#9
Iron Man 2
Well this was a disappointment, wasn't it? Two years after Iron Man redefined the superhero film its sequel was released, and it turned out to be an overlong film with an undercooked villain. The biggest problem, however, was the fact that the film really doesn't stand on its own. It is so tied up in setting up the shared universe that it doesn't really tell a satisfying story in its own right. Also, the final fight with Mickey Rourke's Whiplash is the definition of an anticlimax.
#8
The Incredible Hulk
Marvel sure seems to want to forget that this film ever happened. While it's certainly not great, I do think it gets somewhat of a worse rap than it deserves. Some of the action is quite entertaining, and Edward Norton is always a reliable protagonist. As well, it is certainly a better film than Ang Lee's Hulk. In the end, though, perhaps The Hulk is a character better suited to a supporting role than a lead. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like a solo outing for the green giant will have much more of a story to tell than Hulk running from the military and eventually being forced to fight another giant monster. Perhaps someday someone will be able to give him an interesting story, but until then he should probably keep more to the sidelines.
#7
Thor: The Dark World
I was very excited for this movie when I heard that Alan Taylor, director of some of the best early Game of Thrones episodes, would be helming the film. In the end, I found the extra fantasy elements of the film to be quite entertaining. Unfortunately, the Earth elements wound up being even more grating. Rather than having one comic relief character, they added a second and turned a previously serious character into a third. While this is not bad in its own right, the comedy that these three provide is much more annoying than funny, and does not at all mesh with the rest of the film. The final fight is a disappointment as well, using a cool concept to far less than its full potential. Perhaps I am mostly disappointed because I wanted a mythological epic where Marvel wanted a superhero film. All I can say is thank god for Tom Hiddleston, as he truly saves the film's second act, making sure this was not the weakest Marvel film.
#6
Iron Man 3
Now we're getting to the good ones. Iron Man 3 showed that Marvel has largely figured out how to make a satisfying sequel. Tony Stark's internal struggles were interesting, the film's tone was light enough to be entertaining, but serious enough to feel the stakes, and the visuals have never been better. It is still held back by a few things. Marvel is not known for having great villains, and this film is one of the weaker ones. While the villain does pose a threat, his motivations and plan are very generic. I was excited when I heard that the mandarin was going to be the villain because I hoped the film would use him in a more interesting way than the first two. In the end he was slightly more entertaining than the villains of the first two, but leaves the viewer with a feeling of wasted potential. Nonetheless, Iron Man 3 has more style than either of the first two films and proves to be a solid sequel entry in the Marvel canon, if not the best example.
#5
Iron Man
I know that many of you will not agree with Iron Man being this low. In fact, a large part of the reason it is so high is that I respect the fact that it is responsible for the entire Marvel shared universe being started. However, I think when one steps away from the film the real reason for its success is Robert Downey Jr. His performance is excellent, finding the humor and pathos in the character. When you step away from that, however, Iron Man is a standard origin story with a well below average villain. I feel that it is a touch overrated, as its main strength is its lead star. However, that performance is enough for the film to be one of the stronger films of the Marvel canon.
#4
Thor
And After the most overrated Marvel film comes the one I feel is very underrated. The first Thor may have had less screen time on Asgard, but with Kenneth Branagh's direction it felt even more epic. I was impressed with the Shakespearian aspects of the plot, as the Thor/Loki dynamic was fascinating to watch. As well, though the attempts at humor do bring this film down, they are not quite as annoying as they will become. What makes this film really strong though is that it has easily the strongest villain of any Marvel film. Loki is fascinating, played brilliantly by Tom Hiddleston. Threatening, fun and having more fans than the film's hero, Loki may just be the true star of the Marvel shared universe, and I think many people forget that this is the film where he got started, and where he was at his best.
#3
The Avengers
Ok, hear me out for The Avengers not being number 1. I love The Avengers, and feel as though it is one of the more entertaining blockbusters of recent memory. However, I feel it is much more of a cool film than a good one. While that is not a criticism, as cool is much more of what it was going for when it combined six superheroes together, I does keep it back from being at the same level of the only two great films Marvel has produced. That being said, Joss Whedon's writing and direction are a perfect fit for this film. He balances all the characters very well so they have almost equal parts to play (except Thor and Hawkeye) and he fixes the character of Black Widow, showing the potential Scarlett Johansson had in the role. His dialogue is so great that many people forget that the film doesn't really have a story. Probably the most fun of Marvel's movies, and I very much look forward to the team's next outing.
#2
Captain America: The First Avenger
I guess you can tell by now that Captain America is my favorite of the Marvel superheroes. I feel as though he is the most interesting character as a person, and Chris Evans gives the most layered performance of the shared universe. His first film is easily the most heartfelt of the entire Marvel universe, and very nearly at the number one spot. What really sets this film apart, though, are the setting and the director. The WWII setting gives the filmmakers a lot to work with, and is very cool to see a superhero period piece. As well, this film is one of the only ones that truly feels like a standalone, with S.H.I.E.L.D not coming in till the last scene. As such, Joe Johnston's style really shines through in a way the other Marvel directors haven't been able to do. It feels very retro, and that's very cool to see, and makes for quite an interesting setup, and one of the best superhero films of all time.
#1
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
By far the smartest film Marvel has ever made, Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a true, exciting action thriller. The storyline, retaining the feel of 70s spy films, is as strong as anything Marvel has produced yet. As well, the entire cast is on point in this film, which truly makes S.H.I.E.L.D. important. Packed with several cool twists and great performances, Winter Soldier is easily the best film on this list when taken on its own terms. It is also notable for having by far the best action of the entire Marvel Universe. I don't know where they came from, but the Russo brothers have shown that they know how to do action very well. Containing some hard hitting intensity, actually intimidating villains and employing good use of shaky cam, Winter Soldier is the most exciting film of the entire series. Perhaps it is just the most in my head, but I truly feel as though Marvel has outdone itself with Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and have created their best film yet. I am now very much looking forward to what James Gunn will do with Guardians of the Galaxy.
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