Justice League

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Justice League
Released 11/17/17

We're here.  November 17th.  The culmination of all that is good for the comic geek in all of us.  Justice League has arrived!  Superman.  Batman.  Wonder Woman.  The Flash.  Aquaman.  Cyborg.  United for the first time on film.  The icons of the superhero world (well, maybe not Aquaman).  This is going to be the BIGGEST thing ever.  Bigger than Iron Man.  Bigger than Spider-Man.  Bigger than The Avengers. Bigger than Marvel.  Bigger than Disney itself!  Then when you step back reality sets in.

And by that I mean the overall lackluster reception the DC Extended Universe has received to this point (with one exception).  No doubt the previous four films Warner Brothers has churned out from this endeavor that started in 2013 with Man of Steel have been successful enough financially.  But, they haven't been almost universally loved like much of the product coming from their competition (c'mon DC fans, say the dirty "M" word).  That said, Warner looked like they had started to right that train back in July with the release of Wonder Woman.  Now the question is can they keep the train on the track?  From the outside looking in?  It's a mixed bag.  On one hand, you had Zack Snyder at the helm again (until personal reasons forced his exit).  And, let's just say his style was pretty much a love it or hate it one.  But, with his exit, enter fan favorite geek extraordinaire, Joss Whedon, to tie up the loose ends (and do several reshoots apparently).  Joss, as we know was the primary driver of...that other super team from the competition.  But, even he's not bulletproof.  The first Avengers was universally well received, the second was a mostly positive reception, but, much more of a mixed bag.  On the other hand, both directors had a fairly strong cast to work with. Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman), Ben Affleck (Batman), Henry Cavill (Superman), Diane Lane (MARTHA Kent, sorry, couldn't resist), Jeremy Irons (Alfred Pennyworth), Connie Nielsen (Queen Hippolyta), and Amy Adams (Lois Lane) have returned from previous films.  Newcomers Ezra Miller (Flash), Jason Momoa (Aquaman), Ray Fisher (Cyborg), J.K. Simmons (Jim Gordon), Ciaran Hinds (Steppenwolf), and Amber Heard (Mera) round out the cast.

So where are we as Justice League begins?  The answer would be the world picking up the pieces after Superman's death in 2016's Dawn of Justice.  Throwing another big monkeywrench in the works, interdimensional warlord, Steppenwolf, and his flying minions (the Parademons) have decided the Earth is ripe for another invasion.  His previous attempt was repulsed thousands of years ago by a coalition of humans, gods, Green Lanterns, Amazons, and Atlanteans.  With his defeat, came the loss of three extremely powerful devices called Mother Boxes which have the ability to remake worlds.  Hidden in separate locations on Earth, the League unites through Steppenwolf's efforts to retrieve the Boxes.  And, in this union, they make a fateful decision to try to turn the tide to their favor.

If you're wondering if this exercise is worth your time, and, more importantly, your money, I would say, yes.  The mere fact that there are several iconic characters onscreen at one time is worth something.  And, if you're a fan of one, two, or multiple characters, you shouldn't leave the theater disappointed.  But, and there usually is one, it wasn't all glitter and gold for me.

For one thing, let me say that I don't ever want to hear another DC fan complain about a weak Marvel villain.  We've now had Jesse Eisenberg's whatever-that-was take on Lex Luthor from Dawn of Justice, Jared Leto's gangster Joker, and now Ciaran Hinds' Steppenwolf who looks like a reject from Pan's Labyrinth.  Now, I admittedly am not as up on DC lore as I am with their competition.  So I looked Steppenwolf up on the Internet, and, I'm convinced that a little less makeup might have been more.  When I see the character on the Web, I see huge helmeted bad guy with glowing eyes and a goatee.  In the movie, I see a withering rock/tree or whatever under a big honkin' helmet.  He and the other Parademons looked clunky and cartoony and I don't believe that was the look they were going for.  I never once feared for the JL's safety.  To quote Randy Jackson, "I wasn't feelin' it, dog!"

And I have to say this.  I know DC/Warner Brothers are doing things their way.  But, there's something to be said about character development and organically growing your universe.  And, why is that?  Because it works.  I enjoyed Ezra Miller as The Flash (although I still would prefer Grant Gustin), but, who and what was he other than the nervous twitchy jokester in this movie.  What is Aquaman aside from big angry dude with a trident.  Don't get me wrong, I liked Momoa's take on the character, but, there's no backdrop.  I'm not sure how interesting Cyborg would be solo, so, I was as cool as I could be with him.  But, Flash and Aquaman are new to the big screen.  You want to know one of the reasons Wonder Woman works so well in Justice League?  We were previously introduced to her.  She's been fleshed out and you're left wanting more.  This is why the Avengers worked as well as it did.  Each of them (at least the four main heroes) had already been through their private Hell to get to that point.  It felt natural that those strings converged.  I felt a sense of euphoric excitement when they were finally able to stop bickering and stand with each other for the first time.  JL feels like they're together because the script says they should be.

What did work for me was the overall interaction between the heroes.  The group worked well together with each having his or her moments to shine in both action and delivering lines of wry humor.  I can't say definitively where Snyder's influence ends and Whedon's begins, but, I see more of Whedon's fingerprints on those two aspects of the film.  It's the private moments between the members that is the true strength of it.  And, could you have a better arbiter of snarky British sarcasm than Jeremy Irons?  With only brief scenes in both Dawn of Justice and Justice League, he's already the second-best Alfred onscreen by far (Gotham's Sean Pertwee is tops in my book).

Is Justice League a great movie?  No.  Is it a good movie?  Yes.  I do believe the bad rap it's getting critically is somewhat unwarranted.  The CGI and makeup aren't the best I've seen with the aforementioned Steppenwolf and Parademons.  The plot can be a bit messy in places.  But, if you're a comic book fan, and, particularly a DC fan, the movie is fun.  I can't guarantee it will make you scream with giddy exuberance.  But, it won't have you looking for the barf bag either.  I think a fun movie could have been a great movie had the whole narrative of the DCEU been allowed to breathe more.  There are so many stories in the histories of these characters to tell that it didn't have to be a sprint to cram as much in as possible.  DC fans, just like Marvel fans before them, would have had the patience to wait for the beauty to unfold.  I truly believe that.  But, alas, here we are.  Five movies in, Justice League should have been the crown jewel.  What we have is a semi-precious stone better than Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad, on par with Man of Steel, and inferior to Wonder Woman.  It's good enough that I want to see where this leads.  I want to see these characters come together again for something better because they deserve it.  Maybe one day Warner Brothers will figure it out.  We can only hope.

And, if I may just briefly touch on one event in the movie that should have been epic, but, didn't have the gravitas it should have.  It'll kind of remind you of the gravitas the event leading to this one should have had.  You probably already know what I'm talking about, but, you'll get no spoilers here.

Here's a PSA to take with you.  I could be wrong, but, I believe this is the first DCEU film to have post credit scenes.  The mid-credit scene is a cute, funny one between two of the heroes.  The end credit scene should have more lasting consequences for future movies.  Think cheesy DC 70s lore with a modern-day twist.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention one thing.  During some of Flash's runs, why are his arms flailing around like a drunken octopus?  It reminded me of the episode Phoebe Buffay demonstrated her track and field prowess on Friends.  I don't think this was supposed to be intentionally funny though.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

***1/2 stars

Ratings Legend*= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Worth a look.  Better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. I'm doing my happy dance!
5 *= Pure eye candy. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good

Thor: Ragnarok

Reviews from the Dark Side presents
Thor:  Ragnarok
Released 11/3/17

Well, moviegoers, we've almost come to the finish line in what has been an unprecedented year for the release of films from the superhero genre.  And, we still haven't gotten to the annual Star Wars release.  Think about that for a moment.  This week sees the release of Marvel Studios' third entry this year which, coincidentally, is the third film in this character's sub-franchise, as Thor:  Ragnarok "hammers" its way into theaters (uuuggghhh, I even hate myself for that one).

Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, has given comic book fans hammer-swinging heroics since the 1960s.  I have to admit, I was a latecomer when it came to appreciating the character.  I didn't really become a fan until I was well into adulthood.  What I grew to like about Thor was that he represented a kind of anti-Superman to me.  He's an immensely powerful being that somehow seemed to always get put through his paces against many of his foes.  As strong as he was, he really had to "earn" his wins which made his final triumphs all the more satisfying.  That's also led to some frustration for me as well, as he doesn't seem to get a ton of respect in the industry.  Honestly, it seems every hero-to-hero fight he's involved in on the printed page or through animated simulation, he gets his clock cleaned.  So, I say all of this to tell you I've been a bit disappointed overall with Marvel Studios' Thor franchise.  Back in 2011, I thought, "At last!  Now maybe the masses can love this character as I've come to."  Unfortunately, the first two chapters of his saga, while passable, haven't given us what I call the "definitive Thor."

For the Thunder God's third go-round, director, Taika Waititi, has added a different flavor to the mix. While there have always been humorous moments in this series, Waititi decided to really test the Asgardian's funny bone here by making Ragnarok a sort of buddy action-comedy.  It seemed a little odd considering the name of this chapter is "Ragnarok."  But, the director did have nice cast to work with which is always half the battle.  Ragnarok features returning favorites Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Idris Elba, and Tom Hiddleston, as well as, sprinkling in the new faces Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Mark Ruffalo, Karl Urban, and Tessa Thompson.  Okay, now that the preliminaries are out of the way, READY...SET...REVIEW!

Failing in his quest to locate the remaining Infinity Stones, we find Thor as the "honored guest" of the fire demon, Surtur, approximately two years after the events of Age of Ultron.  After extricating himself from his "host" and learning of the prophesied Ragnarok (the destruction of the Asgardians), he returns home to find his mischievous foster brother, Loki, masquerading as their father, Odin.  As events unfold, the Odinson clashes with a new villainess (Hela) who arrives on the scene who has shocking ties to the royal family and becomes reunited with a certain green teammate when he's forced to become a gladiator on a distant planet.  It all leads to a terrible revelation Thor must accept if he has any hope of saving his people.  Oh, and there's a tough-as-nails ex-Valkyrie thrown into the mix for good measure.

Let's start with the good here.  Like just about every other Marvel Studios feature, the special effects are second to none.  I've seen few more beautiful shots than the army of Valkyries riding their winged steeds into battle against Hela.  The work on Surtur was impressive, too.  The best thing?  He wasn't turned into something stupid like a puff of smoke.  That's right, I have not forgiven those behind Rise of the Silver Surfer for Galactus!  This is one all-powerful monster that looked like he stepped straight out of a Thor comic book.

One aspect that made me almost jump out of my chair and say, "FINALLY", was the realization that Thor is the God of Thunder with or WITHOUT his trusty hammer, Mjolnir.  For far too long it seems the myth that the hammer is the source of his power has been alive and well.  Even Odin made the statement in the first Thor "I take your power" when he snatches Mjolnir.  The hammer is an enhancement of his power.  It can focus it.  It's not the source.

One thing you can clearly see throughout is Chris Hemsworth seems to be having a blast with this iteration of Thor.  He has impeccable comedic timing which isn't an easy thing have a grasp on.  We've seen it in the Vacation and the Ghostbusters reboots.  He was one of the best elements of both movies despite what you might have thought of them overall, and, he seems to have a knack for silliness.  Ironically, that brings me to my next point.

Thor:  Ragnarok is a good movie.  But, it would have been a very good movie for a different character.  As comfortable as the cast is with the comedic elements of this film, it just didn't feel like Thor to me.  This is Ragnarok.  The twilight of the Asgardians.  It's an event that should be epic in its own right like Civil War was in 2016.  But, the constant silliness lessened the impact of what this should have been.  Hela kills a lot of Asgardians and those scenes were exquisite and powerful.  Now, cut to Thor and Hulk trading quips.  Or, how about Thor and Loki being cute with each other?  Kind of takes something away from the dire nature of the events taking place.  Don't misunderstand.  I'm not saying the whole endeavor should be a dour experience.  Then you would have Zack Snyder's Man of Steel.  But, if there was ever a time for a Marvel film to be heavy, this would have been it.  Especially considering the choice Thor has to ultimately make regarding Asgard's fate.

Another thing I found somewhat odd.  Could a monarch as powerful as Odin have had a more ignominious end?  Seriously, think about this.  He's deposed at the end of Thor:  The Dark World by Loki (still not completely sure what went down there).  Loki puts him in an old folks home on Earth.  He wanders off to Norway.  Then he leaves unleashing the greatest evil Asgard has ever known for his kids to clean up.  Again, weird and undignified.  At least Yoda got a proper deathbed.  Does the Lord of Asgard deserve any less?

On a minor note, what happened to Sif?  I leave it open to the possibility that I may have missed something here, but, was she even mentioned?  I never saw her in the film. Was Jamie Alexander not available?  I realize she was a supporting character, but, she was at least as significant as the Warriors Three (Fandral, Hogan, and Volstagg) and they were at least around all of 30 seconds.  She's a significant part of the Thor mythos.  She should have been there.

I'll tell you who wasn't there that I'm absolutely ecstatic about.  Ragnarok was gloriously devoid of human characters (unless you count the Hulk or the delightful lunacy of the Doctor Strange cameo).  More than anything else, it was the Jane Fosters, Darcys, and Dr. Solvegs, of the Thor universe that made the first two chapters not what they should have been.  So, three points to Waititi for addition by subtraction.  Kind of think Ragnarok would have been greater without  Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster, too, to be honest.  His creepy weirdness front and center was a bit of a misstep in casting for me.

Let me reiterate.  I liked Ragnarok, but, not so much as a Thor movie.  This would have been a perfect tone for something say, in the vain of Guardians of the Galaxy.  Of course I realize that I'm probably being an old comic book curmudgeon about this because the press on the movie has been outstanding.  I also understand that this series may not be made with someone like me in mind as Thor was not a household name before 2011.   But, the best Thor stories that I've known in my life have a certain regal, epic quality that I have yet to see from this series.  Another reason Ragnarok didn't completely resonate with me?  This felt more like a sneaky Hulk movie than it should have.  The whole act on Sakaar was straight out of the Planet Hulk comic story from 2006.  Again.  Good story.  For the Hulk.  But, you can't just sprinkle a few Asgardians in and say it's Thor either.  The Thor story I wanted to see more was the actual Avengers Disassembled arc from earlier in the millennium when Ragnarok actually felt like Ragnarok.  There were feelings of loss, sacrifice, nobility, and maybe Thor's greatest triumph on display.  Thor ultimately came to the same conclusion in that story as he did onscreen.  But, the comic story made you think, "Wow, that really happened."  This one makes you think, "Wait, how did Battlestar Galactica become part of this?"

On a final note, I hope the ending of Ragnarok is extrapolated into the "King Thor" story in the next phase of Marvel movies (provided Thor survives Infinity War).  How off the wall would it be to see the Odinson as the next big bad in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?  If you're not familiar with it, I would suggest finding that story in a graphic novel if you can.  Needs to happen.  Kevin Feige, I'm available.  Let's talk.

I don't even know if I need to do this, but, as a PSA, there's one mid-credit scene (the important one) and an end credit scene (an inconsequential one).  Honestly, if you have to be told this when you're watching a Marvel Studios movie, then hang your head in shame.  I have a strong suspicion that the mid-credit one plays a role in the Infinity War.

And, if you haven't guessed, I still don't believe we've seen the definitive Thor onscreen yet.

The Dark Lord of the Sith says:

*** stars

Ratings Legend*= Don't waste your time. Pure dreck! Dreck is too good for this! Blind me please!
1 *= Fuggedaboutit!
2 *= Average, Mediocre, Nothing Special
3 *= Worth a look.  Better than a poke in the eye.
4 *= Great. I'm doing my happy dance!
5 *= Pure eye candy. I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good