Thor's Second Outing Offers Fun

Thor: The Dark World is a solid addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, one that's better structured than the first Thor, which I still loved. Thor at times tended to feel like it was a bridge to The Avengers, rather than a full-fledged Thor film with its own identity. That being said, director Kenneth Branagh had a lot to juggle with that film. The story-centric stuff works, the characters are good and the tone is handled well enough, it's just that the story does tend to hit some bumps on the road but it all ends nicely and is overall hugely entertaining.

The sequel, directed by Game of Thrones episode director Alan Taylor, fares better in the consistency department as the film does feel like a Thor film, and not an Avengers link. Asgard looks even better this time around, much more vibrant and elaborate. We saw a little bit of Svartalfheim, which looked interesting but we could've seen a little more. The designs of the Dark Elves' ships are great, Malektih's design is also very good (Christopher Eccleston nails the role). The action is better shot and much more exciting, and there are nice little twists along the way. The earthbound scenes are surprisingly delightful too, and the other human characters make a nice welcome return and supply a majority of the comic relief although it does get a little too goofy at times.

What I was also happy to see was that the color scheme was actually nice on the eyes, the trailers and posters (the marketing for this film was pretty bland and by-the-books) mostly implied that this was going to be another boring, desaturated, teal-and-orange spectacle. I especially didn't want another one of those after Man of Steel's washed out quasi-depressing color palette. Thankfully I was wrong, Asgard pops and the action shines. Asgard is a lot more inviting this time, along with other scenes. Give Marvel props for making movies that don't try to be needlessly gritty and "grounded".

Unfortunately, its first hour tends to drag a little too much and the second half is way too fast. The final battle is inconsistent, especially with the technology Jane, Darcy and Selvig are using. Selvig also comes into the picture out of left hand and not much is really done with him, which is a shame considering how good of a character he was in the first film. Even Jane feels a bit underused at times, and Malekith - despite his great menacing looks - is kind of a dull villain. He's basically an obstacle seeking to fulfill a goal that Asgardians prevented him from getting. Not bad, but I expected a little more. On the other hand, Loki steals the show and plays the usual tricks.

The only problem with this film is that it feels rushed, they didn't flesh too many of its ideas out: Thor's relationship with Odin, Loki being something of a good guy, Thor and Jane's relationship, Selvig going nuts after the events of The Avengers, even the death of Frigga. The Warriors Three were underused, too - I loved them in the first film, they made a great team with Thor during the fight with the Destroyer. It just seemed too lean and too fast, maybe it should've been a bit longer (112 minutes is surprisingly short for a Marvel film like this, 130 minutes would've sufficed) and more developed, because there are great ideas in this film. Surprisingly, not much was shown of the dark world itself…

Now the mid-credits scene is great (the credits themselves are lovely to look at), where we get a weird-but-good taste of the craziness that'll be Guardians of the Galaxy. The post-credits scene is an okay stinger, nothing too special. It's about on par with Iron Man 3's final seconds; amusing and brings a good laugh. Speaking of which, it was cool to see a Jotunheim beast appear as well! Also, Marvel Studios' new logo is neat.

If you see the film in 3D or IMAX 3D, you'll get a five-minute sneak peek of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. The trailer for this film was great to begin with, this blows it away. The piece promises us that this next Phase 2 chapter will bring intense action, a great plot and high stakes thrills. To be honest, I was really looking more forward to this than this film.

That all being said, Thor: The Dark World delivers a good dose of Asgardian action, humor and fun. It doesn't quite rock the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but it's an entertaining ride and it at least feels like its own film. Again, I would've liked a much more fleshed out film that wasn't racing its way to the pretty short finale, but it's enjoyable in its own right and a worthy addition to the growing shared cinematic universe. Recommended...

Raising The Stakes... Again

The teaser trailer for Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the third installment of Marvel Studios' second phase of their cinematic universe, has surfaced...



It kicks off with a bang and a shred of humor, but then afterwards, it takes on the mood that the great but misleading Iron Man 3 trailers used. The trailer makes it quite obvious that the stakes are being raised, big time. Of course, they would have to do so for this film. Thor: The Dark World, on the other hand, "looks" like the further adventures of Thor with a pinch of darkness. Of course, I'm waiting for the film to prove me wrong, but for now the trailers surprisingly aren't doing a thing for me... And I loved the first Thor, and I guess I may be in the minority for loving it.

Anyways, what they are showing here looks fantastic. The final shot of the titular villain is great, the Helicarrier crashing into the ocean was a nice money shot, plus from the looks of it, the action will be pretty intense. I've heard things about the Comic-Con footage, and how those who attended the presentation felt that the action was on par with The Avengers. That'll probably work very well in its favor, considering that Iron Man 3's action was a mix of big blow-em-up thrills (particularly the third act) and clever, smaller-scale escapades (Stark sneaking into the Mandarin's mansion). Thor: The Dark World's action looks to be Thor's action, but amped up.

They also give us a taste of Rogers' unease with what S.H.I.E.L.D. is planning to do, which was mentioned in the Comic-Con footage descriptions. The glimpses at the Falcon, Cap's new suit and some of the new characters were also great additions. In all, it's a pretty solid teaser. Definitely Iron Man 3-like in a sense, except less "end-times" in its mood.

Iron Man 3's teaser was criticized by some for being more on the Nolan Batman side, since there wasn't a scrap of humor and the whole trailer was accompanied by descending music that suggested despair rather than fun. Personally, I liked that trailer a lot because it wasn't trying to be brooding or dark (everyone called it "The Iron Man Rises"), I thought it was basically saying, "Tony Stark is in big trouble this time!" The second trailer was more thrilling, and it ends with a funny bit.

This teaser, I feel, is like Iron Man 3's teaser except it suggests that the film will be more fun and more of a thrill ride than a bleak film - yet I still feel that things are going to get hairy in this sequel. So far, Cap in the modern world looks like it'll make for a damn good movie. Marvel knows what they're doing...

I'm really looking forward to this installment. What do you think of the teaser?

Marvel's Pieces

Months ago, two Disney/Marvel fanatics and I speculated about Marvel's future. Marvel's much-touted Marvel Cinematic Universe is truly firing on all cylinders, as it took off like a rocket with Iron Man over five years ago. With The Avengers behind them, the second phase is already bursting: More films, a television series, more one-shots and other media that's making this franchise grow rapidly. More and more people are getting enthralled with all of this.

Our Marvelite contributors in question, PJ Campbell (Twitter / Blog) and Tyler Kelson (Twitter / Blog), provided theories on the future of this shared universe. We talked about Sony's Amazing Spider-Man franchise possibly finding itself embedded in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where Fox's Marvel properties (mainly X-Men and Fantastic Four) lie and why Kevin Feige won't mention much about post-Age of Ultron films until next year...

Now, we'll focus on what'll make up Phase 3, how long it'll be, what could be happening with Fox's troubled Fantastic Four reboot, and several other things...

Fantastic Fumbles

Fox announced a reboot of the Fantastic Four series a while back, with Chronicle director Josh Trank at the helm and a spring 2015 release. It's still slated for March 6, 2015 at this very moment... But...

It's gone through multiple writers - a new one has taken over yesterday. No cast and crew have been announced yet, which PJ did point out. Right now, Fox seems focused on X-Men alone, as we have no idea what X-Men film will hit theaters in 2015. All we know is details about next summer's X-Men film, X-Men: Days of Future Past. We also heard rumblings about X-Force and Deadpool movies, but that's pretty much it. If anything, this is not going to make the early 2015 release date. Where will it go? If Fox is dead-set on keeping Fantastic Four, what could happen?

PJ says...

"They have to get it off the ground by next October. So 2016 at the latest. I’m thinking it’s going to revert back..."

He's most likely right, because Fox can't get this off the ground at all and it's better off that they just focus on milking X-Men till it gets stale. Unfortunately though, that doesn't like it'll be the case anymore now that actors are auditioning for the film. It's possible that Fantastic Four doesn't go back to Disney at this rate. But production has not begun, so chances are a little slim right now - it could revert.

If Fox ended up giving all of Fantastic Four back to Disney, what could happen?

PJ has a good idea of what will become of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the first Marvel family involved...

"The first thing I can almost guarantee, if the rights revert back to Marvel, is that Galactus and the Silver Surfer will be fully utilized as soon as Marvel can. Remember last year, before Daredevil reverted back, Marvel tried to convince Fox to let go of those two characters in exchange for getting another year to try and get the Daredevil film off the ground. Clearly, this wasn't something Fox was interested in, so they said no. But Marvel wouldn't be asking for the characters for no reason, and I think they're hoping to get them back, for their Phase 4...

Definitely a possibility. He adds...

"With Thanos all but confirmed to be the big bad in Avengers 3, Marvel needs to make sure the next team up film is even bigger. Well, they've said they've outlined to 2021, and I can't think of a more epic story than one that could possibly bring the entire MCU together to fight off the Destroyer of Worlds, Galactus, can you? It would be the magnum opus for them as a studio, and for their entire MCU. It would actually be a great way to end that side of the series, and maybe use it as a time to lapse and relax, creating a transition into wherever the studio decides to go next...

"As for Marvel's first family, I would like to think they'd be used in Phase 3, but I would be more inclined to believe that they'd be used in Phase 4 instead. That way Marvel has time to develop the characters, and figure out their place in this growing universe. But having them does make sense, considering the Fantastic Four are very cosmic-side beings, something that Marvel Studios really, really wants to explore. With Guardians [of the Galaxy] barreling down towards us, Inhumans seemingly being planned, and the obvious inclusion of Thanos, Marvel sees this as a chance to really dig into a side of the comic universe we don't normally see, especially on film."

If anything, Fox ought to give Fantastic Four back to Disney/Marvel. Perhaps Josh Trank could go through with the reboot there, and perhaps get Kevin Feige and other writers to help him move it forward.

Tyler says...

"I believe that Fox should have to give Fantastic Four back to Disney/Marvel since Kevin Feige will want to utilize not only the team, but also the Silver Surfer and Galactus. I could see them putting Fantastic Four in Phase 3 as one of the later movies in that group. Using Silver Surfer in the first would be a good thing because then you could have a post-credits stinger in Avengers 3 having him warn Earth of Galactus' arrival and the impending doomsday."

PJ also mentioned a post-credits scene of Silver Surfer warning Earth of Galactus' impending arrival on his Twitter, he also put...

"Thanos would look like a teddy bear in Avengers 3 if we could get Galactus in Avengers 4."

Having this villain be a part of the MCU would only make things even bigger, and if anything, Disney really does need those two characters. As far I'm concerned, Fox is not going to do the comic book movie world any favors by making their Fantastic Four and possibly tying it to their X-Men film series, and perhaps trying to build their own little MCU. I really don't want Fox to do this because there really isn't much of a point, because Disney/Marvel's MCU is only going to top it over the decade. Audiences might even catch up with Fox, knowing that they are attempting to create their own shared universe just to cash in on the MCU.

Fox, of course, will hold onto X-Men. The franchise isn't stopping any time soon, it's only going to get bigger with X-Men: Days of Future Past. It is possible that the film may even outgross the last string of X-Men films at the domestic box office. PJ likens the upcoming film to Fast and Furious, and how that film opened big and outgrossed its three predecessors, and also propelled the series to an even more successful future. Who would've thought back in 2006 - when The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift hit theaters and bombed - that the fourth film would be the series' biggest at the box office, with the fifth and six outgrossing that? X-Men: Days of Future Past may be the series' box office comeback, it could really shock us in that department as well as being a good quality film.

But if anything, Fox should just stick with that and just let the Fantastic Four go. A post-credits scene with Silver Surfer warning Earth would be a brilliant idea, and one that would get audiences really geared up for the fourth round of The Avengers. Marvel knows this, because fatigue can very well kick in, especially if quality is low. Just keep giving audiences a reason to come back! It's astonishing to see that none of their seven films were critical duds, and have all done well enough. A third Iron Man could've very well lost money because people could've gotten worn out, but it did extremely well. Thor: The Dark World looks to continue that success, though of course it won't score Iron Man 3's massive box office gross.

What's In The Phase?

What will make up Phase 3? (Other than Ant-Man of course, which has been confirmed.) Well, I've been thinking...

Inhumans

Doctor Strange

Black Panther

Thor 3

Captain America 3

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (big maybe)

Here are PJ's theories...

"Many are expecting - as rumors have begun to leak - that Phase 3 will tie all the titles up to that point together in whatever the cap of Phase 3 is. I'm a big believer that it'll be an Avengers/Guardians of the Galaxy crossover, seeing an epic battle between them and Thanos. It'll tie into all the characters we have in the MCU as well, and be something truly cool and fun. I've heard quite a few rumors that encapsulate what I'm talking about, and honestly, it makes the most sense...

Definitely a very ambitious move, and that would make for a great third Avengers film. That's something that would give audiences an incentive to be back the third time around, since the titular Guardians won't be part of the team in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. It'll only raise the stakes and bring even more excitement, which is probably what Marvel Studios would want for the third film. With their streak of films, they don't strike me as a lazy studio that just wants to cash in on their own success... And their films are huge!

Phase 2 is shaping up to be better than Phase 1, with Iron Man 3 kicking things off with a bang. It's definitely the most different of the trilogy and the MCU as a whole that even went as far as taking some pretty daring risks. Risks that yielded mixed reactions, very very mixed reactions. It's even arguable that it's not only the best Iron Man film, but also the best Marvel film. Thor: The Dark World looks to continue this with its bigger story and bigger scope; Alan Taylor's film looks like it's dead-set on besting Kenneth Branagh's Thor in the action and size departments on top of upping the stakes, going a bit darker and expanding the story like a good sequel should, plus - exploration of the other Nine Realms!

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is said to be Avengers-sized, based on reactions to the Comic-Con footage and like the other films, it's going to up the stakes and explore new things. (i.e. Cap living in the modern world, political conspiracies.) Guardians of the Galaxy needs no explanation, the whole entire film is a massive risk... One that I think no one would've touched with a 39 1/2-foot pole a decade ago.

If anything, by the time Phase 3 arrives, risk-taking will be the name of the game. An Avengers threequel featuring the Guardians of the Galaxy is definitely something that can happen...

"So what do I expect to see in Phase 3 then? I want to believe that we'll see Guardians 2, but we'll have to wait and see. I'm sure that'll depend on the success of the first film. I think it's safe to assume we'll see a third Captain America and Thor as well, bringing the characters to the cap of their respective trilogies...

As I've been saying in my predictions charts, Thor 3 and Captain America 3 are definitely happening. Without a fourth Iron Man film coming anytime soon, Thor 3 and Captain America 3 are what Marvel should turn to because a string of all-original films would be a little strange, plus like PJ said, their stories need to be expanded and completed in some ways. Both of these sequels will be easy moneymakers to keep things going strong. Guardians 2 is currently up in the air, and an Incredible Hulk sequel does not seem to be in the cards. I firmly believe that we will see a sequel to that 2008 film sometime in the future, maybe for Phase 4...

PJ then discussed Doctor Strange and how he'll fit into the third phase...

"I want to believe we'll see a Doctor Strange film as well, but I'm honestly not sure where, or how, it would fit into what Marvel is doing right now. I know Feige wants to do it, but his character doesn't necessarily fit the grand scheme of things right now, at least from the outside looking in. I won't be surprised if, or when, they announce the film though, because it's been on the studio's mind for quite some time...

The whole Doctor Strange situation is... Well... Strange. They've been talking about it, but at the same time they've been kind of hush-hush about it. It should be a Phase 3 release as far as I'm concerned, but PJ is right... Where will that character and setting fit into the bigger scheme of things? Feige wants the character to appear in some form during Phase 3, but how? Maybe in Thor's threequel, given the more magical and mystical side of that character and his world. Does this mean that a Doctor Strange film won't happen until Phase 4?

PJ went on to discuss the mystery character that Vin Diesel will be portraying, in addition to Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy...

"One thing we do know, one of these films will have Vin Diesel in a leading role. That leads me to believe that Inhumans could be the next in the pipeline, and that Diesel could be playing Blackbolt. But if not that, then he could become Vision for Marvel, which I could also see happening. Though, many fans are speculating that the role of Vision will actually be filled by Agent Coulson further down the road, with many believing the character's return in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is as a LMD, or Life Model Decoy, which would eventually evolve into the robotic man. Clark Gregg even hinted as much by retweeting someone who suggested it during the second episode of S.H.I.E.L.D. this past weekend...

"This leads me to my last theory about Diesel's role in the MCU as none other than the Mad Titan himself, Thanos. He has the voice and gravitas for the character, and with the character clearly being CGI, and Diesel already doing mo-cap work for Guardians of the Galaxy as Groot, it wouldn't be too surprising to find out he's really been tapped to be Thanos. Diesel has said that whatever he is involved in is 'A merging of the brands,' and that, 'Marvel wants to show a different sort of love story.' Certainly, the idea of having Thanos in Phase 3 throughout constitutes the idea of merging the brands, and Thanos is in a very different love story with his insatiable love for Death, which he sees as a woman, not as a thing. This really seems like the most solid theory, at least for now, but I wouldn't be too upset or surprised if it turned out to be wrong either."

All very valid theories, especially the Thanos one... It's very likely that he could be Blackbolt, though personally, I think Vision seems a little out of the question given the theories surrounding Coulson. Which of PJ's three theories do you think will be the correct one? Do you have a different theory on the Vin Diesel mystery Marvel character?

Now onto Tyler's theories...

Definitely in Phase 3:
- Ant-Man: We know he is in and he kicks it off.
- Avengers 3

High probability:
- Doctor Strange: Kevin Feige has been hinting at him for a LONG time, I won't be surprised at all if he is in Phase 3.
- Black Panther: This is another character that has been hinted at for a very long time.

Again, I think Doctor Strange and Black Panther will end up making it into Phase 3... Doctor Strange especially...

Strong potential:
- Ms. Marvel: There have been many whispers and rumors about her getting a film and I could see it happening, but if DC gets Wonder Woman off the ground first and it tanks it could kill the possibility of Ms. Marvel.
- Captain America 3: will possibly depend on performance of Winter Soldier and if they want to give him a 3rd solo movie, and Disney may force it in to the roster.
- Thor 3, will depend on performance of The Dark World, whether or not Disney forces it in to the slate, and if they have a 3rd story for him.
- Guardians of the Galaxy 2: will largely depend on how the first movie performs next summer. Guardians is the first MCU film based on characters that are largely unknown to the general populace. That said, the books are wonderful and the test footage from SDCC looks amazing.

Talk of a Ms. Marvel film has happened, but I personally believe that it'll be part of Phase 4 since Phase 3 is kind of packed, but you never know... More on this later.

A Ms. Marvel film is definitely happening sometime though, because of Marvel Studios' willingness to take some major risks, and it's odd that no one has really made a big comic book film with a female lead (let's forget about Catwoman and Elektra, shall we?) yet. Warner Bros. can't seem to get Wonder Woman a suitable film, let alone form their DC cinematic universe, so maybe Marvel can make a real feat here and show that you can make a film like this. Joss Whedon would really love to see a female superhero film, and he's vocally unhappy about the scarcity of such films, so it may as well happen sometime soon. I also don't think that DC's Wonder Woman film coming out first would hurt the planned Ms. Marvel film. If anything, it would show the film world that you can make superhero films that have female leads.

Since PJ mentioned both Thor 3 and Captain America 3, I think they're inevitabilities at this point. Marvel could surprise us though, and only give us one sequel during Phase 3...

A Bigger Phase 3?

Ant-Man

Now Phase 3 is a bit confusing at the moment because of The Avengers 3... Why's that? Well, when will that film come out? Will they basically release it three years after The Avengers: Age of Ultron? Or will they release it whenever it's ready?

Scenario #1: Avengers 3 is a summer 2018 release.

What could we see in this 3-year phase? Ant-Man is the only film that's got a release date set in stone (July 31, 2015) - and there's talk of Doctor Strange, Black Panther and Inhumans being likely candidates. Also, Thor and Captain America's third installments are imminent.

But... There's a dilemma here...

For example...

Ant-Man - July 31, 2015
Doctor Strange - 2016
Black Panther - 2016
Inhumans - 2017
Thor 3 - 2017
Avengers 3 - Summer 2018

One of the aforementioned films won't make it, and I think Phase 3 is going to have to be bigger than both Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Now...

Scenario #2: Phase 3 is longer, and The Avengers 3 won't hit cinemas in the summer of 2018...

Here's PJ's idea of what will happen in a longer Phase 3...

"I fully believe Phase 3 will end with an Avengers/Guardians crossover. Whether it'll just be Avengers 3, or titled something else remains to be seen. But expect that third film. There is no way we won't see Thanos as the big bad by the end of Phase 3. In fact, don't be surprised if Thanos has his hand in quite a few of the films in Phase 3... Sort of as the puppet behind the scenes. The idea that he has been behind many of the events in the MCU wouldn't be surprising, especially seeing as he's already recruited Loki before for his purposes. So with all that, I have a feeling the final line up for Phase 3 will be something like this:

Ant-Man

Thor 3

Captain America 3

Inhumans/Guardians 2 (Either or could be interchangeable.)

Doctor Strange

Avengers 3 (Or whatever the capper film will be.)...

Going by Marvel's two-a-year pattern, the capper film will still debut in summer 2018 in PJ's predicted slate. He's left out the Black Panther film - here's why:

"I have a feeling Panther is going to continually be pushed back in favor of other things. We've seen hints that he's coming, like showing where Wakanda is in Iron Man 2, but overall, it doesn't seem like his character necessarily fits into the world building going on in the MCU right now. This isn't to say I'm right, but with Cosmic being what Marvel seems intent on exploring, going into the jungles of Wakanda may not be the way to go. Similar to Doctor Strange, but with Strange, he dabbles in cosmic, as well as the supernatural. I wouldn't be surprised to see Marvel go the supernatural way down the line, in a sub side of the universe, with the characters like Blade and Ghost Rider...

"I really do want to see a Black Panther film sooner rather than later. But it all just sort of depends on where, and how, it'll fall in the MCU. Marvel doesn't just choose random things on a whim, because they're literally building a puzzle, and they have all the pieces and know where they go. Unfortunately, we don't, because we're not standing next to them watching. All we can do is sit back as they hand us pieces one by one, and fit them together ourselves."

Despite some signs pointing to a Black Panther film for Phase 3 (I keep thinking it's going to happen), PJ points out a legitimate problem. There would need to be room for more Guardians and expansion on the cosmic side of things, and a Black Panther film could possibly halt that and slow things down. It is possible, however, that he may get some form of introduction during Phase 3. We may see him make a Hawkeye or Black Widow-like appearance in one of the films. In my opinion, Marvel didn't throw those two characters into Thor and Iron Man 2 respectively just to get them in there - they wanted fans and audiences to know these characters from the get-go. It would've been easy to just have them be introduced in The Avengers, but Marvel did go the extra mile.

As for an Inhumans film and the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel being interchangeable, PJ added...

"I think one may take the other's spot. Just a gut feeling. Or, maybe we'll see both in Phase 2. But I really think that for either to happen, it'll depend on the success of Guardians. This is Marvel's biggest test since Iron Man, and now we have to see if it'll work for casual moviegoers. Everyone knows that I'm a diehard Guardians fan, I have been since the mid 2000s, but my concern is that people are going to be turned off by the sheer bizarreness of the film, which I really hope I'm wrong about. I want people to embrace Star-Lord, Groot, Rocket, Gamora, and Drax. This is a comic that is so cinematic already, I can't wait to see how it turns out as a film. The Guardians footage was some of the most buzzed about after both Comic-Con and D23. As someone who was at both those places to see the footage, it was some of the most beautifully put together footage I'd ever seen. It almost brought a tear to my eye, because James Gunn has nailed the comic so well...

"As I said though, the buzz train seems to have already started, and I think even the most causal of filmgoers may have heard the inklings of what Marvel showed at Comic-Con. The Marvel Studios brand has given moviegoers a reason to trust them. So hopefully, that means they're trusting enough to give this ragtag band of misfits a chance. I think the fate of cosmic Marvel really hinges on this film working. It's the lynchpin, if you will. So things like 'Inhumans' won't get announced probably until we've seen how 'Guardians' fares with audiences."

If they don't make a Black Panther film and/or an Inhumans film for a Phase 3 release, then I at least expect these characters to make appearances. Maybe even in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or a One Shot. Can they start putting the One Shots in theaters? The theatrical short film is something Disney should specialize in, and Honor Hunter of Blue Sky Disney did point this out recently.

Tyler hopes that the third Avengers ends up coming out in 2019 or 2020, rather than 2018 (following the one every three years pattern), allowing Marvel to make Phase 3 bigger than both Phase 1 and Phase 2.

"I love how much they are making, but I crave more with each one that comes out. Interestingly enough, I love that since Phase 1 started with Iron Man in 2008, Marvel has already made 7 movies, launched a TV series with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and they are in final post-production mode on Thor: The Dark World, in post-production on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, filming Guardians of the Galaxy, and in pre-production of Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man... And in the 8 years that will have passed by the time Ant-Man kicks off Phase 3, all DC will have made is 4 movies, thats only 1/3 of what Marvel has delivered."

Tyler also suggests that Marvel should go big and release three films in a calendar year. Now that would be great if they can maintain a high level of quality for each film, but at the same time it's incredibly risky. Perhaps a little too risky, unless this is a once in a while thing. (i.e. 3 films in 2017, 3 films in 2020.)

For instance, Marvel can put out two originals in a year like 2017 and a sequel sometime during that year as well. I just hope that audiences don't think that's too much, or that they're just cranking them out for the bucks. Would it kill the momentum? Or will it only drum up more excitement?

Maybe the 3-a-year thing can avert any problems they have with getting a Black Panther film off the ground, or the Ms. Marvel film or whatever property they are eying for a movie adaptation. You can also add more cameos or early-bird appearances, whether it's in the films themselves or the post-credits sequences.

With that, they can definitely get more films in there before the third Avengers... And maybe even try things that they haven't considered before...

On a closing note, here's what PJ thinks of the MCU in its current and future state...

"It's a great time to be a Marvel fan, and there is a ton to look forward to over the next few years. I really can't wait to see how Marvel ties these first three Phases together, and it really makes me wonder if WB/DC will ever get their game together. They're already so many steps behind. Here's hoping they can fully get their act together as well, because right now, 'Batman vs. Superman' is already on shaky ground at best."

~

What are your theories on Marvel's future? Do you think that Fantastic Four will ultimately revert back to Disney/Marvel and that Fox won't make their planned reboot? Or do you think Fox will hold onto the series? Do you think Doctor Strange and Black Panther will part of Phase 3? Inhumans? Do you think Phase 3 will be longer than usual? Or not?

Sound off below!

Going Big

Surprise, surprise! A first look at Walt Disney Animation Studios' Big Hero 6 has arrived...

Disney seems gung ho about getting the word out on Walt Disney Animation Studios' adaptation of Marvel's Big Hero 6, which is not due out until next autumn. We got word on the project last summer, as it was in development and we knew that Don Hall (Winnie the Pooh) was directing. It was also interesting to note that this was Walt Disney Animation Studios' first ever collaboration with another studio, which made me all the more excited because it shows that the rejuvenated studio is willing to branch out and take some real risks, rather than treading the same old ground.

Wreck-It Ralph, I believe, was the first in this experimental new period. Disney spent the last couple of years making a good films with familiar concepts (talking animals, fairy tales) in order to get audiences back in the theaters for their films. Frozen, from the looks of it, won't be your typical Disney fairy tale adaptation and the two untitled projects (one from Tangled co-director Byron Howard and the other from dream team Ron Clements & John Musker) also sound quirky. The studio, as I've said many times before, is in a better state now than they ever were in the last two decades: No nosy executives interfering with the creative process, a brain trust that approves of good ideas and a healthy balance of heart, humor and drama goes into each story and screenplay. On top of that, they are willing to take big risks... It's exactly what Walt would've wanted.

Big Hero 6 is coming to theaters on November 7, 2014; sure it may have been officially announced today, but we knew it for months. Given their reluctance to really market Frozen (aside from the leaked footage that was supposedly shown on the Disney Channel in Greece), who would've thought that Disney would show us footage from this film so soon?!

Listen carefully, you'll hear something familiar...

Yes, it looks fantastic. The film's San Fransokyo setting is bursting with creativity and color. Marvel CCO Joe Quesada unveiled some details on the plot and again, it sounds like something totally different and new from the studio. This is what Walt Disney Animation Studios should've been like a decade ago, because they did experiment after the Renaissance. Films like Dinosaur, The Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Lilo & Stitch and Treasure Planet definitely went against the grain in terms of storytelling and creativity. In addition to that, a lot of these ideas were original and not adaptations (sans Treasure Planet). But, they were produced at a time when suits had too much power over what went into these films and what had to go (Atlantis is great example of this)... Thus the results were mostly mixed and a majority of the films did poorly at the box office.

Since Disney acquired Marvel in 2009, it seemed logical for them to have their animation studio adapt one of their comics. For a while, it was rumored that Pixar would make an animated Marvel film, but of course they wouldn't since they don't do adaptations. Disney Animation, on the other hand, is the perfect studio to bring Marvel into the theatrical animation world. The current and ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe is proof that Marvel is in good hands right now, so Big Hero 6 sounds like it'll certainly live up to its ambitions plus the last string of Disney animated films were strong... Walt Disney Animation Studios, again, is headed for a bright future.

As for the film itself? Well, it seems like we're going to get a visually amazing, action-packed spectacle that'll feel like a Disney classic but at the same time it'll be quite different. They'll stick to the good traditions, but they'll also embrace great new ideas. The last couple of films proved this, especially Wreck-It Ralph. It paid off, greatly. It has definitely encouraged the studio to go big or go home. Walt did the same during the Golden Age...

With all that said, why is Disney still hiding Frozen from us?

A Great Start

Bare with me here, it's been a little while since I've written and during that time, some news came about and I also happened to catch a little movie... What movie was that you ask? I'll give you a hint... It involves some guy who happens to be a... Yeah it's obviously Iron Man 3!

... And it's also spoilerific, so you've been warned! If you haven't seen it, read no further!

Okay?

Alright, so...

~

Iron Man 3 officially kicks off Phase 2 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, which will of course culminate with another team up of Earth's mightiest heroes in The Avengers 2, slated for a May 1, 2015 release. Iron Man 3 indicates that Marvel is willing to go all out and take some real risks, even before getting started on a film like Guardians of the Galaxy. The Avengers alone was risky enough, but they don't want to follow that up in an unceremonious manner... They want to keep going big, they want to experiment, they want to do what they haven't done before. All of the exciting news on the upcoming Phase 2 films more than proves this...

Shane Black is the director of Iron Man 3, as he infuses his style in that the Marvel realm and crafts a film that not only functions as a great start to Phase 2, a great follow-up to The Avengers and a great Iron Man film... But it also works as a great standalone superhero film, one that's very unique to many others out there.

This is more than a good start for Marvel's second phase of films, and it only hints that the likes of Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy will surprise in similar ways and give us superhero films that others aren't giving us. Iron Man 3 is a different breed of superhero film. One that the marketing masterfully hid; it really is a unique and exciting film.

So what happens to the armored superhero in this installment of the series? It's a few days before Christmas and Tony Stark isn't the same man after the events of The Avengers, he has anxiety attacks about the big battle and his near-death experience when he sent a nuke to stop the Chitauri mothership whilst ending up in outer space. He spends his time building several Iron Man suits and testing a new prototype suit (Mark 42) that he can summon part by part. This makes for some clever moments and gags, as seen in the opening ten minutes or so. His obsession with building these suits greatly affects his relationship with Pepper Potts, who is very involved in the story this time around, going as far as actually fighting and suiting up! As Tony and Pepper's problems comes to a head, a new and powerful threat is after the United States: The Mandarin.

The character and writing taps into post-9/11 fears, particularly with the Mandarin's use of videos used to scare and shock the American people. The Mandarin has all the makings of an extremist, using the past atrocities that occurred in the country to justify his actions while also denouncing American "knock offs" such as fortune cookies on the side. The Mandarin is the leader of the Ten Rings, the terrorist group that captured Stark in the first film. From the trailers, it seems as if the man is out to personally destroy Tony Stark while also teaching the country and the world a series of lessons... Well, that was well-hidden by the marketing.

Our real antagonist is the bitter and vengeful Aldrich Killian. We first see him as a disabled and seemingly strange super-fan of Stark attending a New Year's Eve party in Switzerland back in 1999 where Stark and botanist Maya Hansen happen to be. Stark narrates, basically telling us that a big mistake he made at that party came back to haunt him... Big time. Aldrich Killian is essentially Buddy Pine from The Incredibles (all roads lead to Pixar!), he met a man he admired only to be turned down by him, but in this case Stark was a genuine prick to him. He offered to pitch to Stark and Hansen while also presenting them with work for his company, Advanced Idea Mechanics. At the party, we see Hansen's invention Extremis, which helps those with disabilities and regenerates body parts. It's very similar to what Dr. Curt Connors uses in The Amazing Spider-Man, but it's a small similarity.

Tony never sees Killian again until the events of this film, and the man is dead set on ruining Stark inside and out. The Mandarin is a mere decoy he's using to fool the country and his mysterious attacks - one of which severely injures now-security chief Happy Hogan - drive Stark to publicly warn the Mandarin while also foolishly giving him his address. Stark only realizes his fatal error after Killian's Extremis-injected henchmen nearly kill him, Pepper Potts and a visiting Hansen whilst destroying his Malibu home. Without JARVIS working and all of his tech locked away, he must use his wits to find the people responsible for everything... What ensues makes for a very exciting and sometimes even unpredictable film that goes for a different direction whilst still feeling like a genuine Iron Man film.

This is where Black uses comedy where it works while also upping the stakes. The Mandarin twist has already gotten on some nerves, but having not read the comics, I thought the twist was brilliant. The early sequences where we believe he's the main baddie are really effective and I do wonder what the film would've been like had there not been any twist. As some have speculated, maybe the real Mandarin is out there and that Killian or no one else aren't aware of his existence. That all being said, the sequence where we see who he really is came as a shock but it was a funny, well-done part. Ben Kingsley has a load of fun here.

But back to Killian, he's a real jerk and the screenplay gets you to really hate him. Guy Pearce gives him a suitably menacing demeanor while also making him come off as slimy and just plain repulsive. What was also really cool was how they handled the henchmen, the people injected with Extremis. They have strange fiery powers and they are almost invincible, as we see in the fight sequences. James Badge Dale plays henchman Eric Savin (who is Coldblood in the comics) and he's also good, along with Stephanie Szostak. The soldiers are convincing, and they function as pretty tough obstacles for Tony and later Rhodes.

James Rhodes, surprisingly, doesn't really take any names as War Machine/Iron Patriot. I would've liked to have seen more of that, especially in the climax, but since they use the suit for other things in the story, I can't really complain. Maybe in The Avengers 2, if he's in it, or a fourth Iron Man if they get around to making one. Don Cheadle is great in this, and the reason why he wasn't so good in the last one was because... Well, let's face it. Iron Man 2 had a weak script. Here, he's working with better stuff! This what Rhodes should've been in the last film so if he's in Avengers 2, we'll get to see how awesome he can be. One thing I loved about his scenes was why War Machine was renamed Iron Patriot, the jab at focus groups and political correctness was priceless.

Another new character is a 10-year-old boy named Harley, who Stark meets and trusts after his life's work is taken away. When I first saw that Stark would be teaming up with a kid in a behind-the-scenes look, I was a bit worried but Black handles it perfectly. Harley is a likable character and you immediately feel bad for the lonely kid. He makes for a great companion rather than an annoying comic relief device (though at times he can be a bit of a brat, such as in the scene where he triggers Stark's anxiety attacks after Stark tells him to stop), the dialogue between him and Stark works very very well.

What else did I like very much? I like how the story was handled. Everything was wrapped in enigma, making this Iron Man more of a mystery/detective film. This is good because, again, Marvel is branching out and not repeating what made everything else work. Iron Man 2 seemed grounded even though the first's ending implied that the sky was the limit, Iron Man 3 takes to the skies and does what the first and the other MCU films don't do. After all, what would Stark do without his suits and tech? How it's handled is brilliant, from his construction of makeshift weapons to his work inside of a news van. The way he fights without tech, particularly in a sequence in a small town in Tennessee, is also pulled off in inventive ways. Lots of unexpected surprises and twists make it a real winner. There's also a great amount of build-up that leads to two exciting climaxes that manage to throw more surprises at you.

The film is not without depth, as the story is extending upon Steve Rogers' criticisms of the man in The Avengers. Tony's selfishness and the events of this film come to change him for the better, making for a suitable ending and also adding more strong development to a character that we've seen in three feature-length films. This could've been another "Iron Man saves the day" adventure, but instead it's a great redemption film and one that actually wants to develop the character rather than not do anything with him rather than just having him fly around and stopping bad guys. The Avengers got praise because of this, and I feel that Iron Man 3 builds upon that and makes for a great character arc. I hope Thor and Captain America's sequel do the same.

Other than that, the film delivers the goods. The action is very exciting, how everything unfolds adds to that excitement. The acting is great from everyone involved, and Black's style works well despite the fact that he was essentially directing a PG-13 Marvel film that's to be viewed by family audiences. But as he put it, he was making a film that was suitable for the under 17 crowd while still keeping the edge. This may sound ridiculous, but I'd love to see him do that for a PG-rated Disney or Pixar film... Crazy dream, I know!

Iron Man 3 satisfies in many ways and opens up new doors for Marvel's ever-growing cinematic universe. Exciting possibilities are coming, and this film already showing what plans the studio has for audiences around the world. As a film on its own, it's a great action film that mixes in mystery and lots of twists.

Thoughts on Disney's CinemaCon Presentation

Disney's lengthy presentation at this year's CinemaCon is currently happening right now, revealing quite a lot of ambitious plans that the studio has for the future.

As of this writing, a full-length but unfinished cut of Monsters University is being shown. In a little while, we'll know what this upcoming Pixar prequel will be like. I'm anxious to know whether it's good or bad or not. I'm optimistic, as you all know...

This entry will be updated frequently...

3:20 P.M.

Early on in the presentation, Disney hyped up the future of Star Wars. The company hopes to have a Star Wars film ready for each year starting in summer 2015. This implies that Star Wars Episode VII, despite my earlier predictions, will in fact come out in May 2015 regardless of whether The Avengers' sequel opens that month or not. Think about it... Disney is literally going to own that month, all the other summer flicks will have to pray for mercy! As for a film each year, that means the character-centric spin-offs are probably entering pre-production as we speak. So much to come out of this!

Walt Disney Studios Chairman Alan Horn announced that Disney hopes to have at least fourteen films ready for release each year, eight of which will be tentpoles. But I have one major concern. With people getting laid off at Walt Disney Animation Studios and Disney's own motion picture division, I fear that Disney might be morphing into your regular distributor like 20th Century Fox or Paramount or Warner Bros.

What was unique about Disney was that they started out as a production company and made all of their films. Starting in the mid 1950s, they self-distributed all of their own films and they still do that. But I hope that they don't slowly phase out their own studio or the animation unit in favor of Pixar, Marvel and LucasFilm. Those three studios are the ones bringing them their biggest hits. Walt Disney Animation Studios has been seeing hits recently, particularly Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph, so they need to continue. They may have (possibly) jettisoned hand-drawn animated full-length films, which was a bad enough blow, but I don't want the studio to possibly be phased out. They're a separate entity from Pixar and they need to continue alongside the Emeryville house.

I'll be fine with having to wait a while for a new Walt Disney Animation Studios film... I just don't want them to abandon the studio. I fear it could happen given their satisfaction with what they're getting from Pixar, Marvel and LucasFilm and their recent attitude towards the animation studio. I mean, why the layoffs in that department and their live action film studio? Something doesn't seem right...

Worrisome speculation aside, Disney also hyped up their racing game adaptation Need for Speed, which is part of their Touchstone 30-film deal with DreamWorks SKG. I see the sudden enthusiasm for this April 2014 release as a response to the success of the Fast & Furious franchise, especially since the last one did very very well and the new one is bound to blow up the box office come May 24th. Like any smart competitor, they see that doing well and they want a piece of that pie. I expect Need for Speed to become a big franchise for them.

Footage from Saving Mr. Banks and Maleficent (opening July 2, 2014) was screening to overall positive reception. Looks like Disney will make sure that their film about P. L. Travers and the making of Mary Poppins won't be a dud, even though I'm personally not too keen on the project. Maybe a trailer will prove me wrong. Maleficent is one that I'm still on the fence about. A logo for Brad Bird's Tomorrowland was also unveiled, which also got praise. First Showing's Alex Billington had this to say about the logo reveal.

We're geeking out over the Tomorrowland logo from Disney's CinemaCon PowerPoint slide. But it does look cool, atomic symbol in the middle.
— Alex Billington (@firstshowing) April 17, 2013

Oh... And as for Pixar... Inside Out was confirmed to be the title of Pete Docter's upcoming film and it will in fact open on June 19, 2015. We knew this a while back, so that's nothing new. The real news here is the unveiling of footage from The Good Dinosaur. Given Pixar's tradition of giving us a teaser for their upcoming films when a film of theirs opens, we'll most likely see a teaser for this. From what I hear (I've mostly been following Peter Sciretta of /Film's tweets and updates), the footage they showed was incredible.

UPDATE - 4:30 PM - MONSTERS UNIVERSITY SCREENING CONCLUDES

The screening of Monsters Univeristy drew... Wait for it... Very positive reception! That's right, the whole film. Not the first 30-40 minutes, the whole film!

Monsters University (by @mrdanscanlon) is a fun broad college comedy set in a cleverly designed world, surprising turns & gutsy message
— Peter Sciretta (@slashfilm) April 17, 2013

Disney just screened MONSTERS UNIVERSITY in its entirety! It's smart, funny and makes me want to rewatch MONSTERS INC immediately.
— silaslesnick (@silaslesnick) April 17, 2013

#MonstersUniversity my favorite full screening of #CinemaCon. Reminded me why the world/characters are so special. (Not that I ever forgot.)
— Perri Nemiroff (@PNemiroff) April 17, 2013

Any skepticism? Leave it at the door. We have another Pixar classic coming!

UPDATE - 9:00 PM

The presentation concluded after the Monsters University screening. Nothing about Frozen was revealed (the film comes out this autumn, I want a good excuse, Disney!) nor anything having to do with Marvel. I was hoping that we'd get some tidbits on the Phase 2 films and maybe a little taste of Phase 3... Oh well...

What's your take on all this news? Sound off in the comments below.

And the Mystery Film Is...

Big Hero 6...

Yes, the adaptation of the Marvel Comics story that will be directed by Don Hall... Walt Disney Animation Studios' first feature film co-production with another studio... You already know that I'm super excited for this. Are you?

It was revealed yesterday that the film was penciled in for a November 21st release in Spain, of all places. However, since Disney announced that an animated film was coming out on November 7th next year, Big Hero 6 will open that weekend here in the states. Still no word on how it will be done (whether it'll be hand-drawn or computer) or anything else, but I'm hoping that we'll hear more about it soon.

Disney better play their cards right with this one. With comic book movie mania in full swing, they can score a real hit off of this. Also, as I have said many times before, this is a great way for the studio to go beyond fairy tales and adaptations of classic stories again. Disney showed that they were willing to do this with something like Wreck-It Ralph, so hopefully they continue to break from the norm with this film and more films like it.

So much potential, so many possibilities... I expect another grand slam from the studio.

A Taste of Phase 2

Disney and Marvel have the teaser trailer for Iron Man 3 available to watch on iTunes at the moment. All in all, this is a fantastic trailer...

Many have already talked about the darker tone this trailer has in comparison with the first two Iron Man films and all of the Phase 1 Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Not a shred of the lighthearted humor that defined the MCU films is in this trailer, even the trailers for The Dark Knight Rises had a few humorous moments, this one is entirely humorless and bleak. None of the trademark "save the day" escapism is here either, just Tony Stark in absolute trouble. All of the pre-trailer talk about Stark having everything taken from him is demonstrated wonderfully in this trailer. The trailer even ends on a downer note: Stark sinking into the ocean after his home is blown to smithereens, and Pepper Potts nowhere to be seen. Then we see Stark dragging his suit through a snowy forest. The music is hardly heroic, it suggests despair more than anything.

The Mandarin? Despite the complaints, I think Ben Kingsley's portrayal seems promising so far. His voice is a bit strange, but the few lines in the trailer establish that he's not going to take it easy on Iron Man. He is going to ruin Stark, big time and also shake the world up. Early on, I had worried that Stark would be pitted against another Iron Man wannabe, but thankfully this is not so. How director Shane Black will handle the mystical elements of the Mandarin (i.e. the rings) is up for grabs at the moment, but I'd like to see a splash of some fantasy elements despite the fact that this film will be rooted in reality more so than the other Marvel films.

We do get to see James Rhodes' War Machine/Iron Patriot armor a few times. Hopefully we'll see some action with him and Stark, since their teaming up sequence in Iron Man 2 was a highlight in that problematic mess. We also get brief glimpses at the other characters, but we don't see Aldrich Killian, Eric Savin or Firepower. [Killian was in it for a second, Savin for a split-second, Firepower wasn't even in the film] Perhaps the next trailer will give us glimpses of these villains.

Overall, an incredibly satisfying trailer. I loved every second of it, and that's rare for a trailer. There's not one moment that doesn't work. I've been looking forward to this for a while, but now I'm really pumped. It looks as if Marvel Studios is going to make sure that Phase 2 surpasses Phase 1's films. Marvel's little renaissance is only just getting warmed up.

What did you think of the trailer? Did you love it? Did you not care for it that much? Or were you disappointed? Sound off!

Marvel Cinematic Universe: Best To Worst

With The Avengers coming out on Blu-ray and DVD on Tuesday, I thought I’d share my ranking of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films. Phase One is over, and it was one hell of a ride. Phase Two begins next spring with the release of Iron Man 3 on May 3, and with Joss Whedon shaping this new slate of films and the choice of directors, Phase Two looks like it may just surpass Phase One. Phase One still delivered a very good assortment of films, comic book films that didn’t insult the audience’s intelligence and actually delivered lots of fun while also telling good stories with characters that you want to see more of.

Comic book fans can correct me on this, but I believe this is a sort of Golden Age for comic book films. Sure, Spider-Man really kicked things off ten years ago, but ever since the 2008 releases of Iron Man and The Dark Knight, the genre has seen a lot of success and while there is an occasional critical dud, there’s still the good stuff. Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy delivered, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe films show what Marvel Studios can achieve without all that executive interference. Now that they are under Disney, think of all the exciting possibilities. They are at their best now.

Once in a while you’ll get your naysayers complaining, “There’s too much comic book films!” No, there needs to be more. More good ones. The genre is really going through a boom right now, and it should keep going as long as we get more good superhero films. Why be against that? Even if you’re not into this kind of thing? It’s not like countless mindless films about vampires or robots or whatever is hot at the moment, these are films based on comics that have been around for decades with compelling characters and great story lines that may or may not have translated well to film decades ago. In fact, it’s just what we need in today’s big event movie landscape. Bad comic book films won’t stain that either.

As for the Phase Two films, we’ve heard some exciting news about Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World, and no doubt those should be critically and commercially successful for Marvel and Disney. Not as much news has surfaced on the rest of the upcoming slate, but from what has been revealed, there’s excitement and anticipation everywhere. It’ll interesting to re-rank these films in 2015 when the untitled Avengers sequel shows up.

Disclaimer: As I've said many times before on here, my comic book knowledge is rather rusty. I review these comic book films as films on their own, rather than adaptations of the source material.

~

#1. Iron Man

Directed by Jon Favreau

Screenplay by Mark Fergus, Matt Holloway, Art Marcum and Hawk Ostby

Produced by Avi Arad and Kevin Feige

Released on May 2, 2008 by Paramount Pictures

What can be said about Iron Man that hasn’t been said many times before? It is often considered the best of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films aside from The Avengers, and a lot of is of course due to Robert Downey Jr.’s performance as Tony Stark. Many will tell you, it was perfect casting. It was. Robert Downey Jr. effortlessly brings out every side of Tony Stark: The jerk, the playboy, the occasional hero and the techie. Aside from Robert Downey Jr., the rest of the cast knocks it out of the park. Gwyneth Paltrow’s performance as Pepper Potts is a nice contrast to Stark’s ego. They also got none other than Jeff Bridges to play Obadiah Stane, a great intimidating villain. The writers keep his plans in the dark, and when we find out that he orchestrated Stark's capture, the story locks together perfectly. Terrence Howard’s performance as James Rhodes is a bit dry at times, but he delivers a satisfying job: He’s basically Stark’s good buddy, but he was replaced by Don Cheadle for the second film, who delivers a more energetic performance but is also lacking.

Iron Man works well because the story is handled perfectly, without ever completely slowing down or weaving unnecessary subplots into it. Tony Stark’s escape from the cave and Stark’s fight against the attack on Yensin’s village make for solid action sequences, with none of the loud, flashiness that defines other summer blockbusters. This film takes it time to tell the story, Effects-wise, it’s pretty to look at. The design of Stark’s Iron Man suits was pulled off perfectly, along with the other technology he has, when you watch it, you want it. Also, take a moment and consider the soundtrack and score. Ramin Djawadi’s hard rock-fueled score and the use of several rock songs define Stark’s character and the overall action-packed zest of the film, instead of your usual score for an action film. Again, it nails the tone perfectly.

Not much else to praise since it all works, Iron Man is comic book excitement that explodes onto the screen but it never spares a good story, development or respect for the audience. It got praise for being a smart action blockbuster, and deservedly so. It proves you can have fun while also making an exceptional film out of it.

~

#2. The Avengers
Directed by Joss Whedon
Screenplay by Joss Whedon
Produced by Kevin Feige
Released on May 4, 2012 by Walt Disney Pictures

We all know it. Joss Whedon had one hell of a job when directing The Avengers. Tying together those characters, their backstories, developing them, while also introducing new characters and making a two-and-a-half hour action film out of it is no easy task. Under someone else, like others have said, this could’ve been a massive disaster. Not under Whedon. The Avengers is a dream come true, even as an action-packed, effect-heavy blockbuster. It does what several of those blockbusters do wrong. It is the quintessential “fun at the movies” film.

But why? The plot is rather typical, Loki desires to subjugate the population of the world and is bringing an army of creatures called the Chitauri with him. We know why Loki is up to no good, but Joss Whedon does more than just teaming the four heroes (plus Black Widow and Hawkeye) up for a big battle to save Earth. Since all of them are so different from each other, Whedon latches onto all the opportunities. The result is some very sharp writing that’s laced with humor that a hardly ever fails to make you burst out laughing. It’s even weaved into the film’s thrilling and climactic finale, only amplifying the fun.

Aside from all that enjoyment, the characters keep everything soaring. The dialogue, the interactions between these characters and arguments really elevate this film. This could be any mindless joyride, but it’s more than just that. Whedon knows these characters, and by the time the final half hour rolls in, it makes everything all the more exciting. Whether it’s Tony Stark’s inflated ego or Steve Roger’s old time American mindset or Thor’s godly presence, everything is handled perfectly.

What else works? Mark Ruffalo’s performance as Bruce Banner equals Edward Norton’s (which is a different performance for a character with a different state of mind), and sometimes even trumps it. The Hulk gets some fantastic moments, and again, the writers use his actions for some great comedy for the film’s final battle. Black Widow is a much more interesting character this time around, since Scarlett Johansson is working with far better writing than what she had in Iron Man 2. Speaking of which, it is also fortunate that The Avengers didn’t come off as an Iron Man sequel featuring the other characters. Everyone is given a good amount of screen time and development.

In the end, Joss Whedon and the team certainly nailed almost everything. While there were a few things that don’t work as well such as the flimsy first ten minutes, and Thor could’ve gotten a little more screen time despite the amount he already has. The rest is almost flawless. Action scenes? Some of the best you’ll see in a comic book film. The thrills are there and the comedy works off of them perfectly. Alan Silvestri’s score is good, but it’s the anthemic Avengers theme during the final battle that’ll stay in your head. The cast delivers, the action is great and the character development makes the most out of its thin plot. The Avengers does action-packed entertainment the right way. Sure it won’t spur any deep conversations or thoughts, but does it have to? It sets to be a great action-adventure.

~

#3. Captain America: The First Avenger
Directed by Joe Johnston
Written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Produced by Kevin Feige
Released on July 22, 2011 by Paramount Pictures

Out of all the non-Iron Man Marvel Cinematic Universe films, this one has the best writing. The screenplay is tight, knowing the material it’s working with. A lot of the elements are decidedly campy, much like in Thor, but more rooted in reality. What it gets down well is the first act, where the young Steve Rogers aspires to fight alongside the soldiers during World War II. Chris Evans brings out a patriotic, dedicated character whose motivations are incredibly strong. His apparent dorky tendencies make him a charming, likable character. This goes against the rather bland Johann Schmidt/Red Skull. Hugo Weaving gives a great, hammy and sometimes menacing performance but the character is lacking. The story knows this too, it moves him out of sight, simply rendering him a power-hungry threat to the world. We keep seeing him and his Peter Lorre-esque sidekick experimenting on weapons for H.Y.D.R.A., but we don't really get to know much about his desires aside from wanting to outdo Adolf Hitler.

What is surprisingly strong is the chemistry between Rogers and Peggy Carter (played by Hayley Atwell), a relationship that actually works so well that the bittersweet endings does have a melancholic twang, differing heavily from the other Marvel Cinematic Universe films. The story focuses mostly on Rogers and the soldiers once they get to Germany. The connections to The Avengers are also there: The Tesseract, Howard Stark and the attack on Tonsberg, Norway. They are worked into the story quite well, instead of being obvious like they are in Iron Man 2. When Rogers becomes Captain America, it goes Incredible Hulk on us and lunges us into an action-packed third act. Fortunately, there was a lot of character development and satisfying action that leads up to it.

Director Joe Johnston goes for a retro-futuristic vibe, with the retro elements coming off as a very nice touch. The futuristic imagery is nice, especially the designs of the buildings and H.Y.D.R.A.’s technology. The Red Skull’s car is also a standout, one of the coolest looking things in the film. Alan Silvestri’s score is as patriotic as the character and the tone of the film, having a timeless feel to it. More importantly, Captain America’s greatest strength is that it proves that you can tell an action-packed story in a traditional way, rather than through constant eye-candy or explosions. Retro, delightful and at times a heartfelt film, Captain America: The First Avenger is blockbuster fun done right with a nice tribute to the action films of yesteryear.

~

#4. Thor

Directed by Kenneth Branagh

Written by Ashley Edward Miller, Don Payne and Zack Stentz

Produced by Kevin Feige

Released on May 6, 2011 by Paramount Pictures

Combining a Shakespearian story set in another world with a Marvel action film was no easy task, which one may forget when watching Thor. How do you bring those two different styles together? Kenneth Branagh does so, but there are some problems along the way. Thor, much like Iron Man 2, has a main storyline that is leading up to The Avengers. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s role is more prominent here than it is in the other films, and we even get a Hawkeye cameo on the sequence where Thor tries to retrieve Mjonir. It is also the most fantasy-oriented of the films, as future films will continue this with the coming Thor sequel and Guardians of the Galaxy. The writers do what they can, with two things that clash heavily. This kind of fantasy would've seemed out of place early on, in the Iron Man films and The Incredible Hulk. Thor more than prepares audiences for what's to come, so they toy around with a fish out of water story that's actually pulled off well. Thor's Asgardian actions on Earth provide the best laughs in the film.

Unfortunately, some of the intentionally cheesy dialogue of the Asgard scenes tends to get distracting. Odin banishing Thor to Earth could've been a well-written scene, but Anthony Hopkins yells in an over-the-top manner ("to the horrors of waaaaaarrrrr!") that it's almost like a parody. Asgard's design is a mixed bag. Parts of it look majestic, pretty and intricate. Others are gaudy, too shiny, and a bit excessive. Joutenheim looks better, a dark and icy world with a forbidding atmosphere. The Frost Giants are effectively menacing with their red eyes and deep voices. Branagh also milks the Dutch angle for all its worth, and on the Earth scenes, it tends to look awkward.

Chris Hemsworth delivers a good performance as the Thunder God, while the rest of the cast does well enough. Tom Hiddleston's Loki speaks eloquently, but there's a malicious and troubled spirit hiding behind that, which effectively comes out in the final act battle. The Warriors Three and Lady Sif are also a bit on the campy, especially in the amusing scene where they first come to Earth to aid Thor in battle with the Destroyer. Natalie Portman's character is a bit bland, but the writers thankfully keep the relationship between Thor and Foster hush-hush up until the third act. Kat Denning's Darcy character is there to provide some comic relief, but she doesn't go all Jar Jar Binks on us though she tends to be a bit too chatty, but the script itself is aware of that.

Thor may have a jumbled plot, but it tries its hardest to tie everything together: Thor's story, Jane Foster's story, S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers set ups and the supporting cast. It makes for an entertaining film, as it never really falls apart since there is enough glue to keep things together.

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#5. The Incredible Hulk

Directed by Louis Letterier

Screenplay by Zak Penn and Edward Norton

Produced by Avi Arad, Gale Anne Hurd and Kevin Feige

Released on June 13, 2008 by Universal Pictures

The biggest problem with The Incredible Hulk is that it isn't the film that Louis Leterrier set out to make. His original version focused on the backstory more than anything, with frequent flashbacks to Bruce Banner's first hulk out. In the finished film, most of them are used for the opening credits. It sets things up nicely, but without this, the middle of the film begins to fall apart. The main antagonist (Emil Blonsky) seems like an eleventh hour inclusion, and there isn't much to him to begin with. The third act conclusion is also rushed, as if the film had run out of time and had to immediately jump to its climactic final battle.

Edward Norton delivers a good performance as Banner, bringing out a frustrated fugitive who is intelligent, determined and calculated. Lou Ferrigno returns to provide the growl of the Hulk, though the CGI work is questionable at best. It's hard to make a cartoony green monster life-like, but with the budget they had and what they had to work with, it's passable. This also counts for Abomination. Liv Tyler straddles between good and exaggerated, particularly when her character gets angry. William Hurt brings out a tough guy jerk in General Ross, but he's not necessarily sympathetic in the last act. The best performance is provided by Tim Blake Nelson, who plays Sterns, who is comically nerdy and just plain likable. If Marvel goes through with a sequel to this film, I'd like to see more of him.

What really works in the film is some of the cinematography of the first act, as we see some great scenery of the rain forests and Rio de Janeiro. Craig Armstrong's score isn't too bad, either. At times it's rather front and center. The action scenes are expectedly good, while not spectacular. A scene where Hulk is stopped by too sonic canons generates some thrills, as does the whole sequence where he is attacked on campus. Hulk and Abomination's battle goes on for quite a while, but does it job. It's a satisfying climax, but the editing and staging feel like it's a different film. The Incredible Hulk is ultimately a modest superhero film, and one that attempts to undo what the Ang Lee film did. Instead of focusing too much on Banner himself, it goes the action-packed route for its second half and shuffles what we saw early on to the side.

Louis Letterier's original cut is certainly different, as evidenced by the available deleted scenes, and had more character development. Some of the scenes clear a few things up too. Other scenes would've made the third act a lot better, such as the argument between General Ross and Betty. It's reduced to a few lines in the film, not saying much about Ross' character other than a few things. Leterrier also shows how more dialogue-driven he wanted this story to be, with less action, in the early Rio de Janeiro scenes. Norton and the studio were opposed to Leterrier's vision, and the result was something a little more audience-fairly, hence the change in story halfway through, a change that sometimes works. Perhaps Letterier's original would've been just as problematic, we may never know unless Marvel releases a director's cut.

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#6. Iron Man 2

Directed by Jon Favreau

Screenplay by Justin Theroux

Produced by Kevin Feige

Released on May 7, 2010 by Paramount Pictures

Iron Man 2 had quite a lot to live up to, as the first film came out of nowhere and wowed audiences. The perfect casting was not only what elevated it, but the film had a sense of energy and wonder. This was lacking in a lot of the action-packed summer blockbusters that preceded. It gave audiences the brains that they deserve in their high octane action films. Iron Man was so successful that Marvel couldn't pass up a sequel, as director Jon Favreau originally set out to make Iron Man a trilogy, though with The Incredible Hulk and two unscheduled films based on Captain America and Thor in the works, they'd have to cram a sequel in there somewhere before The Avengers. Iron Man 2 is a victim of this, plus interference from Marvel's executives. Like The Incredible Hulk, it isn't the director's original vision. Iron Man 2 is often criticized for being a feature-length Avengers commercial, but it only becomes that during the muddled second act of the story, which takes everything that works early on into a black hole. It only gets out by the third act, making for a rather hasty conclusion. What's admirable about the build up to the conclusion is that Tony Stark actually gets to see that his father really did care about him. We get to know about Howard Stark and the kind of person he was, and the nods at Walt Disney's futurism in the 1960s were also a nice plus.

What doesn't work is a near-disaster. Tony's alcoholism is subtly touched upon, along with his slow demise due to the palladium. The filmmakers attempt to show us what consequences it will lead to, but it's wasted on a party scene. Tony has fun destroying things tons of girls throw into the air, until Rhodes (now played by Don Cheadle) has to stop him. This scene has a lot of potential, but it lacks any real intensity and just feels cartoony. The scene where Stark hits Rhodes with the weights sums it up as the DJ cranks out beats. It's too silly to take seriously. Stark in his suit eating atop a donut shop? Is this a parody of Iron Man? Black Widow's character is handled poorly, who feels shoehorned in.

What about the villain? Ivan Vanko (played by Mickey Rourke, who delivers a pretty good performance) comes on like a great threat to Tony Stark, and for a good reason. Howard Stark and Vanko's father had a falling out over the creation of the Arc Reactor (which is thankfully touched upon by Nick Fury later on in the film), and he has the power to really take Stark down. The Monaco scene starts out great, Tony eventually defeats the vengeful physicist and he breaks out of jail later on. Then he's kept in the background for most of the second act, until appearing again in the third act and being easily defeated by Iron Man and War Machine after a lengthy battle with the drones. Sam Rockwell's Justin Hammer character is a bit more effective, a rival to Stark and a jerk to boot, but that's what defines him.

Iron Man 2 is close to being a very good film, but instead it's a decent action film that collapses when the stakes should be raised. It has to fight its way back up afterwards with a jumble of ideas, but by that time, it's almost over. It makes for a satisfying sequel, but one that doesn't reach the brilliance of its predecessor. Still, the cast knocks it out of the park for the most part and the scenes that work save the film from the mediocrity of other summer blockbusters.

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How would you rank the six Marvel Cinematic Universe films? Do you think the Phase Two films will be great? Perhaps better than Phase One's batch of films? Sound off!