Super Film Review: Iron Man 3

"I hope I can protect the one thing I can't live without"

Director: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jnr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, Rebecca Hall, Don Cheadle
Running time: 135 minutes

Everyone's favourite 'genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist' is back on the big screen for the fourth time with his third solo adventure, Iron Man 3. Set after the events of The Avengers, Iron Man 3 sees Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr.) struggling to come to terms with what happened in New York and becoming increasingly reliant upon his suits.

Rebecca Hall as Maya Hansen

Now there seems to be a recurring theme that superhero threequels are always going to be tricky to pull off; Spider-man 3, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Dark Knight Rises, Batman Forever are just a few examples of threequels that have (to varying degrees) failed to match expectation and hype that surrounded them. Always trying to strive for bigger, better, badder, these franchises always seem to peak in the second entry, falling away by the third.

Thank God then, that Marvel Studios and director Shane Black took a different tack with Iron Man 3. After the huge climax in The Avengers, Iron Man 3 is a lot more stripped back than its predecessors' and the film is better off for it.

With anxiety attacks plaguing his days and insomnia plaguing his nights, Stark finds himself consumed by tinkering on his Iron Man suits. With aliens and demi-gods now on the scene, Stark is no longer a big fish in a small pond and the events from The Avengers have shaken him to the core.

After his friend Happy Hogan (Jon Faverau) is injured in an attack by ferocious new terrorist The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), Stark issues a stark (heh heh) warning that threatens swift revenge. Big mistake. With his Malibu mansion left in ruins (a fantastic action set piece that will leave you slack-jawed) and stripped of his armour, Stark is left vulnerable and stranded.

"I can't sleep. And when I do, I have nightmares"

For the majority of the film, Tony is not Iron Man. He is both alone in the wilderness and lacking confidence. He can't bring himself to think about being back in the line of fire after New York as well as losing his girlfriend Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow). Being a shadow of what he once was, Tony is back to being mortal again and this is Iron Man 3's greatest achievement.

The vulnerability and uncertainty that Tony shows in this film is acted brilliantly by Robert Downey Jnr. Superhero films often hide their hero behind a mask but for Iron Man 3, Downey shows that he doesn't need one. Director Shane Black peels away the armour and touches on the man beneath to great effect. This might not win a lot of people over, people who are keen to see Iron Man smackdown with some more armoured villains every ten minutes, but you can't please everyone. Tony, as a character, grows and develops in this film in the same way that he did in the first film.

That being said, Iron Man 3 is by no means all doom and gloom. Quite the opposite in fact. I don't think I have laughed as hard as I did with Iron Man 3 in a long time. It is funny. Like, really funny.  When Tony stumbles across wide-eyed Harley (Ty Simpkins) and he recruits the young boys help in fixing his Mark 42 suit, the quips and banter starts to flow and will have the audience in hysterics. Adding a 'innocent kid' into a film can sometimes be the final nail in the coffin but this is most definitely not the case here.

In terms of villains, Iron Man 3 also does well to not include enemies who are men in metal suits with lots of missiles. This time around, Stark is faced with locking horns with Terminator-esque soldiers who have been injected with a curious known as Extremis. From here they turn into red-eyed rage monsters that look like something of Supernatural or Doctor Who. Their tough, but not remarkably interesting or gripping.

Guy Pearce however is great in his role as scientist Aldrich Killian. Where is motives are at isn't entirely clear in the trailers/promotional material so I won't spoil anything here. One thing that is worth mentioning is this; there are pretty big twists and turns you won't have expected going in. For the sake of enjoying the film, I shall say no more.

"It tested well with focus groups, okay?"

Also, Don Cheadle appears for a second time as War Machine, oops I mean Iron Patriot (because that's subtle). He's neither good nor bad, just present. Just wait until you hear his username and password; possibly the biggest laugh of the whole film and like I mentioned earlier, there are some big big laughs.

This isn't to say that the film is faultless. Rebecca Hall's 'botanist' Maya Hansen was a little underwritten and could have had more of a role to play whilst the Extremis soldiers are, like I said, a little two-dimensional. They look pretty and are a match for Iron Man but that doesn't mean they aren't anything other than grunts.

In terms of action, Iron Man 3 managed to strike a balance that retained plenty of thrills and spills whilst it low-key. The action sequence where Air Force One is attacked is fantastic but the majority of the action takes place in dockyards, container ships and so on. There are no over the top, Michael Bay-style wars being fought over New York, London or San Francisco.

Also, another little niggle that I have is the slight disregard for any other Avengers. I know that Iron Man 3 is supposed to be all about Iron Man but that doesn't mean S.H.I.E.L.D or Captain America can't have some small cameo, even if it is to rule them out of the equation. That their whole participation in this film is ruled out with one line (that is easily missed) is a bit of a bummer.

Iron Man 3 then is something of an unexpected success. After the extended Avengers trailer that was Iron Man 2, this third entry takes away the fluff and gets to the heart of the central character by peeling away his mask. The action is sporadic but full-on and the real strong point is the characterisation and the script.

I give Iron Man 3: 8/10

See this if you liked: The Iron Man series, The Avengers, The Amazing Spider-man, Star Trek (2009)

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Voice of Reason #10: Star Wars Overkill

"Join me, and together we can make dozens of unnecessary sequels,
spin-off's and cash-ins. Join the dark side Luke. Think of the merchandise!"

If someone asked me "Name your favourite childhood film", I wouldn't be thinking the Lion King, the Jungle Book or Toy Story. Simba, Mowgli or Buzz can piss off, they ain't even close. It would be indisputably, categorically, 100% Star Wars. After watching the original trilogy in 97/98ish, it was Star Wars Lego, action figures and video-games that consumed my spare time. If it wasn't recreating the battle of Hoth with my Lego AT-AT, it was shooting the shit out of TIE Fighers on Star Wars: Rogue Squadron.

So, news that Disney plans on making a new Star Wars film every summer from 2015 onwards (as well as a new film every year afterwards until Harrison Ford can no longer pee by himself) should feel like all my Christmases, birthdays, Easters and barmitzvahs all come at once. Right? This however, isn't exactly the case...

"Get down, it's a Mickey Mouse/Jabba the Hutt crossover!"

There is, contrary to popular belief, the potential to have too much of a good thing. Star Wars, could very well be proof of this rule. Whilst the original trilogy (1977 - 1983) was an instant game-changer, a classic that changed the way films were made, the prequel trilogy (1999 - 2005) wasn't. Two-dimensional characters, flat dialogue, too heavily reliant on CGI, the Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones failed to fulfil meteoric expectation as well as quench audiences vast appetites for more of a good thing.

Am I the only one who sees the possibility of Star Wars Episode VII and beyond doing the same thing? With expectation for a return to the classic Star Wars look and feel building from now until Summer 2015, could it be that any attempt at reinvigorating Star Wars will be in vain?

Assume however that JJ Abrams and Disney manage to pull off a great comeback with Episode VII; are annual instalments to a the franchise really necessary? In my mind, it could go either way.

Marvel: proof that annual entries into a
franchise can work

Disney also has ownership of Marvel Studios, who are riding a wave of success with their Marvel Cinematic Universe that runs all the way back to 2008's Iron Man. Not only do they have annual films, they have two. Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World (both 2013), Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy next year and The Avengers 2 and Ant-Man in 2015.

On the other hand though, Disney owns both Pixar and the Pirates of the Caribbean, a studio and a franchise that have had something of a chequered past when it comes to yearly entries. Pixar, let's not forget, kept up something of a winning streak with Ratatouille (2007), WALL-E (2008), Up (2009) and Toy Story 3 (2010) before Cars 2 (2011) and Brave (2012) saw them start to trip and stumble a little.

With Pirates, Disney managed to rush out Dead Man's Chest (2006) and At World's End (2007) in back to back years with increasing commercial success but diminishing critical reception.

Back to Star Wars then. One film a year still sounds like a bit of a gamble; Quality over quantity after all. If rumours surrounding numerous character spin-offs are to be believed (Young Boba Fett/Han Solo anyone?), then it would be simple enough for the studio to be working on more than one film at once.

It could go either way. By Summer 2019, are we going to saying "Hell yeah, more Star Wars please!" or "Ugh, give up with all these Star Wars films already!" and "Stop milking the cash bantha, Disney!"

Let me know in the comment section below what you think about these plans to release a new Star Wars film every year from 2015; good or bad idea? Also, who would you like to see front a character spin-off? Mace Windu? Yoda? Maybe even Greedo or Jar Jar?

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Film Review: Olympus Has Fallen

Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart in Olympus Has Fallen

Obama had better watch his back because Hollywood have got it in for the White House this year. First out of the blocks in the 'White House under siege' sub-genre is Olympus Has Fallen, starring Morgan Freeman, Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart. 

When a North Korean paramilitary group infiltrate the White House and take President Asher (Aaron Eckart) hostage, it is up to his old friend and Secret Service Agent Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) to swoop into action and really rustle their jimmies. As the tensions between the two countries escalate and full-scale war in Korea approaches, the pressure of keeping the peace is laid at the feet of Acting President Trumbull (Morgan Freeman).

Gerard Butler as Banning

Whilst it may not be the most original of action films, Olympus Has Fallen is most certainly not a wet sponge that should be avoided at all costs. On the contrary in fact, this film is a great late-night showing action thriller that is chock full of carnage, explosions and cheesy action film-troupes.

First off, Gerard Butler is a fantastic lead, something that was a little unexpected for me. After a few meanders with rom-coms in the last few years (The Ugly Truth, The Bounty Hunter), Butler is back in full-badass mode as Mike Banning. Butler seems to have real fun with the role, barely suppressing a cheesy grin as he threatens to shoot, stab and generally fuck-up the terrorists.

His character however is a little two-dimensional as early signs of characterisation are squandered in place of kicking-ass and charging around darkened corridors. Director Antoine Fuqua does try to construct some kind of background for Banning (his wife is a nurse, he feels guilty for letting the President's wife die) but all of this is quickly forgotten once the shit hits the chandelier (because the White House doesn't have fans).

Also, the dialogue is flat and uninspired; Banning isn't exactly John McClane in the witty one-liner department whilst Eckhart's president Asher is left to spew clichéd lines like "The United States of America doesn't negotiate with terrorists" and then subsequently do just that.

In terms of action, Olympus Has Fallen has enough on offer to please action-junkies that crave copious amounts of carnage. The opening salvo that sees the White House get over-run was a little too simplistic and easy for my liking, but Butler proved to be an extremely physical and brutal hero akin to Messrs Willis, Seagal and Stallone. For anyone who isn't into action films however, the fist-fights and knife plunges may seem a little over-the-top or unnecessarily violent for them to enjoy.

Crumping on the dance floor

Morgan Freeman and Aaron Eckhart were also good in their supporting roles, the former a little underwritten in my mind. It did seem as though all Freeman did was sit around in board room and give orders. Meanwhile, Rick Yune's maniacal villain was memorable enough to leave a lasting impression, something which cannot always be said about action films (We're looking at you A Good Day to Die Hard).

So whilst it isn't going to win any awards or make a huge amount of cash, Olympus Has Fallen is still a whole lot of fun that doesn't require too much thought to enjoy. It's cheap, cheesy and violent, a throwback to 80's action films that didn't try to be something they weren't. Definitely a guilty pleasure that will make you forget just how shit A Good Day to Die Hard was. Just don't go in expecting Citizen Kane and you should have a whole lot of fun.

I give Olympus Has Fallen: 6/10

See this if you liked: Air Force One, Die Hard, Gamer, Independence Day

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Rank the Films #4: Marvel Cinematic Universe

As any regular reader of feeling fuzzier will know, lists are pretty darn nifty. We have a profound appreciation for straight-up lists. This is the thinking behind Rank the Films, a regular feature that pulls apart the pros and cons of a series of films, ranking them in order of good to bad. 

With Iron Man 3 hitting screens soon, in this instalment we take a look at all of those that have come before it; that is, every film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to date (from Iron Man [2008] to The Avengers [2012] and we rate them worst to best. Give it a read and let me know what you think! 


Check back soon to read my review of Iron Man 3.

6th - Iron Man 2 (2010)

Rotten Tomatoes: 75%

Iron Man in action

If we're honest here, Iron Man 2 was a bit of a let-down. After the first film exceeded expectations in 2008, the second entry into the franchise was overly bloated and cluttered. 

Downey Jnr.'s second outing as Tony Stark was a little short on laughs and watching Stark lurch across the screen kind of sucked the fun out of the film. Heart-pounding Monte Carlo set action set-piece aside, Mickey Rourke's electrifying villain Whiplash also wasn't afforded the screen-time he deserved.

Iron Man 2 isn't a totally bad entry into the MCU however; it really whipped fan-boys into a frenzy over it's set-up of The Avengers by introducing Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Natasha Romanoff (Scarlet Johansson).

Here's hoping Iron Man 3 sheds the excess that plagued its predecessor. After all, sometimes less is more. Oh, and cut out the cock rock already. Alright, Stark likes AC/DC, we get it. Sheesh.

5th - The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes: 67%

HULK SMASH

Re-igniting the franchise with an all-over more satisfying take on the not-so jolly green giant than that of Ang Lee's 2003 Hulk, The Incredible Hulk is the only one of these two stand-alone feature films to be considered apart of the MCU canon. 

With Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, The Incredible Hulk certainly had some high-calibre acting talent front and centre and this came through in the films slower, more emotional scenes. This isn't to say the film is without the all-important death and destruction expected of a superhero film; the special effects are great here. 

It doesn't help the fact that, like Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk doesn't feel like its own creature, being preoccupied instead with putting in place the building blocks of the whole franchise. This may have off-put many casual fans that are just there to see 'Hulk smash'. Other singular Marvel films have felt more self-contained and cohesive. 

4th - Captain America - The First Avenger (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Chris Evans in Captain America: The First Avenger

Wonderfully retro in look and feel, you can't help but smile throughout Captain America - The First Avenger. 

Steve Rogers' (Chris Evans) transformation from a small kid with a big heart to a super soldier with biceps the size of Bournemouth is one of the most gleefully enjoyable films Marvel has made.

With Hugo Weaving as Red Skull and Tommy Lee Jones as Cap's Army superior, Captain America also had a fantastic supporting cast to back-up its action and adventure.

There is very little you can fault this film as well; sure, it might be a little overly patriotic for some to stomach at times ('Murica!), it doesn't lack action, thrills, characterisation or wit. You could argue it's cliffhanger ending (designed to set-up the start of The Avengers) means Cap's story lacks closure but overall, this is a solid and entertaining entry into the MCU.

3rd - Iron Man (2008)

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%

Downey Jnr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man

Proving the worth of the saying "start as you mean to go on", the first film to be produced by Marvel studios is one of the most critically acclaimed entry's into the whole series.

Iron Man is the story of genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist Tony Stark, a man whose wealth comes from building some big missiles for governments. It isn't until his vulnerability is uncovered that Stark begins to realise the worth of helping others and fighting for those who need a hero.

What works so well about this first Iron Man film is Tony Stark's well-rounded character arc. Each stage is hit spot on, as he transforms from reckless playboy to powerless hostage and finally, Iron Man. Also, what elevates this film above other superhero films is Downey Jnr's likeable on-screen demeanour. It is hard not to love his wisecracks and charm.

Some seriously impressive action (as well as a stellar supporting cast including Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow) add even more layers to a great film.

2nd - Thor (2011)

Rotten Tomatoes: 77%

Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Jane Foster
(Natalie Portman)

Personally, Thor is my favourite of the 5 'set-up' films that preceded The Avengers. (It took out No. 5 of my Top 5 Films of 2011) Why? For me, it managed to take one of the hardest aspects of the mythology (Asgard, Norse God's, Inter-dimensional travel) and make it work within the same universe as the much more grounded Iron Man and Captain America.

Let's be honest; trying to introduce a hammer-wielding, cape wearing and weather controlling 'alien' into proceedings could have been a big disaster for Marvel. Instead, director Kenneth Branagh manages to slot it in just fine; "Your ancestors called it magic, but you call it science. I come from a land where they are one of the same".

The grand Shakespearean look and feel of the Asgardian first half of the film entertains, as does the 'fish-out-of-water' humour that comes in the Earth-bound second half. At the end of the day though, the climatic finale where Thor throws down against the Destroyer and then Loki is the film's real triumph; who doesn't love to see the God of THUNDAAA spew lightning and storms from his hammer?

1st - The Avengers (2012)

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

"Take away the suit of armour and what are you?"

It's no secret on this blog that we're big fans of The Avengers. In our review last year, we gave it 9 out of 10 saying it was "comic book gold" that "far exceeded expectations"; not only that, but it was included at No. 2 on our Top 5 Films of 2012 list last December.

So it should come as no surprise that The Avengers tops our list of Marvel films to date. It simply is one of those films you will leave you grinning from ear to ear, whooping with joy and clutching your ribs in laughter.

Bringing together the ultimate super-hero film was no mean feat for director Joss Whedon, but somehow it all came together brilliantly. Uniting Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye in the one adventure could have been a huge calamity that would have no doubt ended Marvel Studios.

Instead, The Avengers is sheer brilliance. Each and every member is given their due and feel integral to the story. Sure, Tony Stark pretty much steals every scene he is in ("Doth mother know you weareth her drapes?") but this by no means The Avengers feels like 'Iron Man and Friends".

Where the film works best when focusing on Earth's Mightiest Heroes' mortality and humanity. My only quibble is the Michael Bay-ness of the final third and the slightly forgettable alien foes that Loki (Tom Hiddlestone) commands.


What does everyone reckon? What is your favourite Phase One Marvel film? Are you excited for Iron Man 3? Let me know in the comment section below.

For more info on what to expect from Marvel Studios in the next 3 years, check out my feature on Marvel Phase 2 - What To Expect From In Marvel Phase 2. 

Rank the Films: #1: Harry Potter, #2: Star Wars, #3 Die Hard. 

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Marvel Month: Who We Want To See In Avengers 2

It's official, The Avengers 2 is hitting screens in May 2015. Joss Whedon is directing. It'll bring Earth's Mightiest Heroes together for a second time; comic-book geeks everywhere will wet their pants.

Whilst we haven't heard much on casting, we can hazard a guess that being a sequel, The Avengers 2 will want things to be bigger, badder and more awesome (if that's possible). So, with still a couple of years to go and little chance of looking stupid, we take a pop at who may or may not appearing alongside Iron Man, Thor, Capitan America and co. when The Avengers 2 hits screens in 2015.

Spider-man 

To be played by: Andrew Garfield, obviously
Chances: Moderate

Maybe a little optimistic this one, but the chance is still there. An early draft of The Avengers was to include the Oscorp tower (last seen in last year's The Amazing Spider-man) so maybe we will be catching a glimpse of our friendly neighbourhood Spider-man by the time The Avengers 2 hits cinemas. If the thought was there to link the two together, maybe this isn't such a crazy sounding idea after all.

And let's be honest; it would be pretty kick ass seeing Andrew Garfield's awkward teen get ripped into by the razor sharp wit of Tony Stark (Robery Downey Jnr.).

Until then, we'll get our Spidey fix with The Amazing Spider-man 2 which is due out in cinemas on May 2nd 2014 and set to feature Jamie Foxx as Electro and Dale De Haan as Harry Osborn.

Wasp

To be played by: Stephanie Szostak. Or Mila Kunis. She's great in anything
Chances: Moderate

Could we be about to see Janet van Dyne a.k.a the Wasp about to be introduced in Iron Man 3? Speculation that Stephanie Szostak (whom is billed pretty high in the credits for the film) will play a larger role than promotional footage has hinted at.

Of course, this is all just speculation. If we weren't to see Szostak become the Wasp in Iron Man 3, there is unfortunately a pretty slim chance the character would be around in time for The Avengers 2. It is more likely that she'll be introduced later on in Edgar Wright's Ant-Man given the two character's close relationship.

If I had to pick an actress, I'd go for the steamy Mila Kunis. Why? Why the hell not?

Falcon

To be played by: Anthony Mackie
Chances: High

With Anthony Mackie (of The Hurt Locker and Gangster Squad fame) confirmed to appear as Falcon in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, could we see a reappearance in The Avengers 2?

No reason why not, seeing as Captain America and Falcon are two characters who went hand in hand throughout the 1970's and it might be a bit silly to introduce a new character such as Falcon, only to write him out again.

Personally, I think it'd be great to see some more lesser known superheroes get some screen-time in Marvel's up and coming films. Fingers crossed Falcon isn't a one-off character for Winter Soldier!

Black Panther

To be played by: Your guess is as good as mine
Chances: Slim

There was such a time when a standalone Black Panther movie looked to be moving along at a fair pace.

Prior to Comic-Con 2012, the rumour doing the round was that the King of Wakanda would be appearing in his own film in Summer 2014 but Marvel instead announced production of Guardians of the Galaxy.

As a result, we haven't heard a peep since then. His chances of making an appearance in The Avengers 2 seem slim given an already long list of new characters and a complicated back-story that would require an origin story.

Doctor Strange

To be played by: Viggo Mortensen, Patrick Dempsey, Christian Bale (the guesses just keep coming)
Chances: Slim

A character who is confirmed to be appearing in his own adventure during Marvel's third phase of films, is it possible we will see Doctor Strange make an appearance in The Avengers 2?

Again, it is unlikely given Marvel's other projects that are being worked on, but that doesn't mean we won't see some obscure nods of the head towards Doctor Strange. It is possible we could see him crop up in the post-credits scene from Ant-Man though...

The Wolverine

To be played by: Duh, Hugh Jackman of course

Chances: Slim to none

Okay, so this is just my imagination running away with me, but how cool would it be to have Hugh Jackman's Wolverine team up with (or maybe face off with?) Chris Hemsworth's Thor or Mark Ruffalo's Hulk?

Wolverine has had plenty of screen-time through three X-Men films and one crappy stand-alone adventure to establish his own story and character quirks so the general audience are familiar with who he is and how he works. Would it really be that hard to shoehorn him in to The Avengers universe?

Well yes, because the X-Men films and The Avengers films are in no-way linked; events that have taken place in X-Men 3: The Last Stand aren't connected with anything that has happened in Iron Man 2 and visa versa. It would take some mega-complicated explaining to justify his appearance in The Avengers 2. And let's face it, the X-Men films are already pretty contradictory and overlapping.

Still, I'd like to see it happen. Maybe the plot would involve wormholes or some shit. Yeah, that might work. Right?

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Film Review: Oblivion

Tom Cruise as  future Jack Reacher..ahem, I mean Harper. Jack Harper. 

Tom Cruise revisits the sci-fi genre with the big-hitting, post-apocalyptic and gorgeous looking Oblivion. The story might not break the mould but it doesn't fail to satisfy visually.

After a variety of hit and misses in recent times (Jack Reacher and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol were solid but Rock of Ages and Knight and Day missed the mark), Oblivion marks a true return to form for Cruise, arguably still the biggest film star in Hollywood currently.

Jack and Julia reflect on their forgotten past

Set in the year 2077, Cruise plays Jack Harper, a technician tasked with the upkeep of futuristic drones that harvest the dying planets remaining resources. Migrating towards the stars after a war with an alien race called 'Scavs' ravaged the Earth, Jack and Victoria (Andrea Riseborough) only have two weeks until their journey to Titan when Julia (Olga Kurylenko) causes them to question what they think they know about their lives.

The biggest selling point about Oblivion is without a doubt it's striking aesthetics. Director Joseph Kosinski works the same magic here that he did with the stunningly beautiful TRON: Legacy. The stark landscape of ash, snow and sand looks fantastic, as do the swish looking offices, drones and vehicles.

It was also refreshing to see a science-fiction film that is filled brought out into the light of day and not restricted to the shadows. The impressive vistas, which were mostly shot for real in Iceland and not on a green screen, are worth the price of admission alone.

Cruise (as always) commanded the screen and was a solid and reliable lead whilst I was particularly won over by Andrea Riseborough as the prim and proper Victoria. Olga Kurylenko and Morgan Freeman complete a solid and hard to fault cast.

Plot wise, Oblivion doesn't do anything completely remarkable and sticks to the sci-fi hymn sheet. Twists and turns are fairly expected, but this isn't to say the film borders on dull and predictable. On the contrary, I had a lot of fun watching Oblivion as it didn't ask too much of the audience and kept it simple.

So much about Oblivion reminded me of classic science-fiction films like Star Wars (through how it looked) and 2001: A Space Odyssey (without giving too much away about the plot). Another big plus point is the fantastic score by French electro-pop duo M83. I don't usually pay that much attention to the score of a film, so saying it grabbed my attention is saying a lot.

If your looking for something that isn't too hard to follow and looks really, really pretty then look no further than Oblivion. Whilst it isn't going to change the way we think about sci-fi, it does show that the genre still has life left in in (as we saw with Moon, Source Code and Dredd) and it is well acted, gorgeously shot and exceeded any expectations I had going in.

I give Oblivion: 8/10

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Marvel Month: Superhero Sell-Outs

We've all heard of product placement in films, but this is just ridiculous. These images of Marvel superheroes emblazoned with sponsors have been doing the rounds on my Facebook News Feed so I took the time to bring them to you as a part of Marvel Month.

Brought to fruition by one extremely talented individual on Behance.net, these brilliant designs see capitalism and comic books converge on one another like never before. What if Coca-Cola started sponsoring Captain America or Iron Man started flogging Macca's? If you've ever pondered the answers to these questions then look no further.

If you want to check out the full gallery of images then head on over to the talented individual who produced them all, it'll brighten your day guaranteed.

Gallery: http://www.behance.net/gallery/Sponsored-Heroes/7322335
User Profile: http://www.behance.net/versa

Please note: I do not own and did not produce any of these images; I'm just a fan passing them on. I do not claim to have produced them. All credit goes to Roberto Vergati Santos on Behance.net. Send him all the love he deserves!

"I'm Lovin' It"

He's a monster alright

Surprisingly, Captain America's costume doesn't look
any less ridiculous

Trust Apple to sponsor the shiniest superhero

This is what fast food can do to you kids

Of course, the tracksuit makes him run faster

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Marvel Month: What To Expect In Marvel Phase 2

Iron Man 3

For a few years now, Marvel have been playing the long game. Slowly putting all the pieces of their intricate puzzle together, one could be forgiven for thinking that last year's Avengers film was the zenith of years of planning and build-up. In actual fact, The Avengers was just the tip of the iceberg, the first phase of something that is bigger and bolder...

The first phase of Marvel's puzzle (which began with 2008's Iron Man and concluded with 2012's The Avengers) set a new standard in cinematic shared universes; that is to say, they all interlink with one another and they share characters, settings, plots and casting with one each other. The way in which Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America and more all melded together in The Avengers was nothing short of a rip-roaring success. Phase One: Complete.

The release of Iron Man 3 on Anzac Day sees Marvel kick off the second phase in their wide-reaching grand plan that extends until the release of The Avengers 2 in Summer 2015. So what can we expect from one of the most ambitious movie studios over the next three years? Well dear fellow, read on...

Iron Man 3 (April 2013)

Iron Man 3

The first film in the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) set after the events of The Avengers, Iron Man 3 sees Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr.) picking up the pieces of his life and trying to move on from the attack on New York. It isn't long however before he is confronted with a greater threat in the form of The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) and Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce). 

What we can expect to see in Iron Man 3 is a very stripped back story that focuses on Tony Stark. The Avengers may have opened horizons for the MCU but Iron Man 3 isn't embracing that. Instead, it'll show us a very vulnerable Tony Stark who is taken back to the isolation he felt in the first third of the first film.

Exciting stuff, and it hits cinema screens in Australia on Anzac Day.

Thor: The Dark World (November 2013)

Thor: The Dark World

Chris Hemsworth dons the winged helmet for the third time in Thor: The Dark World, his second stand-alone adventure as the hammer-wielding God of THUNDAAAA.

I'm especially excited for this one as the original Thor (released only two years ago) is my favourite stand-alone Marvel film. Hemsworth is a great actor with a massive future ahead of him and I can't wait to see him lock horns again with Tom Hiddlestone's maniacal Loki.

Also returning to the fray are Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Idris Elba and Stellan Skarsgard, all of whom are reprising their respective roles from the first film.

Not just that, but the action in Thor: The Dark World will stretch across all of the Nine Realms that make up the Asgardian dimension. We'll see all kinds of Dark Elves and Warriors thrown into the mix as well as Christopher Ecclestone (side note: great casting choice) as Malkeith the Accursed.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (April 2014)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Another exciting project coming up in the 2nd Phase of Marvel films is the sequel to Captain America: The First Avenger.

The first Captain America film was a real delight for me, I hadn't expected much but found it hard not to love. The WWII setting, the retro look and feel as well as raft of great casting choices made it a distinct entry into Phase One of the MCU. 

For the sequel, we will pick up from where The Avengers left off. We find Cap is still well and truly stuck in the 21st Century, a fish out of water who is struggling to adjust to modern life. The title 'Winter Soldier' is taken from a comic-book arc from 2005 in which (SPOILER ALERT) Cap's best bud Bucky Barnes is actually not dead and is subsequently brainwashed into becoming a Russian spy. Damn those Ruskies! 

Also rumoured to be joining the cast is Anthony Mackie as Sam Wilson/Falcon, another superhero who has the ability to fly and speak with birds. Frank Grillo is confirmed to play Crossbones whilst Scarlett Johansson, Samuel L. Jackson and Cobie Smulders are all rumoured to reappear as Black Widow, Nick Fury and Maria Hill respectively.
All of these elements add up to make Winter Soldier a pretty mouth-watering proposition in my mind.

Guardians of the Galaxy (August 2014)

The first and only entirely fresh film to be entering the MCU during Phase 2 is that of Guardians of the Galaxy. 

As you can tell by the title, GOTG is an ambitious project for Marvel. A film based around a troupe of intergalactic superheroes that really opens up the boundaries of the franchise, GOTG has been touted for quite a while; Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige originally mentioned GOTG back at San Diego Comic-Con in 2010.

It is both ambitious and risky. The comic is not the most well known in the Marvel Universe and is also not the most popular. It does however add a much wider scope to the films as a whole, showcasing just how far the studio plans on taking things in the future.

So far we have Chris Platt signed on to play Peter Quill/Star-Lord and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer. Zoe Salanda (of Avatar and Star Trek fame) is in talks to play Gamora. Will Thanos (last seen in the post-credits sequence of The Avengers) slot in here? Who knows, but here's hoping Marvel don't bite off more than they can chew with this one. 

The Avengers 2 (May 2015)

The Avengers

Yep, 2015 will see Earth's Mightiest Heroes reunite on screen for a second time in The Avengers 2. Joss Whedon is pencilled in to write and direct once again and it is most likely we will see Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Captain America, Black Widow, Hawkeye and Nick Fury joined on screen by other additions to the group like Falcon(?) from Winter Solider and a whole host of others from GOTG. 

Other than that, little else is known about The Avengers 2 other than that it will begin filming in the United Kingdom in early 2014 and it will mark the end of Phase 2. 

And Beyond Phase 2...Ant-Man (November 2015)

Ant-Man

So far the only film to be announced as a part of Phase 3, Ant-Man is set to be released the November after The Avengers 2.

No casting news has been released but we do know that Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World) is on-board to write and direct the script. Hopefully, this means that Ant-Man will be the funniest and most whimsical entry into the franchise yet! 

What are your thoughts on Marvel Phase 2 (and beyond)? Which film are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments section below! Thanks for reading. 

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60 Second Film Reviews #3

A round-up of some of the most recent films that I've seen on both the silver screen and at home, 60 Second Film Reviews is a regular feature that gives you the low-down on a film without the waffle. This month, we have Lawless, Crazy Stupid Love, This Means War and Cowboys and Aliens. 

Lawless (2012)

When I previewed Lawless in September last year, I was pretty keen on seeing this Prohibition-era America drama because of its raft of acting talent; whilst I wasn't too sold on Shia LaBeouf taking the lead, I am big fans of Tom Hardy and Gary Oldman. Other talents such as Guy Pearce, Jessica Chastain, Dane DeHaan and Mia Wasikowska were a pretty big added bonus as well.

However, despite all this, Lawless failed to win me over wholeheartedly. I felt that the central focus of the film (the three brother's bootlegging operation) was too often pushed aside for Jack's (LaBeouf) doomed romance with Bertha (Wasikowska).

It robs the film of any momentum and ultimately draws focus from it's more captivating story; that of the rivalry between the calm and collected Forrest (Hardy) and Special Agent Rakes (Pearce), both of whom were acted fantastically. At times, Lawless also could have done with an serious injection of levity; make no mistake, this is a grim and bloody film.

On the whole, Lawless isn't a total waste of your time but it also doesn't meet the expectations I had going in. In my opinion, I preferred Gangster Squad.

I give Lawless: 6/10

Crazy Stupid Love (2011)

Crazy Stupid Love is one of those films that comes from out of nowhere to be really great; it surprised me just how refreshing and unique this take on the traditional romantic-comedy was. First of all, the whole cast is likeable and funny. 

Steve Carrell ditches his usual slapstick style in favour of a more grounded and down-to-earth character that is easy to relate to and side with. Likewise, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are a great on-screen pair that visibly sizzle with chemistry. 

The way the numerous plot strands interweave together and reach a hilarious crescendo isn't something you won't see coming, but it also isn't something completely formulaic. 

Crazy Stupid Love is a whole lot of fun and contains some real belly laughs for guys and girls alike, so be sure to check it out!

I give Crazy Stupid Love: 8/10

This Means War (2012)

From McG, the director of Charlie's Angels and Terminator: Salvation comes This Means War, a fast-paced and hilarious mash-up of the romantic-comedy and spy thriller genres. Or at least that is the premise. In reality, This Means War is a little one-dimensional that certainly does well as delivering a chuckle or two but little else. 

Tom Hardy is probably the best thing about this film; his 'good-guy' Tuck is the most likeable character and I found myself rooting for him. On the flipside, Chris Pine's ridiculously named FDR is something of a douche and isn't as likeable. Reese Witherspoon is in familiar rom-com territory here and sticks to the script.

In the end, I felt a little let-down by This Means War. It's a fun premise and the middle-third plays that aspect up, but the ending was a little contrived.

I give This Means War: 5/10

Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

Remember Cowboys and Aliens? Yeah, vaguely. That's because it has faded very quickly into the back of your memory in the two years since its release. A highly anticipated genre mash-up that arrived at the tail-end of the 2011 summer blockbuster season, Cowboys and Aliens sees Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford's western gun-slingers go up against hordes of extra-terrestrials alongside Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell and Paul Dano.  

Directed by Jon Faverau (of Iron Man fame), Cowboys and Aliens fails to get the balance of action, grit and laughs spot on and failed to grab me in the way that I thought it would. 

The problem here is that Faverau plays it too straight. The film takes the idea of cowboys and aliens crossing over way too seriosuly and straight-faced; in my mind, this should have been something like The Three Amigos or Blazing Saddles with added E.T.

Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford, who both have some serious comedic chops on them if Casino Royale and the original Star Wars trilogy are anything to go by, aren't allowed to have any fun with the premise. If only the film had gleefully embraced its kooky and quirky concept and chucked in some laughs then maybe it would have been a more memorable experience. 

I give Cowboys and Aliens: 4/10

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Introducing Marvel Month

This April, in order to coincide with the release of Iron Man 3 (and the launch of Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2), I'm dedicating a series of regular features and opinion pieces to all things Marvel.

First up is Rank the Films #4: Marvel Cinematic Universe, where I take each Marvel film from Iron Man through to last summer's The Avengers and rank them from best to worst. as I have done in previous months with Harry Potter, Star Wars and Die Hard.

In addition to this, I'll be writing a feature on what we can expect from the Second Phase of films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, from the release of Iron Man 3 this month, all the way through to The Avengers 2 in Summer 2015.

After that expect to see an opinion piece on who I'd like to see featuring in the second Avengers film from elsewhere in the Marvel hall of fame and to round it all off, my full review of Iron Man 3 (out in Australia on Anzac Day).

Be sure to subscribe and not miss anything throughout feeling fuzzier's Marvel Month!

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The Strokes - Comedown Machine

Twelve years after bursting onto the scene with Is This It and changing rock music for the better (as well as sending sales of Converse All Stars through the stratosphere), The Strokes are back with their fifth LP, Comedown Machine. 

On the back of 2011's slightly lacklustre Angles, Messrs Casablancas, Valensi, Hammond, Fraiture and Moretti promised fans a return to form for their fifth record; have they delivered? Kind of yes, and mostly no.

Comedown Machine is a strange creature that at first listen sounds like a roaring triumph for the New York quintet. Whilst the opener 'Tap Out' is a little ill-fitting (it sounds a little too much like Passion Pit and not enough like the Strokes for my liking), the second track 'All the Time' is simply great.

A catchy foot-tapping track that could be taken straight off of First Impressions of Earth, 'All the Time' is classic Strokes. Meanwhile, whilst lead single 'One Way Trigger' sounded strange to start off with, after a few listens it worms its way into your head and sticks. The falsetto chorus from Casablancas is different to say the least but not as terrible as many people would tell you.

The catchy 'Welcome to Japan' sounds reminiscent of 'Under Cover of Darkness' (one of the few tracks I liked off Angles). Mid-tempo ballad '80's Comedown Machine' is an odd change of pace that throws you off but it's the fuzzy sounds of '50/50' that gets things pointing in the right direction again; it's brash, angry and rough around the edges. Good stuff.

From this point on, things start to get a little disappointing. 'Slow Animals' and 'Chances' are so far flung from what we know and love about the bands early work that it just falls flat. 'Partners in Crime' is catchy but not in a good way.

Put all of this all together and Comedown Machine is an album of two halves; a half decent first half with some funky stand-out tracks followed by an odd and misguided second. If you wanted short, scuzzy rock then '50/50' and 'All the Time' are worth downloading but other than that, this one is mainly for the die-hard fans.

The Strokes - Comedown Machine: 5/10
Download these: 50/50, All the Time, One Way Trigger

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