Marvel Movie Review: Fantastic Four: ****Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

 This movie is very fun, with the Silver Surfer (Laurence Fishburne) appearing from outer space and wreaking havoc on earth citizens, and making large holes in the earth.  Turns out this is for another entity which is coming, the devourer of worlds/ Galuctus.  Earth is earmarked for destruction.  The surfer causes havoc amongst the Fantastic Four,  Mr. Fantastic/Steve Richards, Sue Storm/ Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/ Human Torch and the Thing/ Ben Grimm (Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis) as they keep changing abilities with each other.  And then Dr. Doom/ Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon) comes back into the picture as team lead.  It does not go well, as Dr. Doom uses the efforts of Fantastic Four to steal the surf board, from which point he goes nuts with killing people.  They realize the Surfer with his surf board is the only way to save the earth, so basically they have to defeat Dr. Doom.  

Marvel Movie Review: ***^ Fantastic Four (2005)

 This presets the classic story of how five astronauts go to space to study DNA.  They are hit with a solar flash, four of them while outside the vehicle, and their DNA is altered, Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, brother Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing (Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans and Michael Chiklis).  The movie deals with their coming to terms with their changes.  The Thing struggles the most, as his fiancé breaks off the relationship due to his changed appearance (he looks like a rock.). Richards, the lead scientist vows to find a way to reverse the machine, creating a controlled solar storm.  Mean while te fifth member of the company, Victor von Doom/Dr. Doom (Julian McMahon) begins to develop his own powers, unbeknownst to the others.  His body is turning to metal and can generate electricity.  While the Fantastic Four use their powers for good, Doom uses his powers to murder others, and wants to take the powers of the oter four so he will be the only one with powers.  He cures the thing for a time, using his generated electricity to have the power needed.  This leads to a battle between Dr. Doom and the Four.

The Thing finally meets a woman who accepts him as he is, Alicia Masters (Kerry Washington).  He seems to be more accepting of himself as a result.  

Christmas Movie Review: ***^Red One (2024)

 Santa (J.K. Simmons) has been kidnapped.  Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) as head of security is in charge of getting him back.  Zoe (Lucy Liu) head of the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority announces what has happened, and provides information to Callum about who hacked their system, Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans).  They go to visit him and he indicates he didn't know what he was hacking, and the buyer was anonymous.  Zoe hires Jack to help with the pursuit and places a tracker on him,  He is working with Callum who is reluctant to take him along.  However using Jack they find Ted (Nick Kroll) an information broker.  He divulges Gryla (Kiernan Shipka), the winter witch as the buyer.  As soon as Gryla's name is pronounced she is able to perceive this and sends snow monsters.  Ted is frozen.  They then travel to the home of Krampus (Kristofer Hivju), Santa's estranged adopted brother.  He is Gryla's ex.  He always thought things should be rougher for those on the naughty list.  Krampus is not involved, but Gryla has borrowed from him the Glaskäfig, which can be used to trap someone naughty.  Santa is in a similar device which zaps his magical power and keeps him unconscious.  Gryla wants to punish anyone who has been on the naughty list.  She tests this on Jack and his estranged son Dylan (Wesley Kimmel).  Being in adjoining Glaskäfig cells they are able to talk.  As they talk they warm up to each other.  The Glaskäfig begins to melt as they are no longer naughty and they are freed.

In tracking Jack's tracker they discover he is at the North Pole.  Santa has been held there the whole time, as have the elves and Mrs. Clause (Bonnie Hunt).  Gryla's sons have been helping her.  The rescue Santa and a big confrontation ensues, in which Santa is able to capture Gryla with the help of the elves.  Then on to save Christmas.

I found this to be an enjoyable Christmas movie but not a classic.  

Movie Review: Knives Out

 Daniel Craig plays a master detective, Benoit Blanc, and although not affiliated with the police is called in to investigate the death of a rich author.  He was hired by an unknown person.  The victim is a famous author, Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) who takes medication administered by nurse Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas).  However one day the medication is administered incorrectly, resulting in an apparent lethal dose, so Thrombey kills himself with a knife to keep suspicion off Cabrera.  The children of the author include Ransom Drysdale (Chris Evans), Linda Drysdale (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Richard Drysdale (Don Johnson).

Thrombey had been disappointed in his progenitors for some time; so had rewritten his will leaving everything to the nurse, whose company he enjoyed.  Ransom was onto this change, and had changed the medication labels so as to trick the nurse to give the wrong medication.  So this sparks a case of blackmail.  Ransom knows the wrong dose was given, and wants Cabrera to give up her claim to the will.  It is only when Craig realizes who hired him that he is able to break the case, but still unable to charge the murderer.

I enjoy a good Agatha Christie, and although this is not an Agatha Christie, it has that feel.  I was completely entertained.  I really enjoyed the character created by Ana de Armas.  She was likable and sympathetic.  The family members were all mostly spoiled brats. 

Movie Review: ****Captain America: The Winter Soldier

 Winter Soldier is the second Captain America movie.  The Winter Soldier is Bucky, Captain Roger's childhood friend.  However he was captured by Hydra and turned into a super soldier with a prosthetic super arm.  Turns out Hydra had infested SHIELD with some very devious plans based on an algorithm predicting the future of people and eliminating those who are undesirable.  Fury is wounded in an assassination attempt because he is onto the infiltration.  Lots of great action which leads to the confrontation between Winter Soldier and Captain America.  We are introduced to Falcon who helps Captain America.  Black Widow also plays a big part.  Alexander Pierce is the Hydra leader but also Fury's boss.

Chris Evans is Captain America

Samuel L. Jackson is Nick Fury

Scarlett Johansson is Black Widow

Robert Redford is Alexander Pierce

Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier

Anthony Mackie as Falcon

In Theaters: Avengers: *****End Game (2019)

Avengers: End Game:  This is the most anticipated movie in some time; and it more than lives up to all the hype.  From Thanos’ “I am inevitable” to “I am Iron Man” and all the ride along the way, this movie is great.  Of course the thing about this movie is having all the characters together.  There is too much here to give a plot summary, but suffice it to say this movie entertains and appeals to Avenger fans, as well as Guardians of the Galaxy and Dr. Strange.  It has all the characters taking part in their turn.  There is a part during the major battle where all the women are going to protect the glove and it just seemed to miss as tried to make a politically correct statement.  And then of course the fumbled the glove anyway as Thanos had said, :He is inevitable.”  However that is my only complaint.  A couple of our major Avenger friends will not be coming back it appears, but there are plenty others who are ready for the continued Avenger Universe, including Peter parker and Spider man later this year.  This is a must see.  In fact it warrants going back and seeing all the Avenger movies.

Robert Downey Jr.     Tony Stark/ Iron Man
Chris Evans                Steve Rogers/ Captain America
Mark Ruffalo               Bruce Banner / Hulk
Chris Hemsworth        Thor
Scarlett Johansson     Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow
Jeremy Renner            Clint Barton / Hawkeye
Paul Rudd                   Scott Lang / Ant-Man
Benedict Cumberbatch  Doctor Strange
Chadwick Boseman    T'Challa / Black Panther
Brie Larson                  Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel
Tom Holland                Peter Parker / Spider-Man
Karen Gillan                 Nebula
Zoe Saldana                Gamora
and many more
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Movie Review: ****Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Here is a movie that combines two film dynasties, the Avengers and Defenders of the Galaxy.  Even with their combined strength, they still are a bit inadequate to confront Thanos (Josh Brolin voice) and his hoards.  Thanos is on a quest to retrieve the five stones with which he will have all power: The Power Stone, The Reality Stone, The Space Stone, The Time Stone and The Mind Stone.  He destroys Thor’s (Chris Hemsworth) hammer in retrieving the Space Stone.  He is successful in getting three stones, but the Mind Stone is in Vision’s (Paul Bettany) forehead, and the Time Stone is kept safe by Dr. Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) deceptions.  Thanos is gathering the stones to complete his life-long task of killing half the people in the universe, and thereby eliminating hardship and hunger.    Thanos is the father of Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Nebula (Karen Gillam).  Gamora and Dr. Strange have the best chance of stopping Thanos.  There is a confrontation with Thanos on his home world with Iron Man ((Robert Downey Jr.), Spider Man (Tom Holland),  Star Lord (Chris Pratt), Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff),  At the same time Thor is off to forge a new hammer.  He travels with Groot (Vin Diesel voice), and Rocket (Bradley Cooper voice).  Others prepare for a confrontation on the Black Panther world of Wakanda.  They are joined by many as the attempt to destroy the Mind Stone without killing Vision.  These are: Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Don Cheadle-War Machine, Chadwick Boseman-Black Panther, Elizabeth Olsen-Scarlet Witch, Anthony Mackie-Falcon, Sebastian Stan-Winter Soldier.  There are many more in this epic battle.  I must admit, the ending of this movie left me with a bad feeling of despair.  Thor battles hard, but with all five stones in place, Thanos has unlimited power.

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Movie Review: ***^ Captain America: Civil War

This battle has lots of violence.  It pits Avengers against Avengers, as is the plan of Zemo (Daniel Bruhl).  His family was killed in fall out from past episodes of the Avengers battling evil.  Now he wants revenge.  Fall out from Avenger heroics has lead the United Nations to want to control the Avengers.  Differences in opinion cause the initial rift between the two groups.
Zemo manipulates people and things to bring Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan) and finds the secret clues to trigger his evil personality.  Captain American (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) are on a collision course.  With some new and some old Avengers taking sides.  This includes Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Ant Man (Paul Rudd), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and introducing Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman.)  Even Spider Man (Tom Holland) gets into the action.  His youth attracted Tony and I must admit his character brought humor to a movie that was really action-packed, violent and dark.

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Movie Review: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Marvel Comics is out with another Avengers, and this is as exciting as the first.  I thought I might hit overload with all the action taking place.  However this movie also has some humor and some drama mixed in.  We discover that Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) has a family.  The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) is still caught up with "I can't trust myself," and Iron Man (Robert Downing Jr.) is not willing to listen to anyone's advise, which gets him in  trouble as Ultron (James Spader) is born.  Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) is in love with the Hulk, and using this love to control him, at times.  We learn more about all of the Avengers, (other than Hawkeye) when they are put under mind control by a new nemesis, Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).  Another nemesis is the the witch's twin, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) who has incredible speed.  Thor (Chris Hemsworth) also deals with past issues so he is more effective in the present.  Captain America (Chris Evans) is everyone's favorite leader.  He too deals with issues of having outlived his time.  We are also introduced to a new character, Vision (Paul Bettany) who is the physical version of Iron man's computer, Jarvis.  Fury (Samuel Jackson) also shows up, and his support is needed in the end.  This movie is lots of fun as our heroes try to save the world with as little collateral damage as possible.

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Movie Review: ****^Captain America

Captain America   This is an enjoyable sequel to the original Captain America and The Avengers.  Who knew that after the original that Hydra would be back.  That is what happens in this movie, and worse yet, they have infiltrated Shield.  Captain America (Chris Evans) and the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) discover this by following a beacon to a secret base, where the knowledge of the Hydra scientist, Dr Zola (Toby Jones).  Nick Fury (Samuel Jackson) has guided Shield to an important day where they will launch three vessels as a shield over the world.  These vessels will have incredible destructive force.  However, due to the infiltration of Hydra, this force is going to be used to cleanse the world of those who might stand in the way of Hydra, based on computer projections.  Nick Fury is shot, and presumed dead.  Falcon (Anthony Mackie) joins Captain America in first in offering a place to hold, and then in joining the team.  A surprise character is Bucky, Captain America's best friend, who was assumed lost in the first show.  His memory has been wiped, and he has been manipulated by Hydra to be an assassin.  He is the greatest rival, and Captain America wants to bring him back from the nightmare he is living.  Alexander Pierce (Robert Redford), Fury's boss is in fact the manipulator behind Hydra.
This is a fun show with great action. 

Movie Review: ***^Battle for Terra

Battle for Terra is a 2007 computer animated movie.  The drawings are very similar to "Ants."  This movie pits the remainders of the human race vs the original inhabitants Terra.  The humans arrive in a large space ship as explorers, collecting some of the native inhabitants.  A group of small ships come collecting.  Mala (Evan Rachel Wood) sees them take her father, and tries to get them to also take her, but she is left, so she pursues a ship.  She is seen as being hostile and the ship begins shooting at her.  Using her knowledge of local terrain, she causes the ship to crash, but then rescues the pilot, Stanton (Chris Evans).  She and the pilot form a relationship, as she nurses him back to health.
He takes her to the human ship, to inform the people of what the natives are like.  The humans are torn about how to proceed, with the military wanting to bully their way in.  The military effects a coup, determined that the only choice is war.
There is some logic to this.  The air of Terra is not suitable for humans.  It has to be changed, which would make the air not suitable for Terrians.  The humans have only a three month supply of oxygen, not enough to go elsewhere.  There is a tremendous battle as the humans employ a machine to change the air.  The air is almost changed, when Stanton realizes what exactly is happening.   He turns on the machine, blowing it and himself up.
 The movie ends, with a view of a domed city on Terra, where the humans are able to live, while also allowing the continued existence of the Terrians.  A win for diplomacy.  This won the Toronto Film Festival for animation.  I found it mildly entertaining, but Tony was drawn to it when I started watching, and watched it with me.

Movie Review: ****^The Avengers

The Avengers in 3-D is a fun movie.  I had seen Iron Man I and II, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Captain America.  This show adds the Black Widow and Hawkeye as well as the organizer, manipulator Nick Fury.  All of these stories come together with the brother of Thor, adopted, coming to earth with the hopes of conquest, and making people bow to him.  Of course Thor comes to stop him.  The brother has a source of mind control and takes over the mind of one of Avengers, Hawkeye, who shots arrows.

The theme of the show is you are more together than just a sum of the parts.  Each of these super heroes has a big ego, and it takes a lot for them to com together.  Bickering and fighting, they finally join together to save the world from an alien invasion.  The robot monsters are cool, especially the worm like space ships.  But cooler are the skills of the Avengers, and the Hulk tackling one of those worms is too much.  This movie was a good ride and kept me on the edge of my seat.  It was almost too much action non stop at one point, but that is just me.

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Movie Review: ***Captain America: The First Avenger

I judged Captain America through Tony's eyes.  Tony was really bored with the first part of the movie.  In the theater he was more interested in playing with his chair than the movie.  However when Captain America (Chris Evans) gets his shield, then things started to pick up. The action was exciting after that point.  This is a good WWII action movie.

It was fun that Howard Stark (Iron Man's father) was part of the movie, and a rival for the woman's Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) affection.  It actually explains where he gets the power for the suit Iron Man eventually makes.  I hated the ending however.  I wanted him to get the girl, not end up frozen for 70 years.  And so for this I give Captain America a mild recommendation.

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