Justice League

Year: 2017

Director: Zack Snyder

Starring: Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Henry Cavill, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Jeremy Irons, Amy Adams, Ray Fisher, Diane Lane, and Ciaran Hinds
Tagline: You can't save the world alone.
Synopsis: With an otherworldly invasion already beginning, Batman must enlist Wonder Woman, Aquaman, the Flash, and Cyborg to unite and save the world.

Review

I grew up watching iterations of Batman and Superman.  I knew their backstories inside out before I'd ever even heard of Iron Man or Captain America.  So as Justice League drew closer, my hopes were high that it would turn out.  Batman v. Superman had filled me with doubt, but Wonder Woman gave me hope that DC could pull it off.  In the end, some of Justice League worked well and some of it didn't.  It's not a great film, but it is an enjoyable one.

First, let's start with some of the problems.  Then we can end on the highlights.

Lego Batman once said, "I only work in black.  And sometimes very, very dark grey."  We get it, he's the Dark Knight.  But the dark and gloomy aesthetic of the DC films is getting old.  Every scene feels moody and visually subdued in blues and greys.  This feels true even when we have colorful characters like Wonder Woman or Flash.  The dark aesthetic is especially jarring when compared to Thor: Ragnarok, which I had seen a few days before.  I understand that DC wants to show itself different from Marvel ... but this might not be the way.

Batman has one of the greatest rogues galleries (villains who oppose him) of any superhero.  Clearly, DC can do excellent, memorable villains.  Steppenwolf isn't one of them, at least not in this iteration.  He wants to take over the world (typical) and reform it like his own (which sounds a bit like General Zod).  He's powerful, without question.  But Steppenwolf is bland.

Another problem with Justice League is that it feels way too similar to Avengers: Age of Ultron at times.  Steppenwolf's parademons are similar to Ultron's army of robots: plentiful and expendable.  They are the perfect fodder for our heroes to show off their skills.  Further, both villains make their base of operations in eastern Europe.  And both villains are bent purely on the destruction of all life on earth.

There are other similarities with Age of Ultron, and other problems with the story, but they are in the Spoiler Section.  Suffice it to say here that the story is enjoyable, but not great or memorable.  Justice League brings nothing new to the superhero table.

The music in Justice League is a mixed bag for me.  I didn't like the choice of songs that were used a couple of times.  Some of that is my own musical taste, but they didn't seem to fit.  The score itself was interesting.  It borrowed the themes from the recent Wonder Woman and Man of Steel films.  But it also subtly incorporated at times some older themes.  Superman's theme from the Christopher Reeve movies is used briefly.  And there are hints of the Batman theme used in the Tim Burton films.

Despite the film's flaws, it is undeniably fun to see these heroes come together and learn to fight side by side.  The film focuses mainly on the motives and histories of Batman and Wonder Woman.  They have some good moments together as they learn from each other and prod each other forward.  The Flash brings some much-needed humor to the film.  He's socially awkward.  As he says: "I need friends."  He's also new to heroics, which makes him a nice balance for the more mature and seasoned Batman.  Aquaman is the tough cynic (who has a great scene involving Wonder Woman's lasso of truth).

Cyborg, though, felt like the weak link.  At times he seemed more like a convenient plot device than a character the film knew what to do with.  His personality seems to have one side: angst.  Yes, his backstory lends itself to being angst-filled.  But he felt the least-developed of all the characters.

In addition to the heroes, we've also got Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, Lois Lane, and Martha Kent.  Each of them play their parts well.  And all the roles (superheroes and allies) feel like they have the right actors.

While Justice League can't begin to compare to the humor found in most Marvel films, Justice League does attempt to have more fun and doesn't take itself as seriously as previous DC films.  Batman and Wonder Woman both have a subtle humor to them.  Alfred offers some great sarcasm and droll wit (as only Jeremy Irons can deliver).  But much of the humor centers around the Flash.  And it mostly works.  The film is a step in the right direction, but it's still missing the humor and heart that made Wonder Woman a winner.

The film is rated PG-13.  I don't remember much language.  The rating is almost entirely for the superhero violence, which might even be a bit less than the previous DC installments.

I enjoyed seeing Justice League.  And I will likely buy it so I can watch it again.  Is it a great film?  No.  But it's got some fun moments.  And it's a step in the right direction.  The movie is partly about not losing hope.  I believe there is still hope for DC films.

There is a mid-credits scene for fun.  There is also a post-credits scene to tease future films.

*** Spoiler Section ***
Superman returns.  That should come as a surprise to nobody.

This is where Justice League is again too similar to Age of Ultron.  Bringing Superman back to life is highly reminiscent of bringing Vision to life.  There is even an almost identical conversation about the wisdom of such a plan.  Some heroes are all for it, driven in part by their own guilt.  Other heroes are against it, because bringing beings to life or back to life is pretty serious stuff.  And in both films, the doubters eventually acknowledge that it was a good idea (as Superman and Vision do the heavy lifting of defeating the villain).

Another qualm I had with the film was, why was Lois Lane plan B and not plan A?  They are bringing Superman back from the dead.  From the dead.  Having four armed strangers (well, Wonder Woman is only a near-stranger) confront him when he first comes back seems like a bad idea from the start.  Why not go straight to the one person he would most want to see?  Then maybe the heroes could have focused on protecting the Mother Cube of World-Destroying Power rather than let Steppenwolf just lazily pick it up off the ground.  Just a thought.

One last thing.  They can explain Superman coming back from the dead.  But how do they explain Clark Kent coming back from the dead?

Quotable Quotes

• "I don't believe it.  Who are you?"  "A believer." -- Terrorist and Wonder Woman
• "Save one person."  "Then what?"  "You'll know." -- Batman and Flash
• "I miss the days when one's biggest concern was exploding wind-up penguins." -- Alfred
• "This wasn't the plan."  "No.  It's the team." -- Batman and Alfred
• "I work with children." -- Wonder Woman (in reference to her teammates)

Thor: Ragnarok

Year: 2017

Director: Taika Waititi

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Mark Ruffalo, Idris Elba, Karl Urban, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Anthony Hopkins
Tagline: Thunder will reign.
Synopsis: Thor must enlist the help of Hulk, a Valkyrie, and the ever-mischievous Loki in order to save Asgard from Hela, goddess of death.

Review

When I saw the first trailer for Thor: Ragnarok, I was nervous.  I wasn't sure about the music or the retro 80s vibe.  And after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, I wasn't so sure I liked the comedic direction Marvel was taking.  Within a few minutes of the film, though, I was sold.  Thor: Ragnarok is terrific.  Terrific I say.

First off, this movie is perhaps the funniest Marvel film to date.  From start to finish (and post-credits finish), there is humor.  Thor has developed a sense of fun and irony, especially as he deals with Loki and Hulk/Banner.  Loki is as wonderfully sarcastic as he ever was.  And a number of other new characters steal whatever scene they are in.  The comedic timing is spot on, including Stan Lee's obligatory cameo.

Thor finds himself on the far-off world of Sakaar, which is a long way from the noble and proper Asgard.  The world is colorful and eclectic and personified by Jeff Goldblum's Grandmaster.  Such a manic place lends itself to the humor the film is going for.  Thor's "journey" to first meet the Grandmaster is perfectly trippy and musically recalls another off-kilter character/film (but I won't spoil that).

Thor: Ragnarok has a terrific cast of characters.  As I said, Thor is allowed to be more fun and humorous.  But at the same time, we see how he has also matured since his first outing.  His relationship with Loki is as complicated as ever.  But pairing him with Hulk/Banner is what works so well.

The first Thor film had a very Shakespearean vibe to it (it was directed by Kenneth Branagh after all).  While that tone is long gone for Ragnarok, this film has two characters who struck me as being very Shakespearean: Valkyrie and Skurge.  Their character arcs are nothing new.  Rather, they are more archetypal.  And in both instances, that works.

Hela has the distinction of being Marvel's first main female villain.  (Nebula from Guardians of the Galaxy is only a secondary villain.)  She is a scene-stealing, scene-chewing villainess with sharp knives and an equally sharp tongue.  I got the impression Cate Blanchett loved every minute of it.

Dr. Strange has a brief role in the film (as teased in a mid-credits scene in Doctor Strange).  Though the sequence isn't long, it is funny and works well to keep the every-sprawling Marvel Cinematic Universe connected to Earth and the myriad characters linked to each other.

Of the new characters, the rock-like alien Korg was my favorite.  He's voiced by the film's director, Taika Waititi.  Pretty much everything his unexpectedly high voice says is quotable and put a grin on my face.  He possesses a dogged optimism and self-deprecating humor.  Korg is the best.

Humor and good characters are one thing, but if you don't have a good story to tie them together, you've lost me.  Fortunately, Thor: Ragnarok has a good story to go with it.  Sure, it's another superhero tale and not Shakespeare.  But it still has one of the strongest stories of a Marvel film.  Nearly everything in the plot and story works together seamlessly.  The story ties the zaniness, the sarcasm, the spectacle, and the impending world destruction all together.  And it works.  It works better than its predecessors.  And it's a whole lot of fun along the way.

The film is rated PG-13.  There is some language.  I'll admit, I don't remember it being a lot, but then again, the film I'd seen previously swore quite a bit.  So Thor might just have been mild by comparison.  Still, it was nothing beyond what other Marvel movies have done.  The level of violence is also about the same.  Thor has a shirtless scene (because I'm fairly certain that is written into his contract).  CGI Hulk has a brief bare backside scene.  There are a couple more mature gags.

At this point, there are so many Marvel superhero movies, it's hard to pick favorites.  But Thor: Ragnarok is definitely in my top 5.  Maybe even my top 3.  I look forward to seeing it again.  If you haven't seen it yet, get to it.  And be sure to stay through all the credits.

*** Spoiler Section ***
Thor loses an eye.  I didn't see that coming.

My only complaint about the film was how Lady Sif and the Warriors Three were handled.  Sif wasn't in the film because of scheduling conflicts with actress Jaimie Alexander.  But they might have at least mentioned her and accounted for her absence.  And I was sad by how unceremoniously both Volstagg and Fandral were dispatched by Hela.  Hogun at least gets to die fighting.  But the three aren't ever mentioned again.  Yes, Thor has a lot on his mind, but it would still have been nice to have him acknowledge that three of his best friends are dead.

Given my (admittedly slim) knowledge of Norse mythology, the ending of the film felt appropriate.  Ragnarok isn't something that could be avoided or prevented.  It's something to rebuild from.

Lastly, the three cameos during the Asgardian play are terrific.  Sam Neill is Odin.  Chris Hemsworth's brother, Luke, plays Thor.  And Loki is portrayed by none other than Matt Damon.

Quotable Quotes

• "That's a crown?  I thought those were eyebrows." -- Thor to Surtur
• "I've been falling for 30 minutes!" -- Loki to Dr. Strange
• "I tried to start a revolution, but didn't print enough pamphlets.  So hardly anyone turned up." -- Korg
• "He's a friend from work." -- Thor about the Hulk

Murder on the Orient Express

Year: 2017

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Michelle Pfieffer, Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Josh Gad, Willem Dafoe, Derek Jacobi, Leslie Odom Jr., and Judi Dench
Tagline: Everyone is a suspect.
Synopsis: Hercule Poirot must deduce a murderer aboard a luxury train stranded in the snow.

Review

I've never read the Agatha Christie novel.  Nor have I seen any other adaptation.  So I went into Murder on the Orient Express having no idea who the murderer was.  That greatly enhanced my enjoyment of the film.

This was also my first real introduction to Hercule Poirot.  (I'm not sure the spoof version in Murder by Death should count.)  I found Branagh's take on the eccentric Belgian detective to be quite enjoyable.  He has humor, intellect, and just enough heart.  Poirot has most of the best lines in the film and I enjoyed his dry humor and straightforward manner.  While he certainly has an ego, I never felt it became overbearing.

The rest of the cast of characters are well-played but not very fleshed out.  I suppose it is hard to get to know characters who are all on their guard.  They are all suspects and all suspicious of each other.  It was nice to see Daisy Ridley in a role other than Rey (in Star Wars).  And it was interesting to see Josh Gad in a completely non-comedic role (he's the voice of Olaf from Frozen and plays Le Fou in the live action Beauty and the Beast).

Murder on the Orient Express is a period piece.  It takes place in 1934 aboard a luxury train travelling through Europe only to get stuck after an avalanche blocks the tracks.  I enjoyed the cinematography.  The opening scenes nicely set up the time period.  And the claustrophobia of the train cars/compartments is well-used and reflects the characters' own feelings of being trapped and closed in on.

The mystery is well laid out, with plenty of clues, twists, and red herrings.  I've always enjoyed mysteries, so watching Poirot unravel the case was fun.  It kept me engaged, though the film's pacing did slow a bit during his investigation.

The film is rated PG-13, but it's the tamest PG-13 I've seen in a while.  Kids wouldn't enjoy it because of the subject matter and pacing.  I don't recall any swearing, so if there is any, it's mild.  There are a few mild innuendos (watch the trailers, that's about it).  Obviously there's a murder.

Murder on the Orient Express is old-fashioned storytelling.  It's a bit slow at points, but I grew up with films that require a bit of patience.  The story is intriguing, which is why it's still around 80+ years later.  At some point, I look forward to watching the film again, now that I know the end.  It will be interesting to see how everything fits into place.  I would also be pleased to see Kenneth Branagh return to the role of Poirot in another adventure. 

If you are looking for an old-fashioned whodunit, I recommend booking passage on the Orient Express.

*** Spoiler Section ***
Nope.  No spoilers here.  I will say that the ending surprised me.  Not entirely though.  It all clicked into place in a satisfactory way.

Quotable Quotes

• "Forgive me.  I am Belgian." -- Poirot
• "I know your mustache." -- Miss Debenham
• "You're Hercules Poirot."  "Hercule.  I don't fight the lions." -- Miss Debenham and Poirot
• "You are allowed a coincidence." -- Poirot to Princess Dragomir
• "If it were easy, they would not call me 'great.'  Next theory."  -- Poirot to Bouc