Well looks like the Avengers is now in the top five movies of ALL TIME both worldwide (No. 4) and in the states (No.5)
And you thought comic book movies would never be good
My Summer Movie Season List
*Update* I was suppose to release this before Avengers came out but I forgot, my bad
So the Summer Movie Season is upon us and like every year I’m here to tell you the movies that I’m looking most forward to. Not only that but I’m going to do a little extra this year and give you movies that I’m so so about (let’s call them the meh movies), the small releases that you might not here about, and the movie I’m not sure or excited for. So let’s start with the small releases shall we. (These are movies from May to August, since that’s the Summer Movie Season)
Limited Releases
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel: The movie has a great British cast and looks pretty damn funny. Downside, comes out the week of The Avengers
Snabba Cash (Easy Money): Thanks to the success of Safe House, young director Daniel Espinosa’s Swedish movie is going to get released here in the states (word going around that’s it’s pretty good). Other than Espinosa directing, the movie stars future Robocop and AMC The Killing stat Joel Kinnaman.
The “Meh” Movie
Ice Age: Continental Drift: Why did I put this on the list? Well I do need a break from fast-paced action movie right? Maybe, but I do like the Ice Age movies and although the last one was just okay this one seems to be “the last one” (yeah right)
Men in Black 3: Nothing against the MIB movies, I’ve quite enjoyed them but something about me doesn’t scream “I want another one.”
Premium Rush: Although this is later in the season (some might not even consider it a summer movie) the movie looks interesting to say the least. Joseph Gordon Levitt stars as a bike messenger caught up in something bad. The movie probably won’t be his hit movie his summer (Looper will probably that movie or Dark Knight Rises)
The “Not Sure” Movies
The Amazing Spider-Man: I didn’t think it would be possible for me to be capable of seeing another Spider-Man after that horrible job Sony did on Spiderman 3. Anyway, after seeing the first trailer (not teaser) I was sparked with some interest. Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) is playing the famous web swinger with a supporting cast with the likes of Denis Leary, Rhys Ifans (playing Dr. Curt Connors/the Lizard) and the lovely Emma Stone as Peter Parkers first real love Gwen Stacy. If the next trailer is good then Sony might have changed my mind on this.
*Update* The third trailer actually convince me to go watch the movie and be somewhat okay to go.
Total Recall: Just to throw it out there, THIS MOVIE SHOULD NOT BE REMADE, okay moving on. The movie itself is nothing like the Arnold movie, which the team behind it said from the beginning, BUT what made the Arnold movie good was (besides being an Arnold movie) was that it based of freaking Mars. I’m not going to bash the movie before seeing it because I’m not the type of person (majority of the time, sometimes I can’t help myself). Will I see it? Most likely yes *sigh*
The Big Ones
The Avengers: All these years of build up are finally going to end, the moment every nerdy Marvel fan has been waiting for. One of the most anticipated movies this year is also kicking off the Summer Movie Season. Count me in.
Battleship: “You snuck my Battleship!” So what happens when you bring a board game and make it a big Hollywood summer action blockbuster? That’s what we’re going to find out this summer. Also, if you’re a person that thinks this movie is nothing like the game answer me this, Would you really want to watch a movie about two kids sitting down playing the game? Or do you want a different fun interpretation?
Snow White and the Huntsman: Who thought someone can come in and make a fairy tale into an epic action movie? Well it looks like that’s finally happening with Snow White. Despite, some people not liking Kristen Stewart as Snow White (mainly because of her Twilight fame) we can’t be to quick to judge. The movie also has Charlize Theron as the wicked queen and Chris Hemsworth as the titled Huntsman.
Prometheus: Ridley Scott is back with the Alien franchise and it looks BADASS. I have to say this might be my most anticipated movie this summer because I have no idea what can happen in some weird way (it is a prequel after all). But the movie does look like a fun ride. Add the incredible cast and this has my money
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: Does the title sound ridiculous? Yeah, but the movie looks pretty damn cool. Based on the book, I’m pretty excited since I was a pretty big fan of the book and some of the stuff from the trailers looks different from the books which gets more me more excited because I don’t know what they will change or take out.
G.I Joe: Retaliation: How can you make a better sequel despite the first one being so bad? Easy, replace the lead (Channing “I Can’t Act” Tatum) and majority of the cast with The Rock and Bruce Willis AND make it a real action movie. Some will have their doubts but I’m pretty damn excited.
The Dark Knight Rises: The last of the Nolan Batman movies is finally here and we couldn’t be happier and sad at the same time. While many of us are happy some people are asking if it could pass The Dark Knight. Only time will tell but we can grantee that it’s going to be good
The Bourne Legacy: When I heard that Damon/Greengrass wouldn’t return and that they would go forward without them I had lost hope. But, when I heard the cast and idea come together I was okay. The teaser also helped the cause by showing nothing but still making me interested.
Savages: I’ll be honest I knew nothing about this movie before the trailer came out and I have to say I really liked the trailer. It really didn’t look like an Oliver Stone movie and the cast is actually pretty damn good.
Ted: To be honest I actually didn’t know where to put this movie. I like Seth MacFarlane and the idea seems kinda funny and there’s a pretty great comedy cast. Problem is this can turn into one of those movies that “seems good on paper.”
The Expendables 2: While some think the first movie was a letdown (in some cases it was) it didn’t stop Sly from bringing back the crew for another go around. Add Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chuck Norris, and Jean Claude Van Damme, and Scott Adkins then maybe this is what the first was meant to be.
Lawless: Tom Hardy sure has a big this year huh. The movie also sounds pretty good, set during the Depression-era, a bootlegging gang is threatened by authorities who want a cut of their profits. Along with Hardy, Guy Pearce, Gary Oldman, and Shia LaBeouf (okay maybe not him so much) the cast and setting/story sounds like a win.
So that’s the list, Agree? Disagree? So-So? Let me know
The Avengers Review (no spoilers)
Dir: Joss Whedon
Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L. Jackson, Cobie Smulders, Clark Gregg, Tom Hiddleston
Synopsis: Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D. brings together a team of super humans to form The Avengers to help save the Earth from Loki and his army.
Okay, first let me get my fanboy out. I’ve seen all the Marvel movies connected to the Avengers and all those years of going and anticipation paid off. Also, I’m not going to give much (and I mean that) because I feel it’s one of the movies you have to watch to appreciate it more, so let’s move on.
The real basis of the movie is Loki (Hiddleston) has arrived on Earth, intent on conquering humanity with an alien army to back him up (It’s NOT THE SKULLS/KREE, Whedon said it months ago). Facing the threat, S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury (Jackson) puts the long-gestating Avengers Initiative into action, gathering together Iron Man (Downey Jr.), Captain America (Evans), Thor (Hemsworth) and Hulk (Ruffalo) to defend the planet. But putting together all these heroes together in one room as you might suspect is a little difficult.
So who better to bring all of them together? The ultimate nerd/fanboy director Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Dollhouse, Serenity/Firefly). If you’re a fan of his (like me) you can tell where they Whedon-ness come out in the movie but also how much of a fan of the comics he is especially the way he treats the characters. From Steve Rogers’ no-nonsense approach, to Tony Stark’s humorous narcissism, to Thor’s straight forward mission attitude. However, the other thing Whedon did, which is something he’s used to doing anyway, is being able to do something that most superhero movies mess up, and that’s balance all the characters in the movie (I’m looking at you Spider-Man 3). Each character has their moment to shine, including Black Widow, who we get to know more of and see the true badass from the comics (also we see how she fits in the group along with Hawkeye which is making his first real appearance in a Marvel movie).
Also a brief thing I want to mention is pretty much what other reviews are saying. The standout moments come from the banter between the characters (including the fighting), Tom Hiddleston performance as Loki who just like Thor gave an amazing performance. However, who steals the show? Mark Ruffalo’s take on Bruce Banner/Hulk, and as much as I and other people wanted Edward Norton to come back but Ruffalo did a damn good job.
On the action side, the movie has some pretty great sequences early but they save it all for the final act in New York when the alien forces come and face off against The Avengers. If you think the commercials give too much away, trust me it doesn’t, the last act truly is what we all have been waiting for, all of them together kicking some ass.
Lastly two things, 1) for those wondering about the 3D, it’s fine (I saw it in 3D) but if you can avoid, you won’t be missing much. 2) Some people are complaining there is too much talking in the movie, yes the movie does have a good chuck of dialogue but it’s done for a reason and not just to have the characters talk. Trust me the talking is done for a reason.
All in all, Marvel’s build up to one of the biggest movie experiences went off without fail and like always stay for the credits and after the credits, THAT’S RIGHT there is too extra scenes. One is definitely for the comic book fans, which will leave non-comic followers saying “What the hell” and the other is just…well just stay after.
The Avengers
5 out of 5
