Film Review: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

When Joss Whedon's first Avengers film landed in 2012, it was the end result of several years of calculated, but very real, risks. Marvel had embarked on a seemingly foolhardy quest to create a cinematic version of their comic universe, one in which dozens of superheroes existed simultaneously, had their own solo adventures, then teamed up when needed. It paid off in a huge way, not merely because The Avengers became a massive hit, but because all the subsequent Marvel films that followed were given a boost as well, and formerly marginalised characters like Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), and especially Captain America (Chris Evans) are now pretty much household names. Yet success has boxed the series into a corner.

Shot/Reverse Shot: Episode 93 - Avengers: Age of Ultron

Now that Avengers: Age of Ultron has been unleashed upon the world and is destroying the box office like The Hulk in a built-up area, it seems like the perfect time to discuss what will likely become one of the biggest films of all time, and check in on the health of Marvel's mega-franchise. Matt and I discuss our feelings about the film, how it compares to the first film, and offer our live reaction to the unveiling of the first cast photo from Suicide Squad, an event which derails the entire last five minutes or so of the podcast.

Spoiler Warning: We discuss events in the Civil War comics which may (or may not) become part of the forthcoming Civil War film, so if you want to avoid them then please skip the discussion from 31:30 to 33:00.

Film Review: Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Even in a shared cinematic universe that features super-soldiers and men who transform into giant green monsters when they get a bit cross, Thor always seemed like a bit of an outsider when it came to becoming an iconic film character; injecting Norse mythology into Marvel's more science fiction orientated world seemed like it would be destined to lead to a work of disastrous camp. While Kenneth Branagh's Thor was a somewhat divisive film, with some saying its goofy sense of humour went too far in deflating the pomposity of its faux-Shakespearean stylings and others, myself included, saying that it struck just the right balance between the two, its main success was in establishing Thor (played with sly wit and bountiful charisma by Chris Hemsworth) as a believable, if larger than life, character, and it took him on an interesting journey from arrogant God to humble, worthy hero.

Film Review: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

"Why someone weak? Because a weak man knows the value of strength, the value of power..."

In 1942, Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), a 90-pound asthmatic weakling, has his application to enroll in the Army rejected for the fourth time. Unwilling to let this setback deter him, Rogers visits an enrollment booth at a grand exhibition intended to showcase the work of millionaire playboy and maverick inventor Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper), where he is spotted by Dr. Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci), a German ex-pat who has been working to help the American war effort. Impressed by Rogers' heart and courage in the face of constant rejection and humiliation, Erskine enrolls Rogers so he can take part in an experiment to create the first of a new breed of "super soldiers" who will hopefully be able to turn the tide of the war. Despite the skepticism of the other people behind the scheme, which include Stark, Colonel Phillips (Tommy Lee Jones) and Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Rogers is chosen as the first subject, and is transformed, via a special serum, from a weakling into a towering mass of muscle.

Film Review: Thor (2011)

The family problems of a Norse prince? How novel.

Ever since Marvel started putting together the pieces of their multi-film Avengers project, Thor has always stuck out as one of the trickiest propositions. Whilst the character has about the same level of name recognition as Iron Man - or at least of Iron Man before his inaugural film came out - the idea of a huge action spectacular built around a Norse god seems pretty far removed from The Hulk and Iron Man, which are obviously ridiculous but are based in a world which is only somewhat heightened. For fear of getting death threats from nerds everywhere, it's the fine line that separates science fiction and fantasy, and it's tough to reconcile the two.