Today we review the new hit movie that’s been blowing up the box office: Oppenheimer! This Christopher Nolan epic also serves as the latest installment in the MCU and the first chapter of the newly rebooted DCU. The star-studded cast includes Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane/the Scarecrow and Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark/Iron Man.

The film is set during World War II, making it a direct sequel to 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. As the war drags on, America and the allies struggle to gain the upper hand against Hydra’s sinister forces–so they enlist the help of troubled former villain Jonathan Crane, a.ka the Scarecrow. Recalling how Crane once used his fear gas to terrorize all of Gotham City, they ask him to build a bomb that will do so again–this time weaponizing the fear gas against America’s enemies to gain a decisive victory!

The film shows us much of Crane’s early life, even before he began down his villainous path. We see him studying under Edwin Jarvis (James D’arcy) and even befriending the renowned Niels Thor (Kenneth Branagh). Once, at a party with his sister-in-law, the mutant Polaris (Emma Dumont), Crane meets Yelena Belova, the White Widow (Florence Pugh) and begins a prolonged love affair with her. Later, he tries to end his relationship with Belova and marries Sue Storm, the Invisible Woman (Emily Blunt). Blunt reprises her role from last year’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, in which she was invisible for the entire film.

The U.S. military sends two military officers to recruit Crane to their cause. Unbeknownst to them, the chief officer is actually Loki (Matt Damon) in disguise, working alongside Harry Osborn/The Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan)! As one might guess, these vile villains have a sinister agenda of their own. (As if a government planning to bomb major cities wasn’t sinister enough already!)

Reluctantly, Crane agrees to build the fear gas bomb. He assembles a team of scientists to help him, including Will Stronghold (Michael Angarano) and feminist activist Hero Brown (Olivia Thirlby). Over the course of time, the bombs are completed and weaponized by the U.S. military. The military project is run under the leadership of President Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Ray Cumberland (James Remar), a former FBI agent who’s had experience with powered antiheroes before and now serves as Gordon’s Secretary of War. Under their leadership, the U.S. drops two bombs on Japan, decisively winning the war. (Oops–spoiler warning! You didn’t see that coming?)

The story picks up years later, when Crane, once considered a war hero, is now being investigated for his criminal past. A series of accusations are brought up against him by Thomas Schiff (David Dastmalchian), a former villainous associate and henchman of the Joker. However, it turns out that the plot to discredit Crane is actually being masterminded by none other than Tony Stark (Downey) and his aide, a young Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich)! Given his own scientific prowess, Stark is now chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and sees Crane as a potential rival to be removed, much like he tried to do with Justin Hammer in similar court proceedings Iron Man 2. You’d really think Stark would be more sympathetic toward someone who was forced to build a weapon against his will!

In a surprise post-credits scene, fellow physicist Bruce Banner asks. Dr. Crane to join the Avengers.

Here at Marvelous Movies, we thought this movie was the bomb–a unique fusion of history and art. It’s sure to be the big hit of the summer and leave an impact on box offices everywhere.