age of ultron | The Tea Cerebrations

I watched Marvel’s latest Ant-Man on the first day first show of its release in India. Despite the highly positive opinions that it managed from the critics in North America as well as the United States audience, it seems to create a lesser impact here. There were only seven people to watch that movie when I watched it here and most of them actually arrived late. It is quite unusual for a superhero movie, and I would say that it never really came close to be accepted as a superhero movie here. Only those posters featuring Iron Man Armour, Thor’s Hammer and Captain America’s Shield seems to have created any interest among the common people.

Ant-Man will have a big struggle here. It seems that the movie is going to be changed right after the weekend or reduced to just a show as far as the common theatres are concerned. It will run better at the multiplexes, but even there, Minions, Inside Out and Baahubali have managed to score over this one. Here, I am going with the general audience, and I would say that it is not even close to being one of the top movies from Marvel, and it is a superhero who is not really there being the right part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I am going to share my favourites from Marvel on this occasion.

5. Thor (2011)
The man or rather the immortal with the hammer always had immense possibilities. With Thor: Ragnarok coming up in 2017, one has to remember that the franchise has been using the possibilities very well. The combination of myths and futuristic technology has worked really well for this one, and the speciality of the first movie is that it is more emotionally effective, and has a strong message. Along with talking about the worth attained by sacrifice, and with the assertion that where one is born is not the final decision maker, Thor makes an interesting point which is very much valid in a place where too many things are hereditary and reservations are based on caste and religion. Then there is Natalie Portman, and her presence makes it work even better, and you know what Loki can do.

4. Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Developing further from its predecessor, Thor: The Dark World is just a little ahead of the first movie featuring another version of the Norse God. Malekith the Accursed and his Dark Elves are a fantastic group of villains who mix dark magic and technology in such a way that they create a huge impact. Loki remains a favourite character, and the final battle is a treat to watch, just like the darker parts of the world. Visually more stunning than its predecessor, what this world comes with is a good mixture of things. Thor movies always have a special feeling, as it is so close to the myths. This one has already made sure that there will be something bigger in store for the third movie of the series, especially if you think about the meaning of the title there – it is something to watch out for.

3. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Successfully establishing its ideological power, Captain America: The First Avenger thrives on its messages of sacrifice and duty. This movie made Captain America my favourite Avenger and also the most interesting character from Marvel. The characterization of Captain America takes the hero model to another level and makes all other superheroes just too selfish and not ready to make the right stand. From the extremities of weaknesses, Captain America is established and this selection is based on goodness and morality rather than anything else. It also makes sure that he remains more humane than any other superhero. Well, he might be the most impossible character. Red Skull is an interesting villain here too.

2. Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
The fans of the original Avengers couldn’t really take this one as this was smarter. It is the only reason why this had less collection at box-office, but still there this one did collect huge. Even the critics have the first movie more, but that is more because they were too addicted to the predecessor that they couldn’t come out of it and also failed to understand Age of Ultron which had a much better idea, message and action sequences. The addition of two new superheroes was actually a very nice boost here, and Scarlet Witch is always a joy to watch. This movie actually has more than what instantly meets the eye, and it deserved to be the top grossing movie of the year, but strange nostalgia got Jurassic World to a higher level and emotions made Fast and Furious 7 bigger than what it really is.

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Among the movies from Marvel, I consider this to be the most brilliant one. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is not just a superhero movie, but a thriller with some fine ideological support. The plot is smart and intelligent, and the presence of a brain never really hurts even though visuals are those most cared about in the superhero movies. Well, Captain America has always been more of a supersoldier than a superhero, and so this nicely develops into an interesting plot. There is also that seriousness maintained, which Ant-Man could never manage, and unlike the way Iron Man series has been going, this one doesn’t go the predictable or repetitive way either. An intelligent superhero will only do good to the franchise.