Avengers: Age of Ultron

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

2015 | Dir. Joss Whedon | 142 Minutes

"Every time someone tries to win a war before it starts, innocent people die. Every time."

The Avengers successfully retrieve Loki's Scepter from Hydra but Tony Stark is psychically coerced into using the power hidden within it to complete Ultron, a sentient computer program designed to protect the Earth from alien threats. Ruthless and unstable, Ultron decides the only way to protect the Earth is to create an extinction-level event to destroy the Avengers and rebuild humankind in his own image. With assistance from Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, siblings who had lost their parents to Stark weapons, Ultron sows seeds of discord among the Avengers.

A thoroughly humorous and action-packed ride, director Joss Whedon once again delivers an authentic comic book event film to the silver screen with all of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in that style of storytelling. Thrilling as it is for fans of the genre, Avengers: Age of Ultron is in many ways less satisfying than the first Avengers film, introducing several new story threads only marginally related to the main plot that are left unresolved by the time the end credits roll. The running time is slightly shorter than its predecessor but the narrative is much busier. It seems Marvel Studios has no interest in seamlessly weaving these elements into the picture to set up their next slate of films, despite potentially alienating the uninitiated.

Significantly upping the ante, the sprawling action sequences are ripped straight from the pages of the Marvel Comics that inspired this film. The picture opens with the team raiding an enemy base, featuring an digitally augmented extended tracking shot zipping from hero to hero as they demonstrate their respective talents taking down their enemies, leading to a slow-motion splash-page-style frame. Leading up to the film's midpoint, a psychically-manipulated Hulk rampaging through the streets of Johannesburg throws down with Iron Man equipped with "Veronica," a towering suit of armor that Stark and Banner designed as a contingency for such a situation. Another highlight is a kinetic battle in Seoul between Captain America and Ultron that quickly becomes a test of the heroism and the ultimate turning point and for Ultron's vengeful erstwhile allies Pietro and Wanda Maximoff. The final act of the film takes place in the fictional Eastern European country of Sokovia, where the Avengers and their new allies mount a rescue mission to lead the civilian population to safety while they battle Ultron and his massive self-replicated army as he enacts his diabolical plan.

Whedon's greatest strength is in his ability to humanize mythic characters using quieter moments, and while those are few and far in-between in this picture, several characters that were underdeveloped in previous films finally get their due. Jeremy Renner's Clint Barton is fully fleshed-out, incredibly likable and relatable as the comical voice of incredulous reason playing one of the two non-super-powered Avengers in the film. Adding extra depth to his character, Barton is revealed to be a family man when the Avengers seek refuge at his off-the-grid home and meet his wife played by Linda Cardellini in a affably natural performance. To further develop Bruce Banner and Natasha Romanoff, the filmmakers work in a touching romantic subplot between the two damaged souls, allowing Mark Ruffalo and Scarlett Johansson to inject a bit of pathos into their performances. Much of the film is driven by the irresponsible actions of Tony Stark when his personal demons resurface as a result of Wanda Maximoff's physic tampering, continuing and escalating a character flaw explored in Iron Man 3, and Robert Downey Jr. continues to excel in projecting Stark's obsession with protecting his world by any means possible through ill-advised technological experimentation with unpredictable results. Chris Evans' Steve Rogers runs perfect counterpoint to Stark, once again playing the unambiguous inspirational moral center of the team, his resolve so prominent that his aversion to foul language provides an amusing running gag. Thor is undoubtedly the least complex lead character in this film but Chris Hemsworth visibly has a lot of fun with the material, from an cute bit between him and Stark comparing the accomplishments of their respective girlfriends to the film's best recurring joke centered around what makes a person worthy to wield his hammer Mjolnir, although he provides enough gravitas to a side plot providing exposition for the Infinity Stones.

Supporting cast returning from previous Marvel Studios films are also allotted various brief moments to shine. Don Cheadle sees a decent amount of action as Rhodey, battling as War Machine with a selection of great lines. Cobie Smulders returns as Maria Hill, perfectly fitting in with the Avengers, now working for Stark. Hill's real boss Nick Fury is once again portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson in a small but essential part of the film. Anthony Mackie turns in a brief cameo as Sam Wilson, providing an update for where his character has been since the events of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Stellan Skarsgård appears as Erik Selvig in a similar limited role while Hayley Atwell and Idris Elba appear in hallucinations as Peggy Carter and Heimdall respectively. Thomas Kretschmann gets the short end of the stick, appearing briefly once again as Hydra villain Baron Wolfgang von Strucker only to be murdered off screen.

The already large ensemble is joined by several exciting additions. James Spader brings an eerie irrational humanity to Ultron, spouting some of the best quips of the picture while playing up his distaste for his creator and executing an convoluted evil plot straight out of an old-fashioned James Bond films. Elizabeth Olsen is perfectly cast as the psychic witch Wanda Maximoff, menacing and slightly mischievous but with an undeniable vulnerability. Wanda's arrogant speedster brother Pietro is played by Aaron Taylor-Johnson with gusto, blending deep-seated anger and comical sarcasm. Paul Bettany, whose role as Stark's computer system JARVIS receives a significant promotion when JARVIS becomes the super-powerful android called the Vision, delivers a mesmerizing and authoritative performance with a layer of innocence. Claudia Kim is great in a small supporting part as geneticist Helen Cho. Veteran motion-capture and character actor Andy Serkis appears very briefly in a memorable scene as criminal arms dealer Ulysses Klaue. Acclaimed French-American actress Julie Delpy turns makes a cameo appearance as Natasha Romanoff's black ops spy instructor in a hallucination.

When placed in the unenviable position of having to craft an equal or better follow up to The Avengers, Whedon succeeds in many ways despite a few inevitable shortcomings. Avengers: Age of Ultron is a film intended for the die-hard fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and it is practically for them only. For the casual viewer or the average film buff, the picture is a jumbled convoluted mash of seemingly incomprehensible references to prior events, confusing sci-fi fantasy jargon, and over-the-top action. Meanwhile, the true believers delight in recognizing the continuing plot threads of Marvel Studios' shared universe, savoring every moment spent with their favorite costumed champions, and openly welcoming the new additions to the growing roster of Earth's mightiest heroes.

MID-CREDITS STINGER

Thanos equips a golden gauntlet, vowing to collect the Infinity Stones himself, implying that others in his employ have failed him.

STAN LEE CAMEO

Stan the Man plays a World War II vet at the Avengers Tower party who scoffs at Thor's Asgardian liquor only to completely succumb to it.

FRAGMENTS

- Bryan Tyler and Danny Elfman's musical score makes heavy use of the Avengers and Captain America motifs written by Alan Silvestri heard in the first Avengers film, as well as Tyler's themes from Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World

- Thor's subplot involving the Infinity Stones reveals that he is aware of the four that have been seen in the MCU films up to this point, and that the yellow stone under the Vision's protection is the Mind Stone

- Irish actress Kerry Condon, who played Octavia of the Julii on HBO's Rome and Mike Ehrmantraut's daughter-in-law Stacey on Better Call Saul, provides the voice of Stark's new operating system FRIDAY

- Aaron Himelstein returns as the communication officer on board Nick Fury's helicarrier, last seen in Captain America: The Winter Soldier threatened at gunpoint by Brock Rumlow to launch the Project Insight helicarriers

Guardians of the Galaxy

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
2014 | Dir. James Gunn | 122 Minutes

"I look around at us, you know what I see? Losers. I mean, like, folks who have lost stuff. And we have, man, we have, all of us. Our homes, our families, normal lives. And usually life takes more than it gives, but not today. Today it's giving us something. It is giving us a chance."

Space pirate Peter Quill pilfers an ancient artifact from a desolate planet and is subsequently pursued by his fellow pirates and a fanatical terrorist seeking to use the destructive power housed within the relic to destroy worlds. Quill is quickly apprehended by interplanetary lawmen and thrown in prison where he bands together with a ragtag group of outcasts consisting of a deadly assassin longing to escape her master, a socially-inept warrior on a quest for vengeance, a cybernetically-enhanced raccoon-like rodent, and a sentient tree creature.

Based on one of Marvel Comics' lesser-known properties, Guardians of the Galaxy is an entertaining science fiction film featuring fun quirky characters in imaginative extraterrestrial settings and humorous action-packed situations. The first Marvel Cinematic Universe picture in which the entire narrative takes place away from planet Earth (with the exception of its brief prologue), writer/director James Gunn's unique brand of comedy provides a brilliant introduction to this remote region of Marvel Studios' shared continuum. Due in no small part to the film's excellent production design, the alien worlds featured in the picture feel lived-in and authentic from the barren wasteland of the planet Morag, to the orderly sterile cityscape of Xandar, to the bustling hovels of the remote mining colony Knowhere. Notably, the picture features numerous pop songs from '70s and '80s spinning out of Quill's treasured mix tape, a prop that is an essential part of Quill's character that also perfectly complements the tone and style of the narrative. Best of all, the film's numerous action scenes are infused with a manic and humorous energy thanks to its incredibly talented cast.

The most memorable moments of the picture feature Quill and his rough-and-tumble companions struggling to work together as a unit. Whether they're breaking out of the massive space prison known as the Kiln, or trying desperately to defeat the fearsome Kree zealot Ronan the Accuser, their unique skills and witty banter create a potent hilarious mixture. Comedic actor Chris Pratt takes center stage as Peter Quill (preferring the moniker Star-Lord), astonishingly convincing as a roguish action hero. Zoe Saldana, a reliable player in many science fiction films, does not disappoint as the warrior Gamora, a pleasure to watch in fight scenes with opportunities to show off her excellent comedic timing, although the romantic sub-plot between her character and Pratt's mostly fizzles. Dave Bautista is a revelation playing Drax the Destroyer, pulling off the tough guy who is so singled-minded that his missing sense of humor and irony becomes a running joke of its own. Bradley Cooper provides the feisty voice of Rocket (who frequently insists he is not a raccoon), instilling a surprising level of pathos to the computer-animated character who is written as the most trigger-happy member of the team but also the most emotionally vulnerable. Though the vocabulary of the giant plant monster is severely limited, action star Vin Diesel delivers Groot's dialogue with nuance and authority.

The supporting cast is essentially a small collection of fantastic character actors. Michael Rooker is both charismatic and menacing as the space pirate leader Yondu Udonta, brandishing one of the most visually impressive weapons in science fiction cinema history. Acclaimed actress Glenn Close turns in a fun performance as the leader of the Nova Corps in what amounts to an extended cameo, with comedic actors John C. Reilly and Peter Serafinowicz primarily representing the Xandarian peacekeeping force throughout the film. Lee Pace gets the thankless job of shouting his dialogue in heavy make-up and an unwieldy costume as Ronan the Accuser, although his reaction to Quill's antics during their decisive confrontation is priceless. Djimon Hounsou appears as Ronan's robotic henchman Korath but unfortunately, his presence hardly registers. Fresh off a starring role in Doctor Who, Karen Gillan is captivating as Gamora's deadly sister Nebula, emotional blank save for an intense jealousy and severely precise in battle. Benicio del Toro returns as Taneleer Tivan the Collector after briefly appearing in Thor: The Dark World, playing up the character's eccentric nature to the point where is openly mocked by Rocket. Josh Brolin makes an uncredited appearance as the Mad Titan Thanos, briefly seen in The Avengers before Brolin was cast in the part, with Alexis Denisof reprising his role as Thanos' petulant servant in a short but fatal scene.

Guardians of the Galaxy is a vibrant and fast-paced ride that takes MCU fans into exciting and unfamiliar territory. The feature is appropriately irreverent but also emotionally uplifting in unexpected ways. Ultimately, the film features perhaps the first and last occurrence of a sci-fi hero challenging an omnipotent alien overlord to a dance off in lieu of a better plan of attack.


POST-CREDITS STINGER
Sitting in the wreckage of his menagerie, Taneleer Tivan sips on an exotic drink while a dog in a space suit comforts him. The Collector is teased by one of his former captives, Howard the Duck.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Rocket spots Stan the Man romancing a young woman on Xandar and berates him


FRAGMENTS
- Quill's spaceship, the Milano, is named after actress Alyssa Milano

- Sean Gunn, director James Gunn's brother and regular cast member in Gunn's films, portrays Yondu's first mate Kraglin

- Lloyd Kaufman, co-founder of Troma Entertainment where James Gunn began his filmmaking career, has a cameo appearance as an inmate of the Kiln

- Nathan Fillion, popular science fiction star and James Gunn regular, provides the voice of the big blue inmate that harasses Quill and is quickly subdued by Groot

- Quill stating taht he has 12% of a plan is a subtle callback to Tony Stark's crack about Pepper Potts receving 12% of the credit for Stark Tower in The Avengers

- Rock star and director Rob Zombie, another James Gunn regular, provides the voice of the Ravager navigational computer

- Uncredited, comedic actor Seth Green lends his voice to Howard the Duck


007 CONNECTIONS
- Benicio del Toro (Dario in Licence to Kill)

- Dave Bautista (Mr. Hinx in Spectre)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
2014 | Dir. Anthony and Joe Russo | 136 Minutes

"The price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it's a price I'm willing to pay. And if I'm the only one, then so be it. But I'm willing to bet I'm not."

As Steve Rogers adjusts to his new life as a SHIELD operative in the 21st century, he soon discovers that the organization has been compromised. Rogers is quickly branded an enemy and must place his trust in Natasha Romanoff to uncover the secret behind SHIELD's infiltration. Meanwhile, a mysterious highly-skilled assassin with direct ties to Rogers' past emerges from the shadows.

Directors Anthony and Joe Russo craft a captivating thriller with satisfying hard-hitting action, forever shattering the status quo established in previous Marvel Cinematic Universe films and setting the character of Steve Rogers on a journey that puts his courage and heroism to the test. The film begins with an intense rescue mission on a SHIELD freighter that ends with a fight between Rogers and mercenary Batroc played by former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre. The action and intrigue continue to escalate as Nick Fury is assaulted on the streets of Washington DC by operatives dressed as policemen and the masked assailant known as the Winter Soldier in an extended chase sequence. In the best fight scene of the film, and perhaps in all of Marvel Studios' films to date, Rogers fights a team of STRIKE operatives lead by Brock Rumlow who have trapped on an elevator. The intensity steadily builds as Rogers, Romanoff, and new ally Sam Wilson discover that SHIELD had been infiltrated by Hydra since its inception. The heroes are relentlessly pursued until they mount a mission to take down three highly-advanced helicarriers to save millions of lives in the film's explosive climax.

Reprising the role of Steve Rogers, Chris Evans demonstrates incredible camaraderie with Romanoff and Wilson, as well as incredible pathos when it is revealed the Winter Solider is his best friend Bucky Barnes. Sebastian Stan returns in a major way as the titular Winter Soldier, transformed into a lean physically-imposing killer, visibly disturbed when forced to confront Rogers. Scarlett Johansson turns in a strong performance as Natasha Romanoff building off the character work she established in Iron Man 2 and The Avengers, playing the perfect foil to Rogers' honest honorable soldier as the secretive master spy. In significant supporting roles are Samuel L. Jackson, once again playing Nick Fury with incredible authority, joined by Cobie Smulders once again as the resourceful Maria Hill. Reprising their roles from previous Marvel Studios films, Hayley Atwell appears briefly as Peggy Carter, Toby Jones returns as Hydra scientist Arnim Zola, Maximiliano Hernández reprises the role of Agent Sitwell, and Garry Shandling makes a guest appearance as US Senator Stern (last seen in Iron Man 2).

With nuance and precision, acclaimed actor Robert Redford portrays SHIELD leader Alexander Pierce, revealed to be Hydra's highest ranked infiltrator and the ultimate villain of the picture. Anthony Mackie plays Rogers' newest ally Sam Wilson, a likeable military veteran trained to use a state-of-the-art flight suit complete with a set of wings. Frank Grillo, known for various tough guy roles, portrays ruthless STRIKE agent Brock Rumlow, who stops at nothing on his mission to take down Rogers. Emily VanCamp appears in a small but vital role as the mysterious Agent 13.

With no shortage of star power, sequences that rely more on practical choreography than CGI, and a strong storyline that sheds light on SHIELD's darkest secret, Captain America: The Winter Soldier irrevocably changes the world of Marvel Studios' shared film universe. The filmmakers successfully advance the story of Steve Rogers to a new and captivating stage, crafting a great superhero picture that doubles as an thrilling action-packed espionage film.


MID-CREDITS STINGER
Dir. Joss Whedon
With Loki's scepter in his possession, Hydra leader Baron Wolfgang von Strucker (Thomas Kretschmann) is informed that Hydra's secret infiltration of SHIELD has been exposed but the news does not faze him as he observes two super-powered test subjects in separate holding cells, Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).


POST-CREDITS STINGER
In street clothes, Bucky steps into the Captain America Smithsonian exhibit.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man is a Smithsonian security guard who panics when he notices Captain America's uniform is missing from its display.


FRAGMENTS
- The items on Steve Rogers' list of things to experience vary in different international cuts of the film (Yahoo! Movies)

- The World Security Council is played by Jenny Agutter (who previously appeared in The Avengers), Chin Han (the conniving mob banker Lau in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight), Alan Dale (the villainous Charles Widmore on Lost), and Bernard White (Rama-Kandra in the Matrix film series)

- Character actor Gary Sinise narrates a Captain America Smithsonian exhibit

- Comedic actors DC Pierson ("boy genius" Duncan in Mystery Team) and Danny Pudi (Abed on Community) appear in minor roles

- Co-director Joe Russo appears as a doctor in one scene

- Screenwriters Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely appear briefly as SHIELD interrogators

- Ed Brubaker, creator of the Winter Soldier comic book character, makes a cameo as a scientist working on Bucky

- When Steve Rogers and Natasha Romanoff question Agent Sitwell, he mentions several people that Hydra would perceive as threats including Tony Stark and Dr. Stephen Strange

Thor: The Dark World

THOR: THE DARK WORLD
2013 | Dir. Alan Taylor | 112 Minutes
 
"You should know that when we fought each other in the past, I did so with a glimmer of hope that my brother was still in there somewhere. That hope no longer exists to protect you. You betray me, and I will kill you."

After stumbling through a portal to another world, Jane Foster bonds with the Aether, an ancient indestructible weapon once harnessed by the Dark Elves of Svartalfheim in an attempt to plunge the universe into eternal darkness. Thor brings Jane to Asgard to try to separate her from the Aether but is quickly met with resistance from his father Odin. When Dark Elves invade Asgard in an attempt to reclaim the weapon, Thor struggles to protect Jane and finds an unlikely ally in his incarcerated brother Loki.

Directed by Alan Taylor, Thor: The Dark World is, unfortunately, a frustratingly standard sequel with little to set it apart from the other Marvel Studios films. While the production design and the pacing of the picture are slightly improved over the first Thor film, the characters aren't as engaging and the new antagonists are downright dull. To its disservice, the featured MacGuffin plot device is vaguely defined in this film, likely introduced to be further developed in future Marvel Studios films. Though various sequences feature large armies, with the Dark Elves brandishing impressively devastating weapons (the black hole grenade is pretty darn cool), the action is mostly basic and uninspired, save for the sprawling climatic battle on the streets of London that utilizes numerous spatial portals for some disorienting fun.

The film's saving grace are the captivating interactions between Thor and Loki as portrayed by Chris Hemsowrth and Tom Hiddleston returning from Thor and The Avengers. Natalie Portman also returns as Jane Foster, although she unfortunately somehow has even less romantic chemistry with Hemsworth's Thor in this film. Stellan Skarsgård is featured once again as Dr. Selvig, playing full-on pantsless crazy, doing no favors for the actor or the character. Kat Dennings provides comic relief again as Darcy, joined by Jonathan Howard as her intern Ian. Anthony Hopkins returns as Odin, consistently matching his over-the-top performance of the previous Thor film. Rene Russo's Frigga plays a slightly larger role in this film, although it is ultimately just as thankless. Idris Elba's Heimdall is given a larger role as well, participating in more action scenes, and further developing the strong friendship between him and Hemsworth's Thor. Zachary Levi replaces Joshua Dallas as Fandral, joining returning stars Ray Stevenson and Tadanobu Asano as the Warriors Three with Jaimie Alexander as Lady Sif, although Thor's companions have little to do in this film.

Christopher Eccleston plays the Dark Elf leader Malekith, a regrettably dour one-note role that requires heavy make-up, too much fantasy language dialogue and very little in the way of actual acting. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje plays Malekith's lieutenant Algrim, a thankless enforcer role that doesn't even require an actor after a grotesque physical transformation a third of the way into the film's running time. Comedian Chris O'Dowd plays a small part as a potential suitor for Jane Foster.

Though visually striking, Thor: The Dark World is ultimately a lackluster sequel carried only by the performances of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston. The plot of the film is less than captivating, mostly due to a disappointing set of villains, and serves only to establish elements to be used in future Marvel Studios films. While the film may satisfy die-hard fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it fails to stand alone as its own narrative and is one of the weaker films under the Marvel Studios banner.


MID-CREDITS STINGER
Dir. James Gunn
Lady Sif and Volstagg entrust the Aether to Tanaleer Tivan "The Collector" (Benicio del Toro), revealing that the Tesseract, kept on Asgard, and the Aether are artifacts known as Infinity Stones.


POST-CREDITS STINGER
Thor returns to Earth and embraces Jane while a displaced frost beast from Jotunheim rampages through an empty warehouse lot.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man is a patient in Dr. Selvig's mental ward.


FRAGMENTS
- The film features the debut of a new Marvel Studios logo with accompanying musical fanfare by composer Brian Tyler

- Scottish character actor Tony Curran, who played Vincent van Gogh in a 2010 episode of Doctor Who, plays Odin's father King Bor in the film's opening sequence

- Alice Krige, veteran science fiction actress, plays an Asgardian physician in one scene

- Chris Evans appears in a brief uncredited cameo when Loki transforms into Steve Rogers (accompanied by Alan Silvisti's Captain America theme) to tease Thor about his new friends on Earth


007 CONNECTIONS
- Benicio del Toro (Dario in Licence to Kill)

Iron Man 3

IRON MAN 3
2013 | Dir. Shane Black | 130 Minutes

"You start with something pure. Something exciting. Then come the mistakes, the compromises. We create our own demons."

After the Battle of New York, Tony Stark obsessively builds Iron Man suits as a coping mechanism for the trauma he suffered. Meanwhile, the Ten Rings, a terrorist threat with ties to Stark's past begins an aggressive campaign utilizing an explosive new weapon. Stark must regain his nerve and reveal the secret behind the Ten Rings.

Helmed by veteran action director Shane Black, Iron Man 3 is a refreshing installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Black bringing his unique brand of sharp humor to the film as well as several massive and inventive action sequences. Several memorable and iconic action set pieces are featured throughout the film. The picture kicks into high gear when Stark, only having access to a prototype suit, narrowly escapes the destruction his home under attack by assault helicopters. In a smaller, but absolutely ingenious fight scene, Stark takes on several armed guards with only one repulsor gauntlet and one boot. Two-thirds of the way through the film, another innovative large scale action sequence plays out as Stark mounts an impromptu midair rescue operation saving thirteen Air Force One passengers from plummeting to their deaths after a villain blasts a hole in the plane. The film culminates with a giant free-for-all battle between a group of genetically enhanced soldiers and Stark's collection of over thirty unique Iron Man suits.

Robert Downey Jr. plays a convincingly vulnerable Tony Stark in this installment, unable to cope with the events depicted in The Avengers. The film humanizes Stark primarily through his interactions with a clever child who comes to his aid played by Ty Simpkins and through buddy-comedy-style exchanged with Rhodey, portrayed once again by Don Cheadle who appears to be having a lot more fun in this go-around. Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts is unfortunately relegated to a thankless hostage role for most of the film's running time, while Jon Favreau's Happy Hogan also spends most of the film out of commission, relegated to a hospital bed after the inciting incident that sends Stark on his mission. Paul Bettany returns as the voice of JARVIS, in a comedic slightly malfunctioning state after the film's first major action sequence.

Oscar-winning actor Ben Kingsley turns in a brilliant performance as the enigmatic Mandarin with an oddly comedic twist. Guy Pearce nearly chews the scenery as the villainous Aldrich Killian, head of privately funded super science think-tank AIM. Rounding out the supporting cast are James Badge Dale and Stephanie Szostak as featured enhanced soldiers employed by AIM, Rebecca Hall in a small part as geneticist Maya Hansen, Shaun Toub reprising his role as Yinsen in a brief cameo appearance, award-winning Chinese actor Wang Xueqi in a blink-and-you'll-miss-him appearance as a heart surgeon, and character actors William Sadler and Miguel Ferrer as the President and Vice President of the United States.

Iron Man 3 is a brisk and humorous action film that appropriately puts a cap on Tony Stark's character arc. Featuring exciting action sequences and an intriguing plot with a few decent twists, the picture is a worthy continuation that may also serve as a conclusion to the Iron Man film series. Where the film benefits most is how it reassesses Stark's progress as a character, allowing the character to move forward without being overly-concerned with overtly establishing the next big event in the Marvel Studios shared universe.


POST-CREDITS STINGER
Stark's voiceover that bookends the film is revealed to be a one-way conversation with Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) who had fallen asleep.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man is an enthusiastic beauty pageant judge.


FRAGMENTS
- Trevor Slattery (Ben Kingsley) returns in Marvel One-Shot: All Hail The King (available on the home video release of Thor: The Dark World), revealing that he shares a cell block with Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell, last seen in Iron Man 2) and that the real Mandarin is not pleased with Slattery's unflattering portrayal of the villain

- The Chinese cut of the film features more scenes with Wang Xueqi as Dr. Wu (The Hollywood Reporter)

- Dale Dickey, Patty the Daytime Hooker on My Name is Earl, plays a small role as the mother of a soldier that fell victim to an AIM cover-up

- Rebecca Mader, who memorably played Charlotte Lewis on Lost, has a bit part as the AIM agent who captures Rhodey

- Comedians Adam Pally, Bill Maher, and Joan Rivers have featured cameo appearances

The Avengers

THE AVENGERS
2012 | Dir. Joss Whedon | 143 Minutes

"If we can't protect the Earth, you can be damn well sure we'll avenge it."

With support from an extraterrestrial army, Loki appears on Earth, steals the Tesseract from SHIELD, and begins a campaign to take control of the planet by force. Unable to contain Loki with the forces of SHIELD, Nick Fury calls upon Bruce Banner, Steve Rogers, and Tony Stark to combat the rogue Asgardian, while Thor arrives on Earth to capture his brother. The heroes must set aside their differences and work together as a team to defeat Loki and recapture the Tesseract.

Like the super-sized Marvel Comics crossover events that inspired this film, The Avengers is a massive sequel to (and culmination of) the various story threads left unresolved in Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger (and, to a lesser extent, The Incredible Hulk). As Loki rains destruction upon New York City, Tony Stark learns to be a selfless hero, Bruce Banner receives an opportunity to channel his rage towards a worthy enemy, Steve Rogers begins to come to terms with his new surroundings in the 21st century, and Thor continues to mature as a responsible defender of the realms.

The action sequences are phenomenal, featuring stand-out set pieces and amazing production. The reveal of the SHIELD helicarrier and its cloaking mechanism is a breathtaking cinematic moment. Thor's arrival on Earth to capture Loki and the ensuing fight with Iron Man is dynamic and a lot of fun. The battle on the helicarrier halfway through the film between a group of mercenaries led by a brainwashed Clint Barton, provoking Banner to lose control as all hell breaks loose, allows all of the heroes to show their unique talents. The film culminates with a massive battle on the streets of New York between the fully-formed Avengers and invading extraterrestrial forces. The extended battle is a sight to behold, concluding with Stark flying through a wormhole carrying a nuclear missile to the enemy mothership. The visual effects are stunning and the action is constantly inventive, featuring all of the heroes in top form.

Robert Downey Jr. is once again a lot of fun playing Tony Stark, sitting on the fine line between confidence and arrogance, with Gwyneth Paltrow's Pepper Potts complimenting his performance in a short scene establishing Stark Tower in New York City. Paul Bettany returns to voice JARVIS, more of his dialogue advising Stark against his reckless tendencies. Scarlett Johansson's Natasha Romanoff is a fully-fleshed-out character this time around, with Johansson relishing in additional layers of depth alluding to the character's troubled past. Samuel L. Jackson's role is extended beyond just a featured cameo as Nick Fury, directly driving the plot to bring together "Earth's Mightiest Heroes," bringing respectability to the headstrong director of SHIELD. Clark Gregg turns in his best performance yet as Phil Coulson, with the added character quirk of Coulson as a massive fan of Captain America, while fellow returning SHIELD Agent Jasper Sitwell played by Maximiliano Hernández is relegated to a background role. Chris Hemsworth is as charismatic as ever returning as Thor, playing up the character's confidence over his peers and his frustration in having to recapture his brother. Tom Hiddleston is deliciously evil reprising the role of Loki, the film's primary villain with opportunities to colorfully trash-talk all of the heroes. Chris Evans' Steve Rogers naturally fits the role of team leader Captain America, particularly excellent in interactions with Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark, highlighting the differences in the worldviews of Stark and Rogers. Jeremy Renner also returns as Clint Barton, and although he's an active participant in the plot he unfortunately spends most of film under Loki's mind control. Stellan Skarsgård's Dr. Selvig character suffers similar shortcomings spending nearly the entire film in a brainwashed state.

The returning cast is joined by Mark Ruffalo, doing a fine job replacing Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, astoundingly soft-spoken and low-key as Banner until the character's anger boils up. Canadian actress Colby Smulders is excellent as Nick Fury's second-in-command, the elite SHIELD Agent Maria Hill. Joss Whedon regular Alexis Denisof plays "The Other," Loki's appropriately nasty alien liaison who serves a powerful and treacherous master.

The Avengers is nothing short of a cinematic miracle. Director Joss Whedon balances several disparate storylines to form a cohesive, entertaining, and wholly-satisfying narrative which each and every star character receiving the treatment they deserve while truly advancing each of their respective character arcs. While the ending of the film certainly paves the way for further adventures, the film is an impactful conclusion to first phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.


MID-CREDITS STINGER
"The Other" is disgusted with Loki's failure, suggesting to his master that to challenge the heroes of earth "is to court death." His master, the intergalactic despot Thanos, rises from his throne and smiles.


POST-CREDITS STINGER
Shortly after saving New York, the battle-weary Avengers, still in costume, sit in a tiny restaurant eating Shawarma as suggested by Tony Stark.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man plays against type as a skeptic that does not believe in the existence of superheroes during the aftermath of the Battle of New York.


FRAGMENTS
- To avoid confusion with the iconic British espionage series also known as The Avengers, this film was retitled Marvel Avengers Assemble in the United Kingdom

- Several musical themes from Captain America: The First Avenger, which like this picture was scored by Alan Silvestri, can be heard throughout the film

- Genre actors Powers Boothe and Jenny Agutter appear as members of SHIELD's World Security Council; Agutter reprises this role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

- Character actor Harry Dean Stanton makes a cameo appearance as a workman who provides Bruce Banner with a set of clothes after witnessing him crash through a building as the Hulk and transform back into his natural form; he asks Banner if he is an alien - one of Stanton's most notable roles is his portrayal of a doomed workman in 1979's Alien

- Ashley Johnson, Ellie in The Last of Us, plays a small role as a cafe waitress during the Battle of New York

- Enver Gjokaj, who appears in a small part as a New York cop, would later appear on Agent Carter as Peggy Carter's colleague Agent Daniel Sousa

- Marvel One-Shot: Item 47, featured on the home video release of this film, tells the story of two common thieves who make off with a Chitauri gun in the aftermath of the Battle of New York, only to be captured by Agent Sitwell and subsequently recruited by SHIELD

Captain America: The First Avenger

CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
2011 | Dir. Joe Johnston | 124 Minutes

"I don't want to kill anyone. I don't like bullies, no matter where they're from."

During the height of the Second World War, Brooklyn-born Steve Rogers, a man with a heroic heart but severe physical limitations, is chosen by scientist Dr. Erskine of the Strategic Scientific Reserve to participate in a secret Super Soldier Program. Moments after Rogers' successful transformation, Dr. Erskine and his chemical formula are lost in an enemy attack. Adopting the moniker Captain America, Rogers combats the forces of Hydra, a rogue Nazi science division. Headed by the ruthless commander known as the Red Skull, Hydra attempts to annihilate their enemies utilizing an ancient mythological weapon.

Director Joe Johnston accomplishes no small feat in bringing Captain America to the silver screen, doing justice to the property's war-era roots and delivering a fine superhero film. Taking viewers from 1940's Brooklyn to the battlefields of war-torn Europe, the film looks and feels like a pulp novel come to life. Much groundwork is laid in this film to establish the narrative of the Marvel Cinematic Universe moving forward but it does an amazing job introducing their most heroic champion. The visual effects augment the film in unexpected ways. During its first third, lead actor Chris Evans is digitally altered, drastically reducing his height and build to convincingly transforming him into Steve Rogers before the experiment. Unfortunately, the digital European battlefields aren't nearly as seamless. While the film is cast incredibly well, with strong performances across the board, the action scenes are at best competently standard, and at worst less than captivating.

Chris Evans is great as Steve Rogers, delivering a strong performance as a good man who has known weakness all his life given the chance to fight bullies of the grandest scale after a miraculous transformation. Hayley Atwell shines as Peggy Carter, a fierce soldier in her own right who falls in love with Rogers. Their touching star-crossed romance is aptly developed. Sebastian Stan plays Bucky Barnes, Steve Rogers' childhood friend and surrogate brother, convincingly chummy and macho. Genre character actor Hugo Weaving does what he does best under countless layers of make-up in an over-the-top portrayal as the Red Skull, while Toby Jones matches his campy energy as the groveling scientist Arnim Zola.

Stanley Tucci is memorable in his limited role as the affable Dr. Erskine, continuing the Marvel Studios trend of casting the best actors to be featured in heroic origin stories. Dominic Cooper is a wonderful as the roguish genius inventor Howard Stark, the perfect analog to his son Tony Stark who carries on his legacy as Iron Man. Tommy Lee Jones delivers some of the film's best lines as the dry no-nonsense Colonel Phillips. Rounding out the cast are Neal McDonough, Derek Luke, Kenneth Choi, Bruno Ricci, and JJ Feild as Captain America's brave companions the Howling Commandos.

Captain America: The First Avenger is a fine addition the Marvel Cinematic Universe, setting the pieces in motion for future Marvel Studios productions while delivering a great origin story for an inspirational superhero. As with Iron Man and Thor, the filmmakers at Marvel Studios successfully take one of their less popular properties and give it a massive jolt of pop culture relevance.


POST-CREDITS STINGER
A brief teaser for The Avengers opening with Steve Rogers receiving a new mission from Nick Fury.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man appears briefly as a confused general.


FRAGMENTS
- The Tesseract, first teased in the post-credits stinger from Thor, makes its official debut as the MacGuffin, primary plot device, of this film

- Character actor David Bradley, most famous for playing Argus Filch in the Harry Potter films and Walder Frey on Game of Thrones, appears in a small part as the old man guarding the Tesseract at the start of the film

- Steve and Bucky visit the World Expo in New York and witness a tech presentation by Howard Stark, a callback to the Stark Expo in Iron Man 2

- Chris Evans played Johnny Storm the Human Torch in 2005's Fantastic Four and its sequel Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer in 2007

- The original Marvel Comics Human Torch is prominently displayed in the Expo sequence

- One of the young women with Steve and Bucky at the Expo is played by Jenna Coleman, Clara Oswald on Doctor Who

- Richard Armitage, Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson's Hobbit film trilogy, plays the Hydra spy that assassinates Dr. Erkine

- Neal McDonough, playing Howling Commando Dum Dum Dugan in this film, was the voice of Bruce Banner on the 1996 Incredible Hulk animated series and notably played First Lieutenant Lynn "Buck" Compton on Band of Brothers

- Captain America's classic costume from the comics is utilized as the outfit Rogers wears to sell war bonds, leading the way to a more practical military uniform that features elements of the classic design

- Natalie Dormer, Margaery Tyrell on Game of Thrones, plays a soldier who steals a kiss from Steve Rogers

- Marvel One-Shot: Agent Cater (available on the home video release of Iron Man 3) offers a brief look at Peggy Carter's life immediately following the events of this film, a concept eventually developed into a television series

Thor

THOR
2011 | Dir. Kenneth Branagh | 114 Minutes

"It's not a bad thing finding out that you don't have all the answers. You start asking the right questions."

Thor, an arrogant god-like prince of a distant world called Asgard, brazenly attacks his kingdom's sworn enemies in an empty display of strength and is subsequently stripped of his powers and banished to Earth by his father Odin. While Thor learns humility living as a mortal far from home, his jealous brother Loki plots to usurp the throne.

Directed by acclaimed Shakespearean actor Kenneth Branagh, Thor is somewhat standard stylistically, its visual flair stemming more from the film's stunning production design heavily inspired by the artwork of Marvel Comics legend Jack Kirby than directorial flair. Asgard is brought to the screen with a mesmerizing blend of gorgeous physical sets and dazzling CGI, contrasting with the dark and desolate wasteland of the Frost Giant home world Jotunheim. Most of the film is spent in a small nondescript New Mexico town, appropriate for the exiled hero narrative. Perhaps benefiting most from Branagh's direction are the performances of the film's key players. Although the most imaginative action sequence happens early in the film when Thor and his companions attack Jotunheim, showing off all of their unique skills, a more grounded fight occurs midway through the film featuring extensive practical stunts when Thor attempts to reclaim his hammer from SHIELD operatives, defeating agent after agent in hand-to-hand combat. The final act of the film features two back-to-back fights: first with Thor and his companions going up against a giant mechanical monster laying waste to the town, and finally the climatic confrontation between Loki and Thor in Asgard.

Chris Hemsworth is perfectly cast as the God of Thunder, haughty and boisterous undeniably charismatic. Although there isn't much romantic chemistry between Hemsworth's Thor and the plucky scientist Jane, played Natalie Portman in a fun performance, the Australian actor does a brilliant job exuding the charm and magnetism that quickly wins over Jane. The standout performance of the film belongs to Tom Hiddleston, bringing real pathos to the tortured maniacal and deeply jealous Loki.

In a role that requires no subtlety, Anthony Hopkins exudes grandeur and gravitas as King Odin. Idris Elba plays Heimdall, the stoic guardian of the Rainbow Bridge. Joshua Dallas, Ray Stevenson, and Tadanobu Asano are a lot of fun as Thor's companions the Warriors Three with the lovely Jaimie Alexander as the fierce combatant Lady Sif. Science fiction character actor Colm Feore is barely recognizable under layers of special effects and a modulated voice as King of the Frost Giants Laufey. Rene Russo appears in a minor role as Thor's mother Queen Frigga without much to do. Kat Dennings provides ample comic relief as Jane's intern Darcy while Stellan Skarsgård spouts scientific jargon as Jane's skeptical mentor Dr. Selvig. Clark Gregg reprises the role of Agent Coulson, last seen stepping into this story in Iron Man 2, joined by fellow SHIELD Agent Sitwell played by Maximiliano Hernández, reacting in amusing ways to the arrival of super-powered beings on Earth.

Thor is a worthy introduction to the fantasy-inspired elements of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring fun larger-than-life characters and exciting phenomenal action. The film's most glaring flaw, and what keeps it from being a truly satisfying experience in its own right, is its open-ended conclusion, clearly designed to lead into a larger narrative that's only hinted at in this film.


POST-CREDITS STINGER
Dir. Joss Whedon
Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) has recruited Dr. Selvig to study a mysterious blue cube of energy while Loki observes from beyond.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man appears as a pick-up truck driver who attempts, and fails, to pull Thor's hammer from its landing site with a set of heavy-duty chains.


FRAGMENTS
- Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer (available on the home video release of Captain America: The First Avenger) details a brief incident at a gas station convenience store involving Agent Coulson and a duo of armed robbers that takes place between this film and Iron Man 2

- The Infinity Gauntlet, an object that will play a significant part in the future of the MCU, can be briefly seen in Odin's weapons vault

- Ray Stevenson played the Marvel Comics vigilante Frank Castle in Lexi Alexander's Punisher: War Zone

- The clothes and false identity Jane provides for Thor belonged to her ex-boyfriend Donald Blake, a reference to the human host body of Thor in the original Marvel Comics series

- Agent Sitwell, who makes his first appearance in this film, plays an integral role in Captain America: The Winter Soldier

- Jeremy Renner appears very briefly as SHIELD master archer Clint Barton during Thor's mission to retrieve his hammer from SHIELD

Iron Man 2

IRON MAN 2
2010 | Dir. Jon Favreau | 125 Minutes

"You want my property? You can't have it. But I did you a big favor. I have successfully privatized world peace. What more do you want?"

While Tony Stark's health declines with the arc reactor in his chest steadily poisoning him, he distracts himself by re-instituting his father's Stark Expo and his behavior becomes more and more erratic. At his most vulnerable, Stark is met with challenges on all sides. The US Government puts pressure on Stark to hand over his Iron Man technology. Ivan Vanko, the son of his father's rival Russian counterpart, and Justin Hammer, inept and unscrupulous weapons developer, join forces to ruin him.

As its own stand-alone narrative, Iron Man 2 is a paper-thin film, presenting many potentially captivating plot points that fall flat or fizzle out. The subplot with the US Government only serves to establish Rhodey's War Machine alter ego. Villains Vanko and Hammer provide fodder for action scenes but offer no serious threat or dramatic heft. The heavy involvement of SHIELD in the storyline lays out the groundwork for future Marvel Studios films but does little to serve this one, save for giving Stark a remarkably convenient cure for his illness. The film's saving grace is its action scenes, expertly storyboarded by veteran animator Genndy Tartakovsky. Highlights include, a fight on a racetrack between Vanko armed with lethal electric whips and Stark equipped with a compact Iron Man suit unfolding from a suit case, an inebriated Iron Man and Rhodey sporting the Mark II suit throwing down in Stark's home, a sequence featuring Agent Natasha Romanoff taking out Hammer Industries security guards with extreme prejudice, and the final battle in which Tony and Rhodey fight Vanko and an army of Hammer drones flying through the Stark Expo and culminating in a facsimile Japanese garden.

Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow return as Tony Stark and Pepper Potts, naturally slipping back into their roles and building upon the chemistry they shared in the previous Iron Man film. Don Cheadle replaces Terrence Howard as James "Rhodey" Rhodes, charismatic as Stark's best friend with Rhodey's expanding role. Returning from Iron Man, director Jon Favreau has more to do as the bumbling Happy Hogan. Paul Bettany once again provides the humorously voice of Stark's computer system JARVIS. Also returning from the previous film are Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Clark Gregg as Agent Coulson, and Leslie Bibb as Vanity Fair reporter Christine Everhart.

New to the series, Scarlett Johansson plays sultry super spy Natasha Romanoff, convincingly stone cold as an infiltrator and skilled combatant. Mickey Rourke mostly phones in his performance rocking a campy Russian accent and a wild man look as Ivan Vanko, while character actor Sam Rockwell is cartoonishly evil and fun to watch as the grossly incompetent Justin Hammer. John Slattery appears briefly as Howard Stark in old film footage evoking a Walt-Disney-like persona. Comedian Garry Shandling is featured in small part as the smarmy US Senator Stern, verbally jousting with Stark at a senate hearing.

Despite presenting many intriguing plot points and offering truly innovative action sequences, Iron Man 2 is not nearly as effective as the first Iron Man film. It is an inferior sequel that is clearly more interested in what's to come in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and less interested in its own narrative.


POST-CREDITS STINGER
Dir. Kenneth Branagh
Agent Coulson travels to New Mexico when a mysterious hammer is discovered in the desert. The full version of this scene is featured in Thor.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man appears early in the film as a Larry King lookalike when Stark meets his fans exiting his Stark Expo presentation.


FRAGMENTS
- Justin Hammer returns briefly in Marvel One-Shot: All Hail The King (available on the home video release of Thor: The Dark World) 

- The film features cameos from Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, Oracle Corporation CEO Larry Ellison, news personalities Christiane Amanpour and Bill O'Reilly, and the late DJ AM Adam Goldstein playing themselves.

- Actress Kate Mara appears briefly as a US Marshall that serves Stark his summons to the US Senate

- Agent Coulson calls attention to the incomplete Captain America shield seen in the previous Iron Man film, and Stark subsequently uses it to balance a large cable

- A meeting between Stark and Nick Fury before the end of the film features a map that includes the fictional nation of Wakanda (to be further explored in Black Panther) clearly marked as a place of interest and news footage from the Hulk's rampage on the Culver University campus seen firsthand in The Incredible Hulk


SUPPLEMENTAL STUFF
- Video: AC/DC "Shoot To Thrill" (Iron Man 2 Version)

The Incredible Hulk

THE INCREDIBLE HULK
2008 | Dir. Louis Leterrier | 112 Minutes

"You don't understand the power of this thing. It is too dangerous. It cannot be controlled!"

After suffering a blast of gamma radiation in an experiment gone awry, physicist Bruce Banner transforms into a colossal green berserker when under extreme emotional duress. On the run from US military forces led by elite commando Emil Blonsky under the orders from General "Thunderbolt" Ross, Banner is chased from a favela in Brazil back to America where he hopes to reunite with his girlfriend Betty Ross and find a cure for his condition.

Five years after director Ang Lee's Hulk was met with mixed reviews from film critics, and outright disdain from comic book fans, Marvel Studios restarts the story of Bruce Banner in an attempt that is only a qualified success. Treating the source material with more respect, Louis Leterrier's The Incredible Hulk offers grounded character motivations and appropriately captivating action scenes that serve the narrative well. However, the narrative itself is quite rough around the edges and, at times, tonally confused. Although the CGI can be rather dodgy, the film features three mostly competent action sequences that feature the Hulk in all his destructive glory, a darkened sequence in a Brazilian bottling plant where he is mostly obscured, a siege on a school campus in which he is bombarded by General Ross's forces and a serum-enhanced Blonsky, and the final Harlem-leveling showdown between the Hulk and the fully-transformed Blonsky Abomination. Fun action aside, the film is missing a satisfying emotional arc, with a romantic subplot that fizzles and head-scratching ending scene that suggests Banner is embracing his Hulk persona despite the journey of the film centered around his struggle to rid himself of it to the very end.

Acclaimed actor Edward Norton commits to the role of Bruce Banner completely, instilling the part with considerable pathos and vulnerability. Liv Tyler does her best with her limited acting range as Betty Ross, struggling most with scenes in which Betty is required to display emotional strength, having very little romantic chemistry with Norton. Tim Roth shines as the power hungry combatant Emil Blonsky, exuding ambition that gradually turns to madness. William Hurt performance as General Ross is pretty one-dimensional due to the limitations of the screenplay. Tim Blake Nelson plays the super-enthusiastic morally-ambiguous Dr. Samuel Sterns, a modern day mad scientist and Ty Burrell appears very briefly as Betty Ross' doting new boyfriend Dr. Leonard Samson.

Perhaps due to Edward Norton's controversial involvement in rewriting the script, The Incredible Hulk comes off as a monster movie masquerading as a character drama. At best, the film is a flawed superhero smash-fest. At its worst, it is flimsy, muddled, uninspired and less than captivating. However, it is still a vast improvement over the previous attempt at a feature-length Hulk film.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man unwittingly takes a swig from a bottle of imported guarana soda with Bruce Banner's gamma-irradiated blood.


FRAGMENTS
- The final scene features Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) meeting General Ross in a bar to inform him that a team is being formed - In Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant (a short film available on the home video release of Thor), it is revealed that Stark was sent to meet General Ross to discourage him from allowing Blonsky to join the Avengers

- It is revealed early in the film that fateful experiment that changed Banner's life and the chemical solution injected into Blonsky (retrieved by General Ross from a Stark Industries canister) were attempts at reviving the Super Soldier Program; the program is a key plot point in Captain America: The First Avenger

- Betty buys Banner a giant pair of stretchy purple pants, a nod to his signature look from the Marvel Comics

- Paul Soles, the voice of Bruce Banner in the 1966 Hulk cartoon, plays a kind pizzeria owner named Stanley, Banner's friend who offers him a place to stay during his time in Virginia

- A variation of The Lonely Man theme from the popular Incredible Hulk television series that originally ran from 1978 to 1982 can be heard at the start of Banner's journey home

- Early in the film Banner watches an episode of an old television show featuring Bill Bixby, the actor who played Bruce Banner on The Incredible Hulk television series

- Bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno, who played the Hulk on the television series and provided the voice of the Hulk in this film, appears as a Culver University security guard

- MMA star Rickson Gracie plays a martial arts instructor that teaches Banner to control his emotions with breathing exercises

- Comedic actor Martin Starr makes a cameo appearance as a Culver University lab tech enjoying a slice of pizza

- It's amusing to see Ty Burrell before he was famous for playing Phil Dunphy on Modern Family, and equally amusing to see comedic actor Tim Blake Nelson play Dr. Samuel Sterns

- Incidentally, the characters played by Ty Burrell and Tim Blake Nelson have much larger roles in the comics, although it remains unclear if their characters will be revisited in future MCU films or television series

Iron Man

IRON MAN
2008 | Dir. Jon Favreau | 126 Minutes

"I shouldn't be alive unless it was for a reason. I'm not crazy, Pepper. I just finally know what I have to do. And I know in my heart that it's right."

Terrorists abduct billionaire arms developer Tony Stark in Afghanistan, armed with the very weapons Stark created. Seriously injured, with shrapnel traveling to his heart, Stark and fellow captive Yinsen build and install a sophisticated energy reactor in his chest to save his life. Forced by their captors to build an advanced missile, the two engineers instead craft a powerful suit of armor to aid in their escape. Tragically losing Yinsen in the process, Stark returns to America determined to stop his company from manufacturing weapons while he tirelessly upgrades his armor to personally destroy his weapons that have fallen into enemy hands.

Expertly paced and true to spirit of the Marvel Comics source material, director Jon Favreau brings old "shell head" to the silver screen with style and levity. The action sequences are well-orchestrated and truly thrilling, from Stark's escape from the Afghan cave firing missiles and flamethrowers in the crude Mark I suit, to the first flight of the more advanced Mark II armor, to Mark III Iron Man taking out aggressors and outracing fighter jets. Sharp and witty but organic, the natural dialogue grounds the film's many larger-than-life characters in a relatable though heightened reality. The film unfortunately stumbles during its somewhat shoddily-assembled climax that conveniently pits one suit of high-tech armor against another in a brief fight that is more of a flying contest than a captivating battle.

Thanks to a truly superb casting move, Robert Downey Jr. owns the role of Tony Stark completely, turning an often blandly-written Marvel Comics hero into an articulate, arrogant, and charismatic socialite. Gwyneth Paltrow turns in a light and fun performance as Starks' faithful assistant Pepper Potts, really selling the skittishness, wide-eyed wonderment, and resourceful confidence of the character. The excellent chemistry between Downey Jr. and Paltrow is decidedly more comedic than romantic. Terrance Howard plays James Rhodes, Stark's buddy in the Air Force, in a rather subdued performance, at his best when called upon for indignant reactions to Stark's antics. Stark's traitorous business partner Obadiah Stane is portrayed by Jeff Bridges with fun folksy aplomb that devolves into exaggerated gravelly menace when he goes full-on supervillain during the second half of the film.

Providing an appropriate amount of emotional heft as a key component in the hero's origin story, Shaun Toub plays Yinsen in a sharp and moving performance during the film's second act. Clark Gregg appears as Agent Coulson in a handful of memorable scenes with a hint of humor in his eyes, a spy sent by a clandestine organization to monitor Stark and his associates. Rounding out the supporting cast are director Jon Favreau as Stark's comically no-nonsense bodyguard Happy Hogan, Leslie Bibb as a tenacious Vanity Fair reporter, Faran Tahir as the scowling terrorist leader Raza, and Paul Bettany as the flawlessly glib electronic voice of Stark's computer system JARVIS.

Doing a fine job honoring the titular character's Marvel Comics roots but remarkably accessible to movie audiences, blending high-flying action and a liberal dose of humor, Jon Favreau, Robert Downey Jr., and president of Marvel Studios Kevin Feige breathe new life into superhero cinema with Iron Man. With this first film, Marvel Studios establishes its reputation as a significant creative force, providing a truly excellent introduction to The Marvel Cinematic Universe.


POST-CREDITS STINGER
Tony Stark steps into his darkened living room where the director of SHIELD, Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), informs him that he has entered a larger universe, introducing him to "The Avenger Initiative."


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man appears as a Hugh-Heffner-type ladies' man with several supermodels before Stark enters a charity ball.


FRAGMENTS
-  Faran Tahir appeared in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek as Richard Robau, captain of the USS Kelvin, and his first mate George Kirk (father of James T. Kirk), was played by Chris Hemsworth who eventually took on the role of Thor in the MCU

- The musical score is composed by Ramin Djawadi, currently providing the iconic score for Game of Thrones

- The Las Vegas sequence after the cold-open features an arrangement of the theme tune from the 1966 Iron Man cartoon, the same tune can be heard chiming from Rhodey's cellphone as his ringtone for Tony

- Television personality Jim Cramer appears as himself on CNBC financial program Mad Money, berating Stark's decision to stop producing weapons

- An incomplete version of Captain America's shield can be seen hidden in the background of Stark's lab

The Age of Miracles: The Marvel Cinematic Universe

“There was an idea called the Avengers Initiative. The idea was to bring together a group of remarkable people, see if they could become something more, see if they could work together when we needed them to, to fight the battles that we never could.”

Fans of superhero comic books are familiar with the concept of a shared universe, in which events in one book series could have repercussions in another, and heroes could (and often did) crossover, sharing the same fictional world.

Beginning in 2008, film producer Kevin Feige successfully established what is currently the highest-grossing film series in the United States and second highest-grossing film franchise worldwide (behind the Harry Potter film series) under the Marvel Studios banner in the first serious attempt by a major film studio to create a shared continuity between superhero films. In what would become known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Feige's shared universe has had its share of up's and down's, between many excellent films and a handful of weak pictures (as well as several television series of varying quality). However, the continued financial success (and often critical success) of its features has pushed other studios to build their own respective shared universes.

Marvel Studios' massive film series has revitalized the careers of stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans, while effectively turning actors like Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth into overnight action heroes. During its second and third phases, the filmmakers have even attracted participation from acclaimed actors like Ben Kingsley, Robert Redford, Benicio del Toro, Glenn Close, and Michael Douglas.

Featuring colorful and exciting characters, blending sharp humor and thrilling action, the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to tell an expansive amalgamated story unique to the world of cinema, and continues to offer unparalleled entertainment featuring some of the best comic book motion picture adaptions ever filmed.

Furious 7

FURIOUS 7
2015 | Dir. James Wan | 134 Minutes

"Life is binary, zeroes and ones. Only two things keep a group like this together, fear or loyalty, and I don't see a drop of fear among you guys."

Former special forces operative Deckard Shaw hunts the Toretto gang to avenge his brother who was defeated by Dom's crew in Europe. As Shaw relentlessly stalks the gang, they are recruited by a clandestine government agency that offers them a chance to turn the tables on Shaw in exchange for mounting a rescue mission to save a hacker from a group of ruthless mercenaries and obtain a highly-advanced surveillance program.

Wasting no time from minute one, the film introduces Jason Statham as Deckard Shaw by gradually revealing (in reverse) the path of destruction he had wrought to visit his brother in the hospital as he exits the building- halls, elevator, and lobby littered with defeated heavily-armed security officers on the floor. Statham plays the best antagonist in the series to date with a simple mission, presenting a constant explosive threat to the team. Action icon Kurt Russell looks like he's having the time of his life playing the jolly enigmatic Mr. Nobody, incredibly charismatic with a fondness for Belgian Beer. Nathalie Emmanuel serves as both brains and beauty playing the programmer Ramsey. Djimon Hounsou is full-on second-tier Bond villain as mercenary leader Jakande, while Thai action superstar Tony Jaa plays against type as Jakande's ruthless enforcer fully demonstrating his incredible no-wire-work agility. In a small but significant part, mixed martial arts star Ronda Rousey portrays a highly-skilled bodyguard that goes toe-to-toe with Letty.

Series regulars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris 'Ludacris' Bridges, and Dwayne Johnson return to their series roles without missing a beat. With the tragic loss of actor Paul Walker during the production of this film, the filmmakers tweaked Brian O'Conner's character arc to provide Walker and Brian an appropriately touching conclusion. The amnesia subplot with Letty comes to a conclusion, allowing Michelle Rodriguez to do more than scowl, drive, and fight this time around and though her acting range remains limited, she does a fine job. Tyrese Gibson brings his character Roman to a whole new level of borderline-offensive comic relief, spouting some truly funny lines at the character's expense and some appropriately cringe-worthy jokes during a sequence in which he's called on to run interference. Dwayne Johnson's Hobbs bookends the film, mainly serving to provide exposition at the start of the film in the aftermath of a fantastic fight scene, and then returning to the action at the very end with crowd-pleasing gusto. Regulars Jordana Brewster and Elsa Pataky return as well in what amount to extended cameos. Lucas Black appears in a brand new scene to cement this film's connection to Tokyo Drift, and Noel Gugliemi who played Hector in the first film returns in one scene, getting punched in the face by Letty and hanging out the likes of Iggy Azalea at Race Wars.

New to this series, director James Wan brings a manic energy to the film's numerous action scenes, employing tight close-ups and lightning-quick editing. With more fight scenes than in previous entries, the fisticuffs unfold with kinetic style. Action superstars Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson start things off right with an instant-classic knock-down drag-out brawl. Tony Jaa throws down with Paul Walker twice in the film, out-classing him athletically by a mile. Michelle Rodriguez faces off against Ronda Rousey, a noticeable upgrade over her fights against Gina Carano in the previous film. During the film's epic climax, Statham and Vin Diesel clash in a no-holds-barred street fight. The camera work isn't bad, with Wan rotating the shot to follow the action on several occasions, but the quick cutting can be slightly exhausting.

The real meat and potatoes of this film series are its sequences of gravity-defying vehicular insanity, and the filmmakers do not disappoint with this installment. Statham and Diesel playing chicken with their respective cars is the ultimate demonstration of when two unstoppable forces literally collide. A rescue mission in the Caucasus Mountains begins with armored sports cars airdropped onto the mountain road and ends with several vehicles cliff-diving and Brian leaping from a bus as it begins to plummet off a mountainside. Topping off a heist sequence in Abu Dhabi, viewers are treated to another series highlight as Dom and Brian steal a priceless and rare automobile (tantamount to a precious work of art) and attempt to outrun Shaw (who fires at the duo with a grenade launcher) jumping from one of the Etihad Towers to another, uncontrollably plowing through, and then jumping to another tower. Ultimately, the film culminates in what amounts to a massive war on wheels through the streets of LA between Jakande's heavily armed chopper and Dom's crew in their signature rides.

With Furious 7, the series steps up its game once again, offering more memorable thrills and a stellar cast of villains. The physics make less sense than ever but the characters are more likable than ever, and the themes of family and friendship truly hit home as this film is lovingly dedicated in memory of a series regular. It's another instantly classic action film in a landmark series, and a personal chapter for series fans.


FRAGMENTS
- The series' tradition of assigning unconventional titles to its sequels continues; marketed as Furious 7, director James Wan insists that the official title is Furious Seven (with the word "Seven" spelled out, as it appears in the film's opening titles) in reference to films like Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven (Entertainment Weekly)

- In Japan, the title for this film is Wild Speed: Sky Mission

- The remix of DJ Shadow's "Six Days" featuring Mos Def that plays during the opening credits of Tokyo Drift plays in this film during an establishing shot of Tokyo before Dom's scene with Sean

- For more Tony Jaa ass-kicking action, check out Ong Bak and Tom-Yum-Goong (The Protector)


SUPPLEMENTAL STUFF
- Podcast: How Did This Get Made? Episode #118: Furious 7: LIVE


MCU CONNECTIONS
- Vin Diesel (Groot in Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Avengers: Infinity War, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3)

- Djimon Hounsou (Korath in Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel)

- Kurt Russell (Ego in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2)