CHICAGO – The funny meter of Netflix went off the scale last week, as the animated series “Chicago Party Aunt” made its debut on September 17th. What began as a Twitter account by comic actor Chris Witaske (who also provides his voice talent) has morphed into the cartoon adventures of Aunt Diane Dumbowski, her nephew Daniel, and an array of familiar Chicago-isms and characters.
Stan Lee
‘Shazam!’ is a Paint by Numbers Superhero Movie
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 5, 2019 - 9:01am Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The former Captain Marvel (story below) is now “Shazam!,” and has his own film in the DC Comics universe. Zachary Levi portrays the title character, now with a new origin to go along with his new name. Speaking of that, no new ground is broken in this pretty standard foster-kid-makes-good hero epic.
Epic Comic Book Story in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 27, 2018 - 8:43am- Avengers: Infinity War
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Black Panther
- Captain America
- Chadwick Boseman
- Chris Evans
- Chris Hemsworth
- Don Cheadle
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Iron Man
- Mark Ruffalo
- Marvel Studios
- Movie Review
- Patrick McDonald
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Scarlett Johansson
- Spider-Man
- Stan Lee
- Tom Holland
- Walt Disney Studios
 Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Coming off the multi-textured “Black Panther,” Marvel Studios now turns its assignment towards an Avengers movie, and man, everything is on the table. This overstuffed, somewhat overindulged journey of a tale never loses its flavor, and has surprises around every corner. Anticipate “Avengers: Infinity War.”
All Forms of Heroism Available in ‘Black Panther’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on February 15, 2018 - 10:50am Rating: 5.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The fortune of the latest Marvel Studios superhero epic, “Black Panther,” lies in its solid foundation in African mythos and intelligent storytelling. And with Ryan Coogler (“Creed”) as director, there are still major confrontations and battles, intertwined into the soul.
Rousing ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ Hits Modern Society’s Central Nervous System
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 30, 2015 - 11:14pm- Aaron Taylor-Johnson
- Adam Fendelman
- Anthony Mackie
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Chris Evans
- Chris Hemsworth
- Cobie Smulders
- Don Cheadle
- Elizabeth Olsen
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jack Kirby
- James Spader
- Jeremy Renner
- Joss Whedon
- Mark Ruffalo
- Marvel Studios
- Movie Review
- Paul Bettany
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Scarlett Johansson
- Stan Lee
- The Avengers
- Walt Disney Studios
 Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Look. We all know sequels usually suck. And blockbuster films often get panned for overprioritizing special effects at the expense of a well-written story and character development. Even when a story in a big-budget film is redeeming, it’s practically impossible not to shoot holes through it.
Big Spectacle, Small Heart in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 2, 2014 - 5:19amRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – For a film with so much eye candy that it threatens ocular diabetes, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2” is decidedly low in story rhythm and energy – even with a villain named Electro. The story also has the “three villain syndrome,” which allows for a lack of focus and heart.
Near-Perfect ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ Defies Common Sequel Disappointment
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 6, 2014 - 2:59pm- Adam Fendelman
- Anthony Mackie
- Anthony Russo
- Avengers: Age of Ultron
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier
- Chris Evans
- Christopher Markus
- Cobie Smulders
- Ed Brubaker
- Hayley Atwel
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jack Kirby
- Joe Russo
- Joe Simon
- Joss Whedon
- Movie Review
- Robert Redford
- Samuel L. Jackson
- Scarlett Johansson
- Sebastian Stan
- Stan Lee
- Stephen McFeely
Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – If the original is anything to applaud, the sequel usually isn’t. And even more rarely is the sequel actually better.
While it’s aggressive to market “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” as one of the “best superhero movies of all time” and more realistic to pitch it as “better than ‘The Avengers,’” it most certainly is 2014’s best action flick yet and it definitely defies common sequel disappointment.
Forced ‘Thor: The Dark World’ Sequel Lacks Passion, Sci-Fi Basis
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on November 9, 2013 - 3:06pm Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – For me and the subculture as a whole, so much of science fiction came from “Star Trek”. If creator Gene Roddenberry were alive today to witness “Thor: The Dark World,” he’d tell it to focus on being a superhero film rather than failing to dabble in science fiction.
Geekdom Celebrated in ‘Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 6, 2012 - 1:53pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Say the words “San Diego Comic-Con” to a certain comic geek subculture and suddenly heart rates are up and anticipation is in the air. The documentary maker Morgan Spurlock (“Supersize Me”) seeks to capture that feeling in “Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope,” with help from Seth Rogen, Kevin Smith, Stan Lee, Thomas Jane, Josh Whedon, Seth Green and Matt Groening.
‘The Incredible Hulk’ Indeed Jacked Up on CGI Roids, But Medusa’s in His Face
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on June 13, 2008 - 12:01am Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Technology has done double-edged service and disservice to the legendary Hulk superhero character from Stan Lee’s Marvel Comics.
In peering at the CGI-created ripped body of nothing remotely reminiscent of Edward Norton, the 2008 film iteration of “The Incredible Hulk” has a leg light years up on Lou Ferrigno’s character in the 1978 television series of the “The Incredible Hulk”.
