10 Superhero Movies Everyone Should See

Usually entries to my ongoing '10 Movies Everyone Should See' series focus on an individual actor or filmmaker. I have previously written posts about Tom Cruise, Sean Connery, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Alfred Hitchcock, and many others. However, the topic of which Superhero films people should see came up recently in a conversation and it felt like a good fit for this series. If you're not familiar with how I make these lists, they aren't necessarily a 'Best of' or 'Top 10', It's merely 10 films that I feel best represent the topic overall. If you're a big fan of comic books, like myself, then you probably will go see any superhero flick that hits theaters. For those with a more casual interest in the genre, these are what I consider some notable selections. 

*Also, for anyone wondering, the only films considered were those featuring superheros. So comic/graphic novel adaptations like Road to Perdition, 300, Sin City, and V for Vendetta are films I thought were best left for a different day.

#10 Logan (2017)

Hugh Jackman played the popular X-Men character Wolverine for 17 years and did a fantastic job overall. But it was his last film in the X-Men universe that gave us arguably his best performance.

#9 Watchmen (2009)

I know people are split on Watchmen but whatever your view on how the source material was handled, it is still a well-made, visually striking film, worth watching at least once.

#8 The Avengers (2012)

Even though the X-Men franchise had been showing that superhero teams in movies could work since 2000, this was the first time we saw heros from several different franchises come together in a major motion picture. It was a game-changer.

#7  Blade (1998)

Blade isn't perfect, the CGI especially hasn't held up, but it's still a cool movie. The story is interesting, it's a solid action-horror mashup, Wesley Snipes is awesome, and the quality of the film should be appreciated even more when you consider the status of comic book movies at the time. Blade came out just a year after Batman & Robin, Spawn, and Steel.

#6 Superman (1978)

It's been 40 years since this one hit theaters and I think for a lot of people, myself included, Christopher Reeve is still the definitive live-action Superman.

#5 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Guardians of the Galaxy isn't my favorite of the Marvel films but it stands out because it came at a time when many where looking at comic book movies and saying "Let's make them gritty". The folks at Marvel on the other hand were saying "Let's get weird and do the one with the sentient tree and talking racoon".

#4 Wonder Woman (2017)

This is far from the best film on the list but, it was the first wildly successful, female-led, comic book movie, and for that alone it's worth watching. Plus, it's pretty good until the third act.

#3 Ironman (2008)

To date the MCU consists of 20 films and it is the all-time highest grossing film franchise of all time, and it all started with Ironman. It might not be everyone's favorite MCU film but, it's hard to deny its impact.

#2 Hellboy (2004)

I just really like the Hellboy films and it's my list... Go watch Hellboy, it's a fun movie.

#1 Batman (1989)

Comic book movies have always had a pretty spotty track record. Sure, the MCU films have helped to establish some quality standards (and even then not all of those films are great) but I think it was Tim Burton's Batman that was the high water mark for the genre for a long time.


 Honorable Mentions: The Incredibles (2004), Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2016), X-Men (2000), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Spider-Man (2004), Batman (1966)

What are your 'must-see' superhero film? Leave a comment below.
-and-
To check out the other entries in this series click HERE

Marvel Cinematic Universe Rankings *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, many 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.

#23 The Incredible Hulk (2008)
-This one, for me, is the most forgettable of the MCU films (Marvel even replaced Norton with Mark Ruffalo and no one cared). Edward Norton and the rest of the cast are solid but, the film doesn’t hold up as well as some of the others and the movie just isn't much fun overall. 

#22 Black Panther (2018) 
-This one was a bit of a letdown for me. Pacing was an issue but, most of all I was just bored by this film. Also, this movie has some pretty terrible CGI moments.

#21 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.

#20 Thor: The Dark World (2013)
-This sequel to 2011’s ‘Thor’ is a solid movie that just suffers from, what is likely, the MCU's most forgettable villain. We do get to see more of Asgard in this one, which is a plus. I rank this one a little higher than most people probably do, because I do think it's well made and I enjoy it.

#19 Iron Man 2 (2010)
-This movie isn't bad, Robert Downey Jr. is great, Justin Hammer (played by Sam Rockwell) is one of my favorite MCU characters, 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.

#18 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 and I think the character was wasted in a one-off story. Who knows, maybe Ultron will return in the future.

#17 Thor (2011)
-The film doesn't start off having 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. It's been fun to see the MCU version of the character grow from kind of obscure to a fan favorite over the years.

#16 Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
-I personally think this is a solid follow-up to 2015's Ant-Man. After a little time and a few repeat viewings I might put it ahead of the original but for now it's going to sit at the #16 slot.

#15 Captain Marvel (2019)
-I was really excited for this one because Captain Marvel has had a few good story runs in the pages of Marvel Comics over the past few years and, while I liked the movie, I didn't love it. I had fun in the theater watching it but, The Guardians movies and Thor: Ragnarok have presented such a fun and vibrant feel to the MCU's cosmic stories, and this movie's scenes in space felt a bit dull and generic to me.

#14 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.

#13 Ant-Man (2015)
-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.

# 12 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.

#11 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.

#10 Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
-Overall, this is a really good Spider-Man movie. I didn't like it as much as Spider-Man: Homecoming (at least after just one veiwing) but, I had fun with this one. There is some fun action, a few good laughs, and some great character moments.

#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: Endgame (2019)
-The film is packed full of fan-service and fun moments. The narrative, pacing, and structure aren't the strongest of the bunch and the 3 hour runtime does affect it's rewatchability but, I still really enjoyed it.

#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, I found it to be an absolute joy and it holds up to repeat viewings which is not something I say about several of these films.

#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. It's a fun, very funny film with the characters you love from the first one, plus it has 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 a little 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. The Sam Rami trilogy was pretty good overall. The Amazing Spider-Man films had their moments. This is the Spider-Man I think most of us wanted all along.

#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. When the heroes are standing in a circle, battle-ready, and the Avengers theme kicks in... it's still one of the coolest MCU moments and resulted in the biggest cheer I have ever heard in a cinema.

#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. Simply 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. I still remember walking out of the theater thinking "Man, I hope they make another one of these..." I could've never imagined at the time that the MCU would become this big.

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.

A Brief Review of Thor Ragnarok

The third film in the 'Thor' franchise and Marvel's 17th entry in its cinematic universe, Thor Ragnarok shows a continued effort by the studio to keep the stories and characters fresh. The movie has a lot of solid comedy, good acting, some entertaining action set pieces and, for most Marvel fans this will probably end up being their favorite Thor film. Now, that doesn't mean its perfect. There are some minor flaws, particularly with pacing, but since this is a new release I'll save some of that for a more in depth review later on so I don't spoil anything.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and, while its not my favorite MCU film, it's probably pretty high on the list. The comedy was laid on a bit too thick in a few places which took away from any real tension developing, but when the jokes work they really work. It's a fun movie. An all-time great movie? No, but fun.

4.5 out of 5

Today's Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

This one has been out for a few days now so I figured I'd check it out. Now,  I wasn't a huge fan of the first 'Guardians of the Galaxy' film from 2014 but I thought it was a fine comic book movie. (If you want to see where I have it ranked among the other Marvel Cinematic Universe films click here to check out that post.)

So, as usual, since this one is still in theaters I'll try to avoid any major spoilers for those who are interested in seeing the film. However, I will give you a few things I liked, disliked, and my overall rating.

First off, some of the problems I had with the first movie are still present in this one. Now, the film is well made so these are more personal preference things than anything else. Like it's predecessor this movie is jam packed with comedy and, for me, it's a bit much. I like some levity in my comic book films, after all they are about masked heros fighting super villains and the concept is inherently a bit silly. But there are a few too many jokes here and at times it felt like the comedy was slowing down the plot and got in the way of dramatic tension that should have existed. Additionally, I'm still not crazy about all the characters in this film franchise (Nebula, for example is one I just don't care for) so that does knock the movie down a peg for me.

I don't want to get too nitpicky because I did enjoy the film, so I'm going to move on to some highlights. Kurt Russell gives a standout performance in just about every movie he's in and this one was no different. I thought he was great in the movie, I liked his character, and his interactions with Star-Lord (played by Chris Pratt) we're some of the best moments of the film. Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper) was my favorite character in the first 'Guardians of the Galaxy' and, even though I mentioned earlier how the film is a bit overstuffed with jokes, all of the comedic moments with Rocket worked for me again in this one. I also enjoyed the inclusion of Mantis (played by Pom Klementieff) and baby Groot, who I thought going in might be more annoying than anything, had some legitimately funny moments. Also, as in the first film, this one has a pretty good soundtrack that perfectly compliments the overall vibe of the movie.

Overall, I enjoyed this one a little more than the previous 'Guardians of the Galaxy'. There are some pacing issues but I did get a few laughs out of it and there was some growth to many of the characters. If you liked the first film then I recommend checking it out.

I give it a 4 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

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.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

I already talked briefly about this one in my Marvel Cinematic Universe piece saying, among other things, "...The characters are fine, and the story was alright but had some pacing issues". And that pretty representative of my overall feelings about this movie: I don't hate it, but I don't love it either, it's a mixed-bag. Rather than go into all the plot details, I'm just going to pick apart some of the good and bad about this one. 

First off, if you haven't seen it, it has a pretty big cast of characters: The Guardians are comprised of Star-Lord played by Chris Pratt who has a funny line here and there, but overall I think he's just OK in the film. One of the creatures joining him is Groot, who's gimmick is just saying "I am Groot" (a perfect role for someone with as little acting range as Vin Diesel). Along with Groot you have the wise-cracking 'Rocket' Raccoon voiced by Bradley Cooper, and easily my favorite character in the film. Filling out the team you have Gamora played by Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, and they're both decent choices for their respected roles.

 The main villain of the film is Ronan the Accuser and I don't find him to be all that menacing but, I don't think that was actor Lee Pace's fault, I think it was just dull writing. There's also a little bit of Josh Brolin as Thanos but not enough to really comment on. Some of the other supporting characters are played by a decent cast made up of John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio del Toro, Karen Gillian... and everyone is serviceable in their roles. The only one that stands out in a negative way is Michael Rooker as Yondu Udonta, I prefer to fast-forward past all of his scenes.

Moving on past the characters, the plot revolves around a metal orb that contains one of the Infinity stones. This is a bit of a problem that pops up from time to time in the MCU; Thanos needs all of these Infinity stones for a future movie (Avengers: Infinity War) and sometimes it hurts the plot of the movie you're currently watching. Guardians of the Galaxy may be the worst victim of this. The film takes place in space with a unknown number of cool, epic stories that could be told, but the plot is instead beholden to the Infinity stone thoughline. It doesn't tank the whole film but, it makes what could have been a big, space adventure movie feel very small, and this is probably an even bigger issue if you don't follow the MCU and have no idea that Thanos is trying collect all six stones.

I know I'm ragging on this movie a lot but there are things about it I do like. Like I stated earlier the character of 'Rocket' Raccoon is my favorite in the film, I get a decent numbers of laughs out of the movie and most come from him. While there are some pacing issues here and there, the film contains a number of really fun scenes (the prison break scene being my personal favorite) and top-notch cinematography. There are definitely a few Marvel films I prefer over this one but, if nothing else, it's pretty entertaining.

I give this one a 3 out of 5.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the 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?

Leave it in the comments below.

 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe

With Marvel's newest film ‘Dr. Strange’ coming to theaters soon it seems like a good point to look at the Marvel Cinematic Universe up to this point.

I’ve ranked the 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.

#13 The Incredible Hulk (2008)

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

#12 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Just because it’s #12 doesn’t make it a bad movie, it just doesn’t stack up well against some of the others on the list. The characters are fine, and the story was alright but had some pacing issues. I guess overall, it just didn’t ‘Wow’ me.

#11 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.

#10 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.

#9 Iron Man 2 (2010)

This movie isn't bad, 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.

#8 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.

#7 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.

#6 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.

#5 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 menicing.

#4 Captain America: Civil War (2016)

 This was one of the hardest to rank, and over time I may even move it a slot higher or lower after a few more viewings. There are a lot things I loved about it and a few things I didn't, but overall it's really entertaining.

#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.  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, and Robert Downey Jr. is excellent as Tony Stark.

Have a suggestion for a review?

Leave it in the comments below.

For more comic and movie content be sure to also check out the Psycholander Podcast:

https://youtu.be/noMQyeFUVhg

*Update* 'Doctor Strange' has been released and you can check out my review for that movie here:

http://onlyinthemoviesblog.blogspot.com/2016/11/todays-movie-doctor-strange-2016.html?m=1