Tag: marvel

Captain America: Civil WarI
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April 19, 2020

Is “Captain America: Civil War” More Political Thriller or Comic Book?

Building off the political intrigue of their first MCU entry, the Russo brothers further blended reality and fantasy in their second smash hit.
Avengers: Age of Ultron&
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April 19, 2020

“Avengers: Age of Ultron” Blurs the Line Between “Good” and “Good Enough”

With production issues and a shift in the franchise's creative team, Joss Whedon's final MCU entry has just enough to work.
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April 18, 2020

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” Saw the MCU Grow Up

It's not perfect, but the Russo brothers' conspiracy-thriller take on the MCU turned its eye inward to the more explicitly political.
Thor the Dark World&
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April 17, 2020

“Thor: The Dark World” Feels Like MCU Filler

Thor's second standalone adventure buckles under the weight of too many characters and a confused directorial hand.
Guardians of the Galaxy&
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April 16, 2020

“Guardians of the Galaxy” Gave the MCU Its Identity

A break from all those iron men and thunder gods, James Gunn's blast of '70s pastiche helped solidify the Marvel movies' blend of character and comedy.
The AvengersA
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April 12, 2020

Assembling “The Avengers”

An unlikely team of heroes could have been a cliché, but Joss Whedon's first foray into the MCU worked because it toyed with its moving parts.
Captain America the First AvengerT
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April 11, 2020

The Throwback Charms of “Captain America: The First Avenger”

Chris Evans' first go-round with the stars and stripes remains one of Marvel Phase One's most enduring outings.
Thor&
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April 10, 2020

“Thor” Thunders Onto the Screen as Marvel’s Millennial

Kenneth Branagh's Shakespearean tale of a godlike alien shows the cracks in Marvel's firmament amid its immature protagonist.
Iron Man 2&
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April 9, 2020

“Iron Man 2” Offers Marvel’s First Stumble Out of the Gate

Jon Favreau's 2010 followup to the first film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe also shows the weaknesses of worldbuilding over structure.
Iron Man&
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April 6, 2020

“Iron Man” built a hero – and a blueprint for a franchise

Jon Favreau's acerbic superhero adventure set the template for the Marvel Cinematic Universe -- and rehabilitated Robert Downey Jr. into a movie star once again.