Thor Ragnarok Review

November got kicked off in a Major way with the release of the highly anticipated "Thor: Ragnarok". I knew this would be Thor's Best Film from the Previews alone, so I was very excited. From the Hulk as the Gladiator to Hela breaking the Hammer, to the Led Zeppelin Music to build things up, I just knew this would be epic. I was Super Amped up for this Movie, to the point where I even got an Electronic Thor Hammer and Action Figure along with an Advanced Ticket. A Movie has to be EXTREMELY Special in order for me to go to those lengths. I also made sure that I wore my Thor/Hulk T-Shirt. However, I must say that when I initially saw the title Ragnarok, I thought he was going to die since he dies in one of the early Ragnarok storylines from the Comics. However, this Movie proved otherwise.

Surprisingly, this movie took much more of a Comedic turn, which is a far cry from the previous Thor Movies. Fans have had many complaints about how uninteresting Thor's movies were, which caused the character's legacy to take a serious hit among fans. Out of the Big 4 Avengers (Cap, Ironman, Thor, Incredible Hulk), Thor was the least popular. This Movie would make a change to those ideas about Thor. He made his debut with the 2010 standalone movie, which was released during Marvel Studios formative years. The movie portrayed the Asgardians as interdimensional figures rather than figures of Norse Mythology. It was painted in a Shakespearean style with the conflict between Thor and his brother Loki.The investment paid off well, which compelled Marvel to create a sequel. Thor: The Dark World took a clearly much darker turn, but for the worst with an awful villain (Malekith). Whether he is in his own movie or teaming with the Avengers, Chris Hemsworth (Thor) is most at ease when he is doing something funny.

Ever since the first two Avengers Movies, we discover that Thor is really just some goofy, musclebound, blonde surfer dude that just happens to wield a Mighty Hammer. Director Taiki Waititi is a Master at bringing that element out of Hemsworth, as it clearly showed. Fast forward to Thor: Ragnarok, the first Thor solo Movie in four years. As the film opens, we find Thor chained by Surtur, the giant fire demon intent on the destruction of Asgard, known as Ragnarok. In the beginning, Thor explains his journey through the cosmos searching for the Infinity Stones before being trapped. As Thor is having a conversation with Surtur, he finds a way to escape his clutches so that he could finally return home. Upon Thor's arrival, he sees Loki disguised as their Father Odin making jokes. Meanwhile, Thor takes Loki with him to search for Odin. Thor and Loki make a brief journey to Earth in search of Odin. Dr. Strange makes a cameo and opens the portal for them to discover Odin's whereabouts in Norweigh. Odin tells them that the destruction of Asgard is underway and Hela has been unleashed. When Hela arrives, Thor and Loki are ready for attack. When Thor throws his Hammer, Hela catches it and shatters it like glass (As Loki would say).

Thor and Loki chase Hela as she reaches Asgard. However, they both fall into another Planet called Sakaar where the Comedy ensues. Thor is captured by a scavenger who we find out has her own connection with Asgard (Tessa Thompson). She makes him a prisoner for the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). On the journey to the Grandmaster, Thor is in a chair going through what looks like a ride in Disneyland. Meanwhile, the Willy Wonka theme song is playing in the background. Everything happens at a quick pace as the Grandmaster challenges Thor to fight his Champion, who is a Dominant Gladiator. Here we find out about the Contest of Champions,  a series of brutal fights inside of a Coliseum. Thor gets stuck with a character named Korg (voiced by Waititi) who has to be the funniest character in the film. Korg warns Thor of the Champion so that he does not become another Doug (running joke of the film). As he prepares for battle, Thor grabs a sword and tells Korg the story about his Hammer and Korg realizes how much Thor missed his favorite Weapon. Thor sees the scavenger and realizes that she is a Valkyrie because of a symbol on her arm. She later electrocutes Thor again like she did when she first captured him. Thor is later strapped to a chair for a haircut by none other than Stan Lee himself (with hands like Edward Scissorhands). Thor begs for mercy before Stan trims his Golden Hair with his fragile hands. As Thor enters the Arena, we see him with a haircut and a new helmet. We also find out that the Champion is none other than The Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Hulk is in his Gladiator Hulk outfit. Thor cheers and tells everyone that they know each other from work (Avengers reference). Loki is traumatized when he sees the Hulk because he remembers what Hulk did to him. Thor tries to calm Hulk down, but it is too late as the fight is underway. This Battle was the Best Fight that Thor and Hulk have ever had, considering their history of the head to head clashes. This was what I and many other fans have been waiting for. After the fight, Thor looks for a way to escape as Hulk points out the Quinjet from Avengers: Age of Ultron. Initially, Hulk doesn't want to leave, but Thor talks him into it. Thor finally takes the device Valkyrie used to electrocute him and tries to talk her into joining his team to fight Hela. At first, Valkyrie declines. Later, she helps them and decides to join. Along the way, they form a Team called the Revengers making their way to Asgard through "The Devil's Anus". You can't make this stuff up.

Hemsworth is absolutely in his element in this movie, and Cate Blanchett gives him a run for his money as Hela. Their fight scene was a thrill. During the fight, Thor has a vision where he talks to his Father. Thor doubts himself saying he is nothing without his Hammer, only for Odin to say "Are you the god of Hammers?". Odin tells Thor that the Hammer was only made to control his Powers as Thor realizes that his Strength was from within. After receiving his affirmation, Thor shocks Hela with a lightning blast to escape just in time to help Asgard defeat their Enemies. Meanwhile, Loki uses Surtur's crown to resurrect him to bring forth Ragnarok. When Hela thinks she has defeated them, Thor leaves the rest of the Battle to Surtur to destroy Asgard and defeat Hela.



Thor finally claims his Throne as King of Asgard and discovers his destiny. Even though the Movie was very lighthearted, it helped repair Thor's image. This Movie was a Complete Joy and a Thrill to watch. Even though Thor lost his Hammer, he tapped deep into his Powers and unleashed his True Strength. For the people that think Thor is nothing without his Hammer (Mjolnir), this movie proves otherwise. In the post credits, we see a glimpse of what is to come for Infinity War.

Overall, I was very impressed and proud of this movie. My fandom of Thor has gone up tremendously and this shows why Thor deserves more respect. I give this Movie 5 out of 5 Mjolnir Hammers.

Ric Flair: 30 for 30 Review

Last Week, ESPN premiered their first 30 for 30 Documentary on a Professional Wrestler. That Wrestler was none other than 16-Time World Heavyweight Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. The Documentary was publicized almost heavily. There were Interviews with Ric's Family, from his First Wife to his Fiance, along with Charlotte Flair and David Flair. Also featured in the Documentary were Hulk Hogan, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, JR, Sting, and others. You also had celebrity interviews with the likes of Snoop Dogg and Michelle Beadle. The Story starts off with Ric's early childhood where he was originally adopted as a Child. Flair says that his Parents only saw him wrestle at least twice, which tells me he had abandonment issues. Ric goes on to talk about how he dropped out of College to pursue his Career in Professional Wrestling. Flair goes into detail about the Infamous Plane Crash in 1975. Doctors said that he would never wrestle again, which motivated him to train even harder than ever. When Ric was in rehab, he had the idea of being a great heel champion with blonde hair. Flair would call himself the "Nature Boy" because he was influenced by the Original "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. The rest was history. Flair talks about when he won his first World Title on September 17, 1981, when he defeated Dusty Rhodes, his future rival. My favorite part of the Documentary was when they showed the parallels between Ric Flair and his counterpart up North, Hulk Hogan. Jim Cornette said that the NWA was like the Boston Celtics, and the WWF was like the Harlem Globetrotters. I would say Hogan was more like the Los Angeles Lakers. It was great to see ESPN go into detail about the contrasts between the two Icons. Flair said that Hogan was into telling kids to eat their Vitamins and Saying their Prayers while he was into booze and women. However, this Documentary did make Hogan look like a second wheel compared to Flair. Hulk even said that Ric was "Ten Times Better, No Brainer". That was the bombshell for me because it was surprising to hear Hogan speak so humbly and put Flair over like that. They also talk about how they never had the Epic WrestleMania Match that so many people wanted and how their chemistry didn't always click. Triple H definitely touched on this point. Another big takeaway from this Documentary was when Flair revealed that he slept with 10,000 Women within at least 20 years of his Career. This obviously led to turmoil within his Marriage. Ric's Infidelities would later come back to bite him with the strain of his relationships with his children. The Story also goes into Flair's second stint leading to his retirement. This is where Shawn Michaels comes into the picture because Ric Flair was his hero growing up. HBK was straightforward when he said that Ric Flair is a Myth, Richard Fleihr is the real person. He also said Ric hasn't really gotten to know himself. I don't even want to touch the TNA Chapter because it was shameful.

Overall, it was a great way to Humanize Ric Flair for the Casual Fans. It was nice to see Ric's Influence on the World of Wrestling and Pop Culture.

Mike Tyson: Baddest Man on the Planet

There are fighters that you truly know are "Once In A Lifetime". Along with fighters like Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis, Mike Tyson fits that title very well. Iron Mike was a wrecking ball of destruction in the Boxing Ring, constantly coming to his opponents at full speed and force. From the time that he broke into the Sport at 18 (3/6/1985), Tyson was an attraction. Tyson's Aggression came from his background growing up in the streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn New York. Tyson lived near Bedford Stuyvesant, the same area as Rap Icon Biggie Smalls. Mike knew that Boxing was his way out of the streets the same way that Biggie knew Rap was his way out of the streets. Iron Mike was Box Office because fans wanted to see how fast Tyson would destroy his opponents. Tyson won 26 of his first 28 fights by KO or TKO. His Punching Power was like something never seen before, and his head movements were a perfect compliment. While Muhammad Ali personified Showmanship, Mike Tyson personified Ruthless Aggression. In his prime, Mike was both the Irresistible Force and the Immovable Object wrapped together in one. Mike took the world by storm when he became the Youngest World Heavyweight Champion in History at the of 20 when he defeated Trevor Berbick on November 22, 1986. Tyson was the Master of the Peekaboo style of Boxing, thanks to his trainer Cus D'Amato. It helped him slip under and weave his opponent's punches while timing his own. Tyson's greatest weapons were his right hook and uppercut. During his rise in popularity, Tyson even had his own game, the legendary "Mike Tyson Punch Out" featuring Lil' Mac in 1987. Tyson would leave a trail of bodies in his wake, including Michael Spinks and Larry Holmes. From 86-89, Tyson was an Unstoppable World Beater as he ruled the World of Boxing as he ruled with an Iron Fist. His Knockouts are the stuff of Boxing Legend.

However, when talking about the Mike Tyson Mystique, you must also include the Controversy and trouble tied to his legacy. Mike has had his fair of hardships along with his fame. Since the death of Cus D'Amato, Tyson would slowly unravel as his fame grew. When Don King took over, Mike would be taken advantage of financially because of Don's shark like nature as a Promoter. We also know about the drama that he had with Robin Givens. Mike Tyson's Armor would soon suffer some other some other serious hits. In 1990, Tyson was defeated by Journeyman Fighter James "Buster" Douglas in what many would consider being the greatest upset in Boxing History. Buster became the new Heavyweight Champion. It took everyone by surprise as the Unbeatable became Beatable, and it remains one of the dents in Tyson's Illustrious Career. Douglas would later lose the Title to Tyson's Greatest Adversary, Evander Holyfield. The trouble wouldn't end there. Tyson was arrested for the rape of Desiree Washington, Miss Black Rhode Island in July 1991. Tyson would be found guilty and was sentenced to six years in prison on March 26, 1992. However, Mike served half that time as he was released in March 1995. During that time, Tyson converted to Islam. He also lost some serious years of his prime. Meanwhile, Mr. Holyfield was the dominant force in the Heavyweight Division. By 1996, it was time for these long time rivals to finally meet in the ring after YEARS of waiting. Tyson was making his comeback, even though his best years were clearly behind him. Meanwhile, Holyfield just came off three classic fights with Riddick Bowe which took a lot out of him. By this point, he was moving out of his best years as well. The fight itself was a major attraction. Holyfield took Tyson to the distance and won. The rematch would live on in Boxing Infamy. During the fight, Tyson was getting frustrated with not only losing, but with the headbutts from Evander. As they were tangled, Mike bit Holyfield's ear. The entire world saw that and couldn't believe it. One can only imagine if that happened in the Social Media Era. The Memes and GIFs would be endless, and Twitter would shut down. Tyson's next fights were clearly not very spectacular as we truly saw him as a shell of who he once was. Nevertheless, Mike Tyson is a figure that has left an enormous mark in the History of Boxing. His influence has been major. Street Fighter's Balrog was based on Mike Tyson. Mike was one of my favorite Boxers to use in Fight Night Round 4. In 58 Fights, Mike Tyson has won 50 and lost only 6 with two no contests. He has also delivered 44 Knockouts. Tyson has 2 WBC Heavyweight Titles and 2 WBA Heavyweight Titles along with being named the Fighter of the Year twice by The Ring Magazine ('86, '88) among many other accolades. He has also been named as one of the 100 Greatest Boxers by the Ring Magazine and one of ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers. In 2011, Tyson was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame. Tyson was even inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012 for his involvement at WrestleMania XIV. Mike Tyson is a One of a Kind and a Boxing Icon.

Notorious BIG: King of Brooklyn

"It was all a Dream, I used to read Word Up Magazines, Salt & Pepa and Heavy D all in the Limousines. Hangin' pictures on my wall, every Saturday Rap attack Mr. Magic Marly Marl". With that line, a Legend was created.

I would like to take the time to share my thoughts on a Musician that was a Giant and still is a Giant in my view even 20 years after his death. The Notorious BIG was larger than life and is still a revered figure in the history of rap. Biggie was a genius with his wordplay and freestyles. He had a way of captivating the listener that very few could. When I saw "Life of Biggie" on A&E, it gave me even more of a deeper glimpse into how brilliant his IQ was as a songwriter and lyricist. During the Documentary, Jay-Z and Nas talked about the song "Who Shot Ya" and how complex his vocabulary was. Nas even said that he thought about quitting after hearing that record. That is a testament to what kind of presence Biggie had. Biggie was a master when it came to samples and remixes. My favorite song is "One More Chance" (Remix). It was incredible to see how he got his hands on DeBarge's "Stay With Me" and put his own swagger on it. He showed what kind of Smooth Operator he could be and that song exemplified that aspect. He even used a sample of Mary J. Blige's "Don't Go" on that song as well. That also shows how creative he was to blend the music of different eras and build a masterpiece of his own. You could say the same for "Juicy" and "Big Poppa". His debut "Ready to Die" was a Mega Album. It was like a Spirit Bomb from Goku. Whatever Biggie touched, he turned to gold. The same way that Biggie could be the Smooth Brooklyn Kingpin, he could also show how much of a Savage he was coming from the Streets with a song like "Gimme the Loot" and "Unbelievable". In order to succeed, you need versatility, and Biggie had it to a Science. If you gave LL Cool J a song like "One More Chance", people wouldn't receive it as well, because they would just look at that as the usual LL material. However, it became a breakout song for Biggie. I have said it many times, and LL himself would even admit it. I mention that song, because of a lyric that sticks out the most for me "Heartthrob never, black and ugly as ever, however, I stay Coogi down to the socks, rings and watch filled with rocks". That was his way of saying, "I don't look like everybody's sex symbol, but I have style and you will love me for it".

On the other hand, the most tragic part of the Biggie story is how miscommunication not only dissolved his relationship with Tupac, but it also cost them their lives. Charlamagne even Tweeted this during the Documentary. After Tupac was shot at the studio and robbed, Biggie even tried to reach out to Tupac to get things clarified. However, Pac didn't want to hear it, because he felt betrayed. Then, you add the elements of Suge Knight and the Media and that turns this into a fireball that is out of control. This was the most painful part of the Documentary. Ms. Voletta Wallace even said that she felt uncomfortable with her son going to California. Never question a Mother's Intuition. We all know how that story ended. Add that along with Biggie's separation from Faith Evans over infidelity (Tupac, Lil Kim). It was just unfortunate the way things turned out. Miscommunication tore him and Tupac apart, and lack of trust tore him and Faith apart. All Biggie wanted to do was bring reconciliation and he became another casualty in this war perpetuated by the Media. This saga was "Game of Thrones" LONG before Jon Snow, House of Stark, the Whitewalkers, etc.

In the aftermath of this, we lose the two biggest cultural figures the Rap Industry has ever seen. Biggie and Tupac made more of an impact within 25 years of life than what many people could ever make in a lifetime. Biggie has created more of a legacy within a three-year career than what others have done in at least 25 or 30 years. In the wake of his death, "Life After Death" went Diamond. I believe it even could've gone Diamond if Biggie had survived because of the Album's Quality Overall.

Biggie Smalls was a figure that transcended culture. Mere words are not enough to describe his presence in not just Rap culture, but Pop Culture collectively. You could tell what kind of void he has left whenever Diddy, Faith Evans, Lil Cease, Lil Kim, etc talk about him. That is a pain that can never go away no matter how much time passes, because of how great of an impact he had the potential to make. I am also of the mentality that if Biggie survived, Jay-Z would have to wait longer to be where he is now. Biggie's style imprint is still felt to this day. He helped to popularize Coogi sweaters. Conor McGregor even calls himself "The Notorious MMA". The Iconic Image of him wearing his Crown is one of the Greatest Photos in Rap History. It is certainly my favorite, as it has been duplicated in different variations. I have at least three shirts with that image. I have one with Biggie himself wearing the Crown. I also have other shirts with Black Panther and Thanos wearing that same Crown. With the Thanos shirt, his Crown has the Infinity Stones. My Marvel Comics fans will understand. Anyway, that speaks volumes to how symbolic Biggie was and what he meant to many people. That Crown picture also represents how he was like Royalty in New York. It represents how he watched over his Kingdom and looked to conquer even more. Biggie is to New York what Magic Johnson is to Los Angeles, MJ to Chicago, even Jerry Rice in San Francisco. No other rapper carried an entire City on his back the way that Biggie carried NY representing Brooklyn. Bad Boy was the House that Biggie built. The Brooklyn Nets even honored Biggie as they retired a Special Number in Memory of him. There was even a Basketball Court in New York named after him. As brilliant as Jay Z has been, Biggie will always be the symbol of Brooklyn. "Live from Bedford Stuyvesant, the livest one, representing BK to the fullest". I am honored just to share how I feel about my personal favorite Rapper. Notorious BIG was a trendsetter, trailblazer, lyrical machine and a World Beater in Rap. Long Live King Biggie. If you don't know, now you know. Biggie Smalls is the Illest.

Muhammad Ali Legacy

If you could build the perfect Boxer, Muhammad Ali would be the Prototype. Power, Agility, Hand Speed, Footwork, Boxing IQ, Ring Generalship. Whatever you needed, Muhammad Ali had it. Muhammad Ali was an Athlete that was one of the Ultimate “Once In A Lifetime” Superstars. You have Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson as well as Shaq and LeBron to name a few. What made me a huge fan was how he carried himself in the ring and out. Ali was the Originator of “Promos”. Before the likes of Ric Flair, Macho Man, Stone Cold and The Rock, Ali was cutting Promos on his opponents. He would also back up what he said. His rhymes were ahead of their time. He had a rhyme for each round that he was going to knock his opponent out in. Ali was larger than life as his presence carried beyond the Boxing Ring. His stands when it came to race and politics were very firm. Ali even sacrificed his Boxing License because of what he stood for and I admire that. He refused to go to War for a Country that refused to fight for him. What we see Colin Kaepernick do today, Muhammad Ali did that 50 years ago. The only difference is that Ali was more vocal about his stand, but it was still the same thing. His contributions to society, especially in the Black Community speak for themselves. Muhammad Ali would not bow to society and he would not conform to their standards. I greatly respect his courage. Ali was also great because of how impressive he was against the Greatest Fighters not only of his Generation, but in Boxing History. From Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ernie Shavers, etc. You name the Boxer, Ali has beaten him at some point. Muhammad Ali was Pop Culture. He was to Boxing what Michael Jordan was to Basketball and what Michael Jackson was to Music. Like those Athletes, Ali was and still is the Gold Standard by which others are measured by. He was a Pioneer, World Beater and Game Changer. 

Ironman: Franchise Star of the MCU

With the upcoming Avengers: Infinity War on the Horizon, I would like to take this time and reflect on the Character that has essentially opened the door for the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his debut film in 2008. One of the Founding Fathers of the Avengers himself, Ironman.

Ironman has always been one of my favorite Marvel Superheroes, next to Spiderman and Wolverine. However, his stock skyrocketed when Marvel released his Movie as the very first film from their Independent Studios in May 2008. From that point, the floodgates have opened for Marvel Studios to release other movies such as Incredible Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Avengers, etc. It would change the course of Movies for Marvel Comics and the landscape of the Marvel Brand.

When it came to casting, there was nobody that was a better fit for the Tony Stark/Ironman Character than Robert Downey, Jr. I believe that he is the ultimate fit out of any other actor portraying a Superhero. From the haircut, the humor, you name it. Robert was tailor-made to play Ironman. There have been many actors who fit their roles like a glove (Chris Evans/Captain America, Hugh Jackman/Wolverine, Chadwick Boseman/Black Panther, etc), but none have fit the mold the way that RDJ has fit Ironman.

Speaking of the Original Movie, I would like to take a journey through Ironman's Movie Catalog and start off with where it all began:

Iron Man (2008):

This Movie is the Genesis of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It introduced the Origin of Tony Stark much like the Comics. The character and story were very well fleshed out without all of the extra glitz and glamor of the future MCU Films. It went straight to the point of who Ironman was. I saw this movie when it first came out and immediately became a fan. The Opening Scene where Tony builds the Ironman Armor in the Cave became an all-time favorite for me. The Different Modernized Models for Ironman's Armor are an Architect's Dream come true. The Movie was very well executed. We also see Captain America's Shield as an Easter Egg while Tony is putting his Armor on. Robert was at his best because it was something new and original. He was in his element. This movie exceeded Marvel's original expectations and built the foundation of what was to come. Marvel needed to give a strong introduction of the character, and that is exactly what they have with this movie. It was the Marvel Studios version of "Ready to Die"because of the impact that it made. Critically, it is considered by many to be the best Film of the Franchise. It propelled Ironman to another level and made him a household name among the casual mainstream fans. This movie also introduced Post-Credit Scenes, as we are first introduced to Nick Fury (Played by Samuel L. Jackson). Fury arrives at Stark's house to talk to him about the Initiative for The Avengers. The rest is History. Iron Man made $585 Million at the Box Office from a Budget of $140 Million. You could safely say that they exceeded expectations.

Iron Man 2 (2010):

I actually enjoyed this movie as well, because of how it introduced new characters. For me, the sequel was between just as good, and even better than the first movie because of the extra elements that were added. It introduced Tony/Stark's sidekick Col. James Rhodes/War Machine. Don Cheadle took over as Rhodey and was officially introduced as War Machine. I knew that it was bound to happen after I saw the first movie. Another reason why this movie holds a special place for me is that I bought my first Ironman Figure just so that I could take it with me in the Theater. I also had my Ironman shirt when I saw it. I was 21 but didn't care. We were also introduced to Natasha Romanov (Black Widow). There is more humor in this movie than before, and the chemistry flows fairly well. To some, it seems like filler, but it helps to put more of the pieces of the puzzle together. My favorite scene is where Ironman and War Machine fire off their lasers and missiles at those robots. Fury continues to approach Stark about assembling the Avengers. I also enjoyed the Post Credit Scene where Agent Coulson arrives in the middle of the Desert to find Thor's hammer. Box Office: $624 Millon Budget: $200 Million


Avengers (2012):

Here we are, where Marvel's All-Stars have finally been assembled. All of the pieces of the puzzle have been put together at this point to create a Masterpiece for Marvel. From the first two Ironman Movies to Captain America's first Movie to Thor's Movie, along with the Easter Egg clues in both Ironman films leading to this Chapter of the MCU. Nick Fury's Avengers Initiative becomes a reality, with Ironman as one of the Building Blocks to get the plan started. This Movie shows the difference in viewpoints between the Co-Leaders, Ironman and Captain America. Though they tend to clash from time to time, they still know how to come together for a greater purpose. This is where we see the debut of the Infinity Stones. My favorite scene in this Movie is when Hulk and Thor have their battle. It is only a sign of things to come in the upcoming Ragnarok Movie. You also had secondary players like War Machine, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Vision and Scarlet Witch. I also enjoyed the Final Battle against Loki. This movie was very significant because it succeeded where the X-Men Franchise fell short, and that was continuity. Box Office: $1.5 Billion Budget: $220 Million


Iron Man 3 (2013):

This was the story revolving around the Extremis storyline from 2010. Tony receives the Extremis Serum which is an experimental regenerative treatment to allow recovery from crippling injuries. During the movie, Tony goes through panic attacks. Out of anxiety, he builds several dozen Iron Man suits, which causes friction between him and Pepper Potts. A disabled scientist named Aldrich Killian offers Tony Stark and Maya Hansen (Extremis Inventor) a place in his company Advanced Idea Mechanics, but Stark turns him down. Killian later becomes the Mandarin. After defeating the Mandarin, Tony destroys the other Iron Man suits. The shrapnel is later removed from his heart. With the help of Extremis, Tony is able to put his suit together through  The Movie did very well at the Box Office as usual and even received an Oscar Nomination. However, it was not the biggest critically received film in Ironman's Catalog. Still, it was a really nice movie. Box Office: $1.2 Billion Budget: $200 Million


Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015):

The much-awaited sequel to the Blockbuster that featured Marvel's All-Stars. Tony Stark and Bruce Banner take the Artificial Intelligence from the scepter's gem and use it to create the "Ultron" global defense program. Little did anyone know that they created a monster that would go on a mission to eradicate humanity. Ultron even uses a line from Pinocchio when he says "No Strings on me". Great Disney reference since they have the rights to Marvel. In his mission of destruction, Ultron recruits Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch since they hold Stark responsible for the murder of their parents. The scene where Scarlet Witch plays mind games to make the Avengers fight each other was unbelievable. However, the scene where Iron Man unleashes his Hulkbuster Armor was my favorite. I also like how Ultron was portrayed with his fatalistic ideas. Ultron goes to the base of arms dealer Ulysses Klaue to retrieve Wakandan Vibranium. The movie plays true to the Comics as Ultron creates Vision. Ultron even created his own army of robots to destroy humanity. He is definitely Marvel's brainiac. The Avengers would go on to defeat Ultron and his army. This becomes another layer in the upcoming Infinity War as Thanos is shown at the very end putting on the Infinity Gauntlet to retrieve the stones. Box Office: $1.4 Billion Budget: $316 Million


Captain America: Civil War (2016):

The Battle lines had been drawn. Marvel's Civil War. This movie blew up Social Media with the hashtags #TeamCap and #TeamIronman. Which side of the War were you on? I was #TeamIronman all the way, and this was the most loaded Captain America movie I have ever seen when it comes to characters. We saw the MCU debut of Black Panther as well as Spider-Man. Spidey never appeared in movies exclusively from Marvel Studios, so this was a big deal. The story starts off with a brainwashed James "Bucky" Barnes (Winter Soldier) killing Tony Stark's parents in December 1991 on their way to a Christmas Vacation. Barnes was dispatched at a Hydra base to intercept a car carrying the super-soldier serum. Fast forward to present day, Captain America, Black Widow, Falcon and Scarlet Witch stop Crossbones from stealing a biological weapon from a lab in Lagos, Nigeria. U.S. Secretary of State Agent Thaddeus Ross informs the Avengers that the United Nations will pass the Sovokia Accords (military/law enforcement deployment) which would oversee and restrict the team. The Avengers would become divided. Iron Man approves of the oversight because of his role in Ultron's creation that led to Sokovia's destruction. He also carried the guilt of when a woman told him about how her son was killed in Sokovia during their battle with Ultron. Stark is in a state of regret and wants to undo the damage that he did in the past. Meanwhile, Cap wants to uphold what the Avengers stand for. This movie was a clash of philosophies. On Iron Man's Team, we had War Machine, Black Panther, Spider-Man, Black Widow, and Vision. For Cap, we have Falcon, Winter Soldier, Scarlet Witch, Ant-Man, and Hawkeye. The Movie was very well executed with action scenes that stood out throughout the film. My favorites were the Airport Battle and the Final Battle with Iron Man vs Captain America and Winter Soldier. Iron Man was understandably angry, but Cap was trying to convince him that Bucky was brainwashed and framed for the bombing in Vienna. If Black Panther wasn't sidetracked, I believe it would've been different. Plus, this was Cap's movie. The movie brought in over $1.1 Billion in the Box Office on a $250 Million Budget, making it one of the highest grossing movies of all-time.

Conclusion: Iron Man is the Golden Boy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). From a Box Office Standpoint, he is the Standard by which other Marvel Heroes are measured by. At a time where Marvel had their backs against the wall, they invested everything in Iron Man, and he delivered. The first movie was a Worldbeater in the world of Superhero Movies. Iron Man has been the Centerpiece of the MCU, much like Biggie Smalls was for Bad Boy, LL Cool J for Def Jam and Dr. Dre for Death Row. He has become in many ways to the MCU what Magic Johnson was to the NBA during the 80s. Not to hyperbolize things, but that is the way that I see it. His presence in the MCU elevates those around him. Marvel's highest grossing movies have had his involvement. The Impact of the Iron Man franchise has turned what many consider a B+ Level character into an A+ Icon. This role has saved Robert Downey Jr.'s career and in many ways, his life and turned him into a Megastar. That is why his departure from the MCU after Infinity War will leave a Giant void that would have to be filled in some way. Iron Man has carried the torch for the MCU very well. He may not be the direct face of the entire Marvel Universe (Spider-Man), but he has been the most crucial when it comes to their movies.

D23 Expo

Recently, Disney had their Exclusive "D23" Expo where they revealed many bombshells regarding the future of Disney, Star Wars, and Marvel Comics. Lately, Disney has been racking up W's left and right through their own production, along with Marvel and Star Wars. This Expo was filled with many reveals that have shaken the foundation of Disney in a positive way. They are not holding anything back when it comes to their future plans as they gave full detail. Here are some of the highlights of D23.

Avengers: Infinity War

I would have to say that this was the Biggest Reveal of the night because this is pretty much the Finale of the MCU. The Infinity War is the Ultimate Showdown between Thanos vs. The Avengers. This story is so big that the Movie has to be a Two Part Series. The coolest part is when the figure of Thanos was revealed along with his children known as the "Black Order". The Life-Sized Replica of the Infinity Gauntlet was my favorite reveal along with the unveiling of the Thanos figure itself. This movie is also significant because many of the Actors have contracts that will expire when this movie is through. After this, Marvel will pretty much go back to square one with their mainstays that got the ball rolling to where we are now. This will be a Battle with a Hall of Fame lineup of Marvel Legends, from Ironman, Capt. America, Spiderman, Hulk, Thor, etc. Marvel would also reveal future movies in their MCU lineup. The future will continue to shine brightly at Marvel. 

Star Wars VIII: The Last Jedi

For all of the Star Wars fans, Disney unveiled new behind the scenes footage of the latest installment of the Historic Franchise (Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi). It featured footage of the Millennium Falcon, Rey, Luke Skywalker, Kylo Ren and Captain Phasma. Finn will have more action in this movie, and it looks like he will get to "Strike Back" against Capt. Phasma (No Pun Intended). The cast came out to reveal new exclusive character posters for the film. There is also a special poster in honor of Carrie Fisher. The color theme for each of these posters happens to be red, which means this movie will be gruesome. The Force is strong, and so is the Color Red. 

Kingdom Hearts III:

The Popular Disney Video Game Franchise has returned with a MAJOR Reveal. After years of demands from the fans, Disney has finally made this happen. In Kingdom Hearts III, there is a new Toy Story World that you can play in using Sora, Goofy, and Donald Duck. At D23, there was a video of Sora and his team opening their eyes to find out they were shrunk down to the size of toys. They find themselves looking around a room that happens to be Andy's room from Toy Story. The crowd lost their minds when they saw this. It was even cooler to see Woody and Buzz Lightyear introduce themselves. Disney knows that their fans have been waiting for this for a long time, and they have delivered. Even I have always wondered when they would add the Toy Story World on this game because you cannot tell the story of Disney without Toy Story. You can also play through other Pixar themed worlds like Big Hero 6 and others. In previous Games, you could go through different Disney Movie worlds from Lion King, Aladdin, Hercules, Little Mermaid, and even Nightmare Before Christmas. Now, things have gotten even better with the addition of my favorite Pixar Movie of all-time. I'm looking forward to Woody telling Sora "You Are A Toy!!!". 

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge:

This is an interactive experience where you get to ride in the Millennium Falcon and live out the legendary Adventure through the Galaxy. 

Star Wars Themed Resort: 

This new Disney Themed Resort will help you live out your dreams of being a part of the Star Wars Adventure. As you join the Resort, you will be immediately supplied with Star Wars attire. It is also filled with characters, stories, and adventures that unfold. It is part of Disney's Plans for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World Resorts.

Guardians of the Galaxy Resort:

With the success of Marvel's latest franchise, Disney has decided to have a special resort with the theme of Guardians of the Galaxy. This is an attraction that will definitely catch the imaginations of those that visit.

Pixarland:

Disney has revealed that they will have an exclusive Theme Park dedicated to the World of Pixar. From Toy Story, The Incredibles, Finding Nemo, Inside Out, etc, this Park is filled with plenty of rides and attractions that are centered around the Iconic 3-D Animated Movies. Pixar has been a vital part of the Disney story, and it will have its own Theme Park at Hollywood Studios.


New Releases:

Disney has also announced the new releases of their own exclusive Movies.

Incredibles 2:

After nearly 15 years, Disney has decided to pull the trigger and release a sequel. As a fan of the Original Movie, I am extremely thrilled to see the long awaited sequel. Mr. Incredible, his Family, and his long time friend Frozone have made their return and we are in for a ride.

Toy Story 4:

Here we are for the Fourth and possibly final Installment of Pixar's Innovative Franchise. Director John Lasseter has decided to step down and pass the role over to Josh Cooley. Cooley, along with producer Jonas Rivera started as Interns at Pixar Studios. Now, they have been promoted as the leaders of Pixar's second generation of Movies. This movie picks up where we left off at Part 3 when Andy leaves his Toys to a new owner. It will be very interesting to see how they make their transition. Toy Story 4 is set for release in the Summer of 2019.

Wreck It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet

One of the surprises at D23 was the announcement of the sequel to Wreck It Ralph. The Sequel shows Arcade Game Character Wreck It Ralph and his sidekick Vanellope fighting pop-up ads and listicles as they invade the Internet. In the previous film, we saw several cameos from Street Fighter Icons like Ken, Ryu, Chun-Li, M. Bison, Cammy, Blanka, and Zangief, along with Sonic the Hedgehog, Dr. Eggman, along with Bowser from Mario Bros among others. This time, there are cameos from the Stormtroopers as well as famous Disney Characters. Those cameos include Disney Princesses such as Jasmine, Pocahontas, Ariel, Rapunzel, and Belle. The Actresses that played those roles will reprise them for the movie.

Frozen 2/Olaf's Frozen Adventure

With the massive success of the breakout film Frozen, Disney and Pixar have decided to team up again for the awaited sequel. This time, they have also added a holiday special for Elsa's sidekick Olaf called "Olaf's Frozen Adventure". When a movie breaks historical box office records, a sequel is naturally in demand.

There were also announcements made for live action versions of The Lion King and Aladdin. If Jungle Book and Beauty and the Beast did great in the Box Office, I expect these movies to smash records.

Conclusion: 

Disney put everyone on notice at this Expo and unveiled Major Plans for their future. They pulled everything out of their arsenal when it comes to Marvel Comics and Star Wars. The Star Wars Themed Attractions are a great way to honor their 40th Anniversary. It was also great to see Toy Story make its way to the world of Kingdom Hearts. The presence of Pixar was also very strong as they unveiled their own theme park along with sequels to their most popular movies. The future appears to be extremely bright in the land of Disney and we are just getting started.

Classic Albums: BAD by LL Cool J

This year marks 30 years since LL Cool J dropped his classic sophomore masterpiece BAD: Bigger And Deffer. This was the year of going Bad because Michael Jackson himself released his own album of the same name. LL became a worldwide sensation with his debut album Radio, as it went multiplatinum and was a huge critical success for Def Jam and the world of rap overall. Young James Todd Smith proved that he had what it took to carry Def Jam on his shoulders. By 1987, LL had reached the prime of his career and was on his A game from a creative and lyrical standpoint. Cool J continued to bring the fire that he had on his first album with this classic. LL knew how to take command whenever he performed and this album was another prime example of how dominant he was. Released on May 29, 1987, this album would take LL's career to a whole new level. This was also the time where LL would start to explore another side of his personality. On this album, fans would understand why LL stands for Ladies Love as he broke ground with the first rap ballad "I Need Love". LL was still the classic B-Boy that everyone respected, but he slowly started to make himself more well-versed as he would collaborate with producers from the West Coast like the LA Posse.

Track Listing:

1. I'm Bad
2. Kanday
3. Get Down
4. The Bristol Hotel
5. My Rhyme Ain't Done
6. .357-Break It Down
7. Go Cut Creator Go
8. The Breakthrough
9. I Need Love
10. Ah, Let's Get Ill
11. The Do Wop
12. On the Ill Tip (Skit)

The Tracklist speaks for itself. It shows LL exploring different ventures. From being the B-Boy hero in "I'm Bad" to his romantic side in "I Need Love" to his savage side in "Kanday", LL was multi-dimensional. He was also never afraid to dig into history with samples of legends like James Brown in "Kanday" to Chuck Berry in "Go Cut Creator Go". In "Go Cut Creator Go", LL paid tribute to his legendary DJ as he sampled "Johnny B. Goode" and "Roll Over Beethoven". This was clearly one of my favorite tracks along with the title track of the Album. "My Rhyme Ain't Done" was a great freestyle track that showed what kind of master he was in that area at the time. LL was still hungry for more and to go for bigger and greater things, and this was evidence of that, especially in his song "The Breakthrough".

Many of LL's critics came at him for "I Need Love" because it showed a softer side of him. You could say that it helped to create the stigma, but it helped him crossover between Rap and Pop. I don't fault LL for doing songs for ladies because LL stands for "Ladies Love". Marvin Gaye can go from singing "What's Going On?" to "Let's Get It On" and nobody says anything. James Brown could go from "I'm Black and I'm Proud" to "Sex Machine" and nobody blinks. Yet, LL goes from "I'm Bad" to "I Need Love" and people have a problem. You like Women don't you? I know I do, so LL made a great move in that sense to balance things out. That song also reached number 1 on the "Hot Black Singles" chart and number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Title Track "I'm Bad" was a breakthrough single in the UK.

The Overall Album reached number 3 on the US Billboard 200 Chart and number 1 on the Billboard Charts for R&B/Hip-Hop Albums at the time of the release. The front cover of the Album was taken outside of Andrew Jackson High School in Queens (The school that LL attended before he dropped out). The back cover was shot in the basement of LL's Grandmother. Marvel Comics even paid tribute to this album in their Hip Hop Variants Cover Series where they replaced LL with Luke Cage. LL himself even posted the picture on Instagram.

In 1998, The Source ranked this Album on their 100 Best Rap Albums list while receiving mixed reviews. Overall, it was LL's biggest career album as it went Triple Platinum (3,000,000 copies).

The Legacy of Street Fighter

This year marks the 30 Year Anniversary of a Franchise that revolutionized the world of Video Games. The Gaming Industry would forever change when it came to the category of Fighting games with the debut of Street Fighter. Gathering around arcades to go unbeaten or to beat the kid that was already unbeaten became a tradition thanks to the impact of Street Fighter.

We would later have franchises such as Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Dead or Alive, King of Fighters, etc, but Capcom's beloved and revered Street Fighter was the architect for the fighting game scene. Street Fighter popularized the Fighting Genre, much like what Final Fantasy VII did for JRPGs (Japanese Role-Playing Games).

Round 1: Fight!

Street Fighter was a game unlike anything else at that time. The initial characters are the heroes, Ryu and Ken. The main villain was originally a 7'4" fighting machine from Thailand named Sagat. These would become the three central figures of the franchise's history.



Ryu and Ken are the heroes that are the focal points of the franchise. They are forever friends, but great rivals as well. They have trained together since they were kids, mastering the "Hadouken" technique. Both fighters have similar uniforms. Ryu wears white, while Ken wears red. I would compare them to Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels for my fellow wrestling fans. Ryu is Bret Hart, while Ken is Shawn Michaels.



Street Fighter went from a standard fighting adventure game in 1987 to become a fixture among friends on the consoles with Street Fighter II in 1991 for Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo. As someone who had it for Sega Genesis, I would have to say that it was better on that system.

Round II: World Warrior Tournament/Expansion

With the advent of Street Fighter II, Capcom would open the envelope with more iconic fighters that would define a generation of video game fans for years to come.

Chun-Li: The pioneer for female fighters in gaming. I would have to admit that Chun-Li had the most powerful set of legs of any woman in video games. Those were truly legs of Thunder.

Guile: William F. Guile was a Col. in the United States Air Force. Guile leaves his country and family to fight in the World Warrior Tournament to avenge the death of his friend Charlie Nash (who appears in later in the series), who was killed by M. Bison sometime before the events of the game. In the end of his story, Guile defeats Bison but he is dissuaded from killing him by his wife and daughter. He is most remembered for his Sonic Boom and flat top hairstyle.

M. Bison: The Leader of the Shadaloo Army and the man responsible for the World Warrior Tournament. The Ultimate Villain of the Franchise.

Blanka: One of the most exciting characters in the history of the legendary franchise. He is also one of the biggest trolls in the entire game with how he can easily shock his opponents.

Balrog: A ruthless boxer from Las Vegas that was influenced by Mike Tyson. Balrog was banned from boxing for killing his opponent in the ring. He was later recruited by Bison to join the World Warrior Tournament.

Zangief: A 7-foot Russian Wrestling Machine. Zangief was the combination of Hulk Hogan + Nikita Koloff. He paved the way for other wrestling characters in video games.

Vega: Another Warrior in Bison's Army. Conceited about his appearance, but highly skilled fighter.

Dhalsim: Indian Warrior with a fighting style totally based on Yoga, who can also blow fireballs. Master of the Guillotine.

E. Honda: Sumo Wrestler with a chop as fast and as dangerous as Chun-Li's kicks. He seeks to redeem his sport.

This game also introduced throws and blocks in the fighting engine. The combinations were mind blowing. Each fighter also had their own backstory, blood type and arena with breakable objects. My favorite areas were Guile's Arena and Balrog's Arena.

The Plot was standard for any tournament style story. Conquer the Champion and receive your rewards. M. Bison was the Final Boss to fight in the Shadaloo tournament.

The Special Moves were easier to pull off but still had a learning curve to them. Hadoukens and Sonic Booms became a part of Popular Culture because of Street Fighter. This has become the standard bearer of the Franchise.

Street Fighter II would conquer the gaming market and never looked back as Capcom built on the momentum with other installments from "Super Street Fighter II", "Street Fighter II: Champion's Edition". These versions would introduce new characters such as Cammy (Shadaloo Agent), Fei Long (Bruce Lee clone), T. Hawk (Tomahawk) and most importantly Akuma.

The Competition would become deeper moving forward, and Capcom had to find ways to adapt.



Round III: SF Alpha Era/III

Capcom stayed on top with the success of the Street Fighter II reboots, but it would start to lose its grip on the Video Game Crown. With the rise of Mortal Kombat, Tekken, Virtual Fighter, Killer Instinct, etc, Street Fighter would find itself in deeper waters. To keep themselves within the battle, Capcom released one of its most significant Street Fighter titles in Franchise History with Street Fighter Alpha in 1995. Alpha bridged the gap between I and II and fleshed out the old backstories for new ones. We were introduced to Charlie Nash, Guile's friend who was murdered by Shadaloo. Charlie was a new character with Guile's fighting style as well as a similar hairstyle. Precog Rose held a special connection with Bison, using Soul Power against his Psycho Power. Dan Hibiki became the resident troll of the series as comic relief. Alpha also introduced Cody and Rolento from the Final Fight games. Adon from the very first Street Fighter was also featured in Alpha. He would later return for SF IV.

To keep up with the rapid rise of 3D Graphic Fighting Games, Capcom released Street Fighter EX. However, that project bombed rapidly.

Capcom would redeem themselves with Street Fighter III. The original idea was to have an entirely new cast of characters and drop every character that was previously associated with the game. However, when the news leaked, fan outrage forced Capcom to rethink their idea and keep three of their flagship stars (Ken, Ryu, and Chun-Li).

For Street Fighter III, most of the roster was overhauled with new faces that were doppelgangers of past fighters.

The leading star for SF III was Alex, a Manhattan-bred wrestler looking for revenge by defeating Gill, a superbeing that was the Final Boss in the new tournament. Gill's tournament was a veiled search for candidates to brainwash and add to his cultish army.

Alex was a hybrid between Hulk Hogan, Axl Rose (Guns & Roses) and Triple H. Alex had the arms like Hogan and even ripped his shirt before a fight. His archrival Hugo was based off  Andre The Giant. One of the coolest parts of the game happens when Alex and Hugo have their staredown before their fight. It is a tribute to Hogan vs Andre from WrestleMania III. You could say that Alex is their replacement for Guile/Charlie as the Army representative fighter, while Hugo is the replacement for Zangief.

You also have Dudley, who is the dignified gentleman Boxer used as the doppelganger for Balrog. Necro is their way of switching out Dhalsim. The roster was mainly comprised of mutants and lab experiments (Necro) or oddballs with superpowers (Gill wearing a Speedo).

Besides that, SF III delivered with faster gameplay and enhanced fighting mechanics with a massive Super Arts combo system.

Street Fighter III: New Generation was released February 4, 1997, as it was well received. Even though it was not a 3D based game, fans did not care because the gameplay more than made up for that.

Round IV: Crossovers

Riding the successes of SF Alpha and SF III, Capcom would branch out into crossing over with different franchises, namely the world of Marvel Comics. In 1995, Capcom licensed two fighting games based on Marvel Comics best-known superheroes: X-Men Children of the Atom and Marvel Super Heroes. In 1996, it was time to broaden their horizons by combining franchises. This would lead to X-Men vs. Street Fighter, as fans desired a fantasy dream match type of game. X-Men vs. SF would give fans a taste of that. The follow up to that game would open the floodgates with the first Marvel Superheroes vs. Street Fighter. This is what led to the Iconic Marvel vs. Capcom Series. This is where players could have a series of Fantasy Matchups. Wolverine vs. Ryu, Gambit vs. Ken, Ironman vs. Megaman, Spiderman vs Hulk, etc. MvC2 broadened the horizons of the Fighting Game Experience and was in many ways the precursor to other crossover games from Super Smash Bros. Melee to Tekken vs. SF.

Round V: New Generation (IV & V)

By 2009, Capcom decided to go back to their roots with SF IV. However, they upgraded their graphics significantly with the upgrade to Playstation 3 and X-Box 360 in 2009. Most of the Classic SF Characters were brought back for this game. (Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Sagat, Guile, Blanka, M. Bison, Vega, etc) They also added some new characters, but it was the Classic SF that we knew but with a remix. My biggest issue with this was the fact that they re-released this game so many times whenever they added someone new to the Roster.

When it came to Street Fighter V, it was a continuation of the events from Street Fighter III after Alex won the World Tournament. However, a very familiar figure made his return: Charlie Nash. This time, Charlie's body was patched up like a zombie. Another surprise was the return of Birdie, who was featured in the first Street Fighter. SF V pretty much built upon what SF IV previously created. However, the biggest complaint was that there was no Arcade Mode. The lifeblood of SF is the Arcade Mode. That is what made the series popular in the first place, with the original Arcades in the Age before Online Gaming. Graphics were great, but the game lost points because of an essential feature, along with the fact that they did not have Sagat. However, I still appreciate the presence of SF in the Gaming Industry.

Overall, Street Fighter is the Godfather of the Fighting Game Genre. People that are not frequent Gamers know about Street Fighter. This game has transcended the Gaming World and entered the Pop Culture Lexicon. The Street Fighter Franchise Pioneered Gaming the way that Wilt Chamberlain Pioneered Basketball, the way that Chuck Berry Pioneered Rock & Roll, Jim Brown for Football, etc. This series is one of the Building Block Gaming Franchises in History along with Mario, Zelda, etc. Street Fighter is consistently ranked among the Greatest Games of All-Time and the Legacy speaks for itself. The Video Game World would feel incomplete without the Impact of Street Fighter.