Welcome to Zootopia!

I went to see Zootopia the other day. I had been looking forward to it, at first in a vague ‘I want to check that out’ way and then more recently in a ‘oh my gosh I have to see this’ way when I discovered the full extent of the film’s animal-pun based promos. Honestly, I was completely sold.

And you know what? Zootopia totally, completely, 100% delivered. I was so thrilled, and so happy, genuinely happy. I saw the film with my sister and we spent so much time laughing, and the whole time home talking animatedly and enthusiastically about the film – about the art, the dialogue, the plotting, the geographical layout of the world – everything! It was fabulous, I haven’t had such a fun and so utterly enjoyable movie going experience in a long, long time. To be honest I’m very tempted to go see it again, and maybe even a third time.

Why? Because this movie is so clever. It is beautifully and thoughtfully layered in the way so many Disney Pixar movies are – I immediately think of Toy Story and the different jokes I began to understand as I grew older and rewatched it. It knows how to grab every age group and provide something enjoyable, and moreso, something genuinely interesting for them. I don’t know if it’s because I am now technically a fully certified card carrying Adult, or whether Disney Pixar really outdid themselves with Zootopia, but I was so impressed and surprised by how sophisticated the film was thematically.

Monsters in Avengers Age of Ultron, or; Why Natasha Isn’t a Monster

Spoiler: Natasha is not a monster. No one is. Except maybe Ultron…

Let’s break this shit down.

Many of you might remember, or still be partaking in, the uproar regarding a particular scene with Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow in Marvel’s Age of Ultron. In this scene at the Barton homestead Natasha and Bruce talk about their ultimately too-similar-yet-too-different desires for the future. During this discussion Natasha reveals that as part of the Red Room Black Widow Training Program the KGB sterilised her, and all the other successful (read: surviving) Black Widow agents, going on to say to Bruce “Do you still think you’re the only monster on the team?” to which people went ABSOLUTELY NUTS.

Agent Carter Season 2 and Sequel Syndrome

Disclaimer: This is very much my Eeyore-hatted view – Agent Carter is doing a lot of great things, which I will write about post-season two, but at the moment it’s got me in a rut.

I love Agent Carter. I honestly do. I was an active campaigner for a season two renewal, and before that I treasured the Agent Carter one-shot, being among the hordes of fans hoping the possible TV show spin-off from the one-shot would become a reality fast. And when it did I was beyond excited, and season one was pretty much everything that Agent Carter and Marvel fans could have possibly asked for. Which is why I’m so sad that season two hasn’t grabbed me in the same way.

AKA The Revolution of Jessica Jones.

Let’s talk about Jessica Jones. Because I have wanted to for months and I figure now, with the announcement of season 2, is the time to start, and possibly never stop.

Today I read this article which. Is. Just. Great. I’m in love with the creative team of Jessica Jones.

In the above article executive producer and Marvel TV chief Jeph Loeb, and showrunner Melissa Rosenberg talk about how important it was to include positive sex in the show. Loeb addressed that it solidifies the show as an adult drama, as well as providing a counterbalance to the violence perpetrated by Kilgrave*, giving the show the ability to “show to people that what had happened with Kilgrave was not okay, but there are other situations where that kind of activity is okay.” Rosenberg backed this up, adding that it shows Jessica is still in control, she still has desires and wants that are not taken from her by Kilgrave – she remains her own person and her own agent.