ANT-MAN at Esquire IMAX

A Review by Shelby Graden
Staff Reporter

'Ant-Man' is Marvel’s first installment in Phase 3 of Marvel releases. This new Marvel film stars Paul Rudd as the lead Scott Lang, or Ant-Man. Lang is a criminal known for burglary, in Robin Hood-esque circumstances. His inclination to steal from the rich and give back to the poor paints him as vigilante with a record and reputation that works against him. This movie, while fitting into the genre of superhero film, felt more realistic and darker than most other Marvel films. Perhaps it was the moral ambiguity of the leads, cinematography, subject matter or or all of the above that made the film feel more like a typical action movie that an over the top superhero flick.

The film’s plot centers around Scott Lang, who has just been released from prison and is trying to clean up his act. This does not end up working out for him and when he gets caught falling back into the habit of burglary, he has no choice but to turn to an alternative solution. He must agree to a stranger's demands, and Lang must become the Ant-Man. Lang is given a suit that allows him to shrink to a half an inch tall and the ability to telepathically communicate with ants. Lang in return must stop a corporate mastermind who plans on selling the shrinking tech to organizations, such as Hydra, that are notorious for endangering the public. Photo: Ant-Man

The film is rife with many references to both previous and future Marvel films, including the Avengers and Captain America. It features appearance from characters such as Agent Carter, Falcon and Howard Stark, all of who originated from the Captain America films. There is an entire scene that takes place at the Avengers' new headquarters and everyone in the audience practically squealed with excitement at the sight of it. Obviously this film expects its audience to have seen the Marvel films that have led up to this point, and some of the best moments of the film depend on that previous knowledge.

This means that if you are a fan of the Marvel franchise, like I am, the movie is filled with exciting 'easter eggs' (small sometimes hardly noticeable extras in the movie that only people who are very familiar with the series could recognize) that will make you shake with anticipation for upcoming films. The Marvel universe can now be fully seen as a complex world where superheroes exist frequently. One of my favorite lines, which is featured in the trailer, is when Lang asks “Why don’t we just call the Avengers?” This was both a good point, and a good joke. The film really feels like it’s a part of something bigger, even if it’s a uniquely-styled film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Photo: Evangeline Lilly (Hope Van Dyne).

As for the writing, this film is a lot less family-friendly than most Marvel films, but this actually helped maintain a serious tone throughout the intermittent humor of the film. The writing for the movie, in terms of comedy, was fantastic. Not only were the one-liners perfectly paced and written, but their delivery by the actors was excellent. Every scene had at least one line or situation that made the audience laugh out loud. If you enjoy Paul Rudd’s typical humor, then you will probably enjoy this as well. There were a few characters that really shone through their comedic exchanges, and although most of them were side characters, they felt more like the stars. One of my fellow audience members remarked that this film ‘Is the funniest Marvel movie yet.” The perfectly timed banter and strangely comedic situations all were beneficial to the overarching tone of lighthearted fun. Photo: Paul Rudd (Ant-man); Michael Douglas (Dr. Hank Pym); Evangeline Lilly (Hope Van Dyne).

However, when it came to the dialogue in dramatic scenes, Ant-Man fell short. Most of the writing in serious scenes was cliché and and predictable. The ‘I lied to you to keep you safe’ trope was blatant and I couldn’t help but sigh every time a scene went in that direction. Also, the plot was extremely predictable. Don’t expect any rousing plot twists, because if you know movie formulas well enough, I can guarantee that you’ll see every attempt at a surprise coming from a mile away. Yet, I would prefer a movie with a predictable plotline than a boring one. The reason the formula used in Ant-Man is so common is because it’s riveting and reliable. While watching the movie, while you can see all the plot twists coming, the movie makes up for it with all of its other aspects. Photo: Corey Stoll (Darren Cross/Yellowjacket).

The finale was epic in an unconventional way, which I respected simply for an ending that wasn’t as traditional as most of the plot. However, in this case I almost would have preferred a conventional finale scene, just because the film didn’t feel resolved without it. Although I will admit, the lack of explosions and slow motion was appreciated, and this downsized (no pun intended) climax was unexpected due to the lack of mass destruction we tend to see in almost all superhero films nowadays. This ending was creative and visually enthralling, as movie goers were immersed in a completely new dimension. From an aesthetic standpoint, the film was a feast for the eyes.

While not taking on any sort of fantastically unrealistic or enhanced cinematography, it was fascinating to watch, especially in scenes where Lang took on his ant size. The ability to see the world from that perspective was captivating to a point where it was nearly overwhelming. However, on the IMAX screen all of the scenes were a work of art; a gorgeous feast for the eyes with crystal clear definition. In addition, the special effects were never so over the top that it felt gimmicky or like it was trying too hard. As an artist, I loved the use of special effects to bring the audience into a world that felt supernatural but in a realistic way.

This showed a lot of restraint from the special effect artists, which is very admirable. The film at times felt like a glorified remake of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and seeing it on the IMAX screen added to this effect. The person I attended the film with remarked that due to the IMAX screen size, at some points during close-up shots you, as an audience member, feel like an ant. Finally, on the subject of the special effects, I’d like to make it clear to anyone who has a phobia or great dislike for insects, this movie might not be your cup of tea. Most scenes contain ants, and sometimes they appear very large on the screen. This perspective can be a bit unsettling if you find the appearance of insects unpleasant. Photo: Paul Rudd (Ant-man).

Overall, the film stood out as a pleasant change to the superhero norm. It had amazing humor writing and intense action sequences. The entirety of the movie was enjoyable and there was never a dull moment. It did a wonderful job of leading in to the next Marvel film and I sincerely look forward to seeing Paul Rudd resume his role as Ant-Man in the upcoming Captain America film. Ant-man stars Paul Rudd; Michael Douglas (Dr. Hank Pym); Evangeline Lilly (Hope Van Dyne); Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter); Corey Stoll (Darren Cross/Yellowjacket); and Michael Pena (Luis). Directed by Peyton Reed and produced by Kevin Feige, Marvel’s “Ant-Man” delivers a high-stakes, tension-filled adventure. 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' comes to the IMAX July 30, 2015. Courtesy photos from IMAX

For more information about the Esquire IMAX, upcoming movies, services offered or to purchase tickets, visit www.imax.com/oo/esquire-imax  or call (916) 443-4629. Enjoy the IMAX experience soon at the Esquire IMAX Theatre, located at 1211 K Street, Sacramento, CA. To book the theater for birthday parties and field trips, e-mail aatilano@imax.com or call 916-446-2333x200. For events, fundraisers, or private show screenings, please e-mail wrussell@imax.com or 916-446-2333 x201. Courtesy photo: the IMAX Theater on the K Street mall in Sacramento, CA

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