It's a fair criticism of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and of comic book movies in general that there is a severe lack of diversity. Black Panther goes a long way in fixing this. Director Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station) has crafted a film that is both a celebration of African culture and heritage and an exploration of Afrofuturism, which is undoubtedly what makes Black Panther so great.
The story picks up very shortly after the the death of King T'chaka in Captain America: Civil War. T'chala (Chadwick Boseman) returns to his home to succeed his late father as the king of Wakanda. Yet troubles from his past are unearthed, and as challenges to his claim emerge, Black Panther must prove himself worthy as king. Other than the death of T'chaka, the narrative of this film feels very self contained from the rest of the MCU. There are throwaway lines and references of course, but on the whole Black Panther feels like it's own story, which is definitely to it's benefit.
In fact, this film is a vast departure from anything we've seen in a Marvel movie to date. Just when you thought you'd seen everything that this world had to offer, they spring this futuristic technological utopia masquerading as a poverty stricken third-world nation. Wakanda itself is mesmerising. It strikes a good balance between other worldly tech, including some very innovative uses for vibranium, whilst still feeling like a real place. We see the bustling city streets and people going about their lives which goes along way to establishing this world. My only want is to spend more time there. The whole aesthetic of the movie is breathtaking. Everything from the costume designs to locations are incredible and offers as realistic an interpretation of African culture that a fictional nation can portray. As perhaps the least qualified person to comment on it (a privileged white male), the links and explorations of African beliefs and traditions in regarding the after life and spirituality are really fascinating. The movie also handles some quite sensitive issues, such as race relations and foreign aid in a sophisticated way that's uncommon for a huge blockbuster.
Just as vibrant and exciting as the nation it's self are the people within it. A primarily black cast in a production of this scale is almost unheard of, but it allows for this film's portrayal of Africa to feel authentic and truly engaging. And there's not a bad performance to be seen. Chadwick Boseman is really terrific. It's clear how a previous role in Message from the King has shaped the basis of his African dialect as it's absolutely spot on, so much so that it still catches me off guard to hear his South Carolina accent in interviews. Beyond that, he balances regality with naivety in his early days as king really well. Letitia Wright's Shuri offers a really funny and charming performance as T'chala's kid sister whilst also serving as this film's 'Q'. (In fact, a lot of this movie feels very reminiscent of classic Bond movies.) It's awesome to see some kick-ass female characters in Dora Milaje, led by the fierce Okoye (Danai Gurira). Lupita Nyong'o and Daniel Kaluuya are also really solid. Winston Duke's M'baku is a surprise standout to me, offering some genuinely hilarious moments in what is on the whole a more seriously toned Marvel film.
Black Panther also features two really strong and entertaining villains, arguably some of the best the MCU has offered. Michael B Jordan's Killmonger is excellent. He's menacing and terrifying but at times you can understand where he's coming from and even agree with some of his reasonings, which is the hallmark of a great villain. The return of Andy Serkis' Klaue is also great. It's always nice to see Serkis when he's not covered in ping-pong balls and his performance here is cold and unhinged whilst also hilariously entertaining.
My only real complaints are very slight. The exposition at the very start, detailing the origins of Wakanda itself is quite clunky, despite being visually pleasing. Whilst the action is all good, there's no real memorable set pieces and the black SUV chase sequence feels very overdone at this point. Similarly, the storyline is nowhere near as unfamiliar as other elements of the film. At times it feels like the narratives of The Lion King and Rocky III have been spliced together which doesn't always mesh, leading to a severe drop off in pace towards the end of the second act. However, an entertaining final battle probably redeems this.
Whilst the narrative of Black Panther is nothing you haven't seen before, the assembly of such a unique cast and the tributes to the heritage of this character make it a truly groundbreaking film. It's fantastic to think that this movie offers a huge number of people the chance to feel represented in cinema, in the same way that Wonder Woman did for young girls. It's quite unlike anything you've ever seen in a superhero movie before now and it's that originality that makes it so special.
4/5 Stars
Thursday, 22 February 2018
Tuesday, 20 February 2018
'Logan Lucky' review
Did anyone believe for even a second that Steven Soderbergh had 'retired' for good? I certainly didn't. After a five year hiatus following Magic Mike (2012), one of the pioneers of modern heist movies makes a welcomed return to cinemas. Logan Lucky maybe feature a very familiar story that offers nothing groundbreaking to the genre, but some slick direction and class acting make it an immensely enjoyable movie.
Soderbergh again teams up with Channing Tatum, who is, as usual, on lovable beefcake duty. Jimmy Logan is a West Virginian miner with a heart of gold and a surprisingly spot on accent. After being knocked down for the umpteenth time, he seeks the assistance of his brother Clyde (Adam Driver) to rob his local NASCAR track on it's most profitable day of the year. Driver's turn as a one-armed, slow talking but quick witted barman is great. He and Tatum share some cracking chemistry and his performance would steal the show, if it wasn't for the presence of Daniel Craig. Bleach blonde hair and those piercing blue eyes mean that he's almost unrecognisable but it's very clear how much fun he's having whilst freed from the shackles of 007. It's a refreshing reminder of just how good a character actor Craig can be and he completely owns every scene he's in. In fact, the characters and their interactions are arguably the strongest element of this film. Without the burden of having to share screen time between an abundance of stars that plagues the Ocean's franchise, Soderbergh allows more than enough time for this movie to slow down and develop it's key players in meaningful and interesting ways.
The true core of a heist movie. though, has to be the planning and execution of the job. Both are handled well in this case. The writers are very careful to only offer snippets of information at a time, allowing for plenty of twists and turns throughout the robbery, all of which are tied up in simplistic yet satisfying fashion. The plan itself is simple enough that you can follow the process but also intriguing enough to maintain your attention.
Unfortunately, as with many of Soderbergh's movies, Lucky Logan lacks that final bit of pizzaz that would elevate it to greatness. Whilst the core trio all get ample time to shine, there are certain characters and plot threads that feel slightly underused, almost to the extent that you question their inclusion. Seth MacFarlane and Sebastian Stan's NASCAR team, whom you might expect to feature prominently, given that heist takes place within a race track, yet the two are reduced to glorified cameos. Similarly, Hilary Swank's late entering FBI agent feels tacked-on and offers very little to the story. After the big pay off of the heist and the plot reaching what feels like a heartfelt and satisfactory conclusion, the movie meanders on and actually robs the movie of the impactful ending that the build up deserved.
Even though it lacks that special something to make it excellent, there's still a lot to enjoy about Lucky Logan. Soderbergh yet again attracts a stellar cast that play off each other brilliantly and the overall balance of a character driven crime-flick is struck really well.
3/5 Stars
Soderbergh again teams up with Channing Tatum, who is, as usual, on lovable beefcake duty. Jimmy Logan is a West Virginian miner with a heart of gold and a surprisingly spot on accent. After being knocked down for the umpteenth time, he seeks the assistance of his brother Clyde (Adam Driver) to rob his local NASCAR track on it's most profitable day of the year. Driver's turn as a one-armed, slow talking but quick witted barman is great. He and Tatum share some cracking chemistry and his performance would steal the show, if it wasn't for the presence of Daniel Craig. Bleach blonde hair and those piercing blue eyes mean that he's almost unrecognisable but it's very clear how much fun he's having whilst freed from the shackles of 007. It's a refreshing reminder of just how good a character actor Craig can be and he completely owns every scene he's in. In fact, the characters and their interactions are arguably the strongest element of this film. Without the burden of having to share screen time between an abundance of stars that plagues the Ocean's franchise, Soderbergh allows more than enough time for this movie to slow down and develop it's key players in meaningful and interesting ways.
The true core of a heist movie. though, has to be the planning and execution of the job. Both are handled well in this case. The writers are very careful to only offer snippets of information at a time, allowing for plenty of twists and turns throughout the robbery, all of which are tied up in simplistic yet satisfying fashion. The plan itself is simple enough that you can follow the process but also intriguing enough to maintain your attention.
Unfortunately, as with many of Soderbergh's movies, Lucky Logan lacks that final bit of pizzaz that would elevate it to greatness. Whilst the core trio all get ample time to shine, there are certain characters and plot threads that feel slightly underused, almost to the extent that you question their inclusion. Seth MacFarlane and Sebastian Stan's NASCAR team, whom you might expect to feature prominently, given that heist takes place within a race track, yet the two are reduced to glorified cameos. Similarly, Hilary Swank's late entering FBI agent feels tacked-on and offers very little to the story. After the big pay off of the heist and the plot reaching what feels like a heartfelt and satisfactory conclusion, the movie meanders on and actually robs the movie of the impactful ending that the build up deserved.
Even though it lacks that special something to make it excellent, there's still a lot to enjoy about Lucky Logan. Soderbergh yet again attracts a stellar cast that play off each other brilliantly and the overall balance of a character driven crime-flick is struck really well.
3/5 Stars
Sunday, 28 January 2018
'The Greatest Showman' Review
'The Musical' is the latest cinematic genre to undergo a revival in the eyes of Hollywood. Ever since the immense success of LA LA Land, people have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of another to determine whether the return was a one off or if musicals are really back at their best for good. The Greatest Showman suggest its the latter. It may not be "the greatest show", but it is a visually stunning and expertly choreographed movie that is at times joyous to watch.
The Greatest Showman is a much glorified account of the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum (Hugh Jackman), orphaned and penniless but determined to provide a magical life for his childhood sweetheart Charity (Michelle Williams) and his daughters. His desire and innovation leads him to gamble all he has on creating a show in which people "can see things they've never seen before". His collection of oddities are controversial and successful in equal measure. On Barnum's road to greatness, he must decide what is truly important to him.
Undoubtedly, the strongest element of this film is the musical numbers. I didn't personally love them all, but on the whole the performances are vibrant, exuberant and thoroughly entertaining. The original songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the award-winning lyricists for LA LA Land, are paired brilliantly with exceptional choreography of the set-pieces to guarantee that each is as entertaining as the last. Every time Barnum's show performs is breathtaking. Visually stunning, with such bright and varied colour pallets and characters. It took almost all of my reserve to avoid stomping and clapping along in the theatre. Zac Efron and Zendaya's rope performance is also great - mesmerising at times and very moving. There are some very obvious moments of CGI in the numbers, many of which look really shaky.
A stellar cast give some great performances, in particular Hugh Jackman. His background in musical theatre really pays dividend here, as their is inherent entertainment in watching him sing and dance. His is the perfect fit for the "greatest showman" on earth. Outside of the music, he offers an expectedly charismatic turn as Barnum. Zac Efron also really shines. He's (almost) as charming as Jackman and his internal conflict of being torn between two worlds is handled really well. Of Barnum's "freak show", Zendaya and Keala Settle both stand out and feature heavily in the best songs. Rebecca Ferguson is also very impressive. Michelle Williams could be accused of over doing it at times. Austyn Johnson and Cameron Seely deserve special mention for never once crossing the line into annoying child actors.
A valid criticism of The Greatest Showman is that the narrative doesn't take advantage of many of the plot that it establishes.The overall sentiment, that it is okay to be yourself no matter what anyone else thinks, is handled well enough and offers a heartfelt balance to the ecstasy of the song and dance. However, there's debate about the ethics of changing the story of Barnum, who in reality was a really awful man who exploited people's physical and mental disabilities for his own financial gain. Yet, this is ever so briefly addressed in the movie. Whilst it would have been quite intriguing to see a more accurate depiction of his life, the true grittiness is sacrificed in the name of keeping the affair family friendly. On the other hand, I would argue that there's more than enough darkness in the media right now (and the world for that matter), so an exhilarating romp such as this is more than welcome. As Barnum himself says "When was the last time you smiled, or had a good laugh?". This movie certainly offers you that.
Entertaining performances and enchanting musical numbers really propel this film. With Jackman at the helm, it's a classy, charismatic and comedic event. It's by no means perfect, yet it offers a delightful spectacle that will keep you hooked throughout. And more importantly it will make you smile.
3/5 Stars
The Greatest Showman is a much glorified account of the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum (Hugh Jackman), orphaned and penniless but determined to provide a magical life for his childhood sweetheart Charity (Michelle Williams) and his daughters. His desire and innovation leads him to gamble all he has on creating a show in which people "can see things they've never seen before". His collection of oddities are controversial and successful in equal measure. On Barnum's road to greatness, he must decide what is truly important to him.
Undoubtedly, the strongest element of this film is the musical numbers. I didn't personally love them all, but on the whole the performances are vibrant, exuberant and thoroughly entertaining. The original songs by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the award-winning lyricists for LA LA Land, are paired brilliantly with exceptional choreography of the set-pieces to guarantee that each is as entertaining as the last. Every time Barnum's show performs is breathtaking. Visually stunning, with such bright and varied colour pallets and characters. It took almost all of my reserve to avoid stomping and clapping along in the theatre. Zac Efron and Zendaya's rope performance is also great - mesmerising at times and very moving. There are some very obvious moments of CGI in the numbers, many of which look really shaky.
A stellar cast give some great performances, in particular Hugh Jackman. His background in musical theatre really pays dividend here, as their is inherent entertainment in watching him sing and dance. His is the perfect fit for the "greatest showman" on earth. Outside of the music, he offers an expectedly charismatic turn as Barnum. Zac Efron also really shines. He's (almost) as charming as Jackman and his internal conflict of being torn between two worlds is handled really well. Of Barnum's "freak show", Zendaya and Keala Settle both stand out and feature heavily in the best songs. Rebecca Ferguson is also very impressive. Michelle Williams could be accused of over doing it at times. Austyn Johnson and Cameron Seely deserve special mention for never once crossing the line into annoying child actors.
A valid criticism of The Greatest Showman is that the narrative doesn't take advantage of many of the plot that it establishes.The overall sentiment, that it is okay to be yourself no matter what anyone else thinks, is handled well enough and offers a heartfelt balance to the ecstasy of the song and dance. However, there's debate about the ethics of changing the story of Barnum, who in reality was a really awful man who exploited people's physical and mental disabilities for his own financial gain. Yet, this is ever so briefly addressed in the movie. Whilst it would have been quite intriguing to see a more accurate depiction of his life, the true grittiness is sacrificed in the name of keeping the affair family friendly. On the other hand, I would argue that there's more than enough darkness in the media right now (and the world for that matter), so an exhilarating romp such as this is more than welcome. As Barnum himself says "When was the last time you smiled, or had a good laugh?". This movie certainly offers you that.
Entertaining performances and enchanting musical numbers really propel this film. With Jackman at the helm, it's a classy, charismatic and comedic event. It's by no means perfect, yet it offers a delightful spectacle that will keep you hooked throughout. And more importantly it will make you smile.
3/5 Stars
Monday, 1 January 2018
Most Anticipated Movies of 2018
Happy New Year folks. Here's hoping it's a good one. For me personally it's set to be a significant one - hopefully by this time next year I'll have A levels, be settling into life at university and have a more physical audience to sit and listen to me blabber on about movies. Speaking of, 2018 promises to be a stellar year for the big screen, so let's take a look at some of my most anticipated releases of the upcoming year.
1) Solo: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One set a pretty solid benchmark for future Star Wars spinoffs to follow. Rumours from within indicate that this movie is going to flop massively - directors being hired and fired seemingly at random, concerns from within that certain cast members "can't act" and even one report that Disney are preparing for this movie to bomb in the box office. Still it will be interesting to see if Alden Ehrenreich can capture the infamous charm of everybody's favourite smuggler.
2) Black Panther
Just when you think that Marvel have played all their cards in terms of what the MCU can offer, they spring a hidden technological utopia masquerading as a barren third world country. Chadwick Boseman looks born to play the role after his introduction in Captain America: Civil War and he's backed up by a terrific supporting cast, made up of almost entirely black actors and directors which is a huge achievement in it self given the 'whitewash' culture of modern Hollywood. Black Panther promises to offer a fresh and exciting take on a superhero origin movie.
3) Mamma Mia: Here we go again!
To be completely honest, I'd go and see this movie purely for the incredible title. It will most likely be awful but with an amazing cast, a mix with new and returning faces, hopefully it's a least a decent throwback to a better movie. And seriously - give whoever came up with that title a raise.
4) Ocean's 8
Is it a reboot? Is it a continuation? Honestly I have no idea. What I do know is that the Ocean's franchise is very hit and miss. It could be great, could be dreadful. Still on the surface, I do like the sound of an all female led heist movie.
5) Mission Impossible 6
The Mission Impossible franchise is, somehow, on an upward curve at the moment. Very little is known about the story at this point, but at least this movie can market the fact that is host to the most significant and costly moustache in cinematic history Let's hope it was worth it Cavill.
6) Ready Player One
Based on Ernest Cline's 'Ode to Pop Culture' of the same name, the number of references in the trailer alone makes my head spin. Steven Spielberg hasn't made a universally adored movie in quite a while and whilst I'd love for this film to break that streak, I'm sceptical that it will be any good.
7) Avengers: Infinity War
Do I really need to say anything else? What promises to be the culmination of 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It may sound cheesy, but this franchise has been a major part of my childhood and has in many ways shaped the person I am and my love for the big screen. I will no doubt be an emotional wreck upon it's release.
8) Aquaman
I didn't love Jason Momoa's performance in Justice League, but under the direction of James Wan who's been killing it lately, I'm hopeful that his first solo outing will capture the same magic that Wonder Woman did.
9) Mortal Engines
I had no prior knowledge or attachment to this property, but the trailer has gotten me completely on board. The premise is almost painfully vague and I'm desperate to see just what the heck is going on in this movie.
10) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Jurassic World is one of the most distinctly average movies in recent times. Still if you can get past the paper-thin plot and sub-par characters there is some great dinosaur action to enjoy. I'm hopeful that an erupting volcano populated with dinosaurs will lead to more of the same.
11) Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
As someone who hates Harry Potter and his smug little face, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Fantastic Beasts and where to find them. The prospect of seeing 'The Great Wizard War' in the sequel is very exciting to me. My only reservation? Johnny Depp. Honestly, you had Colin Farrell and you traded him for Depp? Give me strength.
12) Untitled Deadpool Sequel
The first movie was an unprecedented success. Everybody was expecting it to tank, but it now stands as the highest grossing R rated movie of all time. I'm hoping that they take his character in some new and interesting directions, but to be fair if it was just more of the same I don't think I'd complain.
13) Tomb Raider
One of these days the curse on movies based on video games will be broken. Eventually we'll get a good one. Alicia Vikander is excellent in everything I've seen her in and I can't think of anyone better suited for the role of Croft. Some of the action in the trailers looks disturbingly digital, but I'm quietly optimistic that this movie might just turn out alright.
14) Venom
Tom Hardy as a wild, bloodthirsty and murderous version of Spiderman? Yes please.
15) Bumblebee
With Michael Bay stepping away from the Transformers spinoff movies, there is a small glimmer of hope that Bumblebee could be good. Just keep it short, keep the narrative focused and, for the love of god, actually show him transforming this time.
16) Pacific Rim: Uprising
Speaking of, Pacific Rim made audiences sit up and think "Oh, that's what a transformers movie should be, I get it now". With the loveable John Boyega leading the line, it could even be better than the first.
17) New Mutants
In a desperate attempt to squeeze one last profit out of the X-Men before the rights are sold to Disney, Sony have aimed for a different spin on the characters. A horror movie based on a younger band of mutants trapped in a facility. At the very least, it sounds more interesting than the blandness that has become associated with the franchise.
18) Ant Man and the Wasp.
The sequel to the hilarious heist comedy promises Evangeline Lilly, in double billing with Antman, as the Wasp and further exploration of the psychedelic wonderland that is the micro-verse. I'll watch pretty much anything with Paul Rudd to be honest.
19) Hellboy
Whilst I'm curious as to why anyone felt that this reboot was in anyway necessary, I have been asking for David Harbour to be in more things so I suppose I should be careful what I wish for.
20) Rampage
A giant ape, wolf and crocodile obliterating a city? As far as mindless action movies go, it sounds pretty good.
1) Solo: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One set a pretty solid benchmark for future Star Wars spinoffs to follow. Rumours from within indicate that this movie is going to flop massively - directors being hired and fired seemingly at random, concerns from within that certain cast members "can't act" and even one report that Disney are preparing for this movie to bomb in the box office. Still it will be interesting to see if Alden Ehrenreich can capture the infamous charm of everybody's favourite smuggler.
2) Black Panther
Just when you think that Marvel have played all their cards in terms of what the MCU can offer, they spring a hidden technological utopia masquerading as a barren third world country. Chadwick Boseman looks born to play the role after his introduction in Captain America: Civil War and he's backed up by a terrific supporting cast, made up of almost entirely black actors and directors which is a huge achievement in it self given the 'whitewash' culture of modern Hollywood. Black Panther promises to offer a fresh and exciting take on a superhero origin movie.
3) Mamma Mia: Here we go again!
To be completely honest, I'd go and see this movie purely for the incredible title. It will most likely be awful but with an amazing cast, a mix with new and returning faces, hopefully it's a least a decent throwback to a better movie. And seriously - give whoever came up with that title a raise.
4) Ocean's 8
Is it a reboot? Is it a continuation? Honestly I have no idea. What I do know is that the Ocean's franchise is very hit and miss. It could be great, could be dreadful. Still on the surface, I do like the sound of an all female led heist movie.
5) Mission Impossible 6
The Mission Impossible franchise is, somehow, on an upward curve at the moment. Very little is known about the story at this point, but at least this movie can market the fact that is host to the most significant and costly moustache in cinematic history Let's hope it was worth it Cavill.
6) Ready Player One
Based on Ernest Cline's 'Ode to Pop Culture' of the same name, the number of references in the trailer alone makes my head spin. Steven Spielberg hasn't made a universally adored movie in quite a while and whilst I'd love for this film to break that streak, I'm sceptical that it will be any good.
7) Avengers: Infinity War
Do I really need to say anything else? What promises to be the culmination of 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It may sound cheesy, but this franchise has been a major part of my childhood and has in many ways shaped the person I am and my love for the big screen. I will no doubt be an emotional wreck upon it's release.
8) Aquaman
I didn't love Jason Momoa's performance in Justice League, but under the direction of James Wan who's been killing it lately, I'm hopeful that his first solo outing will capture the same magic that Wonder Woman did.
9) Mortal Engines
I had no prior knowledge or attachment to this property, but the trailer has gotten me completely on board. The premise is almost painfully vague and I'm desperate to see just what the heck is going on in this movie.
10) Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Jurassic World is one of the most distinctly average movies in recent times. Still if you can get past the paper-thin plot and sub-par characters there is some great dinosaur action to enjoy. I'm hopeful that an erupting volcano populated with dinosaurs will lead to more of the same.
11) Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
As someone who hates Harry Potter and his smug little face, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Fantastic Beasts and where to find them. The prospect of seeing 'The Great Wizard War' in the sequel is very exciting to me. My only reservation? Johnny Depp. Honestly, you had Colin Farrell and you traded him for Depp? Give me strength.
12) Untitled Deadpool Sequel
The first movie was an unprecedented success. Everybody was expecting it to tank, but it now stands as the highest grossing R rated movie of all time. I'm hoping that they take his character in some new and interesting directions, but to be fair if it was just more of the same I don't think I'd complain.
13) Tomb Raider
One of these days the curse on movies based on video games will be broken. Eventually we'll get a good one. Alicia Vikander is excellent in everything I've seen her in and I can't think of anyone better suited for the role of Croft. Some of the action in the trailers looks disturbingly digital, but I'm quietly optimistic that this movie might just turn out alright.
14) Venom
Tom Hardy as a wild, bloodthirsty and murderous version of Spiderman? Yes please.
15) Bumblebee
With Michael Bay stepping away from the Transformers spinoff movies, there is a small glimmer of hope that Bumblebee could be good. Just keep it short, keep the narrative focused and, for the love of god, actually show him transforming this time.
16) Pacific Rim: Uprising
Speaking of, Pacific Rim made audiences sit up and think "Oh, that's what a transformers movie should be, I get it now". With the loveable John Boyega leading the line, it could even be better than the first.
17) New Mutants
In a desperate attempt to squeeze one last profit out of the X-Men before the rights are sold to Disney, Sony have aimed for a different spin on the characters. A horror movie based on a younger band of mutants trapped in a facility. At the very least, it sounds more interesting than the blandness that has become associated with the franchise.
18) Ant Man and the Wasp.
The sequel to the hilarious heist comedy promises Evangeline Lilly, in double billing with Antman, as the Wasp and further exploration of the psychedelic wonderland that is the micro-verse. I'll watch pretty much anything with Paul Rudd to be honest.
19) Hellboy
Whilst I'm curious as to why anyone felt that this reboot was in anyway necessary, I have been asking for David Harbour to be in more things so I suppose I should be careful what I wish for.
20) Rampage
A giant ape, wolf and crocodile obliterating a city? As far as mindless action movies go, it sounds pretty good.
Monday, 18 December 2017
'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' Spoiler free review
Star Wars is well and truly back, baby! Ever since Disney acquired the rights from 'LucasFilm' in 2012, there's been a seemingly endless wave of new Star Wars movies, comic books, animated series, video games - its literally everywhere. I genuinely saw 3 different 'Star Wars: Battlefront II' trailers before 'The Last Jedi' had even begun. Due to the sheer density of Star Wars in the media right now, it was very important that Episode VIII was a fresh take on what had come before it. After all, despite 'The Force Awakens' being really terrific, one of the biggest complaints of Episode VII was that it retread a lot of old ground and was at times just a retelling of 'A New Hope'. Thankfully, it appears that the studio has allowed director Rian Johnson enough creative control that he has been able to craft a film that feels very much like his vision of Star Wars. There are of course references to it's predecessors, but on the whole Episode VIII takes the Star Wars universe in a fresh and immensely exciting direction - which is just one of the many reasons why 'The Last Jedi' is fantastic.
The story follows on directly after the events of 'The Force Awakens'. The galaxy is in a state of turmoil. Despite the rebel's victory destroying 'Starkiller base', they are fleeing the wrath of the First Order. Rey has gone off in search of Luke Skywalker and answers about her newly discovered force powers.
The performances on the whole are superb. The new trio of heroes established in Episode VII are all great, with the most interesting developments in character given to Rey and Poe. Mark Hamill is amazing as returning Luke Skywalker, made bitter and hateful by years of neglect and self-hatred due to a mistake made in his past, before being given one last stand as the 'legend' that Episode VI made him. Adam Driver's Kylo Ren is truly incredible. He balances simmering anger with a naive and childish spite masterfully and the conflicted nature of his character makes him both an intriguing and terrifying villain. New additions such as Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern), Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) and DJ (Benicio Del Toro) all play really well. Andy Serkis gives yet another impressive turn as Snoke. Special mention though must go to Carrie Fisher. Perhaps it's bias created by the influence of her passing, but her performance here is heartfelt and quite frankly mesmerising. It's a beautiful send off to one of the most beloved movie characters of all time.
The action on show is amazing. Frantic yet meaningful space battles, intense fight scenes and one of the best lightsaber duels in the whole franchise. There are a few instances of CGI that are a little bit shaky, but on the whole the film looks great. Yet all of the action and explosions are undercut by several lengthy pauses and even silences that are included to give the audience time to breathe. This is perhaps unusual from an action-packed blockbuster, but the time for reflection that they present to the audience gives each action set piece so much more in terms of emotional impact. There's one silence in particular which, coupled with some stunning visuals, brought a tear to my eye.
I do have some complaints. The movie does feel overly long, which I think is perhaps due to some of the subplots being much less interesting than the main narrative of the film. As a result, you do feel like some scenes could have been cut to allow more time with the main protagonists. There is one chase sequence in the middle of the film that feels very referential to the prequels (in the worst of ways) and ends up contributing very little to the story, which does beg the question why include it? Also, whilst there are some generally funny moments, lots of the jokes do feel slightly out of place and it's almost a shame to see Domhnall Gleeson's General Hux reduced from a Nazi-esque antagonist to comic relief in this movie.
However, one of the strongest elements of this film is the way it advances the Star Wars world in creative and interesting ways. There are answers offered to many of the mysteries posed in 'The Force Awakens', but the ways in which they are handled and dismissed are genuinely shocking and brilliant in equal measure. There are call-backs and references to everything that has come before it (which will have your inner child punching the air with joy), but they are balanced really well with innovative ideas and concepts that I really hope to see developed further in the future.
I liked the original Star Wars movies yet I never really understood what all the obsessive fandom was about. My moment of realisation was getting goosebumps from seeing the title crawl for Episode VII in a movie theatre for the first time and as the iconic theme tune blared out, I finally understood. They had recaptured the magic of Star Wars and re-gifted it to my generation. Personally, I really enjoyed 'The Force Awakens' but 'The Last Jedi' is a step up. A perfect blend of original ideas with classic elements that all contributes to an emotional rollercoaster of a movie. Highly recommended - I can't wait to see it again.
4/5 Stars
The story follows on directly after the events of 'The Force Awakens'. The galaxy is in a state of turmoil. Despite the rebel's victory destroying 'Starkiller base', they are fleeing the wrath of the First Order. Rey has gone off in search of Luke Skywalker and answers about her newly discovered force powers.
The performances on the whole are superb. The new trio of heroes established in Episode VII are all great, with the most interesting developments in character given to Rey and Poe. Mark Hamill is amazing as returning Luke Skywalker, made bitter and hateful by years of neglect and self-hatred due to a mistake made in his past, before being given one last stand as the 'legend' that Episode VI made him. Adam Driver's Kylo Ren is truly incredible. He balances simmering anger with a naive and childish spite masterfully and the conflicted nature of his character makes him both an intriguing and terrifying villain. New additions such as Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern), Rose (Kelly Marie Tran) and DJ (Benicio Del Toro) all play really well. Andy Serkis gives yet another impressive turn as Snoke. Special mention though must go to Carrie Fisher. Perhaps it's bias created by the influence of her passing, but her performance here is heartfelt and quite frankly mesmerising. It's a beautiful send off to one of the most beloved movie characters of all time.
The action on show is amazing. Frantic yet meaningful space battles, intense fight scenes and one of the best lightsaber duels in the whole franchise. There are a few instances of CGI that are a little bit shaky, but on the whole the film looks great. Yet all of the action and explosions are undercut by several lengthy pauses and even silences that are included to give the audience time to breathe. This is perhaps unusual from an action-packed blockbuster, but the time for reflection that they present to the audience gives each action set piece so much more in terms of emotional impact. There's one silence in particular which, coupled with some stunning visuals, brought a tear to my eye.
I do have some complaints. The movie does feel overly long, which I think is perhaps due to some of the subplots being much less interesting than the main narrative of the film. As a result, you do feel like some scenes could have been cut to allow more time with the main protagonists. There is one chase sequence in the middle of the film that feels very referential to the prequels (in the worst of ways) and ends up contributing very little to the story, which does beg the question why include it? Also, whilst there are some generally funny moments, lots of the jokes do feel slightly out of place and it's almost a shame to see Domhnall Gleeson's General Hux reduced from a Nazi-esque antagonist to comic relief in this movie.
However, one of the strongest elements of this film is the way it advances the Star Wars world in creative and interesting ways. There are answers offered to many of the mysteries posed in 'The Force Awakens', but the ways in which they are handled and dismissed are genuinely shocking and brilliant in equal measure. There are call-backs and references to everything that has come before it (which will have your inner child punching the air with joy), but they are balanced really well with innovative ideas and concepts that I really hope to see developed further in the future.
I liked the original Star Wars movies yet I never really understood what all the obsessive fandom was about. My moment of realisation was getting goosebumps from seeing the title crawl for Episode VII in a movie theatre for the first time and as the iconic theme tune blared out, I finally understood. They had recaptured the magic of Star Wars and re-gifted it to my generation. Personally, I really enjoyed 'The Force Awakens' but 'The Last Jedi' is a step up. A perfect blend of original ideas with classic elements that all contributes to an emotional rollercoaster of a movie. Highly recommended - I can't wait to see it again.
4/5 Stars
Monday, 20 November 2017
'Justice League' Spoiler free review
The odds were, undoubtedly, stacked against Justice League being a success even before it was released. Burdened by being a part of the much maligned DCEU and being under immense pressure to continue the upward curve that appeared to have begun with Wonder Woman earlier this year, people's expectations for Justice League have been pretty low. Personally, I was cautiously optimistic. I was hopeful that DC had learnt their lessons and confident that, at the very least, this entry could't be any worse than some of its predecessors. I was wrong. My optimism and goodwill towards this movie (and lets face, it the franchise as a whole at this point) has now all but disappeared, because Justice League is a bad movie.
After Superman's death in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) is a changed man. Fearful of a imminent otherworldly invasion, he seeks the help of Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) to assemble a team to defend the world now that their 'beacon of hope' is gone. With the help of Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and The Flash (Ezra Miller), the heroes must unite in order to stop the villainous Steppenwolf and his army from destroying our world.
I will start with the positives, despite there not being many. To me, the undisputed best part of this film is Superman. Shock horror - he's back from the dead. Despite his resurrection being a bizarre mixture of incredibly convoluted and stupidly basic, its well worth it because in my opinion this is the best interpretation of Superman that has ever been put to screen. The crying and the scowling from the previous movies is gone, replaced by a comic accurate suit, an insanely overpowered skill set and, perhaps most importantly, a smile. He can finally be seen as the symbol of hope that he was always meant to be. His dialogue is somewhat cheesy and the difference in his power-levels in comparison to the other members is hilarious, but that's exactly what I want from Superman. Hands down the strongest part of the film. Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman is also a strong as ever. Stepping into a leadership role in Kal El's initial absence, she is powerful and gorgeous in equal measure and Gadot makes her really endearing and likeable to the audience. However, there are several occasions where she is needlessly over-sexualised, which goes against everything that was established about the character in her solo film. I enjoyed Jason Momoa's Aquaman and was really impressed by Ray Fisher in his first cinematic performance. Generally, all the heroes get equal chance to showcase their abilities and contribute something to the team, which can be difficult in large ensemble films but is handled well here. Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons and J.K. Simmons are all good, given that they have very little to do. However, there is little else about this movie that I didn't hate.
I do feel genuinely bad for Ben Affleck. For all the criticism that the DCEU has received, his performances as Batman have always been one of the strongest parts of this franchise. However, the stresses of critical panning and constant bombardment from fans asking 'Hey, when are you gonna direct the Batman movie?' has clearly taken a toll on him and it's painfully evident here. Throughout Affleck's performance is static and poor, clearly the result of his general boredom and disinterest with this project and this series as a whole. You can tell that he's only here to cash his pay cheque until he can eventually find a way out of this hellish role. I can't blame him. Why would anyone want to commit to continue having your work torn apart by critics and fans alike? The other weak point in the performances is Ezra Miller's Flash. I don't necessarily think its the fault of the actor, but I hated this portrayal. He's intended to provide comic relief, yet without exception everyone of his punchlines felt forced and left an uncomfortable silence. The funniest part about him is Miller's pathetic run. The effect of his speed-force is pretty good, but it's never really used for anything.
In fact, despite trying desperately hard to be, this film is not funny. At all. All the best jokes were used in the trailers so had no impact upon viewing and the rest were unmemorable and again left almost eerie silences among the audience. I'm not quite sure how this is possible, given the fact that Joss Whedon, the man who's quips brought The Avengers to life back in 2012 was responsible for much of the dialogue. Yet here, the dialogue is awful, interactions between character is uninspired and at times boring and the humour has clearly been forced into a universe that was not built for it. People have been asking for the DC movies to be more lighthearted, and this certainly is, but it's such a knee-jerk change from the dark and gritty Batman vs Superman that it feels wholly unnatural and unearned.
Due to the tragic and untimely death of his daughter, Zach Snyder stepped away from the project back in March and Joss Whedon was hired to finish what he has started. Unfortunately, this has been to the detriment of this film. It's clear to see where the two differing ideologies of these filmmakers has been squashed together and it quite simply doesn't mesh. The story is practically paint by numbers, to the point where if you've seen one of the trailers for this film, you know exactly what is going to happen. There are no twists and turns along the way. The villain is just awful. Visually uninteresting and with dull one-note motivations he is no more entertaining than any of him army of faceless para-demons, which also feels very played out by this point. I don't understand how it's possible to make a film with such great characters boring, but they achieved it.
Coupled with the uninteresting story, is a lack on any memorable action scenes. With only one or two exceptions, the set pieces are poorly paced and offer very little enjoyment. Snyder's favourite slow motion shot is yet again massively over used and there are examples of action beats that have literally been ripped straight from Avengers Assemble but are somehow executed worse. Quite remarkably, despite having a whopping $300 million budget to cover Whedon's reshoots, the visuals in his movie range from quite good to simply God awful. The design of the villain is poor, there are some excruciatingly obvious location changes that have been horribly green-screened over and the attempt to digitally remove Henry Cavill's moustache is frankly laughable.
I cannot help but wonder, if I had not seen a Marvel movie would I have enjoyed this. Potentially. Unfortunately for DC though, I have and in a year where the MCU has released 3 great movies they needed something infinitely better than this to stay relevant. It's infuriating the amount of potential that is wasted here. It baffles me that two directors with such an iconic group of characters backed up by a undeniably strong cast and a $300 million budget couldn't make better than this. Uninspiring, uninteresting and on the whole a massive let down - though to be honest I don't know why I expected anything else.
2/5 Stars
After Superman's death in Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) is a changed man. Fearful of a imminent otherworldly invasion, he seeks the help of Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) to assemble a team to defend the world now that their 'beacon of hope' is gone. With the help of Aquaman (Jason Momoa), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and The Flash (Ezra Miller), the heroes must unite in order to stop the villainous Steppenwolf and his army from destroying our world.
I will start with the positives, despite there not being many. To me, the undisputed best part of this film is Superman. Shock horror - he's back from the dead. Despite his resurrection being a bizarre mixture of incredibly convoluted and stupidly basic, its well worth it because in my opinion this is the best interpretation of Superman that has ever been put to screen. The crying and the scowling from the previous movies is gone, replaced by a comic accurate suit, an insanely overpowered skill set and, perhaps most importantly, a smile. He can finally be seen as the symbol of hope that he was always meant to be. His dialogue is somewhat cheesy and the difference in his power-levels in comparison to the other members is hilarious, but that's exactly what I want from Superman. Hands down the strongest part of the film. Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman is also a strong as ever. Stepping into a leadership role in Kal El's initial absence, she is powerful and gorgeous in equal measure and Gadot makes her really endearing and likeable to the audience. However, there are several occasions where she is needlessly over-sexualised, which goes against everything that was established about the character in her solo film. I enjoyed Jason Momoa's Aquaman and was really impressed by Ray Fisher in his first cinematic performance. Generally, all the heroes get equal chance to showcase their abilities and contribute something to the team, which can be difficult in large ensemble films but is handled well here. Amy Adams, Jeremy Irons and J.K. Simmons are all good, given that they have very little to do. However, there is little else about this movie that I didn't hate.
I do feel genuinely bad for Ben Affleck. For all the criticism that the DCEU has received, his performances as Batman have always been one of the strongest parts of this franchise. However, the stresses of critical panning and constant bombardment from fans asking 'Hey, when are you gonna direct the Batman movie?' has clearly taken a toll on him and it's painfully evident here. Throughout Affleck's performance is static and poor, clearly the result of his general boredom and disinterest with this project and this series as a whole. You can tell that he's only here to cash his pay cheque until he can eventually find a way out of this hellish role. I can't blame him. Why would anyone want to commit to continue having your work torn apart by critics and fans alike? The other weak point in the performances is Ezra Miller's Flash. I don't necessarily think its the fault of the actor, but I hated this portrayal. He's intended to provide comic relief, yet without exception everyone of his punchlines felt forced and left an uncomfortable silence. The funniest part about him is Miller's pathetic run. The effect of his speed-force is pretty good, but it's never really used for anything.
In fact, despite trying desperately hard to be, this film is not funny. At all. All the best jokes were used in the trailers so had no impact upon viewing and the rest were unmemorable and again left almost eerie silences among the audience. I'm not quite sure how this is possible, given the fact that Joss Whedon, the man who's quips brought The Avengers to life back in 2012 was responsible for much of the dialogue. Yet here, the dialogue is awful, interactions between character is uninspired and at times boring and the humour has clearly been forced into a universe that was not built for it. People have been asking for the DC movies to be more lighthearted, and this certainly is, but it's such a knee-jerk change from the dark and gritty Batman vs Superman that it feels wholly unnatural and unearned.
Due to the tragic and untimely death of his daughter, Zach Snyder stepped away from the project back in March and Joss Whedon was hired to finish what he has started. Unfortunately, this has been to the detriment of this film. It's clear to see where the two differing ideologies of these filmmakers has been squashed together and it quite simply doesn't mesh. The story is practically paint by numbers, to the point where if you've seen one of the trailers for this film, you know exactly what is going to happen. There are no twists and turns along the way. The villain is just awful. Visually uninteresting and with dull one-note motivations he is no more entertaining than any of him army of faceless para-demons, which also feels very played out by this point. I don't understand how it's possible to make a film with such great characters boring, but they achieved it.
Coupled with the uninteresting story, is a lack on any memorable action scenes. With only one or two exceptions, the set pieces are poorly paced and offer very little enjoyment. Snyder's favourite slow motion shot is yet again massively over used and there are examples of action beats that have literally been ripped straight from Avengers Assemble but are somehow executed worse. Quite remarkably, despite having a whopping $300 million budget to cover Whedon's reshoots, the visuals in his movie range from quite good to simply God awful. The design of the villain is poor, there are some excruciatingly obvious location changes that have been horribly green-screened over and the attempt to digitally remove Henry Cavill's moustache is frankly laughable.
I cannot help but wonder, if I had not seen a Marvel movie would I have enjoyed this. Potentially. Unfortunately for DC though, I have and in a year where the MCU has released 3 great movies they needed something infinitely better than this to stay relevant. It's infuriating the amount of potential that is wasted here. It baffles me that two directors with such an iconic group of characters backed up by a undeniably strong cast and a $300 million budget couldn't make better than this. Uninspiring, uninteresting and on the whole a massive let down - though to be honest I don't know why I expected anything else.
2/5 Stars
Sunday, 29 October 2017
'Thor:Ragnarok' spoiler free review
A crucial element to the success of Marvel Studio's cinematic universe is the diversity between each entry. Despite all featuring in the same world, each film covers vastly different themes and storylines. Captain America:The Winter Soldier was a paranoid spy thriller, Ant Man was a heist comedy and the Guardians of the Galaxy franchise is a glorified space opera. This is surely due to the wide array of directors Marvel have assigned to their projects. Of the 17 MCU movies, 13 different directors have been at the helm, all offering their own spin on the superhero genre. The appointment of Taika Watiti for 'Thor:Ragnarok' was a left of field and perhaps slightly risky choice, but it has absolutely paid off as he has crafted perhaps the most odd and audacious movie yet. A surreal mix of entertaining and consequential action and outrageously daft humour that is blended extremely well - 'Thor:Ragnarok' is a fast paced, genuinely hilarious romp.
In exile on the other side of the universe, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must do battle with a very familiar face and enlist the help of his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and new ally Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) in order to return to Asgard to prevent the all powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying his home and its people.
Despite being the definitive 3rd entry in the Thor series, 'Ragnarok' is a vast departure from anything we have seen from his character before. It was a wise move for the franchise to leave behind the regal stoicism of the first film and the dreary and uninspired nature of the sequel. Chris Hemsworth is an actor with incredible comedic understanding and timing and under the genius vision of Taika Watiti, he is finally allowed to show off this talent in a way that the MCU has never demonstrated before. He's still big-headed, noble and at times ignorant but this is coupled with new found sense of humour. Sometimes he means to be funny, others not so much but he's hilarious throughout the film. In fact, everybody is. You can see how much fun the actors are having bouncing their lines of dialogue off each other. Mark Ruffalo offers his best Marvel performance yet as Hulk and Bruce Banner. Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie offers a perfect counterpart to Thor. Tom Hiddleston is charming and devious as always, but even he gets his comedic moments which he handles very well. Jeff Goldblum goes all into his role as the eccentric and unhinged Grandmaster. Idriss Elba, Benedict Cumberbatch and Anthony Hopkins are all great in more fleeting roles. Cate Blanchett offers one of the most powerful and menacing Marvel villains yet in the Goddess of Death. Her strength is demonstrated almost instantly and she proves a worthy adversary to Thor. Taika Watiti even appears as the loveable Korg, who is one of the most enjoyable parts of the film.
The tone of this movie is spot on. It incorporates classic elements of superhero movies and combines them with the outlandish nature of the director's comedic brain. Slapstick is balanced perfectly with more cheeky irreverent humour, that feels fresh out of What we do in the the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, is all executed brilliantly by the cast. It could be argued that at times more serious moments are undercut by the use of a pun, but on the whole the high stakes are partnered with the levity really well.
There are also some stunning action set pieces. Hela's initial conquest of Asgard, high speed spaceships battles and the Hulk taking on a giant wolf all spring to mind as highlights. The Thor vs Hulk showdown does not disappoint. It was the part of the trailer that got everyone excited and it fully delivers. It's funny, tragic and throughly entertaining to watch.
There are certain freedoms allowed to directors by having your film set away from earth. Much like in Guardians of the Galaxy, there's really no restriction to the sets and characters you can implement and this movie does not hold back. Of course its nice to see the golden streets of Asgard again, but the star of the show is Sakar. A junk planet used by the rest of the galaxy to dump their unwanted crap turned into a gladiator arena by the Grandmaster. Miles and miles of weird and wonderful alien tech, three headed aliens and a giant hologram of Jeff Goldblum. Sakar acts as a physical example of the style of this film. Its colourful, camp and at times very stupid but its all intentional to assure that the audience has as much fun as possible whilst watching, which he has definitely achieved.
Taika Watiti (Honestly, I cannot stop saying his name, I mean seriously try saying it aloud) recently said in an interview that he was sick of the current state of our world and wants to offer his audiences and fun and ridiculous escape. He has achieved this and then some. His direction and general approach to filmmaking has breathed new life into an already tremendous cast who all offer hilarious performances. As Marvel movies go, its certainly one of the weirdest and most ridiculous we've seen but its also right up their with the very best of them. I promise you that you will leave 'Thor:Ragnarok' with a grin plastered across your face.
4/5 Stars.
In exile on the other side of the universe, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) must do battle with a very familiar face and enlist the help of his brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) and new ally Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) in order to return to Asgard to prevent the all powerful Hela (Cate Blanchett) from destroying his home and its people.
Despite being the definitive 3rd entry in the Thor series, 'Ragnarok' is a vast departure from anything we have seen from his character before. It was a wise move for the franchise to leave behind the regal stoicism of the first film and the dreary and uninspired nature of the sequel. Chris Hemsworth is an actor with incredible comedic understanding and timing and under the genius vision of Taika Watiti, he is finally allowed to show off this talent in a way that the MCU has never demonstrated before. He's still big-headed, noble and at times ignorant but this is coupled with new found sense of humour. Sometimes he means to be funny, others not so much but he's hilarious throughout the film. In fact, everybody is. You can see how much fun the actors are having bouncing their lines of dialogue off each other. Mark Ruffalo offers his best Marvel performance yet as Hulk and Bruce Banner. Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie offers a perfect counterpart to Thor. Tom Hiddleston is charming and devious as always, but even he gets his comedic moments which he handles very well. Jeff Goldblum goes all into his role as the eccentric and unhinged Grandmaster. Idriss Elba, Benedict Cumberbatch and Anthony Hopkins are all great in more fleeting roles. Cate Blanchett offers one of the most powerful and menacing Marvel villains yet in the Goddess of Death. Her strength is demonstrated almost instantly and she proves a worthy adversary to Thor. Taika Watiti even appears as the loveable Korg, who is one of the most enjoyable parts of the film.
The tone of this movie is spot on. It incorporates classic elements of superhero movies and combines them with the outlandish nature of the director's comedic brain. Slapstick is balanced perfectly with more cheeky irreverent humour, that feels fresh out of What we do in the the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, is all executed brilliantly by the cast. It could be argued that at times more serious moments are undercut by the use of a pun, but on the whole the high stakes are partnered with the levity really well.
There are also some stunning action set pieces. Hela's initial conquest of Asgard, high speed spaceships battles and the Hulk taking on a giant wolf all spring to mind as highlights. The Thor vs Hulk showdown does not disappoint. It was the part of the trailer that got everyone excited and it fully delivers. It's funny, tragic and throughly entertaining to watch.
There are certain freedoms allowed to directors by having your film set away from earth. Much like in Guardians of the Galaxy, there's really no restriction to the sets and characters you can implement and this movie does not hold back. Of course its nice to see the golden streets of Asgard again, but the star of the show is Sakar. A junk planet used by the rest of the galaxy to dump their unwanted crap turned into a gladiator arena by the Grandmaster. Miles and miles of weird and wonderful alien tech, three headed aliens and a giant hologram of Jeff Goldblum. Sakar acts as a physical example of the style of this film. Its colourful, camp and at times very stupid but its all intentional to assure that the audience has as much fun as possible whilst watching, which he has definitely achieved.
Taika Watiti (Honestly, I cannot stop saying his name, I mean seriously try saying it aloud) recently said in an interview that he was sick of the current state of our world and wants to offer his audiences and fun and ridiculous escape. He has achieved this and then some. His direction and general approach to filmmaking has breathed new life into an already tremendous cast who all offer hilarious performances. As Marvel movies go, its certainly one of the weirdest and most ridiculous we've seen but its also right up their with the very best of them. I promise you that you will leave 'Thor:Ragnarok' with a grin plastered across your face.
4/5 Stars.
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