mini review

Review: ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’

avengers age of ultron review

Avengers: Age of Ultron isn’t as dark and dreary as one might expect after watching the trailer (or several of them, for that matter), but it’s still a superb action film, even if it’s a bit too familiar for most Marvel fans craving a step in a new direction.

Like the last ensemble film, our heroes must unite (and bicker endlessly) to take down a villain related to one of the Avengers (this time, Tony Stark), culminating in an all out battle against the villain’s army (this time made of robots in the place of aliens). And unlike Avengers, there are two or three other climaxes thrown in for good measure, depending on who you ask.

This makes Age of Ultron at least “feel” much longer than its predecessor, especially previous Marvel films with only one central character, as it’s stuffed with too much action to follow on the first viewing. That makes it essential viewing for anyone somewhat familiar with the Marvel Cinematic Universe and happy about that fact, but it’s not quite the genre-defining movie we may have unwittingly expected.

And that’s OK. Age of Ultron does what Marvel movies do best: deliver some of the most spectacular action scenes possible with this generation’s lineup of iconic heroes. And that’s definitely satisfying for anyone remotely interested in the lore involved. It’s absolutely an event movie that will best be experienced by a crowded theater of super-fans giggling at every quip and jab these characters perform onscreen. But I expect it will also be a fun distraction on a slow Saturday night at home.

What makes Age of Ultron essential, however, is how remarkable it is to see this experiment continue to evolve with even richer stories for characters we thought we knew. There’s more going on in the head of Tony Stark than ever before, and that’s obviously counting three movies dedicated solely to his character arc. Several other characters are given their rightful due, specifically with Hawkeye becoming more than an irreverent archer afraid of mind-manipulation.

The romance between Hulk and Black Widow manifests early, saving it from feeling like a spurred encounter. Instead, we’re forced to wonder about the circumstances that caused it, which happened entirely offscreen. It’s not the strongest element of Ultron (that goes to the realization of Vision as a mainstay), but it’s certainly one of the riskiest. And who doesn’t want more risks from the film franchise that has it all?

Grade: A-

Review: ‘Furious 7’

furious 7

Furious 7 builds on the formula that made Fast 5 such a surprise success. It’s a fantasy action movie that happens to have cars in it, and if you’re invested in these characters already, Furious 7 finishes their story in a satisfying way.

In fact, I’d even say in terms of tone and spirit, it’s pretty much the best movie they could have made for their “one last ride.”

Everything you might hate about these movies — such as the glaring plot holes, egregious butt shots, and fifth-grade dialogue — is still there, but the slick action scenes and escalating plot points are just as prominent. I can’t say I was properly immersed in Furious 7 (I still think Fast 5 is the best of the franchise), but it held my attention admirably, considering it runs over 2 hours.

The film also pays genuine tribute to the late Paul Walker, who died tragically before they finished shooting. It was uncharacteristically emotional for these movies, but in the best way possible (one question though: Why are all the tough guys in these movies bald?)

A diverse cast brings the franchise to its roots (again), which his impressive for a franchise that has splintered off in so many different directions since 2001. Yet at the same time, there’s an attention to what makes the franchise enduring: new concepts mashed up with old thrills.

While the last few movies have focused on elaborate races, manhunts, heists, and globe-trotting missions, Furious 7 is more of a chase scene, where the heroes are the hunted for a change. Jason Statham makes his mark on the franchise as the gloomy brother of Shaw, the last film’s brother. His mission of revenge puts all of Dom’s “family” in danger, forcing them into a series of missions that will…oh, it doesn’t matter.

Make no mistake, Furious 7 certainly matches and exceeds the massive (and absurd) action set pieces  that have come to dominate these movies, with cars cruising through skyscrapers and a punch being able to create a sinkhole (seriously).

For a “Fast and Furious” movie, this new installment successfully lives up to its name.

Grade: B

Extra Credits:

  • I forgot to mention the fact that Kurt Russel plays shadowy operative “Mr. Nobody.” I’m more impressed than anything else.
  • For the first time since 2Fast 2Furious, Justin Lin isn’t the director. James Wan (The Conjuring) takes over and manages to keep the franchise ticking.
  • As expected, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Dwayne Johnson, and others return, but don’t expect that group to remain intact by the time we get an eighth of these.

Review: ‘Insurgent’

insurgent review

Divergent Series: Insurgent (or just Divergent 2: Insurgent if you want it to have a better title) tries hard to make a “great” movie out of the good first entry in this franchise, but it fails to set itself apart.

While Divergent was a familiar, but exciting, mashup of several young adult book movie tropes, Insurgent is essentially one long chase scene that relies solely on ripple effects from the first film (which wasn’t that strong to begin with).

Gone are the interesting, sometimes compelling, themes of discovering where you fit into society and the abuse of power as a consequence of obsessive classification. Instead, the movie swaps its genre — and even some of its themes — for “you are very special” ideas that feel like the easy way out for this decently built world.

Though the action scenes are excellent and the characters are worth investing into, Insurgent has a weak, convoluted narrative filled with plot holes and gaps in its story that will provoke eye-rolls. Of course, fans of the franchise will be much more forgiving, since there’s still plenty for them to love here.

Woodley herself does an admirable job of balancing her inexperience as a teenager with a thirst for violence that is welcome when she unleashes it. This time around, she has less of a physical growth that completes her training from the first film, as they instead run around and work to solve problems with resources of a previous story. This would be fine if the hero was surrounding by more interesting players.

Strangely, her chemistry with anyone but Four is a highlight, but it falls completely flat when it’s meant to count the most. Because of this, everyone from her brother to frenemy played by Miles Teller is reduced to a repeat arc of Divergent. Only the most hardcore fans of this series will find that to be entertaining, and rightfully so.

Grade: D

Rated: PG-13 (For intense violence and action throughout, some sensuality, thematic elements and brief language)

Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Miles Teller

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Directed By: Robert Schwentke

Written By: Akiva Goldsman, Brian Duffield, Mark Bomback

In Theaters: Mar 20, 2015 (Wide Release)

Runtime: 1 hr. 59 min.

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Review: ‘Cinderella’

Cinderella review

You’ve already seen this movie.

I could leave it at that, but I’ll also add that if you’ve seen  Ever After: A Cinderella Story with Drew Barrymore from 1998, then you’ve seen the entire movie.

This new live-action retelling of the fairy tale classic combines the beauty and magical whimsy of the classical animated film with the sincerity and fleshed out character development of Ever After. Oddly enough, 2015’s Cinderella surpasses neither of these movies.

It plays it safe and matches the original fairy tale formula to the letter. Nothing more, nothing less. It’s not funny, though it manages to be charming thanks to beautiful sets, inspired musical scores, and Cate Blanchett as the wicked stepmother working as an acceptable counter balance to the fresh face of Lily James (no Harry Potter jokes, please). Even Helena Bonham Carter finds a way to fit her own flavor into this mostly vapid retelling.

Everything else is sadly forgettable, but that won’t prevent Cinderella from pleasing its many fans. I just wish it could have tried a little bit harder to be a little bit more.

Cinderella mostly excels at costume design and more in-depth imaginings of crucial characters, namely the prince. No longer a side character, there’s a real story now behind who Prince Charming is and why he’s so desperate for a life love. His first meeting with Cinderella is now outside of the ball, and under more humble circumstances. This time, she’s the one who doesn’t quite know what to make of the Prince, and that’s a fun change to the original story.

There’s less focus on the misadventures of the animals, but there’s a surprisingly odd amount of anti-feminism present in Cinderella herself. Unlike previous adaptations where she at least tried to escape the clutches of her evil Stepmother, this incarnation is content to just wait for someone to rescue her. It’s a strange decision for a movie that otherwise tries harder to feel more updated.

But in the end, this is the cut and dry Cinderella story with more detail, style, and story. It’s just a shame they forgot to infuse the little substance this movie has with some classic Disney whimsy.

Grade: B

Extra Credits:

  • Director Kenneth Branagh also helmed Thor, another “B” movie that feels surprisingly empty for such a rich mythology.
  • I would argue that Branagh is overshadowed in the credits by Chris Weitz, best known for About a Boy. Unfortunately, the script here is more akin to his other film, The Golden Compass.

Review ‘Big Hero 6’

big hero 6 mini review

 

Big Hero 6 is more ambitious than it is a work of art. The characters are brilliant, but not all of them. The visuals are jaw-dropping, sometimes. In fact, the movie is sort of symbolic of Disney and Marvel’s own mashup as two major companies. They go together to create something beautiful, but sometimes you wonder if it’s better than much of anything else.

At any rate, this movie is worth your time if you at least have an undying love for animation, and where the discipline is headed for the next few years. Fans of Frozen, Wreck-it Ralph, and even Pixar movies will find something to love here, as it manages to pull off an emotional core with its story, without feeling forced (this was one of Frozen’s blatant flaws).

Even Marvel fans will get a kick out of this movie’s energy and humor, and it’s just absurd enough of an adaptation to keep fans of the comic from feeling left out. Though it’s hard to justify a Disney movie that so brazenly mixes its themes with a comic book made from such a disparate tone. You’re probably better off never knowing anything about the source material if you want to get the most out of Big Hero 6.

More superhero film than Disney film, that ends up being what holds the better parts of Big Hero 6 back, as its tale of heroes uniting to stop a vanilla threat is nothing we haven’t already seen too much of. The film’s best material surrounds the patriarchal relationship between the created and the creator, only the created serves as the father figure in this sense.

Baymax is a giant robot with a lot of charm at his disposal, and he is the heart of a movie that should have refocused on how his character develops alongside Hiro Hamada, the young inventor connected to him. Instead, the film frequently sidesteps their story in order to deliver some of the more expected superhero cliches and a rushed assembly of superhero teammates.

For a first try into the foray of Marvel animated adaptations, Big Hero 6 is still a triumph. Gorgeous visuals and stunning animation elevate the fictional location of San Fransokyo (a mash up of San Francisco and Tokyo) to heights on par with more established comic book cities. And it serves as an excellent backdrop to the adventures of a boy and his robot. It’s just too bad the final product is too much, too soon.

Grade: B