Oscar Worthy Superheroes? - Movie Musings

Superhero movies at the Oscars? Sure, why not?

Avengers: Age of Ultron - Review

Here's my review of Avengers: Age of Skyne- I mean, Ultron. To think, none of this would have happened had Tony Stark seen a Terminator movie.

Iron Man 3 - Review

You know who I'd hate to be right now? I'd hate to be Shane Black... well, sort of. Don't get me wrong, I'd give my right eye to have just a piece of the guy's talent, not to mention being the creative force of an established super hero movie would be awesome, but the responsibility to deliver a satisfying follow-up to the two Iron Man movies AND the awesomeness that was The Avengers has got to be unbearable. I can't speak for Mr. Black, but if it were me, I probably would have crumbled under the pressure. The first two Iron Man flicks were directed by Jon Favreau, an actor/filmmaker primarily known for comedies but proved that he had the capacity to helm an action movie as well. Plus, the film's had two other things going for it. One, the film starred Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man, the super talented actor who was in the midst of a major career comeback after hitting a few rough patches. Secondly, both the first but especially the second films were the jumping off points for the ambitious and exciting prospect of The Avengers, not only carrying it's own franchise but also teasing bits and pieces of the other Marvel films and the proposed team-up. So now that we know that Iron Man is an awesome character, that comic book continuity works in a film universe, and that The Avengers kicked ass... where do you go from there? Well... to be frank, you make a film like Iron Man 3.

Iron Man 3 takes place shortly after The Avengers. Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is back living in Miami in a committed relationship with his family company's CEO, Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). After stopping the alien invasion of New York alongside his fellow Avengers, Stark has been having difficulty coping with his life. After fighting alongside Gods, Monsters, and Super Soldiers (not to mention having a near death experience), Stark can't help but feel like just a man with a machine, and therefore suffers from insecurity and PTSD. As a result, Stark often alienates himself from his friends and Pepper and instead spends most of his time in his lab building new Iron Man suits. His world is shaken, however, when a terrorist known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and sets his sights on Stark. Faced against insurmountable odds, Stark must use his skills, intellect, and technology to save himself and his allies against this mysterious foe.

I'm going to preface this review by quickly addressing the recent commotion this film has started. In short, Iron Man 3 has a big twist about halfway through the film that has been causing some fanboys to lose their shit. As I've mentioned in previous reviews, I always try to avoid spoilers... especially for high profile new releases. I promise that I won't reveal or outright spoil any major plot twists or details, but I might slightly allude to them. Take that as you will.

I have to admit that I'm a tab surprised that the Iron Man films managed to strike such a chord with such a massive audience. The Iron Man was a reasonably popular comic and with a loyal fanbase, but aside for the usual comic nerds, Iron Man rarely had much of a following with the general audience. Plus, the movies themselves have never been that great... don't get me wrong, I personally love these movies, but I admit they have flaws. Cool concepts, great action, neat special effects, and some solid character moments have all been present, but the scrips have never been much more than good at best or average at worst. The screenplay here... is something of a mixed bag. Once again, the set-up is pretty solid, Stark being haunted by his near-death experience with the Avengers has promise. The idea of finally seeing The Mandarin in a live action movie also got me hyped, him being Stark's primary nemesis in the comics after all. The overall results, however... were kind of hit-and-miss. To reveal all of what works and what doesn't would be spoiling some major plot points, so I won't do that, but I will discuss a bit more when I get to critiquing the actors. I will say that the film had some strong character-based moments, the pacing is solid, and that it was cool to see Pepper Potts play a bit more of an active role, but there were a few plot-holes and dumb scenes that held back what could have been an excellent movie instead of just a good one.

Ultimately, what has elevated the flicks from simply good to straight-up awesomeness was the casting of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man. Around the time of the first Iron Man (back in 2008), Downey was in the midst of a huge comeback after a few setbacks with hit films like Iron Man, Tropic Thunder, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (also directed by Shane Black). Make no mistake, if there was ever an man born to play the role of Tony Stark... it's Downey. He's such a versatile actor, that for four movies, he's managed to pull off every subtle trait of Stark, from the humorous fun-loving personality, his troubled past and bad habits, and his inherent heart of gold. Between the drama, comedy, and action... I really can't think of anyone who could have been better cast in this role. Gwyneth Paltrow gets what's arguably her meatiest role so far in the series, resulting in what's arguably her best performance as Pepper Potts. She gets in on the action a few times and shows some solid dramatic range in some of the heavier moments. I've always liked her character and was genuinely pleased with how she's stuck with the character the last few years... I still stand by that. The other returning cast members are across the board solid. Don Cheadle returns as Colonel James Rhodes aka War Machine (now Re-Christened as The Iron Patriot) and provides another solid interpretation of the character. The series' original director, Jon Favreau, once again returns as Happy Hogan, now promoted to Head of Security, and has some solid moments of comic relief... no complaints there. Overall, the returning cast members are pretty damn awesome, after playing these characters in 2, 3, or 4 movies, they're just straight up good... which is always good for me.

Now we come to the villains... and this is where it gets tough to critique. Like I said, I won't spoil any major details, but in order to give a reasonable review, I might allude to a few of them, which might in turn hint toward the reveals. If you don't want anything spoiled, skip to the next paragraph. One of the things that had really kept the first two Iron Man films from achieving greatness was the lack of a truly great villain. Jeff Bridges as Iron Monger, Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer, and Mickey Rourke as Whiplash were typically enjoyable characters played by good actors... but lacked the depth to be anything more than one-note. The Mandarin, here played by Ben Kingsley, wasn't exactly an extraordinary character in the comics, but an interesting one. Here the decision to re-imagine him as an international terrorist leader, with traits from a variety of cultures, while avoiding the previous Fu Manchu stereotype, was promising... and I was genuinely interested in seeing what the filmmakers would do with him. What ultimately becomes of him... well, that's what I can't reveal. It was an interesting idea, but ultimately something of a letdown. I won't spoil it, but I think you'll know what I mean. The other villain Aldrich Killian, played by Guy Pearce, is basically on par with the previous villains. He has some interesting moments, is played by a good actor, and is set-up well enough, but he's just too one-dimensional and not very memorable. It might have been due to raised expectations, but the villains, while not terrible, were a bit of let-down once again... too bad.

Fortunately, the film's faults are easier to take in thanks to some kick-ass action and special effects! Shane Black, with only two directorial efforts, has proved himself as one of the industry's most prolific figures in the action genre. The cgi has never looked better and the Iron Man have continually improved over the last few years (honestly, who wouldn't want one). Each action scene is one exciting thrill-ride after another, all culminating to a finale that sets the bar pretty high for the summer's upcoming blockbusters. Granted, I couldn't help but feel like the ending was a little too much of a toy commercial... but whatever, in this industry, it's part of the deal. It was also cool to see Stark get creative in how he battles the villains here, as there are a couple scenes where he is forced to fight outside of his suit. It just shows how much of a genius Stark truly is, and adds a nice little change of pace here and there. If all you're looking for in a Iron Man movie are great action scenes and special effects... I can all but guarantee that you'll be happy.

So that's Iron Man 3... not perfect but still pretty damn good. While the movie provides some conclusion to the story-arch, I have no doubt that we'll see Iron Man again in some form (Avengers 2 no doubt), but if it were to end here... it would be a satisfying send-off. As the first official blockbuster of the summer season... I'd say the season is off to a good start. See it!

My Score: 3.5 out of 5!

Top 10 Superhero Movies

I've been on a real superhero kick lately haven't I? Well, when your a big superhero nerd like myself, it's hard not to buy into the hype every summer when studios like to release their high profile comic book-inspired blockbusters to the public. Though between Batman, Spider-Man, The Avengers, Chronicle, and not to mention the other films I've been revisiting on Blu-Ray the last few months, I'm starting to feel a bit superhero-ed out. So... let's finish off the summer with a list of my ten favorite superhero films of all time.

It was tough to compile this list. I'm such a nerd when it comes to comic book movies that I've got tons of favorites and in some ways, it felt like choosing which kids I liked better. There were a couple films that just barely missed the list, so if your favorite isn't here, keep in mind that it probably was a finalist but just lost by just a hair. I decided to do only one film per franchise, so the list wouldn't be full of numerous sequels or remakes taking the credit. Also, with apologies to The Avengers, while despite being an awesome movie, I need to see it one or two more times to fairly evaluate it among the following (since most of these I've seen more than once). But enough stalling, here are my Top 10 Favorite Superhero movies.

10. Unbreakable (2000)
It's weird to think of a time when M. Night Shyamalan wasn't the laughing-stock of the film industry (doesn't that seem like forever ago). Still, prior to his critical flame-out, the guy was putting out some pretty creative and interesting takes on established genres, and his interpretation on superhero mythos is my personal favorite of his directorial efforts (yes, I like this one more than The Sixth Sense). Focusing less on action in favor of character-based drama and suspense, Unbreakable's analysis on the birth of a hero brings real-life sensibilities to the notion of the formation of a super powered individual. While the ending is a little on the nose and leaves far more to be desired, the top notch performances from Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson along with M. Night's stylistic direction and script makes the film one hell of a movie. It's an often underrated and forgotten film that is definitely worth checking out.

9. Iron Man (2008)
A perfect film it's not, but Iron Man nonetheless succeeds hugely thanks to an interesting take on the superhero genre plus a memorable performance from Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark aka Iron Man. The first third of the movie is great, the second act isn't too shabby, but the final third is just okay. It was kind of neat to see a superhero who wasn't trying to save the world per se, but rather just cleaning up his own mess after putting that said world in danger. Jeff Bridges gives his all as the villainous Obadiah Stane aka Iron Monger, but his character was kind of one-note and predictable. That said, the great action, sweet effects, and Downey Jr's incredible presence as Stark elevated this film from just good to pretty damn awesome. Oh, and it didn't hurt that this film kicked off the Marvel connected universe and the countdown to The Avengers.

8. Captain America: The First Aveger (2011)
I know that this film tends to somewhat divide audiences. There are lots who loved it but also plenty who considered it cheesy and corny. Personally, I'm in the camp that absolutely loves it. It's a superhero film plus a WWII epic, how could I not like that? Yes, the movie has some campy overtones, but that's exactly the reason why I dug it so much. Taking inspiration from WWII-era serials, the film blends both retro and modern filmmaking aesthetics, creating a film that has all the fun of an old time picture show and a modern summer blockbuster. It finds a near-perfect balance between it's retro/campy appeal plus some legitimate human drama. It also boasted a great cast led by Chris Evans as the titular Captain, along with some great visuals and stellar costume design. What else can I say, but I just love this movie.

7. Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
It's really a shame that the Hellboy movies aren't as popular as they could be, since these are some of the most creative and entertaining superhero flicks out there. Guillermo Del Toro is one the most visionary filmmakers working today, and he brings his artistic eye seen in his previous effort, Pan's Labyrinth to these films too. Hellboy II picks up where the first film left off, digs deeper into it's characters and mythos through stellar art direction, visual effects, and it's great cast. Ron Pearlman's performance as Hellboy is always a blast to watch, as he blends the character with a great balance of wit, toughness, and humanity... and that's saying a lot when you consider that Hellboy is, at his core, a demon. Either way, these films are pretty damn awesome and if you haven't seen either one, definitely check them out. Hopefully we'll one day get a third flick to complete the trilogy.

6. Watchmen (2009)
It's a real testament to the talent of a director (in this case Zack Snyder) when he can not only adapt a graphic novel that has often been called "un-filmable" but also make it into a pretty incredible film on it's own right. I don't want to overstate the film too much, as there are a few elements of the novel that (as predicted) don't translate quite perfectly to screen as one would like. Still, just the fact that Watchmen made it to theaters in such glorious style is damn-near a miracle. The movie looks fantastic, with a style and aesthetic consisting of beautiful art direction, excellently composed cinematography, and some sweet action. While the story and some of the actors have a few hiccups, it still manages to convey most of the legendary graphic novel's themes and messages without ruining any of the characters. Oh and Jackie Earl Haley as Rorschach... Hell Yeah!!!

5. X-Men: First Class (2011)
There had been four live action X-Men films prior to this prequel. The first two were quite good, the third was just okay, and the fourth (the Wolverine spin-off) was pretty bad actually. The fifth film, a prequel entitled X-Men: First Class, was admittedly pretty damn awesome. Despite being plagued by a rushed production schedule and some hit-and-miss visual effects, the film found a winning combination of a great cast, great story, and great style. The friendship between Charles Xavier aka Professor X and Eric Lencher aka Magneto was the highlight of the film, featuring an uneasy alliance between two powerful mutant individuals whose ideals couldn't have been more different. More than that, Matthew Vaughn's slick direction, which borrowed heavily from golden age 007 flicks, led to a great sense of style, some awesome action scenes, and strong performances from it's talented cast. What can I say, but this was just a first class flick.

4. Superman (1978)
While it's no secret that many superhero movies made before the 90s haven't exactly aged gracefully (though there are exceptions), the original Superman still holds up remarkably well. The first big budget superhero flick, the film's tagline was, "You'll Believe A Man Can Fly"... and we still do. A great cast, memorable set pieces, an amazing musical score, and some classic scenes, this adaptation is still flying high Christopher Reeve's memorable performance as the Man of Steel is enjoyable both as Superman and Clark Kent. The film also benefits from the enjoyable villain, Lex Luthor, played by Gene Hackman who in addition to being the villain also adds some comic relief. I also dug the relationship between Superman and Lois Lane (played to perfection by Margot Kidder), as the two shared some great chemistry in a romance that doesn't overshadow the main story. It also doesn't hurt to have Marlon Brando as Supes father, Jor-El, because Brando is just that much of a legend. Finally, I have to mention the outstanding musical score by the great John Williams. Everytime I hear that classic Superman theme, I get goosebumps, it's just perfect. Superman, admittedly, hasn't aged flawlessly, but there's no doubt that what works in this film... really works! It was awesome then and it's awesome now.

3. The Incredibles (2004)
Comedic legend Mel Brooks once said that the best movie parodies are done out of a love of the content being spoofed. Nowhere is that more apparent than in Pixar's animated superhero satire. The film, about a family of super powered individuals thrust back into action after trying to live a quiet suburban life, clearly wears it's love for comic books on it's sleeve. It pokes fun at the genre's cliches, but it does so by laughing along with those cliches as opposed to at them, and still manages to deliver a fun and exciting superhero epic complete with all the action you would expect out of a modern Hollywood blockbuster. Best of all, the film boasts an outstanding script compliments of writer/director Brad Bird with fully realized three dimensional characters and themes of family relationships and companionship. Throw in some stand-out voice over work from it's talented cast plus Pixar's always impressive animation, and you have a winner. Not just a good satire, but a damn great film in it's own right.

2. Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The first Spider-Man flick, released in 2002, struck a chord with audiences and critics mainly through B-Movie director Sam Raimi's knack for creating a world blending 60s comic book sensibilities and stylized modern filmmaking aesthetics. The sequel, released two years later, took everything that worked in the first while improving on everything that didn't. We get a solidly character driven narrative as Peter Parker (played once again by Toby Maguire) struggles to balance his everyday life as himself and his responsibilities as the web-slinger. Best of all, the film introduced one of Spidey's most famous comic book foes, Otto Octavius aka Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), as a once decent man turned to villainy after a terrible tragedy. Doc Ock's sympathetic backstory made him a dynamic and intimidating foe, leading to a good hero/villain rivalry. Throw in some absolutely bad-ass action scenes (that train scene is still one of my favorite movie action scenes of all time), Raimi's trademark cinematography, and some legitimate suspense mixed with fun comic book sensibilities, and you have one of the best comic-to-screen translations of all time.

1. The Dark Knight (2008)
Yeah... I know this was an obvious choice, and as much as I would have liked to think of something a little more out of the box, there's just no denying that The Dark Knight set and continues to hold the standard for the genre. Taking inspiration from gritty crime genres and throwing in the Caped Crusader, The Dark Knight wasn't a spot-on adaptation of Batman comics, but rather a fully realized film that honored the themes and virtues the comics had stood for. It's a constantly suspenseful crime saga with an outstanding cast, commendable story, intriguing characters, mind-blowing action, and one of the greatest villains to ever grace the screen. Heath Ledger's iconic performance as the Joker is nothing short of legendary, taking bits of inspiration from previous incarnations while still bringing his own touches to create a villain that was both familiar, unique, scary, funny, and all around perfect. I have no doubt that someday, a talented team will make a new superhero flick that will top this one, but until that day comes, The Dark Knight will continue to reign supreme as the undisputed champion of superhero flicks.

So these are my top 10 favorite superhero films to grace the silver screen. Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think and leave a comment.

And just because I feel bad for leaving some out, here are a couple of honorable mentions.
The Avengers, Kick-Ass, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, V For Vendetta and The Rocketeer.