The Fans Have Spoken: Favorite Mcu Blockbusters

Although movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or MCU, have been much favorably received compared to those of the DC Expanded Universe, or DCEU, it has to be noted that not all MCU films are created equally. Let’s take a look at fans-approved MCU movies.

Image source: Wikia.com

Marvel’s The Avengers

The first Avengers movie was more of an event than a film. It was a production that had never been done before, with several superheroes having their own feature films leading up to this one. The final result was an amazingly good time. Joss Whedon expertly blended fast-paced action with his own brand of humor to come up with the climax of MCU’s Phase One.

Captain America: Winter Soldier

The second installment of the Captain America film series wasn’t only the best of the series, it was one of the greatest superhero films ever crafted. The Russo Brothers succeeded in making a movie that was great as a stand-alone movie but also had very far-reaching consequences as far as the entire MCU goes.

Thor: Ragnarok

The third Thor movie had more of a “Guardians of the Galaxy” vibe than any other MCU movie that wasn’t “Guardians of the Galaxy.” “Thor: Ragnarok” was the most fun fans ever had in a movie theater in ages, and the jokes were simply brilliant. This was definitely one of the best 2017 films had to offer, across all genres.

Image source: empireonline.com

Hey there, my name’s Joe Cianciotto. I’m an architect from the Bay Area. I’m also a big fan of comic books and superhero movies. Follow my posts here for similar updates.

Emerging architecture trends for 2018

2017 has been a good year for architects, and 2018 is just right around the corner. As with any other industry, the architecture industry faces new challenges and opportunities each year. As 2017 is coming to an end, let’s examine the emerging trends in architecture for 2018: 

Image source: ubergizmo.com

Public and private spaces come together 

More and more people gather in urban areas, so the prices for real estate increase as cities today face a space crunch. This can result in long traffic jams. Because of this, cities combine public and private spaces and have designated fixed spaces for residential, commercial and industrial. 

Increased use of high technology in construction 

The rise of 3-D-printed construction projects has opened many doors of opportunities for architects. 3-D printing technology is now past the apprenticeship stage and is ready to make a huge impact on large-scale development. Holland is the prime example of this, as it produced the world’s first 3-D printed concrete bridge. 

At one with nature

2017 is the year the world focused on the need to pay close attention to the state of the environment. That’s why in 2018, we will see more architectural projects planned with the environment in mind. Apple’s new headquarters was a good example being completed last September. 

Images source : reportinglive.com

Hi, Joe Cianciotto here. I live for buildings, gadgets, and blockbusters. Follow me on Twitter for similar updates.

The Pros and Cons of Children Using Tablets

Tablets and smartphones are a common sight in almost every household in America. That’s the age we live in. These gadgets have proven very useful for work, entertainment, and keeping kids busy and quiet.

Image source: guim.co.uk

Particularly for parents who have more urgent things to do than attending to their children, these gadgets are a great bribery tool. Though smartphones and tablets are effective tools for calming the kids, they have adverse effects. Here are the pros and cons of kids using tablets or smartphones:
Cons
1.During the child’s first five years, their brain develops rapidly. Very young children learn best by interacting with people. Screen time limits babies’ social interaction, limiting brain development in the process.
2.Babies and toddlers learn better with materials they can touch, versus what they can see on a screen.
3.Studies are proving that over-exposure to screen has an impact on attention span and concentration.
Pros
1.Kids develop an aptitude for technology, which is an important skill now, and more so in the future.
2.Gadgets offer an opportunity for your child to learn and stimulate his mind in a fun way.
3.Screens can be used to spur babies’ cognitive and social development. Given parents are involved in their child’s use of devices.

Image source: nerdywithchildren.com

Hi, my name’s Joe Cianciotto. I’m a longtime fan of superheroes and classic films. I also keep updated on the latest developments in consumer tech. Visit my blog to know more.

The best smart home speakers of 2017

Smart speakers, virtual assistants, or smart home speakers. Whatever they may be called they’re pretty cool, and affordable too! Many consider them the future of smart home automation, as they pair well with other smart home devices like the Philips Hue lightbulbs and smart locks. 

Image source: turner.com

Here are three of the best smart home speakers you can buy right now: 

Amazon Echo 

Alexa powers Amazon Echo. All things considered, it is still the best smart home speaker in the market and rightfully so, since they pioneered the technology three years ago. It has good audio performance, and it has tons of developer support. Sound quality could be better though.

Google Home 

If you’re a Chromecast user just like me, then Google Home would be the better choice for you. It is powered Google Assistant – arguably the best virtual assistant right now. It can control Chromecasts as if you were Tony Stark voice commanding it to play the latest “Stranger Things” episode from Netflix. 

Apple HomePod 

Just recently released, Apple HomePod is the dark horse of the smart home speaker lineup. You might think that the HomePod is a direct competitor of the Google Home or the Echo, but it’s not. It’s a home entertainment speaker first, and a smart home speaker second. With seven beam-forming tweeters and a four-inch upward-facing woofer, this Apple speaker packs a punch. 

Image source : macrumors.com

Hi, I’m Joe Cianciotto, a San Francisco Bay Area-based architect and movie buff. My friends also call me a technophile. Visit my page to get the latest tech updates.

Why superhero movies click

We’re living in the age of the superhero movie. It’s well into the second decade of an era when films based on superhero comics have been launched into the market by major studios and have made staggering profits. But what gives superhero movies their might and staying power?

                               Image source:CinemaBlend.com 

For fandom website The Renaissance Fan, superhero movies are not a mere trend. They’re considered a genre with its own set of tropes as well as “expectations to be adhered to, subverted, and reflected upon.” While a particular genre fatigue is to be anticipated, there isn’t really a sameness that could be dismissed in superhero films.

For screenwriter Stephen McFeely, superhero films have become a genre that can be done well now in the face of computers. Advancements in movie-making technology have resulted in great gains in the last few decades, from motion capture to IMAX cameras to CGI. This way, filmmakers and storytellers can pull off the intended effects for each character and showcase them very well before eager audiences.

Image source:DigitalSpy.com 

Hordes of comic book lovers are also coming out and claiming a thriving space for themselves, even penetrating the awards race through Oscar wins and nominations. Both Marvel and DC bank on the strong interest and power up not just production but also promotional campaigns, fan events, and Comic-Con appearances and previews that keep fans excited.

So, is the superhero movie here to stay? Highly likely, and as a genre, it’s expected to have its highs and lows and a judgment of individual films within the movement.

Joe Cianciotto is a movie buff and enjoys a diverse selection of genres, including superhero films, independent science fiction, mumblecore, and Golden-age dramas and epics. More on his interests here.

After Spotify, Apple Takes On Netflix

What Apple wants, Apple takes. That is what’s happening in the tech world recently. A few years ago, Apple dipped its toe in the online music streaming industry when it introduced Apple Music. It took on Spotify head-to-head. Thanks to Apple’s millions of fans, the service is an ongoing success.

Image source:macworld.co.uk

Now, reports are coming in that Apple has $1 billion to spend on new TV shows. Apple is looking to take on Netflix’s streaming service. We’ve already seen evidence of Apple’s interest in the TV entertainment industry since its launch of the Apple TV. Fortunately for Netflix, the company isn’t a newbie when it comes to taking on competitors. The online streaming service market is actually full of competition right now -- you have Amazon, HBO, Hulu, and other companies that are making high-end internet-delivered video – and Netflix is managing to stay on top.

Image source:macworld.co.uk

It’s going to be interesting how Apple will go about its online streaming service (I just hope it won’t be as buggy as the Apple Music app). What is clear is that Apple is pushing to create its own original content, much like Netflix’s originals. With all the completion and market saturation going on in the TV streaming industry, there’s one sure winner here: the consumers.

Hi, my name’s Joe Cianciotto. I’m an architect living in San Francisco Bay Area. I’m a movie buff and a technophile. Follow me on Twitter to get the latest updates about gadgets and movies.

What Went Wrong With 'The Godfather Part Iii'?

When Francis Ford Coppola adapted Mario Puzo’s masterpiece and came out with “The Godfather” in 1972, the acclaimed director successfully turned filmmaking on its head. That first Godfather movie essentially halved film history and marked the beginning of a new era of cinema. Two years later, “The Godfather Part II” was released, and it enjoyed as much critical praise as the first installment. Many film critics even consider the second film to be even better in many aspects than the first.

Image source: denofgeek.com

But then came “The Godfather Part III.”

Over 15 years after the second film, Coppola directed the third and final part of the franchise. And though it’s been nominated for a few major awards, it’s received scathing reviews from fans and critics alike. Why is this? Why were people who loved the story so much were so antagonistic toward the last installment? Where did it go wrong?

The answer is not as simple as one might think. As a standalone film, it would’ve been pretty decent. But it was a Godfather movie, and though a lot of the original formulas were followed, as a whole, the film came up short. Al Pacino and the returning cast were amazing as always, but the newer characters left much to be desired. A lot of the scenes were overwrought, and the plot was predictable. Though it felt like a Godfather movie, some things were missing – things that people sorely missed.

Image source: joblo.com

I'm Joe Cianciotto, an architect from San Francisco. I’m also a film buff and love talking about movies in general. For more articles on the movies I love, follow this Facebook page.

Why R-Rated Comic Book Movies Click With Fans

The hype surrounding the comic book movie “Logan” has not completely died down yet, with many people still praising how the story of the original X-Men (of the films) was beautifully – and tragically – concluded.

Image source: movieweb.com

However, Logan was not your “normal” comic book movie, and it was apparent from the opening minutes of the film. While most of the comic book or superhero movies that did well in the box office and were critically acclaimed catered to fans of all ages, Logan departed from that tried-and-tested formula. It was given an R-rating, and director James Mangold and the producers used the violence, profanity, and a dark and mature plot to its full potential.

Instead of being forced to create a film that needs to be accepted by the masses, Mangold said that the R-rating allowed them to understand better their audience, and it is obvious that the target audience responded well to it.

Logan actually benefited from the success of another R-rated comic book movie released in 2016, “Deadpool.” The studio 20th Century Fox understood that they could not produce a Deadpool movie that is faithful to its source material with a friendlier rating. What resulted was the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time that received various awards and nominations, and the go-signal for studios to release similarly rated comic book movies.

Image source: ign.com

Joe Cianciotto here, an architect working mainly in the Bay Area. I am also a movie buff who enjoys a diverse selection of genres that include comic book films, classics, indie films, and more. Visit this website for similar articles.

DC’s Spectacular Animated Features

DC may be falling way behind Marvel when it comes to box-office receipts probably because there were no good DC movies in the past quarter of a century that weren’t directed by Christopher Nolan. But did you know that DC and Warner Bros. kicked serious behind in the animated department?

Image source: behindthevoiceactors.com

They only had one animated feature that was released in theaters -- Batman: Mask of the Phantasm -- and that was the greatest Batman movie ever made, animated or live action. Over the past two decades, DC/Warner came out with a string of animated features that were straight-to-DVD that have mesmerized and puzzled fans. If DC could come out with high-quality animated features, then why do most of their movies suck?

Take for instance Green Lantern: First Flight (animated), and Green Lantern the movie, starring Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively. They essentially had the same elements, but First Flight was galaxies better, in almost every way possible.

And there are countless stories to choose from when making Batman, Superman, or even Justice League movies. From Batman and Superman: World’s Finest to Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths to universal favorites such as The Dark Knight Returns and Flashpoint Paradox.

Image source: Wikia.com

In order to compete with Marvel, DC has to wake up and realize that they have a treasure trove of great stories that they already made. It’s just a matter of translating them onto the big screen.

Come on. Enough of Zack Snyder.

I'm Joe Cianciotto, an architect based in San Francisco. My other passion, aside from architecture, is movies. Learn more about current blockbusters by checking out this blog site.

Must-Watch: The Best Indie Films You Might Have Missed

Hollywood-produced films don’t always mean good quality movies. Sometimes, because there are too many people wanting to get a say in how a film is made, it comes out crappy (I’m looking at you ‘Fantastic 4.'). But then there are indie films that work with a limited budget and are produced independently, hence the name. These films almost always come out good, sometimes better than their Hollywood counterparts.

Image source: nofilmschool.com

Here are my favorite indie films that you might want to check out.

1. American Beauty

“American Beauty” was one of the many fantastic movies of the ‘90s. Director Sam Mendes captures the struggles of Lester Burnham, a father caught in a serious midlife crisis, his daughter Jane, who finds love for the first time, and her beautiful yet lonely best friend Angela, played by the stunning Mena Suvari.

2. The Blair Witch Project

This horror movie terrifies its watchers because of the amateur filming that makes it seem like a real story. Three young movie-makers set out into the woods to produce a documentation of the myth of the Blair Witch. Little do they know that the legend is still alive and waiting for its next victims.

3. Pulp Fiction

This movie is a cult film. In Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman create a funny and exciting gangster comedy. The movie has many long dialogues, but Tarantino makes it work and ties all the different plot lines together for a spectacular finale. Seriously, if you have never watched this movie, do it now.

Image source: Miramax.com

4. The Witch

Written and directed by Robert Eggers in his directorial debut, the film follows a Puritan family encountering forces of evil in the woods beyond their New England farm. “The Witch” is an atmospherically driven, religion-coated film that is, at times, both beautiful and terrifying.

Joe Cianciotto here. I’m an architect by profession and draw heavily from modernist, postmodernist, and neo-futurist influences and mostly focus on the construction of commercial and multifamily residential developments. I am also an indie film enthusiast. Follow me on Twitter for more indie movie updates.