The Disney Princess Opinion

With the release of a new Disney (teamed with Pixar) Princess film Brave I thought I would talk about the Disney Princess films. Over the decades there has been a lot of criticism thrown towards these films. These criticisms mainly concern the 'unrealistic' portrayal of love and relationships, and the representation of women. I explored part of this in my A Level Media Studies coursework and I found it to be a really interesting subject to delve into, especially as I watched and adored them when I was a little girl.  People tend to find that they form very strong opinions concerning these subjects and I thought I would point out the issues and put forward my opinion, so that you can form your own.

Disney's apparent 'unrealistic' portrayal of love and relationships has left parents questioning whether they should let their children watch the films.  Personally, I am in love with the idea of true love, soul mates, the happily-ever-after and I think it stems from my viewings of the Disney Princess films. They promote these ideas about relationships to little girls and in a way I think that these little girls (me included) always hope for it. Who wouldn't? The perfect relationship. However, I'm also a pessimist and I find it hard to believe that everyone will have a happily ever after and meet their true love. Your soul mate could have already found someone they're happy with and the divorce rates don't exactly help the idea of true love. But, that doesn't stop me hoping. I'm an optimistic pessimist. I know that some parents don't let their children watch the Disney princess films because they don't want them to have false expectations about love. I would happily let my children watch the films because I know that (as my mum did) you can educate them yourselves about relationships.

I will admit that women on a whole aren't represented very well in the Disney Princess films. They're always slim, beautiful and have no flaws. Up until Pocahontas the Princess were all white with blonde/brunette hair. Even when Disney diversified, the women were still unrealistically beautiful. It leaves the little girls aspiring to look like them. There are reasons for why women were represented in this way. First of which is they were originally constructed by men to appeal to men. This explains the low cut dresses and flawless beauty.  The animators had to base the images of the princesses on real people and they found the easiest people were ballerina's. This explains the original images of Snow White; Slim and elegant.
All of the princesses are vain. I think the majority of them look in the mirror to make sure they are presentable for the 'prince.' This implies that to the little girls that they need to look perfect to impress a man. The evil villains tend to want to stop/kill/imprison the princesses because of their beauty. The films are obsessed with the idea of beauty. There are only two instances that I can think of off the top of my head where Disney suggests that beauty isn't about image, but about what is on the inside. This can be seen in Cinderella II (Die-hard Disney fan here) with the ugly sisters and the Princess and the Frog. I think the Princess and the Frog is a great example because the prince falls in love with the frog version of Tiana rather than the beautiful human version.
All of the princesses are domesticated, even the most recent, Rapunzel (sorry I haven't seen Brave yet...out next week). They all clean and cook. You never see men doing the chores. If you take these films by when they were made, then it can be seen as a fair and realistic representation. But, Rapunzel was released in 2010 and this isn't a fair or realistic representation now. Women are more equal to men and men have started doing more chores. I know women who don't cook. Their husbands do it for them.
However, the Princess are changing. They have become more independent and less girly. The earlier princesses waited for their Prince Charming's to save them from their dreadful fates. Where as, Pocahontas refuses to marry her father's choice and Mulan runs away from home to join the army as a man to save her father. They have also become less interested in domestication and more interested in reading and playing chess.

Even after all of these points which are valid and they do disturb me slightly, I still love these films. They were the best films of my childhood. Every little girl wants to feel like a princess and these films make you feel like this.  You have to take these films with a pinch of salt and take into account when they were made. They are wonderful films and you can see that Disney are trying to change their representations of women. Brave looks really good, an independent, strong princess who can kick butt for little girls look up to (It's about time). I can't wait to see it and I hope it's everything they promised. Now I leave you to make your own verdict.

3D: You Either Love It Or Hate It

3D, the newest craze in the film industry. I neither love it or hate it. I know many people who are fascinated with 3D. They will go and see 3D versions of films and will complain when films aren't in 3D. However, I also know twice as many people who don't like 3D and I understand why.
The first 3D film I saw was Spy Kids 3-D. As a child this was one of the most amazing films ever. You got to wear the retro glasses and objects came flying out at you, making you jump. This is what I loved about 3D. It was great before it became all stylised and techno-dependent. I will also admit to liking Avatar in 3D and that was the main reason I wanted to go and see the film. In 2009 we were drawn to the cinema to see Avatar because of the 3D and I feel that if it hadn't been in 3D, it may not have had as large a box office takings as it does.
However, now I feel that 3D is being over used and in the wrong kinds of films. Avatar, for example, was just as good in 2D. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger's Tides was better in 2D for me because I found it really hard to concentrate on certain action scenes when it was in the 3D format. This goes for the majority of live action films. I still enjoy seeing animations in 3D, but once again they're just as good in 2D. You can obviously tell when watching a 2D film that it was made for 3D, but that doesn't take anything away from the film.
3D has become a gimmick to make money in my opinion. Cinema prices shot up when 3D was introduced to pay for the new equipment that they needed to play the films, but after 3 years these prices either haven't change by much or have risen. You have to pay extra for the glasses and the luxury of seeing the film in 3D. The price for a 2D ticket alone is ridiculous for an adult, but then add the 3D charges on top and your spending a small fortune, especially in a recession. As I said in a previous post, the film industry is there to make money by entertaining us and this seems to work, but at a small, extra price(A large one if you have a big family).
Recently James Cameron re-released Titanic in 3D for the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking and I don't agree with this. The film was perfect in 2D and it would have made just as much money in the re-release if it was left like this. I don't understand what 3D adds to a film like that...a little bit of depth, but that's all. The film wasn't made to be in 3D.
This doesn't apply to everyone, but the glasses do annoy me. I have to wear glasses to the cinema anyway and it's not comfortable wearing two pairs of glasses and frankly you look like a bit of an idiot. I think this puts of many people because they cant wear the two pairs of glasses. I think if they really want 3D to catch on they need to do something about this. Today, I went to see Ice Age: Continental Drift and my friend and I had chosen to see it in 2D. The screening before ours was in 3D and our film was 30 minutes late because they seemed to be having problems with the screen after the 3D showing. This is another issue they need to sort out if they really want the craze to catch on.
Overall, I do enjoy 3D films to a certain extent, but I believe that it is being over used and should be kept to certain genres of films because it's hard to watch certain films in 3D and it isn't always necessary.

The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

I have been looking forward to this moment for four years and it did not fail to impress. I was seriously expecting The Dark Knight Rises to be nothing compared to The Dark Knight, but it was just as good. The Dark Knight Rises is set years after the previous film. Bruce Wayne has become a recluse, but he must come out of hiding when Bane threatens to rip Gotham City apart.
Note: I do not recommend reading this without seeing the film.

In my opinion it's the characters that really make this film great. The film contains the usual characters Bruce Wayne a.k.a Batman (Christian Bale), Alfred (Michael Caine), James Gordon (Gary Oldman) and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman). But, it also boasts some new characters, John Blake (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), Selina Kyle a.k.a Catwoman (Anne Hathaway), Bane (Tom Hardy) and Miranda Tate a.k.a Talia al Ghul (Marion Cotillard).
Bruce Wayne has in some ways gone back to Batman Begins. He is no longer Batman, so lives a life in the shadows. He refuses to see anyone and his company is falling apart. But, when he goes back to being Batman he sees only two options; Kill Bane or die doing it. I liked this version of Batman because he started to fear death and seemed more relatable. I also liked the fact that some characters had guessed that Wayne was Batman and that others were told. It was nice ending. Taking off the mask as it were.
Wayne has many father figures in his life and I like the fact that you see a part of all of them acting like one. Alfred disappeared for a large chunk of the film and I seriously missed him. Batman isn't the same without Alfred. He couldn't watch Wayne destroy himself because he wanted him to have a life and a family. James Gordon, now Commissioner was struggling with the lies he had told about Harvey Dent and I felt really bad for him because he had lost everything because of those lies. I like his character because he will stop at nothing to rid the city of crime, but he needs the help of Batman and he believes entirely in him. Lucius Fox looks after Wayne's company in his absence and he continues to gather weapons/tools to aid Batman. He will do anything to help Wayne and this is why I like him. They're all loyal to Bruce Wayne and believe in Batman.
John Blake is an everyday police officer that rises up the ranks dramatically to detective during the conflict with Bane. I really liked that he had a similar but less privileged past to Wayne and that he knew that Wayne was Batman. The twist at the end made everything better, when you discover his real name is Robin. It leaves Christopher Nolan with a chance to do a sequel (Please :'( ).
Selina Kyle is a new character in Nolan's trilogy, but she had to compete with Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman. There was no competition really because they were different. In this film, she was stealing from the rich because there were so many in need in Gotham City. A twisted Robin Hood. I liked her because she didn't even know what she wanted and when it came down to it, she wanted to help rather than run. I also liked that she was never referred to as Catwoman in the film and that her goggles were cats ears when on her head.
Right, Bane...I have mixed opinions about Bane. I liked him and thought he was a good villain. He looked amazing, I hardly recognised Tom Hardy. He looked an awful lot better than the Bane in Batman & Robin (1997). He was different kind of villain to the Joker. I do prefer the Joker, but Bane was one of the better Batman villains. However, I found him really hard to understand at times and that was a bit off putting.
Miranda Tate is at first the love interest of Bruce Wayne and I liked that I was never sure if she knew that he's Batman or not. I thought that her being the true villain behind Bane and being Ra's al Ghul's daughter were great twists. I had heard about her being his daughter at the beginning of the production, but I dismissed it. I also liked that her and Bane seemed to be in love. It made Bane seem more human rather than beast.
I have to mention the little appearance made by Jonathan Crane a.k.a The Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) because it made me giggle because he was the judge and jury against the privileged members of Gotham's society.

There is a lot I can say about the setting because it's exactly the same as the other films and it's New York City renamed as Gotham City. I love that it is used in Banes plan as he cuts off a large part of the city. I also liked that it was set during the day for the majority of the film because it was like the Batman was rising from the ashes and he couldn't hide in the dark anyway due to Bane's ability to see the him in the dark. I also liked Batman's new form of transport, The Bat. Batman was flying.

I really enjoyed the narrative because it was full of twists and turns that you do not entirely expect. Which is always good when it comes to watching a film that is nearly three hours long. However, it is really worth sitting through it. I liked that in a way the film had gone in a full circle because it was similar to Batman Begins. I also liked that the Nolan brothers had kept close to the comics by having Bane break Batmans back. The ending is slightly predictable, but it is great all the same. I walked out of the cinema and would have happily sat and watched it again straight away. I don't want to say a lot because I find it hard to describe. I read a review in a paper that said the film took too long to get into the action, but I felt that it was good because if you had just lost the woman you love and turned a city against yourself, it'd take some time to get back into the game. Plus, you really follow Bruce Wayne's journey. I really enjoyed it.

It is rare for me to leave a film with a massive grin and this film is still making me smile just thinking about it. It was a great ending to a great trilogy. I applaud Nolan on breaking the bad sequel issue. He is a great writer and director making these films great. I am really sad that it's over, but I will always have hope for another Nolan Batman. It will never be the same again. I'd like to see someone try and top these films. Good Luck.

Top 10 Greatest Villains

I was thinking about my favourite villains the other day and I found it really hard. I started off with my favourite films, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) and was sat there thinking the villains aren't massively amazing in the films. So, it got me thinking who my top 10 greatest villains.
I would like to point out these are my greatest villains from the films I have seen. You may have different ideas.

10. T-Rex Jurassic Park (1993)
Ok, it's not the greatest villain ever, or a person, but he is scary. He's a dinosaur with massive teeth. I put him on my list because as a child I refused to watch it because I was so scared of the T-Rex.

9. Loki Thor (2011) and Avengers Assemble (2012)
I felt obliged to include Loki because I love his character. I think he's a good villain because you understand his motives.

8. Scar The Lion King (1994)
He kills his own brother, makes his nephew watch and will stop at nothing to hold onto the throne of Pride Rock, including the attempted killing of his nephew. He's evil.

7. The Evil Queen Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)
Her motives explain why she's on my list. She wants to kill an innocent girl just because a mirror has told her that she is more beautiful than her.

6. Alex DeLarge A Clockwork Orange (1971)
The boy enjoys drinking drugged milk, brutal violence and sexual assault. Enough said.

5. Norman Bates Psycho (1960)
Not only does he kill his own mother, but he proceeds to dress up in her clothes and kill other women and this is all because he hates women. Plus, he made my friend scream like a little girl.

4. Agent Smith Matrix Trilogy (1999-2003)
The computer system that loathes humans and will stop at nothing to leave the Matrix (He hates the smell). He is an unfair fighter as he creates multiple versions of himself and to stop one man and this is why I have included him.

3. Darth Vader Star Wars: The Original Trilogy (1977-1983)
The bringer of the Emperor's wrath, the man who can kill with a look and his determination to corrupt his own son get him on my list and into spot number 3. (He is also slightly cool)

2. Amon Goeth Schindler's List (1993)
His character I believe is the definition of evil. His emotionless, cold and callous attitude to the inmates of the camp and his enjoyment at shooting them and their suffering make him truly evil.

1. The Joker The Dark Knight (2008)
I really like the Joker and I feel he is the greatest Batman villain, if not the greatest villain of all time (so far). He is different because he has no plans for world domination, revenge or personal game. He just enjoys playing his little game with Batman and killing others. He enjoys the idea of the world burning and him and Batman the only two left in an endless battle. He is a great villain and it will be hard to top him (Good Luck Bane).

Snow White and the Huntsman (2012)

Snow White and the Huntsman is the second film to be released this year based on the Brother's Grimm fairytale. This version is classed as a twisted fairytale and is very unlike the images I have seen for Mirror Mirror (2012). When the Huntsman is ordered to kill Snow White, he instead becomes her protector and mentor in her quest to defeat the Evil Queen.

Snow White is packed full with stars and is one of the best parts of the film.
I wasn't expecting a lot from Kristen Stewart as Snow White because I was basing her performance as an actress on Twilight (I do not like Twilight). However, I was surprised because she was quite good. Unlike the other versions, Snow White wasn't waiting for her one true love to come and rescue her. Instead, she took an active role in her liberation.
Chris Hemsworth plays the rugged, drunk Huntsman and I thought he was really good because he was just as good as the Knights and I wanted to give him a hug because he has had a hard life (As you've probably gathered I want to give many characters hugs). I also liked the fact that he featured more in this version of the story because you understand why he lets Snow White go. Plus, he's a bit of eye candy for the ladies.
The 'prince' (he's not really a prince), Snow White's childhood friend, William is played by Sam Claflin. The first film I saw Claflin in was Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger's Tides and I thought he was good, but I think he's better in Snow White because he's more, use a bow and arrow and less preachy. He was more active in Snow White. I also found his character slightly adorable because he felt awful for leaving Snow White behind and he's obviously in love with her.
Personally I think one of the best scenes is when the dwarfs are introduced. Ian McShane, Bob Hoskins, Ray Winstone, Nick Frost, Toby Jones, Johnny Harris, Eddie Marsan and Brian Gleeson play the most amazing dwarfs I have ever seen (minus Gimli). The dwarfs are great because they are grumpy, caring and very handy to have in a fight. They can also sing and dance. They are also great because as you slowly realise who is playing the dwarfs, you sit in a state of 'Oh my God,' and 'that's epic.' My favourite dwarf is Gus (Brian Gleeson) because he is so happy and lovely.
Chalize Theron plays the evil Queen, Ravenna and I love this take on the character because she wasn't just vain. the obsession ran deeper. I also thought the idea that it was men's obsession with female beauty cause her obsession was inspired. I also liked that we saw her use a range of cool powers.
Sam Spruell plays Ravenna's brother, Finn and he was also surprisingly good because he was really creepy. I was slightly disappointed that the cut across his face made by Snow White didn't leave a nasty scare. That would have added to his creepy personality.
Now, the magic mirror is no longer cheesy. There is no actors face pasted onto a mirror. Instead, it's a golden disc that melts and morphs into a caped man with no face (this is the best way I could describe it, sorry). I liked this because it was slightly scary as the queen was the only one who could see him.
I was annoyed by the changing accents of Kristen Stewart and Chris Hemsworth because they weren't necessary in the first place.

I had expectations of the settings in Snow White from the posters. Initially, I thought they had copied Alice in Wonderland (2010), but once again I was surprised.
It is no secret that I love the Disney princess films and I was happy to see that the Dark Forest looked exactly like the one in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. All of the dead, twisted trees made the forest that bit creepier. I also liked the idea that the forest played with your fears and the troll at the bridge because he looked like part of the forest.
The Fairy Sanctuary was amazing and I wish it was real. The tall trees, green grass and sunshine was a beautiful change to the dark, dull settings featured earlier in the film. The weird and wonderful plants added to its beauty. My particular favourite were the mushrooms with eyes.
The Castle was just how you would imagine an evil fairytale castle to be and I loved that it was surrounded by the sea because it made it seem impenetrable.

The story followed a similar layout to the previous versions of Snow White. All of the key scenes were there; Snow White escaping, the Huntsman being sent to kill her and failing to do so, Snow White biting the apple and a kiss waking her up. But the twists, in my opinion, made the story better. The Huntsman taking care of her makes more sense than the previous versions where he leaves her to wonder into a dangerous forest. My favourite twist was the Huntsman's kiss waking Snow White rather than the prince's (William) because it plays with your expectations.
However, I do have some issues with the story. My friends and I felt that the magic needed explaining more because you never understand it entirely. For example, you don't know why only the Queen can see the man in the mirror. I also feel that as an audience, we are left without closure and that is infuriating because you don't know who Snow White ends up with. The Huntsman or William? We can't expect closure either because it is very unlikely that a sequel will be made as they have killed the villain and left a happy-ish ending. My friends and I came up with multiple endings that would have left us feeling a bit happier because we would have had closure. But, alas it is too late.

Overall, I found the film to be a happy surprise and I quite enjoyed the twists and turns. I also enjoyed the humour because it was added at the right moments.

Lets Reboot the Remake

The film industry seems to go through phases of chucking out hundreds of rebooted or remade films. We are currently experiencing one of these phases. Spiderman, Total Recall, Robocop and superman
are just a few of the more recent films in the process of being remade/rebooted. But, why do this?
There are different answers to this question depending on whether the film is classed as a reboot or remake. So to answer the question you have to understand the difference between the two. I'm not trying to patronise you, but I know that lots of people don't know the difference and I didn't until a little while ago.
A reboot tends to involve a franchise like Batman, Star Trek, Superman and Spiderman. These are more common than remakes. Batman has undergone four reboots since 1989 and Star Trek has undergone three reboots.
A remake involves a single film like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Total Recall. You only ever really see one remake. It seems silly to remake a remake.

So, back to the question...Why do they do this? Reboots tend to be made due to demand. I love the fact that if, as an audience, we moan enough we can get a film rebooted. Remakes tend to be made for two reasons, the first being out of love. A producer/director might want to make it because they loved the original and wanted to see what they could do with it. These types of remakes never really live up to expectations. The other reason could be because the original was awful and a producer/directer thinks they can do better. The main underlining reason for reboots and remakes is money. The film industry is here to make money by entertaining us. If they find something that works, they will keep making it until it stops working. The film industry in a nutshell. (Independent films are the exception to the rule)

There is a case where I feel that a film has been falsely branded a remake. The large majority of people who saw the 2003 film The Italian Job thought it was bad because it wasn't as good as the original and I agree. It's nothing compared to the 1969 Italian Job, but I don't see it as a remake. In the film they clearly state they're going to do the Italian job when their original plan fails. It's a film where the characters are inspired by a film.

There are also some cases where I don't believe films should be rebooted/remade. I recently read that Lionsgate had no immediate plans to reboot the Twilight franchise. This implies that they are thinking about it and it'll probably be sooner rather than later. I beg you not to do this, it's had its time and I wish to forget it (sorry Twihards). Let it fall into history.
While I'm begging, I ask that Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings not be remade. They were truly wonderful films and nothing will ever match them, so don't try.

Image: The after and before shots of recent reboots/remakes.

(note: When 'twihards' is put into spellcheck it suggests twats and twits :D)

Avengers Assemble (2012)

...And it all leads to this. Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye. One of the greatest superhero movies to date and probably of all time.

*Major Spoiler Alert* I recommend seeing the film before reading on.
When Loki and his alien army threaten to take over the world, Nick Fury and his tam of 'supers' must come together to save us from disaster.

We've met the characters before, but are they any different or better? I think so.
Captain America/Steve Rogers, leader of the Avengers didn't really leave a major impression on me as I found him forgettable. However, he has improved. He'd moved away from the sickly man to the empowered super soldier that he is supposed to be. He was more leader like and in control.
Iron Man/Tony Stark was his usual cocky self, but he underwent some character development. He went from being a self-obsessed genius to someone who would give his life to save others. Although this was somewhat predictable, I did like it. It made him more loveable. Beneath that metal suit is a mushy man.
Thor seemed to be going through a rough time, which made he a bit down. This could be due to the fact that he can't see his true love and his brother is trying to take over the world he loves (again). I just wanted give him a hug. He did have some great moments, godly moments.
You learn a lot about Black Widow in the Avengers. She hasn't always fought on the side of good, but she's trying to make up for it. You discover her weakness and that if you tried to hurt them she would go all kick-ass on you like in Iron Man 2.
Hawkeye encounters a few problems  in the film. It's a bad day for some when Loki takes over your mind and makes you kill people. You don't really see much of him in Thor, but in this you really see his skill set. Give the man a bow and arrow, and he could probably hit an apple on top of a moving vehicle, whilst abseiling down a building. I think he's awesome for a 'normal' person.
Loki, my favourite Avengers villain returns to reap some more havoc. He seems slightly like a stroppy child because he's not getting enough attention. I got the feeling that I didn't really know what was going on inside his head and i don't think he knows either. All you know is that he wants us to obey him. He looked ill and tired in the Avengers and this makes him seem more human. I also wanted to give him a hug.
Finally, the most impressive character of all, Bruce Banner a.k.a Hulk. The previous interpretations in my opinion weren't very good, but Mark Ruffalo's was brilliant. I liked the fact that Banner was portrayed as having accepted the fact that he had a 'problem' and that it didn't entirely rule his life. I also liked that he referred to the Hulk as The Other Guy. The CGI Hulk was also an improvement on the previous because he actually looked like Mark Ruffalo.  My favourite scene of the entire film involves him and you have to look out for it. the other Avengers have been fighting for a while and then he turns up. Best scene.

The majority of the Avenger's is set on Earth. The focus of the battle is New York and what I assume was the CGI destruction of the city was amazing. Although you knew it was CGI, it actually looked real, unlike the New York in Captain America. Stark Tower was an impressive looking building. I liked the fact that it was at the centre of the battle and it seemed to be practically untouched. There were only a few windows smashed. I also like the fact that the letter A(vengers) was the only one remaining from the Stark sign...coincidence I think not.
The sky ship has been used in previous films before (Sky Captain of the World), but this is the first that could really disappear. There could be one hovering over your house right now and you wouldn't know. I probably wouldn't go up there myself, but it is a good idea for a secret government agencies hideout.
Lastly, the most impressive 'set' of all was the alien home. It was really dark and mysterious. You couldn't see very much, but it looked like a place you wouldn't want to stay because it was stark and mountainous. It also looked like it was floating on clouds.

The narrative was slightly predictable, but great all the same. In terms of forming the Avengers it followed a similar structure to other films. At first all of the members don't get on and then someone (Loki) kills someone (Agent Coulson) that they all care about. So they form a team to defeat the murderer. I particularly liked this because Agent Coulson had been in all of the films so we were all emotionally attached to him and wanted them to avenge his death. It was truly a sad moment when he died. I had hoped that he wouldn't die :(
Obviously being a superhero film there had to be some fighting, but it wasn't just between the goodies and baddies. The battle between Iron Man, Thor and Captain America was both great and funny because neither one could get the upper hand and they ended up destroying more of the island than each other. The funniest fight was between Loki and Hulk. Loki states, 'I'm a God.' Hulk reacts in a Tom and Jerry fashion by bashing Loki back and forth into the floor.
As I've already said there are some funny scenes. A lot of the humour comes from the dialogue, but there are some scenes were the action makes you laugh. For example; just after the Hulk and Thor have defeated the flying whale things, Hulk punches Thor. I personally think that the humour is what makes the film great. A large part of the humour revolves around the 'bromance' formed between Bruce Banner and Tony Stark. They're perfect for each other. Two geniuses that are in love with each others scientific work.
The good thing about Avengers Assemble is that it answers all of the questions left over from the previous films. You discover what the cube is actually for and how Thor can return to Earth. You also find out what happened to Red Skull.

Overall, I really enjoyed the film and it definitely deserves to be the third highest grossing film of all time. I was amazing to have all the superheroes in one film and I hope there is more to come. Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 are due to be released next year and Captain America 2 the year after that.