Saturday, March 2, 2019

Ranking The 20 Marvel Cinematic Universe Films - Up To 2018 Edition

With three Marvel films coming out in 2019, I felt like it was time to re-rank the current MCU titles up to 2018. Avengers: Endgame could spell the end of the phase 1 and 2 main characters. Phase 3 introduced a few new ones for us to follow. Since my last MCU rankings up to 2015 films, I have fully embraced the digital ownership world. It really has changed the way I watch now. No longer am I constrained to my Blu-ray player. I've pretty much watched everything from 2012 on multiple times since. In that same span, 8 new MCU movies popped up as well. Here's my new rankings based up to 2018's MCU films.


Rank
1 Iron Man (鋼鐵人)
Iron Man started it all. Without the success of this film, the rest of the MCU would not exist. RDJ and Favreau put a compelling spin on Iron Man's origin story. It got people on board and people are not getting off. For 2008, this was a risky film and comic movies were forever changed.

2 The Avengers (復仇者聯盟)
When Iron Man succeeded, Thor and Captain America followed to establish more characters. As each film progressed to introduce parts of the Avengers, this was the movie that put it all together. This movie was the cumulative vision of the MCU that's now being copied everywhere. The movie had great acting, great writing, and some of the best action ever. As much as Iron Man shouted to the world that super hero movies can be great. The Avengers established the greatness of the MCU.

3 Avengers: Infinity War (復仇者聯盟:無限之戰)
The snap that changed it all. The MCU in all its glory on display, but the main character was Thanos, the villain. Leave it to the MCU to make a villain compelling enough for you to watch to the end. Iron Man shows up in a big way and the Thor storyline propels him to the front of the cosmic MCU storylines of the future. The rest of the characters played their parts. So much going on and excellently presented.

4 Iron Man 3 (鋼鐵人3/鐵甲奇俠3/钢铁侠3)
This was movie that truly showed what Tony Stark can do. As he boasted in Avengers, Tony Stark is a "Genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist". This plays out in grand fashion as Stark deals with PTSD of New York and AIM trying to destroy Stark Industries. Without his armor, he's still a genius and survivor. The hall of Armors was a great homage to us comic book collectors.

5 Captain America: Civil War (美國隊長3:英雄內戰)
Feels like a mini PSA from the MCU of the political divide of the US and possibly the world. Cap and Iron Man basically flip sides from their origin movies to this movie. Cap wants freedom and Stark wants some accountability. But they both find out that the governments of the world are going to do a poor job of it. We're also introduced to two new MCU characters that change the MCU landscape.

6 Avengers: Age of Ultron (復仇者聯盟2:奧創紀元)
This movie was for the Avenger comic geek in me. So many references to comics that my head was about to explode. The storyline wasn't as strong as the first, but the action, dialogue, and purposeful way of MCU was noticed. Considered a failure because it wasn't domestically as strong at the box office, but it cleaned up overseas. I've watched this again several times and love it

7 Thor: Ragnarok (雷神索爾3:諸神黃昏)
Thor establishes himself as the future of the MCU in his third solo film. Asgard on full display, but the main story is cosmic. Hulk and him become buddies. Everything should sound weird and not make sense. But that's why this movie is so great. A comedy at heart, but it advance the vastness of the MCU to the cosmic realms. Thor's powers also show that he's a force to be dealt with.

8 Iron Man 2 (鋼鐵人2)
I think following arguably the best Marvel movie, there will be a let down. This might have been it. As a stand alone, it was quite entertaining. Iron Man is on display again and we all love Tony Stark. But this movie doesn't add much to the MCU and technology seems dated. BUT on recent watches, its been like wine and has seemly aged well.

9 Captain America: The Winter Soldier - 美國隊長2:酷寒戰士 - 美國隊長2 - 美國隊長2:冬日戰士
As much as Iron Man 3 continued on after Avengers, it really was an Iron Man movie. This was the Captain America movie after Avengers and it set the tone for the rest of the MCU. The events there led to massive MCU changes for movie and television. The movie was a story of Cap coming to grips with his modern surroundings. Falcon and Hydra are introduced and we get a massive spectacle along the way. Often reffered to as Avengers 1.5.

10 & 11
Guardians Of The Galaxy (星際異攻隊/銀河守護隊) and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (星際異攻隊2)
The first film open the MCU cosmic realms. That there is a universe beyond the Earth and Asgard. Where planets are connected. Both films have the same cast and director which made it feel like an episode 1 and 2 of a series. The movies themselves were excellent. There are so many things to explore with the universe from here on out.

12 Spider-Man: Homecoming (蜘蛛人:返校日)
Spider-Man's first MCU solo movie. Peter Parker and his relationship with Stark is further explored. But this is a Peter Parker coming of age story. As an high schooler, he's still young and prone to kid mistakes. A fun watch. Well made movie.

13 Black Panther (黑豹)
Black Panther is very good film. But the story itself was weak for me. Killmonger was awesome. The action was awesome. The tech was awesome. But the movie was a bit of a letdown given the hype. Black Panther and Wakanda is well established in this movie and a sequel is on its way.

14 Doctor Strange (奇異博士)
This was a nice introduction to a different aspect of the Marvel Universe. That of the mystic arts, something that would take away from the science driven portions so far. Whereas technology has driven Iron Man and Cap, Doctor Strange must embrace that of magic. The introduction of the astral form and other realm makes the MCU's much more vast now. The origin story of a once proud doctor that would go toe to toe with Tony Stark and how he is humbled can be applied to many us that start over.

15 & 16 Ant-Man (蟻人) & Ant-Man And The Wasp (蟻人與黃蜂女)
This was a comedy with action in it. Rudd is great as a goofball that could. Throw in some really good lines and actors, you have a really entertaining movie.

17 Thor: The Dark World (雷神索爾2:黑暗世界)
Asgard in all its glory is in this movie. It talks mythology and runs with it. A race of super humans that have melded technology with life and no screens. The earth stuff was the boring times.
18 Thor (雷神索爾)
Thor is awesome, you need a movie to introduce him. This was pretty good. The father son relationship angle was played up to great success.
19 Captain America: The First Avenger (美國隊長)
One of those movies that had to be done to set up Cap. Penny is awesome in this film and deserving got her own show. This movie isn't one I go back to watch often.

20 The Incredible Hulk (無敵浩克)
Hulk smash and emotes. Not something I would watch again. It's in the MCU, that is its saving grace.


Source: Populasian

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