Review of Iron Man 2008. When Tony Stark, an industrialist, is captured, he constructs a high-tech armoured suit to escape.
Iron Man (2008) Review: Why The First MCU Movie Is Still The Best (2026 Retrospective) Read More »
Review – Dark Ages #1 A dystopian alternate reality Marvel universe stripped of all technology after an ancient being awakens.
Seven years later, Avengers: Endgame remains the undisputed King of the MCU. From the “Portals” scene to Tony Stark’s final sacrifice, here is why this masterpiece demands to be watched on 4K. ⚠️ Affiliate Disclaimer This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Verdict at a Glance The Crown Jewel of the MCU It is hard to believe it has been seven years since Avengers: Endgame hit theaters. In 2026, as we navigate the complex “Multiverse Saga” with Incursions and Variants, looking back at Endgame feels like visiting an old friend. This wasn’t just a movie; it was a miracle of logistics. Juggling dozens of A-list stars, wrapping up 22 movies of storytelling, and landing the emotional plane perfectly? That shouldn’t have been possible. Yet, the Russo Brothers did it. Here is why Endgame remains the “Gold Standard” against which all other blockbuster movies are measured. The “Time Heist” is Genius Writing Instead of a standard “punch the bad guy” plot, the movie turns into a love letter to the MCU itself. By sending our heroes back to 2012, 2013, and 2014, the film allows us to see how far these characters have come. Watching the weary, defeated 2023 Tony Stark interact with the hopeful 1970 version of his father is heartbreakingly beautiful. It rewards you for paying attention for the last decade. The Darkest Battle Needs the Best Screen The final act—the “Battle of Earth”—is notoriously dark (visually). The muddy grays and browns of the destroyed Avengers compound can look like a blurry mess on streaming services. However, on physical 4K UHD, it is a different experience. The HDR brings out the glowing sparks of Doctor Strange’s portals, the crackle of Thor’s lightning, and the distinct colors of the Infinity Stones against the gloom. If you haven’t seen it on disc, you haven’t really seen it. “On Your Left” There is no cinematic moment in the last 20 years that matches the “Portals” scene. When Captain America, broken and alone, hears Sam Wilson’s voice… it is pure magic. Even in 2026, this scene induces goosebumps. It is the payoff to every single solo movie that came before it. Seeing Black Panther, Spider-Man, and the Guardians return from the dust is a triumph of long-form storytelling. The Perfect Goodbye for Tony & Cap Endgame understands that endings are necessary. Tony Stark, the man who started as a selfish egoist, makes the ultimate selfless play. Steve Rogers, the man who always sacrificed himself for the greater good, finally takes a moment for himself. Their arcs cross perfectly: one learns to let go, the other learns to live. How to Watch: The “End of an Era” Collection To truly honor this film, you need the best quality possible. Streaming compression ruins the audio dynamic range of the final battle. 🥇 The Essential Disc: Avengers: Endgame (Cinematic Universe Edition 4K) This disc is reference quality for home theaters. The Dolby Atmos track shakes the room when Thanos’s ship, The Sanctuary II, fires on the base. 🥈 The Ultimate Flex: The Infinity Saga Collector’s Box Set If you want to own the entire 22-movie run from Iron Man to Endgame in one beautiful package, this is the holy grail for collectors. 🥉 The Must-Have Prop: The Nano Gauntlet (Electronic) Unlike the golden Infinity Gauntlet, the red-and-silver “Nano Gauntlet” was built by Tony Stark. This high-end replica features articulated fingers and the “Snap” sound effect. It is the centerpiece of any Marvel shelf. Final Thoughts Avengers: Endgame is a masterpiece of blockbusters. It manages to be funny (Professor Hulk), devastating (Black Widow), and triumphant (Cap lifting Mjolnir) all at once. In an era of endless sequels, Endgame dared to provide a conclusion. It is the high-water mark of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and it demands a permanent spot in your physical media library. Where to watch next: The “Infinity Saga” is over, but the aftermath begins immediately in Spider-Man: Far From Home, which deals with the world mourning Tony Stark.
Avengers: Endgame Review: The Perfect Finale to the Infinity Saga Read More »
Review – Spider-man: Far from Home (2019) Run Time: 2hrs 13mins Directed by: Jon Watts Produced by: Kevin Feige Written by: Chris McKenna & Erik Sommers. Starring: Tom Holland, Jake Gyllenhaal, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Samuel L. Jackson, Marisa Tomei and Jon Favreau Release Date: 2 July 2019 Production company: Marvel Studios Full Spoilers Retrospective Review Introduction I’m delighted to be taking another trip down MCU memory lane to retroactively review Spider-man: Far From Home for BGCP Comic Con. Shortly after the events of the epic conclusion to the Infinity Saga, Avengers: Endgame, we find Peter Parker/ Spider-man dealing with the loss of his mentor, Tony “I am Ironman” Stark. Peter is also readjusting to life after being snapped back into existence after five years, when the Avengers undid Thanos’ dusting of half of all life in Endgame. Aunt May knows he’s Spider-man now but it’s not given much weight, she supports him in it, even encourages him. Peter’s going on a trip to Europe with school and conveniently, all of the supporting cast from Spider-man: Homecoming who would have naturally returned were snapped just like Peter so there’s plenty of familiar faces to join him on the trip. Peter was hoping to get away from that superhero life monsters from another reality require his attention. He meets a new hero, Quentin Beck played by Jake Gyllenhaal the last surviving hero fro… It’s Mysterio, he’s the bad guy, it’s all a lie. Story Ok so the plot is somewhat convoluted. These ‘monsters’ show up, attacking random spots around the world which draws the attention of Nick Fury and Maria Hill, (really Skrulls, Talos and his wife Soren who we met in Captain Marvel). They are acting on behalf of the real Nick Fury and are duped by the story of the Elementals that Beck (stage name) tells them. They team up and meet Peter on the Vienna stage of his school trip, as the water Elemental attacks. ‘Fury’ basically forces Peter to join them in the fight against the Elementals as strangely none of the many heroes that appeared in Endgame are available to help out. All this being a ruse by Beck to obtain the world security system/AI – EDITH. The control of which was left to Peter by Tony after his death. EDITH is operated through a pair of unmistakably Robert Downey Jr sunglasses, that ‘Fury’ delivers to Peter in Venice. The security system is a fleet of weaponised drones on stand by in a space station in Earth’s orbit. With EDITH, you can have a multi weapon killer drone that can be at your target at a moments notice. Demonstrated in a poor fashion when Peter accidentally sets a drone on another student while they’re driving through the country on a tour bus. It’s just the silliest scene, Peter leaping out of the moving bus through the skylight, web whipping the attacking drone onto the ground in an explosion that no one on the bus heard, all while Peter lands back in the bus, with no one the wiser. Behind the scenes Beck drops exposition in a fantastically theatrical monologue to his secret coconspirators after he tricks Peter into handing EDITH over to him. Beck was the man who invented the ‘BARF’ hologram technology used by Tony Stark in Civil War. Stark fired Beck for being unstable leading him to band together with other former Stark employees to collectively become ‘Mysterio’. Beck and co want access to EDITH and the fleet of drones to stage an ‘Avengers level threat’ that will place Mysterio as the next Ironman and give the cabal the keys to the world. A plan that doesn’t stand up to much scrutiny. How well would Mysterio’s illusions hold up if he had to interact with any of the other heroes in the MCU. A big mix of people with various skills and intelligences that would smell something fishy in Mysterio’s bowl. Buuuuut Quentin Beck or whatever his real name is, was fired by Stark for being unstable. I think this plan makes sense as the plan concocted by an unstable person. Jake Gyllenhaal is so captivating in the role that it doesn’t bother me for long. Hijinks Running parallel to the main plot is the antics of the rest of the class and the their chaperone teachers Martin Starr and J.B. Smoove. I love both actors but felt they had a lot of stinker comedic lines that fell flat. The first film to depict the events of the snap or the ‘Blip’ as it’s called here, outside of Infinity War and Endgame, wisely removes all the horror of the event and plays it off comedically. The John Huges-y vibe of the last film continues here but it is given an extra sub genre of a holiday film. Cuteness Spider-man: Far From Home is also part romantic comedy. The romantic strands between Happy Hogan (Jon Favreau) and Aunt May (Marisa Tomei) as well as Ned and Betty and give the supporting cast a little more focus. While they’re fun, the real cutesy stuff comes with Peter and MJ’s blossoming relationship. A minor hurdle in their pairing comes from Brad the same student Peter nearly had EDITH killed by accident. He wasn’t snapped but there isn’t anything that that novel about his character besides. Peter has been planning to express the emotions he has developed for MJ since we last saw them together on this school trip. Holland and Zendaya have a great natural chemistry together. Looking back from 2021 we could be forgiven to whimsy that it mightn’t have just been their considerable acting talents caught on camera. Zendaya in particular gives a wonderfully earnest and grounded portrayal of a more introverted Mary Jane than we had seen before. I feel like Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane could be seen as shy in certain ways and more outgoing in others. Zendaya’s MJ is more guarded than shy. I like the introverted straight talker we’re seeing here. MJ while put in danger a
Review – Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) Director: Peyton Reed Producer: Kevin Feige Writers: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer Gabriel Ferrari. Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hannah John-Kamen, Michael Pena, Randall Park. Introduction After the mammoth event that was Infinity War, the scope of the MCU seemed that much larger. How does a universe that keeps growing get brought back to size? Enter, Ant-Man and the Wasp. The sequel serves as the eighth film in the third phase of Marvel’s Infinity Saga, and brings back Paul Rudd as the charming pint-sized (and occasionally over-sized) hero. Despite taking place after one of the franchise’s biggest films, the film provided audiences with a lighter film that was, at the time, a much needed refresher. For this review, I revisit Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) to see how it fairs as a standalone film within the MCU. Plot I’ll start this off by saying that I still love this film, and for many reasons. One of the film’s greatest qualities, is that it serves as a reminder that Marvel films can be fun and heart-warming, without some cosmic level threat. The film itself is not even directly influenced by Thanos and the snap – and the film is so much better for it. Ant-Man and the Wasp shows what happened to Scott after Civil War. Following his trip to Germany and violation of the Sokovia Accords, he is now in house arrest. However, he must reunite with Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lily), to save Hope’s mother, Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), from the Quantum Realm. After his own stint in there, Scott has become entangled with Janet and is the key to her rescue. Saving Janet is not going to be so easy. A maniacal gangster (Walter Goggins) and a new villain, Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), are on the hunt for Hank’s lab and technologies for their own purposes. Characters & Writing As a film within a major franchise, the film gives space for it’s characters grow and gives the cast a chance to shine. Paul Rudd continues to bring his boyish charm as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, and it’s hard for audiences not to love him. His focus on his family and the fact that he may not always be the best superhero, or man, makes him endearing to watch. The rest of the cast also shine, in a somewhat over-stuffed film. In particular, Evangeline Lilly, finally gets the opportunity to suit up and kick ass as the Wasp. The film seems to make up for the long overdue need for a fully fledged female superhero. Evangeline seems incredibly comfortable slipping into the Wasp’s wings and gets to deliver some of the film’s best action sequences. Michael Pena continues to be the films main comedy relief, delivering some of the films more laugh out loud moments. With the inclusion of newcomer Jimmy Woo, played brilliantly by Randall Park, the cast seems a lot more developed and more comfortable together on this second outing. Nevertheless, as impressive as the film is, it does have a few drawbacks. Mainly that a few characters don’t get as much development as others. Ghost, while played brilliantly by Hannah John-Kamen, is a tad under developed, despite having a decent set up. The film also never really plays into Ghosts relationship with Bill Foster (Laurence Fishbourne). Considering the film’s emphasis on family, it seems like a missed opportunity. I’ll also admit, that the film’s explanation of certain elements can be a little thin in places. We never really get to discuss how Janet has managed to survive in the Quantum Realm for over thirty years, which seems like it should be important. Also, considering the Quantum Realms important to the MCU’s future, I would have liked more emphasis on it. Cinematography It would be difficult to talk about this film, without mentioning how beautiful the cinematography is. Like the first Ant-Man, the use of scale in this film is beautiful. The art of shrinking, growing oversized, and then going back to normal size serves as some of the films more comedic moments. The use of visual dimensions throughout the film also deserve some recognition, as it is some of the best use of visuals in the MCU. The alteration of sizes, particularly during a car chase sequence, is a feast for the eyes. One scene in particular that stands out, would be when Hank goes to rescue Janet from the Quantum Realm. What the film lacks in explanation, it makes up for in visuals. The striking technicolour adds to the trippy affects of the realm and adds to the visual magic of the film. Overall thoughts Overall, I still think Ant-Man and the Wasp is a fun and light-hearted film. Director Peyton reed hones in on what made the first Ant-Man so loveable and introduces larger elements that will play a major role in the future of the MCU. All in all, it’s an excellent self-contained story, that reminds us of the importance of the little guys in a larger universe. If you enjoyed our review of Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and would like to re-watch the film, then drop us a rating or a comment below. [yasr_multiset setid=2] [yasr_visitor_multiset setid=2] Buy tickets for BGCP Comic Con in and around Glasgow Scotland – BUY TICKETS Check out all of our Comic, Movie, Television and Videogame Reviews HERE and our Podcasts/Interviews HERE If you want to be part of the BGCP community, Join us on Discord, Twitter, Instagram etc then click HERE
Review – Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). Let’s see how James Gunn did with our review of his 2017 film Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2!
Review – Spirits of Vengeance – Spirit Rider #1. SHE’S LIKE NO GHOST RIDER YOU’VE EVER SEEN! SHE IS KUSHALA—A SORCERER SUPREME, A SPIRIT OF VENGEANCE
Review – Amazing Fantasy #1. Captain America, Black Widow and Spider-Man awaken in a fantasy world but all is not as it seems…
Scarlett Johansson Suing Disney. After the mediocre box office takings for Black Widow, the Avengers star is reported to have lost almost $50m so far
Revisit the beginning of the Asgardian saga. We review Thor (2011), analyzing Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespearean direction, the debut of Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, and whether the Phase 1 classic stands the test of time. The Verdict at a Glance Introduction: The MCU’s First Big Gamble Before 2011, the Marvel Cinematic Universe was grounded in the tech-based reality of Iron Man. Thor was the franchise’s first leap of faith into high fantasy, magic, and cosmic gods. Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the film attempts to blend Shakespearean family drama with modern superhero tropes. Looking back more than a decade later, Thor feels distinct from the rest of the MCU. It lacks the improv-heavy comedy of Ragnarok, opting instead for a sincere, theatrical tone. But is it a classic, or just a stepping stone? The Plot: A Tale of Two Realms Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the arrogant but powerful prince of Asgard, reignites an ancient war with the Frost Giants. As punishment, his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) strips him of his powers and banishes him to Earth—specifically, a small town in New Mexico. While Thor learns humility among humans (and falls for astrophysicist Jane Foster), his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) uncovers his own dark origins and plots to seize the throne of Asgard. What Works (The Worthy) The Perfect Casting It is impossible to imagine anyone else in these roles. Chris Hemsworth nails the transition from arrogant warmonger to humble hero, bringing a physicality that sells the character immediately. However, the real star is Tom Hiddleston. His nuanced performance as Loki provides the MCU with its first genuinely tragic villain, setting the stage for his dominance in The Avengers. The Shakespearean Drama Kenneth Branagh brings a level of gravitas to the Asgard scenes that elevates the material. The conflict isn’t just about punching bad guys; it’s about fathers, sons, and the burden of legacy. The dialogue in the throne room feels weighty and significant, giving the film a unique flavor compared to the quip-heavy scripts of later Marvel movies. Fish-Out-of-Water Humor The film is at its best when Thor is struggling with earthly customs. The famous “Another!” scene, where he smashes a coffee mug in a diner, remains one of the most charming moments in Phase 1. What Doesn’t Work (The Unworthy) The “Small Town” Problem For a movie about space gods, a surprising amount of the runtime is spent in a dusty parking lot in New Mexico. The budget constraints of Phase 1 are visible here. The Destroyer armor battle in the climax feels less like a planetary threat and more like a small skirmish in a cul-de-sac. The Romance While Hemsworth and Portman are both talented, their romance feels rushed. They fall in love over the course of a long weekend, largely based on Thor being attractive and polite. It lacks the spark that Tony Stark and Pepper Potts had. Overuse of Dutch Angles A common critique of the film is the cinematography. Branagh loves a “Dutch angle” (tilting the camera to the side). Once you notice that almost every shot in the movie is tilted, it becomes distracting. Final Thoughts: A Solid Foundation Thor (2011) is a charming, if slightly uneven, entry in the Marvel canon. It did the heavy lifting of introducing magic to the MCU, paving the way for Doctor Strange and Guardians of the Galaxy. While it may feel small compared to the cosmic epics that followed, the emotional core of the Thor/Loki relationship makes it essential viewing. Pros: Hiddleston’s debut; Asgardian production design; Sincere emotional stakes. Cons: The bleached eyebrows on Thor; Forgettable action set pieces on Earth; Forced Hawkeye cameo. Where to Buy & Watch To witness the start of the Odinson’s journey, check out the links below [Stream on Amazon Prime Video] [Buy Thor (2011) 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on Amazon] [Buy Thor (2011) Standard DVD on Amazon]
