Jurassic World Dominion: The Real Dinosaurs were the Friends We Made along the Way

I like dinosaurs. The Land Before Time was one of my favorite movies growing up. My wife, though, absolutely loves Jurassic Park. She also loves all the subsequent sequels. I do too, but I’m not the afficionado that she is. She has seen every movie, multiple times with the original three, and so I’ve been able to piggyback on her appreciation for these great movies. The Jurassic World trilogy has its problems, though its not without its great moments either. I hope to address all of those in this review. Some spoilers ahead.

Jurassic World: Dominion is the third movie in a Jurassic World trilogy, centered around Bryce Dallas Howard’s character Claire Dearing, and Chris Pratt’s character Owen Grady. There are some characters from the trilogy that reappear, but there are a lot of new characters in this film, as well as a lot of returning characters from the original Jurassic Park films, especially Dr. Ellie Sattler and Dr. Alan Grant (played by Laura Dern and Sam Niell), Dr. Malcom (Jeff Goldblum), Dr. Wu (BD Wong), and Dr. Lewis Dodgson, the Tim Cook-esque now CEO of the new genetics company Biosyn, who was also the same character that hired Dennis Nedry in the first film to steal embryos from the park (Dr. Dodgson is now played by Campbell Scott instead of Cameron Thor).

This movie is extremely ambitious. It tries to wrap up plotlines from not only the previous two films, but from the original three also. Fallen Kingdom in particular introduced a very large amount of retconned backstory where we are introduced to the “other founder” of Jurassic Park, Benjamin Lockwood, and his granddaughter, a clone of her mother, Maisie Lockwood (played by Isabella Sermon). Maisie has a lot of angst about her being a clone, which is addressed in Jurassic World: Dominion. We also witness the ramifications of the end of Fallen Kingdom, where we see the consequences of letting dinosaurs roam free across the earth. Finally, it introduces new plotlines involving the dinosaur black market, greenpeace-esque initiatives to free dinosaurs from captivity, whether dinosaurs and humans can coexist, and also introduces us to the problem of a locust horde that is eating all the world’s food. There is a lot to wrap up, but the plot itself is a little convoluted to summarize adequately. This movie was extremely ambitious, and its effort both succeeded and fell flat.

For the good, this movie has some really powerful moments that recall the awe and the terror and the thrills of the first Jurassic Park film. Early on in Dominion we have a moment with an Apatosaurus, which brought a more intimate take on the first time we see Brachiosaurus in the first movie. That was a special moment for me. When dinosaurs are let loose from the black market in Malta, the terror of being chased by trained Atrociraptors and the gruesome scenes of people being eaten (in particular, the scooter guy being eaten by Allosaurus) was a thrilling part of the movie. Later, there was an absolutely chilling part of the film where, after a plane crash, Claire has to try to escape quietly from a Therizinosaurus, an extremely large, territorial, and dangerous herbivore that can kill in one swipe of its giant claws. She has to crawl on her belly as quietly as possible while the beast trails behind her, and she has to crawl into a pond and hold her breath until the dinosaur loses interest. This moment was so tense. Later, we have to deal with a Giganotosaurus, which evokes some of the most terrifying moments of being hunted by the Tyrannosaurus Rex in the first film. Lastly, the showdown between the T-Rex, the Giga, and the Theri at the very end of the film, was a fantastic showdown. Even some of the backstory of the Lockwoods, and Maisie understanding her origin, helps tie down things that were left unclear or hanging. There is a lot of character background that is developed, but there are also a lot of dinosaurs in this movie, and a lot of callbacks to what has been done before.

That said, that ambition, that potentially massive premise, and some of that fan service for the old films, all of which showed so much promise for this final Jurassic World film, actually made it eat itself a little. The plot is never able to rest on points for long. The locust swarm seems more of a contrivance than a real threat, even if we’re told about it and we see one small part of it in Texas in one scene. We don’t get very much of how the rest of the world is handling dinosaurs outside of the black market in Malta, because we have so many storylines from the main characters to deal with. We don’t even get that much time to develop each character’s story, since they must be in peril for most of the film, and explaining backstory or plot for the rest. The screen time of the dinosaurs also suffers for this, but only because of where the focus of the plot is centered. It was a joy to be able to relive moments with old characters, and for them to interact with the new ones, but those moments didn’t last long enough.

Which is my main critique of this film: what was good, we didn’t have enough of, and we spent too much time having to set up multiple things for them to have an adequate payoff and still fit inside a two and a half hour movie. I’ll say it again: this is a two and a half hour long movie, and it still didn’t have time to fulfill everything properly. In my mind, the Biosyn facility would have been an amazing place to have to hide from raptors or other small predators. Seeing dinosaurs in the snow was cool, but fleeting. The three-way fight between the giant territorial dinosaurs was so cool, but so short that it felt underwhelming. The stakes felt low, because the main characters never really lost anything. This movie had so much potential, and it came so close to living up to it.

All in all, would I recommend Jurassic World: Dominion? You know, even after all that fell short, and some of the forced, preachy moments about dinosaurs living in harmony with people, which seemed contradicted by three quarters of the movie, I still am brought back to those special moments. The baby Nasutoceratops, the Apatosaurus, the relationship with the two Velociraptors Blue and Beta, the terrifying moments with T-rex, Giganotosaurus, Therizinosaurus, seeing the old cast with the new: even with all the ambition tying it down, it still manages to capture the magic. Like an animal in captivity, we see some of the magnificence of the creature, but never its full potential. Which, ironically, is the opposite of what the movie should have been about: letting the dinosaurs live freely, finally. Still, I’d come back to see it again, even if I have to look past some things. It still has some of the magic, which is why audiences received it better than the critics. If you love Jurassic Park, this is something you have to see. If not, well, I think you’ll at least find a few things you’ll really like. 

Ms. Marvel Amazing?

 

I was hesitant to watch Ms. Marvel because I was getting tired of watching Marvel shows/movies since finishing Spiderman No Way Home, however I was surprised how much I enjoyed this show. In my opinion this is the best Marvel show that I have seen on Disney+.

If you are debating if you should watch this show I understand. It doesn’t seem intriguing as some of the other marvel products but let me give you a list of reasons why you should watch it.

1. The cast is mostly Pakistanis playing Pakistanis.
2. This is the first marvel superhero that is Pakistani.
3. The main character has an imagination that is realistic for a teenager.
   
4. The show centers around family relations, family history, and community.
5. The story is about redemption and forgiveness.

Cons:

Even though I'm not a part of the culture, the one thing that I was mostly worried about was the betrayal of Islamic beliefs in the show especially after watching the first two episodes. In the second episode Kamala goes to church and hints how the church treats women poorly. This is a BIG mistake on Disney’s part. This is the first superhero that has Muslim beliefs and, in my opinion, Disney should be respectful of that. Instead of trying to change the Muslim religion, Disney needs to focus on changing the viewers perspective of the Islamic religion and help us learn more about it even though this is a fictional story. That scene almost made me quite watching the show; I am glad that I didn’t because Ms. Marvel redeems its religious integrity especially when the leader goes out of his way to protect those who are not part of his congregation. This is my only complaint about the show.

Pros:

The family dynamics are perfect. I believe this is the first Disney superhero that doesn’t have a tragic backstory. All her family members are alive and supportive. The older brother, Amir, was the highlight of the show for me. I believed they were siblings because of how well they bother each other yet care for the other. My favorite scene happened in the last episode when Kamala is at the school planning to protect her friend Amir shows up out of nowhere even though the school is locked to help Kamala because their mom told him to do so. I was laughing at that scene. I also enjoyed Yusuf as well. He is not tech-savvy and it played well for the big reveal when Kamala tells her family that she is Ms. Marvel. I don’t want to spoil this funny scene, but it made me feel that they are a typical family. Finally, we have Muneeba, the mother. Kamala and Muneeba didn’t have a great relationship at the beginning of the show but as the story progresses the respect each other grows. I admire that Muneeba supports her daughter to being a hero even though she may worry about her safety.

Since this takes place in high school there must be stereotypical drama between the popular kid and the protagonist, right? Well in this show they did it with a twist and it was brilliant. Zoe is the popular girl who used to be friends with Kamala, but as they grew up they stopped hanging out and their priorities differ but they never became enemies. They still have similar passions (being fans of Captain Marvel) but they are just distant with each other. I liked that Zoe figures out Kamala’s secret and keeps it from the antagonist--- the department of damage and control (who are trying to capture Kamala). Zoe becomes a fan of Ms. Marvel and does what she can to help her out the best way that she can even if she has to put herself in danger.  

I have explained some of my favorite scenes but there is one more that I really liked that I want to share in this post. The antagonists were the Department of Damage Control and they are after mutants like Kamala (I think it is hinting towards an X-Men reference? If so, I'm for it!) and at the climax of the final episode they were close to capturing her, but the Pakistan community joined together with the police to protect Ms. Marvel. Instead of a message about them vs. us, this scene showed that we can stand united. I believe this message is necessary for today and a delight to have.

Power Rangers Workout

I'm finishing up the first half of Power Rangers Dino Fury Season 2 and, to be honest, it's super cringey. Maybe you expect that from Power Rangers (and you should) but sometimes the cheesiness is also complemented along the way with character development and intriguing plot points. All the same, I'm sure I'll still watch the second half of the season when it hits Netflix. But in the meantime, there's plenty of Power Rangers you can enjoy, starting with the nostalgic Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (especially since it's the only older series left on Netflix). While you're revisiting your childhood Power Rangers, throw in some of these exercises to get as fit as the Rangers.

Disclaimer: While I am a licensed physical therapy provider, I am not a personal trainer or a medical practitioner. Partner as necessary with your doctor prior to engaging in any diet or excise programs. If any of these exercises cause increased pain, stop the exercise immediately.

• Theme Song - High Knees
• Someone morphs - Seated QL Stretch 10 reps
• Colorful explosions - Squats 10 reps
• Monster explodes - Hip Flexor Stretch 10 reps
• Villain lair appears - Prone Hip Extension 10 reps
• Monster grows - Quadruped Hip CARS 10 reps 
• Rangers call the Zords - Seated Hip Hinge 10 reps 
• Comic relief characters appear - Cat/Cow Stretch 10 reps 
• Rangers call their weapons - 90/90 Pushbacks 10 reps 
• Rangers strike a pose - Hamstring Curls 10 reps

***Exercises updated January 2024 to account for what I've learned practicing physical therapy. This workout is intended to work without any equipment, but feel free to add small dumbbells or bands as you're safely able.

"Now I'm the one with the muscles and the power!"
--Jason (Turbo movie)

What is The Sandman?

 If you aren't already familiar with The Sandman comic book series by Neil Gaiman, find the person in your social circle who owns the most black clothing and they'll probably know what it is. With a TV series coming to Netflix and two full-cast Audible titles accompanying the legendary comic, I think it's time to explain what us goth kids are squeeing over. 

Once Upon a Time in the 90's....

Most comics in the late 80's to early 90's can be split into three camps: Classic stories that still resonate with audiences and gave us the characters we know and love (X-Force, Knightfall), weird examples of masculinity that would never fly today (Spawn, The Maxx), and the edgy fringe stuff. Sandman comics belong in the third category, being edgy dramas about beings beyond the comprehension of mortals dealing with massive existential problems. The comics rarely featured battles, such as audiences are used to in comics, meaning giant muscle men bashing into each other or shooting improbable guns at each other, instead being more about the inner battles around ones purpose in an endless everchanging universe. The comics do take place in the DC Universe, and a couple cameos have popped up on both sides (The titular Sandman requiring the assistance of Martian Manhunter and Death relinquishing her powers to Lex Luthor being two examples) but the higher ups in DC's comic team have chosen to use Gaiman's characters and works sparingly if at all, out of respect and honor for the source material. 

Okay, so that's the dry history lesson, but what is it? 

The Endless

Full disclosure: I only relatively recently got into the Sandman stories because as a kid A: I was broke and B: I had little to no access to the comics even if I had money. It doesn't help that the concept is a massive existential nightmare that takes some thinking about to wrap one's head around, so don't feel bad if trying to understand this is like following the logic of someone who recently suffered a brain injury and is now high on the Oxycodone they were prescribed for the pain. I will do my best to explain the plot but bare with me, it's a weird one. 

Okay so back at the beginning of sentient life in the universe seven beings came into existence which would be the personifications of seven aspects of said life. These beings, called the Endless, safeguard their respective circles to help keep the universe balanced. The easiest thing to compare them to would be mythological gods, but in cannon a lot of the gods are still held under the seven Endless's sway. These characters are: Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair, Delusion and Destruction. Each have separate personalities and responsibilities in respect to their realms. Our main character is Dream, AKA The Sandman, AKA Morpheus, AKA the dude in all the advertisements who looks like the lead singer of The Cure. Back in the 20's a cult manages a complex ritual to entrap Death, Dream's sister (Oh yeah, they're all siblings, but their parents are explained way down the line as like the universe's embodiment and some sort of... Thing... I don't know...) and end up catching Dream instead. Dream is imprisioned until the 80's when he escapes out of his pokeball and sets out on a quest to restore his neglected kingdom. 

The first story arch, and probably what we're going to see most of in season one of the Netflix adaptation, is him reclaiming three artifacts he used to help wield his power, namely a helmet that he built from the bones of two gods who tried to usurp his kingdom, a pouch of sand that he can use to put people to sleep and effect their dreams, and a ruby necklace that amplifies his powers. He also needs to wrangle a few escaped dreams and nightmares who have snuck into the human world and are causing general mayhem across the populace. Along the way it's confirmed that he will run into Constantine, the very same from the movie only this time a woman, various of his siblings including fan favorite Death (more on her later) and Lucifer Morningstar, a version of the devil based on Paradise Lost and who got his own show for several seasons. 

Yeah, that Lucifer. 

Quick Geekout on Death

Death of the series is, as I mentioned, a fan favorite. She even has a Funko Pop of her comic book version that's been out years before the masses were exposed to the full glory that is The Sandman. This Death, portrayed in the comics as a spunky 80's goth, is a fun happy-go-lucky person who sees her job as essential to the process of life. She keeps an upbeat attitude knowing that right after a person passes from mortality they will be confused and scared, so she shows them that things are going to be okay. Death is a refreshing take not only on the titular Grim Reaper character but on the concept of death itself, not being something scary and awful but something natural and leading to the next step in a person's progression. Think of the Angel of Death from Touched By An Angel only less tall blonde guy and more spunky goth girl. 

What is the Appeal? 

The appeal to this entire franchise to me, besides the dark urban fantasy setup, is the interesting concepts Gaiman explores. Dream is imprisoned for decades and yet the world, for the most part, went on without him. Does that mean that he's necessary? Part of his job is to influence imagination through dreams, and keep all the stories that are told, but is that as important as the job Death does? We also explore how the Endless influence people's lives, like what Death means to people, like the fairness of it or if a life is worth living if it's just going to end, or is it better to follow one's dreams or live strictly in the here and now? The series is a beautifully written drama about the elements that, while completely out of the control of man, are well within other's control and how mortals react to them. 

If you don't believe me, give it a watch. 

-Joe

Dungeons and Dragons: A Pandemic Retrospective

(Guest post by Kenton)

Creation, both as an action and as an idea, is fundamentally intertwined with our existence. Every meaningful activity, and every meaningful connection, from birth until death, springs out of acts of creation. We make food, we make conversation, we make friends, and take stories from childhood and make them into scenes. Imagination describes this idea well, and is embodied perfectly in Dungeons and Dragons. The game of Dungeons and Dragons calls for players to bring together their own characters, their own stories, their own ideas, and bring them to life with every turn. Whatever your mind creates, this game gives you the freedom and the capacity to make. It is as big as you can imagine! There comes a question, then: could a world of limitless boundaries be limited by a pandemic?

I have a good amount of experience playing Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). For full disclosure, my first time playing occurred just before the pandemic; and since then, I’ve only been involved with three other campaigns. For those who don't know, a campaign is typically an extended storyline following a set of characters spanning across one or multiple worlds. Most people involved in D&D, that I know, only ran into it, or had their interest in it rekindled, because the university experience brought them together with those who are really passionate. Mine involved college in a more roundabout way:

I met my wife at BYU, and her sister and brother-in-law introduced D&D to the both of us. My first experience was very simple: we stayed at their place once on vacation, and were given character templates to customize and work with. My wife was a High Elf sorceress of the aristocracy, very noble and snooty, but with high-minded goals. I was a rough Dwarf barbarian merchant who was on a quest to avenge the death of his swordsmithing father, and my sister-in-law was a mischievously clever Human rogue, out for adventure and robbery: to steal from the rich and give to the needy (she counted herself as needy too). The setting began in a typical pub, when a fight broke out where our three characters had to work together. After, the rogue pulled a clever fraud involving selling a horse that was actually her servant in disguise, and we then set out on our quest. That was our first session, and the rest was done online. Our party had no reason not to travel together, and had various adventures involving a bugbear, a necromancer, and a large city. We never finished that campaign (no relation to the pandemic), but it was a good introduction.

Ever since that original campaign, I’ve only ever played D&D one other time in-person: the rest were facilitated online. I like interacting with people, and so the pandemic was a little hard for me. Even so, I was glad that I could at least get some interaction through online sessions. Did it hurt, not being able to interact normally? I'd say it certainly did, and it does take away from some of the "tabletop" elements of the game. Sometimes it's easier to get distracted, to tune out, and lose track of what's happening. If you can meet in person, you will have a better time, no question, because of the natural interaction, the natural focus, and the better feeling of meeting together in person. However, D&D is also a game of connection, not just creation, and there will be times when the only way to connect with others is through Zoom or other channels!

When we got back from vacation, we were able to continue our campaign for a few sessions. Later on, I was able to join other sessions with my brother-in-law, and once they moved closer to us, they were able to start and continue campaigns with their friends back home. None of that would have been possible without that technology. Nor is it entirely a disadvantage either, because it's easier to share maps and PDFs or other visual aids, or even to discuss things privately between the DM (dungeon master) and one of the players when the need arises. Online D&D may not be the most superior experience; however, it still makes for a good one, and sometimes even makes possible what would have been impossible.

Connection, and creation, and recreation are intrinsic to our experience. We can't really separate these things out, and we can't really say we're living when those things aren't present. Could a pandemic hinder the traditional way of experiencing that connection with D&D? Maybe it could, but life finds a way. Even if it means we have to use pixels to see each other, and electric signals to reproduce our voices, the human experience endures and ascends past what seems to limit us, and we come out together in the end. 

6 Moments That Made Us Love Neville

Neville Longbottom may have once been the dorky little kid who tagged behind Harry, Hermione, and Ron. However, when push came to shove, we learned why he was a true Gryffindor. This last weekend we celebrated his birthday. So for his birthday, here are some of my favorite Neville moments.

“I'm worth twelve of you, Malfoy.”

Neville was the butt of so many jokes, especially in his early Hogwarts years. An easy victim for Malfoy’s bullying (not to mention Snape’s, but I’ve ranted enough about him). In a deleted scene in the movie, we saw Neville with the leg-locker curse, but in the book we get the aftermath of that scene. He was told to stand up to Malfoy. And while it may not seem like much, especially since he got beat up for it, dropping the above quote on Draco Malfoy probably took every ounce of courage that Neville had. 11-year-old Neville deserves all the love for that one.

“I award ten points to Neville Longbottom!”

I’m sure it was frustrating for Harry and his friends to encounter Neville on their way out the door. It’s not like they were trying to save the Wizarding World or anything. But after all was said and done and the Stone was safe, it was still the end of the school year. Neville probably didn’t think that Dumbledore knew he existed, never mind that he stood up to Harry and the gang. Yet during those final moments of their first year, Dumbledore awarding Neville his first points changed everything for the House Cup, making him Gryffindor’s hero.

“Has Neville never told you why he has been brought up by his grandmother?”

A misfit since the beginning, one of the first things we knew about Neville was being raised by his grandmother. It wasn’t until three years later that Harry learned why this was. A private family matter, as it was, Harry was heartbroken when he learned about Frank and Alice Longbottom. Breaks my heart too, especially now as a father… I can’t imagine my child having to live with that trauma. Even Harry thought that Neville deserved more sympathy than him.

“It was all supposed to be about fighting You-Know-Who, wasn't it?”

After Voldemort deceived Harry into thinking Sirius was being tortured, he and his friends rushed to find a way to London to help. Neville (along with Luna and Ginny) insisted on tagging along. Neville, who had been scared of his own shadow, was volunteering to join Harry on a mission to save his supposedly murderous godfather. That’s a true friend. And not only did he join Harry at the Ministry of Magic, but he held his own against the Death Eaters that ambushed them there. 

“We’re his army,” said Neville. “Dumbledore’s Army.”

While Harry and friends were off traveling and camping, trying to find Voldemort’s horcruxes and uncovering the mystery of the Deathly Hallows, Neville stayed strong amidst the anti-Muggle and anti-Muggleborn atmosphere. In the movie, we saw him stand up to Death Eaters on the train. But it didn’t stop there. He openly defied their Death Eater teachers and restarted Dumbledore’s Army under their noses. So when Harry, Ron, and Hermione returned to Hogwarts to finish off the horcruxes, Neville had a fighting force ready to go for them.

“I’ll join you when hell freezes over! Dumbledore’s Army!”

Neville’s finest hour! While Harry was playing dead to get back into Hogwarts, Voldemort made his speech to get some last minute followers and spare some lives. Instead, Neville stepped up and told him off. To whatever extent he claimed his role as the “Chosen One” he could have been, as he rose up against the Dark Lord, slayed Nagini (the last of the Horcruxes), and roused Harry and Dumbledore’s followers to fight against the Death Eaters and other dark creatures. If not for Neville killing Nagini, the Battle of Hogwarts could have ended very differently.

So here’s to Neville Longbottom, the bravest almost-Hufflepuff out there. Happy birthday!

The Problem with Love and Thunder

SPOILERS AHEAD FOR THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER

When I went to see Thor: Love and Thunder, I didn't really know what to expect. We’ve known for three years that Jane Foster would return wielding Mjolnir. Other than that, I mostly went in blind (even with seeing the trailers beforehand). Like many movies and shows nowadays, Love and Thunder came under criticism right from the start (always gotta complain about something). But overall I actually enjoyed it. Before I get to that though, let’s start with the problem….

Like I said before, I didn’t know what to expect going into Love and Thunder. For that reason, I was pleasantly surprised. I think it all comes down to expectations. If you go in expecting a serious superhero movie about Thor’s life after Endgame, you’ll be disappointed. If you go in realizing it’s a superhero rom-com, it’s much more enjoyable. It’s just what Marvel has been doing, trying their hands at other genres: superhero kung fu (Shang Chi), superhero horror (Multiverse of Madness), and superhero comedy (upcoming She-Hulk). It’s a gamble, but they have the money to take some risks. So if a superhero romantic comedy (with a sprinkling of tragedy) isn’t your thing, you won’t like Love and Thunder. And that’s okay. We all have different tastes.

As far as actual problems with the movie, I had a hard time jumping around. Sure, that’s the nature of the Bifrost, but we went from planet to planet repeatedly through the movie. Not really spending much time in any particular place. It was a bit jarring to go from New Asgard to the shadows to the god council. Just a lot going on.

Speaking of lots going on, there were so many moving parts, especially in regards to characters. We had the core four characters: Thor, Jane, Valkyrie, and Korg. But then we had the Guardians of the Galaxy, a number of Asgardians to keep track of, and the random gods when they went to see Zeus. A handful of Asgardians I can understand… but the gods were a bit underwhelming to me. I don’t feel like Zeus’s lightning really made much of an impact in the final battle (it was more about Mjolnir and Stormbreaker again)... so we ended up with screen time of random gods that we’ll never see again. In some ways I feel like the only point of introducing the gods was to reveal Hercules in the credit scene.

Now for the good stuff. First and foremost, Jane Foster. When Natalie Portman didn’t return to MCU after Dark World, we all assumed she was done. The throwaway line in Ragnarok about their breakup was all we were going to get. Only a couple months after her cameo in Endgame, we learned she’d be returning for this movie. Her story in this movie was probably my favorite part. It gave us some history on where she’s been, it gave us more Darcy (who I love), and it gave us a definitive ending… with Jane succumbing to her cancer and entering Valhalla, we have a happy, albeit tragic, end to her story. 

The music for this movie was great too. The soundtrack has a Guardians of the Galaxy feel, as it used classic rock (including four popular songs by Guns N’ Roses) and a good handful of others, underscoring the epic moments of the movie. I grew up in the wrong decade to regularly familiarize myself with Guns N’ Roses, but this movie sold me on some of their songs. 

I also loved the villain. Gorr was so devious, but he wasn't meant to be evil, per se. Just hurt. A grieving father who had spent time worshipping gods who didn't care. I mean, how many of us have prayed and had those prayers seemingly go unanswered? It's easy to get discouraged and doubting... especially if the god in question tells you (Gorr) that you don't matter to him. Tragic and heartbreaking. And then to get his daughter back, only to die from the curse. It was awful.

In the end, the movie was cute. Not every Marvel movie is going to be a mind-blowing blockbuster. If each Marvel movie and each Thor movie is just trying to outdo the last, it’s not sustainable. And like I mentioned before, Marvel is trying some new stuff. Some of it is working (like Shang Chi) and some of it isn’t. In the end, I maintain that this is a romantic comedy and I recommend you into it with the appropriate expectations.