Day 1650: Spider-Man Homecoming

I can still recall the day I watched my first Spider-Man movie. For some reason, we had one of the 2000 movies in our house but had never actually watched it, so I didn't really complain or disagree when our babysitter (yes, I was still fairly young) convinced us that the miscellaneous Spider-Man movie was the perfect choice for that evening. 

I remember almost nothing about the film itself, other than I thought it was a ridiculous film because obviously the Marvel Superhero bug hadn't bitten me yet, and I went about my life up until yesterday honestly believing that Spider-Man was one of the strangest and worst superheroes out there. 

Well...I was wrong. 

In the tradition of catching the latest Disney film during opening weekend, Megan and I headed to the theater last night, settled into our recliners, and waited to watch Spider-Man Homecoming. We realized after the film that both of us had considered skipping this film, figuring that perhaps this one wasn't quite up our alley. In fact, I had completely forgotten about this new addition to the Marvel universe until I went to the theater a few weeks ago to see Wonder Woman and saw the giant Spider-Man Homecoming advertisement display, and even then I wasn't sure about the film. 

First of all, I'm absolutely behind in my Spider-Man Universe knowledge. I had completely forgotten that he was a teenager, hence the Homecoming title that made no sense to me until I saw the film (although it does still feel like a sort of strange title). But like all the Marvel characters and films, I'm still learning, and it seems that with each new film I find a new favorite character. Spider-Man was no exception. 

We've had a lot of great Marvel films in the past number of years, and a lot of wonderful television shows to back them up. Look at Captain America: Civil War, which came out last week and was absolutely a rollercoaster of emotions from start to finish. It wasn't just a welcome and worthwhile addition to the Marvel Universe, but was a spectacular stand-alone film. Spider-Man Homecoming, in my opinion, ranks in the same [ferry] boat. It'll make much more sense if you've seen a previous Spider-Man movie, and the pieces will fit together better if you've seen, specifically, Captain America: Civil War, but that's not to say that it can't be watched on its own. 

That being said, things I wasn't as thrilled about with the new Spider-Man movie (and don't worry, there are no spoilers here): as always with Marvel, it is a bit of a problem that you might not understand all the references and key plot points unless you've seen a prior film. Since Spider-Man was reintroduced in the last Captain America movie, there are multiple references to it in the film, and while, like I said, it makes sense without having seen the other films, it makes more sense when you have seen the films. Just something to note. I also felt the pacing was a bit strange throughout the movie, since the climax of the film seems delayed due to a prior climactic moment (or three). 

On the opposite side, however, with things I loved about the film, I can't express to you how much I laughed during this movie. Where with Civil War I cried more than during any other Marvel film, this time I laughed more, and it was consistent and well placed, which is extremely important in action films like this. In particular, the post-credits scene had me in tears, and is well worth the wait, if you're patient enough. The characters all felt developed and included at just the right moment, especially in regards to the reveals of the film (of which there are several). 

But most importantly, the message of the film is consistent and clear: If you're nothing without the suit, then you shouldn't have it. This film about a coming-of-age teenager who just happened to fall into a world of superheroes proves a very important point about living up to the person you want to be, and following through with your actions. We may not all be Iron Man or Captain America or even your everyday neighborhood Spider-Man, but behind the suits, they're people who care and strive to do what's best, even if they are in the midst of a Civil War. They don't just put on the suit whenever they feel like doing good, but rather are able to do good whether they're wearing it or not, and that's important to remember. 

I won't lie, I think Spider-Man may just be my new favorite superhero, a spot that has, up until now, really only been held by Captain America (and, perhaps, a bit of Ant-Man). There was just something about the geeky Peter Parker donning his specalized suit and trying to live up and prove himself to his superiors, an idea that certainly resonates with those in my age group just starting to head out into the real world, where we too will have to prove that we are just as worthy without the suit as we are in it. 

If you haven't had a chance to see Spider-Man Homecoming yet, head to the theater as soon as you can to catch a showing, because the spoilers in this film are already everywhere and it's only been out a couple of days! Do yourself a favor and see it before you see the spoilers, because it'll be worth it! 

Have a magical day!

Day 1222: Team Cap

My tour of Disney films on opening night continued this May with Captain America: Civil War, which I managed to watch after finally catching up on much of the Marvel fandom. I'm still behind with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, but I finally got around to watching the second Avengers movie, which really made all the difference. I wouldn't have understood half of Civil War without having previously seen that movie. 

As for Civil War itself, I really loved it. I laughed (oh boy did we laugh), and I definitely cried, so all together, it hit all the emotions very quickly. Plus, I'm a pretty big Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan fan, but who isn't? Actually, I think this film was better than most of the other Marvel films, although that may be partially due to the fact that the others really build up to the events of this film. 

I don't want to spoil anything, despite the fact that by the time I'm writing this, most of the world has already seen the film, but some highlights definitely included the guest stars of Antman and Spiderman. While some of the Avengers were missing (poor Thor and Hulk), the characters that replaced them made up for the action and the humor that would have otherwise been missing. Actually, it made me really excited about the prospect of a Spiderman movie, especially since it seems Marvel and Disney are trying to stay true to the story by bringing in a younger version of the character. I mean, I should probably rewatch the Spiderman movies, which I haven't seen in years, to see what the new one will be up against, but for now I think I'll settle for lobbying for Marvel characters at appear at Walt Disney World.

Let me know what you thought of Civil War in the comments below!

Have a magical day!

Day 1143: All the Tsum Tsums

It's been about a year now since I got my very first Tsum Tsums, which I bought as a reward for nailing an on campus job that I never expected to get. The fact that I got my very first paycheck seemed like a good enough reason to make an addition to my Disney Collection, and Tsum Tsums seemed like the way to go. Because they're so inexpensive, they make a great gift and their size makes them an adorable way to decorate, but it also means that they're really addicting...especially when every new Tsum Tsum release seems better than the last! 

It all started again when I became rather Twitterpated...with these Bambi Tsum Tsums of course. You just can't deny the adorableness that is this little collection (although really...we need a Flower). 

Just when you thought that maybe you don't need all the Tsum Tsums, this collection came around. Disney has definitely been spilling over into the parks for inspiration for new characters, and I'm pretty positive that this batch has us all yelling out "We wants the redhead!" 

The theme here seems to be "if you collect one, you collect them all," and with the wide array of Zootopia Tsum Tsums out there, I think we might be spending more than anticipated. To be fair though, if you didn't want to buy all of the characters in the Zootopia collection, you could always just stick with Nick, Judy, and...yep, Flash. Or you could buy them all. 

From what I can understand, stacking up Tsum Tsums in giant towers is a part of the fun...which means that the Tangled Collection is definitely a perfect fit. So if you're asking "When will my Tsum Tsum Collection begin?" I think we've found the answer. 

We all need more Star Wars. Enough said. 

It's not well known, but Tsum Tsums do more than just look adorable sitting wherever you've placed them in your room...they also help protect you while you sleep! When it comes to protecting, the Avengers and other various characters from the Marvel Universe seem like the perfect Tsum Tsums for the job! 

Now we have a problem though...which ones to we buy? 

Have a magical day! 

Day 1133: United We Fall

If we're being honest, it only really takes a few seconds of a new movie to get us all excited, and the new Captain America film is no exception. While I'm not a lifelong Marvel fan like some of my friends, I'm definitely a part of the fandom now, and my reactions to the new Civil War trailer certainly showcase that fact. 

The Super Bowl TV Spot for Civil War was only 30 seconds long, but it had a lot of emotions at play already, and while some of us may have already been counting down to the premiere, I think a lot of us are definitely counting down to the premiere now. Of course, we're now all expected to pick a side, either #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan, and I, for one, have no idea which side I'm supposed to pick. It's really a problem when your two favorite Avengers are the ones going against each other. Then again, I suspect that that's the case for a lot of us.

Short blog post today, but a long and exciting weekend filled with Newsies and FBLA left me drastically behind on homework and life, so we'll wrap things up here. However, let me know in the comments which team you're on and why! Help me pick a side! 

Have a magical day! 

Day 1020: Thor

Remember way back when? Yes, back when I told you all that I had never seen the Avengers or any of the other Marvel stuff? Well, I'm finally in the process of catching up. Since I finally saw both of the Captain America movies, Thor was next on the list, and let's be honest, there are a few things that you just knew I would end up talking about...and at the head of that list is Josh Dallas.

Let me tell you...if you put a Once Upon A Time fan in front of this movie you'd better be prepared for constant giggling and rolling on the floor. I did both of those any time he was on screen, and I kind of want to watch it all over again just for his scenes (let's be honest, I probably will). Of course, Josh is replaced by an equally amusing actor in the second film: Zachary Levi. Things are only about to get better folks. 

I also have to mention that I met Thor before actually seeing his movie, and he was a pretty awesome guy. He was a bit sad that I was wearing a Cap shirt instead of a Thor shirt, but after this movie I have the feeling I need to get my hands on one of those too. 

I also greatly enjoy this scene...ANOTHER! 

Overall, I honestly enjoyed Thor and I look forward to watching the next one...after I go out and find it of course. I should check if it's on Netflix! (It's not). 

Share some of your favorite Thor moments in the comments below! 

Have a magical day!

Day 944: Ant-Man

Amazingly enough, I managed to catch another of the Disney movies in theaters. Usually I miss seeing them all, but lately I've been on top of things, and this time, things were about to get small.

One of my friends from College actually saw Ant-Man not long after it came out, and insisted that when we got together this weekend, we had to see it. Of course, I was already planning on catching it at some point, so it seemed like a perfect opportunity, and Ant-Man definitely lived up to my expectations.

Since I don't want to give too much away, here's a trailer so you can get a basic idea of what the film is about:

Now, let's all be honest, any movie with Paul Rudd just has to be good, especially when it involves Marvel. Plus, you may or may not see some other familiar faces from the Marvel Universe, but all I'm going to tell you about that is that you should definitely stay until the end...after the credits. 

Overall, I thought that, at points, things got a little slow, but the entire film was laced with humor and a superhero feel unlike anything we've really felt before. Granted, I'm super far behind when it comes to watching all the Marvel Universe has to offer, but Ant-Man is definitely worth seeing. That is, unless you're deathly afraid of ants. Then you should probably steer clear...

If you've seen AntMan, let me know what you thought in the comments below! 

Have a magical day!

Day 914: Captain America Day

As the end of this week approached, there was that ever constant nagging in the back of my mind: "What about your Friday YouTube video? What are you going to do? You need to film this and edit it you know." And on and on my mind went. Of course, that nagging voice is right...I do have to, weekly, come up with an idea, write a script, film the video, transfer the files, edit the video and then travel a half hour to upload it because my internet at home is too slow. It's sometimes a bit tiring, but I do love every second of it, right up to the point where the other day I was trying to figure out how I might be able to continue weekly videos once I head back to school in the fall. It'll be difficult, but I'll see what I can do.

However, this week took a bit of thinking. It's obviously the Fourth of July and, at first, I had an entirely different idea. As ideas sometimes do, it fell flat, and I was left on Wednesday with no idea of what I would be uploading for this week's video. And then a tweet from someone I follow gave me a spark and I took it.

Which leads me to my confession...I've never actually seen any of the Captain America movies. Well, I hadn't when I filmed the video. I finally got around to watching the first one last night and loved every second of it. When the video was made, however, Captain America had yet to be watched. Which led to just a few projects...

As you can see in the video, I ended up attempting three Captain America inspired projects, and while the string art definitely took longer than expected, all three where super fun to create! 

Like I said, everything turned out really well and thankfully, despite draining basically every video camera battery I have, I got the video up on time! Remember, there's a new trip vlog on my YouTube channel every Tuesday and Friday Funday Video on Friday at Noon! 

Have a magical day!

Day 788: Big Hero 6

I can't believe how late to the game I am on this one. I love movies, especially Disney movies, and I love going to see them in theaters, but with a busy schedule like mine, sometimes it just doesn't work out very well. It means that my family never got around to seeing Big Hero 6, and now that's finally out on DVD, we had a chance to watch it.

Now, I don't think it's another Frozen, not by a long shot, but I'm certainly satisfied with the care Disney gave to this film. I'm slowly getting into the Marvel stuff (next on my list is the Captain America films), mostly due to my love of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Granted, I haven't really had time to watch that series this season either, and I have the distinct feeling that I'll catch up once I finish catching up on Chasing Life, especially now that SHIELD will be back for the spring season (just like OUAT...seems ABC has a thing going with this split season thing). Regardless, I really enjoyed Big Hero 6.

The music, and I'll mention this first since I'm currently listening to the soundtrack, was phenomenal. Very upbeat, and I know I texted Megan saying that it would make some seriously great studying or driving or superhero cleaning action music. Does this mean that the next time I'm cleaning the bathroom I'll be blasting this music? Yes, yes it does.

Second, I know that when everyone else I know saw it, they all said that I'd get super emotionally attached to Tadashi, and you know what, I tried not to. I tried so hard. And yet, I still was and I still cried when he died because that's not a spoiler because we all knew it was going to happen anyway. That being said, I'm honestly not sure who my favorite character was. I liked everyone pretty equally except for Fred. I just wasn't a huge fan of him. I mean, maybe I'm a bit bias because Go-Go was voiced by Jamie Chung, who happens to portray Mulan on OUAT, and Honey Lemon's style was just perfection, and I totally saw some of myself in Wasabi, and you just can't not like Baymax and Hiro. If I HAD to pick a favorite though I think it'd have to be Go-Go. I feel like her "superpower" is exactly what I'd want.

As for my favorite part? Definitely "Low-Battery Baymax" and the whole Fist Bump Thing. I literally laughed every single time he would fist bump and then go "Ba la la la la." Adorable. But as a college student who sees drunk people every so often, low-battery Baymax was pure hilariousness.

All in all, while it's not my favorite Disney film (remember, that's a REALLY hard list to get on), it's definitely not my least favorite either, and I plan on rewatching it very, very soon.

Oh, and Feast was adorable too. I love Winston so much.

Have a magical day!

Day 277: Agents of SHIELD

I know I talked briefly about this not too long ago, but I just figured I'd talk a bit more about it.

A few months ago I couldn't care less about the Marvel characters. I just wasn't a person who liked the superhero thing. I guess it's because of the whole gender stereotype thing, but either way, other than a bit of Batman, I was never into any of it (not that Batman has anything to do with this). And then I watched the Avengers. Now, all of my friends loved the movie, so I eventually got around to borrowing it and watched it, and you know what? I loved it! I absolutely adored the movie! My favorite Avenger? Iron Man, of course.

So when ABC decided to create Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I knew I'd just have to watch! And now we're in the second week already (almost to the third) and it's spectacular. In fact, I think I loved the second episode even more than the first. The thing is, I can't even pinpoint what my favorite part about the entire thing is. It's funny and action packed and has the perfect cast!

The point here? If you haven't seen The Avengers, go see it! You can find it on DVD and Blu-Ray probably pretty much anywhere now. And then go to Hulu or ABC.com and watch the first few episodes of Agents of SHIELD. It's on every Tuesday night at 8/7c, and honestly you should watch it. Watch it, watch it, watch it!!!

Unless you really have a thing against Marvel...or superheroes or shows like this. Then I guess maybe you shouldn't watch it, but hey, give it a try! I didn't think I'd like it either and I love it and watch it every week (not quite like OUAT where I'm religious with it but close enough).

Here's today's Disney History: 2006: The Spangler family from Randolph, Ohio spends the morning at Disney World as the Magic Kingdom's only guests. The family of four are the first big winners of Disney's "Year of a Million Dreams" celebration.

Have a magical day!