Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Chernobyl Diaries
Released 5/25/12, now in theaters
Chernobyl was a real life horror story when it occurred many years ago. Now, it seems it's also the subject matter of fictional horror. Chernobyl Diaries is the first horror release for the Summer 2012 season (I think). I'm a big fan of the genre, but was hesitant to see this when the commercials stated it was from the makers of Paranormal Activity (I'll get to that later). But the horror buff in me had to satisfy its curiosity.
The movie follows six young adults (victims), most tourists, in Russia. The young people (victims) are Chris, his hopefully soon-to-be fiancé, Natalie, Amanda (Natalie's friend), Zoe, Michael, and Paul (Chris' older brother). Americans Chris, Natalie, and Amanda are travelling across Europe and decide to pay Paul a visit in Kiev. Paul has made his residence there and has become well acquainted with the local night life and store owners. This includes ex-Russian Special Forces soldier, Yuri. Yuri talks Paul into taking an "extreme tour" to abandoned Chernobyl for a little sight seeing. Believe it or not, radiation levels are low enough for humans to spend short periods of time there with no physical damage. Paul, always up for an adventure, talks Amanda and Natalie into going with him (see the trouble here?). Chris reluctantly goes along as well. When they meet up with Yuri, they are joined by backpackers, Michael and Zoe, who Yuri has also convinced to go to the extreme. The group of seven (victims) pile into their "Mystery Machine" happily heading to Chernobyl (except for Chris of course). The main entrance to the city is barred by Russian military. Luckily, Yuri knows a different path into the city not watched by the sentries. This where the group (victims) enters the Terrordome although they don't know it yet. While they are exploring the abandoned ruins, their van is disabled. The group (victims) has encountered several animals on their journey including a ravaged dog carcass, a mutated fish, and a rampaging bear (really), but none of them would have the mental faculties to disable the vehicle. Soooooo...there must be something else out there! Cell phones don't work and no one knows they are in the abandoned city. Even if they are lucky enough to escape the city limits, will they be safe from the Russian soldiers guarding the borders?
The reason a premise like this works is because the protagonists are so incredibly naïve (read brain dead). You've probably come to the conclusion given the sarcastic nature of my movie description that I hated Chernobyl Diaries. Not true at all. It's not a great movie, but it does have some chills and thrills. I like that the director conveyed a moody, forboding atmosphere that added to the creepiness of the situation. However, this is a horror movie you've seen before of mutated creatures mutilating the helpless. As I stated earlier in my review, I had reservations about seeing this movie because it was created by the minds behind Paranormal Activity. Sorry, but I just didn't get that one. Where Paranormal Activity was a creative endeavor, it was all bark and no bite. Chernobyl Diaries has some truly disturbing moments, but it isn't particularly creative. Maybe someday the producers will get it right and combine creativity with fright.
As for the "all-star" cast? I have no idea who they are, but here's a list of names for those who might: Jesse McCartney, Jonathan Sadowski, Devin Kelley, Olivia Taylor Dudley, Nathan Phillips, Ingrid Berdal, and Dimitri Diatchenko. I really don't think this movie will make any of them household names, but here's to them if it does.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
**1/2 stars
Ratings
Legend
Zero *=
Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me
please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average,
Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the
eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Men In Black 3
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Men In Black 3
Released 5/25/12, now in theaters
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones reprise their roles as Agent J and Agent K in the second sequel to the popular Men In Black franchise. Josh Brolin is added to the mix as the young Agent K. Barry Sonnenfeld returns as director. Can the franchise be redeemed from what some consider the disaster of MIB 2?
The dangerous intergalactic criminal, Boris the Animal (don't dare call him that to his face), escapes from the maximum security prison, Lunarmax (actually on the moon). Boris has a vendetta against Agent K for taking one of his arms and imprisoning him over 40 years ago. He develops the ingenious plan ( kind of Terminator style) to go back to 1969 when K captured him and kill K so he cannot activate the ArcNet shield that protects Earth from Boris' race, the Boglodites. His plan actually works as K disappears from the present and the Boglodites begin their invasion. It's now up to Agent J to return to 1969 and set the future right again with the help of the 29 year old Agent K and an MIB agency that is not quite as advanced as it is in the future.
I can say that, for me, MIB 3 is the best movie in the franchise for one reason, Josh Brolin. Yes, Will Smith is his usual wisecracking self and Tommy Lee Jones is stoic and humorless. Both performances are fine. However, Josh Brolin had to have followed Jones 24/7 for months to get Agent K down as well as he does. Every mannerism, voice inflection and tone, and movement mirrors Tommy Lee Jones perfectly. I don't know how he does this so well, but it's an amazing performance. I will go so far as to say it's an Oscar worthy performance. It would be a shame if Brolin is ignored, but he has two strikes against him as the Academy rarely recognizes summer blockbusters for anything other than special effects awards, and they don't often recognize comedy outside of Woody Allen. But, I wasn't expecting them to recognize Melissa McCarthy last year either and they did so, hopefully, Brolin has a chance.
As someone who has always believed the MIB series was good but not great, MIB 3 might make me start to change my opinion. One other thing I liked about MIB 3 is this movie delved deeper into the relationship between J and K. You'll find out there is a very specific reason why K recruited J in the first Men In Black. It's not what you may expect.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***1/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Men In Black 3
Released 5/25/12, now in theaters
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones reprise their roles as Agent J and Agent K in the second sequel to the popular Men In Black franchise. Josh Brolin is added to the mix as the young Agent K. Barry Sonnenfeld returns as director. Can the franchise be redeemed from what some consider the disaster of MIB 2?
The dangerous intergalactic criminal, Boris the Animal (don't dare call him that to his face), escapes from the maximum security prison, Lunarmax (actually on the moon). Boris has a vendetta against Agent K for taking one of his arms and imprisoning him over 40 years ago. He develops the ingenious plan ( kind of Terminator style) to go back to 1969 when K captured him and kill K so he cannot activate the ArcNet shield that protects Earth from Boris' race, the Boglodites. His plan actually works as K disappears from the present and the Boglodites begin their invasion. It's now up to Agent J to return to 1969 and set the future right again with the help of the 29 year old Agent K and an MIB agency that is not quite as advanced as it is in the future.
I can say that, for me, MIB 3 is the best movie in the franchise for one reason, Josh Brolin. Yes, Will Smith is his usual wisecracking self and Tommy Lee Jones is stoic and humorless. Both performances are fine. However, Josh Brolin had to have followed Jones 24/7 for months to get Agent K down as well as he does. Every mannerism, voice inflection and tone, and movement mirrors Tommy Lee Jones perfectly. I don't know how he does this so well, but it's an amazing performance. I will go so far as to say it's an Oscar worthy performance. It would be a shame if Brolin is ignored, but he has two strikes against him as the Academy rarely recognizes summer blockbusters for anything other than special effects awards, and they don't often recognize comedy outside of Woody Allen. But, I wasn't expecting them to recognize Melissa McCarthy last year either and they did so, hopefully, Brolin has a chance.
As someone who has always believed the MIB series was good but not great, MIB 3 might make me start to change my opinion. One other thing I liked about MIB 3 is this movie delved deeper into the relationship between J and K. You'll find out there is a very specific reason why K recruited J in the first Men In Black. It's not what you may expect.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***1/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
The Dictator
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
The Dictator
Released 5/16/12, now in theaters
Madman, funnyman. Two ways to describe comedian, Sacha Baron Cohen. His latest romp, The Dictator, is his third collaboration with director, Larry Charles. Will The Dictator live up to Cohen's magnum opus, Borat, or will it fizzle like the much maligned, Bruno?
Cohen is dictator, Admiral General Hafez Aladeen, the leader of the fictional North African country of Wadiya. Aladeen is extremely childish, lecherous, and anti-Western. He's also not very bright and has happily oppressed his people for decades. When the U.N. threatens military action against Wadiya for refusing to allow inspectors to search for weapons of mass destruction on their soil, Aladeen is advised by his traitorous advisor/ uncle, Tamir (Ben Kingsley) to address the U.N. Security Council in New York. Aladeen is kidnapped in New York by his U.S. security advisor (John C. Reilly) hired by his uncle. His uncle's play? Replace Aladeen with a double (also Cohen) he can manipulate into democratizing Wadiya. When Aladeen escapes his kidnapper, he is unrecognizable without his distinctive beard that was shaved while he was in custody. Failing to convince authorities he is the hated dictator he meets freedom activist, Zoey (Anna Faris), who offers him a job at her alternative lifestyle co-op. Can the "great" dictator regain his former seat of power or will he soften and stay in New York when he finds true love for the first time with the "girl built like a boy", Zoey?
Unlike Borat and Bruno, The Dictator is not shot documentary style. The movie is made up mostly with fictional characters, although Megan Fox and Edward Norton make cameos as themselves.
The Dictator is a good movie if you are a fan of Cohen's brand of humor. It will probably and, in my opinion, unfairly be compared to Borat. The success of that movie is a blessing and a curse for Cohen. When you make something as good and original as Borat, it is almost impossible to duplicate that success. Subsequent offerings are going to be compared to former greatness and fall short, but, that doesn't necessarily mean the new material isn't good. I seem to be one of the few people in the U.S. that liked Bruno. Was it as funny as Borat? No, but it was still pretty hilarious. The same can be said of The Dictator. I can go on and on about the Farrelly brothers, Christopher Nolan's upcoming Batman sequel, and Joss Whedon's follow up to The Avengers, but you get the point.
The Dictator is rude and highly inappropriate at all times. You know, like a normal Cohen movie. I laughed often and sometimes very hard. And isn't that all you want from a comedy?
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***1/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
The Dictator
Released 5/16/12, now in theaters
Madman, funnyman. Two ways to describe comedian, Sacha Baron Cohen. His latest romp, The Dictator, is his third collaboration with director, Larry Charles. Will The Dictator live up to Cohen's magnum opus, Borat, or will it fizzle like the much maligned, Bruno?
Cohen is dictator, Admiral General Hafez Aladeen, the leader of the fictional North African country of Wadiya. Aladeen is extremely childish, lecherous, and anti-Western. He's also not very bright and has happily oppressed his people for decades. When the U.N. threatens military action against Wadiya for refusing to allow inspectors to search for weapons of mass destruction on their soil, Aladeen is advised by his traitorous advisor/ uncle, Tamir (Ben Kingsley) to address the U.N. Security Council in New York. Aladeen is kidnapped in New York by his U.S. security advisor (John C. Reilly) hired by his uncle. His uncle's play? Replace Aladeen with a double (also Cohen) he can manipulate into democratizing Wadiya. When Aladeen escapes his kidnapper, he is unrecognizable without his distinctive beard that was shaved while he was in custody. Failing to convince authorities he is the hated dictator he meets freedom activist, Zoey (Anna Faris), who offers him a job at her alternative lifestyle co-op. Can the "great" dictator regain his former seat of power or will he soften and stay in New York when he finds true love for the first time with the "girl built like a boy", Zoey?
Unlike Borat and Bruno, The Dictator is not shot documentary style. The movie is made up mostly with fictional characters, although Megan Fox and Edward Norton make cameos as themselves.
The Dictator is a good movie if you are a fan of Cohen's brand of humor. It will probably and, in my opinion, unfairly be compared to Borat. The success of that movie is a blessing and a curse for Cohen. When you make something as good and original as Borat, it is almost impossible to duplicate that success. Subsequent offerings are going to be compared to former greatness and fall short, but, that doesn't necessarily mean the new material isn't good. I seem to be one of the few people in the U.S. that liked Bruno. Was it as funny as Borat? No, but it was still pretty hilarious. The same can be said of The Dictator. I can go on and on about the Farrelly brothers, Christopher Nolan's upcoming Batman sequel, and Joss Whedon's follow up to The Avengers, but you get the point.
The Dictator is rude and highly inappropriate at all times. You know, like a normal Cohen movie. I laughed often and sometimes very hard. And isn't that all you want from a comedy?
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***1/4 stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Dark Shadows
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Dark Shadows
Released 5/11/12, now in theaters
From the wacky, demented mind of Tim Burton comes his latest venture to re-create a classic Burton style. Dark Shadows follows Burton's earlier takes on Batman, Planet of the Apes, Sleepy Hollow, and Alice in Wonderland. He collaborates once again with King of Weird actor, Johnny Depp, who plays the lead role of vampire, Barnabus Collins. For those who don't know, the original Dark Shadows was a 1960s soap opera.
The Collins family was a wealthy British clan who decided to expand their business to America in the 18th century. Barnabus is a child when the family moves to the new world settling on the coast of what will be the state of Maine. The family continues its success in the fishing industry and founds the city of Collinsport, as well as, builds the opulent mansion called Collinwood Manor. Barnabus has the life most would envy growing up. As an adult, he has more than his fair share of female attention. However, there is one he will wish he had never met. The lady's name is Angelique Bouchard. She works for the Collins family. She also happens to be a powerful witch. Angelique snaps after Barnabus shatters her heart by not returning her love. She curses the Collins family and soon after, Barnabus' parents die in a strange accident, as well as, any woman who dares get romantically close to him. This includes the love of his life, Josette, who walks off a high cliff close to the Manor.
When Barnabus tries to end his life when he can't save her, he gets the shock of his afterlife. He is now the undead as Angelique has cursed him to be a vampire for eternity. The vengeful witch (admit it, you thought of something else didn't you) turns the townspeople of Collinsport against Barnabus. He is captured, chained inside a coffin, and buried.
When Barnabus is inadvertently unburied by construction workers in 1972, he is faced with a new world he doesn't understand, and a Collins family that does not have the clout it once had. Can he return his family to the respect it once had? Can he reunite with the family governess, Maggie, who has a haunting resemblance to Josette? Can he become human again with the help of the family psychiatrist, Dr. Hoffman? Can he avoid the wrath of Angelique who has also survived into the 20th century and owns a rival fishing/seafood business?
Dark Shadows also stars Michelle Pfeiffer (Elizabeth Collins Stoddard), Helena Bonham Carter (Dr. Hoffman), Eva Green (Angelique), and Chloe Grace Moretz (Carolyn Stoddard). I think Moretz's performance was a standout as Elizabeth's rebellious, sarcastic daughter. Of course, there's Depp as well. No one in Hollywood does off kilter like him. He should teach a class. His pale makeup is excellent and makes him look the part of the bloodsucker he is. And he has fangs (here that Twilight?)! The movie is humorous, but not laugh out loud funny very often.
I've heard criticism from hard core Dark Shadows fans who are a bit angry that Tim Burton has turned their beloved soap into a horror comedy. I would say aren't soap operas comedy anyway? But I won't deny fans of the soap their anger. I know how critical I have been of super hero movies like Joel Schumaker's Batman films, the Fantastic Four films, Catwoman, and even Spider-Man 3 for getting characterizations totally wrong. Spider-Man to a lesser extent. Don't like how Venom was handled.
I am a Tim Burton fan and think he has done excellent work in the past. I might be the only one in the country who liked his rendition of Planet of the Apes. As a non-Dark Shadows soap convert, I think the film version is a good one. It's entertaining if not great and is worth a look to movie fans who don't know the soap. Soap fans, I still think you should check it out for the performances.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Dark Shadows
Released 5/11/12, now in theaters
From the wacky, demented mind of Tim Burton comes his latest venture to re-create a classic Burton style. Dark Shadows follows Burton's earlier takes on Batman, Planet of the Apes, Sleepy Hollow, and Alice in Wonderland. He collaborates once again with King of Weird actor, Johnny Depp, who plays the lead role of vampire, Barnabus Collins. For those who don't know, the original Dark Shadows was a 1960s soap opera.
The Collins family was a wealthy British clan who decided to expand their business to America in the 18th century. Barnabus is a child when the family moves to the new world settling on the coast of what will be the state of Maine. The family continues its success in the fishing industry and founds the city of Collinsport, as well as, builds the opulent mansion called Collinwood Manor. Barnabus has the life most would envy growing up. As an adult, he has more than his fair share of female attention. However, there is one he will wish he had never met. The lady's name is Angelique Bouchard. She works for the Collins family. She also happens to be a powerful witch. Angelique snaps after Barnabus shatters her heart by not returning her love. She curses the Collins family and soon after, Barnabus' parents die in a strange accident, as well as, any woman who dares get romantically close to him. This includes the love of his life, Josette, who walks off a high cliff close to the Manor.
When Barnabus tries to end his life when he can't save her, he gets the shock of his afterlife. He is now the undead as Angelique has cursed him to be a vampire for eternity. The vengeful witch (admit it, you thought of something else didn't you) turns the townspeople of Collinsport against Barnabus. He is captured, chained inside a coffin, and buried.
When Barnabus is inadvertently unburied by construction workers in 1972, he is faced with a new world he doesn't understand, and a Collins family that does not have the clout it once had. Can he return his family to the respect it once had? Can he reunite with the family governess, Maggie, who has a haunting resemblance to Josette? Can he become human again with the help of the family psychiatrist, Dr. Hoffman? Can he avoid the wrath of Angelique who has also survived into the 20th century and owns a rival fishing/seafood business?
Dark Shadows also stars Michelle Pfeiffer (Elizabeth Collins Stoddard), Helena Bonham Carter (Dr. Hoffman), Eva Green (Angelique), and Chloe Grace Moretz (Carolyn Stoddard). I think Moretz's performance was a standout as Elizabeth's rebellious, sarcastic daughter. Of course, there's Depp as well. No one in Hollywood does off kilter like him. He should teach a class. His pale makeup is excellent and makes him look the part of the bloodsucker he is. And he has fangs (here that Twilight?)! The movie is humorous, but not laugh out loud funny very often.
I've heard criticism from hard core Dark Shadows fans who are a bit angry that Tim Burton has turned their beloved soap into a horror comedy. I would say aren't soap operas comedy anyway? But I won't deny fans of the soap their anger. I know how critical I have been of super hero movies like Joel Schumaker's Batman films, the Fantastic Four films, Catwoman, and even Spider-Man 3 for getting characterizations totally wrong. Spider-Man to a lesser extent. Don't like how Venom was handled.
I am a Tim Burton fan and think he has done excellent work in the past. I might be the only one in the country who liked his rendition of Planet of the Apes. As a non-Dark Shadows soap convert, I think the film version is a good one. It's entertaining if not great and is worth a look to movie fans who don't know the soap. Soap fans, I still think you should check it out for the performances.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
***stars
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Marvel's The Avengers
Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Marvel's The Avengers
Released 5/4/12, now in theaters
It's finally here! The kickoff of the 2012 summer movie season starts with one of the most anticipated movies of the last decade. For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, The Avengers is an ambitious project that started in 2008 with the release of Iron Man. With the success of that film, Marvel Studios began the dream of bringing the comic book company's premier super hero team to the big screen by linking several movies to its final project. After Iron Man came The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger, respectively. Each film has ties linking them to one another which ultimately leads to the formation of the team in The Avengers. The usual suspects are back reprising their roles including Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man/Tony Stark), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Scarlett Johannson (Black Widow/Natasha Romanov), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Captain America/Steve Rogers), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye/Clint Barton), Stellan Skarsgard (Erik Selvig), and Tom Hiddleston (Loki). Mark Ruffalo replaces Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/Hulk.
The international peacekeeping agency, S.H.I.E.L.D, is in possession of a powerful energy cube called the Tesseract (seen in Thor and Captain America). They have renowned scientist, Dr. Erik Selvig, working to unlock its secrets. During one of his experiments, Loki the Asgardian God of Mischief/Evil, emerges from exile in a dimensional portal the cube creates. Loki destroys the lab, takes the Tesseract, and places several personnel under his mental command including Dr. Selvig and Agent Barton (Hawkeye). While in exile from his Asgardian home, Loki struck a deal with an alien conqueror. The conqueror offers Loki his army, the Chitauri, to aid him in the subjugation of Earth in exchange for the Tesseract. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury, scrambles to assemble a response team of "special" individuals with the resistance of the mysterious council to which he reports. Thus begins the formation of Fury's "Avengers Initiative" dream that started in Iron Man.
Joss Whedon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel fame took on the monumental task of directing this would be blockbuster. This could be scary for him. If he succeeds, he becomes a legend worldwide. If he fails, it's a huge failure greater than Joel Schumaker "Batman and Robin" proportions. In this critic's opinion, The Avengers is a resounding...SUCCESS!!!!!!
Whedon makes the greatest juggling act in the history of film by giving each of the six Avengers his/her day in the sun in a two hour movie. In the beginning, the Avengers ain't a happy family! No one trusts anyone else on the team. There are differing opinions on how situations should be handled which leads to more than one physical confrontation. The greatest conflicts belong to Thor and Bruce Banner. Thor because Loki is family. He knows his adopted brother must be stopped, but despite his treachery in Thor and The Avengers, Thor loves him and thinks he can reason with him. Banner's greatest conflict? Keeping the big green rage monster inside him at bay. When Big Green comes out, chaos happens. He has kept the Hulk bottled up for a year because the last time he got out, he destroyed Harlem.
Anyone who has followed Joss Whedon knows he always adds a wry, absurd sense of humor in his projects. That's one of the things I enjoyed most about Buffy and Angel. The absurdist humor is abundant in The Avengers. When you save the world, you have to do it laughing I suppose. What is great about Whedon is the absurdity catches you suddenly. You never see it coming, but it has you doubled over before you know it. The two funniest scenes in the movie both involve the Hulk, one with Thor and one with Loki. Trust me, you'll know them when you see them.
I did mention the Avengers have physical confrontations with each other. You have Thor vs. Iron Man/Captain America, Hawkeye vs. Black Widow, and what everyone came to see, Thor vs. Hulk. Each character seems a little more formidable here than in the previous movies. Iron Man's armor has several new armaments. Thor shows a little more why he is the God of Thunder. Captain America is a whirling dervish of punches and kicks. Hawkeye is the deadly archer who never misses. Black Widow has more mad fighting skills. The Hulk is more unstoppable than ever.
Joss Whedon has done what I think few directors could have done. Super hero movies that have multiple characters needing screen time sometimes do not work well. He has melded six volatile personalities into a cohesive unit seamlessly. No character gives up who they are what they are for the sake of the other characters. From Tony Stark's snarkiness to Captain America's heroism, no personality is compromised.
As with the other movies, you should stay through the end credits because you will learn who is pulling Loki's strings and who will plague the team in the sequel. Comic book fans will recognize him right away. I'll give everyone a hint. He could be the death of the Avengers in the sequel.
I leave this review with one question. We've had the X-Men on the big screen and now the Avengers. Since we live in such a copycat society, could the Justice League be far behind? Just asking.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
wait for it...
***** stars (first one)
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
Marvel's The Avengers
Released 5/4/12, now in theaters
It's finally here! The kickoff of the 2012 summer movie season starts with one of the most anticipated movies of the last decade. For those who have no idea what I'm talking about, The Avengers is an ambitious project that started in 2008 with the release of Iron Man. With the success of that film, Marvel Studios began the dream of bringing the comic book company's premier super hero team to the big screen by linking several movies to its final project. After Iron Man came The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger, respectively. Each film has ties linking them to one another which ultimately leads to the formation of the team in The Avengers. The usual suspects are back reprising their roles including Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man/Tony Stark), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Scarlett Johannson (Black Widow/Natasha Romanov), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Captain America/Steve Rogers), Gwyneth Paltrow (Pepper Potts), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye/Clint Barton), Stellan Skarsgard (Erik Selvig), and Tom Hiddleston (Loki). Mark Ruffalo replaces Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/Hulk.
The international peacekeeping agency, S.H.I.E.L.D, is in possession of a powerful energy cube called the Tesseract (seen in Thor and Captain America). They have renowned scientist, Dr. Erik Selvig, working to unlock its secrets. During one of his experiments, Loki the Asgardian God of Mischief/Evil, emerges from exile in a dimensional portal the cube creates. Loki destroys the lab, takes the Tesseract, and places several personnel under his mental command including Dr. Selvig and Agent Barton (Hawkeye). While in exile from his Asgardian home, Loki struck a deal with an alien conqueror. The conqueror offers Loki his army, the Chitauri, to aid him in the subjugation of Earth in exchange for the Tesseract. The director of S.H.I.E.L.D, Nick Fury, scrambles to assemble a response team of "special" individuals with the resistance of the mysterious council to which he reports. Thus begins the formation of Fury's "Avengers Initiative" dream that started in Iron Man.
Joss Whedon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel fame took on the monumental task of directing this would be blockbuster. This could be scary for him. If he succeeds, he becomes a legend worldwide. If he fails, it's a huge failure greater than Joel Schumaker "Batman and Robin" proportions. In this critic's opinion, The Avengers is a resounding...SUCCESS!!!!!!
Whedon makes the greatest juggling act in the history of film by giving each of the six Avengers his/her day in the sun in a two hour movie. In the beginning, the Avengers ain't a happy family! No one trusts anyone else on the team. There are differing opinions on how situations should be handled which leads to more than one physical confrontation. The greatest conflicts belong to Thor and Bruce Banner. Thor because Loki is family. He knows his adopted brother must be stopped, but despite his treachery in Thor and The Avengers, Thor loves him and thinks he can reason with him. Banner's greatest conflict? Keeping the big green rage monster inside him at bay. When Big Green comes out, chaos happens. He has kept the Hulk bottled up for a year because the last time he got out, he destroyed Harlem.
Anyone who has followed Joss Whedon knows he always adds a wry, absurd sense of humor in his projects. That's one of the things I enjoyed most about Buffy and Angel. The absurdist humor is abundant in The Avengers. When you save the world, you have to do it laughing I suppose. What is great about Whedon is the absurdity catches you suddenly. You never see it coming, but it has you doubled over before you know it. The two funniest scenes in the movie both involve the Hulk, one with Thor and one with Loki. Trust me, you'll know them when you see them.
I did mention the Avengers have physical confrontations with each other. You have Thor vs. Iron Man/Captain America, Hawkeye vs. Black Widow, and what everyone came to see, Thor vs. Hulk. Each character seems a little more formidable here than in the previous movies. Iron Man's armor has several new armaments. Thor shows a little more why he is the God of Thunder. Captain America is a whirling dervish of punches and kicks. Hawkeye is the deadly archer who never misses. Black Widow has more mad fighting skills. The Hulk is more unstoppable than ever.
Joss Whedon has done what I think few directors could have done. Super hero movies that have multiple characters needing screen time sometimes do not work well. He has melded six volatile personalities into a cohesive unit seamlessly. No character gives up who they are what they are for the sake of the other characters. From Tony Stark's snarkiness to Captain America's heroism, no personality is compromised.
As with the other movies, you should stay through the end credits because you will learn who is pulling Loki's strings and who will plague the team in the sequel. Comic book fans will recognize him right away. I'll give everyone a hint. He could be the death of the Avengers in the sequel.
I leave this review with one question. We've had the X-Men on the big screen and now the Avengers. Since we live in such a copycat society, could the Justice League be far behind? Just asking.
The Dark Lord of the Sith says:
wait for it...
***** stars (first one)
Ratings Legend
Zero *= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Good viewing. Much better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. Could possibly foot the price of a non-Matinee.
5 *= Pure eye candy. Hall of Fame material here.
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