Bori Bernat reviews the latest feature on Marvel’s smallest superhero. 

One of 2015’s most unexpected feel-good films was Ant-Man. Featuring a hero capable of shrinking to the size of an ant with a suit, the film’s witty humor, exciting action scenes and great cast quickly became a loved Marvel film. Fans then welcomed the charming protagonist, Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) back on screen for a bit in Captain America: Civil War, and this summer came the much anticipated sequel to the original story about a goofy but well-meaning superhero: Ant-Man and the Wasp.

Scott has been dealing with the fallout Civil War has left him in for the past two years. Since he fought on “Cap”’s side, he’s been working hard to be friendly to the lawful side of life. He started a new business with Luis (Michael Pena) and reconnected with his loving family, and all while he’s successfully completing his house arrest. However, an important unsolved mystery comes back to haunt him: the whereabouts of Janet Van Dyne (played by no other than Michelle Pfeiffer), Hank Pym’s (Michael Douglas) wife and Hope’s (Evangeline Lilly) mother, who we know from the previous film as having disappeared in the quantum realm. A hope that she could be alive drives her family to do everything they can to bring her back, and because Scott feels that he owes them, he joins Hope and Hank in this mission, while risking his family and freedom.

The antagonists of this story come in many forms. The police guarding Scott on his house arrest, a squad of gangsters eager to take the only tool to bring Janet back, and the antihero of the film, Ghost, a mysterious warrior who’s able to move through walls, motivated by something completely different than the rest. With these opposing dynamics at work, the film becomes action packed and exciting, each moment energetically driven to defeat these forces, occasionally several at times. All the while the story successfully intermits the tense and serious scenes with tasteful, witty and family-friendly humor. Luckily, though the sequel fit more one liners and jokes in as the previous film, it never overpowers the story itself (unlike the mistake of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2).

Ant-Man and the Wasp, as the title suggests, introduces a new hero: the Wasp. Hank Pym was initially set against letting his only daughter Hope wear a suit similar to Ant-Man’s, but by the second film he builds her an upgraded version, one with wings and blasters, making her the superior force in this film, named “the Wasp”, a name inherited from her mother. As Scott’s daughter Cassie so wisely puts it, Ant-Man needs a partner, someone to look out for him, and the Wasp seems to be the perfect solution to that. She’s smart and motivated, taught Scott how to fight and use the suit well, and is overall an extremely talented character, who’ll surely be useful to the Avengers later on.

All in all, Ant-Man and the Wasp is a very successful sequel. The storyline aligns with the first film well, continuing its most important unexplained aspect, playing well on the relationship of the characters, giving us an insight as to what the outcome of Civil War was to Scott, Hank and Hope, and it introduces a worthy antihero. Of course one has to accept that the science behind science fiction is mostly fiction, but no one should let that get in the way of the pure fun the film offers, with its amazing CGI, action packed scenes, and the best kind of humour a Marvel film could wish for.

As for the larger MCU, this is the first film since the shocking ending of Avengers: Infinity War, and many have been wondering what happened to Ant-Man, since he’s one of the few heroes not present in the biggest team up yet. Although the answer doesn’t quite lie in this film, it gives fans a great way to regain the Marvel joy after the somber note of Infinity War, an upbeat step into the next phase of our superheroes.

Despite being the 20th film on Marvel’s 10 year long roster, I can reassure those unfamiliar with Marvel that Ant-Man and the Wasp, though a sequel, does an amazing job in catching those up who haven’t seen the first film, or Captain America: Civil War. Flashbacks, explanations and even humorous mentions let everyone enjoy and understand the film to its fullest. One does not have to go through the daunting task of watching every film of the MCU to understand it (see: Infinity War). Maybe the hardcore Marvel fan might be disappointed that this film is quite standalone, only dealing with matters that involve the Ant-Man and his friends, it will still satisfy, as it has everything a Marvel fan could wish for and loves.

Everyone can find something they enjoy in this film, as it represents the Marvel quality well. Action, CGI, an amazing cast, perfect cinematography, well-written story, humour, and a great buildup of emotions throughout. So regardless of whether you’ve seen all the previous films, or just a few, or even not any at all, it’s a solid film to just relax and have fun with. As always, make sure you stay for both after credit scenes, standing up right after it ends is a Marvel faux pas!

Ant-Man and the Wasp will be out in UK cinemas on August 3rd. Check out the trailer below: 

Srishti Chakraborty reviews Pixar’s much anticipated sequel to a childhood favourite. 

While I might not remember the first time I ever watched Pixar’s The Incredibles, I remember all the other times I’ve watched it since. I remember watching it before Christmas when I was about 6 and asking Santa for superpowers, even though I was Hindu and didn’t actually celebrate Christmas. I remember forcing my poor babysitter to watch it with my younger sister and I every time our parents went for a night out. To be fair, I remember cancelling Saturday night plans to watch The Incredibles and eat pizza just a few months ago. In fact, if I’ve flaked on plans with you, it was probably to eat pizza and watch The Incredibles.

So, needless to say, when Incredibles 2 was announced, I was ecstatic. But with great films don’t necessarily come great sequels (see: Mean Girls 2), and with 14 years of anticipation building up to it, Incredibles 2 had a lot to live up to. That being said, there is no doubt that the film does not disappoint – from hilarious and punchy dialogue to thrilling action sequences to all around good storytelling, Incredibles 2 is just as brilliant as it’s predecessor, if not even better.

The film picks up directly from the ending of its prequel, with the Parr family ready to take on ‘The Underminer’ and save Metroville from destruction once again, bringing the audience right back into the action from the get-go. Like all sequels, the plot line of Incredibles 2 is essentially the same as that of the first film: superheroes are illegal, the family is undercover, and a mysterious benefactor asks for their help to set in motion a chain of events that puts the Parr family through the ringer. Where the last film saw Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) jump into action against fan-turned-villain Syndrome, in Incredibles 2, Elastigirl (Holly Hunter) takes the helm as the poster girl for a pro-superhero campaign funded by billionaires and hero sympathisers Winston and Evelyn Deaver (Bob Odenkirk, Catherine Keener). Despite this, Incredibles 2 does not feel like some corporate rehash of its prequel but instead, is able to use its old tropes and quirks to explore a new side of its premise and characters.

Much of the beauty of the first film lay in the fact that it was so much more than a film about superheroes – it was a film about family. Siblings who constantly annoyed each other, an adorable baby, a cool uncle, awkward dinner conversations, parents fighting about who needs to yell at their kids: all of these were woven into the film’s thrilling adventure plot, making it relatable and layered. As such, the latest instalment is able to show you even more of the Parrs’ recognisable family life: Mr. Incredible learning to play house husband and second fiddle to his wife, Elastigirl learning to trust her husband to manage the kids, Violet starting to date – the film remains a realistically grounded family-comedy full of scenes you will recognise from real life. It is funny and engaging, and makes you love its characters even more than you already did.

The film’s action sequences are a joyride. The Deavers’ plan to make superheroes legal again involves Elastigirl openly fighting crime across the country; in her first altercation, she confronts her new nemesis, the ‘Screenslaver’, a villain using screens to hypnotise and brainwash people. Though you can smell the film’s plot twist from a mile away, this does little to hamper your enjoyment of the action. Given the trend of gritty and realistic superhero movies, the dynamic and unapologetically far-fetched action of Incredibles 2 is a breath of fresh air, and there’s an odd satisfaction in seeing Elastigirl save the day by making herself into a parachute once again. The slapstick sight gags that intercut the action are equally as wonderfully animated, and the dialogue is as funny as ever. Though the sequel has none of the quotability of “I’m your wife, I’m the greatest good you’re ever going to get” (and perhaps the most awkward moment of the film is the missed beat where they tried to recreate this iconic line), the snappy punchlines and witty one-liners are just as hilarious. 

Director Brad Bird has allowed the Incredibles franchise to evolve in all the right ways. While the animation, comedy, and the family values at the heart of the first film have not changed, and everyone’s favourite characters and moments are given their due respect, Incredibles 2’s undercutting commentary is on feminism, capitalism, and the difficulty of family life. It feels as if the franchise has grown in the same way that its original fans have. In a world where, spoilers, Thanos has wiped out half of the MCU while real life can get pretty dark and scary, Incredibles 2 is the familiar woke superhero comedy we all need.

Incredibles 2 is showing in cinemas across the UK now. Watch the trailer below.

Maria Düster reviews Marvel’s latest blockbuster.

Taika Waititi’s Thor: Ragnarok offers a much-needed reboot to the Thor franchise. It is jam-packed with the humor, action, and engaging characters the first two films lacked. When it was originally announced Waititi would be helming the third movie in the Thor saga, those familiar with his work rejoiced. Waititi, an indigenous Maori actor, writer, and director from New Zealand, has been the mastermind behind numerous acclaimed indie films, such as his debut Boy, the vampire mockumentary What We Do In The Shadows, and, most recently, Hunt for the Wilderpeople. Known for his dry humor and inclusion of Maori actors and culture, Waititi serves as a breath of fresh air in an industry known for its whiteness and formulaic scripts. Waititi’s hiring comes as no surprise: several major franchises have welcomed lesser known directors (Jurassic World’s Colin Trevorrow, Guardians of the Galaxy’s James Gunn), often skyrocketing the careers of creators only known in the indie cinema scene. With Waititi, the choice has paid off: critics and fans can’t seem to get enough of the third Thor film, the film Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes since its initial release.

Thor: Ragnarok follows the events of Age of Ultron and Thor: The Dark World, and opens with the titular character searching the universe for his father Odin, who has been covertly overthrown by Thor’s trickster brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston). When the brothers eventually reunite with the patriarch, they encounter a new threat, Hela (Cate Blanchett), the first born child of Odin. Hela, Goddess of Death, promptly announces her plan to take over Asgard (and the world), overpowering the brothers and casting them into space. Thor finds himself on the planet Sakaar, on the other side of the universe from Asgard, and the main plot begins. There, the God of Thunder becomes a prisoner of the Grandmaster (played by Jeff Goldblum) and must battle the leader’s Champion for freedom.

While Thor flounders on Sakaar, his half-sister Hela returns to Asgard, establishes a dictatorship, and begins to expand the power of the Asgardian empire without mercy. Along with Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), and the ever-scheming Loki, Thor must return to Asgard and prevent Ragnarok, the prophesied end of the world.

Though the beginning of the film immediately sets the scene for a hilarious and action-packed ride, Ragnarok takes longer than it should to get to the main plot line. The first third of the movie, unfortunately, has to tie up loose ends from the previous Marvel films and does so by randomly (or conveniently) killing off numerous characters or just avoiding them altogether. While the exposition is necessary for the movie to make sense, some of the creative choices seem as though the writing team realized last minute two other films had preceded this one, and then scrambled to resolve all of the plot holes. 

Regardless, right from the first scene, Thor: Ragnarok is funny. It’s lighter and doesn’t take itself as seriously as the previous two films, and Hemsworth seems to be genuinely enjoying playing his character. The Aussie actor manages to make us genuinely like the God of Thunder, transforming the “most boring Avenger” into a smart, quick-witted hero we can all root for. Where Thor and The Dark World’s joke were few and often fell flat, Ragnarok relies on humor as its driving force, the constant dry snark proof of Waititi’s influence. Waititi himself serves as comic relief, playing Korg, a dumb but lovable creature also imprisoned on Sakaar.

While the constant humour does add a fresh and younger vibe to the film series, Ragnarok ultimately sacrifices substance for laughs. Though there are serious themes throughout, including death and the concept of homeland, meaningful moments are scarce, and dialogue almost always ends in a joke. In one of the film’s scenes, Thor and his estranged brother Loki examine their relationship to one another and Loki’s place in the world. The conversation, full of emotion and seeking to humanize the mischievous god, suddenly cuts short as the two brothers have to devise a plan to achieve one of their goals, the end result entirely humorous. The sudden shift in tone and mood leaves us wondering if the film is any different from other superhero comedies and their formulaic scripts and unceasing jokes. Yet what sets Ragnarok apart is that commitment to humor and, more importantly, unpretentiousness. The film is meant to be dorky and stupid, poking fun at the previous two Thor films while creating something better.

Substance or not, the supporting cast is phenomenal. Jeff Goldblum plays the debauched and seedy Grandmaster like he was born for it, striding around in flashy clothes as a heightened intergalactic version of the actor himself. Tessa Thompson’s casting again showcases Waititi’s influence, in choosing to replace the historically blonde and blue-eyed Valkyrie with a black woman. Thompson knocks it out of the park, providing a sexy, powerful, and memorable heroine in a series arguably devoid of one (strangely, neither Jane Foster or Sif make an appearance in the film). Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk, an initially surprising addition to the film, not only serves as comic relief but also allows for exploration of Bruce Banner’s difficult and traumatic relationship with his alter ego. Cate Blanchett’s Hela, however, leaves something to be desired. Like most Marvel villains, she spends a large chunk of the movie delivering long monologues about her past and the general destruction of the world, stalling the plot as our heroes race to defeat her. The constant cuts between Thor’s adventures on Sakaar and Hela’s takeover weakens the film, and the focus on the film’s villain only perpetuates the issues that plagued the first two Thor films.

Though the film occasionally falls into the trappings of other Marvel movies, Thor: Ragnarok emerges as a unique, funny, and essential addition to the MCU, led by Taika Waititi’s quirky brilliance. The film isn’t the next Captain America: Winter Soldier (arguably Marvel’s darkest, grittiest movie), simply because it doesn’t want to be. Unpretentious, the film offers a geeky and fun comedy for Marvel fans, and in this regard, it passes with flying colors. 

Thor: Ragnarok is currently out in UK cinemas. Check out the trailer below: