Top 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies: Part 4

The Top 13 countdown of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies continues with more entries! If you missed the previous parts, click here for Part 1, here for Part 2, and here for Part 3.

3: The Avengers

Joss Whedon accomplished the impossible with The Avengers and that makes him mighty (Firefly reference). Never before has a comic book film been so bold and unforgiving in the fact that it is based on a comic book. It perfectly captures the spirit of the comic, while still being easily accessible to the general public, an impressive feat in and of itself.

Somehow every character is given their moment to shine, and Whedon's expertly written banter is pure perfection. Among the previously established characters, Whedon even managed to build Black Widow into a far more fascinating character than anyone could have ever realized, and The Hulk, who, at the time, never received a proper film adaptation, nearly stole the show.

The Avengers could have easily been a disaster if left in less competent hands. Behind all of the spectacle and humor, ultimately, the film has heart; that's the real reason The Avengers is a classic that will go down in history as one of the defining films of the our generation.

2: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier truly took me by surprise. I expected a fun action packed adventure with my favorite comic book character; what I actually got was something far superior.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a thematically strong film loaded with meaningful social commentary on the various aspects of politics, freedom, and government control. It uses the fact that Captain America is an unwavering force of freedom to convey the themes without ever coming off as pretentious. Everything expressed in the film is a core aspect of Cap's character, and that is exactly why it works so well.

Upon my second viewing, I watched the film with the intent of finding something wrong with the film, and yet I could not find a single noteworthy flaw. Of course, no film is absolutely perfect, but it is one of the most well crafted films that I have ever seen. Each scene flows into the next effortlessly. It takes big risks, and yet never falters. The plot functions like a well oiled machine, and yet it has an emotional core.

1: Captain America: Civil War 

Captain America: Civil War is ultimate culmination of the Avenger and Captain America films. As soon as Civil War was announced, it was my most anticipated Marvel film, much more so than Age of Ultron at the time. And despite the odds, it decimated all expectations!

Civil War has so much to say, so much character growth, and so many world shaking revelations that should greatly impact future films. The reasons for each side's actions are so well thought-out. Tony desires to lift the burden and guilt of his actions and failures to others instead of himself in the name of accountability, albeit an admirable goal from some perspectives. Cap finds that government control only allows the politicians to forward their potentially corrupt agendas. Which side is in the right? The conflict is far broader than can be explained in short. Civil War excels in bringing about the concept of superheroes in the real world, without losing the fun and charm that Marvel does so well. Ultimately, the film is not about whose side is right, but the personal conflicts and emotions of Cap and Tony, which is what gives the film such a strong emotional core.

With that said, Civil War’s perfect portrayal of Spider-Man, the bad*ss Black Panther, and that mind blowing airport action sequence certainly help in making Captain America: Civil War Marvel’s best film to date.

What do you think? Many of these films are so close in quality that the ranking of the top films could easily change the next time I see them. Please let me know your favorites in the comments and any other thoughts on the MCU!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies: Part 3

The Top 13 countdown of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies continues with more entries! If you missed Part 1, click here to check it out and here for Part 2

6: Ant-Man

Showing a more lighthearted and fun side to the Marvel Universe, Ant-Man is the best origin film since Iron Man back in 2008. It introduced us to a character with numerous character faults, and yet Paul Rudd manages to make him one of the most grounded and lovable characters in the MCU. He is even a father; relatively new territory for superhero flicks. 

Upon later viewings, Ant-Man continued to grow on me as one of the best films of 2015 and one of Marvel’s most fun. Being such a small film in scale (pun intended), Ant-Man is able to focus solely on itself and what it wants to accomplish rather than what comes next, which is what hampered Age of Ultron. It is also a heist film, not just a superhero flick, which makes it even more fun. Of course, you cannot forget the humor because this is one funny movie!

Everything about Ant-Man should not have worked. Honestly, the fact that the film received so many positive reviews baffled me at first, but it is most definitely deserving of every positive thing said about it. Read my full review here.

5: Iron Man

Before The Avengers, Thor, and Captain America, Marvel studios made a film that would be the foundation for all other Marvel movies to build on in the future, and they could not have kicked off the franchise any better than with Iron Man.

Casting veteran actor Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Tony Stark, a relatively unknown character at the time, remains the best casting decision for any comic book film. From his chemistry with Paltrow to the adlibbed dialogue, Downey elevated every aspect of the film. Even after re-watching at least eight times, the movie never gets old, and that’s largely thanks to Downey.

Words cannot even express what it felt like to see Nick Fury stepping forward to say, “I am here to talk to you about the Avengers initiative.” At the time, it was only something that I could have dreamed of. As a geek, it was about as good as it gets. To this day, it remains one of the defining moments of my movie watching experience.

4: Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy defied all expectations. Not only did it become highest grossing film of the year domestically, it shocked both fan and critic alike with its complete disregard of the conventional.

James Gunn's writing and direction is bold. He did not care about what audiences expected or even wanted. He told us exactly we wanted, and we all loved every minute of it. His style is in-your-face and unforgivingly his own, and that is my type of filmmaking!

Thanks to the stellar chemistry between the cast and Chris Pratt's innate goofball charm, GotG assembles a team of misfits unlike any other. It is like a combination of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Mass Effect, and Firefly, packed full of 80s references, action, and absurdly lovable characters. Even if you have never seen a Marvel film, there is so little connection to the main universe that it does not matter, yet there are still plenty of Easter Eggs for the fans.

Guardians of the Galaxy is bold and audacious filmmaking at its finest with James Gunn's complete disregard of typical genre conventions that care more about making a unique film than a generic crowd pleaser, yet it surely does please. GotG is like a cult classic with lovable quirky characters and endlessly quotable dialogue, except with box office success and a big budget. What more could you ask for?! And honestly, GotG could easily rank even higher on the list depending on my frame of mind at the time of ranking.

What do you think of these picks? Please comment below and let me know!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies: Part 2

My ranking of the Top 13 best and worst Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies continues with more entries! If you missed Part 1, click here to check it out.

9: Iron Man 3

Easily the most divisive of Marvel films, Iron Man 3 continues to leave the community split. Some continue to say that the film is a failure, while others, like myself, say that it is a mostly strong character study of Tony Stark, despite a few nagging issues.

However, the main point of contention is the big twist *Major Spoilers* that the Mandarin is a fake. Many viewers were sorely disappointed that Ben Kingsley's long anticipated role was all just a facade created by the trailers. For me, and a few others, the deception is one the best twists that I have seen in cinema. Right up until the release, the whole thing was kept underwraps; it is a real feat in today's world of trailers that spoil major plot points (*coughTerminatorcough*). For the first time, I was truly shocked by the turn of events, and for someone that often predicts what is going to happen next, it was a real pleasure to be genuinely surprised.

However, the Third Act suffers from a lack of a strong antagonist. A better way to do the twist would have been to replace Guy Pearce with a Chinese actor, so that when he says "I am the Mandarin" the dragon tattoos and other things all make sense. However, considering the latest Marvel One-Shot about the Mandarin, “All Hail the King,” there is a real one out there that we might see in the future, although that continues to be less and less likely. *End Spoilers*

As for the movie itself, Shane Black's witty script and Downey’s brilliant delivery make for an exceptional combination. Even if the plot is not as well crafted as the first film, the interaction, character development, and pure entertainment make it one of the most fun Marvel films to watch.

8: Captain America: The First Avenger

Captain America: The First Avenger is distinctly different than the other Marvel films in both tone and style. Director, Joe Johnston, gave the film a retro period look that is reminiscent of older serials, while still being serious. The blend of styles works for the most part. However, the standout is Chris Evans as Captain America himself. As a Captain America fan since childhood, there was no character that I wanted to see done right on the big screen more. However, when Evans was cast, I was confused. He was a decent funny guy in Fantastic Four, but could he play Cap? And the answer was an astounding yes! The First Avenger was far from his best work as the character, but he really nailed the physicality and heroic personality that the character required.

In retrospect, Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter turned out to be pitch perfect casting with her spinoff series, Agent Carter, being one of Marvel's best works to date. Actually, if I were to rank Agent Carter versus the films, it would probably be number five (unless Daredevil counts).

7: Avengers: Age of Ultron

My initial review of Avengers: Age of Ultron was definitely bit too positive. In retrospect, the film certainly had its narrative flaws. It should have been at least 30 minutes longer, and inclusion of a romance took away from necessary plot development. 

However, upon later viewings, the first 45 minutes of the film are so much fun. Whedon's witty dialogue and character interaction is at its strongest when the characters are given time before setup scenes for future films are crammed into the last hour. Honestly, the party scene could have lasted two hours, and it would have been a blast because the characters act so real, like a group of friends with different dynamics between them.

Ultimately, where the film falters narratively, it takes strides and bounds in establishing new characters and providing much needed characterization to others. Hawkeye benefits the most as the inclusion of his family and actually personality traits make him more than just the “guy with a bow.” Vision is setup to be such a fascinating and unique character, and Scarlet Witch’s foundation as a character in this film made her part in Civil War much more powerful. Of course, James Spader as Ultron was an endlessly entertaining villain, even if his role was not as well realized as it could have been. All in all, Avengers: Age of Ultron is a thrilling piece of entertain with exceptional parts, yet a few key flaws that keep it from true greatness. For more thoughts on the film, read my review here.

What do you think of these picks? Please comment below and let me know!

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Top 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) Movies: Part 1

Captain America: Civil War blew all our minds last month with an emotionally gripping story of the MCU being split apart. Now it is time to re-rank the Top 13 Marvel Cinematic Universe films yet again. However, to my surprise, my opinions of many of the films have gradually changed over time after re-watching each one, so this list is a bit different than my previous ones, even if there are some similarities. 

13: The Incredible Hulk

The black sheep of the MCU, The Incredible Hulk has faded into obscurity almost to the point where it is barely considered canon. Sure, it is occasionally referred, but many aspects of the film just do not fit with the rest of the MCU. Part of this is due to Edward Norton not returning in The Avengers, which led to Mark Ruffalo redefining the film version of the Hulk/Banner to astounding success.

As for the film itself, The Incredible Hulk is a fun film. Nothing about it is remarkable, but it tells a classic Hulk story of Banner running from them military. For the type of on-the-run Banner that the film required, Edward Norton did a fine job in the role. Unfortunately, the film starts to fall apart towards end with the introduction of Major Emil Blonsky, aka the Abomination. The final battle between the two is entertaining for some CGI Hulk smashing, but that is about it. The other issue is that the budget and technology at the time could not create a Hulk comparable to the one in the comics. Overall though, it is a solid comic book flick.

12: Iron Man 2

Receiving more hate that it ever deserved, Iron Man 2 is very much a mixed bag. Certain elements are fantastic, while other aspects disappoint. The film tries to use the palladium poisoning as a substitute for Stark's alcoholism arc from the comics. While a few parts of that story as Tony tries to discover what is truly important is effective, it is ultimately buried by uneven pacing and too many subplots. Thankfully, Robert Downey Jr. being himself is always a pleasure to watch, and his ad libbed banter keeps things interesting. And Sam Rockwell is awesome. Marvel, please bring him back in something.

The most notable criticism is that Iron Man 2 tries to be the bridge that sets up for The Avengers, and at the time, the executives at Marvel still had yet to figure out exactly how everything would come together, which is apparent in the film. The building blocks are there, but it is not integrated with the any form of subtlety like later the films. However, it is a necessary evil of sorts to get us to the ultimate payoff that is The Avengers. Oddly enough, I basically agreed with the majority that it was a disappointment upon my first viewing of the film (before I became a critic). However, after multiple viewing, its importance in the overall road to The Avengers and Downey's innate charm made me like the movie so much more entertaining the second and third times around, despite the messy narrative and apparent flaws.

11: Thor: The Dark World

Despite Thor being the titular character, we all know that The Dark World is the Tom Hiddleston show, as he steals every second of his screentime. Sure, his screentime may be limited to the first two Acts, but he eats it up.

Despite Hiddleston’s brilliance, Thor: The Dark World is ultimately the most generic MCU film. There is nothing controversial or world shattering; it is a straightforward and entertaining adventure. The best aspect is the brotherly interaction between Thor and Loki, and visually interesting Asgardian world. Yet, it feels like it lacks purpose or as many memorable moments as the films higher on this list. And Malekith is probably Marvel’s worst villain. With that said, The Dark World is a great entertaining flick from beginning to end and still a favorite of mine in many respects.

10: Thor

Of all the Phase 1 films, Thor had the most potential for disaster! In fact, before watching the film, I feared that there would be no way that a Thor film could work in live-action. Thankfully, to my surprise, Thor turned out to be one of the films in a long line of Marvel productions that defy expectations against all odds.

Kenneth Branagh's Shakespearean background lent itself well to the film's theatrical family drama and archaic dialogue, which is one of the film's stronger aspects. The "fish-out-of-water" comedy with Thor is full of unforgettable lines that I still quote today, and the Final Act brought Thor’s character arc full circle. As a whole, Branagh managed to capture Thor and the world of Asgard in a satisfying manner!

What do you think of the list so far? Please comment below and let me know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Ant-Man and the Wasp, aka Ant-Man 2

Ant-Man is getting a sequel, and the title will be "Ant-Man and the Wasp." Ant-Man and the Wasp is set to release on July 6 2018. While Ant-Man's box office is lower than the recent Marvel flicks, I am glad that Marvel decided to greenlight the sequel, and featuring Evangeline Lilly's Wasp in the title is also great news because the character definitely deserves to be a main part of the film. To make room for the new Ant-Man sequel, “Black Panther” moving up to February 16, 2018 and “Captain Marvel” is landing on March 8, 2019. It seems that Marvel is having a little trouble with those two films, but considering how much fun Ant-Man was, I do not mind those two films getting pushed back. Additionally, Marvel has announced three unnamed projects that will premiere on May 1, 2020, July 10, 2020, and November 6, 2020. Are you excited for a new Ant-Man film? Please comment below and let me know!

Unofficial Fan Poster.

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Top 12 Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies: Part 2

The Top 6, now we are getting to Marvel's premiere films; the best of the best! In my eyes, Marvel has four distinct tiers of quality. First are the almost universally agreed upon weakest films, The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man 2. Second tier includes the Thors films and The First Avenger. Tier three is the very strong, albeit not quite perfect, films of Iron Man 3 and the numbers 5 and 6 on this list. Lastly is the "Core Four" as I like to call; the final four films on this list. These are the four films that stand above the rest of the MCU, as well as the rest of its respective genre. For the previous part of the list, click here.

6: Ant-Man

Showing a more lighthearted and fun side to the Marvel Universe, Ant-Man is the best origin film since Iron Man back in 2008. It introduced us to a character with numerous faults, and yet Paul Rudd manages to make him one of the most grounded and relatable characters in the MCU. He is even a father; relatively new territory for superhero flicks. Everything about Ant-Man should not have worked. Honestly, the fact that the film received so many positive reviews baffles me, but it is most definitely deserving of every positive thing about it. Read my full review here.

5: Avengers: Age of Ultron

My initial review of Avengers: Age of Ultron might have been a bit too positive. In retrospect, the film certainly had its narrative flaws. It should have been at least 30 minutes longer, and inclusion of a romance took away from necessary plot development. However, where it faltered a bit narratively, it more than made up for with some of Whedon's most effective characterization yet. He dives into each the character's psyche and shows us what makes them tick. And in terms of sheer geeky awesomeness, Age of Ultron most definitely delivers thanks to the addition of unforgettable new characters like Vision and the Scarlet Witch. For more thoughts on the film, read my review here.

4: Iron Man

Before The Avengers, Thor, and Captain America, Marvel studios made a film that would be the foundation for all other Marvel movies to build on in the future, and they could not have kicked off the franchise any better than with Iron Man.

Casting veteran actor Robert Downey Jr. in the role of Tony Stark remains the best casting decision ever for any comic book film. From his chemistry with Paltrow to the adlibbed dialogue, Iron Man elevated every aspect of the film. Even after re-watching at least eight times, the movie never gets old, and that’s largely thanks to Downey.

Words cannot even express what it felt like to see Nick Fury stepping forward to say, “I am here to talk to you about the Avengers initiative.” At the time, it was only something that I could have dreamed about, and as a geek, it was about as good as it gets. To this day, it remains one of the defining moments of my movie watching experience.

3: Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy defied all expectations. Not only did it become highest grossing film of the year domestically, it shocked both fan and critic alike with its complete disregard of the conventional.

James Gunn's writing and direction is bold. He did not care about what audiences expected or even wanted. He told us exactly we wanted, and we all loved every minute of it. His style is in-your-face and unforgivingly his own, and that is my type of filmmaking!

Thanks to the stellar chemistry between the cast and Chris Pratt's innate goofball charm, GotG assembles a team of misfits unlike any other. It is like a combination of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Mass Effect, and Firefly, packed full of 80s references, action, and absurdly lovable characters. Even if you have never seen a Marvel film, there is so little connection to the main universe that it does not matter, yet there are still plenty of Easter Eggs for the fans.

Guardians of the Galaxy is bold and audacious filmmaking at its finest with James Gunn's complete disregard of typical genre conventions that care more about making a unique film than a generic crowd pleaser, yet it surely does please. GotG is like a cult classic with lovable quirky characters and endlessly quotable dialogue, except with box office success and a big budget; what more could you ask for?!

However, I feel as though I need to watch it yet another time before ranking it at number two, which could very well happen in the near future.

2: Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Captain America: The Winter Soldier truly took me by surprise. I expected a fun action packed adventure with my favorite comic book character; what I actually got was something far superior.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a thematically strong film loaded with meaningful social commentary on the various aspects of politics, freedom, and government control. It uses the fact that Captain America is an unwavering force of freedom to convey the themes without ever coming off as pretentious. Everything expressed in the film is a core aspect of Cap's character, and that is exactly why it works so well.

Upon my second viewing, I watched the film with the intent of finding something wrong with the film, and yet I could not find a single noteworthy flaw. Of course, no film is absolutely perfect, but it is one of the most well crafted films that I have ever. Each scene flows into the next effortlessly. It takes big risks, and yet never falters. The plot functions like a well oiled machine, and yet it has an emotional core. While I am sad to see Joss Whedon not directing Avengers: Infinity War, the film is left in good hands with the Russo Brothers.

1: The Avengers

Could there be any other? Joss Whedon accomplished the impossible with The Avengers and that makes him mighty (Firefly reference). Never before has a comic book film been so bold and unforgiving in the fact that it is based on a comic book. It perfectly captures the spirit of the comic, while still being easily accessible to the general public, an impressive feat in and of itself.

Somehow every character is given their moment to shine, and Whedon's expertly written banter is pure perfection. Among the previously established characters, Whedon even managed to build Black Widow into a far more fascinating character than anyone could have ever realized, and The Hulk, who, at the time, never received a proper film adaptation, nearly stole the show.

The Avengers could have easily been a disaster if left in less competent hands. Behind all of the spectacle and humor, ultimately, the film has heart; that's the real reason The Avengers is a classic that will go down in history as one of the defining films of the our generation. Will Age of Ultron be able to best it....

For a future continuation of this list, I have considered ranking Marvel's TV series like Daredevil and Agent Carter alongside the films. Please let me know what you think of that in the comments, because it is something that I have wanted to try. 

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Ant-Man Review

Ant-Man, Marvel and Disney's latest effort to introduce audiences to yet another new and relatively unknown hero.

Of all the Marvel films of late, Ant-Man is the one that had the highest chance of failing. After fan favorite director, Edgar Wright, left the project over "creative differences" after working on the film for nearly seven years, Marvel had to scramble to find another director to replace Wright. So, does Ant-Man turn out to the failure that some predicted? Or is Marvel still the unstoppable force that we all expect them to be? Let's find out!

Directed by: Peyton Reed

Genre: Heist, Superhero, Comic Book, Sci-Fi, Action

Release Date: July 17, 2015

Running Time: 117 minutes

MMPA rating: PG-13

The Good: Original concept for a superhero flick, Inventive action sequences, Stellar shrinking special effects, Paul Rudd is a likable lead, Michael Douglas is excellent, Surprisingly emotional moments, Divorced family dynamic adds emotional investment, Entertaining throughout, Fun cameos and references, Inventive heist sequences, Genuinely funny,

The Bad: A few awkward dialogue sequences, Occasional overly goofy moments, Weak and forgettable villain

Plot Summary: Ant-Man's story plays out like a classic heist film with the protagonist, Scott Lang, being hired by Hank Pym, creator of the Ant-Man suit and shrinking ability, to steal technology from Pym's protégé, Darren Cross, before it can be used for nefarious purposes.

Plot: 8.5/10- Ant-Man's heist premise makes it different than previous superhero flicks, and it revives a genre that has been essentially dormant for years, so it not only feels fresh for a superhero film, it feels fresh in general! While the film is an origin story, it is one of the best superhero origins since Iron Man. The reason for Scott becoming Ant-Man ties into the central plot more organically than other origins. Despite the inventive setup, the final act does fall into a more typical superhero formula with a weak and forgettable villain. 

Even though Edgar Wright left the project, his witty script and dialogue is still present, although it comes off as unnecessarily goofy at times, although that depends on the viewer’s taste. There are a few minor gaps in logic, like someone saying they have "days not months" to prepare for the job and yet the montage feels more like a couple of weeks have passed. Otherwise, the plot is fast and fun!

Characterization: 9.0/10- As expected, Scott Lang, aka Ant-Man, is a likable hero with a unique backstory for a superhero. He is a former burglar, who has just gotten out of prison, and a divorcee, which is a new concept for a superhero flick. This central idea of Scott’s motivations is for his daughter's sake adds another layer of emotional investment to the film's conflicts. Scott acts like a real person that made a few mistakes in his life, but he owns his mistakes and has paid for his previous crimes. Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, is another main character, and his role is surprisingly well developed. He plays somewhat of a mentor to Scott, and yet he is different from the typical trope. The character is so well executed; one scene about something between and his daughter almost had me tear up a bit. Pym's daughter, Hope van Dyne, receives enough screen time to development the father/daughter drama between her and Hank, which mirrors Scott's character arc.

Unfortunately, the supporting cast is a little weaker. The central antagonist, who is obvious from the trailers, although I will not name him, is one of Marvel's weakest to date. His motivations are logical, yet he is thinly defined as a character, and ultimately does a few villainy things because he’s crazy. Thankfully, the real antagonist is the heist itself. As for the other supporting cast, Scott's fellow thieves add humor to the film, although some might find them annoying. There is a clever Avengers' cameo, and it is as cool as you might imagine.

Direction: 9.4/10- Despite minimal experience outside of forgettable comedies, Peyton Reed actually does a fine job as director. The strongest aspect is the use of the shrinking special effects during the heist and action sequences, and it creates excellent moments of comedy. Ant-Man's power is one of the most unique and interesting to watch of any superhero in recent years, and his powers are exceptionally well realized.

While I am not sure how much, if any, is directed by Edgar Wright, Peyton manages to capture elements of his style during the early parts of the film. However, if you are familiar with Wright's work, you can tell that Peyton’s attempt to copy it is not as successful as Wright’s actual work. My guess is that Peyton's direction of the actors is the cause for the occasional awkward delivery of Wright’s distinct dialogue, and as a whole, his direction feels a tad too safe during the non-action sequences.

Acting: 8.8/10- Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas are excellent as the leads with Rudd's comedic acting playing off of Douglas' years of experience to great effect. Evangeline Lilly, as Hope, is solid in the role, and Michael Peña positively hilarious, as he manages to ride the fine line between annoying and humorous. Corey Stoll is decent in his role, but his material is the weakest of the cast. Lastly, Abby Ryder Fortson as Scott's 6 year old daughter, Cassie, makes the character so likable and sweet, which is difficult for child actors to pull off.

Special effects: 9.9/10- Even though not everything looks perfect, the shrinking effects are extraordinary! The film takes us to places where we have never been before with high quality effects that sell the small scale action set pieces brilliantly. My only small issue is that some parts are noticeably CGI at times, but that is a very minor complaint.

Soundtrack: 8.3/10- Christophe Beck's score is reminiscent of recent Marvel films with an upbeat tone and classic orchestral cues. The use of licensed music and quirky beats adds to the fun feel of the film as well.

Humor: 9.1/10- After Guardians of the Galaxy, Ant-Man is Marvel’s funniest film to date. Not all the humor hits the mark with some of it feeling a little too kid friendly, but the use of Ant-Man's powers creates many laugh-out-loud worthy gags, along with Peña’s great gags.

Entertainment Value: 10/10- From beginning to end, finally seeing the Ant-Man character fully realized is absurdly fun to watch! Throw in the great heist action, geeky references, and likable characters, and you have one of the most entertaining movies of the year.

Overall: 9.0/10- With entertaining thrills and a solid emotional core, Ant-Man takes the superhero genre is a new direction with its heist caper concept, dazzling special effects, and inventive action sequences, which makes up for the lackluster villain and occasional tonal missteps.

Closing comments: Ant-Man might not be on the same level as some of Marvel's recent films like the Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy, but it is certainly on par with their other origin films with its different take on the superhero genre, even if it is overly simplistic at times. On a general note, despite my complaints about the goofy moments, it really was not that much of an issue for me as it may sound in my review.

Recommended for: Everyone, Marvel fans, Heist fans, Action fans, Sci-Fi fans,

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Avoiding Spoilers and Reviews - Ant-Man First Impression

After two months, I have seen Ant-Man! And somehow, I have avoided all spoilers, reviews, and opinions in general. Yes, even as I write this impressions post, I do not know a single review rating! I have not even read the reviews by fellow critics that are linked below, although I will as soon as my review is written for tomorrow. While it might sound insane to avoid reviews, trailers, and spoilers to this extend, hear me out. 

Regardless of whether a critically minded viewer realizes it or not, while watching a film, any prior opinions will affect your expectations going into the theater. If you are a reviewer, you will probably try to take note what others are criticizing in their reviews to determine if you agree with that opinion. Of course, everyone is different, but expectations do play an important role. In fact, many of my best experiences with films have come from the ones that I do not expect to impress me, like Inception and The Matrix. Therefore, for once, I wanted to go into a hyped-up film, like Ant-Man, without knowing what to expect, to have a different type of experience without any preconceptions other than the ones you expect from a Marvel flick. Obviously, this strategy is crazy for every film, but it is preferred for the films that I care about the most. I am curious to know what everyone else thinks of this strategy of watching a film, and it may provide an interesting topic for future discussion.

As always, below are links to reviews by fellow critics, and if you have written a review, let me know in the comments and it will be added. Please be sure to check back tomorrow for my full review.

Review by Jordan

Review by Sarah

Review by Child of the 70s (Spoilers)

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Ant-Man Meets the Avengers in New Posters?

Well, Marvel is making sure that everyone knows that Ant-Man is apart of the Avengers with these new posters! Of course, these posters have little to do with the film itself, but the idea behind them is actually a lot of fun. At the bottom is the Russian poster for the film, which is also unique. After Age of Ultron's slight critical misstep, hopefully Ant-Man can renew critics and audience's faith in the franchise. On a side note, hopefully I will be able to see Jurassic World this week and review it soon.

Ant-Man's Russian poster is certainly different. It reminds of old spy films, and considering what the early descriptions of the film, it makes sense. If I remember correctly, The Winter Soldier's Russian poster featured a similar visual motif with the white circles.  

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Hobbit, Ant-Man, and More Comic-Con Posters

New posters for the upcoming The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies, Ant-Man, and Mad Max: Fury Road have been revealed! Comic-Con is now over, but not a lot has happened. Yesterday you saw the new Avengers posters, and here are the rest of the notable ones revealed during Comic-Con.

"The Defining Chapter" is what the tagline of the poster states, and while it is not audacious like the Guardian of the Galaxy's "You're Welcome" tagline, it is actually a little cliched. Regardless, hopefully this will be the defining chapter as the final film in the trilogy will be even better than the first two. I am still wondering where is the trailer?! Not that it actually matters since I am going to see the movie regardless, but I am still curious. Also, "The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies" is still as incredibly unruly as ever. 

While more of concept art than a true poster, Ant-Man's new poster is definitely cool. At Comic-Con some very strange reveals such as Evangeline Lilly playing Hank Pym's daughter, Hope Van-Dyne, instead of who we assumed she would play, Janet Van-Dyne, aka the Wasp. When all the details are officially released and make sense, I will probably post about it, but until then, we shall see if Marvel can salvage Ant-Man after Edgar Wright leaving the project.

The Mad Max trilogy is something that I have been meaning to watch for years now, but I have yet to get around to doing so. However, maybe the upcoming Tom Hardy reboot will turn out better than the other 80s reboots, considering that the same director behind the original films is directing the new one, which certainly sets it apart. Maybe when the new one rolls around, I will watch and review the original trilogy.

Please comment below with what you think, and check out my other post today about the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel by clicking.

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Ant-Man Director Edgar Wright Departs from Film!

Marvel's upcoming film Ant-Man has now lost its director, Edgar Wright. After working on the script and technology at make an Ant-Man film, Edgar Wright leaves "due to a difference of vision." Wright is best known for his popular comedies, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and The World's End; he also directed the comic book film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. He has been working on an Ant-Man film for years! Even as far back as the first Iron Man, Wright is said to have pitched the film to Marvel studios. While I have yet to watch any of his movies in their entirety, considering how much Wright has spent trying to make an Ant-Man film, I am sad to see him leave the project. He probably knows what he is doing and has given considerable thought about how to make the film, and he obviously knows how to handle to humor. Usually when a director leaves a film close to, or during, filming, the result is not so good like Superman 2 for example. While Superman 2 was a decent movie, it was disjointed due to two different directors working on the project. Hopefully Marvel can salvage the film and continue to maintain their dominance in the comic book movie stage. What do you think of this news? Please comment below and let me know.

I also posted my review of the new Flash trailer today, which you can read by clicking here.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.