Rate & review Thunderbolts*

[psylockolussus]

Movie is out in some markets this midnight and tomorrow. Spoilers in spoiler tags as always*

 

[Kev4000]

Pros
- Wow, I think this movie really addressed mental health issues without being silly at all. We really enter some dark space here, I like it.
- Florence Pugh is just a star
- Walker is still a dick and I am here for it
- The team dynamic works great
- The self-awareness is really funny at some points
- Sentry Costume looks awesome
- It really feels like a fresh breath of air, specially the final fight

Cons
- I wished for Val to be more thrilling at all, she was more scary in Wakanda Forever
- Also I wish the movies runtime would be like 10min longer, so Ghost and Walker had a little bit more to do

9/10 in the end from me. Its been a while I had such a positive reaction for a Marvel movie.

 

[inomilan]

WOW! This movie is a breath of fresh air! It seems like the MCU of old. Granted, I always liked every MCU movie even the worst ones lol, but this one, you just feel it's Marvel Studios back to their old form. The team dynamics was great! Yelena is awesome, and I love her chemistry with Red Guardian. US Agent was great! Bucky's role was not as big as I thought it would be, but it's always great to see him! Ghost was just okay. Taskmaster was eh. Sentry was awesome in his action scenes. And I agree with the post above, the mental health stuff was done well. The jokes were well placed too so I don't think we'll hear too many complaints about that.

Cons: think they could have done more with Val.
It was also obvious who was going to die too. . .


9/10 for me!

 

[RiXi]

Great movie. It touches subjects that we'd barely seen in MCU movies before.
The acting was so good, especially Pugh. She's getting the flowers she deserves.

I thought the third act was overall lacking action, but that isn't necessarily a con (It's been two movies in a row where "the power of love" saves the day so I don't know how general audiences will take it).

Ghost and Bucky were pretty much just there, but they fit well in the story. Walker's twist was unexpected and it makes his character more interesting.

We all knew what was gonna happen to that one character, but it was so much earlier that anyone would've guessed. She was there for a couple minutes if anything. Was not expecting who took her off, though, that was a shock.
It would've been much better if she was not part of the film at all. I mean, this isn't the Suicide Squad. It wasn't mandatory that a character had to die. It added nothing to the story, it affected no one (not even Yelena who already knew her), it wasted her character and it makes Nat saving her feeling pointless now. She was mentioned halfway through the movie and that's it.

Now, for the finale revelation:
I'm not sure why they went the "New Avengers" route. They could've had Val announcing them as Thunderbolts and it wouldn't have been so confusing. Why do this when the last movie sets up Captain America assembling a new team? (and come on Sam, it's been a year and you haven't find the team yet?) It seems like they want to have something similar to Infinity War: Two Avengers teams (Steve's and Tony's/Bucky's and Sam's), the external team with knowledge of the villain (GotG/Fantastic Four), with now the addition of the Xmen.

 

[inomilan]

Great movie. It touches subjects that we'd barely seen in MCU movies before.
The acting was so good, especially Pugh. She's getting the flowers she deserves.

I thought the third act was overall lacking action, but that isn't necessarily a con (It's been two movies in a row where "the power of love" saves the day so I don't know how general audiences will take it).

Ghost and Bucky were pretty much just there, but they fit well in the story. Walker's twist was unexpected and it makes his character more interesting.

We all knew what was gonna happen to that one character, but it was so much earlier that anyone would've guessed. She was there for a couple minutes if anything. Was not expecting who took her off, though, that was a shock.
It would've been much better if she was not part of the film at all. I mean, this isn't the Suicide Squad. It wasn't mandatory that a character had to die. It added nothing to the story, it affected no one (not even Yelena who already knew her), it wasted her character and it makes Nat saving her feeling pointless now. She was mentioned halfway through the movie and that's it.

Now, for the finale revelation:
I'm not sure why they went the "New Avengers" route. They could've had Val announcing them as Thunderbolts and it wouldn't have been so confusing. Why do this when the last movie sets up Captain America assembling a new team? (and come on Sam, it's been a year and you haven't find the team yet?) It seems like they want to have something similar to Infinity War: Two Avengers teams (Steve's and Tony's/Bucky's and Sam's), the external team with knowledge of the villain (GotG/Fantastic Four), with now the addition of the Xmen.

I was expecting them to go with Dark Avengers, but I guess Sam's will be the Secret Avengers instead lol.

 

[RiXi]

I was expecting them to go with Dark Avengers, but I guess Sam's will be the Secret Avengers instead lol.

I suppose it wouldn't make sense in-universe
because Val presenting them as "the Dark Avengers" wouldn't give the citizens a lot of trust. I still think they should've remained as The Thunderbolts.

 

[inomilan]

I suppose it wouldn't make sense in-universe
because Val presenting them as "the Dark Avengers" wouldn't give the citizens a lot of trust. I still think they should've remained as The Thunderbolts.

Yeah I agree but those were just my thoughts before the movie. But during the movie and in-universe, yeah it made sense.

 

[RiXi]

Also I think it would be hilarious if Doomsday started with
Sam and Bucky/Val in court with She-Hulk being Cap's attorney. Sam registered the name Avengers so it would be quite quick (you would've thought Stark Industries had already done that many years ago).

 

[legendkillin]

I would give 8/10 I think it was good especially compared to what they have been giving up. It didn't feel like it was trying to copy GOTG or Avengers as team up since it was way more serious.
I don't think it had anything they felt like you must see it in the theater though, but I would recommend it if people ask me. We will see these characters again, I think the amount of screen time if not going to be as much though. Florence as Yelena is the best thing in the MCU right now.

They did a good job with Sentry/Bob
End credit Noticed how the credit scene said Bob will return and not Sentry, but I do expect him to appear for a bit if a friend is badly hurt. If another reality has a Sentry. He already was talking about himself compared to a God so maybe another Thor and him fight. I love that we finally got an end credit that creates speculation again. That was always my favorite in the 1-3 phases.

 

[Another_Fool]

I'm going with a strong 8.5 out of 10. Really really liked this. Florence Pugh is great and works well off anyone. Really dug Julia Louis-Dreyfus who was in this a lot. What took me aback though was how fun Wyatt Russell was in this, Florence is the star but I thought Wyatt and her had the best chemistry amongst a cast that already bounced off each other well. And Lewis Pullman, take a bow sir, great job on his part. I was really bummed when Steven Yuen had to drop out and I'm still curious what his take would've been, but Pullman does great enough that I feel like he was the right guy.

Also have to commend the third act, didn't expect it to resolve that way and the movie is all the better for it. This is most definitely the best MCU film for me since maybe Shang-Chi or Wakanda Forever. I think I have this edge over Guardians Vol 3.

 

[LoganPool]

Best movie of phase 4. And that's saying s lot bc I loved D&W so much that I saw it 20 times. But this was old school MCU. It felt like phase 2 or 3 movie. And as someone who struggles with depression and feeling lonely, that ending hit me right in the feels. An easy 9/10 for me.

Disclaimer: I legit had no idea that we were in phase 5... I thought FF was suppose to be the last movie of phase 4... So I guess this movie is the best movie of phase 4 AND 5.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Great movie, 2nd best post Endgame film. GOTG3 is still king in that regard. But this was great. This felt like vintage MCU to me. Great characters, wasn't afraid to get seriously dark, and the trauma and depression themes were very well executed. Awesome movie

 

[Primal Slayer]

This was the Suicide Squad film that I have been waiting for.

I'm happy when I am wrong and this film proved me wrong. I was not excited about it. I found the lineup unexpired. Figured it'd be a let down.

But it was the total opposite. Marvel felt *grounded* again which is where I feel like they do their best work. The action was good. Drama was good. The comedy was good, much more preferable to Gunns comedy.

Taskmaster was the breakout in this film. Just amazing. Cant wait for more.

What they do with Val is what I keep waiting for DC to do with Waller.

 

[BlackFox]

Solid 7.5/10 movie. Some interesting ideas and less usual formula and the "villain" was really something different and really well done. Pugh carried the movie on her shoulders but the rest offered good support although some characters didnt really get much of a look in or much to do or say, some could have been taken out the movie all together and the plot wouldnt have been effected.

Less jokey than past MCU efforts but what comedy that was there was handled much better than previous efforts. Action was kind of meh though.

Overall one of the better efforts post Endgame, not on a D&W level or Daredevil of late, but still a much better effort.

 

[HammerDown]

6.5 out of 10
Bang average MCU film.

Not much to hate or love about the film. It’s basically and at best a third tier of Marvel characters jumble together into a misfit team. The dramatic beats is probably what works best here, the comedy doesn’t always land, the action is ok for the most part with some shining elements towards the end. The characters are ok with Bob(as expected/hoped) completely stealing the show.

There was a lot of explaining throughout the movie, like who’s this and that character… likely catering to most of us who didn’t follow every single thing Marvel puts out and that sometimes felt a bit distracting/forced. The chemistry between the characters was ok and nothing really out of the ordinary.

Once again, Bob was the very best thing about this, the shades on the character, the obliviousness, darkness… all worked out very well. I thought that the bit where Bob shows a glimpse of what he can do was actually top tier action stuff and a great way to establish a character overall level. Good stuff.

All in all it was a decent step for the MCU moving forward but nothing to rave about.

 

[nachtschicht]

This is the warmest, most human marvel movie I've ever seen. Fantastic. I'd consider this a feel good movie, just one that knocks you down first.

 

[Primal Slayer]

I think the most unbelievable thing about this film was
Tony having never trademarked Avengers

 

[Lily Adler]

Best movie of phase 4. And that's saying s lot bc I loved D&W so much that I saw it 20 times. But this was old school MCU. It felt like phase 2 or 3 movie. And as someone who struggles with depression and feeling lonely, that ending hit me right in the feels. An easy 9/10 for me.

Disclaimer: I legit had no idea that we were in phase 5... I thought FF was suppose to be the last movie of phase 4... So I guess this movie is the best movie of phase 4 AND 5.

Aren't we in Phase 5?

 

[Punisher_MAX]

Man I loved this. Easily a 9/10 for me. Can't wait to see more of this team.

 

[BrollySupersj]

Fun film with great performances and a nice little focus on the struggles of mental health. I certainly can relate to how Bob felt. 7/10.

 

[Mr. Peanut]

This was great, first time an MCU film has felt like a classic MCU team-up since 2019 (I'm excluding NWH and DPAW because those focused on crossing over with films outside of the MCU, and The Marvels because it didn't have the kind of interpersonal conflict that really makes a team-up movie work, it felt more like Captain Marvel and her sidekicks fighting a random villain). Loved seeing how all the characters bounce off each other.

 

[psylockolussus]

Movie should have been the called Yelena & Bob. The rest of the team were tag alongs that were probably added because of the "*" ending. Bucky was surprisingly underdeveloped and didn't need to appear. Red Guardian was the comic relief who was never funny to me. Ghost is Ghost, could have been replaced by a more interesting character. Walker didn't have a lot to do after the first hour. Valentina continues to be an unlikeable character. And then there was Taskmaster, who should have been written out.

Best character for me is Sentry simply because that was the character I was looking for and didn't disappoint. Yelena had a decent role, but I didn't get the need to push her to the lead role, especially this wasn't even Black Widow: Brave New World legacy movie. The fact that they sidelined Bucky, and Sebastian got the 2nd billing was just confusing to me. They didn't need to feature Bucky to play 2nd fiddle again, especially to someone that was just introduced in phase 4.

I really disliked the color grading. The only thing I didn't have a problem with are the action scenes/fight scenes.

 

[BoredGuy]

I enjoyed it a lot, I'll give it a 7.5 or 8 out of 10
Not absolute top-tier Marvel, and the whole "best movie since Endgame" may be overstated. I'd say "Among the best" since Endgame, but I'd probably put Shang Chi and definitely GOTG 3 above it.

Pros:
-Great action scenes, really enjoyed the Vault fight and the Sentry fight in the Watchtower
-Cinematography was very good and didn't fall into the "bland/TV-quality" look that people say a lot of the latest MCU movies have
-Yelena and Bob were both great
-US Agent was also quite solid, the reveals about his family were understated but emotional
-Humor, Not too much, didn't undercut and of the more emotional beats
-Mental Health themes were very well done and relatable
-Costumes were very good, especially Ghost, Sentry, and Taskmaster (RIP)
-Mel had a surprisingly beefy role that was well done
-Val is finally a fully realized character
-Alexi through the majority of the film, thought his dialogue with Yelena was all very solid, and I enjoyed his humor through most of the film. "Evil Pillow" was hilarious.

Cons:
-Alexi in the credit scenes. This is where he jumped the shark imo. Two scenes showing him be a glory-hound after his (minor) growth in the movie seemed unnecessary.
-Needed more Bucky, having him in a mentor role was fine, but a little more wouldn't have hurt
-More Ghost, I would've like to have seen the Void Vision scenes for all of the Thunderbolts intercutting in the final act.
-They did Taskmaster dirty. She could've at least made it out of the vault with them and maybe kill her off in the Chase scene, which could've also been longer.
-Pacing, the first two acts felt over-long, while the third seemed too short.
-The look of the post-credit scene: it felt so different from the rest of the film, and I hope it's not indicative of how Doomsday will look. Say what you want about the Russos, but none of their other Marvel films looked this... idk, cheap.

 

[Elayis]

This definitely felt like a return to form for the Marvel of old, where films would be basically solid but not exceptional. There’s nothing I would point to as bad, and a lot of it’s pretty good, but it’s also not particularly memorable. Yelena was hands-down the best thing about this movie, with Pugh arguably being the best casting decision they’ve made in over a decade.

I think Thunderbolts proves just how much leeway individual creatives get on a Marvel movie, which isn’t much. I honestly was expecting much more from a film co-written by Joanna Calo. I appreciated that a blockbuster like this would broach the subject of mental health, but it did so in such a superficial and hamfisted way that there’s nothing interesting to latch onto. I really wish Bob had his own arc, just like Yelena’s, where we get to see his struggles dramatized, instead of relegated to monologues and brief flashbacks (just like Moon Knight).

The team as a whole was reduced to simplistic, one-note caricatures. Red Guardian’s a hero past his prime, desperate for a return to fame and fortune. US Agent is a toxic *******, trapped inside of his own angst. Bucky hates his office job, and just wants to punch something. And Ghost is… what exactly? Aside from a few references to her horrible childhood, the film did basically nothing with her (and even less with poor Taskmaster).

I’m still not vibing with de Fontaine. She seems like a character designed by committee, where she exhibits a bunch of traits (narcissism, incompetence, ruthlessness), but never enough to actually become interesting. She’s a walking half-measure of a character, and after four appearances (if I counted correctly), I still don’t understand why I should care about her or what her role is going to be.

I liked the music, the cinematography and that the CGI was actually decent in an MCU flick (aside from the fight in the third act). This was only the fifth Marvel movie I’ve bothered to see in theaters since Endgame, and I’m still on the fence about Fantastic Four. It’ll need the same glowing reviews and general audience reception that Thunderbolts got to make it seem like appointment viewing.

7/10

 

[Chris B]

I absolutely loved this. It's the best MCU entry since Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 for me. I'm going with a 9/10.