Captain Marvel

Talk about teaching to the test. This flick seems like it was generated specifically to be a Bechdel-proof exercise in superhero storytelling. That's not to say it's really all that different from other entries in the genre; there's a weird-origin setup, plenty of visual razzle-dazzle, the typical climax--heavy on spectacle while somewhat light on thoughtfulness--plus a sprinkling of oddly British aliens, along with multiple sequel setups. Some of this stuff comes out of chronological order, which comes across as less narrative creativity and more jumbled mess. On the other hand, there is some satisfying interplay between Alison Brie and Samuel Jackson, and Brie is perfectly easy on the eyes, which helps make watching this movie relatively effortless. I'm not sure this one was particularly necessary, other than to check off a diversity form box, but it's not especially burdensome either. You can kiss this girl, and you'll probably like it; I'm just not sure you'll fall in love.

(500) Days of Summer

The biggest star in this movie is neither Joseph Gordon-Levitt nor Zooey Deschanel--it's honesty, perhaps to a fault. So much of what's in here rings true, regarding romantic relationships (as far as I would know), that this flick sticks out like a sore thumb in the rom-com landscape. You can make minor quibbles about certain aspects of the story--people that young generally don't like music that old; one suspects the source material could have been updated--but this story, including its denouement, feels right; this really is how it goes in the world. Given cinema's habit of selling the fantasy, the vision presented here actually comes across as refreshing.

Much Ado About Nothing (2012)

There’s a hoot to be had here, to be sure, if you’re a Joss Whedon fan from way back. And yet, there’s also the undeniable brilliance of Shakespeare at work in this piece, showing yet again that the genius shines through no matter how much any producer or director or cast seeks to cloak the bard’s work in his/her/their own personal style. Shakespeare wrote for the ages, and the power of both his words and his sense of story takes what might have been one Hollywood clique’s mere vanity project and elevates it into a truly delightful experience. Hey--how's that for some nonny nonny?

The Avengers

Mmm'okay. I guess. So this is what everyone was pissing themselves over last year? Sure, there are likable characters here--Captain Steve Rogers is an emblematic, admirable hero, plus there's that ever-reliable ton of fun, Tony Stark--but this film has too many "star" players to allow for anything like real character and/or storyline development. Plus all the pissy conflict among the team members--in the face of an immediate, known, deadly threat, no less--rings false. And then the climactic battle sequence is just plain dumb: an orgy of mindless destruction at the hands (claws?) of pan-dimensional but apparently mentally retarded aliens, who seemingly just show up without any particular battle plan, and are beaten back by a mere six beings (albeit superior or greatly equipped uber-beings). This is what stands as today's greatness? Joss, you'd better do WAY better with the next one, or you may wind up being known as the guy who queered the entire deal for everyone.

Thor

I heard this film being trashed so vigorously that I was fully prepared to just watch and appreciate it for camp value alone. Imagine my surprise when I took a look and found this movie wasn't all that bad. In fact, I kind of dug it. The story holds together reasonably well, though some of the villain's plotting is unnecessarily complicated. But the visuals are fine, the look and feel are somewhat different from other comic book movies, and the cast has plenty of fun with it. So what's the problem? Nothing you can't handle, I say.