AVENGERS ASSEMBLE

So I was looking at the Bafta Nominations, deciding which films I had to see and which could be avoided. I'm going to see Les Miserables and Life of Pi next week, I've seen Anna Karenina, Skyfall and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (although fuck knows why that's nominated.), and I can't really be arsed with Argo! So that mini debate in my head brought me to the conclusion, watch Avengers.

I've got to tell you, I don't regret the decision AT ALL. I normally make fairly good notes on a film, quite professional, talking about technical things that impress me- but this is just constantly like: Iron Man? Boss. Thor? WOW. Captain America? Souuund. Which basically sums up my feelings for the film- I was just constantly like "OH MY GOD THAT'S AMAZING"

But no, ranting over, it is an excellent film. The writing is phenomenal and hilarious, the actors deliver it well, as well as making the audience engage with them. The shots are also really well done, showing the outline of the city, and the prominence of Stark Towers (where necessary), and promoting the high standard of work that the special effects team have put in, particularly when the aliens start invading and the sky gets ripped apart, that was boss.

The writing though, that was really well done, some of the banter had between the Avengers and Loki, as well as between the Avengers themselves, was absolutely hilarious...

Other lines impress me as well, the banter that Tony Stark (Iron Man- Robert Downey Junior) and Pepper Potts have is hilarious and engaging- Stark has annoyed me with his ego in the past but I think it was done with the right measure in this film- partly because it gets played off the ego's of all the other Avengers! Particularly Thor... a superhero that can smash just about anything to smithereens with his hammer... which I accept sounds either like an innuendo or a bit shit... but trust me it is not. I mean look at him! (Despite the fact that he is wearing his "mothers drapes") He seems a bit disdainful of the other Avengers, but that makes him a funny character and it makes the film better, with the relationships between the characters- "You people are so petty...and tiny."

If I'm honest, The Hulk, or Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo), wasn't my favourite Avenger, but that wasn't to say he wasn't a good character! I didn't find myself caring about him as much as I did towards Black Widow, or Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson). I think this is because I personally didn't have much in common with his human self, and I didn't think he was THAT good a superhero- just a big ball of muscle without much personality, I prefer them with personality! That isn't to say he wasn't a necessary character in the film, and I didn't particularly dislike him, I just wasn't really bothered by him.

I mentioned Black Widow there, I absolutely adore her. She's a kick-ass, strong, beautiful woman. Not that being beautiful is necessary to make her a good character, or actress, but it does make her a bit more impressive when it comes to the action scenes. The film properly opened with one of hers for instance, and it's kind of enlightening to see a woman in a difficult situation that doesn't need saving by a man!

The last Avenger, Captain America, or Steve Rogers, was a pretty good character, he made me laugh with his interaction with Stark, and I wouldn't want to take him on in a fight! I did like him, he was a good superhero and a funny character, but I don't know, I don't think he argued back enough for me. Stark is very clear that he likes doing his own thing, and at the start he was quite clear that he didn't want to be a part of this 'team', so that's why I like him. That's not to say Capt. America isn't a good character, he's just a bit too nice for me!

It took me a while to believe the evilness of the villain, Loki (Tom Hiddleston) but when I did, I really did. He seemed so genuinely evil... the way he got into Romanoff's head and scared her was phenomenal, I thought she was made of steel. He was also really cunning, the way he tricked Thor into the cage. Similarly to my taste in heroes, in villains I like some personality, more than just muscle and "LETS TAKE OVER THE WORLD!"- I liked the scene in Stark's flat, when they were arguing... he had personality there, he was teasing Stark, it was good.

An Avengers Assemble review would not be complete without a mention to the creator of S.H.I.E.L.D (or the Avengers, which I think is a better name), Nick Fury. Samuel L Jackson outdoes himself every time I see him. I've got no idea why Loki was so brazen facing him, he's so commanding! and enigmatic, and just generally fucking terrifying!

So my conclusion to this film is, well done Whedon. Absolutely fantastic film, I couldn't keep away from it, and I just kept going wow! that's amazing! Can't think of a better comic book movie of these days, but I haven't seen The Dark Knight Rises yet!

The Iron Lady

I was kind of apprehensive towards this film if I'm honest, simply because of the subject. I'm an incredibly active Labour supporter, and was brought up just generally not liking Margaret Thatcher. Therefore, watching a film about her was never going to be my cup of tea. If I'm honest, I walked away from the film feeling a bit confused. I didn't like her, obviously because I don't agree with anything she did, but I also kind of felt sorry for her- it isn't really about her time in power, more about her dementia and her husbands death, and to be fair to the producers it does make the audience feel sympathy.

I wasn't really sure if Meryl Streep deserved awards for this, but when I thought about it she must have done, because I don't think Ms Thatcher would be an easy person to relate to therefore give a realistic performance of.. but that is completely personal opinion. I wouldn't find Maggie easy to relate to because I have completely different political views from her. Even though I wasn't born when she was in power, I have heard that there was a certain coldness about her, which I can definitely believe- however I don't think Streep conveyed this effectively... largely because I'm fairly certain she's a nice person!

The other actors in the film do give a credible performance, particularly Jim Broadbent, but I felt towards him the same as I did towards Thatcher herself. I didn't want to like him, I didn't want to feel sorry for either of them, but I did. However, I think that it is the sign of either very good acting, or the characters have been written to ignore the parts of them that I don't like... in which case I missed it. I don't think the characters have been written like this though, because they were still very clearly tories, and I still felt sorry for them, therefore, well done Streep and Broadbent!

If I'm honest, I felt a bit weird after watching The Iron Lady. I think it's because I was expecting to be furiously angry at Thatcher, but I actually felt kind of sorry for her. That, in itself, pissed me off though, because I don't want to feel sorry for her, I can't stand the woman! I do think the actors gave a good performance though, I don't think people like that would be easy to portray in a positive light.