I was delighted to once again be able to participate in a video review with fellow critic Matthew Schuchman for Cinema Daily US as part of the site's Above the Line vs Below the Line series. Check out our discussion of the film “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3,” coming to theaters this Friday:
I was thrilled to be able to participate in a video review with fellow critic Matthew Schuchman for Cinema Daily US as part of the site's Above the Line vs Below the Line series. Check out our discussion of the film “Thor: Love and Thunder,” which is now playing in theaters, below:
I was thrilled to be able to participate in a video review with fellow critic Matthew Schuchman for Cinema Daily US as part of the site's Above the Line vs Below the Line series. Check out our discussion of the film “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” which is now playing in theaters, below:
Captain Marvel
Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Released March 8, 2019
There is no seeming end to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which continues to produce more movies even after it brought together all of its characters in the epic two-film saga that was “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” Its superheroes all bring something different to the table, and many are based on very popular comic characters. What’s often most interesting is when the protagonists less featured or well-known get a chance to explore their own origin stories and invite audiences to visit their unique and wondrous worlds.
Vers (Brie Larson) is a Kree soldier with an incredible power that her mentor, Yon-Rogg (Jude Law), trains her to help her harness. When they are separated during a mission to rescue a spy, Vers is interrogated and realizes that the dreams that she has been having of a life on Earth may in fact be memories that can help explain her past, which include a scientist named Lawson (Annette Bening). When she arrives on Earth, Vers meets young S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), who quickly learns that she is telling the truth about her alien identity and does his best to support her in her quest to figure out whose side she’s really on and what she can do with the abilities she has yet to fully unlock.
This film, which was the only Marvel movie released in between the two mega-blockbusters that signaled an official end to the fourth phase of films, is notable for being the first of its kind to feature a female lead. Larson is undeniably a fantastic fit for the role, giving Vers a tremendous energy and confidence that allows her to quickly establish a banter with Fury and find entertainment in her every interaction with him and others who attempt to challenge her in any way. Jackson, who has a bigger role here after minor appearances in so many other films in the franchise, is entertaining as always, and it’s fun to see him play a younger version of the character. Ben Mendelsohn is particularly entertaining in the supporting cast.
This film effectively manages to bring in many familiar elements of other Marvel Cinematic Universe projects, including its signature agency and its later director, Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), and the Kree people. Rather than waste time on too much exposition from the start, this film launches right into the action, allowing the woman also known as Captain Marvel to discover herself along with the audience. It’s an engaging and very watchable experience, one packed with a number of superb flight and chase scenes and great visual effects. The sequel is already in the works, and the way this film delivers on its premise suggests bright things for the future of Captain Marvel.
B+
Avengers: Endgame
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
Released April 26, 2019
This film is arguably the biggest movie ever made, drawn from twenty-one films that came before it and purporting to be the end of a saga that’s clearly going to continue long past this. I’ve only seen fourteen of the feeder films, and the fact that I missed an important one from a few years ago led to my waiting a long time to see last year’s two big lead-up entries, “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” It’s hard to separate this film as I usually do from the large franchise it culminates, judging it on its own merits rather than merely as a sequel or summation. No matter how you look at it, it’s an experience all its own.
After the devastating impact of Thanos’ snap, those left behind have immense trouble moving forward. Five years later, Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) is ejected from the quantum realm and proposes a daring new idea for how to restore the universe to what it once was. Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson) works with Captain America (Chris Evans) to convince a reluctant team including Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) to step up and risk everything to travel back in time and locate the stones they need to defeat Thanos. Old allies and new villains emerge during their treacherous journeys, threatening even more devastating consequences for those he didn’t eviscerate the first time.
Expectations are understandably high when it comes to this conclusion of four different phases of Marvel films released in the past eleven years and after the spectacular offering that was “Infinity War.” Breaking down the aftereffects of the events contained within that blockbuster is a tall order, and this film has the benefit of an extended runtime of just over three hours, allowing plenty of plot development as its characters pick themselves up and find a way to correct course. As in the past with ensemble superhero entries like this, the biggest payoff is seeing so many familiar faces from earlier films and the reintroduction of beloved players, both significant and minor, at the most unexpected and crucial moments. These films know how to incorporate many, many characters without any of them feeling extraneous, which is not an easy feat.
This film’s cast is so incomparably large that it’s almost impossible to survey all of its members. Its two undeniable standouts, however, are Rudd, joining this film after sitting out the last all-hands entry, and Ruffalo, each infusing tremendous comedy into their roles in exactly the way that this franchise has popularized. There are serious moments, especially considering the natur eof the narrative material, but this film is great fun when it wants to be. This particular chapter closes itself out with gusto, with important sacrifices and extremely memorable battle scenes, and the best part is that there’s room for more in the future with dozens of superheroes to choose from for the many next iterations. This concept evidently works, and even if this film can’t match the dramatic excitement and power of “Infinity War,” it’s a fitting semi-conclusion that isn’t a disappointment to its fervent fans.
B+
Avengers: Infinity War
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
Released April 27, 2018
In 2012, “The Avengers” was released, bringing together superheroes featured in five previous films, teaming up for one big awesome epic adventure. Four more films followed before the release of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” a somewhat overstuffed sequel which was still enjoyable. Now, six more films later, the most incredible adventure yet unites more characters than ever before, demonstrating the capabilities of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and just how exciting and immersive a film can be with more characters than most would ever try to fit into multiple movies.
Thanos (Josh Brolin) kills all in his path to get all six of the Infinity Stones, sparing Thor (Chris Hemsworth) to make him suffer. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) teams up with Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), and Peter Parker (Tom Holland) to try to stop several of his lieutenants from getting one stone, while the Guardians of the Galaxy go after Thanos, whose stepdaughter Gamora (Zoe Saldana) fears that he will try to capture her. After they are attacked, Vision (Paul Bettany) and Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) travel to Wakanda, where T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) prepares his army and all the gathered Avengers for an epic battle to save the world from Thanos’ desired omnipotence.
This was easily one of the most anticipated films of 2018, and it’s only because I missed out on a few previous films that I had hoped to screen at some point that it took me this long to finally decide to see it. The context that’s missing isn’t all that crucial, since the action and excitement arrives almost immediately. What’s most fun about it is the reintroduction of each familiar face, and the meeting of different characters previously unknown to one another is truly terrific. While some prior entries have suffered from issues with balancing humor, this film succeeds fantastically, making every single meeting extraordinarily worthwhile and superbly entertaining.
There’s so much that went into this movie and tying together so many characters from individual films and mythologies. The most enticing unification is that of the Guardians of the Galaxy with the Avengers, and it pays off very well. This film fully deserves its spot on the Oscar finalist list for its visual effects, which provide a stunning feast for the eyes for nearly the entire film. A cliffhanger ending that necessitates viewing of the next film in the series may frustrate some, but it just makes the notion of more of this so thrilling. Most of all, it means I won’t be waiting eight months to catch “Avengers: Endgame” after it’s released this April – I’ll be one of the first to buy tickets.
B+
Black Panther
Directed by Ryan Coogler
Released February 16, 2018
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is arguably the most successful film franchise, beginning ten years ago with “Iron Man” and showing no signs whatsoever of slowing down with increasingly frequent releases and mega-films featuring dozens of superheroes uniting in epic battle against any number of threats. As the universe has expanded and looped in more characters from the comics, those introduced are then given origin stories, allowing them to become something altogether unique and impressive in their own right. Released at the very beginning of this year, “Black Panther” is perhaps the strongest example of a film that comes from this universe but exists in its own world.
After his father dies, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) is crowned the new king of the African nation of Wakanda, a land of riches and technological advances that cloaks itself from the world as a small, poor country. When arms dealer Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) attempts to steal vibranium, the element that helps power Wakanda, T’Challa, better known as the Black Panther, must team up with military leader Okoye (Danai Gurira), his ex-lover and spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), his brilliant sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), and CIA Agent Ross (Martin Freeman) to defeat the greatest threat Wakanda has ever faced: Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), a powerful, vengeful operative with aims to transform the peaceful nation into a violent empire.
This film has enjoyed tremendous popularity and unrivaled box office success since its release for a number of reasons. This reviewer missed the last few films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe sequence, and this first experience with Black Panther feels like a complete one more than capable of standing alone, ignoring the few explicit references to events and characters from past and future films. The spotlight on this incredible African nation is a revolutionary idea, something that shouldn’t have taken this long to happen in Hollywood but which feels authentic and exciting, especially since it encompasses action and science fiction films within to create a broadly appealing, totally engaging thrill ride that could easily be experienced for double its two hour and fourteen minute runtime.
Boseman, who impressed as the future Supreme Court Justice in “Marshall,” has the right energy and swagger to play T’Challa, confident in his skills and his success but exceedingly humble and generous when the moment calls for it. This film offers a tremendous showcase for its three leading women, who kick ass and demonstrate their abilities many times. Gurira in particular offers a departure from her more subdued role on “The Walking Dead” and Nyong’o follows up her Oscar-winning turn in “12 Years a Slave” with a totally unrecognizable and awesome part. Serkis, Freeman, Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, and Sterling K. Brown offer support in a rich ensemble fitting for its surroundings. The visual effects and set design are marvelous, and this action adventure is easily one of the more exciting and enjoyable chapters in the never-ending Marvel cinematic saga.
B+
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Directed by James Gunn
Released May 5, 2017
Sequels are everywhere these days, and when they follow an astronomical hit, expectations are high and audiences are usually disappointed. The key to a successful sequel is to include all the elements that made people enjoy the first film so much and to expand upon the characters and their adventures in a way that mimics the excitement of the original endeavor. Marvel is churning out movie over movie, producing so many sequels each year that it’s almost impossible to keep count. The second chapter in what might best be described as its lightest franchise is quite the production, and fortunately it’s even better than the first effort.
Fresh off their exploits from the first film, the team of Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), Gamora (Zoe Saldana), Drax (Dave Bautista), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), and Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) are hired to protect batteries for Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) and the Sovereigns, resulting in their acquisition of Gamora’s sister Nebula (Karen Gillan). When Rocket decides to steal a few batteries after they complete their mission, they must flee to a nearby planet, where Peter meets his powerful father, Ego (Kurt Russell), who encourages him to embrace his true potential while the team is pursued by Yondu (Michael Rooker) on behalf of the very angry Sovereigns.
This is a film that knows exactly what it is, a science fiction epic which emphasizes humor over everything else. Baby Groot opens the film dancing to the song “Mr. Blue Sky” to properly set the tone for this adventure, which includes many jokes and all of the characters giving each other a hard time, even in the heat of a potentially fatal battle. These personalities have now been well-established, and getting to see them for a second time shows how great they truly are.
The plot of this film provides a fitting setting and setup for its characters to go about their latest shenanigans, demonstrating how well they can work together when they actually get along and how rarely they try to get along. All of the actors are superb, with Debicki, Russell, and Chris Sullivan from “This Is Us” as the humorously-named Taserface proving to be worthwhile additions. The Oscar-nominated visual effects certainly deserve praise for their creation of so many different creatures and places in the galaxy. The glimpse of this team at the end in the trailer for “Avengers: Infinity War” shows just how anticipated another outing with them is, and for good reason. This installment proves that this franchise is definitely one that earn its sequels.
B+
Doctor Strange
Directed by Scott Derrickson
Released November 4, 2016
Superhero films are all the rage right now, with Marvel and DC racing to release more movies each year and both airing a handful of regular TV series across multiple networks. In addition to the umpteenth incarnations of Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and the X-Men to hit the big screen, this newfound enthusiasm has allowed for the spotlighting of lesser-known comic book characters in their own showcases. “Deadpool” was the more talked-about Marvel movie of the year, but it turns out that “Doctor Strange” makes quite an impression too.
Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is an impossibly arrogant neurosurgeon in New York City. After his reckless driving habits send his car diving off a cliff, he is dismayed to learn that he can no longer use his hands. Desperate for a way to undo the damage, Strange is inspired by the story of a paraplegic who was able to walk again and travels to Kathmandu for answers. When he meets Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and the Ancient One (Tilda Swinton), Strange learns to see the world in a whole new way filled with astral planes and other dimensions, and through his training is warned of the corruptive powers that have made Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) obsessed with eternal life.
There’s always a degree of humor to be found in comic book movies, especially with the likes of Tony Stark and Deadpool anchoring them. Strange is no different, dryly cracking jokes for the entirety of the film with few people laughing in return. His name also provides entertainment, as he responds to being called “mister” with “doctor” and then, upon adding “strange,” receives the reply, “Who am I to judge?” That fun spirit actually works well with this film’s more mystical and magic-based plot, presented in dizzying fashion as Strange is exposed to a truly wild and unfathomable world.
Cumberbatch’s profile has been rising in recent years, and after an Oscar nomination for “The Imitation Game,” it’s fun to see him anchoring this kind of movie and putting his talents to a different but equally worthwhile use. Ejiofor, Swinton, and Rachel McAdams, as a fellow doctor, provide good support for this film’s front-and-center action. An Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects was well-earned since this film uses its backdrops and the way that people normally perceive things around them to eye-popping effect. This Marvel movie may be more fantasy than science fiction, but it’s still a hit.
B+
Avengers: Age of Ultron
Directed by Joss Whedon
Released May 1, 2015
Is there a more prominent and successful film franchise than the Marvel superhero universe? I don’t think so. It’s hard for expectations not to be high for a film that is a sequel to a film that was already a culmination and continuation of four separate film series and has since spawned two television series. “Avengers: Age of Ultron” is a loud blow-out blockbuster, one that takes full advantage of the diverse array of characters at its disposal. It may not be as good as the first film, but it’s still an enthralling, action-packed cinematic experience.
Topping an alien army invading New York is no easy feat, but that’s no problem for this film, which begins in the middle of the action with a Hydra takedown by the Avengers that goes awry thanks to the involvement of two enhanced siblings, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), who has the power of super speed, and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), who can manipulate people’s minds and cause distressing, paralyzing dreams. Superpowered humans are far from their biggest worry, however, when Tony Stark’s latest technological invention becomes self-aware and turns into Ultron, a villain hell bent on destroying the Avengers in some distorted vision of achieving peace.
The idea of this kind of film is that everything builds to the Avengers taking on massive armies of enemies and teaming up to use their skills together to achieve impossible victory. Much of the time in between is spent making jokes about the team dynamics and its members’ different sensibilities, and some of that is even injected into the midst of more objectively serious moments. Its humor is an asset, and it’s what makes the many chapters of this adventure fun. Combining it with the overarching impending destruction of the world generally works well.
In all their attempts to save the world, it’s always unintentionally amusing to see the Avengers stress not letting one single person go unrescued, a perplexing thought in the grand scheme of things when the fate of the entire universe is at stake. The casting of James Spader as Ultron is spot on and a perfect usage of the oily actor, who commits to the role completely. The addition of new characters, particularly Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and Vision (Paul Bettany), is strong, and, as usual with installments of franchises like this that aren’t entirely spectacular, this is an affirming signal of the longevity and livelihood of the Avengers as an enduring staple, returning to the big screen much sooner and more often than you might expect.
B
Guardians of the Galaxy
Directed by James Gunn
Released August 1, 2014
If there’s one movie that critical and public audiences seemed to love just as much this year, it’s this one. In its continued quest for entertainment if not world domination, Marvel broke out from its typical comic book movies to offer something that’s very much in the same wheelhouse yet on a whole different level, appealing to younger audiences and slightly more mature crowds at the same time. “Guardians of the Galaxy” certainly is something, but in striving to be so many things at once, it ends up being a decidedly entertaining and utterly unapologetic mess.
Chris Pratt broke out as this year’s everyman with his voicing of the hero in “The Lego Movie,” and, based on word of mouth about this film, it seemed he had done the same thing here. While his profile is certainly boosted by a beloved performance, he’s playing the polar opposite of that character. Peter Quill is a lying, mostly morally bankrupt individual interested only in what benefits him directly, though of course that’s bound to change over the course of the film. Quill, devious and devilish as he is, turns out to be the perfect figurehead for a ragtag band of criminals guilted into trying to save the universe from being conquered by an excessively evil bad guy.
Pratt, who is beyond amazing on “Parks and Recreation,” is a fun choice to bring Quill to life, and he’s surrounded by a strong cast who, more than anything, is having a good time. Zoe Saldana continues to take on roles that find her playing a brightly-colored alien of some sort, and, with this and “Avatar,” she’s proven that she’s exceptionally skilled at it. Bradley Cooper infuses a whole lot of personality as the foul-mouthed Rocket, a 360-degree switch from “American Sniper,” and he steals many of his scenes. Vin Diesel and Dave Bautista round out this random bunch with their appropriately gruff demeanors leading to a certain amount of hilarity.
Overall, “Guardians of the Galaxy” isn’t serious enough to be a true action film, and it fluctuates between being a full-out comedy and something more dramatic without any sort of consistency. It’s not meant to be a knockout intellectual film, but there are moments in which it seems to possess an above-average amount of braininess that, if meted out more evenly, could have produced a more seamless and unforgettable blockbuster. Still, it’s fun, and I can only imagine how many sequels are already in the works.
B-
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Directed by Anthony and Joe Russo
Released April 4, 2014
Until recently, it seemed impossible to make a good Captain America movie. Something about the all-American hero just didn’t translate from the comic book pages to the big screen, and any efforts to do so were laughably abysmal. The 2011 reboot starring Chris Evans changed that completely, offering an enormously compelling story of this super soldier in the 1940s taking on Nazi Germany and the enemy Hydra, and now for his second installment, Captain America is back in the present day to take on a far more internal foe in this enjoyable blockbuster.
Evans’ Captain America is much like many of the current members of the Avengers, possessing the winning charm of Chris Hemsworth’s Thor and the sarcastic wit of Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man. Evans’ Steve Rogers is far less assuming, however, and tends not to hog the spotlight despite the grand nature of his position in both American history and its present. It’s a good thing, too, since another Avenger, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, doesn’t even get her own movie, and instead has to share his. Fortunately, the two make a great, attractive pair, and putting them together is a dependable choice that pays off well.
The plot of “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is much more tied to the organization of S.H.I.E.L.D. than all of the other films currently being put out by the Marvel franchise. That means the full participation of Samuel L. Jackson in the role of Director Nick Fury, which is never a bad thing. The film also enlists Robert Redford as a powerful political player and Anthony Mackie as a new ally for Captain America and Black Widow as they go on the run following a major attack on S.H.I.E.L.D.
One thing that inarguably works about “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is its ability to transition into action at a moment’s notice, with all characters on deck and ready to burst into hand-to-hand combat or something more intense. Captain America’s powers, and those of his opponents in this film, are fun to watch, and Black Widow is also a great action star. The film’s storyline is ambitious and not always logical, but ultimately this is a relatively solid standalone entry that doesn’t lean too heavily on its previous or subsequent chapters. It may not have the cohesive and history-defying gravitas of the first film, but it’s still a blast that proves that Marvel should continue making movies.
B
Iron Man 3
Directed by Shane Black
Released May 3, 2013
Marvel superheroes aren’t going anywhere. With the huge popularity of “The Avengers,” this brand is sure to producing films for years to come. Among those characters with their own film series, Tony Stark, also known as Iron Man, has always been the most dependable protagonist, thanks in large part to the charismatic lead performance by Robert Downey Jr. as the eccentric billionaire inventor. Armed with a new director and a new slate of villains, this third installment doesn’t quite match the excitement and overall quality of the first two films, providing a disjointed but ultimately still entertaining action experience.
Downey’s Stark has always been extremely casual and nonchalant about the fact that he has built what may well be the world’s most powerful and effective armor. Paralyzed by fits of anxiety brought on by memories of imminent death in New York during the events of “The Avengers,” this new Stark is even more carefree and indifferent to the magnitude of occurrences in his life. The film adapts a similar attitude towards what it portrays, making for an excessively light telling of this saga of Iron Man’s story. Moments of seriousness are sprinkled in, but this particular chapter doesn’t compare to the dramatic effectiveness of “Iron Man” and “Iron Man 2.”
There are some positive elements of the film, however, namely Guy Pearce’s portrayal of evil scientist Aldrich Killian, whose quest for world domination makes him a fitting successor to Mickey Rourke’s Ivan Vanko and Jeff Bridges’ Obadiah Stane. Don Cheadle also proves extremely capable of throwing himself into the film’s more thrilling scenes as Jim Rhodes, who wears the War Machine suit, now dubbed Iron Patriot. While the film lags considerably in its first act with an overemphasis on Stark’s soul-searching, it delivers when its $200 million budget kicks into high gear with two action sequences that prove thoroughly engaging and highly memorable. Though its specifics are unclear at first, the film’s story arc also turns out to be solid and inventive, weighed down by a lack of clarity and focus elsewhere for a good portion of its beginning.
This excerpt from the Iron Man mythology is hardly bad, but it just can’t quite match the impact of the series’ first two films, which took a character, who, like fellow Avenger Captain America, might not translate believably to the big screen, and made him even more compelling than ever could have been expected. When it lives up to its potential, “Iron Man 3” is thoroughly competent, but its two-plus hours are not solidly spent on building up this story, instead developing a character who has already been fleshed out enough to be a suitable protagonist. The inevitable fourth installment should trust that its audiences have already come to know its hero and skip straight to the excitement and energy that makes this iteration of Iron Man so damn cool.
B-
The Avengers
Directed by Joss Whedon
Released May 4, 2012
Combining six superheroes from four film franchises is no easy task. Films like this often fail to stand on their own, presuming that audiences have had the opportunity to see all of the previous films in the expanded series. The flip side to that coin is an overlong exposition, in which every character needs to be reintroduced again, for those viewers unfamiliar with their back stories. Fortunately, “The Avengers” fills in the necessary gaps with short and formidable entrances for each one of its protagonists, detailing their powers and purposes and preparing them for a monumental intergalactic fight.
Like many Marvel movies before it, “The Avengers” is highly defined by comedy. The egotistical Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), also known as Iron Man, doesn’t play well with others, but finds himself in awe of genius Dr. Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), though he’s not against prodding him to try to get him to shift into the Hulk. Most modern-day references are lost on frozen World War II hero Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), or Captain America, though he at least understands a joke about “The Wizard of Oz” that’s entirely alien to Thor (Chris Hemsworth), himself a god from another dimension. Russian assassin Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson), or Black Widow, and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner), or Hawkeye, round out the cast, each given the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, and their sarcasm, without the benefit of a previous film dedicated solely to each of them. Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury also gets a handful of signature lines.
Featuring six protagonists means that there’s always a lot going on, and the instances of infighting, most of which involve the pretentious Stark, help to define these heroes. Tom Hiddleston’s Loki returns from “Thor” to threaten the fate of humanity, and, though he has a flair for drama, he’s most efficient when he sits back and lets the Avengers tear each other apart. Choosing just one villain, and his frightening alien army, makes it more possible to flesh out the strengths and weaknesses of the good guys, and it’s all but guaranteed that a sequel will give them another chance to fight evil.
“The Avengers” is at its best when it’s in full-blown action mode, involving every one of its characters in battle and showing off just what they can do. The story presumes that Loki’s alien army would attack only midtown Manhattan, leaving the heroes to aim to save individual human lives in the midst of mass destruction reigning down upon them. Though it seems less than genuine at first, it ultimately works out, as the heroes, especially Captain America and Iron Man, are easy to root for, making their near-misses and eventual successes all the more exciting. Even if it’s not a perfect film, it’s better that it leave something to be desired, so that the sequel(s) can come back and revisit this truly cool and incomparable team.
B+
Captain America: The First Avenger
Directed by Joe Johnston
Released July 22, 2011
For the past few years, Marvel Studios has been releasing films featuring a number of its superheroes, all leading up to the major "Avengers" movie coming up in 2012. Some, like "Iron Man," are more science fiction-oriented, while others, like "Thor," are more fantastical. "Captain America: The First Avenger" strikes a tone somewhere in the middle, creating a fantasy storyline wedged perfectly into American history during World War II. The first "Captain America" movie that actually works is a roaring success that stands extraordinarily well on its own and delivers exactly as it should.
The character of Captain America is heavily symbolic and therefore can easily become comic and even corny. Drawing a fine line isn't easy, yet somehow this film, from Joe Johnston, the director of "Jumanji," "October Sky," and "The Wolfman," does an excellent job of it. The 1940s setting is captured brilliantly, and all of its actors, particularly Chris Evans and Hayley Atwell, fit marvelously into that backdrop. They convey the sensibility of the times with ease, assuming their roles with just the right energy, fervor, and hopefulness. Steve Rogers (Evans) is chosen by Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) because he is pure of heart and a true blue American, certainly not for any physical prowess or hard-headed confidence.
It’s with that idea of a hero that “Captain America: The First Avenger” succeeds. While he is stronger, faster, and more physically able than most, Captain America is someone with a distinct memory of what it is like to be the underdog. Rarely does he show off his abilities, and when he does so, it’s in an effort to save others. Captain America starts out as a showboat designed to raise money for the war effort, but ultimately evolves into a full-blooded American hero. The transformation is subtle yet stirring, and there’s something about seeing him run into a Hydra camp with an American flag blatantly emblazoned on his shield that’s just hard not to love.
Unlike many of the other Marvel movies of late, this isn’t an overly effects-heavy film, and seeing it in 3-D is hardly unnecessary. The performances from the entire cast are top-notch and far better than they might need to be for a superhero flick. There’s no matching Hugo Weaving in terms of villainy, and Tommy Lee Jones does good grumpy. Atwell is particularly alluring as the determined and resilient Agent Carter, and Evans makes for a great Captain America. The incorporation of such characters as Dominic Cooper’s Howard Stark makes this a fun foray into the Marvel universe, creating proper expectation and excitement for the Avengers film without sacrificing any quality in this installment.
B+
Thor
Directed by Kenneth Branagh
Released May 6, 2011
For the past decade, Marvel Comics has been churning out film after film bringing back each of its token superheroes to the big screen in the run-up to its “Avengers” project slated for next year. The latest in that series is the Norse god Thor, making his first live-action cinematic appearance in the form of actor Chris Hemsworth, whose future flourishing career will no doubt date back to this as his first big hit. Like the recent “Iron Man” movies, “Thor” is a loud, modern take on a classic story that manages to incorporate mythology and tweak it just the right amount to play out in the present day.
As a loyal “X-Men” fan and Marvel adherent in the timeless Marvel-DC debate, I can’t profess to having much knowledge about the character of Thor. That’s not a problem, however, since the film provides a comprehensive crash course almost immediately in the history of Asgard and the Frost Giants, full of dazzling visuals. Fast-forwarded to the present, Thor lands right in the lap of a curious scientist in New Mexico, and his story begins. The film shares equal time between Thor’s homeland and Earth, as two very different worlds converge in one blockbuster of a movie.
Hemsworth, who stole the first few minutes of the “Star Trek” reboot as George Kirk, is a fantastic choice to play Thor. He seems designed to be cocky, confident, and kindly all at the same time, and Hemsworth does a marvelous job of conveying that through his charisma. He understands the need for comedy, as well, in order to merge his ancient regal world with modern-day New Mexico, and Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgard, and Kat Dennings help to ratify that notion on the ground by appearing both starry-eyed and shocked at the wonders produced by and around Thor. Anthony Hopkins continues his trend of playing mentors to the young kids as Thor’s wise, all-powerful father, and Idris Elba stands out in an unrecognizable role as portal guardian Heimdall.
“Thor” starts strong and loud, providing several enthralling action and battle scenes within its first half-hour to hour. Unfortunately, the film is rather top-heavy, lacking in similarly thrilling events for the remainder of the film. Its ending comes as somewhat of a surprise, almost right in the middle of the action, as it seems ready to move on to its next plot point or villain. Like “Sherlock Holmes,” this serves as a promising reboot of a franchise that simply starts without presenting the best entry-specific plotline. It’s also not nearly as entertaining in its references to other “Avengers” members as some of Marvel’s other films have been, which is hardly a fair requirement. Regardless, this film is wildly enjoyable and considerably captivating, particularly when it features Thor’s awesome hammer, blending all-out action with light comedy for an exciting if incomplete experience.
B
Iron Man 2
Directed by Jon Favreau
Released May 7, 2010
The sequel to one of the most exciting superhero movies in recent years certainly has a lot to live up to in terms of fulfilling audience expectations. The important thing to remember about sequels is that, while it’s rare that they’re ever actually as good as the first, they’re not actually supposed to be any better. If the second installment of a series sure to include many entries is anywhere near to the quality of the first, that should be considered a success. In this case, Tony Stark and Iron Man are back for more, and while it’s not quite as awesome as the first film, it comes pretty darn close.
The important major distinction between this and other superhero movies is that it seems so technologically hip and up-to-date. Re-imaginings of classic comic book heroes like Batman and Spider-Man have felt somewhat retro and old-fashioned, but that isn’t the case here by any measure. When Stark finds himself in a troublesome situation, he is handed a suitcase which drops to the ground and morphs out to become his Iron Man suit and bond to his body. Incredible moments like those make this film and its hero completely modern without losing any of its all-American superhero sensibility.
Another part of what “Iron Man 2” such an enthralling experience is its multiplicity of supporting characters and its effectiveness at handling all of them without making any of them seem too important or not important enough. The major villain is of course Ivan Vanko, played by Mickey Rourke, fresh off of his Oscar-nominated comeback in “The Wrestler.” Rourke is perfect for this role, and he’s not the only one in the ensemble who’s brilliantly cast. Sam Rockwell is seedy and unbearably obnoxious as arms expert and Stark rival Justin Hammer. Scarlett Johansson is alluring and more than capable of performing spectacularly in an action scene as new Stark secretary Natalie Rushman. The presence of Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D, is a fun supplementary reminder that all of the Marvel superheroes are soon going to team up (stick around after the end credits for a quick but important scene).
Bringing all of Marvel’s icons together is a fun idea, but Iron Man himself is more than enough to carry a movie. While the suited superhero is joined here by sidekick War Machine, also known as Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes, played by Don Cheadle, the real star of the show is Robert Downey Jr. The actor knows how to work a crowd, and he brings all that charisma to the role of Tony Stark, the biggest celebrity superhero in history. Even if Iron Man the classic character wasn’t such a public figure, Downey Jr. has helped to make him that way. Putting him at the masthead of this film enhances this action-packed extravaganza from an already thrilling superhero flick to an incessantly entertaining and entirely enjoyable movie.
B+
Note: This continues my series of backtracking through the movies I have seen in the past two months and haven’t had time to review. I’ll be catching up with one more review coming up soon.
Iron Man
Directed by Jon Favreau
Released May 2, 2008
Seen May 6, 2008
It’s hard to make a good comic book movie. Recent attempts have produced rather dim results, like the final installments of the “X-Men” and “Spider-Man” trilogies and both “Hulk” movies. I am thrilled to report that “Iron Man” actually does it right. In fact, it’s even better than the good ones, like the first two “X-Men”. Robert Downey Jr. is perfect as billionaire Tony Stark, and even though he’s essentially playing himself, he creates a likeable yet cocky character who really is the ultimate superhero. The story, from what I can remember and what I’ve heard, is pretty much faithful to the comics, save for some appropriate modernization of the situation in which Tony Stark creates the Iron Man armor. The film is thoroughly entertaining and action-packed. It’s a dramatic film but it’s infused with so much comedy seamlessly blended in, which works so well partially due to the particular talents of Downey Jr. The movie also includes small shout-outs to fans of the comic (or rather the animated TV show, which I used to make), which make the experience all the more enjoyable. The ensemble cast does its part, and the movie balances out its weaker elements by giving Gwyneth Paltrow a gloriously small amount of lines and by tailoring Jeff Bridges’ character to his penchant for shouting a lot. The effects are superb. And this movie contains probably the best ending I’ve seen in a long time (additionally, be aware that there’s a scene after the credits). In short, go see it! It’s fantastic! I’m already excited about “Iron Man 2”!
A-
Note: Because I haven’t posted in a LONG time, I’m going to put up reviews of movies starting with the most recent and working my way back. Check back soon for more.
The Incredible Hulk
Directed by Louis Leterrier
Released June 13, 2008
Ang Lee’s 2003 film “Hulk” (no “the”) was a disaster. I’m not quite sure why it was so bad, but there was just nothing about it that was good. Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly, even Nick Nolte – not a bad cast by any stretch of the imagination. Ang Lee – a terrific, innovative director with a real creative vision (see any one of his other films). Regardless, it was terrible. And it wasn’t just me bashing it – the critics generally agreed. This new installment has to better – there’s no way it could be worse. While I was watching the movie, that’s what I kept thinking. But then the movie ended, and I realized that this was in fact just as bad as the first one. The main problem was that there was really no substance to it. Very little actually happened, which is especially regrettable given that this is not an “origin” story and therefore requires little exposition, which of course the movie does away with by the end of the opening credits. Worse still, the characters seem altogether unprepared for the things they come up against: William Hurt leads a platoon of soldiers to capture Bruce Banner and then is somewhat surprised and entirely unprepared when he turns into the Hulk. Shouldn’t he have seen that coming? I know I did.
Perhaps I got my expectations up too high after the remarkable “Iron Man” (review coming soon, I promise), but casting good actors in a superhero movie sometimes pays off. In fact, it’s usually the best thing about sub-par superhero flicks, like Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst in all three “Spider-Man” movies. I cite Edward Norton as my favorite actor on every occasion, and while I wasn’t expecting this to be his best performance, I had hoped he might at least have more screen time. He’s barely in the movie, which is really too bad. What he is given to work with is rather sloppy and mostly involves running, panting, and getting ready to “hulk out”. No consideration is taken to try to play to his great talent for really molding characters (“Primal Fear”, “American History X”, “The Score”, and many more). I know that’s not what a Hulk movie is supposed to be about – great acting – but if you’re going to use such an excellent actor, try to use him well (“Terminator” people take note – Christian Bale should be given excellent material in the upcoming film!). Liv Tyler is more of a waste of space than usual, and I’m continually unimpressed with William Hurt, whose career is taking the same route as that of Jon Voight, though somehow he manages not to get penalized by critics and is even rewarded with an Oscar nomination for a pathetic cameo (“A History of Violence”). To be fair, Nick Nolte wasn’t much better in 2003.
The story here is pretty lame and lacking. There’s a lot of evil grinning by Tim Roth and dorky snickering by Tim Blake Nelson, and quite honestly, there’s little more memorable. The effects aren’t terrific but they’re not bad either. This rendering of “Hulk smash!” really doesn’t work, and further proves the point that nostalgia isn’t always a good reason to do something (how about that recent Harrison Ford film?). I brought my camera to the theatre with plans to record a second “Minute with Abe” immediately following the film, but realized that I hardly had anything to say. I’ve managed to drag out my thoughts into a few paragraphs here, but really there’s not much to say about the movie, other than, to put it crudely, it sucks. There’s really no reason to see it. I wish I had more to say, positive or negative, but it just doesn’t leave a good impression. In fact, it doesn’t really leave any impression at all. At least I got to see the trailer for “Clone Wars”. That I can get excited about.
F
