The status quo has changed : Avengers - Infinity War | Review

The last movie to be able to make a statement this phenomenal despite its gargantuan star-cast was the Lord of The Rings: Return Of The King. And let’s be fair, they had made 2 similarly scaled films previously for swinging practice. Marvel has finally brought us to the 10-year and 19-movie milestone of the journey they started us on with Iron Man (2008) that will mark the near end of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we recognize it, and helm some expansion that you will come to grasp in the post-credits scene (shuddering already?)

This is simply a review, and no plot points will be discussed. Spoiler review will come a week later! 

In a nutshell that most will obviously be well-versed with – Thanos, a megalomaniacal despot from the planet Titan is out to collect the Infinity Stones so that he can be the ultimate power in the universe and “rebalance it” as he sees fit. The Avengers, who disbanded after a Civil War between 2 factions led by Iron Man and Captain America, must join hands with Doctor Strange, Spider-man, the Wakandans, the Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor to thwart Thanos and his Dark Order’s plans and protect the Universe.

The complete Avengers roster with Thanos in the background

Talking about Infinity War is tough. THERE IS SO MUCH TO COVER! This film would make a great book, probably titled “How to make a comic-book film that is 149 minutes long, comprises over 25 superheroes, and still packs enough story to appeal to nerds and serious film-goers alike!” 

(Scratch that title. Death sentences are shorter than that title. But you get my drift.)

For this review, let's just stick to the principal new entry in this film – Thanos (played by Josh Brolin.) Marvel has always been on the receiving end of praises for the character development of its villains (for the most part.) Last evidence of that was Erik Killmonger. Strangely, I was quite skeptical originally about Thanos, based upon his trivial appearance in Guardians Of The Galaxy. But here, we get to see a seemingly grounded, complex villain who seems to be OCD about balance in everything, and does a challenging discourse about the extent of and the moral compass directing our stereotypical hero’s views about helping people and the world/universe at large. Thanos is a great matter-of-fact villain who believes more in the scale and fulfilment of his purpose than the talk and pomp and show around it (okay, maybe he’s a little pompous? I suppose that much is complimentary), compared to the previous villains like Loki and Ultron. 

The highlight of the film is the relationship between Thanos and his adoptive daughter Gamora (Zoe Saldana) the green skinned assassin and a Guardian of the Galaxy. We get a glimpse into Thanos' more human side which gives weight to emotional attachments too beside his plans of galactic destruction. 

Avengers - Infinity War isn't a perfect film, and probably not close in terms of coherence to many of its predecessors, but with a film of this scale, they manage to touchdown above and beyond expectations. The movie has quite a few plot holes and instances where things happen too fast and merely to allow plot convenience. But where this movie succeeds is the ample screen time and nearly equal share of the spotlight that it gives to nearly ALL its characters. Another thing it succeeds in an extensive lineup of neatly edited action sequences which are well-spaced out and precise in length. The faults that still remain, are fortunately not too major to effectively affect the storyline, even though they might invite some strong questions on repeat viewing. And then, there is this permanent problem that I have with Marvel regarding its persistent overinsertion of childish humour in serious transitional moments in their films, but Infinity War witnesses a polarization, with the story taking extremely emotional strides towards the continuity of its story, which might make you require a drink after. I kid you not.

VERDICT – 3  and 1/2 out of 5 toots of the Bugle 

No-can-do bruh. Sorry.

If any of you out there have been getting too used to the MCU as you know it, brace yourselves for this new big bang in the Marvel Cinematic Universe which signals a sordid turn towards the beginning of the end, and a road to new beginnings.

  

Revenge of Birdman! - Review of Spiderman Homecoming

“After the blazing success of Birdman, Michael Keaton returns to don the wings and become the

feathery super character once more, with this sequel...”

“Wait, what is this?”

“What? It’s the review for Birdman 2.”

“There’s... no such movie. What’re you smoking?”

“But Michael Keaton plays this winged bird-like character, in New York City? So I thought, naturally... Birdman, you know...”

“It’s Vulture, goddammit!! And it’s the villain in SPIDERMAN: HOMECOMING, a SUPERHERO film in the MARVEL CINEMATIC UNIVERSE!! Get your head out of your bugle! Sheesh!”  

“... My bad.”

 

So Kevin Feige presents us with the 16th installment under the MCU with a completely new film on a superhero we’ve... seen before. 2 of them, as a matter of fact.

So... what’s new and improved over the predecessors?

EVERYTHING! <almost>

Like we all know, Peter Parker is a high school student who was bitten by the radioactive spider and became extra sticky and whatnot, and eventually dons the red and blue to prevent crime in New York City. But being a high school student in the 2010s, especially in the super-advanced Marvel Cinematic Universe, the character and his world needed some upgrades. Technical, and cultural. Being a millennial high school student, Peter Parker has finally been tailormade as one.

The film starts with the video chronicle created by Peter Parker (Tom Holland) while fighting #TeamCap in Civil War, self-bragging about his adventures after being temporarily being recruited by Tony Stark, up until the point where Tony drops him home in Queens with a high-tech spidey suit with the veiled promise that he ‘might’ be called upon to be an Avenger. The rest of the story covers his journey as a high-school student who must try and fit his alter ego somewhere between his ordinarily complex life.

Being one of the most successful superhero names of all time, and the company mascot for Marvel, AND being a original member of the Avengers, it was about time that Marvel inducted the character into their current Avenger universe. Where Spiderman: Homecoming rises above its predecessors, is realising and poking fun at some of the most obvious questions that have been asked by the prudent fans since a long time, such as –

·         How effective a superhero would he be in the suburbs, where there is an obvious lack of tall buildings to swing from?

·         How effective a superhero would you be on a boat, WHERE there is an obvious lack of any structures whatsoever to swing from?

·         How the heck is he able to avoid all sorts of nosey questions about being missing without explanation from crucial social situations?     

The most commendable feature of this movie is that at no single point, does it dwell. Like I said, it starts off by the video chronicle by Peter, and the rest of it is told in the same way as a teenager verbally recounting his far-fetched experiences after an exciting day, and though the same tends to get boring, it works extremely well here because we’re able to grasp the visuals of that story, with no unnecessary extra detail, and moving on with rambunctious energy toward the next sequence. Sometimes this pace is too fast for comfort, but it works mostly.

The narrative and the characters are like a sitcom at so many places, they could actually rename this movie as “Spidey and Friends”. Marisa Tomei as May (no more ‘Aunt’, because younger and hotter), Zendaya as Michelle Jones and Tony Revolori as Flash Thompson provide quick, random and wacky comic relief reminiscent to the side characters in some television sitcom.

Fans get introduced to a new side of Tony, who seems to be nurturing a mentor-protege relationship with Peter, who he can’t simply drop back into his world upto his own devices, after using his help in Civil War, and knowing the possibilities and extent of Peter’s Powers, and the situations the latter could find himself stranded in without the proper training and guidance of a veteran (not that Tony himself is a golden example, but anyhow).

Getting to the new Spiderman, Tom Holland, all praises fall short to express the good time that this guy provided as the titular character. The young English actor and dancer completely drowns himself into the character Spiderman, quite literally, performing nearly all the stunts and action sequences himself, and having fun at his job with boisterous, energetic and youthful appeal. To be able to steal the show surrounded by a cast of industry veterans is a feat that requires no validation.

Speaking about the villain, Birdman... sorry, ‘Vulture’ who is quite aptly named, considering the fact that he literally lives off the alien and robotic scraps from the battles involving the Avengers in New York (Avengers, 2012) and Sokovia (Age of Ultron, 2015) that he salvages and sells as high-tech black-market weapons (to street thugs?), Michael Keaton looks good as the same. Though his performance more-than-often verges on textbook-comic-book-supervillain, he possesses a natural element of intimidation that works pretty well, particularly in the scenes involving him and Peter. His characterisation is quite spot-on as it combines the stereotypical comicbook sense of evil, but lacking the megalomaniacal attitude, and having the grounded reasonability of Willem Dafoe’s Norman Osborn (Spiderman, 2002).

Additional talent includes Jennifer Connolly who voices Karen, the Artifical Intelligence in Peter’s suit.

<FUN FACT: Jennifer Connolly is the wife of Paul Bettany, who voiced J.A.R.V.I.S. and played the Vision>

VERDICT: 3  and a half/5 toots of the bugle

Keep hangin' in there, Pedro!

Marvel Studios maintains its impeccably premium track record with Spiderman: Homecoming. With a wee bit room for growth.

P.S. As is usual with any Marvel movies, you don't want to miss the end-credit cookie by Captain America! At. Any. Cost.