Ant-Man and the Wasp Quantumania: A Small Man with Big Problems

In case you were unaware, on February 17, 2023, Marvel studios released Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, and to my surprise, there was a lukewarm response from the general public. Despite the seemingly mediocre reviews, I felt compelled to see it to uphold my title as a seasoned consumer of Marvel Universe content. I was pleasantly surprised by the fairly entertaining plot, characters, and cinematography.

In a nutshell, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania encourages viewers to imagine what might occur if they were shrunk to subatomic size and traveled to the Quantum Realm. Marvel has explored the Quantum Realm in past films, but never stated a clear verdict on it. This movie delivers a message that Ant-Man fans will recognize: you should not tamper with the Quantum Realm. 

Even though Marvel movies operate on a tremendous scale regarding how they shoot, film, and engage the audience, I thought the plot of this movie was a 6/10. Many fans, including me, thought that Marvel rushed the plot in the previous films and left out crucial details from the comics. Many moviegoers were not anticipating Ant-Man’s release because of the lack of enthusiasm, while critics criticized the plot and pacing of the movie. Despite this, their seemingly unlimited supply of humorous relief–typical of Ant-Man and the Marvel Cinematic Universe–helped make up for the plot’s lacking development. 

 The cinematography was done well, yet it was not my favorite part of the movie. Instead, I loved seeing how they distinguished the quantum world. The coloring was vivid and bright, depicting molecules, quantum beings, and fantastical and future animals. The main protagonists were shocked to learn that it even encompassed city life for those living in this realm. Marvel is known for its powerful action sequences, which I wanted to see more of in this movie. While the plot and cinematography left me disappointed, the characters’ roles and acting throughout the film were enthralling. 

Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) is unquestionably one of my favorite characters across the franchise. As a result of the $519.3 million box office success of his debut film, a second sequel, Ant-Man, and the Wasp (2018), was produced, gaining a whopping $622.7 million. Rudd excels in the amusing role of Ant-Man beyond people’s expectations, creating a character that leaves the audience wanting more. In addition to featuring fantastic actors like Evangeline Lilly as the Wasp, Michael Douglas as Hank Pym, and even Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror, this film also introduced the audience to Marvel’s most recent phase, known as Phase 5–The Multiverse Saga! 

Kang, Ant-Man’s rival, is an expert in time travel and manipulation since he has developed technological skills outside the modern world. He made his initial appearance on the pages of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s Avengers No. 8 in 1964, making him one of the greatest and oldest supervillains in the history of Marvel Comics. His character is incredibly interesting, and I wish we could have learned more about him. Essentially, he is his own worst enemy, constantly trying to prevent the future or undo the past. As a result, he unintentionally produces replicas of himself, and they almost always get in the way of his attempts to take over the world. 

Jonathan Major performed his part as Kang exceptionally well and efficiently, delivering his lines with ease and great simplicity. We can understand in the film why he is the way he is—having been cast out of his community and desiring retribution, which is classic villainy. Kang was fun to watch, even if I would have liked to see his character in the forthcoming movie more prominent. I rate Kang as an 8.5/10 overall, and I look forward to this new chapter with him as a worthy adversary.

Even though the movie was dubbed Ant-Man and the Wasp, it was disappointing that Hope, who plays the Wasp, was not present at times. It felt like Janet Van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer) had more time to shine than Hope. Although it is not unlikely that the films being made appear rushed, each recent release seems to lack a certain spark.

New phases begin; old faces have left, and new ones have arrived. For Marvel fans following the series since the beginning, it might also be the painful realization that a book’s last chapters are drawing to a close. I had a great time seeing this movie, and I would rate the entire story and cinematography a 7/10 because, as any Marvel lover will attest, the coloring can get quite gloomy. However, as Hank Pym in the movie noted, “there is always room to grow,” which is saying a lot for these fresh films. Instead of dwelling on what might have been, watching a Marvel movie with beloved characters who shone both on and off-screen was encouraging. 

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a fantastic choice if you are seeking a fun movie. Caution, I advise starting with Phase 1 and getting some popcorn if you want to comprehend what is happening. Although the journey is lengthy, I hope you like it!