Quantumania: Not as Fun as the First Two Ant-Man Films

 

Ant-Man's back to his own franchise for the third time. Photo courtesy of Disney.

Between some stunning (and some not) visual effects and CGI, more dark tone than humor, and lack of depth for the overall story and character of Kang the Conqueror, played by Jonathan Majors, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was not a great third edition of the franchise that showed a more heroic side for Passaic-native Paul Rudd.

Kang was like a black Thanos, Darth Vader, and Loki all rolled into one, but the film didn't explain what made him a villain in the first place. There also wasn't much explanation as to how Bill Murray fit into the narrative. Compared to previous films, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym played a smaller role albeit with a little comic relief, but still came out like Han Solo in the end. Speaking of which, a lot of the landscape in the film looked like Star Wars' original trilogy from the 70s-80s. 

Michelle Pfeiffer did a good job with her stunt and grunt work when her character of Janet Van Dyne came to fight. Can't argue with a mother's warrior spirit. Kathryn Newton did a great job of encouraging freedom fighters and showing her warrior nature and genius self as Scott Lang's daughter Cassie. And Rudd, as usual, did a good job of being a superdad.

Less dark tone, less dark music, less confusing stories and character backgrounds, and less confusing multiverse stuff, and more humor and thrills are what this film needed. Just because of what happened in Avengers: Endgame, doesn't mean there has to be so much darkness and heartbreak. In conclusion, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was zany, in a good and bad way.

'Scott Pilgrim' Adds Zest to Typical Rom-Coms

 

Scott Pilgrim vs the World poster. Courtesy of Catchplay

After two months of catching up on the original (and colored) books, I finally watched Scott Pilgrim vs the World on Netflix tonight. It adds zest to the typical rom-com film by incorporating video game-style action, slapstick and visual effects and showed that even though the titular character is a slacker going nowhere, he can be better when it comes to fighting for his own self-respect and loved ones.

Based on the graphic novels by Bryan Lee O'Malley, the titular character, a Canadian slacker bass player played by Michael Cera from Superbad, Juno and The Lego Batman Movie, must fight off 7 evil ex-lovers of his current love interest, American delivery girl Ramona Flowers, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead from 10 Cloverfield Lane and Live Free or Die Hard. While trying to figure out how to defeat said evil exes, Scott must also help his lackluster rock band, which plays better music here than in the books, win a Battle of the Bands competition to get a record deal.

It was fanatical and amazing how the film combined video game and comic book-style animation and choreography with live-action performances. And as for the exes, Chris Evans and Brandon Routh's characters were far removed from their superhero performances, playing troublesome men who will beat Scott to a pulp to prove he's a nobody. And it was a dark, mature role for Mae Whitman compared to her usual children's TV stuff I've seen her in. But it was full of laughs amidst the awkwardness and cool rock music by Scott's band, Sex Bob-Omb. And phenomenal visual effects when it came to the Battle of the Bands.

I recommend reading the books (colored volumes specifically) before watching the film, and aside from not going in order with the chapters, as far as my expertise, it was very faithful to the original material. Good job to the cast and crew. Thanks for lighting up my Friday night!