Captain America: Civil War sets a new benchmark for comic book inspired films

If you didn't make it out to the movie theater to see CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR during its opening weekend make sure to see it while you can can on the big screen because it is definitely worth the price of admission.  The brother duo of Anthony and Joe Russo teamed up to co-direct this newest addition to Disney's Marvel super hero inspired film universe which does a stellar job of making the movie's audience feel as if they've actually been immersed into the pages of a comic book as they watch it.  This film is full of epic scenes which are amazing to see on the silver screen and demonstrates that while most motion pictures are easily available within a few months of their theatrical release to watch on dvd or via digital download going to the movies can still be a great experience that can't always be replicated on a television or mobile device screen.

This movie has it all ... a dynamic script that provides a serious dramatic tone to the film, action scenes that are sure to entertain you, special effects that provide a wow factor, plus humorous moments and one liners that cause the whole theater to erupt with laughter.  Captain America: Civil War does a nice job of making its cast of larger than life super hero characters relatable to viewers with its plot themes of loss, fear and revenge and great visual elements that absorb you into their story.  With such a large cast of prominent Marvel super heroes featured in this film, it was a nice spin on things that a lesser known character such as Ant-Man becomes the biggest hero of them all. I really enjoyed the Ant-Man solo movie and am looking forward to its sequel even more after seeing the great role  Scott Lang played in Civil War.  While Captain America and Iron Man are without a doubt the two main characters of the film, the directors really did a nice job of finding screen time and a role in the plot for everyone.

Two new heroes, Spider-Man and Black Panther, are added to the film franchise in Captain America:  Civil War and they really are provided impressive introductions that do their comic book characters justice in how they are portrayed and exceeded the expectations I had going into the movie.  I am looking forward to seeing the upcoming Black Panther solo movie after seeing Chadwick Boseman's performance as T'Challa the ruler of Wakanda in Civil War, while prior to seeing Captain America it wasn't of that much particular interest to me.  Tom Holland does a nice job of portraying the wise-cracking, teen age side of Spider-Man from the comic books that hasn't been highlighted as much in previous film versions of the character while his Aunt May goes in another direction not being a grey haired elderly lady in this new take on Peter Parker's adventures.

While the first two Avengers movies were great when it came to action scenes, special effects, and comedic scenes, Captain America: Civil War creates a new benchmark for the quality of a comic book inspired movie by incorporating a nice script with a plot that adds a sense of drama to the movie while also including all the elements that have made the Avengers movies incredibly enjoyable to watch.  Yes there are some plot flaws and other aspects of the film that make it far from perfect but this is an action movie not a documentary and it fulfills its mission of transporting its audience away from the reality of their own lives and entertaining them within one filled with super heroes that awe and amaze.  The tension between Captain America and Iron Man's feud leaves you on the edge of your seat while Ant-Man and Spider-Man provide comic relief that breaks the tension of the serious elements of the movie's plot.  The CGI effects continue to be very well done with one particular scene standing out in which a 20-year old Robert Downey Jr. appears on screen alongside his modern day self.  Watching theses special effects it really appears as if Iron Man is flying through the sky or Vision is walking through someone which is a big part of what makes watching these takes on Marvel's comic books so fun. Heading to see this movie, I had reservations about whether this movie could continue the momentum of the last two Avengers movies and was pleasantly surprised to leave the theater considering this my favorite film in the Marvel cinematic universe yet.

Captain America: Civil War follows the aftermath of the incidents in Avengers: Age of Ultron where the European nation of Sokovia was devastated with death and destruction by the conflict that occurred in that film.  Combined with the civilian death toll from incidents involving the Avengers in the original Avengers movie and in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the world has become afraid of this team of super powered individuals led by Steve Rogers (Captain America).  The countries of the world come together to sign a treaty called the Sokovia Accords which would have the United Nations oversee and direct the team.  The new status quo fractures the Avengers resulting in two camps, one led by Captain America and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference and the other following Tony Stark's decision to support government oversight and accountability.

This movie absolutely did not "stank" and you'll want to keep an eye out for comic book publishing icon Stan Lee's appearance in this film which is one of his best movie cameos yet.  Also stick around after the movie ends for a special post-credit teaser for the upcoming Spider-Man movie.  Captain America: Civil War gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval because I frankly thoroughly enjoyed the movie theater viewing experience and am looking forward to adding it to my home video library when it arrives on blu-ray and dvd later this year.  This is one of those movies though you really should make an effort to see on the big screen to enjoy the expansive battle scenes as you won't regret going to the theater to see it.

For more information about the movie, visit Marvel.com/CaptainAmerica

A Geek Daddy was invited to a free screening of this movie by Walt Disney Studios.  Opinions expressed in this review are honest and my own.

Dr. Strange adds a new dimension of fun to Marvel's super hero films

While the Avengers currently reign supreme as America's favorite team of super heroes based upon the popularity of the cinematic universe Disney has created around these characters from the Marvel comic book series of the same name, as a kid reading comics I never picked up one of those issues to read as I followed the adventures of another group instead called THE DEFENDERS who were led by the Sorcerer Supreme.  THE DEFENDERS was a comparable super hero team up series to the Avengers that was published by Marvel Comics from 1971 through 1986.  In THE DEFENDERS, Doctor Strange is the Sorcerer Supreme serving as the primary protector of Earth against magical and mystical threats.  To assist him with this mission he recruits The Incredible Hulk, Namor the Sub-Mariner, and the Silver Surfer to assist him in battling attacks from aliens, multi-dimensional monsters, mystical demons, and supernatural beings.  At the time that THE DEFENDERS was being published the Dungeons & Dragons game was really popular and I really liked how the comic book combined the wizarding and monster aspects of D&D with super hero escapades.  So I'm excited that the lead character from one of the favorite comic books of my youth is going to be featured in his own movie, DOCTOR STRANGE, that is being released on November 4, 2016 in theaters across the United States.

The movie will be the origin story of how Doctor Stephen Vincent Strange transforms from being a brilliant surgeon to becoming the world's Sorcerer Supreme after a tragic car accident ruins his medical career.  Doctor Strange travels the globe looking for a cure to restore his damaged hands from the car accident and while traversing through Asia encounters the Ancient One who teaches him to be a master of the mystical and martial arts.  Doctor Strange uses his new talents to take up the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme setting up residence in a New York City mansion he calls the Sanctum Sanctorum and focusing his life on defending the world from dark magic, demonic intrusions and super villains.

Check out this teaser trailer for the DOCTOR STRANGE movie:



DOCTOR STRANGE will be adding an exciting new dimension to the story telling within Disney's cinematic universe of Marvel characters by adding magic into the mix of possible scenarios within the movies.  Doctor Strange has a long established history with Marvel comics just like Ant-Man who had his own movie releases in 2015 yet neither of these figures are pop culture icons like Captain America, Iron Man, The Hulk, Thor and Spider-Man.  Ant-Man who was a founding member of the Avengers in the comic books but yet many people had no clue who he was when Disney announced they were doing a movie about him.  I have a similar feeling that while Dr. Strange has played important roles in numerous Marvel comic book series and story arcs over the last fifty years that he still has the same limited recognition with the general public.

Fortunately, ANT-MAN was a wonderfully done motion picture that showed how lesser known characters can be elevated to be featured in movies that are incredibly enjoyable to watch.  In a year of block buster movies, I can honestly say that ANT-MAN was one of my family's favorite films that we saw at the theater in 2015 and we rushed out to pick up and add it to our home video library when it came out on DVD.  From viewing the teaser trailer for DOCTOR STRANGE it looks like this movie will also have some of that same magic that made ANT-MAN special so I know for sure I'm looking very forward to seeing it when the film arrives at theaters at the end of the year.

After seeing the DOCTOR STRANGE teaser trailer I was inspired to pull out some of my old THE DEFENDERS comic books to read through. Perusing through them brought back so many childhood memories making me even more excited for the debut of the DOCTOR STRANGE movie in November.

For more information about DOCTOR STRANGE, visit the official Marvel website or follow the movie's social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter.

Ant Man Fun Facts & Kids Activity / Coloring Sheets

Ant Man may have been a founding member of the Avengers in the comic book world but in Marvel's cinematic movie universe this small character made his first appearance on the big screen with the recent theatrical release of his own feature film.  Armed with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, master thief Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, protect the secret behind his spectacular Ant Man suit.  Against seemingly insurmountable obstacles, Pym and Lang must plan and pull off a heist that will save the world. This high stakes, tension filled adventure which stars Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas and Darren Cross began playing in theaters in the United States on Friday, August 17, 2015. The 117 minute long action/adventure movie directed by Peyton Reed is rated PG-13.

Courtesy of our friends at Marvel Studios, A Geek Daddy has some fun facts about the movie and children's activity/coloring sheets to share with our readers:

• If you ever wondered how the Ant Man suit works, here's the answer. The suit encapsulates the Pym Particle technology that allows a person to shrink down to the size of an ant.  When the wearer wants to change size, he uses a button on the suit that regulates the Pym Particles, which run through the suit and helmet like an intricate system of veins.  The particles are volatile and change the distance between atoms, so the suit and helmet serve as protection for the wearer.   Although Ant Man does not technically have super powers, when he shrinks down in the suit, he actually exceeds the strength of a normal person because energy and mass compacted create a more powerful force.

• The Ant Man helmet has 54 different pieces to it as well as 10 LED lights. Ant Man's suit contains over 159 LED lights, which are controlled remotely.  All the circuitry and batteries for the lights are in a very small backpack which allows the whole suit to light up, including the gloves and belt.

• Marvel did a lot of research into ant behaviors and what the different species of ants could bring to the movie in terms of what filmmakers needed for the heist.  For instance, the Paraponera clavata or bullet ants have a very painful sting and resemble dinosaurs in the movie; the Solenopsis or fire ants are like architects as they can link together and form bridges and rafts to help Ant Man; and the male Camponotus carpenter ants can fly, providing Ant Man with a helpful mode of transportation.

• Marvel's Ant Man is set in San Francisco, California and many exterior shots were done there, including shots of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Tenderloin District, and the exterior of a Victorian home used to portray Hank Pym's house.  Following filming in San Fransisco, production took place at Pinewood Studios' newly built facilities in Atlanta, Georgia which Ant Man was the first movie to be filmed at.

• For the younger Hank Pym flashback scenes, Michael Douglas came up with a wig that he still had for a film he was going to do about President Reagan and it worked perfectly for Marvel's Ant Man.

• When you watch Marvel's Ant Man look closely at some of the set dressing for Hank Pym's house.  You'll see a little chair or a tiny weapon or other miniature everyday items.  There are items placed all around the house that hint at the adventures Pym had when he was Ant Man and suggest the experiments that he made shrinking inorganic objects before he made the breakthrough to shrinking organic objects.

• For the scaled down Ant Man sequences, the filmmakers used a combination of motion picture macro photography, still macro photography, motion capture with actors, motion capture with stunt people, and for every set they built a miniature version called a macro set.  Macro photography is extreme close up photography that produces photographs of small items larger than life-size.

• In the spirit of shooting everything in miniature, the macro photography team built a mini clapperboard, the device filmmakers use to help synchronize picture and sound.  Originally made of wood and handwritten on with chalk, clapperboards now have digital features, but the one for the macro sets was of the old fashioned variety.

• In the film, Scott Lang has a best friend Luis who owns an old brown van that has seen better days.  The van keeps changing its appearance through the course of the movie and the different versions were dubbed the Mark 1, the Mark 2, the Mark 3, in a tongue in cheek reference to the Iron Man suits.  The Mark 1 is the old brown van that Luis is really proud of but in reality is a "beater".  The Mark 2 is accessorized for a job by the thieves and boasts things like bigger mirrors so they can see who is coming and going and side boards for fast ins and outs.  The Mark 3 is geared up for the Pym Tech heist and is painted and accessorized to look like a Water & Power utility vehicle.

• Growing up, director Peyton Reed was an ardent Marvel fan boy.  When he was in high school, Reed made a pencil drawing of the punk band he was in, in which he depicted the band as a recreation of "The Avengers #1" cover where each of the band members was a different Avenger.  Perhaps in a flash of precognition, Reed drew himself as Ant Man.

Download & print out these fun Ant Man kids activity sheets & coloring pages:

For more information, visit Marvel.com/antman

AVENGERS SAVING THE DAY - FREE DIGITAL COMIC BOOK TEACHES KIDS TO SAVE FOR THEIR FUTURE

While your kids may be anxiously awaiting the arrival of MARVEL's Avengers: Age of Ultron at movie theaters on May 1, 2015 now may be a good time to wrap up April which is Financial Literacy Month with the team of super heroes providing some help on assisting them in being money smart.  VISA's financial education program, Practical Money Skills for Life, has a FREE digital comic book featuring some of MARVEL's most popular characters that can be downloaded to help parents and teachers begin a conversation with children about being money smart and financially literate.  AVENGERS: SAVING THE DAY features Ant Man, Black Widow, Hulk, Iron Man and Thor teaming up with Spider-Man to save a bank from being robbed by The Mole Man and his evil army while also providing tips to help Spidey from overdrafting his bank account as he considers what to buy his Aunt May for her birthday.  This comic book features some nice artwork and action scenes that intertwine an entertaining super hero story with educational tips and information.

AVENGERS: SAVING THE DAY is a 16 page comic book that introduces children to concepts of budgeting, savings, and banking terms.  Spider-Man's youthfulness (remember he is only a teen / young adult in most of his portrayals) and wise cracking personality create the transitions for the comic book's author, James Asmus, to provide educational insights while keeping the publication fun and interesting for its readers.  Andrea Di Vito also contributes with providing a decent job on the artwork for AVENGERS: SAVING THE DAY that I am sure most kids will appreciate and enjoy.
This comic book was originally published in 2012 to coincide with the movie release of THE AVENGERS, but is just as fitting and relevant of a tie-in now with its sequel.

The comic book is available in eight languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, French, Russian, and Bahasa Indonesian) and includes a budget worksheet and financial literacy terms checklist.  CLICK HERE to download AVENGERS: SAVING THE DAY.

"A wise man once said that with great power there must come great responsibility and that certainly applies to managing your finances.

In an uncertain world, understanding how to save

and properly budget your hard-earned money is one of the keys to personal success.

The Avengers are not only the world's greatest heroes, but they also know a thing or three about financial health. After all, Iron Man hasn't managed his vast wealth of Stark Enterprises by accident, and as Spider-Man learns, you don't have to be a millionaire to be a saving hero." 

-Marvel Editor Bill Rosemann

There is also an alternate version of the comic book available on the Practical Money Skills For Life website printed in Spanish and English that is essentially the same story but replaces Spider-Man with a super hero named Nova.  A teachers guide with a lesson plan can be downloaded from the website too.

Marvel & Funko Join the Subscription Mystery Box Mailers Craze

Subscription mystery boxes where people sign-up to receive periodic shipments through the mail that are filled with goodies that fit into some sort of theme has become a hot new fad.  Services like Loot Crate, Nerd Block, and Hero Box surprise their subscribers with specially selected  t-shirts, toys, comic books, and other collectible, often times exclusive, items that provide a thrill to recipients when opening a new package each time one arrives because they don't specifically know what they are getting in advance.  Will the contents be awesome, will they be a disappointment, are they useful, or will they just be more clutter around the house?  You won't know til you rip open the box!

Now Marvel and Funko, who up to now had been supplying items for other mystery box services, are joining this trend themselves with the creation of the Marvel Collector Corps.  Starting in April 2015, people can subscribe to get a box delivered to them every other month that will have a theme based upon a Marvel Entertainment property.  Each mystery box will contain a t-shirt randomly selected from 4 choices in your designated size, a Funko stylized vinyl figurine, and 2 premium accessories that tie into the package's theme.  Marvel promises that for the $25 per box charge that subscribers will receive exclusive items that are exclusive to the Marvel Collector Corps.

To help promote this new service, Marvel Collector Corps is letting people know at least one item that will be in the first mystery box - an Iron Man Hulkbuster Funko vinyl figure!  Plus they have released the themes for the first two mystery boxes which tie into upcoming Marvel superhero movies: AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON for April and ANT-MAN in June.

Subscriptions for Marvel Collector Corps can be purchased for specific individual months or annually (6 boxes).  For more information, visit www.collectorcorps.com

Disney's 2015 Movie Lineup is Blockbuster Gold

This is the year to buy Disney stock because 2015 is when their brand acquisitions over the last decade are coming together for a stellar movie lineup that is as good as gold filled with blockbusters that may generate record profits for the company.  Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars will be combining with classic Disney brands (Cinderella, The Jungle Book, and TomorrowLand) that will have people young and old excited to go to the movie theater throughout the year.  I'm both excited by all these movies and a little concerned about just how much lighter my wallet is going to be if my family actually goes to all the movies at the theater we want to see...and as great as digital downloads or DVDs can be they still don't match the thrill of viewing a blockbuster on the big screen.  So with no further delay, here's the 2015 list of feature films from Disney:

STRANGE MAGIC - January 23 (Touchstone Pictures/LucasFilm)

"Strange Magic" is a madcap fairy tale musical inspired by "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Popular songs from the past six decades help tell this animated tale of a colorful cast of goblins, elves, fairies and imps, and their hilarious misadventures sparked by the battle over a powerful potion.

McFarland USA - February 20 (Walt Disney Studios)

A cross country coach in a small California town transforms a team of athletes into championship contenders.

CINDERELLA - March 13 (Walt Disney Studios)

A live-action retelling of the classic fairy tale about a servant step-daughter who wins the heart of a prince. This is the number one movie my six year old daughter wants to see this year.

Monkey Kingdon - April 17 (Disney Nature)

It has become a tradition for Disney to release a nature themed movie around Earth Day and this year's topic is monkeys.  Monkey Kingdom is a documentary that follows a newborn monkey and its mother as they struggle to survive within the competitive social hierarchy of the Temple Troop, a dynamic group of monkeys who live in ancient ruins found deep in the storied jungles of South Asia.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON - May 1 (Marvel)

This might have been the most anticipated movie of the year until word came out that a new Star Wars movie would be coming out.  Sorry Marvel but this will still be a huge blockbuster.  In this sequel based on the characters from Marvel comic books, when Tony Stark (Iron Man) tries to jumpstart a dormant peacekeeping program, things go awry and it is up to the Avengers to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plans.

TomorrowLand - May 22 (Walt Disney Studios)

This movie is still pretty shrouded in mystery but is based on the TomorrowLand section of Disney's theme parks and stars George Clooney.  Here's the synopsis:  Bound by a shared destiny, a teen bursting with scientific curiosity and a former boy-genius inventor embark on a mission to unearth the secrets of a place somewhere in time and space that exists in their collective memory.

INSIDE OUT - June 19 (Disney / Pixar)

This animated film tells a story from the perspective of the emotions inside the mind of a little girl.

Ant-Man  -  July 17 (Marvel)

Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

THE JUNGLE BOOK - October 9 (Walt Disney Studios) 

A live action telling of the classic story of an orphan boy is raised in the jungle with the help of a pack of wolves, a bear, and a black panther.  The Disney animated version of this movie is a favorite of my kids so you know we'll probably be going to see this as a family outing.

Untitled Cold War Spy Thriller - October 16 (DreamWorks Pictures)

Directed by Steven Spielberg this movie produced by DreamWorks Studios is being distributed through Disney. It tells the tale of an American lawyer recruited by the CIA during the Cold War to help rescue a pilot detained in the Soviet Union.

THE GOOD DINOSAUR - November 25 (Disney / Pixar)

After a traumatic event unsettles a lively Apatosaurus named Arlo, he sets out on a remarkable journey, gaining an unlikely companion along the way - a human boy.  This is the move my son really wants to see this year.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - December 18 (LucasFilm)

This of course is the movie that I and millions of other fans are looking forward to 2015 with each of us wondering if this will be a hit like the original trilogy or a flop like the prequels that followed. For those of you who may have been hiding under a rock for the last year or so this new movie is a continuation of the saga created by George Lucas set thirty years after Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983).

So that's the Disney movie lineup for 2015. What do you think?!  Have fun at the movies this year my friends ... I know my family and I will be having a blast!