Taking Sides: Review of Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War

Directors: Joe and Anthony Russo

By Alex Watson

There was a fear when Captain America: Civil War rolled around that too many cooks would spoil the broth. Joe and Anthony Russo do a marvellous job (no pun intended) of holding the show together amidst so many old and new Avenger additions. Unlike the previous installments, this one is made out to be simply a filler and it has a more morally complex feeling. The small acts of old and new films come ahead in this one and this sparks this summer's most enjoyable film.

After a mission in Nigeria goes disastrously wrong, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) and Natasha Romanov (Scarlett Johansson) find the Avengers have now been regulated by the U.N. Although the Cap refuses to sign, Iron Man chooses to and in doing so creates a divided group. Tensions will boil over when Rogers chooses to rescue his assassin friend Bucky Barnes/The Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan).

Captain America: Civil War might just be the finest entry in the Marvel cannon yet. The Russo Brother unashamedly play it for thrillers and throughout the entertainment factor never dips. There is also the first appearance by the new Spiderman (Tom Holland) and T'Chilla/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) whom already are getting us excited for this new chapter. Without the Hulk or Thor, this group still packs a mighty punch and the mutual hostility between the Captain and Stark is electrifying. The lines between enemy and ally are blurred in this one as Black Widow finds herself conflicted towards keeping peace and joining the fight. Scarlett Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) is struggling with her powers and is at fault for causing mass casualty during their heroic Nigerian mission. When Sam Ross (William Hurt) reappears with a U.N sanction signed by 117 countries, this elite team is grounded.

There might be a distinct lack of a main villain asides from Daniel Bruhl's ambiguous former soldier Helmut Zemo, but even he still plays a vital role in dividing the numbers. Bucky is very much the catalyst in this piece and is still wrestling between his Soviet programming and becoming the man he used to be. After being framed for a bombing in Vienna, Bucky's mere presence earns him the wrath of the new King of Wakanda T'Chilla who vows to take him down. Rogers refused to give up on his former childhood friend and his decision leaves many angered and vengeful. Despite the nostalgia, old Bucky is still a dangerous weapon and still has blood on his hands. From here the once steadfast group takes sides and a mini war breaks out. One huge battle against an airport strip becomes a punch and explosion filled venting ground for each. The Russo Brothers make sure they throw in everything but the kitchen sink- this case Antman (Paul Rudd) makes literally the biggest appearance.

What sets Captain America: Civil War apart is its well-written script and heart grinding finale. Often in this series the makers fall into the same trap of unnecessary plot devices, lackluster villains and the same default final battle in the air. The Russo's are aware of what flaws there have been and refuse to fall into the same trap. During a gut-wrenching final act, some hard truths are reveal and people's agendas become blurred. All the way through there is the big notion of who the Avengers should answer to? Well, it appears that the answer is each other because Stark's hatred and suspicion of Bucky come full circle. Watching the two former comrades do battle is both thrilling and devastating and they both equally influence different key players to join their side. Now this is very much what you call an ultimate showdown- Synder take notes.

Chris Evans has grown into this role well, but in this installment, it feels like he goes deeper. Rogers in Civil War is a morally conflicted yet dutiful friend and he is aware of his wrongdoing but refuses to back away. Evans handles the physical side of his character well but this one demonstrates the talent he has behind the mask. Robert Downey Jr gives perhaps his most convincing turn yet as billionaire stark because in this one he has left his cocky side at home. Throughout he attempts to stamp down his authority but his attempts at safeguarding the cause he bankrolled only cause trouble. It's his emotional vulnerability during the impressive third act that impresses the most as Stark wrestles with his past demons along with his new found fury. Chadwick Boseman also deserves a mention for his frowntastic Black Panther. In limited screen time, we have a glimpse of what could be an authoritative and slick new addition- hurry up Ryan Coogler.

Forget any competition for the number one summer film, Captain America: Civil War succeeds where Dawn of Justice failed miserably. Finally, Marvel has found its new strongest link and now can look forward to one hell of an Avengers 3!

Jungle Boogie: Review of The Jungle Book

The Jungle Book

Director: Jon Favreau

By Alex Watson

While it might be as iconic as its predecessor, Jon Favreau's adaptation of The Jungle Book is still a beautiful filmed and fun ride. Getting the casting spot on for this tale was essential and through the talents of Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, and a ferocious Idris Elba, Rudyard Kipling's creatures are brought to life in spectacular fashion. Alongside having the entertainment element clamped down, Favreau also adds a more emotional core to this ride that stays with you.

Mowgli (Neel Sethi) is a boy-cub who has been raised by a pack of wolves since birth. His panther friend Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) worries for his safety and his Wolf father Akela (Giancarlo Esposito) is frustrated with his inability to run with the pack. The boy cub's life becomes endangered when the man-eating tiger, Shere Khan comes lusting for his flesh. Trying to escape his world and find a home where he belongs will take him into the path of fun-loving bear Baloo (Bill Murray).

Returning to Kipling's world was sneered upon at first when The Jungle Book reboot was announced. Well, it appears the doubters were wrong because Favreau creates an animal world so real you'll believe animals really can talk. Mowgli is seen scrambling across rocks, climbing cliffs to steal honeycombs and in one breathtaking sequence, falling down a cliff with water buffalo. The lurking menace of Shere Khan is cranked up to the max to the extent where he becomes the main attraction. During the Water Truce segment at the Peace Rock (a chapter missing from the 1967 film), you can almost taste the blood on his lips and fury bubbling beneath that scarred face. Khan means not only harm to this boy but he will kill anyone who stands in his way consume him. The sense of belonging gives the film a needed heart as Mowgli struggles to understand is place in the world

Thankfully Favreau says true to the spirit of the movie and gives us what we loved about the characters of old. Bagheera is very much the wise yet overly cautious Panther torn between giving Mowgli over the man world or playing protector to him. Baloo is a mellow and laid back soul who uses Mowgli as both friend and unpaid worker in his quest to get fed. Kaa (Scarlett Johansson) is a slippery and entrancing nemesis whose soft and gentle voice fools even the best of us. Christopher Walken almost steals the show as we get an impressive new spin on King Louie. In this piece he the last of the Gigantopithecus, who sits on a throne with a sizeable amount of treasure and fruit either side. In this, he is a large and slightly unsettling presence who you might think twice about when he says "I wanna make a deal with you!"

Yes "I Wanna Be Like You" and "Bare Necessities" make an appearance but in this picture they feel a little unnecessary. Through the vocals of Walken and Murray, we want to feel transported back to that old magical Disney era but here they feel just added on for old time sake.  The dangers of the jungle, in particular, the nerving Kaa sequence make this a more frightening journey than was needed. When the journey like this is very entertaining such issues are minor ones and Favreau gives us a visually arresting world that it more than we could have expected. Doing this tale as a live action film could have backfired, but it has sufficient charm and love poured into it that it is unthinkable to imagine it any other way.

The cast for this movie is perfectly done and it is impossible to imagine anyone else but Bill Murray as Baloo. Listening to his easy-going charm, you can almost see Murray on a lazy afternoon lying in the jungle with you. Ben Kingsley is also excellent as the authoritative Bagheera who becomes Mowgli's surrogate father throughout, A real presence on screen, Kingsley's voice alone has a commanding feel. Lupita Nyong'o has the most heartfelt role as adoptive Wolf mother Raksha and you can feel the motherly love wherever you look in this film. The real star turn belongs to Idris Elba as the cunning and dangerous Shere Khan. Inject a subtle menace along with a mad obsession, the Luther star is simply electric. There should be Oscars for voice acting alone after this performance.

Forget about your worries fans, The Jungle Book is as fun a ride as you can remember. Jon Favreau has recaptured our love for this old tale and few reboots can wish to be as success as this one. It seems you can teach an old jungle new tricks.

Age of Empires: Review of Hail, Caesar!

Hail, Caeser!

Directors: Joel and Ethan Coen

By Alex Watson

Once more the Coen Brothers turn towards Hollywood's Golden Age in their picture Hail, Caesar! Making great use of constant star cameos, this makes for a great satire picture. Running a major studio can bring all kinds of headaches and there are smart nods to the scandals involving such greats as Clark Gable and Esther Williams. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War where suspicions were heightened and showing the studio system beginning to break down the Coens return to this land is a success.

Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) is a 'fixer' for Capitol Pictures who has just run into a major problem. Hail, Caeser! is set to be their biggest picture of 1951 starring Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), the problem is the actor goes missing and a group called 'The Future' is demanding a ransom. Eager to get back Whitlock before all hell breaks lose, Mannix must also deal with pregnant star DeeAnna Moran (Scarlett Johansson) and struggling cowboy actor Hobie Doyle (Alden Ehrenreich).

Although Hail, Caesar! is filled with different story lines, somehow it manages to juggle them all without dropping the balls. The scandal and scare-filled nature of the 1950s are present and correct and Mannix has hands full dispelling rumors. The Coens in their film studio world are able to give nods all kinds of productions such as cheap westerns, well choreographed dance films and lavish aqua themed sets. The kidnap plot is almost secondary to everything else, who precisely are The Future? The big reveal shouldn't surprise many but the bickering between numerous intellectuals will for sure entertain. Mannix knows he has a headache on his hands because Whitlock is known for his binges and affairs but this one might be beyond his control.

The hints towards different scandals show off the Coens movie buff knowledge. DeeAnna wants to adopt her own unborn child to avoid a scandal while Hobie is struggling to play a straight role in contrast to his usual 'singing cowboy' job. Ralph Fiennes shows up here as the thespian director Lawrence Lorenz and incredibly gives a masterclass in comic relief attempting to direct his undertalented star. Also, there is the issue of power hungry identical twins and Thora and Thessaly Thacker (both Tilda Swinton) who are both Hedda Hopper type gossip columnists. With cameos popping a mile a minute including Channing Tatum as Gene Kelly type musical star and Jonah Hill as a cynical surety agent, the Coens are having a blast.

While Hail, Caesar! sings and dances well, there is also the issue of too many cooks spoiling the broth. The third act is possibly the weaker the picture and while it is typically random and unpredictable it perhaps doesn't completely satisfy. However, this is a minor blemish on the Coens good work and they succeed in keeping us entertained. Their ability to be able to hop between both deathly serious and light as a feather touches has really marked them out over time. Delving back into the scandal and red threats of the olden days has been the picture spark into life. Mannix may be always questioning his life, but he cannot function without the thrill of the unknown.

Josh Brolin makes for an engaging and capable lead, his dour yet excitable edge makes Mannix come alive. Smartly linking his guilt for continually abandoning his family for the chase to this devout catholicism, Brolin is the very presence the Coens need. Supported ably by George Clooney who is a wonderful mix of arrogance and cluelessness, his Baird Whitlock is a great nod to leads such as Kirk Douglas. His gradual reawakening to a new found cause sets him on a slippery slope. The real star of the picture is Alden Ehrenreich because easily he matches the big stars blow for blow and comes out with the pictures strongest performance. Hollywood take note of this one.

Hail, Caesar! may not win the battle of the box office against Deadpool or Zoolander 2 but it is still a funny and smart picture that deserves your attention. The Coen Brothers are always unpredictable, who knows what era that will focus on next time?

Brotherhood of Buccaneers: Review of Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Director: Joss Whedon

By Alex Watson

Although a darker and less jokier flick than we might have expected, Joss Whedon is again consistent with Avengers: Age of Ultron. But unlike its gleeful predecessor, there is an air of warning and madness present from the start. Which culminates in a creation that truly loathes its creators. However, even though it scores highly on the thrill level, you can't help but feel that this franchise is beginning to wear a little thin!

Completing a dangerous mission against a HYDRA base, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr) wish to great artificial intelligence creation that will be protector to humans. Only his creation that arrives, Ultron (James Spader) immediately comes to hate humanity and sets about on a mission to destroy it! Matched against an unstoppable being along with fellow experimental beings Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson). The Avengers have a hard mission ahead.

What perhaps sets Avengers: Age of Ultron apart is the fact that a great shadow of doubt has come across this once strong fraternity of superhero's. Captain America (Chris Evans) is starting to feel the strain of his role as protector, while Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) is beginning to have doubts over not only his relationship with Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) but whether he can exist among humans at all? Even Tony Stark is cast is near villian mode as it is his meddling with the forces of AI that brings about one un-godly creation! But amidst the cracks appearing, this unit has learn to work as a team- just watch Thor (Chris Hemsworth) slam the Caps shield into a HYDRA man's face! 

Emerging like a more sinister Frankenstein's monster, Ultron is a living and vengeful being who decides the only way to save humanity, is to destroy the earth! Constantly slippery and evolving, Ultron provides the ultimate obstacle to the Avengers. But his brother and sister companions Wanda/Scarlet Witch and Pietro/Quicksliver make for fine lieutenants. Particularly as through her mind mangling abilities, Wanda brings their worst fears to life before their eyes. It is shown Iron Man his post New York trauma that will result in him behaving more irrationally than usual!

But although Whedon has now fitted the style of this group like a glove and his command of the action scenes is breathlessly executed- you can't escape the thought that Avengers:Age of Ultron is now all too familiar. The finale is once set in the air (now a Marvel staple it seems) and while thrilling and very unpredictable, it just doesn't give you the rousing feeling that you felt when this team was first together. His excellent use of characterization firmly keeps everything afloat and the new additions are being worked in nicely, even Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) gets his own part of the story after being drastically underused.

Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth are as usual fine in their customary roles, but unlike before they are not as memorable. These characters are beginning to feel like fresh with every appearance and even some neat changes doesn't completely change things. The real star turn goes to Mark Ruffalo who exhibits a fine inner conflict as Bruce Banner who for once is truly doubting his place in the world and fears for not only his own safety, but the rest of human kind! James Spader however makes for a magnificent Ultron! Like a bad seed done drastically wrong, his lament for humans is well felt and through his gravely yet commanding voice, one of the best Marvel villains is born!

Avengers: Age of Ultron is a still a great night of entertainment, and I understand that they are far from being done. But this Marvel universe is feel a little overcooked these days. The films will still come thick and fast (the two part Infinity War installment is due for 2018), but they will struggle to match the joy of old. But Whedon's darker take on events is still worth viewing, especially if you like the Hulk finally being unleashed!