The Final Take with Parker Mott

Sidekicks: Robert Downey, Jr. and Don Cheadle face-off against the ruthless Mandarin in "Iron Man 3".

Iron Man 3 marks the first Marvel blockbuster of the summer (and, assumedly, a box office wonder), thus detonating the big bang of Hollywood spectacle and action-oriented narrative sure to disperse across the multiplexes these next coming months. The Marvel movies are typically theme-park rides, built on a grand scale and meant simply to thrill (Iron Man 2’s motif use of ACDC’s “Shoot to Thrill” was thereby apt). (continue reading…)

Rating: PG – Violence, Language May Offend, Not Recommended for Young Children
Run Time: 165 minutes

Batman returns after 8 years in the cave in "The Dark Knight Rises".

Before this review, I want to express my deepest condolences to those harmed by the tragic events that occurred at the Century 16 cinema in Aurora, Colorado. My heart goes out to the families, friends, and victims of this horrid crime. Movie theatres should be for our joy and entertainment, and that this promise has been fatally broken is sad and unforgivable. (continue reading…)

Rating: PG – Frightening Scenes, Violence, Not Recommended for Young Children
Run Time: 136 minutes

Spider Man (Andrew Garfield) spidey-senses danger in "The Amazing Spider Man".

The Amazing Spider Man is in the spirit of Marvel comic books, with a keen emphasis on the tongue-in-cheek over literal drama and a cartoonish feel over a heightened sense of realism. And rightly so, as the addition of “Amazing” in the title kind of takes away from any inherent seriousness. This new film is on a completely different tone than Sam Raimi’s Spider Man movies, which, in simplistic terms, were much “darker”. (continue reading…)

3 Stars out of 4
(142 minutes)

The Avengers prepare for battle at the climax of Joss Whedon's Marvel blockbuster "The Avengers".

Fanboys will be happy to hear that the long-awaited and much-anticipated The Avengers is a pretty good time. Directed by Joss Whedon, the film is for comic book lovers and, as for the others, they will have to desperately hunt for the hyper 10 year-old child in them. Whedon strips The Avengers of seriousness and injects this action feast with fast, sincere lightness and energy. On that level, it’s about enough.

Note: I realize, if you’re a Marvel nut, that’s about as much as you need to hear. But stay with me. (continue reading…)

3 Stars out of 4
(88 minutes)

Designer Holly Conrad presents her talent after winning a prize at Comic-Con.

Here is a documentary that you will have trouble resisting. It’s called Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope; its task is bringing energy and inspiration to the far away galaxy of Comic-Con. But Star Wars puns aside, A Fan’s Hope is a nimble trot through the big yearly convention and, as a result, profits more as light stuff for documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock. But then again most of his films are. (continue reading…)

2.5 Stars out of 4
(132 minutes)

The First Class, circa 1962.

X-Men: First Class like, I dunno, Inglourious Basterds wants to change history so that it was more clever, exciting, and an even bigger battle between good and evil. There appears to be so much more than just Capitalists facing off against Communists. Mutants deserve their own iron curtain. (continue reading…)

2 Stars out of 4
(105 minutes)

Ryan Reynolds is Hal Jordan a.k.a. Green Lantern.

There seems to be some classic message about the importance of good’s conquest over evil in Green Lantern – a new DC Comics film that I’m not sure is more about whacky-cool special effects than about a irresponsible man’s internal struggle. I suppose it’s better than Thor but that’s hardly worth a ring of merit. (continue reading…)

2.5 Stars out of 4
(104 minutes)

The X-Men.

X-Men is not exactly a success but it seems to promise better things to come. Before I become all critic on you, reader, let me bestow that if you are an avid reader of the X-Men comics you will probably enjoy this movie, and be shaking your head to this review within the next few paragraphs. Yes, there appears to be a grammar that I am not getting with this movie, so I will stick to what this movie represents instead of trying to pick apart the goofy bits, which I’m sure make sense to Marvel fans. (continue reading…)