Spiderman: Homecoming

2017’s Spiderman: Homecoming, directed by Jon Watts.

Starring Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Robert Downey Jr, Jacob Batalon, Marissa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Donald Glover, Laura Harrier, Bokeem Woodbine, Chris Evans, and Jennifer Connelly.

What is it about?

Spiderman: Homecoming takes the web crawling character of Peter Parker (Tom Holland), as introduced in Captain America: Civil War. Peter lives with his widowed Aunt May (Marissa Tomei), and attends high school with his buddy, Ned (Jacob Batalon). Stifled by an unchallenging environment surrounding him and petrified of his crush, (Laura Harrier), Peter lives for the evenings when he can don his spider suit and fight crime. Eager to impress Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) and his right hand man, Happy (Jon Favreau), Peter stumbles across alien technology scavenged from the New York attack in The Avengers. Retrofitted by a gang lead by the Vulture (Michael Keaton), Peter has to convince a skeptical Tony that he is worthy of being a responsible Avenger, while figuring out how to stop the Vulture- who’s motivations remain rather earth bound. Can Spiderman catch thieves like flies?

Why is it worth seeing?

Spiderman: Homecoming is the 4^th movie in Phase 3 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Disney’s declaration of dominance over blockbusters as we know them. After his nimble introduction in Civil War, Tom Holland proves a capable Spider Man who’s youthfulness and naivete is endearing, even if the army of screenwriters (6!) create something that is uneven fun.

It’s safe to say that Spiderman has been done to death- even for the Marvel universe. With the eccentric Raimi helmed Spiderman 1, 2, and 3, lead by a strange Tobey Maguire, and the Marc Webb directed (anti) Amazing Spiderman 1 and 2, Homecoming mercifully saves us the introductory footage of Peter being bit by a radioactive spider to gain his powers. We get it. The film explains it in a single line, and moves on, something the DC universe doesn’t seem to understand when endlessly explaining Batman’s origins. Instead, we get to watch Peter experience his high school years, which are well told in the sense that they are not as golden as perhaps they could be (some sequences involving teachers “teaching” are inspired). It’s a welcome change from the formula.

The same goes for Mary Jane, Peter’s long time ignored girlfriend. Absent from Peter’s routine, we’re free to focus on Peter’s friend, Ned. Part fan boy, part friend, and all hilarious, Ned’s line on computer usage while on a mission is memorable. It’s nice to see Peter having a friend that isn't trying to kill him. That, and he has an older uncle like figure he desperately wants approval from.

Another strength is in the villain, the Vulture, played by Michael Keaton. Again straying from the formula, Keaton’s motivations blessedly don’t include global domination, infinity stones, or control of the universe. As a middle aged man construction worker who gets spurned by Tony Stark after the New York Chitauri attack, he doesn’t want revenge- just a chance. He’s just rigging the game so it’s more in his favour. The why of what he does is what makes him so relatable. Keaton’s down to earth menace speak much louder than some thing with energy shooting out of its (not) face.

All of the freshness of the teen years and strong characters, eventually give way to Marvel’s formula, and having so many writers makes the movie feel uneven. The least interesting parts of the movie involve the combat scenes, especially in a dull climax. I’m also not clear how Tony wants Peter to join the Avengers when they don’t really exist any more- they work for the government due to the Sakovia Accords, introduced in the last Captain America. Well, you know what they say when it comes to Spidermen films- the 6^th time’s a charm. And building an unassailable franchise machine through its smaller components is part of the larger game.

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.

Captain America: Civil War

2016’s Captain America: Civil War, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Chadwick Boseman, Daniel Brühl, Tom Holland, William Hurt, Emily VanCamp, Paul Rudd, Frank Grillo, and Martin Freeman.

What is it about?

Taking place after the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant Man, we reunite with the Avengers team. On mission in Africa, the group has to neutralize a villain, last seen in Captain America: the Winter Soldier. While successful, the group accidentally incurs collateral damage on the population, which brings up demands of government mandated direction over the super powered team and its individual members. Lead by former General and Secretary of State Ross (William Hurt, last seen in The Incredible Hulk), the pressure to conform to the state’s demands splinters the team in half. With Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) feeling guilt over his historically cavalier results, he leads half of the Avengers, representing the pro government sanction side. Eager to maintain their freedom to make choices for their own consciences, Captain America (Chris Evans) rallies the remainder of the team to fight back for their rights. With an ex-Hydra agent (Daniel Bruhl) unlocking the secrets to the Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan)’s mind via sabotage, will the Avengers still exist when it is all said and done?

Why is it worth seeing?

Captain America: Civil War is the 1st film of the Phase 3 stage of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which is parent company Disney’s declaration of war against non blockbusters. Fresh off of their paranoia inspired, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directors Anthony and Joe Russo return to highlight more country hopping superheroes stanzas, where the heroes grapple with their roles in an ever changing global mixture of subterfuge and entropy. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and while things can strain a little, it’s a lot of fun- and sad.

Essentially the third Avengers movie, we get to (re-meet) a slew of characters- and, in the interest of MCU expansion, some new ones too. Even with some members of the Avengers missing, there’s a LOT of characters to cover here. Back stories are explored, new wrinkles introduced, and new characters are introduced for future stand alone/team up films in the future. While the amount of ground to cover is quite ambitious, it’s kind of ridiculous that it works at all- being extremely re-watchable will do that for you.

One of the challenges with comic book films is the onus required to have a captivating villain. It is very hard to make a galvanizing film when the villain isn’t compelling by being relatable. Civil War removes this issue, and hedges its bets by having the heroes battle each other. While there’s a traditional villain (Bruhl, coldly efficient) to set the plan in motion, and the State Secretary Ross (Hurt)’s representation of government(s) that are shadowy threats against freedom- the largest amount of drama is between the 2 halves of the Avengers. It’s the right move, and we get to watch disagreements be solved through good old fashioned arc reactor super soldier serum powered fisticuffs.

As in The Winter Soldier, the Russo brothers craft a movie that has plenty of espionage moments (there's a lot of globe hopping) and chase sequences, on top of the super powered brawling. Their fight choreography is on par, as evidenced by the thrill of the Airport scene. On top of the action chops, they also bring a refreshing amount of humanity to a world that feels anything but. It’s for these reasons that it’s no surprise that they will be directing the Avengers: Infinity Wars movies.

Civil War brings about the beginning of the end for the project that has been building since at least 2008- that of the dissolution of the Avengers. With all things coming to an end, it’s difficult to not feel the depths of emotion from watching an unprecedented experiment begin to unfurl. While we have not seen the last of the Avengers, they remain divided, their spirits damaged, and forever changed. Isn’t that the law of things? As the Vision character has said, “A thing is not beautiful because it lasts”.

Although it is somewhat ungainly and overlong, Civil War is also filled with a slew of colourful characters, crisp action, consistent tone, funny moments, and the seeds of an end few will see coming (check those contracts people). Civil War is constantly at threat of drowning itself with expectations- it’s a small miracle that it works at all. It cements the Captain America franchise as the most stable and consistent of the stand alone films. Sounds like Cap all right.

Rating:

4/5

Trailer: Click Here.

Doctor Strange

2016's "Doctor Strange", directed by Scott Derrickson.

Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Benedict Wong, Michael Stuhlbarg, Benjamin Bratt, and Scott Adkins.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (Stephane Ceretti, Richard Bluff, and Paul Corbould).

What is it about?

Doctor Strange is the origin story of Steven Strange, hot shot neurosurgeon whose talents are almost as immense as his ego. While distractedly driving his lamborghini, he suffers a career ending injury. Stripped of the physical talents that he needs to manifest his potent mind, he desperately heads to Nepal to seek help. He meets up with a group of enlightened cosmological masters: Wong (Benedict Wong), Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton)- who teach him the tricks of the metaphysical trade. He’ll need them to protect the world from the ex communicated Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) and his gang, themselves taking orders from Dormammu, lord of the dark dimension. With Strange typically preferring to look out for himself, will he be able to stretch his chakras to care for others to save the universe?

Why is it worth seeing?

Doctor Strange is the 2^nd film of Phase 3 of Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU), Disney’s attempts to create blockbusters that are as involved and interconnected as the comic book series that they come from. Given that this is the 14^th movie in the MCU, Doctor Strange has 1 thing to offer that the previous entries don’t: its character’s powers don’t influence their fighting, so much as their environment and time itself.

Nominated for an Academy Award for their efforts, the visual team of Stephane Ceretti, Richard Bluff, and Paul Corbould create something here that differs from the usual earthbound scenes that the previous MCU films offer. While some of the scenes take place in psychedelic areas not of this world, there are other scenes that take place on our earth that resemble M.C. Escher inspired scenes from Inception- as filtered through an’ Ayahuasca experience. It’s a mind altering respite from previous punch fests.

With our terra firma revealed as not being so firm, just who are these characters standing/floating over it? Cumberbatch, who retains his talent at playing detached and cerebral, doesn’t have much opportunity to show his demons- just what are the less attractive things that motivate him to use his photographic memory to get a PhD and MD at the same time? Same for Mikkelson, who’s character traffics in heavy eye shadow but rarely reveals his inspiration as a magical hatchet man for a world destroying entity. Finally, the soul of the film, Tilda Swinton’s Ancient One, has wise intentions- but a complex past that the film skirts around. Does the light side need the dark in order to thrive?

With great sideline talents such as Rachel McAdams and Michael Stuhlbarg largely wasted (it makes you wish for the modest successes of other bit players such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Natalie Portman’s ancillary love interests), the film’s narrative also betrays an impatience. Does the film really care about its characters and motivations? Or is this merely window dressing until the next team up? I lean towards the latter.

With fantastic special effects and time bending powers that are out of this world, it’s a pity that Doctor Strange is in such a hurry to leave it's own world. Maybe that's the real time loop film-goers are stuck in- a never ending series of origin stories all feeding into team ups.

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.

Ant Man

2015’s Ant Man, directed by Peyton Reed.

Starring Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Anthony Mackie, Judy Greer, Hayley Atwell, Abby Ryder Fortson, and Martin Donovan.

 

What is it about?

Ant Man stars Paul Rudd as a divorced father freshly released from jail. Convicted with high tech burglary crimes, he struggles to get on the straight and narrow so he can have access to his daughter (Abby Ryder Fortson), whom is cared for by his dismissive ex-wife (Judy Greer) and cop boyfriend (Bobby Cannavale). Broke and prospect less, Rudd falls back into a burglary job recommended by his buddy (Michael Pena). After some impressive safe cracking, Rudd discovers a suit that can compress particles to make its wearer ant sized and possess ant-like strength. Mentored by the suit’s inventor (Michael Douglas), Rudd works with Douglas’ daughter (Evangeline Lilly) to steal a similar suit from a technological rival (Corey Stoll)- who wants to market his suits to the Hydra agency to get rich. Will Rudd be able to master his new powers to stop Stoll’s plans?

Why is it worth seeing?

Ant Man is the 6^th and final film in the Phase 2 stage of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), which is parent company Disney’s declaration of theatrical domination. With 11 films of the MCU already established and inter connected (save Guardians), Ant Man attempts to introduce yet another super hero- and to keep things fresh, goes all in on the comedic aspects, with mixed results.

Writers Edgar Wright, Adam McKay, Joe Cornish, and double duty star Paul Rudd, bring considerable comic background and inject it into the super hero origin story archetype. The result is a film that feels at times more like a comedy than a comic book movie, with mixed results. When the jokes connect (the physical gag about Thomas the Train and a supersized ant in particular are inspired), all is well, but the rest of the time the unevenness reveals something missing.

Douglas’ character keeps things grounded as he introduces us to Ant Man’s world, but the results of the attraction between Rudd and Lilly are as predictable as it gets, and the message from the characters to Rudd about “being the person your daughter thinks you are” leaves a lot of be desired. Ditto for Stoll, as a villain who is as forgettable as he is (sometimes) micro sized.

What’s not missing is the unique action mayhem. All of the requisite Marvel touches are here, as Ant Man embraces Iron Man’s love of technology and shrinks things down to particle size, as Rudd’s character cannonballs back and forth between human scale and ant sized. Small but potent, here’s an interesting character to add to an increasingly populated universe.

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.

The Avengers- Age of Ultron

2015’s The Avengers: Age of Ultron, written and directed by Joss Whedon.

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, James Spader, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

What is it about?

The Avengers: Age of Ultron takes place at some point after the events of Captain America: The WinterSoldier. Back to fight agents of evil such as Hydra/S.H.I.E.L.D (just google it), we reunite with the potent combined force of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Hawkeye, and the Black Widow. While recovering Loki’s scepter (last seen in The Avengers), a potential artificial intelligence program is found. Tony Stark’s dream of protecting the planet from alien threats with a defence program called Ultron is then activated. However, Ultron turns out to be hostile, identifying human beings as the greatest threat to the survival of the planet- and attacks the Avengers. With a body of vibranium metal, an army of robots, 2 enhanced lackeys, Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), and almost all of the wit of Downey Jr, can the Avengers prevent an age of Ultron without destroying themselves first?

Why is it worth seeing?

The Avengers: Age of Ultron is the 5^th film in the Phase 2 stage of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Marvel’s ground breaking experiment in film franchise blockbusters. With the previous stand alone films as well as the original Avengers, by this point there was a fair amount of hype surrounding an Avengers sequel- and at times the baggage that came with being a world conquering franchise threatens to make the film buckle.

Writer/Director Joss Whedon, who afterwards said he would not be returning to The Avengers franchise, seemed to be of 2 worlds. Wedged between his desire to make zippy banter between dysfunctional family members (who happen to have super powers), and the studio’s wishes to have lots of characters and things that go boom, lies a compromised film that is uneven and has tons of questionable scenes that at times can feel like the results of focus groups.

There are a few moments where the group get together that recall past glory days. Just watching the heroes hang out and bicker, to show some growth over the past multiples of movies, to shoot the shit, and revisit the magic chemistry of part 1- it’s a delight. However, the obligatory action scenes and naked cave visits are contributions from the studio that show that they are better at checklists and stock offerings, and not so much the creative process. Particularly obnoxious is where the Gwyneth Paltrow and Natalie Portman characters’ absences are explained via throwaway dialogue.

Explaining the absence of under utilized characters hardly feels necessary, in a film overstuffed with characters, both new and old. Meanwhile, in an effort to introduce the Quicksilver and Scarlett Witch super beings, we see that a different franchise (Fox) already got the character as good as it gets, and it’s still not clear what the Witch’s powers really are. “She’s weird” explains one hero. As well, while the character of Ultron is no stiff, he’s more calculation and circuitry than fleshed out and… human. While he displays moments of emotion that betray his logical precision, it all feels lighter than vibranium, the Wakanda sourced metal that various characters use.

While it’s tough to not be energized by the introduction of a Hulkbuster (another of Tony’s endless impossible inventions), the movie’s opening scene of clumsy CGI and almost incomprehensible action has a feeling not before seen at this point in the MCU: the thrill is gone.

Rating:

3/5

Trailer: Click Here.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

2014’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo.

Starring Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johannson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Robert Redford, Cobie Smulders, Emily VanCamp, and Frank Grillo.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (Dan DeLeeuw, Russell Earl, Bryan Grill, and Daniel Sudick).

What is it about?

Captain America: The Winter Soldier picks up in present day America. Captain Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) is adjusting to present day life (after being frozen since the 1940’s), with mixed results. He continues to operate as a soldier for S.H.I.E.L.D (just google it), along with espionage expert, the Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson). After the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Samuel L. Jackson) is killed by a mysterious combatant named the Winter Soldier (played by Sebastian Stan), Evans, Johannson, and newcomer Falcon (played by Anthony Mackie) go on the run. In a race to get to the bottom of a conspiracy that makes it impossible to trust anyone or anything, will they stay alive long enough to find the truth?

Why is it worth seeing?

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is the third film of Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel’s unprecedented film franchise experiment. With directors Anthony and Joe Russo at the helm, Soldier combines nifty fight scenes with paranoid 70’s era thriller vibes, through the lens of a comic book movie. While a movie about a thawed super soldier hardly qualifies as a documentary- the results feel more realistic than other Marvel movies featuring electric metal suits, lightning gods, and green rage giants.

With Evans’ super soldier the last remaining remnant of America’s “greatest generation”, he must adjust to how politics and ideology have changed in the next millennium. But how does one do that when alliances and agendas are constantly changing? It’s hard enough to fit in when you hot wire cars to “borrow” them, and insist people take their feet off of the dashboard- you're the last of a dying breed. Even watching Evans interact with an old friend, racked with age appropriate dementia/Parkinson’s-like symptoms, makes him a lot more sympathetic than most movies of this nature. Assuming he figures out why, just whom is he fighting for?

As an antagonist, Robert Redford’s character is more relevant today than ever, a powerful shadow figure who wants to tear the past down to make room for something else. Rooted in ideology that refuses to account for messy business like democracy and freedom, his teflon coated chicanery just could have more endurance than the super powered Evans.

But when the paranoia and isolated journeys of writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely aren’t being felt, the Russo brothers prove themselves adept at punching together fight scenes. In particular, the elevator disagreement may be the best cramped space-fight scene ever made- even if Cap’s shield isn’t much of a parachute.

While the logistics of Floating Battleships that target civilian populations betrays the intelligence and immersion of its world building, Winter Soldier plays out more like, Bourne Identity, than say, Superman- and is the better for it. It creates a world full of enhanced humans, and then plunks them here on earth, where super powers blur with super fears, and bravery is matched ably by paranoia and cowardice. Unless we’re talking about stunt doubles.

Rating:

4/5

Trailer: Click Here.

Thor: The Dark World

2013’s Thor: The Dark World, directed by Alan Taylor.

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Christopher Eccleston, Kat Dennings, Idris Elba, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Jaimie Alexander, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, Ray Stevenson, and Stellan Skarsgard.

What is it about?

Set after the events of The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World returns the Norse based demi god Thor (Chris Hemsworth) back to the Kindgom of Asgard, located in the 9 realms. After his earth based shenanigans, Thor’s (adopted) brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), is imprisoned for his crimes. With the 9 realms about to experience a rare event called the convergence, random portals begin to pop up all around the universe. Thor’s squeeze, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), falls through one of the portals, and is infected with a powerful symbiotic substance called The Aether. In pursuit of the Aether, is Dark Elf Malekith (Christopher Eccleston), who will destroy the 9 realms if he were to obtain the Aether. After an attack on his planet leaves him with few options, Thor releases Loki, in the hopes of teaming up to save Jane Foster and the 9 realms from destruction. Will Thor and his group be successful in their quest- and can Loki be trusted?

Why is it worth seeing?

Thor: The Dark World is the 2^nd film in Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Marvel’s run at (film based) world domination. We get to know well established characters better, and return to the cosmos jumping mythology of Thor, who certainly gets around. Unfortunately, Dark World also returns to the original’s transgressions of a Green Screen oriented Uncanny Valley, and possesses a lightness that makes it tough to forge an impression.

Right smack dab in the middle of the film runs amok the character of Malekith, portrayed by a massively over qualified Christopher Eccleston. Similar to the efforts of Colm Feore in the past installment, he exists to wear coloured contact lenses and growl in elvish. Other than being a blast from the past, it’s not clear why he has an axe to grind- even if he doesn’t have the axe. Instead, he prefers to shoot CGI vapour, which feels fitting- light and inconsequential. His presence only illuminates how much more interesting things are when the trickster Loki is the main opponent- which only The Avengers seems to get.

While Asgard isn’t much of a place, it’s absolutely 3 dimensional when compared to Svartalfheim (huh?). It’s this installment’s version of Jotunheim- the last film’s no man’s land. Do creatures, like, live there? Surely it has more purpose than a dimly lit battleground- it seems like a place to get photographs of you and your ex-partner getting divorced?

After being lazily written out of the MCU’s last film, Portman returns and despite not having super powers, does more than sit on the side lines and wail in distress. Indeed, the supporting earth based characters all seem to have more vitality, wit, and humour than the main event characters from comic based Oz. There’s no wizard to conjure some pathos here, or maybe you don’t need one if the secret to the humour with the Valhalla fearing crowd is forgetting your pants.

While it’s fun to watch Thor and Loki continue to feud, the earth scenes have more authenticity to them than the previous film, and the interstellar journey’s transportation continue to bathe us in loud bursts of rainbow colour, one wishes that the film’s effect on the viewer was similar to the crop circles left behind by the inter-dimensional teleportation- able to leave an impression.

 

Rating:

3/5

Trailer: Click Here.

Iron Man 3

2012’s Iron Man 3, written and directed by Shane Black.

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Guy Pierce, Gwyneth Paltrow, James Badge Dale, Rebecca Hall, Don Cheadle, Ty Simpkins, Ben Kingsley, Jonathan Favreau, and Paul Bettany.

Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash, and Daniel Sudick).

What is it about?

Taking place shortly after the events of The Avengers, Iron Man 3 returns us to the world of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr), now suffering the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Flooded by memories he doesn’t care for, Tony turns inwards and works obsessively towards improving his combat suit technology. The resulting lack of attention to his tech company and loved ones such as Piper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow), accelerates his anxiety attacks. Meanwhile, a terrorist named The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), who has been attacking American sites with bombs that don’t seem to have any bomb-like mechanisms or evidence, declares war on the impulsive Tony. With his mental health fragile, will Tony be able to grow past his limitations to combat the Mandarin and grow as a human being?

Why is it worth seeing?

Iron Man 3 is the first film of phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Marvel’s (mostly successful) attempt to take over multiplexes as we know them. With the 2 stand alone Iron Man films, combined with Iron Man’s co-leader role in the Avengers team up already completed, Iron Man 3’s greatest accomplishment is its innovation. Instead of more of the same, director/co-writer Shane Black was brought on board, and Tony’s tech based character takes on new wrinkles in a more sardonic environment.

Some of Shane Black’s peccadilloes are on full display here: the Christmas setting (Lethal Weapon, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and The Nice Guys), the helicopter attacks, and the voice over narration. But hands on the most Black-ian element is the cynical humour of the characters that runs throughout the film. From unimpressed town locals to soon-to-be unemployed henchmen, it’s a welcome and hilarious change from the usual Marvel wheelhouse of corporate checkboxes.

With Black attempting something different, while we do see Tony attempting to improve his suit technology, it’s biggest mission statement is to see who Tony is behind the suit, and, without it. Here is the rebuttal to Captain America’s comments to Tony in The Avengers, about who he is without (all of) his technological enhancements. After a lot of comic book MCU mayhem, it’s great to see the focus on a human being instead of a metal suit.

Unfortunately, Black’s innovation eventually has to give way to both Black’s limitations, as well as studio expectations. While there is a stunning skydiving sequence, all of the previously mentioned more personal touches in Tony’s arc eventually give way to big battle sequences, particularly in the climax. While somewhat exciting, it makes things uneven, as we watch Tony almost take on a uncle-like role with a stranger, and then abandon its potential in favour of cynicism and paint by numbers formula. Despite that, Iron Man 3 is a healthy bounce back from Iron Man 2, and is one of the more unique MCU films. Will MCU honour the change that has happened here?

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.