Marvel Second Batch

I am deliberately avoiding lumping these reviews with the specific Phases used by the MCU.  I put Captain Marvel in my first batch as my memories from it were pretty fresh and it took place before all the other films.  Nonetheless these entries will probably stay pretty close to that template.  As always spoilers abound so I suggest watching the films first.

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Iron Man 3 is a superior sequel than Iron Man 2, with a clear theme and better plot.  Initially I was a little mixed on it, feeling that there were too many suits in the climax and I was less than intrigued by the Extremis effects.  I still agree with a lot of these concerns, in fact I wonder how they even manage the logistics of the sequence of not only this, but each Marvel climax which requires actors to react in odd ways to all kinds of things happening in the air to and around them.  There was a controversial decision to have the popular Mandarin villain from the comics be a decoy for the actual villain Aldrich, played by Guy Pearce.  I had noticed that we had only seen the Mandarin via video (ie no reaction shot to Tony’s challenge) and had found him utterly chilling.  I think the film might have benefited more by staying on that character but Aldrich is a typical Guy Pearce antagonist, smooth, easy to believe he is self-serving and quite nasty when needed. 

Iron Man 3 furthers the relationship between Pepper and Tony by showing them settling into living together.  There is no question of their love but the relationship is tested by Tony’s PTSD from the finale of The Avengers.  Co-writer and director Shane Black’s influence uses his familiar Christmas setting (also in his scripted Lethal Weapon and The Long Kiss Goodnight).  Iron Man 3 is Black’s only PG-13 film and the film strains a little to stay there (Pepper asks to Tony to take a shower with her, there many scenes of women in bikinis) and the violence has more of an edge.  Tony’s bonding with Harley is played at just the right note (though the boy does not sound like he comes from Tennessee) and I enjoyed seeing Tony handle sticky situations without his suit. 

A couple of other items I enjoyed was seeing onetime 24 series regular James Badge Dale as Aldren’s henchman, Jon Favreaux’s comic instincts in full force as Happy Hogan’s misguided head of security and the final montage as the credits rolled. ****

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

The second Thor film is one of the more underrated of the series by Marvel fans.  I always found it to be a perfectly enjoyable entry.  It builds on the events of Thor and The Avengers nicely with Loki facing justice and familial disappointment for his actions in The Avengers.  Thor is torn between his duties to protect the Nine Realms with the overall goal of becoming king, and his desire to be with Jane Foster.  Foster accidentally gets a black Aether in her which keeps her as part of a plot that largely takes place on Asgard and other worlds.  The main villain, a Dark Elf named Malekith, who wishes to control the nine realms, played by Christopher Eccleston, is after the Aether which is one of the Infinity Stones. 

The film shows more of Asgard and by putting Jane there we get to see it from an Earthling’s perspective.  Rene Russo gets to develop Frigga a little more and we get a stronger sense of the marriage between her and Odin.  Kat Jennings plays much more to her comedic instincts in this film with her treatment of her intern.  Dr. Selvig is going through his own form of PTSD after being mind-controlled by Loki in The Avengers but it is presented far more comically than Tony’s which gives the ever versatile Skarsgard more to work with.  The best moments though are after a tragedy brings Loki and Thor together.  Once the dramatic reasons are established one of the funniest moments in the series occur as Loki and Thor walk down a hall and Loki teases Thor by turning into other characters.  This section of the film plays well with audience expectations as we know Loki is probably going to betray Thor but it does not come in the way nor at the time we expect. 

The climax of the film has an inventive use of teleporting and a memorable showdown with the villain.  The final scene before the credits plays out on two distinct levels once the final twist is revealed.  I enjoy this film the most of the three Thor adventures so far and was surprised at the overall negative reaction to it. ***

Captain America Winter Soldier (2014)

I wrote about this film in my post on Robert Redford films last year but enjoyed revisiting it.  The plot is fueled by Captain America’s past while moving his character and the entire series forward.  Captain America’s faith in his system is tested when he discovers that Hydra has penetrated S.H.I.E.L.D. and turned his best friend into a killer.  Chris Evans lets Steve Rogers feel sad but not self-pitying and his ultimate response is to believably rouse the troops for the finale.

The presence of Redford, who starred in two iconic films about untrustworthy government in the 70s (All the President’s Men, Three Days of the Condor), as the antagonistic head of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Alexander Pierce) brings that portion of his career full circle.  Redford just slightly lowers the tone on his buttery voice and takes the warmth out of his expression and the effect is impressive.   

Scarlett Johannsen gets her best showcase to date as Natasha whose friendship with Captain America is solidified further in this story.  Natasha’s discovery of HYDRA is almost as painful for her as she joined SHIELD to atone for her violent past.  The close but platonic relationship between them proves that men and women can be close without being romantically involved.  Johannsen reunites with Redford, who gave her an early role in The Horse Whisperer. 

Friendship is a theme in this film as Captain America also develops a strong bond with Anthony Mackie’s  (joining The Hurt Locker co-star Jeremy Renner in the Marvel series) Falcon and the film pits his long friendship with Bucky against HYDRA’s brainwashing.  Samuel L. Jackson’s Nicholas Fury gets a larger role than usual and a fantastic action scene with a truck worthy of his cool nature. 

Winter Soldier was the first Marvel film directed by the Russo Brothers (who went on to do Civil War, and Infinity War and Endgame).  The brothers’ ability to stage large scale plots with exciting action scenes that includes additional character development distinguishes all of their films, but this one is the best.  The elevator fight scene in particular is a standout,as the idea o a hero trapped with a lot of bad guys in a small space is generates automatic suspense.  There was a similar scene in Die Hard with a Vengeance.  The one is in this film is constructed better as Pierce clearly had a plan laid out if he did not like Steve’s answers in the meeting preceding it.  As soon as Steve leaves and enters the elevator more and more people get on each floor, each a little nervous than before which sets the stage for the fight.  The suspense is let out with Steve Rogers’ tough one-liner.  The fight itself is expertly edited and shot as Steve has to fight off all these soldiers with one hand locked to the side of the elevator. 

The Russo brothers also have fun with Steve Rogers’ introduction showing someone the audience assumes to be Rogers running at dawn on the National Mall but then we see Rogers pass him repeatedly as the runner turns out to be Sam Wilson.  It subverts expectations but the setting also establishes the political theme of this film.

Winter Solider is an exciting adventure and is an excellent use of my favorite Marvel hero. *****

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

This film, about a bunch of misfits from several planets who gradually team up against one of Thanos’ forces was seen as a big risk by Marvel at the time.  Many regular film fans were unfamiliar with these characters and the outer space setting made it impossible for a cameo by Iron Man or Hulk to introduce them, meaning these characters were going to have to sink or swim on their own. 

I have not seen Guardians of the Galaxy recently for awhile so my memories are a little shaky but I remember initially enjoying it much more than I thought I would.  Chris Pratt gives Peter Quill the perfect blend of a fighter who is a snarky teenager at heart because he was kidnapped by Michael Rooker’s Yondu while still a child.  Zoe Saldana, as Gamora, is a strong fighter and was also kidnapped as a child but is more mature than Quill and makes a break from Thanos.  Of note, Saldana has three series with sci-fi elements (Avatar, Marvel, and Star Trek) and in only one does she not wear heavy makeup.  Vin Diesel manages to make the walking tree Groot interesting with his varied deliveries of the line “I am Groot”.  The character would never stand up as the lead of his own film but is entertaining as part of an ensemble.  Bradley Cooper adds a derisive edge to Rocket, the self-serving raccoon and Dave Bautista commits fully to the warrior Drax whose strong opinions and statements along with a lack of self-awareness make the character irresistibly fun.

Writer director James Gunn introduces most of the main characters of this dysfunctional family to each other by having them battle each other for an orb that is one that is one of the Infinity Stones (The Power Stone).  The battle shows their sense of humor and capabilities and slowly they come to tenuous truce after being captured by the local Nova Corps and thrown into prison where they meet Drax. 

Gunn uses music from the late 70s and early 80s as part of a mixed cassette tape that Quill often listens to on his Walkman which give the film a unique flavor. The climax pits the Guardians against Ronan, a Kree who wants to destroy Xandar.  Drax has a personal vendetta against Ronan (Lee Pace), who had killed his family prior to the events of the film.  Karen Gillan’s Nebula, who was also kidnapped by Thanos, also leaves him but works with Ronan due to her jealousy of Gamora. John C Reilly and Glenn Close also have small roles as Nova Corps figures.

Guardians is an enjoyable adventure.  The connections between Thanos, Gamora, and Nebula play a key role in later Avengers movies but otherwise the film can be enjoyed without knowing much about the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe. ***

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

The second Avengers team up film is slightly reminiscent of Iron Man 2 in that it is a bigger sequel of a well-loved first film that is probably more memorable for what it sets up than for its own adventure.  New character threads are established for Tony, Hulk, and Hawkeye that play a key role in the future films.  Several new characters are introduced like Vision and Scarlet Witch but there are so many others that the film feels overstuffed.  The film also has a lot of sequences of buildings being damaged and destroyed which I found tiresome and reminiscent of the third act of Man of Steel.  Returning Avengers director Joss Whedon has some good ideas but they get a little lost among all the mayhem. 

However, most of the first act of the film is strong.  The opening sequence introduces the Avengers in a single shot attacking a Hydra stronghold to recover the scepter used by Loki in The Avengers.  Each character gets a memorable moment and it serves as both an exciting kick off and a continuation of the threat of Hydra.  Scarlett Witch gives Tony a vision which causes him to fear for the protection of humanity.  As a result Tony, with the help of Bruce Banner, using an AI from within the scepter creates Ultron which is supposed to be a global defense program (apparently in just a couple of days).  Ultron, turns sentient which the goal of destroying humanity.  James Spader makes Ultron one of the better Marvel villains with his eerie voice that has just a touch of irony. 

There is a fantastic extended shot early in the film in which Tony arrives at Avengers tower and we are introduced to the new set up.

The scene in which Ultron, who is still just a program, gradually overcomes the helpless Jarvis is chilling in its stationary presentation.  The simultaneous party scene with the Avengers gives us in the audience a chance to enjoy the dynamics between them.  I particularly like how Steve Rogers appears to be able to move Thor’s hammer but graciously declines to show it.  The team is unexpectedly put to the test when Ultron appears in sentient form and proves to be far more formidable than they expected.

Tony’s creation of Ultron can be read as an extension of all the weapons Stark Industries has made before.  The motive was different but the result was similar and Tony’s reaction to it plays out over this film and Civil War. 

When Tony and Bruce create Vision, a body made from vibranium, but powered by the Mind Stone, using Jarvis’ programming, it allows Paul Bettany, who has been voicing Jarvis since Iron Man, to finally appear on screen. 

The scenes at Hawkeye’s farm are a change of scenery and put Hawkeye center stage as we get to meet his family.  Natasha, previously establishes as close friends with Hawkeye, is the only Avenger who already knows them.  Whedon also has fun setting up Hawkeye’s apparent death with a lot of action movie clichés, only to pull a bit and switch at the last second.

I have mixed thoughts on the Bruce-Natasha relationship.  Whedon likely wrote it to give Johannsen a larger role.  Bruce never mentions anything in these films about his lost love Betty.  Although enough time has passed that it seems like Betty would have moved on, the relationship was given so much emphasis in The Incredible Hulk that it seems wrong to just ignore it.  Beyond that there is a nice connection between the two characters and it seems to set up something going forward, which is unfortunately almost completely dropped in the next two Avengers films.

These strengths aside the film feels a little too long and the climax, despite an intriguing premise, it like Whedon was trying to top the Battle of New York sequence in The Avengers.  I kept losing track of who was doing what.  This sequence and a lengthy fight between Iron Man and Hulk throws the balance toward spectacle over depth. Whedon left the series after this film which seems like a smart move.   I will barely recommend Age of Ultron due to its many good moments but it took me awhile to decide. ***

Ant Man 2015

A few weeks before Ant Man entered production director Edgar Wright left and was replaced by Peyton Reed.  Edgar Wright usually has a lot of creative control in his projects so he likely had a specific vision which may not have lined up with what Marvel wanted to do.  When Reed came on there were some changes made quickly to the script and film met its release date.  A game Paul Rudd who was cast with Wright, stayed onboard through the uncertainty, and even helped with the script.  I do not know if the plot changed but I will say that I have seen two Edgar Wright films (Hot Fuzz and Baby Driver).  Both are spoofs of genre films and share a comic fast pace with the Ant Man films but they get a lot of humor from over the top violence that would be totally at odds with this presentation of Ant Man.

While there may be a temptation to blame the evil studio for suppressing a director I would caution against that.  The tone of the different Marvel films support the idea that while they need to fit into a cohesive whole, each film is a unique experience and Marvel has little interest in churning out one identical film after another.  Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther is a very different film from Shane Black’s Iron Man 3.  The new Star Wars series have had a lot more directors come and go since the since the series restarted with only five films (including upcoming Rise of Skywalker).  If one director left in over 20 Marvel films (and a lot have done more than one film) it is an indicator to me of a more collaborative environment.

Ant Man is about an ex con named Scott Lang (Rudd) who works with a former S.H.I.E.L.D. operative, Hank Pym (Michael Douglas) to steal replicated shrinking technology from Pym’ former protégé.  Pym and his daughter Hope, train Lang to fight and use the shrinking technology and become the new Ant Man, which Pym had previously been.  The plot has some resemblance to The Mask of Zorro, in which an old hero trains a former con to take over while the younger forms a connection with the old hero’s daughter.  Zorro ironically stars Douglas’ wife Catherine Zeta Jones. 

The smaller hero and scope, frisky tone and the eager cast make Ant Man a perfect chaser after the overblown Age of Ultron.  Rudd’s amiable nature suits Scott Lang perfectly.  Rudd, who is both intelligent and unselfconscious as a performer, can make mistakes without ever seeming foolish, just out of place.  Although Scott is an ex-con he seems more irresponsible than anything else.  Scott’s goal in the film is more than anything else to be able to spend time with his daughter Cassie played by the Abby Ryder Fortson with both sweetness and smarts by Abby Ryder Fortson.  My favorite actor, Michael Douglas, brings just the right mix of sadness (due to his wife’s disappearance into the Quantum Realm), anger (first S.H.I.E.L.D., now his protégé have wronged him), and comic smarts to the mentor role.  It appears Pym is about to die in the third act (common for mentors in this type of film) but then announces that he is going to live.  Michael Pena has a ball as the fast talking Luis.  Reed finds an innovative use for these exposition scenes by showing the scenes Luis is describing with actors mouthing his words, giving other actors the chance to play Luis. 

Evangeline Lily is notable as the no-nonsense Hope van Dyne, Pym’s daughter.  Bobby Carnavale is a good secondary antagonist as a cop involved with Scott’s ex-wife, who is played by Judy Greer (who does not get enough to do).  When I first saw this film I had just finished the first season of House of Cards in which Cory Stoll played a congressman with a bad drug problem so it was an adjustment to see him as this full blown villain, but Stoll gives him enough humanity to make him interesting.  This film has a parallel with Iron Man in which the head of a company’s business is also threatened by a bald antagonist who later wears a fiercer version of the original suit. 

Ant Man opens with an explosive scene in 1989 in which Pym confronts Howard Stark, Mitchell Carson, and Peggy Carter (who is in the dark) over an attempt to replicate his shrinking technology.  De aging technology make the 70 year old Douglas (at the time of filming) look as he did when he was in his mid- 40s.  When Pym attacks Carson it is the now approximately 70 year old Peggy Carter who pulls him off.

The special and sound effects work seamlessly with the quick paced editing and make imaginative use of the perspective of the small hero.  Christophe Beck’s playful theme is a joy to listen to.  I did not expect the climax to take place inside a little girl’s bedroom but I found it much more fun than most of the others in the series.  I have never seen a little girl play with Thomas the Tank so I questioned why it is in Cassie’s bedroom but perhaps I have just not been paying close enough attention.  The last scene in which Pym catches Scott and Hope kissing is hilarious due to Rudd’s attempt to get out of trouble. 

In conclusion, Ant Man is one of my favorite Marvel films.  ****