mcu Archives - i luv cinema

August 30, 2018 By iluvcinema 1 Comment

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

After the rather ambiguous ending of this year’s previous MCU entry (Infinity War), I hardly knew what to expect from Ant-Man and the Wasp. For instance, how would I cope with marrying the two stories which prior to my screening, I assumed would run along parallel tracks until they didn’t? Because we all know by now that these stories all fold into one another.

Also playing in the background was a part of me that will forever smart over the “might have beens” as it concerns this franchise over the loss of Edgar Wright’s creative vision. Even with that reservation, I must say, I did enjoy the first film well enough – it was entertaining and proved to me a rather pleasant and enjoyable time at the movies.

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May 29, 2018 By iluvcinema 2 Comments

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War holds a unique place in my cinematic adventures. Infinity War is a unicorn, a film that I have seen more than once in the movie theater. Admittedly, the second screening was a bit under duress although it did manage to clear up a few plot points and details. But overall it did not do much to sway my opinion.

Of course I have put it rather late to post my reaction to the film, but I think that it is still a worthwhile exercise that will serve to help me for whenever Avengers 4 comes out. And – YES – I know that the official title has been released along with a few other spoilers, but I figure it is best to leave well enough alone 🙂

Due to my delay, I will keep my recap to subheadings and short list items …

Avengers: Infinity War

Overall Thoughts on Avengers: Infinity War

I liked it. Personally I think that the Russo Brothers did a good job in gathering all of these characters and their uniquely crafted standalone stories into one cohesive story. As a person who has seen most (but not all) of the films in the MCU, I think that is a big win.
I know some are critical of the lack of full continuity with the most recent MCU entries (Thor: Ragnarok and Black Panther). For me, any incongruities are inconsequential since I expected as much – within reason. In my opinion, it is a credit to Marvel and Disney that they give each artist some leeway in how they tell the story, as long as the “big stuff” remains fairly consistent. A little ‘retconning’ it is okay with me.

Things that Worked in Avengers: Infinity War

Chris Hemsworth’s Performance. This turned out to be a pleasant surprise. His arc as Thor really ran the gambit of emotions – from the lighthearted comedy to the semi-defeated warrior who is at the end of his rope with nothing left to lose. That is quite a range to pull off in the same film and he did the thing!
Bring on the Theories! Because of where we leave the story, there are lots of unanswered questions – we know things cannot end or move “forward” in their present state. Over the past several weeks since seeing Infinity War, it has been fun, if not frustrating at times, to discuss what it all means.
A Feeling of Stakes and Consequences. The impending sense of peril and loss were quite pronounced throughout the film. It was clear that for our heroes, not only was the fate of the universe a big deal, but the personal stakes also weighed heavily in motivating their (in)actions.

Things that Did Not Work (as Well as They Should Have)

Post Credits Clip. This one has bugged me more than many others in the past. It was a direct reference to a character that I have never seen. And without any in depth knowledge of the machinations of the MCU, left me a bit perplexed.
Thanos. He just annoyed me. To the creators of Infinity War, I guess ‘mission accomplished.’ After all, the point of creating a villain is to get your audience to generally loathe them. Full marks on that account! As a baddie, Thanos comes off more like a petulant man-child wanting his own way more than anything.
Just Say No (to 3D). This does not have anything to do with the film itself, but it is worth noting. Having seen Infinity War in both cinematic dimensions, I do not think anything is ultimately lost in seeing this in 2D. The only loss I suffered was in my wallet after shelling out the extra cash for the additional ‘D’.

So that’s it. I enjoyed Avengers: Infinity War and look forward to seeing how events will unfold come May 3, 2019 (subject to change).

August 19, 2014 By iluvcinema 1 Comment

Home Viewing – Thor: The Dark World (2013)

First things first – I admit, I have yet to see any of the Thor films at the cinema. No real explanation, it just is. When I do eventually catch them, however, I must admit that I quite enjoy them; Tony Stark sums up perfectly my sentiments in this clip:

I think because of the world (that of Nordic gods) they inhabit, reaching overtly theatrical heights is no major surprise. It is a tone set in motion by “Shakespearean auteur” Kenneth Branagh in the first Thor feature. In Thor: The Dark World, we are again thrust into both worlds (Earth and Asgard).

I will spare a detailed run down of the film’s events, but just know that there is a lot of plot and subplot going on.

In the end I have to admit, I was satisfactorily entertained. It is clear that the actors are comfortable with each other, as exhibited in their banter and exchange of dialogue. This rapport brings a levity that makes this comic book adaptation all the more enjoyable.

Or perhaps, just perhaps, my enjoyment of Thor has something to do with the fact that as a ‘standalone’ franchise in the larger Marvel MCU, I had set the bar of expectation pretty low. And I don’t mean it as slight. The ingredients for a well made motion picture are there: the high theater (that straddles the line of camp) combined with very capable talent yield positive results.

For me, the standout performance is Tom Hiddleston as the ‘villain’ Loki; there is another diabolical villain in the form of Christopher Eccleston – he’s quite fine too – but I digress. Serious when he needs to be and mischievous and plotting all other times, Hiddleston seems to be having a wonderful time in the role. And that makes US have a good time, too. It will be sad that we will not be seeing him for a while. At least that frees up the actor to entertain us in other films.

In the end, does this mean I will be seeing the third installment in the theaters? I have no idea at this point; but I am confident that regardless of the platform I choose to consume it in, Thor 3 will be a film to watch.

My rating: out of five hearts.