Tonight's Movie: Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015) was the last Marvel film I needed to watch before I could go see this weekend's brand-new blockbuster CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016).

I've been squeezing AGE OF ULTRON in during a busy week, watching 20 minutes or so at a time as I have a few minutes; it's not an ideal way to watch a movie, but it got the job done!

I wasn't expecting a great deal as this entry seemed less popular than many of the movies, and I'd found the last film I watched, THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), to be about the weakest in the series.

I'm happy to say that I really liked AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON -- a lot. Maybe I'm just not the typical Marvel fan, because the frequently criticized IRON MAN 2 (2010) was also one of my favorites. AGE OF ULTRON had everything I could want in a Marvel film, with lots of quality time with characters who have come to feel like old friends.

As the movie begins, the Avengers have united in a quest to retrieve evil Loki's sceptre for his brother Thor (Chris Hemsworth); the team includes Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), Natasha Romanoff/The Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie).

Right off the bat there's some wonderful humor, with Captain America admonishing Iron Man "Language!" when Tony curses in the middle of the action; Steve never hears the end of it. When Thor grabs Tony in a rage, Tony exclaims "Use your words!" The entire movie is filled with delightful banter and repartee. ("It's been a long day. Like, Eugene O'Neill long," or "The city is flying and we're fighting an army of robots. And I have a bow and arrow. Nothing makes sense.")

Nothing in the initial mission goes quite as planned, due in part to the interference of a pair of super-powered twins, Wanda/The Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen) and Pietro/Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), but the sceptre is retrieved, and Tony and Bruce use it to start building a computer which Tony thinks could help protect the world from a future alien invasion. However, the computer powers a robot which has a mind of its own -- and it doesn't like the Avengers. It considers them killers and plans to eradicate them...and maybe earth too.

Needless to say, the Avengers are going to have to work overtime to solve this one. Meanwhile, simmering anger over Tony and Bruce's secretive, dangerous project seems to help lay the groundwork for CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR.

It's a movie filled with many great moments, such as a marvelously staged battle when the villain reveals himself at Avengers HQ; I loved Natasha grabbing a gun conveniently strapped to the underside of a table. The Avengers don't miss a trick, even (especially?) on their home turf.

There's a priceless scene where the various Avengers try to prove themselves worthy enough to pick up Thor's hammer; Thor's eyes widen with alarm when Captain America actually briefly wobbles the Asgardian equivalent of the Sword in the Stone. That sets up an even bigger surprise at a key moment late in the movie.

Master archer Hawkeye has been a favorite since the series began, and I was delighted with his expanded role in AGE OF ULTRON. He has a marvelous back story which comes out of nowhere but is absolutely charming. No wonder I love these movies.

At various points in the film old friends such as Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders), Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), Heimdall (Idris Elba), Dr. Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard), and Rhodey (Don Cheadle) show up, along with the usual cameo by Marvel creator Stan Lee, which is especially funny. Paul Bettany, who has voiced Tony's computer Jarvis throughout the films, has a physical role, as Jarvis is transplanted into a robot called Vision.

Some have criticized the motivations of the movie's villain, but I didn't spend much time dwelling on it. In the first place, I assumed that the same evil which lurks in the real world can infect artificial intelligence, and in the second place, to a certain extent a Marvel villain is the movie's MacGuffin -- the excuse to hang out with the Avengers.

The Marvel films are the very best kind of movie comfort food, with roots which go back to series of decades ago such as Dr. Kildare or Boston Blackie. The films have built a world with recurring characters, layered relationships, and running jokes which make a Marvel film feel like spending time with old friends. They just happen to do crazy things like turn into a green monster or occasionally fly off to another world...

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON is a long but engrossing 141 minutes. It was written and directed by Joss Whedon. It was filmed by Ben Davis.

Parental Advisory: AVENGERS: THE AGE OF ULTRON is rated PG-13 for "intense sequences of sci-fi action, violence and destruction, and for some suggestive comments." Like the other Marvel films, it's relatively family friendly. The suggestive jokes will fly over children's heads.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON is available in multiple formats including Blu-ray and DVD.

Coming tomorrow: CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR!

Previous Marvel reviews: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), and ANT-MAN (2015).

Tonight's Movie: Avengers: Endgame (2019)

And so, at last, we come to the conclusion of this era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019), which I saw yesterday, was a remarkable capstone to the 20 Marvel films previously reviewed here since July 2015. (The total is upped to 21 previous reviews if TV's AGENT CARTER is included.) I can't imagine a better way to have ended the series.

This review will necessarily be relatively brief and detail free so that, as the Twitter hashtag says, I #DontSpoiltheEndgame.

When last we saw our heroes in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018), arch villain Thanos (Josh Brolin) had just erased half of humankind with what is now called "The Snap." I wrote of INFINITY WAR: "How I ultimately feel about this film will have quite a bit to do with my reaction to Part 2 when it's released in May 2019. It's really all one big story, and it's far from over at this juncture."

The story is now completed, and I am more than satisfied. In rather a remarkable feat, the movie simultaneously wraps up not just INFINITY WAR but ideas lingering from past films. I was particularly grateful for the exquisite last scene; Marvel really did right by its fans.

The movie is simultaneously elegiac and funny, successfully straddling a variety of tones; it has a wealth of quotable lines which I suspect are already entering the popular culture lexicon. It allows for moments both big and small, with quiet, intimate scenes between closely connected characters, as well as epic sequences certain to gladden the heart of any Marvel fan. It's probably the fastest 181 minutes I'll ever spend in a movie theater, and it's very possible I'll go back and do it all over again, there is so much to take in and appreciate about this film.

Pretty much everyone who's anyone in the MCU is in this film, and the lengthy closing credits feel like a curtain call for the actors who've participated in the series over the past decade, with special credits tributes to the original six Avengers, Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Captain America (Chris Evans), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner). Each of these six actors shines in this film -- and who could have foreseen when watching the original THOR (2011) the extent to which the god of Thunder would become such hilarious comic relief?

I agree with Leonard Maltin, who wrote, "It is escapist entertainment of a very high order, and an achievement that has no true precedent in the history of motion pictures. No series...from Tarzan to James Bond, has ever attempted to incorporate so many moving parts in one conclusive film."

AVENGERS: ENDGAME was directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo and filmed by Trent Opaloch. The score was by Alan Silvestri.

Parental Advisory: This film is rated PG-13. As with most Marvel films, the violence is of the non-gory variety, though there are moments which could potentially upset young children. There is also some limited yet notable swearing. The many positive themes include love of family and friends, the value of kindness to others, teamwork, and placing others above one's own priorities.

I'm so glad I was persuaded to begin watching the Marvel films nearly four years ago, as they have given me so many hours of movie pleasure, and I particularly appreciate that the filmmakers honored their viewers by working hard to maintain the quality to the very end, and then some. Watching AVENGERS: ENDGAME felt a bit like unwrapping the biggest present on Christmas morning, and it turned out to be exactly what I wanted.

Previous Marvel reviews: IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), ANT-MAN (2015), AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017), SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017), THOR: RAGNAROK (2017), BLACK PANTHER (2018), AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018), ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018), and CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019).

Update: My review of the coda to AVENGERS: ENDGAME, SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019).

Tonight's Movie: Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

So that happened...that being seeing the long-awaited -- and rather unsettling -- AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018).

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR unites virtually every character from the Marvel Cinematic Universe against the most fearsome villain of all, Thanos (Josh Brolin). Thanos is a genocidal maniac who also happens to be the father of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), one of the Guardians of the Galaxy. He's busy collecting Infinity Stones, which to this point in the series have acted rather like Hitchcock's MacGuffins, propelling the stories forward without much direct impact.

However, if all the Infinity Stones are held by one person, he'll have unlimited power...and some of the last stones Thanos needs are in the hands of Loki (Tom Hiddleston), Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch), and Vision (Paul Bettany). Needless to say, Thanos is coming after them.

I don't want to delve too deeply into the plot as to do so would necessarily be spoilerish. Let's just say some have called this the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) of Marvel films, and they wouldn't be wrong, though I didn't find myself terribly upset by the ending, as I don't believe it's possible things will stand as they were left. Vague enough?

In terms of the movie's execution, it's hard to imagine the filmmakers doing a better job utilizing what seems like one of the biggest casts of "A" names ever. Every single superhero has his moments to shine; with so much story and so many characters, the film necessarily runs two hours and 40 minutes, yet it doesn't feel unduly long.

There's great pleasure to be found in Thor (Chris Hemsworth) joining forces with Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Groot (Vin Diesel), Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) trading snark with Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), and the intellectual Doctor Strange interacting with the teenage Spider-Man (Tom Holland). And is there anything more delightful than the earnest response of Captain America (Chris Evans) to "I am Groot"?

Elizabeth Olsen particularly has moments to shine in an emotional performance as the Scarlet Witch. Also on hand are the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansen), Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), War Machine (Don Cheadle), Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Heimdall (Idris Elba), Shuri (Letitia Wright), Okoye (Danai Gurira), Nebula (Karen Gillan), Drax (Dave Bautista), Bucky (Sebastian Stan), Wong (Benedict Wong), and more. We even get a scene with Tony and Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow) early on.

That said, there are two key Avengers missing this go-round, who ostensibly will show up to help in Part 2. Fellow fans are probably aware of who they are or can figure out their identities by process of elimination, noticing who's not mentioned in this review.

There's quite a bit of the trademark Avengers humor but in the end it's an intense story which can be a bit of a tough watch. One definitely leaves the theater in a somber mood. How I ultimately feel about this film will have quite a bit to do with my reaction to Part 2 when it's released in May 2019. It's really all one big story, and it's far from over at this juncture. I'm hoping for a rousing RETURN OF THE JEDI (1983) feel to Part 2. (Update: The release of Part 2, now titled AVENGERS: ENDGAME, has been moved up to April 26, 2019.)

As always with Marvel films, stay to the very, very end of the movie. There's only one credits sequence tag, but it's a doozy which is especially rewarding for longtime Marvel fans.

Speaking of fans, newcomers can jump into the Marvel series with any number of the various prior movies and quickly get up to speed, as I did. That said, this film, more than any other, is where all Marvel roads meet and is emphatically not the point at which to begin watching the movies.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR was directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. It was filmed by Trent Opaloch. The musical score was by Alan Silvestri.

Parental Advisory: This film is rated PG-13. As Marvel films go, it's on the more disturbing end of things; the violence isn't particularly graphic but much suffering is involved. On the positive side, it hardly needs to be said that there are countless exhibitions of bravery, teamwork, and, yes, love among our heroes.

A trailer is here.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR opened to strong reviews. In a 3-1/2 star review at USA Today Brian Truitt calls the film "a full-fledged Shakespearean tragedy" and also writes that it's "a glorious, multilayered and clever comic-book adventure with loads of emotional stakes...nobody gets left behind in the storytelling." Leonard Maltin called it "an overpowering experience" and adds "Marvel has lived up to its reputation for daring its filmmakers to break boundaries, and trusting its audience to go along for the ride."

Previous Marvel reviews: IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), ANT-MAN (2015), AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017), SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017), THOR: RAGNAROK (2017), and BLACK PANTHER (2018).

Coming from Marvel this summer: ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018).

Update: Here is my review of AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019).

Tonight's Movie: The Avengers (2012)

It's been nearly two weeks since my last Marvel film, THOR (2011), so time for another one! And what a movie it was: Joss Whedon's superlative THE AVENGERS (2012).

Whedon wrote and directed THE AVENGERS, which brings together all of the Marvel superheroes in the culmination of the first cycle of Marvel films. To say that it works well is an understatement. Whedon manages to simultaneously tell a big, intricate yet coherent story, give many characters individual moments to shine, and keep the movie going at such a pace that it was a surprise to realize it had run 143 minutes.

As the movie opens, the nasty Nordic god Loki (Tom Hiddleston), last seen falling into a black abyss in THOR, turns out to be alive (but of course). It's a long story, but Loki invades a SHIELD station and uses his magical powers to corrupt Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) and Dr. Selvig (Stellan Skarsgard) and steal the Tesseract -- watch the movie to find out what it is -- with the enslavement of mankind soon to follow.

Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), the head of SHIELD, brings together a disparate team to fight Loki and his army from outer space: Captain America (Chris Evans), Tony Stark aka Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Dr. Bruce Banner aka the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and Natasha Romanoff aka the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson).

Soon Thor (Chris Hemsworth) joins in the battle, having finally found his way back to earth from Asgard, anxious to have it out with his evil adopted brother Loki. And of course, SHIELD agents Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg) and Maria Hill (Cobie Smulders) are on the team as well.

If it all sounds like Greek, it doesn't really matter. It's just a whole lot of fun! Think of the Tesseract as sort of the initial MacGuffin which causes the movie to happen -- although unlike one of Hitchcock's devices, the Tesseract actually does something. It's a great ride as a group of high-powered characters interact, challenge one another, and strut their stuff fighting for truth, justice, and the American way. (Oops, wrong superhero...)

I've mentioned before that the Marvel films strike me as a comic book soap opera of sorts, with a large recurring cast and no one ever really dying. (Forget Loki...Agent Coulson, I'm looking at you!) It struck me tonight that THE AVENGERS is the "Shady Deal at Sunny Acres" of the Marvel films...fans of the classic TV series MAVERICK will get the reference. Correspondingly, I prefer the much more spot-on UK title for the movie, AVENGERS ASSEMBLE.

All of the actors are excellent, and I have particular fondness for Thor and the Black Widow, but watching THE AVENGERS I was struck that it's really Robert Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark who's the glue which holds the movie together. In the midst of somewhat more predictable characters, whether the upright Captain America or the impressively godlike Thor, it's the quick-thinking, fast-talking Tony who mixes things up and makes things happen, including confounding Loki with his verbal sparring. One thing you can say about Tony, he is never, ever at a loss for words.

As played by Downey, Tony is a completely unique character, on the obnoxious side, yet he rather earns the right. Downey completely sells Tony as a cynical genius with a heart hiding under his sarcastic exterior, especially when it comes to Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow).

Tony has many of the best lines in a very well-written movie, whether it's reacting to Pepper's friendly greeting to Phil Coulson ("His first name is Agent!") or interrupting a dramatic scene between Thor and Loki with a jibe about them indulging in "Shakespeare in the park."

When arguing with Captain America, who asks what Tony is without his suit, Tony unhesitatingly responds "Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" before telling Captain America "Everything special about you came out of a bottle!" Ouch. Of course, Tony admits of himself "I'm volatile, self-obsessed, and don't play well with others."

I think my favorite line, though, was when Nick Fury said "I'd like to know how Loki used it to turn two of the sharpest men I know into his personal flying monkeys." The puzzled Thor queries "Monkeys? I do not understand," and Captain America, who was a young man when THE WIZARD OF OZ came out, proudly says "I do! I understood that reference."

There's also the moment Captain says, "At this point, I doubt anything would surprise me," and Nick says, "Ten bucks says you're wrong." Later, in a perfectly timed moment, Captain America silently pulls out his wallet and hands Fury $10.

I could go on as the script is full of gems, and beyond the good dialogue the story itself is very well balanced between moments large and small. They even took a minute to assure Thor that his true love Jane (Natalie Portman) is safely out of harm's way, being protected by SHIELD. There are some great visuals, especially SHIELD's aircraft carrier turned invisible spaceship. And the final tag, showing what tired superheroes do after saving the world...priceless.

As regular readers know, I watch "recent" movies relatively infrequently. What a treat it's been to discover this very entertaining series, which is almost completely lacking in many of the things I dislike about newer movies, whether it's gore, foul language, or explicit love scenes. Once in a while they do make 'em like they used to...well, except for the CGI! Like the rest of the series, THE AVENGERS is a movie I anticipate which will offer much enjoyment on repeat viewings.

THE AVENGERS was filmed by Seamus McGarvey.

Parental advisory: THE AVENGERS is rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence. As with all the Marvel films, there are lots of battles but almost zero blood.

THE AVENGERS is available in a Blu-ray/DVD combo set, on DVD, or via Amazon streaming. The trailer is at IMDb.

Previous Marvel reviews: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), THOR (2011), AGENT CARTER (2015), and ANT-MAN (2015).

Tonight's Movie: Captain America: Civil War (2016)

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), the latest installment in the Marvel superhero franchise, is an excellent, action-packed film which Marvel fans are sure to love.

I admit I was rather dubious about the concept, which finds our friends the Avengers lining up on either Team Iron Man or Team Captain America. The Avengers fighting each other? It sounded like a real downer.

Indeed, the story is more dramatically hefty than the typical Marvel film, and the comedy -- while still very present -- is more muted. However, CIVIL WAR spins an engrossing, well-told tale. It really works.

The United States and world leaders, while appreciating the debt they owe to the Avengers, are concerned about the collateral damage which occurs each time the team saves the world, not to mention the fact that a small group with superpowers is pretty much doing whatever they want. The Avengers are asked to sign the "Sokovia Accords," putting themselves under the control of the United Nations.

Tony Stark/Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), still smarting from the unforeseen damage inflicted by the computer he created in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), thinks signing the agreement is a good idea.

Tony is backed by his old friend, military man Rhodey/War Machine (Don Cheadle) and his robot creation Vision (Paul Bettany), with newcomers T'Challa/Black Panther (Chadwick Boseman) and Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) also allying themselves with Iron Man.

The pragmatic Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) leans in Tony's direction, though she also empathizes with Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), who adamantly disagrees with the Avengers placing themselves under UN control. Natasha also must deal with the fact that her close friend Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) is firmly in Captain America's corner.

While Tony believes the group must accept limitations on their power, the libertarian Steve says "I know we're not perfect, but the safest hands are still our own." Steve expresses concern that the Avengers might be sent where they don't want to go, or might not be sent where they're needed.

Steve is joined not only by Hawkeye but by his old friend Sam Wilson/Falcon (Anthony Mackie), Wanda Maximoff/the Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen), and Scott Lang/Ant-Man (Paul Rudd).

The group is further fractured by Steve's allegiance to his childhood friend Bucky (Sebastian Stan), aka THE WINTER SOLDIER, an otherwise nice guy who has done unspeakably terrible things when his mind was controlled by Hydra.

The conflict leads to a true clash of the titans, in which the Avengers on each side of the issue sincerely believe they're right. The debate about liberty versus government control is part of what gives the film some real substance along with the superhero fun. This is a film with so many good components, equally thought-provoking and entertaining, that it begs repeat viewing.

The superhero rumble at the airport, blending the serious with the sublimely funny, is sure to go down as one of the all-time great set pieces in the Marvel franchise. Everyone wants to have their way while trying not to inflict permanent damage on their erstwhile friends. Whether it's Hawkeye and Black Widow pausing in mid-fight to ask if they're still friends, a surprising new ability demonstrated by Ant-Man, or a deliciously amusing reference by the new Spider-Man to that "really old" movie THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980), it's a scene which is sure to be enjoyed countless times in the future.

And did I mention the stunt work? Wow.

The superb cast, which includes multiple past Oscar nominees and two past Oscar winners, all deliver the goods. Downey, as the brilliant but humbled Tony, tones down the sarcasm and evinces real pain on more than one occasion; he's impacted by a shocking story reveal late in the film.

Evans continues to be a sincere, honorable Captain America, loved by all even when they're battling him. There's a reason he alone was able to jiggle Thor's hammer in AGE OF ULTRON. (Speaking of Chris Hemsworth's Thor, he must have been in Asgard when all this was going down. Mark Ruffalo's Bruce Banner/The Incredible Hulk is also AWOL from this film.)

A favorite continues to be Jeremy Renner as the sarcastic Hawkeye, whose secret life -- revealed in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON -- provides the source of a couple of good jokes.

I also really like the new additions of Vision and the Scarlet Witch. Bettany, playing the human-like robot Vision who evolved from Tony Stark's computer Jarvis, is endearingly like the original Mr. Jarvis (James D'Arcy) of the AGENT CARTER (2015) series -- even cooking for Wanda to cheer her. Olsen is compelling as the Scarlet Witch; having lost her twin brother and seen -- even caused -- much violence, she has a somewhat fragile demeanor which is balanced by a real strength of character and determination to be on the side of right. I also like Olsen's elegant physical style working her magic.

Also turning up again in this entry are Emily Van Camp as Sharon Carter, William Hurt as Thaddeus Ross, and John Slattery in flashback footage as Howard Stark, with Hope Davis debuting as Tony's mother, Maria Stark. Marisa Tomei is introduced as Peter Parker's Aunt May.

Some critics have complained that the movie's fault is that it doesn't stand alone as a self-contained story. For me, that's the beauty of the series, that the situations and character development flow naturally from one film to the next. Moments in the film such as a funeral, which would be meaningless to a new Marvel viewer, resonate strongly for someone who's watched everything.

Like all good comic books or serials, Marvel fans know the history and want to know what's coming next. At the same time, it's all very accessible. I didn't start watching Marvel films until last summer, and I had no trouble at all getting up to speed; you simply have to dive in. In fact, in addition to seeing all the movies and watching both the AGENT CARTER and AGENTS OF SHIELD TV series, my interest has evolved to the point where I've been reading MOCKINGBIRD, AGENTS OF SHIELD, and BLACK WIDOW comics on my iPad and Kindle Fire.

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR was directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo. The cinematography was by Trent Opaloch. It runs 146 minutes.

Parental Advisory: Like the other Marvel movies, CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR is rated PG-13. It is violent but fairly bloodless, with a very occasional swear word.

A side note, the sound levels in the theater where we saw the film were a problem. My husband and I think because the action scenes were so loud, the theater didn't want to have the sound volume set too high. Consequently, the many very quiet, intense dialogue scenes were often muffled and hard to understand. (I say this as someone who watched 15 movies in multiple theaters last weekend without any problem.) I'm going to have to watch CIVIL WAR again as soon as it comes out on DVD to pick up on the nuances I missed. I'm curious whether this will be an issue for those who see it in other theaters.

Previous Marvel reviews: CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), ANT-MAN (2015), and AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015).

Coming this fall from Marvel: Benedict Cumberbatch as DOCTOR STRANGE (2016).

Tonight's Movie: Captain Marvel (2019)

The long-awaited origin film CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) has just opened. It's the 20th film I've reviewed from the Marvel Cinematic Universe since seeing my first Marvel film, CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), in July 2015.

I was a bit skeptical going into this one as the trailer didn't wow me, but having been pleasantly surprised by other Marvel films I was unsure about, DOCTOR STRANGE (2016) and THOR: RAGNAROK (2017), I felt chances were good I'd end up liking the final film, and that did prove to be the case. It's a substantive movie with a solid storyline, good characters, a fun nostalgic '90s vibe, and more.

For Marvel fans, CAPTAIN MARVEL also brings the series full circle, with young Nick Fury (a computer "de-aged" Samuel L. Jackson) beginning "The Avengers Project." A closing tag scene building on the final scenes of AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018) will leave viewers breathless with anticipation to see next month's AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019). About that pager message Fury was sending just before he dissolved...

CAPTAIN MARVEL begins in satisfying fashion with the usual Marvel opening logo sequence changed to pay tribute to the late Stan Lee, including clips of his cameos in the various films. It concludes with a card thanking Stan, which drew audience applause at the screening I attended. It was a perfect and quite moving start to the film. Lee also has his usual funny cameo scene later in the film.

Brie Larson stars as a woman we initially know as Vers, a woman with no memory of her past who has trained as a Kree warrior, mentored by Yon-Rogg (Jude Law). A mission gone bad against the Kree enemies, the shape-shifting Skrulls, results in Vers crashing to Earth in the 1990s, straight through the roof of a Blockbuster Video store.

Vers quickly meets (relatively) young Shield agents Nick Fury and Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg, who like Jackson is "de-aged" thanks to special effects). Fury and Coulson quickly realize this woman is the real deal, someone from outer space.

However, that's only partly true. Vers is plagued with strange dreams, and she gradually realizes that she's actually an American fighter pilot, Carol Danvers. More surprises await, including who is really good and bad among the Kree and the Skrulls.

As Carol works to uncover her true past and deal with the fallout from the Kree-Skrull conflict, she's aided by an old friend, fellow pilot Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), and a most remarkable kitty-cat named Goose, who provides some truly funny and surprising moments.

(Side note: Curiously, the MCU now has three separate characters named Maria, the others being Tony Stark's mother Maria, played by Hope Davis, and Nick Fury's right-hand woman at Shield, Maria Hill, portrayed by Cobie Smulders.)

Oscar-winning actress Larson is one of several past Oscar winners or nominees who star in the Marvel series. Some reviewers have complained that Larson is too bland in the role, not giving enough insight into who Carol really is, and honestly that was also a concern I had based on the trailer. But here's the thing: Carol doesn't know who she is, other than being calm and competent enough to deal with the mental battles raging inside and the physical battles of the world around her.

When late in the film Carol suddenly has an insight which allows her to fully come into her powers, unifying her two different pasts, it's a satisfying moment of real joy and discovery. The absolute confidence she then feels as she deals with invading forces is quite a powerful moment, culminating in her final scene with Yon-Rogg, which is blissfully perfect because it's so unexpected.

I sense that AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019) will show us a more lively, fully rounded Carol, who knows who she is and what she can do. We shall soon see.

The film's many pleasures also include a terrific '90s nostalgia vibe; it's a little weird to me that we're already nostalgic for the '90s (!), but the use of now-defunct stores such as Blockbuster and Radio Shack is wonderful. A lunchbox from a hit nostalgia comedy popular in the '70s and '80s also plays a significant role.

The computer "de-aging," which was also used to portray Michael Douglas's Hank Pym as a younger man in ANT-MAN (2015), is a bit weird, giving Jackson and Gregg a bit of a "plastic" look -- I guess it's the equivalent of computerized plastic surgery! -- but at the same time it works pretty well as a tool enabling the filmmakers to tell the story.

Leonard Maltin hasn't reviewed the film at his site yet, but in a video interview he said, "The core of this movie, the heart of this movie, is that you can do anything, and the power is in you...It will have a global impact."

Additional reviews from critics I enjoy reading: Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times found the film "hugely entertaining," while Brian Truitt of USA Today terms the film "a blast."

CAPTAIN MARVEL was directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck. It was filmed by filmed by Ben Davis. The running time is a well-paced 124 minutes.

The supporting cast includes Annette Bening, Ben Mendelsohn (reviewed here in DARKEST HOUR and ROGUE ONE), Gemma Chan (CRAZY RICH ASIANS), Lee Pace (MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY), and Akira Akbar.

Just a few weeks from now the last decade of Marvel films will build to its climax with the release of AVENGERS: ENDGAME. Between the hints in this film and the terrific Super Bowl trailer I'm very excited to see it. Later in the year SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019) looks great too.

I really appreciate Marvel producer Kevin Feige and all he's done to build the interconnected world of the MCU while maintaining such high quality, a real feat given how many films have been made. If anything the series just gets better and better, reflected by the Best Picture nomination for last year's BLACK PANTHER (2018).

Parental Advisory: This film is rated PG-13. Like all Marvel films, it has non-gory cartoon-style violence. Lots of battles, but nothing really disturbing. Like ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018) I found it closer to a straight PG film.

Previous Marvel reviews: IRON MAN (2008), IRON MAN 2 (2010), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011), THOR (2011), THE AVENGERS (2012), IRON MAN 3 (2013), THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013), CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014), AGENT CARTER (2015), ANT-MAN (2015), AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015), CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016), DOCTOR STRANGE (2016), GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2 (2017), SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017), THOR: RAGNAROK (2017), BLACK PANTHER (2018), AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR (2018), and ANT-MAN AND THE WASP (2018).

Update: Here are reviews of AVENGERS: ENDGAME (2019) and SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME (2019).