This is where it all comes to a head. If you’ve loved the films in this series of Marvel movies, this is a really fabulous end. If you haven’t got into them, could give or take, probs don’t bother. Certainly don’t watch this unless you’ve seen Avengers: Infinity War because you’ll have no idea what’s going on. I loved it – I remember dreading the three hour running time, thinking that this seems excessive for some superhero flick – but there was just so much to cover, and it really needed all that time. It’s well cheesy, hugely sentimental, and corny as, and I loved it all. And cried a lot. Like, A LOT. So good.
If you haven’t heard the spoilers for the end of this film, I’m not going to be the one to tell you. I’ll just leave it at wow. Thanos (Josh Brolin) the bad guy is back and wants to do bad stuff. And everyone is there to stop him. The usual Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, the lesser-known Avengers. So many superheroes. And I just kind of lost focus. Who was doing what? Have you guys met before? Why do you not like her or him, and should I care that you are doing whatever you’re doing?
I’m sure heaps of people loved this film. I just lost interest… back off, one story at a time. (Although given that I have this personal gripe that if there are that many super-powerful folks, why don’t they all just drop everything when one of them is having a massive battle? Where were you all when Wakanda was threatened, or Asgard or, um, the Dr Strange world? So, when they do actually all come together and it doesn’t really work for me, perhaps I should acknowledge that and keep that in mind next time I watch a film with only one or two superheroes… probs will just keep complaining, though).
Oh, a new Spiderman? Oh how *yawn* novel. I’m not a fan of Spidey… while I loved the jigsaw I had as a child and the cartoon, I’ve generally found the films to be pretty uninspiring. Yes, they may be fun with a whole heap of action and whatever, but jeepers, Peter Parker is so annoying.
Anyhow, I kind of hoped being part of the new Marvel Universe of films it might be a bit better. Maybe it was. Tom Holland was pretty decent in his role, and it was awesome to have Marisa Tomei as Aunt May (and a splash of Donald Glover is always nice) but the best thing for me by far was Michael Keaton as Vulture, with just a bit of a pop-culture nod to his recent role in Birdman.
I guess I’m happy enough that Spiderman is in this universe, but I don’t think he’ll ever be my fave.
Note: this is a long film. So, don’t start it on a night when you want an early night, especially if you are likely to find that you need something light to take your mind off what you have experienced before you go to sleep.
So, there is a serial killer who is sending letters to the newspapers. (Based on reality, as it happens). This gets the journalists on the case, from crime reporter Paul Avery (Robert Downey Jr.) to cartoonist Robert Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal). Then of course there are the police, Inspector David Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Inspector William Armstrong (Anthony Edwards). And the clues never quite match up to a solved case… or do they?
This is an excellent whodunit – kept me drawn in the whole time, and the idea that this was all based on reality freaked me out a bit. Thank goodness I’ve never lived a community actually threatened by this type of thing – and if I get anyone calling and deep breathing in that creepy way, well, I may never sleep again. Brrr.
There are these superheroes who go around and save the world against terrible horrors – like giant alien worms and the like. And behind them, they leave destroyed cities, dead civilians and people are not happy about it. So, the world wants to set a restriction on them – make them responsible to a panel. Some of the heroes, notably Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) are for this – he is feeling particularly guilty from the last film. Others, like Captain America (Chris Evans) are against this, concerned that they would become puppets for bad guys. And then there are problems, and they all fight, and it gets exciting.
I love it. They’ve thrown in some new guys, like Spiderman (Tom Holland), and brought back loads of the originals. Notably, the Hulk is missing, and I want him back, but I’ll still enjoy all the fun and ridiculous stuff that this film gives me. And I’ll watch more in the future!
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jnr) is having panic attacks brought on by the alien attack in New York (The Avengers). On top of this, there is a super criminal, The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) who is taking over the airwaves to threaten the President of the US. And then there are these glowing people. They glow orange, as though they are full of lava. It’s weird.
Iron Man Three was everything I wanted it to be. Really evil bad guys, Robert Downey Jnr being funny and sexy, Don Cheadle getting to do some cool running and shooting. I don’t like Gwenyth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, but I think that’s because this character is a bit wet, and I’d like her to be a bit more… something. It’s not that she’s not strong – she runs the company and she stands up to Stark like no-one else. I just don’t like her as a character. I do like Paltrow, and need to see her doing something better, thanks. Oh, and then there is Guy Pearce, and I really cannot say often enough just how much I love his acting. He’s just fabulous.
Stay through the credits – as with all of these recent Marvel films, there’s a little bonus bit at the end. Especially if you like Mark Ruffalo.
Having recently enjoyed the sequel to this film (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows), this film has been playing on my mind. I could remember some parts of the plot, but not enough. There were explosions, I recall, and some stylish depictions of London from the past (including a semi-complete Tower Bridge), but that was all I could recall.
Oh, I love these films. It’s thanks to Guy Ritchie. His early films were great in a crazy, violent but very funny manner (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch) but then he seemed to disappear for a while. There was the whole marriage to Madonna that didn’t help – especially making a film (Swept Away) with her. Although, I haven’t seen that to judge if it is as bad as many have said. So thank goodness for Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law and Sherlock Holmes. This has given Ritchie the perfect vehicle for his humour and violence, along with strong plots and beautiful art design. More, please. Many, many more. (Oh, but not to ask too much, keep them clever, original and interesting. Thanks.)
Sherlock Holmes was nominated for Oscars for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score and Best Achievement in Art Direction. Robert Downey Jr. won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical.
I don’t recall a recent film which has the style and pizzazz of Soapdish. Perhaps it is something which is specific to the early nineties; the spirit and the craziness. I remembered it being fabulous, and watching it again, I was not at all disappointed. There was a chance that it could have gone wrong, I suppose. But with this cast – Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Robert Downey Jr, Elisabeth Shue, Whoopi Goldberg, Teri Hatcher, Carrie Fisher… really, how could it?
Soapdish is a soap opera within a soap opera nearby a soap opera. Celeste Talbert (Sally Field) has been playing Maggie on The Sun Also Sets, a long running daytime television drama. She is an angel on-screen and a tyrant on set. The director, David Seaton Barnes (Robert Downey Jr) is being manipulated by Montana Morehead (Cathy Moriarty) to try to destroy Celeste, and he brings back Celeste’s old love interest Jeffery Anderson (Kevin Kline). But when a new actress, Lori Craven (Elisabeth Shue) appears on set, Celeste has to reveal her torrid past.
It’s funny. It’s consistently funny. The acting is over the top, but marvelously so. The way it has to be in a film with such hilarious, larger-than-life characters and storylines. It is truly a magnificent film. If you haven’t seen it. You must, must, must.
Ah, Robert Downey Jnr. Can you do anything wrong? (I suppose apart from all those things you’ve allegedly been arrested for and stuff, but that was a long time ago, and besides, I’m talking strictly films here) Sherlock Holmes has held a fascination for people for such a long time, and the recent BBC adaptation was, without a shadow of a doubt, brilliant. That doesn’t take away from the awesomeness of this film, however.
In this film, Holmes becomes involved in Moriarty’s scheming to unsettle Europe and start a war. With a lot of fist fighting, guns and even bigger guns, Holmes and Watson are out to solve the puzzle.
This is a sequel to the film Sherlock Holmes, for which Robert Downey Jnr was awarded a Golden Globe. I don’t believe that there is anything crucial from the first film that you need for this sequel. I wasn’t lost at any time. The Guy Ritchie directing is back, strong as ever, with cool filmic techniques (such as film speed changes during the fight sequences, highlighting the crucial moments).
Sherlock Holmes is another series of films featuring Robert Downey Jar that I want to see more of. More Iron Man and more Sherlock Holmes, please. On a side note, I am looking forward to Elementary, the new US version of Sherlock Holmes featuring Johnny Lee Miller as Sherlock Holmes and Lucy Liu as *shock horror* a female Dr Watson. I can’t see any way that it will measure up to the BBC series, but what I am hoping for is something like Lie To Me – an American cop drama type show, but with brains.
So much of what I want in a good action film can be found right here – lots of superheroes, fights, ego clashes, and a city being destroyed by aliens. Marvelous. (of course it’s Marvelous. It’s from Marvel)
Loki and the ice gods from the film Thor have come to Earth to take over (If you haven’t seen Thor, there is some background to The Avengers in it which is good, but not totally necessary). Secret government agency Shield is stepping in to deal with it, and assemble their crack team; Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Dr Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Natasha Romanov (Scarlett Johansson), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Captain America (Chris Evans). All those egos, all those different approaches, and of course, it almost brings the team apart. But, they learn to work together, and that’s what’s important in life.
It’s possibly not important to have seen the various films leading up to this one before, although I’m still not sure who Hawkeye is and how he fits into the whole Shield picture. Natasha Romanov had a part in Iron Man 2, and seeing that again after seeing The Avengers gives her character some background, but not too much.
The thing I loved the most about this flick was the quick-witted dialogue, and it was not surprised to see Joss Whedon credited as director and co-writer in the closing credits. That and seeing Robert Downey Jnr and Mark Ruffalo onscreen bantering, which was pretty awesome.
As with all of these Marvel films, watch to the end of the credits – there’s a teaser for a future adventure. Hopefully, The Avengers 2 – let’s get these guys back together. Oooh, just checked IMDB… The Avengers 2 – 2015!
The Avengers was nominated for an Oscar for Visual Effects and a BAFTA for Special Visual Effects.
ireckonthat 