Jude Anthany Joseph's third feature, after Ohm Shanti Oshana and Oru Muthassi Gadha, released on Prime Video at midnight today. This seemingly feel-good film, also seemingly made in limited spaces and with a shoestring budget, tackles a concept and issue never tested before in Malayalam cinema circles. In Sara'S, we follow the life of Sara Vincent (Anna Ben), a young, bubbly, yet unapologetic filmmaker who struggles to make it big in the industry. She continuously assists male directors and is in the scripting works of her dream film. Sara has decided, from her school days, that she would not bear any kids. This is when she meets Jeevan (Sunny Wayne); her relationship with him subsequently brings her ideology and decision into a confrontation with the established norms of society, family and child-rearing. Anna Ben in Sara'S The best aspect in which Sara'S has excelled, without doubt, is its hard-hitting taut script. Debutant Akshay Hareesh deserves praise for managin...
Like it or not- the decade that passed belonged to the superhero genre, or more specifically, to Marvel. No other entity has been able to create the impact that Marvel brought into filmmaking, pop culture, fandom and above all, the movie business. Despite its’ humble beginnings in 2008 with Jon Favreau’s Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe grew in popularity and scale, that finally culminated in the cinematic event that was Avengers: Endgame. Here’s a look into how Marvel owned the 2010s.
The establishment of a production house solely dedicated to the making of films based on the Marvel superhero canon and its’ acquisition by the media juggernaut, Disney, was in fact what turned the tables in favor of Kevin Feige and Co. In the hands of a big powerhouse, Feige would have clearly seen the possibility of fulfilling his dream of creating a cinematic universe with all of the comic books’ characters in it.
Fans are certain, even today, that the Marvel Cinematic Universe did not get the deserved start to the decade, as 2010’s Iron Man 2, garnered mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Many termed it an unworthy sequel to Iron Man, the film which kick started the MCU and laid the foundation for the epic ensemble that was to follow four years later. 2011 witnessed two new entrants into the expanding universe- the super soldier Captain America and the Norse god of thunder Thor. Both Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger opened to warm reviews, albeit being modest successes in the box office. The installments, however, did a perfect job as prologues to the production house’s most ambitious project then, The Avengers (2012).
Until then, a crossover film which brought together characters from four different films and assembling them to fight a common threat was never experimented, if not unheard of. The X-Men franchise was already falling into unpopularity, with the disappointments of X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). The Avengers brought in a sense of novelty to the superhero genre, complemented with Joss Whedon’s masterful direction and a script which gave all six superheroes equal prominence. The Avengers became Marvel Studios’ most profitable film and emerged the top grossers of the year.
It is undoubted that The Avengers opened new avenues to both Marvel and the superhero genre. Talks began among rival competitor Warner Bros. to establish a similar universe with the superheroes of the DC comics, starting with 2013’s Man of Steel. Well, we all know how that has turned out.
Thor: The Dark World’s (2013) disappointment was luckily overshadowed by the phenomenal success of the year’s Iron Man 3, which managed to cross the billion-dollar mark at the global box office and proved a worthy closure to the standalone trilogy of Iron Man films. In a commercially lackluster year for Hollywood, 2014, it was a ragtag team of outlaws from the Marvel brand of heroes that emerged an unlikely winner. James Gunn’s successful gamble with a superhero team, previously unfamiliar to audiences, made Guardians of the Galaxy one of the most enjoyable films of the year and of the franchise. MCU, for the first time, departed from Earth and ventured into the cosmos to tell its’ tales. The same year saw the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which still remains one of the critically well-received films of the MCU. The film, which gave a political spin to the superhero realm, also propelled the Russo brothers into the most bankable directors of the genre.
Joss Whedon returned with his sequel to his saga of the ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’, Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015. Despite the film minting over a billion dollars at cash registers, an unimpressive villain and lack of depth to its’ storytelling gave fans a disappointing cinematic experience. This was followed by Ant-Man, directed by Peyton Reed, and turned out as a fresh start to the Universe’s Phase Three of films.
2016 gave fans an epic clash never seen before with the release of Captain America: Civil War, helmed once again by the Russo brothers. Fans watched as Tony Stark and Steve Rogers locked horns in a battle where they fought out moral conflicts and personal battles. The eventual breakup of The Avengers, whilst a shock to many fans, however, led to the induction of new heroes into the roster- Spider-Man and Black Panther. Doctor Strange, directed by Scott Derickson, released the same year, saw the very talented Benedict Cumberbatch don the role of the Sorcerer Supreme.
In 2017, fans saw the release of the sequel to the exploits of the Guardians of the Galaxy (GOTG Vol. 2) and the first standalone film for the friendly neighborhood web-slinging superhero, Spider-Man: Homecoming. The Norse Thunder God's saga also found perfect closure with Taika Waititi's rendition of the hero- Thor: Ragnarok. Acclaimed for its' impeccable humor and light-heartedness, Ragnarok became one of MCU's most memorable films.
2018 was the year that Marvel owned. Not only its' first release in the year, Black Panther became a watershed moment in Hollywood and cinema, we got what is still considered to be an epic ensemble that culminated in the decade's cinematic event. Ryan Coogler's Black Panther brought to screens the first portrayal of the exploits of a superhero character of color, and was acclaimed for its' themes of Afrofuturism and race, its' performances and technical nuances. Black Panther also became a major contender in the 2019 Academy Awards with six nods, including Best Picture, becoming the first in the superhero genre to do so. The film ended up winning three in Hollywood's big night.
Avengers: Infinity War probably was the first test for the Russo Brothers to try something which gambled to bring together all the characters and arcs that began in previous films of the MCU. The flick saw the scattered team mustering all courage to lock horns with the mad Titan, Thanos. The unexpected anti-climactic ending left fans in shock, triggering a slew of discussions and fan theories on how the Avengers will repair the catastrophic damage rendered by the supervillain.
Peyton Reed returned to direct Ant-Man and The Wasp in the same year. Despite its' modest success, it left a a huge clue about the follow up to Infinity War.
2019's first release was the first standalone film for a female MCU superhero. Captain Marvel showed us the origins of Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot who would later imbibe alien powers and become what Feige called "a character even powerful than Thanos".
Avengers: Endgame had everything that made it the most anticipated film of the decade- a cliffhanger of a climax in the previous installment, a reunion of the six original Avengers (plus a few more) and revenge against the gauntlet-wielding Thanos. In the adrenaline-rushing three hour ride, fans found closure to the saga of the Avengers, the perfect tribute to the superhero genre, and a tearful adieu to fans' dearest character in the Universe. Endgame broke all box office records, beating Avatar's (2009) decade-long reign as the highest grossing film of all time.
In the last MCU release of the decade, fans saw the standalone adventures of Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Being a box-office success, the movie also cast a cloud of numerous uncertainties over the character's future, both with its' jaw dropping mid-credits scene and the Sony-Disney clash off-screen over the possession of the Spider-Man character.
The next decade holds countless prospects for the MCU, with its' foray into the digital streaming platform, thanks to the advent of Disney+, and projects like The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Hawkeye, WandaVision and Loki.
Theatrical releases for the MCU include this year's Black Widow, Natasha's first standalone film, something the fans had been clamoring for ever since her debut in Iron Man 2. The Eternals will see a "galactic" ensemble cast with the likes of Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Richard Madden and others. The movie is slated for release in November.
The next year has exciting releases for the Universe with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder.
With a successful decade for Marvel films and the MCU gone, we can only expect new and creative content coming from the filmmaking behemoth.
For more updates on film news and movie reviews, follow Reviewer's Facebook and Instagram handles.
The establishment of a production house solely dedicated to the making of films based on the Marvel superhero canon and its’ acquisition by the media juggernaut, Disney, was in fact what turned the tables in favor of Kevin Feige and Co. In the hands of a big powerhouse, Feige would have clearly seen the possibility of fulfilling his dream of creating a cinematic universe with all of the comic books’ characters in it.Fans are certain, even today, that the Marvel Cinematic Universe did not get the deserved start to the decade, as 2010’s Iron Man 2, garnered mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Many termed it an unworthy sequel to Iron Man, the film which kick started the MCU and laid the foundation for the epic ensemble that was to follow four years later. 2011 witnessed two new entrants into the expanding universe- the super soldier Captain America and the Norse god of thunder Thor. Both Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger opened to warm reviews, albeit being modest successes in the box office. The installments, however, did a perfect job as prologues to the production house’s most ambitious project then, The Avengers (2012).
Until then, a crossover film which brought together characters from four different films and assembling them to fight a common threat was never experimented, if not unheard of. The X-Men franchise was already falling into unpopularity, with the disappointments of X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) and X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). The Avengers brought in a sense of novelty to the superhero genre, complemented with Joss Whedon’s masterful direction and a script which gave all six superheroes equal prominence. The Avengers became Marvel Studios’ most profitable film and emerged the top grossers of the year.
It is undoubted that The Avengers opened new avenues to both Marvel and the superhero genre. Talks began among rival competitor Warner Bros. to establish a similar universe with the superheroes of the DC comics, starting with 2013’s Man of Steel. Well, we all know how that has turned out.
Thor: The Dark World’s (2013) disappointment was luckily overshadowed by the phenomenal success of the year’s Iron Man 3, which managed to cross the billion-dollar mark at the global box office and proved a worthy closure to the standalone trilogy of Iron Man films. In a commercially lackluster year for Hollywood, 2014, it was a ragtag team of outlaws from the Marvel brand of heroes that emerged an unlikely winner. James Gunn’s successful gamble with a superhero team, previously unfamiliar to audiences, made Guardians of the Galaxy one of the most enjoyable films of the year and of the franchise. MCU, for the first time, departed from Earth and ventured into the cosmos to tell its’ tales. The same year saw the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which still remains one of the critically well-received films of the MCU. The film, which gave a political spin to the superhero realm, also propelled the Russo brothers into the most bankable directors of the genre.
Joss Whedon returned with his sequel to his saga of the ‘Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’, Avengers: Age of Ultron in 2015. Despite the film minting over a billion dollars at cash registers, an unimpressive villain and lack of depth to its’ storytelling gave fans a disappointing cinematic experience. This was followed by Ant-Man, directed by Peyton Reed, and turned out as a fresh start to the Universe’s Phase Three of films.
2016 gave fans an epic clash never seen before with the release of Captain America: Civil War, helmed once again by the Russo brothers. Fans watched as Tony Stark and Steve Rogers locked horns in a battle where they fought out moral conflicts and personal battles. The eventual breakup of The Avengers, whilst a shock to many fans, however, led to the induction of new heroes into the roster- Spider-Man and Black Panther. Doctor Strange, directed by Scott Derickson, released the same year, saw the very talented Benedict Cumberbatch don the role of the Sorcerer Supreme.In 2017, fans saw the release of the sequel to the exploits of the Guardians of the Galaxy (GOTG Vol. 2) and the first standalone film for the friendly neighborhood web-slinging superhero, Spider-Man: Homecoming. The Norse Thunder God's saga also found perfect closure with Taika Waititi's rendition of the hero- Thor: Ragnarok. Acclaimed for its' impeccable humor and light-heartedness, Ragnarok became one of MCU's most memorable films.
2018 was the year that Marvel owned. Not only its' first release in the year, Black Panther became a watershed moment in Hollywood and cinema, we got what is still considered to be an epic ensemble that culminated in the decade's cinematic event. Ryan Coogler's Black Panther brought to screens the first portrayal of the exploits of a superhero character of color, and was acclaimed for its' themes of Afrofuturism and race, its' performances and technical nuances. Black Panther also became a major contender in the 2019 Academy Awards with six nods, including Best Picture, becoming the first in the superhero genre to do so. The film ended up winning three in Hollywood's big night. Avengers: Infinity War probably was the first test for the Russo Brothers to try something which gambled to bring together all the characters and arcs that began in previous films of the MCU. The flick saw the scattered team mustering all courage to lock horns with the mad Titan, Thanos. The unexpected anti-climactic ending left fans in shock, triggering a slew of discussions and fan theories on how the Avengers will repair the catastrophic damage rendered by the supervillain.
Peyton Reed returned to direct Ant-Man and The Wasp in the same year. Despite its' modest success, it left a a huge clue about the follow up to Infinity War.
2019's first release was the first standalone film for a female MCU superhero. Captain Marvel showed us the origins of Carol Danvers, an Air Force pilot who would later imbibe alien powers and become what Feige called "a character even powerful than Thanos".
Avengers: Endgame had everything that made it the most anticipated film of the decade- a cliffhanger of a climax in the previous installment, a reunion of the six original Avengers (plus a few more) and revenge against the gauntlet-wielding Thanos. In the adrenaline-rushing three hour ride, fans found closure to the saga of the Avengers, the perfect tribute to the superhero genre, and a tearful adieu to fans' dearest character in the Universe. Endgame broke all box office records, beating Avatar's (2009) decade-long reign as the highest grossing film of all time.In the last MCU release of the decade, fans saw the standalone adventures of Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Far From Home. Being a box-office success, the movie also cast a cloud of numerous uncertainties over the character's future, both with its' jaw dropping mid-credits scene and the Sony-Disney clash off-screen over the possession of the Spider-Man character.
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| Spider-Man: Far From Home was MCU's final film in the Infinity Saga |
The next decade holds countless prospects for the MCU, with its' foray into the digital streaming platform, thanks to the advent of Disney+, and projects like The Falcon and The Winter Soldier, Hawkeye, WandaVision and Loki.
Theatrical releases for the MCU include this year's Black Widow, Natasha's first standalone film, something the fans had been clamoring for ever since her debut in Iron Man 2. The Eternals will see a "galactic" ensemble cast with the likes of Angelina Jolie, Kumail Nanjiani, Richard Madden and others. The movie is slated for release in November.
The next year has exciting releases for the Universe with Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Doctor Strange in The Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder.
With a successful decade for Marvel films and the MCU gone, we can only expect new and creative content coming from the filmmaking behemoth.
For more updates on film news and movie reviews, follow Reviewer's Facebook and Instagram handles.
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