Ant-Man & the Wasp: Grade, Review, Discuss Please Code Spoilers

[LJones41]

The Phase 1 movies didn't cost that much to make (except maybe Avengers), so a return of that much is very much a profit.

Okay, but "Thor" cost more than the first Iron Man movie. And "Captain America: The First Avenger" cost slightly more than the 2008 movie, as well. And both films earned a smaller profit than the latter. I don't think 2011 was a great year, profit wise, for the MCU; which is ironic for me, considering that I prefer both movies over "Iron Man".

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Anyway, I liked the movie. I think it's more childish feeling than any of the other mcu movies, that's all. No need to defend it. Most of us like DC and marvel. Nobody needs to be defensive about it.

But an extremist, defensive posture is what you get when one person declares himself the MCU's protector. Throughout time, it has been observed that when one defends something constantly and to wild extremes (including constantly attacking others for their opinion), its just revealing how weak the subject is, or the position attempting to shield it. If its truly good, it would not need 'round the clock defense.

 

[Anwar]

But an extremist, defensive posture is what you get when one person declares himself the MCU's protector. Throughout time, it has been observed that when one defends something constantly and to wild extremes (including constantly attacking others for their opinion), its just revealing how weak the subject is, or the position attempting to shield it. If its truly good, it would not need 'round the clock defense.

No, it just means after 10 years of every single MCU movie being ripped into because they dared to embrace their comic bookiness instead of selling out the way most others have, some fans just have had enough and aren't afraid repay the negativity.

 

[crookeddy]

No, it just means after 10 years of every single MCU movie being ripped into because they dared to embrace their comic bookiness instead of selling out the way most others have, some fans just have had enough and aren't afraid repay the negativity.

Almost every single MCU movie got positive reviews and word of mouth. You only think they are being ripped into because you seek out such posts and feel the need to respond to every single one of them.

 

[Anwar]

Almost every single MCU movie got positive reviews and word of mouth. You only think they are being ripped into because you seek out such posts and feel the need to respond to every single one of them.

Do you have any idea how vitriolic things were from DC fans because BvS came out? Before 2016, all they did was keep ranting about how people were morons to like anything in the MCU and how the Dark Knight was the only good CBM series and how when BvS came out it would destroy every last MCU movie past present and future...thankfully, BvS came out and most of them were deflated by reality. But not completely, because the same complaints keep getting lobbied at the MCU (not grounded enough, too much color, the villains aren't the stars of the show, too much internal conflict, etc) while anything the DCEU puts out is dismissed as "You're not smart enough to get the depth." everytime...even stuff like Suicide Squad.

At least FOX getting bought out by Disney means most of the Toxic X-Fans will soon be shut up.

 

[Turtletrekker]

At least FOX getting bought out by FOX...

That seems rather circular. Rather like these Marvel versus DC discussions...

 

[crookeddy]

Do you have any idea how vitriolic things were from DC fans because BvS came out? Before 2016, all they did was keep ranting about how people were morons to like anything in the MCU and how the Dark Knight was the only good CBM series and how when BvS came out it would destroy every last MCU movie past present and future...thankfully, BvS came out and most of them were deflated by reality. But not completely, because the same complaints keep getting lobbied at the MCU (not grounded enough, too much color, the villains aren't the stars of the show, too much internal conflict, etc) while anything the DCEU puts out is dismissed as "You're not smart enough to get the depth." everytime...even stuff like Suicide Squad.

At least FOX getting bought out by Disney means most of the Toxic X-Fans will soon be shut up.

You frequent some strange parts of the internet. Bizarro world maybe?

 

[Anwar]

You frequent some strange parts of the internet. Bizarro world maybe?

IMDB.

 

[Turtletrekker]

You frequent some strange parts of the internet. Bizarro world maybe?

IMDB.

The difference being?

 

[crookeddy]

IMDB.

There is a very good reason that those forums got shut down. It was troll City down there. Not a much higher level of discourse than YouTube comments.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

You only think they are being ripped into because you seek out such posts and feel the need to respond to every single one of them.

Exactly.

 

[The Borgified Corpse]

Spoiler: Ant-man and the Wasp

Although Bill Foster was working with Ghost, I'm glad that he never took that dive into villainy and remained a hero.

I'd guessed that about Bill Foster from the trailers. I figured there was no way you put someone of Lawrence Fishburne's stature in a movie and then underplay him so much in the trailers unless you're hiding a plot-twist. But I really liked how they kept his moral compass.

BTW, when Ghost was going into that glass recovery room of hers, my friend starting singing, "I'll be your candle on the water..."

The things that really keep it out of the A category for me are that the thug gang led by Burch(Goggins) never feel like a serious enough threat. We also never learn who they are working for at all. Is it Hydra, A.I.M, Roxxon or even Darren Cross(Yellowjacket) somehow?

I think they were freelancers willing to sell to the highest bidder.

No one complained about the concept of the Squad (getting super-criminals to work for the Government). Most complaints are due to everything else in that film.

While the concept works, the line-up seems way underpowered for the threat-level they were being deployed against. Diablo makes sense. Deadshot makes sense as the world's greatest marksman could come in handy. Killer Croc mostly seems to have been profiled onto this team just because he looks like a scary monster. Captain Boomerang doesn't do anything but drink. Harley Quinn is an 80 lb. girl with a bat who's escape risk outweighs her fighting prowess. I still love the movie though.

It would have been chilling- except for that literal rimshot. That just made it stupid. And IMO it wasn't worth sitting through the rest of the credits for. My .02.

Kinda like the ending of Thor: The Dark World. Pointless.

It's a lot easier to de-age faces you film on set than to create ones from scratch. In Cushing's case, they obviously couldn't 3D-scan his face, and even if they had new 3D scans of Fisher's face on hand, her features had changed considerably more from her 19-y.o. self than Michael Douglas' going from middle age to retirement age.

Basically this.

After watching the de-aged Pfeiffer in the opening scenes I'm up for seeing her back in the leather tights for a proper Catwoman movie. She'd make it work.

Yes, please! (And can we have Keaton back as Batman if Ben Affleck doesn't want to stick around?)

Hell, she's only the second female antagonist in twenty films (granted we were suppose to have one in Iron Man 3 but then Ike happened).

I have no idea what you're referring to.

Over thinking some of the "science" stuff raises questions and head scratches. When rolling the building around does all the furniture and stuff it it shift around? Don't buildings need things like foundations and connection to utilities? Liked the cars in the Hot Wheels steering wheel carrier.

That's what I kept wondering.

 

[Anwar]

I have no idea what you're referring to.

Maya Hansen was originally supposed to be the villain of Iron Man 3.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

Maya Hansen was originally supposed to be the villain of Iron Man 3.

Yup, but Ike Perlmutter didn't want a female villain because he didn't think toys would sell. Same reason why didn't a female superhero film such as Black Widow or any non-white superhero like Black Panther until recently.

 

[Thestral]

Saw this the other evening and really enjoyed it. I think it's great how there wasn't anything literally world-ending at stake, smaller scale but let it focus more on the family story. I really appreciated how ultimately Ghost was saved, and her primary motivation was self-preservation. So many just... really lovely moments that made me smile. Great humor, but nothing ridiculous. Really fun action, and really creative use of the growing/shrinking. Gave it an A.

 

[Gavin70]

Yes, please! (And can we have Keaton back as Batman if Ben Affleck doesn't want to stick around?)

Screw whether Ben Affleck wants to stick around or not. If getting Keaton back into the role is ever on the table, it needs to be done with no further discussion.

 

[Kytee]

I got the see this over the weekend, I enjoyed it as much as the first one. I think Ant Man is really well cast , and the marvel humor was on full display. I think the young actress who plays the daughter is really outstanding. I find many child actors can take me right out of the movie because it feels like they are just reading their lines , rather then acting the part. In this case she really nailed the role.

Over thinking some of the "science" stuff raises questions and head scratches. When rolling the building around does all the furniture and stuff it it shift around? Don't buildings need things like foundations and connection to utilities? Liked the cars in the Hot Wheels steering wheel carrier.

I agree with all of this, the hot wheels case with the cars was pretty cool ; the building required more suspension of disbelief, I think if the growing/shrinking of the building had not driven the plot in a few instances it would have drawn less scrutiny .

Loved Ghost, the actress is wonderful in Killjoys . I thought she came across as sympathetic; she had been mistreated , used and abandoned by SHIELD. Her willingness to do anything to stay alive was very human of her. Bill Foster serving as her support and her moral compass is classic comic book

looking forward to seeing more of both Ant man and the Wasp !

 

[JD]

I saw this this morning and I really enjoyed it, it was just a fun relatively small scale adventure. After the big end of the world stakes in Avengers: Infinity War, it was nice to get a smaller, more personal story.
I really enjoyed how much the story focused on family, Hank, Hope, and Janet, Scott and Cassie, and even the surrogate family of Bill and Eva. Eva was probably one of the most sympathetic villains we've gotten in a MCU movie yet. I loved that the way they dealt with her was by saving her, rather than killing her.
This was another win for Marvel when it came to the humor, it all worked and kept the movie fun, but they also allowed the movie to get serious when it needed to be.
The action was great, they really seemed to have a lot more fun with the constant size changes this time.
The returning cast members all were all great, and we got some nice additions to the cast with Michelle Pfieffer, Lawrence Fishburne, Hannah John Kamen, and Randall Park. Walter Goggins wasn't given quite a much to do as the other new characters, but he was still a pretty good villain.
I give it an A.

 

[USS Fardell]

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Spoiler

The latest film (20th) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Scott Lang (Ant-Man) has been under house arrest for his actions in Captain America: Civil War (and due to the Sokovia Accords...). As such he is stir-crazy in trying to entertain his daughter, Cassie. The scenes where he and Cassie navigate the maze were very well put together. The FBI response when he accidentally puts his foot through the fence was also well done, and helps to set up their role in the storyline, including the length of time the events would take place over.
The dream-message from Janet Van Dyne and Scott's subsequent 'roping in' to Hank and Hope's rescue mission is also well done. Sunny Birch as an understated antagonist is quite effective, as is the Ghost. The reveal of who the Ghost is, and her connection to Hank Pym, was appropriately drawn out. Having to deal with the problems caused by past decisions seems to be a major theme here. Scott's decision to help 'Cap' is just the tip of the iceburg. Most of the problems lie at Hank Pym's feet.
However, teamwork is also important. Without Luis and the other X-Cons, the situation wouldn't have been resolved with Janet van Dyne's rescue. Scott is also instrumental to that rescue, with Janet stuck in the Quantum Realm. Hank also has to 'eat humble pie' regarding his ego, that he needs help from Foster to help track down his lab. Then there is the Ghost, connecting with the other MCU storylines, her problems being not only caused by Pym's rejection of her father, but also by SHEILD.
The chases through San Francisco (and the bay) are done rather well, with resizing of vehicles (and of the lab) being used offensively. A very good film. 8.75/10.

 

[Captain Craig]

The film has found it's legs and should still hit $200m unless something changes with it's theater count. Domestic Total at $165m after the 7/22 weekend.