Marvel Movies Marathon — Watching Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Infinity War, ahead of Avengers: Endgame

We’re in the Endgame.

So there we have it. Not only is Captain Marvel the most powerful weapon that earth has, but Carol Danvers is also the reason why the Avengers Initiative gets its name – it was Danvers’ call sign back when she was a pilot. That end-credit scene when she finally answers the call from Fury’s pager (?) has to give you goosebumps. Because now, we’re in the endgame.

We can’t wait for 26 April.

One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter

Once Captain Marvel realises that the Skrull war was actually a separatist movement, with the Skrulls merely looking to be a people with a home of their own, she realises what her true mission must be. Her endorsement of the Skrull quest for self-determination is a big political statement for the real world, that sort of went under the radar. It’s the reason why I personally rate this film quite highly. That, and the cat.

The lack of a romantic track in Captain Marvel is refreshing

The whole flashback-wiped memory device is done-to-death, but that’s where Brie Larson manages to make things interesting. She’s no tormented soul. She just runs with it, chasing answers to the images that flash before her eyes.

Hers a goofy but charming presence that evolves through the film. And one of my favourite things about the film is that she’s the only lead Marvel character yet to not get a romantic track on the side, apart from mere hints of chemistry with Law’s character right at the start.

The lack of a romantic track in Captain Marvel is refreshing

The whole flashback-wiped memory device is done-to-death, but that’s where Brie Larson manages to make things interesting. She’s no tormented soul. She just runs with it, chasing answers to the images that flash before her eyes.

Hers a goofy but charming presence that evolves through the film. And one of my favourite things about the film is that she’s the only lead Marvel character yet to not get a romantic track on the side, apart from mere hints of chemistry with Law’s character right at the start.

And we’re on our last film of the day: Captain Marvel

Captain Marvel seems so removed from everything we’ve seen so far. The little connections go more into the Guardians of the Galaxy storyline, because of the Kree-Skrull conflict background. Jude Law is great random addition into this story (or maybe I’m partial because he’s British.) 

Things get really interesting when Vers (what she thinks her name is) crashes into planet C-53, also called Midgard, also called Earth. And then, she runs into a young Nicholas J Fury! Unsurprisingly, it’s the first time he’s meet an alien but he bonds right away. Then, he bonds with a cat. He seems to really start trusting it…

Ant-Man 2’s shock-worthy end credits scene

Obviously, the most significant aspect of this film is that shock-worthy end credits scene. The foursome – Hope, Hank, Janet and Scott – are fiddling with the quantum realm, Scott still inside, when suddenly no one’s responding from outside. We know who did that! To know how Ant-Man manages to get out of there, we’ll have to wait for Endgame.

Ant-Man 2 is too basic

Michael Peña narrating his stories, introduced in the first film and perfected in this one, is a thing of beauty. Genuinely innovative comic writing and execution, in a manner that only cinema can allow you. While Ant-Man 2 is basic, particularly after all that we’ve seen in the lead up, but it manages to be fun throughout. Also, it’s possible the quantum realm will have some significance in the battle against Thanos.

Hannah John-Kamen makes for an intriguing villain

In recent MCU films, the antagonists’ motivations have become increasingly grey. You almost always end up seeing the point of their quest. Same goes for Ghost in Ant-Man and the Wasp. But this film has the misfortune of coming immediately after Infinity War, so everything in Ant-Man 2 seems smaller, pun definitely not intended.

Next film of the day: Ant Man and the Wasp

My favourite thing about Ant-Man and the Wasp? Scott Lang’s daughter Cassie is back! For me, that girl is an Avenger. She’s integral in so many way to Hank Pym, the Wasp and Ant-Man’s quest to bring back Pym’s wife.

The Russo brothers referred to Infinity War as a heist film. They were right.

Indeed, the dramatic arc in the film isn’t about the Avengers or Guardians, but about Thanos’ hunt for the Infinity Stones. Every Stone has a story leading to its position in his Infinity Gauntlet, all leading up the the Snap. The climactic battle in Wakanda actually turned out to be quite anti-climactic (Thor’s epic entry notwithstanding.) And for better or for worse, it leaves you speechless. There was a lot of theorising about it in the lead up to Infinity War, but no one saw this coming. Only the original Avengers (give or take a few more who are yet to be revealed) survive the Thanos’ snap.

Infinity War was always going to be merely a stepping stone for the endgame.

Thor has the best graph in Infinity War

In the entire Thanos-Infinity War storyline that properly began with The Avengers, Thor probably gets the best graph.

He goes from arrogant prince, to a god, while also being the first to piece together that someone was chasing Infinity Stones, at the end of Age of Ultron. His bits in Nidavellir, when he finally gets a replacement for Mjølnir, and his subsequent big bang entry in Wakanda are for the ages.

But perhaps the most important moment in the context of Endgame involves Doctor Strange. He peers into 14 million 605 outcomes of this war with Thanos, and the Avengers win in only one. What will that entail? Endgame excitement is at its peak.

Familial ties in Infinity War

When Tony Stark tells Peter Parker, in his spanking new and totally awesome Spidey suit, “Kid, you’re an Avenger now,” you totally feel it. You can sense the stakes escalating. And while Tony and Peter are bonding like father and son, Thanos is having his own daddy-daughter issues in the middle of his quest to wipe out half of all life in the universe. But seriously, his quest is as vague as it is specific. Clearly, he’s the only one who gets it.

Scratch that. The best entry in the film belongs to… Wakanda.

There’s literally nowhere else on earth they could have made a first stand against Thanos. The pace of the film just doesn’t ease, while still giving Captain America time to be cheesy. “We don’t trade lives!”

Thor, perhaps, gets the meatiest part in Infinity War, after Thanos

Meanwhile, Tony Stark hears the sputtering voice of Pepper Potts die out as he hurtles into space. It gives Tony’s message to Pepper in the trailer of Endgame some real feels. But the entry of the film belongs to Steve Rogers (and team). All the Chrises are finally in one film!

Avengers: Infinity War hits the ground running

Infinity War is breathless from the first minute. Thanos dominates over Thor, smashes the Hulk, retrieves the Space Stone from the Tesseract, kills Loki and half the Asgardians; but not before a dying Heimdall throws the Hulk back on to Earth. Then, one by one, the Avengers start showing up, and so do the Guardians of the Galaxy. Shit hit the roof a long time ago, now the roof is going places.

Avengers: Infinity War hits the ground running

Infinity War is breathless from the first minute. Thanos dominates over Thor, smashes the Hulk, retrieves the Space Stone from the Tesseract, kills Loki and half the Asgardians; but not before a dying Heimdall throws the Hulk back on to Earth. Then, one by one, the Avengers start showing up, and so do the Guardians of the Galaxy. Shit hit the roof a long time ago, now the roof is going places.

Third film of the day: Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Infinity War picks up almost immediately after Thor: Ragnarok end, and my first thoughts are that this last set of films is collectively the best run that MCU has had so. They’ve all contributed so beautifully in creating the legend of Endgame. (Remember, today ends with Captain Marvel, who’ll be key in the final battle against Thanos.)

Next film: Avengers: Infinity War

Will we feel as bad when Thanos dies, as we did when Killmonger did? Who knows. Either way, the Avengers are finally going to meet Thanos, in Infinity War!

Next film: Avengers: Infinity War

Will we feel as bad when Thanos dies, as we did when Killmonger did? Who knows. Either way, the Avengers are finally going to meet Thanos, in Infinity War!

No one:

Me: All superhero films aspire to greater meaning.

The very concept of superheroes and ills they wish to rid the world of, is an expression of what we face every day, in our real lives; a yearning to right the wrongs of our times. In that regard, Black Panther goes further than any other film so far. A hidden African nation that develops free, untouched by roving colonial eyes – an oasis of power amid a people and continent subjected to global oppression. The power of vibranium, the heart-shaped herb that gives the Black Panther his powers, these are all fluff in the context of what the film stands for. The battle isn’t one for who is most powerful, but for what one intends to do with all that power. This, tying with Winter Soldier, is easily my favourite film in the MCU.

Erik Killmonger: What. A. Character. 

The antagonist (because ‘villain’ isn’t the right word) of Black Panther comes with such depth, such pain, such intensity. Sure, he grew up in America, so his solution to end Black oppression the world over is to go to war using advanced weaponry; but you feel his anger. His motivations will at least get your sympathy, if not your support. When Black Panther was announced, I was hoping Michael B Jordan would play the Wakandan hero. But now, after watching him multiple times as Killmonger, I can’t get enough of him.

The action sequences of Black Panther aren’t the best in MCU

I think the Russo brothers have done outstandingly in Winter Soldier and Civil War. But it’s all cool, because the proceedings are still great. The car chase sequence in Busan, South Korea is a clever bit of work! (The MCU seems to fancy Korea. Age of Ultron has an chase scene set there as well.)

Aah, the Jabari are here!

Winston Duke’s M’Baku, the leader of the mysterious mountain tribe, gets some great moments in the film later. His line ‘Glory to Hanuman’ was censored in Indian theatres (because obviously the authorities know better, right?) I don’t know, but I’d have cheered for a Hanuman – Black Panther crossover. (Also, Winston and Lupita eventually do another film together; Jordan Peele was definitely watching this one.)

Aah, the Jabari are here!

Winston Duke’s M’Baku, the leader of the mysterious mountain tribe, gets some great moments in the film later. His line ‘Glory to Hanuman’ was censored in Indian theatres (because obviously the authorities know better, right?) I don’t know, but I’d have cheered for a Hanuman – Black Panther crossover. (Also, Winston and Lupita eventually do another film together; Jordan Peele was definitely watching this one.)

How Black Panther differs from other MCU films

The boss women of Wakanda are all introduced early in the film – Okoye (Danai Gurira, Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o), Shuri (Letitia Wright) and of course, the Queen of Wakanda (Angela Bassett). These women are in the thick of the action throughout, some kicking serious ass — this serves as another way in which Black Panther differs from the rest of the pack. Each of their relationships with the central character are also depicted so well, it feels like Wakanda is a place that encourages tight community. 

Second film of the day: Black Panther

Black Panther picks up almost exactly where Civil War finished. Right from the opening scene, a prologue set in 1991, director Ryan Coogler’s craft shows an intensity we haven’t yet seen in the MCU. Only two feature films old at this point (watch Fruitvale Station and Creed!) you can feel both scale and intimacy in this epic tale. 

Thor: Ragnarok will be remembered for being the film where Thor came into his own

Until now, he was largely cosplay, but he finally seems to understand what God of Thunder really means. This film offers a flash of an even better scene that Thor gets in Infinity War, when he turns up in Wakanda with all his might and glory. Besides, the point at which Ragnarok ends is almost exactly where Infinity War begins, give or take some destruction by the Children of Thanos.

FINALLY, a woman who actually has something to do!

Hela is the most powerful woman we’ve seen so far in the MCU, and Cate Blanchett plays her with the greatest mix of sass and style you’ll see. If only Captain Marvel and Hela could square off against each other!

Odin is still alive

I mean, they say he’s dead, but then he returns to give advice to his son. I think he’ll still be around long after the MCU is over. For me, he should have exited in the first Thor film, after he went into ‘Odinsleep’. Can’t believe that’s what they call it.

Thor: Ragnarok is the breeziest MCU film

This is another great example of a director being able to bring their own stamp to the MCU, and enriching their films as a result. For me, Ragnarok is the breeziest film in the MCU yet, because of Taika Waititi’s touch. Plus, Chris Hemsworth has been honing his spontaneity with every outing as Thor, and he’s close to perfection in this one.

“He’s a friend from work,” doesn’t even deserve to be an outer-space line, but the big H just makes it work.

Thor: Ragnarok is a gift that keeps on giving

Thor: Ragnarok is dotted with great moments from the word go. The opening sequence where he defeats Surtur (set to the ‘Immigrant Song’) sets the pace for a super-fun film. Then there’s the introduction of Hela, the destruction of Mjølnir, Thor’s meeting with an old friend in the wasteland-carnival that’s Sakaar, and SO much more. 

Schedule for 19 April:

Thor: Ragnarok

Black Panther

Avengers: Infinity War

Ant-Man and the WASP

Captain Marvel.