Review: Avengers Assemble

Avengers Assemble (2012)

Director Josh Wheldon

For a film that didn't even make my top 5 films to watch several months ago, it's fair to say now it truly is my film to watch at the moment and remember the Hunger Games is still out. Yes thats right i think i may like this film more than the HG adaptation. Avengers Assemble even manages to combine blockbuster action sequences, the final battle even surpasses the one seen at the end of transformers 3, with actual rounded characters and witty dialogue. Of course the build up to the film helped with the character parts but its those who we have seen little or nothing of before that steal the show with Clark Gregg's (Iron Man, (500) Days of Summer)  Agent Coulson and Mark Ruffalo's (see previous Avengers post) new Hulk very impressive. But to single them out is unfair to the rest of the cast as everyone pulls their wait and even seems to be having fun at the same time. Infact fun is the word for Avengers Assemble (most of the time you have been warned) and is probably the best American Blockbuster since the Dark Knight. Bring on round 2!!
10 out of 10

It's the Business End

Well during the time I was away from you a lot has gone on in the football world. It is the most exciting time of the year and several clubs have already started their celebrations or began planning on how they will bounce back from the disappointment of relegation. So here is my round up:

• The race for the Premier league title race looked to be all wrapped up until Manchester United's failure to beat Everton at the weekend in a thrilling 4-4 draw as Manchester City beat Wolves (We'll get back to that later) and this Monday's derby could be the massive game changer with the points difference between the two clubs now only 3 points (Just occurred to me you know all this Matthew so don't really need to tell you but I need to fill up my blog for this month)
• It also looks like the most exciting race for the Champions League is in progress with shock of the season Newcastle in pole position and this years finalist's Chelsea looking in a position of needing to win if they don't leap frog both the Geordies and Spurs
• The relegation battle is also heating up with 5 teams fighting to avoid the two spots that will see either Aston Villa, Wigan, QPR, Bolton and Blackburn relegated. Unfortunately it's too late for Terry Connors Wolves who were relegated after defeat to Manchester City (told you we'd get back to it) at the weekend.
• The battle for a spot in the Premiership this season is also still on (we're not mentioning the play-offs or else i'll get to nervous and start screaming at the Middlesbrough players) Reading are already up as champions thanks to Middlesbrough beating Southampton who will go up if they win at Coventry this weekend or even a draw will probably do.
• The relegation places have already been sorted as Portsmouth, Coventry and Doncaster will be playing in League 1 next year where they will not be playing Charlton who will be coming as Champions while the Sheffield clubs fight over the 2nd promotion place.

Right I'm getting a tiny bit bored of it and it's getting harder and harder to sort out the lay out... So Rochdale are down Chesterfield are fighting their little hearts out. Swindon are going up with Paulo Di Canio as their manager. But i will leave you with thoughts on Darlington who are still in business but have ended been relegated and could even be demoted a further division if they are not out of administration by June. But rather then leave on downer i'll put up a nice picture of the happy times Darlington enjoyed at Wembley in the FA Trophy this time last year.

Avengers Assemble!!

So the Avengers Assemble is been released in the new few days so in preparation for this I give you another one of my special features!! Oh I am spoiling you aren't I!! Anyway there will be no reviews of the two previous Hulk films as I have not seen them which would make a review pretty hard would't it.

Iron Man (2008)

Director Jon Favreau

Possibly the success of this film is the reason that we have eventually reached the position of the Avengers Assemble. Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder, Sherlock Holmes) is perhaps the perfect actor for the role of Tony Stark managing to be arrogant rude and a bit of a prick really yet do it in a way that you can't help but like him. Like all the leads in the previous Marvel films he is at the centre of a film, which although not perfect is still a pretty good ride. The film is really a film of two halves and with the first half featuring the dark origins of Iron Man and the second half featuring his fight for power against the villainous Jeff Bridges (Tron Legacy, True Grit) but the problem is that he's not a memorable villain or even one that seems much of an adversary to Tony Stark. Gwyneth Paltrow (Se7en, Glee) is likeable enough but doesn't receive the screen time she deserves until the film sequel. Overall a solid start to the series of films but probably the least enjoyable of the instalments.

6 out of 10

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Director Jon Favreau

After a reasonably successful Hulk film starring Edward Norton, who was apparently asked back for the Avengers but turned it down because of scheduling issues, Marvel returned to the Iron Man series to build on the success of the first film and set things up for the now in motion movement for an Avengers film. Downey Jnr and Paltrow improve on their roles from the first film and the sequel also takes time out to introduce Samuel L Jackson's (Pulp Fiction, Star Wars) Nick Fury, briefly seen in one of Marvels famous post credit scenes for Iron Man, and Scarlett Johnansson (Lost in Translation, The Island) as Black Widow. The film is one of those rare superior sequel, with the first third suggesting that if it had kept up the pace it could have been THE comic book  movie. Where it really succeeds from the first film is in the casting of Mickey Rourke (Sin City, The Expendables) however unfortunately if will always be remembered as a film with lots of potential but just falls short.

7 out of 10

Thor (2011)

Director Kenneth Branagh

With The Avengers film clearly in site 2011 was the year for Marvel to introduce two of the teams major members and Thor got the spotlight first. The film has a pretty impressive cast but two of the major roles went to relative roles. Chris Hemsworth (Star Trek, Cabin In The Woods) picking up Thor's mighty hammer and Tom Hiddleston (Midnight In Paris, War Horse) as his villainous brother Loki, both of whom look set to play major roles in the new film. The story of the film is the most well thought out of the series, although it does leave you guess as to how the film will lead into Avengers Assemble. When watching the film in relevance to the Marvel Universe there's a blink and you miss it cameo for Jeremy Renner (28 Weeks Later, The Town) as Hawkeye, another Avenger, god there's a lot isn't there!! Whether its the fact that it doesn't souley take place on Earth or the fact that Kenneth Branagh was directing Thor is certainly proving the star of the series so far but there's a long way to go from here!

7 out of 10

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Director Joe Johnston

With less then a year to the release of the Avengers, as it was then called and is still called for the US market, it was time to introduce the final key member of the team. Chris Evans (Fantastic Four, Scott Pilgrim Vs The World) was no stranger to adaptations of Marvel comics when and is becoming another rising star of the Avengers Universe. Even though it is set before its predecessors there's still references cleverly inserted to the storyline, particularly the character portrayal of Tony Starks father, played by Dominic Cooper (Mamma Mia, An Education) who doesn't quite get another time to prove himself as the true Dad of Iron Man. It's also nice to see Tommy Lee Jones (Volcano, Men In Black) and Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, Lord of the Rings) return to having major roles in big blockbusters. Overall Captain America does not quite live up to Iron Man 2 and Thor but still manages to perfectly set up Avengers Assemble even placing Steve Rodgers right where he's needed.

6 out of 10

So that the past of Marvel's Avengers universe and Avengers Assemble is the present but with the film looking to become one of the highest grossing films of the year it seems that Marvel still has big plans for it's studios most high profile and lucrative franchise (It doesn't own the rights to the X-Men Series). So what is next ? Well officially the current schedule looks like this:

3rd May 2013: Iron Man 3

15th November 2013: Thor 2

4th April 2014: Captain America 2

Well that's the official time table but it has been said that all those films will most probably lead into the Avengers 2, with talk also flying around about Mark Ruffalo's (Shutter Island, Date Night) Hulk, Nick Fury, Hawkeye and Black Widow all receiving their own features and there has even been mention of Avengers 3. What ever you do i wouldn't make plans to say goodbye to this universe any time soon. 

Summer 2012 Preview

Summer 2012 The Blockbuster Summer

View more PowerPoint from Tim-_-Tom

Mr Blog It's Been A Long Time

Right as my avid reader will have noticed this blog has been vacant for a long long time... well since the 27th March, yeah i checked. There is reasons for this, first of all Uni commitments have meant and will mean for about 3 more weeks that i don't really have enough time on my hands to give the blog the love and affection it deserves (look i bought it some flowers to say sorry). Secondary i've been at home for Easter which has also left me with little time as there is more stuff to occupy me like playstations, actual TV and most importantly food that i do not have to pay for. Third and i promise i'll stop making excuses after this but i haven't really been to the cinema recently (other then seeing Titanic in 3D, told you i'd cave, and the Hunger Games and i doubt you want another review of that) and have concentrated more on watching TV shows and films i've already seen. So now i'll do a quick summary of the films that i watched while i was at home.

The Ides of March (2011)

Director George Clooney

Not at bad film that certainly benefits from two of Hollywoods finest actors, George Clooney and Ryan Gosling, but the problem is that i have no idea about American politics and still don't after watching the film.

5 out of 10

The Twilight Saga Breaking Dawn Part 1 (2011)

Director Bill Condon

Ok i did watch it but only cos i have read the books and believe you can't critise something you ain't seen. In Conclusion the film has slipped back to the bordem of New Moon and is even more laughable, Not even going to mention the acting that sinks to new lows.

2 out of 10

The Rum Diary (2011)

Director Bruce Robinson

As with most of his films Johnny Depp is the centre and heart of the Rum Diary which other then its cast and the occasional laugh has nothing really going for it. Depp plays a relatively straight role for him with class and proves why he is one of the best actors of the generation

5 out of 10

Conan The Barbarian (2011)

Director Marcus Nispel

Ok i'm a bad film student i turned off the Oscar nominated Tree of Life for this. Too be there this is more aimed at me but it doesn't make it any better. Predictable action and classic b-movie lines mean its not a complete disaster but you can't help but miss Arnie....

4 out of 10

Midnight In Paris (2011)

Director Woody Allen

Another not aimed at me but i stuck with this one. There not much to say for the film other then it does appear to be a love letter to the city of Paris itself. Characters are likeable but not memorable other then Michael Sheens unnatural and unnerving American accent, stick to Welsh man!!

5 out of 10

So a month of mediocre films but i would i highly recommend the first seasons of both the Walking Dead and Sherlock. The football news this month has been mixed with Middlesbrough looking down and out of the play off picture until the incredible 2-1 victory against promotion chasing Southampton, this weekend is it so lets all hope for a victory for Boro and defeat for Cardiff. On a final note i'll end things on a positive on Football Manager 2012 i managed to get Peterborough promoted after been predicted bottom of the table!! (yeah i was controlling all the clubs but it's my biggest achievement to date)