April 23, 2019
I have to preface this by saying the Iron Man movies are some of my favorites. It is not only because of the clever writing, the character building, or the set pieces, but for what Robert Downey Jr. did for himself and for Marvel as a whole. Downey was at a low point in his career when Marvel took the risk of casting him in a major role in a universe-building movie, and he killed it. He commanded the role, fitting Tony Stark’s smart, impulsive, and arrogant attitude perfectly. I believe without Robert Downey Jr.’s role, there is no MCU.
He is not the only good actor, though: Gwyneth Paltrow plays off Downey well as Pepper Potts, and Jeff Bridges as Obadiah Stane is an underrated villain in the MCU.
The plot grips you with the capture of Stark and the butting of heads we see as Tony Stark tries to fill his father’s role in the company he inherited. The comedy is not just cheap laughs or side gags; there is an inherent wit to them, and I love it.
Finally, it had exposition and universe building that wove so seamlessly into the main plot that it felt natural. The initial surprise introduction of Nick Fury was a great addition as well.
I feel bad about this movie, as it had the pieces and parts to be much better, but it just never came to fruition. The Incredible Hulk feels like it is not a part of the universe. The trademark humor in Marvel movies is almost absent in this, and when jokes do come up, they feel forced. Everything in this movie is just okay. The actors do well, but they don’t excel in their roles as much as others; the plot is well structured, but not as gripping.
This movie is good, but it is so average that it ends up being forgettable.
Iron Man 2 gives us the chemistry between characters and everything we liked in the first movie, just more so. There are great action sequences, such as Black Widow clearing the hallway, adding humor with sharp kicks. Whiplash’s design is amazing.
But there is a caveat with this movie: it’s all about more Iron Man, and impressive visuals. The villain felt underwritten, and everything ends up being suffocating, with too many plot lines to process, making you feel disconnected. I feel this is due to the rushed movie schedule, so growing pains are evident as Marvel tries to manage this fast-growing universe.
The most boring out of the Phase 1 movies, Thor lead with a bland script, leaving every character feel one dimensional. As Chris Hemsworth stated more recently, he always felt that Thor may have been taken too seriously as a stoic god. The plot was uninteresting as well, and when you compare it to the other Phase 1 movies, it just falls short on too many aspects.
Hiddleston and Hemsworth were great casting choices, but they’re never handled as well in this movie as they are later on. Hopkins is great as Odin.
Though I do not consider it the worst of the MCU movies, it is definitely an example of Marvel not being exactly sure of what to do with its characters.
A great portion of the movie illustrates that Steve Rogers, played by Chris Evans, ultimately becomes a superhero not just because of his abilities, but also his morals. We see him first being used as a poster boy for the war, but he quickly finds ways to help others when no one else will.
The movie being a period piece makes it feel distinct and timeless, crafting its own tone and flavor that is refreshing. The movie is shot differently and dealt with differently to make the movie feel unique.
Chris Evans is another one of those actors in the MCU that feels like the only one who could have played his role, displaying an innocence and purity in Rogers’ heart.
On the downside, the middle of the plot feels rushed, with heavy exposition and then a climatic ending, leaving something missing.
This movie is a joy to watch. It is great seeing all these characters come together to defeat Loki. Characters you would not expect to work well together end up having great chemistry. This movie just makes you feel like a kid on Christmas getting everything you wanted.
The plot is not too complex to allow all those great action scenes. The scene with Loki and the Hulk is one of my favorite scenes of all time. The jokes in this movie are when we see the comedy expected out of Marvel movies, with back-and-forth dialogue after a fight.
The Avengers nails its tone, and has stakes that feel important and weighty. It elevates Loki to new heights, making him more than just a side villain.
My only issue is the costume design feels cheap, especially Captain America’s, but this does not detract too much from the overall enjoyment of the movie.
The post credit scene is jaw dropping with the introduction of Thanos, setting the stage for so much of what would come later.
Your donation will support the free student press at Colonial Forge High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment, cover our annual website hosting costs, and help send student journalists to conferences and workshops.