Movies Update, Marvel universe
Mar. 18th, 2019 09:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
brabbel123Well, I saw quite a lot of movies lately - movies that were new to me, if not necessarily judging from their fabrication date. So bear with me.
Iron Man 1-3 - 9, 5, 6.5 respectively
Have to say I loved the first one. When I first the first Avengers movie I hated Iron Man, so I never watched these movies. But lately, I've been on a Marvel binch, so I finally saw these 3... and I fell in love with Tony Stark. Well, he reminds me a bit of Sherlock, abrasive exterior, a bit arrogant, no people skills, all hiding a pretty fragile and vulnerable soul. The trauma aspect that's explored in Iron Man 2 and even more in part 3 contributed to my liking these movies.
To me, Iron Man remains the best of the superhero-movies. Iron Man 2 is quite a step down, with Iron Man 3 redeeming the series a bit.
Captain America - The First Avenger, Winter Soldier - 6.5 and 7.5 resp.
Of course, the first one is fun romp through the 1940s with a bit of tragedy (Bucky) and romance, including a shout back to the Stark family. But Winter Soldier definitely ups the ante. It really introduces to Shield or the Shield that's undermined by Hydra. And Bucky's fate... well, I first saw these movies without knowing Iron Man, and I loved them. I still do, but the characterization falls a bit flat. Which is of course due to the fact that they try to fill quite a few characters and background information into especially Winter Soldier. So, I think that Steve Rogers lacks a bit of depth, he's self-righteous and doesn't like bullies... but that's pretty much everything we learn about him. The few minutes actually spent on Bucky's fate interested me much more - a lovable, sociable character brainwashed, tortured, mutilated to do the enemy's bidding. Hits all my buttons.
Thor 1-3 - 6, 5, 2 resp.
I like Thor 1... it's just a popcorn-movie, nowhere near the IM or CA-movies quality-wise, but I liked Thor, I liked Loki quite fine. Thor 2 was a bit forgettable, and I simply hated Ragnarok. Could barely make it through those 2 hours, if I'm honest. I think it's the worst of the Marvel movies that I've seen so far.
The Avengers and Age of Ultron - 7, 3 resp
The first Avengers movie did its job to unite the various superheroes quite well. But that's about all it does. Age of Ultron is where it's obvious they aren't a team. Granted, I'm a Tony-girl all the way, but why does the rest of the team think it's okay to heap shit on one teammate - a teammate whose money and technology they live off? Bruce had just as much to do with the creation of Ultron as Tony... and did he get reamed out? Or attacked by Thor? And what about Wanda? She turns your worst fear against you (which also contributed to the creation of Ultron), willingly joined Hydra and let them experiment on her (and her brother)... and when she has a change of heart she's okay to join the so-called team? And Tony has to take the fall?
Black Panther - 8
I think this is a socially very important movie, starring POC not only as the heroes but also as technologically way advanced which goes against quite a few western prejudices. But still, I didn't enjoy it as much as the first IM-movie (and 2 others).
Spider-Man: Homecoming - 8
Went into watching this movie not expecting much. TBH, I watched it more out of sense of completing the set and for the Tony-scenes. But, I was pleasantly surprised by it. It's a fun ride about taking responsibility and knowing your limits... and setting yourself limits.
Dr Strange - 6.5
Loved Cumberbatch and Swinton... and the graphics of the movie. But the plot? Not so much.
Captain America: Civil War - 8.5
I think I already wrote about this one... but that was before immersing myself in the entirety of the Marvel Universe, i.e. without having seen IM... so my PoV changed quite a bit since then.
Amongst all the various action sequences (and this movie isn't lacking of those), there's the very real question of accountability... which incidentally is one of Tony's driving forces since Iron Man 1 and which clashes with Steve's belief that he knows what's right and wrong. But Tony made so many overtures to compromise, including the treatment of Bucky, and still Steve wasn't willing to budge. And what about Sharon Carter's little speech at Peggy's funeral? WTF?
And lastly, there's the small issue called The Winter Soldier. Of course, he's Steve's friend, but there were plenty of opportunities to bring him in unharmed - which even happened in Bucharest. That Zemo would get his hands on him wasn't planned on by any of the officials. If all had happened according to plan, he would have been taken in, evaluated and put on trial - and a court should have had the opportunity to preside over the question of whether he's accountable for the Winter Soldier's actions. That's how a democratic system works which Steve, out of time as he is, has lost sight of - and he has lost sight of the fact that, again, in a democratic system nobody works without accountability.
And then there's the Siberia sequence which Downey Jr just killed with the expression of his shock over witnessing his parents' murders... with the killer right beside him. His reaction was human and understandable, Steve trying to reason in that moment plainly ridiculous. Especially since I'm not sure whether Tony didn't feel more betrayed by Steve than Bucky anyway. And the letter at the end? Well, tearing apart the team, and then waiting for Tony to come groveling? WTF?
So, really loved this movie... but overall I think that Tony again got the short stick here. Both sides were relatable, but Steve's always knowing what's best for everyone quickly becomes unbearable.
Avengers: Infinity War - 7
Suffers a bit from a surplus of superheroes where only Tony, Dr Strange, the Guardians, Vision, Wanda and Thor really play a relevant role. And the time spent on Thanos' background... didn't need all that waxing about necessity and that he doesn't enjoy reducing everything by half.
Would have loved to have a real confrontation between Tony and Steve after the CW (not just the angsting over the telephone, even if that scene is one of the movie's highlights, "You broke up... like a band?") - but I hope that's just shelved for Endgame. And I do hope that the solution to the Thanos situation won't be a deus ex machina one where Captain Marvel comes and saves everyone... Would be a shame if the presumably last movie with the "old crew" ended like that with them being on the sidelines watching how incredibly awesome the new crew is.
Iron Man 1-3 - 9, 5, 6.5 respectively
Have to say I loved the first one. When I first the first Avengers movie I hated Iron Man, so I never watched these movies. But lately, I've been on a Marvel binch, so I finally saw these 3... and I fell in love with Tony Stark. Well, he reminds me a bit of Sherlock, abrasive exterior, a bit arrogant, no people skills, all hiding a pretty fragile and vulnerable soul. The trauma aspect that's explored in Iron Man 2 and even more in part 3 contributed to my liking these movies.
To me, Iron Man remains the best of the superhero-movies. Iron Man 2 is quite a step down, with Iron Man 3 redeeming the series a bit.
Captain America - The First Avenger, Winter Soldier - 6.5 and 7.5 resp.
Of course, the first one is fun romp through the 1940s with a bit of tragedy (Bucky) and romance, including a shout back to the Stark family. But Winter Soldier definitely ups the ante. It really introduces to Shield or the Shield that's undermined by Hydra. And Bucky's fate... well, I first saw these movies without knowing Iron Man, and I loved them. I still do, but the characterization falls a bit flat. Which is of course due to the fact that they try to fill quite a few characters and background information into especially Winter Soldier. So, I think that Steve Rogers lacks a bit of depth, he's self-righteous and doesn't like bullies... but that's pretty much everything we learn about him. The few minutes actually spent on Bucky's fate interested me much more - a lovable, sociable character brainwashed, tortured, mutilated to do the enemy's bidding. Hits all my buttons.
Thor 1-3 - 6, 5, 2 resp.
I like Thor 1... it's just a popcorn-movie, nowhere near the IM or CA-movies quality-wise, but I liked Thor, I liked Loki quite fine. Thor 2 was a bit forgettable, and I simply hated Ragnarok. Could barely make it through those 2 hours, if I'm honest. I think it's the worst of the Marvel movies that I've seen so far.
The Avengers and Age of Ultron - 7, 3 resp
The first Avengers movie did its job to unite the various superheroes quite well. But that's about all it does. Age of Ultron is where it's obvious they aren't a team. Granted, I'm a Tony-girl all the way, but why does the rest of the team think it's okay to heap shit on one teammate - a teammate whose money and technology they live off? Bruce had just as much to do with the creation of Ultron as Tony... and did he get reamed out? Or attacked by Thor? And what about Wanda? She turns your worst fear against you (which also contributed to the creation of Ultron), willingly joined Hydra and let them experiment on her (and her brother)... and when she has a change of heart she's okay to join the so-called team? And Tony has to take the fall?
Black Panther - 8
I think this is a socially very important movie, starring POC not only as the heroes but also as technologically way advanced which goes against quite a few western prejudices. But still, I didn't enjoy it as much as the first IM-movie (and 2 others).
Spider-Man: Homecoming - 8
Went into watching this movie not expecting much. TBH, I watched it more out of sense of completing the set and for the Tony-scenes. But, I was pleasantly surprised by it. It's a fun ride about taking responsibility and knowing your limits... and setting yourself limits.
Dr Strange - 6.5
Loved Cumberbatch and Swinton... and the graphics of the movie. But the plot? Not so much.
Captain America: Civil War - 8.5
I think I already wrote about this one... but that was before immersing myself in the entirety of the Marvel Universe, i.e. without having seen IM... so my PoV changed quite a bit since then.
Amongst all the various action sequences (and this movie isn't lacking of those), there's the very real question of accountability... which incidentally is one of Tony's driving forces since Iron Man 1 and which clashes with Steve's belief that he knows what's right and wrong. But Tony made so many overtures to compromise, including the treatment of Bucky, and still Steve wasn't willing to budge. And what about Sharon Carter's little speech at Peggy's funeral? WTF?
And lastly, there's the small issue called The Winter Soldier. Of course, he's Steve's friend, but there were plenty of opportunities to bring him in unharmed - which even happened in Bucharest. That Zemo would get his hands on him wasn't planned on by any of the officials. If all had happened according to plan, he would have been taken in, evaluated and put on trial - and a court should have had the opportunity to preside over the question of whether he's accountable for the Winter Soldier's actions. That's how a democratic system works which Steve, out of time as he is, has lost sight of - and he has lost sight of the fact that, again, in a democratic system nobody works without accountability.
And then there's the Siberia sequence which Downey Jr just killed with the expression of his shock over witnessing his parents' murders... with the killer right beside him. His reaction was human and understandable, Steve trying to reason in that moment plainly ridiculous. Especially since I'm not sure whether Tony didn't feel more betrayed by Steve than Bucky anyway. And the letter at the end? Well, tearing apart the team, and then waiting for Tony to come groveling? WTF?
So, really loved this movie... but overall I think that Tony again got the short stick here. Both sides were relatable, but Steve's always knowing what's best for everyone quickly becomes unbearable.
Avengers: Infinity War - 7
Suffers a bit from a surplus of superheroes where only Tony, Dr Strange, the Guardians, Vision, Wanda and Thor really play a relevant role. And the time spent on Thanos' background... didn't need all that waxing about necessity and that he doesn't enjoy reducing everything by half.
Would have loved to have a real confrontation between Tony and Steve after the CW (not just the angsting over the telephone, even if that scene is one of the movie's highlights, "You broke up... like a band?") - but I hope that's just shelved for Endgame. And I do hope that the solution to the Thanos situation won't be a deus ex machina one where Captain Marvel comes and saves everyone... Would be a shame if the presumably last movie with the "old crew" ended like that with them being on the sidelines watching how incredibly awesome the new crew is.
