With Black Panther and Avengers: Infinity War's releases in the rearview mirror, there's really only one 2018 superhero movie that I'm looking geeked about.  In it, none of the characters wear capes, are from fictional universes, or have cool weapons--a few of the players brandish Oscars.  It's the new film, Widows, directed and written by Academy Award winner Steve McQueen and co-written by Gone Girl's Gillian Flynn.  

After seeing Avengers: Infinity War, this fangirl is shaken, stirred, emotional and a little angry that I have to wait a year for the next installment.  In the Anthony and Joe Russo's hands, this movie is a budget-less spectacle that not only exploits the talents and chemistry of its sprawling cast, but seamlessly integrates characters from more than a half-dozen franchises and nearly 20 films.  Marvel Studios celebrated their 10th anniversary with an intense, emotional, universal adventure that dazzles as much as it demolishes.

I'd love to review this film, but I'm so terrified of spoiling the fun and the horror, so I will can say that this movie will go down in cinematic history as one of the best of its genre.  I do have some spoiler-free takeaways that I HAVE to share. 

I may have sprained my fangirl muscles this week, and Comic-Con hasn't even begun yet.  

One of the major reasons for my flailing is Entertainment Weekly's exclusive first look and Saturday's release of the phenomenal teaser trailer for A Wrinkle In Time at the D23 Expo, directed by the Oscar and now Emmy-nominated Ava DuVernay (Note: The 13th director and Queen Sugar director is always courting greatness, and by helming this film, she became the first black woman to direct a movie with a budget over $100 million).

A Wrinkle In Time, Disney's theatrical adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's award-winning science-fiction novel, follows a young girl though space and time on a journey to rescue her father from the enigmatic darkness.  ​

If you're one of the many sweating your 'do out this weekend, you can blame it on the release of the teaser trailer for Marvel's most-anticipated new franchise, Black Panther because it is straight fire.

Empire's Cookie may be one of the only Lyons who don't grace the musical stage, but doppleganger Taraji P. Henson cannot stop singing the praises of her latest film, Proud Mary.  Henson has recently started sharing stills and videos from the last day on set, and she is already selling the film that isn't slated for release until 2018. 

If you had Saturday morning plans that were abruptly canceled, it might be because DC just dropped the first full-length trailer for Justice League.  Let the analysis and hunting for Easter Eggs begin! 

I fully admit that this Small Screen Girl is a ride-or-die Marvel girl who believes DC’s strength lies in its television shows as long as Zack Snyder is at the helm of the films.  Yet I was riveted by the trailer, particularly by all things Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher). 
​
Like most of DC’s contributions to the superhero cinematic world, I have questions...

If you've ever had the pleasure (or displeasure) of meeting me, you might eventually notice that I talk a lot.  I type nearly 100 words per minute, and my brain movies even faster.  I can talk endlessly about my favorite subjects-turned-obsessions. Growing up, my father affectionately nicknamed me "blabbermouth" (which was better than "Buckethead" or "Lizard Lips") when I began prattling his during his beloved Bears games.  It's just a colorful facet of my personality. 
 
And yet, I, the girl who's had lengthy discussions about Mahershala Ali's bone structure, struggled to identify or pinpoint my reaction to Hidden Figures, Fox's powerful biopic about Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), the NASA computer who helped invent the mathematics enabling space landings.   

Admittedly, the state of movies thus far in 2016 has left a lot to be desired unless you prefer your outings to the cinema to contain capes, slaptstick comedy or CGI animals. 

​Thankfully, we’re entering into the back end of the year when movies become more sophisticated in order to court the attention of a very selective award named Oscar.

The trailer for the dramatic biopic, Loving was released this week, and it is nothing sort of heart-stirring. A romantic epic with a painfully timely civil rights spin, Loving tells the true story of a Virginia interracial couple Richard and Mildred Loving who fought for the right to marry in the 1960s.  A nearly unrecognizable Joel Edgerton (Black Mass) and Ruth Negga (Preacher) star in a film that not only won the posh hearts of Cannes Film Festival, and had this blogger reaching for the tissues. 

Loving boasts that “some love stories can change the world.”  And if the movie, set to hit theaters this November, lives up to its preview, it just may do the same.  It’s simple and yet drips with a tempered grandeur as Edgerton and Negga, the southern setting, and the sweeping score marry into something that feels extraordinary, lovely and necessary.
​
Watch the trailer below, and share your thoughts in the comments section!

Pacific Rim’s long-awaited sequel just got universally cool.  Deadline.com reports that Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ John Boyega will star in Pacific Rim 2, the follow-up to the 2013 original cult sci-fi action movie pits giant Godzilla-esque beasts intent on destroying the world against massive human-powered robots called Jaegers. 

Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi are expected to reprise their roles.