Tag Archives: Superhero

“Thor” (2011) is Great Fun

Thor – 2011.

Director Kenneth Branagh is a bit of an inspired choice to helm the sword and sorcery on a faraway planet comic book epic Thor (B), which pits Chris Hemsworth as the titular hero against bad boy brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) for keys to the kingdom ruled by Anthony Hopkins’ King Odin. As Thor’s earthbound love interest, Natalie Portman gets some nice sequences; but this is all about action and fantasy and virtual chess moves. The best bits are by Hiddleston as the delicious villain and Kat Dennings as comic relief. Branagh does a good job keeping viewers interested in the affairs on two planets and with some complicated subplots, and it’s largely a blissful bolt of action and fun.

“Captain America: The First Avenger” Fun, Old-Fashioned

Captain-America-Movie-PosterJoe Johnston’s Captain America: The First Avenger (B-) is an old-fashioned comic book adventure with Chris Evans as a weakling who volunteers for an experiment that turns him into a super-soldier in WWII and ultimately a superhero. Evans is appealing as the noble hero, and sequences with his buddy played by Sebastian Stan set the stage for some of the most emotional elements of this series. The plot with a villain called Red Skull comes off as a bit cheesy. Overall, it’s a colorful entry into the Marvel canon and a soaring showcase to the original agent with shield.

“Iron Man 2” Continues Marvel Momentum

Director Jon Favreau expands his mileu and enhances his aesthetic with an Iron Man 2 (B+) that builds on the giddy spirit of the first and allows Robert Downey Jr. to continue to hold court over gab and gadgetry. It’s a rip-roaring actioner with an even more personal story, higher stakes and an all-star supporting cast including Mickey Rourke as a villain and Scarlett Johannson and Samuel L. Jackson in Avenger roles. Gwyneth Paltrow returns, and Don Cheadle takes over the role originated by Terrence Howard. All in all, it’s a sensational sequel success.

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (2009) a low Point in Series

Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine character, such a highlight of the X-Men film series, was bound to get his own movie. Unfortunately it’s Gavin Hood’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine (D+), which plunges a distinctive character into a rather routine action thriller. Hood manages to suck the charm right out of the enterprise as weak effects, tired subplots and less-than-witty retorts doom this ponderous prequel.

“The Incredible Hulk” (2008) Gets its Action Footing

Rebooting the legend after Ang Lee’s esoteric flop five year before, Louis Letterier’s The Incredible Hulk (B) reminds viewers from the opening frames that this is an action movie, pure and simple. A parkeur-style chase across rooftops is just the beginning as the film winds through a global adventure wuth Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/THe Hulk in full enraged scientist mode. Liv Tyler and Tim Roth provide ample support for this solid action film that brings Hulk closer into the Marvel canon in time for Avengers activity.

“Iron Man” a Superhero Delight

Jon Favreau’s Iron Man (B+) is a giddy, inventive adventure that gives talented actor Robert Downey Jr. the role of a lifetime. As genius Tony Stark who refashions himself as a magnificent flying machine, Downey carries the high-flying comic book adventures on his shoulders. Quick with a quip and fast with the action, he grounds a new franchise with supporting help from Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard.

“Dark Knight” a Wonderful Batman Movie

Buoyed by a brilliant performance by Heath Ledger as criminal mastermind The Joker, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (B) is a complex superhero movie that posits that people dressed as bats and harlequins could really be in the realm of political theater and then asks what would happen if they were. The addition of Aaron Eckhart as Two Face, a villain #2, causes Christian Bale’s hero to recede a bit from prominence, and that always hurts a Batman movie in my book. The political machinations are also not quite as interesting as Nolan would like to believe. Still, it’s a pretty good drama that just happens to be a superhero movie. The part of Katie Holmes is now played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and I still don’t know what that character does.

Allure of “Spider-Man 3” Doesn’t Stick

Sam Raimi throws in everything against his cinematic spiderweb to see what sticks in the overloaded, bloated and often irritating Spider-Man 3 (C-). It basically becomes the third film in a trilogy by default as viewers watch the oxygen seap out of the enterprise in a way that basically proclaims, “There’s really not much more to do or say in this universe of storytelling.” Continuing to breathe lifelessness into their performances, Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst return to battle super-villains and the superego. Specifically, Peter Parker/Spider-Man’s celebrity is on the rise as Mary Jane’s Broadway career hits the rocks; and the jovial hero is blissfully oblivious of his girlfriend’s emerging depression (granted, it would be hard to notice, since Dunst’s acting is just the same when she’s happy or sad). Throw into this mix a black suit that turns Spidey into Jim Carrey from The Mask, a series of forgettable antagonists ranging from Sandman to Venom (did we learn nothing from Joel Schumacher’s Batman films about stuffing movies with too many villains?) and an undisciplined storyline and running time, and it’s like Raimi is simply begging to be fired from the series.  Still, it’s not so drastically different in quality than its two predecessors; the trilogy is giddily middle of the road.

Third Entry in Series “X-Men: The Last Stand” Shows Signs of Age

Director Brett Ratner botches his shot at the helm of the third entry into an iconic comic book film series with X-Men: The Last Stand (C-). The characters are all back and look basically the same; but none move, talk or relate in the same way Bryan Singer set them up in past installments. Instead Ratner relies on big explosions, larger-than-life set pieces and general bluster. His sound and fury doesn’t symbolize much of anything, and the prophetic “last stand” of the title means it’s time for prequels and reboots already.

“Superman Returns” Sometimes Flies

Bryan Singer’s Superman Returns (B-) is an often lovely art deco tribute to the most American of superheroes with Brandon Routh doing an admirable but thankless job stepping into the shoes of the late Christopher Reeve. Although the film is beautiful to behold, much of the story is a bore. Kate Bosworth is dull as Lois Lane, and Kevin Spacey is inspired as Lex Luthor until his master plan involves a bunch of rocks falling down for about 20 minutes in the film’s final act. Still, for its homage to the first two Superman films and restoring the grandeur to the franchise and for small touches such as a supporting performance by Parker Posey and a digital cameo by Marlon Brando, it gets a marginal vote of approval.

“Batman Begins” a Glorious Reboot by Nolan

Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins (A-) is a thrilling reboot with Christian Bale as the caped crusader. I loved how it began unexpectedly in the Himalayas before settling in Gotham City. Nolan’s particular talents fit nicely with labyrinthine plot devices, elaborate inventions and double-crosses. Cillian Murphy is ok as The Scarecrow and Katie Holmes barely registers as a love interest, but overall the supporting cast is outstanding: Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Liam Neeson, to name a few. This is a highly recommended superhero movie that saves the franchise from the clutches of Joel Schumacher.

“Spider-Man 2” Improves on Original

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Sam Raimi gets a bit more daring and delves into character a tad more in his superhero sequel Spider-Man 2 (B-), a remarkably more accomplished film than its predecessor, even though it is still weighed down by the missed casting opportunity occupied by the tepid twosome Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst. There’s a deeper sense of gravitas in the masked man maintaining his parallel identities, and the super-villain (Alfred Molina as Dr. Octopus) demonstrates a good deal of menace, upping the stakes in this episode. Still, the tentacles of this adventure don’t really capture the imagination to the extent they should, and Raimi’s take on this potentially pulpy story rarely has the sting or the smarts that it could.