**Quantumania is a step up from most of Phase Four. It felt like a Thor: Ragnarok impersonation, and lost the fun of the other Ant-Man films.** My feelings are so mixed on Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. The first two Ant-Man movies were so great because they were low-stakes with self-contained stories that weren't consumed with saving the universe but instead were set in less a fantastical world that allowed the goofy size-changing antics really shine. Quantumania threw Ant-Man into an outrageous world, changing him from the zany character of the film to the normal character and stripping him of some of his charm. Quantumania felt like a cross between Thor: Ragnarok and Rise of Skywalker with some Power Rangers sprinkled in there, and the result was… decent. It really wasn't a bad movie. It has some funny parts and was better than most of Phase 4. Bill Murray was loads of fun for his brief part and Jonathan Majors is going to be an awesome big bad in the MCU. But it all felt like a familiar save the universe comic book movie and sadly made Ant-Man feel out of place in his own film.

I was really excited for this film; the trailers made the stakes seem high with a story that was somewhat mature in tone. Unfortunately, I was ultimately let down. The overarching plot was pretty good. I liked the arcs our characters had, particularly Scott and Cassie Lang. But the minor details are where things get messy. We get introduced to so many new characters, concepts, and story details in the quantum realm, resulting in an overall film that is not very digestible. There is too much going on and not enough time to fully flesh out the details. The dialogue is pretty poorly written. At some points in the film, I was literally laughing out loud at what the characters were saying. It felt exactly like a TikTok skit exaggerating and mocking superhero movies. Cassie Lang has one line that is probably THE MOST CRINGY LINE EVER SPOKEN IN THE MCU. The performances were decent overall. Most of the acting in the Ant-Man films is a little cheesy and campy, which mostly works in the small-scale stories they tell. But with the large, expanding story that the film is attempting to deliver, it just felt cheap. Kang is really amazing. Jonathan Majors was a tier above the rest of the cast; I can't wait to see more of him but also feel like he was wasted here. Finally, the visuals were really inconsistent. Some scenes looked quite good, with interesting and detailed settings, while others clearly featured three characters standing in front of a green screen. I mean, in some scenes I swear I could see slight black outlines from the keying technology. Where is the budget going in these films? They really need to slow down in postproduction because this is becoming a major theme. One thing I will note is that I thought MODOK looked really good. It was always going to be difficult to pull off a live action version of him, but they did a stellar job. Overall, I am pretty disappointed in the movie, but the movie gave me enough to make this a somewhat average experience. The MCU needs to pick it up this year because it is on a major downward trajectory. Score: 52% | Verdict: Average

Life for Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is good. He is basking in the recognition and fame that has come with his work with the Avengers and saving half the universe from Thanos and has even become a best-selling author. He has a successful relationship with Hope (Evangeline Lilly) who has taken her father’s company to new heights and they have managed to blend their personal and professional lives and enjoy a very happy life. Scott does worry about his daughter Cassie (Kathryn Newton) as he lost several years with her during the Blip and she is an activist who has been arrested for her efforts including a hysterical prank on the police with Pym technology. Cassie is constantly on her father for not doing more as she feels that he is more focused on the past battles with the Avengers and not the day to day struggles people are facing. Over dinner, she tells Hope and her dad as well as Hank (Michael Douglas), and Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), whom she studied Hank’s journals while they were in the Blip and has developed a Quantum beacon which can map the Quantum Realm without having to venture to the sub-atomic relay where until recently nobody had been able to return from. This news sends Janet into a panic during a demonstration and the four are soon sucked into the realm and discover a diverse and thriving ecosystem as well as an abundance of strange and dangerous creatures. Janet is clearly hiding something and is frantic that they must leave but their party has been scattered and they soon learn that she fears and individual known as Kang (Jonathan Majors). While she was trapped in the realm for thirty years, Janet encountered King and helped him regain his power source but in doing so, learned he was a banished conquerer who can manipulate time, space, and the multiverse. Her actions to trap Kang and lead a resistance to the vast empire he created has set the stage as Janet has now returned to see what has developed and Kang will stop at nothing to regain his power source to escape and wreck his wrath on trillions. Naturally, it is up to Scott, Hope, and the team to find a way to fight the evil and powerful Kang to save the day. The film is a darker tale than people might expect from an Ant-man movie but in kicking off Phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the movie is a visual splendor filled with amazing visuals, landscapes, and characters. The film takes a bit of time to get to the action but when it arrives it delivers and the performance of Majors as Kang is captivating it will be interesting to see where the storyline evolves over the next series of films leading up to “The Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” and beyond. “Ant-man and the Wasp: Quantumania may not break loads of new ground in terms of a Marvel film but Director Peyton Reed knows the characters well and delivers a story that should resonate with the fans and the strong cast and addition of Majors along with the great visuals make this another winner for Marvel. 4 stars out of 5

In general, the Ant-Man films have been well received by critics and audiences alike, with the films' unique blend of humor, action, and heart, as well as the performances of the cast members, widely praised. particular Paul Rudd as the titular Ant-Man So "Ant-Man 3" is likely to be eagerly awaited by Marvel fans and moviegoers in general. You can find the full review at https://aarcflick.blogspot.com/2022/12/ant-man-and-wasp-quantumania-2023-movie.html