Identifying Bast and Sekhmet in Captain America: Civil War, The Black Panther Movie Lore

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By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

Most people who love the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) will have seen Captain America: Civil War by now. While long-time comic book readers may grin at the conversation T’Challa has with Natasha (Black Widow), not everyone is going to understand the reference made about how two Egyptian goddesses figure into his belief system. What he said also reveals a potential story direction for his solo movie. The detail is not that much of a stretch to interpret in the context of this movie either.

As T’Challa explained, “In my culture, death is not the end. It’s more of a stepping-off point. You reach out with both hands, and Bast and Sekhmet, they lead you into the green veld where you can run forever.”

In what I first understood from his statement is that his father’s spirit freely roams the Earth. But there’s a deeper context not many viewers may catch on to. Bastet (her full name) is a peaceful goddess, a divine protector of cats. She represents grace and affection. There is no need for violence unless provoked. She can be used as an instrument of vengeance. In the earliest references to this figure in The Pyramid Texts, she is there to guard, if not protect, the king.

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Ranking 2016’s Comic Book Films by Impact

Trying to translate every hero into a live-action story is dangerous, especially when some heroes just cannot translate well (Aquaman) as a comic book film.

Captain America: Civil War Movie PosterThe past few years have been nothing but a bumper-crop of comic book films. There’s a few one-off’s which are kind of fun, and for the big two, Marvel and DC, just which one will I start to love more? This year will definite it! The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is going to hit a milestone with one of the comicdom’s pivotal moments getting a movie treatment, and the DC cinema realm will finally give rise to the Justice League.

Honestly, I prefer Bruce Timm and Paul Dini’s animated unification of the DC universe. Trying to translate every hero into a live-action story is dangerous, especially when some heroes just cannot translate well (Aquaman). So far, DC is lucking out and doing a better job in the television front. The films have been a mixed bag. Marvel is approaching the point of maybe doing too much. One-off’s are fine. I prefer those over any other item, but even I have to admit to see the Infinity War play on a big screen is going to be exciting.

Going from must see to not really caring, herein lies my choices for films:

Captain America: Civil War (May 5)

I really enjoy following this sub-series of the MCU films more than the rest of the others sagas because there is meat to the geo-political wranglings going on. The reason is not because this hero represents the Red, White and Blue. When I have a passion for the pulps, his origin story stood out more and there’s an aspect in the tales that I adore when observing a man out of time.

Yes, I’ll be rooting for the Captain in this installment and I really want to know how Bucky figures into this revised version of the civil war that’s to take place. It will not be necessarily following what was outlined in the comic books even though everyone will be getting to see a new Spider-Man for the first time. For me, it’s to see how this trilogy of films will affect the rest of the MCU in the future. Could that be why the Master of Mysticism is required to turn back time?


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The Problems Defining the Age of Ultron, A Movie Review

Avengers-Age-Of-Ultron-Poster-2By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

* Spoiler Alert

The Avengers are back together for one final mission and what they’re looking for is Loki‘s sceptre. It contains a stone with a ‘mind’ of its own and since Winter Soldier, this film’s immediate predecessor, the country of Sokovia has become a place of interest for Earth’s mightiest heroes (and villains too) in Age of Ultron.

This film begins in the middle of the action director/writer Joss Whedon wastes no time in getting fans salivating at magnificent special effects and combat choreography. Between these set pieces are moments of exposition to tell a story about how Ultron (sweetly voiced by James Spader) gets created and what his goals are. He’s supposed to be part of a special global defence program that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) want to fully develop. What is born is the ultimate artificial intelligence that deems mankind is flawed.

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Just How Many Times Must the Avengers Assemble?

If the movie Iron Man 3 can be ignored and the animated series Avengers Assemble can take its place, then audiences have a perfect cartoon follow-up.

AvengersAssemble2If the movie Iron Man 3 can be ignored and the animated series Avengers Assemble can take its place, then audiences have a perfect cartoon follow-up to the Avengers movie from last year. Some of the important nuances Joss Whedon’s treatment involved how individualistic each character is. And to try to get them to act as a team is part of what made the film great. The team didn’t work until when it counted the most.

This series has plenty of potential if it gets steered in the right direction. When considering that this series is developed to broadcast on Disney XD, the question of just how complex will the narrative get will depend on who is in charge of leading the Avengers. The pilot episode sets up Tony Stark (voiced by Adrian Pasdar) as a whipping boy. He is the billionaire playboy who thinks he can lead a team. But can he?

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IMAX’s Avengers: Age of Ultron Poster Promotion

Age of UltronAs the countdown for the release of Avengers: Age of Ultron begins, IMAX is certainly going to celebrate with the release of a keepsake poster to reward fans going to the April 30th screening. This company announced on Twitter last month that there are four images that they have commissioned, and the fans will get to vote on which one will get printed and distributed to theatre. No word has been mentioned on their blog page as to which one received the most responses. That might be coming on Thurs, April 23rd in order to build interest.

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Tying the Strings Back in Avengers: Age of Ultron’s Three Trailers

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

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Just what can fans of Marvel Entertainment’s Avengers: Age of Ultron learn about this movie, due in theatres May 1st, now that all three trailers are out? One fact is certain: someone is pulling the strings that will see a new dawn (of enslavement) for all of humanity. Mutants will be revealed and a global watch dog system built by Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) shows that Ultron will keep an eye at all the problems plaguing society.

However, there’s a secret figure who will emerge and it’s face looks like a red faced vision of hope — perhaps. This android was created by Ultron (voiced by James Spader) in the original 60’s comics to use against his creator, Dr. Hank Pym (Ant-Man). When considering that there is an Ant-Man movie being developed, just how much crossover potential will happen depends on how much retconning writer/director Joss Whedon has done to the Marvel Universe.

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