So, I suppose I'm a
tad late on this review, but I only started this blog a week(ish) ago, so you'll all have to find it in your hearts to
forgive me. Sorry! Now read and enjoy!
Iron Man (2008): I absolutely adore this movie. Centered on eccentric billionaire Tony Stark, the film follows him from narcissistic playboy to horrified POW to (nearly) selfless superhero. The great Robert Downey, Jr. plays Stark with astute precision and great care - his egoism sparkles, his fear is palpable, his self-realization and subsequent atonement are heart-swelling. Take this fearless performance and stack it alongside phenomenal special effects, a wonderfully lean plot, and some marvelous moments of genuine humor? You've got yourself one hell of a movie. What a fabulous way to kick off the MCU.
Final Grade: A+
The Incredible Hulk (2008): Although this flick made quite a bit of money and received decent reviews from critics, it is for some reason widely detested by fans and casual moviegoers. Why, when there's so much to enjoy? For one thing, the acting is excellent. Edward Norton plays Bruce Banner with a timidity of heart that is, frankly, a breath of fresh air. William Hurt is terrific as always, pulling off Gen. "Thunderbolt" Ross as equal parts domineering warrior and horrified father. His character's daughter, Dr. Betty Ross, is played by Liv Tyler, and every fallen tear drips truthfully, every hushed gasp resonates with authenticity. Tim Roth, who portrays villain Emil Blonsky, radiates with malice.
Sure, this movie has its drawbacks. The pacing slows to a trudge after its setting changes from the squalid splendor of Brazil to that of Virginia. The special effects aren't always perfect, occasionally rendering The Hulk a little too much like a video game monster instead of a living being. The cameo at the film's end is distracting, reeking of desperation.
But, I still kinda enjoy this one. The characters are well-rounded, the premise is ingenious, and the action scenes are unavoidably fun (especially the race through Rio de Janeiro at the end of the first act). It ain't bad, but it ain't great. Feel free to skip this entry if you like, but you're missing out on a fun first act.
Final Grade: B-
Iron Man 2 (2010): After all the charisma and weight of
Iron Man, everyone knew a sequel would be hard to pull off. And yeah, this uphill battle is clearly evident in
Iron Man 2. Sure, this movie is okay, but is it really the
best they could have done? The plot is overstuffed, crowded with too many characters and too many brainless action scenes. Subsequently, the pacing is a bit off, with some sequences propelling the plot with F-14 velocity, and others slouching by at a crawl. The villains are somewhat interesting - especially the smarmy Justin Hammer, played by Sam Rockwell - but their motivations and methods are ultimately uninspired. Yet there are some nice moments. Downey, Jr. once again does a marvelous job portraying Stark, the special effects are wonderful, and the palladium poisoning plot is rich in allegorical detail. Unfortunately, the whole thing kinda just...exists. It's intermittently fun, intermittently engaging, and intermittently lame. Bonus points are of course awarded for introducing Don Cheadle and Scarlett Johansson to the series.
Final Grade: B
Thor (2011): And yet, while I'm somewhat unimpressed by
Iron Man 2, 2011's
Thor sinks to even deeper depths of mediocrity. Disregarding the performances of Hemsworth and Hiddleston, the film's hero and villain, respectively, the entire production sags like a week-old helium balloon. The plot ambles aimlessly from point to point, only occasionally taking time to meditate on the characters and settings that comprise it. The design is breathtaking, sure; the sets, costumes, and overall environments are imaginative and incredibly unique. But beyond that, I can't really get into this one. It has a
barely-thereness that is really disappointing. I like the characters, I like the look, but it's all so bland. To be fair, I'm making this movie sound a lot worse than it may actually be. Just the same, the standards set by its predecessors weren't met in the slightest. This is average. Anything better is pretty good, anything worse stinks. Purgatory, thy name is
Thor.
Final Grade: C
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011): Barring the awkwardness of its title, this movie is an absolute blast. It's not quite the weighted character study that is
The Incredible Hulk, nor is it the practically sublime success of
Iron Man, but it
is a fantastic summer action flick that delivers in all the right areas. Our hero, Steve Rogers (played expertly by Chris Evans), is charming and humble - he instantly wins your heart with his vigor, his courage, and his sincerity. Thankfully, the storylines are easy to follow, yet avoid that irritating spoon-fed quality of which so many movies are guilty. Big action scenes are numerous, yet justified by the plot. Surely the movie's most substantial success comes in the last precious minutes before the credits role, in which everything is turned upside-down and our fearless captain is left haunted and lonely. This film might not be perfect (I have to say it: the main villain is cheesy and lackluster), but it's a great blockbuster. Lots of folks have compared this movie to an Indiana Jones-style romp, and that's a pretty apt description. Good times, all around.
Final Grade: B+
The Avengers (2012): Well, it's all come down to this. 2012's
The Avengers, which takes characters and plots from
each of the preceding five films and weaves them together, is a veritable avalanche of pop entertainment. It provides all the excitement and adventure that a story of this scale could possibly tell, and does so with style, flair, and appropriate attention to its many characters. Astounding set pieces and dazzling special effects (thankfully filmed with clear, concise cinematography) keep your eyes glued to the screen and your brain oblivious to the movie's lengthy run time.
Like I mentioned before, time is taken to consider characters and examine the emotional components therein. Tony Stark is brimming with egoism, but is charged with finding a role within the team and pushing his personal limits. Steve Rogers is torn between blind loyalty and his own ardent moral compass. Thor feels personally responsible for his brother Loki's reign of terror on Earth. Agents Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton are constantly battling for revenge, while all the while tacitly attempting to justify their love, whether platonic or otherwise. Oddly enough, though, the real scene-stealer is Bruce Banner, now played by Mark Ruffalo. He's a nervous, contentious cauldron of horrific potentiality, threatening to boil over at any moment. It's through these characters and how they interact with each other that the movie achieves its success. The mixture is sometimes funny, sometimes sad, and sometimes flat out
awesome.
This is none more evident than in the movie's epic finale on the streets of Manhattan. Choreographed to maximize audience excitement and catharsis (and also edited seamlessly), each superhero's talents are showcased and the results are simply stunning. In many ways, the last twenty-five minutes outshine the previous two hours. It's
that much fun to watch.
And yet, I'm not without my criticisms. I think the first act tastes a little cheesy, with actors spouting cliche sentiments and monologues for no apparent reason. The scenes that focus on the otherworldly villains are equally awkward, the stylistic differences from the rest of the movie practically insurmountable. Said otherworldly villains, notably the alien army, is vaguely humdrum, unoriginal, and uninteresting.
But, at the end of the day, this movie is exceptionally fun. Regardless of its minor faults, it is (and may always remain) the best Marvel movie. I honestly don't have a clue how they'll top it in the future.
Final Grade: A
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