Avengers: Assemble.

Well, peeps.  At last, Thursday night was time for "Avengers: Endgame".  

This is a reminder that my movie posts are very spoiler-y, including this one.  So you are the one to blame if you read this before seeing the movie.  Go see the movie first, then come back.

Now, for the rest of you that have seen the movie:  my comments.

• That opening scene with Hawkeye and family.  Sigh.  I had forgotten how painful it was to watch people turn to dust at the end of Infinity War, and this just brought it all back.  
• Tears may have been shed more than a few times.
• Like when Scott was finally assured that his daughter was OK.  
• Cheers to all of the references to "Back to the Future".  I mean, how can you argue with all of the different timelines?  It only makes complete sense to me.  I actually think this is why this was my favorite "Avengers" movie with all of them in it, because I love time travel stories.
• Also, "Hot Tub Time Machine".
• I'm really glad that the most of the scientist superheroes were the ones left over so they could figure out this thing.
• So in the midst of all of the time travel talk, I thought, "Wait.  Dr. Strange knew that there was one possibility that they could win."  Is this it?  I'm glad it involved time portals.
• "I get emails from a raccoon, so nothing seems crazy anymore."
• Oh, no, Thor.  What happened?!?  Haven't I been watching Chris Hemsworth doing crazy exercise reps on twitter for the past few months?  Whose body is this?
• "I like this one."
• "There are a lot of other planets in this universe, and, unfortunately, they didn't have you guys."
• I really liked the white uniforms they used for the time travel.  I want a shirt like that.  Because I don't have enough shirts.
• His scenes with his mom made me kind of lose it.  That reminded me of Back to the Future, too, when Doc didn't want Marty to tell him anything.
• I would have liked to see Natasha hit Cap in the face with the sandwich.
• Bruce Hulk posing for pictures with fans was funny.  How did the kids not notice Captain America?  I guess because he wasn't in uniform?  But Scott thought they should recognize Ant Man?
• "So. Many. Stairs!"
• Tony Stark as dad was all kinds of sweetness.  Tony Stark as son meeting his dad in the past was all kinds of sweetness, too.
• "I love you three thousand."
• Aw, Jarvis!!
• I said "Awww!!" a lot during this movie.
• I thought Cap was going to exit the elevator by kicking everyone's ass, but nope.  Just two simple words that made many folks gasp in the theater.
• Cap fighting himself was awesome.  "I could do this all day."  "Yeah, I know."
• "Bucky's alive."
• "It IS America's ass."
• Cap with Mjolnir!!!!
• The sisters are back together!  Gamora, how I've missed you.
• "It was either him or the tree."
• Then Black Widow fell in Vormir and many tears fell with her.
• PEGGY!!!!  As soon as Cap closed the door, and I saw the "RTER" backwards on the door, I started to lose it. These were the scenes that got me really teary.  Because I'm a shipper, remember?  So his very last scene made my heart happy.
• "Up until this moment, I thought you were a Build-A-Bear."
• "Whatever, he eats trash."
• "...the chick with the antennae..."
• "Do you want to go to space, puppy?  I'll take you to outer space."
• Valkyrie riding her winged horse was a sight to behold.
• "On your left."
• All of those portals opening at once was an awesome visual.
• "You missed me the first time.  But the second time?  You got both."  Ow.
• "You took EVERYTHING from me!!!!!"  A woman scorned.  Whoa.
• All of the girls fighting together!  YES!!!!
• I would like to watch "Asgardians of the Galaxy", please.
• "I. am. Iron Man."  Epic.

I plan on seeing this a couple more times on the big screen, at least once in IMAX.  Gotta wait until after this weekend, though, because some people need to see it for the first time.  You know, before they read this.

Thank you for the fantastic series of movies, Marvel.  What an awesome tribute to creator Stan Lee, to have these films as his legacy.  

Excelsior!

I Believe He Can Fly

I watched the live-action version of "Dumbo" today after singing at my church's Good Friday service.

• Love Danny Elfman's arrangement of "Casey Jr."!  I'm thinking of getting the score for that song alone.
• Storks DO bring babies!
• I like that Dumbo was able to defend himself against those stupid human bullies.
• I mean, he's so CUTE!  How can you possibly be mean to him?!?!?
• "Never do anything I tell you without talking to me first."
• Hey, I recognize that plush!
• Nice to see Penguin and Batman together again.
• Colette got to wear some beautiful outfits.  I especially liked the ones she wore when she was going to ride Dumbo.
• Was Vandevere's hair supposed to be a wig?  It was weird.
• Great bit with the mermaid singing on the dock.
• Pink Elephants on Parade!  Those bubbles were cool.

I realized while watching this movie that I couldn't remember the plot of the animated one.  I think I need to see that again.  That one will make me cry more, but I did like this one, too.

Say My Name, Say My Name

When I was a kid, I loved watching the "Shazam!" series, which was part of the Shazam! / Isis Hour.  Yes, I was a fan of THAT Captain Marvel!   I was naturally excited to see the character in movie form, and made sure to see it on opening weekend.

• I don't remember Billy Batson being such a rebel back then, but I don't remember much about the series anyway.   
• "I don't even know how to pee in this thing."
• Batman helps other superheroes, even when he's not there in person.
• "Get him, Batman!"
• It's a cape, it's a hood, it's versatile!
• I like that Billy isn't the only one the wizard has tested for purity of heart.  Why, though, are they telling the story to people?  I might have thought I was going nutso, and wouldn't have told anyone.  Maybe I'd have to get a therapist, though.  But...what if the therapist refers me to the evil guy?  Ohhhh....
• I don't think that Zachary Levi looks like a grown-up Asher Angel, but I like them both.
• Yay!  Reference to "Big" because this is kinda like that, except with superhero powers.
• So I see that John Glover, whom played Lionel Luther (Smallville) now plays a father to yet another supervillain.  I shall be wary of his presence in every show he's in from now on.
• So I guess Shazam doesn't have super hearing.  I did enjoy that part when he and Sivana are floating in the sky and he can't hear the villain speech.
• Loved all of the references to the other DC superheroes.
• I especially liked the animation during the credits!

That was fun.  I hope we get to see more from Shazam and friends...and whatever that caterpillar has in mind.