Category Archives: Superhero

A few thoughts on seeing Avengers: Age of Ultron a second time (in 2D)

June 2, 2015 flawintheiris

As I was taking a gander at all the summer movies coming our way, I also reflected on the few we've already had a chance to see, including Avengers: Age of Ultron. On an overcast afternoon I went again, seeing it this time in 2D, my preferred format. The first thing I should say is the…Read More

Talking Star Wars and Avengers on CBC Radio One

May 5, 2015 flawintheiris

On Monday, May 4th—now the official Star Wars day, what with the bells of the Peace Tower at Parliament Hill ringing selections from John Williams' anthemic score—I joined Dalhousie professors Jason Haslam and Jacqueline Warwick, and host Stephanie Domet, on Mainstreet, the CBC Radio One afternoon show, to talk movie franchises, reboots, and fantasy adaptations. We…Read More

Avengers: Age of Ultron review — The biggest, but not necessarily the best

May 1, 2015 flawintheiris

Written and directed by Joss Whedon, from the Marvel Comic created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby After 10 movies set in this particular Marvel Cinematic Universe, we know these costumed folks now. They're fun to spend time with, what with the jokes and fighting and punching. But the filmmakers also have the added pressure of…Read More

LENS ME YOUR EARS — Episode 05: “Tech Will Destroy Us”

April 29, 2015 flawintheiris

With Avengers: Age of Ultron opening in cinemas later this week, and Ex Machina arriving May 8 (by most recent reports), Stephen Cooke and I thought it was worth going back to look at movies about our fear of technology. We talk Westworld, Jurassic Park, this summer's forthcoming Jurassic World (when I can remember the…Read More

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase Two (to date) review

April 14, 2015 flawintheiris

With the imminent arrival of Avengers: Age of Ultron on May 1, I thought it was a good time to revisit the current collection of Marvel Studios movies. You can check out my thoughts on the first six, otherwise known as Phase One, here. Iron Man 3 (2013) Directed by Shane Black, written by Black and Drew…Read More

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One review

March 31, 2015 flawintheiris

This summer Phase Two of Marvel's cinematic universe will conclude with Avengers: Age of Ultron and Antman. It's the second part of an increasingly sprawling series of connected films. The first began back in May 2008 with Iron Man, bringing to the world a host of Marvel superheroes as a kid I never would have dreamed I'd get to…Read More

Second Screenings — and more on Birdman

February 1, 2015 flawintheiris

A couple days ago there was an interesting piece in the Guardian about whether critics should see movies more than once, and whether that was fair to viewers who, for the most part, are likely to only see a movie one time. You can go here to read it. I think of myself primarily as…Read More

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) review — Once more into the cowl, Michael Keaton

November 9, 2014 flawintheiris

Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu, written by Innaritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, and Armando Bo After I saw the movie I considered the career of Michael Keaton. I always respected the guy as both a talented comedic and dramatic actor—in movies like Night Shift, Beetlejuice and Clean and Sober. He has a compelling, combustive quality. There's nothing warm…Read More

Guardians of the Galaxy review

August 1, 2014 flawintheiris

Directed by James Gunn, Written by Gunn and Nicole Perlman Looking at the predicted huge box office tallies for this first weekend in August, The Guardians of the Galaxy doesn't seem like the big gamble for Marvel Studios it must have been on paper. Consider that every movie they've done so far, with the possible…Read More

X-Men: Days Of Future Past review

May 25, 2014 flawintheiris

Directed by Bryan Singer, written by Simon Kinburg from a story by Kinburg, Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn I never really understood why 20th Century Fox chose to prematurely conclude the X-Men franchise. Fox officially called it quits as a trilogy, with Brent Ratner's limp X-Men: The Last Stand back in 2006. Yes, Singer's beneath-the-skin understanding…Read More