Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015) - Movie Review

Art from: Avengers: Age Of Ultron!

One thing that I have noticed as time has gone on, that it seems like most production houses generally tend to require that their sequels be bigger, more explosions, more A-list actors, etc... That is a huge mistake!

The reason being is, like the old saying goes... "Bigger is not always better"... And that saying is still true today! What I mean by this in relation to sequels, is that something is always lost in the story line!

Marvel seems to almost always do this for some reason... For example: Iron Man (2008) was a fantastic movie that really helped jump start the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe,) but, Iron Man 2 (2010)... There was bigger special effects, and a bigger cast... But something was lost in the story, and ended up making the movie suck... Fortunately they made up for that in a major way with, Iron Man 3 (2013)!

Iron Man 2... A dud, only made right by, 'Iron Man 3'! 

And unfortunately a lot of that is the reason, Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015) was still fun... But not as good as the original Avengers was!

Written by: Joss Whedon (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), and Directed by: Joss Whedon. Starring: Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Chris Evans (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), Scarlett Johansson (Lucy), Mark Ruffalo (Shutter Island), Jeremy Renner (Dahmer) & James Spader (Stargate).

"If he can wield the Hammer, he can keep the Stone." - Thor (Chris Hemsworth - A quote from: Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015).) 

This movie tells the story of how a more formed Avengers team, having reformed up after the battle of New York from the first movie are setting high on their laurels... S.H.I.E.L.D. maybe mostly gone, and Nick Fury maybe retired, but under Tony Stark (Played by: Robert Downey Jr.), the team (being aided by a group of robotic, 'Iron Men') are really kicking butt!

The Avengers kicking Hydra's butt! 

Well something interesting has happened... You see, after a grueling fight, in which the team had gone to war with Hydra, in an effort to reacquire Loki's scepter, Tony Stark (Played by: Robert Downey Jr.) and Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Played by: Mark Ruffalo,) are working on creating a new AI (when will they ever learn... Am I right?)

Anyway, this AI (which goes by the name of, 'Ultron' (Voiced by: James Spader)) ends up coming online and decides his programming in an effort to help the planet, is to eradicate mankind and start fresh!

So Ultron ends up taking over the Iron Men that Tony Stark had created, and as Ultron begins to build up his forces, it will be up to the Avengers to assemble again in an effort to save the world from a threat that one of their own created!

Ultron as he begins life as a broken, 'Iron Legion' unit! 

In the end, the truth is, is this movie is fun... Despite the frustrating over indulgence in to the special effects and what not and some of the loss in story line/quality of story... This movie does have some amazing battle scenes, and fun story arcs...

The other problems that I had with this movie is the fact that Black Widow and Bruce Banner keep whining about there stupid romance, and it seems like almost threatening the audience to run away together at the end of the world!

The last thing that I have to say is that having Quicksilver (Played by: Anthony Taylor-Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Played by: Elizabeth Olsen) in this movie is wrong, for many reasons that fans of the comics will understand... But as for the movies... Well... I mean Quicksilver is already a part of the X-Men franchise and is played by some one else in that series!

I guess what I am saying is that it is certainly worth watching, but is just not as good as the first one! 

Tweet

Iron Man And Captain America: Heroes United (2014) - Movie Review

Official Score = 1 1/2 Devils 

At this point, who hasn't heard of, 'The Avengers'... I mean, 'Iron Man', 'Captain America', 'Hulk', 'Thor' and the rest at this point seem to be the hot ticket in movies these days! And the actors and actresses that play  them have become some of the most famous actors and actresses on the planet! But there is one side to the world of, 'The Avengers', that generally tends to be over looked, but is a shame that it is... That being the animated side!

The truth is, is I could give you a lot of great reasons why the animated version is so great... The reason why they are so great is the fact that how it is all put together, the voice over work, as well as the technical side in bringing the characters to life, as well as the story line is in my opinion is pretty close to being as good as the live action movies (that is if you are like me and are a fan of animation...)

The problem is, is that where as most of these types of animated movies are generally pretty fun... Iron Man And Captain America: Heroes United (2014)... Sadly is not one oft he better of the series...

Definitely not one of the better of the series...

Starring: Adrian Pasdar (Heroes), Roger Craig Smith (Sonic Boom), Fred Tatasciore (Ultimate Spider-Man), David Kaye (X-Men: Evolution), Clancy Brown (Highlander) & Liam O'Brien (Star Wars Rebels).

Now the truth is, is this story is pretty fun... You see in this story, Hydra leader, 'Red Skull' (Liam O'Brien) has hatched a plan along with his Hydra henchmen and, 'Task Master' (Clancy Brown) to kidnap Captain America (Roger Craig Smith) and to steal technology from Iron Man/Tony Stark (Adrian Pasdar), in an effort to build a race of super soldiers that are only loyal to Red Skull!

Captain America & Iron Man in an adventure all their own!

But after Captain America is kidnapped, it will be up to Iron Man (with some help from the, 'Hulk' (Fred Tatasciore)), to not just rescue Captain America, but to get the three of them working to stop Hydra and the Red Skull as well as Task Master before the bad guys can take over the world!

No... The story is not the problem... Is it the talent? No of course not!

You see just about everyone in this movie has been doing these roles for years, and brought the same level of brilliance to this movie that they have brought to the, 'Avengers' cartoons that they have been playing for years!

No what it is... It is the animation... I don't know why they decided to change the animation for the, 'Heroes United' series, but it sucks and is horribly distracting!

In the end though, if you can get past the bad animation... Well this movie is pretty well worth it then... Other wise, this movie may not be for you!

The Five Captain Americas On The Big Screen

Every decade a certain type of movie ends up becoming a major long term movie series type... What I mean by this for example, is the slasher movie franchise... In the 1980s this type of movie series came in to it's own, and ever since, it has become one of the more famous type of horror movies of all time!

Another great example of this is the movies that have been released based on Marvel comics super heroes... Since the early part of the new millennium, Marvel's comic book heroes have been making a major splash in the movie world!

And so I thought that you guys would enjoy finding out the 5 Captain America's that have graced the world of the big screen!

At number 1: Dick Purcell.

This Captain America may not have his legendary shield, but he is still fighting for truth, justice & the American way! 

Dick Purcell (King Of The Zombies), starred as Captain America in 1944 when Republic Pictures decided to release a 15 chapter serial... And well, it maybe true that this version of, 'Captain America' may not have his signature shield, but he is still fighting for America as the ultimate patriot!

At number 2: Unknwon.

Binbasi Tayfun... A Turkish movie, with a real American hero!

Ok, now this one is an interesting one, you see, this one I hate to say it is an important one, the problem is, is that I couldn't find much on it, but in the 60s and 70s Turkey released a series of big screen Captain America movies, and this one being the first is quite important, the only thing is, is that I could not find out much on it!

At number 3: Aytekin Akkaya.

Apparently in this one, Captain America teams up with a Mexican wrestler to stop a psychotic Spider-Man!

Now this guy maybe the last to date of the Turkish Captain America's out there, but can you really go wrong with a Turkish Captain America teaming up with a Mexican wrestler to stop a psychotic Spider-Man?

At number 4: Matt Salinger.

Matt Salinger as, 'Captain America', getting his hands dirty!

Now this Captain America is a little closer to the one we all know and love... And where as the movie itself may have been wrought with problems... (This being the reason this movie was released years after it was made,) at the very least, this is the shield carrying masked super-soldier that we all know and love.

At number 5: Chris Evans.

Chris Evans as the Super Soldier we all know and love!

Alright folks, now we make it to the Captain America we all know and love, Chris Evans as the current Captain America!

For more information on some of these movies, please enjoy these trailers for the movies that are available!

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) - Movie Review

Official Score = 4 Devils

Most people born before the 90s I imagine will remember Marvel not just for the movies that they have produced in the new millennium, but also for the amazing comics that they produced for decades! But at this point I suspect that more so then the comics that Marvel's movies are based on, these days people generally tend to associate Marvel with the action packed epic movies that are based on their comics!

A couple of examples of these are: X-Men (2000), a movie that was based on one of Marvel's most famous comic book series of the same name! Another examples being, The Avengers (2012) and all of it's individual movies that are based on the characters that make up the, 'Avengers'!

One such movie I just recently saw, and you know what? There is a movie that I just recently saw, that I found to be a breath of fresh air from it's sort of stale first entry... That movie being: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)!

An amazing action packed fun movie!

Joe Russo (Animal Practice). Starring: Chris Evans (Fantastic Four), Scarlett Johansson (Lucy), Sebastian Stan (Black Swan), Robert Redford (All The President's Men), Samuel L. Jackson (Django Unchained), Anthony Mackie (Reel Steel), Colbie Smulders (The Lego Movie) & Haley Atwell (The Sweeney).

Now this movie in my opinion is one of the few movies that I would say is not only better then the first movie, but is actually significantly better then the first one!

You see, in the first movie, it was essentially a small handful of men, with one suped up soldier going up against an entire army that is not only vastly superior physically, but is also vastly superior technological... Add in an element of fascism that the small squad is fighting against, and you get just about every bum Science Fiction movie to come out in the new millennium!

Captain America: The First Avenger... Kinda bland... Captain America: The Winter Soldier... Vastly superior!

As for the second one, well... There is some awesome special effects (to be expected from Marvel movies...) Some great talent (including seeing Scarlett Johansson reprising her role as, 'Black Widow' in this movie...) And the story... Dare I say it? AMAZING!

You see, this movie takes place after the, 'Battle Of New York' that took place in, The Avengers, during this time, Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), has gone to work for Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) at S.H.I.E.L.D...

Now trying to face a new world using his old fashion ideas is proving not to be particularly easy, as he is learning to not only fit in to S.H.I.E.L.D., he also has to learn to fit in to a world that no longer believes in the same rules and morals that he does...

A frustrated Steve Rogers/Captain America in the modern world, ends up going to a museum that has an exhibit dedicated to him and his crew of the 1940s, and the few relics from that era that are still around...

But things quickly change, when Nick Fury, whom after warning him not to trust anyone, ends up being mysteriously assassinated by some one that is connected to Captain America in a way that will effect him very deeply... During this time, S.H.I.E.L.D. is being taken over by Captain America's old enemies, Hydra!

Well now that Captain America is no longer trusting anyone, and being branded a traitor by S.H.I.E.L.D., it will be up to him, a friend of his, and Black Widow to stop Hydra, and the threat it is creating, before they can put their nefarious plans in to action and start thinning out the human race... And to do this, Captain America may end up facing against some one from his past that he never thought he would see again!

Captain America is about to have a battle that he won't ever forget!

In the end, rather or not you liked the first one, this movie is a total blast, and as Marvel gets more and more involved in the process of making movies, they are making these movies better and better, and this one is a great example, so check it out, I think you guys might really like it... I did!

Lego Marvel Superheroes: Maximum Overload (2013) - Movie Review

[caption id="attachment_330" align="alignright" width="220"] Official Score = 2 1/2 Devils[/caption]

You know there has been a growing fascination with these still life LEGO movies, and with the recent big screen animated Lego movie, it doesn't look like it is going to change... Well I am going to have to say that, that is a good thing!

You see, besides the fact that I do enjoy a good animated movie or cartoon, I recently watched a big budget short film that was based in the world of LEGOs, but had all of Marvel's most currently celebrated comic book heroes, and I have to say that I was impressed!

The reason that I liked it, is because honestly it was pretty brilliantly animated, and the use of the world of LEGOs just made the short completely hilarious... That movie being: LEGO Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload (2013)!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Marvel in LEGO form![/caption]

Written by: Matt Wayne (The Super Hero Squad Show) & Directed by: Greg Richardson (Max Steel Vs. The Mutant Menace). Starring: Troy Baker (The Last Of Us), Drake Bell (Ultimate Spider-Man), Fred Tatasciore (9), Dee Bradley Baker (American Dad), Steve Blum (Cowboy Beebop: The Movie), Greg Cipes (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Chi McBride (The Terminal), Barry Dennen (Jesus Christ Superstar), Robin Atkins Downes (Prometheus), Bumper Robinson (Enemy Mine), Laura Bailey (Mr. Brooks), Grey DeLisle (The Replacements) & Tom Kenney (Spongebob Squarepants).

This short tells the story of how all sorts of super villains all over the world have been growing super powerful when a snowball is thrown at them... With the worlds most powerful supervillains becoming even more powerful, heroes like, 'The Avengers', 'S.H.I.E.L.D.' and even Wolverine & Spider-Man have their hands full stemming the tide!

You see Thor's brother, 'Loki' (Troy Baker), has hatched a fiendish plot... Mostly due to boredom, to keep, 'Midgard' (Earth) and it's heroes busy, while he attempts to take down Odin and take the throne of Asgard...

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="483"] LEGO Thor and Spider-Man are just two of the mighty heroes that are going to have to stop Loki and his devious plot![/caption]

It will be up to these LEGO heroes to stop Loki, before he can become the most powerful being in the 9 Realms!

In the end, this short maybe just that, but it is a fun one, and if you get a chance, you should check it out, I think you might like it!

http://youtu.be/lHsdttD9j1Y