Avengers: Infinity War is upon us. It's been a decade since the MCU came into being, and it's all been leading up to this moment. That's right. Infinity Wars was always a kind of end game in getting the Marvel Cinematic Universe going. Getting to this point is why Iron Man started back in 2008; it's the reason for the entire series of movies. And, oh, what a ride.
I, for one, am ridiculously excited about this. In fact, to prepare for the upcoming movie, I've been subjecting my family to a re-watch of all movies preceding Infinity War since the beginning of April in preparation. I have seen each of these movies more than three times each (most of them way more than that), so I didn't expect anything out of it walking in. Still, I had my trusty "Movie Notes" Reporter Moleskine at the ready and, as usual, I couldn't help jotting down the many impressions that arise when I see these surprisingly high quality movies. Rather than do an intense study of each one (that's rainy day work, my friends), I decided to do a re-cap of each Phase leading up to A:IW with some of the thoughts that popped into my head this time around weaving with themes I'd already explored on previous viewings. Suffice it to say, if you've never heard of the movies...well, you've been living in the quantum realm...but you should by now. Even Kamar-Taj has internet. But really, you should see the movies before reading this. There's still time to get them all watched before Infinity War if you start now. Go ahead. I'll wait...
Back? Good.
First, I think it's worth noting that this hasn't ever been done before. I don't mean sequels to movies, nor do I mean a series of films planned ahead of time. It's the scale that's been accomplished that is impressive. With few breaks in production (and those only early on), the Marvel Cinematic Universe managed to pull off 18 movies in 10 years, and the upcoming Avengers 3rd installment seeks to contain most of over 75 characters introduced since Iron Man.
Furthermore, this cohesiveness inspired the DCEU to follow suit, a venture that has had quite a few bumps along the way, but may finally be settling into it's own with Wonder Woman and Justice League. But we're not here to talk about DC. So let's get on with the show...
Iron Man (2008)
When the opening scene kicks off, we're in a military caravan in Afghanistan. We barely have time to take this in before the starting riff for "Back in Black" begins. Having seen the use of Black Sabbath's "I am Iron Man" in the trailer, I think most of us expected to hear just a little nod to this rock era here or there, perhaps a song at the end, but mostly to be inundated with your basic motion picture score for an action movie: action-oriented, but not particularly gripping. Instead, we are treated throughout the film to music choices carefully curated towards epitomizing Tony's rebel personality, wit, and style. It did the trick.
In this movie, we get introductions to a number of characters that have come to be an integral part of Iron Man and the larger MCU universe, including Pepper Potts (with Gwyneth Paltrow pitching a perfect professional sass against Tony's adolescent snark), Rhodey, Happy (played by director Jon Favreau), Jarvis (voiced perfectly by Paul Bettany), Coulson, and, of course, Director Nick Fury of S.H.I.E.L.D., performed in typical no-bullshit fashion by Samuel L. Jackson. We also get the introduction of the post credit stinger when Tony meets Nick Fury for the first time, and we receive our first indication that something larger is going to happen with the "Avengers Initiative."
The movie isn't just funny and "cool", though. You get a sense of the caring, but distanced relationships between Tony and his fellow main characters, including the fledgling unexplored romance between Tony and Pepper. Furthermore, Tony isn't just some rich guy who happened to take up vigilantism on a whim, or due to random childhood trauma; he's a fucking genius. This movie is the first introduction to Tony the Mechanic, and the way they show Tony's awakening to his complicit participation in the misery of others, as well as his subsequent mission to seek redemption and protect others, gives this movie more weight than you would expect out of what is basically a silly superhero comedy.
And, so, Iron Man exploded on the screen, thanks in no small part to Robert Downey, Jr. His performance of a seemingly selfish and spoiled rich kid-turn-hero with hidden anxieties, abandonment issues ("I never got to say goodbye to Dad"), and a guilt streak a mile wide, was honestly pretty much perfect. At the end of the movie, when Tony Stark says "I am Iron Man." we know that it's really RDJ speaking through his character. You're right Robert, you are Iron Man. And we're sort of fine with this, really.
Stan Lee Cameo - Hugh Hefner look-alike. I find this absurdly appropriate, as I have often referred to Stan Lee as the "Godfather of Comic Books." (Mind you, that's Godfather, like the mob or that weird friend of your parents, and not founding father, like he was the original creator of all comic bookdom, which he wasn't). Seeing Stan as a superstar in his own right, while retaining the smarmy glitz of the rest of Tony's world, just somehow seems intrinsically right. It's a perfect start.
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Alas, I have been unsatisfied by a standalone Hulk adaptation since the original '70s/'80s TV series. I grew up watching that show, and what should have been a very silly thing - a TV adaptation of a comic book about a big green monster - turned out to be a rather serious and well-pulled-off venture for that time period. I forever carry in my heart the image of Bill Bixby as David Banner walking away down the road at the end of pretty much every episode, alone, with the sad strains of the main theme playing after him. The tragedy of Banner's life, that he could never be not only in a relationship but also around others in general, no matter how many of them he saved, made the show what it was. Even Lou Ferrigno as the spiky-haired "big green guy" won people's hearts.
So, when The Incredible Hulk begins with opening credits that are an homage to the opening credits of the original TV series, I had high hopes. (Find the original opening theme on YouTube before watching this movie, and you'll see what I mean.) Likewise, early nods to the original series, including a cameo by Lou Ferrigno, a shot of Bill Bixby in The Courtship of Eddie's Father showing on someone's television, and Ed Norton's Banner stating that a guy "wouldn't like him" when he's..."hungry" upped my expectations that they would do a better job with this movie than the Eric Bana version of The Hulk in 2003.
And they did. Truly. It's not that they so much did anything wrong as they didn't take any real risks. So the film fell a bit flat. It was lacking in an appropriate amount of angst, and it was following on from the upbeat, ADHD feel of Iron Man. Talk about unfair. It simply wasn't fun enough; nor was it thought-provoking enough.
This mediocre performance definitely hurt early prospects for the franchise and, while I won't speak out of turn by saying this movie was the cause, I believe it's worth noting that it would be almost two years before the MCU would continue on its course.
Stan Lee Cameo - the old man that drinks the Hulk blood-laced soda
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Sadly, the second installment of the Snark did little to make up for the Hulk.
Again, this movie wasn't horrible, but watching Tony spiral out of control as a bigger ass than in the first movie (which was already in tenuous balance to the rest of his personality), was frankly annoying, and the story arc of discovering his father's vision for him wasn't quite enough to make up for other aspects of the film.
Furthermore, this movie suffered what I call the "Spider-Man 4 Syndrome" of having too many villains in an unnecessary fashion. Mind you, it was just the two, and yet I didn't feel enough of the threat or charisma that is necessary for villains to own their piece of the story. Which is a shame, really, because I love both Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell. I just feel that they weren't given enough room to play.
It wasn't a total loss, however. For one thing, the expo plans-turned-new element were very cool. It is also worth mentioning that this is when we begin to see a MCU trend, improving special FX technology - both practical and digital - behind the scenes, while simultaneously getting more creative on-screen with things like Tony's suit briefcase. There are two other MCU trends that are fun. Mentions that Coulson needs to go to the New Mexico desert hint at the events of Thor, the next move in this Phase, continues through other movies, connecting them all. This is also the introduction of Natasha Romanov, who, since the first Avengers, has become a favorite of mine. As I rarely watch IM2, going back and seeing her in the early years of her character was a lot of fun this time around.
Not the best movie, but certainly not the worst. Thankfully, the wheels were already in motion, and things continued to improve from this point forward.
Stan Lee Cameo - Larry King look-alike
Thor (2011)
Many people didn't like Thor, and I'm still trying to understand why. There were remarks of Thor amounting to a frat boy, but I found it terribly appropriate, as well as his growth journey in exile. In fact, once Thor gets over himself, you begin to get the feeling that he is, in fact, an enormous dork. And that's a very good thing. In addition to the aforementioned grievance, there are classic mythologists who are too purist for their own good, and have never liked the use of Norse mythology in the Thor comics.
As a mythology lover, I get it (my name's Andromeda, for fuck's sake). I took major umbrage when the remake of Clash of the Titans horrendously messed up not only the plot of the original movie but also the message of the myth itself. Still, I have to go back to my response to the so-called purists lambasting of 300: If you're going to get upset over an adaptation of a comic based loosely on the ancient secondhand account of a battle that may or may not have happened when and where it was stated, then I've got nothing for that. Moving on...
There are two things that stick out for me in this part of the franchise. To start, this is the first time we get to see the universe outside of earth, and it's gorgeous. Asgard, the realm of the gods, and home to the rulers of the Nine Realms, was beautifully rendered. Here we have Odin, played by Anthony Hopkins (surprising choice, but his gravitas is enjoyable as always), his wife Frigga, and their two sons Thor, God of Thunder, and Loki, the Trickster. Seeing the way that the Rainbow Bridge works (I love Heimdall, btw), some parts of the other realms, and the culture and style of the Asgardians (as well as the intro to Lady Sif and the Warriors Three) is very cool.
It's on earth where things get really fun, though. Thor, freshly banished for being, well, a douchy frat boy, initially gets some just desserts, comically knocked around, and humiliated for being "weak". He has to learn soft skills (like wriggling out of his cuffs instead of pulling at them) aided by his association with humans. I love the trio of Jane Foster, Erik Selvig, and Darcy...and Darcy's taser. We also get to meet a little more of the S.H.I.E.L.D team, as Coulson appears again with Sitwell and then Clint Barton, a.k.a. "Hawkeye". Of course, Thor learns his lesson, and regains - or rather - finds his destiny. It's a bit derivative, but I've seen worse plots.
The language in this movie is a particular favorite of mine. It's not only the accent, but the word choice that Thor uses:
"Son of Coul" - when referring to Agent Coulson
"We drank, we fought, he made his ancestors proud." - upon bringing Selvig home blind drunk
Also, Thor has one of my favorite quotes in it:
"Magic is just science that we don't understand yet."~ Arthur C. Clarke
It's not that Thor was perfect; goodness, no. I watch it far less often than the other two Thor movies. I just didn't encounter any missteps egregious enough to warrant it worthy of ire.
Stan Lee Cameo - guy with the truck trying to tow Mjolnir
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
This movie surprised me. I expected it to be good, to like it; I didn't expect to love it.
First off, we have Chris Evans performance. He nailed the performance of Steve Rogers. Here is the guy you want fighting for your country, who you want to make tough decisions in the field. He doesn't like bullies; he doesn't want to fight, but he refuses to back down when pressed, gets knocked down but never gives up. And when asked why he keeps trying to join up for the fight, he replies:
"There are men laying down their lives. I have no right to do any less."
Well, shit.
With that inspiration, we meet Steve; he's recruited for the "super soldier" program, and we find out he's more than just a kid who wants to lay down his life out of some sort of misplaced nobility. He's smart, too, and we see him with a number of books the night before his transformation, one of which is Nietzsche. The boy thinks, and that's a really good thing, because a veritable shitstorm is headed his way in the distant future. (We'll get to that later.) As Captain America, Steve's ethics are nearly flawless. And that is a nice surprise.
Fun side characters abound in this film also. Peggy Carter and Bucky Barnes are major players, of course, but we also get to see Dr. Erskine played with gentle wit by Stanley Tucci, and Tommy Lee Jones, one of my personal favorite actors, gets arguably some of the funniest lines in the entire movie as Col. Chester Phillips:
Gilmore Hodge: Mmm... We gonna wrassle? Cause I got a few moves I know you'll like.[suddenly Peggy punches him hard in the face, as Col.Phillips drives up]Col. Chester Phillips: Agent Carter.Peggy Carter: Colonel Phillips.Col. Chester Phillips: I see you're breaking in the candidates. That's good! [to Hodge] Get your ass up out of that dirt and stand in that line at attention till somebody comes tells you what to do.
Yeah.
I could really go on about Captain America (and will someday, no doubt), but the message here is this movie is really good. Story, costumes & sets, characters, and finally it's connection to the larger universe. Captain America follows on effortlessly from Thor and makes reference to "the gods" everywhere. We meet Erskine, whose work is referenced in The Incredible Hulk, and who, we later find out, is the guy Dr. Banner was trying to emulate when he accidentally turned himself into the Hulk. The expo that Steve and Bucky visit is reminiscent of the Stark Expo two movies ago, and Howard Stark's pod for Steve's transformation gives us a feel for the inspiration behind Tony's style for his suit design. Everything is connected, and all these things are weaving together in preparation for Avengers.
Captain America is, ultimately, the shield of the Avengers, shown by his choice of weapon (vibranium shield) and complete lack of hesitation when, pre-serum, he throws himself on a dummy grenade he believes to be live. While I admire his spirit, this hints at something deeper in his psyche. As a "weaker" individual, Steve believes himself unworthy, and is willing to lay down his life in sacrifice to make sure that the stronger, "better" guys make it to win the day. And he never loses that mentality, even once he's ripped and magically about two feet taller. He remains, ever, the right guy for the job.
Stan Lee Cameo - colonel-general
The Avengers (2012)
Ah, the culmination of all the introductions. There is so much to say on this topic, and I'm not going to, because I want to get to the final battle. First, though, just a few notes.
The arrival of Loki is the start of this movie, and quite an entrance it is; Tom Hiddleston ups the "crazy eyes" factor of his performance, and gives us a Loki we can be proud of. Yet it really is the dynamics of the team that make the movie work. The exchange between Natasha and Coulson is not only dialogue gold, but a great intro to anyone who had forgotten the Black Widow's entrance in Iron Man 2 (or perhaps blocked it out with the rest of the movie); additionally, we get to see a wittier side of Coulson that carries through into his TV series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Steve and Tony play oil and water off each other perfectly, and we get to see some of the tension that will ultimately lead to Civil War. The scene between Thor and Loki on a mountain somewhere in the Black Forest with two crows flying by (Huginn & Munnin, perhaps?), is excellent fun, and has one of my favorite lines: "Do I look to be in a gaming mood?" (Am I right?) The rest of the characters do their job admirably, but it is the reboot (yet again) of Banner that is the most pleasant surprise. Mark Ruffalo's shuffling turn as the brilliant Jekyll/Hyde character is perfect; not quite Bill Bixby, but his own interpretation of the character that fulfills the side of Banner that Bixby epitomized. When Banner says, "That's my secret, Captain. I'm always angry.", it is deeply satisfying.
Which brings us to the final battle. This is the true coming together of the team, a kismet of personalities and talents that combine to become an effective force. While I love X-Men, and they are forever first in my heart of the superhero franchises, they're often too awkward with each other, and their combinations often seemed forced, like awareness of each other's powers was a fluke.
In Avengers, the team gets right down to it and it's nearly seamless. Cap, the strategician, calls the shots, and everybody falls in line. There's no ego here; he's obviously the best person for the job, and he nails it, even turning to Banner with a "Hulk...smash." The "combos" are flawless here, too, the best two examples being the use of Cap's shield to project Iron Man's energy beam before Iron Man flies off again to go after more aliens, and the take down of a space whale when Hulk rips a piece of its armor off and jabs it into the creature's neck, only to have it driven home by the lightning of Thor's hammer (sad and gruesome, but effective nonetheless). These are the actions of a team that has worked together for years. They find their stride in what is arguably their first outing. (You can even see this camaraderie as they chow down on Shawarma in the end credits stinger.)
The final scenes set us up for the next phase, and the ever-expanding universe, as Fury faces the World Security Council. When told that the Avengers are dangerous, Fury responds, "They truly are, and the whole world knows it. Every world knows it.", cementing the glorious future of a universe that will come to include The Guardians of the Galaxy, Doctor Strange, Ant-Man, and Black Panther. And that's "a promise."
Stan Lee Cameo - news cameo in chess park after invasion
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Featured Quote: "Target angry, target angry!"~ fighter pilot, as the Hulk charges his plane (Avengers)
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