Considering all the things that went wrong during production, Ant-Man turned out pretty well and I see generally positive comments on the interconnected web about the movie. The movie was the end of Marvel’s Phase Two and it was anti-climactic. Ant-Man certainly wasn’t horrible by any means but it wasn’t that impressive. The movie was funny, had some powerful characters, cool effects but had its fair share of issues too. It was hard to take seriously, the main antagonist was horrible and the movie felt obsolete. This movie would have worked a lot better as an early Phase One film because that’s essentially what it felt like.
Hank Pym and Scott Lang were the backbone of this movie. Of course Scott’s friends were funny but they were just there for comic relief. Hank Pym’s role was the most memorable part of the movie. As the first Ant-Man, he played a mentoring role to Scott Lang, teaching him the ins and outs of his suit. How to shrink efficiently and communicate with the various types of ants. Scott is an ex-con trying to find redemption so that he can be accepted by his family again, specifically his daughter. This was properly conveyed through the course of the movie and having his little girl always believe her dad was a hero helped motivate him to stop Yellow Jacket.
On that note, it’s commonly accepted that Marvel falls short with their movie villains. Darren Cross was one of the worst. He had this weird need to be praised and commended by Hank. You see, Hank Pym created a company and hid the shrinking technology. Darren Cross believed in the legend of the Ant-Man and would often ask Pym about it who would deny its existence. Darren Cross would take over the company and spend his time trying to replicate the technology, which he does. Which only serves to confuse me as to why he constantly whines at Hank for not praising him? You have his company, you replicated the tech without his help, you win, WHY are you still butthurt over the past? I could not for the life of me take Cross seriously.
The special effects were really stunning and believable. Any time Scott shrank down whether it was when he was training or fighting, it looked awesome. It allowed them to have some crazily inventive fights in unlikely places. Like having a hugely destructive end game fight, on a Thomas the train toy set. Seeing the ants up close and big was really cool. Getting to see the different types of ants and how they can be used to aid Scott was something new and refreshing.
This was probably the most comedy driven movie of all the Marvel Cinematic movies yet. Sure you can argue that Guardians of the Galaxy was funnier but what made that movie fun were the contrasting personalities clashing. It served to make funny scenes for us but if worked, it fit. Ant-Man was really funny, and I found myself snickering and giggling often but even when the situation required a more serious tone, it was hard to take seriously. There’s a scene where Pym and his daughter are having a moment and Lang just straight up ruins it. Guardians had heart wrenching moments and serious moments whereas this movie had next to none.
During the course of this movie, Hank is all worried about this suit being weaponized because it would destroy the world. In a world where the Avengers had already stopped an alien invasion. In a universe where the Avengers evacuated a whole city while fighting a robot armada. A universe where Hulk and Thor already exist, these people were worried about this suit. Apologies, but assuming this suit got sold to Hydra, they weren’t getting anywhere fast because the Avengers would have stopped them. This is why this movie should have been a Phase One film. Ant-Man as a character feels obsolete at this point; it’s not like its Hank in the suit who could at least offer his intellect as contribution to the Avengers or something.
To wrap things up, Ant-Man was a huge gamble that could have turned out a lot worse. It worked in the sense that the movie didn’t suck but after seeing Guardians and Avengers 2, this movie was as anti-climactic as it could get. I don’t see Ant-Man getting another solo film but at the very least, this decent movie put Ant-Man on the map.
7/10
Hank Pym and Scott Lang were the backbone of this movie. Of course Scott’s friends were funny but they were just there for comic relief. Hank Pym’s role was the most memorable part of the movie. As the first Ant-Man, he played a mentoring role to Scott Lang, teaching him the ins and outs of his suit. How to shrink efficiently and communicate with the various types of ants. Scott is an ex-con trying to find redemption so that he can be accepted by his family again, specifically his daughter. This was properly conveyed through the course of the movie and having his little girl always believe her dad was a hero helped motivate him to stop Yellow Jacket.
On that note, it’s commonly accepted that Marvel falls short with their movie villains. Darren Cross was one of the worst. He had this weird need to be praised and commended by Hank. You see, Hank Pym created a company and hid the shrinking technology. Darren Cross believed in the legend of the Ant-Man and would often ask Pym about it who would deny its existence. Darren Cross would take over the company and spend his time trying to replicate the technology, which he does. Which only serves to confuse me as to why he constantly whines at Hank for not praising him? You have his company, you replicated the tech without his help, you win, WHY are you still butthurt over the past? I could not for the life of me take Cross seriously.
The special effects were really stunning and believable. Any time Scott shrank down whether it was when he was training or fighting, it looked awesome. It allowed them to have some crazily inventive fights in unlikely places. Like having a hugely destructive end game fight, on a Thomas the train toy set. Seeing the ants up close and big was really cool. Getting to see the different types of ants and how they can be used to aid Scott was something new and refreshing.
This was probably the most comedy driven movie of all the Marvel Cinematic movies yet. Sure you can argue that Guardians of the Galaxy was funnier but what made that movie fun were the contrasting personalities clashing. It served to make funny scenes for us but if worked, it fit. Ant-Man was really funny, and I found myself snickering and giggling often but even when the situation required a more serious tone, it was hard to take seriously. There’s a scene where Pym and his daughter are having a moment and Lang just straight up ruins it. Guardians had heart wrenching moments and serious moments whereas this movie had next to none.
During the course of this movie, Hank is all worried about this suit being weaponized because it would destroy the world. In a world where the Avengers had already stopped an alien invasion. In a universe where the Avengers evacuated a whole city while fighting a robot armada. A universe where Hulk and Thor already exist, these people were worried about this suit. Apologies, but assuming this suit got sold to Hydra, they weren’t getting anywhere fast because the Avengers would have stopped them. This is why this movie should have been a Phase One film. Ant-Man as a character feels obsolete at this point; it’s not like its Hank in the suit who could at least offer his intellect as contribution to the Avengers or something.
To wrap things up, Ant-Man was a huge gamble that could have turned out a lot worse. It worked in the sense that the movie didn’t suck but after seeing Guardians and Avengers 2, this movie was as anti-climactic as it could get. I don’t see Ant-Man getting another solo film but at the very least, this decent movie put Ant-Man on the map.
7/10