Top 20 superhero movies
My 20 favourite superhero movies of all time
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- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleHeath LedgerAaron EckhartWhen the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.The Dark Knight arrives with tremendous hype (best superhero movie ever? posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger?), and incredibly, it lives up to all of it. But calling it the best superhero movie ever seems like faint praise, since part of what makes the movie great--in addition to pitch-perfect casting, outstanding writing, and a compelling vision--is that it bypasses the normal fantasy element of the superhero genre and makes it all terrifyingly real. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) is Gotham City's new district attorney, charged with cleaning up the crime rings that have paralysed the city. He enters an uneasy alliance with the young police lieutenant, Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Batman (Christian Bale), the caped vigilante who seems to trust only Gordon--and whom only Gordon seems to trust. They make progress until a psychotic and deadly new player enters the game: the Joker (Heath Ledger), who offers the crime bosses a solution--kill the Batman. Further complicating matters is that Dent is now dating Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal, after Katie Holmes turned down the chance to reprise her role), the longtime love of Batman's alter ego, Bruce Wayne.
In his last completed role before his tragic death, Ledger is fantastic as the Joker, a volcanic, truly frightening force of evil. And he sets the tone of the movie: the world is a dark, dangerous place where there are no easy choices. Eckhart and Oldman also shine, but as good as Bale is, his character turns out rather bland in comparison (not uncommon for heroes facing more colorful villains). Director/co-writer Christopher Nolan (Memento) follows his critically acclaimed Batman Begins with an even better sequel that sets itself apart from notable superhero movies like Spider-Man 2 and Iron Man because of its sheer emotional impact and striking sense of realism--there are no suspension-of-disbelief superpowers here. At 152 minutes, it's a shade too long, and it's much too intense for kids. But for most movie fans--and not just superhero fans--The Dark Knight is a film for the ages. - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleTom HardyAnne HathawayEight years after the Joker's reign of chaos, Batman is coerced out of exile with the assistance of the mysterious Selina Kyle in order to defend Gotham City from the vicious guerrilla terrorist Bane.Having been a huge fan of Chris Nolan's previous two Batman films, couldn't wait to watch this when it was released. And The Dark Knight Rises didn't disappoint. The conclusion to the trilogy is fitting for the franchise, for Batman, and for Bruce Wayne (though I have read rumors that Nolan might come back for another film in the series or maybe a Batman/Superman film - hope some of this is true!).
The film starts with a frail Bruce Wayne having pretty much retired and living a private life eight years after he eliminated the Joker. The peaceful Gotham City where police officers feel they will soon be "chasing overdue library books" is rocked by a series of events orchestrated by the ferocious and calculating villain, Bane.
The pace of this film is slightly slower (and heavier) compared to the previous two films, partly because there are a lot more characters in this film, and Nolan being the master storyteller that he is, gives each character enough time in the film. It could seem a bit lengthy at 3 hours of thereabout because of this. Lucius Fox and Alfred return in their usual roles of being Batman's brains and soul respectively. Michael Caine's performance as Alfred is simply remarkable even though his screen time is somewhat limited in the film. Gary Oldman is great as usual portraying commissioner Gordon and has a major part in this film. Christian Bale, as usual, has done a great job portraying the battles within Bruce Wayne - overcoming his hears and rising from being as good as dead to come back to save his beloved city. His character comes a full circle from the first film as Thomas Wayne's words "why do we fall down Bruce" echo through this film and Bruce seemingly understands their meaning here as he prepares to pick himself up and "rise".
New characters added a refreshing touch to the series. Anne Hathaway is brilliant in her role as Selina Kyle. She lightens up the serious macho overdose of the film with her flair and flamboyant ways. Bane, with links to the League of Shadows, brings a dark element unlike any Gotham has witnessed before. Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays John (Robin) Blake perhaps a younger version of Jim Gordon. He seems to be set to take over the reins from Commissioner Gordon, but eventually chooses to stay free of the shackles imposed by structure and protocols by the GCPD. Marion Cotillard (I thought she was brilliant in Inception) plays a convincing partner and love interest of Bruce Wayne.
The conclusion is definitely a lot heavier in terms of content and pace compared to the previous two films. This film requires focused attention to the dialogue and sequence of events, previous 2 films seem somewhat lighter compared to this one. The fact that Bane's voice was muffled with his mask doesn't help in this regard, it only increases the level of focus one needs to have which watching the film. In addition, the film has more characters with their place in the film. Chris Nolan has spent a fair amount of time with each character to fully bring out their roles and let the audiences savor the nuances of their personalities, inner conflicts, and goals. Also some scenes make Batman seem too human, like the street fight scene with Bane towards the end. Batman is a superhero and it feels somewhat strange to see him battle his enemy bare hands in the middle of a street-fight but nonetheless awesome they have great chemistry in both fights. That being said, there are plenty of new toys in his arsenal and the Bat, in particular, is awesome!
Yes, the performance of Heath Ledger and the compelling storytelling of The Dark Knight are hard to match, but TDKR is an appropriate and epic conclusion to what I think is one of the best series of super-hero films made to date. - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsChristian BaleMichael CaineKen WatanabeAfter witnessing his parents' death, Bruce learns the art of fighting to confront injustice. When he returns to Gotham as Batman, he must stop a secret society that intends to destroy the city.Batman Begins, unsurprisingly, is the first film in Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, now known as The Dark Knight trilogy. The story begins with a young Bruce Wayne who witnesses his parents deaths' at the hands of a desperate beggar, out to steal his father's wallet. After this tragedy, Bruce has never been the same. Many years later, Joe Chill, the man who murdered his parents, is granted parole in exchange for testifying against Gotham's most feared criminal: Falcone. Bruce goes to the trial with the intention of finished Joe Chill off himself; however, one of Falcone's men gets there first. Still full of angry thoughts and determined to find out more about the criminal underworld, Bruce goes travelling. He gets into a bit of trouble on his travels and ends up in a prison in Bhutan but he is soon rescued by Henri, a member of the League of Shadows lead by Ra's al Ghul, who offers to train him to overcome his fears and become as stealthy as a ninja. After completing his training, Bruce finds out that the true intention of Ra's al Ghul is to destory Gotham City, so he leaves the League of Shadows and returns to Gotham to help fight crime and protect the city. Thus, Batman is born.
Batman Begins is almost 10 years old now, it was released in 2005, and when watching most films from that time period now, you can tell that they're slightly dated from either the different fashions, slightly dodgy CGI or lesser quality graphics, but this wasn't the case at all with Batman Begins. I firmly believe that this film is, and will forever be, timeless. I was really impressed by the action sequences, the high speed chases, the quality of the costumes - everything. All of these things get better as technology progresses but this film must've been way ahead of it's time when it was released because all of those things still managed to impress me nearly 10 years on. Gotham City is, of course, fake and so is the Bat Cave, but from watching this film you wouldn't know it. There actually aren't too many CGI effects in this film as the director, Nolan, preferred 'traditional stuntwork'. How everything looked so darn real is beyond me. There wasn't a single moment in this film when I thought to myelf that something was unrealistic because I believed that what I was watching was reality (yes, it was that good).
The plot had me gripped the entire way through the film. I was watching this on my TV at home and I kept trying to multitask and complete a crossword or play a game on my iPhone but after mere seconds of distraction my eyes were glued right back on the screen. This film is almost two and half hours long, but it held my attention for pretty much every second. The plot is fast paced with the story developing all the time. This is an amazing start to a trilogy because it gets right into the action without sacrificing any of the much needed background explanation, thereby setting a concrete foundation for the subsequent two films and making this a very interesting film in its own right. One thing that bothered me about the plot was that I felt it was quite similar to that of The Dark Knight Rises in some ways (yes, I watched the last film before the first film), though I guess that would be classified as a fault of the latter and not Batman Begins.
The cast is absolutely brilliant with a vast array of talented actors. Christian Bale is a phenomenal actor with the ability to play a wide range of different personas. Bale can do happy, sad, angry, vengeful, surprised, determined, scary, playboy - you name it, he can do it. I honestly cannot think of anyone better for the role of Batman than Christian Bale as he gives a superb performance both Batman and Bruce Wayne. I never doubted Batman for a second, despite the fact that he's dressed up as a bat, has a raspy voice and a drives a Batmobile. Batman is a character that borders on the ridiculous but with Bale's solid performance there's no doubt that Batman means serious sh*t. Alongside Bale, there's Gary Oldman, Liam Neesom, Katie Holmes, Michael Caine, Cillian Murphy, Tom Wilkinson and Morgan Freeman. You just can't go wrong with this cast. If any one of the above people had been replaced with someone else, this film just wouldn't have been the same. Each and every one of these actors has such a unique presence on screen and together they are simply fantastic.
Something to note is that this film was genuinely rather frightening at some points so I probably wouldn't recommend that anyone under the age of about 12 years old watch it. Despite the fact the fact that Batman Begins is a very serious story, there are still elements of humour dotted throughout which are much needed considering how dark this tale is. It's by no means a funny film but there's just the right amount of darkness and humour to stop you from slipping into a dark pit of despair whilst watching.
In addition, the soundtrack is brilliant. The soundtrack is something that I only ever pick up on in the very best of films and I have to say that the score for Batman Begins really did the film justice. The action, the drama, the darkness, is all supported by this fantastic array of sounds and without the soundtrack I definitely wouldn't have found as dramatic or entertaining. It's amazing how much a soundtrack can add to a film but hats off to Hans Zimmer, the composer, for this dark, musical masterpiece.
All in all, Batman Begins is a fantastic film with a gripping plot, a vast array of talented actors, great action sequences, lots of mystery and intrigue and a good soundtrack. I would highly recommend this film and the rest of the series as each and every film in the The Dark Knight trilogy is a masterpiece. - DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartIan McKellenHugh JackmanThe X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.This is the most entertaining of all the 7 current X-Men films, and also the most fun and most clever. First and foremost, Bryan Singer returns to the franchise he launched back in 2000 and reshapes, reignites and revitalise the series for the better. Combining the freshness injected with a new cast and timeline in 'X-Men: First Class' with the original vintage favourites last seen in 'X-Men: The Last Stand', both timelines blend to create something seen as mighty payoff for fans of the series and comic book films in general to show how making these films should be done. Respect the source material and respect your audience, and 'Days Of Future Past' does both in heaps.
With such a strong cast of old and new from both timelines, the acting calibre is up there with the best and shows that comic book/super-hero films can be serious, emotional and fun at the same time. McAvoy and Fassbender develop the moving tragedy that is the friendship turned enemies' relationship of Professor X and Magneto, and Stewart and McKellen just tie the roles together so well. Jackman owns the Wolverine role once again but thankfully he's not over-used as the front-man. He isn't the one-man army and leader of the group the studio likes to project him as this time. He is the transport we need to go back in time, but the film shares out screen time to all players equally to develop their characters and motives, and because of this we end up caring for them a lot more than we have before. Jennifer Lawrence holds the movie together as Mystique, her emotionally torn mutant being the crux of the entire plot.
Fans of the series can also be comforted by familiar faces such as Halle Berry, Anna Paquin, Daniel Cudmore, Kelsey Grammer and Lucas Til who reprise their mutant roles to flesh out the heroes. Plus a few familiar faces also make the experience all the more rewarding and instils your confidence in the direction the series is taking.
It's also refreshing as the real sequel to 'First Class' that the characters are far more engaging this time, far more involved in the world they are fighting in and this is the most emotional of the 7 films currently with real moments that show the conflict, the fear and the doubt of these fragile heroes who are torn between living a life hidden danger but also stepping up to confront it. Singer once more uses relevant themes as alienation, political upheaval and immigration to make their plight relevant even to us in the audience in a fictional world not too different form our factual one.
But away from the very thought-out and time spanning plot that mixes the shady world of US politics and mutant warfare, the action sequences featured are a stand-out in the series for being imaginative and visually stunning. The opening battle between the X-Men and the future Sentinels is brilliantly staged and it's so much fun to see old and new heroes use their powers in full force. No training, no trauma, no deception. It's just the superheroes battling the enemy ripped from the comics. The CGI is some of the best seen in the series to enhance the different mutants, from Shawn Ashmore's Iceman to Fan Bingbing's standout new mutant Blink who performs the most visually awesome powers, I feel, of the recent films. Simple, but VERY effective and very well portrayed.
A special mention to Evan Peters as Quicksilver, the fastest mutant alive who literally raises a smile in every scene he is in during the Magneto breakout. Culminating in one of the most visually impressive sequences I've ever seen in a superhero film with flawless effects and stunt work, Quicksilver is instantly likeable and so much fun to play off with Wolverine, Xavier and Magneto that I pray he returns in future films. He will be seen in 'The Avengers: Age Of Ultron', marking the first cross-over between the X-Men and The Avengers franchises, and I hope he stays for more.
With many entertaining set-pieces throughout the film, the CGI enhanced finale thankfully doesn't feel the need to destroy cities, buildings and deliver chaos across a city like most superhero films of late feel the need to do. Yes, a football stadium takes a bit of a beating thanks to Magneto BUT it's a very restrained climax with just as much focus on the resolution of the characters we've followed and how their actions shape the saga, not just the visual thrill of the fights and stunt work. Once more, this builds on the foundations laid in 'First Class' as a blockbuster with brains and injects it with the excitement and fun of the old trilogy to make something that feels fresh and invigorating, and you need to remember not many 7th films of a series can excel as good as this.
It's getting too easy on reflection to heap praise on the film, so I need to think about the minimal flaws. Maybe the plot is a little confusing if you want to be picky about the timeline and effects of the past on a future we've seen in the films before, but tying all 6 previous films into one narrative would be difficult for anyone to make coherent, but this isn't even that confusing really so it's nothing major in my opinion. It's another long film, but it doesn't drag. The one thing people may suffer from, again as I feel audiences of 'First Class' may have been unprepared for is the blockbuster with brains syndrome. Rather than tell a story with CGI action scenes, this film is told with deep characters, excellent acting and a clever story. So again, it's not a flaw, but something action junkies may get 'bored' about in their dose of X-Men action. But if people want to sacrifice fleshed our characters, plenty of good script and a challenging narrative for cheap thrills and throwaway sequences, then they aren't real superhero fans of the lore in my opinion.
Bryan Singer takes the lore behind the X-Men series and makes the transition between page and screen very awe inspiring and memorable. One of the greatest directors to take on the genre, he understands the characters on the page and makes sure we understand them on screen. He sees the excitement and fun on the page and makes sure we see it on screen.
For a film that both continues and re-boots the franchise is mind-blowing with the ease Singer does it, and all I can say is that I haven't been more excited for a sequel such as 'X-Men: Apocalypse' in a very, very long time. - DirectorZack SnyderStarsHenry CavillAmy AdamsMichael ShannonAn alien child is evacuated from his dying world and sent to Earth to live among humans. His peace is threatened when other survivors of his home planet invade Earth.This retelling of the Superman Mythos delivers a strong story, Great acting from the cast & epic action sequences that deliver spectacle on a grand scale.
Henry Cavill is superb as Superman/Clark Kent/Kal-El as a man seeking out his destiny & allow himself become the hero that earth needs him to be, Cavill gives Clark character emotion & yet as Superman delivers in the action scenes & delivers the hero the film needs playing the part with conviction, Cavill is truly the right actor for a Superman movie for the 21st Century.
Russell Crowe is exellent as Jor-El who attempts to stop General Zods genetic experiments & by having a son of natural birth allowing the first Kryptonian child the freedom of choice, Crowes scenes on Krypton as Jor-El are some of the best work the actor has done in year's.
Michael Shannon gives a chilling as General Zod allowing nobody to stand in his way of ruling a new Krypton to destroy all mankind on earth, Change it's atmosphere & to then rule the alternative planet Krypton.
Director Zack Snyder delivers some epic scale action set pieces that are on a grand scale, The fights between Superman & Zods minions in Smallville truly deliver in the spectacle department but Snyder also allows the film time to breathe with some great emotional scenes partly referencing Clarks earlier year's & the discussions he has with his earth father Jonathan Kent in scenes well acted by Kevin Costner.
The final confrontation between Superman & General Zod is reminiscent of Superman II but here the action here is on a much grander scale as the two Kryptonians battle one another in a breathtaking climax were the ultimate sacrifice must be made.
Diane Lane is the heart & soul of this film as Martha Kent she gives the movie it's soul as her scenes with Clark are at the heart of the movie,It's that mother's love & instinct that helps Clark become the man she always knew he would become one day.
The only weak link is Amy Adam's who seems miscast as Lois Lane whom delivers non of Lois's feistyness or charismatics, Adam's comes over as a pale imitation of previous actresses who have played the part.
This film was my favourite movie of 2013 & also my cousins Man of Steel85 who also reviewed this movie on Amazon as this film is up there with The Dark Knight Trilogy in ground-breaking movie making & having a script with heart & great performances by the cast especially Henry Cavill who is perfect casting as Superman/Clark Kent playing the part to perfection.
This Superman movie doesn't just fly it soars into the stratosphere as this is a truly breathtaking movie that comes highly recommended by this reviewer. - DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartHugh JackmanHalle BerryWhen anti-mutant Colonel William Stryker kidnaps Professor X and attacks his school, the X-Men must ally with their archenemy Magneto to stop him.The first X-Men film introduced not just the main characters, but also the raison d'être of mutant elders Magneto and Xavier. Magneto considers the mutants to be an improvement over 'standard' humans - the next evolutionary step and the future ruling race. Xavier wants harmony between both mutants and non-mutants but, as for society in general - debate continues but many politicians use fear to promote their argument that all mutants should be registered and viewed as a potential threat to security. These are uncertain times for those who possess powers beyond normal human capabilities, especially when Colonel Stryker seizes a chance to kill all mutants, a move with much support after a failed mutant attempt on the president's life.
The first film was lumbered with dragging the X-Men comic baggage to the big screen, but it pulled it off and the result was incredibly effective - those unfamiliar with the comics didn't feel like outsiders, and long-time fans could enjoy the knowing nods to established heritage and marvel (pardon the pun) at the live action version of their heroes. This sequel is darker in tone and the political messages surrounding the responsibility of the military in social affairs alongside a sobering reflection on genocide, remain after the credits have rolled and feel more poignant in a post September 11th world.
Before, we were given a simplistic plot which was enhanced by great character stories, the story this time is much more involved but we still get the developing characterisations, this may run for over two hours but it certainly doesn't drag. Wolverine is clearly the lead character and although efforts are made to ensure he always remains cool, his role as guardian gives him added depth, and a warmth which hints at an inner softy. Wolverine might provide the awesome but the scenery chewing Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen once again give superb performances, their shared scenes are what raise this from being a very good film, into a great film. The two know how to deliver a line with an intensity which is frankly mesmerising. Magneto's plastic cell and the care taken to keep him there mean that he doesn't look like any old villain, his powers represent a true threat.
The Blu-Ray release looks excellent, the improvement compared to DVD is significant and where high-definition showed flaws in the special effects in the first film, it simply enhances them here. The special features are a disappointment and the bonuses included in the special edition DVD are lacking here, aside from commentaries and trailers there's not much to get excited about.
In a nutshell: Over the last ten years or so there have been many comic-to-film features - this easily ranks as one of the best, it's just a shame the quality didn't continue into X-Men 3! This contains some superb performances, surprisingly allegorical plot, and one of the best prison break scenes in movie history (second only to Hannibal Lector's escape in Silence Of The Lambs). - DirectorRichard LesterStarsGene HackmanChristopher ReeveMargot KidderSuperman agrees to sacrifice his powers to start a relationship with Lois Lane, unaware that three Kryptonian criminals he inadvertently released are conquering Earth.Superman II stars Gene Hackman, Christopher Reeve, Terence Stamp, Ned Beatty, Sarah Douglas, Margot Kidder, and Jack O'Halloran. It was to be a troubled shoot that saw two directors involved with the project. Richard Donner had completed about three quarters of the film before being taken off the project, where Richard Lester came in to finish the film. Because of the back stage problems there are a host of writers credited on the film and both Robert Paynter & Geoffrey Unsworth were involved with the cinematography. Filmed using the Megasound system the score is a reworking of John Williams original score by Ken Thorne.
Something of a miracle in itself that Superman II, in spite of all the behind the scenes shenanigans, is a terrific sequel to the massively successful Superman from 78. Sure there's some minor tonal shifts if you want to focus deeply, but really it comes together nicely to give comic book fans a movie to treasure. This time round sees Superman pitted against three villains who have been released from their prison due to Superman himself detonating a hydrogen bomb in space. The kicker being that the three convicts-General Zod, Ursa, Non-are from his home planet of Krypton and had been imprisoned by Jor-El. And now they are free and hell bent on revenge against the son of Jor-El and the planet that worships him. If that was not enough for Superman to contend with, he also has affairs of the heart to deal with as his love for Lois Lane grows stronger by the day. While a certain Lex Luthor is plotting his escape from prison...... Nicely fusing a humanistic heart with exciting set pieces, Superman II is a worthy sequel to the wonderful first film. Enjoy it for it was to go down hill from here. - DirectorRichard DonnerStarsChristopher ReeveMargot KidderGene HackmanAn alien orphan is sent from his dying planet to Earth, where he grows up to become his adoptive home's first and greatest superhero.Arguably the best superhero movie of all time, and certainly the first decent one, is Superman: The Movie.
From the rousing opening credits to the iconic fly-by at the end, the film remains one of the most enjoyable spectacles you could ever see and even improves on dvd. The sound and picture quality is excellent although the full anamorphic frame is not always utilised in terms of setting scenes, it still looks great on a big tv.
Of course everyone knows the story, but what may surprise newcomers is the time frame in which it happens. Roughly 15/20 minutes are spent on Krypton, and another 25 minutes or so describing Clark Kent's early life. Many criticize this section for various reasons, including Brando's overpriced cameo. However, I think it adds to the epic scale of the film and makes it a true classic.
Christopher Reeeve IS Superman. His performance in both guises is spot-on and everything that he does manages to make you either smile or cheer. Gene Hackman is given plenty of one-liners and (too many) slapstick gags, but still comes across well as the genius who may just get the better of the Man of Steel. Margot Kidder is also terrific as Lois Lane, and although she gets a better-written part in the sequel, she captures the awe and amazement that we are all feeling.
The effects are probably the only thing that breaks the film up and (ironically) takes you away from the film's world. Although very impressive at the time, I'm sure, you just can't believe some of the flying images. Dont get me wrong,I hate CGI, but some of the rear projection shots don't seem to match with Supes' movements occasionally - for instance, one shot over the city sees Superman turning in the air, but the background seems to zoom in and pan etc. even though he's just turning...
But nevertheless, the overall tone and good-natured spirit of the film, combined with some of the more poignant moments, makes this an awesome feat and easily worth owning on dvd. - DirectorJoss WhedonStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris EvansScarlett JohanssonEarth's mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are going to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.'Avengers Assemble' is a superhero movie based on the Marvel Comics superhero team, The Avengers. The movie released in 2012 to great reviews and became one of the highest grossing features of all time at the box-office.
The plot revolves around a group of superhero's who must work as a team in order to save earth from evil.
I'm not a big fan of marvel films but only watched the movie because of one of my favorite actors, Robert Downey, Jr.. In the end I realised there was helluva more to the movie than him.
The movie had super special effects, fantastic performances from the all-star cast, funny humor, exciting action and a generous dosage of adrenaline rush.
The high points for me are the stunning performances by Robert Downey, Jr. and Mark Ruffalo who bring the house down. Further to the performances, the heart-thumping action in the final 30 minutes is outstanding. It's one of the best action finales of recent times that gave me the goose bumps.
The only thing I would criticise is, the makers of the movie played it safe without doing anything groundbreaking. They were lucky everything came together nicely. The films just needed a soul without sounding harsh.
All actors fit like gloves when speaking about their characters.
The music score by Alan Silvestri was exciting and emotional.
The director, Joss Whedon comes up with a fine product that includes strong character development and entertaining dialogues. He does a brilliant job by making an array of actors gel together as a team, which is evident on-screen as the characters share great chemistry.
'Avengers Assemble' is a summer blockbuster for the deserving fans. - DirectorTim BurtonStarsMichael KeatonJack NicholsonKim BasingerThe Dark Knight of Gotham City begins his war on crime with his first major enemy being Jack Napier, a criminal who becomes the clownishly homicidal Joker.Tim Burton's glowering gothic melodrama came on the back of a Batman print resurgence, namely Frank Miller's The Dark Knight Returns (1986) and Year One (1987), and Alan Moore's The Killing Joke (1988), which, unlike various writers and artists in the 1970s, successfully banished the spectre of camp that haunted Bruce Wayne's world since the 1960s TV series. Burton and screenwriter Sam Hamm helped thrust Batman into the public consciousness so firmly that he's been there since, surviving a mauling from Joel Schumacher, whose nipple-oriented efforts looked set to hurl this particular corner of the DC universe back into the garish ages, and recently boosted by Christopher Nolan's thunderously popular trilogy.
Showing his unique talent for blending comedy, horror and oddball characterisation in Beetlejuice (a Michael Keaton character who couldn't be further from Batman), it was a no-brainer to bring Batman to the big screen at the time - and it remains so. At his best Burton paints the most beautiful nightmares in cinema. Schumacher's misguided Batman Forever and his execrable Batman & Robin took the camp to Adam West extremes; Nolan has since driven into the darkest recesses of the soul. Burton finds the best balance: a glorious gothic theatrescape populated by timeless archetypes and amusing caricatures, with a simple and convincing love story at its centre. It's tempting to snigger when we look back and consider that Burton's vision was considered "too dark" at the time, given the sombreness of Nolan's work. But bear in mind that the 1989 Batman and its sequel Batman Returns are both 15 certificate movies to Nolan's 12A. Simply, Burton's Batman is a killer (as he was in the early comics).
Some fans continue to weep over Burton's liberty-taking in the re-imagining of the Wayne parents' killer, or Vicki Vale's (Kim Basinger) admittance to the Batcave, or the fact that Keaton is the wrong side of six-foot and built more like a tennis player than an American footballer. But I'm a fan also and I don't weep for such things. Gotham City and its inhabitants and histories comprise a constantly evolving and devolving universe; a series of parallel time-lines co-existing and occasionally converging, but always connected by the non-super, very human hero at its heart: Batman, wearing the mask of Bruce Wayne, made helpless by a nightmare memory. As such, so long as the character's essence remains, there is no point in making claim to the "true" Batman because no one vision is "truer" than the next.
The fact that Burton himself found the film "boring" makes it all the more strange that so many elements in his gloom-drenched fantasy work so well: Anton Furst's astonishing production design; Danny Elfman's timeless score; Michael Keaton's complex Batman and Jack Nicholson's definitive Joker. Other elements aren't quite so successful. Prince's soundtrack makes for a reasonable album in its own right, but it feels fairly incongruous in the context of the movie. And the "pale moonlight" repetition, though lyrical, removes the intriguing possibility that Batman may be retrospectively adding a face to his parent's murderer, not out of genuine recollection but because of a single-minded desire for vengeance... - DirectorSam RaimiStarsTobey MaguireKirsten DunstAlfred MolinaPeter Parker is beset with troubles in his failing personal life as he battles a former brilliant scientist named Otto Octavius.This movie is one of my fondest highlights during the summer of 2004.
I enjoyed the first 'Spider-Man' movie so much during Christmas 2002, that I just couldn't wait to see `Spider-Man 2'. And I couldn't wait to actually watch it in the cinemas when it came out in July 2004. I wanted to know what would happen to Peter as he takes on his responsibilities as Spider-Man, and what would happen with Mary Jane, Harry and Aunt May. I was really excited when I found out who was going to be big villain of the second movie - Doctor Octopus (better known as `Doc Ock'). It was a period of two years I had to endure before getting to the cinema to see Spidey back in full form on the big screen. Again this movie stars Tobey Maguire in the top role as Spider-Man, as well as Kirsten Dunst, James Franco and Alfred Molina playing the tentacle menace, Doc Ock.
In the week leading up to seeing `Spider-Man 2', I was on a work experience placement in Cardiff at a computer shop. It was my first work experience, and I have to say it wasn't a pleasant and good one. It was the first time for me in a working environment, and I didn't like my employer and the atmosphere I was in, making it bad and depressing for the whole week. I felt like Peter Parker who had to endure problems with work and life in general. It was like getting told off and dismissed by Mr Aziz the pizza store owner of Joe's Pizza at the beginning of this movie. The work experience put me in perspective of what `Spider-Man 2' was about. I was eager to get the week of work over and done with to watch `Spidey 2' in the cinemas, and thankfully I had the pleasure of cheering up myself with all the media and marketing campaigns for the movie. I heard news and songs on the work's radio about the movie, reading through the move magazine previews, and also purchased the CD album of `Spider-Man' which I enjoyed listening to and the songs and music from the movie were amazing! I got through that week, and on the Saturday I went to see the movie at the cinema with my parents. When I came out, I was really happy with watching the movie. `Spider-Man 2' is a true masterpiece!
This again like the first movie is a 2-disc special edition DVD.
`Spider-Man 2''s story is based on a comic book issue #50 from the `Amazing Spider-Man' series, bearing the title `Spider-Man, No More' (which coincidentally featured the first appearance of Kingpin). The story is about Peter Parker having enough of being Spider-Man as his life is crammed packed with his dual roles as a young man and a crime-fighting superhero. He's had enough of his web-slinging and the gifts he's been given, that he decides `enough is enough'. He wants a life for himself. A life of his own. With that, he decides to give up being Spider-Man. `I'm Spider-Man, No More!' So he throws his costume and mask away in the `trash' can, and leaves his life as Spider-Man forever. That is the basis of the story that was made for `Spider-Man 2', and is a classic approach thought up originally by Stan Lee.
Two years have passed since the first `Spider-Man' movie, and Peter Parker has been the web-slinging superhero for quite some time now. But it's not an easy ride. For one thing, Peter is struggling to balance his two lives together with everything he does in terms of work and personal life. He has two jobs, one is a freelance photographer for taking pictures of himself as Spider-Man at the Daily Bugle; and the other is working as a pizza delivery boy at Joe's Pizza which he gets fired for immediately at the beginning of the movie. He also is going to college studying science at Dr Connor's class. But he's always turning up late and messes things up because of his responsibilities as Spider-Man. He also has the difficult challenge of keeping a secret of what happened to Harry's father at the end of the first movie, and there's a bitterness between the two of them. And of course, there's Peter's love life as he's reunited with Mary Jane, the girl of his dreams, but finds it hard to keep his feelings to himself since he can't tell anything to her about how he feels for her since he doesn't want MJ to get hurt because of Spider-Man. Peter also has trouble with his obligations to his Aunt May since she's behind with the bills and she's still suffering from the loss of Uncle Ben and wants to know who was responsible for his death. It's all too much for Peter, and he decides to give up his responsibilities as Spider-Man and live a normal life as he wants to.
Tobey Maguire returns to play Peter Parker/Spider-Man. He's really into the role of Peter, understanding the character and what he goes through in this movie. Tobey gives a honest and true performance as Peter. I can really relate to Peter when Tobey's playing him. Peter in this story is torn between two lives and is unhappy with how he's keeping to his responsibilities as Spider-Man, but failing miserably with other things that are important to him such as Aunt May, Mary Jane, Harry, school and life in general. I like how Tobey portrays Peter's story on screen, as it's so believable and you real feel for him through what he's going through with getting fired, missing classes and having to let down the ones he loves like MJ. He becomes unreliable despite being heroic as Spider-Man, since he keeps missing MJ's performances in the theatre and he's distraught when he's losing MJ to another man who she intends to marry. Peter's distraught with this news of MJ getting married, and is the factor that prompts him to give up being Spider-Man since he wants to be with MJ so much. I wanted Peter to get MJ back and stop being Spider-Man for that, but knowing he has this obligation to Uncle Ben who died because of his irresponsibility. Tobey gives a fine performance as Peter/Spidey, and makes him likeable and relatable throughout.
I was delighted to see Kirsten Dunst playing Mary Jane Watson again in this movie. I'm sure it's the first time I'd seen Kirsten (and Tobey) on the big screen together as it was the first time I'd seen a Spider-Man movie in the cinema. Kirsten plays MJ on a new level. It's two years since MJ and Peter last saw each other. MJ's grown up and become more independent in her life as an actress, taking parts in plays like `The Importance of Being Earnest' (which is weird because I'd seen the movie of that play). When she sees Peter again, she's happy to see him but wants him to say something to her about how he feels. When he's reluctant to say anything, MJ finds him a mystery. Unable to take anymore of Peter's excuses, MJ decides to move on with her life and ends up getting engaged to an astronaut named John Jameson, son of J. Jonah Jameson. Kirsten's lovely as MJ in this movie, and I enjoyed watching her and how she interacts with Peter during scenes. Will Peter ever reveal to MJ how much he loves her, and will she learn who Peter Parker really is? There's a moment when MJ asks him `Do you love me or not?' and Peter's reluctant to say anything. MJ however gets kidnapped by Doc Ock during a café scene, and it's up to Peter to save her as he becomes Spider-Man again.
It was good to see James Franco as Harry Osborn again, although this time he plays a completely darker side to his character. Harry blames Spider-Man for the death of his father, Norman Osborn, and wants his head. Peter's reluctant to tell Harry anything about what happened to his father when he became the Green Goblin and how he died. Harry still can't believe Peter's defending Spider-Man and taking pictures of him. He believes Peter knows who and where Spider-Man is and is asking `How can you still take pictures of this man?' Peter wants Harry to trust him and be friends with him, but Harry can't see why Peter isn't being honest with him. During a moment at a party scene, Harry gets drunk and is utterly bitter towards Peter who accuses him for everything that has gone on in his life and refusing to tell him where Spider-Man is. Eventually he makes a deal with Doc Ock who captures him and brings Spider-Man to his father's house which now belongs to him. Harry is about kill Spidey, before he is about to take off the mask and find out who his true identity is. Will Harry learn the true identity of `Spider-Man' in the end.
Tne newest cast member to the Spider-Man series is Alfred Molina playing Dr. Otto Octavius aka Doctor Octopus aka Doc Ock. Alfred does a really good and believable interpretation of the character of Doc Ock. Octavius is a brilliant scientist working on a project involving nuclear fusion. He gets to meet Peter who's a fan of his work, and is married to his beautiful wife named Rosie. Octavius demonstrates to the public his fusion project, and he has the assistance of four mechanical arms. During the demonstration, something goes horribly wrong and Octavius gets caught up in an accident resulting in the mechanical arms fused to his body. He's taken to the hospital, but during a horror where nurses and doctors get killed during an operation, Octavius manages to get out and is soon on a spree to get his project working again, walking around like an octopus with his mechanical arms. I love Doc Ock in this movie, and I love how they did the visual effects and costume design in terms of merging the mechanical arms with a live actor playing the character. Ock's got this sense of humour which Alfred portrays very well, and is so amazing in his fights with Spider-Man, up a building or during an intense train sequence in the second half of the movie. Doc Ock's a popular Spider-Man villain and is so visual being brought to the screen, which the visual effects team, director Sam Raimi and Alfred Molina pull off very well.
Aunt May returns, played by Rosemary Harris. Rosemary does a wonderfully marvellous performance as Aunt May, who loves Peter very much and is coping with being a widow and living without Uncle Ben. I like Peter's scenes with Aunt May in the house when he's concerned about her, and there's a moment when she breaks down during one point in a scene because she misses Uncle Ben. Aunt May gets to be saved by Spider-Man when she's captured by Doc Ock during a bank robbery, and she's soon swinging with Spidey when rescued which is a brilliantly classic and lovely moment. Peter eventually reveals to Aunt May about what happened to Uncle Ben after he's given up being Spider-Man. I didn't know how she was going to take the news, but eventually the following day in the story she forgives Peter and considers him brave in telling the truth. She gives Peter words of wisdom about what it means being a hero and `giving up the things we want the most, even our dreams. Aunt May is the person who gives Peter strength and to reconsider taking his responsibilities of Spider-Man again.
Another new cast member in this movie is Donna Murphy playing Rosie Octavius, Doc Ock's wife at the beginning of the movie. This is the first time I'd seen Donna in a movie, before I went on to finally discover her in a Star Trek film called `Star Trek: Insurrection'. Rosie Octavius is this sweet and loving wife of Dr Otto Octavius, who supports and helps her husband in the things he does a scientist. When Peter has lunch with both Dr Octavius and his wife, he really like them and how they have this loving relationship as it something he aspires to with MJ. Sadly during the demonstration Octavius performs with his mechanical arms, Rosie dies as a consequence and is a such a shock and horrific thing for Octavius to see before he gets electrocuted and the four arms weld onto him from the accident.
J. Jonah Jameson returns to the movie, played again wonderfully by J.K. Simmons who's got the character absolutely spot on! His first line to Peter is, `You're fired! Parker, hello! You're fired!'. Jameson always seems to be firing Peter Parker at the Daily Bugle, but is always rehiring him since he does really good pictures of Spider-Man (even though he says they `stink') and is always needing him for something urgent like a gala ball or party scene. J.K. Simmons is really funny as Jameson and I always enjoy scenes when he appears throughout the movie, whether it's interacting with Parker or members of his staff at the Bugle. He keeps dismissing his secretary Miss Brant by saying `Not now!' and pretty soon afterwards `Still not now!' I love that scene when he and Hoffman are deciding what to call Dr. Octavius when he gets his extra four arms and Jameson comes up with Doctor Octopus before settling on 'Doc Ock' and he thinks he's a genius. They were at one point going to call him Dr. Strange which is pretty good. But guess what! It's taken! Jameson brings the comic relief to the movie of `Spider-Man' which is very reassuring and makes the movie a classic. I can't imagine anyone else playing Jameson than J.K. Simmons, and Stan Lee certainly loves the actor who plays him.
Jameson's son, John also appears in this movie, played by Daniel Giles. John in this movie, is the man who MJ is engaged to marry. John's a national hero and astronaut who journeys to the moon and plays `football' apparently. John is the man that Peter Parker isn't. He's successful and adorable and possibly the perfect man for MJ to marry. Perhaps too perfect. We don't know much about him, other than that he's engaged to Mary Jane. MJ has been going out with John for some time before getting engaged, since Peter isn't around. But MJ isn't sure whether to marry John or not, as she still has feelings for Peter.
Sam Raimi does it again with magnificent triumph as the director of this film. I'm really pleased with the way Raimi directs this film with such passion and thought. There's a balance of Spider-Man fandom as well as sense of real life throughout this film which I really like. He brings the action and comedy aspects to the film very well. He also gets to bring a sense of horror into the film as he does with that Doc Ock hospital scene where everyone's screaming their heads off. He also directs the Peter Parker/Mary Jane love story with such delicacy and it's told in a beautiful way that I'm pleased with.
The sets for this film are also spectacular. I love the Ock laboratory scene both on land and out on an island where the climatic battle between Spidey and Doc Ock takes place. Also it's great revisiting the Daily Bugle which has been redressed and redecorated i.e. Jameson's office since it was destroyed by the Green Goblin. The bank robbery set ups and the dinner party scene where MJ and John Jameson announce their engagement is pretty impressive, as well as returning to Aunt May's home bringing a sense of familiarity about it.
The special effects throughout including Doc Ock's tentacles are truly spectacular. John Dystra returns to his role as visual effects supervisor and again makes the fight scenes and web-slinging of Spidey truly spectacular that's better than before in the first movie. This movie features the use of the Spydercam that's used to film shots of Spider-Man swinging through the city between tower blocks and skyscrapers, and it's very impressive
`Spider-Man 2' is a true sensation and a masterpiece of a superhero film. It's a true classic and brilliantly portrayed and directed by Sam Raimi. It features a good story about Peter Parker, an amazing villain in the form of Doc Ock and a wonderfully told story about the romance between Peter and Mary Jane that will reduce you to tears. It's a film that's close to my heart and one I'll never forget. If you're a fan of `Spider-Man', this film won't disappoint. I guarantee it! - DirectorSam RaimiStarsTobey MaguireKirsten DunstWillem DafoeAfter being bitten by a genetically-modified spider, a shy teenager gains spider-like abilities that he uses to fight injustice as a masked superhero and face a vengeful enemy.Well, well, well how can I sum this film up? Well for starters I've been a proper fan of ol'web head since I was ten so when I heard there was a film in it's early stages of production I was well excited.
Then there was a period where the film almost sunk without trace due to production difficulties so my expectations weren't really high then I suddenly heard a few years later that Tobey Maguire had been cast as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane (who wouldn't have been my first choice but she soon proved me wrong!) and Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin. Upon seeing a teaser trailer about six to nine months before it's release over here, my expectations were soon back on the high.
I was sixteen when the film eventually came out and saw it about three weeks after it opened and was blown away by the special effects and acting although not so much by the storyline but hey it's showing Spideys origins mainly. I was also pleased to see the hero of two hours wearing his traditional costume, which the team at one point I remember considered against.
Tobey Maguire is perfect as the shy/nerdy Peter Parker but the heroic Spiderman. Kirsten Dunst is great as girl-next-door Mary Jane who secretly loves Pete but doesn't know how to show it straightaway. Willem Dafoe is great as the likeable but in some slight ways arrogant Norman Osborn who turns into the psychotic Green Goblin after a lab experiment goes wrong.
Sadly, if you are expecting a big plot Batman Begins-style then you will be dissappointed as this mainly focuses on the origins of the two lead characters and how they come face to face.
Other than that it's good summer entertainment. - DirectorLouis LeterrierStarsEdward NortonLiv TylerTim RothBruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he turns into whenever he loses his temper.Having been transformed into the Hulk, Bruce Banner has escaped to Brazil away from those in the US army desperate to capture him. After months without being detected he is slowly managing to get a grip on controlling the beast within. That is until the Army discover where he is and come looking for him. Still searching for a cure Bruce evades capture but knows his only chance of becoming normal again is to return to the United States despite the real possibility the Army might find him.
There have been so many poor comic book adaptations that until recently you could count the good ones on one hand. In fact even the original Hulk movie was pretty poor but the series has been reinvented under a new director and a new lead actor. These changes have lead to a much better and far more enjoyable movie the second time round and at times it made you forget that there had even been a movie made in 2003 let alone remembering how bad it actually was.
Louis Leterrier who was the man behind the 2nd Transporter movie and is currently working on the forthcoming Clash Of The Titans movie occupies the director's chair for this second instalment. The improvement is significant as the film seems to flow a lot easier and feels a lot more enjoyable than the first movie. The special effects are still stunning and work very well at creating the Hulk as realistically as you can with a giant green monster. Of course whether it be the Hulk himself or the action sequences it seems that Leterrier has really shown what a Hollywood action version of a comic book should be about.
Of course the movie is full of explosions and special effects but it also has a plot which I feel is sadly missing from a lot of these big budget versions. Of course it helps that the script was written by one of the writers behind the successful X-Men series, Zak Penn. the X-Men movies are by far my favourite comic book adaptation movies and by getting Penn on board for The Incredible Hulk it brings far more cohesion to the plot and makes the story a lot more enjoyable.
Like all major Hollywood franchises if a cast doesn't work then simply replace them and that's exactly what has happened here. Along with departing director Ang Lee went Eric Bana, Jennifer Connelly and Sam Elliott and it's fair to say their replacements do a far better job. In the lead role the casting of Edward Norton as Bruce Banner is perfect. He has the ability to capture the essence of the character and seems to have the ability to display a much wider range of emotion than Bana.
It also helps that there appears to be a great deal of chemistry between him and Jennifer Connelly's replacement Liv Tyler. During their scenes together you actually get a real feeling for their relationship. With William Hurt completing the line up of replacements I think the casting was far better this time around. The real star of the show though was Tim Roth who played the determined Army Sergeant desperate to make a difference and after his initial encounter with the Hulk wants to discover his secret. The casting of Roth is perfect and he really suits the part combining a sense of national pride with a personal desire.
Overall this second attempt at a movie version of The Incredible Hulk works far better than the original back in 2003. It would seem the studios are finally seeing the importance of getting these right and the success they could potentially achieve. Hopefully in the future decent comic book movies will become the rule rather than the exception. I'd thoroughly recommend this movie as a decent 112 minutes of entertainment. It doesn't try to hard or take itself too seriously, which I think is exactly why it works. - DirectorTim BurtonStarsMichael KeatonDanny DeVitoMichelle PfeifferWhile Batman deals with a deformed man calling himself the Penguin wreaking havoc across Gotham with the help of a cruel businessman, a female employee of the latter becomes the Catwoman with her own vendetta.Nobody does Gothic better than Tim Burton, and his return to the Batman franchise is superior in almost every way to his first effort as well as being a hair's breadth behind the newest entry.
What makes the Batman films stand out (discounting Forever and Robin) is their dark nature which is as much about the inner conflict of both hero and villain. Keaton's Batman is different to Bale's; like him he is split, troubled and somewhat empty inside-the old wounds of his parents' death have not healed, and he finds it almost impossible to reconcile the two sides of his life. Unlike Bale's spoilt, tempremental, tantrum-figure, however, Keaton brings a more mature, calmer character, albeit with a deal of wit. The effect is to gain our sympathy and empathy for his dilemma in a tribute to Keaton's talent. Likewise, DeVito is quite excellent as the sadistic, destructive but again remarkably witty Penguin, and is suitably frightening and disgusting to boot. He's not quite as good as Jack Nicholson's Joker, but it's a very impressive effort. Perhaps the real gem is the brilliantly electric Pfeiffer, who totally brings Catwoman's duality to life and again gains our empathy. In particular at moments in Bruce Wayne and Selina's (her true name) interplay where Keaton flags, Pfeiffer shows a depth of ability that sustains her for the entire film and is vastly superior to Kim Basinger's lacklustre performance in Batman. Walken provides a further nemesis for Wayne that is understandably priceless.
One must not forget the many other elements that make this film; Burton's superb direction features a whole array of wonderfully dark shots of the city lit by twinkling lights which keeps the sinister atmosphere intact. The moody tone is of course interspersed with some great fight scenes that show a significant improvement of special effects from the original as well as giving the characters a good deal of more gadgets and weapons.
It's not really close to the comics, but the script is cutting-edge, the acting almost perfect and the result is an exciting, often moving, film with the sentimentality of other superhero efforts kept down and an ending that is most satisfying. - DirectorBrad BirdStarsCraig T. NelsonSamuel L. JacksonHolly HunterWhile trying to lead a quiet suburban life, a family of undercover superheroes are forced into action to save the world.I watched this film with very high expectations having loved most of the earlier PIXAR films (particularly Toy Story 1 & 2 and Finding Nemo), The Incredibles exceeded these high expectations. It is a great film
It almost goes without saying that the state of the art animation is fantastic (as is the transfer to DVD). The animation of the hair and costumes is particularly impressive.
The real strength of the film is the story and the cast. They have taken a number of clichés/jokes and created a family that is simultaneously familiar while being new and interesting. The strong man unable to use his strength and struggling to be a good father (Mr Incredible), the mother pulled in all directions (Elastigirl voiced by Holly Hunter), the teenage daughter who wants to be invisible and can be (Violet), the hyperactive son (Dash) and the baby (Jack-Jack). The supporting cast is also excellent - Samuel L. Jackson has great fun as Frozone, director Brad Bird steals every scene he is in as Edna ("No capes!") Mode although I am a little less sure about Jason Lee's performance as the bad guy, Syndrome.
After an opening sequence that shows Mr Incredible & Elastigirl in action, the story follows this family of superheroes attempting (not entirely successfully) to lead quiet lives after a series of lawsuits and public disapproval forces them to give up their superhero identities and adopt their 'secret' identities permanently. Then Mr Incredible is tempted out of retirement and sets out on an action packed adventure.
As usual for PIXAR the film works on multiple levels. It is an action adventure packed with humour and references to comic books and movies (that are almost seamlessly integrated into the story). It is a family drama about the father coming to terms with how important his family is to him. There is some biting social commentary ("It's not graduation, he's moving from the fourth to fifth grade!", everybody will have super powers, meaning that nobody will be super).
This is a triumphant success - beautifully made, action packed yet engaging, funny and moving. This is a film that I already know my family and I will watch again and again. - DirectorBrett RatnerStarsPatrick StewartHugh JackmanHalle BerryThe human government develops a cure for mutations, and Jean Grey becomes a darker uncontrollable persona called the Phoenix who allies with Magneto, causing escalation into an all-out battle for the X-Men.A cure for the mutant gene has been found, and the X-Men, led by Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) now have the dilemma of whether they are willing to lose their powers and live as normal people. However, the Brotherhood, led by the mad mutant Magneto (a notable Ian McKellen), believe this is an outrage against their race and this leads to a war between the two sides. Meanwhile, Jean Grey (Famke Janssen) is revealed to be alive, but with different powers. In time, it is clear that Jean Grey- now possessed by the powers of the Dark Phoenix- has become a threat and the ultimate mutant war is about to begin.
"X-Men: The Last Stand" is the most emotionally elaborate and complex of all the series. If this proves to be the last chapter of the series, it is a giant one and will leave many fans shocked and heartbroken. Brett Ratner has definitely hit the right notes, and "Stand" seems like a different type of super-hero movie.
However, Rattner makes one huge mistake as he is conducting the movie. The movie is about one hour and forty minutes long, the fastest movie in the franchise. However, it seems like a terrible mistake to do a movie with this length when the same movie has enough characters and subplots to fill in a 3 hour motion picture. In some points, Rattner's (effective) direction seems rushed. And this is a true shame, since some characters are rarely used- which are the cases of Mystique and Juggernaut (more on him later).
However, this movie has more action than any of the two previous entries in the series. Once this movie catches your attention, there's no way out. The action is so intense and the effects are so great that you feel as many thrills as the characters in the movie. The movie also plays intensely well as a drama. There is a lot of room for the situation to get tense and there are some parts where you can actually feel sad. Here in Cannes, this lady sitting beside me cried in a heartbreaking dialogue between Jean Grey and Wolverine (the magnificent Hugh Jackman). Right there, I knew this movie was going to be a success.
Many new characters are introduced to the franchise. Three of them are worth notice: the Beast (Kelsey Grammar), Angel (Ben Foster), and Juggernaut (Vinnie Jones). While Ben Foster handles his role well, but nothing much, Kelsey Grammar and Vinnie Jones show up as the exact right options for the respective roles of Beast and Juggernaut. Kelsey Grammar does a superb job in making Beast a charismatic mutant, with many memorable moments. Vinnie Jones is a whirlpool of rage as Juggernaut and, while the role is not exactly a Shakesperianish one, it surely provides great moments- like the amazing scene where he rushes after Kitty Pride (Ellen Page), the mutant who is able to pass through any solid objects.
While all the cast is great (especially Patrick Stewart, Halle Berry, and Famke Janssen), I'd say the movie belongs to Ian McKellen and Hugh Jackman. Once again, Sir McKellen proves to be the best thing in a blockbuster as the mutant/tyrant Magneto. He is calm and wise (yet again), but knows the right time to be mean. I can think of no actor who can pull the role of Magneto better than Ian McKellen. However, one cannot leave in blank the marvelous performance of Hugh Jackman. As one of the most important characters in the movie, he proves to be a versatile and talented actor by giving the charismatic Wolverine an even more human side- a side that can be torn apart by love. These two actors prove to be a mark of a cinematic generation and show that in this movie.
In conclusion, I'd say the X-Men trilogy ended up really well. However, one has to note this is the worst movie in the trilogy; not for being genuinely bad, but because it feels sometimes rushed. However, I have to note that the final act of the movie will leave your jaws open. There are tons of surprises, and discovering who dies and who loses their powers is enough to bring the toughest X-Men fan to tears. Here in Cannes, the audience seemed to have really enjoyed this movie, and I am part of that audience. "X-Men: The Last Stand" is a marvelous, action-filled comic book brought to life, with loads of drama and lots of surprises. - DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Gwyneth PaltrowTerrence HowardAfter being held captive in an Afghan cave, billionaire engineer Tony Stark creates a unique weaponized suit of armor to fight evil.This is one of the best of the marvel adaptations, from one of the more neglected characters in the marvel universe. I was pleasantly surprised to see all parts of the film cohesively made. Where as spider man had excellent peter parker scenes but dire Spiderman action scenes, and where Xmen and hulk had great action scenes but fairly dry `normal people' scenes, Iron man I felt introduced the right balance, with comedy, serious moments, and actions scenes with real punch.
Robert Downey Jr is perfect in the role, always seemingly smarter and riskier in every single way than the other characters in the movie, and spares the time to crack some spot on jokes. He is convincing as a scientist as well as a playboy and manages to take on both roles convincingly. Gwyneth Paltrow's role was not an amazing one and too be honest many actresses of similar physical build and spoken class could have filled the role. Jeff Bridges was very effective and quite an unreadable character for much of the film.
Plot wise it was all good up until the battle with the final villain who transitioned from a real life kind of bad guy, to the straight up insane comic book bad guy a little too quickly. But arguably this film is about its action scenes and it does not disappoint, the special effects are great in that they might not seem like special effects, just complicated real life shots. The suit of armour is everything it should be, looks wise and equipment wise, featuring all the sorts of gaudy weaponry that it deserves. The only parts of the film where I thought the use of CGI, particularly the animation, weren't up to scratch were the mechanical fitting of his armour which just felt too fake, and the final boss battle which just edged itself out of a realistic presentation. - DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsRon PerlmanSelma BlairDoug JonesA prince of the mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth. Hellboy and his team must fight to stop him from locating the all-powerful Golden Army.I really enjoyed this film today, more than the first to be honest. It takes a different direction, more into Tolkien territory which made sense when I learnt the director Guillermo Del Toro was responsible for Pan's Labyrinth and will direct the Hobbit.
The Golden Army of the title was literally forged by the goblins many years ago in the Goblin vs Human wars. Unstoppable, they sealed a truce between the warring factions that lasted many centuries. The Golden Army was sealed away and the crown which controlled them was split into three parts, one held by the humans, as a sign of trust.
Fast forward to New York 2008 and goblin Prince, Nuada, wants to bring the army back to life as he does not trust the greedy and loose living human race. With the help of his ogre and vicious tooth fairies (they have the teeth!) he raids a NY auction room to claim the human's piece of the crown and begin his quest against humanity. Only the Red Guy, his firey and fishy friends (Liz and Abe) and his new boss, the gaseous Johann, can stop him and the army he has to control for his own destiny.
This movie has it all - a fabulous plot, memorable set pieces, great cast, wry humour and a tight script that keep you engrossed for the whole 2 hours (almost). Luke Goss (yes, him from Bros) was excellent as the pale and evil Prince. Perlman again delivered in spades, the big guy with the big heart and fist to match. Supporting cast were excellent, Selma Blair as stunning as ever and Doug Jones as fishy and clever as before, though falling in love was his downfall. The Lord of the Rings type settings contrasted nicely with the above ground NY sequences and the balance between "here and now" and the fantasy underworld worked well and gave it a unique feel.
Throughout, the visuals were stunning though the 12A rating is warranted as it is a violent film. Characterisation is not lost in the CGI in this movie which fully deserves its plaudits because of it.
Go and see Big Ron - you'll love it ! - DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsJames McAvoyMichael FassbenderJennifer LawrenceIn the 1960s, superpowered humans Charles Xavier and Erik Lensherr work together to find others like them, but Erik's vengeful pursuit of an ambitious mutant who ruined his life causes a schism to divide them.Bryan Singer gave the famous x men comic and cartoons life with his first two installments in the franchise and he did it very well, and with the third installment Brett Ratner pumped up the action and delivered another thrilling film. Then we got the origins of wolverine and the franchise started to decline somewhat. Now, Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass) directs and he, like Singer, does an awesome job. Taking the story right back to the origins of the forming of the x men, Jane Goldman's script makes full use of the myriad mutants and delivers a story that is both entertaining, action packed and sets up the inevitable future installments.
The cast, led by James Mcavoy who plays Xavier brilliantly and Michael Fassbender who seems to have been born to play the younger Magneto, have been put together excellently. The supporting cast, including Rose Byrne, Kevin Bacon, Jennifer Lawrence and a really funny cameo in a bar, are just as talented as the main cast. Vaughn's vision of the x men universe is very much consistent with Singer's, and despite the obvious time shift there is clear parrelilsms that make this film all the more entertaining and consistent.
The story follows Xavier and Erik as they recruite mutants and form the school we all know, they come together to stop a ruthless, determined tyrant who wants to initiate World War 3. And so an enthralling two hours is set up during which you will not be bored at any one point. The origin stories are very interesting and the action orientated set pieces are imaginitive and thrilling. The CGI has come a long way since the first four films and is flawless and never overused to the point that its a hindrance.
Overall, Vaughn has rebooted the weakening x men franchise and delivered an absolute blast of a film. Fans of x men will not be dissapointed and newcomers will be drawn into the x men world. Don't hesitate on this, get it, watch it. - DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsAaron Taylor-JohnsonNicolas CageChloë Grace MoretzDave Lizewski is an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan who one day decides to become a superhero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so.The cinematic equivalent of a half case of Red Bull chased with donuts, Kick-Ass is a giddy, violent experience--and not your average superhero movie. Based on the comic book by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., it offers a set of heroes who are decidedly without superpowers: Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson) decides he'll be just like a comic-book character, and puts on a ridiculous green suit to fight crime as the mysterious Kick-Ass. Luckily, somebody else had the same idea and comes along to rescue the incompetent crusader: Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) and his daughter Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz), who also happen to be running around town wearing masks and vanquishing evil. And here we have the movie's masterstroke: Hit Girl, a pint-sized preteen who slaughters bad guys and swears like a sailor on leave (and was the focus of a measure of controversy when the movie was released). The main target of our heroes is a gangster (Mark Strong, Sherlock Holmes), whose neglected son (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, McLovin from Superbad) figures he might just pull on a costume himself and become… Red Mist! (One of the many funny things about Kick-Ass is that the superhero names are hopelessly lame.) Director Matthew Vaughn is operating at the same glib level as his Layer Cake, with cutesy song cues galore and a freewheeling appetite for cartoon violence. This means the movie's high wears off quickly, but it does get high--a crazy, hilarious kick. All that, plus Nicolas Cage executes a deadly Adam West imitation when he pulls on his cape and cowl. That's entertainment.