After ten years and twenty films, I figured now would be a great time to re-evaluate my ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Just keep in mind that this list is totally subjective and you're liable to disagree with a vast majority of it. In fact, I would be surprised to learn that anyone out there has this exact list because every Marvel movie registers differently with all of us. Anyways, I marathoned all the films back in April to prepare for Infinity War, so this is a fairly accurate ranking as to how I feel at this point in time. Of course, everything's subject to change over time though.
Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years (All 20 Films Ranked)
20. The Incredible Hulk
If I'm being honest, I legitimately hate almost everything about this movie. Excluding a few action sequences, it's a total snooze-fest devoid of personality that even Marvel Studios has tried to put it behind them.
19. Thor
Thor is a perfectly fine film, but it's at the bottom of this list because I find it woefully generic compared to everything else Marvel's made. Asgard looks cool, it has some instances of exciting action, and Hemsworth and Hiddleston are incredibly well-cast, but the scenes in New Mexico aren't nearly as charming as the filmmakers thought they were.
18. Thor: The Dark World
Thor: The Dark World is probably one of the most forgettable entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the second act does enough to redeem the rest of it in my eyes. Frigga's funeral scene is simply astounding and there's an excellent rapport between Thor and Loki. To me, that alone makes it better than most give it credit for.
17. Iron Man 2
Iron Man 2 is an interesting entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. On one hand, I rewatched it to discover some surprisingly clever dialogue and plenty of thrilling action sequences. Downey's great in the role of Tony Stark as always, Don Cheadle's an improvement over Terrence Howard, and it includes an awesome introduction to the characters of Black Widow. Also, Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer is amazing. On the other hand, it became so concerned with setting up Marvel's future that the story quirky loses focus and spirals out of control.
16. Avengers: Age of Ultron
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. There was a time when Avengers: Age of Ultron was my favorite Marvel movie. It's remarkable how a few rewatches can completely change one's perspective though... While the spectacle is quite something, Age of Ultron fell prey to the dreaded sequelitis and is ultimately overstuffed. There's plenty to admire and appreciate in it, but there's just way too much going on for any of it to come across as meaningful...
15. Thor: Ragnarok
I've warmed up to Thor: Ragnarok significantly since first seeing it last November. It's certainly enjoyable, but Taika Waititi's approach often enabled humor to compromise the severity of Thor's situation and the tonal shifts can be quite jarring as a result. I probably would like Ragnarok a little more if it hadn't turned everything into a joke.
14. Iron Man
Iron Man was the one that started it all. While that's certainly commendable, I think the film gets a lot of credit solely on behalf of launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe as opposed to being judged of its own merits. At its core, it tells Tony Stark's origin story and it tells that origin really well. I still quite enjoy the sequences of him constructing the suit and then the sequence depicted above is the epitome of awesome. Robert Downey Jr. is perfectly cast and exudes Stark's persona from the second he comes onscreen. However, the third act is fairly weak in comparison to the rest of the film and it's the Marvel movie that started the onslaught of disposable antagonists.
13. Iron Man 3
Iron Man 3 is a Marvel film that I feel is often overlooked. I love the energy that Shane Black brought to the franchise and personally consider it the best of the Iron Man trilogy based on how it tests the character of Tony Stark. I especially like how it dared to depict a Marvel character with anxiety and PTSD after the events of The Avengers.
12. Guardians of the Galaxy
I've never quite liked Guardians of the Galaxy as much as everyone else. That's not to say I dislike it, but it's never really been my favorite Marvel film so to speak. It sure is a blast, but I think some of its attributes are admittedly flawed. Namely, Ronan the Accuser is a one-note villain and some characters are under-written.
11. Ant-Man
Ant-Man is still one of Marvel's funniest films in my eyes. The scale, stakes, and scope of the story are all appropriately small, but Ant-Man doesn't ever let that get in the way of its big heart!
10. Ant-Man and the Wasp
Ant-Man and the Wasp is probably the closest we'll ever get to watching a live-action Saturday morning cartoon, and the hilarious ANT-ics never let up so it's fun from start-to-finish. It's probably the most light-hearted entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that doesn't ever get in the way of telling a story with emotional weight as well.
9. Doctor Strange
The visuals and action in Doctor Strange are absolutely out-of-this world, but the origin story at its center remained remarkably grounded even as it brought magic into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
8. Captain America: The First Avenger
Captain America: The First Avenger is downright charming. As a period piece, it lent so much surprising humanity and depth to the character of Steve Rogers that he became my favorite Marvel character as a result. I also appreciate how it's a throwback to the '40s WW2 era and that it has one of the very best onscreen relationships in the Marvel Cinematic Universe between Steve and Peggy Carter. Just as Captain America socked Adolf on the jaw in this film, The First Avenger packs a punch as one of Marvel's most thrilling and emotional works to date.
7. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
I'm not sure whether this is controversial or not, but I vastly prefer Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 over the original. It's a Marvel entry that expands on its characters in fresh, unique ways while providing plenty of fun action, humor, and heart that audiences have come to love. It also has some of the hardest-hitting emotional beats in the Marvel filmography, as I can hardly watch the end without welling up... Bravo James Gunn. Bravo, indeed.
6. Spider-Man: Homecoming
Spider-Man: Homecoming is the first Spider-Man film that captured the essence of the friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man. He's just a guy trying to do right by his community, and I think Homecoming portrays that perfectly. It's not overly-ambitious in regards to its action or storytelling, and I love how it furthers Peter Parker as a character.
5. Black Panther
Black Panther is a comic-book movie that managed to transcend the genre and be more than just another comic-book movie. Beyond its cultural significance, it managed to have a meaningful political message against isolationism and in favor of helping those you're able to if you have the means and resources to do so. It's also one of the franchise's most visually-striking films with an exceptional original score, and its ensemble of characters are among Marvel's very best.
4. The Avengers
I'd daresay The Avengers is irrefutably a defining blockbuster for my generation. It exploded onto the pop-culture scene because it's epic, action-packed, and full of humor and heart. It's been six years, and I still get giddy staring at the above iconic group shot. Few frames have that effect on an individual. Much less the whole globe.
3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
The Russo Bros can really do no wrong considering my top three Marvel films are all directed by them. Captain America: The Winter Soldier succeeds as a sequel in ways most franchises dream of. It's tense, action-packed, and even emotionally-charged while furthering the character's journey in a unique, interesting way.
2. Captain America: Civil War
Captain America: Civil War has so much going for it in my book. It contains some of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's greatest action sequences, naturally introduced the characters of Spider-Man and Black Panther, and topped it all off with a dynamite finale. Then, the lasting stakes and consequences of this conflict only make it stronger in my eyes.
1. Avengers: Infinity War
Avengers: Infinity War is my favorite Marvel movie, no question about it. It was the cinematic culmination of ten years of storytelling and I felt it paid off in every way imaginable. I've seen it five times now and I always find something new to appreciate with each and every viewing. To put it simply, it's epic in every sense of the word.
No comments:
Post a Comment