In story, there was a 2 year span between the conclusion of the original Ant-man film and when Ant-man and the Wasp begins. During that time Scott Lang joined Captain America in Civil War, was re-incarcerated, did a year in house arrest; meanwhile the government learned of Hank Pym's technology and activites of the Ant-man suit. That admission of knowledge has now brought fourth criminal charges for both he and his daughter, As they find themselves on the run for unlawful acts in the midst of the superhero registration act, and Sokovia Accords.
For the most part, the Ant-man stories is not widely regarded as top tier MCU viewing, but in Marvel Studio's defense the first film out-performed with world wide box office records when compared to either the first Captain America movie or first Thor Movie. The film also puts in the forefront the family dynamic, something no other film of the first 3 phases has made a point to do. Ant-man and the Wasp displays elaborate set pieces, 2 great chase sequences and an extremely imaginative special effects to view the everyday world, but the sum of it parts is the family dynamic, with having the audience invested by showing us a relationship between fathers and daughters. Its what connects the audience on a personal level, while injecting humor into their story.
Hope's mother Janet was never seen in the first film, but was prominent in it's storytelling, acting more of a specter, that drives Hank Pym and his daughter apart. Unable to reveal her superhero deeds that cost Janet her life in the 80's. Hank inadvertently pushes his daughter away while burying himself in his work to rescue Janet from the quantum realm. Fast forward 20+ years, the relationship between Hope and Hank becomes increasingly fractured, until Scott manages to come back from the Quantum realm and sparks a renewed optimism of Janet's survival and rescue. With a fresh pair of eyes to see what Hank might have missed; Hope, Hank and their legion of controlled ants work endlessly to rescue Janet, and in doing so renew the bonds of father and daughter.
Scott and Cassie approaches' the father and daughter connection from a different angle. they have a strong loving bond to start with. It was Scott's incarceration in the first film, that made him work at Baskin Robins and try anything and everything to be there for his daughter. Desperately wanting to make up for loss time while in prison Scott's life is devoted to being there for Cassie. In the opening of this movie we have Scott maintaining house arrest for the past year, while in captivity he has created an elaborate
Michel Gondry playground for him and his daughter to connect in. His involvement with Hank and Hope in the first film stemmed from his need to be with his daughter Cassie. Here we open up wanting to put that chapter in his life behind and as he is just a week away from getting out of house arrest.
There is a point in the story that Hank turns to fellow scientist Dr. Bill Foster played by Laurence Fishburne for aid; Conversely Fishbourne's character has a sense of moral obligation as he secretly fosters a young woman named Ava. Determine to cure her condition Bill's commitment to surrogacy, showcases the idea of parental sacrifices, as is this case of adoptive father to a daughter. Similar in set up to MCU villain Killmonger there is pathos and legitimacy behind their motivations, however their methods are what is misguided. From flag-smashers terrorists in Falcon & Winter Soldier to Thanos wanting save the universe from a over-population ,depleted resources, and inevitable extinction. The implications are good, but methods are radically unacceptable. Humanizing the character, understanding their position, and watching the acts through their eyes is something DC has not yet mastered.
No comments:
Post a Comment