'Avengers: Infinity War' Review

The evil Thanos (Josh Brolin) is on a path to bring destruction to the world by collecting the 6 Infinity stones. With these gems, he can wipe out half of the entire universe at the click of his fingers. Earth's mightiest heroes and many more will need to come together to save the entire world from Thanos' sick plans.

10 years and 19 films later, Marvel have continuously been raising the bar and pushing the boundaries for how franchises and cinematic universes. This culminates with Infinity War, the biggest Marvel film to date which features characters from nearly every single film within the franchise. Featuring basically every hero shown on the big screen to date, this could very easily have been a completely bloated, incoherent mess. Thankfully, it's another hit from Marvel. 

The pacing of the film is relentless - for better or worse at times - as each minute is used to further the many storylines and character set pieces as possible. Due to the focus on many different characters who are separated, the different stories come fast and furious at you with little time to catch your breath. This harms the films more emotional moments or reunions as something potentially powerful may be on the cusp of happening but is rushed and transitions into the next scene. In a film with fewer characters and stories being told, these could really have been capitalised on. Instead, they are mainly replaced for more spectacular moments. However, when the film reaches these moments, they knock them out of the park. There may not be as epic or memorable a shot or scene as in previous Avengers films or Civil War, but there are many great moments to satisfy the audience. The 2 and a half hour runtime completely fly by as there is plenty of action, great characters, humour and serious moments to satisfy. As far as big budget popcorn blockbusters go, it doesn't get much better than this. 

With an abundance of stars and characters, some do get lost in the shuffle throughout the film which may leave some fans dissatisfied. With this comes a few surprises, including a standout performance by Zoe Saldana as Gamora. Saldana is very key in the story and provides a powerful, emotional performance which is up there with the best of the franchise. Each character does have a moment to provide some fan fair, with Robert Downey Jr excelling yet again in his beloved Iron Man role. Marvel continues to do right with their villains - one of the biggest criticisms they've faced over their 10 years - as Josh Brolin's Thanos poses a great threat to our heroes. Brolin is excellent and menacing throughout the whole film, with clear established goals and reasons that make him one of the best Marvel villains to date on the big screen. Thanos brings a whole new level of stakes to the film which is showcased immediately in the film. From the start, you know exactly how big a threat he is and how Marvel isn't messing about this time around. Like never before, there are real risks to these superbeings and they are believable - until perhaps the next film - but this brings a lot of weight to the story and actions regardless. 

Epic is the only word that can really be used to describe this complete spectacle. Alongside the huge action set pieces, Alan Silvestri's score does an incredible job at maintaining the epicness of the film. From a score standpoint, Silvestri's is by far the best the MCU has ever had. A mix of past themes and new music combine tremendously well, leaving a lasting impression and one that will induce goosebumps. From triumphant action scenes and character introductions/returns to the more emotional scenes, Silvestri's score captures the feeling excellently, maintaining a high level of consistency throughout the film. 

Over the years, Marvel have been criticised for playing it safe and not taking a lot of risks. This is absolutely not the case with Infinity War which is best shown with its ending. The finale of the film is really unexpected and is something Marvel deserve high praise for as they look to expand on the superhero movie in any way they can. Not only is it bold but it is incredibly effective, leaving a satisfied feeling but one that you can't quite believe at the same time. 

Another hit for Marvel in what will surely be the highest grossing film of 2018, this is entertainment in its finest form. Fun with great action but some decent moments of seriousness sprinkled throughout, Infinity War is a fan's dream and will have you eagarly anticipating its follow up immediately after the film.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

'Thor Ragnarok' Review

It's safe to say that the previous 'Thor' movies haven't lit audiences up like many of Marvel's other projects have done so. The first two films haven't been bad, they just haven't been particularly exciting or memorable. However, the same cannot be said for 'Ragnarok' as the film creates an exciting identity that is unlike any other superhero film that we have ever seen.

After a family revelation, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) finds himself imprisoned on a strange planet by a man known as the Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). Whilst on this strange planet, Thor is forced to battle for his life and in doing so, he is reunited with fellow Avenger The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo). Together they must find a way to get off the planet and return to Asgard before the evil Hela destroys the entire civilisation. 

Comic book movies are often heavily criticised for lacking an identity that makes the film stand out from the others. Many claim that all the films look and feel the same whilst having similar if not identical plot points and storylines. With Taika Waititi directing 'Ragnarok', many were unsure to how much of his style would be replicated into this film as Marvel hasn't collaborated well with unique auteurs previously - see Edgar Wright and the 'Ant-Man' situation. However, Marvel have taken that risk they've held back on previously as 'Thor Ragnarok' is much more of a Taika Waititi film rather than a Marvel film.

Waititi's fingerprints are all over this film as it is a straight-up comedy. Over the years, Waititi has proven himself to be a true force when it comes to comedy and has made two - now three - of the best comedies of the last decade. With Waititi, you know that you will be getting a barrel of laughs in the film with cleverly crafted jokes, gags and slapstick humour. 'Ragnarok' has the same identity of Waititi's other film that allows it to truly stand out from the pack. Nobody else could've made this film as it is so distinctive to anything out there or that we have seen before in a big budget superhero flick. Waititi has been rewarded for his hard work on smaller indie films and has followed the likes of James Gunn in showing why such bright, creative minds should be given chances on a much bigger scale. 

The film most definitely possesses its own unique visual style to allow it to stand out further from the previous MCU films. The colour palette of 'Ragnarok' is off the chart with bright blues, yellows and red/pinks which creates a vibrant look that matches the tone of the film. As the film is a complete joy to watch and is 130 minutes of complete fun, the bright colours only enhance the film's exciting personality. The brightness of the film, again, helps the film stand alone as it goes against the norm to create something truly unique. The colours also blend very well with the action as it adds more excitement to these adrenaline filled scenes, as well as simply making them more appealing to the naked eye.

'Ragnarok' still does fit into the superhero genre but offers many moments that again differentiate it from other films, most noticeably within its climax. The film doesn't have the same ending as every other superhero film as it offers a fresh situation with a different solution. A lot of time is dedicated to the heroes actually being heroes in this moment as it isn't just a showdown to end the film. Instead, there is an abundance of characters fighting to save others, sacrificing themselves and looking to save as many people as possible. There are genre tropes that are hard to avoid but 'Ragnarok' manages to offer fresh and new situations that allow it stand out from a story perspective as well as the nature of its tone and visual style.

At this stage in the MCU, the films are still looking to develop the characters whilst adding many new ones at the same time and 'Ragnarok' does this tremendously. There are many regulars like Thor, Loki and Hulk who are yet again magnificent but the many new characters are great additions to the series. Tessa Thompson is the main example as Valkyrie, an independent tough female superhero who can hang with Thor and Hulk as she becomes an instant fan favourite. Waititi himself even appears as a rock creature Korg who manages to steal every scene he's in with his soft Kiwi accent. Cate Blanchette and Jeff Goldblum are two incredible additions to the already impressive cast and both commit to the wackiness of the film.  

Chris Hemsworth provides his best performance yet as the God of Thunder as his recent experiences in comedy films has helped his overall charisma as he truly shines. In previous films, he has sort of taken a back seat as others have stolen the show, even in his solo films. Hemsworth commands the screen and works tremendously well with the humour in what is his most enjoyable performance to date. His chemistry with Tom Hiddlestone is ever apparent as the two continue to impress working alongside together, with Loki continuously using his brother for his own good.

Once again, though, Marvel does not completely nail the villain as Hela is often forgotten about for large periods of time. We spend a lot of time away from Asgard where Hela is causing havoc but we see very little of it and at times, she becomes a bit of an afterthought. Blanchette does commit to the role but some extra screentime would really have made her much more fearful to our heroes. There are a few scenes that show her capabilities but not enough to consider her as a great villain. The film can be accused of not offering much more than laughs but as a bona fide comedy, these complaints cannot merit too much. 

Overall, Taika Waititi brings a very welcome addition to the MCU that is also one of the years best comedies. This is easily the best 'Thor' film there has been as this stands out from the rest of the films in this cinematic universe. A fresh film within a genre that is considered to have some fatigue, 'Thor Ragnarok' is a complete joy from start to finish.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Thor Ragnarok'? If so, what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie or not, I highly recommend that you do so! Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

'Spider-Man: Homecoming' Review

Spider-Man is finally within the Marvel Cinematic Universe after Sony's latest attempt at building a universe around the character failed 3 years ago. Fans were thrilled with the news and the character's appearance in 2016's 'Captain America: Civil War' was a highlight for many. However, with this being the third different incarnation of the character in 15 years, many are still skeptical about this edition. If 'Homecoming' is anything to go by, we may be on our way to having the best representation of the web-slinger on screen.

After his encounter with the Avengers, Peter Parker (Tom Holland) returns home but is still looking to make an impact on the world and catch the eye of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr). Peter now has to combine responsibilities - as a superhero and also going to school at the same time - as he wants to be more than a friendly neighbourhood hero. The emergence of a supervillain The Vulture (Michael Keaton) will put Peter's abilities to the test as he looks to prove himself worthy.

A large criticism that the superhero genre as a whole has garnered recently is a feeling that they all feel the exact same. It must be said, though, that 2017 has looked to change this, with each superhero film being different from one another- 'Logan' as a road trip/drama, 'Guardians 2' as another space comedy. 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' is no different here as it takes the superhero genre to where it hasn't really been before - high school. 

The latest edition of everyone's favourite web-slinger sees him as a 15-year-old going through the challenges that life is throwing at him in what seems like the closest thing to a John Hughes superhero film that we'll ever see. 'Homecoming' provides a unique superhero story that does double duty as a coming of age story, as our protagonist matures and deals with the normalities of high school. Director Tom Watts looks to create a realistic, modern look at high school life, with no over the top jock bullies and snobby popular girls. This film shows that it's inspired by previous works from Hughes but creates its own modern feeling, adapting to the times whilst maintaining some of the usual tropes. 

As known with coming of age films, interesting characters is a must. Otherwise, you simply don't care about what they are going through. Luckily for 'Homecoming', the main character is a beloved hero whose stories have spanned decades. However, the film doesn't just rely on this to get the character by as Peter Parker is made to be relatable, interesting and entertaining, leading to you wanting to see more of him. The biggest task faced was trying to create the perfect Spider-Man, something that many believe hasn't been represented on screen. Tobey Maguire is thought to have been great as the geeky Peter Parker but didn't excel as the witty Spider-Man. Andrew Garfield had a similar fate, just with the roles reversed with him suiting the cocky, quick-wittedness of Spider-Man. Tom Holland handles the awkward geeky side of Peter Parker very well, seeming shy, unconfident and fairly awkward during his day to day life. As Spider-Man, he is a completely different person - witty, full of confidence and charisma. The Peter Parker/Spider-Man combo has never been handled equally as well. Holland succeeds in both aspects, more so than his predecessors. Due to this, no matter how nostalgic the previous actors make you feel, Tom Holland is undoubtedly the best representation of Spider-Man ever seen on the big screen.


Peter's high school experience brings us some new interesting and fun characters to the series as well. Jacob Batalon provides comic relief as Peter's best friend Ned, who is even geekier and awkward leading to some outbursts that are hilarious. Batalon is great as he himself has to deal with knowing that his best friend is a famous hero and has to try his best to not let it slip. Eugene 'Flash' Thompson returns in the form of Tony Revolori who is a much different version of the character, being much more of an arrogant, vocal bully rather than one that's athletically inclined. Revolori does well as not a completely serious bully, acting immature with silly insults and actions to make others look bad. There is plenty of comeuppance for Thompson in what is the most attention the character has ever been given in any film before. However, it is Zendaya who seems to steal the show as Michelle Jones, a tribute to MJ from previous Spider-Man comics and films. Michelle is clearly inspired by Ally Sheedy's Allison Reynolds from 'The Breakfast Club'. The character is a loner who spends most of the time by herself and doesn't really seem to fit in with others. She is clever, quick witted, weird and incredibly cool. Zendaya steals every scene that she is in, with her cleverness and humour providing many great moments. Michelle has one of the coolest personalities in film this year and will have you wanting to see more of her in the future.


'Homecoming' is still undoubtedly very much so an MCU film, with the superhero part still being the main focus. We get to skip the origin story of Spider-Man and jump straight into the character dealing with his new responsibilities. Here we get the rare chance to see superheroes handle smaller situations, as the masked man stops car thieves and helps give people directions. Due to this, he feels human and like every other person. We rarely see the superheroes doing tasks that aren't just normal helpful tasks. We do of course get the bigger scale action throughout the story as Spider-Man looks to find larger opportunities to prove himself.

An interesting aspect of the film is how Peter has to deal with this new suit that he has been given. As a young man with newly acquired powers, he is rather rash and even flashy when using them meaning he has to mature and use them responsibly. However, as he grows with the suit and realises its potential, he loses track of this and puts himself and others in further harm. There is a real character development through this as Peter realises how influential his actions really are and what can happen. The use of Robert Downey Jr and Jon Favreau as mentors for Peter really help this progress as well, as they stand in as sort of father figures, making restraints that Peter disobeys whilst looking out for his best interests. Downey Jr and Favreau's roles are minimal but effective nonetheless.


With these superhero movies, it always seems as if the film is about some person trying to destroy the entire world. 'Homecoming' is a lot more of a smaller story, dealing with a supervillain thief rather than someone determined on world domination. This again is a great change as it isn't the same story yet again, allowing the story to feel fresh and different from the others. This is what makes 'Homecoming' such a success, it feels fresh in a time where there are many superhero films. A difference in sub-genre, story elements, and fresh new characters really give this film life.


 In saying this, though, the main faults do come from the usual problems that the MCU as a whole has. Michael Keaton gives a good performance as Adrian Toomes/The Vulture but the problem is that he is severely underdeveloped. We see how he gains this equipment but there is a severe change in his psyche that makes him more of a supervillain. This lacked much character progression and just seemed to be a rushed effort to turn Toomes from a workman to suddenly an evil villain. The score as well is not very memorable and is weak despite including the animated series theme song early on. The film's runtime comes in at 133 minutes which does feel a bit too long. A good fifteen minutes could probably be cut as there is enough in the two hours to satisfy the audience.

The screenplay credits six people and usually, when there are multiple people working together on one script, it can cause problems. With different ideas and personalities, it could even destroy a film's chances of succeeding. However, with 'Homecoming', the script is actually very solid, combining the high school life of Peter with the action-packed life of Spider-Man. The script also delivers a lot of laughs as the usual MCU humour is turned up a notch. We get to see Spider-Man in his best form due to this as he is quippy during his fight scenes. But the film as a whole is incredibly funny through its whole runtime, with side characters doing their bit equally to provide some great comedic moments. The great Stan Lee is also involved in this with his latest and one of his most funny cameos yet.

'Spider-Man: Homecoming' combines elements of a high school, coming of age film and an action, superhero movie incredibly well. It has great characters, humour and action that will satisfy fans of the genre. In a year of great superhero films, 'Homecoming' does stand out, offering something that feels fresh and isn't a carbon copy of everything else. This is a highly enjoyable, fun film that fans of the MCU and of the character, in general, will surely enjoy.


Final Verdict = 

So have you seen 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'? If so, what did you think of the film? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the film or not. Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

'Doctor Strange' Review

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is striving in its impressive third phase. After 'Captain America: Civil War' got the phase off to a fantastic start, Marvel is looking to maintain their momentum by adding yet another hero into the mix with 'Doctor Strange'. A character much different to anything we've seen before in the MCU seemed to be a gamble, but thankfully, it was a gamble that paid off.

Dr Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is one of the top surgeons until a car accident leaves him with severe injuries to his hands that make it impossible for him to continue his work. Seeking help, Strange goes East to Nepal in order to find someone who could cure him. He is taken in by The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) who then informs Strange that she and many others are in a tough battle against dark forces who to destroy reality. Strange is forced to make a decision on whether to be selfless or use his new abilities to help save the world as we know it.

The Marvel formula seems to be gold at this moment as each installment in the MCU seems to be of a decent standard at the very least. The combination of fun, interesting characters, alongside cool abilities, great action and humour is hitting all the right notes for fans and critics alike and 'Doctor Strange' seems to follow that trend.

What seems to separate fans of Marvel and other comic book movie franchises is the use of humour and the general more light-hearted approach to the superhero genre. That may be the difference yet again in opinions about Marvel's latest film as the humour is ever apparent yet again. The film follows suit by using a lot of jokes throughout the film, even poking fun during some more serious scenes. For the most part, the humour works very well with Strange possessing the quick wit similar to the likes of Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark. The delivery from Cumberbatch with his jokes are a key part of the success, as well as the reactions from co-stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams and Benedict Wong. At times, the humour does feel a bit out of place or the joke just lingers on for too long, especially the moments with Strange's magical cape.

Benedict Cumberbatch is a name that seems to be linked with every role in Hollywood and with performances like this, it is easy to see why. Cumberbatch is very cool and humorous as Strange, showing great range as the character turns from being selfish to selfless. The talented actor was very impressive in his role where he was allowed to truly shine, and it may be my favourite role of his to date. Tilda Swinton does well as the very wise 'Ancient One' who seems to hold secrets from her followers as Chiwetel Ejiofor does well, especially playing off Cumberbatch.

Unfortunately, 'Doctor Strange' follows the Marvel formula once again when it comes to the villain Kaecilius. Mads Mikkelsen is a natural when it comes to playing a bad guy, as he shined as one the greatest Bond villains La Chiffre in 'Casino Royale' as well as pulling off the character of Hannibal Lecter very well in the TV series 'Hannibal'. Mikkelsen brings a cold ruthlessness to his performances but he wasn't really able to showcase this in the film. Instead, he is actually shown to be fairly weak throughout the film as he rarely shows dominance over our heroes. Kaecilius had the potential to be something great but like most villains in the MCU, he fell rather flat.

The origin story of Stephen Strange is fairly well established as it sums him up very quickly, showing he's arrogant and likes the finer things. Once we see him lose the ability to operate we see the vulnerability of the character which the film seemed to handle fairly well. However, the film seems to brush over Strange's learning of his new found abilities fairly quickly. We see him do some training, accomplish a feat and then seems to be a natural straight away. We don't see much of him trying and failing which made it seem as if he had been doing it for years, rather than a couple of days. There could have been so much more done with this which would have allowed them to flesh out the powers of the character a bit more as well. Due to this, there doesn't seem to be that big of a progression in Strange's skill level as the film goes on which shouldn't happen in the introduction of a brand new character.

What really allows 'Doctor Strange' to shine is the stunning visuals on show. These visuals may make you feel as if you are tripping on something at times as the film showcases the magic that these characters possess. What is even more spectacular is how they incorporate these visuals with the action in the movie. The film uses the manipulations of reality to create some truly jaw-dropping scenes that are like no other. This could've turned out to have been a complete mess if not done properly, but thankfully, these scenes were crafted incredibly well to allow us all to marvel at them.

Overall, 'Doctor Strange' is a worthy addition to the MCU, bringing a film that follows the same kind of formula, but also bringing new aspects to the series. Unfortunately, there are some aspects that hold the film back and sadly, it has to do with the villain once again. If you are a fan of the MCU then you should really enjoy this one.

Final Verdict = 

So have you seen ' Doctor Strange'? If so, what did you think of it? I hope that this review was useful for if you were planning on seeing the movie! Once again, thank you for taking the time to read my review, it is much appreciated!

By Angus McGregor

 

'X-Men: Apocalypse' Review

'At least we can all agree the third one is always the worse' states Sophie Turner's character Jean Grey after a few of the mutants come out of a screening of 'Return of the Jedi'. Unfortunately this is also the case for Bryan Singers latest instalment which completes the new X-Men trilogy. 

Moira McTaggert (Rose Byrne) stumbles across an ancient cult who believe in a super mutant, Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac) who ruled thousands of years ago. Now awakened he assembles four followers including Magneto (Michael Fassbender) to take over the world. It's up to Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) to join forces once again with Raven (Jennifer Lawrence) and the latest students at his school to save the world.

Fatigue certainly seems to be a clear problem within the latest of the highly successful and popular X-Men franchise. In saying that 'Apocalypse' is far from being a bad movie. The problem is with nowadays that it is just fine, nothing more. The film follows the common formula within superhero movies where a large powerful villain rises and threatens the safety of the entire world. This is fine to do and can be done well. However the problem is that it is nothing new. This made the film to be very predictable and seemed to take away the stakes as it seemed to be something we're all used to. Everything has done before and being perfectly honest, it has been done better. 

From the start it really seemed to be lacking that tension and excitement that are often apparent in superhero movies. Maybe due to the previous instalments it was there but just couldn't match its clearly superior previous instalments. I guess I've finally reached that point where it is becoming stale. I guess this also shows how I enjoyed 'Civil War' and fellow Fox property 'Deadpool' so much this year. Both of these films didn't have the conventional ending of the entire world being threatened which proved to be a good change.

There are most definitely things that the film does well and this is no more so than with the action. I had a great time watching all of these mutants coming against each other creating some great moments. The action is thankfully at a very high quality and does the film justice. However something that I do feel that lets it down is that Apocalypse hardly has much effect in any of the actual fight scenes. For a main villain to delegate everything to his followers and hardly do anything himself doesn't make him seem as strong as they could have possibly made him. 

Apocalypse was said to take the powers from those whose bodies he has taken over. This explains to the audience to why Apocalypse's powers are never really explained or defined that well. I'd like to see a feature of Apocalypse taking over the body of the mutants whose ability was being able to trap people in walls. Oscar Isaac does alright in this role as Apocalypse's main strength seems to be convincing those to join his side. This gives Isaac a chance to showcase his acting chops but nowhere near enough to create a great villain. The casting and character looked to be a great match but Apocalypse fell flat for me and wasn't striking enough to really be feared.

There are some mixed feelings for me towards the other new characters. First of all, the new characters all looked incredible and were great to watch. I am looking forward to seeing more films featuring the newer cast members as they seem to work very well together and produced some great moments. In saying this though, there was nowhere near enough depth towards our new characters. This is no more clear than with the three other new followers of Apocalypse. We get a small look at Storm's origin and life when we first meet her and then literally nothing else in the rest of the film. Angel gets exactly the same treatment but with a bit of history against new student Nightcrawler (Kodi Smit McPhee). Psylocke is probably the one that hurts the most as we learn pretty much nothing about her. We see her confronting Apocalypse, then being convinced and then nothing new from her. These are all a real shame as they are truly fascinating characters who you want to know more about but unfortunately, there was little time for this. You could say that there wouldn't of been enough time for this but you most definitely could have replaced moments or sub plots to make time to flesh out character motivations or personalities.

One of the main highlight again involves Quicksilver played by Evan Peters. Although not as great as his wonderful scene in 'Days of Future Past', it is still great fun to watch. The stakes are higher in this scene however which does also Quicksilver to do a lot more things heroically and comically. It is incredible to see once again showing the ridiculous speed he possesses and is something that makes you wonder how on earth they managed to create it. The ability to take such a serious scenario and take a light hearted approach to it was great again.

Final Verdict =

Overall I would say I was disappointed by 'X-Men Apocalypse'. That does not mean that it is a bad movie in the slightest though and maybe that it just didn't offer enough to reach my expectations. There was potential for this to be a great film but it turns out to just be fine.

So have you seen 'X-Men Apocalypse'? If so what did you think of it? I hope you enjoyed this review and hope it was helpful for if you were thinking about seeing the film. Once again thank you for reading my review, it is much appreciated.

By Angus McGregor

'Captain America: Civil War' Review

If it wasn't clear that Marvel were the kings right now in the superhero genre, it most certainly is now as they extend their lead over their competitors.  It comes at no surprise that the successful Marvel franchise has only been elevated with its latest incarnation. 

The damage and lives that have been lost in the events in New York, Washington, Sokovia and now Nigeria have finally caught up with the Avengers and the government are now pressuring for the superheroes- or vigilantes- to be put in check and not have free will. A clash of opinions splits our heroes and tensions only build from there with Captain America Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) having very different views. The latest movements of Cap's old friend Bucky- also known as The Winter Soldier- have made things very tough for Rogers and Stark and has also created a new enemy in the form of the Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman). A combination of the two makes the rest of the heroes make a crucial decision: who's side are you on?

From the synopsis and even the poster alone, the film does seem quite overcrowded and there is a lot to get through. This has been a problem for many superhero films in the past with the characters being rushed or the film just becoming a total mess due to it- see The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as an example. The tittle having Captain America may also be an attempt to make it seem not as filled to the brim but the film features all but two of the heroes we have seen, also adding more to the mix. In saying this though, The Russo brothers were able to create a jam packed film in a very good way. With there being so many mouths to feed within the film, each hero is given a moment to stand out and fills the movie with memorable moments. This is extremely impressive as you see each side as 5 or more heroes and for each of them to have equally great moments that all have great effect is something that movies with only a few heroes struggle to do. 

Our beloved cast once again deliver with Robert Downey Jr standing out as this portrayal of Tony Stark takes a much more serious look at situations than before. A good progression of the character as he looks to put in place what he believes in, no matter who disagrees with him, not even some of his closest companions. Evans again delivers as Steve Rogers and plays the character incredibly well at this point with his brave and courageous ways. Elizabeth Olsen was fantastic as the all powerful and mysterious Scarlet Witch, just as she was when she was the most underrated part of Avengers: Age of Ultron. Paul Rudd made his first appearance with the rest of the impressive cast and he really showed his comedic talents as he hit every joke he made out of the park. Although he might of been a questionable casting at first, he has only proved himself furthermore within this film. The casting for the Marvel Cinematic Universe has proved to be very good and quite importantly consistent with all members including the likes of  Sebastian Stan, Paul Bettany and Scarlett Johansson really delivering in their roles.

The old cast aren't the ones taking the full limelight. Chadwick Boseman looks to be perfect as the Wakandan Prince and is awesome as Black Panther. One of the best looking suits we've ever seen in a superhero movie and Boseman makes sure it isn't just an impressive looking character. His boldness and fighting for what he believes in can be quite similar to the traits of Steve Rogers. We can certainly look forward to seeing more of this character with an solo film already been announced.

For me, the thing I was most looking forward to was seeing the newest addition of my most favourite superhero, Spider-Man. With there being two previous attempts, I was looking forward to the new and fresh look at Peter Parker with Tom Holland on board. It was made clear that Spidey would be younger which would be something different to both Maguire and Garfield's portrayals. What's even better is that Holland was able to be a combination of the two bringing us the best Spider-Man we've ever seen. He has the awkwardness of Peter Parker that Maguire brought us and improves on the attitude shown by Garfield where he is quick witted and has a change of attitude when in the suit. This new Spider-Man is incredibly fun to watch as he trash talks his opponents whilst dealing with them. Due to this, a solo Spider-Man movie led by Tom Holland cannot come quick enough!

As you would expect in such a high budget superhero movie, the action in this is phenomenal. From the first piece of action in Nigeria with Captain America, Falcon, Scarlet Witch and Black Widow all coming against a familiar foe, the standards are set early on. A very positive thing from this is that the action always looks to impress with a fantastic chase scene to eventually the greatest action scene in comic book movie history. I won't go into too much detail but the airport scene is one that we are going to be talking about for many decades to come. A truly fantastic scene with lots of great action, allowing the heroes to fully show their strengths, it is one that will be referenced to death.  The Russo's have brought the great action from 'The Winter Soldier' into Civil War and most importantly improves on it. The Russo's also bring some nice ways to film a lot of their action with the chase scene showcasing many different angles to get some rather impressive shots with. 

The Marvel movies have all been created with good senses of humour within them. This is carried on in Civil War and boy does it deliver. With the likes of Ant-Man being introduced with the comedy shown in his solo film and the original cast members, the humour flows easily throughout the film. Arguably two of the funniest members of the film are an unlikely pairing but bounce off each other very well but you will have to see that for yourself. Although Tony Stark is more serious this time, he simply cannot help himself at times with his one liners or by making some sort of remark. The cast have great chemistry together and this shows in the comedy as they can bounce off each other with ease.

A criticism that can be given to the film does come within its storytelling. At first there is a lot of government driven policies to put the Avengers into check. The film seems to distance itself from that as the film goes on and becomes much more about personal agendas. It builds up the government looking to do this but after an event in Vienna, it kind of loses track of this. There is also a villain on the side of the film, that does feature quite a bit. However I do feel that the story surrounding him does fall flat a little. In saying this, it does leave it up for the character to potentially return and have an even bigger effect in the future. 

Final Verdict = 

A very good inclusion to the MCU, one that will be great for multiple viewings. Great performances once again, great humour and even better action. One of the best from the MCU and most definitely worth seeing! P.S: There are 2 scenes within the credits for those wondering.

So have you seen 'Captain America: Civil War'? If so what did you think of it? I hope this review was helpful and if you do go to see it, I hope you have as good a time as I did! Once again, thank you so much for reading, it is much appreciated!

Ranking the Marvel Cinematic Universe Movies!

The 29th of April brings us 'Captain America: Civil War' and with that is the introduction of phase 3 for juggernauts Marvel. The film is my most anticipated for the whole of 2016 and I couldn't be more excited! The studio have already powered out 12 films in the first two phases that have reached critical fame and have been a huge success at the box office. There is a huge demand for the superhero genre and due to this, a schedule with 11 films set to come out by 2019. I feel that this is a good time to have a look back at the current films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and see just how good they were. So here's my list ranking the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe from best to worst!

The films excluding the TV show 'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D' in the MCU

To clarify, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is centred on a series of comic book films that share a fictional universe. This has been done by interacting plot points, settings, cast and characters. Although a film may feature characters from Marvel comics, it does not mean that it is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Several different studios own the rights to certain franchises that keep them away from the MCU. Due to this, the likes of the X-Men, Fantastic Four and Spider-Man movies will not appear on this list.  This is also just a list for the movies so TV shows such as 'Daredevil', 'Agents of Shield' and 'Agent Carter' won't appear on this list. This list is in my personal opinion and if you disagree that is more than fine. I'd like to hear how you would rank it differently!

12. Thor: The Dark World

For me, 'Thor: The Dark World' is the worst of the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The film has some nice action scenes and Tom Hiddleston is wonderful as Loki but the film just has nothing to it really. The film has possibly the most forgettable story in the MCU and also in my opinion the weakest villain. The movie as a whole isn't really that memorable and doesn't stand up with the rest of the MCU. The beautiful looking set pieces doesn't cover up for the fact that 'The Dark World' is the most boring and least entertaining of the MCU.

Final Verdict = C-

11. The Incredible Hulk

'The Incredible Hulk' was the second film in the MCU but unfortunately comes in at second last in my list. The only film to have its main character have a change of actor later on in the MCU with star of 'The Incredible Hulk' Edward Norton being replaced by Mark Ruffalo later in the MCU. This incarnation of the Hulk does feature some good moments that are better than previous attempts of making a film about the big green rage machine. However some of the CGI isn't up to standard including villain The Abomination not looking that great.

Final verdict = C-

10. Thor

To me, Thor is the least interesting character in the MCU and I found that to be very clear in the solo movies that he was the main character in. I never really developed an interest in the character despite the creators best attempts. The film really is quite beautiful and Chris Hemsworth does produce a good performance as Thor. Tom Hiddleston as Loki though is fantastic and does make 'Thor' worth watching as he is magnificent. I was just unable to really feel connected or be overly intrigued about the character in the solo film.

Final Verdict = C

9. Iron Man 2

Possibly the most disappointing sequel of recent years was Iron Man 2 that really failed to live up to the standard set by the original. The combination of having Justin Hammer, as a rival weapons supplier and Whiplash as the villains was nowhere near strong or built up enough to succeed as well as the first. Robert Downey Jr again is phenomenal as Tony Stark and the introduction of Black Widow was fantastic as we finally got a great and powerful feminine hero.

Final Verdict = C

8. Iron Man 3

A slightly better addition to the Iron Man trilogy which needed picking up after the second addition. There are some great action scenes in this film and we see Stark really struggling to cope with anxiety as he becomes much more humane in this film. However there are some let downs, none bigger than the introduction of the famous Iron Man villain 'The Mandarin' which was a terrible decision to make. Iron Man 3 if done right could have been great but it really doesn't deliver to what many people expected. Still more than entertaining enough for casual viewing and worth watching if you're a fan of Downey Jr's performance as Iron Man.

Final Verdict = C+

7. Captain America: The First Avenger

I really enjoyed watching a young Steve Rogers who was always full of courage transform from a weedy and hopeful brave volunteer to become the fantastic leader during the war. Seeing the courage and smarts that he had led to one of my favourite origin stories in the MCU and brought us a character we could really root for. The villain 'Red Skull' could of been done better for sure and is probably the biggest criticism of the film. Again a great villain with the talented Hugo Weaving portraying him, the film could've been elevated to being a bigger success. I feel that this is up there as quite an underrated superhero movie.

Final Verdict = B

6. Avengers: Age of Ultron

The follow up to the smash hit that was the Avengers brought us some fantastic action and visuals. The introduction of characters such as Scarlet Witch, Vision and Ultron were very good and added to the film when others thought it would only overcrowd it. It kept the tone set by Marvel very well and was entertaining from start to finish. However a lot of the film was used to set up future films that definitely hindered the film. Also some confusing scenes in it didn't allow the film to be quite the critical success that its predecessor was.

Final Verdict = B+

5. Ant Man

At number 5 and narrowly beating AOU is the film that came out in the same year, Ant Man. Nobody thought that we would get an Ant Man film which wouldn't be completely ridiculous or that would work. However Marvel pulled it out of the bag and brought us one of the funniest films of recent years. Paul Rudd killed it as Scott Lang along with a great performance from Michael Douglas as Dr Hank Pym. Michael Pena was hilarious in this visually stunning, hilarious movie from Marvel. Ant Man showed that size doesn't matter when it comes to making an impact.

Final Verdict = B+

4. Iron Man

For many years Iron Man was the best Marvel film and it would be hard to beat. However that may not be the case now but it can't be denied that without the huge success of Iron Man, it would not of opened the door for the rest of the MCU. Perhaps the most important film on this list. One of the best origin story along with Jeff Bridges as a solid villain and great action made Iron Man a hit. The introduction of Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark would become one of the greatest castings of all time and will go down as arguably the best superhero portrayal of all time.

Final Verdict = A

3. Guardians of the Galaxy

The only film on this list that is yet to interact with any of the characters in the other MCU movies is Guardians of the Galaxy. Nobody expected this unheard of crew led by Chris Pratt to become the summer highlight of 2014. Perhaps the biggest gamble from Marvel as they took an obscure comic book and decided to put it onto the big screen. Its wonderful action and great humour made it one of the main talking points for movie fans as it was a worthwhile gamble. The funniest movie in the MCU which also has by far the best soundtrack.

Final Verdict = A

2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier

As a fan of the first Captain America, I was more than pleases with 'The Winter Soldier' as it surpassed the original in every way which not many sequels can say they did. This film took a new look into the superhero world with more of a spy, thriller, action movie that did change it up a little. 'The Winter Soldier' is the best standalone MCU film with its great storyline as well as once again, incredible action. The story between Captain America Steve Rogers and long lost friend and newly become 'Winter Soldier' Bucky Barnes is one of the best in the MCU and makes it a must see!

Final Verdict = A

Deadpool Review

Deadpool is the latest comic book movie to be pumped out by juggernaut company Marvel. Family friendly Marvel. That's what Deadpool is like, right?

Deadpool stars Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson who would later go on to be the tittle character as he gains superhuman abilities after his last chance of curing his cancer brings out the mutant gene in him. Ajax (Ed Skrein) is the one who has done this by torturing and disfiguring him in the hope to creating him to use as a slave. This does not go to plan but Ajax leaves Wilson for dead...or so he thinks. Deadpool along with his twisted sense of humour looks to hunt Ajax down for revenge and also to save the love of his life.

Deadpool is a comedy, action, superhero, revenge and romance rolled into one like no other superhero movie we have ever seen, never mind just Marvel film. Rated 15 in the UK which is slightly higher than the normal 12A rating given to the recent Marvel movies. And quite right. This is most definitely not fun for the whole family. However for myself and my friends, it is absolutely perfect. 

First of all, this movie is absolutely hilarious. If you think the trailer was funny you are certainly in for a real treat. How great is it going to see a comedy where the best bits aren't just in the trailers? There's so much comedy gold in Deadpool and it is fantastic. Straight from the start it is hilarious with a substitution for what would normally be the credits as 'Angel in the Morning' plays over it. Truly great work. Every attempt at comedy in Deadpool works with some truly great dialogue. It must of been so fun for the writers to come up with some of the outbursts said not only by Deadpool but many of the other characters in the movie. 

Nobody is safe from Deadpool in this movie when it comes to quips. Between bringing up actors in the X-Men universe such as Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy and Patrick Stewart to other well known characters such as Ripley from Alien there are plenty of references that are all hilarious. Even Reynolds himself is not free from getting a ribbing as himself and a certain green suited superhero are mocked in the film. The movie studio are also the target of many jokes from the merc with a mouth which is just magnificent. It also takes time to take aim at the decision to sew his mouth shut in X-Men Origins: Wolverine giving a little redemption to the huge mistake made.

The action in this film also has to be mentioned. It is absolutely beautiful. There are times tho that you can easily tell that it is CGI but for the most part the effects are really good and lifelike. Great action that we have come to expect in Marvel's movies. The action is often slowed way down to allow the jokes and remarks to come out which works perfectly such as when he turns someone into "human kebab". The action is unique to than other Marvel films due to this which is great as it is bringing something new to the table in this huge inflation of superhero movies.

One of the great action shots from Deadpool

Ryan Reynolds really was a perfect casting for this role. He was absolutely fantastic as Wade Wilson/Deadpool. His delivery for all of his comedic lines was excellent and he was great when the character had to be a bit more serious. Definitely the performance we'd hoped for and he did not disappoint us at all. You can clearly see that he has thoroughly enjoyed being this character and it has probably helped his performance with him being so passionate about the project.

 Ed Skrein was also great as the villain Ajax. I'd even say that he is one of the strongest Marvel villains we have had although competition isn't overly competitive. That being said, it shouldn't be taken away that Skrein did a great job especially considering he was coming off the back of a terrible Transporter reboot. Morena Baccarin plays Vanessa, Wilson's love interest and also does a great job. She is great at playing this character who is just perfect for Wilson and they really compliment each other. The character is very similar to Wade Wilson himself and really show an actual believable couple. One of the funnier roles was played by T.J Miller who was Wilson's friend 'Weasel' who provides even more great comedic effect to the film. Also be prepared to see one of the funniest Stan Lee cameos. 

Ajax and Deadpool squaring off

As this is the same universe as the X-Men, it was good to see this be acknowledged. Even if so most of the time it was taking digs at the mutant group. At least it is giving a reason to why he is not helping the main group take down foes which has been a question asked in Marvels solo Avengers movies. Deadpool however does have two X-Men characters in it with Colossus (Stefan Kapicic) and Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Brianna Hildebrand) who's incredible name is brought up in admiration by Deadpool himself. This is probably the best looks to Colossus that we have ever had which is great to see. Also Negasonic's quick wit and moody attitude is great to watch as well. It will certainly be interesting to see how Deadpool will tie in with the X-Men universe in later films.

Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead looking to recruit Deadpool

If you do go to see this like all Marvel films there is a scene at the end of the credits with a pop culture reference and then a reveal for Deadpool 2. If you are a fan of a certain 80's classic you will love the end credits scene. I know I did.

Final Verdict: Deadpool = A-

A great start to a year that will be dominated by superhero movies. I am glad to say that I was surprised at just how good Deadpool was and would highly recommend it to mature fans. Probably a bit too much for younger audiences. Let's hope the rest of the superhero flicks follow suit this year.

So have you seen Deadpool? If so what did you think? If you are planning on seeing it, I hope this review was useful and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Once again thank you for reading, it is much appreciated. 

By Angus McGregor