Luke Cage Season 1 Review (2016) Dan's
Movie Report Exclusive! Above photo is from Netflix at 3am! www.netflix.com
Greetings valued Dan's Movie Report
readers and lovers of Netflix! At 3am on September 30th,
Luke Cage was unleashed to the Eastern Time Zone! Marvel's latest
blast of unrelenting unnerving superhero madness, comes in like a ton
of bricks but has the heart to carry a full season. Because this is a
really early review, no spoilers, no plot points, nothing just a tone
and setting the mood! Basically Luke Cage is the bullet proof
anti-hero, or shall we say reluctant hero. Watch for references to
other Marvel Netflix shows including one character proclaiming I need
to get out of Harlem and go back to Hell's Kitchen where it is safer!
Ha, trust me this is a true statement, Elektra aside hahaha!
Seriously, the further the series
progresses the more deep we learn of all the characters' motivations
for their actions. Early on we are introduced to a central character
named 'Pops' and in all actuality the story revolves around his
exploits and what happened in the past and how it shapes the future.
The acting from the entire cast is top
notch, however I have to make special mention of actress
|
Simone
Missick
|
She has to mix it up with a boatload
of fueled testosterone and absolutely kills it! She plays a detective
and is a mesmerizing presence on screen. Fresh off his starring role
in Paying Mr Mcgetty R Marcos Taylor gets into some killer scraps and
seems to be um tossed out a window. He also gives the show a cool
undertone. Of course the lead Mike Colter as Luke gives a performance
nuanced and thoughtful, strong and silent, an action fury wrapped in
a dichotomous body. Veteran actress Alfre Woodard is awesome, as
always, consistent, as the smarmy city suit who has other agendas!
The show is supposed to be dark, and it
is. This is Harlem, the streets are a rage, but there is hope with
some who want to change. The cool thing about Luke Cage, is that it
is a human drama, a study of foibles and consequences. This is an
important show for the network, as basically this is a study of a
neighborhood, and as a white man, I felt that unlike the typical
vertical programming, that Luke Cage not only breaks barriers, but
destroys them. This is a show for all! Luke Cage is an every-man
hero, a man who wants to atone for his past sins and knows what he
has to do to achieve this.
Special mention to the entire stunt
crew lead by Master James Lew. I have known Master Lew for over a
decade and this is a crowning achievement in action. Fights, bullets,
creative uses of car doors etc! Crushing violence, but the violence
has a purpose and is not the focus.
Here is to hope that the
slogan in the show 'Always Forward' is used and TV and cable and all
streaming services will follow this lead and make this type of
programming, hard hitting, honest and full of discussion! Marvel's
Luke Cage rates a 9 out of 10, this one is worth subscribing to
Netflix for!
