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My mate and i decided that with 3 weeks left until Avengers is released at the cinema, we'd refresh ourselves in terms of the characters in the film (in terms of modern cinema releases at least).
(Movie trailers, hosted at Apple)
First up was "Hulk" (2003). (IMBD rating 5.7)
I enjoyed this far more than the rating might suggest, but think that Ang Lee was deliberately trying to get some thinking on the part of the audience, rather than spoon-feeding us all; arguably his downfall in what is percieved as a superhero film, but i dont think that is the fault of anything other than people's preconceived ideas. Minutes can go by without any dialogue, but i really liked most of the characters - i didnt much rate Banner's dad though, and especially when he became a super-villan was particularly wasted.
Edit: I wanted to add too that I really liked the stylish, comic-book style wipes and visual edits. I haven't seen any, outside of Anime, that I enjoyed as much or thought were so appropriate since the proper Star Wars films.
Last night we watched "Iron Man" (2008). (IMBD rating 7.9)
Great, great film - the first 15 mins sets it up so well and RD Jr is just perfectly cast. There were some really nice touches like the near-science and near-engineering that went into the suit design (ok, its not real, but it comes across like it just could be), and even the VR suit designing; and even though they replaced him for the sequel, I thought the actor playing Rhodey was great; downsides for me were that although I really rate Jeff Bridges as an actor, and visually he had presence in the film, i'm not sure his character was all that well written. Pepper was awesome though.
Edit:
"The Incredible Hulk" (2008) (IMBD rating 7.0)
I've watched this now. Wow... and not in a great way. For me overall, this second Hulk was weaker than the first, and overall quite disappointing.
I really like Edward Norton, both as an actor generally, and as Bruce Banner, and I think he carried the film alot. Liv Tyler... always plays pouty Liv Tyler. Yeah she's pretty, in a 'help me i'm vulnerable' kind of way, but annoys by always looking to be on the verge of tears. I also really liked the opening Act, the Brazil setting was cool, but the film went pretty much downhill from there.
Didnt like how they did The Abomination. I really didnt like the CGI, i thought it was significantly weaker than the film from 5 years previous.... I also really missed the Hulk, you know, Hulking out (this one just seemed more grumpy, the 2003 Hulk came across as more angry). The story in this, not so good as the first.
AND I missed the big Hulk leaps, although on balance i'm hoping that the Avengers Hulk finds a mid-point between the 10 meter leaps of 2008 Hulk and the Mountain-top-to-Mountain-top leaps of 2003 Hulk.
I really cant see though how IMDB gives this a 7.
Finally, although it was cool to see RD Jr having a cameo at the end, it made me wonder if we'd watched the films in the wrong order, what with Tony Stark now seeming to be the man to rally the Avengers together - I would have thought that only Nick Fury did that, but i'll wait to see IM2 again to see how it stacks up.
Oh, one last thing - I really appreciated lots of little touches that referenced the 70's Hulk TV show - Bill Bixby on the TV, the whole look-and-feel in the opening credits of Bruce Banner on the lab chair with the green cross on the forehead, and later on in the score a reprise of the 70's piano theme. Very nicely done.
Edit:
"Iron Man 2" (2010) (IMBD rating 7.0)
Enjoyable in places, but the story.. i dont know. It seemed a bit contrived in places, and oh look - the bad guys are Iron Men too. I thought even before the film came out that Whiplash would be a poor main enemy, and this remains my view on having seen it at the cinema and again at home - although the character and indeed the actor are good... but hes just not a main bad guy in my book. Justin Hammer had potential to really slay Tony Stark, but i felt he wasnt well written - a bit of a joke actually, which is a shame as anyone who has seen Moon (2009) will know Sam Rockwell can be a god.
Similarly for War Machine, I would have liked more screen time. Oh, and Rhodey 1 is better than Rhodey 2.
I still absolutely rate both Tony Stark played by RDJr and Pepper Potts by GP - great actors, and excellent casting.
"Thor" (2011) (IMBD rating 7.0)
(Still waiting to re-watch)
"Captain America" (2011). (IMBD rating 6.8)
Loved it, again. For me, the most 'true' superhero film of the lot - lots of humor, a central character that i really rooted for, and just THE BEST effects in any film i have ever seen (ie the weedy Steve Rogers - just perfectly rendered and mapped).
It also i think was very obviously a warm up film, designed almost entirely to lead in to a greater story. Loved it.
Looking forward to it all!
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