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…I Hunch

Posted in General Comments, Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 11, 2026| 2 Comments »

“Spider-Man” (2002) — movie review
Today’s review is for the superhero action-drama “Spider-Man”, directed by Sam Raimi and starring Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker (a shy, intelligent high-school senior who gains spider-like abilities after a lab accident);  Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane Watson (the girl next door Peter has admired for years);  Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn (a brilliant but unstable scientist who becomes the Green Goblin);  James Franco as Harry Osborn (Peter’s best friend, caught between loyalty and resentment);  Rosemary Harris as Aunt May (Peter’s moral compass and emotional anchor);  Cliff Robertson as Uncle Ben (whose death shapes Peter’s sense of responsibility);  J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson (the loud, blustering newspaper editor who loves headlines and hates Spider-Man);  Bill Nunn as Robbie Robertson (the calm, reasonable counterweight at the Daily Bugle); and Elizabeth Banks as Betty Brant (the Bugle secretary who helps keep the newsroom running).  The film blends action, coming-of-age drama, and comic-book storytelling into one of the early 2000s’ defining superhero movies.
Background:  I saw this movie at the theater on original release years ago and then many times on DVD, but this is my first time re-watching it in quite a while (since pre-COVID anyway).  I remember it being one of the first big superhero films of the modern era (before the MCU, before the huge interconnected universes) and it felt fresh at the time.  “Spider-Man” received two Academy Award nominations (Best Visual Effects and Best Sound), which makes sense given how ambitious the action sequences were for 2002.  Historically, the film is significant because it helped kick off the wave of superhero movies that followed, showing studios that comic-book adaptations could be both commercially successful and emotionally “realistic”.  This film was the highest gross attendance movie of 2002.  I came into this viewing curious how well it holds up after more than twenty years.
Plot:  Peter Parker is an ordinary high-school student living with his Aunt May and Uncle Ben.  During a school field trip, he’s bitten by a genetically altered spider and soon discovers he has enhanced strength, agility, and the ability to cling to walls.  As Peter experiments with his new abilities, Norman Osborn undergoes his own transformation after a risky performance‑enhancing experiment goes wrong, turning him into the Green Goblin.  Peter’s early attempt to use his powers for personal gain leads indirectly to Uncle Ben’s death, which becomes the defining moment of his life.  Peter embraces the role of Spider-Man, trying to balance school, work, and his feelings for Mary Jane while facing the escalating threat of the Green Goblin.  The story builds toward a personal showdown between Peter and Norman, with both men forced to confront the consequences of their choices.
So, is this movie any good?  How’s the acting?  The filming / FX?  Any problems?  And, did I enjoy the film?  Short answers:  Yes;  strong performances;  solid early-2000s visuals;  a few;  yes.
Any good?  Yes.  “Spider-Man” is a straightforward, earnest superhero origin story that still works.  It doesn’t try to be overly dark or overly comedic.  It just tells Peter’s story cleanly — how he gets his powers, what he does with them, and how he learns the cost of responsibility.  The movie has a sincerity that many later superhero films moved away from, and that sincerity helps it hold up.
Acting:  Maguire plays Peter with a mix of awkwardness, vulnerability, and quiet determination.  He sells the idea of a kid suddenly carrying a huge burden.  Dunst is good as Mary Jane, giving her more emotional depth than the typical “love interest” role.  Dafoe is memorable as Norman Osborn — intense, conflicted, and occasionally over-the-top, but in a way that fits the character.  Franco brings a believable mix of insecurity and resentment as Harry.  Harris and Robertson are both excellent as Peter’s guardians, grounding the film emotionally.  And J.K. Simmons is perfect as J. Jonah Jameson — loud, funny, and instantly iconic.
Filming / FX:  The visual effects are early-2000s CGI, but they hold up better than expected.  The swinging sequences are still fun to watch, and the action scenes are clear and easy to follow.  Raimi’s direction gives the film a slightly comic-book feel — bright colors, dramatic angles, and a few stylistic flourishes.  The practical effects and sets help keep things realistic.  The sound design and music (particularly the main theme) fit the tone well.
Problems:  A few.  Some of the CGI looks dated now, especially in the wide swinging shots.  The Green Goblin’s mask limits Dafoe’s facial expressions, which makes some scenes feel stiff.  The dialogue can be a bit melodramatic at times, and the romance, while sweet, leans heavily on clichés.  The pacing is generally good, but a few transitions feel abrupt.  None of these issues break the film, but they do show its age.
Did I enjoy the film?  Yes.  It’s a clean, earnest superhero story with heart.  The characters are likable, the action is fun, and the emotional beats still land.  It’s easy to see why this movie made such an impact when it came out.  Even after all the modern superhero films, this one still works as a simple, well-told comic-book origin story.
Final Recommendation:  Strong recommendation.  “Spider-Man” is a well-acted, well-directed superhero film that helped define the genre for the next two decades. Its Oscar nominations for Visual Effects and Sound were deserved, and its historical significance is clear.  Rated PG-13 for action violence, it’s suitable for most audiences.  If you enjoy superhero stories, early-2000s action films, or character-driven comic-book origin tales, this one is worth revisiting.
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Click here (11 May) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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If You Aim At Nothing, You Hit Nothing

Posted in General Comments, Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 3, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021) — movie review
Today’s review is for the martial-arts / fantasy adventure “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings“, starring Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, a young man trying to escape his father’s violent legacy while discovering who he really is;  Awkwafina as Katy, his best friend, comic relief, and unexpected partner in the chaos;  Tony Leung as Wenwu, Shang-Chi’s father, charismatic, grieving, and dangerously powerful;  Fala Chen as Ying Li, Shang-Chi’s mother, warm, graceful, and the emotional center of the family’s past;  Meng’er Zhang as Xialing, Shang-Chi’s estranged sister, who built her own empire after being ignored by their father and abandoned by Shang-Chi;  Florian Munteanu as Razor Fist, Wenwu’s main enforcer, a towering, intimidating fighter with a blade for an arm;  and Michelle Yeoh as Ying Nan, Shang-Chi’s aunt, who helps him understand his mother’s heritage and the deeper power he carries.  Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, the film blends family drama, martial-arts action, and fantasy elements into one of the more enjoyable entries in the Marvel universe.  It’s not quite “Iron Man” or “Black Panther” level, but it’s a much better origin story than most of their other super-heroes.  LoL.
Background:  This is my second viewing of this film.  I’d heard a lot about it as a martial arts / “Mandarin” movie / adaptation, but I watched it (months ago) late in the evening and (“really”) only remembered the San Francisco MUNI bus fight scene, so this actually felt like a first viewing.  LoL.  Released in 2021, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” was both a critical and commercial success, earning strong reviews and becoming one of the first major post-pandemic box-office hits.  It received no Academy Award nominations, but it was widely praised for its action sequences, Tony Leung’s performance, and its cultural significance as Marvel’s first Asian-led superhero film.  It’s also notable for expanding the MCU’s mythology with the Ten Rings organization and the mystical village of Ta Lo.
Plot:  Shang-Chi is living a quiet life in San Francisco as “Shaun,” working as a valet with his best friend Katy.  His past catches up with him when assassins sent by his father, Wenwu, attack him on a bus thus revealing that Shang-Chi is not just some guy trying to avoid responsibility, but the son of a centuries-old warlord who wields the magical “Ten Rings“.  Shang-Chi reunites with his sister Xialing, and the two are brought back to their father’s compound.  Wenwu believes their mother, Ying Li, is calling to him from Ta Lo, a hidden village tied to her ancestry.  The problem:  the voice he hears is not their mother, but a dangerous creature imprisoned behind a mystical gate. Shang-Chi, Katy, and Xialing travel to Ta Lo, meet their aunt Ying Nan, and learn the truth about their family’s history.  The story builds toward a large battle involving the Ten Rings, Ta Lo’s defenders, and a soul-eating monster trying to break free.  Shang-Chi must confront his father, accept who he is, and decide what kind of man he wants to be.
So, is this movie any good?  How’s the acting?  The filming / FX?  Any problems?  And, did I enjoy the film?  Short answers:  Yes;  very strong across the board;  excellent action and effects;  a few;  yes.
Any good?  Yes.  “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is one of the better Marvel origin stories.  It balances humor, action, and family drama without feeling like it’s trying too-too hard.  The pacing is steady, the emotional beats land, and the movie gives you enough backstory to care about the characters without drowning you in exposition.  The film works because it keeps the focus on Shang-Chi’s personal journey and not just the spectacle of the action / fights.
Acting:  Simu Liu is solid as Shang-Chi — likable, grounded, and believable in both the action scenes and the quieter moments.  Awkwafina provides humor without overwhelming the story, and her chemistry with Liu feels natural.  Tony Leung is the standout — he brings depth, sadness, and charisma to Wenwu, making him one of Marvel’s more interesting antagonists.  Fala Chen, though she has limited screen time, gives Ying Li a warmth and presence that anchors the entire emotional arc.  Meng’er Zhang is strong as Xialing, and Michelle Yeoh adds her usual grace and authority.  Florian Munteanu is physically imposing and memorable as Razor Fist.  He’s not a deep character, but he’s exactly what the story needs as Wenwu’s main muscle.  The cast works well together, and nobody feels out of place.
Filming / FX:  The action scenes are the highlight.  The MUNI bus fight is one of the better choreographed sequences in recent Marvel films — clear, fast, and fun to watch.  The scaffolding fight in Macau is also excellent.  The Ta Lo sequences shift into full fantasy mode, with mythical creatures, glowing weapons, and large-scale effects.  Some of the CGI in the final battle is a bit much (typical Marvel), but overall the film looks good.  The cinematography is clean, and the fight choreography is sharp enough to stand out from the usual superhero genre.
Problems:  A few.  The third act leans heavily on CGI creatures and a big, loud battle — which feels like Marvel defaulting to its fantasy action/FX comfort zone instead of trusting the more grounded martial-arts style that made the first half so strong.  Katy’s sudden archery skill is a stretch, but whatever.  (“Feel the Force, Luke.”  LoL.)  The pacing dips slightly in the middle.  Some of the humor undercuts emotional moments.  Also, the film tries to juggle a lot of mythology in a short time, which can feel rushed.  None of these issues spoil the movie, but they’re there and I noticed them.
Did I enjoy the film?  Yes.  It’s entertaining, well-acted, and visually interesting.  The family dynamics (especially the way Ying Li’s memory shapes everything) give the story more weight than the average Marvel origin film.  The action scenes are fun to watch, and the movie tries to do something a little different while still fitting into the larger MCU.  It’s not perfect, but it’s a good, enjoyable film with memorable (this time around) moments.
Final Recommendation:  High moderate to low strong recommendation.  “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” is a well-made, engaging Marvel film with strong performances (especially Tony Leung and Fala Chen), excellent action sequences, and cultural significance as the MCU’s first Asian-led superhero story.  While the third act leans into familiar Marvel spectacle, the film’s emotional core and character work make it worth watching.  If you enjoy martial-arts action, family-driven stories, or Marvel films in general, this one is worth your time.  And, of course, any film that features San Francisco gets extra credit.  LoL.
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Click here (3 April) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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When You Love Something, You Protect It

Posted in General Comments, Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 1, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“Eternals” (2021) — movie review
Today’s review is for “Eternals” (2021), which stars Gemma Chan as Sersi;  Richard Madden as Ikaris;  Angelina Jolie as Thena;  Salma Hayek as Ajak;  Kumail Nanjiani as Kingo;  Brian Tyree Henry as Phastos;  Lauren Ridloff as Makkari;  Barry Keoghan as Druig;  Lia McHugh as Sprite;  and Don Lee as Gilgamesh.  They play immortal beings sent to Earth thousands of years ago to guide humanity and fight off creatures called Deviants.  The cast has to balance the superhero action with the long-term family arguments of a group that’s been together for centuries.
Background:  This is my second viewing of this film.  I believe I first watched it in 2023 (or thereabouts) and wasn’t impressed much.  It looked good, but I really couldn’t figure out what it was about – other than super-“creatures” with super-powers.  It required this second, more attentive viewing to “get it”.  Released in 2021 and directed by Chloé Zhao, “Eternals” is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and adapts characters created by Jack Kirby.  It runs just over two-and-a-half hours and cost over $200 million to make, while earning about $402 million worldwide.  It didn’t win any Academy Awards and isn’t historically significant in any “real” sense, but it is notable for being one of Marvel’s biggest attempts at a myth-heavy story with ten main characters.  Zhao also used more real locations and natural light than most MCU films, which gives it a different look.
Plot:  The “Eternals” arrive on Earth in ancient times (pre-history) to protect humans from the Deviants.  Deviants are artificial lifeforms created by the Celestials to eliminate a planet’s top predator so that other species (developing humanoids) can develop.  Celestial “seeds” are planted on these planets and are “fed” by the life-force given off by intelligent species (humans).  They are “born” when the species reaches a critical volume, and in birth, the new Celestial destroys the planet they are hatched on / in.  Through an error in their programming, the Deviants “evolve” an instinct for self-preservation and instead of only targeting the top predator, they begin to kill all non-Deviants to keep a planet’s total population in check.  The Eternals are told not to interfere in human conflicts, only to stop the monsters (Deviants).  Over thousands of years, they help civilizations grow, they argue among themselves, and they (the Eternals) eventually split up to live separate lives.  In the present day, Sersi is living in London with Sprite nearby.  A Deviant attack forces them to reconnect with Ikaris, who shows up after years away.  The three of them start tracking down the others:  Kingo in his Bollywood career, Thena and Gilgamesh living quietly in isolation, Phastos raising a family, Makkari hiding out in their old ship, and Druig running a small community in the jungle.  As they regroup, they learn the real reason they were sent to Earth:  humanity’s growth is feeding a Celestial that will destroy the planet when it emerges.  Ajak knew this and kept it from the others.  The team splits over what to do — save Earth or follow their original orders.  Ikaris sides with the mission, while Sersi tries to stop the destruction.  The final act is the group trying to hold off both Ikaris and the Celestial long enough to save the planet.
So, is this movie any good?  How’s the acting? The filming / FX?  Any problems?  And, did I enjoy the film?  Short answers:  Mostly;  strong ensemble;  uneven but often impressive;  crowded and overstuffed;  yes, more than I expected.
Any good?  “Eternals” is uneven, but it’s not the “disaster / horrific flop” some people made it out to be.  It tries to tell a much bigger story than the usual Marvel single film formula, and even when it stumbles, the ambition helps.  The movie has long stretches that work well and a few that drag, but overall (IMHO) it’s more solid than its reputation or “professional” reviews.  Watching this film reminded me of my childhood days of reading the “Annual Special” edition of a comic where, for twice the price, you got double the normal comic-book pages with an expanded story arc which wasn’t necessarily part of the comic series “real” story arc.  Sometimes they (the arcs) were pure filler and sometimes they allowed for a bunch of “extra” characters to be thrown into the mix.  LoL.
Acting:  The cast does the heavy lifting.  Gemma Chan carries the emotional center without overplaying it.  Richard Madden leans into Ikaris’ rigid, soldier-like personality, which fits the character even if it makes him feel cold.  Angelina Jolie and Don Lee have a believable bond in their smaller arc.  Kumail Nanjiani brings humor without turning the movie into a joke.  Brian Tyree Henry and Lauren Ridloff make strong impressions in limited time.  With ten leads, nobody gets as much room as they probably needed, but the performances are mostly steady across the board.
Filming / FX:  The use of real locations helps the movie feel less artificial than most MCU entries.  Some of the creature effects look good, while others look rubbery or unfinished.  The Celestial designs are impressive in scale and give the story a sense of size.  Many of the battles, particularly the final battle, slips back into the usual (super-hero) CGI overload.  The globe-hopping structure and long runtime stretch the pacing more than necessary.
Problems:  There are simply too many characters and too much backstory to cover in one movie.  The constant time jumps slow things down.  The Deviants feel like an afterthought, and the movie doesn’t seem sure what to do with them.  The Ikaris twist is predictable.  The humor sometimes clashes with the heavier material.  It’s a movie that needed either fewer characters or more time to let them breathe.
Did I enjoy the film?  Yes.  Even with the flaws, I appreciated that it was trying to be about something — loyalty, purpose, and what you owe to the world you live in.  It’s messy, but it’s sincere, and that counts for something (IMHO).  I liked it more than I expected to.
Final Recommendation:  High Moderate to Low Good recommendation.  “Eternals” is a mixed bag, but it’s worth watching if you’re interested in a Marvel movie that doesn’t follow the usual pattern.  The cast is strong, the scope is huge, and the story has more emotional weight than most superhero entries.  It’s not a top-tier MCU film, but it’s better than its reputation and has enough ideas to make it stand out.  I’d call it a high moderate to low strong recommendation, especially for viewers who like ensemble stories and big-picture world-building.  Ultimately, this is a “watch, don’t think” movie.  Enjoy the visuals, because the plot doesn’t hold true to its own internal logic.
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Click here (1 February) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Avengers 4 (3 Part 2): But Sire, Our Troops…

Posted in General Comments, Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 2, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Today’s movie review is for: “Avengers: Endgame“ (A4 aka: A3P2 – “Avengers 3 Part 2“) which was released back in 2019.  This movie is the capstone of the twenty-one(21!!) movie franchise of the Marvel Extended Universe which began with the release of “Ironman” a decade earlier.  Because of the deaths of half of all life in the universe, this movie suffers less from the over abundance of super-heroes which happened in the second and third Avenger movies.  So, while it isn’t painfully obvious there are too many good-guys, there is still the near complete absence of rational thought.  Unlike “part 1,” this sequel does make an effort to to try to create humanizing back stories for the central characters.  Those who survived Part 1 – “Infinity War“.  Of course, this means the run-time for the film jumps to over three(3) hours.
Background:  The release of this film roughly corresponded with my decision to stop going to the theaters to see initial showings on the “BIG” screen.  This film came out and I had to wait for it to come to my cable movie provider – several months.  By that time, I’d long stopped doing “early” reactions to movies (reviews within two weeks of release).  Given the extended delay (as with “Infinity War“), I never bothered to review the film on this blog.  Just like “Infinity War“, I’ve seen this movie multiple times since it’s release five-plus years ago.  This review is meant to “round out” my views on this four-part cornerstone of the MCU franchise.
As with “A3:IW-P1“, I would argue the action scenes and special effects are much “better” in that they are (again) both larger scale and more comic-book-“ie” than the three earlier films in the franchise.  This finale is also just better than “Part 1”.  The humor (mostly quips) again adds to this movie and it somehow feels it’s not as dark a movie as “Part 1” turned out to be.  The only “issue” I have with them (the jokes) are they are a whole lot of what used to be called “inside baseball” humor, that is, you have to have seen almost EVERY one of the other 20 MCU movies to get the references.  That in itself is a 50+ hours commitment!!  A few the quips / jokes / insults are still funny, but most (IMHO) aren’t as sharp / cutting if you haven’t “shared the experience” – and I mean the FULL experience.  Did I mention that’s a 50+ hours commitment?!
Since it’s been almost six years since the release of this film, I’ll assume anyone bothering to read this review has also already seen the film and won’t be upset if I include a mini-spoiler or two…
What doesn’t work?  Everything which was “wrong” with “Infinity War” is still poorly done / explained here in “part 2” with the additional difficulty of including / mixing in of time-loop causality paradoxes and quantum size pseudo-science.  At a minimum, you will have to have pre-watched the first three Avenger movies in the franchise to be able to make sense total of this one.  Fortunately, you don’t have to have watched any of the “made for streaming” Marvel series.  Even given that, this movie is barely adequate storytelling.  Again, we (the audience) can’t decide on the scale of anything (because the visual scale keeps changing) and we can’t seriously believe in the battles because the super-powers / abilities are also ridiculously variable.  So, no change there from the three prior Avenger movies.  The “best / worst” example of this is the same Thanos who kills half of ALL life in the universe is not able to snap his fingers to “dust” all of the remaining Avengers.  And the “theme” of the movie is:  “I’ll do whatever it takes…“
A second “makes no sense” moment is:  Thanos sees his army is struggling in the final battle, so he orders his main spaceship to rain “fire” down on the battlefield.  His second in command / advisor (Corvus Glaive) responds:  “But sire, our troops…”  And Thanos answers: “Just do it!”  Now, just for a second, recall:  Thanos himself is on the battlefield and he has to BOTH think something AND snap his fingers for it to happen.  He doesn’t “dust” everyone by himself (think-n-snap).  He doesn’t create a safety shield bubble around himself.  He just orders a “friendly-fire” of his own position!!  (Obviously, not the brightest star in the firmament…)
What does work?  Visually this movie is pretty darn excellent!  It’s beautiful and full – even on my 48in screen sitting three feet away.  (LoL)  Cinematically, it doesn’t make much sense, but we’re here for the action, not the plot / logic.  As noted in my review of “Infinity War“:  “So, as with most (well, all) of the super-hero movies over the last two decades, the bottom line is we (the audience) simply have to decide early on the movie isn’t going to make a lot of sense and just try to enjoy it as a comic-book, action movie.“
One additional comment:  The effects folks seem to have made more of an effort to de-age most of the actors in near and in close-up shots.  This (everyone was too old) was a “fault”  I had in “Infinity War“.  None of the actors (old or young) look anywhere near as “wrong” as in Part 1.  I would say however, that Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) looks positively skinny / elderly in some of his T-shirt scenes.  Of course, he’s completely buffed-out when he’s in the Ironman suit.
Final recommendation:  strong to very highly recommended.  Strong if you are looking for good action-based (comic-book) entertainment!  Very highly if you like (love) / enjoy comic-book movies (I do).  …Break out the large bowl of popcorn and your 2-liter soda!  You know you want to…
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Click here (2 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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Avengers 3 Part 1

Posted in General Comments, Movie Review, Movies, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 1, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Today’s movie review is for:  “Avengers: Infinity War“ (A3:IW) released back in 2018.  This movie is / has an advanced case of super-hero(es) absurdus extremis:  too many characters and too little rational thought.  In fact, there is such an overload of them (characters) the movie doesn’t even bother to try to create humanizing back stories to make the central characters (the original Avengers) movie plot believable (as they tried to do in “Avengers 2 – Age of Ultron“).  Other than the special effects / action sequences, this movie is substantively worse than the very good original and the better than average sequel.
Background:  Way back in my pre-teen days, I collected comic-books.  More recently, I used to collect super-hero DVDs.  This is one of the many I own a physical copy of.  About 2012, I started transitioning to streaming and gradually replacing the DVDs with rights to stream – as opposed to simply watching when the film became available on cable.  This film came out the year following my retirement when I was going through some cardiac issues and never bothered to review the film on this blog.  I’ve watched it a couple of times over the years – specifically before the release of “Avengers:  Endgame” and then again after “Endgame” was released for streaming.  This is “probably” my fourth or fifth viewing of A3:IW.  Anyway, the four-pack is recently available for purchase “on sale”, and since I already own them, I thought I’d re-watch the set and then review “Infinity War” and “Endgame“, to round out my posts on this section of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)…
I would argue the action scenes and special effects are much “better” in that they are both larger scale and more comic-book-“ie”.  The humor (mostly quips) also adds to this movie because it is a “dark” movie – in tone, not in actual lighting.  There are a dozen quips / insults which lighten the mood and they are sprinkled throughout to even the film’s pace.  That’s the positive.  The negative is just about everything else…
What doesn’t work?  Well, almost none of the movie makes ANY sense and almost all of it suffers from “King Kong and Godzilla”-ism.  We (the audience) can’t decide on the scale of anything (because the visual scale keeps changing) and we can’t seriously believe in the battles because the super-powers / abilities are also ridiculously variable.  The “best / worst” example of this is the same Thanos who wipes the floor with the Hulk early in the movie, has a problem defeating Captain America in one-to-one, hand-to-hand combat near the end of the film.
Visually it all works, but don’t try to make any sense of the action / fights because NONE of them do (make any sense).  So, as with most (well, all) of the super-hero movies over the last two decades, the bottom line is we (the audience) simply have to decide early on the movie isn’t going to make a lot of sense and just try to enjoy it as a comic-book, action movie.  Other than that, the movie IS pretty enjoyable – as a “real-life” animated comic-book re-enactment.
One final comment:  with the exceptions of Tom Holland (aka SpiderMan), Zoe Saldana (Gamora) and Pom Klementieff (Mantis) – ALL of the other actors are TOO old for their roles.  An argument could be made for Benedict Wong (Wong) and Benedict Cumberbatch (Dr. Strange) as their roles / characters are supposed to be old(er), but, really, all of these actors need to be replaced for future films.  As for the three “exceptions”, Holland is too old to play a high school kid and the two ladies are so covered in makeup, their actual ages are pretty indeterminate.  Of course, now the studios have the AI / FX to de-age the actors, so that may be a non-factor when Avengers 5 is eventually released.
Final recommendation:  moderate to strong recommendation.  Moderate if you are coming into the movie / series cold.  Strong if you are looking for good action-based (comic-book) entertainment!  Not very good cinema…  Not the greatest movie / story / plot, (LoL) but a reasonable progression of action scenes based around an adequate villain.  This movie is the prequel for the “Avengers:  Endgame” movie which was released the following year.  If you like / enjoy comic-book movies (I do), you’ll thoroughly enjoy this action film.  I did!!  Just try to not think about the plot / story / characters.  LoL!!
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Click here (1 June) to see the posts of prior years.  I started this blog in late 2009.  Daily posting began in late January 2011.  Not all of the days in the early years (2009-2010) will have posts.

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