Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Doctor Strange and a girl who can travel between worlds fight together against threats from other dimensions, including other versions of the doctor.

'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' is the logical follow-up of the entanglements caused by Spiderman and the playing around with changing events that have already happened. Full of ridiculous notions as usual, much less special than the first film dedicated to the main hero, the latest production gains a lot from the horror influence from director Sam Raimi, but not incredibly much.

Director:  Sam Raimi     

With: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong

Rating: 8/10

Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Wonder Woman must fight against the consequences of the power of an ancient wish-granting artifact.

'Wonder Woman 1984' is probably the last film in the series, not very seriously made and yet entertaining. Kristen Wiig seems to be playing herself and Pedro Pascal seems to be having a lot of fun. Gal Gadot is obviously very serious.

Director:  Patty Jenkins     

With: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal

Rating: 7/10

The Umbrella Academy (2019–2023)

A family of superpowered individuals reunite after the death of their father.

"The Umbrella Academy" is a fantasy, adventure, action series, mixed with some comedy and quirkiness. The graphic novel origins are felt at every step, and the charm of the whole is based on the character building and their interaction. With a much more interesting first season, when the mystery and the unknown can be used as a promising asset, the rest of the seasons remain intriguing enough to continue watching.

Director:  Jeremy Webb and others

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Steve Blackman, Jeremy Slater   

Duration:  4 (3 released so far, 1 to go this year) seasons of 10 episodes (1 hour each)   

With: Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Ritu Arya, Colm Feore, Kate Walsh, Yusuf Gatewood, Cameron Britton, Mary J. Blige, Jordan Claire Robbins

Rating: 8/10

Venom: Let There Be Carnage (2021)

Eddie Brock becomes involved in news about a serial killer who ends up infected by Venom when the journalist visits him, thus giving birth to Carnage.

'Venom: Let There Be Carnage' is a continuation of Venom's story from the first film, still starring Tom Hardy, but under the direction of Andy Serkis this time. The film remains entertaining, but our expectations are somehow deflated, especially due to the presence of Woddy Harrelson, which you almost forget was added to the cast. And Naomie Harris's character could have been better exploited.

Regia:  Andy Serkis      

Cu: Tom Hardy, Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, Naomie Harris

Rating: 7/10

The Punisher (2017-2019)

The Punisher is a veteran whose family's killing turned him into an effective vigilante.

'The Punisher' is arguably the best TV series in the Marvel Universe. It is bloodier, darker, and with a much more cloudy and ever-changing line between good and evil. It offers a series of complex and fascinating characters (Castle and Madani at least), and human intrigues that make sense in both conception and reaction. It overlaps with the rest of the MCU series made by Netflix, but it can definitely be enjoyed on its own without any concern.

Director:  Jim O'Hanlon and others   

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Steve Lightfoot   

Duration:  2 seasons of 13 episodes (53 minute s each)   

Cu: Jon Bernthal, Amber Rose Revah, Ben Barnes, Jason R. Moore, Josh Stewart, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Giorgia Whigham

Rating: 9/10

The Defenders (2017)

The Hand becomes the common enemy of a team formed of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and The Iron Fist.

'The Defenders' was a one-season-only event series, which probably aimed to familiarize fans of the 4 source series with the untried material. It's basically a sequel to 'Daredevil' and Jessica, Danny and Luke just help him fight a common enemy. In terms of style, it does not deviate from the mother series, and the plot is very similar too. It doesn't offer many surprises but it remains entertaining and is important for the introduction of season 3 of Daredevil.

Director:  S.J. Clarkson and others   

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Douglas Petrie, Marco Ramirez   

Duration:  1 season of 8 episodes (50 minutes each)   

With: Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, Finn Jones

Rating: 8/10

The Suicide Squad (2021)

The Corto Maltese Island is the location of the latest mission of Task Force X, composed of supervillains under the control of the American government.

'The Suicide Squad' is the sequel to film with a very similar name that had quite a negative reception in 2016. With fresh energy that includes only two of the pseudo-heroes from the first film (Harley Quinn and Colonel Flag), this film rewrites the story of the first one in a very similar way, namely with an over-the-top style, an absurdist context, characters who keep their comic-based essence and the in-your-face intention to show that the lack of realism of the first film was entirely intentional and not just an ignorant accident.

Director:  James Gunn    

With: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Nathan Fillion

Rating: 8/10

Daredevil (2015–2018)

Matt Murdock is Daredevil, a blind lawyer who turns into a vigilante at night.

'Daredevil' is the series based on the Marvel universe that helped give birth to the MCU TV movement, now with its own streaming service. With many action and characters' crossovers with the other series in the same family, 'Daredevil' works well on its own, has interesting intrigues, a worthy villain and very well choreographed fight scenes. The only downsides are the occasional dragged and filler episodes at the beginning of each season, just until the viewers get a full feel of the new plot setup.

Director:  Phil Abraham and others

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Drew Goddard   

Duration:  3 seasons of 13 episodes (54 minutes each)   

With: Charlie Cox, Vincent D'Onofrio, Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Rosario Dawson, Jon Bernthal, Ayelet Zurer, Wilson Bethel, Elodie Yung

Rating: 8/10

Hellboy (2019)

Hellboy has to confront an ancient witch at the same time having to face various unexpected obstacles and secrets that concern him.

Just 11 years after the last installation of an adventure featuring Hellboy under the guide of Guillermo del Toro, the current Hellboy wants to be a fresh approach for the new generation of fans (a generation that eats Stranger Things for breakfast ...). Trying to follow a recipe that should work currently, the makers are borrowing David Harbor from the aforementioned ST to take over from Ron Perlman, they use Ian McShane as a ... lucky coin (Deadwood, American Gods, Jon Wick, GoT), they task Neil Marshall (a master of horror: The Descent, Dog Soldiers) with the direction and they throw in an overfilled mixture of mythological figures to only half succeed in their goal. The horror elements are well done, the special effects too, the proportion of gore and fantasy versus humor are reversed compared to the film's predecessors, but the story suffers from overloading, probably to overcompensate the main narrative's slowness and lack of engagement.

Better than it's being given credit for in most of the box office ranks, Hellboy tried to do too much.

Director: Neill Marshall

Featuring: David Harbor, Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Sophie Okonedo, Thomas Haden Church, Daniel Dae Kim

P.S.: Lost fans will be pleased to see Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) amongst the cast.

Aquaman (2018)

Aquaman - already established as the well-known hero - is introduced more closely to the underwater world Atlantis, which represents half of his origin in order to avoid a devastating war.

The action follows that of Justice League. It's a film full of special effects as expected, but some of very good quality. The underwater scenes are often fascinating with the voices of the characters accompanied by a credible echo and the hair always in motion due to the water currents. Otherwise, it is not boring, it's visually pleasing, but with poor dialogue and filled with clichés and sentimentality. Nicole Kidman is totally not in her element.

Directed by: James Wan

Featuring: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Nicole Kidman, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren

The Boys (2019-)

In an alternate universe in which superpowered people are commonplace, a group of rebels fight to reveal the evil acts of the most popular superhero group.

A little satirical, very bloody, at times comical, The Boys manages to be something original in a sea of superhero productions. It shows them in a new light, which finally actually makes sense: they are people with unusual abilities that have developed and adapted in a particular way precisely because of these powers and because of the scientific context in which they might have been raised and things are no longer only in black and white. They're a wonderful grey, entertaining and devoid of even the shortest moment of boredom.

For those surprised that Simon Pegg has a small and insignificant role: he is happy to appear in any role because it was his long-standing desire to get The Boys adapted.

And fun fact: Jack Quaid (the pseudo main character) is the son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.

And even more: Eric Kripke is the one who gave us Supernatural.

Creator: Eric Kripke, Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen

Featuring: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Erin Moriarty, Antony Starr, Chace Crawford, Elisabeth Shue, Jennifer Esposito, Simon Pegg

Surrogates (2009) si Gamer (2009)

Surrogates (2009) - actiune SF intr-un viitor putin probabil, dar exagerat tocmai pentru a evidentia pericolul utilizarii in exces a mijloacelor de socializare online prezente in realitatea curenta. Actiune si dinamism mediocre, paradoxal pentru un film cu Bruce Willis, dar vizual este bine realizat amintind putin intr-un ton oarecum amuzant de atmosfera creata in Barbie Girl al lui Aqua, probabil aceasta fiind influenta a faptului ca este inca un film bazat pe un graphic novel.

Tot ce pot sa spun e ca dupa atatia ani, prezenta lui Bruce Willis in lista de cast inca ma face sa urmaresc un film, indiferent de eventualele turnoff-uri usor de depistat dinainte.

Regia: Jonathan Mostow
Scenariul: Michael Ferris si John D. Brancato(scenariu);Robert Venditti si Brett Weldele    (graphic novel)
Cu:Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike

Gamer (2009) - cu o idee care pana la un anume punct pare sa se suprapuna cu cea a filmului mai sus amintit, reuseste sa se distinga de acesta printr-o actiune mult mai exploziva si violenta exagerata care pe alocuri aminteste de Crank dar fara inteligenta subtila a aceluia (da am spus inteligenta subtila vorbind de Crank!), dar tocmai pentru ca aici se urmareste mai degraba influenta jocurilor violente sau doar de simulare a societatii in viata de zi cu zi, si tentatia puterii si a dorintei de manipulare cauzate de acestea. Gerard Butler e... Gerard Butler, dar aici impresionanta este prestatia lui Michael C. Hall, care in sfarsit patrunde in lumea profiturilor uriase, dupa ce realitatea TV a cucerit-o de ceva timp.

Regia:Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Scenariul:Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor
Cu: Gerard Butler, Michael C. Hall, Amber Valletta, Kyra Sedgwick, Alison Lohman