The success of MCU

 

 

By: Lina Marín

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            As many of you know Marvel is one of the companies that have been creating and selling comics for decades. Its creator and most famous writer, Stan Lee, gave life to several beloved superheroes like Iron Man and Spiderman. Marvel has been able to create a rich superhero world, full of complex stories and funny characters. In recent years Marvel has found an incredible way to take their characters out from the paper and into the screens of movie theaters and TVs. 

 

             The Marvel Cinematic Universe or MCU began seven years ago with the release of Iron Man in May 2, 2008. This movie marked the beginning of an idea that the entertainment world had never seen. Marvel Studios had the vision of producing several movies with different characters; but all being a part of a bigger intertwined world. This idea has already expanded to occupy the TV screens with three ongoing series, and four series under production. 

 

            The concept of MCU proved, in a way, to be revolutionary, not only because of the difficulty in doing good superhero movies (Marvel had had problems doing good movies for their comics), but also in keeping a narrative that would last for years. The MCU has now released 11 movies, each with good criticism and great performances at movie theaters. It is currently waiting for the release of the 12th movie: Ant-man, which will be released on July 17 of this year.

 

            The MCU is divided in three phases. Phase one consisted of 6 movies, including Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and Marvel’s Avengers. It began in 2008 and ended by 2012. Phase Two began in 2013 and it includes Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of The Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron and the upcoming Ant-man. Phase Three will be the longest phase, spanning for 3 years from 2016 to 2019 and including 10 movies. It will introduce new characters and it will conclude several narratives. A fun fact about the movies is that they all have a cameo appearance of Marvel’s creator Stan Lee, so if you watch the movies try to look for him, I swear to God he’ll be there always. ALWAYS. I mean it.

 

            As for the Tv shows; they do not make part of any of the phases, since their runtime can expand for years, or end shortly. The first show to be released was Marvel’s Agents of Shield, which is currently on its second season. It was produced by ABC. The second show, also produced by ABC, served as a spin-off of the first series, and it is called Marvel’s Agent Carter. It just ended its first season and now it has been renewed for a second one. The other shows are being produced by Netflix. These shows are: Daredevil, A.K.A Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist and The Defenders. Daredevil is the only one that has already aired while the others remain under production. 

 

             The MCU has proven its worth with successful movies and TV series with a large fan base. It seemed a risky idea to try to intertwine so many stories together, but it has proved to be bold, effective and interesting. If you haven’t got the chance to watch the movies and the show I highly recommend you do. They are funny, intriguing, and just the right amount of geeky you need in your life.

 

 

 

Princess Charlotte

 

 

By:Valentina Toro 10B

 

        On September 8th of 2014, Clarence House gave the announcement that Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge were expecting the birth of their second child. The baby was expected to be born in April of 2015 and there was only a month of difference between the two royal babies birth dates, because the first royal baby birth was on the 2nd May of 2015 at 8:34 am. The Duchess gave birth to a beautiful daughter, who weighed 8 pounds and 3 ounces at St Mary’s hospital, London. The baby was shown for the first time outside the hospital with her parents 10 hours after she was born.

 

         The next day, landmarks such as Tower Bridge, London Eye, the Trafalagar Square and the Peace tower in Ottawa were illuminated pink to mark the princess’s birth. On May 4th, gun salutes were fired at Hyde Park and the Tower of London to honor the princess, that day later; they announced that the name of the baby was going to be Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.  Her first name is the feminine form of Charles and is seen as a gesture toward her grandfather Charles, her middle name was chosen to honor Queen Elizabeth II and her last name pays tribute to the late Princess Diana.

 

         Princess Charlotte is fourth in the line to succeed the Queen, before her are her grandfather Prince Charles, her father prince William and her elder brother Prince George. Because of the changes to succession law effected, she cannot be displaced from the throne by any younger brother.

 

            Queen Elizabeth II already met her great grandchild Princess Charlotte at Kensington Palace and she said that she is really proud of receiving another woman into the royal family.