With the release of a new Avengers movie, I figured it would make sense to double back and review all of the "Phase 2" Marvel films. (If you'd like to check out my thoughts on "Phase 1," then read my first Marvel review here) Read and enjoy!
- Iron Man 3 (2013): This one's a mixed bag, for sure. Are there aspects I like? Of course. Some of the action sequences are exquisite (watching Tony's California palace get blown to smithereens is pretty neat, and the fireworks finale is loads of fun). Robert Downey, Jr. is again wonderful in the lead role, exploring Tony's humanity and paranoia with an impressive degree of control. And, as we've come to expect in any Iron Man flick, the sarcastic one-liners are to die for.
What don't I like about this movie? Well, here goes: The big twist before the third act is laughable - watch it, and you'll understand. The antagonists have an odd potpourri of powers, chief of which is the ability to breathe fire (yeah, you read that right). Whenever Iron Man does something astounding or heroic, it turns out to be a hollow suit that he's somehow controlling from a distance (where's the heroism in that?). And the ending, which I'll not spoil here, seems totally unrelated to the seriousness of the plot.On the whole, this film is a giant misfire. It's like Tony's mansion - gorgeous to look at and full of wonderful toys, but it crumbles to pieces so easily. Final Grade: D+
- Thor: The Dark World (2013): The first time I saw Thor: The Dark World, I was fairly unimpressed. I didn't like the villain, I didn't like the plot, I didn't like some of our hero's motivations. I mean, I enjoyed it more than the first Thor, but overall, I thought it was pretty tedious.
...and then I watched it again. Sitting at home, in the comfort of my own recliner, I must admit it's pretty decent. It feels kinda like an over-the-top fantasy B-movie, ripe with humor, jammed full of big explosions, and sealed with true love's kiss. It's a Saturday morning cartoon but beefed up with some truly exceptional special effects and interesting performances. While I still have my reservations (the pacing is a bit lumpy, with some scenes that barely clock in at a minute preceding a marathon-style finale), I think it's quite serviceable. It turns out The Dark World is a lot brighter than you may expect. Final Grade: B- - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014): Just when I thought the Marvel universe was getting stagnant, out comes The Winter Solider - a seriously impressive high-concept blockbuster. It's like a paranoid political thriller on steroids. Espionage? Betrayal? Covert operations and backhanded dealings? This is the best Cold War spy flick to be made after the Cold War. Gotta love it.
And yeah, there's a lot to love. The plot is airtight, dipping and weaving with unexpected vibrancy. The dialogue is sharp, balancing philosophical musings with action-movie posturing. "This isn't freedom," boasts Captain America, pointing at an endless government arsenal. "This is fear." Unlike many of its contemporaries, cunning conversation fills the gaps between enormous set pieces. Because of this, you get a real sense of character, of scope, of the whole Marvel cinematic universe. Although there's a lot at stake, it feels like an intimate film, with the focus of the journey being on our heroes. As far as summer blockbusters go, this is an unexpectedly intelligent one. It hits all the right beats with wit and finesse. The Winter Soldier is one of the best superhero movies to date, in league with Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy and Raimi's Spider-Man 2. Cap has never been so captivating. Final Grade: A 
While I'm far from the first reviewer to draw this comparison, it's kinda like watching Star Wars for the first time again. Getting sucked into the story, adoring the characters, gobbling up all the space opera weirdness - you can't help but remember a galaxy far, far away. It elates, it elevates, it excites. I walked out of the theater giggling and punching at the air, like I was a hyperactive kid again. I don't think I can offer much higher praise than that.Guardians is exactly what the Marvel cinematic universe needs. It's a shot in the arm, an injection of irreverent life into the increasingly serious facade of superhero cinema. Pop hits from the 70's play over intergalactic beatdowns, a green spacewoman falls in love with a smartass thief, a talking raccoon tugs at his crotch. This movie is fresh, fast, and, like I already mentioned, fun. Definitely my kind of film. Final Grade: A+
Thankfully, Age of Ultron fares just as well. Although the novelty has lost some luster, it's still every bit as exciting, engaging, and entertaining as its predecessor. This time around, the villain is Ultron - a psychotic robot bent on world destruction. While we've seen this story before, it's never been told quite this well. The plot is lean and efficient, the pacing is deliriously fast, the art direction is vivid (every character and set piece is ripped straight from the comics), and the acting is, again, spot-on. I never tire of Downey Jr.'s crackling cynicism, or Ruffalo's soulful gaze, or Evans' steadfast altruism. Weirdly, it's Jeremy Renner who holds your attention. Whether he's cracking wise, beating up a robot, or hugging his family, you can't help but be enraptured. My favorite moment of the movie happens near the end, when Hawkeye sees a boy in danger and has to help him. He doesn't puff up his chest and run head-on into the danger, as one might assume. Instead sighs, his eyes betraying a bit of woebegone diligence, and jogs over to help, knowing it might be his last act on Earth but dammit, it's his job.It's there, in that quiet, subtle moment, that the film finds its truth. The truth that heroes aren't necessarily people who have to help, but decide to, against all odds or instinct. While this is a big film (a massive film, a loud, whiz-bang, holy-crap-just-LOOK-at-it film), it's the occasional littleness that makes it great: when Tony squeals with glee at a secret door, when Natasha and Bruce share a tender moment in the safe house, when Ultron stutters and waggles his mechanical eyebrows, when Hawkeye hangs his head and goes to work...
Age of Ultron is a treasure trove of great character moments. That's what makes it work. And yes - it does work. It works very, very well. Final Grade: A
- Ant-Man (2015): Annnnnd then there's Ant-Man, arriving like a tiny bowl of sherbet to cleanse our pallets after the feast that was Age of Ultron. This fun, breezy affair is one of the lightest movies of the entire MCU, with a swift pace, a lighthearted tone, and a nonchalant hero. This may also be the silliest movie of the series so far (yes, even more so than Guardians of the Galaxy), and that's mostly due to Paul Rudd in the titular role. With a wink and a smile, he carries this whole thing and somehow gets you to believe in all its wackiness. How he does this, I don't know. This entry attempts to move the series away from straight-up action, instead aiming for a comedic heist film. And you know what? It's great. This ain't a masterpiece, but it's fun as all hell and is the perfect way to kill a couple hours. Its biggest sin is that it's a little predictable and a little safe. Beyond that? It's a ton of fun. Final Grade: B
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