Worst2First: My Favorite Marvel Films
Worst2First:
My Favorite Marvel Films
Since 2008, Marvel has been slowly unraveling a cinematic universe that's unparalleled in cinematic history, and it all has been leading up to "Avengers: Infinity War," where all the heroes come together in one major, epic, monumental picture as they battle the evil Titan Thanos before he eliminates half the universe.
There's been eighteen films in the universe so far, and while some have been standouts, others have fallen a bit short, at least in my opinion.
Here are all eighteen Marvel Cinematic Universe films, worst2first...
**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**
#18
The Incredible Hulk
If "Iron Man" is the father of the MCU, "The Incredible Hulk" is the long-forgotten uncle, who only shows up in a drunken stupor every Christmas. Although it's leaps and bounds better than the Ang Lee abomination from 2003, it still has its myriad of problems, including the fact that it's highly dated and the effects are almost laughable now. Plus Edward Norton played Banner, who is now played by Mark Ruffalo, and who does a far better job at it. Throw in the fact that no one in the universe even references it (except for the surprise appearance of William Hurt's Thaddeus Ross in "Civil War"), and you've got the most forgettable film in the MCU franchise.
#17
Iron Man 2
#16
Thor: The Dark World
Again, we're given a weak villain in Malekith, a dark elf who wishes to plunge Asgard and the Nine Realms into eternal darkness. His character is under-developed, and serves as another one-off villain in the MCU. Not even the uneven comradere of Thor and his trickster brother Loki could save this film from being anything more than a place holder in the MCU - even though it introduced the Reality Stone. Not to mention that three actors - Natalie Portman, Idris Elba, and Christopher Eccleston - all voiced dismay with appearing in the film in the first place. The best thing the film offers is that it was Portman's final appearance as Thor's love interest Jane Foster - as the two never had any real chemistry in the first place.
#15
Thor
The God of Thunder's first appearance in the MCU is nothing more than some sparkles. Directed by Kenneth Branagh - who's more adept at Shakespeare than superheroes - "Thor" is essentially a morality play where Thor gets banished to Earth and looses his powers and his trusty hammer Mjolnir after his hubris ignites a new war on his home world of Asgard. He lands in New Mexico, falls in love with Jane Foster, and his brother Loki seeks to rule the throne himself. The big battle takes place in a small New Mexico town, and the whole film feels small compared to other films that come after it.
#14
Captain America: The First Avenger
As we learn the origin story of Captain America, we meet a weak Steve Rogers who has the biggest heart ever, who enlists to help fight because of his sincere love for his country. When he's recruited to undergo an experimental trial, he turns into Captain America, a man of super strength that matches his inner strength. The action was nice enough, but the film was more or less boring, especially considering it takes place during World War II, and seems more like a historical piece than an action one - not to mention the awful CGI of Chris Evans' head on a scrawny body. Yet it does introduce Red Skull, Hydra, and Peggy Carter to the MCU.
#13
Avengers: Age of Ultron
With the second "Avengers" outing, it somehow becomes an odd mixture of too much and yet too little. There's too much going on (Stark and Banner creating Ultron, the introduction of Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, the odd relationship between Hulk and Black Widow, the intruding rift between Stark and Rogers), and yet there's so little going on at the same time. Ultron is yet another thinly-written villain (yet brilliantly performed by the amazing James Spader) whose title alone seems to be something of world-ending apocalypse, but rather becomes a tiresome re-tread of the original "Avengers" movie - but with robots.
#12
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Serving as a very capable sequel, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" continues the space adventures of the most dysfunctional superhero team imaginable. When Star-Lord finally meets his real dad, it sets off a chain of events that could bring about the end of the universe - all in a day's work. The chemistry between the cast is as strong as ever, and with a kicking soundtrack, nonstop action, and even some heartfelt emotional moments, "Vol. 2" is a welcome addition to the MCU.
#11
Ant-Man
As the MCU expanded, it began to take more and more risks. The world already heard of the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, and the Hulk, but it was time to introduce the smallest hero - Ant-Man (who, in the comics, is actually a founding member of the Avengers). Here, it's the second iteration - the former thief Scott Lang - who dons the Ant-Man suit after having it bestowed upon him by the original creator, Hank Pym. Part heist movie, part superhero movie, "Ant-Man" is benefited by Paul Rudd's charismatic performance, and some stellar special effects.
#10
Iron Man 3
Every hero must go through a stage of doubt, even the invincible Iron Man. After the events of "The Avengers," Tony Stark begins suffering from PTSD, and begins to doubt who he really is. Meanwhile, a new evil threat in the guise of the Mandarin is wreaking havoc, and Stark must don the Iron Man mantle to stop him - along with a long-forgotten nemesis. While there's some problems with the film that I won't go into without entering spoiler territory, the film recognizes it's not the best, and yet focuses on the best it has to offer - showing the more human side of Tony Stark.
#9
Guardians of the Galaxy
Having already been established, the MCU decided to branch out to outer space, delivering its most daring film to date: "Guardians of the Galaxy." Featuring a B-list mixture of comic book superheroes - including a talking tree and talking raccoon - the MCU took a risk in hopes of relying on the brand name to draw people to the theater, and it worked. Rocking a killer 80s soundtrack, gracing the screen with the likes of Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, and Bradley Cooper, and basically serving as a rip-roaring good time from start to finish, "Guardians" became established as a perfect blend of humor and action set in outer space.
#8
Doctor Strange
With the success of "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Ant-Man," MCU took the next step in its cinematic universe by introducing the concept of the mystic arts with "Doctor Strange." Benedict Cumberbatch was practically made for the role of Doctor Strange, a famed surgeon who travels around the world in search of a cure for his hands after a car accident. He discovers the mystic world and becomes the Sorcerer Supreme - and wields the Eye of Agamotto, where the Time Stone resides. The film is a beautiful mind-trip of action and excitement, and while the bad guy isn't that fully developed, it still provides an exciting trip through the mind.
#7
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Having undergone two reboots in ten years, Spider-Man was owned by Sony and was not a part of the MCU until they acquired the rights last year. The result is arguably the best Spider-Man in cinema, as he is the closest to his original comic book counterpart. A teenager who's excited about his newfound abilities, Peter Parker becomes Spider-Man as he sets out to save New York from the evil Vulture, while still maintaining a healthy high school life. Tom Holland personifies the youthful Spider-Man, giving a sense of excitement and joy to the role not found in the previous iterations - not to mention his humorous and heartfelt father/son connection with Iron Man.
#6
Thor: Ragnarok
After two disappointing outings, Thor returns with a vengeance in "Ragnarok," becoming the MCU's most humorous film to date, despite the fact that it centers around the possible annihilation of Thor's homeworld of Asgard. After being released from captivity, Hela, the Goddess of Death, is unleashed on the world, and Thor is sent to a faraway planet where he meets an old friend and begins the journey home. The relationship between Thor and Hulk has always been entertaining, and the chemistry of Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo is contagious. Cate Blanchett dominates as the villainous Hela, and Tessa Thompson is a welcoming new addition to the MCU as the Valkyrie - not to mention Tom Hiddleston's Loki, which remains the most well-rounded anti-hero in the MCU.
#5
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The second outing for Steve Rogers was a hit, blending superhero action with a classic spy caper filled with twists and turns, double-crosses and epic battles. Facing off the mysterious Winter Soldier, Captain America joins forces with Nick Fury, Black Widow, and Falcon in order to bring him down and uncover the true evil that's behind the Soldier - and when he finds out who the Winter Soldier is, it opens a whole new world Rogers thought long-dead. The acting is as powerful as the action, and it's easily one of the best in the MCU.
#4
Black Panther
Serving as more than just your average superhero movie, "Black Panther" focuses on the land of Wakanda - a supposed third-world country in the heart of Africa, hidden from the rest of the world. Yet this is just a disguise, as the country is the most technologically-advanced civilization known to man, thanks to the alien metal Vibranium. The leader of the country is T'Challa, also known as the Black Panther, who fights for freedom and justice. Chadwick Boseman is an inspired choice for Black Panther, but the film doesn't just focus on him - the film also centers on three strong women in Okoye, Nakia, and T'Challa's teenage sister Shuri, who makes Iron Man's armor look archaic. Mixing humor with tradition, action and political intrigue, "Black Panther" has it all.
#3
Iron Man
The father of the MCU, the entire franchise depended on this then-obscure superhero. Robert Downey Jr. was a risk in cast, especially due to his several run-ins with the law, but it turned out to be an inspired choice - not only did his performance elevate him back to prominence in the cinematic world, but it also firmly rooted the MCU in its strong character, deep story, and intense action, giving birth to not just Iron Man, but superhero films as we know them today.
#2
Captain America: Civil War
More an "Avengers" movie than anything, "Civil War" takes the iconic comic book series to the big screen as Captain America and Iron Man are pitted against each other. Facing loyalty to his old friend versus loyalty to his new one, Cap goes against the wishes of the government - and Iron Man - and refuses to give control of the Avengers. This leads to a civil war within the superhero world, and introduces Black Panther and Spider-Man to the MCU. Filled with tense action (the airport battle still lists as one of the most exciting action sequences in any film), strong performances, and dire consequences, "Civil War" permanently fractured the Avengers and it'll be interesting to see how it all comes to a head in "Infinity War."
#1
The Avengers
The biggest risk ever made came with Joss Whedon's "The Avengers" - was it possible to unite Iron Man, Captain America, Hulk, Thor, Black Widow, and Hawkeye in a film where each character has ample screen time and still provide an action-adventure the likes not seen before? The answer is a resounding "yes," as "The Avengers" united stars from the previous films in one epic blockbuster as they set out to stop Loki from taking over the world. The actors worked brilliantly together, the action was palpable and non-stop, and other film universes have tried to copy the success "The Avengers" had - to no avail. Only "Infinity War" can top it, and I can't wait for it to finally come out.
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