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Classic Review: Inception (2010)

6/29/2020

“Inception” stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, and Michael Caine. Released on July 16, 2010, the film is about a thief who steals information from people’s dreams.

The film was written and directed by Christopher Nolan, who also directed films such as “Memento”, “Insomnia”, “Batman Begins”, and “Interstellar”. If you have the power to infiltrate people’s dreams, what would you do with it? This was the question that master filmmaker Christopher Nolan answered in his most ingenious and trippy film of the 2010s. Nolan was originally planning on working on it after the completion of “Insomnia”, but he later shelved it in order to gain more confidence with a project this complex and grand and instead went on to work on the two “Batman” films and the 2006 thriller “The Prestige”. Fast forward to the summer of 2010, where the film became a critical and commercial success and won four out of eight Academy Awards, including Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects. It also became a major influence in popular culture in terms of its memorable sequences and its trailers using the popular “braam” sounds. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the sci-fi action classic and with Nolan’s upcoming film “Tenet” heading to theaters soon (hopefully), I decided to revisit it and see if it really is a filmgoer’s dream come true or if it’s actually an absolute nightmare when it comes to the complexity of its plot and themes. For those who still haven’t watched it, I will do my best to share my thoughts on the film without giving away any major spoilers, so that you can experience it for yourself someday.

The story centers on Dom Cobb (DiCaprio) and his partner Arthur (Gordon-Levitt). They’re a group of professional thieves known as “extractors” who use experimental technology to invade their targets’ subconscious and extract information through a shared dream world, hence the term “extractors”. Dom runs into Mr. Saito (Watanabe), a businessman who promises to erase his criminal record by completing this request: implanting an idea into the subconscious of Robert Fischer (Murphy), the heir to his father’s business empire. With a team by his side, Cobb works to complete this dangerous mission while also dealing with his own personal demons in the process. Now, you may think that this plot is as simple as telling time, but it’s actually a complex and modern heist film that does two things: expand on the concept of dream vs. reality through dialogue and deliver a heart-pounding and visually striking thrill ride that every summer blockbuster is known for. With a runtime of two hours and 28 minutes, the film does take a while to get to the actual heist, but with its interesting characters and Nolan’s execution on the “dream vs. reality” scenario, getting through the first act didn’t feel like an absolute chore. Instead, it sets up this idea in a way that Nolan is known for: mixing together character-driven moments with the genre elements while keeping the pace consistent. Once the heist kicks into high gear, that’s when things get even more exhilarating. From its thrilling action sequences to its mind-bending visuals, the film is a trippy and invigorating experience that’s more intelligent than brainless. In other words, it still holds up as one of Christopher Nolan’s best-looking and intense blockbusters of his career. The cast did such a fantastic job with their performances, especially Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, who serves as the focus of one of the film’s themes, which is dealing with guilt. Throughout the film, Cobb has been haunted by the events that led his wife Mal (who is played marvelously by Marion Cotillard) to commit suicide, and those thoughts are affecting his job, which helps make the film’s high stakes much more serious. The way they handled this character arc was undoubtedly riveting without feeling forced. This is one of those moments where storytelling and character depth are just as important as the action set pieces and the visual effects. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe, and Ellen Page were also great in their roles as Arthur, Saito, and Ariadne respectively as they insert enough interest in these characters to prevent them from being one-dimensional. The scope of the set pieces and the film’s mixture of practical effects and CGI play a big part in portraying some of the most memorable sequences in film history, including the Paris-folding sequence and the zero-gravity fight scene that takes place in one of the dreams. These things alone looked incredible ten years ago, and they still look incredible now. The sequences that I mentioned successfully portrayed how the dreams are affected by the real world and the characters without taking some easy shortcuts that most of the action blockbusters are known for. Another thing I want to mention is Hans Zimmer’s score, which still sounds great in my opinion. Zimmer definitely knows how to create music that matches the intensity and the scope of a specific film without making things too overwhelming or too underwhelming, and “Inception” is a well-deserved example of that. Give it a hear if you get the chance.

Overall, “Inception” is the type of experience that remarkably blends intelligent thrills with awe-inspiring visuals. Ten years after its official release, the film still remains as one of the best examples of what Christopher Nolan can do with a higher budget and his intriguing concept. The cast was great, Cobb’s character arc was well-executed, the visuals and the action looked stunning, and the story was complex, yet interesting, thanks to Nolan’s direction and screenplay. It can be a bit confusing at first, but once you fully understand its substance, I can assure you that you will be in for one heck of a treat. Here’s hoping that Nolan’s latest film “Tenet” will deliver that same experience as this one.

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Classic Review: The Princess Bride (1987)

6/10/2020

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“The Princess Bride” stars Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace Shawn, André the Giant, Robin Wright, Peter Falk, and Fred Savage. Released on September 25, 1987, the film has a farmhand rescuing a princess from an unpleasant prince.

The film was directed by Rob Reiner, who also directed films such as “This Is Spinal Tap”, “Stand By Me”, “A Few Good Men”, and “The American President”. It is based on the 1973 novel of the same name by William Goldman, who wrote the film’s screenplay. The 1980s was a special decade for actor/filmmaker Rob Reiner. He went from acting in the famous 1970s sitcom “All in the Family” to directing some of the best films of all time. Before his directorial fame came crashing down with some of his notable flops like “North”, “Rumor Has It”, and “LBJ”, he became a household name by making several classics that spanned many different genres like comedy and drama. One of those classics in mind is a fairy tale that depicts swashbuckling heroes, a princess in distress, and twists that were inconceivable. That fairy tale is none other than “The Princess Bride”. Since its release in 1987, the film has been well-received for its delightful and fresh take on the classic damsel-in-distress story. Plus, it became a modest success at the box office. It even became a cult classic after it premiered on the home video market, with many people regarding it as one of the films that are highly quotable. It is a fantasy classic that still holds the test of time as of today. Sadly, I was one of the very few people who haven’t watched the film all the way through until now. I only saw parts of the film, but other than that, my experience with it is so small that you need a magnifying glass to see how small it is. Thankfully, the movie just premiered on Disney+ a month ago, which means I didn’t have to wait for it to appear on television. I can just watch it anytime I want, and by that, I mean today. With that in mind, let’s see if this fairy tale classic has enough magic in its soul to impress me.

The film is a story within a story in which the grandfather (Falk) visits his sick grandson (Savage) and reads him a story to cheer him up. Fun fact: that sequence went on to be parodied in the PG-13 version of “Deadpool 2” entitled “Once Upon a Deadpool” with Fred Savage reprising his role as the grandson. The second narrative, which is the grandfather’s book, takes place in the fictional land of Florin where a farmhand named Westley (Elwes) falls in love with a gorgeous young woman named Buttercup (Wright). When Westley sets out to seek his fortune so they can marry each other, he unfortunately gets axed off by the hands of the mysterious figure known as the Dread Pirate Roberts. A few years later, Buttercup is now forced to marry the heir to the throne of Florin, Prince Humperdinck (Sarandon). Moments before the wedding, Buttercup is captured by three outlaws: a Sicilian boss named Vizzini (Shawn), a giant named Fezzik (André the Giant), and a Spanish fencing master named Inigo Montoya (Patinkin), who seeks revenge against the person who killed his father. Prince Humperdinck sets out to rescue the fair maiden, not knowing that a peculiar Man in Black is also in pursuit of the outlaws. This film had the proper ingredients to make a fairy tale come to life on screen: a love story set in a fantasy world, side characters that provide comic relief, and plenty of action. On paper, it sounded like something that Disney would’ve created as an animated film, but in reality, it’s a kid-friendly fantasy adventure that not only respects the fairy tale tropes, but also includes several moments that are light-hearted and surprising to make the entire experience fresh and endearing for newcomers. Along with a story that’s well-told and nicely-paced for the young kids and characters that are extremely lovable, “The Princess Bride” also had the most crucial part that kept it going strong for more than 30 years, and that is its flawless blend of comedy, adventure, fantasy, and romance. Sure, the latter has a few corny moments, but I think that’s what makes the film charming in its own right. It’s the film’s corniness that help it celebrate the joy and imagination of listening to a bedtime story as a child. To remind ourselves how fun it is to envision a world filled with never-ending possibilities that are straight out of the pages instead of a television screen. The romance element may not be for everyone, but for those who do, I can assure you that there’s lots to enjoy from it. Then there’s the comedy element and the adventure element, both of which were properly well-balanced with one another. It’s hilarious without becoming a straight-up parody of itself, and it’s adventurous without taking itself too seriously. It’s a win-win on both fronts. The majority of the film’s comedy comes from William Goldman’s screenplay and the characters themselves, most notably Vizzini, Fezzik, and Inigo Montoya, aka the best parts of the film. The screenplay offers some of the best dialogue I’ve ever heard in a film as well as some of the most memorable lines in film history, such as “Inconceivable” and “Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father; prepare to die!”. So if you’re wondering why a lot of people are quoting these lines over and over again, “The Princess Bride” has the answer you’re looking for. As for the cast themselves, they did a really nice job with their performances. Cary Elwes and Robin Wright were both good together as Westley and Buttercup respectively, but the real stars of the show, in my humble opinion, were the three outlaws who captured Buttercup, played by Shawn, André the Giant, and Patinkin. These guys have a chemistry that was absolutely hysterical and noticeably fun to watch. If they decide to do a spin-off of the film centering on the outlaws, I will watch that in a heartbeat. It probably will never happen since this is something that deserves to be left untouched, but Hollywood has a way of surprising us almost every day, so…

Overall, “The Princess Bride” is a delightful and astonishing fairy tale classic that showcases Rob Reiner’s directorial style and its genre mixtures. Ranging from its charming characters to its memorable dialogue, the film has the right blend of adventure, comedy, and romance to enchant and entertain people of all ages for generations to come. After finally watching it all the way through, I can now declare myself as one of the people who witnessed “The Princess Bride” and loved every minute of it. The film is available on Disney+ as of this writing, so if you haven’t seen it and you got a Disney+ subscription, do yourself a favor and experience it for yourself because not watching it is nothing but inconceivable.

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Classic Review: Mulan (1998)

3/28/2020

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“Mulan” stars Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, BD Wong, Miguel Ferrer, June Foray, James Hong, Pat Morita, and George Takei. Released on June 19, 1998, the film is about a woman who takes her father’s place to serve the Imperial Army.

The film was directed by Barry Cook, the co-director of “Arthur Christmas” and “Walking with Dinosaurs”, and Tony Bancroft. It is based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, and it was the 36th animated film in the Walt Disney Animation Studios library. This weekend would’ve seen the release of Disney’s latest live-action adaptation of one of their animated classics. However, since it got delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, I had no choice but to go to the original source as a backup plan. The source I’m referring to is a small animated film about a Chinese woman who disguises herself as a man. This is one of the films that were released during the Disney Renaissance, the period during the 90s which saw the studio making a huge comeback after releasing hit after hit after hit. While it didn’t earn as much money as the likes of “Beauty and the Beast” and “The Lion King”, it did manage to revive the studio’s winning streak by outgrossing the box office totals of the previous two films that came before it, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and “Hercules”. The film’s success resulted in the main character becoming a part of the Disney Princess lineup and inspired Disney to develop the 2004 direct-to-video follow-up, “Mulan II” and the just-mentioned live-action remake of the same name. Like my past experiences with the other Disney classics, I had some fond memories watching “Mulan”, including the characters and the songs, although I didn’t watch it as much as “The Lion King” during my childhood. I guess that’s what happens when I have a bunch of Disney films in my inventory. Now that I reached adulthood, it’s time to see if Disney’s take on the Chinese legend can hold up well in my critical eyes. For those who haven’t watched this film yet, I will try to keep this review as spoiler-free as I can.

The story takes place in China during the Han Dynasty, where the villainous Huns, lead by the ruthless Shan Yu (Ferrer), are invading the country. This lead the emperor (Morita) to order a mobilization to defend China from the invaders. The army requires one man from each family, including Fa Zhou (Soon-Tek Oh), an army veteran and father of Fa Mulan (Wen). Concerned about her father’s weakening health, Mulan decides to take her father’s place in the army by…wait for it…disguising herself as a man. With the help of a disgraced former guardian Mushu (Murphy), she must assist the army, under the command of Captain Li Shang (Wong), in defeating the Huns and bring honor to her family. The film followed the same plot as the poem it’s based on, Guo Maoqian’s The Ballad of Mulan, but offered a few changes to make it more appropriate for its target audience, which is undoubtedly families. So if you’re looking for a film adaptation that’s 100% accurate to the source material as well as its historical culture, Disney’s “Mulan” may not be the one that will bring honor to your needs. Disney is usually known for taking historic moments and classic stories and adapt them into animated features with some minor changes and a few doses of kid-friendly material to boot. When you get past some of their “inaccuracies”, these films have plenty of charm to impress almost everyone, including me. Some of them work well enough to be successful. Others, not so much. “Mulan” is a suitable example of the former. Following the traditional Disney formula, the film showcases fast-paced action, fun characters, and a plot that touches the hearts of kids and adults. In addition to exploring its themes of war and honor, “Mulan” also offered an inspiring and well-portrayed story that involves the main character’s journey to bring honor to her family and become her own person. What makes the story inspiring is that it represents two different traditions, one for the women and one for the men, and Mulan, who happens to follow the women’s tradition, was able to break that tradition in order to save her father’s life despite the consequences she’ll receive. It’s a film that says “be who you want to be, not what others think you should be”. Not only was Mulan a strong and fitting character for this scenario, but she was wonderfully voiced by Ming-Na Wen, who is also known for her role as Melinda May in the Marvel series, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” She brought a lot of depth and personality into this role much like the other voice actors for the Disney Princesses. My only minor issue with the story was the film’s antagonist, Shan Yu. I can admit that he’s an intimidating foe and Miguel Ferrer’s voice work was top notch, but he’s not something that I would call “Best Villain Material” compared to the other memorable Disney baddies like Scar from “The Lion King” and Gaston from “Beauty and the Beast”. Aside from that, the story has enough heart, humor, and action to successfully deliver its intended message to those who seek to be one’s self and provide some good, kid-friendly fun for the little ones. The animation also served as one of the strong qualities of the film, ranging from its vibrant background designs to the fluidity of its character designs and action scenes. Like “The Lion King”, “Mulan” has a couple of scenes that combine 2D animation with computer-generated imagery, including the snowy mountain showdown between the army and the Huns which, by the way, still looks amazing. If there’s one thing you should know about these types of animated films, it’s that Disney knows how to make quality animation, even in the 90s. Of course, it’s not a Disney animated film without some comical side characters. While the likes of Yao, Ling, Chien-Po, Chi-Fu, and Cri-Kee have plenty of humor to go around, the only main attraction of the show was none other than the mini dragon himself, Mushu. I really liked Mushu when I was younger, and I still like him today. With the combination of Eddie Murphy’s charismatic voice work and his endearing personality, Mushu is another Disney sidekick that kids will love and adults will find tolerable. The musical score by the late Jerry Goldsmith had the proper essence to capture the serenity of its Chinese scenery and the intensity of its action scenes, and the songs were quite lively, with “Reflection” and “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” being my personal highlights of the soundtrack.

Overall, “Mulan” is honorable enough to join the ranks of the Disney Renaissance. Filled with a well-told story, likable characters, great animation, and a respectable soundtrack, the film has brought honor to its audience more than 20 years ago, and it will continue to do so for the next 20 years or so. It doesn’t rank as high as “The Lion King” and “Aladdin” in my opinion, but it’s still a worthy addition to the studio’s collection of animated treasures. It’s also something that will keep us occupied until the live-action remake finds its official release date. Hopefully it’ll find one sooner or later. The film is available on Disney+ right now, so if you have the streaming service and you’re one of the people who either haven’t seen it yet or haven’t seen it in a while, it’s worth checking out.

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Classic Review: The Lion King (1994)

7/17/2019

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“The Lion King” stars Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Rowan Atkinson, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, and Robert Guillaume. Released on June 15, 1994, the film is about a lion’s journey to become king of the Pride Lands.

The film was directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff. Minkoff is known for directing films like “Stuart Little”, “The Haunted Mansion”, and “Mr. Peabody & Sherman”. It served as the 32nd film in the Walt Disney Animation Studios library. 25 years ago, Disney created a small animated film that took the world by storm and became one of the most successful 2D animated films of all time. That film was “The Lion King”, a splendid mixture of comedy, drama, and music. It started off as a risk for Disney, but upon its release, that risk lead to a huge reward. The film received numerous praise from critics and audiences and became a box office smash. That success spawned a massive franchise that includes two direct-to-DVD follow-ups, two television shows, video games, merchandise, and a Broadway adaptation. It even garnered a 3D re-release in 2011, which I gladly went to during that time. Just goes to show how much this film means to me and everybody else on this planet. Before I attempt to visit the upcoming remake from Jon Favreau, I decided to revisit this animated classic that’s been a part of my life for a couple of decades and see if it holds up well in my adult eyes. Spoiler alert: It held up well.

Influenced by the lives of Joseph and Moses, from the Christian Bible, and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the film follows the story of Simba, a young lion who is inspired by his father Mufasa (Jones) to become the next ruler of the Pride Lands. However, this doesn’t sit well for Simba’s conniving uncle Scar (Irons), who was first in line to become king until Mufasa’s son was born. So what does he do about it, you ask? He kills his own brother, manipulates Simba into thinking that he’s responsible, and forces him into exile. Oh yeah, that’s one way to handle a problem like that. Simba is then raised in the jungle by two bug-eating outcasts: a meerkat named Timon (Lane) and a warthog named Pumbaa (Sabella) who has a troublesome gas problem. Upon reaching adulthood, Simba learns a valuable life lesson from his childhood friend Nala (Kelly) and his shaman baboon Rafiki (Guillaume) before returning to his home to challenge Scar for the throne. Like the other classic Disney animated films of the 1990s, “The Lion King” is a suitable selection for all ages. Many kids will appreciate the film for its pacing, the colorful animation, and its lovable characters, while the adults, on the other hand, will adore it for its memorable story and its blend of comedy and drama. These things alone were the main reasons why it’s one of my favorite films of all time. After looking at it again from a new perspective, I’m happy to say that my thoughts didn’t change. What I loved about the story was that it’s a coming-of-age tale that starred talking animals rather than humans. It represented the growth of Simba from being a carefree lion cub to being a grown lion with a healthy amount of honesty and wisdom. It also showcased two different kings: One that is filled with kindness and honor (which is Mufasa and Simba) and one whose heart is filled with jealousy and slyness (which is Scar). I thought this type of representation was handled really well in terms of storytelling and characters. The story still shines in being inspirational and unforgettable because of how it represents adolescence in a way that both kids and adults can understand while maintaining the purpose of being a well-paced and entertaining cartoon. The characters and the animation were also the things that I loved about the film. Not only were the characters well-developed, but they’re also funny and memorable, ranging from the adorable Simba to the villainous Scar. What made these characters work was not just the designs, but the voice cast, with my main highlights being…well, everyone, including Broderick as Simba in his adult form and Jeremy Irons, who delivered his most unforgettable performance in his career as Scar. Nathan Lane and Ernie Sabella also did a fantastic job providing the voices for Timon and Pumbaa, one of my favorite comedy duos in film history. As for James Earl Jones as Mufasa…what can I say about him? He’s flipping James Earl Jones, the guy who did the voice for Darth Vader and the CNN intro. That’s how good this talented actor is. The animation is the next thing I want to talk about because my God, it still looks beautiful even to this day. The folks at Disney always know how to make the animation style as stunning as their stories, and “The Lion King” is still, without a doubt, one of the prime examples of that fact. The animation works extremely well for its vast settings, the musical numbers, the characters, and the intense sequences (including the wildebeest stampede scene, which mixed 2D animation with CGI). I also have to give credit to Hans Zimmer, Elton John, Tim Rice, and Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake for bringing the music and the songs to life. All of the songs that were in the film, including “Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”, are so spectacular and appealing that they’ll get stuck in your head for months. That happened to me a long time ago, and they still haven’t gone away. The musical score by Hans Zimmer and Lebo M was also incredible in capturing the feel and emotion of being in Africa. I really loved what these two did for the soundtrack, and I hope that they work together again on a different project in the near future.

Overall, “The Lion King” has the right amount of pride in its soul to provide an experience that’s visually striking, thought-provoking, and heartwarming. From its stellar storytelling to its gorgeous animation, the film still holds a special place in my heart as not only one of my favorite animated films of all time, but also one of my favorite films in general. It has been adored by families and film lovers for 25 years and will continue to be adored for 25 more. Long live the lion king.

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Classic Review: The Avengers (2012)

4/25/2019

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“The Avengers” stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Clark Gregg, Cobie Smulders, Stellan Skarsgård, and Samuel L. Jackson. Released on May 4, 2012, the film has Nick Fury forming a team of superheroes to prevent Loki from taking over Earth.

The film was written and directed by Joss Whedon, who also directed “Serenity” and “Much Ado About Nothing” and created shows like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”. It is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team of the same name created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and it was the sixth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ever since I started my blog back in 2015, I reviewed a total of two Avengers films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (well, three if you count “Civil War” as Avengers 2.5). Why two? Because apparently, I found out that there’s one Avengers film that I haven’t talked about yet, and it’s the one that not only started the Marvel team-up saga, but also raised the ever-lasting, super-powered, money-making franchise to the highest peak of popularity. Before we say goodbye to our beloved superhero characters in “Endgame”, I would like to take the opportunity to revisit a former crossover event that blew away people’s expectations seven years ago. You know, before “Infinity War” blew away people’s expectations. 2012 was a great year to be a Marvel fan because during that time, everyone had been waiting to see Iron Man teaming up with the likes of Captain America, Thor, and the Incredible Green Hunk on the big screen since Nick Fury mentioned the “Avengers Initiative” at the end of 2008’s “Iron Man”. When the film was finally released to the public, people were treated to something that relies heavily on action and characters to create a fun and epic experience for all ages. I was one of the people who saw “Avengers” in the theater, and I remembered loving it so much that I decided to see it the second time. It was practically one of my favorite films of 2012. With the endgame heading our way this weekend, I thought it would be more fitting if I look back at the film that started it all. With that said, let’s assemble and see whether or not it still holds up today.

This film was teased plenty of times throughout the first five films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, ranging from “Iron Man” to “Captain America: The First Avenger”, so there were a lot of expectations that Whedon had to either meet or exceed. Those expectations include the story, the chemistry between the characters, the action, and so much more. Thankfully, based on the reactions from critics and audiences, he was able to accomplish that mission. As I mentioned earlier, I really enjoyed the heck out of it when it first came out, and after viewing it for the umpteenth time, I still do. While it was able to deliver a satisfying and action-packed blockbuster that Marvel fans will love, it offered a few other elements that modern audiences will get a kick out of as well, mostly due to the story. Despite a few genre tropes that we’re familiar with, the film relied on heart and depth to provide a “Breakfast Club”-like story about people with differences coming together to defeat a common enemy. It also explored Nick Fury’s (Jackson) attempt to find the right motivation for the team he’s putting together. Another thing that made the story work was the characters. Whether you watched it without visiting the solo films that came before it or not, Joss Whedon will already make you grow attached to these heroes the first time you see them onscreen in terms of his script and direction. “The Avengers” never wasted the opportunity to explore their personalities as well as their origins without over-exaggerating the exposition in the process. The main actors were undeniably great in their roles, with each of them having their own shining moment, and the chemistry between them still gets my seal of approval. The best parts of the film were, without a doubt, Robert Downey Jr.’s performance as Iron Man and the Hulk (Ruffalo), who, in my opinion, had one of the most hilarious scenes in superhero history. If you’ve seen the film, you’ll know what I’m talking about. The action sequences were, of course, just as entertaining as the scenes where the characters are not fighting each other. Not to mention visually enthralling. There were a couple of them that had some editing issues, but other than that, they packed quite a punch (no pun intended). I would also like to mention the musical score by Alan Silvestri. Long story short, it’s great. The score perfectly matched the scale and tone of the film and emphasized the feeling of hope and determination.

Overall, “The Avengers” assembled plenty of action, heart, and wit to deliver a worthy superhero team-up blockbuster for the ages. I loved it then, and I still love it today. The cast was great, the characters were well-developed, the action was fun, and the music was simply divine. This marked the true beginning of the expansion of Marvel’s cinematic universe, and I’m glad that it started off with a bang. If Hollywood wants to continue making these types of crossovers, they should probably take some notes from this film. If you’re one of the readers who haven’t watched it yet, I would highly recommend you do so before you watch “Endgame”.

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Classic Review: Inception (2010)

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Classic Review: The Princess Bride (1987)

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Classic Review: Mulan (1998)

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Classic Review: The Lion King (1994)

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Classic Review: The Avengers (2012)

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