Marvel – The Saga of Jonathan Volsung

Iron Man 3 [***]

25 April 2013

As Lt. Col. James Rhodes might say (privately at least), Iron Man 3 rox. The first cab off the rank since Joss Whedon’s The Avengers, Iron Man 3 is a worthy addition to the Marvel stable. There’s no surprise that it fails to measure up to the ensemble magnificence of The Avengers – and really,…

Joss Whedon’s The Avengers: A review (of sorts)

20 April 2012

Gerard Wood

Reviews, Screen

Marvel, Review, Superhero

Joss Whedon’s The Avengers has robbed me of my critical mojo! If you’re a regular reader of this site, you’ll know that my reviews of SF and fantasy media tend towards critical analysis. I don’t apologise for that. Entertainment is never just entertainment and there are values and messages both subtle and overt embedded in…

Kenneth Branagh’s Mighty Thor

20 April 2011

Gerard Wood

Reviews, Screen

Kenneth Branagh, Marvel, Superhero, Thor

It’s fair to say that when Marvel Studios announced back in 2008 that noted Shakespearean actor and director Kenneth Branagh was to direct Thor, there was an outburst of hysteria from some quarters. Even some of us who are fans of Branagh’s work from way back were a little surprised by the decision as there…

Branagh breaks silence about Thor movie

15 December 2008

Gerard Wood

News, Screen

Kenneth Branagh, Marvel, Superhero

When news broke earlier this year that noted Shakespearean actor and director Ken Branagh had been selected to helm Marvel’s Thor, a live-action movie about a disabled medical student whose alter-ego is the hammer wielding Norse god – it’s fair to say that the disbelief from some quarters bordered on hysteria. Let’s just say that…

Iron Man: a hero for the people (not of the people)

8 May 2008

Gerard Wood

Reviews, Screen

Marvel, Superhero

Marvel Comics, that seemingly bottomless well of ideas and filmic inspiration, has done it again with its most recent adaptation for the screen of a comic book superhero. Iron Man, directed by Jon Favreau and starring Robert Downey Jr, is superb entertainment. As long as you don’t think too hard. The hyperbolic action and special…