MCU Rewind #1 - Iron Man - Review

MCU Rewind #1 - Iron Man - Review

Release date (US): May 2nd, 2008

Directed By: Jon Favreau

Rating: PG-13

Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Gweneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrance Howard

MCU REWIND REVIEW EXPLANATION: In these reviews, I will be going back to all the Marvel Cinematic Universe Films that have been released to date, reviewing each one in a retrospective manner. Expectations and background will detail how I felt about the film before the repeat viewing. This review will contain spoilers for these movies. You have been warned. 

Previous Rating: 8.5/10

Expectations/Background: I had not seen this film in awhile, but do remember this film being a good one. With time, however, this film faded from my memory as more and more Marvel movies came and went. I always remembered this movie fondly as having some of the coolest suit scenes in the MCU, with the first suit ups with Mark 2 and Mark 3. And this was the first movie to kick this entire MCU off. But to be honest, I had no idea what to think going into the movie. I expected to like it - but I wasn’t sure how much, because I didn’t remember much of anything at all. Robert Downey Jr. never disappoints, so I knew that something good was in store. 

The Movie: I was blown away by this movie, even more than I had expected. This movie is brilliant - and yes, there are ups and downs, but overall, this movie is revolutionary and there is a reason that this film was hailed as the beginning of an era for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I think that this film has more subtle undertones that it lets on at first, and by the time the film is over, you feel completely satisfied and ready for more to come with Tony Stark.

Positives: There’s a lot of great things in this movie.

First of all the cast; I think every single one is spot on. Robert Downey Jr. Was born to play Tony Stark. And that’s that. Whether or not Marvel decides to recast him or not, he IS Tony Stark and will forever be that way. Gweneth Paltrow, playing Pepper, has such great chemistry with him and such witty banter that it works great. Jeff Bridges, for the MOST part, is excellent as Obadiah Stane. And even Terrance Howard, who was eventually recast, is also great in the role of Colonel James Rhodes.

What surprised me most about this film upon repeat viewing was not the story per se, which is great and we’ll get to it in a moment, but the dialgoue and the direction. Jon Favreau does an incredible job just shaping this movie into something so unique and special, and his direction and the way that he directs these actors into what is just such an engaging film is truly something to behold. 

Another great thing about this film is the character development and the journey that Tony Stark goes on throughout th emovie is wonderful as well. You truly do see the progression of a human being as he goes through certain experiences that shape who he is, from the cave in Afghanistan, to back home where he begins to design his Iron Man armor.

What I really appreciated about this film is that you get to see Tony Stark actually experiment and tinker with his technology, and you get to see little things such as the holograms that he uses to design what will become one of the most iconic characters in film history.

And most of all, this film has heart. This film’s heart and soul lies in the characters that it has built and the beautiful story and action that is being told. Through all of the set pieces and all of the twists and turns this movie takes, there is a true heart behind it and it is clear the Jon Favreau made this movie with a passion for the material, and that, as a film fan, is all I can ever ask for. 

Negatives: Being completely, honest, the first two thirds of this movie are nearly perfect. IN fact, if this movie had ended with just the first two acts and had a third act that is just as good, this movie would have been nearly perfect.

However, let’s talk about the third act. This is what drops the film from a higher score than it already was. I think that the story team and the director had set up such a great two thirds, but didn’t know how to close it out, that they just tacked on a huge explosive robot fight.

And look, being seriously, on its own man this fight is pretty awesome. Seriously, this fight between a behemoth robot and Iron Man is cool (was not so cool in IRon Man 2). But it just did not fit in the movie that it had set up. 

And come on; Jeff Bridges screaming maniacal cliche villain dialogue in a weird gravely voice felt like it fit in a cartoon more than a feature film. But seriously, other than that, and a couple minor complaints, this film is great.

The Villain(s):  Jeff Bridges is much like the movie. The first two thirds sets up a screwed business man who has the company’s best interests in mind but lets himself get carried away. In fact, I really enjoyed the first two thirds of the film with Obadiah. But again, when he gets into that Iron Monger suit, it just becomes a little too silly to be believable. 

The Verdict: This really is a special film. There is a reason that MArvel was able to take this and jumpstart it’s Marvel Cinematic Universe with it. And seriously, without that last fifteen minutes of nonsensical robot punching, this would have been a near perfect film. As it is, even with the third act, this is still a fantastic, amazing movie.  Letter Grade: A-. Number Score: 9.0/10


Should I Skip?: Nope - this is a film worth seeing (unlike the next two).

TLDR: Tony Stark, a billionaire living the life selling nuclear weapons, is trapped in a cave where he escapes by building an early version of an Iron Man suit. He shuts down his weapons programs and begins building more suits as the head of the company, Obadiah Stane, begins to go insane and builds his own giant Iron Man suit called the Iron Monger. They fight it out at the end, and Obadiah dies. Tony holds a press conference announcing to the world that he is Iron Man. Nick Fury, the head of SHIELD later comes to talk to him about the Avengers initiative.  

**IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER**: Letter grades and Number grades do not mean the same thing. Just because I give a film an A does not mean it gets a 9.5 or above. They do not line up like a traditional school grading system To see specifics, see below.

A- to A+: Amazing

B- to B+: Enjoyable, but Flawed

C- to C+: Redeemable in some cases, but heavily Flawed

D- to D+: Nothing but Flaws

F: A Failure of a Film

9-10: Nearly Perfect

8-9: Very Good

7-8: Good

6-7: Okay

5-6: Average/Mediocre

4-5: Apparently Flawed

3-4: Heavily Flawed

2-3: A complete and utter mess

0-2: A Failure of a Film

The Greatest Showman - Review (Non-Spoiler)

The Greatest Showman - Review (Non-Spoiler)

Release date (US): December 20th, 2017

Directed By: Michael Gracey

Rating: PG

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson

Expectations/Background: I will completely honest in a couple areas - I was very late to this film, and I had listened to the entire soundtrack before having seen the film itself. Hugh Jackman is by far and away my favorite actor working today, and I will see almost everything that he is in. And I had seen a couple trailers for this movie, and thought it looked pretty decent. However, someone had recommended I listen to the soundtrack - on Christmas day, I listened through the entire soundtrack and have never gone back since. I can say with certainty - this is one of the best musical soundtracks the tI had ever heard. I listened to it nonstop, and as a result, I was so looking forward to seeing this film. However, being late to the film, I saw that the rotten tomatoes score and the critical response to this film was not the best. It had me worried - I knew the music was amazing already, but I wondered how the film would be. I hoped that I would like the film, and a friend had told me that I would, but I wasn't sure what to make going into the movie. 

The Movie: Short disclaimer - before writing my own review, I went online to Rotten Tomatoes and some other credible newspapers and read their reviews of this film. The reason I did this was because I can say now with complete confidence; this film does not deserve a 53 percent on RT and all the critical "hate" it gets. This film is "good".

Positives: Why did I put good in quotations marks? Because to many different people, good can mean different things. I think Star Wars: The Force Awakens is good. I also think The Greatest Showman is good. But in two completely different ways. 

When reading other reviews for this film, the main complaint that critics are giving is that this film isn't deep, the story is shallow, and pacing is uneven. I only agree with one of those things.

This is not a film that will blow your mind - this is not The Dark Knight or Moonlight. But I think that the emotion that the film conveys in the music and the characters, as well in the thematics makes for a very sufficient "feel-good" movie. 

Again, perhaps it helps that I listened to the music before the movie, but I think that the film can be enjoyed listening to the music for the first time. 

As for the actors, I think that almost every single one gave a great performance given their material and given the music. Hugh Jackman gives it his all. You can tell that during the entire runtime of the film, Hugh Jackman is having a blast and doing the film that he signed up to do in the first place. This is HIS film, and he completely owns it. Michelle Williams playing his wife also does a great job, as do Zac Efron and Zendaya in their limited screen roles. But this film is Hugh Jackman's. 

And again, going back to the central point - I do believe that when you exit the movie, you will feel good. This is the definition of a "feel-good" movie. If you're looking to sob your heart out, or feel emotionally shaken, this is not the film for you - but that's not what this film intends to do. 

Negatives: However, from the sound of my review, it may sound like I'm gushing about this movie. But there are a few things that I did not like, or particularly enjoy.

I will say right off the bat though, and some may disagree with me which is fine because film is subjective; there wasn't anything in the film BLATANTLY cringe-worthy or offensive to me. 

I do agree with many people in saying that the story is the weak part of the film. I do think that music is amazingly strong, but the in-between parts of the film feel rushed. This film is RELATIVELY short clocking in at an hour and forty five, but I strongly believe that this film could have added twenty extra minutes. 

Hugh Jackman's performance was brilliant, but his character, PT Barnum, felt extremely rushed at times. He went from a nice guy, to a selfish guy, to a nice guy, and back and forth again. And this could have worked very well, but what didn't work about it was the fact that it felt extremely rushed. There wasn't enough development given to his character, which was sad because there is a ton of potential there. 

And again, the transitions between the musical numbers were not the smoothest.There were also some pieces of dialogue that were rather bland, and sometimes the child-actor's delvery wasn't the greatest, but other than that, there isn't anything glaringly negative to me.

Character Ranking (By actor)
1. Hugh Jackman
2. Zac Efron
3. Michelle Williams
4. Zendaya
5. Rebecca Ferguson 

The Music/Score: TREAT. YOURSELF. TO. THIS. SOUNDTRACK. This soundtrack elevates this film from a 5 to a 7 and a half almost. Seriously, this music is incredible. I knew before seeing the film that the music itself was great. But seeing it in the film itself, with the dance sequences and choreography was absolutely incredible. It was almost all one-shot, no cut, which I really appreciated. And what I appreciated even more was the way it was integrated into the story. Every song (except for one I think) had a purpose for being there, and they all served to build characters up and show exposition in a different kind of way. I. ABSOLUTELY. LOVE. THE. MUSIC.

Song Ranking (just for musicals)

1. Tightrope
2. A Million Dreams
3. From Now On
4. Rewrite the Stars
5. Never Enough
6. The Greatest Show
7. Come Alive
8. This is Me

The Verdict: On its own, this film is pretty average. There's really nothing special about this film and that's neither here nor there. But this film is highly elevated by the amazing music that it integrates, and I think that the performances give this film the boost that it needs. Walking out of the theater, I felt good, and I think that most people will, regardless of what the critics say.  Letter Grade: B-. Number Score: 7.4/10

**IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER**: Letter grades and Number grades do not mean the same thing. Just because I give a film an A does not mean it gets a 9.5 or above. They do not line up like a traditional school grading system To see specifics, see below.

A- to A+: Amazing

B- to B+: Enjoyable, but Flawed

C- to C+: Redeemable in some cases, but heavily Flawed

D- to D+: Nothing but Flaws

F: A Failure of a Film

9-10: Great to nearly Perfect

8-9: Very Good

7-8: Good

6-7: Okay

5-6: Average/Mediocre

4-5: Apparently Flawed

3-4: Heavily Flawed

2-3: A complete and utter mess

0-2: A Failure of a Film

Top Ten #8 - Top 10 Most Anticipated Films of 2018

Top Ten #8 - Top Ten Most Anticipated Films of 2018

2018 is finally here, and it's time for me to rank my most anticipated movies of 2018. 

10. Aquaman - I would've been looking forward to this film more, had it not been for Justice League. To be quite honest, I was underwhelmed with Jason Momoa's performance as Aquaman in the film, but with the cast and crew involved, including director James Wan, as well as the fact that it's set apart from the DCEU, I do have some hope for this movie. 

9. A Wrinkle in Time - The stellar cast and crew behind the film is what elevates it to the top ten list. However, the trailers have been slightly underwhelming for me, but I Have complete faith in Ava Duvernay. The source material that they are drawing form is so rich as well, that I have faith they will make a satisfying film. 

8.  Ralph Breaks the Internet - When I first saw Wreck-it Ralph, I didn't think much of it. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized the brilliance and creativity behind the movie, and now that  sequel is coming out, I can't wait. The main cast is returning, and from the footage description from D23, this is something to get excited about. 

7. X-Men: Dark Phoenix - X-Men: Apocalypse wasn't the best film in the world, but the cast is all there and with the X-Men finally tackling the Dark Phoenix storyline, there is much to be excited about. With Simon Kinberg taking the reins, there is much to be curious about, but again, the cast has been proven to be very talented and I believe this can be a good film. 

6. Ant-Man and the Wasp - The only reasons that I haven't put this higher on my list is because nothing has been heard about it so far. All we know is the new cast additions which are very good in Lawrence Fishburne and Michelle Pfeiffer, but other than that, we know nothing about the film. Perhaps that is for the better, but all we can go off of is our excitement from the first film which was a delightful surprise form the MCU. With the same cast and crew coming back, I think that this will be a great sequel. 

5. Mowgli - This film is somewhat of a mystery. The fact that there is going to be another Jungle Book film after the truly successful adaptation by Jon Favreau. However, Andy Serkis is directing the film and he is the master of motion capture. With this film boasting another immensely talented cast including Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, and Christian Bale, there is reason to get excited about it. Fingers crossed that we can get another great Jungle Book movie. 

4. Solo: A Star Wars Story - The reason that this film isn't higher on my list is because of the huge production troubles. With the firing of the director and the reshooting of the entire film almost, it has me worried. But, it is a Star Wars movie, and I do think that this film will be at least "oaky". I do think though that it will be the least good of the new Star Wars films, but again, it is a Star Wars movie. 

3. Black Panther - The entire marketing for this film has been spectacular with the heavy focus on the African culture in Wakanda. After seeing Black Panther in Captain America: Civil War, I knew that this character was in the right hands. I think that this has the potential to be one of the best MCU movies to date, as it is truly a political film about the throne. It has tones from The Lion King, which really excites me, and I am truly hyped to see Chadwick Boseman in the film. In just two months by the way. 

2. The Incredibles 2 - This film embodies my childhood. This is the film that I have been looking forward to forever. With the entire cast and crew back for this film, I think that this has the potential to be an amazing sequel to an amazing film. This is my list, and since this film holds such a special place in my heart, it's up here a number 2. 

1. Avengers: Infinity War - And of course, the juggernaut of all films, Infinity War is up top at number one. People have their concerns that this film will be overcrowded, but to me, I know that the Russo brothers can handle it and I believe that it will be one of the best MCU films ever, being a satisfying conclusion to the MCU as we know it and a great launching pad to Avengers 4. 

Black Panther Potential Runtime Revealed

Black Panther Potential Runtime Revealed

As we eagerly anticipate the King of Wakanda arriving on the big screen in his own solo movie, a report has apparently confirmed the films runtime.

According to a report, the film will clock in at 2 hours and 15 minutes (135 minutes). This puts it in between Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2 (136 minutes) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (133 minutes). However, with two months left to go, it remains to be seen whether or not this is the final runtime of the feature film.

Black Panther will be released on February 16th, 2018. It is directed by Ryan Cooler and stars Chadwick Boseman as the titular hero. 

Weekend Box Office Report (December 29th - December 31st)

Weekend Box Office Report (December 29th - December 31st)

Disclaimer: Every Monday, I will post the top five movies that grossed the most money DOMESTICALLY (in the United States), with some brief thoughts about each film. Today it is out slightly later due to the New Year. 

1. Star Wars: The Last Jedi ($52.66 Million): In a heated battle for the top spot, Star Wars: The Last Jedi maintains its streak and remains atop the rankings at number one. While it may not be performing quite to the expectations that many had, it is making huge amounts of money for Disney, having just recently crossed the billion dollar mark worldwide. Whether or not this remains at number one this weekend remains to be seen, but it will continue to make money for at least another month.

2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ($50.36 Million): In direct opposition to The Last Jedi was Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. The film that nobody saw coming to be a success has now been making money at the box office amidst the critical praise and popularity. It remains to be seen whether or not it will remain in the top 3 for next week, but as the drops aren't that large, it will continue to be in the top five for at least another week.

3. Pitch Perfect 3 ($16.85 Million): This movie has its fans, and regardless of the critical bashing its getting worldwide, this film continues to make money. The fanbase will continue to come out and support this film for awhile, but eventually, it will drop from the top five and fade into obscurity. 

4. The Greatest Showman ($15.55 Million): A film that has a soundtrack worth the price of admission, it's nice to see that at least the film has broken even worldwide and continues to remain in the top five for now. A film divisive among audiences, it remains to be seen how long this can maintain its streak. 

5. Ferdinand ($14.40 Million): An animated film in its third week running, Ferdinand has quietly brought in some money behind juggernauts such as The Last Jedi. This film will probably slip and fade out soon however, but given the recent success that it has had, it would be safe to calll this film a success.