Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Supergirl embodied some super powerful themes. As a disclaimer to start, I have to rewatch it again later when it comes out on streaming, so I can watch it more thoroughly with subtitles due to bad hearing. However, I wanted to get this out there as a start in order to validate the movie, since I already love it. I want to do my part in countering the bad reviews online.

Kara (Milly Alcock) is both the cool girl as well as the more complex and compelling dark feminine character. As the cool girl, she’s a cross between Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) in Thor: Ragnarok and Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) in Guardians of the Galaxy. Drunken, independent, and nonchalant. Yet, when it comes down to defending the innocent from danger, she steps up immediately. She saw little Ruthye as a nuisance at first glance, but then felt intrinsically called to protect her.

Supergirl is also somewhat reminiscent of Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in terms of having some of the darker qualities. She was traumatized by having her whole species decimated, including her parents and her planet. She was sent off to safety in a space shuttle by her father, alone with only her cute little puppy. The only kin in the universe remaining was her cousin —Superman, whom she met for the first time upon arrival on Earth.

Unlike other “good” superheroes, she’s not afraid to kill the villain in the end. She spares Ruthye the moral burden – insisting that she walk away from the bloody deed. After Ruthye (Eve Ridley) reluctantly complies and tearfully hugs her, departing the scene, Kara stabs the villain twice, in the chest. It’s pretty gruesome. This is pretty much the personification of dark feminine energy. Destroying evil in order to protect the good and the innocent. Kara possesses Kali energy, the dark feminine goddess in Hindu mythology. Only a baby fan of the DC comics if that, I hadn’t known the storyline ahead of time. I was a bit surprised by the direct demise of the villain, to be honest.

This may be controversial… but The Marvels is actually one of the best movies in the MCU.

In an interview with Andrew Freund prior to the release of Thor: Love and Thunder, Natalie Portman agreed with him that this movie is “the gayest movie ever made in the MCU.” And it’s certainly been marketed that way. At an advance screening, director Taika Waititi and Portman called the movie “super gay,” and “so gay.” Waititi and the cast have been hyping queer fans up for the movie, constantly mentioning how queer the film is.

The only problem is, it’s really not. 

Spoilers ahead! Yes, Thor: Love and Thunder is a very cute movie with queer elements. Valkyrie and Korg are canonically gay in this. Valkyrie gets a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment when she kisses a Zeussette’s hand. In a short conversation, Korg mentions Valkyrie’s dead “girlfriend” and reveals he has two dads and comes from a species that’s seemingly all-male and all-gay. Korg also really enjoys Thor’s brief strip show. The movie’s imagery is filled with bright pops of rainbow color. Heimdall’s son has changed his name from Astrid to Axl (and while it’s never specified whether his character is transgender, the name change from the feminine Astrid to the more masculine Axl could be a trans metaphor). A polyamorous pod of space dolphins shows up at one point. And the comedic bit about Thor’s love triangle with his hammers gives off strong homoerotic vibes. Thor: Love and Thunder is often playfully gay and fun. It’s definitely a step in the right direction for queer representation in Marvel movies. 

However, while this may be satisfying queer representation for some viewers, it’s not quite enough for others. Thor: Love and Thunder still doesn’t include enough explicitly queer elements. Although Korg finds a mate in Dwayne the rock (which was a hilarious bit), this happens at the end of the movie without any development. The pair are onscreen together for a very short moment as part of a quick “where are they now?” montage. Romantic intimacy (whether that be physical, verbal, or emotional) between two queer characters is absent from the film entirely. The gay rocks aren’t even allowed to have sex—they hold hands over lava to make a baby. As for queer romantic relationships, the MCU’s Eternals wins on that front with the franchise’s first gay kiss. Had Thor: Love and Thunder not been marketed as so firmly gay, maybe the lack of gay romance wouldn’t be as much of a disappointment. 

There are so many interwoven stories, themes, character arcs, timelines, and dimensions! In order to keep track of the MCU films and figure out what to watch when, here’s a list of those that have come out – 29 as of now — as well as what's coming up in the next few years. Included are related articles and Incluvie score (and a fun 1.5 minute TikTok).

The characters that made the cut are in essence — girls that kick butt, challenge stereotypes/gender norms, and are just in general, great characters to begin with. Who says a girl can’t have some spunk?

Matilda is a special girl with telepathic powers and a brilliant mind for her age. She frequently stands up to her ruthless principal and parents with both her smarts and psychic abilities.

Could you use some hearty laughs? Then you’re in the right place!

Below is a selection of diverse comedies from different countries. I’ve tried to pick iconic movies that give an introductory taste of each country’s culture and sense of humor, but this is only just a beginning. Let’s start this international laughs festival, straight from your home!

OSS 117: Cairo, Next of Spies (2006)

(Original Title — OSS 117: Le Caire, nid d’espions)