Movies

‘Thunderbolts’ Review: Marvel Roars Back With a New Team

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Most superheroes have a history marked by personal tragedy, shaping their characters in significant ways. For instance, Superman’s parents perished when his home planet was destroyed; Batman suffered the loss of both his parents at the hands of a mugger; Spider-Man experienced the double tragedy of losing not only his parents but also his uncle; and Wolverine, who can barely recall anything from his old life, remembers only the painful experiments that left him with an indestructible skeleton. The backstory of long-standing comic book characters often revolves around these types of heartrending events.

Instead, let me rephrase it for you: Usually, that’s where it stops; the backstory serving as a foundation for selfless actions. However, not many comic-book films bring their characters’ trauma to the forefront of their narrative like Marvel’s Thunderbolts. In this movie, the heroes’ main conflict is less about battling evil and more about confronting the psychological wounds from their painful histories.

The movie initiates by showcasing its primary character, Yelena Belova (played by Florence Pugh), precariously positioned on the peak of a colossal skyscraper. Through narration, she shares that there’s an unsettling void within her – a hollow feeling that haunts her spirit. Since this is a Marvel film and given Yelena’s identity as Black Widow, it becomes evident that her leap from the building is part of a covert operation rather than a suicidal act – a point emphasized by her voiceover describing an unfillable emptiness inside her heart.

Without a doubt, Yelena manages to make it through her leap. And here’s an interesting twist – at the end of the comic ‘Thunderbolts’, she encounters a super-powered character named “The Void.” Quite straightforward, isn’t it? And as I pen this description, I can’t help but feel that it borders on the dramatic. However, the fact that ‘Thunderbolts’ is as engaging as it is, speaks volumes about the script penned by long-term Marvel writer Eric Pearson and ‘The Bear’ co-showrunner Joanna Calo, and the dedication of the cast, particularly Florence Pugh, who imbues Yelena’s void battles with a deep emotional resonance and an unexpected dose of humor. As such, ‘Thunderbolts’ never fails to feel like a personal narrative about a genuine individual, even as it steers the colossal Marvel Cinematic Universe towards its next set of monumental crossover films. (Imagine that – a superhero movie with real people. What a novel idea!)

In essence, Thunderbolts might be better appreciated if one has some familiarity with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), as many of its primary characters have previously made appearances as sidekicks or secondary villains in other films and Disney+ series. For instance, Yelena, who is the sister of the MCU’s first Black Widow portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, was introduced alongside her father, the Russian hero Red Guardian (David Harbour), in 2021’s Black Widow. This film also featured flashbacks showing that both Black Widows had traumatic childhood experiences such as kidnapping, state-approved human trafficking, parents transforming them into brainwashed assassins, and more Russian accents than a Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoon.

In essence: Yelena has every reason to be lonely and down as the movie “Thunderbolts” starts. Red Guardian advises her to quit working for morally questionable spy, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), but Yelena agrees to one last job on the promise that once completed, Val will assist her in transitioning to a more heroic career. The movie humorously hints at the idea that even assassins might yearn for creative fulfillment just like the rest of us.

It’s a known fact that no one in the annals of filmmaking has ever managed to complete “one last mission.” Just as expected, when Yelena arrives for her final task at a highly classified subterranean vault, she finds herself surrounded by various mercenaries dealing with their individual predicaments. Among them is Wyatt Russell, who plays the disgraced ex-Captain America, Hannah John-Kamen as the enigmatic assassin Ghost, and Olga Kurylenko portraying the versatile Taskmaster, able to mimic any fighting style she witnesses.

This diverse group stumbles upon a puzzling man called Bob (Lewis Pullman), unaware of his location or how he arrived here. During moments of memory loss, Bob appears to have extraordinary abilities, causing peculiar occurrences whenever the other characters make contact with him. Not long after, they find themselves in peril while grappling with their hidden emotional turmoil together.

In Thunderbolts, almost everyone except Bob shares a remarkably similar skill set, excelling at striking people through punching and kicking as well as shooting. Although it may seem monotonous to have a team made up of individuals with identical talents, this setup actually benefits the movie in several ways. For instance, Thunderbolts avoids being overwhelmed by excessive special effects and maintains an action scale that isn’t overly extravagant.

A grounded group of protagonists brings about classic action scenes filled with impressive acrobatics and martial arts moves, similar to the initial encounter between Yelena and the Thunderbolts that rapidly transforms into a frenzied four-person brawl. From a functional standpoint, it’s improbable to gather a team of heroes who can all perform identical feats. However, the Thunderbolts aren’t intentionally formed as a heroic squad; instead, they are merely an assortment of misfits and outcasts who find themselves in the same precarious situation together.

Among the strong points in the collective, there’s one character who seems less effective, even within the context of the movie – my beloved recurring Marvel character portrayed by Sebastian Stan, Bucky Barnes, a previous Avenger carrying a significant burden of personal trauma. (It’s hard to become an eternal super-soldier and spend decades as a controlled assassin for a terrorist group without some dark secrets.) The film doesn’t delve into the reasons why the ex-Winter Soldier is now a freshman U.S. Congressman from Brooklyn (and it seems Bucky himself isn’t entirely certain), but initial scenes suggest he has an affinity for Valentina, who is entangled in an unspecified scandal and faces potential impeachment as Director of the CIA.

This version maintains the original’s meaning while using simpler language and a more conversational tone to make it easier to read and understand.

The film briefly touches on potential damning evidence that could tarnish Val’s reputation and strip her of power, but it quickly shifts focus and primarily centers around Bucky regaining his superhero status. Similarly, the concept of an elected official engaging in extrajudicial killings with a vigilante group is not further explored or addressed.

Bucky Barnes, having dealt with his personal issues in previous Marvel movies, now provides guidance to the Thunderbolts on embracing redemption rather than avoiding problems. This only highlights how uncomfortable he seems among this group. It appears that someone at Marvel Studios thought this project required a well-established Marvel character to boost its appeal, and who fits that bill better than an old assassin with a robotic arm?

In the early stages of Yelena’s journey within the film, she questions Red Guardian about the significance of everything, expressing a sentiment that many long-time Marvel fans may understand, having endured movies like “Eternals” and “Secret Invasion”. The movie “Thunderbolts”, however, serves as a testament to Marvel Studios’ potential greatness. It is visually appealing, audibly engaging, and masterfully transforms the protagonist’s pain into a powerful allegory about choosing action and camaraderie over despair and indifference. Let’s hope that this creative energy continues in future projects such as “The Fantastic Four” and upcoming “Avengers” sequels. It would be unfortunate if they failed to capitalize on it.

Additional Thoughts:

Absolutely, the asterisk displayed in “Thunderbolts” does appear during the movie, and its significance is clarified before the film ends.

Previously, some people have drawn parallels between Marvel’s Thunderbolts and DC’s Suicide Squad. However, it’s important to recognize that while both teams share similar dynamics, the superhero movie Marvel is actually heavily inspired by its own Guardians of the Galaxy. This story revolves around a group of criminals, outcasts with troubled pasts who find themselves united by fate and discover that they can aid others and heal their own wounds by defeating an incredibly powerful villain. Although Thunderbolts lacks a talking tree, in many other aspects, it bears a striking resemblance to Guardians of the Galaxy.

RATING: 7/10

The Most Shocking Marvel Cameos

12. Patton Oswalt as Pip the Troll

To begin with, while Eternals might not have been the top-notch production within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (it could even be the weakest), it did save the best for last. Out of nowhere, the Eternals’ spaceship was invaded by two unexpected guests. One of them was Pip the Troll, a hard-drinking cosmic hero who often associates with Warlock and the Infinity Watch team. This character was brought to life by comedian and occasional Marvel comic writer, Patton Oswalt. As for the second surprise appearance, more on that later…

This revised version aims to maintain the original’s tone while making it a bit easier to read for a broader audience.

11. Seth Green as Howard the Duck

Following the unsuccessful release of the “Howard the Duck” film, one might expect that character to be permanently shelved and never given another chance. However, his unexpected debut in the MCU, in a post-credits scene from “Guardians of the Galaxy”, was a delightful surprise. Since then, he has made additional appearances, with Seth Green providing his voice each time.

10. Evan Peters as Ralph Bohner

In the Fox X-Men movies, Evan Peters portrayed Quicksilver, a role later taken over by Aaron Taylor-Johnson in the MCU. However, Taylor-Johnson’s Quicksilver met his end in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Thus, when Evan Peters appeared in WandaVision as an alternate version of the character, it came as quite a surprise. It was later revealed that Peters wasn’t playing Quicksilver at all, but rather a neighbor named Ralph Bohner, who had been manipulated by the series’ villain into believing he was Wanda’s deceased brother. As the beginning of Phase Four in the MCU, WandaVision served as Marvel’s hint that from a casting perspective, the Multiverse Saga might bring unexpected changes.

9. Brett Goldstein as Hercules

In a “Thor” movie, it’s not so shocking to see cameos from familiar faces like Anthony Hopkins as Odin or Tom Hiddleston as Loki. However, the unexpected appearance was Brett Goldstein portraying Hercules, sporting his comic book costume and that distinctive helmet/visor, which certainly took viewers by surprise.

8. Charlie Cox as Daredevil

In my perspective, I’d like to clarify that this rundown doesn’t feature appearances by actors who had previously portrayed their characters within the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). For instance, it was a clever twist when Mark Ruffalo appeared as Bruce Banner in the finale of Iron Man 3, but at that point, his character was already well-established. The sole exception I made was Charlie Cox’s Daredevil appearing as Peter Parker’s lawyer in Spider-Man: No Way Home. This was an exception because, as far as the MCU was concerned by 2021, Cox and other Netflix Marvel heroes were seemingly out of action. However, Cox had never played Daredevil outside of those Netflix shows, which had essentially been disregarded by the rest of the MCU. This one scene signaled that these series mattered and paved the way for Cox’s return in Daredevil: Born Again.

7. Melissa McCarthy as the Actor Playing Hela

Beginning with “Ragnarok”, the “Thor” series introduced a recurring joke where past events in the franchise were summarized through awkwardly staged plays on Asgard, featuring notable actors making unexpected appearances. In “Love and Thunder”, for instance, Melissa McCarthy played Hela, the main antagonist of “Ragnarok”. Although McCarthy is a hilarious actress, she might not be the first choice to portray the terrifying goddess of death.

6. John Krasinski as Reed Richards

For quite some time now, Marvel enthusiasts have been advocating for the casting of John Krasinski, known for his roles in “The Office” and “A Quiet Place,” as the leader of the Fantastic Four, Reed Richards. Although the cast for Marvel’s upcoming “Fantastic Four” movie is yet to be confirmed, they did acknowledge fan demand by featuring a subtle nod in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.” In this film, Krasinski appeared as the leader of the Illuminati only to meet an untimely end at the hands of the Scarlet Witch a short while later. So beware what you wish for, Marvel fans!

5. Harry Styles as Eros

In the second post-credits twist of Eternals, the unexpected appearance stealing the spotlight next to Angelina Jolie was Harry Styles, playing the role of Eros. This cosmic being is Thanos’ sibling and a former member of Marvel Comics’ Avengers, possessing an intriguing yet somewhat unsettling ability: manipulating people’s emotions to make them fall in love with him. However, it seems that this power might not have the same captivating effect on moviegoers as it did in the comics, given the relatively subdued reception to Eternals and Styles’ cameo.

4. Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Valentina Allegra de Fontaine

Similar to Melissa McCarthy, comedian Julia Louis-Dreyfus isn’t typically someone you associate with a wicked mastermind due to her extensive career filled with hilarious performances on shows such as Seinfeld and Veep. This perception was turned upside down when she unexpectedly made her entrance into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing seemingly out of nowhere to recruit John Walker in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

3. Matt Damon as the Actor Playing Loki

Prior to Melissa McCarthy portraying Hela in “Thor: Love and Thunder”, Matt Damon took on a comedic role as an actor impersonating Loki in a particularly amusing segment from “Thor: Ragnarok”. This part served as a recap of the events from “Thor: The Dark World”. Interestingly, Damon, who is well-known enough to potentially lead his own Marvel film, was not the only notable guest appearance in that scene. It also featured Luke Hemsworth as Thor and Sam Neill as Odin.

2. Charlize Theron as Clea

In simpler terms, Damon is arguably the most significant Marvel character to unexpectedly appear, based on star power alone. Only Charlize Theron, who made a surprise appearance as Clea in “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness,” comes close. However, Clea’s appearance wasn’t entirely surprising because it was expected that she would eventually be introduced in one of the Doctor Strange films. What was unexpected was her portrayal by Charlize Theron and the fact that Marvel chose to introduce her at the end of a movie that already had a vast multiverse as its theme, making it quite remarkable.

1. Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

The pivotal event that set everything in motion was Sam Jackson’s appearance as Nick Fury following the credits of the initial Iron Man film, hinting at Marvel’s grand scheme for their cinematic universe. Contrary to popular belief, this scene was essentially put together hastily without any specific follow-up plans – a pun not intended. Jackson’s character was not originally scripted, and he didn’t sign on for further appearances as Fury until after Iron Man hit theaters. Despite whispers of Jackson’s cameo before the film premiered, Marvel cleverly kept fans and critics guessing by editing the scene out of previews and early screenings. This surprise debut of Fury became a genuine “what-the-fuck” moment that Marvel has been trying to surpass for the past 15 years, though I’m yet to see them top it.

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2025-04-29 19:26

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