Thor (2011).
This movie, I like it! Another! *smashes movie on the ground*
I'd never read a Thor comic, nor had I been following this movie's progression until a trailer was released, the first of which I didn’t think was great, but the second of which I thought looked promising. To my surprise, this film turned out to be one of my favourite comic book films ever. The story’s interesting without being overly convoluted, starting in an unlikely place as we meet astrophysicist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who works alongside scientists, Darcy (Kat Dennings) and Selvig (Stellan Skarsgård), and she makes a memorable first impression as she accidentally hits Thor (Chris Hemsworth) with her car (on more than one occasion). He's been cast out of Asgard for going against the wishes of his father, Odin (Anthony Hopkins), and picking fights with the Frost Giants. Meanwhile, his devious brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) is plotting against him (which Odin
really should’ve seen coming, as having two sons and telling them that only ‘one’ can be King never ends well).
Aussie actor Chris Hemsworth (who did a lot with a little in 2009’s
Star Trek) is easily likeable in the role, not only meeting the physical requirements of a god, but also displaying a comedic side and at the same time proving himself capable of selling the more serious/dramatic moments (there were two scenes which stood out to me. The first being his fight with his father just before he’s banished, which felt like a very *real* father/son argument, as Thor clearly realizes he’s gone too far after insulting his dad. The other moment was a particularly emotional one once Thor is delivered some devastating news by his manipulative trickster of a brother whilst being stuck on Earth without his powers. Hemsworth really sells that despite his bravado, Thor is just a son who misses home and cares about his father even when he doesn’t see eye-to-eye with him. It was a very underrated scene, I felt).
I, for one, felt Natalie Portman's Jane Foster wasn’t the typical dull 'love interest' role that seems to plague a lot of comic book movies. She’s intelligent and actually has a lighter side than most love interests, thankfully not being dead serious all the time. She's ably supported by Skårsgard (this is the first time I've liked him in a role) and Dennings (who steals every scene she's in as Darcy, bringing some genuinely amusing humour to the film). While it would have been easy for the scenes set on Earth to feel ‘slower’/more ’boring’ than those set in Asgard, it's these three human characters and their interaction with Thor that keeps their scenes interesting/entertaining. There is much humour to be found in the fish-out-of-water situation that Thor finds himself in, the relationship that develops between him and Jane isn't over-done and where we leave the two of them at the end of the film wasn’t quite what I expected.
Thor's allies back on Asgard prove interesting as well. His friends (referred to at one point as "Xena, Jackie Chan and Robin Hood". I’d add that the fourth looks like a taller version of Gimli from LotR) aren't just one-dimensional characters. They're actually each unique, bringing something different to the table (I especially enjoyed the moment where they’re reunited with Thor on Earth and wave to him happily, thus showing they’re just your typical best friends albeit with godly powers). The one who made the most impression, though, was Lady Sif played by Jaimie Alexander, who kicks just as much arse as the ‘Warriors Three’ but isn’t just a ‘tough chick’, as she also displays real emotion…especially for Thor, as evidenced by her beaming smile when his powers are fully restored after his self-sacrifice. I found the moment where he looked to have been dealt a fatal blow by a giant metal energy beam-shooting robot called the Destroyer (the noisiest damn thing I've heard at the cinema in a LONG time) emotionally impactful (the music also helped). Anthony Hopkins commands the screen whenever he appears, though spends the latter half out of commission. Loki, meanwhile, I thought was an okay villain. I know he’s got his fanboys/fangirls, but I personally found his character to be the typical jealous brother with daddy issues and I grew tired of shouty moments. His helmet left a bigger impression on me than he did.
What the film excels at is the visuals. Asgard is truly a wonder to behold. There's a rainbow bridge, the city looks like a giant golden pipe organ, and the way they travel to Earth is particularly memorable. Then there's the fights Thor gets into. Everything from fearsome battles with Frost Giants on Asgard to rough & tumble fist fights in the mud with burly humans on Earth, taking on the Destroyer (despite all odds against him), and finally his inevitable fight against Loki at the end. The film certainly has no shortage of fight scenes, each one well-done/different from the last. When Thor finally regains his powers and once again wields his mighty hammer, Mjölnir (which Darcy hilariously calls ‘Mew Mew’), aka the BEST. WEAPON. EVER...it's quite the sight to behold.
Kenneth Branagh's direction is a large part of what makes this film so good (even if he tends to overuse the ‘Dutch angle’ camera shot). The costumes look great and the movie manages to make them, as well as the Frost Giants, not be laughable in appearance. Apart from the look of the film, what also helps it feel epic is the score. The music adds SO much, being majestic/memorable, and I also liked the rockin' end credits song. Speaking of the end credits, as with previous MCU films, there's an extra post-credits scene. For a film I hadn't given much thought to, it was a delightful surprise to find myself thoroughly enjoying Thor. It's a comic book movie that stands out from a lot that have come before, and is genuinely entertaining on all accounts. I, for one, can't wait to see more of ol' Blondebeard.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).
Yes, I think it works.
I’m not fan of
Iron Man, but really enjoyed the movie
Thor, so I wasn’t sure what I’d make of this movie. After the opening scene (which made me wonder if I was watching the wrong film), we cut to the 1940s during WW2. It's this change of scenery/time period that gives the film a different sort of tone/flavor, thus making it stand out from the crowd. It's like a good old-fashioned action adventure movie (which should be no surprise given it’s from Joe Johnston, who directed
The Rocketeer).
Another large part of what makes this film successful is its cast. To any who doubted Chris Evans, he more than proves himself as Steve Rogers. Thanks to impressive computer-aided trickery, we meet Steve as a scrawny "90 pound asthmatic", who has a never-give-up attitude, but sadly nobody takes seriously when he wants to help fight the war. After befriending a kind scientist, Steve gets to be the first test subject in a planned long line of super soldiers. His transformation into the epitome of physical perfection is quite the sight to behold, as we see Scrawny Evans turned into Steamy Evans, who’s a muscle-bound man with enhanced abilities and doesn't have a robotic suit doing all the work for him. What’s important to note, though, is that what makes Steve a hero isn’t the abilities he gains, but who he was
before the transformation. It’s just that now he’s finally allowed to be the best that he truly can be in physicality to match his hero’s heart.
I really appreciated that he wasn't yet another wise-cracking smart-arse, as a lot of 'heroes' seem to be nowadays, which makes him easily likable, and it's this endearing quality which catches the eye of Agent Peggy Carter, played by the stunning Hayley Atwell, who I have no problem saying is officially my hero. Peggy is the perfect woman, as she's got it all (brains, beauty and badassedness). Atwell plays her to perfection and Peggy is easily my favourite female lead in a comic book movie. There’s a sweet relationship between Peggy and Steve that develops throughout the film and it’s clear that she admires/cares for him not because of the way he (now) looks, but because of who he *is* as a person, his intelligence and selflessness. Evans and Atwell have excellent chemistry/play well off each other and are my favourite comic book movie couple.
Other characters in the film include Tommy Lee Jones, as the gruff Colonel Phillips, who’s a bit rough around the edges, but manages to show that he's not entirely without heart. Stanley Tucci is excellent as the doctor who sees the potential in Steve others don’t. A real friendship develops between the two, and it goes a long way to making sure that when Dr. Erskine exits the film, we feel what Steve feels. This isn’t the only important/meaningful friendship in the film, though. Sebastian Stan plays another likable character as Steve's best friend, Bucky, Their dynamic feels very real/believable, as Bucky is one of the few to stand up for Steve.
Lastly, Hugo Weaving does some major scenery-chewing in the role of Johann Schmidt. Not everything goes according to plan for the crazy Nazi dude obsessed with becoming a god (when will these bad guys in comic book films learn NOT to experiment on themselves?), and he winds up becoming a disfigured red-skulled villain. I actually liked how the reveal of Red Skull was approached, with only very vague hints to what was lurking underneath the surface early in the film (like when he’s standing in shadow, posing for his portrait, with copious amounts of red paint having been used to indicate something’s not right). Once we do finally see him in his full Red Skull glory, this is when Weaving seems to really cut loose with the role and we're treated to a memorable montage. He’s supported by Toby Jones as Dr. Arnim Zola, the ‘Smithers’ to Weaving’s ‘Mr. Burns’ (there’s even a sequence where Red Skull has an escape ship and Zola's wondering where he's going to sit, to which Red Skull basically replies that he likes to put his feet up. Okay, not exactly the same as that, but I noticed the similarity).
The film has several standout action sequences that are imaginative and offer us something different to your typical explosions/gunfire, though one scene that I particularly enjoyed wasn’t action-based at all. Before Captain America’s even gotten a proper costume, he’s stuck in tights with little wings jutting out from the sides of his cowl (all those who complained about the updated Captain America costume need only see this nod to the original version to realise that changes did indeed need to be made), but what makes this scene so memorable is the fact that we’re treated to a performance of the supremely catchy ‘Star-Spangled Man’ whilst Captain America travels around the country to boost morale, promoting war bonds. It’s a delightful surprise/stand-out sequence in the movie.
Thankfully, Cap eventually gets upgraded to much more practical star-spangled duds (which I saw described as resembling ‘a tricked-out airman's jumpsuit, complete with a mask which looks to be adapted from a WW2 helmet’ and he also acquires a handy shield which doubles as a kick-arse Frisbee, which he performs some impressive shield-fu with. The only slight negative I found with this film was the ending, which stinks of being merely set-up for The Avengers (of which there is yet more set up for, plus a teaser trailer of, at the end of the film’s credits) instead of the film feeling like it gets its own proper satisfying ending (much like Thor did). Sadly, the blossoming relationship between Steve & Peggy is cruelly cut short (their goodbye scene is emotional/very effective). Aside from the opening and closing scenes, I enjoyed this film immensely and found it to be a rollicking good time with a lot of heart to it, thus making it my favourite MCU film.
The Avengers (2012).
It’s Iron Man’s world and the rest of the Avengers just live in it, apparently.
As one of the seemingly few who's not a fan of the Iron Man character or his films, and after seeing the trailers, I had my reservations about this film. Was it going to be
Iron Man 3, guest-starring the rest? Well, yes and no. It's clear who Joss Whedon's favourites are, as they get the most character development. Those who come out on top: Tony Stark (of course), Black Widow and (surprisingly) Bruce Banner/Hulk. If you're a fan of these characters/the actors who portray them, then you should be satisfied with their amount of screen time.
Fans of Stark, who don't mind his attitude and want nothing more than his mumbled speedy snarky lines/blowing stuff up will be the most pleased. Annoyingly, even his love interest gets to be the only one to appear in this film (too bad for Peggy Carter & Jane Foster, both of whom I greatly prefer as characters. Though at least we get to see a
picture of them and it's mentioned that Jane's safe. I wish Thor had been allowed to reunite with her before he left again). RDJ does his thing, and he's naturally fine doing it, but I'm probably in the minority who prefers him as Sherlock in his Sherlock Holmes films.
Captain America thankfully gets to retain his likability, calls Tony out on his BS (there’s more than one scene of two verbally sparring) and has his moments of leadership. I was annoyed, however, that his practical costume from CA: TFA was replaced with one that looked like the comical outfit he wore when promoting war bonds during the ‘Star Spangled Man’ song/dance number in his solo film. It’s pretty clear Whedon views him as a ‘dork’ of sorts, so he’s reduced to the butt of jokes and not getting to be ‘cool’ like Stark. Even with Whedon’s clear bias against him, Steve continues to be the most likeable/noble hero.
Scarlett Johansson gets to kick sufficient arse as Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow and does a good job of subverting the obvious (something Whedon is a fan of...along with scenes where everyone yells over the top of each other). There are a few moments where it appears she’s beaten/showing signs of weakness, but then she turns things on their head and she proves herself to be no damsel and more than capable/not to be underestimated. The one somewhat ‘regressive’ role Whedon sticks her in is 'beauty taming the beast' in regards to her character and the Hulk.
Speaking of the 'other guy'(as Bruce calls him), this Hulk looks better than the two previous movie versions thanks to motion-capture allowing Mark Ruffalo to actually portray the not-so-jolly green giant and even his face bears resemblance to Ruffalo. Bruce gets to be all brooding and restrained for the bulk of the movie, but when he eventually Hulks out, he does plenty smash-o-crash. Unfortunately, Hulk is also played for some rather immature laughs at times, like when he punches Thor after they've just teamed up to take down a baddie (why? Because it's “FUNNY”!) or he cuts Loki off mid-speechifying by tossing him around like a ragdoll, thus kinda undoing all the effort Tom Hiddleston put into making Loki menacing (there's one exchange he has with Natasha where he comes across truly evil). It’s clear Whedon’s not a fan of ‘god-like’ characters and hopes to sway others to be like-minded.
Nick Fury gets to be sneaky/manipulative, jumps on the 'Let's blame Thor' train and shoots stuff, as does his offside, Agent Hill (Cobie Smulders), when she's not providing exposition or miraculously escaping death. Hawkeye fans might be a tad miffed that he spends the majority of the film zombiefied by Loki, but is eventually freed of the mind-control and his backstory with Natasha is briefly touched upon. Even Agent Coulson gets a fair amount of development. Disappointingly, Thor gets the short end of the stick...or hammer. I'd thoroughly enjoyed his solo movie and Chris Hemsworth in the role, so I was hoping he'd get the respect/focus he deserved as part of this ensemble cast...but it seemed Tony Stark's one-liners and the Hulk beating Asgardian arse for laughs was Whedon’s priority, sadly.
Poor Thor never seems to be allowed to have a true victory in the film, which is a real disappointment since his character had undergone a true hero's journey in his own film and deserved to be taken seriously, rather than disrespected/treated as the butt of jokes. Sure, he and ‘Mew Mew’ get to kick a fair amount of butt, but not nearly enough as they
should’ve. He doesn't even get to be the one who takes down Loki (his brother...who’s adopted) in the end and save everyone, as that victory’s given Iron Man and Hulk, of course (and Thor had been about to save Stark’s arse at the end too until Hulk swooped in and stole his thunder). Such a shame that Thor gets screwed over, but I appreciated his little moments of humour (all the more effective because they
aren’t OTT or at the expense of others) and that he brought some actual seriousness to proceedings/his complicated sibling relationship with Loki wasn’t entirely ignored.
Despite my few quibbles, the film surprisingly comes together pretty well. Whedon proves he can direct action with the best of them and it’s blissfully free of overuse of shaky-cam. It's quite the feat, bringing all these characters from different films together and actually making it
work, but he pulls it off. Not a dollar of the movie's considerable budget has been wasted. It's all up there on the screen, the humour works (some of the time), all the actors do well in their roles, but I personally would’ve liked to have spent more time with Cap & Thor and exploring their reluctant partnership (how about a buddy film?). I'm more invested in their own solo films than seeing them sharing time with characters who I’m not a fan of, but not opposed to seeing the Avengers reassemble.
Thor: The Dark World (2013).
Blondebeard and Gotye team up to take down the Ninth Doctor.
Darcy! Jane! Selvig! Mew Mew! The gang's all back. For me,
Thor was one of the best superhero movies to come out in recent time. I far preferred it to the overrated
Iron Man films, and like Thor with coffee...I wanted another! While it's not as good as the first one, it's still quite enjoyable and far from the 'worst' like some make it out to be. Chris Hemsworth, despite having the less 'flashy' role next to Tom Hiddleston's Loki, is really very good. What made Thor so likable in the first film was that, despite his overconfidence and head-strong nature, he went on a character's journey that changed him (Hemsworth's charm helped) and had lots of great little moments. Then he got royally screwed in
The Avengers and was made a mockery of, which did a major disservice to him. This time around, he's back to strutting his stuff and doing what he does best: wielding his mighty hammer like nobody else can. He's not 'too serious' as some claim, he has a sense of humour...but it's not in-your-face, thankfully.
As for Hiddleston as Loki, who's now sporting long stringy dark hair that makes him look like a pale rocker from the 80's (or, alternatively, the singer Gotye. Apparently they don't have hair gel in Asgard jail), while I wasn't blown away by him originally, I grew to like him in
The Avengers and felt he was also made the butt of jokes in that film at the expense of his character. This time around he's acting the part of Hannibal Lecter to Thor's Clarice Starling, as Thor requires his help. Evidently, Loki's popularity is what keeps bringing him back. I can see why he has his fans, and Hiddleston is very good in the role, plus he has great banter with Thor, Jane Foster gives him a much-deserved slap, and he even gets the odd 'hero' moment (one of the best being when he saves Jane, then Thor saves him). We also see that he's not without heart (as evidenced by his scenes with/reactions to Frigga, his adoptive mother) and how much Thor truly cares for his brother, despite their differences. However, I personally feel it's about time we got a break from the character. You know it's ALL ABOUT LOKI when the film basically begins/ends with him. It almost doesn't even feel like Thor's film.
I know Natalie Portman's Jane Foster has her haters, but she's actually right up there (along with CA: TFA's Agent Peggy Carter) as one of my favourite love interests from any superhero film. Although she doesn't have super powers, she's smart and brave. I like that she's an astrophysicist and an inquisitive person. I thought both she and Hemsworth's Thor had nice chemistry in the first film, so I'm glad we got to see more of them together here. Yes, she's angry/slaps him, but it's understandable from her perspective, considering how he abruptly left her. To her credit, she doesn't stay mad for long once she learns the circumstances. With a magical force called the Aether inside of her this time, she proves pivotal to the storyline (the effects used for the Aether are quite dazzling). The other humans are also good. Kat Dennings as Darcy still gets lots of funny moments (no one can say 'Mjölnir' quite like she does), while Erik Selvig often being naked or without pants shows the after effects of what was done to him in The Avengers.
As someone who actually
likes the Warriors Three & Lady Sif, I was rather disappointed they didn't have
that much screen time here, though they made the most of what they
did get, especially Jaimie Alexander's kick-arse Sif (who has some banter with Thor, kicks butt, has Odin's approval as someone Thor could be with, glares daggers at Jane Foster, and appears in the mid-credits scene...but she still should've gotten
more screentime) and Zachary Levi (from TV series
Chuck), replacing Josh Dallas as Fandral. It feels like Thor's buddies had their screentime sacrificed for more Loki and Heimdall. Anthony Hopkins as Odin, I felt, was better/had more presence in the last film. In this one, his character acts like Thor did originally before he grew as a person. The role reversal may be intentional, but I don't think it served Odin's character well. As for Thor's mum, she gets more to do/say in this film than she did the last time and shows she too can kick arse too.
Whilst the Dark Elves are interesting to look at and have some pretty neat gizmos at their disposal, they aren't particularly memorable (the Frost Giants were better), especially their leader, Malekith (
Doctor Who's Christopher Eccleston, who's not exactly given much to work with. He's written blandly and most of his dialogue is subtitled, though he still could've left an impression if he'd exuded quiet menace, but...he just
doesn't). The best thing about him is his epic fight with Thor, which takes them back and forth between worlds/different locations. The movie has a bit more humour this time around. Some of it works (such as Thor hanging Mjölnir on a coat rack, a train passenger 'accidentally' falling against him or Loki showing off his powers, leading to an unexpected appearance from that other actually
likeable Avenger, Captain America), whereas the naked Selvig or Jane-on-a-date stuff is a bit overdone/drawn-out. I didn't think I'd miss Kenneth Branagh and his love of 'Dutch angles', but I feel he was able to craft a superior film to this one. I also missed the original film's score (which had actual emotion and majesty to it). Make sure to sit through the eye-catching painting-style end credits, not just for the most bizarre mid-credits sequence yet out of ALL the Marvel films, but also the post-credits scene (which really should've traded places with the mid-credits scene, I think). Here's a thought to improve things: Thor & Captain America in their own buddy movie. Make it happen, Marvel!