Monthly Preview: July 2015
Posted: July 2, 2015 Filed under: Monthly Preview | Tags: Amy Schumer, Ant-man, Bill Condon, Christopher McQuarrie, David Foster Wallace, Ian McKellen, James Ponsoldt, Jason Segel, Jesse Eisenberg, Judd Apatow, July 2015, Magic Mike XXL, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel Studios, Mission: Impossible- Rogue Nation, Monthly Preview, Mr. Holmes, Peyton Reed, Tangerine, The End of the Tour, The Look of Silence, Tom Cruise, Trainwreck, Vacation Leave a comment
July is a bizarre stretch for me, as there isn’t really anything catching my eye until the 3rd Friday of the month. That means, among other things, that there won’t be anything new to see on my birthday (though with the surplus of offerings last month I won’t be completely lost).Thankfully July still looks like it will end strong, with a bunch of fun and intriguing films on the docket through the last few weekends. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Monsters And Murderbots: More Thoughts On Age Of Ultron
Posted: May 5, 2015 Filed under: Rant-a-palooza | Tags: Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Widow, Bratasha, Captain America, Feminism, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Thor, Ultron, Vision 1 Comment
I really liked Age of Ultron right out of the gate, and the more I think about it the more I like it. I think that Joss Whedon truly accomplished something impressive here, upping the ante for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in many ways, and not just with bigger action scenes. Unfortunately, many people seem much less enthusiastic about the film overall, and that’s a damn shame. Much like Iron Man 3, a subversion of expectations has led to a negative/disappointed/nitpicky response amongst a good portion of the fanbase, obscuring some amazing narrative accomplishments in the process. I wasn’t fully satisfied with my initial review, because I felt like I was only scratching the surface of what makes Age of Ultron tick. In light of all that, I’ve decided (for the first time ever) to write a review part 2 so I can hopefully explore the themes and arcs of the film in greater detail and maybe illuminate for others what makes this movie so awesome.
The Age of Ultron’s Weird And Wounded Heart
Posted: May 1, 2015 Filed under: Rant-a-palooza | Tags: 2015, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Black Widow, Captain America, Film Review, Hawkeye, Hulk, Iron Man, James Spader, Joss Whedon, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Paul Bettany, Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, Thor, Ultron, Vision 5 Comments
The main reason for the consistent quality of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the emphasis on character. While there are many thematic, genre-based and worldbuilding factors in every story, they are all built on what is necessary for the growth of the heroes. This is as apparent as ever with Avengers: Age of Ultron, which serves its characters above all else as all good stories should. While that focus on character results in what can sometimes feel like an unfocused narrative, the resulting emotional heft more than makes up for it. Not to mention a level of thematic depth that I’m still trying to decipher after two viewings, that will continue to tease my brain for the next few days at least. Age of Ultron may not be definitively better than the first Avengers, but it is a terrific (and surprisingly strange) movie in its own right. SPOILERS, RIGHT THIS WAY… Read the rest of this entry »
Daredevil Is The Catholic Guilt Superhero Marvel Needs
Posted: April 20, 2015 Filed under: Rant-a-palooza | Tags: Daredevil, Drew Goddard, Kingpin, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Matt Murdock, Netflix, Steven S DeKnight, Wilson Fisk Leave a comment
Despite my overall (and usually enthusiastic) fandom for the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the one area where my attention has been lacking is their television shows. With apologies to Agents Carter and of SHIELD, I’ve just never been able to arrest my attention on either of them for any real length of time, and I know I’ve missed out on some great narrative developments for the universe as a whole. I took a step towards rectifying that by marathoning all of Marvel’s Daredevil not too long ago. While the series is markedly different than anything in the MCU so far, I also think it makes for a very good addition to the world, a great expansion of the mythos, and a damn good story in its own right. It’s taken me awhile to actually organize my thoughts on this show enough to put together a post about it, mostly because on a thematic, emotional level, it makes for a very murky and uncertain story, but in a way that is fully earned by its leads. Ultimately, what makes the series stand out from its Marvel brethren and provides new thematic layers to the universe overall all come down to the characters of Matt Murdock and Wilson Fisk, and the Catholic-style guilt/righteousness that defines them.
“Take My Hand” Says Guardians of the Galaxy… AND YOU SHOULD
Posted: August 1, 2014 Filed under: Rant-a-palooza | Tags: 2014, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Film Reviews, Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn, Lee Pace, Marvel, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Summer Blockbuster, Vin Diesel, Zoe Saldana Leave a comment
As a huge fan of both superhero films and space operas, and a great admirer of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it was an easy assumption that Guardians of the Galaxy would be right up my alley. However, the obviousness of the film’s potential appeal does nothing to undermine just how truly appealing Guardians really is, and how many of my buttons it was able to push at the same time. It’s a great example of how taking big chances can pay off, and how a definitive cult director can adjust his style to fit a more mainstream project. Most of all, it stands out amongst both the MCU and this summer’s crop of already-above-average blockbusters as a uniquely zany piece of work, and one that also shows how earnest emotion in a movie need not be a bad thing.
CREATION FROM CHAOS 