handcrafted film criticism by maryann johanson | since 1997
Ten years of Marvel superheroism culminates in a battle for the universe itself. Exhausting, bitterly humorous, and gripped in a stunning finality, it’s almost too much to take in, yet somehow not enough.
Tough, unanswerable human questions frame spectacular, innovative action sequences that are like superhero ballets. This series just keeps getting better.
If you could add one thing to Steve’s list that he absolutely must catch up with in order to be considered a with-it 2010s kind of guy, what would it be?
Stuns me with its scathing commentary on the real world today, wrapped up in what is some of the most delicious, most comic-booky fantasy ever.
It’s cute how old-fashioned Steve is: “I thought the punishment usually came after the crime.” “This isn’t freedom. This is fear.” Adorable.
A bleak, bitter, wicked pleasure that holds up the underpinnings of modern America — self-help, Jesus, and violence — for ridicule.
Actual unretouched phrases that people plugged into search engines this week that led them to this site (with some commentary from me)…
How many superheroes spoil the broth? More than six, apparently, at least when Joss Whedon is wrangling them.
Transformers, Pirates of the Caribbean, Thor, Green Lantern, X-Men, Captain America, etc. This is what 2011 looks like at the movies. In what way can it be construed that young men are “endangered” at the box office?
I must confess that the notion didn’t even cross my mind till Scott Weinberg put forth the suggestion at Movies.com…
