EARLY REVIEW — CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

At this point, Warner Bros. should just get Marvel to produce their superhero movies. Superman Vs. Batman (or whatever it’s going to be called) is looking more and more like a desperation move, while Marvel’s latest cinematic offering, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, raises the bar and sets a new standard for the genre. It continues Marvel’s remarkable winning streak, delivering a film that manages to be highly enjoyable in its own right, while remaining faithful to its comic-book roots.

Like last year’s Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World, it opens some time after the events of 2012’s blockbuster The Avengers. Steve Rogers—Captain America (played once again by the perfectly cast Chris Evans)—is now working for the international peace-keeping organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D., partnered with agent Natasha Romanoff—the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson, who more than holds her own)—under the command of Director Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson, of course). But as Fury is about to launch a new initiative called Operation: Insight, designed to stop threats before they happen, Cap finds himself having difficulty reconciling his personal values with the activities of the agency giving him his orders. Meanwhile, as Fury discovers that S.H.I.E.L.D. itself may have been compromised, enemy forces make their move, aided by a near-mythical assassin called the Winter Soldier—a brutal and merciless operative who also serves as a painful reminder of Cap’s past. 

The Winter Soldier. No, this is not a crossover with The Six Million Dollar Man.

That’s about as much as I can say without getting into spoiler territory (although Marvel did a pretty thorough job blowing one of the movie’s biggest surprises—at least for those not familiar with the comic-book lore—in its Assembling a Universe TV special that aired on ABC on March 18). 

Even if you’ve read the comics upon which the film is based, there are plenty of twists and turns that should leave you reeling. Even I, a jaded comic-book reader who actually worked at Marvel for nearly seven years, found myself gasping in surprise—and delight—by the revelations sprinkled throughout.

The Winter Soldier is a high-octane thriller with jaw-dropping action sequences and eye-popping special effects. But it also has substance. It explores the difficult question that we’ve all been asking ourselves since 9/11: How willing are we to give up our freedoms and our rights as American citizens in the name of security? What’s especially thrilling to me is that the film also has so much heart. The character dynamics are simply fantastic and touching. There’s one scene in particular, early on, that picks up on some key continuity from the first Captain America movie, and it’s both bittersweet and absolutely heartbreaking.

As an aside, I love the fact that, as with the previous Cap movie, the filmmakers make no apologies for the fact that Captain America is not some complicated, angst-ridden figure filled with inner conflict. He’s a straight arrow, completely noble, and sure of himself and what’s right. If that makes him seem boring or square to some audience members, tough. 

And I have to note that while there are long stretches in the movie where Steve Rogers is dressed in his civilian clothes, he does get to wear two versions of the Captain America uniform, and I heartily approve of both.   

The interaction between Steve and Natasha is one of the main highlights of the film—the chemistry between Evans and Johansson is rock-solid. 

Expect some major character building for the Black Widow in this film. 

Ditto the burgeoning relationship between Steve and incoming character Sam Wilson, aka the Falcon, played by the excellent Anthony Mackie. I’ve liked the Falcon ever since I first encountered him in Captain America #230, published in 1978, and I’m extremely pleased that his live-action debut has been handled so well. 

Captain America and the Falcon: Teaming up on the big screen at last. 

Samuel L. Jackson has an integral role in this film, and is given more to do than usual—and of course, he’s great. (There’s one particular in-joke having to do with Fury that should give the more observant—and in-the-know—viewers quite a chuckle.)

And it’s very gratifying to see an actor of Robert Redford’s stature showing respect for the material. This may be a “comic-book movie,” but Redford is not slumming here. He turns in an effective, nuanced performance as Alexander Pierce, a major Washington, D.C. power player who also just happens to be Nick Fury’s mentor. (It’s interesting to note that had this movie been made about 40 years ago, Redford would have been perfect for the role of Steve Rogers/Captain America himself).

Pierce and Fury discuss the trouble brewing within S.H.I.E.L.D.

As is the norm for these movies set in the interconnected Marvel Cinematic Universe (namely, the movies produced by Marvel itself, which excludes the Spider-Man, X-Men, and Fantastic Four films), there are references to past events and established characters. Iron Man and the Hulk are each referred to more than once. But there’s also a seed planted for a possible future film, one starring a character we haven’t met before: A certain master of the mystic arts. Wow. All I can say, is bring it on!

And yes, you have to stay to the very end to get the full experience. There are two brief epilogues, one during the end credits and one after. The former is the more intriguing one, as it helps set up the upcoming film Avengers: Age of Ultron.

What’s also of note is that this film can’t help but have a significant impact on the TV series Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which is set in the same universe. No lie: The Winter Soldier is a genuine game-changer for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and for S.H.I.E.L.D., so I’m very curious to see how the TV series—which has improved in a big way over the course of this first season—will be affected going forward.

Marvel has already announced that they’ve given the go-ahead for a third Captain America movie, to be released on May 6, 2016. It’s a vote of confidence that is very much deserved. Go see The Winter Soldier, and enjoy. 

© All text copyright Glenn Greenberg, 2014.

MOVIE REVIEW — THOR: THE DARK WORLD

While Thor: The Dark World is not among my very favorites of the movies produced by Marvel—I’d place it in the second tier, alongside 2010’s Iron Man 2—I found it to be an enjoyable film, with great action, high drama, well-placed humor, and strong performances all around. I must admit, in the wake of last year’s The Avengers and last summer’s Superman reboot Man of Steel, this sequel to 2011’s Thor feels just a wee bit derivative. But for the most part, it manages to overcome that with charm and likable characters.

Taking place about two years after the first film, with the events of  The Avengers having occurred more recently, the plot involves the re-emergence of an ancient race of beings called the Dark Elves, led by Malekith (Christopher Eccleston). They are intent upon plunging the universe back into the total unending darkness that existed before the dawn of creation. Their previous attempt was thwarted thousands of years ago by the Asgardians, under the command of Bor, father of Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and grandfather of Thor (Chris Hemsworth). But when a long-lost weapon called the Aether is rediscovered—with human scientist Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) directly involved—the Dark Elves set out to seize this source of power that will enable them to carry out their plans. With Jane’s life in jeopardy, Thor springs into action, determined to stop Malekith and his minions and save the Earth woman he has come to love and every other living thing in the universe. 

Like The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World depicts an Earth city (in this case, London) being invaded and attacked by Forces From Beyond. There’s a lot of mayhem and destruction as a result, with innocent bystanders in great danger. But Thor is facing the threat alone this time, which is how it echoes Man of Steel. However, unlike Zack Snyder’s Superman film, which was unrelentingly grim, serious, and even brutal during the super-powered showdown, The Dark World never loses its sense of fun. There are moments of levity and laughter amongst the doom and destruction, mostly provided by Stellan Skarsgård as Jane Foster’s hapless and eccentric mentor, Dr. Erik Selvig, and by Kat Dennings’s Darcy, Jane’s sassy unpaid intern. This time around, Darcy gets an intern of her own, a British chap named Ian, and really, there’s no compelling reason for either of them to be in the film at all—but they’re so endearing, and there’s such a cute payoff involving them—that you don’t really mind.

As the central villain, I found Malekith to be underwritten and underdeveloped, which was the same problem I had with Hugo Weaving’s Red Skull in Captain America: The First Avenger (though I enjoyed that film very much). 

Introducing Malekith, leader of the Dark Elves.

Fortunately, the presence of Tom Hiddleston as Loki more than compensates for any disappointment I may have felt about Malekith. I think Hiddleston—who seems to truly relish his role—is Marvel’s secret weapon, and I would argue that he has become nearly as important to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Robert Downey Jr. Hiddleston’s Loki remains the most complex, multi-dimensional, multi-layered, and well-developed of all the villains in the Marvel films and I hope we continue to see him for years to come. 

Tom Hiddleston returns as Loki, Thor's devious half brother.

The Dark World does what a sequel is supposed to do: it maintains tight continuity with what has come before, but it propels things forward and doesn’t shy away from shaking up the status quo. (Let me put it this way: don’t assume that every character who appeared in the first film is going to make it out of this one without a scratch.) Nearly all of the returning supporting characters are further developed and have something important to contribute—particularly Idris Elba as Heimdall, Ray Stevenson as Volstagg, Rene Russo as Thor’s mother, Frigga, Hopkins as Odin, and Jaimie Alexander as Sif. 

In fact, there’s some key character stuff with Sif that is finally introduced here—I’d been waiting for it since the first film. It’s played somewhat subtly in The Dark World, but it’s there, and I was glad to see it. Hopefully it’s a hint of things to come in future films. 

Jaimie Alexander as Sif—more, please!

In the interest of saving you a few bucks, I can tell you that the 3D didn’t really add all that much to the viewing experience, so I recommend seeing the standard version. 

Oh—and as if you didn’t already know (it is a Marvel movie, after all)—stay to the very end of the closing credits. There are two extra bits, one during the end credits, and one after. The first one sets up future continuity, presumably that of next year’s Guardians of the Galaxy, while the second one includes a cute little punchline to something that happens earlier in the film. 

Overall, Thor: The Dark World is thoroughly entertaining—very  good, not great—but would have benefited from a more fully developed central villain. I think that would have helped make it stand out a little more amongst the ever-growing crowd of superhero movies. Nevertheless, Thor’s return is promised at the end of the film, and I’m looking forward to seeing where his cinematic adventures take him next.     

© All text copyright Glenn Greenberg, 2013.

MOVIE REVIEW: IRON MAN 3

In my review of Iron Man 2 back in 2010, I wondered whether its follow-up would be able to avoid the fate of so many other “threequels.” Would Iron Man 3 defy the odds and maintain the standards set by its predecessors, or would it join the ranks of such franchise hobblers as Superman III, Spider-Man 3, and X-Men 3: The Last Stand?

I’m pleased to report that Iron Man 3 is a worthy addition to the series. It doesn’t surpass the original 2008 film or even last summer’s blockbuster The Avengers (which I tend to think of as Iron Man and his Amazing Friends), but it’s an improvement over Iron Man 2—don’t get me wrong, I liked that second movie and still do, but upon subsequent viewings, I came to realize that it occasionally lost its focus and seemed to want to serve more as a launching pad for future Marvel movies. In contrast, this new film is very much an Iron Man movie—well, not so much Iron Man as Tony Stark. He spends far more time outside of the armor than he spends inside of it. And let’s face it, that’s to be expected when Stark is being played by Robert Downey Jr. 

What can I say about Downey that I didn’t already say in my reviews of Iron Man 2 and The Avengers? He simply OWNS the part of Tony Stark, and if the folks at Marvel know what’s good for them, they’ll do whatever it takes to keep him happy and in the fold for years to come. Yes, it’s inevitable that someday the role will have to be recast . . . but they should try to put that off for as long as possible. 

In Iron Man 3, Downey gets to show a new side of Stark, a vulnerability resulting from his traumatic experience in The Avengers (that film is referenced several times, very amusingly in some instances). He also shows that even an adorable kid can’t upstage him—he’s just too quick, too witty, and he won’t allow too much sentimentality or cuteness to creep in. 

His chemistry with returning co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Favreau, and Don Cheadle is as strong as ever. Paltrow, as Stark’s one true love Pepper Potts, ends up in stereotypical “damsel in distress” mode at one point, but she also gets to share in the action much more this time around, which follows recent developments for the character in the comic book series. 

Favreau, as Stark’s security chief Happy Hogan, has some great moments. It’s nice to see Favreau still involved with the series, even though he’s relinquished the director’s chair (he retains an executive producer credit). 

As Stark’s best friend and frequent partner in armored crimefighting, Colonel James Rhodes/War Machine (here renamed “Iron Patriot,” much to Stark’s chagrin), Cheadle seems like he’s having a ball. He doesn’t have all that much to do until the last act, but there are some really nice character moments throughout. 

The newcomers to the series include Guy Pearce as Aldrich Killian, a scientist who once tried to forge an alliance with Stark but has since found remarkable success on his own. Pearce is effective and compelling, but I preferred Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane in the first film, and even Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer in IM 2—I thought he was a riot. But Pearce is definitely a step up from Mickey Rourke’s Ivan Vanko—Killian is far more interesting and has much more personality. 

I was particularly impressed with Rebecca Hall, who plays Maya Hansen, a beautiful female scientist with a past connection to Stark. She re-enters his life at a most tumultuous time and, as you can imagine, sparks fly between her and Paltrow’s Pepper. Hall delivers a strong, grounded performance and holds her own in her scenes with Downey and Paltrow.

Incidentally, both Maya Hansen and Aldrich Killian were introduced in a comic-book story entitled “Extremis,” which this film is loosely based upon. All I’ll say about the comic book is that I found it to be a highly effective cure for insomnia. The movie is a vast improvement. 

Both the print and film versions of the story center on a biotechnological advancement developed by Maya called Extremis, which can be used to heal—and even rebuild—the human body. Whether it works—and the potential dangers of its misuse—becomes of utmost importance to Tony Stark and the people closest to him. 

On top of that, Tony makes himself the target of a terrorist mastermind known as the Mandarin, who is using human operatives to blow themselves up across the United States. The Mandarin sends his forces to attack Stark at his Malibu home, resulting in one of the film’s most riveting sequences. This mysterious figure, whose existence had been hinted at and foreshadowed in the previous two films, finally emerges from the shadows in the form of Ben Kingsley, dressed in flowing robes, sporting a beard reminiscent of Osama bin Laden’s, and wearing a distinctive ring on each of his fingers. Kingsley’s performance is thoroughly entertaining, and I’m interested in seeing how comic-book purists react to the cinematic depiction of this character, who is one of Iron Man’s oldest and most popular foes. While I like Iron Man, I’m certainly not a die-hard fan, so the liberties that the filmmakers took with the Mandarin didn’t bother me all that much. 

I should also mention Ty Simpkins, who plays young Harley Keener, the boy who encounters Tony Stark when he’s at his lowest point. The kid is very likable and interacts extremely well with Downey. The interplay between them is a lot of fun to watch, especially since Downey never lets things get too sappy between them. In fact, Stark treats the kid pretty much as an equal, which means he’s not above pulling some really dickish moves on the boy, and it’s hilarious.   

Iron Man 3 was directed and co-written by Shane Black, who first came to prominence when he wrote the screenplay for the original Lethal Weapon. He also wrote and directed a wonderful little film from 2005 called Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, which starred a pre-Iron Man Downey alongside Val Kilmer.  Black manages to make Iron Man 3 feel very much connected to Favreau’s films, as well as The Avengers, but he also brings his own sensibilities to the table. For one thing, there’s a little bit of Lethal Weapon-style interplay between Downey and Cheadle during the big climactic action sequence. And this film is without a doubt the most violent of the Iron Man series—probably of all the Marvel movies in general. There’s also some really creepy, disturbing imagery, so parents with kids under the age of 13 should take that into consideration before bringing the little ones along. 

It’s not a perfect film—it feels like it’s about 15 minutes too long, Stark doesn’t spend enough time in the armor for my tastes, a couple of the big plot twists were a little too obvious (I saw them coming from a mile away), and the main villain’s master plan isn’t really clear. (Maybe it will become so after another viewing.) But the performances are strong, the action sequences and special effects are spectacular—wait till you see the scene involving an attack on Air Force One—and there’s a lot of great character stuff. 

I saw the film in 3D, and didn’t think it really enhanced the experience all that much, so my advice is to save a few bucks and see the standard version. 

Oh—and as usual, stay to the very end of the closing credits. You’ll be glad you did!

© All text copyright Glenn Greenberg, 2013.

Early Review: THE AVENGERS

Without a doubt, as far as superhero movies go, The Avengers is a monumental achievement. It’s a huge epic, with very high stakes, a grand scale, and a truly dangerous villain at the center. Exactly what you would expect and want in a film that brings together “Earth’s Mightiest Heroes”—not to mention four separate movie franchises.

The Avengers is so huge, in fact, that I found it to be a little overwhelming, maybe a little TOO big at times, and, as a result, not always easy to follow. I know that I’ll have to see it again to be able to take it all in.

What I can report upon my initial viewing is that there’s a LOT to like about The Avengers. The special effects are amazing. I can even recommend seeing the 3D version—and I’ve never been able to say that before. (Though you’ll certainly enjoy the film just as much—and save yourself a few bucks—if you see the standard edition.) The characterizations are terrific. It ties all of the previous Marvel films together nicely, and shows that not even the sky is the limit in terms of what can be done in a superhero movie.

I actually have mixed feelings about that last part. I really liked how Jon Favreau strived to set the first two Iron Man movies in our world, with everything more or less grounded in reality. The Hulk movie starring Edward Norton took the same approach, for the most part. Things started to get a little more “out there” with Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger, what with those two films establishing other dimensions, super-science that, for all intents and purposes, is full-on magic, a race of godlike beings, and an ultimate world-breaking weapon connecting back to those godlike beings. But I found it all easy to accept within the framework of this expanding cinematic universe, as these extra-normal elements were introduced with great care and skill, and in a believable manner.

With The Avengers, though, writer/director Joss Whedon pulls out all the stops. Those extraordinary elements introduced in Thor and Captain America are right at the forefront, with additional over-the-top stuff thrown in. Which means the sense of verisimilitude that Favreau had achieved in the Iron Man films is not as much of a factor anymore. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I’m just not sure how I feel about it. Then again, if you’re going to make a movie that shows off the inner workings of S.H.I.E.L.D., the international peacekeeping organization run by Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), how do you not introduce the Helicarrier, its enormous floating base of operations? And if you’ve already established the existence of Thor, Loki, Asgard, and the vastly powerful cube-shaped energy source called the Tessaract, is it that much of a leap to throw in additional otherworldy beings and objects?

Like I said, I’ll have to see the movie again.

The plot is very loosely based on the comic book where it all began: The Avengers #1, by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, published by Marvel Comics in 1963. In both the comic book and the movie, the villain whose actions cause the formation of the team is none other than Loki, the infamous god of mischief and embittered brother of Thor, the Asgardian god of thunder.

Tom Hiddleston, wh0 did a fantastic job portraying Loki in last year’s Thor, is back and brings some new dimensions to the character. Without giving anything away, I can say that Loki is more vile and more vicious here than he was in Thor. His villainy is far less subtle this time. And yet Hiddleston is so good in the role that he always manages to keep you guessing about what Loki will do next, and what’s going on behind those ever-scheming eyes of his. You’re forced to wonder if he’s really as evil as he seems to be, and if there’s any trace of compassion or mercy left in him. As far as I’m concerned, Loki, as portrayed by Hiddleston, is the best, most complex villain of all of the Marvel movies—possibly of all superhero movies, period.

As for the heroes, by this point, most of the characters that make up the Avengers are very familiar to moviegoers, but this film shows them in a new light. For one thing, nearly all of them end up battling each other at one time or another. (Why would the good guys be fighting each other? Ahhh, that would be telling. I will say, though, that the scene in which Iron Man battles Thor absolutely kicks ass, far surpassing any of the fight scenes in the Iron Man movies. And to watch the Hulk and Thor go at each other with no holds barred is a comic-book fan’s dream come true.)

Robert Downey Jr. is of course back as Tony Stark/Iron Man, with his trademark manic wit and charm fully intact. What’s new here is that when Stark displays his notorious arrogance, narcissism, and downright thoughtlessness, he’s surrounded by a bunch of folks who aren’t intimidated by him, who don’t have to put up with his crap, and who have the power and abilities to stand up to him—whether he’s in or out of his armor. And I loved the few scenes that touched upon Stark’s private life, which, I’m pleased to report, feature Gwyneth Paltrow reprising her role as Pepper Potts. The interactions between Downey Jr. and Paltrow remain a joy to watch.

Scarlett Johansson fully embodies the role of Natasha Romanoff/the Black Widow, which she originated in Iron Man 2. She’s just damn wonderful throughout, absolutely improving upon her previous appearance and delivering some of the film’s best moments. Comic-book purists should be happy to know that Natasha’s Russian background is established, and while she speaks in an American accent through most of the film, she does get to speak in Russian at one point, and even utters a trademark phrase in her native language.

Chris Evans, back as Steve Rogers/Captain America, is very effective as the man out of time who has to catch up quickly in the face of a global crisis. I wish there had been more time devoted to his personal life, to Cap’s observations on how America changed during his time in suspended animation, and to showing him getting acclimated to the twenty-first century. Presumably, and hopefully, these things will be explored in the already announced Captain America 2. Still, Cap does get some really nice and cute moments, and it’s great to see him showing his natural leadership abilities.

Chris Hemsworth, once again playing Thor, is in fine form throughout the film, but he’s at his very best when he’s playing off of Hiddleston’s Loki. Their scenes together crackle with energy and emotion.

Jeremy Renner, introduced as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Clint Barton/Hawkeye in a cameo in Thor, doesn’t get to develop his character as fully as the rest of the cast does, but that’s because of the nature of the plot. Still, Renner is effective and likable and the hints dropped about Barton’s adventurous and tumultuous past with the Black Widow are intriguing. 

Samuel L. Jackson’s Fury looms large over the proceedings, which is only fitting, since this whole “Avengers initiative” started with him four years ago in that memorable 30-second scene tacked on to the end of Iron Man. Fury is given a lot more screen time this time around and has a lot more to do—he’s not just a bringer of information anymore. We get to see how S.H.I.E.L.D. operates and how extensive its reach really is. With this expanded role, we get to see some different sides to Fury, and not all of them are likable. Jackson has great presence as Fury and projects coolness and strength, but he’s perhaps a little too remote. He’s not a character the audience can really relate to, but that may be intentional.

While we’re on the topic of S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives, Clark Gregg returns as Agent Coulson, who was introduced as a minor character in Iron Man and reappeared in Iron Man 2 and Thor. Like Fury, Coulson has an integral role in The Avengers, and it’s a pleasure to see him get to do more and to be further developed as a character. Coulson’s relationship with Captain America is actually kind of touching, and the bond he seems to have formed with Pepper leads to some amusing moments.

Cobie Smulders, best known for her role as Robin on the long-running TV series How I Met Your Mother, makes a strong impression as S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Maria Hill, Nick Fury’s right hand. Hill was introduced in the comics a few years ago and has since become a prominent figure. Hopefully we’ll see more of her in future Marvel films—Smulders is very effective in the role.

Finally, there’s Mark Ruffalo as Dr. Bruce Banner. In my opinion, Ruffalo has the biggest challenge of all the members of the cast, because he’s stepping in to a key role that was originated by another actor. I so very much wanted to see Edward Norton in this movie, continuing his role from The Incredible Hulk and interacting with Downey Jr., Evans, Hemsworth, Johansson, Jackson, etc. It’s not just for the sake of continuity—I thought Norton was perfectly cast as Banner and captured the character fully. I have to admit that in the early scenes featuring Ruffalo, I was mentally inserting Norton and imagining him playing the role. But eventually that fell by the wayside and I started to accept Ruffalo. He doesn’t look anything like his predecessor, and in my opinion, he’s a little too beefy and rugged for Bruce Banner, but he conveys the character’s intelligence and internal struggle very well, along with the tragedy, the sheer loneliness, and the innate goodness of the troubled scientist. What’s more, he works well with the rest of the cast—reportedly, one of the reasons that Norton was dropped from the film was Marvel’s concern that he would not be a team player.

As for “the other guy,” which is how Banner refers to his green-skinned alter ego throughout the film—director Whedon and company come very close to hitting a home run. For starters, the Hulk looks FANTASTIC here—a marked improvement over his appearance in The Incredible Hulk. (Don’t even get me started on what he looked like in Ang Lee’s 2003 crapfest.) The CGI used to create him is the most effective and realistic that we’ve seen yet. In The Avengers, the Hulk looks more like a brute, with a pronounced brow and real menace in his eyes. 

In many ways, this version of the Hulk is like a smaller King Kong, specifically the 1933 edition—wild, bestial, uncontrollable, unpredictable, and absolutely dangerous, and yet you can’t help but root for him. If I have one criticism about the Hulk in this film, it’s that he’s probably a little too dangerous and menacing, particularly when he first appears and finds himself in the presence of the Black Widow. I just don’t see him being so harsh, especially with a pretty lady who’s done him no harm. Still, when the situation calls for it, the Hulk proves to be as heroic as the rest. He has but one line of dialogue in the film, and it’s a doozie.

Without getting into the specifics of the plot, I’ll say that The Avengers, at its core, is really about the necessity for teamwork, for putting aside differences to work for the greater good. (Maybe Congress should be forced to see it?) I don’t think you can ever have too many stories about that.

My initial feeling is that the film drags a bit in the middle. You’re waiting for the main stuff to happen and to get a real sense of what Loki’s up to and where it’s all headed, but instead there’s a lot of discussion between the Avengers about Loki, the threat he poses to Earth and humanity, and how to foil whatever it is he’s planning. Once things do get rolling though, there’s no letting up. And in the midst of it all, there are some downright hilarious bits, many of them involving the Hulk.

There are flaws, to be sure. For example, there’s a plot resolution involving Hawkeye that I found unsatisfying. As is the explanation for Thor’s sudden ability to return to Earth, given the destruction of the Bifrost at the end of Thor. And I’m not entirely sure why (this is a very mild spoiler) Loki allows himself to be captured at one point—how does that help him advance his plans?

The Avengers isn’t perfect—no film is. Nor can I really declare it my favorite superhero movie. But I can say without hesitation that it’s certainly the ultimate superhero team movie, and it will remain so unless Warner Bros. finally gets its act together and pulls off a truly fantastic Justice League film. (I’m not holding my breath for that though.) There’s an undeniable thrill just seeing these classic Marvel characters together in a big-budget movie. Watching Captain America fight against—and alongside—Iron Man and Thor sent chills down my spine. I never thought I’d see the Hulk rampaging through the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier on the big screen. The cherry on top of all of this is that the movie is as good as it is. And I have a feeling I’ll like it even more upon second viewing.

By the way, don’t leave when the end credits begin to roll. As with all of the other Marvel movies, there’s a bonus scene at the end. This one adds some context and sets up a possible future adventure. (My guess? Thor 2.) People unacquainted with Marvel comic-book lore probably won’t grasp the significance of the scene. But comic-book fans will undoubtedly go nuts with delight.

© All text copyright Glenn Greenberg, 2012.

ASSEMBLING THE AVENGERS

With the release of The Avengers just around the corner (look for my review within the next few days!), I figured now would be the ideal time to look at the films that led up to this big event. I’ve just re-watched all of them, with my 9-year-old daughter Maddie at my side, so she’ll weigh in too.

Chronologically speaking, the correct order to watch the films is Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Captain America. I’ll follow that sequence here. And away we go…

Iron Man (2008)

Despite being an origin story, which always runs the risk of bogging things down in exposition and taking forever to get to the action, this movie pulls you right in.

Robert Downey Jr. is fantastic as Tony Stark—witty, charming, bursting with personality, and dead serious when he needs to be. As Pepper Potts, Gwyneth Paltrow is lovely and radiant and completely believable. Her chemistry with Downey is palpable. Jeff Bridges, in the role of Obadiah Stane, is very effective conveying false loyalty and camaraderie, and then shifting to insidious menace. Among the lead characters, Terrence Howard as James Rhodes is probably the least effective—not that he’s in any way bad, he just doesn’t make as much of an impression.

I do have some story problems with the second half, and some of Obadiah Stane’s dialogue and his motivations during the big climactic battle are a bit too hackneyed and “comic booky.”

Also, I felt that the film lacks a strong emotional core that was so present in Superman: The Movie, Batman Begins, and the first two Spider-Man movies. It’s not that director Jon Favreau and co. don't try—actually, some of the stuff between Stark and Pepper is quite good. But I didn’t feel myself get pulled emotionally into this film quite as much as I did with the ones I mention above. 

The special effects are fantastic. The humor works, for the most part. The in-jokes are very clever—and you really have to be sharp to get them all. I know I didn’t upon my first viewing! 

All in all, it’s an excellent and highly effective starting point for the Marvel Movie Universe.

MADDIE: “I guess this one is my favorite of all the Marvel movies. It was full of action and I liked all of the technology, all of the features in the suit. And it was funny. I liked the relationship between Pepper and Tony and I liked how Tony had a bond with the man who saved his life in Afghanistan, when his heart was injured at the beginning.”

Iron Man 2 (2010)

I found that this film doesn’t hold up on repeated viewings quite as well as I thought it would. The plot is a bit scattered, causing the narrative to drag in spots. Also, the motivations are a bit muddled in some areas. That said, this is a true sequel in every sense of the word. It picks up where the previous film left off and continues the story thread of Tony Stark revealing to the public that he’s Iron Man.

Probably the biggest disappointment about Iron Man 2 is that the conflict between Stark and the central villain, the vengeance-seeking Russian renegade scientist Ivan Vanko (played by Mickey Rourke), doesn’t reach its full potential.  It's handled somewhat superficially, in very broad strokes, and their final showdown is a bit anti-climactic—despite great special effects.

But the cast is uniformly terrific. Downey and Paltrow are just as good as they were in the original. As James Rhodes, Don Cheadle brings more warmth, humanity, and intelligence to the table than Terrence Howard did.  

Sam Rockwell is a hoot as secondary villain Justin Hammer. He's smarmy, weaselly, and conniving—sort of a less comical version of the character that Paul Reiser played in Aliens.

As Natalie Rushman/Natasha Romanoff, Scarlett Johansson has great presence and acquits herself nicely and believably. Garry Shandling is very enjoyable as Senator Stern. And Samuel L. Jackson gets more screen time as S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury, as does director Favreau as Stark’s bodyguard/chauffeur, Happy Hogan. In both cases, more is good.

Overall, Iron Man 2 is fun and exciting. A worthy sequel, for sure, coming close to its predecessor—but not quite managing to equal or surpass it.

MADDIE: “I thought it was a good movie, but the story was kind of hard for me to follow. My favorite part was when Tony was playing the recordings of his father and his father says that Tony is his greatest creation. I didn’t like how Tony was being out of control all the time, I thought there was a little too much of his craziness. I liked when he and Rhodey fired their hand-blasters at each other and it caused an explosion. I really liked the Black Widow a lot—my favorite part was when she took out seven guys and Happy could only take out one! I liked her martial arts moves and all of her gadgets. I thought that Ivan Vanko was kind of hard to understand because of his accent and I didn’t really get why he was out to kill Tony Stark. And I thought Justin Hammer was really pushing it when he came out on stage dancing and trying to be like Tony Stark.”

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Certainly the most underrated of the Marvel-produced films, this gets right pretty much everything that Ang Lee got wrong in his 2003 misfire.

Basically, this film is the old Hulk TV show on steroids. And by the TV show, I mean the GOOD episodes. Like the classic two-parter in which the Hulk confronts another, far more dangerous Hulk-like creature. Or the one where he gets captured by the military. Or the one where Banner experiments on himself and ends up accidentally corrupting the “Banner” side of his personality. I don’t mean the one where Banner becomes a cab driver and gets hassled by loan sharks. Or the one where he works in New York’s garment center and gets hassled by loan sharks. Or the one where he gets involved in midget wrestling. (No, I’m not kidding about that last one). 

There’s plenty of in-jokes in this movie, tying in to both the TV series and the comics. Stan Lee, Lou Ferrigno, and even the late Bill Bixby make appearances. Even the beloved theme music from the TV series turns up, and it’s used appropriately. 

The script is solid and shows imagination and care. While he didn’t receive official credit for writing the screenplay, star Edward Norton did a very good job and should be proud of himself. The same goes for director Louis Leterrier, who shows off his knowledge of all the good stuff from the TV series, both conceptually and visually. 

Norton is perfect as Bruce Banner. At times, he seems to channel Bixby’s interpretation of the role: noble, gentle, caring, sensitive, heroic, interesting, and thoroughly sympathetic. It’s a shame he won’t reprise the role in The Avengers.

Liv Tyler delivers the goods as Betty Ross. She brings soulfulness, energy, earnestness, and sweetness to the role, and you can understand right away why Banner loves her so much—and why she has the effect on the Hulk that she does. She’s also feisty and downright explosive when the situation calls for it.

William Hurt is GREAT as General Thaddeus “Thunderbolt” Ross—massive, imposing, arrogant, and willing to cross the line to achieve his goals. There’s a real look of menace, ambition, and obsession in Hurt’s eyes as he plays Ross, and he’s one of the most interesting characters in the movie. 

Tim Roth is thoroughly enjoyable and believable as Emil Blonsky, and I’d love to see him return someday. 

As for the Hulk himself, he has only about three lines of dialogue, but each line is well chosen, delivered at exactly the right moment—with proper dramatic buildup—and well performed by Lou Ferrigno. He sounds exactly the way you'd want the Hulk to sound. 

I found that The Incredible Hulk, unlike Iron Man 2, holds up very well on repeated viewings.

MADDIE: “There are no boring scenes in this movie! Just when I thought things were going to slow down, it just picks right up again! I thought the movie was a little too violent, but I thought the Hulk looked really, really good, very realistic. I liked Betty’s boyfriend Leonard, because he plays Phil on Modern Family and he’s hysterically funny on that show. I liked the fight scene at the end in New York City—the Hulk was getting beat up but when he saw Betty in danger he started fighting back. I especially liked when he said, ‘Hulk smash!’ I would really enjoy knowing whether he and Betty ever saw each other again. I liked Betty, I could definitely see her and Bruce together. I thought Blonsky wanted too much power, and he was out of control when he got it. It was very cool when Tony Stark showed up at the end.”

Thor (2011)

This is sort of a mixture of Clash of the Titans, The Lord of the Rings, Superman, Iron Man, and even a dash of the classic Star Trek episode “Who Mourns For Adonais?” It’s thoroughly entertaining, it never drags, and it’s both exciting and touching.

With director Kenneth Branagh at the helm (an inspired choice, I must say), the uninitiated don’t need to be familiar with the Thor comic books to enjoy the movie. Everything is laid out clearly so that audiences with no prior knowledge can understand who all of the characters are, what they’re doing, and why they’re doing it. But if you are familiar with the comics, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how much of the Marvel Comics lore is crammed into the narrative. There are in-jokes aplenty, and cameo appearances from some of the folks who produced the classic comic-book stories on which much of this movie is based (Mr. Lee, Mr. Simonson, Mr. Macchio, take a bow!). 

The cast is uniformly great. Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is charming, powerful, arrogant, stubborn, good-humored, and regal—in other words, absolutely true to the comic-book version.

As Jane Foster, Natalie Portman turns in a fine performance and is quite believable as a romantic interest for Thor—despite the fact that he’s about twice her height. There’s real chemistry between Hemsworth and Portman—you totally get why they’re attracted to each other—and it’s fun to watch their relationship grow.

Anthony Hopkins is pretty much perfect as Odin, Thor’s father and the ruler of Asgard. It’s not a particularly large role, but it’s a very important one.

Tom Hiddleston is absolutely wonderful as Loki, Thor’s brother and trusted adviser. Comic book readers already know how Thor and Loki’s relationship develops, but it’s still fun to watch it unfold for the first time in live action—and the characterization for Loki is multi-layered enough that his story arc here should intrigue newcomers and longtime fans alike.

I also have to mention that Jaimie Alexander RULES as Sif, one of Thor’s most loyal friends. She’s one of my very favorite things about this movie. And Idris Elba, who was so great as Michael Scott’s boss, Charles Minor, on NBC’s The Office, makes for an appropriately imposing and enigmatic Heimdall, the guardian of the interdimensional bridge that connects Asgard to Earth.

The CGI is a little unconvincing at times, especially in the early scenes set in Asgard, but for the most part, the special effects are very impressive.

The slow build-up to The Avengers really starts to kick into high gear with Thor, seeing as how it introduces the villain that will cause the Avengers team to come together in the first place.

MADDIE: “I loved how Asgard looked! I really liked the scene where Thor pressured his friends to go with him to Jotunheim and he tries to take credit for Sif being such a great warrior and Sif says that she proved it on her own. And then Thor says, ‘Yes, but I supported you!’ Sif was very cool, very fierce and she really proved that a woman could be a warrior. I really liked Jane Foster—she really believed in Thor and she was good at physics. I liked Darcy a whole lot—she always had something funny to say! And I really liked Thor. At the beginning, he was very full of himself and by the end he learned to care more about others. He was very funny when he kept getting hit by the car, he got a shot in the butt by the doctors and it knocked him out, and I really liked it when Darcy tasered him! I liked that Loki was such a good liar—you think he’s a good guy and on Thor’s side, and then you find out he’s not. He wanted his father’s approval more than anything else and he wanted to rule Asgard and wanted to get rid of Thor. I liked Odin—you could see in Odin’s eyes that he was very wise.”

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

This has just the right amount of action, characterization, romance, and top-notch special effects to ensure two full hours of solid and satisfying entertainment.

Despite having to cover Cap’s origin, his emergence as an important military figure during World War II at home and abroad, his missions with the small band of soldiers known as The Howling Commandos (never referred to as such in the film, but that’s who they are), his burgeoning relationship with a beautiful female British military agent, and his earliest encounters with the Red Skull, the power-hungry Nazi madman who will become his number-one arch-foe, the film never really drags or feels bogged down. The storytelling is straightforward and well paced.

Director Joe Johnston shows his fine eye for period detail, transporting his audience to the past and making it look and feel authentic. Johnston resists poking fun of or demeaning Cap’s image as a square-jawed, purely good, totally moral, even slightly naïve super hero. The easiest, most natural thing in the world, especially during this particularly cynical age we live in, would be to portray Cap as corny and silly and to treat him with condescension or barely concealed contempt (a la the Adam West Batman TV series). But that’s not the case here. Cap is treated with the utmost respect and is hands-down the coolest character in the film, as well he should be.

Chris Evans does a masterful job bringing Steve Rogers to life. He gets considerable help in the first half of the film from some amazing and thoroughly convincing CGI artistry, which is used to make him the short, scrawny, 90-pound weakling version of the character. But the decency, the earnestness, and the determination with which Evans imbues “puny Steve” carries over even after the character is “super-soldierized” and Evans gets to show off his impressive physique.

The rest of the cast is equally good. Hayley Atwell brings a combination of beauty, brains, and (ahem) balls to the role of British agent Peggy Carter, who is definitely no damsel in distress. This lady can take care of herself, and isn’t intimidated by anyone. Atwell has great chemistry with Evans.

Tommy Lee Jones brings plenty of authority and strength to the role of U.S. Army Colonel Chester Phillips—and has some of the best, funniest lines. Dominic Cooper portrays Howard Stark, father of Tony, and you can definitely see an effort to both connect and contrast the two characters in terms of looks, attitude, and behavior. Sebastian Stan plays Steve Rogers’s best friend, James “Bucky” Buchanan, who emerges as one of the most likable characters in the film.

As the Red Skull, Hugo Weaving is very energetic, very committed, very entertaining. But I found that there was something missing. In fact, for me, the Skull is probably the most disappointing element of the film, and the problem is in the writing. The character is just not developed enough. He’s a bit too one-dimensional—there’s not much depth to him, and therefore, he’s not quite as interesting as he should be. He’s not nearly as complex as, say, Tom Hiddleston’s Loki. I will say that the CGI artists did a great job depicting the Skull’s “true” appearance, which wouldn’t have worked nearly as well if it was Weaving simply wearing a red rubber skull mask.

MADDIE: “I really, really liked this one. I liked all the weapons and I liked that Steve Rogers kept pointing out all the spots in Brooklyn where he had gotten beat up! I liked Captain America’s relationship with Bucky—they always stood by each other. I liked when Peggy told Captain America that a lot of soldiers didn’t survive and his first thought was about whether Bucky was okay. I liked the team of soldiers that work with Captain America, especially Dugan—he was silly, drinking all the beer and he had that funny mustache! Peggy was pretty and tough! The Red Skull was very creepy—I didn’t like when he took off the mask. It was upsetting to me that Captain America never got to date the love of his life. It was very sad when he says to Nick Fury, ‘I had a date.’”

And there you have it. The end of Captain America: The First Avenger presumably sets up the beginning of The Avengers, and you’ll be able to read about that here very soon…

© All text copyright Glenn Greenberg, 2012.