Captain America: Civil War Review

 Synopsis: Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps-one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark's surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

 Review: "Captain America: Civil War" is not only the best "Captain America" movie yet, but it may just be at the very top of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, due to it's emotionally satisfying themes. That may seem like extremely high praise, so I will explain why I believe that to be true, as well as why I think this is the most mature Marvel film to date. Loosely following the events of both "Captain America: The Winter Solider" and "Avengers: Age of Ultron," while still harking back to previous films from this universe, this 13th installment in the ever growing Marvel Cinematic Universe, follows the team on different paths as they are once again pulled together.

Opening the film in the past, audiences will be given a look into the life of the Winter Soldier, as his character will later have the biggest impact on the story at hand. Flash forward to the Avengers. The team is realizing that the events from the past have killed many innocent lives in the process and they must decide whether or not they want to sign the "Sokovia Accords" and be restrained by the government, and only released when called upon. This divides the team stronger than ever before, creating friction as to what the right move truly is. Then arrives the Winter Soldier. Still brainwashed, Bucky causes Steve to go after him (a fugitive), thus sparking the war of family and friendship within the team. This is just the basis. There are many levels to this picture, including the addition of Zemo as the side villain.

This character served a very pivotal role in my opinion and definitely does not deserve the flack he is receiving. Daniel Bruhl is terrific in everything he is in and he only justified that more with this character. Without giving anything away, his character is involved with the heart of the story and is the reason for many actions/motivations. This review has been very dour so far and that is due to the fact that the entire first act of this film is extremely sad, but enjoyably so. Unlike certain unnamed films, this has a very light tone which elevates enough of the somber moments, making for a very balanced film throughout.

Speaking of the light tone, the addition of "Ant-Man" and "Spider-Man" was absolutely fantastic and needed for this depressing story. It is hard to watch the character having to fight each other, especially when you have come to love them over the last eight years, so it was necessary to include some fun. Paul Rudd is great once again, "fanboying" out just like audiences, and his action sequences are nothing short of crowd-pleasing. That being said, "Spider-Man" is still the standout here. Tom Holland gets a very solid introduction as to who he is, where he has been, and how he got his spider abilities. The chemistry between Peter and Tony was masterful and I could not get enough of it. "Spider-Man" steals the show with his contribution and I can not wait to see more of him in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" next year.

Within two scenes of meeting "Black Panther," they are able to establish his past, why he is present, and what his motives are, as far as siding with "Iron Man" goes. No, he does not have a clear side, but that is for specifics that can not be discussed here. Chadwick Boseman is great, his action sequences are terrific, and the set-up for his future film definitely makes me want to check it out. It may seem like this review is overly character-driven, but that is exactly what this film is all about. Developing character in characters you thought you had already known from front to back. The excessive amount of layers in this film work in many more ways than one.

Iron Man 3: Review

Synopsis: Marvel's "Iron Man 3" pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?

Review: "Iron Man 3" does what most third entries in movie franchise don't do, turns in a great movie. This holds up very nicely next to the previous 2 installments, and I'd say it's probably better than "Iron Man 2" and about the same as the first movie. Here, Tony Stark(Robert Downey Jr.) is haunted by the events of the Avengers and finds himself obsessing over creating and perfecting new suits. He is constantly trying to figure out new way to protect Pepper(Gwyneth Paltrow), and make the suits better and better. Then he placed in the cross hairs of a terrorist called the Mandarin(Ben Kingsley). Going any further than that would be a disservice to anyone who hasn't seen the movie, because there are quite a few surprises and twists, that I didn't see coming at all. Very unconventional super hero movie, which is great because it's a true breathe of fresh air. It's not your typical good guy vs. bad guy movie in a lot of ways. All the performances are great, and it really leaves you with a sense of "how are they gonna do another one?!" Marvel is battling a thousand when it comes to their movies and they continue that streak here. This is the first must see movie of the Summer and a great way to kick off the summer movie season. Also, stay after the credits, it's pretty awesome. 

Film Review: Dredd

 

Synopsis: The future America is an irradiated waste land. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC, lies Mega City One- a vast, violent metropolis where criminals rule the chaotic streets. The only force of order lies with the urban cops called "Judges" who possess the combined powers of judge, jury and instant executioner. Known and feared throughout the city, Dredd (Karl Urban) is the ultimate Judge, challenged with ridding the city of its latest scourge - a dangerous drug epidemic that has users of "Slo-Mo" experiencing reality at a fraction of its normal speed.

Review: This was an excellent film, truly banishes the memory of the piss poor Stallone film. And ignore all that crap about it being a copy of the Raid, it was produced, written and filmed before that and its not trying to be the same film anyway. A superbly filmed action sci-fi movie that ain't for the faint hearted.  

Movie Review: Ted

Synopsis: Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane brings his boundary-pushing brand of humor to the big screen for the first time as writer, director and voice star of Ted. In the live action/CG-animated comedy, he tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish...and has refused to leave his side ever since.

Review: If you’re easily offended, then give it a miss. But you will be overlooking this summer’s biggest comedy hit, which has many hilarious moments. The central joke is that Ted may have started off cute, but grows into a disreputable, pot-smoking, lascivious layabout. Seth MacFarlane voices the bear like a Bostonian Danny DeVito, with a string of sexist, racially offensive, scatological gags.

For about half-an-hour, it’s a hoot to hear these things said by a  teddy.  It’s also fun to hear a plummy-voiced English narrator (Patrick Stewart) with an evident distaste for popular culture and Hollywood garbage like the stuff he’s having to narrate.

Wahlberg proved in The Other Guys he can do comedy, and — though he’s mostly the straight man here — he, too, has his comic moments, especially in a scene where he rattles off a list of white-trash girls’ names. The jolliest scenes are ones where Wahlberg and MacFarlane can forget about plot, and seemingly improvise riffs on their weird buddy-buddy friendship.

The relationship between Wahlberg and Kunis’s characters is far weaker. Kunis has to be a nag, which seems a waste of her natural naughtiness.

And the film is too close to the oeuvre of Judd Apatow in its fear and hatred of women. It turns into just another study of a middle-aged man trying to extend adolescence.

Writer-director MacFarlane made his name with animated TV shows (Family Guy and American Dad!). They favour gags over plot, and this lets him down in a feature-length film.

The plot starts moving in ever more conventional directions. The least gripping part is an attempt to kidnap Ted by a psychopath (Giovanni Ribisi) with a creepy, overweight teenage son (Aedin Mincks), whom Ted tastelessly addresses as Susan Boyle. This thriller sub-plot is charmless, ugly and unfunny.

Its only reason for existence is that it leads to a big chase that belongs in a different movie, and reinforces the suspicion that the screenplay has run out of ideas.

Yet underlying the poor plot  and questionable humor is a Spielbergian wonder that stops things being unpleasantly offensive. The bond between man and bear is almost as touching as the one between E.T. and Elliot.

Ted may be a one-joke movie, but the joke is funny, and the special effects are so believable you forget there aren’t such things as garrulous, debauched teddy bears.

There’s nothing fluffy or adorable about Ted, but — at least for the first hour — he’s fun to be with.

Marvel unleashes 'The Avengers' secret weapons

At this point Marvel really doesn't have to do anything to promote The Avengers ahead of its release next month. They have had us from day one, but why look a gift horse in the mouth?

Today's gift comes in the very shapely form of Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow character. You know, I was always curious what Black Widow brought to the table other than to round out the group and not make it such the proverbial boys' club.

Well, now I know.

For those of you, like me, who are able to look past certain bouncing assets you will see that Black Widow is a fiercely determined fighting machine that is capable of taking out three people while tied up in a chair. Or so they tell me.

For the rest of us, it's a nice 40 second clip of ScarJo tied up wearing an unnecessarily skimpy outfit that resembles lingerie more than an actual uniform. Yep, my job is tough.

The Avengers assemble in theaters on May 4.

'Bourne' lives on with new poster and trailer

 

So, Matt Damon didn't want to make any more Jason Bourne, that's ok. The studio just went to the next actor on their list and decided to reboot the franchise.

If you think about it, the only franchise where this level of actor switching has worked is when the character in question is Bond. James Bond. So, for Universal to decide to move forward with another Bourne movie took some real cajones.

Of course, it helps when the next guy up is Jeremy Renner.

For the actor that really established himself with 2009's The Hurt Locker, 2012 is looking to be the year of Renner with not one, but two surefire blockbusters coming out this Summer. We all knew he would make a big splash in The Avengers, but we were a bit leery with The Bourne Legacy.

I mean how do you honestly step into Matt Damon's shoes? He owned that role and I've been more than skeptical about this project since it was announced.

Then today, I watched the teaser trailer for The Bourne Legacy.

First, I loved the artistic way they revealed Jeremy Renner without giving away anything. Next, I thought the idea of rebooting the franchise around Renner's character who isn't Bourne exactly, but is another soldier in the same top secret program. Theoretically, if Damon ever decides to get back into the Bourne business, both he and Renner could both headline a cross-over.

Now, that would be pretty sweet.