Marvel Cinematic Universe - Phase 1

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 

"Batman" Films

With The Dark Knight Rises just around the corner, I figured a comprehensive look at all the live-action Batman films would be appropriate. So, without further ado, here they are:

Batman: The Movie (1966): What an awesome movie this is. Seriously. From absurd action sequences and set pieces ("Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb!"), to unreservedly cartoonish performances, the entire production simply drips with kitsch. If you have no reservations about a comical Caped Crusader, about ludicrous plot lines, about the total ridiculousness of "Anti-Shark Spray," then please see this flick. Sure, sometimes the movie's inaccessibility can make it feel boring, but who cares? Just sit back, suspend your disbelief, and laugh until it hurts. Final Grade: B 

Batman (1989): I get it. I get that the audiences of 1989 were floored by this film's grit, its dark humor, and its overall inventiveness. I get all that. What I don't get, is why hordes of fans (literally hordes of them) still worship Batman like it's the friggin' epitome of comic book adaptations. Yes, it's cool to look at (Tim Burton's quirky style is anything but inconspicuous - visible in the Gotham skyline and Wayne Manner and just about everything else). Yes, Jack Nicholson's performance as The Joker is hilarious and strangely chilling. Yes, Michael Keaton's Bruce Wayne is unavoidably compelling. But, I hate to say it, the movie doesn't stand the test of time. The editing is discomfited and oddly paced, resulting in soggy action scenes that seem to go on forever. The plot is thinner than the paper the script was printed on, giving only cursory glances to character motivations, subplots, and consequences. I just can't get into this movie. However, lots of people adore it, so I still suggest you check it out. Final Grade: B- 

Batman Returns (1992): Once again, I'm not quite as enamored with this film as everyone else seems to be. Apart from all the cool imagery (Tim Burton returns again as director) and seeing Michael Keaton return as Bruce Wayne, this installment in the franchise is jank. All of the warped realism of Batman is abandoned, leaving behind a flat aftertaste of absurdity. This time out, there are three villains: Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer), The Penguin (Danny DeVito), and Max Shreck (Christopher Walken). Pfeiffer shines in scenes only before her character transforms into a supervillain, characterizing Selina Kyle as a neurotic bundle of jangled nerves - her efforts thereafter, in which she is supposed to simmer with sensuality, ultimately feel forced. DeVito is a total flop, only succeeding in looking the part, as opposed to acting it. As usual, Walken is fairly interesting, but the character doesn't see enough screen time to be of any real merit. Like its predecessor, the plot is essentially nonexistent, which is aggravating considering how rich the Batman literary cannon is. There's a lot to talk about after seeing this thing, which is the only reason I encourage you to endure it. You can learn a lot about yourself by watching Batman Returns. Final Grade: D+ 

Batman Forever (1995): Okay, we're now returning to the frothy shores of camp. Follow me onto the bubblegum sand, won't you? Although most everybody detests this addition to the series, I can't help but get some kind of sick, juvenile enjoyment out of it. The plot is ludicrous, with storylines basically existing only to rationalize blowing stuff up. The acting is atrocious (both Tommy Lee Jones and Jim Carrey, who portray Two-Face and The Riddler respectively, seem to be in competition as to who can chew the most scenery), with dialogue that resonates falsely at all the wrong times (during a particularly tense emotional scene, Bruce Wayne casually asks his potential love interest, "Tell me, doctor - have you ever been to the circus?"). So yes, this movie is a train wreck, but it's a fun train wreck. Fun - an element which is missing in the previous two films. The abundant humor doesn't quite make it more interesting than Tim Burton's 1989 debut, but it's close. I hope you like the color green, because this movie uses it to an extent that is borderline nauseating. Final Grade: C 

Batman & Robin (1997): If you thought Batman Forever was campy, then wait until you get a load of this. Batman & Robin is unreservedly outrageous. It's an unparalleled disaster, a dizzying whirlwind of color and action that is just about as satisfying as a brain hemorrhage. And yet, here we are again, ladies and gentlemen - this movie is riotously funny. Falling into that "It's so bad it's good" category (a category that, you are surely learning, I'm obsessed with), the movie succeeds pretty aptly as a comedy. It's terrible, which means I can't give it a good grade, but it's deeply amusing, so here you go - Final Grade: C-

Batman Begins (2005): When it comes to this movie, I can be obnoxiously verbose. So, in the interest of brevity, I'll simply say - this film is fantastic. Director Christopher Nolan, responsible for such gems as The Prestige and Inception, takes the Batman mythology and injects an ardent reality that had been missing since Burton's Batman over a decade before. Bruce's story is once again palatable, and, thanks to a brilliant performance by Christian Bale, believable. The supporting cast of characters is equally impressive; from Michael Caine's heartfelt Alfred Pennyworth, to Gary Oldman's substantial James Gordon, to Morgan Freeman's charismatic Lucius Fox. The villains, played by Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy, are excellent - the prior humming with authority and swift deadliness, the latter buzzing with menace and skittish violence. If there's one weak link, it's Katie Holmes, who seems utterly incapable of generating even the scantest chemistry with Bale. Other than that, this movie is great. The sets are breathtaking (from the snowy mountains of Tibet to the skyline of Chicago), the pace is breakneck, and the plot is marvelously constructed. Some of the CG effects are starting to show their age, but you become so invested in the story, you hardly notice it. All in all, this movie isn't perfect, but it's only minutely off the mark. If you haven't seen this yet, please, please do. Final Grade: A- 

The Dark Knight (2008): After seeing this movie for the first time in theaters on opening day, my friend Bill turned to me and said, "I think we should write a polite letter to congress, asking them to stop making movies." I was a little perplexed by this odd comment, so Bill clarified. "I mean, it's not ever going to get any better than this, so why bother?"

Ah. Very nice, Bill. I agree.

Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight is a stunning film. It's a haunting morality play, one that intrigues the intellect and tugs at the heartstrings. This one takes everything that made Batman Begins great (the realism, the ingenuity, the fun), and delivers tenfold. The movie's tone is varied, daring to escape the punch-kick-sneer mentality that tends to trap lesser films within the genre. It sometimes feels like a gritty crime drama (like The Departed or L.A. Confidential), sometimes a pusling action extravaganza (reminiscent of The Bourne Identity), and sometimes an intimate character study (which, dare I say, brings to mind such classics as Taxi Driver and The Godfather Part II). Nolan flirts with such genres as romance and horror, but doesn't dwell there for long - this is a summer blockbuster, remember, so he didn't want to alienate the audiences he intended to astound.

And truly there is a lot to be astounded by. Once again the acting is exquisite, although the two villains truly steal the show. Of course there's The Joker, as portrayed by Heath Ledger. This multifaceted performance is the film's cornerstone; it is malevolent, hilarious, and astonishingly original. Whenever The Joker is on screen you can't help but stare at him - whenever he's not on screen, you wonder when he'll be back. The character's edge, razor-sharp and colored with anarchistic vitality, is a joy to watch. HOWEVER, one mustn't forget the movie's other central villain - Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face. Aaron Eckhart plays this character with authority and heart, giving the role a Shakespearean weight. He is sympathetic from beginning to end. You'll be amazed by how much you care for him (the special effects applied to his face are grotesque and excellent, by the way).

In all sincerity, I believe this isn't just the best superhero movie to date, but also one of the best films I've ever seen. It pleases lovers of both pop-cinema and classic film, intertwining entertainment and art with deftness and richness. Final Grade: A+