Review: Thor: The Dark World (2013) (The Worst MCU Film?)

“We are not gods. We are born. We live. We die” 

Is there any point in writing this review? We all agree that Thor: The Dark World is the worst MCU film, don’t we? Come on, it’s either that or The Incredible Hulk (or Avengers: Age of Ultron). Even the most mediocre MCU films offer some form of entertainment. The sequel to Thor fails to provide a modicum of entertainment. This, along with Terminator: Genysis, is proof that Alan Taylor should stick to TV directing (although I have a soft spot for Genisys…don’t judge me!). I adore the first Thor, and this sequel only serves to dampen my love. Along with Iron Man 2, it dampened my enthusiasm for any MCU sequels (until The Winter Soldier came along!).

Review: Thor: Ragnarok (2017) (Thor-Some?)

(SPOILER-FREE)

“I know what you’re thinking: how did this happen?”

Thor: Ragnarok is the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe film to get a shedload of critical acclaim. I’ve seen it advertised on Twitter as the “best reviewed Marvel film yet.” Of course, whenever something receives high critical acclaim, my Spider-sense tingles. It’s true, Thor: Ragnarok is enjoyable. You’ll laugh yourself silly. But I felt a little nonplussed when the credits started to roll. The third Thor film has little in common with its predecessors. The tonal shift is jarring, the characters involved are used mainly for laughs, and the story seems to have been written on the fly…

Review: Ghostbusters (2016) (A Remake Too Far?)

“The first sentence is: ‘This is not a joke’”

The remake of ‘Ghostbusters’ is not a bad film. It’s not a good film. It’s just a film, produced by cash-hungry Sony to make a quick buck off a beloved franchise. Typical of Paul Feig comedies, it misses more than it hits. But it’s not the car crash of the film I believed it would be. It’s a decent dollop of harmless entertainment. However, it falls into the traps that many modern remakes fall into repeatedly. A far too high reverence to the original, coupled with CGI splurges that dull the senses, damage the film’s individual identity. We’ve seen it all before…

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…