We headed to Cineworld in Broughton to check out Thunderbolts* in 3D IMAX, the movie is the last in the film in phase 5 of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) and it’s certainly one that takes us back to the feel that we had with the early days of the MCU as we are taken on a new cinematic journey.
In Thunderbolts*, Marvel Studios brings together an unconventional team of antiheroes: Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), Red Guardian (David Harbour), Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen), Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), and John Walker (Wyatt Russell). After being caught in a death trap set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julie Louis-Dreyfus), these disillusioned individuals must undertake a perilous mission that will compel them to confront the darkest aspects of their pasts. Will this dysfunctional group fall apart, or will they find redemption and unite as something greater before it’s too late?
I’d been looking forward to Thunderbolts* for a while, and I have to say that I wasn’t disappointed with this new movie. It features some familiar characters and some new ones, which have expanded the MCU a bit more and brought us closer to the next phase.
The movie explores the relationships between the characters and focuses particularly on Yelana (played by Pugh) as she embarks on a journey. The team gradually unites to fight for their survival against a new threat known as The Void (Lewis Pullman). This situation arises from Valentina Allegra de Fontaine’s experiments to create a super soldier, but, as expected, things do not go according to plan.
Thunderbolts*Â certainly brings us some great action sequences from start to finish, and we also get some great comedy from Red Guardian, which I was hoping for. The characters all come together nicely, and we also get to see some moments from their backstories courtesy of Bob (Pullman), which is a nice touch.
I did mention earlier about the action. This is opened up on the IMAX screen as the battle sequence opens up into the 1.90:1 Expanded Aspect Ratio, providing up to 26% more picture than non-IMAX cinema, which was shot with IMAX-certified digital cameras. These sequences look stunning, and the fact that the film was in 3d also gives the film plenty of depth to pull you into the action. Thunderbolts* in IMAX 3d delivers a truly immersive experience, as director Jake Schreier intended, and he has brought us a fun and action-packed movie.
The sound also pounds in the action sequences with the IMAX sound system, with you feeling the bass coming through the seats as the explosions boom throughout the room. This adds to the experience of seeing Thunderbolts* in IMAX. Also, when it comes to sound, the soundtrack is amazing. The soundtrack is by Son Lux, which is an American experimental band. Originally, the solo project and moniker of founding member Ryan Lott includes Rafiq Bhatia and Ian Chang. I loved the feel that the music brought to the movie, and it sounded great through the IMAX system.
Thunderbolts* is a fun movie and I would have to say that it’s been one of the best MCU movies that I’ve seen in a while, it’s still not perfect but it’s a great end to phase 5 and an introduction to the next phase of the MCU, I suppose you could go as far as saying that it’s a reboot for The Avengers but only time will time when we are taken deeper into the next phase and how the Thunderbolts* continue in the MCU.
But what about the “*” I hear you ask, and why are they called Thunderbolts? Well, I’m not going to spoil that for you, go see the movie for yourselves for that one.
Does Thunderbolts* Have a Post-Credits Scene?
Yes, Thunderbolts* does have additional scenes that will keep you engaged. The first mid-credits scene features Red Guardian (David Harbour), who is sporting a new look while trying to convince a young woman in a supermarket that he is the one on a cereal box. It’s just a bit of fun.
The end credits scene is much more interesting and is a fairly long scene as well, we see the team in what was once Stark Tower talking about The Avengers and that Sam Wilson has trademarked the name, there even a comical moment with the Red Guardian bringing us a new look at the tracksuits he has designed for them. But it’s the alert that they get about a ship that has entered Earth’s space, a ship that, when you see it gives you that “wow” factor. Now I’m not going into what this ship is as I don’t want to spoil it for you, but all I can say is it’s setting us up for a very interesting movie that is coming soon.
An Action Packed Roller-coaster Ride
Movie title: Thunderbolts* (2025)
Movie description: After finding themselves ensnared in a death trap, an unconventional team of antiheroes must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to confront the darkest corners of their pasts.
Date published: May 2, 2025
Country: UK
Duration: 2h 6m
Director(s): Jake Schreier
Actor(s): Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Genre: Superhero, Action, Adventure
Summary
Thunderbolts* is a refreshing entry into the MCU and takes us back to the early days and the feel of Marvel’s early movies in the ever-growing franchise.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
