Happy June! It’s hot out and the theaters are nice and cool, which means there are some fun blockbuster movies to check out. Though I’m not the kind of online critic who sees the latest movies in theaters every week, I couldn’t help but catch a few that I have been looking forward to. Here are what I have seen and how they measure up. Enjoy the images of our stars sitting around:
Iron Man 3
Of all the recent superhero movies (both Marvel and DC universes taken into account) I have been most impressed by Iron Man’s story, as well as his team of Avengers. Robert Downey Jr. brings Tony Stark to life wonderfully, giving him a real personality that is perfectly flawed yet believable and sympathetic. Here, Tony as a character excels, so do his amazing Iron Man suits.
The film is a great mix of superhero action, comedy with just enough drama to feel very human under all that armor. There are some interesting new minor characters and a surprisingly funny twist in this terrorist plot. Though Tony is on a mission to stop the Mandarin, his real obstacle is himself, and this vulnerability in our hero is what makes the film work under all those special effects. This is easily the best of the Iron Man trilogy and I would welcome a fourth film.
The Great Gatsby
I might be a sucker for Baz Luhrmann’s films. Those that I have seen (Moulin Rouge!, Romeo + Juliet and now Gatsby) seem the follow similar structures, but I really don’t mind. The beginnings are each so intoxicating, luring me in with bright, enticing images and music that works no matter how illogical it is to the setting. Once I’m hooked, things head downhill in a hurry, but I’m never quite over how drunk I felt at first. Luhrmann’s movies are like partying all night and sobering into a hangover. They lift you up to euphoria, then let you sink back to suck-tastic tragic reality.
While I like and appreciate what Luhrmann is attempting in The Great Gatsby, there are a few things that don’t work for me. Tobey Maguire can easily pull off being an innocent young man but when he needs to change his character into a more jaded man, it doesn’t convey. Also, the lingering love between Gatsby and Daisy is portrayed as too optimistic. Sure, we’re rooting for Gatsby, but sadly he’s just too late and Daisy isn’t helping the situation.
I don’t think this is a great movie, but I did enjoy it, honestly. DiCaprio is perfect in portraying Gatsby and I only wished his surrounding cast could rise up to meet him. The visuals and setting, especially during the party scenes, are well accomplished and give me a grand idea of the roaring 20s that a modern 21st century person can relate to. And the music, I was skeptical when I first Jay-Z was doing it, but it works! It’s simply a translation to us young people of the 2010s to the 1920s. I loved the mash-up between Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Let’s Misbehave.
The Great Gatsby is a whirlwind of color, glitz, glamour, romance and tragedy, and on so many levels it works, but where it stumbles, it falls hard. If you let yourself go, it can be immersive and entertaining.
Star Trek – Into Darkness
I didn’t grow up on Star Trek, I was fully committed to Star Wars. Trek was just too nerdy, so I thought. I didn’t see a Star Trek movie until the reboot in 2009, and though I wasn’t moved to fandom, I have to say that I enjoyed it.
Admittedly, Into Darkness probably made a lot of great jokes and connections that Star Trek fans loved, that I didn’t get (at least that’s what the random fits of laughter in my theater told me). I quite enjoy Spok and his logic to no end, Kirk with his red-blooded heroism and Scotty for being great comic relief with just enough support to the rest of the cast/crew. The villain, a big Star Trek name, fell flat to me. Yeah, he’s menacing but I didn’t find myself caring much.
However, Star Trek is fun. It’s a film for all, welcoming to those who are not Star Trek fans, just movie fans. And that gives me confidence that J.J. Abrams will be good to Star Wars later. There’s plenty of action, big spacey explosions, fights and suspenseful beam-up moments. Most of all, I never realized just how big The Enterprise is, because everyone is running all over that big-ass ship. That must be how everyone on board stays in such great shape. Seriously, there are so many shots of Kirk and the gang running down hallways.
The Best Picture Project 
I liked Iron Man quite a lot, but (once again) I thought the plot and the villain didn’t live up to the heroes and the actors who play them. But it was great that Stark and Rhodey got to spend so much time out of the suits, and the Pepper got to kick some butt.
Agreed, Anthony. I’m curious and excited at what could become of Pepper if there is a 4th film.
Happy you could review these!
I had a lot of fun with Iron Man Three. I remember thinking from the trailers that they were going to make the film way too dark, but I’m glad that didn’t happen. I felt like a lot of times that something dramatic or depressing was going to happen, but they undercut it with humor which was great for me. I’ve been meaning to go back and watch the rest of them (I’ve seen them but only once each, and a while ago), but I just haven’t gotten to it yet.
The Great Gatsby ended up being pretty much how I expected. Leo was good, but Luhrman’s style and Maguire’s acting got in the way for me. I was surprised by Edgerton though; I thought he was great and I didn’t see that coming.
Star Trek was hands down my favorite though. LOVED it. I realize it wasn’t a great movie or anything, but I was fangirling so hard I did not even care. It always amazes me how big the Enterprise is as well, that part of it can be blown off and sucking people into space while everyone on the bridge is fine. Sorry Cumberbatch didn’t work for you; I loved him here and after seeing it I’ve become a pretty big fan:)
I believe my theater for Star Trek had some pockets of people “fangirling so hard” and they made it fun for all of us. Completely encouraged! (Fangirling/fanboying so hard may have just become my new favorite phrase. Thanks!)
Cool. I didn’t check out Gatsby, not will I probably. I liked Star Trek a lot, Iron Man was okay. Too bad you weren’t into Trek more.
I know, it’s a pity I don’t get into Star Trek, perhaps I wasn’t introduced to it well, or at the right age. My husband has recently tried to get me to watch the old tv episodes, but I tend to fall asleep half way through. He seemed more in tune with the film.
Man of Steeeeeeeell!!!!!
Rodney, I plan on seeing Man of Steel, but I’m not all that excited. Should I be?