feel this would have been Lee's breakout role.

Movie poster for "The Crow" (1994)

I saw the movie with my friends, Vince and Joe, and remember discussing it (over dinner, at "The Keg" in Square One).  Back in those days, the post-film analysis was an essential part of the moviegoing experience.

The screenplay for "The Crow" was based on the comic book written and illustrated by James O'Barr, originally published in 1989 by Caliber Comics (shortly after I stopped regularly collecting comics).

O'Barr grew up in Detroit, the setting for the story in both the comic and the film, and coincidentally where I spent six weeks of my summer in 1994 (well, more like Grosse Pointe, actually, but close enough).

The "alternative" soundtrack heavily influenced my taste in music, shifting my preferences from Q107 in Toronto to 102.1 "The Edge", and likewise determining which clubs I would frequent in my late 20s.

I haven't seen "The Crow" since I watched it in theatre, although I'd like to see it again, perhaps with my son (who I think would enjoy it).  It's a true classic, with a wide-ranging impact on film and popular culture.

Predator (1987)

We were big fans of Arnie by the time "Predator" was made, although given our ages, we'd viewed most of his prior films on VHS.  Naturally, I loved "The Terminator" (1984) although never saw "Commando" (1985) or "Raw Deal" (1986).

Movie poster for "Predator" (1987)

By the summer of 1987, my brother, my cousin, and I were hanging out with a bunch of Greek friends with whom we regularly saw movies.  Most of us would grab seats while a few others would line up at the concession stand for everybody else.

I can still hear my cousin's exclamation of frustration when he entered the darkened theatre with bags of popcorn and drinks, only to realize that the movie had already begun!  (He didn't miss very much, only Jesse Ventura spitting onto Carl Weathers' shoe.)

Back in those days, suspension of disbelief was easier for me.  I quickly lost the impression that I was watching a movie, and got totally swept into the action.  The cinematography and musical score were immersive.  (The lack of CGI probably helped.)

It's interesting to realize that two of the movie's stars were later elected to political office.  Jesse Ventura as governor of Minnesota in 1999, serving one term, and Arnold Schwarzenegger as governor of California in 2003, serving two consecutive terms.

I don't think I saw any of the subsequent Predator movies, although Dark Horse Comics released a four-issue limited series in 1996 called "Tarzan vs. Predator: At the Earth's Core".  If there's ever another Tarzan movie, that should be it.

Red Sonja (1985)

We were too young to see "Conan the Barbarian" in theatres when it was released in 1982, but rented it when it came out on VHS, and saw "Conan the Destroyer" in theatres, so naturally we were pretty excited to hear about "Red Sonja".

Movie poster for "Red Sonja" (1985)

My first exposure to the Hyborian Age of Robert E. Howard was through the Bantam paperbacks, starting with "Conan the Swordsman" (1981).  My brother and I soon began collecting the Marvel comic adaptions, as well.

Red Sonja herself is actually based on a different (and more compelling) heroine created by Robert E. Howard, but was adapted by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith into the version notorious for her chain-mail bikini.

I remember that my brother and I accompanied our father to the family restaurant one Saturday afternoon, before walking over to the Westwood Theatre to see the film.  We had such high hopes, which were very quickly dashed.

For starters, Brigitte Nielson was terrible (the actress who played Red Sonja's sister would have made a better Red Sonja).  Secondly, Arnie wasn't Conan, and finally, the beautiful Sandahl Bergman was cast as the evil queen!

Years later, I was surprised to learn that the fabulous and talented Wendy Pini, co-creator of Elfquest, got her very first opportunity to script a comic book after portraying Red Sonja at comic conventions.

Superman: The Movie (1978)

I remember seeing a commercial for "Superman: The Movie" while watching Saturday morning cartoons, back when it came out.  My brother and I jumped out of our seats, and ran to tell my mother.  I think we might have gone to see it, that same day.

Movie poster for "Superman: The Movie" (1978)

Like many boys our age, we collected comic books.  Every Sunday, our family would stop at a convenience store on the way back from church, where my brother and I would choose from the spinner rack.  (I leaned towards Marvel, while he preferred DC.)

Watching the Superman movies with my kids when they were young, I was struck by the mythic aspects of the film - the weird, alien technology of Krypton, the echoes of Joseph Campbell's monomyth, the overt religious symbolism.

Back then, we never saw any conspicuous product placement on TV or in the movies, so I remember people chuckling when we spotted Ma Kent with a box of Cheerios.  (There used to be a lot more audience engagement at the movies.)

We couldn't believe it when Lois Lane died, although even as a ten year-old, I knew that flying around the planet wouldn't make it rotate backwards, or reverse the flow of time.  In retrospect, I suppose that it was only Superman who traveled back in time.

I think I started my lifelong obsession with remaining until the end of the closing credits with this film (I remember that they were particularly long, and that everybody else wanted to leave).  That's how we got the heads up about "Superman II".