We got yet another rematch between Vader and Obi-Wan and it was through the use of love, his emotional memories and more that Obi-Wan was able to best Vader through ways of the Force.
No one saw that coming and when he slashed Vader’s mask open, which resulted in a mix of Vader and Anakin’s voice talking to his old master, that scene immediately cut deep.
“You didn’t kill Anakin, I did,” Vader explains after losing to his old master. This confirms a thread we’ve seen in the Vader comics that his alter ego and Anakin Skywalker are two very different personalities and yes, it was Vader that killed the former Jedi to become the mighty Sith lord.
Another powerful climax in the episode was Reva being unable to kill a young Luke Skywalker.
After learning of who this child really was, the former Youngling was on a collision course to take out the seed of Anakin and complete her task at revenge.
The scene that will bring tears is when the old Jedi Knight tells Leia how she inherited the best of both her parents.
“I wish I could tell you more,” he says.
You said enough, Obi-Wan!
And I hope we get a second season, because we have just begun to see the magic that Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen can create when they face off against each other in these roles.
There’s so much more to explore and I’m willing, ready and able for the next adventure!
Deciding to create a TikTok account to share my personal views on movies and talk about the MCU was one of the scariest and most exciting things I have ever done.
Peace everyone it’s your girl Amira and let me talk to you about my journey on Tiktok!
Tiktok provided me with the possibility to add my voice as a Muslim woman in a community that I thought was closed to me. It also gave me the possibility to push forward positive Muslim representation.
Sharing my first video was really intimidating, but I realized quickly that people were more welcoming than anything else. There was a whole group of creators who was working hard to make a safe space.
This is how I met Tony (Mr.Marvelite) and later Michael (SuperheroTok). These two had an idea and just like Nick Fury, they had a team to assemble, an initiative to start.
I feel lucky to be part of the Nerd Initiative. I get to do what I am passionate about, learn more about movies and be unapologetically me.
I truly hope that my content pushes for a respectful and open dialogue about Muslim representation in media. I wish for it to help other Muslims create and feel included in the narrative too!
I understand that this takes time, but guess what? change already started!
It’s safe to say that we have all heard the phrase “Representation Matters,” especially when discussing shows like Ms. Marvel and movies like The Eternals or Shang-Chi.
We all have heard it shouted from the rooftops to get more than just the generic lead in film and television. We want to lead, to save the world, to be in the spotlight. And in my personal experience and being Asian American, I don’t think that everyone understands what that phrase means or why “representation matters.” But I think it is important that people take the time to learn the “why” of it all.
So, let’s imagine one morning, you go grab some breakfast and sit down to eat. You find that one of your favorite YouTube channels has a new episode out and it’s about a movie you absolutely love and have a connection with. Five minutes into the video, you pause. Not because the video is bad, but because you have a sudden realization, an epiphany.
You realize whenever you watch this movie, whenever people have engaging discussions about it, whenever you listen to the soundtrack, you feel so much at once. Your heart swells, goosebumps appear on your arms, and your appreciation and love for this movie grows exponentially. You wish there was a way to take the entire movie and somehow frame it on your wall because that’s how much you love this movie.
You even go through every actor and actress’ filmography to see more of their work so you can try to support them further. And it’s all because of the connection you had, and the fact you felt your story and your experiences told so authentically within an already massive universe. That was me just a few mornings ago with regard to Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
And while I know many will disagree, I’m not afraid to admit that ever since Shang-Chi released nearly a year ago, it has become my favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe project of all-time. I also see it as one of the better projects to have come out from the MCU. It twists martial arts styles into a graceful dance as we’re immersed into a breathtaking magical world but also ensures that its comedic moments are well-balanced with scenes that are heartbreaking and intense.
And then came along Ms. Marvel. With only 2 episodes out currently, I feel the same sensations as I did with Shang-Chi: The emotions, the goosebumps, the heart swelling. I am simply in awe of what Ms. Marvel has been able to bring to the table, and I’m certain there’s so much more to come. Between the animations that reflect the inner workings of Kamala’s mind, and the family dynamics and immense amount of representation of South Asian culture, it took me way back to my childhood and my teen years.
At this point, I am absolutely confident that by the time the finale airs, Ms. Marvel will be equally matched to Shang-Chi for me. There is something so unique and special about both Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel that I know is just not understood by people who downplay both projects heavily.
Shang-Chi initially faced criticisms like not using enough martial arts, having poor CGI, and there were even comments that the magical elements didn’t make sense at the end of the movie. Ms. Marvel faces criticism in different ways but a portion of it involves the show being too childish, too much like a Disney Channel original show, and that it’s “not relatable enough.” But to all of those critiques, I always ask the question: Were you actually watching?
You can say that you saw that movie or say you’ve seen this show, but it’s different when you sit down and truly watch a piece of media. And when you watch both projects closely, it’s clear that Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel explore and expand upon much deeper topics than just martial arts or high school woes.
They are both made in such a beautiful and unique fashion, speaking truthfully about the Asian diasporic experience, while also maintaining relatability to others outside the community. From the strained parent-child relationships to the discussion of religion and culture as well as family and traditional values, there is a much stronger impact that both pieces of media have on its audience. Meanwhile, people who look like us and share our personal experiences are now on the screen, and we’re no longer just in the background.
It has all led to the experience of Asians who were born and raised in North America being explored in more ways than we ever thought possible. We are collectively unleashing tears of grief and trauma, but also tears of happiness and relief. I can immediately turn to my husband in the middle of a movie and discuss our shared experiences as Asian Americans. I can turn to a friend from Canada at a book tour and giggle over a moment of courtesy that just occurred but is common in Asian households. I can talk to my non-Asian best friend who can now see a glimpse into what it’s like growing up Asian and living life now as an adult. They are small moments that happen more frequently now because of the representation shown in media like Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel.
It’s why there is also so much noise from the Asian community over media like Domee Shi’s Turning Red, The Daniels’ Everything Everywhere All At Once, Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever, and Jon M. Chu’s Crazy Rich Asians. I watched my parents become excited and gleeful when they saw a South Asian actor on the screen, even if they had only a minute of screen time.
Now, I get to see Asians of different backgrounds take the lead and be the romantic interest, or to be the hero and save the day. The daydreams I had of seeing someone who looked like me being in those roles are now a reality. I, too, am excited and gleeful because I get characters like Shang-Chi and Ms. Marvel who speak to me. Both my heart and soul are on fire because now, I feel seen.
Ms. Marvel episode 2 released on Disney+ earlier this week and once again, gave viewers a genuine look and insight into Muslim culture in America, a coming of age story and so, so much more.
We sat down with three of our incredible creators to talk about what this show means to them and what they thought of this impactful episode.
In 1993, fans were given their first glimpse of the world of Jurassic Park. As much as it was an adventure, there were many perils along the way. The concept of corporate greed leading to catastrophe by playing god and cloning once extinct monsters has captured our attention for almost 30 years. Jurassic World Dominion is reportedly the end of that era. Here is why I think that works and what the future could hold.
The Legacy Story
Since the failed tour on Isla Nublar and the failed attempt of Biosyn to steal what advancements InGen had made, we have experienced 6 movies within this story line. Dominion comes full circle and addresses the intent of executive Lewis Dodgson (Cameron Thor-1993, Campbell Scott-2022) to have Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) steal the embryos of the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park.
Since the events of Fallen Kingdom, four years ago, dinosaurs have roamed freely and been trafficked in the black market all over the world. Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) and Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) return seeking to help these creatures in their own way. Biosyn is given complete control in containing the dinosaurs that are captured and continue the genetic research by making dinosaurs without modifications. Dodgson is not as benevolent as he is advertised to be and fans will expect that from the beginning. Biosyn is absolutely playing with genetics in a way that is about to cause all life to go extinct if not stopped. This is the premise that brings our legacy characters, Alan Grant (Sam Niel), Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), back into action to save the day.
Jurassic World Dominion – The Cons
There are multiple sub plots that attempt to fill in gaps within the franchise and some don’t always hit right. There is plenty of exposition, some that is helpful and some that is unnecessary and only showcases the actor giving it. This movie also attempts to give each character some sort of payoff that is not entirely necessary and too far of a reach for one movie to accomplish for a 30 year franchise.
Jurassic World Dominion – The Pros
Apart from some of the short falls in this film, it is a decent entry to the Jurassic Franchise. The dinosaurs are impressive and visually stunning. The mixture of CGI and Animatronics help to blur the lines of fantasy and the physical. Action is fast-paced and there are many different landscapes that this movie covers to give the overall understanding that dinosaurs are able to exist in every conceivable environment. We get the introduction of new dinosaurs like the Giganotosarus, Pyroraptor, Therizinosarus, Atrociraptors, and one I am entirely excited for…the Dimetrodon which until this film was only hinted at in the original Jurassic Park toy line! There are also plenty of pay off moments, easter eggs, and nods to the previous films. Dominion is also able to correct some of the problems from previous stories and leave our characters in a better place then they were left last we saw them.
Is This Really The End?
Probably not, there is definitely Season 5 of Camp Cretaceous on Netflix that is hinting at filling in some of the gaps from Dominion. I personally think that stories could continue, but in a manner similar to the Disney+ Star Wars shows, within universe but smaller stories. There is so much potential for movies involving people being terrorized by dinosaurs in the mainland, that I would love to see. Check out Battle at Big Rock on Youtube for the concept.
Jurassic World Dominion – Overall Opinion
Jurassic World Dominion is exactly what is expected in a Jurassic Era film, a dinosaur spectacle with plenty of action and jump scares. Some people will be disappointed as this film does not get much of a world full of dinosaurs with the exception of some filler scenes. This movie follows a very similar trend with all Jurassic movies, people try to contain dinosaurs, dinosaurs break free and eat people, some people survive and grow close in their shared traumatic experience… or and Karma is a Dilophosaur!
Fans rejoiced all around the globe as Thor: Love And Thunder tickets officially went on sale Monday. The Marvel Studios epic is easily one of the most anticipated movies of the year.
We received the film’s official trailer in late May, giving us an idea of what to expect in the upcoming film. The introduction of Natalie Portman’s Jane Foster as Mighty Thor, Christian Bale’s portrayal of Gorr The God Butcher, and the introduction of another deity mythos (such as the gods of Greek mythology) have had everyone abuzz about what to expect with the 4th Thor movie (by the way, Thor is the first character in the MCU to have a 4th movie in the MCU).
Like many comic book fans, I wanted to learn a little more about what comics I could read in preparation for this film. As someone who just recently got back into reading comics, I haven’t read many Thor comics, so I wasn’t sure where to start. Luckily, thanks to the power of Twitter, I’ve become friends with another avid comic book reader who I consider to be one of Thor’s #1 fans and is my show’s expert advisor or anything related to Thor.
JT, or “Fat Thor” as he is known on Twitter, joined me in a Zoom call to guide me on the best comics to read for this film based on what he knows about the Thor comics and what he’s seen in the trailers so far. There are three main series he recommended, and he even shortened it for us to focus on just what we may want to know about the characters and stories we will see in the movie.
VIDEO: What To Read Before Watching “Thor: Love And Thunder” (by The Captioned Life Show)
Thor: God Of Thunder
Years Published: 2012 – 2013
Issues: 1-11
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Esad Ribic, Dean White, and Virtual Calligr,
Summary And Film Connection
This series introduces us to Gorr The God Butcher, his origin story, and who he is as a character. Thor faces him in three different eras where eventually all three Thors team up to face off against Gorr and stop him from releasing a doomsday weapon that would completely kill off all gods from existence. This series interestingly enough also has a number of religious metaphors and compositions.
Thor
Years Published: 2014 – 2015
Issues: 1-8
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Russell Dauterman, Matt Wilson, Joe Sabino, and Frank Martin
Summary And Film Connection:
Due to prior events, Thor Odinson is no longer considered worthy to wield Mjolnir, but there must always be a Thor. So Mjolnir chooses an all-new Thor! This is the first time we see Jane Foster take up the mantle of Thor.
The Mighty Thor
Years Published: 2015 – 2018
Issues: 1-5, 12, 700-706
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Russell Dauterman, Matt Wilson, and Joe Sabino
Summary And Film Connection:
This series dives into Jane’s origin story of her becoming Thor and why she was deemed worthy to take up the mantle. Issue 12 also dives into the origin of Mjolnir and how it came to be.
Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER stars Chris Hemsworth, Tessa Thompson, Natalie Portman, and Christian Bale. Directed by Taika Waititi. In theaters July 8, 2022.
By presenting us with Ms. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Marvel, open the door to conversations about diversity, representation, and different experiences of growing up in America.
From the moment “Blinding Lights” by the Weekend started playing in the pilot episode of Ms. Marvel on Disney+, and my daughter’s head began to bob with the beat, I could tell this was going to be a very different Marvel experience for the two of us.
The two of us share Marvel. It has been our common ground of fandom for years. We have watched the movies, read the comics, and poured over the (age appropriate) TV shows (no Daredevil, Punisher or Jessica Jones for her yet).
My Daughter and I started reading the adventures of Kamala Kahn about five years ago when she was in second grade. She was struggling with reading, and it was hard to find stories that lit her passion.
I wanted to get her into reading and so I turned to my first love of reading: comics. At the time, a friend was telling me how the “new” Ms. Marvel had become her favorite character. I decided to give it a try and my daughter and I read the first issue. We were both hooked.
Much like this first episode of the Disney+ show, the deeper themes of assimilation, representation and identity went over her head at the time. What did speak to her was a girl, with her head in the clouds, proving everyone wrong. When everyone says you should be X … this hero says “No, I won’t.”
Kamala Kahn’s impact on representation and diversity in the comic world should not and cannot be overstated. She defied the conventional wisdom that a female lead could not sell comics to a broad audience. Also, and perhaps most importantly and what made her character stand out, it that she did not look like everyone else.
All rights reserved – Marvel.com/ Marvel Entertainment 2022
As her character in the show says, “It’s not really the brown girls from Jersey City who save the world”. And the conventional, steeped in patriarchal, misogynistic thinking, and racist ideologies, was that they couldn’t sell comic books or action figures either. A character like Kamala could not possibly speak to a broad audience.
However, all that conventional wisdom that was proved wrong in 2014 with Ms. Marvel, has been proved wrong again in 2022. After the head bobbing, and transfixed wide eyes, when the show ended my daughter turned to me and said, “Wow, I loved it!”
She loved how the show captured the spirit of Kamala. Everything that character means to my daughter, and to me as a father, was conveyed on screen. My daughter noted the changes from the comic but reasoned that they were telling a slightly different Kamala origin story.
Kamala’s greatest power to me as a father is that she tells my daughter it is okay to be weird, and that weird, powerful and being a girl do not have to be contradictory ideas. For my daughter, Kamala makes the word “weird” a good one. She does what is right, not what is convenient or easy. She, along with so many teen female hero’s that have come along in the last seven years, is the role model I want for my daughters.
Iman Vellani in Ms. Marvel – All rights reserved Marvel Entertainment 2022
Iman Vellani, has taken a character from the pages of a comic and given her life, and now expands the myth of Ms. Marvel. She makes Kamala exactly the kind of girl that I hope my daughters grow into. A person who struggles, fails, keeps trying and never stops dreaming.
In a few years, my daughter will revisit the show and see where she fits into Kamala’s narrative and where her narrative differs from her own. She will see similarities and differences between being a Jewish girl several generations in growing up in America and being a Pakistani American girl growing up with immigrant parents. These are important differences and conversations, some which began right after the show (she wanted to know where Pakistan was) and some that will have to wait as she learns more about herself and the world.
For now my daughter sees no difference between her experience as an American girl and Kamala’s. She will one day see the differences – good and bad. And I will be there with her to help her through that journey. There is so much more left for Kamal Kahn to teach her and show her. The comics and this show will help her learn and grow a sensitivity and awareness that will serve her well in the world.
By presenting us with Ms. Marvel, Kevin Feige and Marvel, open the door to conversations about diversity, representation, and different experiences of growing up in America. The MCU might be a story about fictional people on a fictional Earth, but the issues it tackles are real. They allow my family to grow. They give me an opportunity to have conversations with my children that are natural but important.
Personally, I loved the show. I found it entertaining, fun, and it reminded me of growing up. But this is not a show for me to enjoy. It is a show for my daughter. It is a show that is going to entertain us all, but also teach us all.
It will teach us about other cultures that do not always get as much representation and normalization as they should. It will teach young girls that they can be heroes and old white men that seeing different colors and genders on screen does sell. It will teach that us about what makes a hero and that anything is possible if we dream. These are just the lessons my daughter got from the first episode. We can’t wait to see where Ms. Kahn’s adventure goes and what this show teaches us from here!
Ms. Marvel released on Disney+ earlier this week and quickly became one of the most unique, inventive and representative shows we’ve seen on the streaming service or even in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
We sat down with two of our incredible creators — Yaseenthatguy and samosasandpopcorn — to talk about what this show means to different cultures, the Muslim community and so much more.
All rights reserved – Marvel Entertainment 2022
Check out the full video below and let us know what you thought about the first episode!
Growing up, artist Creees Lee wanted to be a musician. He never dreamed he’d one day be an artist at Marvel Comics.
His parents were musicians, but around junior year in high school, he realized that wasn’t going to be his professional path. So, he pivoted to drawing and comics.
He had always dabbled in art, being a big Dragon Ball Z fan, in addition to the Batman animated series, but it wasn’t until this time in his life that he actually considered it a possible career.
“My friend introduced me to comics and to Jim Lee,” he said. “I thought it was cool that a Korean guy was an artist in comics, but also one of the best!”
After discovering comics and falling in love with the art, he attended and graduated from the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Fast forward to just over a year ago and Creees got the email that so many artists dream of.
“When I got the email from Marvel to work with them, I thought it was a scam,” he joked. “I still think it’s crazy that I’m doing Marvel covers.”
All rights reserved – Marvel Entertainment
In the past year alone, he’s worked on titles like X-Factor, Immortal Hulk and Spider-Man 2099. He also got to work with one of his dream writers.
“The first cover i worked on was with Greg Pak, that was a dream,” he said.
The next phase of his career includes a continuation of working with Marvel of course and then possibly adding DC Comics to the mix. He’s already begun to work with them and has done a variant cover, but would love to continue this relationship.
All rights reserved – Marvel Entertainment
“I’m very happy at Marvel,” he said. “I would love to do more work for DC … I mean, the dream is Batman, he’s the character I grew up watching.”
With his talent and drive, chances are that dream will soon become a reality!
Meet Marcel, he’s a shell with shoes on. He’s got a small view of a very big world and you can catch Marcel The Shell With Shoes On later this month as his debut film opens June 24 in select theaters.
Marcel first debuted back in 2010 as a YouTube short created by Jenny Slate (Parks and Rec, Zootopia) and her Husband Dean Fleischer Camp (Fraud). The short is a series of moments where Marcel the Shell tells the cameraman a series of quips about life with such small stature. Marcel is a one-inch shell with shoes that sees life just a bit different than you or I.
And while many of Marcel’s moments are made to make you laugh, they also make you think and see things differently.
Marcel the Shell – Theatrical Release by A24
Marcel was also turned into a series of books by Slate and Camp, that made the New York Times-Bestseller list. The books are an adaptation of the short film and some continued stories about life lessons in a small world. So far there are two books in the series, but the future could bring more titles, especially with his first big-screen appearance looming.
Marcel the Shell Courtesy of A24
Marcel the movie will see Marcel living with his Grandma Connie. The pair happen to be the only shells in their village after the rest of the shells left without any explanation. A spark of luck and a little fame may just propel this little shell on a wild adventure.
Jenny Slate returns as the voice of Marcel with Camp also returning to direct and play Dean. We also get the great Isabella Rossellini as Grandma Connie. Legendary 60 Minutes Anchor Leslie Stahl is also in the film, showing Marcel’s world getting pretty big.
This movie looks like it will be endearing, funny, and will even show us what might be most important in life. The screen may be bigger, but this little shell is still learning what it means to be tiny in such a vast world. I am so excited and can’t wait to see it.
Marcel the Shell Courtesy of A24
Check out the Short for Marcel the Shell with Shoes on and the Preview for the new A24 film below.
The Original Marcel the Shell With Shoes On short film.
