The Avengers – New York Film Critics Circle

‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ – The end is nigh

Marshall Fine May 1, 2015 May 1, 2015 Members / Recent News

HollywoodandFine.com These feel like cinematic end times – not in terms of Hollywood movies (that horse is already out of the barn), but in the pack-mentality, “hey, it’s good enough” approach of critics to the colossus that bestrides summer movies, otherwise known as the Marvel Universe. I speak specifically of …

‘Thor: The Dark World,’ reviewed by Marshall Fine

Marshall Fine November 5, 2013 November 5, 2013 Members / Recent News

HollywoodandFine.com Kenneth Branagh’s “Thor” had a certain playfulness that pitted the ultra-serious world of Asgard, land of the Norse gods, against 21st-century USA. Now director Alan Taylor has taken the reins of the franchise and, with “Thor: The Dark World,” drains the fun from it. Instead, he focuses on this …

‘Much Ado About Nothing,’ reviewed by Marshall Fine

Marshall Fine June 5, 2013 June 5, 2013 Members / Recent News

HollywoodandFine.com I want to applaud Joss Whedon’s “Much Ado About Nothing” for all the things it does right, and I will. But Whedon’s side project – between his various TV and Marvel-related entertainments – gets one thing unfortunately wrong: It’s never very funny. Much of that has to do with …

‘Iron Man Three,’ reviewed by Marshall Fine

Marshall Fine May 3, 2013 May 3, 2013 Members / Recent News

HollywoodandFine.com So is the third film the decider in a series? Two out of three good enough for immortality? In the case of “Iron Man Three” (as the closing credits have it), I’d say it’s probably too close to call. Jon Favreau’s first two “Iron Man” films were a split …

‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation,’ reviewed by Marshall Fine

Marshall Fine March 29, 2013 March 29, 2013 Members / Recent News

HollywoodandFine.com People often debate situational ethics: Under what circumstances would an unethical act be ethical? Always an intriguing question. But what about situational movie standards? We’re talking about whether there’s ever a time when a bad movie should be given a pass because, well, it’s not as bad as it …

‘The Avengers,’ reviewed by Marshall Fine

Marshall Fine May 4, 2012 May 4, 2012 Members / Recent News

HollywoodandFine.com Here’s the best thing I can say about “The Avengers” (and no, I will NOT refer to it as “Marvel’s The Avengers,” because the branding is implicit): It offers a couple of the biggest laughs in recent memory, including a slapstick gag worthy of Chuck Jones in his “Looney …