I originally began compiling this list before 2018 got underway, therefore intending to get this finished before Black Panther was released. However, sometimes life just gets busy and other interests come along or I just get writer's block. So, rather than abandon this rankings list completely, I decided to get this baby completed in time before the next Avengers movie.
In commemoration of the first 10 years of the highly influential Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and in anticipation of the release of Avengers: Infinity War, I've assembled my list ranking the movies within that 10 year time frame.
Fair warning, despite having read a few comics in my day, I ultimately haven't read much of the comic book material these movies are based on. Being more of a movie buff anyway, this ranking is judged based on how well the movies themselves hold up, both as individuals and in connection with the rest of the movie universe. I'll be starting with what I consider the worst of the franchise, thereby working my way up to what I consider the best MCU movie.
18. The Incredible Hulk
I've only seen it the one time when it was released in theaters and I don't remember too much that makes me want to turn back to it. The Hulk himself is not a compelling character, just memorable because of all of the crazy action and destruction that comes whenever he's on screen. That's the big problem though, it's a lot of chaotic smashing and burning, there's no real finesse to the action scenes.
Edward Norton's portrayal of Bruce Banner was actually one of the most interesting parts of the movie. I always wonder what it would be like to actually see him in the other MCU movies that Bruce/ Hulk appears in rather than Mark Ruffalo. All of the supporting cast is made up of people that I like as actors in other roles instead of the characters they portray here. It's not a movie that I really desire to go back and rewatch, and that's a major problem.
In commemoration of the first 10 years of the highly influential Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and in anticipation of the release of Avengers: Infinity War, I've assembled my list ranking the movies within that 10 year time frame.
Fair warning, despite having read a few comics in my day, I ultimately haven't read much of the comic book material these movies are based on. Being more of a movie buff anyway, this ranking is judged based on how well the movies themselves hold up, both as individuals and in connection with the rest of the movie universe. I'll be starting with what I consider the worst of the franchise, thereby working my way up to what I consider the best MCU movie.
18. The Incredible Hulk
I've only seen it the one time when it was released in theaters and I don't remember too much that makes me want to turn back to it. The Hulk himself is not a compelling character, just memorable because of all of the crazy action and destruction that comes whenever he's on screen. That's the big problem though, it's a lot of chaotic smashing and burning, there's no real finesse to the action scenes.
Edward Norton's portrayal of Bruce Banner was actually one of the most interesting parts of the movie. I always wonder what it would be like to actually see him in the other MCU movies that Bruce/ Hulk appears in rather than Mark Ruffalo. All of the supporting cast is made up of people that I like as actors in other roles instead of the characters they portray here. It's not a movie that I really desire to go back and rewatch, and that's a major problem.
17. Iron Man 2
Another kinda forgettable movie with chaotic destruction and explosions instead of quality action scenes. I've only seen this movie a couple of times and I still don't really recall too many scenes worth remembering. I'd say Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark does some character development here, but I feel like he goes through greater development in other movies. Don Cheadle is a nice replacement for Terrence Howard as James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, it was just distracting initially.
Whiplash never felt like a threatening or consequential villain, I was never worried that Iron Man would lose to him. Shoot, Mickey Rourke as himself was a scarier villain than anytime he suited up with electrowhips. Sam Rockwell is actually memorable because of how quirky his character was. There's a few moments of humor that perhaps help shape the now standard MCU formula, but otherwise this movie is unfortunately another skipable mess.
Another kinda forgettable movie with chaotic destruction and explosions instead of quality action scenes. I've only seen this movie a couple of times and I still don't really recall too many scenes worth remembering. I'd say Robert Downey Jr's Tony Stark does some character development here, but I feel like he goes through greater development in other movies. Don Cheadle is a nice replacement for Terrence Howard as James 'Rhodey' Rhodes, it was just distracting initially.
Whiplash never felt like a threatening or consequential villain, I was never worried that Iron Man would lose to him. Shoot, Mickey Rourke as himself was a scarier villain than anytime he suited up with electrowhips. Sam Rockwell is actually memorable because of how quirky his character was. There's a few moments of humor that perhaps help shape the now standard MCU formula, but otherwise this movie is unfortunately another skipable mess.
16. Thor: The Dark World
I always knew this was going to be near the bottom of the list. It was just a question of what good qualities I could find to compensate for the weak villains and weak plot. One of the things about the Thor movies is that they're always visually impressive, and this one is no exception. Everything to do with the Asgardians and the alien tech is striking and gorgeous.
This film utilized the dynamic duo of Thor and Loki the best, giving them further development, quippy one-liners, and balanced their frustrations with their brotherly affections. The sci-fi aspect worked best during the final battle when they used portal transportation as part of the fight against the villain. However, this movie's positive traits still can't make up for: Any moments involving Natalie Portman or Kat Dennings, the sadly forgettable Dark Elves, and a boring story.
I always knew this was going to be near the bottom of the list. It was just a question of what good qualities I could find to compensate for the weak villains and weak plot. One of the things about the Thor movies is that they're always visually impressive, and this one is no exception. Everything to do with the Asgardians and the alien tech is striking and gorgeous.
This film utilized the dynamic duo of Thor and Loki the best, giving them further development, quippy one-liners, and balanced their frustrations with their brotherly affections. The sci-fi aspect worked best during the final battle when they used portal transportation as part of the fight against the villain. However, this movie's positive traits still can't make up for: Any moments involving Natalie Portman or Kat Dennings, the sadly forgettable Dark Elves, and a boring story.
15. Ant Man
This is about the mark where I do not necessarily dislike or even hate the movies in question, but I'm also not really impressed at the same time. The best parts of Ant Man involve Paul Rudd's humorous interactions with other characters, anything to do with Michael Pena's character Luis, and the quirky set pieces and action scenes of the finale. Some of the ant training was fun and getting to see the world from Ant Man's miniature perspective was nice. I also didn't mind a little character development with Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lily.
Yet, despite some drama and character development, most of the characters just did not connect with me and the rest of the movie's visuals were not appealing. People talk about it being a heist comedy, but the heist and heist prep is not really as fun as it should be and the comedy is more based on the actors than the dialogue. This is a case where the MCU head honchos should've let Edgar Wright do what he wanted, especially visually and stylistically, cause it seems his quirky influences are the most memorable aspects of the movie.
14. Thor
This is about the mark where I do not necessarily dislike or even hate the movies in question, but I'm also not really impressed at the same time. The best parts of Ant Man involve Paul Rudd's humorous interactions with other characters, anything to do with Michael Pena's character Luis, and the quirky set pieces and action scenes of the finale. Some of the ant training was fun and getting to see the world from Ant Man's miniature perspective was nice. I also didn't mind a little character development with Michael Douglas and Evangeline Lily.
Yet, despite some drama and character development, most of the characters just did not connect with me and the rest of the movie's visuals were not appealing. People talk about it being a heist comedy, but the heist and heist prep is not really as fun as it should be and the comedy is more based on the actors than the dialogue. This is a case where the MCU head honchos should've let Edgar Wright do what he wanted, especially visually and stylistically, cause it seems his quirky influences are the most memorable aspects of the movie.
14. Thor
At first this movie looked like Marvel was just trying too hard to show off their technical and visual effects. The CGI involving Asgard and the other worlds was so overt and overblown that it almost looked like a video game moreso than a live action movie at times. Plus, this movie was not as action oriented as expected, focusing instead more on character development and dramatic dialogue, which kind of slowed things down in the middle. So, I struggled to like the movie at first.
Then over time as I came to appreciate Kenneth Branagh, his Shakespearean background, and good character development, I started to enjoy this movie's main cast a little more. I also came to appreciate the distinctly alien and otherworldly creations of Asgard and Jotunheim. Chris Hemsworth makes a great Thor and majority of the scenes with him on Earth were fun as long as he was the sole, primary focus. Tom Hiddleston did a great job shaping Loki as a charming yet manipulative antagonist, making it hard to feel sorry for him and frustrated by him at different times. It gets boring sometimes, but it improves with each viewing, I think.
13. Captain America: First Avenger
This movie has the feeling of an old adventure serial, which can be both good and bad. The classic atmosphere pairs well with not only the time period, but the kind of virtuous, heroic character that Captain America is. I also think Hugo Weaving as Red Skull is one of the better and even somewhat underrated villains in the MCU. He's intelligent yet crazy, charismatic and dangerous, and I think the special effects make up for his Red Skull appearance really popped out. The action scenes are nice, but nothing special, except for the chase scene right after Rogers' operation to become Captain America.
The weird thing is, aside from the main protagonist and antagonist, the ensemble of supporting characters are nearly forgettable. I realized I had forgotten details about Peggy Carter and Buckey Barnes/ Winter Soldier from this movie when I saw the second Captain America movie, which isn't a good sign. It talks up the thematic elements at times, but I think the overall goal of the movie was to define Captain America before The Avengers came out, and I think it succeeded.
12. Doctor Strange
The best thing this movie has going for it is the visual effects. The way that this movie bends reality and the landscape around it is stunning. However, sometimes it just doesn't feel like the movie takes enough chances with its visual effects. Strange's first encounter with the Ancient One and his duel with Dormammu at the end are the best examples of imagination and stunning visuals. I just wish that there were more scenes on par with those. The magic in the movie allows for some fun action scenes. The character interactions are also enjoyable sometimes.
Benedict Cumberbatch is a good Stephen Strange visually and character-wise. Vocally, there's times when his American accent definitely sounds fake and forced. The biggest problem with this movie is that the storyline is a demonstration of the stereotypical Marvel formula, a heroic-coming-of-age origin story where a hero discovers their heroic quality and is outmatched in the first fight before learning his lesson to win the second fight, all while throwing in as many jokes as possible. What should've been a spooky psychedelic thriller ended up being a stereotypical action blockbuster. It still gets called an Iron Man copycat with good reason, but maybe it would've felt fresher earlier on in the MCU catalog rather than later. It's all right, just could've been so much more.
The best thing this movie has going for it is the visual effects. The way that this movie bends reality and the landscape around it is stunning. However, sometimes it just doesn't feel like the movie takes enough chances with its visual effects. Strange's first encounter with the Ancient One and his duel with Dormammu at the end are the best examples of imagination and stunning visuals. I just wish that there were more scenes on par with those. The magic in the movie allows for some fun action scenes. The character interactions are also enjoyable sometimes.
Benedict Cumberbatch is a good Stephen Strange visually and character-wise. Vocally, there's times when his American accent definitely sounds fake and forced. The biggest problem with this movie is that the storyline is a demonstration of the stereotypical Marvel formula, a heroic-coming-of-age origin story where a hero discovers their heroic quality and is outmatched in the first fight before learning his lesson to win the second fight, all while throwing in as many jokes as possible. What should've been a spooky psychedelic thriller ended up being a stereotypical action blockbuster. It still gets called an Iron Man copycat with good reason, but maybe it would've felt fresher earlier on in the MCU catalog rather than later. It's all right, just could've been so much more.
11. Iron Man
This movie is in this slot mainly for reputation moreso than my own actual opinion of the movie. I've only really seen this movie once in the theater, and I accidentally fell asleep before the first Iron Man suit appeared (it was the morning after a high school dance, gimme a break). My favorite elements are all your favorite elements: Robert Downey Jr's portrayal of Tony Stark, his contrite pursuit to right the wrongs he created, the cool action pieces when we saw the Iron Man suit in action for the first time, the relationship between Tony and Gwenyth Paltrow's Pepper Potts, Jeff Bridges coming out of nowhere to be a surprisingly good villain.
The involvement of Middle Eastern terrorists made sense in the context of the movie and helped bring a foundation of reality into a fictional comic book world. The technology was also interesting, it was cool to see how futuristic yet close-to-real all of Stark's gadgets were. This movie is definitely a step above all of the other standard action hero movies before it, and certainly set a standard for the MCU movies to follow. It just took awhile for MCU movies to match and rise above the standard.
This movie is in this slot mainly for reputation moreso than my own actual opinion of the movie. I've only really seen this movie once in the theater, and I accidentally fell asleep before the first Iron Man suit appeared (it was the morning after a high school dance, gimme a break). My favorite elements are all your favorite elements: Robert Downey Jr's portrayal of Tony Stark, his contrite pursuit to right the wrongs he created, the cool action pieces when we saw the Iron Man suit in action for the first time, the relationship between Tony and Gwenyth Paltrow's Pepper Potts, Jeff Bridges coming out of nowhere to be a surprisingly good villain.
The involvement of Middle Eastern terrorists made sense in the context of the movie and helped bring a foundation of reality into a fictional comic book world. The technology was also interesting, it was cool to see how futuristic yet close-to-real all of Stark's gadgets were. This movie is definitely a step above all of the other standard action hero movies before it, and certainly set a standard for the MCU movies to follow. It just took awhile for MCU movies to match and rise above the standard.
10. Iron Man 3
Hear me out. I believe this movie has the best character arc for Tony Stark. It builds upon all of his appearances in previous movies and actually gives him obstacles that push him physically, mentally, and emotionally. I like Stark's interactions with all of the characters in this movie, especially the kid in the middle and it improved upon the relationship with Don Cheadle's version of Rhodes. While we don't as much of Pepper or Happy as before, those relationships still matter a whole lot in this movie.
I'll also give the movie props for being bold enough to subvert expectations with the villain while still developing the villains properly. The initial build-up of Ben Kingsley's Mandarin is chilling and realistic, while Guy Pearce's buildup as the real antagonist actually provides a character arc for him, gives Stark a relationship with the villain that makes sense and has stakes at the end. Robert Downey Jr. is always fun and interesting as Tony Stark, and it was cool to see Stark relying on his wits and skills much moreso than his Iron Man gadgetry constantly. We still get the same witty dialogue and interesting action scenes we expect in a movie involving Iron Man, just this time there are some interesting characters with unique quirks involved in the picture as well.
Hear me out. I believe this movie has the best character arc for Tony Stark. It builds upon all of his appearances in previous movies and actually gives him obstacles that push him physically, mentally, and emotionally. I like Stark's interactions with all of the characters in this movie, especially the kid in the middle and it improved upon the relationship with Don Cheadle's version of Rhodes. While we don't as much of Pepper or Happy as before, those relationships still matter a whole lot in this movie.
I'll also give the movie props for being bold enough to subvert expectations with the villain while still developing the villains properly. The initial build-up of Ben Kingsley's Mandarin is chilling and realistic, while Guy Pearce's buildup as the real antagonist actually provides a character arc for him, gives Stark a relationship with the villain that makes sense and has stakes at the end. Robert Downey Jr. is always fun and interesting as Tony Stark, and it was cool to see Stark relying on his wits and skills much moreso than his Iron Man gadgetry constantly. We still get the same witty dialogue and interesting action scenes we expect in a movie involving Iron Man, just this time there are some interesting characters with unique quirks involved in the picture as well.
9.
It's about this point in the list where things get a little more flexible, a little harder to maintain a certain order of preference. The next 3-4 choices in this upper middle section could probably be all switched around at different times and it would still probably be an honest ranking.
This is some of the most fun I've had in movies in a long time. In terms of just pure entertainment based on action and humor, Thor: Ragnarok knocked it out of the park. The jokes actually got me to smile and laugh while the action was pleasing and sensible. Shoot, I feel like this was both one of the most mature portrayals of Thor while simultaneously one of the goofiest in a way that actually worked. Perhaps the thing that stands out the most to me from this movie is the visuals. This is one of the, if not the most, beautiful MCU movies created. From the costume designs to the color choices to the computer effects, everything just pops off the screen.
The soundtrack even has some memorable qualities to it, with the synthesizer creating a nice galactic blend between orchestral music and rock. What drags this movie down is similar to the problem with Doctor Strange (though oddly his inclusion is one of my favorite parts of this movie), trying to shove too much lighthearted or lazy comedy in a movie that should've been a dark apocalyptic drama. I think what helps this movie more than Doctor Strange is that the serious moments had more heart and better pay off here.
8. Black Panther
It almost feels too early to honestly add this movie, but I saw it before releasing the list, so it's got to go somewhere. Some elements of CGI work very well, like the various hologram technologies, but then there were some sloppy CGI images in the fight scenes, particularly the climactic battle. This movie was unfortunately unable to shake off the standard MCU movie formula, which made moments in the story predictable or old hat. The action scenes had some thrilling moments, but because of the quick cut technique used alongside the CGI, it was sometimes hard to really see the fights.
Yet, don't worry, there's good things in this movie too (it is at least above halfway on the list after all). All of the actors presented some interesting and well fleshed-out characters. The main ensemble of supporting characters, especially those played by Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, and Lupita Nyong'o, stood out and even sometimes overshadowed Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa. Shoot, even Martin Freeman (who usually just plays Martin Freeman) was different yet likeable compared to his earlier work, plus Andy Serkis was top notch reprising a maniacal Klaue. Michael B. Jordan gives a really good villain performance, and while I understand his conflicts and motivations, I don't necessarily sympathize with him as much as others seem to, at least not enough to support him over Black Panther.
The color scheme and costume aesthetics really brought so many good visuals to the screen. While political commentary is a tough tightrope to cross in a movie that's supposed to please wide audiences, the real-world ideas that this movie spoke about worked because they played a part in the character and story development of the movie. Ultimately I think it's the real world political commentary, in connection with the story of the movie, that gives this movie the edge over the more lighthearted Ragnarok.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy 2
Like any good sequel, this movie did an excellent job of continuing the story established in the first movie. Any repeat elements, most notably the soundtrack, still maintained the atmosphere and spirit of the original while progressing the sequel forward. The most intriguing characters in this movie were also the ones with the most dramatic character development. Characters from Rocket and Gamora to Yondu and even Nebula had very dramatic and deep character building moments. Kurt Russell provides a charming yet despicable villain.
For as fun as this movie was, it also had some genuinely dramatic, heartfelt, tender moments. The fun and drama, however, still left room for some immature moments. I feel like they utilized Drax's comedic abilities in the wrong way, often making him more of a bully and source of much of the crude humor in the movie. For whatever reason, I don't think Peter Quill played as big of a part as might've been expected, or perhaps this time around Quill was constantly surrounded by more intriguing characters.
This is another strikingly gorgeous MCU movie, with colors and images that often times rival or overshadow Doctor Strange. I think it is the dramatic character development, the atmosphere that continued from the first movie, and the building of relationships amidst a fun space adventure is what pushes this movie ahead of the previous two for me.
It's about this point in the list where things get a little more flexible, a little harder to maintain a certain order of preference. The next 3-4 choices in this upper middle section could probably be all switched around at different times and it would still probably be an honest ranking.
This is some of the most fun I've had in movies in a long time. In terms of just pure entertainment based on action and humor, Thor: Ragnarok knocked it out of the park. The jokes actually got me to smile and laugh while the action was pleasing and sensible. Shoot, I feel like this was both one of the most mature portrayals of Thor while simultaneously one of the goofiest in a way that actually worked. Perhaps the thing that stands out the most to me from this movie is the visuals. This is one of the, if not the most, beautiful MCU movies created. From the costume designs to the color choices to the computer effects, everything just pops off the screen.
The soundtrack even has some memorable qualities to it, with the synthesizer creating a nice galactic blend between orchestral music and rock. What drags this movie down is similar to the problem with Doctor Strange (though oddly his inclusion is one of my favorite parts of this movie), trying to shove too much lighthearted or lazy comedy in a movie that should've been a dark apocalyptic drama. I think what helps this movie more than Doctor Strange is that the serious moments had more heart and better pay off here.
8. Black Panther
It almost feels too early to honestly add this movie, but I saw it before releasing the list, so it's got to go somewhere. Some elements of CGI work very well, like the various hologram technologies, but then there were some sloppy CGI images in the fight scenes, particularly the climactic battle. This movie was unfortunately unable to shake off the standard MCU movie formula, which made moments in the story predictable or old hat. The action scenes had some thrilling moments, but because of the quick cut technique used alongside the CGI, it was sometimes hard to really see the fights.
Yet, don't worry, there's good things in this movie too (it is at least above halfway on the list after all). All of the actors presented some interesting and well fleshed-out characters. The main ensemble of supporting characters, especially those played by Letitia Wright, Danai Gurira, and Lupita Nyong'o, stood out and even sometimes overshadowed Chadwick Boseman's T'Challa. Shoot, even Martin Freeman (who usually just plays Martin Freeman) was different yet likeable compared to his earlier work, plus Andy Serkis was top notch reprising a maniacal Klaue. Michael B. Jordan gives a really good villain performance, and while I understand his conflicts and motivations, I don't necessarily sympathize with him as much as others seem to, at least not enough to support him over Black Panther.
The color scheme and costume aesthetics really brought so many good visuals to the screen. While political commentary is a tough tightrope to cross in a movie that's supposed to please wide audiences, the real-world ideas that this movie spoke about worked because they played a part in the character and story development of the movie. Ultimately I think it's the real world political commentary, in connection with the story of the movie, that gives this movie the edge over the more lighthearted Ragnarok.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy 2
Like any good sequel, this movie did an excellent job of continuing the story established in the first movie. Any repeat elements, most notably the soundtrack, still maintained the atmosphere and spirit of the original while progressing the sequel forward. The most intriguing characters in this movie were also the ones with the most dramatic character development. Characters from Rocket and Gamora to Yondu and even Nebula had very dramatic and deep character building moments. Kurt Russell provides a charming yet despicable villain.
For as fun as this movie was, it also had some genuinely dramatic, heartfelt, tender moments. The fun and drama, however, still left room for some immature moments. I feel like they utilized Drax's comedic abilities in the wrong way, often making him more of a bully and source of much of the crude humor in the movie. For whatever reason, I don't think Peter Quill played as big of a part as might've been expected, or perhaps this time around Quill was constantly surrounded by more intriguing characters.
This is another strikingly gorgeous MCU movie, with colors and images that often times rival or overshadow Doctor Strange. I think it is the dramatic character development, the atmosphere that continued from the first movie, and the building of relationships amidst a fun space adventure is what pushes this movie ahead of the previous two for me.
6. Avengers: Age of Ultron
I actually enjoy this movie more than most people, I think. I believe it properly balances all of the characters correctly and provides both drama and comedy in the right ways. It handles the introduction of new characters fairly well while building upon most of the main cast from the original Avengers. You've still got fun, thrilling action here. Character interaction is great, allowing us to see the ensemble at their most relaxed and at their most tense, and it truly is an ensemble performance throughout. I even liked attention given to characters like Hawkeye, introducing his family in the middle, and how Ultron was a bizarro version of a Tony Stark and Jarvis/Vision combo.
Of course this movie is not without flaws. It does force in too much foreshadowing of future Marvel movies, making it feel like product placement for movies that didn't even exist at the time. It also has very little tension since none of the main characters ever really feel in danger. The final battle is much more of a cartoon than a realistic action scene, even making the comic books feel more authentic to real life. When your heroes don't really tire or get severely injured from kicking robot butt the whole time, the fact that you know the crisis will be averted in the end, and the only death that occurs happens to a non-leading character makes the stakes feel low at the end.
In some ways, this movie is a little too self-reflective, a little too aware of the fact that it's a movie with an established universe and an audience desperate to absorb references and thematic material. I can't deny though, getting to see things like Iron Man's Hulkbuster suit, mutant powers from Quiksilver and Scarlet Witch, and a room full of superheroes hanging out over beer and wine while trying to lift a mythological hammer is all pretty fun stuff to watch.
I actually enjoy this movie more than most people, I think. I believe it properly balances all of the characters correctly and provides both drama and comedy in the right ways. It handles the introduction of new characters fairly well while building upon most of the main cast from the original Avengers. You've still got fun, thrilling action here. Character interaction is great, allowing us to see the ensemble at their most relaxed and at their most tense, and it truly is an ensemble performance throughout. I even liked attention given to characters like Hawkeye, introducing his family in the middle, and how Ultron was a bizarro version of a Tony Stark and Jarvis/Vision combo.
Of course this movie is not without flaws. It does force in too much foreshadowing of future Marvel movies, making it feel like product placement for movies that didn't even exist at the time. It also has very little tension since none of the main characters ever really feel in danger. The final battle is much more of a cartoon than a realistic action scene, even making the comic books feel more authentic to real life. When your heroes don't really tire or get severely injured from kicking robot butt the whole time, the fact that you know the crisis will be averted in the end, and the only death that occurs happens to a non-leading character makes the stakes feel low at the end.
In some ways, this movie is a little too self-reflective, a little too aware of the fact that it's a movie with an established universe and an audience desperate to absorb references and thematic material. I can't deny though, getting to see things like Iron Man's Hulkbuster suit, mutant powers from Quiksilver and Scarlet Witch, and a room full of superheroes hanging out over beer and wine while trying to lift a mythological hammer is all pretty fun stuff to watch.
5. The Avengers
This is another one whose placement on the list is more reputation based than just my own opinion. I remember thinking the movie was all right upon initial viewing and it has grown on me little by little with each viewing. I will give it credit for being the first Marvel movie to balance so many big characters, provide some cool looking action scenes, and for balancing so many storylines that came before it while also setting up later movies without feeling overbloated or unable to stand on its own. It knows how to play itself up as a movie while absorbing the audience, making us feel like this is all really happening.
The plot elements were pretty predictable, but at least the story made for some good character development and the script provided both wit and drama. The look of this movie and the way the characters are presented makes this feel like a true comic book come to life, a definitive version of a superhero movie. There's lots of images that really stand out in this movie, the production design was really sharp. I would even make the argument that one doesn't necessarily have to see all of the previous movies beforehand in order to understand and enjoy the movie, they explain enough and trust the audience enough to go with them along this journey, seeing all the previous material beforehand is just a bonus.
This is another one whose placement on the list is more reputation based than just my own opinion. I remember thinking the movie was all right upon initial viewing and it has grown on me little by little with each viewing. I will give it credit for being the first Marvel movie to balance so many big characters, provide some cool looking action scenes, and for balancing so many storylines that came before it while also setting up later movies without feeling overbloated or unable to stand on its own. It knows how to play itself up as a movie while absorbing the audience, making us feel like this is all really happening.
The plot elements were pretty predictable, but at least the story made for some good character development and the script provided both wit and drama. The look of this movie and the way the characters are presented makes this feel like a true comic book come to life, a definitive version of a superhero movie. There's lots of images that really stand out in this movie, the production design was really sharp. I would even make the argument that one doesn't necessarily have to see all of the previous movies beforehand in order to understand and enjoy the movie, they explain enough and trust the audience enough to go with them along this journey, seeing all the previous material beforehand is just a bonus.
4. Captain America: Winter Soldier
This movie is an example where Marvel, by allowing the directors and creative team to use their own desired genre and movie-making aesthetic, can expand MCU's style beyond the formula in a very positive way. Sure, the spy thriller genre is pretty similar to action blockbusters, but this movie had a few more thinking pieces and deeper dramatic moments compared to the average summer action flick like previously mentioned MCU movies. It also did the job that a sequel is supposed to do by advancing the character development and relationships of the main persons established in the previous movie.We get to know Captain America, Black Widow, even Winter Soldier and Nick Fury better through the events of this movie.
They did a great job of making Falcon fit into a real world setting and the fight choreography is some of the most fluid of all the MCU, making it easy for the eyes to follow. This movie has a big reputation for being one of MCU's best, which is warranted in many ways, but I wanted to rank this movie high on the list for more than just reputation's sake alone. What makes it stand out so well is the serious, realistic approach. Having Robert Redford involved in the project seems to give the other actors inspiration to improve their performances and characters from past movies, giving the movie and performances a more serious, dramatic tone.
This movie is an example where Marvel, by allowing the directors and creative team to use their own desired genre and movie-making aesthetic, can expand MCU's style beyond the formula in a very positive way. Sure, the spy thriller genre is pretty similar to action blockbusters, but this movie had a few more thinking pieces and deeper dramatic moments compared to the average summer action flick like previously mentioned MCU movies. It also did the job that a sequel is supposed to do by advancing the character development and relationships of the main persons established in the previous movie.We get to know Captain America, Black Widow, even Winter Soldier and Nick Fury better through the events of this movie.
They did a great job of making Falcon fit into a real world setting and the fight choreography is some of the most fluid of all the MCU, making it easy for the eyes to follow. This movie has a big reputation for being one of MCU's best, which is warranted in many ways, but I wanted to rank this movie high on the list for more than just reputation's sake alone. What makes it stand out so well is the serious, realistic approach. Having Robert Redford involved in the project seems to give the other actors inspiration to improve their performances and characters from past movies, giving the movie and performances a more serious, dramatic tone.
3. Spiderman: Homecoming
This version of Peter Parker and Spiderman is the best that I have seen on the big screen (though to be fair I haven't seen all of The Amazing Spiderman movies). We truly see the character portrayed appropriately in both personas. Peter is awkward, geeky, smart, and an outcast. Spiderman is funny, heroic, and fast in terms of movement and in dialogue. So Tom Holland played his part very well, as did Michael Keaton as the villain who had quite the slick, icy shift in personality. The action pieces were fun and thrilling, except the ending climactic battle. The dialogue was all fun and realistic, not as sappy and cringeworthy as previous Spidermans (Spidermen?).
This is a great example of a comic book movie pretending to be realistic while enjoying the fantasy elements that allow comics to move beyond realistic limitations. Meaning that while characters and situations are pretty realistic here, the gadgetry and stunts are all fantasy-based. It was cool getting to see Spiderman interact with his nerdy friends and his awkward encounters with romantic interests and authority figures were not cringe-inducing like previous Spidermen before him. I think it was also a clever move to have Iron Man involved in the movie and influencing the story.It fit the circumstances of the story as well as added some good character development.
This version of Peter Parker and Spiderman is the best that I have seen on the big screen (though to be fair I haven't seen all of The Amazing Spiderman movies). We truly see the character portrayed appropriately in both personas. Peter is awkward, geeky, smart, and an outcast. Spiderman is funny, heroic, and fast in terms of movement and in dialogue. So Tom Holland played his part very well, as did Michael Keaton as the villain who had quite the slick, icy shift in personality. The action pieces were fun and thrilling, except the ending climactic battle. The dialogue was all fun and realistic, not as sappy and cringeworthy as previous Spidermans (Spidermen?).
This is a great example of a comic book movie pretending to be realistic while enjoying the fantasy elements that allow comics to move beyond realistic limitations. Meaning that while characters and situations are pretty realistic here, the gadgetry and stunts are all fantasy-based. It was cool getting to see Spiderman interact with his nerdy friends and his awkward encounters with romantic interests and authority figures were not cringe-inducing like previous Spidermen before him. I think it was also a clever move to have Iron Man involved in the movie and influencing the story.It fit the circumstances of the story as well as added some good character development.
2. Guardians of the Galaxy
Another example of how giving the director freedom in the project and creating a style outside of the standard MCU formula can spell success. Guardians of the Galaxy was fun, engaging, and wonderful to look at. The main protagonists all had the ability to be deeply flawed yet charming and likable at the same time. The most memorable elements in this movie are the comedy, the sci-fi aesthetic, and the soundtrack. These are what make the movie stand out from the rest of the MCU (at least, the first half of the catalog) and what gives the movie its charming, entertaining personality.
They really put different classic songs to good use in this movie. This movie took the look of extraterrestrial worlds established in the Thor movies and ramped them up several notches, providing bright colors and dark shadows at the same time. While crude in some ways, the comedy mainly works because the actors all present charming characters in a funny way, especially Chris Pratt and Dave Bautista (Bradley Cooper's voice is almost unrecognizable, but his voice matches well with the CG Rocket character). Despite a boring villain and some forced connections to previous MCU material, the bizarre and goofy adventure we go through is worth it for the main cast of characters and the new standard that this movie set for future MCU movies.
1. Captain America: Civil War
I've watched this movie multiple times and still enjoy it after every watch. Sure, I find flaws or aspects I didn't necessarily care for, and sometimes the arguments for why or why not The Avengers should sign on to the Sokovia Accords don't make sense. However, this movie still builds upon all of the essential elements of the movies that came before it and maintains a good balance of everything, drama and comedy, action and character building. It knows how to juggle an ensemble of important characters and give each hero just the right amount of screen time according to their value in the story.
It introduced us to Black Panther, Zemo, and Spiderman without missing important character development moments. It paced itself well, going back and forth between slow quiet moments and fast quick-cut action. Like other Marvel movies before it (and after), this one had some idea worth contemplating, some commentary and connection to the real world. Yet, it manages to still keep everything confined to the MCU world so that it isn't continually overt in the real world commentary
That airport scene! That's what ultimately sells the movie for me. It's so quick compared to many other scenes, but so much fun. It's a treat to watch it over and over again. While I think it probably was the right length of time for the story they were telling, a part of me wishes it had gone on much longer so we could've seen even more different combos of characters fighting one another.
I've watched this movie multiple times and still enjoy it after every watch. Sure, I find flaws or aspects I didn't necessarily care for, and sometimes the arguments for why or why not The Avengers should sign on to the Sokovia Accords don't make sense. However, this movie still builds upon all of the essential elements of the movies that came before it and maintains a good balance of everything, drama and comedy, action and character building. It knows how to juggle an ensemble of important characters and give each hero just the right amount of screen time according to their value in the story.
It introduced us to Black Panther, Zemo, and Spiderman without missing important character development moments. It paced itself well, going back and forth between slow quiet moments and fast quick-cut action. Like other Marvel movies before it (and after), this one had some idea worth contemplating, some commentary and connection to the real world. Yet, it manages to still keep everything confined to the MCU world so that it isn't continually overt in the real world commentary
That airport scene! That's what ultimately sells the movie for me. It's so quick compared to many other scenes, but so much fun. It's a treat to watch it over and over again. While I think it probably was the right length of time for the story they were telling, a part of me wishes it had gone on much longer so we could've seen even more different combos of characters fighting one another.
