Ant-Man and the Wasp

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Peña, Walton Goggins, Bobby Cannavale, Judy Greer, Tip "T.I." Harris, David Dastmalchian, Hannah John-Kamen, Abby Ryder Fortson, Randall Park, Michelle Pfeiffer, Laurence Fishburne, and Michael Douglas. Directed by Peyton Reed. Screenplay by Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari. Based on Ant-Man by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby; and Wasp by Stan Lee, Ernie Hart, Jack Kirby Produced by Kevin Feige, Stephen Broussard. Runtime: 118 minutes. U.S. Color Superhero, Action

Two years after appearing in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) is back. In the intervening years, Scott Lang has been serving house arrest by the FBI for his actions in Germany. Meanwhile, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) and his daughter, Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly), are also wanted by authorities and are on the run. The most important thing in Scott's life is his daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson), whom his ex-wife Maggie (Judy Greer) and her new husband Jim Paxton (Bobby Cannavale) now encourage he see.

Hank and Hope, however, are now estranged from Scott and have their own familial interest, which revolves around Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), Hank's wife, Hope's mother, and the original Wasp. Based on what they think Scott knows, they can get her back from the quantum realm in which she has been trapped for the last 30 years.

Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen) is only one of several
villains keeping Ant-Man (Paul Rudd) from his goal.

But things are never that easy in a Marvel movie, as the Pyms have to fight not only Scott's reluctance to help but also an arms dealer turned restauranteur, Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins), and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), who also needs to return to the Quantum Realm and, like practically everyone in the two films, has it out for Hank. Also along for the ride are Scott's ex-con friends Luis (Michael Peña), Dave (Tip "T.I." Harris), and Kurt (David Dastmalchian).

There is the usual humor and action mix throughout the film that marked the first Ant-Man (2015) and has been the earmark of the MCU throughout its now 20 film run. If you've seen the original film, and have kept up on the Marvel film series, then you will not be disappointed here. This is a more ambitious effort than the first one and luckily, bigger does mean better or at least as good as the first film. (All too often the reverse is true).

There are a lot of special effects in this film, which is to be expected in a film where characters and objects can get smaller and larger with the push of a button, but they never really seem to overwhelm the film with their wizardry. Rather, they seem necessary to telling the story the way it should be told.

Ant-Man and Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) seem to have good chemistry on screen.

Paul Rudd is, as he always seems to be, likable in the role and he does seem to have some chemistry with Evangeline Lilly. Together with Peña, Harris, and Dastmalchian, Rudd provides most of the humor in the film, even contributing to the screenplay.

Luis (Michael Peña) helps provide some of the humor in the film along with Rudd.

Lilly and Douglas make a good father-daughter team as well. Douglas, who sounds more like his father, Kirk, with each passing year, is also solid in the role of the elder Pym. But despite the gray hair, you can tell that he still thinks he can take on anything that he wants.

Hope and her father Hank (Michael Douglas), while on the run,
devise a way to bring his wife back from beyond hope.

Michelle Pfeiffer is new to the series and, while she doesn't have all that much screen time, proves that she is still a good actress and still quite beautiful.

Someone who I'm sorry to say we see less and less of on film is Judy Greer. I like her, but in most films she's in, she gets very little screentime, at least in the ones I've seen. Maggie's and Jim's change of mind about Scott seems like a complete 180 from the previous film but is still nice to see.

A word of caution, to get the most out of the film and there are two additional scenes, one mid-credit and the other post, it would definitely add to your enjoyment if you have seen Avengers: Infinity War (2018).

So, at least with Ant-Man and the Wasp, the Marvel Cinematic Universe seems to show little signs of slowing down or even going away. As we enter Phase Four, there still seems to be a lot left in the tank and stories and characters left to explore.

Stubs – The Avengers (2012) - A Second Look

In Trophy Unlocked’s quest to re-watch the two prequel films leading up to this weekend’s Iron Man 3, we’re taking a second look at Iron Man 2 and The Avengers..

Now this movie has been reviewed twice already on this blog: the first viewing in 2D and the second viewing in 3-D IMAX. That said, there’s no reason to go over the synopsis or the characters again. However, this film does set the bar very high for any sequel. Since this film came on the scene roughly a year ago, I’ve seen this film four times: twice in the theater (see above) and twice in 2-D on Blu Ray at home. (Yes, I still buy discs and don’t have a 3-D TV).

Watching this film again is like coming home to an old friend. As a review of sorts, The Avengers came out after Marvel Studios had already released Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Thor and Iron Man 2 and had the unenviable task of tying these five films together, make the diverse main characters and supporting ones interact in a believable way and still tell an interesting story. Joss Whedon not only did this, but made a memorable film to boot.

Two guesses who is Joss Whedon and who is Thor.

Summer blockbusters tend to be big, bright and dumb. They oftentimes sacrifice dialogue and character development for action, special effects and catch phrases. The Avengers proves that Hollywood can walk and chew gum at the same time. They can make films that deliver action and special effects, but also has good dialogue and three dimensional (or at least two dimensional) characters. And best of all, this film proved they can make a bundle using this formula. I hope that it is a lesson Hollywood has learned and will display this summer with the new offerings of comic-book based character films, including Iron Man 3.

The Avengers has everything a good summer blockbuster should have.

Back in the old days, when music was released on licorice pizzas, I remember occasionally playing side 1 of an album that was so good I was afraid to play the other side. I didn’t want to be disappointed. The first Cars album comes to mind. I really liked the first side, that I feared the flip couldn’t live up to the standards set. That’s kind of how I feel about Iron Man 3 after seeing The Avengers again. While this isn’t a perfect movie, it is so much fun that I’m actually worried I can’t like Iron Man 3 as much as I liked this one. I’m hoping that, just like Side 2 of the first Cars album blew me away, that Iron Man 3 will defy my fears when I finally see it.

Major Comic Stars Captain America flanked by Hawkeye (l) and Black Widow (r).

The reason The Cars come to mind is that their song Just What I Needed (from side one of their first album), is played predominately throughout the Marvel One-Shot Item 47 which appears on the disc as a bonus feature. The cute and funny short deals with how S.H.I.E.L.D. would handle tracking down a found Chitauri  weapon that is being used by a young couple, Claire (Lizzy Caplan) and Jesse Bradford (Benjamin 'Bennie' Pollock). to rob banks. Agent Blake (Titus Welliver) sends partner Agent Jasper Sitwell (Maximiliano Hernández) to track them down, take back the weapon and eliminate them, but does that plan work out the way Agent Blake imagined it would. If you have the disc like I do, you owe it to yourself to watch this delightful short.             

Jesse and Claire are like a Modern Day Bonnie and Clyde with a Chitauri weapon in Item 47.

2012 - The Highlights (EHeroFlareNeos)

With 2012 coming to a close, this is the time to look back at what came out this year and reflect on how we felt. While not all of it was great, there are still some things that deserve mention. Below, in no particular order, is my personal list of the top games, movies and disappointments of the year, plus a special new category (that hopefully I will never feel the need to use again).

Top Movies of 2012

The Avengers
As the culmination of Phase 1 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers combines humor with action and well-written characters to create the ultimate comic book movie. While Joss Whedon isn't reason enough to fall in love with this movie, his hand in it cannot be denied, for he shares both writing and directing credits. The Avengers is one of those movies that I would be willing to watch over and over again, having seen it three times already, and this small space cannot do it enough justice. This is simply a movie to see without question.

Wreck-It Ralph
Video game movies have always been the butt of jokes across industries, with complaints that aren't that unfounded. However, Wreck-It Ralph has managed to prove that not only can they not suck, they can be worth repeat viewings. Though it can be compared with Toy Story in some aspects, the different spin it has on its genre is rather unique and sends its message across in a way that doesn't talk down to anyone or appeal to a single niche audience. Although there is some fan service of sorts for avid video game players, there is enough to satisfy even complete outsiders.

The Expendables 2
Let me be honest here, The Expendables 2 isn't the greatest movie ever made, nor is it something I'm going to immediately watch again on DVD. However, I placed it on this list for its ability to not only advertise exactly what it was going to do, but also sticking with it and staying true to itself. It establishes early on that there will be badass moments of awesome and it delivers badass moments of awesome. It's a true action movie through and through and I have no regrets watching it.

Top Video Games of 2012

Asura's Wrath
In a realm of gaming where God of War and Devil May Cry clones (and Bayonetta) run rampant, it's nice to see a game that manages to stand apart and take everyone else by storm. Asura's Wrath operates like an interactive anime, but it weaves an epic tale of a Deity named Asura, betrayed by his own kind and ripped away from his daughter. His resulting feats reach a status that exceeds its ilk and reaches beyond the heavens to deliver a very memorable experience.

Journey
Sometimes what doesn't really matter is the destination, but rather the journey. This is the tenet that Journey is built upon, drawing out the player's sense of isolation in a way that firmly establishes that video games can indeed be works of art. It may only last a couple of hours, but what truly matters is the experience it creates and that you may find yourself wanting to go on that journey again and again.

Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3
It may be better for fans of Penny Arcade like myself, but OTRSPOD 3 is a game that I liked well enough to put on this list. The painful wait and change of developers proved to be well worth it, thanks to the unique approach to gameplay and tidal wave of humorous lines and references to Penny Arcade's entire webcomic run up to that point. Plus, the plot surrounding the Four Below takes a darker turn and knows when to generate genuine suspense. Also, it's only $5 (this cannot be stressed enough).

Assassin's Creed III
As I played the Ezio Trilogy, I was really waiting for a fresh new assassin to join the ranks and give me something new to do. Thankfully, Assassin's Creed III does just that, shifting the focus to the assassin Connor and changing the setting to the American Revolution. Though Brotherhood and Revelations are still required reading, so to speak, this entry is when things really kick into high gear and the framing device actually becomes interesting. As the conclusion to a long build-up, Assassin's Creed III is not a game to miss. Plus, it has some significance to me thanks to some of my ancestors being involved in the American Revolution.

Top Disappointments of 2012

Brave
After Cars 2, I feel that Pixar has really started to let themselves go. Brave is an improvement, but that doesn't change that this seems like the point where Pixar has lost some of their luster; having already achieved their earlier visions, they have now become more of a regular movie studio. The characters in Brave aren't as engaging, the plot has some holes and unusual anachronisms and there just seemed to be an overall lack of effort to make me want to rewatch this mother-daughter bonding tale. But hey, kids and die hard fans seem to like it.

The Amazing Spider-Man
In the wake of the successful Marvel Studios movies, Sony created a reboot of their successful Spider-Man trilogy in order to maintain their grasp on the franchise. Unfortunately the result isn't as great as the Sam Raimi films, with a darker tinge to try and compete with Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, a plot that leaves several threads dangling (pun intended) and the revelation that being bitten by a radioactive spider actually gives you just Spider Sense and the ability to perform spider-based parkour. I wasn't impressed, but I won't challenge anyone for genuinely enjoying it (just don't say "because it was dark like Batman"). Hopefully the inevitable sequel will be better.

I Am Alive
This is an example of a game stuck in development hell and managing to come out, but as a different entity. I Am Alive originally had a very brilliant premise and gameplay ideas, but somewhere along the way it turned into a survival horror with only a few fleeting remnants of the original vision intact, thanks in part to the new setting being deemed "more realistic." I don't entirely regret finally playing I Am Alive after its seeming disappearance from the fabric of space, but in hindsight I'm still waiting to play the game that I got excited for.

Assassin's Creed III
I admit that it's weird to see Assassin's Creed III take up a slot on two contradictory lists, but just hear me out for a minute. The story was handled very well and there are plenty of improvements to the gameplay systems that make Connor one of the best assassins in gaming. However, the game also failed to recapture the addiction I felt when playing Assassin's Creed II for the first time and the mission structure just isn't up to par. While some bugs and annoyances have been fixed in a patch, what I played wasn't enough to keep me occupied for days on end. I'll play the sequel, but I hope Ubisoft actually puts more time into that installment than this.

Worst Video Game of 2012

NeverDead
Ever since the day I decided to play NeverDead, I have spent every day since regretting that awful two days of my life. Bryce Boltzmann is not a hero I can get behind, the gameplay is absolutely abysmal, the story falls flat on its face and the enemies are relentless so as to make the game a possible way to turn into The Hulk. Not even Megadeth's amazing contribution could bring this game up from being nothing more than a plastic container full of urine.

Honorable Mentions of 2012 (Not reviewed, but worth bringing up)

SoulCalibur V
It may be the game I exchanged NeverDead for, but I had a really great time with this game. This installment in the series manages to fix what was wrong with SoulCalibur IV and improve upon such things as story, art style and combat. It's a well-balanced fighting game that I think fighting game fans would appreciate, even if they are fresh to the series. Plus, you get to be Ezio Auditore, so what's not to like?

2012 - The Highlights (Tetris_King)

As the year 2012 wraps up, it's sometimes good to look back at what was good or bad about the year. Below is what I thought were the best and worst things this year on the blog, with links provided to each review. As with before, these items are not in any set order.

Top Films of 2012

The Avengers
This has everything you could ever want from a superhero movie. The plot is easy to follow, the characters are well-balanced, motives are clear, and it has just the right mix of action, humor, and tension to make it all worthwhile. Though it's a better movie after seeing Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger beforehand, that does not stop this movie from being made entirely of awesome.

The Expendables 2
Another movie made of awesome, The Expendables 2 takes everything that made the first movie enjoyable and ramps it up even higher. Admittedly, this is a movie where I actually think the plot, or what little of it there is, actually gets in the way of all the action, although it at least justifies what happens on camera. Even then, this film is practically made entirely of testosterone and contains some of the most badass footage you will ever see in your life.

Wreck-It Ralph
Wreck-It Ralph proves that a video game movie can not only be good, it can also be very creative. Instead of adapting a single game or series of games, it instead focuses on the video game characters themselves in an arcade as the primary character, Ralph, questions his role as a video game villain. The plot can easily be understood by casual and non-gamers alike, and there's plenty of subtle references thrown in that more experienced game players will appreciate. Whether it's the story, gaming references, or the nostalgia of the dying arcade, Wreck-It Ralph is a Disney movie that has plenty to offer for everyone.

Top Games of 2012

Asura's Wrath
If you thought you have seen the pinnacle of scale in a video game (God of War III, Bayonetta, etc.), you haven't seen anything yet. Over the course of the game, you fight one boss that's bigger than a planet and one whose sword can reach the moon and beyond when unsheathed (and with the DLC, that's only the beginning). The anime-style plot is a good setting for this sort of action, which by itself is very intriguing to see unfold. Asura's Wrath not only features a sympathetic protagonist, it also features some of the most concentrated rage you will ever see in fiction.

Journey
With an industry full of big-budget titles with intricate plotlines and deep gameplay, it's nice to take a break from all that with something more simple. Journey features controls that are easy to pick up and its desert setting gives the player a true feeling of isolation as they reach their destination. Though the game has no dialogue (and for good reason), you can still get a good grasp on the happenings of the world around you and what emotions it makes you feel. This is, put simply, a game that's required playing for any PS3 owner and an experience that you will remember for quite some time.

Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3
I am a big fan of the Penny Arcade webcomic, and like many others I was happy to see news of the long-awaited third installment of the On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness series of games. Though the gameplay and developer are different, it does not stop this game from embodying the true essence of Penny Arcade. What's more, you can get a good story, great gameplay, absolutely hilarious humor, and a time-worthy experience, all for the low price of $5. It may not be the best game I've played this year, but it's definitely the funniest.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron
High Moon Studios has topped themselves in regards to delivering a solid Transformers experience, which I appreciated as a major fan. The game delivers some high-quality graphics and story presentation, as well as some really great gameplay and characterization. For the Transformers fan, there's references abound, some of which may make you chuckle a bit. It's clear that the developers love Transformers, especially with the multitude of Generation 1 references and terminology, although it's best to look at this game as a tie-in to the amazing Transformers: Prime cartoon, since the events of the game are integral to the current continuity.

Top Disappointments of 2012

The Amazing Spider-Man
After some creative differences with Sam Raimi's run after the third movie, it was decided that a reboot was in order, primarily so that Sony could keep the Spider-Man license. (Note: Despite what you may think, this movie is not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, nor can it ever be.) While this movie attempts to recreate the same experience, its webs actually snap in midair, followed by it falling flat on its face. Several plot threads go nowhere, events are either too contrived or convenient, and apparently "spider powers" now means "heightened awareness and mastery of parkour" instead of "heightened awareness and special powers akin to a spider". Though I did not think it was a good Spider-Man film, I will respect the opinions of anyone who thought differently, as long as they didn't just like it for deciding Spider-Man should be Batman. Of course, there's the chance of a sequel, so hopefully that is able to redeem this pile of spider guts.

Brave
As my fellow contributors can tell you, while this is a step back in the right direction for Pixar, it's certainly not the best. This is a story you have definitely seen before, and while Pixar has shown the ability to make that sort of thing interesting, this attempt at a mother-daughter bonding tale feels more generic at best, which I actually compared unfavorably to Finding Nemo, an earlier father-son bonding tale of theirs. Pixar isn't as innovative as they used to be, but it's still a good film for children and die-hard fans of the studio. I would suggest seeing this movie once, and even if you don't like it, at least it isn't Cars 2.

The Darkness II
I really enjoyed my experience with the first The Darkness game, based on one of Top Cow's flagship comic book titles, so I was hoping for an equal, if not better, experience with the sequel. In the end, while I thought the gameplay was really, really good (quad-wielding!), the story is really, really horrible. Jackie Estacado saw some great character development in the original game, but his character here felt like it had taken a major step backwards, having failed to come to terms with the death of a loved one from two years ago (I think hallucinations of your dead girlfriend warrant seeing a therapist). Still, this game is worth at least one play-through, if only for the feeling you get from being able to use four weapons at once against your enemies.

Quantum Conundrum
This game showed some promise when preview material got discussed, to where I even pre-ordered it on Steam for future DLC (and a few Team Fortress 2 items). In all the excitement, the game eventually begins to unravel by the end, its final levels failing to live up to the rest of the game and the ending feeling rather anti-climactic. Hopefully the eventual DLC will salvage my experience with this game, and while I do like John de Lancie as a voice actor, I don't think he was able to fully save this title.

2012 – The Highlights (lionsroar)

Best Films of 2012

In no particular order:

THE AVENGERS

In some ways, this was a pleasant surprise. The five films leading up to this had been uneven. Iron Man was great, but Iron Man 2 had problems. Captain America was up, Thor was a bit down, though the film has grown on me since I first saw it. And I don’t have to say what a disappointment the previous Hulk films had been, of which, The Incredible Hulk was canon for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But this film brought the good and bad together and came up with not only perhaps the best comic book movie ever, but also maybe the best film of 2012. There is action and humor mixed together and while the subject matter might be “light” the overall film is great.

WINGS

Okay, so technically this is a film from 1927, but since it was once considered lost and I saw it in a theatrical setting, I’m going to count Wings for 2012. One of the things that sets this film apart are the action sequences, which are as real as a film can get. The actors in the airplanes are actually the actors in airplanes flying them. Throw in Clara Bow at her cutest and a bit part for Gary Cooper and you’ve got a movie to remember and one that may be 85 years old, but can still take your breath away.

WRECK-IT RALPH

Finally, a video game movie that doesn’t suck. A spin on the Toy Story formula, we find out what video games do when the arcade is closed. Turns out the villains are more like us than the heroes. They have doubts about their worth, they seek out friendship and they long to break from the rut they find themselves in.

Biggest Film Disappointments of 2012

In no particular order:

BRAVE

I’m sorry to say that it seems Pixar’s best days may be behind it. The sequels seem to be having diminishing returns, see Cars 2 and Toy Story 3, and the new films aren’t as fresh as the first group the studio put out. Pixar in some ways is like a rock band that puts out all their best stuff, the projects they worked on and honed before anyone knew who they were. But now that they’ve played all those songs, their new batch isn’t quite as good as their original hits.

Brave isn’t a bad film, it just isn’t as good as I used to expect from Pixar. But now I guess I’ll learn to expect less and to accept less from Pixar in future.

THE CABIN IN THE WOODS

This is not a film I would normally pick to watch, but after The Avengers (Joss Whedon co-wrote and produced CABIN) and the hype I heard about the movie, I thought I’d give it a chance. The humor is a little too dark for my tastes and the satire goes a little too far.  And a blood bath is still a blood bath, even if you’re supposed to be laughing about it.

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

Hollywood makes films for all sorts of reasons. In the case of The Amazing Spider-Man, Sony made this film in order to keep the franchise. After the original run of the first three films, it is no surprise they would hope for the same success with the reboot. But there are so many problems with the movie that I don’t want to spend the space rehashing my original review. Suffice to say Andrew Garfield is no Tobey Maguire and Marc Webb is no Sam Raimi. No doubt there will be an Amazing 2; let’s hope it gets better from here.

Second Opinion - Marvel's The Avengers

Previously, this blog called The Avengers “the best comic book movie ever.” This week, I was asked to write a second opinion after seeing the movie a second time, but in 3-D IMAX. And in the case of The Avengers, bigger does mean better.

Prior to seeing the Avengers, I considered Spider-Man 2 to be the best comic book movie I had seen. But a second viewing of The Avengers only confirms that it is hands above and beyond that film. And a lot of credit has to go to Joss Whedon, who wrote and directed The Avengers. Whedon not only builds upon the foundation laid down in the five prequels, but the writing is smart and balances humor along with a lot of action. Humor is not something I would have associated with the Incredible Hulk or Thor, but Whedon makes it work very well.

While a lot of credit should go to Whedon, the actors deserve a fair share of the praise as well. Many of them are reprising roles they had previously played. Robert Downey, Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Tom Hiddleston (Loki), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson) and Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury) have all have played their parts before, but they are not delegated to sketches of their former selves. In some cases, as with Hawkeye and Black Widow, their parts are expanded from prior appearances. Everyone is significant in this film.

The only major part that is not a reprise for the actor is Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk. Previously played on the screen by Eric Bana (Hulk) and Edward Norton (The Incredible Hulk), the Hulk was never much of a character. Humorless and one-dimensional in previous screen appearances, Ruffalo manages to round out the character, making him funny and likeable. Where was Ruffalo when those other films were made?

The Avengers definitely delivers and delivers big. If you haven’t seen The Avengers, then you need to see it. And if you’ve seen it in 2-D, then make an effort to see it in 3-D and IMAX while you can. It is one of the few summer movies that is well worth a second viewing.

The Avengers - The Best Comic Book Movie Ever

At last, the event that the previous five movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been building up to for four years has finally been released. After watching every single Marvel Studios movie again, I began to anticipate The Avengers even more with growing excitement. Having finally seen it opening weekend, and managing to avoid major spoilers over the last week, I'm proud to say that the end result does not disappoint in the slightest.

I wish I could describe the plot in great detail, since a lot happens, but sadly the only things I can say about it directly without spoilers would be basic premise. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) arrives at a S.H.I.E.L.D. research facility during an evacuation. While he is there, the Tessaract gives off an unknown energy, opening up a portal to Asgardian space, allowing the trickster god Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to arrive on Earth. Loki takes the Tessaract, using its power to enslave several agents, including Dr. Erik Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner). After Nick Fury fails to stop the theft, he is left only with the option to gather the Avengers together to bring back the Tessaract and prevent it from unleashing its full power.

Before discussing any more about that however, I'd like to get my casting praise out of the way, since I believed every choice and performance out of them to be absolutely perfect. Robert Downey Jr. continues to show that he's the best Tony Stark in history, Chris Hemsworth outdoes his previous bout as Thor and Chris Evans as Steve Rogers is still a very excellent decision. Mark Ruffalo is an interesting choice for Bruce Banner, since he replaces Edward Norton in the role. However, his acting skills as both Banner and the Hulk help to finally make a proper cinematic Hulk come to life and now he appears to have been the perfect candidate. Scarlet Johansson's Black Widow I believe was performed rather well, a sentiment I share about Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye acting. Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg, who plays Agent Coulsen, also make their characters as enjoyable as ever.

What really makes acting interesting regarding Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and Banner however is the fact that their personalities all seem to bounce off each other remarkably well. Whether its a tense or humorous moment, the performances compliment each other to a degree that you can really believe the dynamics each of them have. This is aided by the instant friendships made and what specific characters have in common with each other despite their initial bickering, which only makes the relationships go even deeper. It is this that creates character growth and development throughout the film, something that I really enjoyed watching play out and expand. The ability for the Avengers to work as a team is tested to great degree and it was nice to be able to see them overcome it all and work as a single powerhouse of a unit.

That said, this movie is filled with action like you wouldn't even believe, even from the first few minutes alone. The two biggest setpieces however would be those of the vast helicarrier and New York City, the target of Loki's plans. In the first, the heroes haven't yet started to work together yet and have some infighting, though at least a couple of them are still trying to solve the task at hand despite enemy advance and the immediate scenes following this demonstrate just what could happen if they don't work closer as a team. Until they get to the second major setpiece, they grow to trust on another better and show just what they can do as a team, defending Earth in some of the most spectacular ways possible.

There are some times where you get to see each hero's individual skills at full capacity. For Hawkeye, that would be seeing his amazing trick arrow arsenal at work as he willingly selects what head is at the end for differing results, as well as his uncanny precision with an arrow, including one moment when he fires an arrow behind his back and still hits, dealing a major blow to his target. In the case of Iron Man, it would be the awesome technology at his disposal, including the introductory sequence of his Mark VII armor. Captain America and Thor both have the same strategy of throwing their weapon at their enemy and having it return, but their own plans of attack beyond this are fun to watch and show off their tactical strengths. Finally for Hulk, it's exciting to see him smash in ways that are more creative than other Hulks before him. When the characters team up is also cool, like when Iron Man is fighting alongside Captain America and he is able to use Cap's shield to redirect his laser fire.

But even when there are some very serious or action-packed sequences, I was very happily surprised by the fact that the movie is a major laugh riot. Some clever writing and witty dialogue, no doubt a product of Joss Whedon's screenplay, help create a more engaging atmosphere that forms audience-wide laughter at all the right times as some jokes either take off once or actually continue throughout, thanks in part as well to the performances. It is when the humor goes hand-in-hand with the action (Hulk vs Loki, anyone?) that is especially thrilling and helps make the movie all the more memorable.

I must say as well that I also appreciated the various nods made throughout the movie to the Marvel Universe and the individual heroes. Some are more subtle like Tony Stark wearing a Black Sabbath shirt, which was a pretty nice touch, to the more obvious references to the previous movies like Steve Rogers' familiarity with the Tessaract. It is enough to satisfy the comic book nerd in everyone, like myself, as well as the more casual reader or filmgoer. All in all though, it is the most rewarding for those who have seen every Marvel Studios movie beforehand.

The special effects were very impressive, and there is a lot of them. Tony Stark still has the most wondrous tech on the planet, which includes being able to manipulate an image in three-dimensional space or his new tower being able to pull the suit apart as he walks. Effects used to create the Hulk are also more impressive and realistic than ever before, helped by the fact that the transformation resembles Mark Ruffalo to create a singular identity and make the beast more lifelike in motion by his own acting. These are of course only samples of what can be expected and every instance of amazing effects would be too numerous to list here.

I also liked the individual character designs. Captain America's costume for instance is a good combination of a new design with some old-fashioned elements used in a way that it doesn't look silly or goofy, a look I would be happy to see onscreen again. I didn't mind Thor's sleeveless look, partly because it allows the audience to see his raw strength, or the return to the circle design on Iron Man's awesome armor. Loki has some interesting elements as well, with shoulder pads that don't look unwieldy and in fact more representative of the kind of being he is now. Hawkeye and Black Widow also have cool designs, all-black of course, that give them a certain personality to help them stand out too.

Finally, I also liked the music. The major contributing factor to this is the fact that Alan Silvestri, known for scoring such movies as Predator and Back to the Future, has composed something that brings the best emotion out of any given scene. His work here shows just how talented he is, as it increased my enjoyment of the film much further. The credits also have a good selection of rock, though it might have been better if it had a bit more kick to it to close it out with stronger pulse-pounding excitement.

As the first major event in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, The Avengers is a very spectacular and awesome movie, setting a new bar for the comic book movie in the process. While it would still be considered a summer blockbuster, the writing is much more witty and clever than others of its ilk and the well-written characters help make it a more well-rounded movie that doesn't depend entirely on special effects to pull it through. If this hasn't helped me recommend the movie to you already, then let me say that I guarantee you'll want to see it again. Just make sure you stay for the extra credits sequences, of which there are two; you will not be disappointed.

[OLD] Iron Man 2 - Could Use More Engineering

Two years after The Incredible Hulk, the next movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) would be released, known as Iron Man 2, which also serves as a direct sequel to the original Iron Man. Since I really loved the original, I felt hyped before watching it in theaters for the first time. At the same time I also remember liking it that time, but not as much as the original. After watching it again on Blu-Ray as a build-up for The Avengers, I still feel that way now.

After the events of Iron Man, the world at large is now aware that Tony Stark is Iron Man, a hero that will protect America from danger. Not all is well however, as somewhere in Russia a man named Anton Venko (Yevgeni Lazarev) is on his deathbed, telling his son Ivan (Mickey Rourke) that it should be him in that position instead. When Anton passes on, Ivan is inspired by both the Iron Man suit and leftover blueprints to create a weapon of his own. Meanwhile, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is busy convincing the government that his technology is not a weapon as they believe, but also that he is the only one in the world capable of creating it the way he did. He is also simultaneously in danger from the miniature arc reactor that's keeping him alive, since the palladium core within is poisoning his blood and he has yet to find an effective substitute. As the movie continues, he must not only worry about keeping himself alive and keeping his tech to himself, but also a nasty revenge scheme created by Ivan Venko, who is out to destroy the Stark name.

While the story was still pretty enjoyable, it didn't feel as fresh as the first entry, sometimes almost as if it's going through the motions. Even then however, it doesn't fail to deliver something exciting to the screen. Robert Downey Jr. still gives a fantastic performance that reminds me just why he was cast in the first place. He perfectly reflects the emotions that Tony is going through, even in some of the most subtle ways, especially how he handles the fact that he might actually die. This justifies the actions he takes regarding Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), who still manages to give a good performance for her part, and Lt. Colonel Rhodes (Don Cheadle). While Cheadle doesn't have the same appeal as Terrence Howard when playing Rhodey, he manages to bounce off Downey Jr. pretty well when onscreen and brings a certain personality to the character that I can't really complain that much about. S.H.I.E.L.D. also has a more prominent role here than in any other MCU film, with interesting looks at Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) most of all. Scarlett Johansson, while fun to look at in a fight or standing still, seems mostly to be there for eye candy to the audience, though I would like to see where they go with such a casting decision; I am unfamiliar with what Black Widow is like in the comics, so it'll take me a while to form my opinion of her. Nick Fury on the other hand is such an enjoyable character that I wonder when they'll make a movie out of him.

The villains are another story. This time around there are two more prominent ones in Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) and Ivan Venko. Both of them want to make Stark look bad, the former even hiring the latter to help him out, though both of them want to go to different lengths to get there. Hammer in the movie is a man struggling to keep up with Stark Industries, and what we see reflects that very well in both the body movements and level of confidence in his voice. Mickey Rourke's role as Ivan however is a bit more interesting to me. Not only does he look the part of a physicist that can only exist in comics, he plays one very well too. Ivan has a legitimate grudge against the Stark family and it's interesting to see just how bloodthirsty he can be while getting closer to his ultimate goal, even backstabbing Hammer to do it. When he's Whiplash, he shows some interesting skill with his weapons, but when he's the Crimson Dynamo, it doesn't look like he needed to do very much to fill the same role. In any case, I was satisfied with Rourke playing the main villain.

One thing I really enjoyed was the action scenes. I don't want to sound like someone who only watches this sort of movie for the action, but it seems that the mixture between action and story was more imbalanced in favor of the former. It seems that Genndy Tartakovsky storyboarded the project very well, since the well-framed action impresses on all counts. The awe-inspiring visuals are all well-paced and adrenaline-filled, but that doesn't help make every fight completely satisfying. After Whiplash and an army of drones, Crimson Dynamo's fight at the end is cool to watch, but is too short and arguably very anticlimactic. When all is said and done however, I can't wait to see how Iron Man 3 will top the sequences here.

Technology and special effects are something else to consider. While the effects were spectacular, especially on the electro-whips and Tony's scientific endeavours in the second act or so, the various armor used throughout is also fun to look at and spot every detail. I especially loved the design of Tony's suit in the last half hour of the film and how War Machine was weaponized to give a distinct but realistic sort of look. The most exciting part however would be the suitcase version of the Iron Man suit, which I can never get tired of watching unfold.

The original score was also interesting to hear due to it matching up very well with what was going on, though it is a little forgettable. Licensed music on the other hand was perfectly selected and used appropriately. The songs played by the late DJ AM during the fight at Stark's home, appropriately including Robot Rock by Daft Punk, and AC/DC's Highway to Hell at the end are all perfect matches and I enjoyed every second of them, as well as AM's mixing skills.

Following up to Iron Man is something that seems a bit hard to do and the first sequel tried admirably to reach that same standard. Unfortunately, the story isn't as fresh and doesn't hold up as well, but the unique blend of humor and character development is still present and the action doesn't fail to deliver great thrills. While everything in the film basically gets an upgrade, it seems best to see this as the second movie in a planned trilogy rather than merely a sequel in order to view it better. I would still recommend a viewing, mainly because it helps to further establish the MCU and lead properly into Thor.

[OLD] The Incredible Hulk - The Credible Hulk

The second movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would be 2008's The Incredible Hulk, distributed by Universal rather than Paramount like Iron Man previously. While I wasn't sure how I had felt about this movie the first time I saw it in a theater, having not remembered too much of it due to a lack of a copy on home video, my opinion changed a bit after renting it for a second round. Though I don't think it was as good as Iron Man, an inevitable comparison anyway, it was a lot better than I had remembered it being in retrospect.

Rather than spend the entire movie focused on the Hulk's origin story, the movie makes the interesting decision to show it in the opening credits, filling us in on the specifics as the movie goes on. It's actually a good move and it allows the audience to get a full story in return, which thankfully does not really require reading the comics to understand. In this case, it details Bruce Banner's (Edward Norton) attempts to rid himself of transforming into the Hulk, a struggle filled with many dead ends and hardships, while also on the run as a government fugitive trying to get away from General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (William Hurt) and Emil Blonsky (Tim Roth). On a second viewing I was able to experience more of what was going on and listen to some of the more subtle dialogue that hints heavily toward the larger MCU, though most of the movie does a pretty good job at following the separate story it has. Bruce Banner is actually an interesting character in his quest to become normal again and his relationship with Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) is handled in a way that adds depth to his character. Another interesting characterization is that of the Hulk (Lou Ferrigno). Rather than make him out to be a completely unstoppable monster, he is shown to actually have emotions beyond anger that in turn make him more three-dimensional. Thunderbolt Ross and Emil Blonsky both go through their own arcs as well, but in opposite directions; Ross starts out doing whatever it takes to get Banner but then realizes the sort of monster he created in Blonsky, and Blonsky continues lusting for power until he becomes a complete abomination.

But while I did actually enjoy the story better this time, I must admit that unless you pay full attention to the dialogue, some things might come off as plot holes, such as how Banner was discovered at the University to trigger a pivotal scene. Re-watching these parts on a Blu-Ray helped me fully understand the events, so it seems that the movie requires multiple viewings to fully understand the events. On the plus side, I did have fun trying to find references to the MCU or other information about the Hulk that I had gathered from other sources.

If there's one thing to enjoy however it would be the action scenes. The destruction caused by the Hulk is impressive to watch thanks to the well used special effects that display his coordination and strength. However he does seem more vulnerable, even though he's practically bulletproof, which does help to make the big fight against Abomination at the end really memorable and more interesting to watch. Hulk's cerebral instinct and resourcefulness in combat do help make him seem much less mindless than one may think, though it is rather annoying that the military loves to waste valuable bullets even when it is proven that they simply do not work on him. Regardless, the effects also help to display a wide array of emotions in the Hulk's face, allowing the viewer to see when there is more of Bruce Banner on the surface than the monster, especially when Betty is around. I was also amazed by the attention to detail put into animating Hulk, making him seem a bit more realistic as well, though still looking like something out of a comic book.

Other aspects that pulled through rather well were the cinematography and score. The action is framed very well while capturing the speed and power of the fights as well as the more important scenes that help establish more of the characters and events, though I couldn't help but be slightly annoyed at the use of shaky cam when following the army on the ground. Thankfully however, it is more subtly used here than in other movies and did not escalate for me beyond a minor complaint. I also found the lighting fairly balanced even in the night shots. Craig Armstrong's score helped to gel well with the events onscreen and I really have nothing to complain about there.

The Incredible Hulk isn't as good a movie as Iron Man, but on its own it's pretty enjoyable and I wouldn't mind owning a copy of it someday. An interesting story with good effects help it to stand out from other blockbusters and make it more memorable, though it isn't a flick I would be willing to watch again immediately. It is however at least worth watching again to help build up to The Avengers and see how it relates to all of the other MCU movies to date, and the scene at the very end is worth sticking around for. Those who do watch it however should keep in mind that they may need to watch it second time or more, if only for the sake of the plot.

[OLD] Iron Man - An Awesome Start

To help build up to Marvel Studios' upcoming movie The Avengers, we here at the blog will be re-watching each and every film made before it and reviewing them if they haven't been already or, if they have, they will be given a second opinion. We begin of course with the first Iron Man movie from the studio, which also happens to be their first ever independent production. Iron Man was released in 2008 to massive critical acclaim, acclaim which I myself agree with.

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is a playboy millionaire and prodigy that has inherited Stark Industries, a defense contractor, from his father. After showing off a new weapon called the Jericho missile to the military in Afghanistan, including his friend Colonel James Rhodes (Terrence Howard), he is captured by a terrorist group known as the Ten Rings. After having his life saved by Dr. Yinsen (Shaun Toub) thanks to an electromagnet that will prevent deadly barbs from reaching his heart, he is forced to build a Jericho out of parts from the Stark Industries weapons that they have on hand. Instead, he builds a suit that will aid in his escape, using a miniature arc reactor, which replaces the car battery powering his electromagnet, as a power source. When he escapes, he sets forth on a goal to use his company to aid his country in a way that doesn't involve weapons manufacturing, perfecting his suit as a way to accomplish this.

Personally I haven't actually read any of the Iron Man comics, but I'm glad that it isn't required reading. The story is very well written, using a near-perfect blend of action, comedy and drama that not only keeps the movie fresh throughout, but manages to keep audience interest up as well while also telling a tale that stands out perfectly well from the comic book rack. Robert Downey Jr.'s performance as Tony Stark is the highlight of the cast, coming off as an easy-going man who manages to keep a sense of humor in his character even after feeling an epiphany that fulfills his fantastic character development. Terrence Howard is also a good match for Colonel Rhodes with great precision in serving as a personality to bounce off of Tony, much like Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts in a role that shows her ability to play a love interest who isn't just a flat archetype. What gets special mention as well is Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane, whose role in the movie is played out so well that certain plot twists, which I will not divulge, are actually rather unexpected the first time around. In a nutshell, I'm glad that the characters are very three-dimensional and have a presence that contributes in all the right ways to suit an equally three-dimensional story.

Spectacular performances also give way to spectacular action sequences which easily have the power to grant viewers an adrenaline rush of excitement and awe, aided in part by the amazing CG that is so seamlessly blended in with the events that every one of these sequences has a new level of wonder and depth that few others can match. I also loved how the technology was designed, especially Stark's iconic red and yellow suit, as well as the fact that they were placed in a context that helped the whole thing feel more realistic, though also somewhat in a way that feels like a comic book come to life (in a good way).

Music was also a great aspect of the movie as well. The use of music by bands like Black Sabbath and AC/DC coupled with a well-utilized original score did wonders with setting up the tone of each scene and following through in a way that it doesn't quit, even during the end credits. It's emotional in a way that doesn't feel forced and it is also mixed perfectly with all the other sounds and dialogue.

What really make the whole experience especially worth it is a very special scene after the credits. It plants the first seeds of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as a connected entity and even manages to be a great treat for those who wisely stuck around the first time.

For its first independent production, Marvel Studios managed to produce what is now one of my favorite films of all time thus far. It's great blend of story elements creates a movie that, when coupled with what is simply a visual feast, is highly memorable and enjoyable. I have no idea how many times I've seen this movie already, but each and every time I walk away satisfied and glad to have seen it. I highly recommend everyone to see it for an opportunity to see a comic book movie that is simply beyond the realm of "good".

Captain America: The First Avenger

As part of Marvel Studios' buildup to the Avengers movie in 2012, they have released their final prequel movie Captain America: The First Avenger. Having not read a single issue of the comic, but only knowing his origin from the series and a couple of his enemies, I wasn't really sure what to expect. Thankfully, Captain America as an origin story works heavily in its favor and leaves a great impression in the future of superhero movies.

A grand majority of the movie's run time is dedicated to showing us what Captain America was like in his original time period, the early 1940's. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) has been turned down by the U.S. Army five times due to his array of health issues. He is physically weak and can't do much of anything when he is bullied by those who are stronger, but he does have plenty of courage and bravery. Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) manages to catch wind of this and gets him into a "super soldier" program, where one man will be selected for a special treatment. Colonel Chester Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones) is unconvinced by Erskine's choice, but is convinced otherwise when Steve throws himself onto a dummy grenade, displaying bravery where others would cower. Rogers ends up being picked and undergoes the treatment, becoming taller and more muscular. His enhanced physical abilities are displayed when he takes down a Nazi, thus earning him fame. Steve is now a national hero, touring the country as Captain America to boost morale. This doesn't last long, as he eventually goes on the front lines to take down the organization known as Hydra. Led by Red Skull (Hugo Weaving), they possess advanced technology powered by something known as the tesseract, which is said to contain power from the Norse gods.

The movie as a whole is executed masterfully, with a great script and superb acting. Chris Evans and Hugo Weaving pull of their characters in a way that makes them believable, although Red Skull doesn't get too much of a spotlight. While it may have been better to see more of him, it's also fair to say that enough was shown for the audience to know who he is and what he is up to. Compared to previous Marvel Studios movies like Thor, I was actually able to get more emotionally invested in the characters and wonder what was going to happen to them next. However the movie seems to move at a quicker pace within the latter half, but the action that unfolds is amazing to watch, coupled with a great score that matches the mood.

In order to portray the young Steve Rogers, the studio needed to digitally make Chris Evans' body smaller. This amazingly went undetectable, which shows a lot of dedication in the special effects department. Speaking of which, every other effect in the movie was shown off with the same amazing attention to detail. It all looked and felt surprisingly realistic, especially for the setting, and I look forward to seeing the same treatment in future movies.

Another aspect that deserves equal praise is how the movie makes homages to the comic book, mainly for the costume. This is probably the only thing I would immediately recognize from Captain America, and they injected the original costume plus an older shield realistically into the plot. I also appreciated how they introduced his more iconic circular shield, which I thought was really cool to see in action. As for the new costume, I can't really complain about the design. When it comes down to something like that I normally just go along with it. I think it looks good anyway, and it was fun to see how they still integrated the wings into the helmet design.

The scene after the credits is worth staying around for, as it helps to set up the eventual crossover flick. However, the real meat comes from what follows immediately after: the first ever trailer for the Avengers movie. Just like Back to the Future Part II did for Part III, we get a first look at footage from the next movie, except here we see every character in the Marvel Movie Universe, sans Hulk, in the same room and even interacting with each other. It's well worth waiting through the credits to see.

Captain America: The First Avenger is an excellent movie filled with a nice blend of action and drama, and even the occasional humor. Fans of the actual comic may get the most enjoyment out of this, especially those who can spot references to the source material. Non-readers will also walk out of the theater happy since it also serves as a great summer blockbuster on its own. Either way, you won't regret going to see it.