Star Wars Is Pretty Cool

So this past week I decided to fix a terrible mistake I hadn't got around to fixing; I watched the original Star Wars trilogy. I know: how can I possibly claim to be a fan of films without seeing what is quite possibly the most revered, critically acclaimed sci-fi series of all time? Well, the simple fact is that I hadn't ever decided to sit down and actually watch all three films in their entirely, similar to how I finally checked out Lord of the Rings in 2013 prior to the release of the second Hobbit movie. How did I find Star Wars? It's pretty great, actually. 

Now, you might be surprised to read that. No, I didn't think that they were some of the greatest movies ever put to screen, nor would I watch them all again obsessively. To be honest, I don't even think they're some of the very best sci-fi movies of all time (though The Empire Strikes Back would be the closest to this title). Maybe it's because they've been phenomenally over-hyped by literally centuries of fans, or maybe it's because I've just seen so many other sci-fi movies that I can't help but compare Star Wars to them, but I enjoyed this cult trilogy while it lasted...and I think that's okay. 

Before I get ahead of myself, I should probably clarify why I decided to finally check these films out. As you probably know, the latest teaser to J.J. Abrams' Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens was released just under two weeks ago, and needless to say, I found it pretty spectacular. I'd previously been subjected to the Star Wars universe through the brilliant games that had taken place there, like 2005's Lego Star Wars: The Video Game. Most people, however, praise the Star Wars: Battlefront series as being the pinnacle of Lucasarts' foray into the gaming world, and I'd be inclined to agree. Regardless, I'd say it's more than acceptable for somebody to get sucked into this world without ever watching the movies (like I was). After watching the films, though, I've now got a pretty detailed understanding of the context behind these games - a context which 99% of the population probably had many years before today. 

But back to the title of this article, and how Star Wars is 'pretty cool'. After finishing Episode IV: A New Hope (which was initially just referred to as 'Star Wars'), I found it to be a little slow, in all honesty. I could appreciate the charm of classic sci-fi presentation, and the now iconic transition shots of the screen just sliding from one scene to another, but I definitely wasn't shocked in awe at what I'd just seen. Even fan-favourite Han Solo (Harrison Ford) hadn't fully swayed me into fandom; primarily because of Ford's later role in the incredible Blade Runner, in which he plays a similar character with a disregard for authority. Maybe I left it too late to fully appreciate these beloved classics? 

Maybe. Or maybe it's okay to just enjoy something that everybody else loves. I've no doubt that this year's The Force Awakens will be something special, and with a new Battlefront game coming, we've certainly got a lot to look forwards to. Does me not loving Star Wars mean that I don't like the franchise as a whole? Of course not. It just means that while some people might choose to don their Stormtrooper armour and attend conventions, I'll instead enjoy the movies for what they are: entertaining, two-hour epics that tell an interesting - though slightly drawn-out - story. 

Also, if you haven't yet seen the trailer for Episode VII, you really ought to fix that: 

Avengers: Age of Ultron (Review) - Bigger, Louder...Better?

Let me start by saying this: Ultron (James Spader) is a brilliant villain. His motives are villainous, his appearance is downright scary, and his presence rivals some of the best on-screen antagonists we've had in recent memory. Additionally, he's not criminally underutilised like countless other villains are - there are more than a few scenes which he steals effortlessly. Marvel's excellent Guardians of the Galaxy presented us with a forgettable foe in the form of Ronan last year, and thankfully Age of Ultron manages to avoid repeating this blunder. Does that mean it's the best Marvel film made to this point? Definitely not. 

Now, before you stop reading in anger, let me say this: I really enjoyed Avengers: Age of Ultron. It upped the ante in every possible way, with a nigh apocalypse being threatened by an equally apocalyptic foe. All the favourites return, with a greater focus being put on underdog Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), most likely in an attempt to elevate him to the same level as Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr) and Captain America (Chris Evans). We're also given more depth to returning characters like Black Widow (Scarlett Johannson), and that's never a bad thing. Basically, Age of Ultron is more in every imaginable factor. There's higher stakes; the characters are more fleshed out; the action is more intense. The problem is that 'more' does not instantly equate to 'better'. Nor does this mean that it's worse than what we've had before. The reason I'm slightly let down with Age of Ultron isn't because it's a bad movie, it's because it delivers exactly what you expect...and that's about it.

You've still got the witty banter between characters, and the moments of emotion shared in private. Seemingly out of nowhere, there's also a blossoming romance between Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and the aforementioned Black Widow / Natasha Romanoff, but it's hardly the crux of the whole film. If it weren't for the awesome villain Ulton, however, then Age of Ultron would be nothing more than 'just another Marvel movie'. Is that bad? No! Of course not! If you're a Marvel fan, then you'll love the constant action and tone, but there's nothing new that will bring in new fans. And in that lies the issue: it's just more of the same. 

Think of it this way: somebody's playing a song you enjoy, and you enjoy it so much that they feel the need to crank it to 11. You'll still enjoy the song (if be a little deafened), but soon you'll be moving on to another. That doesn't mean you've grown tired of the tune or lyrics, but eventually it'll get over-played to the point of annoyance. Avengers isn't quite at that point yet, but if Age of Ultron is anything to go by, then it's worryingly close. 

Ultron (James Spader)

When it gets it right though, it really gets it right. Some of the action sequences are jaw-dropping, to the point where it feels like you're watching a comic-book unfold before you. The fights between Ultron himself and the Avengers are particular highlights, because they offer a new challenge for the heroes to overcome, and the seemingly unbeatable nature of Ultron makes for some genuinely intense moments. Sure, certain fights drag on for way too long, but this is more a problem of action movies than of Age of Ultron specifically. One thing that does feel a little off about the film is the sometimes drastic swapping between comedy and impending doom. I'm all up for having humour in Marvel movies, and Guardians of the Galaxy provides an excellent example of a film that doesn't take itself too seriously. Unfortunately, there's times when Age of Ultron wants to have its cake and eat it. You can't try and convey that the world is literally ending, all the while having our protagonists cracking jokes like they're just hanging out. Have one then the other - don't try and blend the two. 

Verdict
Avengers: Age of Ultron is a worthy sequel, but one which plays it a little too safe to truly excel. It does its job, and you're entertained for a little over two hours, but doesn't experiment with many new ideas. Marvel have found what works and stuck with it, and why wouldn't they? If I made $1,000,000,000 then I doubt I'd be straying too far from the formula. 2018's Infinity War really needs to switch things up if it's going to keep from going stale, though. 

"You want to protect the world, but you don't want it 

to change. You're all puppets, tangled in strings...strings!"

Daredevil (TV Review) - Justice Is Blind

Netflix's Daredevil provides a refreshingly unique spin on the superhero genre: It takes the 'super' out of the word entirely. Well - for the most part. That's not to say it isn't an awesome show which you should definitely check out the instant you stop reading this. No, what I mean is that it chooses to ignore the overly-dramatic storylines and constant happy endings; instead opting for a much more down-to-earth approach. 

Unlike most Marvel (and DC, for that matter) properties, this Daredevil TV show commissioned by Netflix rejects the notion that all introductions to a character have to begin at square one, and show a basic origin-story. Episode 1 begins with lawyer Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) already fighting crime in the dead of night, following a tragic childhood accident that left him permanently blind. Instead of losing all will to live, Matt chose instead to hone his skills and play with the cards he was dealt, training his senses to literal super-human capacity. When he's not incapacitating bad guys, Murdock works alongside long-time friend Foggy Nelson (Elden Henson), bringing down criminals in a more 'traditional' sense. After all, justice is blind. 

As the series progresses, we get to see Matt's gradual progression as a vigilante. After a few initial beatings, he's quickly able to dispatch entire rooms of foes in quick succession, usually only suffering a few blows of his own. A sequence at the end of the second episode shows just how perfectly some of this action is captured, with a fight scene that seems uncannily reminiscent of the iconic 'Corridor Fight' in Korean classic Oldboy - complete with a single, unbroken tracking shot. There's several moments like this littered throughout Daredevil: amazing set-pieces shown in a style that rivals a lot of what you'd see at a cinema. 

But how could we have a superhero without an equally iconic villain? Like the choice to call 'Daredevil' Matt Murdock throughout the series, the infamous 'Kingpin' is referred to throughout this 13-episode drama by his real name: Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio). Fisk isn't your typical villain, in that he actually possesses an human personality, along with real, complex emotions. Marvel could have quite easily made him nothing more than a sinister, lumbering foe for Matt to go up against, but we're instead gradually introduced to Fisk through hushed conversations and hesitant glances. Hell, initially he's only referred to as "my employer"; leaving you wondering in desperation as to what a man must be like to strike so much fear into the hearts of his enemies. Once we do get to meet the man himself, the character certainly isn't squandered. Fisk is just as complex a man as our hero Matt, and his awkward nature is rivalled only by his furious temper and scarily violent tendencies. Once you've seen a man decapitate somebody with a car door, it's hard to consider him human, and yet Daredevil somehow accomplishes this. Of course, you'd never cheer for him, but you begin to develop a certain empathy towards Fisk's troubled mind, and - though it sounds crazy - you find yourself understanding some of his brutal outbursts. It's definitely not a show for the faint of heart, but Daredevil's shocking violence doesn't seem out of place in such a bleak, crumbling city. 

Wilson Fisk (Vincent D'Onofrio)

In fact, the only real complaint I'd have with the entire series would be the fact it strives to tell such a grounded, believable story, and yet Matt's powers appear so unbelievably...well, super. The show does a great job of conveying the importance of sound to somebody in Matt's position, but some of the things he manages to pull off are far beyond the realm of possibility. Sure, you're able to suspend your disbelief for the most part, but they certainly stretch that to the absolute breaking point. However, there's more than a few occasions that even the scales a little and see Matt taking a beating far greater than what he gives, so I'll forgive this minor problem. 


Verdict
If Daredevil proves anything, it's that Marvel have managed to conquer the small screen just as well as they have the large. Each episode tells a relatively self-contained story, and yet there's always a main-plot which flows effortlessly through everything. On occasion, there'll be multiple events happening simultaneously, but the show manages to mould them into one, cohesive sculpture. Even if you wouldn't consider yourself an avid comic-book fan, this is more than worth your time. And with a second season just announced, now's definitely the time to get on board. 

"I'm not seeking forgiveness for what I've done, Father.

I'm seeking forgiveness for what I'm about to do."