Spider-Man: Homecoming counts as a clean slate for Peter Parker’s web-slinger. Now nestled into the established Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tom Holland is a true teenage Spider-Man, one that was never successfully conveyed by two previous franchises and their over-aged actors. Aiming to please and bursting with effervescent zest at every flip, swing, and turn, John Watts’ Spider-Man: Homecoming succeeds as a brand new jumping off point for a character that badly needed course correction.

2017, 4 STARS, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanJune 29, 2017AMC River East 212017, 2017 Summer Movies, Marvel Films, Marvel Comics, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sony Pictures, Sony Entertainment, Dolby, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2, Tom Holland, Robert Downey Jr., Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Iron Man, Avengers, The Avengers, John Watts, Cop Car, Michael Keaton, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Kurt Russell, Batman, Beetlejuice, Donald Glover, Bokeem Woodbine, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Chernus, Hannibal Buress, Martin Starr, Mac Gargan, Kenneth Choi, Michael Giacchino, Steve Ditko, Deadpool, John Hughes, Captain America, Captain America: Civil War, Marvel Studios, Christopher Ford, Horrible Bosses, Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, The LEGO Movie, Jacob Batalan, Tony Revolori, Zendaya, Laura Harrier, Aunt May, Vulture, Shocker, movie review, film review, movie commentary, film commentary, comic book movie, comic book films, Comic Book Guy, comic book movies, film franchises, Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield, life lessons, life lessons from movies, life lessons from film, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Jon WattsComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2” is an brazen explosion of Crayola-sheened special effects wonder mixed with invisible grays of magnetic character growth and depth. Just as with the first film, Marvel and company have taken a D-list roster of obscure also-rans and created new superstars and household names that you actually care about. True to the unwritten rules of sequels, the core is bolstered and improvements have been made.

4 STARS, 2017, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEWDon ShanahanMay 4, 2017AMC River East 212017 Summer Movies, Disney/Marvel, Visual Effects, life lessons from movies, comic book films, Bradley Cooper, movie commentary, Groot, film commentary, James Gunn, The Avengers: Infinity War, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Dave Bautista, life lessons from films, Marvel, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, 2017, Don Shanahan, Donald Shanahan, movie review, 2017 Summer Movie Challenge, Marvel Entertainment, life lessons, comic book movie, Zoe Saldana, Star Lord, Marvel Comics, Karen Gillan, film review, Guardians of the Galaxy, Thanos, Kurt Russell, The Avengers, Nebula, Glenn Close, soundtrack, Michael Rooker, Chris Pratt, Rocket Raccoon, Drax, Thor: Ragonark, Marvel Films, Peter Quill, life lessons from film, Dave Jordan, Sean Gunn, Star Trek Into Darkness, Elizabeth Debicki, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Sylvester Stallone, Starhawk, Stakar Ogord, Taserface, Chris Sullivan, Star-Lord, Yondo, MTV Pop-Up Video, Wham Bam, Silver, Father & Son, Cat Stevens, Oprah Winfrey, Oprah Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Doctor Strange

Now in its third phase, Marvel continues to take C-level and D-list comic book characters and titles, breath cinematic life into them with top-notch talent in front of and behind the camera, and turn the obscure in newly minted household names and merchandising windfalls. "Doctor Strange" continues the studio's blueprint of Midas Touch success while jubilantly kicking down the door for magic and mysticism in the MCU. You may not know him yet, but Stephen Strange is a major player and huge addition to an already-loaded heroic panorama.

2016, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEW, 3 STARSDon ShanahanNovember 1, 2016Regal City North Stadium 14 IMAX2016, 2016 Holiday Movies, 2016 Fall Movies, Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch, Scott Derrickson, Kevin Feige, C. Robert Cargill, Jon Spaihts, Steve Ditko, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, Scott Adkins, Chris Hemsworth, Robert Downey Jr., Marvel Comics, Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Films, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Phase 3, Marvel, Disney/Marvel, Disney, Sinister, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Ben Davis, Michael Giacchino, Kathmandu, Nepal, Kaecilius, The Ancient One, Stephen Strange, Christine Palmer, Karl Mordo, Mordo, Dormammu, Eye of Agamotto, Cloak of Levitation, film commentary, film review, movie commentary, movie review, comic book movie, comic book films, The Avengers, Infinity War, Thor, Thor: Ragonark, life lessons from films, life lessons from film, life lessons from movies, life lessons, life lesson, Life lessons, Donald Shanahan, Don Shanahan, Every Movie Has a LessonComment

MOVIE REVIEW: Captain America: Civil War

The absolute proof of the intact Marvel formula is the elevated scope and confidence given to "Captain America: Civil War." Spinning as a dual sequel to 2014's "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and last year's "Avengers: Age of Ultron" and following the darkly-operatic-yet-similarly-premised competitor "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," this film survives a few glaring imperfections and overweight ambition to maintain the Marvel flagship. It plays it safe because it knows safe works for their brand and satisfies the masses. They know they're getting their cash registers out and hiring extra accountants. To others looking for more risk, you've come to the wrong place.

2016, ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW, MOVIE REVIEW, 3 STARSDon ShanahanMay 3, 2016Navy Pier IMAXSebastian Stan, Falcon, Disney/Marvel, Jeremy Renner, Steve Rogers, Ant-Man, film commentary, Robert Downey Jr., Marvel Phase 3, Henry Jackman, Spider-Man, Paul Bettany, Marvel Entertainment, Scarlett Johansson, Stephen McFeely, Clint Barton, Every Movie Has a Lesson, Bucky Barnes, Crossbones, Chadwick Boseman, Peter Parker, Don Shanahan, Captain America: Civil War, movie review, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Christopher Markus, Tom Holland, The Avengers, life lessons from films, Frank Grillo, Anthony and Joe Russo, Wanda Maximoff, 2016, War Machine, Squad goals, Life lessons, life lessons from film, life lessons from movies, Don Cheadle, Elizabeth Olsen, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Iron Man, movie commentary, Collateral damage, Black Widow, Chris Evans, Helmut Zemo, The Winter Soldier, 2016 Summer Movies, Anthony Mackie, Hawkeye, Paul Rudd, IMAX, The Incredible Hulk, Scott Lang, Daniel Bruhl, Marvel Films, 3D, summer blockbusters, Sokovia, Thunderbolt Ross, Captain America: The First Avenger, T'Challa, Black Panther, William Hurt, Tony Stark, life lessons, Scarlet Witch, Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Donald Shanahan, film review, Compromise, Marvel, Marvel Comics, Vision Comment

MOVIE REVIEW: Ant-Man

Creative differences, bad PR, and terrible marketing have sunk greater and lesser films. "Ant-Man" survives each those kisses of death to be a fun, entertaining, and clever blockbuster. The creativity is more than present to veer away from Marvel's usually enormous scale of worldwide crisis-aversion and give us a true small-scale (literally and figuratively) "regular guy" hero that was missing among the billionaires, scientists, soldiers, assassins, and demi-gods Marvel has elevated so far to its cinematic pedestals. "Ant-Man" is packed with a plentiful amount of humor, spirit, and surprises that trump both the bad PR and overindulgent marketing. It was saving some aces up its sleeve.

MOVIE REVIEW: Avengers: Age of Ultron

Raising the stakes and swinging for the fences like a good film sequel should, Joss Whedon’s latest Marvel film pays off the studio’s Phase 2 initiative with both a new level of groundbreaking effort beyond the first peak three years ago and a continued dedication to the master blueprint of a grander big picture.

EDITORIAL: My 15 most anticipated films of 2015

During the shift from December to January, I enjoy retracing what I reviewed and enjoyed from the previous year, but the trailers and previews for next year's films are starting to make an impact. I can't help but look ahead. Every year, I wrote an "Most Anticipated List." 2015 looks wildly loaded with must-see films. Let's make a new list for a new year. Here are my 15 most anticipated films of this new year. Enjoy!

ADVANCE MOVIE REVIEW: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Speaking of poker, if "Iron Man 3" is a hefty full house and "Thor: The Dark World" is a handsome straight, then "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" is a straight flush. I will echo the early reviews coming in and say that this is arguably Marvel's best made film to date. The movie is a kinetically smart clash of political espionage set on a superhero action stage. There's not a wasted moment of non-importance and the twists and turns triple anything attempted by "Iron Man 3" or "Thor: The Dark World."

EVERY MOVIE HAS A LESSON

by Don Shanahan

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