GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY - FILM REVIEW

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY

Release Date: 31 July 2014 (UK)
Director: James Gunn
Running Time: 122 Minutes
Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Glenn Close
Screening Reviewed: London Press Screening

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

As the second phase of their ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ gears inexorably towards next summers’ behemoth-to-be, Avengers: Age of Ultron, the studio seems set on demonstrating it still has plenty of aces left up its sleeve and fresh fuel left in the can. Just as we seemed ready to begin slipping into a lacuna of comfortable (over?) familiarity with the Tony Starks and Thors of the cinematic Marveldom, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier had seemingly hit the creative apex of the ‘standalone yet part of the whole‘  formula they had been tweaking to nigh-perfection since the original Iron Man (I disregard Edward Norton’s The Incredible Hulk for reasons of taste) the seemingly indefatigable vim and invention of Marvel throws a very welcome curveball to proceedings in introducing us to Peter Quill a.k.a Starlord, and his fellow Guardians of the Galaxy. 

IRON MAN 3 - BLU-RAY REVIEW

IRON MAN 3 - HOME RELEASE (BLU-RAY)

Release Date: Monday 9 September 2013
Director: Shane Black
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley,
Home Release Reviewed: UK Blu-Ray Release (1 Disc)

Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

THE FILM:

Robert Downey Jnr’s ever-popular Tony Stark returns for the fourth (including Avengers Assemble) and potentially final time as his world is brought to fire and ruin at the hands of elusive yet deadly terrorist The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) in Marvel’s Iron Man 3. Coming off the back of the disappointing 2nd installment in the franchise, followed by the subsequent commercial and critical success of Avengers, Iron Man 3 had a considerable amount of expectations and responsibility on its iron-clad shoulders.

Thankfully it is a solid, suitably character-driven slice of superhero spectacle and fun which continues to find much of its charm and appeal courtesy of Downey Jnr’s winning central turn which remains fresh, funny and consistently engaging, even with the more insular, troubled character he has become after his New York shenanigans with the Avengers. For action purists and a younger audience there is a little muddying of the plot and slowing of the pace in the middle portion of the film in particular, with subplots such as Stark’s anxiety attacks feeling purposeful yet a little shoehorned in and ultimately not particularly well resolved. The film does kick up the ante for a suitably bombastic, visceral and satisfying extended finale, but never quite reaches the dizzying heights of spectacle and awe that we saw the same character headline with Avengers last year.

If Iron Man 3 is to be the last in the series, then it goes out on a decidedly more worthwhile high than the disappointing first sequel. True, there’s not altogether that much of the titular superhero in action, the motives and plot twists of the movies villainy is at times both hackneyed (get the President!) and unclear (Sales? Cover-up? Weaponisation?) but overall there is plenty to enjoy and appreciate in this slightly muddled but thoroughly entertaining slice of superhero goodness with that quintessential Marvel gloss and glean.

THE AVENGERS / AVENGERS ASSEMBLE MOVIE REVIEW

THE AVENGERS / AVENGERS ASSEMBLE REVIEW

Release Date: 26th April (UK)

Director: Joss Whedon

Running Time: 142 Minutes

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston and Samuel L. Jackson

Screening reviewed: UK London Press Screening


Reviewed by Kyle Pedley

There’s a terrific shot midway through The Avengers’ final reel where the camera encircles it’s titular band of heroes, united in the face of overwhelming opposition, that perfectly encapsulates and celebrates the achievement of this ambitious box office spectacular. It is in many ways the apex of the kind of pure fan-service upon which much of the film rests - a swing around the assembled Avengers unit as each poses or readies their weapon in their own atypical fashion - but not only is it a supremely satisfying moment for the audience, it is also perfectly demonstrative of the fact that this is a film focused on both no one individual yet all characters equally, and neatly symbolic of the behind-the-scenes coming together and collaboration that has led to this point.

The Avengers (or Marvel Avengers Assemble to give it’s UK release title) is the culmination of the ‘Marvel Cinematic Universe’ - a series of Marvel Studios releases deftly produced with the intention of characters and narrative threads intertwining between the likes of Iron Man (2008 and it’s 2010 sequel), The Incredible Hulk (2008), Thor (2011) and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) before finally coming together in this release. The real strength of this unique approach means the respective movies have already dealt with much of their own exposition and backstory, and whilst there is just about enough backtracking and explanation provided for those who have not seen the previous films and for The Avengers to still hold it’s own as a standalone title, there is little doubt that those who will appreciate the film most (and enjoy some of the numerous in-jokes), are those who have gone on this rewarding, unique journey with Marvel and it’s cast.