Hey everyone, my name is Anthony and welcome back to my movie review.
From three years ago, i talked about the first movie Ant-Man, which although its a nice start, but the execution wasn't that great, which is basically a copy-paste of "Iron Man".
And of course, at the end, we saw a cliffhanging ending where Hope van Dyne is prepare as the new Wasp. Which is no wonder why its gotta be a sequel what we want to see after an average start.
"Ant-Man and The Wasp" is 2018 MCU film and a sequel from before that was directed by Peyton Reed (And yes, he's back), Kevin Feige and Stephen Broussard, and written by Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd (Yup, not he acted, but also working as the writer), Andrew Barrer, Gabriel Ferrari (Um... Is he like a son of Enzo or something??).
This is the film that it was unexpectedly announced or maybe predicted for the fans after three years. But the major downside is that this movie came out the same year with "Avengers: Infinity War", due that mean it has a connection from previous film from last month?
Enough of question, with all that said, will this movie holds up to be be better than the first film, or is this film deserves to be crushed like a bug by The Green Goblin?
Well, lets find out.
The Story
It started on the backstory that we've seen before, where Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne working together as a titular hero, but one time in 1987, Hank tries to disable the nuke bomb, but didn't work on his own, causing his lost wife using her shrinking power further to sacrifice herself. However, it wasn't true, due to the fact that she maybe alive and lost in quantum realm. Fast forward to present time, Scott Lang was expected to going back in normal after being nearly free from prison, but he was being picking up by Hank and Janet's daughter Hope that they decided to making their new project to find Janet if she's still alive after more than 30 years. However, the main villain "Ghost" wants to capturing Hank's lab, due to her ability that it risks her own life because of quantum. Its up to our heroes to keeping their lab from Ghost and probably a betrayed employee named Bill Foster.
I can say that the story itself is not only average, but probably a lot better than tracing the very first story of Iron Man. But its most likely that Hank's lab is more like a holy grail for whoever wants to take it for reasons. But the problem of the story is that it got too much with subplots, like the mentioned healing for Ghost, Scott Lang dealing with security, having issue of his suit and even hanging out with his family like his daughter which is an obvious filler. Like come on, stop going randomly otherwise the story is getting confused for whats the focus. But again, the main focus is who's gonna get Hank's lab. But another problem is that it was rushed for the story, since this movie's time is nearly 2 hours.
The story is quiet good than before, but you think if you could just tone down for the subplots?
The Production.
What else can i say for this movie, its a pretty cool production movie with actions, suits and effects.
But first, the presentation remains the same, but with creative way, most notable with expanding shrinking gadgets for not just the suits or various objects, but also with cars (aka turning into a toy car, due to "Hot wheels luggage collection) or even Hank's lab, which im quiet impressed for their invention.
The action scenes are pretty cool and entertainment, especially with some tricky ways like shrinkage or even ghostly ways. But my personal favorite is the car chase scene in the most insane and creative ways that it was a fun rollercoaster.
As for the costumes, they're pretty cool that we've seen. Though Ant-Man's suit was used from previous film that i have to admit, its a lot more fascinating than the comic version. As for the new ones like The Wasp, although it looks like a sister version of Ant-Man due to a similar design, but to be fair, it looks pretty cool with the colors, kinda like in the comic, speaking of comic, she has wings and shooting some kinda sting energy ball, nice. As for Ghost, although its a nice design, which im very impressed, but the color is the most typical pick ever, i know it fits for her color choice, but why can't they pick something easier for stealth like black or something.
But the downside, is that not only a rushed story or development, but its just that when i watched, i noticed that some scenes from the trailer were almost all removed, which i didn't know why they cut some scenes out. Maybe its the limited budget, despite it was developed over 162 million dollars.
Its a pretty good production of this movie, but i had a disappointed presentation that some scens from the trailer was suffered a cut.
The Characters
Im sure you're heard these guys from the first movie, otherwise if you've haven't seen it, il give a bit summarize from my previous review of "Ant-Man".
First is our titular hero "Ant-Man", aka Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd), a former criminal turned into a hero thanks for discovering Ant-Man's outfit, with the ability of shrinking ant size and even assembling army of ants. He's known to be fun, a bit smart and sometimes kinda magician. But of course, its nice to see Paul Rudd returned as our hero. either that or i'd rather looking back where he played SNES on billboard.
Next is our mentor Hank Pym (played by Michael Douglas), a former member of SHIELD, an early example of Ant-Man since Janet's so-called "sacrifice" and inventor for shrinking abilities. Although he's like a leader to former prisoner and his daughter Hope, but he maybe also considered as a joy fatherhood, due to his concerned to his wife and relation of his daughter. Though sometimes he's rather serious due to his demise of his own company and probably a dysfunctional relation to his former employee Bill Foster. Despite some flaws, Michael is always did a nice work of his role, even though he was reached over 70.
Then is our second titular hero, Hope van Dyne, aka The Wasp (played by Evangeline Lilly), at first, i though she's just a tool from the first movie, but of course at the end, she proceeds to working as a recent Wasp. Although she's pretty cool for her action, but sometimes the relation with Scott Lang is gonna be a difficult story, due to his action on "Civil War". Though i never heard of Lilly, but she did an interesting work.
And you're probably wondering about The Original Wasp, aka Janet van Dyne (played by Michelle Pfeiffer)? Well, she's out there in quantum realm, but we have to wait for confirmation. Oh, and this is not the only time she played in the comic movie, which she's famously known as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman in Batman Returns. Man, this is the second time i watched a movie veteran actor who used playing in Tim Burton's Batman movies since "Spider-man Homecoming".
As for the new villains? They're rather pretty cool, despite one of them has a small appearance.
First is Ghost, aka Ava Starr (played by Hannah John-Kamen). Like i said before, she has a cool outfit, but not as good for execution for simple white in my opinion. Despite the flaws, she has the ability of phasing through walls and objects. I though she could be a cool maybe a deadly villain, but she's more like a neutral, due to her affection molecular instability (aka phasing) which it'll cause to kill her. So, she's sorta like a sympathetic villain for her risking her own life from her own power. Hannah is rather an interesting to playing as a neutral(?) antagonist, but i just wish she could be evil rather than need a help before dying.
And finally there's Bill Foster (played by Laurence Fishburne, aka Morpheus from The Matrix), a former employee of Hank's employee that he invented "Project Goliath" for gigantic size for Ant-Man. Like before he started nice, but turns out to be a villain (kinda) that he wants revenge for being demised by Hank Pym that he works with Ghost by stealing his so-called "friend"'s lab to healing Ava. I have nothing against Laurence Fishburne, he's most famous actor for years since The Matrix. But of course, this isn't the only time he acted in comic movie, such as DC Extended Universe where he played Perry White.
While the rest aren't much else to say, Some of them came back for their role like X-Com members Luis, Dave and Kurt (played by Michael Pena (Again with him in my review?!), Tip "T.I." Harris and David Dastmalchian), the low IQ crime Sonny Burch (played by Walton Goggins), and a parole officer Jimmy Woo (played by Randall Park).
The characters are fun and nice for return, while some other characters (as well the new villains) would've been great what i expected.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, i think its probably better than the first one, with good story, great productions and the characters are nice. Though sometimes it got a lot of problems with so many subplots about keeping/stealing lab, some scenes from the trailer were cut and some characters along the villains aren't as great what i was wishing for.
Was it a better movie in this year's MCU? Well, probably not, it didn't get much attention than Black Panther or even Infinity War. It kinda disappointed me, but again, at least its much better story than first one. If you like Ant-Man, this one is for you, or perhaps you should stick to two previous mentioned films.
For my rating,il give it a 7/10. Its above average at its best to describe this movie.
So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on Pateron.com/Blackevil915 for your big request.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
Next is our mentor Hank Pym (played by Michael Douglas), a former member of SHIELD, an early example of Ant-Man since Janet's so-called "sacrifice" and inventor for shrinking abilities. Although he's like a leader to former prisoner and his daughter Hope, but he maybe also considered as a joy fatherhood, due to his concerned to his wife and relation of his daughter. Though sometimes he's rather serious due to his demise of his own company and probably a dysfunctional relation to his former employee Bill Foster. Despite some flaws, Michael is always did a nice work of his role, even though he was reached over 70.
Then is our second titular hero, Hope van Dyne, aka The Wasp (played by Evangeline Lilly), at first, i though she's just a tool from the first movie, but of course at the end, she proceeds to working as a recent Wasp. Although she's pretty cool for her action, but sometimes the relation with Scott Lang is gonna be a difficult story, due to his action on "Civil War". Though i never heard of Lilly, but she did an interesting work.
And you're probably wondering about The Original Wasp, aka Janet van Dyne (played by Michelle Pfeiffer)? Well, she's out there in quantum realm, but we have to wait for confirmation. Oh, and this is not the only time she played in the comic movie, which she's famously known as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman in Batman Returns. Man, this is the second time i watched a movie veteran actor who used playing in Tim Burton's Batman movies since "Spider-man Homecoming".
As for the new villains? They're rather pretty cool, despite one of them has a small appearance.
First is Ghost, aka Ava Starr (played by Hannah John-Kamen). Like i said before, she has a cool outfit, but not as good for execution for simple white in my opinion. Despite the flaws, she has the ability of phasing through walls and objects. I though she could be a cool maybe a deadly villain, but she's more like a neutral, due to her affection molecular instability (aka phasing) which it'll cause to kill her. So, she's sorta like a sympathetic villain for her risking her own life from her own power. Hannah is rather an interesting to playing as a neutral(?) antagonist, but i just wish she could be evil rather than need a help before dying.
And finally there's Bill Foster (played by Laurence Fishburne, aka Morpheus from The Matrix), a former employee of Hank's employee that he invented "Project Goliath" for gigantic size for Ant-Man. Like before he started nice, but turns out to be a villain (kinda) that he wants revenge for being demised by Hank Pym that he works with Ghost by stealing his so-called "friend"'s lab to healing Ava. I have nothing against Laurence Fishburne, he's most famous actor for years since The Matrix. But of course, this isn't the only time he acted in comic movie, such as DC Extended Universe where he played Perry White.
While the rest aren't much else to say, Some of them came back for their role like X-Com members Luis, Dave and Kurt (played by Michael Pena (Again with him in my review?!), Tip "T.I." Harris and David Dastmalchian), the low IQ crime Sonny Burch (played by Walton Goggins), and a parole officer Jimmy Woo (played by Randall Park).
The characters are fun and nice for return, while some other characters (as well the new villains) would've been great what i expected.
And now for my final opinion of this film.
Overall, i think its probably better than the first one, with good story, great productions and the characters are nice. Though sometimes it got a lot of problems with so many subplots about keeping/stealing lab, some scenes from the trailer were cut and some characters along the villains aren't as great what i was wishing for.
Was it a better movie in this year's MCU? Well, probably not, it didn't get much attention than Black Panther or even Infinity War. It kinda disappointed me, but again, at least its much better story than first one. If you like Ant-Man, this one is for you, or perhaps you should stick to two previous mentioned films.
For my rating,il give it a 7/10. Its above average at its best to describe this movie.
So this ends of my movie review, if you guys have your opinion or any suggestions, let me know at comment bellow and support me on Pateron.com/Blackevil915 for your big request.
Thanks for reading, and im Anthony, signing out.
