Main Topic – Thunderbolts Film – 5/2/25 | Blog # 5
Directed
by: Jake Schreier
Review Written by: James B. Wreh
Screening Dates: May 2, 2025, and May 9, 2025
Overall
Impression
- Movie: The second MCU film of 2025, Thunderbolts.
- Reception: Excellent and thoroughly
enjoyable, with strong character development for the main cast.
- Engagement: Captured my attention from the
very beginning.
Performances
- Florence Pugh: Delivered a standout
performance, especially in the opening voiceover scene where her character
speaks to someone she has tied up. Her arc—and the emotional journey that
came with it—was one of the film’s strongest points
- Lewis Pullman: His character arc felt
earned, particularly the way it concluded. Both the writing and Pullman’s
execution made Bob/Century’s journey compelling.
- Supporting Cast: Fun and engaging, with
each character uniquely contributing to the story.
Tone and
Comedy
- Tone: Established effectively from the
start, balancing action, heartfelt moments, and serious beats.
- Comedy: Well-timed and placed
appropriately, adding to the experience without overtaking any scene.
Action
and Storytelling
- Action Sequences: Executed well, adding
excitement with a clear purpose, the action consistently moved the story
forward rather than feeling like a spectacle for its own sake.
- Story Flow: Smooth pacing, with no slow
moments for me; the rhythm kept the audience engaged throughout.
- Interconnectedness: Integrated seamlessly
into the broader MCU narrative, referencing past events and character
arcs. This worked for hardcore fans like me, who’ve seen every MCU film
and Disney+ show, while also catching casual viewers up so they weren’t
lost in the story.
Music
and Score
- Thunderbolts Theme: A memorable main theme
that elevated the film; the score overall was a major strength.
- Score Variety: The music shifted
effectively between moments, enhancing the story. A favorite moment for me
was near the end when the Thunderbolts theme played after Yelena says to
Valentina, “We own you now,” and the composer(s) Son Lux slid in
the original Avengers theme just before the credits rolled. Seeing it a
second time only made me appreciate it more.
Character
Development and MCU Connections
- Character Arcs: Strong introductions and
growth, particularly for the Thunderbolts–New Avengers team. Century’s
journey from start to finish was a highlight, with his development feeling
well-earned by the end.
- MCU Integration:
- Yelena: References to her sister’s death.
- Bucky/Winter Soldier: Ties to his past
storylines.
- Ghost: Further acknowledgment of events
from Ant-Man and the Wasp.
- Red Guardian: His integration sets up his
presence in future MCU projects.
Post-Credit
Scenes
- First Scene: A humorous grocery store
moment with Red Guardian out of costume. Also something I noticed in the
Thunderbolts Trailer before the film
released on Disney Plus, the “Red Guardian character” foreshadowed the 1st
post credit scene we the audience didn’t
know at the time check out this short in this link here:
Thunderbolts | We Missed This Mid-Credit Thunderbolts Hint 🤯 https://youtu.be/Vv-74tzu2ZU
- Second Scene: Set up a potential conflict
between Sam Wilson as Captain America and the formation of the new
Avengers (highlighted by Yelena’s tense and combative phone conversation
with him), tying into upcoming Avengers: Doomsday and or and Secret
Wars.
- Future Connections:
- Fantastic Four Tease: The final shot
showed the Fantastic Four arriving on Earth, with their theme playing as
they entered the MCU’s 616 timeline. It raises questions for me as a
fan—will the New Avengers (or at least some of them) cross paths with the
Fantastic Four in Fantastic Four: First Steps, or will Marvel save
that meeting for later MCU projects?
- Upcoming MCU Movies: Fantastic Four:
First Steps (July 2025) seem likely to connect to Doomsday or Secret
Wars.
Final
Thoughts
- Anticipation: I’m excited to buy the
Blu-ray, watch it again, and explore the production features—especially
behind-the-scenes looks at filming locations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,
and U.S.-based sets. I also hope to see how the Thunderbolts theme was created,
as well as the process of developing the score, hopefully included in the
production features.
- Overall Rating: I truly enjoyed this film,
with very little to criticize. I didn’t know I wanted a Thunderbolts
film, but I’m glad we got one—especially for Yelena’s progression, which
Florence Pugh portrayed brilliantly.
Additional
Notes
- Release Date Mentioned: Fantastic Four
set to release July 25, 2025.
- Timeline Integration: Suggests the
Fantastic Four will shift from the 1960s into the MCU’s current timeline,
setting up major crossovers.
Conclusion
In my
opinion, Thunderbolts
stands out as one of the MCU’s stronger entries, with compelling
performances—particularly Florence Pugh’s—balanced tone, well-placed humor,
engaging action, and seamless MCU integration. It effectively sets up future
storylines, especially with the Fantastic Four tease, keeping excitement high
for what’s next, though opinions may vary among viewers.
Review
Written by: James B. Wreh
Companion Podcast & Video
Full episode #62- Thunderbolts* Spoiler Review is
available to watch and listen to on YouTube
and Spotify 🎧🎬
https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/OeMm6UVvKWb
Screenings Attended on: May 2nd & May 9th, 2025
Written and recorded by James B. Wreh, creator, host, and producer of The
Silly, Nerdy & Wordy Podcast.
Enjoyed the review? Subscribe on YouTube(https://www.youtube.com/@KRUBOY-PRODUCTIONS) or follow The Silly, Nerdy & Wordy Podcast on your favorite podcast platform for more film, production, and Broadway breakdowns. You can also find me on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Podbean, and other major podcast platforms.
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