Thunderbolts * The Hit Movie MCU Needs Right Now, Bringing Together Classic Marvel Antiheroes To Build One Of The Most Awesome Teams In Marvel History
Thursday, May 1st, 2025
After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Jackson N. comments, “Thunderbolts* is the hit movie that Marvel needs right now. Many people have commented that recent MCU movies are missing the mark, but no one can deny that this new film is a hit. It brings together classic Marvel antiheroes to build one of the most awesome, if unlikely, teams in Marvel history.” Mikella G. adds, “I really like Thunderbolts*. It’s an action packed, yet quite serious film that showcases personal issues of anxiety and depression. It really focuses on the struggles of superheroes coming to terms with themselves as humans, which is something that I haven’t seen Marvel do before.” Katherine S. wraps it up with, “This film may just seem like a way to keep the MCU going after the Avengers’ storyline ended and the Thunderbolts* is based on actual comics, albeit loosely. These characters are much more complex than classic superheroes and I really liked exploring seemingly minor characters more deeply.” See their full reviews below.
Thunderbolts*
By Jackson N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12
Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Bob (Lewis Pullman), John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan)in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 MARVEL.
Thunderbolts* is the hit movie that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) needs right now. Many people have commented that recent MCU movies are missing the mark, but no one can deny that this new film is a hit. It brings together classic Marvel antiheroes to build one of the most awesome, if unlikely, teams in Marvel history.
Thunderbolts* brings us back into the life of Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) who is reeling after the recent death of her sister, Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson). When we last saw her in the show Hawkeye, she was working for Valentina Alegra De Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a malicious and conniving politician whose only goal is to rise to power. After the betrayal of Valentina, Yelena must join forces with a team of misfits to take her down.
Thunderbolts* is the perfect start to summer. The story shows us the evils that can come from one person having too much power. Valentina’s electrifying quote, “Righteousness without power is just an opinion,” shocked me to my core. It gives an excellent view into her ruthless, single-minded focus on amassing power.
(L-R) John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 MARVEL.
With an ensemble cast like this has, it seemed impossible for Marvel to go wrong. John Walker (Wyatt Russel) battles with Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) to be the brooding dark teammate, but clearly, Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) takes that title. When we last saw Ghost in Ant-Man and The Wasp she was struggling with her constant phasing through walls. However, at the end of that film, she and Bill Foster narrowly escaped the police. Bringing her back in Thunderbolts* is a fantastic way to continue her saga for the next generation of the MCU. Another great character, and a source of constant comic relief, is Red Guardian (David Harbour). His lifelong desire to live the super-hero life, and his work as everything from a mercenary to a second-rate limo driver, are a source of tons of humor and great one-liners. And seeing Red Guardian working with this awesome group really works with the movies tag line, “Everyone Deserves A Second Shot.”
The film’s message is that everyone, no matter how many bad decisions they’ve made in the past, deserves a chance at redemption and everyone needs people who care about them in their corner. Thunderbolts* includes themes of camaraderie, the power of being different, and the damaging effects of loneliness. Parents should note that this film includes many scary moments, including when characters are forced to relive traumatic moments from their lives.
Thunderbolts* gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 14 to 18, plus adults. It premieres in theaters on May 2, 2025.
Thunderbolts*
Mikella G, KIDS FIRST! Film Critics, age 18
John Walker (Wyatt Russell), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) and Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 MARVEL.
I really like Thunderbolts*. It’s an action packed, yet quite serious film that showcases personal issues of anxiety and depression. It really focuses on the struggles of superheroes coming to terms with themselves as humans, which is something that I haven’t seen Marvel do before.
Thunderbolts* follows the lives of these somewhat “anti-heroes” who are unsure of their purpose, and feel like they have completely lost themselves. After deciding to abandon their corrupt boss and work together, they embark on a dangerous mission in hopes of saving the ones they love, while uncovering many deep dark secrets of their past.
The cinematography in this film is outstanding. From the very first shots, I was instantly captivated. This shot shows Yelena (Florence Pugh) jumping off an extremely tall building. It is dark and gray, which completely sets the mood for the rest of the film.
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2024 MARVEL.
The director, Jake Schreir, really delivers the message of the movie. This film is so much more than a typical Marvel movie. Yes, there are fight scenes and saving civilians, but it is also sad and unbelievably honest. This is something that Schreir really taps into. There are a lot of long shots, which allows the audience to see the stillness and loneliness of the world from an outside perspective. Most importantly, this storyline is quite different from other Marvel films and I definitely wasn’t expecting that, and yet, I was completely captivated the entire time. Showcasing these superheroes’ dark emotions, and understanding their backstories was unexpected and so refreshing – it humanizes these characters. I could see and understand their vulnerability. This also makes these characters more relatable to everyday people, aside from their impeccable fighting skills.
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2025 MARVEL.
A major standout performance is Florence Pugh’s. The quality of her acting is so strong. I could feel her character building as she executes Yelena. Her connection with all the other characters is also so special. There are so many moments, but one that stands out is when she finally sees something in Walker (Wyatt Russell). Personal information has been revealed about Walker, and the way that Yelena looks at him, and makes a face of understanding and sympathy, is a scene that sticks in my head. This is something so simple, but helped to build their connection for the rest of the movie, and established their relationship.
The film’s message is to not be afraid to come to terms with your sadness and trauma, and realize that by accepting it will help you to not suffocate from your own depression.
I give Thunderbolts* 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Thunderbolts* releases in theaters May 2, 2025.
Thunderbolts*
By Katherine S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 17
Florence Pugh on the set of Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Steve Swisher. © 2025 MARVEL.
I was happily surprised by Thunderbolts*. It is very different from recent Marvel productions with respect to its primary characters and the themes it explores.
Working under CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is sent on one last mission before changing things up, but finds herself working together with an unlikely team of antiheroes – Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), John Walker (Wyatt Russel) and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) – to confront their dark pasts and the dangerous future ahead.
Being honest, I haven’t watched the most recent Marvel movies and shows that have been released so I was a bit confused during Thunderbolts* as some of the characters are more obscure and had backstories that were explained in previous films other than the Avengers franchise.
Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2025 MARVEL.
I was still able to understand it after a while, but I do recommend watching The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Black Widow, and Ant-Man and the Wasp if you haven’t already, to understand where some of the characters come from and to be able to fully enjoy the movie. This movie is unique from other recent Marvel movies which is refreshing since some Marvel movies have fallen short recently. This film may just seem like a way to keep the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) going after the Avengers’ storyline ended and the Thunderbolts* is based on actual comics, albeit loosely. These characters are much more complex than classic superheroes and I really liked exploring seemingly minor characters more deeply.
Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) in Marvel Studios’ THUNDERBOLTS*. Photo by Chuck Zlotnick. © 2025 MARVEL.
I love the irreverent tone of the humor in this film and how it makes fun of itself, while portraying serious topics like mental health issues and how there isn’t always a ‘good guy.’ All of the members of the “Thunderbolts” have hilarious chemistry, but the actors who stick out the most are Florence Pugh as Yelena and Lewis Pullman as Bob. Florence Pugh’s character, Yelena, really takes the lead, as she creates a perfect balance of strength, dry humor and vulnerability. Bob is a complex character with many very different aspects to his personality, and Lewis Pullman portrays all of them perfectly. As always, be sure to stay through the end for some end-credit scenes!
The film’s messages are the importance of perseverance, teamwork and remembering that you are not alone. Be forewarned that it contains violence, death, profanity, drug references and depictions of mental health struggles.
I give Thunderbolts* 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 to 18, plus adults. Marvel fans should definitely check out this movie. It releases in theaters on May 2, 2025.
When the daughter of a famous author finds her late father’s unfinished novel, she is drawn into its magical world by some of the characters who wish to complete the story on their own. Taken to their fictional world, she teams up with a heroic goat, the character she created, to ensure the story is finished as her father intended, and before she is stuck in their world forever.
Dalia & The Red Book is fascinating! The storyline is innovative and the animation is unique. I like Dalia’s character arc throughout the film; it is inspirational and refreshing. I also like the connection between the book world and the real world characters.
This film is inspirational. Dalia is a quiet girl who doubts her abilities, and her journey will challenge those very doubts. I also like the animation and how it is a more modern version of classic stop-motion animation. I like that the movie makes a connection between the real world and the book world with characters like the librarian (Andres Burecoics), and how the film makes a connection between his character in both worlds. (Agustina Cirulnik) plays Dalia well and with a good amount of childish enthusiasm in her voice. My favorite part is when Dalia finds her goat stuffy, which inspires the goat character in the book. He is an integral and skilled character as Dalia progresses through the story.
The film’s message is that believing in yourself will take you far. It is an uplifting reminder that confidence is key.
The film Dalia & The Red Book intrigued me. Being captured into a book and saving it is one thing but being captured into your dad’s book by the bad guys, and now finishing it is a whole other story.
This movie was fun to watch because there are lots of action scenes, and the suspense kept me asking myself what will happen next. My favorite character is Goat because of how serious he looks, plus his glasses make him look so cool. I credit director David Bisbano for making a captivating film that I wanted to keep watching – it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. The animation by Luis Butrón and David Vinagre is amazing. I especially love all the unique character expressions. The musical score by Matias Caldarella is so suitable; it really helps shape the emotional impact, especially in the action scenes.
The film’s message is that something is impossible until someone proves otherwise. Be aware that there is some mild profanity.
Dalia & the Red Book is an amazing movie with terrific stop-motion animation and an interesting storyline. The movie made me feel like I had been transported inside of a book, and was a part of the film with the characters.
I really like the stop-motion animation – it’s very unique and makes the story feel very real. The ending is very well done and emotional, giving feelings of happiness and sadness at the same time. I enjoyed the protagonist of the story, Dalia, and her journey as she becomes sucked into the pages of her dad’s unfinished novel. I love how the animation makes the world inside the book very unique and exciting with fantasy creatures like Wolf (Mariana Correa) who is trying to catch Dalia for the mysterious Creator. The music and sound effects fit perfectly with the scenes, further drawing me into the story. My favorite part is watching Dalia grow from a girl with little self-confidence to a successful and confident character in her dad’s novel and her own life. I will note that the dubbing in English makes the scenes with written words seem a little strange with the voice-overs but doesn’t take away from the story itself.
In a remote village on the island of Carpathia, a shy farm girl named Yuri is raised to fear an elusive animal species known as ochi. But when Yuri discovers a wounded baby ochi has been left behind, she escapes on a quest to bring him home.
I really like The Legend of Ochi. It is an emotional, yet inspiring film. At the same time, it is also suspenseful, and creates a slight feeling of discomfort. I enjoy each of these different aspects, because they all help to build up the interesting storyline, and bring you into the world on the island of Carpathia.
Something that I really enjoy about this film is the cinematography. Director Isaiah Saxon has a unique style that helps to bring out the cold, uncomfortable feeling that this film exudes. There are many moments of stillness and closeups – many scenes where the camera zooms in very close on Yuri’s face. This helps the audience to really feel her loneliness and sadness. It is clear that she is undergoing something from the very beginning, and this camera work helps us to understand that, even without dialogue.
Lastly, the message of this movie is extremely powerful. It teaches us to not assume the worst in animals, and that violence is not the answer. This film also highlights how people’s opinions are able to change over time. This is a huge aspect of today’s society. With so much constant change, and things always evolving, it’s often hard to shift the mindset of those who are set in their ways and traditions. This movie breaks that stigma, and shows us how strong the power of family and love is. The ending is particularly compelling and really moved me. I had full body chills the entire time.
I absolutely love The Legend of Ochi. Unlike movies that I usually like, this is not primarily CGI and special effects. The writer/director, Isaiah Saxon, uses creative and talented acting, cinematography, music and puppetry to create this beautiful film. Everything artistically comes together in an amazing experience.
Willem Defoe plays a much older Peter Pan like character. Dressed in rather silly armor, he leads his band of lost boys on a misguided crusade to get rid of the ochi. Helena Zengel and Emily Watson show a complex mother/daughter relationship. Robert Tygner and the other puppeteers make the baby ochi so adorable. The adult ochi realistically show expressions. This casts’ performances are complex, heartwarming and, at times, comical. The ochi communicate their emotions through what Yuri’s mother, Dasha (actor), called an inborn melody.
Filmed in Romania, the director of photography (Evan Prosofski) brings the beautiful mountains, roads and lakes to life. My favorite part is when Yuri reunites with her parents. The enduring love of a father, the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter, and the strength of family deeply touched me.
The film The Legend of Ochi is a family adventure film with many unexpected events. I love the visuals in the film. This movie was filmed in very beautiful locations and the settings are perfect for the story.
I love how the movie shows that it is important to have a connection with your family. This movie also shows another culture and a different part of the world which is very interesting. My favorite part of this film is when Yuri finds out she can speak the ochi’s language. The ochi and Yuri are both surprised and have a bonding moment when they discover that they can speak the same language. It really sets the tone for the rest of the film, especially at the end when all the ochi’s communicate with her and the baby ochi.
Explores the work of scientists and bioengineers who are behind groundbreaking medical innovations, such as CAR T-cell immunotherapy and the inner workings of the human body for treating blood cancers like leukemia.
It’s difficult for me to express how much I enjoyed Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels. It is very moving. I feel the impact on my heart, my brain, and my humanity. It is an experience like no other film I have ever seen. While not too technical, it is educational, informative, and heartwarming.
We are introduced to a nurse who travels the world with a heart given to him through scientific technology. He uses his heart, metaphorically and literally, to climb mountains and help the blind see. Next, we meet a man, his wife, and his young son who, after losing his leg, finds the strength to continue to build a community and not give up. Last, we meet a young woman who, as a child, benefited from immunotherapy technology that allowed her to live cancer free, going against the usual path of remission.
Produced by MacGillivray Freeman Films, known for their extraordinary documentaries, Superhuman body: World of Medical Marvels is superbly made and one of the most inspiring I have ever watched; it truly encourages you to enter the vast world of science. My favorite part of this film is learning about a girl who is diagnosed with leukemia, is cured by the invention of T-cell immunotherapy and able to continue her life.
Charlie Heller is a brilliant CIA decoder whose world comes crashing down when his wife dies in a London terrorist attack. When his supervisors refuse to take action, his intelligence becomes the ultimate weapon as he embarks on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible.
