Superhero

POWER RANGERS (2017)

Cert 12A 123mins Stars

It’s mighty morphin’ time as the rainbow coalition of colour coded superheroes spring into action. This big budget reboot of the TV show is good surprisingly fun, in its empty headed way.

Five ordinary teens are rescued from high school detention hell when they are chosen by an ancient alien being to save the Earth.

A young attractive cast bring an earnest enthusiasm and commit themselves with a goofball energy. Their bonding sessions reference the 1980’s classic, The Breakfast Club, but with smartphones and a higher moral purpose.

They’re given special powers to battle a 65-million-year-old alien invader who is trying to steal the source of their powers. Rita Repulsa is looking good for her age, and is played by Elizabeth Banks with a gold swallowing demented glee.

Decent CGI bring to life robot dinosaurs and an army of rock monsters for a town-smashing finale. My 6 year old will probably love it.

LOGAN

Cert 15 137mins Stars 4

The gloves are off and the claws are out as Hugh Jackman makes an emotional last stand as the superhero, Wolverine.

True to the spirit of the Marvel comics the character was ripped from, this is a splatter fest of bone splitting, brain skewering violence. And it’s all the more fun for it.

Armed with super tough adamantium bones, retractable claws and an extraordinary healing ability, Wolverine was the breakout star of 2003’s first X-Men film.

Though Jackman hides his leading man looks behind a beard and glasses, there’s no disguising the big Aussie’s fierce physique. The big Aussie actor first played the role in 2003 and he remains imposing, even at forty eight years old.

Now years later, he and Professor Xavier are eking out a living in Mexico. Patrick Stewart brings all his Shakespearean expertise to bear as Wolverine’s surrogate father and wheelchair bound, former X-Men leader.

The third member of the group is Caliban, an albino mutant with the power to sniff out other mutants. Former Ricky Gervais sidekick, Stephen Merchant, gives an affecting performance in heavy makeup. 

A mute orphan of prodigious ability is landed in their care and they’re pursued by heavily armed corporate agents, aiming to terminate her. In a politicised subtext, the bad guys are militarised corporate agents, the good guys are fence-storming Mexicans.

Whereas previously the X-Men series had courted a family audience with a 12A certificate, this one flaunts its 15 age limit. Abandoning spandex and light hearted frolics, this is notably the grittiest, darkest and bloodiest offering in the often disappointing, nine film franchise.

20th Century Fox are clearly aiming for the mega box office of their X-Men spin-off and surprise smash, Deadpool, which also had a 15 certificate. However at £102 million, Logan is more than twice as expensive, so will have to work a lot harder to make as much money.

There’s no lack of money, effort or expertise on show. Ferocious fist fights litter the cross-country chase, and it ends with a drug fuelled rampage through a forest.

Pummelled by far more emotional and physical punches than previous episodes, I almost wish it wasn’t the last one. We’ll see.

 

 

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE

Cert PG 116mins Stars 5

Along comes a Spider-man as you’ve never seen him before in this deliriously entertaining animated spin on your friendly neighbourhood superhero.

Joyous, thrilling and inclusive, it’s a pulsating neon kaleidoscope of jokes, action and invention as several versions of Spider-man team up to save the fabric of the universe being torn apart by the infamous crime lord, Kingpin. 

However this is not the Peter Parker character familiar from the Marvel films and comics, but another version of the web-swinger, Afro-latino schoolboy Miles Morales, and exists independently of the mainstream Marvel Connected Universe of the upcoming Avengers: Endgame.

Rapper and actor Shameik Moore gives a lovely grounded performance as the voice of schoolboy Miles, alongside an impressive cast which includes Oscar winners  Mahershala Ali and Nicolas Cage.

Miles is bitten in time honoured tradition by a radioactive spider but before he can learn to control to his great new powers, he’s given the great responsibility of saving the world from  the effects of a parallel dimensions machine.

Through this window to the multi-verse swing various Spider-types of different genders, styles and species which range from 1930’s noir, to Japanese manga and a sort of Porky Pig figure.

As well as providing a team dynamic and a lot of humour, this solves the problem of  Spidey otherwise having to talk to himself to explain the plot, and proves what a universal and flexible character Spider-man is.

Intent on villainy are a rogues gallery of familiar foes such as Green Goblin and Doc Ock, plus some super-menacing Spanish cyborg scorpion thing.  

It’s produced by Phil Lord and Chris Miller who made 2014’s brilliant The LEGO Movie and they fill this with their fresh and infectious looney tunes-style energy and colour.

And while honouring its humble pulp comic origins they also capture the extraordinary optimism and dynamism of the character as well as offering a touching tribute to the creators, Steve Dikto and the recently departed, Stan Lee.

This reincarnation of their most popular superhero rivals the best of this years live-action superhero adventures, and is the most enjoyable Spider-man film yet.

SHAZAM!

Cert 12A 131mins Stars 4

Magic and monsters cause mayhem in this terrific crowd pleasing superhero romp which doubles as a body swap comedy. 

This confident seventh instalment in the increasingly lighthearted, bright and colourful, DC Extended Universe, takes place in same world as the recent billion dollar success, Aquaman, but don’t hold their breath waiting for the king of Atlantis to turn up.

Billy is a teenage orphan who while searching for his mother, finds himself endowed with extraordinary powers and unlooked-for responsibility.

Following an encounter with a wizard, whenever Billy says the magic word, ‘Shazam’, he’s magically transformed into an adult superhero, with strength, speed and the ability to shoot electric bolts from his fingertips.

Asher Angel is fresh faced and likeable as 14 year old Billy, with an exuberantly gleeful and goofy Zachary Levi, as his super-powered alter-ego.

The script owes a lot to Tom Hanks’ 1988 comedy, Big, and pays homage to it during a fight in a department store, while the films energy has the wide-eyed excitable tone of 1980’s kid caper, The Goonies.

As Billy learns to control his powers, the warm family dynamic of his diverse foster family provides a strong emotional grounding to the fantasy elements.

It’s here we meet Faithe Herman as Billy’s foster sister Darla, a delightful pocket-sized scene-stealing charmer.

Packed with jokes, this is funnier than Deadpool and has more laughs than Kick Ass, plus it’s also much kinder and far more appropriate for a family audience.

Brit actor Mark Strong played the bad guy in Kick Ass, and appears here as a super-villain who’s hunting Shazam to steal his powers, and is involved in all the flashy CGI action such as magic realms, scary demons, and mid-air fights.

Yet Shazam!’s greatest strength is knowing superheroes were created as a wish fulfilment fantasy for lonely adolescents, and is all the more enjoyable when putting them centre stage.

AVENGERS: ENDGAME

Cert 12A 181mins Stars 5

It’s game over for Marvel’s competition as their latest superhero spectacular smashes into cinemas like the Hulk on steroids, and is the thunderous triumph we’ve all been hoping for.

With a multitude of famous faces battling to save the universe through extraordinary action sequences powered by eye-popping CGI, it builds on eleven years of consistently high-calibre storytelling to deliver the blockbuster of the decade.

Robert Downey Jnr., Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth return as the surviving Avengers, Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor, with Marvel milking their talent, charisma and combustible chemistry for all their considerable scene-stealing worth in this ridiculously entertaining popcorn adventure.

This follows on from the events of last year’s extraordinary Avengers: Infinity War, where half the world’s population and many of our favourite heroes were killed off.

The surviving Avengers who also include as Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk and Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, are consumed by grief and anger, yet resolve to avenge their fallen brethren by defeating the intergalactic warlord, Thanos.

However what keeps the result always in doubt is Josh Brolin’s compellingly meaty and intelligent turn as the supremely confident and all-powerful villain.

Of course this time the Avengers have a last minute substitute arrive in the form of Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel, and her awesome cosmic ability and mischievous smirk firms up everyone’s resolve.

She’s adds a welcome extra dimension to the male-dominated camaraderie and helps address the significant gender imbalance by being at least as powerful of any of the men, and for being far from content at taking orders.

With a three hour runtime full of shocks, stuns and surprises, this hugely emotional finale will have fans cheering at the desperate heroism on show, and move them to tears as various plot-lines develop.

This easily matches The Lord Of The Rings: The Return of the King, for magnificent scope and sweep, and that epic equalled the all-time best Oscar haul with 11 wins.

Though I don’t believe this will similarly sweep the board at the Academy Awards, it’s clear Marvel have a best picture Oscar in their sights as their endgame, and I’m not betting against them getting it.

AVENGERS: ENDGAME

Cert 12A 181mins Stars 5

The world of Marvel’s superheroes is changed forever with this epic and emotional finale which fulfils the promise of the preceding 21 films by serving up a hugely satisfying and super-sized blast of popcorn entertainment.

Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth allowed full rein to be at their crowd pleasing best as Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor who risk their lives in a last gasp attempt at saving the universe.

Following directly on from the events of last year’s Avengers: Infinity War, it sees our heroes consumed by grief and anger after Josh Brolin’s intergalactic warlord, Thanos, succeeded in killing half the world’s population including many of our favourite heroes such as Spider-Man.

Not to be outdone by the boys, Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel is involved from the off and it’s great to see Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow and Karen Gillan’s Nebula afforded plenty of screen time and their own key moments.

Never feeling anywhere near its length, this huge movie is surprisingly light on its feet as it skips about the galaxy, through time and into the quantum realm, from which Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man is released and then has to return to.

With lots of call-back moments to previous adventures Marvel shamelessly plays to the galley which they have every right to do after delivering eleven years of quality thrills.

They cherry pick from the best of the series to splices the laugh-out-loud comedy of Thor: Ragnarok, the two-fisted action of Captain America: Civil War, and the hidden heart of Iron Man.

Casual viewers as well as dedicated fans will be gasp by its many twists, shocks and surprises and the spectacular smack-down is almost too much to take in.

This is an event as much as a movie which demands to be seen on the biggest available screen and is so tightly packed you may need to see it twice.

X-MEN: DARK PHOENIX

Cert 12A 113mins Stars 2

This final episode in the long running live action comic book superhero series fails to finish in a blaze of glory, and instead flames out in a CGI puff of indifference.

Set mostly in 1992 it stars a willing Sophie Turner as young superhero Jean Grey, who along with fellow X-Men team members, is involved in a deep space rescue of a space shuttle.

She’s exposed to a solar flare which gives an immeasurable boost to her mind-reading telepathic and ground-shaking telekinetic powers, but back on Earth she struggles to control her enhanced abilities.

Soon she’s being pursued by two competing groups of X-Men, the US military, and a band of homeless alien shape-shifters lead by Jessica Chastain. It’s alarming and dispiriting to see an actress of her quality slog through CGI landscapes and grossly functional dialogue and direction with such grim determination.

Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult don’t fare any better as blue skinned mutants, while James McAvoy’s bald and brainy Professor X, and Michael Fassbender’s anti-hero Magneto, are rolled out once more to read minds and bend metal.

Given an eight year head start on rival superhero franchise, the Avengers, but with ten fewer films under its belt, the X-Men series suffers from previous creative decisions resulting in a confused and contradictory patchwork of cast changes, multiple timelines and repetitive narratives.

This twelfth X-Men yarn is a sombre and plodding retread of the series’ 2006 third instalment, X-Men: The Last Stand, and feels at all times like a rehashed greatest hits package of uninspired action scenes.

Sorely missing the fan-pleasing muscle of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, at least we should be grateful this repeat adventure doesn’t see former football Vinnie Jones reprise his role as the super-villain, Juggernaut.

‘Nobody cares anymore’ exclaims Fassbender at one point. It’s as if he can read my mind.

 

The Lego Batman Movie

Director: Chris McKay (2017) BBFC cert: U

The Caped Crusader returns in a dynamically entertaining spin-off from 2014s The Lego Movie.

Brightly coloured, rapid fire and full of jolly stupidity, I was laughing from the first word of dialogue. And by the end of the opening titles I was a giggling mess.

The fun is powered by state-of-the-art animation and the camp sensibility of the 1960s Batman TV show. It lovingly sends up Batman’s many screen portrayals and his bromance with his arch-enemy The Joker.

In order to prove he is Batman’s number one bad guy, The Joker unleashes a horde of villains from Hollywood history. To save Gotham City from Godzilla, King Kong and err, Daleks, Batman must confront his greatest fear.

The crime fighter is once again voiced by a gravel-throated Will Arnett, who brings the superhero to life with a deliciously angry delivery.

It’s stuffed with super-enjoyable cameos and revamped Bat-tunes, and the Bat-cave is a treasure trove of potential merchandise for your kids to drool over.

They will love this daft Bat-adventure, I definitely did.

★★★★☆

@ChrisHunneysett

Doctor Strange

Director: Scott Derrickson (2016) BBFC cert: 12A

Released on a Tuesday to capitalise on UK schools half term break, this is a movie which doesn’t need the leg up to take the number one spot in the box office chart. The eye popping visuals and star power of Benedict Cumberbatch means this sorcery-based superhero adventure will have you spellbound.

In an astute piece of casting every bit as inspired as having Robert Downey Jnr play Iron Man, the star of TV’s Sherlock star plays Dr Stephen Strange, a brain surgeon turned Sorcerer Supreme.

In the latest introduction of a minor character in the Marvel canon to the wider cinema audience, the impressively psychedelic stylings of this latest product off the assembly line are sufficient to distract us from the functional plot.

Plus its East meets West magic and martial arts action means it possesses it a far stronger sense of identity than some of its franchise fellows. Yes, I’m looking at you Ant-Man (2015).

Despite a distracting American accent, Cumberbatch is alarmingly dashing in goatee beard, glowing medallion and a red cape. Similarly to the magic carpet in Disney’s animated Aladdin (1994), the cape has a mind of its own and is a major character in its own right. It says a lot for the actor’s comic ability he can play straight man to his costume.

The strong supporting cast includes Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams and Benedict Wong. Stan Lee has one his better cameos. McAdams is focused, bright and underused in the role of Strange’s love interest. By coincidence she appeared in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes (2009) as Holmes’ love interest Irene Adler.

A rampant egotist, the Doctor’s glamorous lifestyle and career are ruined when a car accident crushes his hands. In Nepal he is trained in the art of sorcery by Tilda Swinton’s mysterious Ancient One. Her sink or swim teaching methods include abandoning her pupils on Mount Everest to find their own way to safety.

Having fun in a role which is absolutely not stretch of his talent, former Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen sports glam rock eye shadow and periodically teleports in to cause carnage. As renegade mystic Kaecilius, he’s attempting to destroy the world with the help of Dormammu, a powerful demon from the Dark Dimension.

The story skips between London, New York, Hong Kong and Nepal in a series of gravity defying, time twisting, space curling, mind bending action set pieces. For a lot of the time it’s like watching Christopher Nolan’s Inception on acid.

This is easily the most visually ambitious, funny and entertaining superhero movie of the year.

★★★★☆

@ChrisHunneysett

 

TMNT2: Out Of The Shadows

Director: Dave Green (2016)

Get your nunchuks at the ready as the four pizza loving and crime fighting turtles leap into the limelight with a surprisingly improved sequel to 2014’s rubbish reboot.

It’s a violent comic book adventure full of knowingly stupid fun, manic energy and big budget special effects spectacle.

Arch-enemy master criminal Shredder escapes prison and plans to rule the world by building an inter dimensional teleportation device and importing a giant, flying, self assembling mega weapon.

It’s up to the turtles to stop the invasion, embrace their true selves and win public acceptance. Awww.

There’s explosions, car crashes, martial arts moves, a punk haired rhino henchman and the best squid-brained robotic super villain ever seen in the cinema.

The abs, thighs, boobs and immobile forehead of Megan Fox returns as human sidekick April O’Neil, who only remembers she’s a news reporter at the end of the film.

★★☆☆☆

@ChrisHunneysett