The Marvel Cinematic Universe *Updated*

Back in October of 2016 I ranked the Marvel Cinematic Universe films worst-to-first based on a variety of factors; story, villain, initial viewing and rewatchability etc. But most importantly, the list is simply about how much I enjoyed one film over another. Since then, several movies have been added to the MCU with each one building on and often changing the impact of previous films. So, I've updated the rankings which is something I'll be doing after each new installment.

#19 The Incredible Hulk (2008)

This one, for me, is the most forgettable of the MCU films. Edward Norton and the rest of the cast are solid but the CGI doesn’t hold up well and the movie just isn't much fun.

#18 Black Panther (2018)

This one was a bit of a letdown for me and the main problem was 'Vibranium'. Up until this film the fictional element was extremely rare, and it was simply known in the MCU as the most durable metal on the planet. However, in this movie Vibranium can do whatever the plot needs it to do and there is a whole mine full of it. 

#17 Iron Man 3 (2013)

This one is a bit of a mixed-bag. Initially I didn’t care for it, probably because I had such high expectations going in, but over time and a few repeat viewings I’ve found a good number of things I really like in the movie.

#16 Thor: The Dark World (2013)

This sequel to 2011’s ‘Thor’ is a solid movie that just suffers from a forgettable villain. We get to see more of Asgard in this one, which is a plus.

#15 Iron Man 2 (2010)

This movie isn't bad,  and it's actually the film I've seen the most on this list, but at times it feels like more of a setup for future MCU films than an Iron Man one. On the plus side, War Machine and Black Widow are fun additions.

#14 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

While it is a really fun action packed movie, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.  I liked the larger roster of Avengers, but I didn't find Ultron all that menacing. 

#13 Thor (2011)

The film doesn't have the most compelling Marvel hero and it isn't the most action-packed of the bunch, but it's a solid entry and Chris Hemsworth is another example of great casting by the folks at Marvel. 


#12 Doctor Strange (2016)

This one isn't just entertaining but it's also visually captivating. Doctor Strange was never one of my favorite Marvel Comics characters, but that didn't hurt my movie going experience and I thought Benedict Cumberbatch was solid a Stephen Strange.

#11 Ant-Man

I was kind of surprised by how much I enjoyed this one when I first saw it. It’s a really fun movie. There is the one big MCU tie-in when Ant-Man comes across Falcon, but like ‘Iron Man’ the movie is able to stand on its own without relying too heavily on the rest of the MCU.

#10 Captain America: Civil War (2016)

There are a lot things I loved about it and a few things I didn't, but overall it's really entertaining. I would've liked to rank it higher, but there just wasn't enough to put it ahead of the others.

#9 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Just because it’s #9 doesn’t make it a bad movie. The characters are likeable, and the story is interesting. The biggest flaw is that Ronan the Accuser is an underwhelming villain that felt like nothing more than a place holder until a future Guardians film.

# 8 Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

It's the culmination of 10 years worth of Marvel movies and, while that makes it a satisfying experience for MCU fans, it doesn't really stand on it's own as a film. There is a good chance that it moves up or down significantly on the list as subsequent films build on the events of this one.



#7 Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

It was time for Marvel to do something different with Thor and the Hulk, and in this action-comedy I think they knocked it out of park. This is easily my favorite of the 'Thor' films, and it holds up to repeat viewings.

  
#6 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

 I like the first 'Guardians of the Galaxy' film but it does have it's flaws and, while this one isn't perfect either, I did really enjoy it. A fun film with the characters you love from the first one, plus Kurt Russell. I definitely recommend it.

#5 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

I probably like this one more than most people. I think it's a really fun and well done movie, especially since origin stories so often end up being boring.

#4 Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

Spider-Man's first solo film in the MCU was exactly what I hoped it would be. A fun, action packed film with a Peter Parker who actually looks like a high school student.

 

#3 The Avengers (2012)

There was nothing quite like seeing Captain America, Hulk, Iron Man, Black Widow, and Hawkeye all fighting alongside one another for the first time on the big screen. It’s still one of the coolest MCU moments.

#2 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

This almost made the #1 spot. It’s an action packed thriller, and one of the all-time best comic book movies. A great addition to the MCU.

#1 Iron Man (2008)

The film that started it all still holds up as my favorite. The plot isn't overly complicated, you can enjoy it for exactly what it is without the need to see any of the other films beforehand, and Robert Downey Jr. is excellent as Tony Stark.

How do you rank the MCU films?

Leave it in the comments below.

I post reviews of new and classic films all the time, so check back regularly or follow me on Twitter @jfrey87 for links to new content.

Best of 2016

2016 has come to a close and, as with every year, there were plenty of great movies and disappointments to hit theaters.
 I originally thought about doing a sort of every-man version of the Oscars and pick my favorite actor, director, supporting actor, film score, etc. from this year, but I ended up with just too many categories. So, I decided to break it down into three categories that stood out to me after all my trips to the theater this year.

Best Comic Book Movie:

Captain America: Civil War

Comic Book movies get their own category because now more than ever before there is no shortage of action-packed hero flicks hitting the big screen every year. There was a lot to be excited about going into 2016, but i would say there were more negatives in this category than positives. Civil War was pretty awesome and Dr. Strange was good but, for me, movies like X-men: Apocalypse, Deadpool, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, and Suicide Squad either didn't live up to the hype or were flat-out disappointments. Some of these movies would have a good action scene or a fun character but Captain America: Civil War was thoroughly enjoyable and, as a result, was the one that really stood out from the rest of the pack.

Best Animated Movie:

Moana

Much like the Comic Book category this wasn't a close call for me. It had been a while since an animated film came around that I absolutely loved, and then Disney's Moana came out. I wasn't the biggest Finding Nemo fan so I didn't expect Finding Dory to thrill me,and it didn't. I found Trolls hard to sit through, Storks was funny, I didn't even get through all of Secret Life of Pets, Zootopia didn't really move the needle for me, I skipped out on yet another Ice Age sequel... Moana was the only one that really had me entertained, and I even went back to see it a second time.

Best Thing I wasn't Expecting:

Hacksaw Ridge

There were a quite a few movies I really enjoyed this year that caught me off guard. I was surprised how much I liked The Jungle Book remake, but the toss up was really between Hacksaw Ridge and In a Valley of Violence. Both were films that weren't even on my radar until right before they came out, and I thought both were really entertaining. In this category, I give the edge to Hacksaw Ridge because I think it's a bit of a better all-around film but I do recommend checking out both of them if you have the opportunity. (Here are links to both reviews Hacksaw Ridge, In a Valley of Violence)
As a bit of a side note: One movie that wasn't quite as good as I was expecting was Rob Zombie's 31. I liked it but it didn't blow me away.

  A big thanks to everyone who has been reading my reviews this year.

Have a movie recommendation for me to check out in 2017?
Leave it in comments below.

Today's Movie: Doctor Strange (2016)

 

The film Doctor Strange is a based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch. The film has only recently come out so for those who have yet to see it, I'll do my best to give a review without spoiling it.

My expectations going in were pretty high, and I felt the film lived up to those expectations.

The plot is very similar in structure to one of my favorite MCU films: Iron Man. Like that movie this features a main character that is brilliant but also quite arrogant. Then, after a tragedy, he sees the error of his ways, and by the end of the film he's a hero. Simple idea but when it's done well make for an enjoyable viewing experience. One of the unfortunate things, as with many MCU movies, the villain wasn't great. However, despite a lackluster villain the movie does have a lot of positives going for it. First off, the film is visually stunning, with a ton of really cool effects. I really liked Benedict Cumberbatch as Dr. Stephen Strange, and I thought they did a solid job of bringing that character to life while also keeping the film moving along at a decent pace. There are some lighthearted moments scattered throughout and most (but not all) of the jokes and quips hit there mark.

Overall, I'm not quite sure where I'd rank this film among the others in the Marvel Cinematic Universe after only one viewing, (a ranking of all the other MCU films can be found by clicking here: http://onlyinthemoviesblog.blogspot.com/2016/10/the-marvel-cinematic-universe.html) but it's a fun, enjoyable film and I definitely recommend going to the theater and checking it out.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5

Have a suggestion for a review?

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