Book Review: “Ballistic” By Mark Greaney

“Court Gentry was the Gray Man, and the Gray Man lived for this sh*t...” 

— “Ballistic” by Mark Greaney

I stumbled on thriller writer Mark Greaney when I saw a promo ad for the Tom Clancy novel “Locked On” several years ago. 

At that point in Clancy’s career, the author had taken on “co-writers” to continue his series of Jack Ryan novels. When I saw Greaney’s name on the cover, I decided to look him up. 

I noticed that Greaney wrote a series of thrillers starring a character referred to as the “Gray Man.” 

Greaney collaborated and authored a number of novels in the “Clancyverse.” I liked his style and thought he was particularly skilled at crafting action scenes. 

I finally purchased the first novel in the series — “The Gray Man” — in the summer of 2013. 

I was impressed with the amount of action that Greaney shoehorned into the story. I’ve read a lot of “international intrigue” thrillers over the years, but found “The Gray Man” to be wildly entertaining. 

I recently completed the third book in the series titled “Ballistic.” 

The central character in the “Gray Man” series is Court Gentry — a legend in the covert ops world (known as “Violator”), who has been disavowed by the CIA. 

When “Ballistic” begins, Gentry has been on the run from the CIA for five years. He is also being hunted by a Russian mobster named Sidorenko. 

Gentry is hiding out in the Brazilian jungle working for a small marine salvage operation along a remote Amazon tributary. 

Before long, his life in the steamy South American environs is tossed asunder by a nefarious foe, and Gentry escapes by the skin of his teeth to Mexico — concealing himself in dark corners, keeping away from others, and blending in at third world bus stations along the way. 

The 37-year-old operator has a keen intellect — honed while outrunning and outgunning a “shoot-on-sight sanction” from the CIA. 

It is in Mexico that the main narrative of “Ballistic” takes shape. 

On his way to Tampico along the gulf coast, Gentry sees a news report about the death of a man named Eduardo Gamboa — a major in the Mexican Federal Police who was killed during a mission to assassinate a drug kingpin named Daniel de la Rocha on his yacht. 

Gentry knows the man as former DEA agent Eddie Gamble — an operative who saved Gentry’s life in a Laotian prison several years before. 

Because he is in proximity to Gamboa’s home in Puerto Vallarta, he decides to take a detour to pay his respects. 

That decision stirs up a hornet’s nest. What initially seems like kind gesture to honor a fallen comrade soon leads to Gentry becoming involved in a full-blown war with a powerful drug cartel — his sole goal that of protecting Gamboa’s family — his widow and unborn son. 

The journey takes readers from remote haciendas to seedy motels to baroque churches, thrilling the reader all along the way with shootouts and explosions. 

What I like about Greaney is that he doesn’t write the same book twice. Through the first three novels in the “Gray Man” series, Greaney takes readers to different locales and crafts stories with varying focus. 

Not only does this keep the narrative fresh, it allows readers to gain more insights into Court Gentry. 

“Ballistic” can be a brutal and frustrating novel at times. I enjoyed the focus on family in the story. When it comes to genre novels about covert operators, the protagonists can oftentimes be one-dimensional. 

Gentry’s interplay with the Gamboa family is particularly interesting in “Ballistic.” It allows Gentry to explore a heretofore unseen emotional side with Eddie’s sister Laura (Lorita) — a facet of his character not seen in either “The Gray Man” or “On Target.” 

The Gamboa’s are also a family with a deep seated Catholic faith. There are instances throughout “Ballistic” where the family — in the face of imminent danger — takes the time to pray.

Laura even encourages Gentry to pray with her at one point in the novel. “You pray for us both,” Gentry says. “I’ll stand watch.” 

“You are not a believer, are you?” Laura asks. 

“I... I wasn’t raised in the Church,” Gentry replies. “I don’t know how it all works.”

“Let me show you,” says Laura. 

Quiet moments like that make the “Gray Man” series special, and help set the character of Court Gentry apart from his contemporaries. 

I should also note that the antagonist in the novel — Daniel de la Rocha — is well drawn. He and his "Los Trajes Negros" are compelling heavies in the story. (The character also has a creepy obsession with “la Santa Muerte” shrines that adds to his overall depth and dimension). 

If you decide to take a chance on Greaney’s novels, I’d encourage you to start with the first book in the series “The Gray Man” and move forward from there. 

Greaney is a talented writer and his thrillers have an emotional core that sets them apart. They are well worth your time. 

Fun fact: Mark Greaney was a drummer for a heavy metal band back in the 1980s (which doesn't seem like him at all). Learn more about the author in this fun "Did You Know?" feature on his publisher's YouTube channel:

This summer, Greaney will be publishing a new standalone fiction novel with Lt. Col. Rip Rawlings  about World War III. Greaney met Rawlings at the Pentagon while researching the Clancy novel “Command Authority.”

The collaboration is called “Red Metal” and I'm very much looking forward to reading it... 

Previous post: “Latest Trailer for ‘Stranger Things’ Season 3 Looks Good, Right?”

Latest Trailer for “Stranger Things” Season 3 Looks Good, Right?

I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the latest trailer for the third season of “Stranger Things.”

The breakout Netflix series took a hiatus in 2018. 

It will be back on July 4, 2019. 

The third season will take place in the summer of 1985 (six months after the events in the second season).

The new trailer had me when the opening chords of Motley Crue's "Home Sweet Home" start playing on a Sanyo boombox... 

Dustin (Galen Matarazzo) is back from what appears to be a computer camp (check out his hat below) called “Camp Know Where”:

I reviewed the “Starcourt Mall” teaser last July. That promo was basically a mocked up commercial for the new mall in the fictitious Hawkins, Indiana. 

It looks like the suburban shopping emporium causes consternation among the residents of Hawkins. This screenshot from the new trailer (below) shows the townsfolk protesting — wanting to preserve downtown. The growth of suburban malls in the 1970s and 80s gutted downtown retail in communities all over the United States during that era. 

I remember my mom and dad taking me to the Brandeis store in downtown Omaha as a kid during the store's final days. Omaha tried to revitalize downtown retail later on during the 1980s, but it just didn't work. 

I would imagine a significant portion of the season 3 story takes place at Starcourt Mall. In fact, a cursory glance at the episode titles this season shows the final episode of the season is titled “The Battle of Starcourt.” 

It also appears that the newspaper in Hawkins — The Hawkins Post — takes on a greater role as Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heston) are seen sitting in the waiting room. Are the two amateur sleuths digging up some other conspiracy theories this season?

As we saw in the previous trailer, Steve (Joe Keery) is working at an ice cream shop with a snarky girl named Robin (Maya Hawke). I like this snippet of Steve, Robin, and Dustin sliding down the escalators at Starcourt Mall (I dunno about any of you, but I always thought that’d be fun to do as a kid):

(And let's face facts... Steve was the best character in season 2). 

I also like this shot of Chief Hopper sitting in a restaurant smoking a cigarette. Well, I don’t exactly “like it.” I just think how archaic it looks to see someone smoking in a restaurant. Hard to believe that was commonplace when I was a kid (I mean, there was a smoking lounge in the men's clothing section at Younkers when I was younger...).

It looks like bad boy Billy (Dacre Montgomery) is lifeguarding at the local pool — and might have a new love interest. 

It also appears he is infected with “something” sinister. It wouldn’t surprise me if he turns into the monster terrorizing Hawkins this season. 

Cary Elwes joins the cast this season as Mayor Kline. In the latest trailer we see him introducing a carnival in Hawkins. It will be interesting to see if the character is something akin to Mayor Vaughn in the shark thriller “Jaws.”

We’ll see if Elwes’s protrayal of the mayor has the same smarmy southern charm as his character Russ Wheeler did in 1990’s “Days of Thunder.” 

There is also a recurring motif involving Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the color blue and yellow (which is the color of the outfit she has on throughout the trailer). 

I don't know what the significance is of those colors. I only know that the New Year's trailer for "Stranger Things" offered this brief clue (which had the internet buzzing)  — "WHEN BLUE AND YELLOW MEET IN THE WEST":

The Duffer Brothers (who created “Stranger Things”) have done a solid job capturing the 1980s zeitgeist in the show. I turned 13 in 1985. 

The upcoming season looks good. Let’s hope the long hiatus means the quality of the eight episodes will reach a high point for the series. 

In my opinion, “Stranger Things” is the most compelling offering on Netflix. As the streaming giant faces continued competition from other services, I hope the show can continue its momentum. 

One thing is for sure. A lot of viewers — like me — will be glued to their TV sets this Fourth of July. 

Previous post: “Road Trip: Fun Times at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff”

Road Trip: Fun Times at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff

Readers of this blog might not know I've spent the past 19 years running a fan site for the University of Nebraska at Omaha Maverick Hockey team called Mavpuck.com. 

Bridget and I recently took our first trip to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) Frozen Faceoff (the postseason finals in the conference UNO plays hockey in).

Whether you are a hockey fan or not, I think you might enjoy this account of our trip to St. Paul, MN. 

Plus, you'll get to see some delicious food photos like this:

Full write-up here:
A Hockey Fan's Life: Our Trip to the NCHC Frozen Faceoff 

Previous post: “Thoughts About the ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Teaser

Thoughts About the “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Teaser

As a movie buff, I kind of have a love/hate attitude regarding cinema auteur Quentin Tarantino. 

Some of his movies (like “Pulp Fiction” and “Jackie Brown”) I love. Others (like “The Hateful Eight”) I hate. 

Tarantino has suggested in certain interviews that he’ll retire after making 10 films. 

Last week, the teaser trailer for his ninth film — “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” — dropped on the internet. 

On initial glance, the film looks intriguing. 

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is set in 1969 Los Angeles and follows Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) — the former star of the TV western “Bounty Law” — and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt).

(In the teaser for “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Pitt sounds like he’s doing his same accent from Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds”). 

According to the scuttlebutt on the interwebs, the two are having trouble dealing with a “changing” Hollywood during the social upheaval taking place in “Tinsel Town.” 

The plot involves — but apparently isn’t solely focused on — the Tate murders perpetrated by the Manson Family in the summer of 1969. “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” will be released shortly before the 50th anniversary of those events. 

Tarantino told an audience at CinemaCon last year that “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” is “probably the closest to ‘Pulp Fiction’ I’ve done.”

I certainly hope so. 

The Elmore Leonard-esque vibe of “Pulp Fiction” was incredibly influential in the 1990s, and I’d like to see the director return to form with a film that is stylish and “pulpy.” 

As you can imagine, the movie features an all-star cast. Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate (who was murdered in 1969), Al Pacino stars as a Hollywood producer, and Damian Lewis portrays actor Steve McQueen.

The late Luke Perry plays Wayne Maunder in the film (an actor who starred on the TV western “Lancer”). 

Those of you who have seen Tarantino’s “Kill Bill” duology know the director loves the films of Bruce Lee. Mike Moh portrays Lee in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Like many of the characters in the cast, Lee was connected to actress Sharon Tate. 

It will be interesting to see what additional information is released about “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” as the weeks and months progress (maybe we’ll get some additional information at this year’s CinemaCon). 

I’ve mentioned before on this blog that I’d like to see Tarantino write/direct something more mainstream and accessible (read my Dec. 26, 2017 post “Quentin Tarantino’s Upcoming ‘Star Trek’ Movie”). While I appreciate his distinctive style (which is often a tribute to films of the 1960s and ’70s he consumed in his youth), he could do so much more. 

But that’s not his meme or scene. 

Previous post: “Is Apple Too Late?”

Is Apple Too Late?

People who know me know I am a big fan of Apple (Computer... I always want to add the “Computer” part because that’s how I referred to the company throughout my childhood and early adult years). 

Apple’s products have been incredibly important to Bridget and me in our business the past 23 years. We have a professional and personal love for the hardware and software the company creates. 

When it comes to the world tech hardware, sales ebb and flow depending on current trends and consumer habits. 

At this moment in history, Silicon Valley has settled into a groove of subtle enhancements and updates designed to make the experience better. 

Smartphones, tablets, and personal computers continue to mature, but there isn’t anything on the immediate horizon signaling a seismic shift in the industry. 

I love my Apple Watch — and find it an indispensable part of my daily routine — but “wearables” haven’t proven to be “disruptive” in the manner that the personal computer was in the early 1980s, the iPod was in the early 2000s, and smartphones have been since 2009.

As a result, companies like Apple have to find a way to create steady and predictable streams of income from services — offerings that are able to hook a customer into an eco-system for the long term. 

Apple has “dabbled” in this territory with offerings like Apple Music. Despite a high-profile launch, that service hasn’t been able to squash competitors like Spotify in the tune-centric subscription marketplace. 

On March 25, Apple held a special event at the Steve Jobs Theater announcing four new services it hopes will reverse the foibles of Apple Music and appeal to mass consumers — Apple News+, Apple Arcade, Apple Card, and Apple TV+. 

Let me briefly touch on each of these... 

Apple News+ is an enhanced version of the company’s Apple News application that offers access to ~300 digital magazines (with enhancements like animated covers) and newspapers like “The Wall Street Journal” and the “Los Angeles Times.” The cost is $9.99 per month. 

Apple Arcade is a subscription gaming service featuring 100+ new video games that subscribers can play as many times as they’d like. No pricing was available for the service, which launches this fall. 

Apple Card is a new credit card offering from Apple, giving those who sign up a new card in the company’s Apple Pay service on iOS, as well as a physical credit card (MasterCard) made of titanium — with no numbers printed on it. (It uses a virtual card number in the Wallet app and autofills for you when you make orders in the Safari web browser.) Goldman Sachs partnered with Apple on the offering. The “fine print” on the Apple website says the interest rate will be between 13.24% and 24.24%. 

Apple TV+ is a new streaming service the company touts as being a place “where the most creative minds in TV and film tell the kinds of stories only they can.” Details were scant on this service, which arrives in fall (no pricing details available). The stars and creators of some of the series — like Jason Mamoa, Steven Spielberg, Oprah, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell, Reese Witherspoon, and J.J. Abrams — appeared on stage to talk about the shows, but there was no accompanying “sizzle reel” for each program … only this trailer with brief snippets of each show: 

The question is whether or not these services will be compelling for consumers. 

On cursory glance, the credit card deal (which I have no interest in) looks to be the most compelling offering. If Apple can hook its loyal customer base tightly into financial services, Apple Card could be a winner for the company. 

Apple News+ looks pretty, but feels like a service that should have been available seven years ago, when iPads were still relatively fresh in the marketplace. The reality is that “free news” — created by influencers (with sponsored and ad-supported content) — is where the entire news industry is headed the next decade. 

(The Apple News+ segment felt awkward when Apple CEO Tim Cook talked about how much he loved the experience of perusing magazines at a newsstand — it made the company feel behind the times). 

I’m not much of a gamer, so the Apple Arcade service isn’t really my cup of tea. In my mind, the biggest question is whether the games offered will be compelling enough for consumers to ditch free games in favor of a paid service (which might not offer A-list games from A-list developers). 

Apple TV+ is the service that I’ve been waiting for with baited breath. Every report or rumor out there was relatively vague, and generally left me asking myself, “Why doesn’t Apple just buy Netflix?”

Other than the new shows teased — and an ability to subscribe to “channels” like HBO and CBS All Access within the revamped Apple TV app — Apple offered no other details on its television ambitions. 

People who read this blog know I’m a “cord cutter” and that Bridget and I currently subscribe to a half-dozen streaming offerings in place of cable TV. 

By and large, we’re pretty content with those services — and the local HD programming we receive via over-the-air antenna. 

For Apple (or Disney with its upcoming service) to get our subscription dollars, the service is going to have to strike the right balance between price and value. 

I question whether or not Apple is two years too late to the TV subscription game. 

That sentiment largely hinges on whether or not the programming Apple teased is so good it makes a subscription “mandatory.” 

We haven’t seen enough to know for sure. With the glut of “original programming” being doled out to a binge-happy public, the original shows Apple produces will have to stand out. 

We also don’t know if Apple TV+ will offer “licensed” movies and TV shows like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu do alongside their originals. 

I’ll be fascinated to see what sort of “content creator” Apple ultimately becomes. There is little doubt the content will be picked over with a fine-toothed comb when it is finally unveiled. 

More than anything, the March 25th event at Apple left me scratching my head. At times, it felt awkward watching the company try to shift its way into subscription services. 

With so few details on the services, it is hard to ascertain whether any of this makes sense for Apple — or will ultimately provide a financial boon. 

I couldn’t help but think that the late Steve Jobs would have been able to work his voodoo-like skills to make something seemingly magically happen with subscription services. 

Apple isn’t typically the “first” in any arena it serves, but typically finds a way to do things “better.” 

In many respects, it all circles back to Apple’s “Think Different” ad campaign (developed by the brilliant ad agency TBWA\Chiat\Day). Many of you will remember the initial ad in the campaign featuring black-and-white imagery of history’s greatest creative minds set to narration by actor Richard Dreyfus.

In stark constrast was this five-and-a-half minute “storytellers” video introducing the Apple TV+ service: 

While the video tries to give viewers “the feels” as they watch, it’s been 15+ years since featured artists like Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard, M. Night Shyamalan, and Sofia Coppola made anything groundbreaking in the cultural zeitgeist. 

As an unabashed Apple fanboy, I hope these shows are truly engaging. 

We’ll find out if one of technology’s most innovative companies can become one of the world’s most innovative subscription service companies. 

At this point, I’m wary. I look at innovative companies like Tesla (led by the oddly brilliant Elon Musk) and I ask myself if Apple has the vision in place to carry itself forward. 

I hope so. Otherwise, the company might need to think different...

Previous post: Let’s Talk About That New ‘Toy Story 4’ Trailer

Let’s Talk About That New “Toy Story 4” Trailer

A few months ago — Nov. 2018 to be more specific — I reviewed the first teaser trailer for “Toy Story 4.” 

I had a tepid reaction to the teaser — a teaser concept I called “manipulative.” 

This week, the folks at Disney/Pixar have unveiled a full-throated trailer revealing plot points and details. 

First things first. I’ve read all the stories about how Tom Hanks or Tim Allen or both “cried” when they read the final pages of the script for “Toy Story 4.”

I seriously hope that doesn’t mean this is like “Toy Story 3” — a movie that didn’t deserve to be in the same toy box as “Toy Story 1 & 2,” and buoyed itself on a tearjerker scene at the end where an older Andy gives away his toys to a little girl named Bonnie. 

Anyhow... here’s the gist of the new “Toy Story 4” trailer. 

Bonnie makes a “toy” named “Forky” out of a spork at preschool. She brings him home. Woody (our dependable cowboy doll) tries to integrate the craft project into the toy family he leads. 

Bonnie and her family go on a camping trip. She takes some of her toys along. 

Unfortunately, Forky thinks he’s trash and does everything to extricate himself from the situation — a move that results in the spork and Woody falling out of the RV (as it rolls down the road). 

Woody and Forky’s journey to return to Bonnie leads them to the town of Grand Basin, where they stumble upon an antiques shop. They discover Bo Peep in the store (the Bo Peep lamp wasn’t part of Andy’s collection anymore in “Toy Story 3”). The pair goes in to investigate. 

Fun fact: They include a shot of antique “glass insulators” in a display case in the trailer. We had a collection of those on a shelf when I was a kid.

The rest of the toys — led by Buzz Lightyear — appear to mount a rescue attempt, and it looks like a significant part of the movie’s narrative movie takes place at a carnival located in Grand Basin. 

The trailer includes The Beach Boys song “God Only Knows” (slightly less manipulative than the Joni Mitchell song in the first teaser). 

I was a huge fan of the first “Toy Story” movie when it was released in 1995 (I saw it 7 or 8 times in the theater). I also enjoyed the second entry in the series (some believe it to be better than the first). I think I believe the lone time I saw “Toy Story 3” was in the theater back in 2010. 

What did I think about the latest trailer for “Toy Story 4”...??

Honestly, I have mixed emotions. 

The first “Toy Story” movie avoided being overly sentimental and melancholy (two traits that have become far too prevalent in Pixar films over the years). 

A light touch approach is part of what made the first two “Toy Stories” so good. 

I can’t help but think that the “Forky” character is going to turn out to represent some “fork in the road” metaphor as an aging Woody ponders his place in the world. 

I just pray that they aren’t overly manipulative with this. 

I don’t feel a burning need to cry at a “Toy Story” movie. 

As many of you know, I am an avid “Star Wars” fan and have a collection of toys and memorabilia. I have fond memories of those “Star Wars” toys I had in the 70s and 80s — along with toys like Legos, Playmobil, Lincoln Logs and a whole host of other items. 

As such, the “Toy Story” movies hold a special place in my heart. 

As I mentioned in my last “Toy Story”-related post, tugging too hard at the heartstrings isn’t what the franchise needs. 

That said, I think that’s the road trip we’re all about to take this summer...

Previous post: “Did the Latest ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Trailer Leave You Misty Eyed?”

Did the Latest “Avengers: Endgame” Trailer Leave You Misty Eyed?

The latest trailer for “Avengers: Endgame” dropped today. 

First off, this trailer doesn’t really break “too much” new ground from either the December trailer or the Super Bowl spot. 

That said, I could watch Black Widow (ScarJo) reload and shoot her Glock 26 for three hours and be perfectly happy...

I got kind of emotional watching the new “Avengers: Endgame” trailer. No other franchise the past decade has meant more to the theatrical box office than the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

Kevin Feige & Co. have created a rich universe at Marvel Studios. Fans (like myself) actually care about the characters. They’ve done a terrific job crafting a franchise that is much more than the sum of its parts. 

Granted, some movies in the MCU are better than others. Will “Avengers: Endgame” be the best of the lot?

We won’t know until April 26, but there are some nice moments in the latest trailer. 

I liked the early black-and-white images reflecting on the past (which featured moments from Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe). I have fond memories of those early years before everything tied together in “The Avengers” in 2012. 

I remember going to see “Captain America: The First Avenger” at the midnight show. I loved how director Joe Johnston (“The Rocketeer”) handled the movie. I saluted Marvel then — and salute them again — for having the guts to do a World War II movie (instead of trying to shoehorn the Steve Rogers story into a modern-day conflict). 

I loved the shot of Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) walking through a neighborhood looking at “missing person” fliers affixed to a pole. It’ll be interesting to see how he escapes the “Quantum Realm” (where he was trapped at the end of “Ant-Man and the Wasp”). 

Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) is back in full force in “Avengers: Endgame.” I missed having Hawkeye in “Avengers: Infinity War,” and am glad to have him back. 

I gotta be honest, this shot of Barton on his farm with his daughter shooting a bow and arrow brings all the feels. I’m just imagining her turning to ashes at the beginning of the movie, leaving Barton heartbroken and ready to seek revenge:

It’s obvious from the trailer that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Nebula (Karen Gillan) make it back from Titan (where they were stuck at the end of “Avengers: Infinity War”) to fight alongside the surviving Avengers. 

There is a shot of Rocket on War Machine’s shoulder in the trailer (I remember when some people were skeptical of a talking raccoon prior to the release of “Guardians of the Galaxy”... it’s amazing how Rocket has become one of the best characters in the MCU):

We also get a shot of Carol Danvers (Brie Larson) at the end of the trailer. I’m not going to give anything away, but if you haven’t yet seen “Captain Marvel” (and watched the included Easter eggs during the credits) be sure to do so before “Avengers: Endgame” is released at the end of April.

I can’t wait for April 26. In the meantime, I can watch the second trailer over and over and over and over... (I think there might be another trailer before the movie is released!)

Previous post: “Movie Review: ‘Captain Marvel’”

Movie Review: “Captain Marvel”

The first Marvel movie of 2019 is upon us. 

I’ve been trying to figure out how I’m going to talk about “Captain Marvel” without giving away any spoilers. 

Even though people have suggested “Captain Marvel” isn’t an origin story, the reality is that it’s basically an origin story. 

Sure, the narrative is “sliced and diced” in such a way to keep the audience in the dark during the movie’s first 30 minutes. 

But anyone who has watched the trailer can pretty much figure out what the whole thing is all about. 

In a nutshell, “Captain Marvel” tells the story of Vers (Brie Larson), a Starforce pilot on the planet Hala (the capital of the Kree Empire) who has nightmares/visions of herself in another life. The year is 1995. 

During a rescue mission early in the movie, Vers ends up a prisoner of the shape-shifting Skrull (the sworn enemies of the Kree). 

Before long, our protagonist flees her captors in an escape pod, and she crash lands into a Los Angeles Blockbuster Video (there is a funny moment in the video store involving a “True Lies” standee — an obvious dig at director James Cameron, who has been critical of Marvel in recent years). 

Vers soon attracts the attention of S.H.I.E.L.D. — young versions of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) arrive at the shopping center to investigate the mysterious woman. Their investigation is interrupted when the Skrull attack. 

I should mention that the “de-aging” techniques used to remove wrinkles and lines on Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg were well worth whatever money was spent. Those guys looked 20 years younger — and it wasn’t at all distracting. Kudos to the special effects team. 

Fury and Vers eventually team up to discover her true identity. If you’ve seen any of the promotional materials, you’ll know she is a U.S. Air Force pilot named Carol Danvers. 

I won’t go any further with the plot since I am committed to keeping this thing spoiler-free. 

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I don’t think society needs a new superhero movie every few months. (Disney released three “Marvel Cinematic Universe” movies last year.) I thought the genre stayed “fresher” when there were fewer superheroes in the marketplace. 

That said, I enjoyed “Captain Marvel.” 

With the glut of superhero properties released annually, I actually find myself enjoying those entries that aren’t universally beloved like “The Avengers,” “The Dark Knight,” and “Captain America: The Winter Solder.” 

For example, I loved both of the “Ant-Man” movies (read my review of “Ant-Man and the Wasp”) and I’m one of the few people who liked “Doctor Strange.” 

There are a lot of fun things in “Captain Marvel.” I liked the chemistry between Samuel L. Jackson and Brie Larson. There was an orange tabby cat named Goose who provided some nice comic relief. 

Ben Mendelsohn is also in the movie. I’ve been liking his work recently. 

Mendelsohn has made a living the past few years playing the “heavy” in films like “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (read my review) and “Ready Player One” (read my review). 

There is a plot twist involving his character (which I can’t give away because I’m not doing the spoiler thing).

As mentioned earlier, “Captain Marvel” takes place in the 1995. As a result, the filmmakers include some nostalgic bits from that era in the movie. 

Did they capture the mid-1990s well? Honestly, it was sort of a mixed bag...

Sure, they have “period appropriate” cars in a chase sequence. There is one instance where an old Internet search engine is used. There are also songs by Nirvana and No Doubt featured in the movie (both felt way too obvious in the context).  

The most noticeable “retro prop” used in the movie was a “Happy Days” lunch box featuring Arthur Fonzarelli’s image. That is more a nod to the 1970s and 80s. Not sure what they were thinking there...

The soundtrack had kind of a retro synth beat at times. Which, briefly, sort of felt like chords out of “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (there is a motorcycle reference in “Captain Marvel” that seemed like an homage to a famous scene in “T2”). Overall, the soundtrack wasn’t nearly as distinctive as the electronic masterpiece featured in 2017’s “Thor: Ragnarok” (read my review). 

Compared to recent female superhero movie “Wonder Woman,” the overall impact of “Captain Marvel” fell a bit flat. 

Marvel had a chance to make something really special — and give the MCU a quirky and unique female protagonist like Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman became for Warner Bros. 

Unfortunately, Brie Larson is somewhat bland in the role of Carole Danvers. Sure, she is likable. And, as I mentioned earlier, she has nice chemistry with Samuel L. Jackson. That said, they could have done more with the character. 

My wife Bridget pointed out that the first part of “Captain Marvel” was somewhat slow and confusing. I’ll add that some of the sequences and characters seemed more suited to a budget-constricted “Star Trek” movie than something from the polished MCU.  

Overall, I had a good time watching “Captain Marvel.” 

But the movie could have been so much more. 

This goes back to my previous point about there being “too many” superhero movies released annually. If Disney stays on pace to release three Marvel Cinematic Universe movies per year, the quality will eventually take a hit. 

Be sure to stay for both post-movie “easter eggs” (during and after the credits)... 

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