Thunderbolts

Marvel heading back on top!
I did say I was looking forward to watching this Movie and I'm really glad to report that I wasn't wrong.
Thoroughly enjoyed watching this film and it sure seems to me that Marvel has decided to reverse direction and get back to what Marvel were good at before all the shenanigans of the past films with weak story lines and virtue signalling.
That's not to say there wasn't any underlying signalling here but at least it was a good one.
Right from the start we're introduced to Florence Pugh's latest mission as Yelena Belova destroying some kind of laboratory and I'm so glad to see we still have's wise cracks and sarcasm she so wonderfully portrayed in the Hawkeye Disney+ series and the Black Widow Movie.
The action then steps up to seeing her take on another mission, supposedly her last where we then get introduced to Wyatt Russell's John Walker (US Agent), Hannah John-Kamen's Ava Starr (Ghost), and Olga Kurylenko's Antonia Dreykov (Taskmaster).
I have to say Wyatt Russell's John Walker/US Agent is superb. Wasn't really that sold on him in 'Falcon and the Winter Soldier' but in this film I think he really shines and well... to be completely honest I think he could have easily played a perfect Captain America as a replacement for Chris Evans. Something I would never have said after watching 'Falcon and the Winter Soldier'! I can't quite put my finger on a reason but I just thought he was perfect and some of the emotions he portrayed in his facial expressions were just great!
Ava Starr's Ghost was much better in this film. I kind'a thought she was pretty boring as the villain in 2018's 'Ant-Man and the Wasp' but here I thought she was pretty kewl and again loved her quick whit and sarcasm.
Found it interesting Taskmaster didn't survive! Maybe Marvel have listened to all the criticism of how Taskmaster was handled in Black Widow and they've decided to 'pop' her off and some how they intend to bring in another version of him but this time the correct male version! With all the stupid multiverse workings Marvel could easily bring in a Taskmaster from another Universe. We'll have to see what the future holds.
Lastly we get introduced to Lewis Pullman's 'Bob' character or better known later on as 'Sentry'!
Julia Louis-Dreyfus' character, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine is also featured doing exactly what she always does, 'pulling the strings' to everything in the background. She's OK to me, but not really someone who I could honestly leaves me with any lasting impressions.
One of the things I'd heard from a certain podcaster was the lack of Sebastian Stan in the movie as 'Bucky Barns'. Well I'm glad to say I really don't agree with them, because I really didn't think he was left out much at all. Yes, when we get to first see him he's not part of the team... he's shown to be working with the government. But we keep going back to see exactly what he's up to until his story arc crosses paths with the rest of the team and ultimately joins the team. In my eyes he's actually in the film all the way to the end.
The last character on the team we meet is David Harbour's 'Red Guardian'. Loved 'Red Guardian' in 'Black Widow' and I love his interactions with Yelena which I'm glad to say we still get in this movie. I really want to see Marvel give more time to 'Red Guardian' in the future and please, please... PLEASE, let's see him be given a shield.
The second part of the movie is the team meeting up with Valentina Allegra de Fontaine who then introduces them to 'The Sentry' and basically all 'hell is let loose' and the team have to square up to and try and stop 'Sentry'.
Sentry looks pretty kewl but have to say I've never really been a big fan of the character so I'm more than happy with how he's been handled along with 'The VOID' in the Thunderbolts story arc.
Loved everything about this film, especially the interactions between the characters. The humour and sarcasm was the best and there were quite a few parts where I was actually leaning forward and sitting on the edge of my seat... to me that is always a good way to judge how I enjoyed a film.
I just hope that Marvel take note of all the good things that are being said about this movie and realise they've finally got it right again with how to keep the audience on track and keep them coming back for more. Think about the story every time Marvel and STOP thinking about what's the next 'message' you can put into a film and care more about how the characters are handled and how they interact with each other.
Exactly how The Avengers films were handled!
But, hey… this is just my own personal opinion!
