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- DirectorElmer CliftonJohn EnglishStarsDick PurcellLorna GrayLionel AtwillSuperhero Captain America battles the evil forces of the archvillain called The Scarab, who poisons his enemies and steals a secret device capable of destroying buildings by sound vibrations.Complete failure
It's like I was watching "Batman" from 1943 all over again, only with the lame version of Captain America instead of Batman in the leading role. Literally nothing new in it. Exactly the same pattern with minor details changed. Captain America is normally less fun than Batman, and here they destroyed him to such extension that it's beyond any comparison. Very disappointing.
3/10 - DirectorWillard HuyckStarsLea ThompsonJeffrey JonesTim RobbinsA sarcastic humanoid duck is pulled from his homeworld to Earth where he must stop an alien invasion with the help of a nerdy scientist and a struggling female rock singer.Duck! And proud of it!
This is the first Marvel movie and, after of course "Guardians of the Galaxy", definitely most entertaining one of all about 25 I've seen so far. The movie was a theatrical disaster and won a bunch of "awards" for worst movie, directing, acting, etc. Is it an artistic masterpiece? Of course not. But it was not supposed to be. The movie title is "Howard the Duck", what those people expected from the story about an alien duck that saves the world from evil space demons... I enjoyed it very very much and I intend to watch it many more times. It may lack artistic value, but other Marvel blockbusters don't have it either. The only thing that raises them above this one is high budget and CGI. But while they are arrogantly pretentious, "Howard" is down to earth honest adaptation of the comic-book that does not pretend to be something it is not. It is simply two hours of cheerful action for comic-book fans.
8/10 (maybe even 9) - DirectorMark GoldblattStarsDolph LundgrenLouis Gossett Jr.Jeroen KrabbéWhen Frank Castle's family is murdered by criminals, he wages war on crime as a vigilante assassin known only as The Punisher.Mediocre action movie that doesn't stand out either in positive or negative sense. Not particularly bad or boring, but waste of time anyway.
- DirectorAlbert PyunStarsMatt SalingerRonny CoxNed BeattyFrozen in the ice for decades, Captain America is freed to battle against archcriminal The Red Skull.I loved it
I cannot say I had no expectations from this movie, because I did. I expected it to be unwatchable crap that I'll give up on after ten minutes or so. I mean, it has rating 3,3/10 and it's bashed all over the internet. What can one expect from superhero B production of 80's anyway... But I was in for a pleasant surprise.
The movie is shot at Adriatic sea, which guarantees a beautiful scenery, and chases in Dubrovnik are a real joy. I was worried because it's produced in Yugoslavia in cooperation with Jadran Film, but from the result I suppose 21th Century Production and Marvel Entertainment had most of the work done. Movie is pretty much faithful to comics and Captain America's costume is just as it should be. Acting is decent, action is few, but when it comes it's well directed, and movie has nice comic-book atmosphere. There's no nudity, vulgarity or explicit violence, except for gunfights and common fist-fighting, so it's whole family friendly. There are few nicely done emotional scenes and just a bit of humor. I enjoyed it very much.
7,5/10 - DirectorOley SassoneStarsAlex Hyde-WhiteJay UnderwoodRebecca StaabWhen dosed with cosmic rays, four intrepid explorers are given incredible powers.Studio that held rights for FF was facing risk to lose them because they didn't make a movie for too long. They decided to avoid that risk by making low budget movie that will never be released. It was cheaper to waste one million dollars on "false" movie than to lose FF rights. This terribly underrated gem was made and luckily it saw light of the day, at least on internet. Movie is really cheap, but it's more than satisfying for such low budget, and if you are able to accept lousy effects you will have lots of fun. I really enjoyed it.
7/10 - DirectorStephen NorringtonStarsWesley SnipesStephen DorffKris KristoffersonA half-vampire, half-mortal man becomes a protector of the mortal race, while slaying evil vampires.Just an average action movie, but with vampires...
6,5/10 - DirectorRod HardyStarsDavid HasselhoffLisa RinnaSandra HessAgent Nick Fury is asked to fight the menace of Hydra after exiling himself in the Yukon since the end of the Cold War.What to say about the movie where David Hasselhoff is the brightest point ... At first glance, compared to this, "Baywatch" looks like Oscar material. It has typical S.H.I.E.L.D. story, but it is linear, undeveloped and without surprises. Characterization is nonexistent, characters are two-dimensional and without background. And I better not even mention special effects. Still, David is visually impressive and, his over-acting aside, good fit for this role, and movie has decent atmosphere that somewhat leaves comic-book impression. Bad, but not tragic.
4,5/10 - DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartHugh JackmanIan McKellenIn a world where mutants (evolved super-powered humans) exist and are discriminated against, two groups form for an inevitable clash: the supremacist Brotherhood, and the pacifist X-Men.Welcome to Mutant High
One of the best in the genre, but overall, it's slightly above average story with some awesome special effects.
7,5/10 - CreatorAvi AradStarsVictoria PrattForbes MarchVictor WebsterA fugitive geneticist and four of his "creations" search for others of their kind while attempting to stay a step ahead of a morally ambiguous government agent.X-Men wannabe... Marvel sold rights for X-Men to Fox and then based on X-Men made Mutant X series. And of course they were sued. If they decided to risk law suit they should have at least made show worth that sacrifice. I don't say it's unwatchable, but in endless see of amazing shows available this one is complete waste of time. First thing to annoy me was terrible music. Then there's irritating editing and atmosphere of old Power Rangers. It's better that I do not start about action scenes in slow motion. They say that story is full of holes and illogicality, but I wouldn't know as I gave up on this after first episode. I have no time and nerves to spend 66 times 45 minutes on production so lousy.
4/10 - DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsWesley SnipesKris KristoffersonRon PerlmanBlade forms an uneasy alliance with the vampire council in order to combat the Reapers, who are feeding on vampires.In every aspect sequel is much better than original. I'm not surprised considering that this one is directed by Guillermo del Toro.
8/10 - 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.I'm not Spider-man fan. To me, he is one of least interesting superheroes. But, if I ignore few really unnecessary pathetic monologues, this is one of the best superhero movies I saw so far. Have in mind that, with few exceptions, I watch them chronologically, so the statement refers to films made up to 2002. Within the genre I rate it nine, overall it's strong seven.
8/10 - DirectorMark Steven JohnsonStarsBen AffleckJennifer GarnerColin FarrellA man blinded by toxic waste which also enhanced his remaining senses fights crime as an acrobatic martial arts superhero.When I saw this movie I was confused about such a lousy rating, and then I realized it is for theatrical version, while I saw directors cut. It seems they once again have slaughtered good movie into Hollywood sleazy, but I really have no intention to check. Anyway, movie is much better than 2015. TV series in every way except for casting. I do not claim actors in series to be better actors overall, but they are just more adequate for Daredevil roles. Affleck as Daredevil is complete disaster, hand in hand with Ellen Pompeo in almost non-existing role of Karen Page. The rest of them are good, but not nearly as impressive as actors in TV show, especially Fisk and Foggy. The only exception is Jennifer Garner who is perfect Electra. If they could make remake with exactly the same screenplay and directing, but using TV series casting I think it would be perfect 10.
8/10 - DirectorAng LeeStarsEric BanaJennifer ConnellySam ElliottBruce Banner, a genetics researcher with a tragic past, suffers an accident that causes him to transform into a raging green monster when he gets angry.Although it technically is superhero action, Hulk puts bigger accent on human drama than most of previous superhero movies. It has really good characterization and its strength lies more in good story than in special effects. Still, however strong its story is, it is not strong enough to keep attention for two and a half hours, so after a while film becomes boring. If they would rearrange exactly the same story to fit into hour and a half I would probably give it solid 8, but this way I simply can not go over
6/10 - 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.Great choice of actors makes it easy for audience to bond with characters fast, and special effects are entertaining, but story is really nothing special and movie overall is pretty much boring.
6/10 - DirectorDavid S. GoyerStarsWesley SnipesKris KristoffersonParker PoseyBlade, now a wanted man by the FBI, must join forces with the Nightstalkers to face his most challenging enemy yet: Dracula.There's really nothing to say. Decent sequel.
6/10 - 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.I believe I'm not objective this time. I saw this movie few times, three I think, and it simply does not touch me at all. I didn't notice any holes or illogicalities in the story, everything runs smooth, every scene is polished to perfection, special effects are excellent and Tobey and Kirsten have sparkling chemistry. I should rate it at least nine, but I simply can't. Movie feels like seven and, although I can't support it with arguments, I simply can not give it more than that. In my opinion, Spider-Man is the most boring superhero I have ever encountered with.
7/10 - DirectorJonathan HensleighStarsThomas JaneJohn TravoltaSamantha MathisAn undercover FBI agent becomes a vigilante and sets out to unleash his wrath upon the corrupt businessman who slaughtered his entire family at a reunion.I didn't expect much from this flick. Cast wasn't tempting, I never heard of its director and The Punisher from 1989. was lousy, so I even thought of skipping this one. Fortunately I didn't. To date this is one of the best Marvel movies. Story is well developed but it's not too long or stretched, acting was very good (Travolta's performance was pleasant surprise), directing and music are good, it holds attention from the beginning to the end and it's easy to get involved with the story and characters. I never rated any Marvel movie higher than eight and this one is strong eight. So far, top 5 for me are Howard the Duck (1986), Blade II (2002), Daredevil (2003), The Punisher (2004) and maybe Spider-Man (2002). The rest of Marvel movies up to year 2004 are on scale from mediocre to complete failure.
8/10 - DirectorRob BowmanStarsJennifer GarnerGoran VisnjicWill Yun LeeElektra the warrior survives a near-death experience, becomes an assassin-for-hire, and tries to protect her two latest targets, a single father and his young daughter, from a group of supernatural assassins.I feel need to see it once again to make sure I really saw what I saw. For a start, I have no idea what genre this movie is. It's not superhero movie, not drama, not romance, not action... It has a bit of all those genres but not nearly enough of any. Even by the standards of the action genre (which is by the way the lowest ranked genre on my scale) this is lame. Story is shallow, underdeveloped, full of unprovoked, unexplained and redundant elements. Characters are not even two-dimensional but transparent, acting is decent at best and, in my opinion, Jennifer Garner as Elektra is lousy choice. And the end... When they already made this movie the way they did, they should have stayed consistent to pathetic and end it with wedding of Elektra and Goran Višnjić. Then sell it to Disney and release it under "fairy-tale for teenage girls with lack of self-respect" genre. This way, movie has nothing to show for and it's not even bad enough to be entertaining. Mediocrity in the most offensive sense possible.
4/10 - DirectorTim StoryStarsIoan GruffuddMichael ChiklisChris EvansA group of astronauts gain superpowers after a cosmic radiation exposure and must use them to oppose the plans of their enemy, Doctor Victor Von Doom.Another unjustly bashed movie. Of course it is not masterpiece of cinematography, but it doesn't try to be. Solid adaptation of comic-book in manner typical for Marvel - expensive, huge, light and very entertaining. Plus, it has Jessica Alba in tight costume. She even gets completely naked several times, but unfortunately she plays role of Invisible Girl, so not much use of it.
7,5/10 - DirectorBrett LeonardStarsJack ThompsonMatthew Le NevezSteve BastoniAgents of an oil tycoon vanish while exploring a swamp marked for drilling. The local sheriff investigates and faces a Seminole legend come to life: Man-Thing, a shambling swamp-monster whose touch burns those who feel fear.One more in the line of Marvel comics adaptations, but this time, instead of superhero action comedy, we got horror "thriller". New sheriff comes to the town on the edge of the swamp, where people disappear in an unusually large number. Bodies are disfigured in a way that the alligator attack can not explain. Local Indians know something, and it's on the sheriff and the young teacher to find out what, while Man-Thing in depths of swamp waits for new victim. Characters are everyday ordinary, story is realistic as much as it is possible for a monster movie, directing is solid and swamp is eerily beautiful. For its budget movie is very well done, special effects are credible and acting is all right. There is not much action, characterization is satisfactory and the horror scenes are well measured, without exaggeration typical for this type of movie. My main objection is insufficient tension in the atmosphere, and what I liked the most is that monster is not a real villain, but represents an ecosystem that is defending itself from human destructiveness. True villain is revealed in in the second half of the film, but unfortunately it is obvious from the very beginning. Although technically this movie is thriller, because of the predictability and lack of tension, I put quotes on the word.
6,5/10
P.S. At the very beginning of the movie, there's a scene, in which a monster attacks a couple in the middle of sex, that looks as if it turned out from a horror of the eighties, and it's a real treat for gore B movies fans. - CreatorDavid S. GoyerStarsSticky FingazJill WagnerNelson LeeThe adventures of the half human/vampire hunter.Wesley Snipes is the only true Blade
From the very beginning it was weird to see Sticky Fingaz instead of Wesley Snipes, but once you get used to it, "Blade" becomes quite entertaining show. It's sequel to the movie franchise and has pretty good plot that pulls you in and it's a shame it was canceled after single season. There's no bigger flaws to brag about, but it also doesn't have any outstanding qualities. Just an average Marvel that will bring joy to Blade fans and mediocre for the rest of us.
6/10 - 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.High-budget shallowness
Except for great action scenes and excellent special effects, this movie has nothing to offer. To me it isn't enough. This was pretty much boring experience.
6/10 - DirectorTim StoryStarsIoan GruffuddJessica AlbaChris EvansThe Fantastic Four learn that they aren't the only super-powered beings in the universe when they square off against the powerful Silver Surfer and the planet-eating Galactus.This is so stupid that even my eternal crush towards Jessica Alba couldn't make it at least interesting experience. Only because it's technically pretty well done I can not go below five, but I have overwhelming desire to rate it four out of ten.
5/10 - DirectorMark Steven JohnsonStarsNicolas CageEva MendesSam ElliottWhen motorcycle rider Johnny Blaze sells his soul to the Devil to save his father's life, he is transformed into the Ghost Rider, the Devil's own bounty hunter, and is sent to hunt down sinners.Terribly underrated
"Ghost Rider" has very low ratings and reputation of one of the worst Marvel movies, and it slowly starts to worry me that this is an increasingly common case with my favorite movies. I'm watching Marvel chronologically, and of the 24 films and series I've seen so far, this one is in my top 5. I can not say I'm amazed, but it was close enough.
The story is one of the most powerful in the Marvel universe, and a dark and fairly serious atmosphere is more in the spirit of DC than Marvel. Considering one of the lowest budgets in the genre, the film is very well done and I have no objections from the technical side. An excellent balance of action, drama and humor, which is rare in Marvel films, keeps the attention from start to finish and, if you are a more careful observer or you watch it several times, you will notice a lot of interesting details. There are Bible quotes, characters borrowed from other Marvel stories, references to "Apocalypse Now" (a film directed by Nikoilas' uncle), scenes made as a homage to painters and all sorts of interesting stuff.
It is interesting fact that Nicolas Cage is a big fan of comics, especially this one, so he fought tooth and nail to get this role, and even has a tattoo of Ghost Rider that they had to hide when shooting. He is such a fan(atic) that he took his stage name from comic character Luke Cage, and he named his son Kal-El after Superman. Director does not fall far behind Cage, because he gave money from his pocket for shooting some of the scenes that the studio didn't approve. All in all, this is the movie that true lovers of comics made from the heart, and it's really sad that it is so badly (un)accepted by the audience and criticism. I rate it strong eight.
8/10 - DirectorSam RaimiStarsTobey MaguireKirsten DunstTopher GraceA strange black entity from another world bonds with Peter Parker and causes inner turmoil as he contends with new villains, temptations, and revenge."Spider-Man 3" has really great special effects but, if it wasn't so awesome visually, I probably wouldn't watch it till the end. Peter Parker is portrayed as self-pitying selfish cry-baby, Mary Jane is a personification of negative prejudices about women, and in the role of Venom we have Eric Forman from "That '70s Show". And by it I do not mean only that it is the same actor, but virtually the same character in the new environment. The film has no focus at all and is fading into a multitude of insufficiently elaborated stories and characters, with too many bad guys, none of which is the main one. Two and a half hours of meaningless action, based almost exclusively on excellent effects and some pathetic scenes. The scene in the jazz bar is the only really good thing in the movie that even director himself, Sam Raimi, was not satisfied with.
5,5/10 - 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.Marvel's answer to Nolan's "Batman Begins"
Tony Stark was like - if Bruce Wayne can do it, I can do it too. And inspired by Robocop and Transformers he did it, and he did it better. In my opinion, Iron Man is not a superhero. He has no super-powers, but only huge amounts of money put into weapon development and high education in technology. His personality is more of an anti-hero rather than super-hero. But it doesn't make him any less interesting. On the contrary, this is one of my favorite Marvel films. Action SF thriller with excellent pace and well-measured balance of action, drama and humor, which will hold your attention from the beginning to the end, without oscillation in quality. The story is nicely developed, with well-written dialogues and witty remarks, great acting, and fantastic effects. Robert Downey Jr. gave a good performance as the Iron Man, perfect as Tony Stark, he has good chemistry with Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges don't even need to be commented on, and it is unfortunate that his character isn't better developed. And after the great movie, end credits are followed by the song of the same name, by legendary Black Sabbath. Delight :D
8/10 - DirectorLexi AlexanderStarsRay StevensonDominic WestJulie BenzFrank Castle, known as the Punisher, ruthlessly demolishes organized crime, but it starts an even bigger war.Maybe the worst Punisher so far
When a movie is good, I have the desire to praise and recommend it, when it's bad I have the need to criticize it, and those really desperate inspire me to make fun of them. "Punisher: War Zone" does not belong to any of these groups. To me, this is the worst kind of movie, because you can not either love it or hate it. It leaves you totally indifferent because it's drowning in a boring mediocrity. This film does not bring absolutely nothing but the nearly two hours of continuous gunfire, and even that is not on a particular level. Neither is tense, nor is it exciting, nor does it have interesting choreography and directing. Absolutely nothing noteworthy. Unprovoked, completely pointless and redundant film. In comparison with its 2004 predecessor, this is a complete failure.
5/10 - 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.Ang Lee, come back, everything's forgiven
Edward Norton and Tim Roth are good as always. And that's about everything that's worth in this movie. There's no drama, no suspense and tension, no mystery or thrilling moments, no humor at all (which is surprising for Marvel), characters are bland and do not cause a bit of empathy... Stupid and boring action crap with lousy CGI. If you think that 2003 "Hulk" was bad, you should probably skip this one.
4,5/10 - DirectorGavin HoodStarsHugh JackmanLiev SchreiberRyan ReynoldsThe early years of James Logan, featuring his rivalry with his brother Victor Creed, his service in the special forces team Weapon X, and his experimentation into the metal-lined mutant Wolverine."Nobody gets to kill you but me!"
"Wolverine" is a standard Marvel's blockbuster. Expensive, great effects and production, visually impressive and full of fast-paced action that is trying to divert your attention from an expectedly lousy scenario. Logan and Victor have good characterization and Hugh Jackman and especially Liev Schreiber are excellent in their roles, but the rest of the characters are just packed to fill the space. Characterization and motivation of other characters are nonexistent and they leave no impression, and the story is interesting but very poorly developed. I love the origins stories and I hate when their potential remains so unutilized. This was the third time I've been watching this movie, and while I watched it, I had the impression that I was watching it for the first time. It is so forgettable that nothing has left in my memory from the previous viewing. It probably deserves one or two grades lower, but I have to treat it as it is quite entertaining.
7/10 - DirectorJon FavreauStarsRobert Downey Jr.Mickey RourkeGwyneth PaltrowWith the world now aware of his identity as Iron Man, Tony Stark must contend with both his declining health and a vengeful mad man with ties to his father's legacy.Expensive and entertaining nonsense
Screenplay: 5,5/10
Visuals: 7,5/10
Action: 8/10
Comedy: 7/10
Scarlett Johansson: 9/10
Gwyneth Paltrow: I'm in love
Tony Stark: 8/10
AC/DC: 10/10
Artistic value: nonexistent
Meaningfulness: nonexistent
Entertainment: 7/10
Overall: 7/10 - DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsChris HemsworthAnthony HopkinsNatalie PortmanThe powerful but arrogant god Thor is cast out of Asgard to live amongst humans in Midgard (Earth), where he soon becomes one of their finest defenders."God, there's no acting required here, is there?" (A. Hopkins)
On the cinema screen, this visually impressive movie will leave you breathless, but when you watch it at home, on your TV, you will realize that its greatness is just an illusion. This sci-fi action brings an interesting, but simple and naive story, about intrigues at the court of the Nordic "gods" and their impact on our world, and represents Thor's "origins" movie. It relies almost entirely on high-budget production, special effects, and celebrities, and if stripped of all those fancy clothes, there's not much left to enjoy. above mentioned celebrities are Anthony Hopkins as Odin, Natalie Portman, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba, and Rene Russo. I didn't mention Thor and Loki deliberately because, although they nailed these roles, before this film those two weren't famous actors. All in all, if you are looking for good entertainment and nothing more than that, you are at the right place. Children will certainly love it.
7/10 - 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.Erik: Excuse me, I'm Erik Lehnsherr.
Xavier: Charles Xavier.
Logan: Go fuck yourself.
And, in my case, that's probably the only scene in this movie that has caused any reaction. "X-Men: First Class" is origins movie of the X-Men franchise. It brings background information about the characters we watched in the trilogy and tells the story about how it all started. The story is good, but written in a way that is not especially interesting. As for the technical aspect, we all know what to expect from Marvel production, and on that side I really have no complaints, but even visually film did not impress me (though I believe that it would have left a stronger impression if I saw it at the theater) and overall, it was on the verge of boring. I finished it about an hour ago and I already can not recall most of it.
6/10 - DirectorJoe JohnstonStarsChris EvansHugo WeavingSamuel L. JacksonSteve Rogers, a rejected military soldier, transforms into Captain America after taking a dose of a "Super-Soldier serum". But being Captain America comes at a price as he attempts to take down a warmonger and a terrorist organization."The moment you think you know what's going on in a woman's head is the moment your goose is well and truly cooked"
A high-budget action movie that seeks to blur the lack of essential qualities by a visual spectacle. Somewhat entertaining, but in the long run totally unimpressive. Although this was my third viewing, I had the impression that I was watching the movie for the first time. There was nothing left in my memory from the previous two watching.
6/10 - CreatorMaurissa TancharoenJed WhedonJoss WhedonStarsClark GreggMing-Na WenBrett DaltonThe missions of the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.The best Marvel has to offer
22 February 2018
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is, for me, the best Marvel achievement so far. Since the very beginning, the series has gotten a strong pace, so I thought it would run out of steam quickly and after a couple of seasons go to hell, which is too common with shows that shoot high, but after four seasons this series still doesn't get tired. The story is very complicated, full of surprises and turnarounds, and even when you think they are now really gone too far, they succeed to present the story to the end without getting stuck or messing up. Plots follow one after the other, leaving no time for a break, without major holes and illogicality. Characterization is far above the standard for sci-fi action. All the characters have a deep background, and their personality and mutual relations are evolving from season to season, in a natural and convincing way. There are no classic fairy tale villains who are evil by default, but the boundary between the good guys and the bad guys is dangerously blurred and the same characters are constantly shifting in both roles. All bad guys have strong reasons for their behavior, and although you do not agree with them, you certainly understand their efforts, which makes them the best villains in the Marvel universe. Special effects and direction of the action scenes are great and the series does not fall behind Marvel's most expensive blockbusters.
The fourth season is an awesome combination of "Matrix" and "The Man in the High Castle", that contains the best Marvel's villain to date. I'm eager to see if they can outclass it in the fifth season.
02 October 2020
After seven seasons, the series is over and everything I wrote after the fourth season still stands. The last couple of episodes may have been a bit over the top and accelerated, but the rest of the seventh season is simply awesome. Our heroes travel through time and each episode takes place in a different decade. I liked that each of these stories was shot in the style of the decade in which it takes place, with appropriate credits, music and everything else. I was especially thrilled with the black-and-white narrative episode in the style of film noir.
8/10 - CreatorMelissa RosenbergStarsKrysten RitterRachael TaylorEka DarvilleFollowing the tragic end of her brief superhero career, Jessica Jones tries to rebuild her life as a private investigator, dealing with cases involving people with remarkable abilities in New York City.
- CreatorDrew GoddardStarsCharlie CoxVincent D'OnofrioDeborah Ann WollA blind lawyer by day, vigilante by night. Matt Murdock fights the crime of New York as Daredevil.Good but not great
The show has a different atmosphere, darker and more intense than most of the superhero shows. While "Supergirl", "Smallville", "Flash" and such reminds me of teenage shows from 90's, Daredevil and Jessica Jones are more serious and more movie-like. What I like the most is that the show is based on a good story and not only on superpowers and special effects.
7,5/10
I just finished the second season and although show now has a faster pace and it's more interesting, it lacks persuasiveness. Electra and Punisher are a welcome refreshment, but still, I cannot give it more than strong seven.
7/10 - DirectorBryan SingerStarsJames McAvoyMichael FassbenderJennifer LawrenceIn the 1980s the X-Men must defeat an ancient all-powerful mutant, En Sabah Nur, who intends to thrive through bringing destruction to the world.Bad movie
For over two hours, this "masterpiece of cinematography" lasts, I could have washed bathroom with a toothbrush, or I could have counted leaves on my benjamin, or... well, more or less anything else would be more useful and more fun to spend my time on. Quicksilver has a scene that earned straight 10/10 and everything else in this movie is crap. "Only the strong will survive" this amount of boring nonsense. I had a feeling that the movie lasts 5 hours...
5/10 - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansRobert Downey Jr.Scarlett JohanssonPolitical involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.Good action movie
This one was not so good either, but after "X-Men: Apocalypse" (2016) it comes as real refreshment. If I was watching it on my own, I would probably give up on it after half an hour, because it was confusing and boring, but that would be a mistake. In the second half of it, the fun begins. It is extremely fun to watch Avengers fight each other. In a few days, I will probably forget what I saw and I definitely do not want to watch it again, but for one run it is an action good as it can be.
7/10 - DirectorTim MillerStarsRyan ReynoldsMorena BaccarinT.J. MillerA wisecracking mercenary gets experimented on and becomes immortal yet hideously scarred, and sets out to track down the man who ruined his looks.Masterpiece - definitely not... but so damn fun :D
8,5/10 - DirectorScott DerricksonStarsBenedict CumberbatchChiwetel EjioforRachel McAdamsWhile on a journey of physical and spiritual healing, a brilliant neurosurgeon is drawn into the world of the mystic arts."We never lose our demons, we only learn to live above them"
I'm not a big fan of Marvel and, in my opinion, their movies are mostly overrated. This one isn't. This is probably the second best Marvel movie, after "Guardians of the Galaxy". If you expect a movie to have depth and the point, you should skip, not only this one, but whole Marvel production, but if you are looking for fun you are at the right place. Visually it is amazing. I recommend watching it in theater or at least on a TV as big as possible. Standard computer monitors or, God forbid, tablets are out of question. Although 90% of this movie is pure action and fighting scenes, compared to most of the genre, story and characterization are more complete and Benedict and Tilda are excellent. Sure, like in all Marvel movies, there is a certain amount of humor and finale is one of the funniest things I have ever seen in Marvel movies. The way Strange finally defeats the enemy is at the same time unbelievably stupid, unbelievably clever and funny to tears. I gave it 8/10 within all the movies I ever watched, but within the genre, it is pure 10/10.
8/10 - StarsNatalia Cordova-BuckleyYancey AriasChloe BennetFollowing Inhuman Yo-Yo Rodriguez also known as 'Slingshot' on a personal Mission against time.Mediocre episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. which is for some reason split into six five-minute episodes and inserted as a mini-series between the third and fourth season. If one does not watch it all at once, it probably does not make any sense.
6/10 - DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattZoe SaldanaDave BautistaThe Guardians struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord's encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego.I saw first movie when it was released, before I registered on IMDb and started to rate and comment movies. It stayed in good memory and I know I had good time watching it, but I don't remember it well enough to be able to evaluate it and comment more specifically. I have the impression that the sequel is somewhat weaker, but it keeps pace with the first. If you expect complex characters and a powerful story you won't find it here. This is entertaining SF adventure, packed with action and hilariously funny moments. If you watch it as a serious movie, then it will be bad for you, but if you look at it as an action comedy then it's great. The end was bit disappointing because they made it more serious than the rest of the movie and humor is what gives this film the strength. I'll wait for last part of this trilogy, watch all three together and then I'll be able to write more competent review. Till then, recommendation to all whose priority isn't objective quality of the movie but good fun.
8/10 - DirectorTaika WaititiStarsChris HemsworthTom HiddlestonCate BlanchettImprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela."Thor: Ragnarok embraces its preposterousness and swims in a pool of ridiculousness, with the deadpan and self-mocking humour hitting all the bulls-eyes."
The most effective way to understand the difference between DC and Marvel movies is to look at Nolan's Batman and Thor: Ragnarok. From the beginning, Marvel spiced their superhero flicks with a touch of humor and light atmosphere, but here they have turned the game. So far it has been difficult to precisely determine the genre of Marvel's films, but this time there are no doubts. The new Thor is a comedy, action comedy, and one of the best Marvel films, side by side with Deadpool, Doctor Strange and Guardians, maybe even slightly better. Story itself breaks out of a superhero pattern, the characters are comical, and even those we've seen in the previous films got a relaxed and comical note, and the one-liners are hilarious. Comedy here is not just spice, like in the previous films, but from the beginning it strikes right into the head and does not stop to the end of the film, varying from light humor, through "WTF?!" and "I can't believe what he just said/done," to the complete shame-transfer. When you discover that movie was directed by the creator of "What We Do in the Shadows" and that one of the main roles is played by Jeff Goldblum, everything becomes clear.
8,5/10 - DirectorRyan CooglerStarsChadwick BosemanMichael B. JordanLupita Nyong'oT'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.Marvel adheres to a tested recipe - "If you've found a winning combination, stick to it." They string high-budget action blockbusters one after another, maintaining the level with small variations. There are no masterpieces, but there are no failures either. Although I understand why they do it, personally, I don't like that approach, because all their movies follow same pattern and resemble each other. Without risk, there's no danger of failure, but there's no opportunity to make a really good movie either.
"Black Panther" is visually stunning, fast-paced and entertaining. The combination of tribal features and futuristic costumes and technology is in perfect balance and the landscapes of Wakanda are beautiful, while the action scenes are directed to leave you breathless. The acting is good, but the characters and the story itself could be much better developed. Rather than to provide a good script, and then take advantage of big budgets and modern technology to make this story as impressive as possible, I think that Marvel films are based solely on the visual spectacle, leaving the story in the background.
I watched the movie in the theater and I'm not sorry, I enjoyed it and had a good time. But I believe that in a couple of days I will not remember what the film was about, which is happening to me with almost every Marvel film.
7/10 - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris HemsworthMark RuffaloThe Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.Last night I went to the cinema to watch "Infinity War" and I wasn't thrilled at all. I'm aware that it's partly my fault, but anyway I think it's extremely overrated. Seen by itself, the film is completely meaningless, because this is not a stand-alone film, but the grand finale of all Marvel films that precede it. So, it's not just recommended that you have seen most of Marvel films before, but it's absolutely necessary that you have seen them all and that they are fresh in your memory. I watched most of Marvel films, but some of them I skipped, and many of those I did see I saw too long ago to remember them, so "Infinity War" left me with the impression of a bunch of amazingly shot, but empty action scenes, without the story that gives this action a meaning. It's like if you watched the last hour of "The Return of the King", without previously watching the rest of the trilogy or reading "The Lord of the Rings" ever before. Most movies have a part that introduces you to characters, then introduces them into a story, then develops and elaborates the story, and ultimately takes you through the blow-away finale. This whole movie is one huge finale, while all the other elements that you need to experience this finale right way need to be found in other Marvel films. Each of the previous films brings new characters, introduces you to them and connects them to the characters from the previous films, builds their mutual relationships and portrays small parts of the big picture, and then "Infinity War" puts all these characters together and, assuming you already know who they are, what their relationships are and what was happening in their individual stories, it immediately cast you right into two and a half hour of action madness, without any characterization and explanations, and with a minimum of the story that serves just to separate the action scenes. Marvel films are a literally series in which the episodes are somewhat independent, and this is the last episode, and do not even try to watch it if you didn't follow entire series. Although visually excellent, to me "Infinity War" was terribly confusing and even boring, and I will refrain from rating it until I see all the movies that precede him, and then repeat it with good background.
- DirectorMark NeveldineBrian TaylorStarsNicolas CageCiarán HindsIdris ElbaJohnny Blaze, tortured by the Ghost Rider's curse, gets a chance of redemption through protecting the Devil's son, whose father is pursuing him.It's not good, but it's not that bad either
Both "Ghost Rider" movies are grossly underrated, but while the first one is one of Marvel's best achievements, the second one is mediocre at best. Virtually every aspect of this film is weaker than in the first one - half the budget, bad story, lack of characterization, sloppy action - but the effects definitely took the victory. The effects and animation are so poor that it's fun to laugh at them. However, I think a good deal has been deliberately done in such a way, so that the "Spirit of Vengeance" would be more similar to a comic book than to a Hollywood blockbuster. But whatever their intention was, if it wasn't so funny it would be pathetic. The film attempts to substantially copy the first one and be a credible sequel, and at the same time to completely change the visual and directional style, and in this gap, it tripped and fell. Still, it is far from being a disaster as it is represented. If you do not take it too seriously, you'll have fun.
5/10 - 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."Cognitive recalibration - I hit you really hard on the head"
Action, action, action, effects, effects, effects, action, effects, effects, action, action, effects... I don't know, maybe I should give up on superhero movies, or maybe Marvel could put a little effort into giving them some meaning. Two and a half hours of stunning effects and breathtaking action, great acting and directing, interesting characters, a few witty remarks, but all together is kind of vain and pointless. The plot didn't engage me, I didn't relate to the characters and I couldn't care less what will happen to them. There was no depth or point. This is simply a couple of hours of superficial fun for those who have fun shutting their brains out. I love the effects and the action and the adrenaline too, but that's not enough for me. I need the film to have a strong story and depth. If I can't have both, I'll always pick a poorly filmed good story rather than superbly made nonsense. Still, I have to admit that it is really powerfully filmed and, within the genre, I cannot go below
8/10 - DirectorMarc WebbStarsAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneRhys IfansAfter Peter Parker is bitten by a genetically altered spider, he gains newfound, spider-like powers and ventures out to save the city from the machinations of a mysterious reptilian foe."Oh, I'm in trouble"
It wasn't very clear to me why would anyone make new Spider-man trilogy just five years after the previous one ended (quite poorly), but as I decided to see all Marvel flicks... I read IMDb reviews and cross myself. Tastes differ, that's a fact, but to rate this movie from one to three out of ten is nothing but spite. There is no way that anyone seriously thinks that this film is unwatchable crap, except of course if they look on the whole superhero genre that way, in which case it would be fairer not to evaluate it at all.
"The Amazing Spider-Man" is a reboot of the Spider-man franchise with a slightly different approach than Raimi's. The story is basically the same, but a bunch of details is changed. In some respects, this version is more faithful to the comic book, and in every respect I liked it better. The most obvious and critical difference is the characterization of Peter Parker, who, unlike the pathetic weenie from Raimi's version, is now a rebellious teenager with whom it is easier to identify. Also, Garfield is much more likable than Maguire, though he does not exactly fit the role of a nerd. The film has a great pace and balance of drama, action, and humor just to my liking. A little laughter, a little sitting on the edge of a chair, and two hours flew by. The only advantage of Raimi's version, very subjective though, is that, to me, Kirsten Dunst is much more attractive than Emma Stone, and the chemistry between her and Tobey is stronger than between Emma and Garfield.
8,5/10 - DirectorPhil JoanouStarsThomas JaneRon PerlmanSammi RotibiFrank Castle is staying in a bad neighborhood, where he encounters a gang that terrorizes its residents.Jack Daniels is not flammable
This ten-minute homage to The Punisher is a fan-film, but a fan-film made by professionals. The Punisher is played by Thomas Jane, an actor who played him in the 2004 movie. There's also Ron Perlman, and others are professional actors too. The director is not famous, but he is experienced. Phil Joanou has previously directed about twenty films, series and music videos, including Bon Jovi's "Keep the Faith" and a bunch of videos for U2. The movie infringes on Punisher's copyright and uses music from "The Dark Knight" (2008), so it's only been released on YouTube and it's a wonder that it wasn't removed already.
The story is simple, realistic and brutal, and gives a better characterization of Frank Castle than the Marvel films. The film is very well made and, after this, all three feature films in Marvel production look lame. It would be fantastic if this crew would get an opportunity to shoot a full-length feature film and make a proper adaptation of The Punisher.
8/10 - DirectorShane BlackStarsRobert Downey Jr.Guy PearceGwyneth PaltrowWhen Tony Stark's world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution."Oh my god... that was really violent."
Unlike the first one, which had great characterization, good dialogues, and witty remarks, and the second one that had Scarlett Johansson and AC/DC, this one is just a shallow action. A completely redundant template extension. The choreography and effects are spectacular, but that's all you can expect from this movie. Disposable adrenaline injection.
6/10 - DirectorJames MangoldStarsHugh JackmanWill Yun LeeTao OkamotoWolverine comes to Japan to meet an old friend whose life he saved years ago, and gets embroiled in a conspiracy involving yakuza and mutants."Everything in the world finds peace. Eventually."
This movie pleasantly surprised me. I was expecting yet another meaningless blockbuster which relies on high-budget production, mesmerizing effects and a pace that does not allow you to stop and ask yourself - why am even I watching this? - but got a kind of spin-off movie that is neither directly related to the X-Men franchise, nor is it one of the characters' "origins story", but a completely separate, well-told story, with better characterization, and which doesn't come down to non-stop action, but the action scenes are well-measured and purposeful. It's far from a top-notch movie, but it is a welcome refreshment.
7/10 - DirectorAlan TaylorStarsChris HemsworthNatalie PortmanTom HiddlestonWhen the Dark Elves attempt to plunge the universe into darkness, Thor must embark on a perilous and personal journey that will reunite him with doctor Jane Foster.Totally forgettable
An extremely expensive, visually impressive pile of meaningless action, which wastes a top-notch cast on a screenplay without depth, sense, or any point. Somewhat fun for one viewing, provided you are a child or your criteria for acceptable entertainment are very low.
5/10 - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansSamuel L. JacksonScarlett JohanssonAs Steve Rogers struggles to embrace his role in the modern world, he teams up with a fellow Avenger and S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier."Air conditioning is fully operational"
Two hours of non-stop high-budget action, with a couple of witty moments and the story of the mediocre "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." episode. Undoubtedly fun to watch, but without the essential qualities and totally forgettable.
6/10 - DirectorMarc WebbStarsAndrew GarfieldEmma StoneJamie FoxxWhen New York is put under siege by Oscorp, it is up to Spider-Man to save the city he swore to protect as well as his loved ones."An overlong, at times almost plot-free soap opera that introduces a wealth of characters and dips into a wide variety of subplots but never comes together as a story." - Tom Huddleston
Although it lasts two and a half hours, the story is lost in a multitude of undeveloped and unfinished subplots and seems rushed. There are unnecessary illogicalities and, to me, the drama was more pathetic than upsetting. I didn't feel the chemistry between the leading couple and most of the main actors were irritating to me, except for Sally Field, who was the only one that left a positive impression. The film does not stand out in any way, not even in the visual aspect and CGI, which are usually Marvel's strongest trump card. It's not boring, but it didn't hold my attention and it left me completely indifferent. After the very good first movie, the sequel is quite a disappointment.
5/10 - 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.Nothing new with Marvel ...
With a strong cast, high-budget production, great effects, and non-stop action imbued with humor, Marvel usually manages quite well to mask the lack of a quality story. Maybe the story has no meaning, nor much sense, but you just do not have time to notice that, especially in theater.
But by now we have got used to this cast and characters, who bring us nothing new from film to film. These days visual effects pop out from every corner, so even that is no longer fascinating, except when a major shift is made, which is not the case here. They gave us just a spoonful of humor, and the strongest action scene is at the very beginning of the film. Everything after is just one confusing SF story that reminds me too much of "Terminator" and didn't hold my attention at all.
I can't say that the film is technically bad, or that it's boring, but I have nothing to praise. I watched it last night and I'm already not sure I could retell it anymore. If you're a Marvel fan, take a look. If you skip it, you won't miss much.
6/10 - DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattVin DieselBradley CooperA group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe."I may be as pretty as an angel, but I sure as hell ain't one."
Like most of the Marvel movies up to that point, "Guardians of the Galaxy" is also crazy action infused with humor, in which a clichéd and essentially nonsensical story slips by unnoticed under the constant barrage of CGI fireworks. But unlike many of Marvel's works, which are boring to anyone unable to turn off their brains and indulge in an adrenaline rollercoaster, "Guardians of the Galaxy" brings some pretty interesting characters, with more depth than I expected from a Marvel movie, whose ingenuity and wit are a real refresher in the Marvel Universe. Although there is some humor in all Marvel films, they are SF action adventures, while here we can rightfully add comedy to the genre determinant. I don't like Marvel, but this one I watched several times.
8/10