‘Hawkeye’ Concludes with Action and Holiday Cheer
By Janie Walenda
The Hawkeye finale marks the last MCU release of 2021. In my opinion, “Hawkeye” was one of the best MCU Disney+ shows of the year. By going back to the incredible Matt Fraction Hawkeye comic run, the show breathed new life into one of the least popular Avengers. It balanced character development with amazing action scenes and had the most satisfying conclusions to each of its plot points.
Here’s hoping for a season two so we get more of Clint and Kate’s ...
‘Hawkeye’ Episode Five Ups The Stakes Before The Finale
By Janie Walenda
“Hawkeye” has surprised me in a lot of ways: The excellent action scenes, how they captured the atmosphere of the comics while drastically changing the characters and how they’ve weaved together multiple storylines and complex characters makes this one of the best Disney shows so far. Episode 5, “Ronin” not only expands on these elements but also introduces a new surprise. “Hawkeye,” so far, has gone farther than any other MCU show in executing satisfying ...
Full of Christmas Cheer, ‘Hawkeye’ Episode 4 Refines Both Heroes and Villains
By Janie Walenda
Part of Hawkeye’s appeal has always been Clint and Kate’s human-ness. Despite being highly skilled heros, they are prone to get injured after fights and live in regular apartments. The duality of “Hawkeye,” at least so far, has been displaying this normalcy while still elevating the character, proving why Hawkeye deserves to be an Avenger. While this week’s episode, “Partners, Am I Right,” is a little slower than previous episodes, it has a purpose. It solidifies ...
’Hawkeye’ Episode 3 Is Heavy on the Action But Light on the Plot
By Janie Walenda
It’s hard to believe that “Hawkeye” has already hit its halfway point. After all, this is only the second week of the show. While episode three, “Echoes,” was lighter on plot development, it did bring some amazing action and character development.
The best part of the episode was by far its extended action scene. This scene perfectly showcases why Clint is an Avenger. Not only is he a skilled archer, but a creative and level-headed combatant. I was initially ...
‘Encanto’s’ Charm and Meaning Make it One of Disney’s Best
By Janie Walenda
I’m a distractible person, which generally interferes with my movie watching. My mind will often wander, even when I’m watching something I love. “Encanto” is the first film in a while where I was invested the whole time. Not only is it entertaining, but "Encanto" contains some great messages about giftedness and family that stuck with me.
From a technical standpoint, the film is nearly flawless. While the animation isn't groundbreaking, the visualization of the ...
The Season Premiere of “Hawkeye” Is Right on Target
By Janie Walenda
This review contains minor spoilers for the first two episodes of “Hawkeye,” as well as spoilers for the comics.
I should probably begin by apologizing to anyone who’s listened to me talk about “Hawkeye” within the past year. This was my most anticipated show from the initial MCU Disney+ lineup, and I had high expectations, and so far, “Hawkeye” has not disappointed.
One of the more surprising elements of “Hawkeye” is how heavily the show focuses on Kate ...
Disney+ and Spiderman and Ghostbusters! Oh My!
By Janie Walenda
It is nearly impossible to keep up with movies and TV shows nowadays, so let me help by recapping the past few weeks of Hollywood news, including the latest box office figures, “Spiderman: No Way Home” leaks, recent casting announcements, and Disney+ Day.
While the box office is still nowhere close to the state it was in 2019, it is gradually returning back to normal. After just two weekends, “Eternals” has already earned 118.7 million dollars, surpassing “Dune. ...
‘Black Widow’ Completes Her Arc in Long Overdue Solo Film
By Noah Tang
Like many other Marvel fans, I eagerly awaited the release of “Black Widow,” faithfully waiting through the pandemic-related delays. This solo film for the MCU’s first female Avenger was long overdue, having been desired by fans ever since her first appearance in “Iron Man 2” all the way back in 2010. In-universe, “Black Widow” takes place after most of the events of “Captain America: Civil War” and before “Avengers: Infinity War.”
The movie opens in 1995, ...
‘Muppets: Haunted Mansion’ Is A Fun Halloween Watch
By Janie Walenda
The Muppets are back, or at least they are trying to be. There have been several attempts to relaunch the Muppet franchise, with varying degrees of success. So far, the movies “Muppets” and “Muppets: Most Wanted” have been the most successful, with the recent Disney Plus series “Muppets Now” receiving a lukewarm reception. On paper, “Muppets: Haunted Mansion” is a perfect fusion of Disney properties. For the most part, the newest Muppet holiday special ...
‘What If…?’ Sticks the Landing to Deliver An Epic Finale
By Janie Walenda
In true MCU fashion, “What If… The Watcher Broke His Oath?” is not only a continuation of last week’s episode, but it also brings in characters from each of the previous episodes for an epic team-up.
Similar to the zombie episode, the best part of this episode is the team. The Guardians of the Multiverse have great comedic and dramatic chemistry, and I would love to see them team up again in the future. The initial team that the Watcher and Strange Supreme put ...
