The Philosophy of Deadpool

   I've enjoyed his movies, and I've read his first appearances (back when he was just a mercenary for hire, not a comical icon), but I've only picked up a handful of comics starring Deadpool.

   So I don't bring a lot of working knowledge to this publication, which serves as sort of an overview of the career (and thought process) of the "Merc with a mouth," all gathered under the title The Philosophy of Deadpool.

   It helpfully gives you more than 120 pages of art, gags and highlights from the career of Wade Wilson. 

   I can't really recommend this for kids - there are many shots of dismemberment and extreme violence, but that surely doesn't surprise anyone.

   It's also fun and loaded with inappropriate jokes (and quite a bit of murdery stuff) - any fan of Deadpool is bound to enjoy it!

Grade: B

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Deadpool 2 - Movie Review

   I enjoyed the first Deadpool movie, which managed a fun balance between humor, violence, being vulgar and lots of inside references.

   The new film, Deadpool 2, doesn't quite manage to reach the heights of the first one - though there are lots of fun sequences and over-the-top action scenes.

   Ryan Reynolds is perfect as DP, just one step removed from Bugs Bunny (if Bugs were also a brutal killer), bouncing between high-test action, funny comments and occasionally breaking the fourth wall.

   His main opposition is Josh Brolin (Marvel is keeping him very busy this year), playing Cable, a soldier from the future whose goal is to kill the mutant who causes devastation in his time. He's perfect as a brutally efficient (yet tragic) figure.

   Most of the supporting cast is back, and we see DP put together his own version of the X-Men (to less than stellar results). The real standout is Domino, played by the stunning Zazie Beetz, who shines in several action sequences.

   There are lots of cameos and guest spots, none of which I'll spoil here - oh, and be sure to stay for the mid-credits clip, which is a lot of fun.

   So why does this one fall short? There are a couple of places where the script drops the ball (avoiding what could have been easy fixes for the big problems), and it lingers a bit too long on some of the more tragic elements. And I'm not much of a fan of the "kid's life is in danger" bit.

   Don't get me wrong, most fans will love this movie - it's loaded with gags and violence and inappropriate behavior. 

   I was just hoping for more consistency with Deadpool himself - they play him as both a hero and a villain, and you can't have it both ways.

Grade: B-

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Deadpool - A Movie Review

   I'm running late, but I finally got a chance to see Deadpool, and let me start by saying: please don't take your children to see this movie.

   It's rude, vulgar, extremely violent, horrific in places, and there are numerous shots of Ryan Reynolds' bare butt - however, for those of you adult enough to handle such things, it's a heck of a lot of fun!

   The movie wisely ignores the character's previous (non-costumed) appearance in... whichever Wolverine movie that was.

   Instead, it starts in the middle of an action scene (the opening credits are very funny) and then jumps back and forth between his origin story and his fight for revenge.

   We meet Wade Wilson, a fast-talking mercenary who can't give a straight answer to any question, and who surrounds himself with similarly-outrageous characters. He's played brilliantly by Reynolds, with a manic, high-energy style - and a great comic touch.

   He meets the love of his life - but his happiness is short-lived, as death threatens - and the only way out is a horror show of a different kind.

   So why is this movie such a hit? The main reason is the humor - it's a very funny movie that had the audience laughing loudly and often. The movie also has heart, with a quirky love story keeping it going.

   Another reason is less obvious - the smaller budget (as opposed to most superhero movies) forced the script to stay lean and smart - so the movie clocks in under the two hour mark, and moves and a breakneck pace, keeping it fast and fun throughout.

   The movie's not for everyone, but it's a great action comedy flick that's loaded with Easter Eggs for the attentive fan - and that makes it a movie worth watching more than once!

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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