Review: Agents of SHIELD, Season 2, Episode 19: The Dirty Half Dozen (Eggs-ellent?!?!?)

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

“We all have our secrets”

‘The Dirty Half Dozen’ was a very entertaining ‘Agents of SHIELD’ episode. It was a tie-in episode that neatly wove in the current plot lines into the bigger blanket of Avengers: Age of Ultron. It did so without feeling forced or unnecessary (see, for example, Season 1’s ‘The Well). ‘Melinda’ was definitely the high point of the series, but this is a close second. We had a good old-school SHIELD reunion, a great tracking scene of Skye kicking ass, a mission-within-a-mission, and some cracking dialogue and one liners courtesy of (and directed at) Grant Ward. After a shaky start, the second half of season 2 is hitting its stride.

Review: Iron Man 3 (2013) (Where’s Iron Man?)

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

“We create our own demons”

Iron Man 3 had the unenviable task of following ‘The Avengers’ (read my review here), but succeeds by reducing the ‘superhero’ element to a few scenes here and there. Iron Man 3 features very little of Tony Stark as Iron Man; instead, Stark is usually remotely controlling the Iron Man suit. The Avengers gave us some of the best superhero action scenes in comic book film history. Why attempt to better them? Iron Man 3, while not brilliant on all levels, gives us the deepest character introspection in the Marvel Universe. And the “could have been the best” Marvel Universe villain… 

Review: The Avengers (2012) (Team Work Made The Dream Work!)

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

“What can the humans do but burn?” 

It’s hard to review ‘The Avengers’ without being overwhelmed by it. A film built up by five individual films, ‘The Avengers’ had to live up to masses and masses of hype. Few of the films were great, but the majority were enjoyable fare. They each contained overt and subtle hints about the over-arching story of ‘The Avengers.’ It culminated in the dream team-up of B+ superheroes. When I watched it (on opening day!), it simply rocked my world. Even after several re-watches, the film holds up as one of the best Avengers films. There are flaws and nit-picks aplenty, but The Avengers does so much right that they are easy to ignore.

Review: Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015) (Age of Superhero Saturation?)

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

“At long last is lasting a little long, guys!”

So here it is, at long last: Avengers: Age of Ultron. It came and went, and I was neither impressed nor disappointed. It was a mixed bag, indeed. Far too much going on and a villain that, once again in the Marvel Universe, doesn’t present a great threat…

Review: Thor (2011) (A Striking Film…)

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

“Do me a favour and don’t be dead”

After the first Iron Man (check out my review for it here), Thor was the second big gamble for Marvel. A superhero based on Norse mythology who talks like he’s in a Shakespeare play and wields a massive hammer? A lot could potentially have been lost from the comic book to the screen. Some things just don’t translate well. However, the job was entrusted to Kenneth Branagh, a director experienced in Shakespearian ways. And he brought us the first great Marvel Universe film in the process, and the first (and only?!?!?) great Marvel villain…

Review: Iron Man (2008) [Where It All Began…]

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

“Yes, it’s very cool!”

In preparation for Avengers: Age of Ultron, I’ve been watching all the Marvel Universe films in order. And boy, does Iron Man seem so long ago! It came out at a time when a ‘shared’ universe was barely understood. Now, it’s the buzz word for Hollywood. In 2008, all of the major superheroes had had their time in the sun. It was time for the B+ players to shine, and the seeds to be sown for the biggest team up in comic book movie history…

Review: Iron Man 2 (2010) (Bloated Avengers Teaser Trailer!)

(SPOILERS AHEAD)

“It’s Good To Be Back!”

To prepare myself for Avengers: Age of Ultron, I am watching allllll of The Avengers films! I enjoyed the first ‘Iron Man’, apart from, ironically, most of the Iron Man action scenes (click here for my review of it). Robert Downey Jr. was brilliant, pretty much playing himself . In a superhero film, both the man and the ‘superman’ have to be equally enthralling and entertaining; see Spider-Man, Superman, etc. Iron Man was pitiful next to the giant of Tony Stark. The sequel, however, is a different kettle of fish all together. So many things are going on, and so many characters fly by that nothing is given the time it deserves.