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Movies

Post-Pandemic Cinema Experience

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The Covid-19 pandemic was hard for everyone, but especially for the movie industry. I, too, missed going to cinemas to watch newly released movies. Below, I write about my post-pandemic cinema experience.

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

My Expectations : None
My Rating : 6/10

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) on IMDb

This was the first movie we saw after pandemic restrictions lifted and also the first movie we saw in Bangkok. It was good that I went in with no expectations because the movie was dull and forgetful. I remember nothing of what was in it.

No Time to Die (2021)

My Expectations : None
My Rating : 7/10

No Time to Die (2021) on IMDb

This was the first Bond movie I saw in years and it didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed watching it, but don’t remember the details of what happened in it.

The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

My Expectations : 8/10
My Rating : 3/10

The Matrix Resurrections (2021) on IMDb

I have already written about what a disappointment this movie was and have no energy to dwell on it again.

Spider-Man : No Way Home (2021)

My Expectations : 7/10
My Rating : 7/10

Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) on IMDb

This was my first MCU movie since Endgame and it delivered as per my expectations. It was entertaining, but relied too much on the appearance of Doctor Strange and the previous Spider-Men to carry the movie. Don’t regret watching it, though.

Doctor strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

My Expectations : 7/10
My Rating : 5/10

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) on IMDb

What a super bore movie! My family left part-way, but I stuck around. For me, this signalled for me the start of the decline in the quality of MCU movies.

Top Gun Maverick (2022)

My Expectations : 7/10
My Rating : 7/10

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) on IMDb

Time-pass movie that relied heavily on nostalgia.

Thor : Love and Thunder (2022)

My Expectations : 7/10
My Rating : 5/10

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) on IMDb

Although Doctor Strange was a bad sign for what was to come, I hoped Taika Waititi would make a good movie. But no. What a bore.

Avatar : The Way of the Water (2022)

My Expectations : 4/10
My Rating : N/A – Left in 30 minutes

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) on IMDb

I didn’t know why I even went to watch this movie when I hated Part 1 and already had such low expectations from Part 2. Never again.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

My Expectations : 7/10
My Rating : 9/10

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) on IMDb

The best movie I have seen in years and the only MCU movie I enjoyed. I watched it twice in the cinemas and once on Disney+. Deserves a separate post.

Oppenheimer (2023)

My Expectations : 9/10
My Rating : 6/10

Oppenheimer (2023) on IMDb

Being a fan of quite a few Christopher Nolan movies and the hype surrounding this one, I had huge hopes. But the movie turned out to be only slightly above average. I would still have seen it, but wouldn’t have spent extra on IMAX Laser.

The Flash (2023)

My Expectations : 7/10
My Rating : 7/10

The Flash (2023) on IMDb

Time-pass movie. Just like spider-man, it relied heavily on the appearance of Keaton’s batman, Affleck’s batman and Clooney’s Bruce Wayne to carry it. Also an appearance from Nicholas Cage’s Superman.

Godzilla X Kong : The New Empire (2024)

My Expectations : 6/10
My Rating : 6/10

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024) on IMDb

We went to watch this movie with very low expectations and weren’t disappointed. Mindless action.

Furiosa A Mad Max Saga (2024)

My Expectations : 9/10
My Rating : 7/10

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024) on IMDb

I went to watch this one with very high expectations, but it couldn’t compare to Mad Max: Fury Road.

Movies

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

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Yes, yes, I did say I was done with the MCU, but I still went to watch Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Mainly because I didn’t want to end my MCU experience with the shit that was Love and Thunder. And boy, am I glad I didn’t.

In short, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is a great movie. It is easily one of the best movies (Not only among MCU) I have seen in the last many years. And a perfect send-off to the Guardians after all these years.

Rocket Raccoon, Guardians of the Galaxy
Rocket Raccoon, Guardians of the Galaxy

The movie is part farewell to the Guardians and part Rocket Raccoon origin story. The origin story part is quite emotional and explains many things. The rest of the movie is great, too and there are many special moments. The guardians themselves are hilarious, especially Drax and Mantis.

My favourite characters were Rocket and Cosmo. I don’t even know where Cosmo came from. The first I saw of her was in the holiday special, which itself, was quite average.

Cosmo, the space dog
Cosmo, the space dog

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is easily the best MCU movie I have seen till now, better than Infinity War and Endgame. My recommendation is, even if you are not an MCU fan, go watch the movie. You don’t need too be aware of the wider MCU either, the movie stands well on its own.

I will miss this series going forward.

Movies, Rant

I am done with the MCU

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After a long time, a movie post.
I won’t say I was a big MCU fan, ever. I did follow the movies in the Infinity Saga as they were entertaining. Wholesome superhero movies. 1-2 movies a year; I could easily handle that. I do remember waiting (not too excitedly) for Endgame, which I went to see with my nephew. Epic battle, many people die but the good guys win.

MCU: Avengers Endgame
MCU: Avengers Endgame

I wish Disney had left the MCU at that. But no, like a true corporate giant, they wanted to milk the MCU for whatever it was worth. And in the process, they ruined it.

They began Phase 4 with renewed energy. Movies, TV shows what not! I tried my best to keep up, I did.

My Effort

Even though I found WandaVision average, I finished all the episodes. I needed to keep in sync with the story, I said to myself or I will lose the plot.
Shang-Chi was below average but I still saw it.
The Falcon and the Winter soldier was below average. I could only watch a few episodes.
Eternals was so shit, I didn’t watch it altogether.
Spider-man No Way Home was good, but I felt the movie relied too much on the re-appearance of the older spideys to carry the movie.
Loki was average.
Multiverse of madness was a super bore. I couldn’t stand the Scarlett Witch.
Hawkeye was average.
Love and Thunder was surprisingly bad, especially coming from Taika Waititi.

But my MCU journey ended with Ms Marvel. I started watching it thinking there’s finally a superhero from the Indian sub-continent but it was such a drag, I gave up on the entire MCU after a few episodes.

Frankly speaking, Disney is putting out too much content and most of it is not up to the mark. If one watches only a few select movies, they will lose the plot quickly because important events happen in the TV shows, too.

Eventually, I realised I don’t have the willpower or the time to follow the MCU anymore and have given up on it. I may not even watch the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy movie.

Life is too short to consume average content.