Movie News

Action Style

There’s so many different styles of action to make note of.  We begin with high speed vehicular chases bridging to firearm combat to fisticuffs to super-powered stunt work and then Spider-Man does what a spider can on top.  There’s almost something for just about everyone who likes action.

5/6

Action Frame

Granted, the dynamic cinematography on display throughout is thanks most in part to frames compiled purely in a computer, but they had to be conceived by someone and the frame is anything but static.

4/5

Lead Performance

Almost everyone qualifies as a lead and not one single person phones it in.  Chadwick Boseman is impressive in his debut as T’Challa/Black Panther.  Anthony Mackie continues to exude pure charisma as Sam Wilson/Falcon.  Scarlett Johansson is reliably unpredictable as Black Widow, Sebastian Stan’s intensity is unrivaled as Bucky/Winter Soldier, everybody likes Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Elizabeth Olsen shows a more tender side to her Scarlet Witch, Paul Bettany continues mystify as the Vision, Jeremy Renner brings the all important sarcastic laughs, Don Cheadle produces a fine rationalist perspective and Tom Holland’s Spider-Man brings great hope for the future of his satellite franchise as well as the importance of his character in the grand scheme of things moving forward.  Amidst all these fine performances it is easy to overlook our diametrically opposed protagonists: Chris Evans as Captain America and Robert Downey Jr. as Iron Man.  Evans once again channels the tempered idealist from the classic white knight archetype while Downey discovers a new level of concern and despair for Tony Stark that has transplanted Stark’s signature attitude with something more dire and serious. 

6/6

Supporting Performance

Not to be outdone by a healthy contingent of leads, the supporting roles effectively round out a brilliantly assembled cast.  William Hurt’s Thunderbolt Ross is a prototypical authoritarian without coming off as whimsically maniacal.  John Kani’s King T’Chaka is absolutely brilliant in virtually no screen time.  Emily VanCamp continues to add credibility to her Sharon Carter.  Daniel Bruhl’s Zemo may not have been a physical, mental or phsycological match for the heroes, but no one could argue with his motivations and his ability to convey his character’s despair makes him Marvel’s most effective villain since Loki.

4/5

Music

Acceptable, but not quite iconic enough.  My favorite soundtrack moments were those stylized instrumental screeches signifying Winter Soldier activity.

4/6

Sound F/X

Sharp.  Clean.  Diverse.  Creative.  No complaints whatsoever.

5/5

Digital F/X

These films exist to deliver top mark CG and the fusion with live action is all but seamless.  Surprise, surprise, these moments peak at the battle royale among our heroes showcasing everyone’s abilities in an explosion of visual brilliance.  

6/6

Special F/X

With so many computer generated imagery flying about the screen simple pyro, wall crumbles and explosions pale in comparison.

3/5

Costumes

Every hero looks as great as they have in their respective films while the new Black Panther is much more ornate than film trailers make him and Spider-Man’s costume is a welcome classic configuration.

5/6

Hair & Makeup

Well done, but nothing exceptional being accomplished here. 

3/5

Exteriors

An exceptional collection of diverse locales representing very different parts of the world.

5/6

Interiors

These also do no not fail to impress as the futuristic tech of Avengers’ facilities contrasts quite well with more mundane government facilities and even more average settings such as obscure apartment spaces in Queens.

4/5

Hook

The Avengers may be the newest superpower in the world, but they are beyond perfect and not above the machinations of those who wish to control them as agents of some prescribed agenda.

4/4

Conflict

Heroes have been beating each other up in the comics for many years thanks to underdeveloped villains, but their live-action counterparts now going through the same motions adds to the realism because even people of supernatural ability are bound to disagree with the fundamentals of what they do and who they are.

3/4

Resolution

Agreeing to disagree is as open ended (or non-existent) as resolutions come, but it also leaves the audience in an uncertain and uncomfortable place regardless of whether they were on #teamironman or #teamcaptainamerica. 

2/4

Dialogue

For all the characters that already know each other, their natural speak and camaraderie shines through.  For newcomers Black Panther and Spider-Man, their fresh takes and commentary are well placed, justified and completely in character.

5/6

Exposition

With so many MCU films in the can, the only real exposition required are the one or two films that preceded it.  A couple of expository sequences early in this film attempt to bring everyone up to speed, but every Marvel movie from this point forward cannot be relied upon for a thorough rehash at some point in every first act.  Also, more probably could have been done to flesh out the antagonist’s perspective, motivation and methods.

2/5

Character Uniqueness

Black Panther and Spider-Man provide some welcome new blood, but I am even more impressed with Tony Stark’s shift back towards the establishment as it shows that even a man of his infinite ego is not beyond an ever growing sense of guilt over his inability to solve every problem.  Then again, it is almost as surprising for Steve Rogers to take the path he chooses after his insider information is revealed.

5/6

Character Relatability

Not to continue beating a dead horse, but once again, Black Panther and Spider-Man provide the perfect gateway for all viewers to get in on the ground floor in terms of connecting with these super-people.  Vengeance and the desire to please/impress are powerful and commonplace motives that most can identify with.  Still, these people can bench press cars and we did just meet them.

3/5