u/Lil_Critter_2001_

Last year, I did a two week trip out west via Amtrak (thank you Amtrak Vacations). It was the first time I ever rode Amtrak. Despite the delayed trains at times, I overall had a very positive experience on the train and loved every minute of it.

While on the different trains, I took many photos of the different types of geography I saw while traveling on the trains. As someone who was born and raised on the east coast their entire life, many of these views were jaw dropping to me and really made me appreciate and realize just how beautiful and geographically diverse our country really is. These are views you often cannot get when taking a plane.

These are some of my favorite photos I took while on the trains (not photos I took at national parks, cities, etc. during my two week trip. The states picture here were taken in Iowa, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Arizona, and New Mexico.

I’m just going to jump right into it because this is something I’ve wondered about ever since Season 4 aired.

Why were the Jade Blades marketed and sold as weapons in the LEGO sets, but in the show they’re really just the green blade pieces that contestants collect to advance through the Tournament of Elements? I’ve always found that decision a little strange because, throughout Ninjago, whenever the ninja receive a new collectible weapon, those weapons usually play an important role in the story as well. Think about the Golden Weapons, the Fang Blades, the Techno Blades, the Aeroblades, and many others. The sets and the show are typically on the same page when it comes to those kinds of artifacts.

I remember seeing the early marketing and leaked images for Season 4 and genuinely thinking the Jade Blades (which I don’t even think was their name at the time) were going to be a brand-new set of weapons that the ninja would actually wield in the show, perhaps with some connection to Chen or the Anacondrai cultists. Even the promotional renders (like the second image) show the ninja using the complete weapons, which only reinforced that expectation.

But then the season came out, and instead of being actual weapons, we only ever see the green blade portions. The hilts and handles from the LEGO sets never appear in the series, and the Jade Blades are simply treated as collectibles rather than weapons with any real lore or abilities.

I’ve always wondered why LEGO and the show’s writers went in that direction. Was the original intention for the Jade Blades to be full weapons that were later changed during production? Or were the complete weapons created solely to make the sets more appealing and give the minifigures something unique to hold?It’s always felt like an odd disconnect between the sets and the show, especially since Ninjago usually does such a good job keeping its collectible weapons consistent across both.

(DISCLAIMER: Before anyone says anything, yes, I did decide to include evil Wu and evil PIXAL both from Rebooted as they are members of the ninja team. Wu has always been a member and PIXAL has pretty much been a member of the team since Rebooted but really began to play a major role with them since at least season 8).

Pretty self explanatory. Out of all the members of the ninja team, who is your favorite evil ninja and who is one that you wish we saw more of? Your options are:

-PIXAL in Rebooted

-Nya in Legacy of the Green Ninja

-Wu in Rebooted

-Jay in Dragons Rising seasons 2 and 3

-Kai in the Tournament of Elements

-Lloyd in Possession

-Zane in Secrets of the Forbidden Spinjitzu

-Cole in Rise of the Serpentine

Before anyone says anything, yes, I am already well aware that a X Men reboot is in development with Jake Schreier (director of “Thunderbolts*”) directing it. I know that it’s still in the early stages of development and will probably be released in 2028 or beyond (like in 2029, 2030, etc).

However, if you were given a chance to work on an X Men movie that is set in the MCU, what would the plot be? Who would be a part of the X Men? What major characters from the X Men comics would appear in the film? Who is the main villain(s)? What other MCU characters or events make appearance or are referenced in the film from past projects? What locations do you think should be explored in the film?

I am curious to hear your thoughts. I did a post a few minutes ago about if Daredevil got his own movie in the MCU (man I wish that would happen), but I do think X Men would be an interesting one as well. I’m excited to read your thoughts and ideas!

I’ve always found it interesting that Antz was DreamWorks Animation’s very first movie all the way back in 1998. But yet it feels like the studio rarely acknowledges it. Unlike movies such as Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, or even The Prince of Egypt, Antz almost never appears in anniversary celebrations, promotional artwork, streaming collections, merchandise, theme park references, or social media posts.

Is there a specific reason for this? Is it because:

-it was overshadowed by “A Bug’s Life” the whole feud with Pixar over them having similar ideas

-it was not as commercially successful as I thought it was, even by 1998 standards.

-Woody Allen starred in it, which in the 1990s (and even to this day) he has been very controversial and hated filmmaker/actor due to some questionable choices he has made?

-Or is it due to it being more mature of a DWA movie despite other ones having mature moments (like in The Bad Guys 2 when a guy literally yelled “nice carbon footprint jackass!”).

It’s just strange to me. It was their first ever big movie and the second feature length computer animated film, but yet DWA does not even acknowledge it ever! It’s the movie that put them on the map and I do see people have fond memories of it. If anyone knows why definitely let me know.

At this point, in the year 2026, does anyone even know what the status of this movie is? We’ve heard NOTHING about this movie for months!!!

Pre-2025, I felt like every few months, we always got some sort of an update on the upcoming MCU Blade reboot. It was almost always an update on its development, like with new writers, director changes (no director is attached as of right now), budget changes, Mahershala Ali’s frustration, etc. I just feel like ever since this project was announce back in 2019, every update contradicts itself and it keeps re-entering development.

I have been excited for this movie since it was announced back in 2019 (SEVEN YEARS AGO)!!! I am a huge fan of Blade as a character. He is easily in my top 5 favorite Marvel characters. I’ve always wanted to see Blade in the MCU, so I was hyped when this was announced. But as each year passed and continues to pass, we get nothing but neutral-negative updates on this project. And since this project has been quiet with no updates for months, I now have doubts about it. Even when actors say they are still attached to the project (like Mia Goth back in October) and Kevin Feige confirming it’s in development, I think they are just telling us what we wanna hear at this point and this movie is dead. I know there were some reports from scoopers that this movie is dead and they are trying to introduce Blade either in “Avengers: Secret Wars” or in a Midnight Sons movie, but until Marvel, Disney, and/or Kevin Feige say otherwise, I am taking it with a grain of salt.

It’s sad since this should NOT be a hard project to do. In fact, Blade is a very straightforward character to write and do in my opinion. If Marvel could make three Blade movies from 1998-2004 (before the MCU), they can do it in today’s world. My only explanation for why it’s taking so long is that they don’t know how to explain where vampires have been in the MCU this whole time and tying it into the Blip, other characters, the universe already being established for nearly two decades now, etc. However, I might not be a writer or a producer in Hollywood, but I can think of at least 3 ways to explain where vampires have been in the MCU.

I’d love to know what people think:

-Do you still have confidence that Marvel will get this made or is it dead/cancelled?

-Does Mahershala Ali still seem committed to it or he’s just telling us what we wanna hear?

-How big of a reset do you think the movie is going through (if it even is)?

-And if it does happen, do you think it’ll still connect to the larger MCU or become more of a standalone elseworlds type project?

-Or will it be like “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”, where Blade is in a new universe separate from the MCU but he somehow crosses over into the MCU similar to what was teased in “Thunderbolts*” and will eventually see in both upcoming Avengers movies? I know that wouldn’t make sense considering he had an off screen voice cameo in “Eternals”, but they could retcon it to be someone else.

-Do you think this project will happen but Mahershala Ali will eventually step down from the project and they are going to move forward with a new actor?

-Do you think this project has quietly been cancelled?

Curious what the overall sentiment is here. Do you all still hope, or has this movie basically flatlined?