#tom mckay is a NERD

[agriedle]

Tom Mckay at the BAFTA Games Awards 2025 red carpet with Jane Douglas and Lucy James

Tom presenting the Beyond Entertainment Award (winner is Tales of Kenzera: Zau – Surgent Studios, repped by Abubakar Salim)

[ryanmeft]

Ranking the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Part 1

The culmination of the superhero ride that started with Iron Man back in 2008 is almost here. Avengers: Endgame tickets are selling out fast even though the movie is nearly three weeks away, and speculation as to how this stage of Marvel’s box office juggernaut will all end is at a fever pitch. What better time to rank the movies that have brought us here? Now, no one with even a tiny bit of objectivity sincerely believes Marvel had a ten year plan and executed it precisely according to a grand vision. Looking back through these movies makes it clearer than ever that, more often than not, they made it up as they went along. In fact, considering all the retcons, changed minds, dropped plot threads and unexpected surprises, it’s amazing the continuity holds together at all. It mostly does...but the bottom part of this list contains the few movies even Marvel’s PR team probably wishes they could have a mulligan on, as well as some good-but-not-quite-lighting-the-world-on-fire fare. Let’s get to it. Warning: this article contains spoilers for nearly every movie in the MCU.

21. Iron Man 2

The red-headed stepchild of the MCU. After the surprise success of the original Iron Man, Marvel Studios apparently forgot that the strength of that film was allowing Jon Favreau and the writing team to put heart before brand synergy, and decided to make a movie that was half marketing for their planned Avengers crossover. Dropping Black Widow in here felt completely jarring, and it didn’t help that her role just added to the jumble of plot threads that didn’t seem to add up to anything; at the time, many saw it as proof that Marvel was putting a little too much faith in their ability to pull off this whole crossover thing. That’s only part of the sordid story, though, because the movie is also a mess in nearly every other way. Rather than the tight plotting of the original, this one sees Tony, Rhodey, Pepper and the rest speeding from random situation to random situation---a car race, an unhinged party, a spy caper---with only the barest of plot threads holding it all together. The movie’s only saving graces are the villains played by Sam Rockwell and Mickey Rourke. Each of them deliciously devours every scene they are in, providing the film’s lone moments of enjoyment, but they’re also squandered on what feels like an extremely low stakes plan. Iron Man so well proved that superhero movies can have a soul that it even managed to make some critical best-of lists for 2008. The sequel made us wonder if that might have been a tad premature.

20. The Incredible Hulk

There are some genuinely creative moments in this action-oriented “apology” for the in-reality-pretty-good Ang Lee Hulk movie. The opening sequence showing how Hulk’s blood travels, a chase through a Brazilian favela, tossing Bruce out of a helicopter to incite his other half, and the almost-love scene aborted by the alter ego were signs of how clever the movie could have been if it were not focused on cramming in as much smashing as possible. Nick Nolte’s complex antagonist is replaced with William Hurt chewing a little too much scenery, the new super-villain played by Tim Roth is a dull waste of the actor’s talent, the finale is listless, and the entire movie is just one long excuse to show Hulk ‘roiding out as much as possible. The camera work of skilled action veteran Peter Menzies Jr. and some excellent CG on the title character make it more fun to look at than many of the tights flicks of the time, which is something. As a general rule, things that are made to chase fleeting audience sentiments don’t stand the test of time, and there’s been a quiet reversal since 2008 in which Lee’s more original and creative vision for the character has come to be re-evaluated, while this one has been almost forgotten and relegated to endless TNT re-runs. Maybe with Mark Ruffalo having one more movie on his contract, he’ll get a crack at doing it right post-Endgame.

19. Thor: The Dark World At the time, this movie served as iron-clad proof that the only reason the Thor character worked at all was Loki. The god of mischief is at his delicious then-best here, conniving from a prison cell, partnering with his brother out of genuine concern, and eventually managing to actually take the throne. Sure, that latter development was quickly undone in the next film, but what a parting shot. He’s the only aspect of the movie that fully works, and if you pop it in today you sit patiently waiting for his scenes and snoring through the second, Loki-free half of the movie. Thor himself is lifeless when Loki’s not on screen. The Warriors Three are still nowhere near the right balance of humor and bravery. Natalie Portman remains wasted on a supposedly genius scientist who can nevertheless be stunned into immediate silence by Thor’s golden locks, while Sif is still 100% unnecessary in every way. Perhaps worst of all, the underrated Christopher Eccleston is miscast as a villain who always seems to be doing bad Shakespeare. We all tried hard to forgive it at the time (and director Alan Taylor claims it was made “a different movie” in the editing room, not at all implausible) but thankfully we’ve since admitted this is mostly a misfire.

18. Ant-Man

If you were to judge Ant-Man entirely by the size-changing shenanigans, it would be one of the best Marvel movies. Peyton Reed, building off a script by departing director Edgar Wright and Joe Cornish (and tidied up by Rudd and Adam McKay) gets a ton of mileage out of the novelty of being the size of an insect, from outrunning a flood in a bathtub to that rather brilliant final confrontation in a child’s playroom, using toys as ammo. Further, Paul “I Am Immortal” Rudd is pitch-perfect in the title role, while Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly bring a lot to the picture. It’s in the details where Ant-Man falls a bit short (pun intended). To start, we have a single major Hispanic character in the MCU, played by the frankly more-legendary-than-you-think Michael Pena, and he’s reduced to a fast-talking stereotype. Judy Greer and Bobby Cannavale are also worlds better than their roles, which are, respectively, a cliche shrewish ex-wife and a cliche over-suspicious cop. What really drags things down, though, is the lackluster villain, who may be the most inert black hole in the MCU’s rogues gallery. He is neither good enough to engage us, nor bad enough to hate. He could have been played by a grip, for all the personality he’s allowed. The core of the film is delightful. The hill around it is crumbly.

17. Captain Marvel

Marvel’s first female-led flick is understandably a phenomenon, pulling down the sixth-largest opening weekend of all time and serving as inspiration to young girls and target to the kind of people who don’t want women in their clubhouse. So what about the movie that’s causing all this hullabaloo? It’s pretty decent. The movie can be summed up very succinctly as “safe”. It takes few chances and is more like one small step than one giant leap for womankind. Had it been released during the early superhero boom, it would still be fondly remembered as a major link in the genre’s evolution. As it is, it borrows from the buddy-cop subgenre to create what is essentially an adventure/sci-fi movie between Carol Danvers and Nick Fury. It stands out more as a callback to the kind of action pics made in the 90’s (when it is set) than the heavily marketed shared universe of the MCU, and includes standout performances from Annette Bening, Jude Law and Ben Mendelsohn. It meets expectations; it does not exceed them, and if you are a fan of the distinctive style practiced by directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, you won’t find it here. It’s only a month old, and it may be too soon to definitely say how it will be seen as time goes on. Right now, it feels more like a solid first step for the character than a fully realized final destination.

16. Thor

The original Thor has some completely solid, indisputable charms. Chris Hemsworth does physical comedy much more skillfully than he is ever given credit for, it is the debut of Tom Hiddleston as Loki, the third act is a rare-at-the-time case of inventiveness in an MCU finale, and it’s always great to see Stellan Skarsgard in literally anything. I would watch two hours of Stellan Skarsgard eating lunch, with a clone of Stellan Skarsgard. His drinking scene with Thor is a seriously underrated bit of awesome. It helps make up for the fact that the movie has no idea what to do with most of the supporting cast, including in part Loki, who at this stage seems to flail around between personalities, having crazy forced on him in time for the final duel despite it not even being hinted at earlier. It’s as if director Kenneth Branagh just let him do his own thing, and Hiddleston’s not 100% sure what that should be yet. The mirror scene is objectively amazing, but he won’t really come into his own until Avengers. The Warriors Three are utterly wasted; Branaugh and the writers just never nail the right combo of comedy and camaraderie needed to pull them off. Sif is superfluous. Natalie Portman is one of the finest actors of our generation, here reduced to goggling over Thor’s pecs. It’s not bad, especially compared to some of the dreck that gets pumped out of the blockbuster machine. It’s just rather inert.

That’s it for part 1. I’m  going to be doing some Marvel/Superhero/General Nerd content leading up to Endgame’s release. Check back next Friday for part 2 of this list, and pop by Monday for part 1 of my predictions on the fate of each character in Endgame. Part 2: https://ryanmeft.tumblr.com/post/184208179827/ranking-the-marvel-cinematic-universe-part-2 Part 3: https://ryanmeft.tumblr.com/post/184372777282/ranking-the-marvel-cinematic-universe-part-3

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Shinboners: Endgame

WHEN Kiss of Death is winning the Herald Sun tipping we really cannot be of any complaint 

This year has been fascinating – the upsets persist, the evenness of the competition continues to emerge and touch wood the narratives well into the guts of autumn are primarily of the on-field variety.

A few teams are on the nose but the ladder by default does require four teams to occupy the bottom four positions to be fair, and a couple who are on the rise or rebounding just need to cool their jets. But there’s always a couple we can whack – so let’s.

1.       Going to start with Ian Chappell. Always liked Chappelli, a captivating listen, a must-listen even. But he has gone out this week suggesting those who hold discontent still with David Warner need to reassess whether Steve Smith would be more worthy of such distain, given his role in the saga. Now Ian, I don’t for a second suggest Smudge is excused from blame, he if nothing else showed extremely dodgy leadership, but old’ hothead Warner conjured the whole idea up in the first place. In the on-the-nose stakes I have Warner well out in front, young Ian.

2.       Let’s get the whacks out of the way this week, next up is Jack Darling. Firstly, in 2019, a socks-up merchant is always interesting. Ruckmen often do it for shin guards. No dramas. Lewis Taylor of Brisbane likes to too, but I think he is just a footy nerd who loves to get a kick on the weekend. But Darling does, and he screams dropkick. Thinks he is Christmas. But what he really is though is the beneficiary of being in the same forward line as Josh Kennedy, playing second foil and getting the second best backman every week. Sure, a nice grab and decent kick, but can’t do anything else to save himself and when the going gets going, like against Port on Good Friday, he looks as good as your Mum’s meatloaf. He can sod off.

3.       Next up let’s go Jordan Lewis. Luke Hodge has probably gone on too long too but we abscond him for being a senior member of a rebounding team. What purpose is Lewis providing? Melbourne were supposedly unbackable for the flag in February and now when the wins are hard to hind, old no-touches Lewis looks like a witches hat St Kilda players need only breeze past en route to kicking a major. Dead set if anyone is looking to win a Coleman, hope you play Melbourne twice this year and get to play on Lewis both times, the Dees have many problems but rolling him out of the old folks home once a weekend to play D50 is a big one.

4.       His teammate, Brayden Preuss, now champ, what’s going on here? I get the Roos are a bit of a mess but you’ve gone from second-fiddle to a 30-year-old good ruckman, to I don’t know, second-fiddle to a 27-year-old All-Australian ruckman. Next thing he’ll buy a Nokia phone to try and organise some HIH insurance. Don’t take stock market tips from Brayden anytime soon.

5.       Back to Perth – Andrew Gaff. Let’s keep this one short, another 30+ on the weekend and for what impact? Said it before, will say it again, don’t care how ‘neat’ the twelve-metre foot passes are, give me half a dozen Robbie Gray disposals instead any day.

6.       A half-baked one for Damian Barrett, not because he got something wrong because we all do that (hello Tom Lynch) but for suggesting on Triple M Saturday when Luke Hodge was on the phone he wasn’t so much wrong but partially incorrect. He said Hodge did the Channel Seven stuff last Thursday because of a contract, which is 100% not true. Does Hodge work for Seven occasionally, sure, but Damian, last Thursday had nothing to do with it, which gives you nothing to try and weasel out of the mistake with ‘yeah but not really’. But only a half-whack this time, you might be improving.

7.       So let’s address Melbourne then, what’s happening there? Not sold its that bad, sure, losses banked are losses banked, but it’s not talent or skill, it’s the things like contested ball, tackles and decisions when defending. Its structure fall down, attitude or a bit of soft tacos, hard tacos. Not saying they’re morals against Richmond tomorrow night but I don’t think they’re 1914 University who went winless from 18 games with a 47% percentage. They’ll come good but perhaps too late – think 2018 Essendon.

8.       As for Essendon’s opponents last week, North, yeah different story. I saw the Dees play ripping football as recently as last September, winning two finals and looking six sevenths of half decent. The last time I saw North Melbourne playing really good, reliable footy Anthony Stevens thought his missus was faithful. I have often thought the Roos were close to breaking out to use a North American term, but whatever promise the Crows win showed they blowtorched that a week later. Not good at all.

9.       Brisbane, yeah this was obvious. West Coast started the season a week late although prone to a bye as shown last Good Friday anyway, and have now been smacked twice in two weeks by decent sides, the Dons and now Pies. This early in the season wins are wins but who are you beating? Gold Coast this week, lose that and I would not be shocked, the Suns are not that far off.

10.   Quick one on Essendon, and it links to Melbourne, all their issues were minor set-up things or problems above the shoulders. Sure, they’ve only beaten a rotten Melbourne, an overrated Brisbane and then North but it ‘looks’ better and who is to doubt them being likely on Thursday creating all sorts of irresistible momentum thereupon?

11.   As for the other ‘good news story’, can we just try and have a cold shower on Carlton? One win doth not a season make. The Doggies played a stinker for one, but when you only had won three of your last 36 games, getting a rare win certainly allows celebration and good feels but it doesn’t pull you out of the abyss. You’re still mighty shit until we see a bigger ‘better’ body of work than four nice quarters against a disinterested Footscray.

12.   And given that the Hawks lost their annual grudge match on Monday, you don’t want to face Clarkson, on the rebound, down at Launceston. Hawthorn at the line on Sunday looks the kinda stuff house deposits are made of – big stride and just get your hands through it.

13.   Although, last one with Carlton, don’t get sucked into Harry McKay fanaticism off the weekend, this column called him two or three weeks back. Don’t be a fool, only one gets serious with this sort of thing.

14.   Gotta mention St Kilda, but do we want to? Second on the ladder, feels like its 2009 again, should we see if Micky Gardiner is free for a Marvel Stadium game-winning goal some time later in the season? But what, edged Gold Coast at home, just, yeah crazy, then have wins against Essendon when they were yuck, Melbourne who are still yuck and barely over a Hawthorn who hasn’t hit strides yet. It’s good form but don’t clear your Septembers just yet Saints fans, this looks like an invalidated 4-1 to this point.

15.   To be fair though, and this applies across the board unless your Carlton as my feelings there as aforementioned are quite clear, this is the season for all seasons when it comes to momentum. Basically everyone has looked really good or really bad at one stage or another within just five weeks. The good is that it shows a team on a roll is as good a flag threat as any, but it also shows that if you lose it all of a sudden in June or July, you are cactus. West Coast, Richmond, simmering in midfield, could easily look like Winx just off the back before the turn right now. No-one is winning premierships in April, Geelong.

16.   Give Steve Coniglio two votes in a losing team on the weekend, he’d be no more than three off the lead, who is probably still Lachie Neale who won’t even finish top five, and the Giant gun is still at $17. Any money you haven’t got on Hawthorn at the line needs to be invested here.

17.   That said, Nat Fyfe again shows he is the best player in the game and I don’t care how good Patrick or Dustin are it’s not close. He stays fit Freo play finals.

18.   Top 8, how many changes would I make to it, not many just for the exercise, Tigers definitely in, I don’t fully trust the Power, otherwise it’s the Dees to try and make a last minute lunge for say Freo or St Kilda’s spot, perhaps?

19.   Footy TV rights, this one is interesting, next deal starts in three or four years’ time – Craig Hutchinson, old wobble-guts Hutchy, who knows media and broadcast deals like few others in town, reckons the next time around an Amazon Prime, Netflix or even Facebook gets involved somehow. Whether it’s one game a week or something, expect a non-traditional TV partner to get a slice of the action. Would be some sort of game changer in this country.

20.   Want to mention our dear friend Izzy Folau. Sure, freedom of speech, religious freedoms, all that. And yes, the idea an atheist gets offended by a Christian declaring they are destined for Hell, something they strongly disbelieve as a concept, is just too funny.

But its less about his rights as a man of faith, but one of an employee who was warned for keeping things ‘in check’ who blatantly went against those wishes.

Poor analogy but if Bucks wants his midfielders to always kick long, Taylor Adams kicks short against Essendon, who is then pulled up on it before the following week’s game, but he continues to disobey instructions, even though kicking short is not a hanging offence in and of itself, you better believe Bucks might want to drop him for recalcitrance. It’s simple Izzy and has little to do with religion.