Thunderbolts*

In many ways, thunderbolts* is refreshing.
I love beef(the 2021 netflix show) so I was interested in the fact one of the directors for that show directed this.
That wouldn't mean anything the grand scheme of things, eternals was made by someone who directed a best picture winner and that film is fucking trash.
Marvel finally learned what color grading is, this new york and the one in the spider man films are not the same lol. Its not a visually masterpiece, hell no but it's far more pleasing to look at.
But the most suprising aspect is that I liked the characters. I don't really like black widow the movie, yelena and red guardian were interesting characters in theory but I didn't like or hate them but here I like em because they give each character a purpose to be here. Ghost maybe has not that much to do.
The writing still has shitty mcu jokes but not in the moments where it matters.
Maybe one time but whatever.
Lewis Pullman did a good job as sentry.
Does this mean the mcu is back?
No, we forgetting that the doomsday will be directed by the russo brothers and yes it will look like ass.

Thunderbolts*2025

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I was really looking forward to Thunderbolts*. I love when existing characters who haven't met yet are mixed and matched (Infinity War, Flintstones Meet the Jetsons, Urkel showing up on Full House). However, I was a little disappointed in it. I liked it, but I wanted to LOVE it. I did LOVE the mid and after credit scenes though.

Most of the themes are pretty dark for an MCU flick, much darker than the trailers indicate. When they skew serious, I can't help but compare it to Winter Soldier, and it's just not at that level. Speaking of Winter Soldier, Bucky is a bit underutilized for being our legacy character, and I think it's weird that he has become a politician. The tone did work well for Yelena (5 stars and a heart for her) and Sentry though.

On the flip side, only Yelena's comedy moments landed consistently for me. I liked Red Guardian a lot in Black Widow, and it was hit or miss for me here.

Overall, it does feel like an older MCU movie though. We know almost all of the characters. The plot ties into several prior installments. The end credit scene relates to something that's actually happening soon in the same universe. And also I really love Yelena, so much.

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Thunderbolts*2025

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