Why CGI is better than ever

CGI (Computer Generated Imagery) has become a very prominent and accessible tool in our modern media culture. That said, it’s honestly quite discouraging to here people argue that “CGI is getting worse” or “There’s too much CGI.” I’m of the firm belief that CGI has gotten so much better these days than people seem to give it credit for.

One thing that’s worth noting is that CGI is used in places you wouldn’t expect outside of movies. It’s used in advertising, music videos, DVD covers, and especially video games. We essentially see CGI everywhere without even realizing it. That box of cereal you had for breakfast? The cover art was most likely enhanced with CGI. The latest music video from a pop star you’re a fan off? CGI was probably a key component to the visuals. CGI is also predominately used in video games such as Shadow of the Colossus, God of War, The Last of Us, Red Dead Redemption 2 and more.

Another thing CGI is often used for is taking the place of impossible to achieve stunts in movies and TV shows shot in live action. This is most evident whenever a character is falling from a great distance and a CG body double is used in place of the actor. This also applies to characters who can fly or when a character is sent flying into an object (sometimes with the famous Wilhelm Scream added for comedic effect).

There’s this notion that CG artists are often underpaid and overworked in order to achieve these lifelike effects you see on screen. This seems to be true for some companies (i.e. Rhythm and Hues), but I can’t confirm or deny these accusations for ALL CGI companies. All I know is that their hard work and ingenuity was not in vain and they definitely deserve more credit and respect.

Ultimately, CGI is a very valuable and clever tool that has a place in our modern media landscape. It’s something used in our everyday lives and we don’t often seem to notice. I hope this gives you a better appreciation for the work that goes into the media you consume.

Stop Saying "They Put In No Effort"

One of the worst and most insulting arguments that is brought up in film/television is “The people behind this didn’t up any effort into it” or “the writing is lazy.” The people who use these arguments clearly have no idea what they’re talking about and come across as very mean spirited.

One of the most notorious examples of this argument being used is with The Emoji Movie. Many people claimed that the filmmakers just copy and pasted what previous works did before and made it with emojis. This assumption, however, could not be further from the truth. Director Tony Leondis was inspired by Toy Story as well as his personal life as a gay man to construct the film as a journey of self discovery. He initially wanted the emojis to go into the human world, but the producer, Michelle Raimo Kouyate, thought the world inside the phone was more interesting. It’s also worth noting that this film was completed in 2 years as opposed to the average 4-5. That means the storyboard artists, production designers and especially animators had to really push themselves to their limits just for the film to meet it’s deadline. But sure, they didn’t put any effort into the final product.

The word “lazy” is often used to describe a piece of media one does not care for. I’m sorry, but you’re inaccurate when you say “X was lazy.” Screenwriters spend so much time at their desks trying to write something special and unique and if the draft isn’t approve, they have to either rewrite it or come up with something new for another project. Animators especially are the furthest thing from lazy that you can get. Imagine having to set at a desk drawing slightly different variations of the same drawing all day and then doing it again the following day until the project is done. It’s especially difficult when deadlines are on the horizon and they have to spend the night at the studio just to complete the final frames of animation.

Then there’s the other aspects that goes into filmmaking such as cinematography, lighting, sound mixing, editing, stunts, practical effects, marketing, producing and so much more. This doesn’t just apply to movies and TV shows; video games, music videos, novels, comic books, and songs among other forms of entertainment have so much effort put into their craft for better or for worse. By calling a piece of media you don’t like “lazy” or say “they put in no effort” you’re undermining the very talented people that work harder than you think. Like I always say; your opinion is NOT law -.-

Mary Sue: You're Saying it Wrong

Before you get all upset, I’m not saying you shouldn’t call out characters you consider dull or uninteresting. That’s your opinion and no one can take that away from you. I’m just saying before you start calling that dull and boring character you don’t like a Mary Sue/Gary Stu, you should know what you’re actually saying and think about whether or not it applies to said character. KK? Let’s get started.

Now, for those who don’t know, Mary Sue was a character created in a Star Trek fanfiction back in the 1970s. The character was beloved by the entire crew and was essentially the hero of the story as she was able to do what the other members of the Enterprise were capable of by herself. In an ideal world, this wouldn’t be a big deal because it was fanfiction, aka not canon to the Star Trek universe. But since we live in a society where we make big fusses about everything, the term Mary Sue has since been applied to characters who do the impossible and face little to no challenges physical or emotional. Superman, Batman, Goku, Captain Marvel, Bella Swan, and most frustrating of all, Rey, have all been labeled Mary Sues or the male counterpart Gary Stus because of how overpowered and boring their detractors claim they are. I myself am guilty of this, dubbing the new female lead in the final season of Fairly Oddparents as such; but more on that later. For now, let’s talk about what qualifies as a Mary Sue.

1. The character does tasks that would otherwise be considered difficult on the first try.

2. The character invalidates the importance of the supporting cast, save for their love and affection to said character.

3. The character is not challenged physically or emotionally, making for a weak or nonexistent character arc.

Based on that criteria, it’s honestly surprising how people have thrown this term around to some of the most well written and beloved characters of all time. Sure Goku has essentially become a god at this point, but he’s still facing new challenges physical and emotional even after 35 years. Superman and Batman are two of the greatest superheroes of all time not because they’re the most powerful or the most skilled, but because they’re the most human and relatable (same goes for Spider-Man). By calling these beloved characters Mary Sues, you’re undermining there best attributes and essentially calling the writers who have years of experience in the business amateurs. It is possible to criticize the work of someone without being condescending towards them. Case in point, that time Butch Hartman and his crew made a new character to keep the show going was pretty frustrating to sit through.

For those who are unaware, the first episode of the final season of Fairly Oddparents introduced a new female lead to keep the show going. I assume the intent was to make her the opposite of Timmy Turner, but instead of making her, you know, and actual character with her own personal flaws and setbacks, she’s made to be the “perfect human.” She checks all the boxes of the criteria listed above and it’s baffling why they thought THIS was a good idea. If this was intended to be a joke, I’m sorry, but it’s not really funny. I mean, say what you will about Bella Swan, Captain Marvel and especially Rey, at least they resonate with people and have their fans. This character does not.

Ultimately, the term really should be laid to rest because it shouldn’t have been a big deal in the first place. Mary Sue was a fanmade character, you know for fun. The fact that it’s become this vile and toxic term to undermine not just beloved and iconic character but also professional writers who know the characters better than you or I is just bonkers. I reiterate though, that doesn’t mean writers shouldn’t be criticized for how they write their characters. If you feel a character is uninteresting, you’re well within your right to criticize them. But please be respectful of the writers and what they do. They’re not perfect and we shouldn’t expect them to be.

Why It Worked: The Raid: Redemption

Introduction: The Raid: Redemption (or simply The Raid) is a martial arts action film starring Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Ray Sahetapy, Yayan Ruhian and Donny Alamsyah. Directed by Gareth Evans, this film was first released at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 8, 2011 before being released in theaters on March 23, 2012 in Indonesia and on DVD and Blu-Ray in the United States on August 14, 2012. The film received positive reviews with 86% out of 155 critics giving an average score of 7.5/10 on Rotten Tomatoes. The film ultimately made a total of $9.1 million worldwide, plus $9.4 million on DVD and Blu-Ray sales in the U.S.. With a reception like that, it makes one wonder if there’s more to this film then just impressive martial arts or if it’s just style over substance. Well, let’s dive in to this and judge for ourselves, shall we?

Originally posted by mendelsohnben

The Plot: The plot of this film is as follows: Rama (Iko Uwais) and a team of 20 men infiltrate an apartment building to take down the infamous crime lord, Tama Riyadi (Ray Sahetapy). However, Tama has his goons get the jump on the team and only 5 members remain: Rama, Bowo (Tegar Satrya), Jaka (Joe Taslim), Wahyu (Pierre Gruno) and Dagu (Eka Rahmadia). As they traverse the building trying to complete their mission, Rama encounters his estranged older brother, Andi (Donny Alamsyah) and we learn what’s happened to him and why he’s part of Tama’s gang. The “Redemption” part of the film comes into play when Andi questions his loyalty to Tama. The reality is this film is very much a survival story with Rama and his team trying their best to stay alive while also finding Tama and taking him out. This film takes the time in between the amazing action scenes to tell a coherent story about survival and loyalty without being overly preach about either moral.

Originally posted by boardsdonthitback

Cast and Characters: While none of the cast is recognizable by American audiences, these men leave a lasting impression with their memorable performances. Iko Uwais brings a level of charm and grit to the character of Rama, making the character likable and sympathetic throughout the picture. Donny Alamsyah brings the right amount of sympathy to the character of Andi, and his chemistry with Rama is spot on. Bowo, Jaka, Wahyu and Dagu are each portrayed with a level of realistic and sympathetic as they try their best to stay alive. Then there’s Tama, the main antagonist of the piece and the one Rama and his team are trying to get. Ray Sahetapy plays the roll very calm and collected as he shows a certain form of apathy towards the team, seeing them as mere bugs to be squashed. His most trusted henchman is Mad Dog, played brilliantly by Yayan Ruhian, who shows no mercy when he’s hunting down Rama and his crew.

Originally posted by boardsdonthitback

Awesome Action: As a martial arts movie, it’s only fitting that this film is littered with amazing action sequences. The type of martial art used in this film is NOT kung fu, but Pencak Silat, in which every part of the body is subject/used to attack. The choreography for the film was lead by Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian, and it shows in the final product how much the actors practiced their techniques. The film uses plenty of wide shots and long takes to showcase the skill and accuracy of every punch, kick and blow to the body. One of the best action scenes in the flick is Rama’s first hallway fight when he’s trying to protect Bowo. It’s such a perfect, well timed sequence and it was all done in 1 continuous shot. The actors and director deserve credit for their commitment to making the action as memorable as possible.

Originally posted by martialartsactionclub

Where it Falters: Bowo, Jaka, Wahyu and Dagu aren’t really given much character development in the picture, so you’d be forgiven if you did’t remember them by the end. Also, the first action scene in the film is a standard shootout. While not bad, it’s not really as memorable. 

Originally posted by boardsdonthitback

Conclusion: The Raid: Redemption is one of the best action movies in recent memory. In addition to it’s amazing action scenes, it also tells a strong story with memorable main characters and intense drama. I definitely recommend this film to action fans as well as martial arts fans. Thank you so much for reading and I’ll see you soon ;)

The Case for Live Action Cartoon Adaptations

Animation is a wonderful medium that has endless possibilities for creativity and storytelling. There have been plenty of movies, tv shows, music videos, and video games that utilize animation and have developed a strong following in there respective mediums. That said, when ever Hollywood makes a film based on an animated property, it’s typically met with groans from animation fans. This has always baffled me, as the films that have been adapted from animated properties are no different from films adapted from books or real people. Yet there’s this mentality that Hollywood producers and filmmakers don’t respect animation as a medium and that’s really not the case. Yes, there are people who mistakenly refer to animation as a genre (looking at you, Dwayne Johnson), but the people who make films based on animated properties clearly show respect to the source material and try to make a cohesive and fun film based on it. In this post, I’m going to go through the history of live action cartoon adaptations and why the most egregious complaints don’t hold as much water as you think.

The first live action film based on a cartoon was Popeye in 1980, starring the late great Robin Williams and Shelly Duvall. This film is not only faithful to the classic Popeye cartoons, but it also tells a solid story of Popeye trying to win over Olive Oyl whilst butting heads with Bluto. This film embraces the goofy nature of the cartoon and Robin Williams gives an excellent performance as he always did. The same can also be said for films such as The Flintstones (1994), Inspector Gadget (1999) and George of the Jungle (1997). The most common complaint about these films is that they’re predictable, and that’s a fair assessment. My rebuttal to that though is that it’s the execution of their standard premise that makes them unique. And now is a good time to talk about The Last Airbender.

Now, I understand where people are coming from when they say they despise this film. As a film, it’s most egregious crime was cramming in too much story in an hour and 43 minute run time. I understand what M. Night Shyamalan was going for, but the film needed more time to flesh out it’s story and characters. “No, the film shouldn’t have been made in the first place,” I here you cry out, but it was inevitably going to happen because the show was so popular. I mean, all the actors did a good job in their respective rolls, the effect and costume design was well done, and there were moments that made me chuckle. I say this is among the few live action cartoon adaptations that didn’t quite hit the mark, along side films like Yogi Bear (2010), The Smurfs (2011) and A Fairly Oddmovie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner. But, enough about that noise, let’s talk about the live action Disney remakes.

Disney has been on a role with these re-imaginings of their animated works. With the exception of Alice Through the Looking Glass and most recently Dumbo, all have their films have made bank at the box office. 2017′s Beauty and the Beast made $1.2 billion, making it the highest grossing musical film of all time. And yet with each passing film, fans of the original animated films complain more and more that these films don’t respect the originals simply by existing. I’m sorry, but that is such a ludicrous reason to dislike these films. If Disney had no respect for their old animated films, they wouldn’t make these remakes in the first place. Not only that, but these films don’t replace the originals in anyway shape or form. Another ludicrous argument for people not liking these films is because “Disney only cares about money.” 👏It’s 👏a👏business. In case it wasn’t clear, remakes of old properties make for good business; not just for Disney, but for every major studio in Hollywood. The Departed, Evil Dead, King Kong, Godzilla, The Mummy, the list goes on. Not only do they make money, but they also offer filmmakers a chance to tell their version of the story. 

This all boils down to my final point about live action films based on cartoons: you don’t have to see them. To quote a controversial critic, “the cruelest form of attention you can give any form of entertainment is NO attention.” By complaining about these live action adaptations of your favorite animated shows/movies, you’re subconsciously promoting them. This is why I no longer have a Top 10 Blacklisted Cartoons on my blog: if I don’t like or have no interest in seeing a particular cartoon, I won’t watch or even talk about it. Instead of complaining about the next live action adaptation of an animated property, why not talk about films you’re actually looking forward to and plan on seeing? Wouldn’t that be more productive and rewarding? I hope this encourages people to have be a little more optimistic in this cynical landscape.

Why I don't want to be famous

I’m sure you’ve hummed that song about being famous at least once (My House by Flo Rida, Rockstar by Nickelback, the Total Drama Island theme song), but you ever wonder what being famous is actually like? Well, it’s not all about the money, cars, parties and expensive clothing that’s for sure. No, when your famous, all it takes is for you to make 1 mistake or bad decision and your credibility is as gone just as fast as when you got it. I have a few skeletons in my closet and if one of my works were to become the next trending topic, it will only be a matter of time before it all comes crashing down.

Another reason why I don’t want to be famous is because your personal life is no longer private. Try as you might, there’s no escaping paparazzi or stalkers. People always want to know what you’re up to when you’re not working on your profession. That’s the way it’s always been; people are naturally curious. That said, my personal life is something I take very seriously and unless I say otherwise, it’s not anyone’s concern what I do outside of writing.

There’s also the matter of dealing with the media spreading lies or stretching the truth about you in an attempt to get more clicks. Not a single celebrity exists where there isn’t a rumor about them that was reported by the media. Lies sell like hot cakes, and I don’t want to have to deal with that.

The biggest reason why I don’t want to be famous is because it comes at a price I can’t afford to pay: my identity. I can no longer be myself once everyone knows who I am. I can’t be reserved, I can’t dress the way I want, I can’t say share anything relating to my religion, I can’t even loose my cool when push comes to shove. Because if I did any of that, I’d be faced with judgement around every corner.

Suffice to say, I don’t want to be known around the world like other celebrities are right now. I’m perfectly comfortable being known by a select few followers than millions of fans around the world.

Why It Worked: The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 2

Originally posted by gifandmemeammunition

Introduction: Picking up were we last left off on Why It Worked, Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe expands on this ever expanding franchise with new characters, new stories and new creative visions. This Phase is often regarded as the “hit or miss” period in the MCU, but I’d argue it succeeds so much more than it falters. So without further adieu, let’s get started.

Originally posted by itismarvelicious

The Plots: Phase 2 comprises mainly of sequels to the Phase 1 movies, and yet they all feel natural and very much stand on their own. Iron Man 3 picks up where The Avengers left off and sees Tony Stark battle with PTSD. All the while, he faces off against a notorious terrorist called the Mandarin (more on him later). Thor: The Dark World finds the Norse god of thunder protecting the 9 Realms from the Dark Elves, who’s sole purpose is to drown the universe in darkness. Captain America: The Winter Solider shows who Steve Rogers adjusts to the modern world as he faces off against the mysterious foe, the Winter Solider. And finally, Avengers: Age of Ultron finds Earth’s Mightiest Heroes face off against an A.I. who’s idea of saving the world is destroying it with a meteor. There are 2 films this Phase that aren’t sequels: Guardians of the Galaxy and Ant-Man. The former opens up the cosmic side of the MCU by introducing a rag tag team of misfits who must ban together to stop an vengeful warlord from reeking havoc upon the galaxy. The latter is a heist movie involving a guy trying to be a good role model to his daughter while also communicating with ants. This films bring in the same amount of charm and humor the first Phase brought and then some. Guardians of the Galaxy in particular had some of the smartest and well timed jokes in the MCU up until that point. Not only that, but there this Phase also brought in life changing events that carried on in future films. Tony’s paranoia caused him to build Ultron, S.H.I.E.L.D. became compromised and ultimately destroyed in Winter Solider and even with that, HYDRA lives on in other parts of the world by Age of Ultron. None of this would’ve at all been possible if it weren’t for the creative talents of Shane Black, Alan Taylor, Joe and Anthony Russo, James Gunn, Joss Whedon (again), and Peyton Reed.

Originally posted by marvelgifs

Cast and Characters: Since we’re all familiar with the core Avengers at this point, let’s introduce the new faces starting with Sam Wilson aka Falcon. Sam is Steve Roger’s new friend introduced in Winter Solider. A veteran himself with a smart and charming personality, he and Steve hit it off almost instantly. Plus, Anthony Mackie is just right for the role, making the character funny, smart and tough in his own right. Next up we have the Guardians of the Galaxy, featuring Peter Jason Quill, Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket Raccon and Groot. Peter starts off as a Han Solo-type of character, but throughout the film we find his full of layers. He’s got charm, humor, heart, anger, cockiness, he’s basically the every man in this wacky side of the galaxy. All brought to life flawlessly by Chris Pratt. Gamora is a headstrong and dangerous woman who plays against the love interest trope in this film as she has great resentment for her father Thanos and sister Nebula. It also helps that she’s played brilliantly by Zoe Saldana, who brings the right amount of humor and fierce veracity to the character. Drax is meant to be this stoic tragic figure who seeks to avenge his fallen family. And yet his lack of understanding metaphors and Dave Bautista’s performance make him one of the funniest characters in this franchise. Then we have Rocket and Groot, a raccoon and a tree man who became household names over night. Rocket is a fowl mouth, sarcastic and crude rodent with a good heart under that ruff exterior. Groot meanwhile is wears his heart on his bark, having such a calm and gentle demeanor, while also not being afraid to be the muscle Rocket needs. Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel bring these characters to life through their commitment and strife; I couldn’t have picked anyone better. Moving on from the Guardians, we have Scott Lang, the thief with a heart of gold who’s trying to be a good role model for his daughter, Cassie. It goes without saying that Scott’s funny (being played by comedic actor Paul Rudd and all), but he’s also very smart and caring for those around him. His skills in robbery and breaking and entering make him perfectly capable of dawning the Ant-Man costume, at least in the eyes of Hank Pym. Speaking of which, the original Ant-Man from the comics is now a wise, crusty old man with a good heart. Michael Douglas gives an excellent performance as this character, making it believable that he was at one time a superhero and is now passing the torch to a younger suitor. Hank’s daughter, Hope is a smart, stern and strong woman who at first resents her father for pushing her away after her Mom went MIA. After learning the truth, she comes to respect him and Scott a little more. Evangeline Lilly is perfect as Hope, delivering the right amount of humor and heart to. These new characters are just as memorable and as well fleshed out as the ones we’ve come to know and love at this point. And that’s not even mentioning Yondu, Wanda and Pietro Maximoff, Vision, Harley Keener, Luis, Dave and Kurt, and Cassie.

Originally posted by marveladdicts

The Big Baddies: I’ll just say this upfront: The Mandarin twist wasn’t bad. Unexpected, yes, but for the story Shane Black was trying to tell, it works wonders. I get fans wanted what we were advertised, but I think what we got works better. Iron Man 3 was a personal story first and foremost, so having him face of against an evil space wizard, while it would’ve been cool, it wouldn’t have fit with the overall narrative. Besides, Sir Ben Kingsley gave an excellent performance, being a menacing threat and a comedic fool all in one. Then we get Malekith, the quintessential example people point to when people say “Marvel villains suck.” <sigh> He’s not that bad folks. Malekith is a stone cold Dark Elf with one goal in life: to plunge the universe into darkness. He’s merciless, he’s dead serious and he sees the Asgardians as beneath him. Yeah, he wasn’t on screen for that long, but Christopher Eccleston gave a solid performance. Alexander Pierce makes for a really compelling villain because he firmly believes himself to be the savior of the world. Robert Redford brings out his calm and professional demeanor, while also making the character charismatic and intriguing. Ronan the Accuser is a power hunger warlord that sees the people of Xandar as beneath him, to the point were instead of siding with the peace treaty between the Kree and Nova Corp, he opts to try and obliterate the planet with the power of an Infinity Stone. Lee Pace gives a solid performance bringing the character’s anger and hatred to life and I look forward to see him again in Captain Marvel. Ultron is exactly what you get when you have the personality of Tony Stark and mix it with the genetic code of HAL9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Ultron has charisma, humor and a very passive aggressive attitude towards the Avengers. James Spader was perfect casting in this role as he gives a robot bent on destroying the Earth as his idea of saving it so much personality. Darren Cross is the young novitiate of Hank Pym turned corporate businessman attempting to sell Pym’s technology to the wrong hands. Corey Stoll manages to make the character funny, quirky and intimidating all in one and definitely deserves as much credit as the rest of his costars. The villains in Phase 2 are a step up from Phase 1 and will only get better come Phase 3.

Originally posted by erule

Costumes and VFX: Not only were the villains a step up from Phase 1, but the costumes and CGI has improved significantly as well. Some familiar stuff such as Iron Man’s armor, Cap’s costume and the Hulk’s design have been given significant upgrades with each film. All the armors Tony has made in between Avengers and Iron Man 3 look excellent; no two armors look alike and the way they’re incorporated into battle is better than ever. Cap’s giving a more stealth like costume in Winter Solider and it fits very well with the spy angel the Russo brothers were going for. Then we have the look of the Hulk, who still brought to life through motion capture performance and looks more lifelike with more hair and softer looking skin. With the addition of new characters and new environments, there also came the use of new costumes and unique uses of CG. Despite being revealed to be a fraud, the Mandarin’s costume looks spectacular, giving him a modern terrorist look while also keeping his traditional green rob and a ring on each finger. The look of Asgard received a significant upgrade since the first Thor film, as it now has a Norse mythology feel and the costumes on the citizens look very authentic. Also, the costume and make-up department went above and beyond to make the Dark Elves distinct from previous film/tv portrayals of elves. They have pale faces with pointed ears and noses, pitch black armor and soulless eyes. The Kurse himself looks amazing with all the horns, body armor and actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaji (try saying that 3x fast) making the character physically intimidating. The Winter Solider’s metal arm is brought to life with actor Sebastian Stan wearing a plastic sleeve while CG was used in post. Also, for Hayley Atwell to reprise her role as a 93 year old Peggy Carter, she performed her scenes with a few trace markers while Lola VFX (who made Chris Evans skinny in the first Captain America film) added in the features of an elderly woman to make effect feel seamless. Then we get the Guardians and boy is this film littered with a mix of practical and digital effects. Starting with Rocket James Gunn’s brother, Sean, played the little rodent on set to interact with the cast while Bradley Cooper recorded his lines in New York. For reference, they used a real life raccoon named Oreo (who recently passed away, RIP) as well as a lifelike model before CG companies like Framestore brought him to life. Same treatment was applied to Groot, who was played by Krystian Godlewski on set and sources such as a botanical garden in London was used as reference. Zoe Saldana spent at least 5 hours a day in the make-up chair and the final result is flawless. Dave Bautista meanwhile spent at least 4 hours a day in the make up chair and looks just as believable as Saldana. The locations explored in Guardians such as the Kyln and Knowhere, are brought to life through practical effects for filming with the additional CG for wide shots. It all looks so real and authentic like the characters are actually there. Ant-Man’s costume is significantly different from the comics, but is very practical and lifelike. It also helps that when ever something shrink or grows, the effect is a subtle nodded to how Jack Kirby drew them in the comics. Lastly, we have Ultron, who’s brought to life with James Spade in a motion capture suit and a lifelike model used as reference. There’s plenty of other examples of the amazing use of CG and practical effects in these films, such as the de-aging of Michael Douglas in Ant-Man, the way Wanda Maximoff uses her magic, Yondu’s arrow and so much more, but to list them all will take forever.

Originally posted by the-name-is-stephen-strange

Where it Falters: Edger Wright having a falling out with Marvel producer Kevin Feige robbed audiences of what could’ve been a great film. Not that Ant-Man was bad, quite the opposite. But having seen Scott Pillgrim vs. The World and Baby Driver, I feel as though it was a missed opportunity to let Edger make the film he wanted to make. Also, for a place called “the Dark World” it’s not really that dark. Also, I feel as though Pietro Maximoff was killed off a little too soon. I mean, we just met him and Aaron Taylor-Johnson was doing a good job as the character. Narratively speaking it makes sense, but I personally would’ve kept him around until Infinity War. Lastly, the Marvel One-Shot All Hail the King hinted that the real Mandarin was out there. It’s now been 5 years since that short and we’ve heard nothing from this “real” Mandarin. I’m hoping this get’s addressed sooner or later, otherwise it just feels like an attempt to silence detractors of Iron Man 3.

Originally posted by marvelheroes

Conclusion: Marvel significantly improved their craft with Phase 2 and continues to grow strong to this day. With colorful new characters, exciting new locations, impressive VFX and costumes and great acting all all around, this is only a prelude in terms of quality for what might be the greatest era of the MCU yet. Thanks so much for reading and I’ll see you soon ;)

Why It Worked: The Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 1

Introduction: The Marvel Cinematic Universe is an ongoing film franchise consisting of 20 movies and a collective box office gross of $17.528 billion (as of this writing). The series is produced by Marvel Studios, lead by President Kevin Feige, and as of 2012 distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. For this installment of Why it Worked, we’ll be diving in to Marvel’s first phase of movies and how they launched the mega giant franchise into the mainstream.

Originally posted by kane52630

The Plots: The four of the first five films in the MCU serve as introductions to the core Avengers: Iron Man, Hulk, Thor and Captain America. Each film shows who the leading character is and why we should want to root for them in future films. While these films have the same “origin story” idea, it’s the executions of these films that make them distinct from one another. Iron Man is a character study into the mind and ethics of an arms dealer who dawns an armored suit after he finds his weapons are being used by terrorists. The Incredible Hulk is a monster movie in which the main character is running from the U.S. Army while also trying to cure himself of his condition. Thor is a down to earth fantasy drama in about a prince bounded to exile as he learns what it means to be a worthy king. Captain America is a war movie about a scrawny young man turned buffed super solider, who fights Nazis in the heat of World War II. The only film that doesn’t follow the “origin story” concept is Iron Man 2, in which Tony Stark must face his demons when they become aware of his newfound hero status. The big finale of Phase 1 is just that: a finale. The heroes are all finally brought together to stop a mad man from conquering the world with his army of aliens. It was the film that the first 5 films were building up to, and given its positive reception (92% with an average 8/10 from 336 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes) and big box office numbers (1.519 billion dollars worldwide), it paid off in spades. This was accomplished by having the films follow 3 basic steps that every good film follows: 1. Build a connection between the characters and the audience, 2. Have a focused and well thought out script, and 3. Leave the audience wanting more. Each film delivers on that and then some, with clever jokes, solid acting and stellar directing from the likes of Jon Favereau, Louis Leterrier, Kenneth Branagh, Joe Johnston, and Joss Whedon.

Cast and Characters: It’s been stated before but it does bear repeating because it’s true: Robert Downey, jr., Chris Hemsworth and Chris Evans are irreplaceable in their respective roles. They give such genuine and emotional performances that it’s hard to picture anyone else in the role. Starting with Robert Downey, jr. as Tony Stark, he plays the suave, charismatic, genius billionaire with just the right amount of snark and prowess, while also showing how human Tony is during the more emotional moments. Chris Hemsworth played up the Shakespearian aspect of Thor and delivers such a nuanced performance with a charming personality, comedic naivety, and stoic persona. Chris Evans just owns the roll of Steve Rogers, showing optimism, courage, charm, and valiant heroism in just about every scene he’s in. Edward Norton gave a solid performance as Bruce Banner (with Lou Ferrigno providing the voice of the Hulk), but once Mark Ruffalo replaced him in the Avengers, audiences saw him as the better Banner (and to an extent I agree). Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson bring solid work to the parts of Clint Barton/Hawkeye and Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow respectively, with Samuel L. Jackson being perfect casting as Nick Fury. Other actors that gave a great performance to supporting characters include Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, William Hurt as General Ross, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Stellan Skarsgard as Erik Selvig and Colbie Smulders as Maria Hill. Of course, the best supporting character of Phase 1 and the underdog of the MCU is Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson. The snarky attitude, the charming demeanor, his nonchalant reaction to the presence of a Norse god, Coulson is the type of character that audiences loved so much, Marvel gave him his own show on ABC (which will air it’s 6th season in July 2019). 

The Big Baddies: I’ve mentioned this in my defense of the MCU before and I’ll say it again: the “Marvel has weak villains” argument is absurd. Just because the movies focus on the heroes more than the villains (as superHERO movies should), that doesn’t mean the villains didn’t leave an impact. Obediah Stane, played brilliantly by Jeff Bridges, isn’t just an “anti-Tony Stark,” he’s charismatic, intimidating, has a couple clever one liners and is willing to do what ever it takes to get his way. Tim Roth brings out the greedy and addictive nature of Emil Blonsky in The Incredible Hulk, making him psychotic and in over his head. Mickey Rourke gave it his all as Anton Vanko, bringing tragedy, anger, charisma and patience to the character despite limited screen time. Johann Schmidt/Red Skull wouldn’t be as memorable of a villain if it wasn’t for Hugo Weaving’s extraordinary performance, giving the character charm, grit, pride and bitterness as he attempts to win WWII by any means necessary. Then there’s Loki, the MVV (Most Valued Villain) of Phase 1 and the MCU in general behind Thanos. Tom Hiddleston brought out the cunning and charismatic personality of Loki, while also showing his vulnerability and anger for being the lesser of Odin’s sons. And that was just in the first movie. When he appeared in The Avengers as the main bad guy, he became an audience favorite. Hiddleston owns every scene he’s in, smirking at the sight of chaos, rocking that’s black mullet, and being the biggest troll to the Avengers, particularly Thor. These villains might not be Doc Oct, Magneto, Green Goblin, Lex Luthor, or even the Joker, but they are memorable in their own right.

Costumes and VFX: It should be worth noting that the costumes for the characters are spot on from their comic book counter parts and then some. Iron Man’s armored suit looks like it leaped from the pages onto the screen. The combination of a practical suit with a digital one is seemless and dates the film wonderfully. Thor’s armor pays homage to Norse mythology while still having a modern look. He’s got the big flowing cape, the jagged scales on his arms, durable chest pieces and, of course, his signature hammer Mjolnir. Captain America has a more modernized look of his costume in both The First Avenger and The Avengers. In the former, it’s more like a army solider uniform with a red, white and blue color palette with a holster to carry extra gear. In the Avengers, it has more in common with the comic book costume with brighter colors and smooth looking fabric. What remains constant in both films his his iconic shield, with practical and digital effects making it feel like a force to be reckoned with. The Hulk was previously brought to life through CGI in 2003 with Ang Lee’s film, Hulk. The effect, while impressive at the time, didn’t quite fully realize the character as he looked like a big fella in a rubber costume throughout the film. That changed forever with the arrival of The Incredible Hulk in 2008, where he looked like he was almost real. The CGI provided by Rhythm and Hues looks excellent as the Hulk looks like the big, green angry Goliath from the comics. Large veiny muscles, big green eyes and slick black hair, the Hulk looked his best back then and still holds up today. When Hulk appeared in the Avengers and had a new design provided by Industrial Light & Magic (with motion capture provided by Mark Ruffalo), he looked as good as a happy marriage between Ang Lee’s Hulk (also by ILM) and Leterrier’s Hulk. These are just a few examples on the impressive use of CGI and practical effects used in the films. Other notable examples include shrinking Chris Evens as skinny Steve Rogers via body double, the colorful costumes of Loki, Lady Sif and the Warriors 3, the make-up of Red Skull’s head and so much more.

Where it Falters: A criticism I did not address in my defense of the MCU is the lack of memorable scores. I disagree somewhat as I still remember Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America and the Avenger’s theme among others. It’s really Thor that gets the short end of the stick, and including the fact that it was a tad predictable it’s the weakest film in Phase 1 for me. Another problem that has always bothered me is how the character of Betty Ross is completely ignored 10 years later. It’s not like Liv Tyler gave an unimpressive performance, far from it. She was actually very helpful to Bruce, showed genuine chemistry with him and she wasn’t afraid to stand up to her father, General Ross. So why does he get to reappear in Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War and yet Betty doesn’t get so much as a name drop in The Avengers? Another gripe I have with Phase 1 is how small the films are. I know this was intentional by design, but a post credit scene showing the Mandarin as the head of the Ten Rings terrorist group would’ve been nice. I also would’ve liked to have seen more of the Howling Commandos (and the Warriors 3) in The First Avenger. Lastly, I have to ask: where on Earth is Samuel Stern? He was set up to become the comic book villain, the Leader, and then...nothing. I’m aware Universal still owns the distribution rights to Hulk, but a simple in-universe explanation takes like 10 seconds at best.

Conclusion: The first Phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe successfully kicked off the juggernaut franchise with great characters, clever writing and solid performances from the actors. I would’ve gone into detail about the action, but who am I kidding? It’s always good no matter how many times it’s said. With impressive blending of practical and digital effects, these scene come alive on screen for popcorn eating spectacle. I’ll be going over Phase 2 next time on Why it Worked, so until next time, thanks so much for reading and I’ll see you soon ;)