Earlier this year the DC Extended Universe (DCEU) was on life support until Patty Jenkins revived hope with her blockbuster hit Wonder Woman. The release date was chosen specifically to build momentum for DCEU's most pivotal installment to date, Justice League, which combines and introduces an elite army of superheroes synonymous to Marvel's The Avengers. And with DCEU figurehead Zack Snyder's unfortunate late-stage departure from the film and, coincidentally, The Avengers writer Joss Whedon's claiming of the throne, no one knew what to expect from this wildly anticipated release.
Following the death of Superman (Henry Cavill), Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) and Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) learn of an other-worldly threat with devious plans of destroying Earth. Together they recruit the help of metahumans The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) in order to combat the villain Steppenwolf (voice of Ciaran Hinds). But are they strong enough to resist the forceful army of Steppenwolf? If only Superman was still around to help.
Transitioning the formula to fit the comedic tone of the DCEU's previous effort Wonder Woman, Justice League continues with a dark-aura that's lightened by timely humor. This is reasonable to expect with long-time Marvel scribe Joss Whedon crafting the screenplay. And although the final effect is nowhere near the level of Wonder Woman, mainly due a surprisingly low amount of energy and a complete level of predictability, Justice League still manages to satisfy a bit more than previous DCEU films like Man of Steel, Dawn of Justice and Suicide Squad. Gal Gadot continues to impress and Ezra Miller also delivers a standout performance, yet Affleck and new faces Jason Momoa and Ray Fisher aren't nearly as successful. Furthermore, the film pridefully relies on a bombardment of mind-numbing visual effects that are in no way an acceptable substitute for a meaningful story or valuable character development. Justice League serves as another flat and superficial endeavor from the DCEU that won't hold up over time.
Stars: 2 stars out of 4
Grade: C+
Personally, I needed Marvel's latest inclusion, Thor:Ragnarok, to redeem its title character's overlying franchise. After 2012's The Dark World dragged the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to an all-time-low, the God of Thunder quickly transformed into one of the MCU's most uninspiring characters. And while critics and audiences alike have heaped praise onto new director Taika Waititi's first go-around with Thor, let's be clear that Ragnarok isn't nearly as impressive as you've been made to believe.
When Thor (Chris Hemsworth) returns to Asgard, he finds Loki (Tom Hiddleston) posing as Odin and learns of his father's self-imposed exile. As Thor and Loki venture to find and confront their father, Odin's first-born and demonically powerful daughter Hela (Cate Blanchett) returns to claim the throne of a vulnerable Asgard. Meanwhile, Thor and Loki find themselves trapped on a planet of outsiders where they form a special team that returns to Asgard and battles Hela in order to save their home.
To varying degrees of success, Ragnarok's campy delivery pokes fun at the formulaic approach used widely within the MCU. This hyper-exaggeration leads to a whole new level of comedic absurdity that, fairly stated, comes with a nearly equal share of hysterical hits and hokey misses. Thankfully, though, Ragnarok also incorporates a more stylish vibe, courtesy of new helmer Taika Waititi, and this refreshing overhaul to one of Marvel's least interesting Avengers brings edginess and excitement to a spin-off desperately in need of a boost. Chris Hemsworth benefits from this complete redirection of his character and he's joined by the towering talents of Cate Blanchett who illuminates a strong villainous foe to the story. And while Ragnarok's reemergence of Mark Ruffalo's the Hulk is both bold and spirited, in a gladiator-esque battle scene that's worth the price of admission all on its own, the introduction of Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie character proves a far-less compelling addition. Consequently, Ragnarok comes with its ups and downs, but the film also places Thor back on track and propels him into the spotlight as the MCU gears up towards its highly anticipated Infinity War.
Stars: 2 and a half stars out of 4
Grade: B-
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