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MCU

SHANG-CHI Advanced Tickets Now Available

16 August 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

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The latest installment in Marvel Studios’ Cinematic Universe is another step closer to release. Starting today, SHANG-CHI is available for advanced purchase at select theaters.

Fans can purchase advance tickets through Fandango to see the movie on the big screen in select theaters.

To commemorate the sale, Marvel has released a brand new TV spot of the film as well,

Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization.

While advanced ticket sales at select theaters are available now, there has been no confirmation from Marvel or Disney on whether the film will be available on Disney+ Premier Access. If so, it will be the first major Disney release since Mulan to not be included on the service at it’s premiere date. Be sure to check here if there are any updates to this in the future.

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS opens in theaters on September 3, 2021.

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney News, Latest News, Official Disney Tagged With: Disney, Disney movie, disney movie tickets, Marvel, Marvel movie, marvel trailer, MCU, mcu movies, mcu trailer, movie tickets, phase four, shang chi, shang chi and the legend of the ten rings

Marvel Studios Releases New SHANG-CHI Featurette

30 July 2021 by Chris Ryan Leave a Comment

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After the recent release of Black Widow, the train to the next inclusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is truly rolling. Today, Marvel Studios gifted us a new featurette of the film, SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS.

In the featurette, we join producer Kevin Feige, stars Simu Liu and Awkwafina, and director Destin Daniel Cretton as they provide some of the backstory to Shang-Chi as a character.

Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings” stars Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, who must confront the past he thought he left behind when he is drawn into the web of the mysterious Ten Rings organization

Marvel Studios’ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS opens in U.S. theaters on September 3.

Be sure to check out our other updates on the film here.

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney News, Latest News Tagged With: 2021 movies, Disney, Disney movie, Disney movies, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel movie, marvel movies, Marvel Studios, marvel trailer, MCU, mcu movies, movie trailer, shang chi, shang chi and the legend of the ten rings

REVIEW: All the Buzz About Ant-Man and the Wasp

3 July 2018 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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I will admit, I could watch Paul Rudd read the latest tax code updates and be totally content. I’m a fan. (And my husband reminds me of him as well, so I really lucked out there.) That said, I wasn’t super excited about the upcoming Ant-Man and the Wasp. It just didn’t look that intriguing to me, especially after the action-packed Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, and Avengers: Infinity War in recent months, this seemed like an afterthought. However, as usual, Marvel came through and made me eat my words. It was a fun romp, just the type of levity needed after the dare I say it, super depressing Infinity War ending. I’m sure many of us are still recovering after that killer ending (no pun intended). What AM&tW did was fill in the blanks and connect the dots to what was going on in the rest of the world while those last movies were happening, and also primed both Ant-Man, and the Wasp, to be a part of the continuing Avengers storylines.

 

I don’t want to give anything away, and this review will be spoiler-free, but I must say, I love how Marvel can just connect everything with a sentence or two, or even just one visual shot, and make you go “Ooooh, okay!” I’m not versed on the original comics, so I go in to all of these movies blind, but I am a nerd at heart, so I appreciate subtle links that lead to huge backstories and a wider universe of relationships and connections for our storylines.

Ant-Man and the Wasp does not disappoint with comedy and hi-jinx, heartwarming family ties, and a few jaw-dropping moments as well. I love that Ant-Man isn’t afraid to say what we all are thinking as an audience, “Are you guys just adding quantum before words now?” and isn’t afraid to be a “real guy.” We learn more about Scott Lang and his bad-guy-gone-good personality. We understand more about Hope van Dyne and her family, and how little we actually know of what else is out there in the universe.

I walked in not a huge fan of Hope, as I found her so reserved and not really endearing in Ant-Man, but this film does make strides in that department and she really is the yin to Scott Lang’s yang 😛 Other fun performances are from of course, Michael Peña as Luis, Randall Park as FBI Agent Woo, David Dastmalchian as Kurt, and Bobby Cannavale as Paxton, who picks right up where he left off in Ant-Man. I really enjoyed Laurence Fishburne’s Dr. Bill Foster, and hope this isn’t the last we see of him. Scott’s daughter Cassie, played by Abby Ryder Fortson is a breakout star of the film, as is the city of San Francisco itself, which I love. Another thing I like about this storyline is the fact that things don’t always go as planned with Ant-Man or his suit. They may not have access to perfect Wakandan or Stark-tech environments, but work with what they have, and figure out how to make it work and fight for what’s right.

Speaking of what’s right, there are many times when you wonder, what is right, who is right, and who is the bad guy or the good guy. I appreciate this element because it mimics real life and what you might think is the obvious “good guy” or “villain” just may not be the case. And of course, even the worst villain may be redeemable (e.g. Loki).

All in all, I now view Ant-Man and the Wasp as a necessary chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and it has, of course, led me to want more, and get ready for Captain Marvel and upcoming Avengers (4 – to be named later), which really can’t come too soon. As always, stay for the 2 post credit scenes – the first is a MUST see, the second is lighthearted. The end credits themselves are also super fun, for all those Marvel fan boys and girls out there who wish they could run home and recreate the entire movie…with their action figures at home.

 

Ant-Man and the Wasp opens everywhere Friday, July 6 and is the perfect summer flick to see again and again! I’d love to hear your thoughts on Ant-Man and the Wasp. Who’s your favorite character? What are your MCU theories?! Share in the comments below! 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews Tagged With: Ant-Man, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Ant-Man review, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel movie, Marvel movie review, MCU, movie review, Paul Rudd, Quantum tech, Quantum universe, spoiler free review

REVIEW: Black Panther – the Movie We All Needed

15 February 2018 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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Oh hi, Zannaland readers, readers, readers…hmm, bit of an echo. I’m prefacing this review with a touch of editorial mea culpa. I’ve been embarrassingly absent from my beloved site, focusing mostly on instagram to share my mini-blog posts and thoughts and pretty photos. In addition, I’ve been working full-time, as I’ve mentioned before, but I really shouldn’t use that as an excuse for neglecting this place. Before opening up this “Add New Post” page, I re-read my cathartic 2014 post The State of Zannaland (don’t read it now, it’s really long and we have a movie to discuss. But if you want later, feel free.) and I was shocked at how 4 years later, I could’ve written the same thoughts today. Basically, I get too busy to post, rely on the quick and easy places, then get down on myself and wonder if I should continue writing at all. It’s a vicious circle, which, as I read my own words expressing the same emotions years later, was a bit of a wake-up call. I’ll get into more of that in a future post. For now I’m just acknowledging that yes, I’ve neglected this place, and I’m really going to try my best at more writing and less neglecting. And now, Black Panther!

I am a Marvel fan. I’m not, however, a Marvel nerd, by which I mean, I don’t know all the backstories and original comics and what parts in the movies are canon vs. artistic interpretation – though I will admit to looking many things up in the Marvel Universe to better educate myself before and after movies because, let’s face it, there are some confusing storylines and characters out there.  After watching Thor: Ragnarok in theatres, which I loved, I felt the need to re-watch Doctor Strange (and look stuff up online), because hey, Doctor Strange was in there and everything’s connected and wow…so yeah, that’s where I am on the scale of Marvel fangirl.

Black Panther When I first saw a preview for Black Panther, I was IN. Actually, I was in when he appeared in Captain America: Civil War and as he first appeared and was trying to kill “the good guys” I thought “oh no please let him be a good guy I love him and want him to be a hero not a villain!” Which really, says a lot about heroes and villains because as Civil War pointed out, who’s to say what is on the side of “right” and the side of “wrong?” Sometimes there are various indistinguishable shades, and just as half the internet may see a dress as blue, the other half sees it as gold. And certainly in this real-world of political divisiveness, taking a knee, gun control, healthcare, taxes, and more, we often see people on both sides who believe without a doubt that they are fighting for what’s “right” and “good” even if, in our minds, they are completely wrong. Before I get into that, I will just say again, I was very excited to see trailers for the Black Panther full length film.

Now, dear reader, we come to a bit of a difficult point. I am, as most of you know, a suburban, white, middle-aged (gah that’s the first time I’ve admitted that one), wife and mom. The emotions I felt and the thoughts I have been trying to organize regarding this film, left me saying, “who am I, to have an opinion on this? Who am I to have a say in the themes presented on the screen? How can I rally in support of things I have had pretty much zero experience with in my real life? I don’t want to sound, as is so easy to do, like the person that says, ‘some of my best friends are (insert character descriptor here)!’ ‘Some of my favorite shows are Atlanta and Insecure!’ ‘I love Kendrick Lamar!’ or look like a bad YouTube video of someone trying desperately to be hip and relevant.” It’s awkward. It’s uncomfortable. My thoughts are my thoughts and my opinions and acceptances and loves are my own, but do they matter in a real-world environment of discrimination and brutality and defamation of character that by default I was born into the wrong side of? And then I realized, this is the point. This is the purpose. To feel uncomfortable. To get to that point where all you want to do is shout from the rooftops how amazing something is, even if you look like a fool for doing it, because it’s the right thing to do. To have the thoughts that make you question the way things are. To see the world from a different perspective. With discomfort comes growth. If we are comfortable with the way things always were, we will forever be living with the way things are vs. how they could be. So yes, here I am, a middle-aged (nope, still stings) white lady, discussing the film which is life-changing for many people of color and I’m just going to do it and it’s going to be a good time, I promise.

You may be starting to think, “Is this still a review for a Marvel super hero movie or did I accidentally click on a HuffPo link? It’s *just* a movie. A fun, action flick, not a commentary on the real world.” Yes, and the Princess and the Frog is just another animated cartoon. To many. To many more, it was the first time they got to go to a store and get a costume representing a character that looks like them. A princess that isn’t blonde with blue eyes with fair skin. A super hero that doesn’t look like he is a Viking god (sorry Thor). A friend of mine in the Disney community (I asked her permission to link to her 🙂 ) went with her sister and her nephew to DragonCon this past year, where he proudly dressed up as Black Panther. They took a group photo of all the Black Panthers there at the convention that day, and he was among all the other little guys looking like a mini army of Wakandan princes. And I teared up seeing the photos she shared because I felt just one tiny, miniscule, microscopic fragment of the pride of representation that they were feeling, and a big ol’ chunk of happiness. I don’t think I ever told her that, because, well, I felt dumb and again, like it wasn’t my place to celebrate that victory. That’s the thing with privilege, even if you don’t think you display it, seeing an instance where generations have gone without it, is very eye-opening. A little uncomfortable. And in that discomfort, you grow in understanding. This is not just an action movie.

Black Panther Wakanda

Imagine a world, where a country was able to rely only on itself and its people, rich in resources, dependent on no one for trade, or benefits of any kind. Where your land and your people were not a place to be, in their terms: colonized, civilized, converted, saved – in our terms: exploited, suppressed, and oppressed. A place where your land, your people, your culture, your traditions, and your history was preserved, celebrated, venerated, expanded upon, magnified, glorified. This is more than just a list of adjectives, this is Wakanda.

In the Marvel universe, Wakanda is the richest nation in the world. Completely self-sufficient, it has never been colonized, and more than that, because of their great wealth and technological power, they have for the most part hidden themselves from the rest of the world. Why? Because they didn’t need us. To see the downtown city of Wakanda is to imagine our cities, if they weren’t built by people with no cultural traditions, no history to celebrate. I know that I’m painting the developed world with a very broad brush, but it’s true. You can’t celebrate traditions and history and tear it down to build the next biggest high rise full of multi-million dollar condos. You just can’t. We only see this downtown area briefly, but that is the “what if?” that struck me. How the modern was mixed with the traditional. You have a skyscraper with a thatched roof added on to the side or on top, because that is how your traditional buildings were built. The people of the different tribes of the country might wear the traditional attire and markings of their ancestors, or a modern suit paired with a lower lip plate and stretched earlobes. It is literally the best of both worlds, the past and the future living in cultural harmony and peace. I watched in awe and wished I could live in Wakanda. Sadly, this place is fictional, but it certainly makes you wonder, at least it did me, what if. What if centuries of colonization and conquering and oppression and yes, slavery, hadn’t taught the world how “progress” worked.

Now imagine our reality and the world we live in, with the struggles, and persecution, and keeping down of marginalized peoples. And as a marginalized person, you discover that Wakanda exists. Would you want to move there and live out your days? Or would you want to expose the overflowing resources and seemingly endless solutions to the problems the rest of the world faces, in hopes of creating a perfect world everywhere, at any cost? Therein lies the dilemma of Black Panther. Some of these same sentiments are felt by citizens of Wakanda as well. So the new king, T’Challa, must decide how he is going to rule. Will he save the world, or protect Wakanda?

Black Panther

That’s all I’m going to discuss in the way of plot details, I won’t spoil this for anyone because there were some great surprise moments in the film. I will say that Black Pantheris enjoyable from start to finish. From the sweeping Wakandan visuals, to the uber cool Black Panther tech, to the up to date(ish) pop culture references, it’s smart, funny, and everything you’d expect from a Marvel movie. With one token white guy. Martin Freeman is a great foil against the typical “token” character and I love how the movie embraces that, making us white folk squirm just a teensy bit, and doesn’t just pretend that isn’t a reality of the situation in this world.

The performances by all the actors were amazing. I loved the character development and the juxtaposition of the modern outside world against Wakanda’s isolated one. I loved the costumes – so many details. I can only imagine the amount of research that went into each tribe’s backstory, traditional garb and appearance. There is a whole Wakandan language that is spoken and written! The level of realism to create the country of Wakanda and all its history is a standalone success even without the acting, writing, backgrounds, and music too. And I loved the messages throughout the film. They are all important. It was wonderful to see strong (physically and emotionally) women represented on film without a second thought as well. This film on a whole is a great commentary on culture, traditions, rituals, and family; how even the mightiest of men can be flawed and, at the end of the day, we are our choices, so make good ones. And, it’s never too late to make up for the sins of the past and attempt to heal the damage done – and, to be open to new solutions.

So there you have it. My review, peppered with the lightest of social commentaries. I am not 100% sure I have expressed everything I wanted to express about Black Panther, but I am going to see the movie again tomorrow with my 17 year-old daughter, who is also dying to see it, so I may have more to add to this post. I look forward to hearing her perspective on it, as a member of the generation that has been a part of more social change and inclusion since perhaps the 60’s. Things like how the standard of beauty has done a 180 from a generation ago. The standard of human rights and representation is growing exponentially. We still have a long way to go, and I think we have seen recently that what has been the ‘norm’ cannot be the norm anymore. Change is afoot, and movies like Black Panther are the stepping stones to those changes.


Edited to add one more thing: IF I have, in fact, offended anyone, please – let me know. I tried to be completely open, honest, and transparent with some very important real world issues, but I completely understand if I have overstepped any bounds or if my tone did not come across as intended. I come in peace and love, and I hope that’s how it appears. I have had people I know tell me that they actually had no desire to see this movie, and when I asked why, they said (and I’m not making this up – I wish I was), “I’m just not a fan of the urban-ness of it all…” and that, my friends, is a very sad sentiment, which unfortunately is still all too common in 2018. So if anything, I wanted to show whoever did read this, that this IS an important and fun movie and if you can’t handle the “urban-ness” of a country full of peaceful, technologically advanced beyond anyone on the planet, and ridiculously rich citizens, then perhaps it’s time to move to a new galaxy. 

WAKANDA FOREVER!

Like BLACK PANTHER on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackPantherMovie

Follow BLACK PANTHER on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theblackpanther

Follow Marvel Studios on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvelstudios/

BLACK PANTHER arrives in theatres everywhere on February 16, 2018! 

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews, Top Stories Tagged With: Black Panther, Black Panther review, Disney movie reviews, Disney movies, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel movie, MCU, T'Challa, Wakanda, Wakanda Forever

Captain America: Civil War – Bonus Features on Blu-ray and DVD

12 September 2016 by Suzannah Otis Leave a Comment

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The latest installment in the MCU, or Marvel Cinematic Universe, Captain America: Civil War does not disappoint with traditional Marvel action and storyline twists. While I am not a super Marvel nerd and knowledgable on all the comic backstories, I almost like it better that way, so I can be still be surprised by the unfolding story on screen. I loved Civil War when it came out, and having it on Blu-ray was a must to add to our Marvel collection.

 

captainamericacivilwarsuperset

 

If you’re anything like me, the gag reels are the best part of having a dvd or Blu-ray, and this is no exception. Here’s a clip of some of the funnies you’ll find on the Civil War release:

 

Here is what else you can find in the bonus features –

 

More than 60-minutes of thrilling, exclusive bonus material includes: an inside look at the evolution of lead characters Steve Rogers and Tony Stark, a behind-the-scenes exclusive on the making of Marvel’s “Captain America: CivilWar,” never-before-seen deleted scenes and hilarious outtakes. Plus, home audiences can learn more about the latest additions to the MCU and get an exclusive, first look at Marvel’s “Doctor Strange,” starring Benedict Cumberbatch, coming to theaters Nov. 4, 2016.

Bonus features include:

DIGITAL HD/3D & BLU-RAY:

  • United We Stand, Divided We Fall – The Making of Captain America: Civil War Part 1 & Part 2 – As the tension mounts, sides are chosen and lines drawn. Learn more about the characters on each side—from Captain America and Iron Man to the latest recruits. In this complete behind-the-scenes look at a landmark in the Marvel saga, we’ll examine their stories through exclusive footage and interviews and discover just what went into selecting the Super Hero teams, filming the epic action sequences and introducing Black Panther and Spider-Man to the MCU.
  • Captain America: The Road to Civil War – Explore the First Avenger’s fascinating evolution from loyal soldier to seasoned, conflicted hero who questions authority.
  • Iron Man: The Road to Civil War – From Gulmira to Sokovia, delve into the development and evolution of one of the most iconic characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
  • Gag Reel – Break the tension of this high-stakes conflict with some hilarious outtakes featuring the lighter side of your favorite Super Heroes.
  • Deleted & Extended Scenes – Check out never-before-seen footage that didn’t make the final cut of “Captain America: Civil War.”
  • Audio Commentary – Directors Anthony and Joe Russo and screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely deliver scene-by-scene insight and explain the storytelling challenges they faced creating the third installment of the Captain America franchise.
  • Open Your Mind: Marvel’s Doctor Strange – Exclusive Sneak Peek – Go behind and beyond the scenes as Doctor Strange makes his journey to the big screen.

We really loved this extensive look at Doctor Strange too – lots more info on this next MCU release! Pick up Captain America: Civil War when its released tomorrow on DVD and Blu-ray!

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Filed Under: Disney Movie News & Reviews, Movie Reviews, Movies & Books, Reviews Tagged With: Captain America, Captain America blu-ray, Captain America bonus features, Captain America gag reel, Captain America: Civil War, Captain America: Civil War dvd blu-ray, Marvel Cinematic Universe, marvel movies, MCU

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