Month: March 2016

Genevieve Reviews Deadpool (2016)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

Deadpool (2016)

 

Rated R

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy

 

Directed by Tim Miller

Starring Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin and T.J. Miller

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Plot: A former Special Forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopting the alter ego Deadpool.

 

Movie trivia: During a talk at Google, Reynolds revealed that the taxi driver character was named “Dopinder” after a “really cool guy” he new in elementary school, who died from being struck by lightning. It was meant to be a tribute to him.

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🎥 IMDb: 8.4

🍅 Rotten Tomatoes: 84%

⭐ Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

 

We have reached the end of the new Marvel Studios movies!! It has been a fun ride and I can’t wait to start on some DC universe to prepare for the upcoming movie. But first, here is my review on Deadpool.

 

This is my favorite movie of all the Marvel universe movies. Deadpool was played perfectly by Reynolds, who brought the right amount of dark humor to the character that it required. I loved how the movie kept calling awareness to the fact that you were watching a movie. His specs on his costume, the call to the other version of Deadpool we got with the X-men franchise, the constant remarks about Wolverine, it continuously reminded you of what you were watching. And it worked so very well. This is NOT a superhero movie, but he is officially my favorite super in the Marvel Universe.
If I had to give a downside, I would have to say the villain. I think he could have been stronger, but the performance was fine. Overall, you need to see this movie. It is bloody, funny, and brilliant. A favorite movie of mine for sure that I cannot wait to own!

 

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Genevieve Reviews Ant-Man (2015)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

Ant-Man (2015)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi

 

Directed by Peyton Reed

Starring Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lilly
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Plot: Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.

 

Movie Trivia: Originally the film was meant to focus on the original Ant-Man, Hank Pym. However, the filmmakers deemed Pym as having too family-unfriendly history and instead decided to focus on Pym’s successor Scott Lang, with Pym becoming a mentor and supporting actor.

 

IMDb rating: 7.4

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 80%

Genevieve’s rating: 🔥🔥🔥

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I really have not much to say on this film. It didn’t particularly wow me with the exception of the climactic battle which I won’t spoil. It didn’t really speak to me on a personal level, but it was entertaining. The fight sequences were both visually stunning and at times comical. It is something our daughter would really enjoy. It is not filled with gratuitous violence, on the other hand it downplays the violence of the situation drastically, but it works. It was a fun movie, but he is not one of my favorite super heroes.

 

 

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Genevieve Reviews Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi

 

Directed by Joss Whedon

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and James Spader

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Plot: When Tony Stark and Bruce Banner try to jump-start a dormant peacekeeping program called Ultron, things go horribly wrong and it’s up to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to stop the villainous Ultron from enacting his terrible plan.

 

Movie Trivia: James Spader uses his natural speaking voice for Ultron, with no accent or alteration of his voice.

 

🎥 IMDb: 7.5

🍅 Rotten Tomatoes: 75%

⭐ Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

 

Next up is the second installment of the Avengers. I am a fan of Joss Whedon, and his vision of the Avengers is one I am 100% on board with. This movie brings a much larger scale to the Avengers in more than one way. Most importantly, the dynamic between each character becomes even more robust with the addition of a few subplots that sprinkle the story with a little extra brightness. The humor felt in the first film is ever present in this sequel, and each character adds a great element to the overall enjoyment.

 

What I really liked was that much more focus was given to Hawkeye and Black Widow, allowing me to know and care about those characters even more. I will say, knowing that Civil War is swiftly approaching made the scenes between Downey and Evans all the more interesting. It felt as if we were over analyzing every word and action between them. I have picked out my team nonetheless, and I plan to reveal it in not too long.
Ultron was the best part of this film though. His performance as a villain was so chillingly calm, logical, and very witty. The movie trivia for this movie was very surprising. It’s hard to picture a voice like that coming out of a living man. Overall this movie is a high contender for my favorite Marvel Studios movie! Now, on to the next film!

 

 

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Genevieve Reviews Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi .

 

Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo

Starring Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jackson and Scarlett Johansson
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Plot: As 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, the Black Widow, to battle a new threat from history: an assassin known as the Winter Soldier. .

 

Movie trivia: Nick Fury relates a story of his grandfather being an elevator operator. In real life, Samuel L. Jackson’s grandfather was an elevator operator.

 

🎥 IMDb: 7.8

🍅 Rotten Tomatoes: 89%

⭐ Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥🔥

 

This is a decided improvement on The First Avenger. They didn’t rush through the story one bit, on the contrary they focused on everything so you are able to see it as a big working clock of sorts. This piece would be useless without this one, but if you turn that one, then some cogs way over there are going to start going too, so watch out. Every scene and character works together to create a movie more about people than about super-people. You realized the real life sacrifices and ramifications of their choices during this film far more than the first.
The contrasting elements between Captain America and the Black Widow make for popping dialogue that is almost reminiscent of His Girl Friday and other classic film scripts. The entire scale of this film is more massive than the other Marvel films with the exception of The Avengers. Overall, I loved this movie and it makes me anticipate Civil War all the more!!

 

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Genevieve Reviews Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

 

Directed by Alan Taylor

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Tom Hiddleston

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Plot: When Jane Foster gets cursed with a powerful object, Thor must protect it before an army and it’s ruthless leader try to get their hands on it to take over the remains of Earth.

 

Movie Trivia: This is the last film written by Don Payne (who also wrote the first Thor movie in this series). He died of bone cancer before the film was released.

 

IMDb: 7.1

Rotten Tomatoes: 66%

Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥

 

This movie continued with the campy feel of Thor’s world, which again is not necessarily bad. Tom Hiddleston was, by far, the best part of this film. His performance as Loki was at its peak in this film after having two other films as this character to practice. The peaks and falls this go around are much more strongly felt as Loki plays the system better than ever before. He was the saving grace of this film to keep the story interesting. And again, this is coming from someone who is not part of the “Hiddleston-can-do-no-wrong-isnt-he-pretty” club. Purely from a novice critics perspective, every scene with him was better than the last.
In regards to Hemsworth and Portman, it is not that they were bad, but they didn’t really have much arc or development. Everything was focused more on Loki until a certain point. The effects were as good as ever and the humor was spot on for the type of movie Thor brings. All in all, it wasn’t a great movie but again, to complete the entire Marvel Studios plot, it is something you need to see.

 

 

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Genevieve Reviews Iron Man 3 (2013)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

Iron Man 3 (2013)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

 

Directed by Shane Black

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Guy Pearce and Gwyneth Paltrow
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Plot: When Tony Stark’s world is torn apart by a formidable terrorist called the Mandarin, he starts an odyssey of rebuilding and retribution.

 

Movie Trivia: This is the only Iron Man film not to have a single AC/DC song.

 

IMDb: 7.3

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%

Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥🔥.5

 

This is the latest addition to the Iron Man film arc, and it felt like the appropriate, logical followup to the rest of the series, and, actually I consider this to be my favorite Iron Man. None of them were bad, but this one was the best in my opinion. Tony from the first film was bombastic and shocked at his new situation. Tony in the second film was beaten a little more as he realized the true extend of what this life would change about his previous life. He was darker and he used his wit as a shield against his fear. Now this Tony has adapted to his new life and is in the process of bettering himself and his equipment throughout the film.

 

Paltrow offered a wonderful variation to the usual “damsel in distress” persona rampant in the superhero genre. She doesn’t need a hero, she can save herself. It is a refreshing breath of girl power with the absence of Black Widow. Ben Kingsley is as wonderful as ever and he has the constant ability to keep me guessing, no matter what role he plays. This is just another wonderful example of his wide range of performance. He is nothing short of genius in my book. He really is one of the better parts of the film, so even if you enjoy nothing else, you will at least enjoy that!
Overall, this movie is making me leans so close to Team Iron Man for Civil War that I can hardly stand it. But there are still a few more to review before I really decide.

 

 

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Genevieve Reviews The Avengers (2013)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

The Avengers (2013)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

 

Directed by Joss Whedon

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston and Samuel L. Jackson

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Plot: Earth’s mightiest heroes must come together and learn to fight as a team if they are to stop the mischievous Loki and his alien army from enslaving humanity.

 

Movie Trivia: Robert Downey Jr kept food hidden all over the lab set and apparently nobody could find where it was, so they just let him continue doing it. In the movie, that’s his own food he is offering to fellow cast members and eating. He would just grab a bite during takes whenever he was hungry.

 

IMDb: 8.1

Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥🔥.5

 

What a fantastic climax to what basically amounts to the first checkpoint of our superhero movie marathon. All of the backstories and development we got along the way from the individual movies payed off in a big way with the first movie of The Avengers. Joss Whedon does a great job in making this bunch feel like a dysfunctional family that is just learning how to work together. The humor mixed with stress makes for a very entertaining, high tension ride throughout.

 

Robert Downey Jr is perfect as ever as Tony, making it look so natural that you forget this is a character. Chris Evans delivers an adorable, patriotic performance that you can’t help but root for even as you chuckle at him indulgently at his naivete. Chris Hemsworth returns with his signature pomp and grandeur that we associate with the God of Thunder. Scarlett Johansson is sexy as hell and twice as badass in every scene she is in. And last, but not least, Mark Ruffalo. While I adore Norton and the weight he brought to the role of Banner, this version brought to us by Ruffalo feels like a much better fit for this group. Norton would have been too dark, I believe.

 

But, every superhero is only as good as his villain, and Loki was able to hold his own against the entire team to help carry his side of the plot. Hiddleston yet again embodies the person we love to hate. His plan (plot wise) might not be too great, but with the combination of oily actions and snappy dialogue you are going to find it just as entertaining a performance as he delivered in Thor, if not more so since now we know exactly who he is.
Overall, this movie is just fantastic. It doesn’t earn that full extra flame to make it a favorite film of mine, but it comes very close. This is a film you won’t regret watching in the least. It is a great closing point in a series of setups, while still giving the audience those last two “hidden scenes” to tease of the heroism to come.

 

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Genevieve Reviews Thor (2011)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

Thor (2011)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

 

Directed by Kenneth Branagh

Starring Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman
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Plot: The 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.

 

Movie Trivia: When Hemsworth and Hopkins saw each other in full armor for the first time, Hopkins said “God, there’s no acting required here, is there?”

 

IMDb: 7

Rotten Tomatoes: 77%

Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥.5

 

This film almost borders on kitschy and laughable if it were not for the grand scheme at work by the entire Marvel franchise. As usual, the visual effects were well done, and in 3D this film is gorgeous. They might have relied a little too heavily on CGI, but at the same time there is really no other way to tell this story the way it is meant to be told. Thor is already a little cheesy, but in such a great way. It works for him so well, and his fan base loves him because of it, not in spite of it. The handling of this film shows that very well, I feel.

 

From a critic’s perspective, I was much more entertained by the scenes with Loki than with Thor. And to fend off any arguments of this nature and to “clear the record”, I am actually more of a Thor fangirl than I am of Loki. So while my visual man meat was just so wonderful to look at, Tom Hiddleston delivered a performance as Loki that earned him larger roles in the subsequent Avengers movies. Between the cut scenes of Asgard and Earth, the film critic within me liked watching Loki work the system so much more than watching Thor manage his new found humanity.

 

Thor’s adventures on Midgard with Dr. Jane Foster and her band of scientist was fun, though, despite it lacking the chemistry of the other films in this line up. The comedy was cute and delivered very well in Hemsworth old english accent. He was a little stiff, but again that feels appropriate for this character. Anthony Hopkins is perfect in every role, so this was no different to me. It may not stand out as a best performance when viewed next to his other films, but he added well to the plot and feel of this movie.
Overall, this feels like an appropriate addition to the Marvel Universe, offering you much lighter option with beautiful visuals. It doesn’t have the darkness of The Incredible Hulk, or the sharp wit of Iron Man, but you get a good feel for what is to come by the addition of this particular Avenger.

 

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Genevieve Reviews Iron Man 2 (2010)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

Iron Man 2 (2010)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

 

Directed by Jon Favreau

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Mickey Rourke and Gwyneth Paltrow
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Plot: With 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.

 

Movie Trivia: Not being tech literate, Rourke found that the most challenging part about playing Whiplash was pretending to know his way around a computer.

 

IMDB: 7

Rotten Tomatoes: 57%

Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥

 

This second installment of the Iron Man sub-story successfully moves the story along, albeit with a little less snap than what we were given in Iron Man (2008). I understand how this can be a turnoff to many people but I believe it works well for the Tony we are meant to have at this point of his story. By now, the world knows who he is, he has unbelievable pressure from the world and himself to succeed, he is being investigated, and to top it all, he is dying. The sarcasm he delivers now is not the cool man with a sharp with, this is a dying man trying not to be terrified and give up. This is a man who uses his humor as a shield from feeling anything that might hinder his progress forward.

 

Rourke was great in this movie. It still doesn’t top his performance as Marv in Sin City, but this is a solid second place to that role. The visual effects with him particular really struck me. The reveal of his weapon at the race is visually stunning and emotionally gripping. You realize the game has changed and they did a wonderful job conveying that. The little touches that Rourke added to his personality were so fun. He feels almost like a “Norman Bates” villain. He is crazy, he is broken, he is loveable, he is evil. Somehow he can embody all of that, and it makes you want to root for him sometimes despite yourself.
Overall, this is a sequel… as in it is the dip where things go dark, it is the slow down after the first big bang, it is the connector to a much bigger picture. That seems to be true for many long running film franchises, and it is the case in this film for me. It doesn’t make it bad, but it is my least favorite of the Iron Man movies. But that is also like saying, “My least favorite way to travel is to drive.” You are still taking a vacation, you are still having fun, but you would have a little more fun if you were getting there a different way. That is this movie to me.

 

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Genevieve Reviews The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Posted on by cinephilesanonymousblog

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

 

Rated PG-13

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi

 

Directed by Louis Leterrier

Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler and Tim Roth
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Plot: Bruce Banner, a scientist on the run from the U.S. Government, must find a cure for the monster he emerges whenever he loses his temper. However, Banner then must fight a soldier whom unleashes himself as a threat stronger than he.

 

Movie Trivia: Louis Leterrier wanted Mark Ruffalo for the role of Bruce Banner but Marvel insisted on Norton. Ironic, huh?

 

IMDb: 6.8

Rotten Tomatoes: 67%

Genevieve: 🔥🔥🔥

 

This movie seems to be the least loved of all the Marvel Studio movies. I may not adore this film, but I do feel it adds to the build up to the Avengers. Again, if you look at all these movies as episodes in a very long television series, it fits in perfectly. Well, almost perfectly. The tone is drastically different in this film from the others in the line up, and I think that is due in a large part to the casting decision for Banner. I love Edward Norton, don’t get me wrong. He adds an element of darkness to The Hulk that I believe has been largely played down, when he is, in fact, the darkest of the Avengers. (Or at least of the Avengers we have on screen. I have not read the comics, and am unable to comment on them.) Banner is the most heartbreaking Avenger because his entire situation was forced upon him and it messed up his entire life after that. There is a darkness to that story that I believe Norton brought out very, very well.

 

That being said, it doesn’t fit the overall theme of the Avengers. Let me explain. Every single movie has a touch of darkness, but there is a comedic element throughout of a little sarcasm with some catchphrases that you can’t help but cheer for. This film had little to none of that. I feel if they had gone with the choice of the director as had Ruffalo from the start, it would not only add continuity by having the same actor, but also by having the same style of movie. Norton played his ability for dark performance very well, but in the grand scheme, it didn’t fit. The only thing that truly brings it into a cohesive part of the rest of the series is a small scene with Tony Stark at the end.
Overall, I agree that this is most likely my least favorite of the Marvel Studio films, but at the same time, it is not quite as horrible as some people make it out to be. Watch it like an episode, and you will be more forgiving of it, I think.

 

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