Luke Cage SEASON ONE

 

Taking place five months after the events of Jessica Jones, Cage moves among the shadows not wanting to draw attention,  he has found a job working for his late wife’s father, at Pop’s barbershop during the day and as a dishwasher after hours at a night club called Harlem’s Paradise to make ends meet. The night he is asked to cover for an absent bartender, his life is forever altered.

Showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker blends music with a compelling drama over 13 episodes.  As an inside  heist  sparks a war between the Stoke’s family who are the town’s top gangster and his council woman sister, the Puerto Rican gang looking to buy the Stokes’ guns, a mysterious gun supplier named Diamondback and his Lieutenant named Shades , with the people of Harlem becoming collateral damage in the process. 

Cheo Hodari Coker

What was set to be a harmonious trade between factions ends in a vicious bloody reckoning to reclaim what is perceived to be rightfully theirs.  Compounding the unrest is Stoke’s Lieutenant named Tone and his ambitious misfortune; Tone’s ambition leads to a domino of effect of crooked cops, murders and cover ups, and the inevitable showdown between the rising hero of Harlem Luke Cage and the most dangerous man to threaten all of Harlem Diamondback.

Carrying on from season one of Jessica Jones; Cage continues to mourn the loss of his wife Reva. In his journey he is joined by nurse Claire Temple, to discover the secret of his unbreakable skin, and what truly went on behind the scenes at Seagate prison.  In that process, he learns about an unspoken family secret that has carried over a deception making him a wanted fugitive.  

Each episode features a different musical act performing an entire song, with the inter-cut of characters overlooking and carrying on with their story arcs.  Music becomes more profound as each episode is named after a Gang Starr song.  Coker is careful to curate a cultural renaissance of music and the art that is Harlem in each episode, coming out of watching the series, in Cokers own words 'the audience would have experienced a full album of music'.

Exploring race and politics that fuel the story to move forward, Coker was aware of the black lives matter movement; not to the critical mass of 2020/2021, but the racial undertones that has existed for generations.  The show deposits how does a bulletproof black man change the overall ecosystem of his neighborhood? From the police force to street level crime, and the many causes and effects of such an implication. 

 

 

Daredevil SEASON TWO

 

For its second season, it’s clear the show shares a co-spotlight with its additional heroes for our lead to work off of.  The first four episodes is strictly Frank Castle, his back story, and his mission to eliminate the three rival gangs that inadvertently massacred his entire family and left him for dead.  Picking right up at the conclusion of Castle’s story the series explores the history of Matt Murdoch and Elektra Natchios, of when they first met in an ambitious solo story.  The episode focuses on Elektra’s nefarious dealings with the Roxxon Corporation and its affiliation with the Yakuza.  The remaining episodes balance parallel running stories with Frank and Elektra. Beginning with Castle’s incarceration; his day in court, to how he is freed and believed dead, to finally how he dons his trademark bulletproof skull vest.  While running in rhythm with Elektra’s true purpose of being back in New York; glimpsing the woman behind the aristocratic grin, and the war brewing beneath the city of New York.  

With a change of showrunners and bringing Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk Character late into the story, The season keeps tabs on all the main characters while keeps the world of Matt Murdock off balance as the nights as daredevil interrupts his days as an attorney. 

The series brings back its iconic one take single camera shot, for another dynamic choreographed fight sequence, this time down a spiral staircase of a building, with DareDevil single handedly fighting an entire biker gang with one hand taped to an unloaded hand gun.  This world is exhilarating with the hand to hand combat that’s not only refreshing with each encounter; it tries to elevate the game, having stakes and meaning behind each bone crunching chop and punch.  The season takes its time to draw out conversations and questions the merits of vigilantism juxtapose to the judicial system.

It transforms Karen Page with the spirit of Ben Urich for uncovering a journalistic truth from an unprecedented conspiracy; a conspiracy at the D.A’s office and possibly higher levels of government, which sees Karen pursing this truth at the New York Bulletin.

On a broader picture, the series sets up portions of future shows, Karen Page establishing a trust and bond with Frank Castle for the spin off season of Punisher.  The scene motivated by the gunfire in D.A. Reyes office, brings Matt Murdoch face to face with Wilson Fisk in prison and recklessly creates the catalyst of what season 3 ultimately becomes.  Claire Temple leaving her job at Metro General upset when money clouds moral obligations which prompt’s her decision to move back home, close to her mother in Harlem and the world of Luke Cage.  Foggy Nelson joins Jeri Hogarth law firm, and assistant D.A. Blake Tower’s social climbing in the political arena sees him in higher position of power to making his presence known from a hostage crisis at Harlem’s Paradise to an election voting campaign in Hell’s Kitchen.

Jessica Jones SEASON ONE

 

Jessica Jones – Debuted on Netflix on Nov. 20, 2015, and in the Marvel Netflix universe it is the 2^nd installment of the franchise, existing sometime after the events of Season one of DareDevil.

As a member of the Defenders, Jessica Jones inhabits the core city of New York; her region is regulated to the business and thrifty sectors of the city like Greenwich Village; though her office of Alias Investigation is located in Hell’s kitchen.  The cameo appearance of District Attorney Reyes in the final episode confirms the placement of this season to precede Daredevil season 2; as assistant D.A.  Blake Tower reveals late in season 2 of Daredevil that a file on vigilantes and super humans were on Reyes’ list with Jessica Jones leading the pile; as result from Jessica’s confrontation with Killgrave, and the devil of hell’s kitchen to be on a short list down to follow.

Season one is ground zero for the character; the logo has her name appearing like broken glass, to most likely represent her story and her journey.  She is a meta-human by all accounts, but is suffering from PTSD from being under the mind control of a super villain. The result of which was her taking the life of an innocent woman, and the violation of her own body.  A year has passed since escaping the ordeal, as Jessica uses a mantra to centre herself; an intimate memory of childhood streets of where she lived to help gain a footing of control of her life whenever she feels building anxiety. 6 months into her recovery, she stopped seeking therapy moved out of her adopted sister’s penthouse apartment and went on with her life as newly licensed private investigator. In the last 6 months Jessica has taken several assignments from defense lawyer Jeri Hogarth’s firm, capturing incriminating photos of infidelity by suspecting spouses in an attempt to gain the upper hand for a clients divorce settlement. The seventh client was a referral from the precinct, a couple from Omaha seeking the return of their missing daughter; the discovery leads the pilot episode to the revelation of Killgrave the super villain who victimized Jessica a year ago, and the revelation becomes Flight or Fight.  In the end, she has to face her fears head on, every step of the way to save her client’s daughter.  That daughter whose mind was controlled and manipulated into killing her very own clients, thats leads to life imprisonment without proof to the contrary..

The rapport with Lawyer Jeri Hogarth was civil and professional, until Killgrave forces Jessica’s hand to ask for favors aggressively.  The mutual need between Jeri and Jessica hinders on uncontrolled circumstances to accommodate the other’s obstacle of problems, though progressively rocky, their relationship endures as the season progresses.  Similar to Jessica’s relationship with her adopted Sister Trish Walker, keeping her at arm’s length, to prevent Killgrave of harming her or by making Jessica harming her.  The combination of worry and living in fear with flashing nightmares is what makes Jones’ a tough as nails private investigator on the surface, but so deeply fractured internally.  

 

Jessica Jones sole motivation is to free the daughter of her Omaha clients from a living hell she could not stop herself the first time.  This journey takes on additional victims of baggage with police officer Will Simpson, Malcolm Ducasse, and upstairs neighbor Robyn.  All of whom play a part in shaping Jessica Jones to being a flippant, hard edge private investigator, who has a high tolerance to liquor.

The series is compelling because it’s a drama disguised as superhero genre.  The flashback sequences  are sparing and does not slow down the experience, it’s a necessity to give further context of the story once certain communication  or interaction between characters unfold.  Early in the season one brief flashback appears insignificant as a standalone flashback, but serves the basis of the trilogy of Trish’s desire to be a superhero and Jessica not gripping that notion; a childhood substance abuse and addiction was the reason of Jessica’s adoption, to spin bad press for child star Trish Walker. The mother who we only see in small doses in the latter half of the season is played by Rebecca DeMornay who sheds her sultry Hollywood persona for a character who is controlling and manipulative.

The first season won a daytime Emmy, but its highest award winning accolade was winning a Peabody Award.  It’s an award given for excellence in their field of television for their quality of storytelling over popularity or commercial success.  The series is in fact a modern day noir, with themes of post-traumatic stress disorder, assault, rape and suicide.  The show handles these themes with respect and dignity as it tackles a character coping with these themes and not dismissing them as a story of the week, but an ongoing struggle like mental illness, which cannot be cured or remedied in one miracle episode.

Chadwick Boseman

There is nothing I can write that any news and media outlets haven‘t already published, or highlight bodies of work, or in-depth profiles that can’t already be seen of the late actor Chadwick Boseman.

In recognition of a month, that is used to educate and provide reflection of black history and culture, we are going recognize Mr. Boseman for being an ambassador of humanity.  On the global stage he will be remembered as King T’Challa the Black Panther.  The first king in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but his body of work in film, offers us an inspiring guide of man who was humbled, honorable, and filled with integrity; that the people he portrayed though flawed, all strived  to be better than what was expected of them.

Graduating from Brown University, he returned to his alma mater to give a commencement speech to the graduating class.  He spoke about his first real paying and respectable acting gig, working for a soap opera, and playing his role so well that the producers wanted to extend his role beyond the initial 2 or 3 episodes arc.  The role wasn’t based on character merit, but simply the color of one’s skin and stereotypical assumption.  He made a difficult decision of either continuing to being a struggling actor and finding a role that would challenge him by his performance, or accepting a role that gave him financial security and networking opportunities but deprived him of moral dividends.

It took ten years of guest spots on television, landing only one or two gigs a year, before transitioning and finding work in film. The Jackie Robinson story “42” was his overnight success story.  It was one of three high profile biographical roles he took on. James Brown and Supreme Justice Thurgood Marshall are roles he coveted and took on with integrity, raw honesty, and humility.  Roles amplified in his iconic depiction of King T’Challa, that the ideals of a man is neither bound nor dictated by the color of one’s skin. The reality is minorities and  those in lesser groups struggle with inequality; and black lives matter and the me too movement are reminders of the ongoing deep rooted issues that every nation faces.  Mr. Boseman's work offers a glimmer of hope that we have a power collectively in ourselves to see brighter and safer day tomorrow.

There is a group press interview, where Mr. Boseman spoke about a child whose dying wish was to see black panther, his response has now magnified in meaning, as he kept his personal life away from the spotlight, while becoming more self aware of the cultural impact that the role has taken on, and how he not only pivoted himself as an actor, but extended his association with the movie and his character, beyond the film’s publicity trail and into further daily fan interactions.

Barack Obama was the first black American president, a title referred to as the highest position of office; once a dream is now a tangible achievability by any man or woman.  Juxtapose, Wakanda could only be found in comic books, described as a highly advanced civilized Utopian society where its people live in balanced harmony and understanding.   Any and every culture or community can rise above its difficulties with understanding and harmony and strive to be better.  This sole belief is more commonly achievable than a single person running for office and was visually realized on the big screen with Black Panther. Mr. Boseman's portrayal and a realized culturally relevant world became questioned by millions of Americans, of why not, are we not like Wakanda?  in a country who chants we are the greatest country in the world.

Mr. Boseman’s final two movies were released in 2020, on the streaming service Netflix. Spike Lee’s Da Five Bloods, and August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Both are fictional characters and much less altruistic than any of the biographical roles he had previously assumed.    The character of Levee is the furthest away of all his previous film characters.  Levee is said to be subtle reflection of all of Boseman’s skill as an actor, challenging himself again by playing a tragic character, ambitious and strong willed, but lacking a business awareness of his own value.  Ma Rainey understands this balance, and tailors her survival on what gave her a position and market value, and protecting what makes her still viable.  On the film’s progression we learn about Levee's difficult childhood upbringing and his desire to succeed in music.  It is his ego, ambition and lack of business awareness, that contributes to an explosive and charismatic portrayal of reckless youth.  Levee as a character, works in opposite from all of Mr. Boseman's previous film roles.  Articulated in a refinement that playwright August Wilson had initially devised, the movie showcases the powerful action of the spoken word.  A contemporary example can be found in the writings of Aaron Sorkin’s Trial of the Chicago 7, which came out earlier in the same year.

 

Elektra (2005)

A follow up to the 2003 movie Daredevil starring Ben Affleck, the Elektra director’s cut provides a bonus scene answering how Elektra cheats death from her confrontation with Bullseye above the rooftops of Hell’s Kitchen.    Released in January of 2005, a month when studios feel a movie has a better chance at the box office as opposed to a cluttered summer season.  Elektra begins with a double opening sequence, the first being an animation. The animation is narrated by Terrance Stamp as his character of Stick, delivering an exposition of good versus evil.  Stick explains that this Evil was given a name ‘The Hand’; and a girl who was destined to tip the balance of power in the war between good and evil.  The second exposition is provided by Jason Isaacs as Mob boss DeMarco – to illustrate how relentless and efficient a contract killer Elektra is.  Both exposition are intentionally vague and misguides the audience until a revelation halfway into the story and at the end of the movie.

The introduction does provide one valuable piece of information, that forces of good can master the art of Kimagure.   The ability of precognition and resurrection being it’s the most powerful attributes; the idea that Jesus Christ could be a master of Kimagure did not escape me, but exploring the idea of a known pacifist and a secret martial arts master sounds more of a thesis instead of a blog; so I’m going to just accept the ground rules as told to us at the beginning of the movie.

In context of other Marvel properties of its time, the trilogy of Blade movies had concluded, Xmen and Xmen United had their theatrical release and Xmen Last Stand was slated to be release the following year of 2006. Spiderman 2, the most critically successful of the Tobey Maquire and Sam Raimi series was released into theatres in the summer of 2004, existing between Daredevil and Elektra’s theatrical runs, and as such the audience expectation for a resurrected assassin based on a Frank Miller creation was very high; Compounding the expectation was a heavily promoted Sin City which was set to release in April of that year, that Miller help Co-direct with Robert Rodriguez and concluding chapter of the Star Wars saga with Episode 3 Revenge of the Sith, set to be released in May.  The 2000’s was no doubt a decade of big budget special effects and action set pieces.  The Original Matrix Movie and the first Brendan Fraser’s The Mummy movie debuted in 1999, and had elevated a level of theatrical going experience for an action flick; the appetite for more sensational storytelling and epic special effects was in the air as both the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Matrix Trilogy had their saga close out in the summer of 2003, thus it was not too surprising that fans were taken a back from a more toned down and character driven movie that was Elektra.

Producer Avi Arad who was present at all Marvel properties while in production before their theatrical releases, has championed the concept of character to drive the motivation of the movie.  The film must reflect the comic book characters, and their 10+ to 40+ year history.  That history shapes what we see on screen and pleases an already vetted fan base.  This is why the films we see contain memorable moments or lines of dialogues that stay with fans for decades.   Director Rob Bowman pitched a character driven story over an action movie, and producers Gary Foster and Avi Arad who were instrumental in both Daredevil and Elektra jumped at Bowman’s proposal. Stuart Zicherman and M. Raven Metzner had drafted the initial script and Zak Penn took over the writing and did all the re-writes while the film was in production. 

The movie, in the end under performed at the box office and critics and most fans panned the movie. Its star Jennifer Garner was the only shining highlight. Her performance as the title character and talent as an action star were attributes the audience were positive about, and as such Garner walked away from the movie relatively unscathed.  As shooting began on May 4^th and lasted for 62 days, Garner was also in her second season of Alias while filming the movie, Starting in Vancouver and finishing in LA. The shooting was choreographed mostly around Garner’s already established Alias schedule. That compounded Bowman to work around re-writes, scouting, and preparation.  So his entire crew would shoot from 8 to 12 different locations in one day to maximize Garner’s availability.  The scheduled reshoots was clearly defined once the film was largely edited; and began final preparations in fall of 2004, and the movie was ready one month before it theatrical launch. 

The filmmakers under estimated the audience of the time, and now removed  over two decades later the film is not as bad as it was first perceived amongst the noise of big budget motion pictures.  An analogy to compare is Solo- A Star Wars story, the movie is wonderful movie when taken on its own value, its was doomed to fail because it’s based on an established story and beloved character. If the movie was called Cowboy Troy and the space pirates, it would have a better reception and lovingly being compared as giving homage to star wars.  Elektra is not too different; it’s an established character about an assassin tempered to a pg-13 rating, with fewer action set pieces normally considered for the genre. As an independent movie like Sci/fy channel or Netflix, the film would find its niche audience, there are choices made both on screen and on the written page that can be argued.  The movie is a step up from Daredevil, by the charisma of its lead, and not as over the top in its portrayal of its characters.  It’s a colorful palette and host of unusual characters brings a curiosity, but just not enough bite. 

Ant-Man (2015)

 

Making its way to the big screen, Director Peyton Reed and Producer Kevin Feige had to give some acknowledgements to Director Edgar Wright and his writing partner Joe Cornish who poured a decade of their time with the Ant-Man property.  Wright initially created the test screen action sequence which was ultimately recreated on the final product, and can be argued as the best action sequence of the movie.  Saturday Night Live Writer and now major Hollywood director Adam Mckay and actor Paul Rudd re-wrote the final script, but kept the heist and basic structure of the original script intact.  .

Ant-man is the comic relief to an otherwise worldly serious, action drama known as the marvel cinematic universe.  Comedy as found with the Oscars is largely unrecognized for its contributions and skill sets; Ant-Man in its relation with the marvel universe is a lower tier character, with lower tier set of problems.  By design, the movie won’t hold high in too many viewers list as a top ranking MCU property.   Kind of like a wrestling match before the main event, you normally place a lower tier match so that the headliner will close off the show on a high note in comparison.  Which were the case between infinity war and endgame; Ant-man and the Wasp was the buffer between films.  The film does have a broader appeal to a younger audience, keeping core values of family, with the love of a father and daughter being the sole motivation of fueling the movie.  Scott Lang after losing time in prison wants to be part of his daughter’s life and must adhere to certain caveats placed before him.  Hank Pym protected his daughter at arm’s length, has to mend his broken relationship to eventually realize the solution to his problems is really just under his nose.  The purpose of Scott Lang in any movie is all about the heist, his crew feels like an episode of the Marx brothers re-enacting the heist from ocean’s eleven.  Rudd had trained in gymnastics and low end parkour and got in ripped shape to play the part of Scott Lang. The flips and twirls over a wall was the actor doing those particular stunts.

Known for being a dramatic actor throughout his career, Michael Douglas contributing reason on why he took on the role is similar to that of Tim Roth.  Roth happily took to his part in the Incredible Hulk for his young son.  To show his work with, and that his son would be proud to share among his peers.  Douglas’s body of work is not tailored for a very young audience, he is still largely remembered for his role in Basic Instinct and Fatal attraction; Hank Pym was a character in a movie that his young children could go see, and think their dad was cool. Also his close circle of friends comprised of Danny DeVito and Jack Nicholson encouraged him as they were both featured in Tim Burton’s Batman movies respectively and helped him weigh the pros and cons of the decision.

Michael Pena is a surprising character; as the eternal optimist Luis, The van in which Luis picks up Scott from prison is a metaphor of the Character, he can experience deep personal loss, but looks at the smallest things and sees the positives in life.  That upbeat spirit and optimism, brings an aurora of positivity for the character, and the radio script he delivers in the movie on two occasions are a joy. Meaning the act of narrating a set of sequences at a constant rate of speed with prolific detail, as the recap showcases present individuals matching Luis’ speech in the process of telling his story.

 

 

Future is Now

Johnny Mnemonic introduces its audience to a cyberpunk dystopian future; that when observing its background setting makes it the first movie in cinematic history to capture the full extent of our real future by almost 100%.   Meaning the film was released in theatres in 1995, and takes place today 25 years in the future.  Opening up in Beijing China on  January 17th, 2021, and resolving a couple days later in Newark New Jersey. The events and problems of the world that did not exist in 1995, but are fully enacted in 2021, and matching a time frame of events that correspond to Covid-19 life today.

Based on a short story by famed science fiction writer William Gibson who helped pioneer the subgenre known as cyberpunk.  Johnny Mnemonic tells of a story of when the world's population is ravage by an epidemic plague called Nerve Attention Syndrome (NAS) that brings convulsions and other health problems.  Technology that bombards us is muddily explained as the cause, and a large Asian corporation has had the cure. This cure resides in Johnny's mind, as his brain becomes an information courier to be downloaded at a remote destination.  The film misses the mark on the actual representation and use of technology of  today, but what it makes is a historic landmark on how it differs  from movies with tales of the future, such as Omega Man,  Terminator, Barb Wire, and HG Wells Time Machine; all of which provides us a year and a prediction of events.  Unfortunately they all rarely predict the world as it is.  Johnny Mnemonic defies that, by not only shattering the best fortune tellers and Nostradamus predictions of our time, it out right time stamps it, while thinly dramatized in a vail of absurd story telling.

My disclaimer, the following are mere observations, and no way suggest any personal or political beliefs, just witnessing some similarities within recent events. The movie was a cyberpunk story, Keanu Reeves  is also the promotional face of a new cross platform game by CD Projekt Red's role playing game called Cyberpunk 2077, which launched on December 10th, 2020 Where his character named Johnny Silverhand  a former terrorist and punk guitarist living in the minds of players offering advise and sarcastic gibes. Keanu who was initially scoffed at, as one note actor whose Theodore Logan bland surfer persona would be his only cinematic contribution. On November 20th, 2020 in an article from the New York Times, Keanu was ranked fourth from "The 25 Greatest actors of the 21st Century".  My point to bring up here is that  there is no conspiracy with this actor; and with Matrix 4 set to be released in late 2021 by a legally embattled Warner Brothers who is owned  by AT&T from its purchase in 2018.  AT&T is sponsored heavily in the movie Johnny Mneumonic.  And Keanu Reeves is an obvious fan of the cyberpunk genre as some film choices do reflect that genre is some cases.

Reality check: after one full year the world has  been embattled in a global pandemic with Covid-19, January will see the official global roll out for the vaccine. January 2021, as the movie concludes with information behind and the cure for NAS is released online to the world.   

Chinese government and its' communication giant Huawei has been in the headlining news all year, eradicating movements of democracy in its country, the planned trial of two Canadians imprisoned for alleged espionage,  and Huawei CEO held into custody for US Justice extradition. Are some reasons for civil unrest. The opening of the movie begins in Beijing China where the cure for the epidemic was kept all along in their research labs, as protesters and health scanners exist at security & travel check points.  For the longest time Wuhan was the allege outbreak source to world's pandemic. Conversely Mainland China has continued to keep it's country vastly unaffected  by the pandemic. Making many conspiracy theorist to speculate.

The villain in the movie is the big corporation, as there is no money in the cure. PharmaKon can prosper on medical aids as opposed to blockers to eradicate which is what Pfizer, AstraZenca, and Moderna are proposed to do.

The internet is main source of public and private communications, the world has adapted to video conferencing. Zoom calls in the classroom, office, and for general business practices and social  gatherings has become the new normal. Medical clinics are common place for human interaction, and among the homeless as those who  have no where to self isolate are the only ones  found with continued close contacts. The Lo-teks, and homeless are the only people seen on the streets of Newark, The elite rich which is represented by the Rafi character are partying in very inclusive nightlife venues that are kept small in scope to traditional night clubs.  The headlining news to end out 2020, was actor Elliot Page, being recognized as transgender.  There are two prominent characters who are not the principle actors, but however have a large role in the movie and are recognized as significant players in telling this story, giving strong representation of the LGBQ community. Something that was not widely accepted  yet in 1995.