The first reviews of “Joker” are in, and critics are weighing in on whether they think Joaquin Phoenix’s manic portrayal of Batman’s arch-nemesis is heartbreakingly-unhinged or verges on over-the-top.
Critics were quick to point out that the Todd Phillips-directed film pays a distinct homage to Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” and “The King of Comedy,” with TheWrap’s Alonso Duralde writing that Phoenix’s Joker resembles “an amalgam of Robert De Niro’s Travis Bickle and Rupert Pupkin from those two classics.”
Several critics thought Phoenix was at the top of his game — Forbes’ Mark Hughes went so far as to say that Phoenix’s performance “matches and potentially exceeds that of The Dark Knight’s Clown Prince of Crime,” portrayed by the late Heath Ledger. “Everyone is going to be stunned by what Phoenix accomplishes, because it’s what many thought impossible.”
Also Read: 36 Most Anticipated...
Critics were quick to point out that the Todd Phillips-directed film pays a distinct homage to Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” and “The King of Comedy,” with TheWrap’s Alonso Duralde writing that Phoenix’s Joker resembles “an amalgam of Robert De Niro’s Travis Bickle and Rupert Pupkin from those two classics.”
Several critics thought Phoenix was at the top of his game — Forbes’ Mark Hughes went so far as to say that Phoenix’s performance “matches and potentially exceeds that of The Dark Knight’s Clown Prince of Crime,” portrayed by the late Heath Ledger. “Everyone is going to be stunned by what Phoenix accomplishes, because it’s what many thought impossible.”
Also Read: 36 Most Anticipated...
- 8/31/2019
- by Margeaux Sippell
- The Wrap
Alec Bojalad Aug 31, 2019
Reviews are now trickling out for Todd Phillips' Joker and they are almost all overwhelmingly positive.
It looks like Warner Brothers and DC's boldest comic movie gamble yet may just pay off.
Joker, director Todd Phillips' take on the iconic DC comic villain starring Joaquin Phoenix, just premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival. Publications and fans have now registered their impressions online...and those impressions are mostly of rapturous praise.
In Joker, Joaquin Phoenix stars as a version of Clown Prince of Crime that is seemingly unrelated to any other incarnation in the Batman canon. His Arthur Fleck is a failed standup comedian in 1981 who is driven insane by the madness of Gotham city around him. While Joker is largely rumored to be a self-contained experience, it's also the first entrant into "DC Black," a series of films divorced from the main DC Extended Universe.
Reviews are now trickling out for Todd Phillips' Joker and they are almost all overwhelmingly positive.
It looks like Warner Brothers and DC's boldest comic movie gamble yet may just pay off.
Joker, director Todd Phillips' take on the iconic DC comic villain starring Joaquin Phoenix, just premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival. Publications and fans have now registered their impressions online...and those impressions are mostly of rapturous praise.
In Joker, Joaquin Phoenix stars as a version of Clown Prince of Crime that is seemingly unrelated to any other incarnation in the Batman canon. His Arthur Fleck is a failed standup comedian in 1981 who is driven insane by the madness of Gotham city around him. While Joker is largely rumored to be a self-contained experience, it's also the first entrant into "DC Black," a series of films divorced from the main DC Extended Universe.
- 8/31/2019
- Den of Geek
The reviews for Marvel Studio’s “Avengers: Infinity War” are in, and the consensus about Marvel’s epic superhero team-up is — mostly — that it’s fantastic.
One of the biggest fans of “Infinity War” was the man who helped make it possible — comics writer Jim Starlin, who co-created Thanos for Marvel in 1973. “There are a couple times my chest constricted from what I was seeing, making me want to cry,” Starlin said in a Facebook post praising the film.
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The Avengers the Infinity War! I really have to watch what I say here, so as to not spoil the many surprises this film…
Posted by Jim Starlin on Tuesday, April 24, 2018
With 71 early reviews in, “Avengers: Infinity War ” currently has a 89 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics are mostly praising the film’s scope, ambition, and execution. TheWrap’s Alonso Durade wrote, “If you’re a viewer who binges TV dramas because you can’t wait a week to find out what happens, the implied ‘to be continued’ at the end of ‘Infinity War’ may drive you batty. But if you’ve been solidly along for the Marvel ride up to this point, you’ll enjoy this leg of the journey even if it hasn’t yet reached the terminal.”
Also Read: 'Avengers: Infinity War' Film Review: Suppose They Gave an Infinity War and Everybody Came?
“Avengers: Infinity War” opens in theaters Thursday night. Check out more of the film’s glowing reviews below.
Nate Brail, Heroichollywood.com
“Avengers: Infinity War” is the Marvel film you’ve been waiting for ten years now. Everything that has proceeded it brings you to this very climactic event. I have never been this awestruck by a film in my entire life. Thanos is a force of nature and the deadliest Marvel Studios villain to ever exist. He easily takes the crown from Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger. The highlight of the film has to be Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. I believe this film will go down in history as one half of the greatest superhero movie of all time.
Peter Travers, RollingStone.com
Is it possible to have too much of a good Marvel thing? “Avengers: Infinity War” tests that theory to the max. Don’t get me wrong: This movie is an epic event, built to celebrate the end of a decade in which the Marvel Cinematic Universe produced 19 films.
Mark Hughes, Forbes.com
“Avengers: Infinity War” is the most ambitious, most audacious, most mindblowing superhero film ever produced. It is visually sumptuous, spectacularly entertaining, emotionally shocking and resonant. It is the perfect fulfillment of a promise Marvel made 10 years ago, and everything fans are hoping it could be. This is why the superhero genre exists.
Also Read: Top 3 Ways to Avoid 'Avengers: Infinity War' Spoilers Online Before Seeing the Movie
Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly
What saves “Infinity War” from being just another bloated supergroup tour – and what will end up being the thing that blows fans’ minds to dust – is the film’s final stretch. Let’s be clear, when it comes to hand-over-fist cash cows like the Marvel films, any time a character is put into any sort of serious jeopardy, you immediately have raise an eyebrow and roll your eyes a bit. All of these characters are such lucrative intellectual properties no studio, no matter how daring, is going to put them into too much jeopardy… Still, there is something thrilling about watching just how much fun the Russos and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely are having messing with the fans here.
Josh Spiegel, Slashfilm.com
“Infinity War,” by design, feels like one half of a completed puzzle, with the other pieces strewn about waiting to be put together. Maybe once it’s whole, the puzzle will be wholly satisfying. For now, “Infinity War” suggests that Marvel is able to wrangle together a massive, charming cast, but not quite create a story that deserves their presence.
Brandon Davis, Comicbook.com
“Avengers: Infinity War” upends the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as promised. It’s a spectacle unlike any movie before it, offering a ferocious narrative which fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will love but the average or young moviegoer might have a bit of trouble with. It is dark, it is fun, and it is bigger than anyone could have imagined. It substitutes some of the focus seen in previous Marvel films with wider-ranging narrative to create a sprawling, jaw-dropping, utterly relentless epic.
Read original story ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Reviews Are in and Critics (Mostly) Love Marvel’s Cosmic Crossover At TheWrap...
One of the biggest fans of “Infinity War” was the man who helped make it possible — comics writer Jim Starlin, who co-created Thanos for Marvel in 1973. “There are a couple times my chest constricted from what I was seeing, making me want to cry,” Starlin said in a Facebook post praising the film.
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The Avengers the Infinity War! I really have to watch what I say here, so as to not spoil the many surprises this film…
Posted by Jim Starlin on Tuesday, April 24, 2018
With 71 early reviews in, “Avengers: Infinity War ” currently has a 89 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, and critics are mostly praising the film’s scope, ambition, and execution. TheWrap’s Alonso Durade wrote, “If you’re a viewer who binges TV dramas because you can’t wait a week to find out what happens, the implied ‘to be continued’ at the end of ‘Infinity War’ may drive you batty. But if you’ve been solidly along for the Marvel ride up to this point, you’ll enjoy this leg of the journey even if it hasn’t yet reached the terminal.”
Also Read: 'Avengers: Infinity War' Film Review: Suppose They Gave an Infinity War and Everybody Came?
“Avengers: Infinity War” opens in theaters Thursday night. Check out more of the film’s glowing reviews below.
Nate Brail, Heroichollywood.com
“Avengers: Infinity War” is the Marvel film you’ve been waiting for ten years now. Everything that has proceeded it brings you to this very climactic event. I have never been this awestruck by a film in my entire life. Thanos is a force of nature and the deadliest Marvel Studios villain to ever exist. He easily takes the crown from Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger. The highlight of the film has to be Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. I believe this film will go down in history as one half of the greatest superhero movie of all time.
Peter Travers, RollingStone.com
Is it possible to have too much of a good Marvel thing? “Avengers: Infinity War” tests that theory to the max. Don’t get me wrong: This movie is an epic event, built to celebrate the end of a decade in which the Marvel Cinematic Universe produced 19 films.
Mark Hughes, Forbes.com
“Avengers: Infinity War” is the most ambitious, most audacious, most mindblowing superhero film ever produced. It is visually sumptuous, spectacularly entertaining, emotionally shocking and resonant. It is the perfect fulfillment of a promise Marvel made 10 years ago, and everything fans are hoping it could be. This is why the superhero genre exists.
Also Read: Top 3 Ways to Avoid 'Avengers: Infinity War' Spoilers Online Before Seeing the Movie
Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly
What saves “Infinity War” from being just another bloated supergroup tour – and what will end up being the thing that blows fans’ minds to dust – is the film’s final stretch. Let’s be clear, when it comes to hand-over-fist cash cows like the Marvel films, any time a character is put into any sort of serious jeopardy, you immediately have raise an eyebrow and roll your eyes a bit. All of these characters are such lucrative intellectual properties no studio, no matter how daring, is going to put them into too much jeopardy… Still, there is something thrilling about watching just how much fun the Russos and writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely are having messing with the fans here.
Josh Spiegel, Slashfilm.com
“Infinity War,” by design, feels like one half of a completed puzzle, with the other pieces strewn about waiting to be put together. Maybe once it’s whole, the puzzle will be wholly satisfying. For now, “Infinity War” suggests that Marvel is able to wrangle together a massive, charming cast, but not quite create a story that deserves their presence.
Brandon Davis, Comicbook.com
“Avengers: Infinity War” upends the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as promised. It’s a spectacle unlike any movie before it, offering a ferocious narrative which fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will love but the average or young moviegoer might have a bit of trouble with. It is dark, it is fun, and it is bigger than anyone could have imagined. It substitutes some of the focus seen in previous Marvel films with wider-ranging narrative to create a sprawling, jaw-dropping, utterly relentless epic.
Read original story ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Reviews Are in and Critics (Mostly) Love Marvel’s Cosmic Crossover At TheWrap...
- 4/25/2018
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
For a superhero tentpole featuring one of the most iconic characters in DC history, there hasn’t been an awful lot of material for Aquaman. At least, not yet.
Pegged for a release this December, James Wan’s standalone (and sub-aquatic!) adventure is undoubtedly one of the most hotly-anticipated comic book releases of the year that doesn’t have the word ‘Avengers’ in the title. And though fans were beginning to grow concerned by the radio silence, Aquaman is supposedly testing pretty well in early screenings, which have also brought forth some interesting plot details about the emotional story underpinning Wan’s creative venture. But not every viewer has taken to Arthur Curry’s spinoff.
Earlier this week, we heard from Mark Hughes of Superhero News that some pretty negative reactions had emerged from a recent test screening of the pic. It was surprising as, like we said above, we...
Pegged for a release this December, James Wan’s standalone (and sub-aquatic!) adventure is undoubtedly one of the most hotly-anticipated comic book releases of the year that doesn’t have the word ‘Avengers’ in the title. And though fans were beginning to grow concerned by the radio silence, Aquaman is supposedly testing pretty well in early screenings, which have also brought forth some interesting plot details about the emotional story underpinning Wan’s creative venture. But not every viewer has taken to Arthur Curry’s spinoff.
Earlier this week, we heard from Mark Hughes of Superhero News that some pretty negative reactions had emerged from a recent test screening of the pic. It was surprising as, like we said above, we...
- 3/24/2018
- by Matt Joseph
- We Got This Covered
For a superhero tentpole featuring one of the most iconic characters in DC history, there hasn’t been an awful lot of material for Aquaman. At least, not yet.
Pegged for a release this December, James Wan’s standalone (and sub-aquatic!) adventure is undoubtedly one of the most hotly-anticipated comic book releases of the year that doesn’t have the word ‘Avengers’ in the title. And though fans were beginning to grow concerned by the radio silence, Aquaman is supposedly testing pretty well in early screenings, which have also brought forth some early plot details about the emotional story underpinning Wan’s creative venture. But not every viewer has taken to Arthur Curry’s spinoff.
Mark Hughes of Superhero News (h/t Batman-News) claims to have heard some negative reviews coming out of Aquaman‘s preliminary test screenings. We’ve included the video below, with the review chatter located around...
Pegged for a release this December, James Wan’s standalone (and sub-aquatic!) adventure is undoubtedly one of the most hotly-anticipated comic book releases of the year that doesn’t have the word ‘Avengers’ in the title. And though fans were beginning to grow concerned by the radio silence, Aquaman is supposedly testing pretty well in early screenings, which have also brought forth some early plot details about the emotional story underpinning Wan’s creative venture. But not every viewer has taken to Arthur Curry’s spinoff.
Mark Hughes of Superhero News (h/t Batman-News) claims to have heard some negative reviews coming out of Aquaman‘s preliminary test screenings. We’ve included the video below, with the review chatter located around...
- 3/23/2018
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Theo Walcott should not be worried about whether he has been blessed with a brain like Paul Gascoigne's
Is there any other activity in the field of human endeavour apart from scoring a goal in a football match that is said to be performed with aplomb? I only ask because Mark Hughes chose the word on Match of the Day lauding Fulham's equalising goal at Blackpool, which he said Dickson Etuhu "finished with aplomb". Charmingly old school. The last time I remember anyone using the expression "finished with aplomb" was in the Fast Show circa 1996, when Paul Whitehouse's manager/pundit character made it sound like "finished with a plum". How we laughed, but then we had no smart phones in those days, we had to make our own fun.
Plum or plomb, it is a difficult one to work into normal discourse. Should one of my children ask...
Is there any other activity in the field of human endeavour apart from scoring a goal in a football match that is said to be performed with aplomb? I only ask because Mark Hughes chose the word on Match of the Day lauding Fulham's equalising goal at Blackpool, which he said Dickson Etuhu "finished with aplomb". Charmingly old school. The last time I remember anyone using the expression "finished with aplomb" was in the Fast Show circa 1996, when Paul Whitehouse's manager/pundit character made it sound like "finished with a plum". How we laughed, but then we had no smart phones in those days, we had to make our own fun.
Plum or plomb, it is a difficult one to work into normal discourse. Should one of my children ask...
- 8/29/2010
- by Martin Kelner
- The Guardian - Film News
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