Deadpool 2 (The Whedon Cut)

Deadpool 2 is the sequel to the mega-successful comic book blockbuster from 2016, starring Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool. In this movie, the merc with the mouth is thrown into the task of protecting a young mutant from Cable, a time traveler sent to kill the boy to save his family. That’s all that I can say about the plot without giving away spoilers.

Similar to Kingsman: The Secret Service, Deadpool was a breath of fresh air for comic book movies, being both stylishly action packed and hilarious beyond my expectations. It was a movie made for the fans, BY the fans; Ryan Reynolds went above and beyond to make sure this movie saw the light of day somehow, even if it meant leaking test footage to help give fans the ammo they needed to pressure Fox. Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, the duo that wrote Zombieland, along with Reynolds’s perfectly timed delivery, gave me an experience that constantly had me laughing until I got a headache, and it still has me laughing as hard as I did the first time; and just to clarify, I saw this after watching Zoolander 2, so you can tell I was having a blast.

Much to both Reynolds and Fox’s delight, the first movie was a critical and box office success, even becoming the highest grossing R rated movie of all time; hell, over here in North America, it outgrossed Batman v Superman AND Suicide Squad, and it was released in February! This even struck gold with them the following year, by going balls out and releasing Logan under the R rating, going as far as to get a Oscar nod for the screenplay. Naturally, a sequel was ordered, and Reynolds agreed, with Reese and Wernick returning to write the script.

Of course, things became a little dicey about this film and series, after the director of the first film, Tim Miller, dropped out, due to debates with Reynolds on the budget. Luckily, they managed to secure a man for the job, with David Leitch, fresh off of Atomic Blonde, which I loved. Unfortunately, trouble didn’t end there, considering the Disney buying Fox situation lead to reschedulings. Originally, 2018 had three X-Men movies planned: The New Mutants in April, this movie in June, and X-Men: Dark Phoenix in November; after the buy-out, this film got the push for a May release, with the other two being postponed for next year...kind of tells you about the confidence they have with those films, don’t they?

So after all this, does Deadpool 2 live up to expecation? If my three ticket stubs prove anything, it’s that I say yes. Much like the first movie, Deadpool 2 had me laughing my ass off every time I watched it. The comedy is just as wild and eccentric, with some added surprises that you’d only pick up after a second viewing; there’s 4th wall jokes, Hollywood jokes, comic book references, and even jabs at other successful franchises; even when you think they wouldn’t be relevant, it ends up bringing up an aspect that still makes it just as funny to bring up as it was and will be. Not only that, but the action scenes are so much more entertaining and stylish than before, especially with more emphasis on close-armed combat; the opening credits alone give you a feel of the kind of action to expect from someone who helped make John Wick.

Ryan Reynolds continues to shine as Deadpool; this is a character that he was born to play. He’s funny, his timing is great, the delivery always feels right, and the action scenes he performs are deeply entertaining. There’s never a moment where it looks like he’d rather be somewhere else; he always has that glimmer of joy in his eyes, and feels like he’s found his niche. He helps put Deadpool on the level of the audience, and even when he says something wrong, he makes it feel like anyone could appreciate it regardless. He also dual-roles in this movie, but I’ll let you find that out if you haven’t seen it.

Josh Brolin as Cable (not the first comic book time travel character he played), at first is a bit of a one-note character, but when you have someone as out-there as Deadpool, it would make sense to have him contrast with a more serious and grounded character. On his own, he’s fine, but his chemistry with Reynolds adds a whole new ballgame for the Merc to play with, and even give us a look at how this generation of young adults might be 50 years from now. I swear, after this, Infinity War, and the upcoming Sicario: Day of the Soldado, I can only imagine how big his paycheck is; I mean, TWO big comic book blockbusters in one month is pretty impressive.

The addition characters that form X-Force are all great additions as well, particularly with Domino. While a character who is destined to always be lucky, you’d think that there wouldn’t be that much dread with her, but the film does make use of that comedically. Even then, they still establish that she’s not always lucky with everything, as it is possible to kick her ass, just not as easy. And while her luck is used as sort of a deus ex machina in places, it works because it’s a film about Deadpool, a guy who is near impossible to kill. Now as for the rest of the X-Force, it is still up in the air about whether Fox will go through with a spin-off film, but as long as we get more of Domino, that’s fine with me.

With that said, how does Deadpool 2 compare with the first movie? Well, I feel like the best comparision would be with another action franchise, Die Hard: the first Die Hard was a little more simple, condenced, and unfamiliar, just like the first Deadpool; and much like Die Hard with a Vengeance, Deadpool 2 takes the scenario to a bigger scale, but you feel like that restriction gave it something special to it. Doesn’t make it bad, but just not as fresh as the first one.

Also, if I had to be honest, the kid, Firefist, is a fucking twat. No disrespect to Julian Dennison, because this script didn’t make him seem that likable either, but his performance didn’t help either. It’s like if Deadpool got stuck babysitting the love child of Scrappy-Doo and Rebel Wilson; never shuts up, thinks he’s hot shit, and yet after getting into fights, he barely comes out scathed. I understand the joke is that Wade’s annoyed with him, but he has to be annoying to just Wade, not everybody else, that’s how comedy works.

Now with the Disney-Fox buyout in the progress, it’s led to much speculation on where the series is going to go from here. Bob Iger, the president of Disney, has said that the Deadpool movies would still be R rated, even after appearing in the MCU, but it does question how it’s going to work. However, after watching this movie and seeing the end credits, I feel like Ryan Reynolds and crew thought about this ahead of time, and added in the feature that would explain his presence. You might look at that as like a cop-out, but it’s Deadpool, he’s a character that would perfectly fit this loophole.

Overall, Deadpool 2 kicked ass on so many levels, and with an extended cut announced (I hope they call it the “Snyder Cut”), I’m so looking forward to it, especially if it means more David Leitch action. If you’re still shell-shocked from Infinity War, I’d advise going to see this movie, because you’ll need a good laugh or two. Plus, you’d be getting more sweet Josh Brolin action.

Rating: A-

Tully

Tully is a motherhood dramedy directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody, telling the story of an overworked mother of three, Marlo (Charlize Theron). When she reaches a point where she desperately needs help, her brother (Mark Duplass) calls a night nanny, named Tully (Mackenzie Davis), to give Marlo a hand so she can get better rest.

Jason Reitman has truly put himself at a point, where he’s a director I will be interested and somewhat excited to see, especially when he’s directing a Diablo Cody script. When I heard their latest Sundance movie, Tully, was a new collaboration between the two and Charlize Theron from Young Adult, it felt like we were getting a conclusion to this 21st Century Motherhood trilogy that Reitman and Cody started ten years ago with Juno.

Tully has a similar theme, mainly in how it shows how stressful and taxing becoming a mother can get, and how it drives one to depression and exhaustion. It's an emotional rollercoaster that barely let's up, but it's the realism of the matter that makes it enduring to begin with. Diablo Cody is a very down to earth writer, but when you compare her last film, Ricki and the Flash, a film directed by Jonathan Demme (rest in peace), with Juno and Young Adult, it seems as though Reitman is the only director who truly brings out the vision that the script is going for. In both previous films and this, he captures that toll that depression takes on any human being who can never relax. This also leads to the film’s controversial ending, which has taken a divisive turn for both mothers and those suffering from mental illness like Marlo. While I understand where this lividness comes from, as well as acknowledge that my experiences with depression as a male differ drastically, after seeing the movie, it didn’t seem like the film misrepresented anything too offensively.

Charlize Theron really transformed herself for this role, not just in the weight, but in her movements as well. Going from adrenaline rushing projects like Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde that have action so specifically stylized, and then putting on a mom body, you see the kind of dedication you rarely see from a performer, unless you’re Christian Bale. The exhaustion is present nearly almost the entire first half of the movie, with that desire to snap seething through every ounce of her body, both at her kids, one of which is special needs, and her husband, Drew (Ron Livingston). So when you see how much of a 180 Tully helps bring her to, you see just how much this life she has led has broken her, despite her best efforts. I especially love her chemistry with Mackenzie Davis, as it adds onto another strong point of any Jason Reitman film: the character development. You watch these two grow to trust one another like sisters, to where Marlo even sacrificed the sleep she wants just to talk with Tully. Upon first viewing, you’re charmed by them, but the second time viewing, it’s heartbreaking beyond belief.

In the end, Tully is a film that shows us the struggles of motherhood in this day and age, for the kind of people who are struggling to catch a break. From the great down-to-earth chemistry between very likable characters, to the dialogue that they share; it may not be the most uplifting film to see, especially after coming out of Infinity War, but you can bet that it’ll be worth remembering this year. It may differ for a lot of people, especially with viewpoints on motherhood and depression, but I feel like those kinds of discussions being brought up to the public is an action that's just as important to do.

Rating: A (Happy Mother's Day and Mental Health Awareness Month!)

Marvel Studios' Avengers: Infinity War

            Avengers: Infinity War is the nineteenth installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the third installment of The Avengers trilogy, but not the last. After so much time has passed, waiting for his children to bring the Infinity Stones to him, Thanos the Mad Titan decides to take things into his own hands and go after the stones himself. The only ones standing in his way of some of those stones are the Avengers and the Guardians of the Galaxy, and a fight for the fate of the universe is now in play.

            When the first Avengers movie directed by Joss Whedon came out, I wasn’t really too impressed. I mean, I enjoyed it, but I felt like I was getting more of the same action and story, with some funny banter thrown in. Same thing with Age of Ultron, which did it again, except bigger and more foreshadow heavy...but Ultron was a rushed villain. I know people tend to praise these movies, or at least the first one, like they’re the best superhero movies made, but when you’re looking at it from the perspective of someone who didn’t grow up on reading comics, it felt lacking. Heck, some of the films in the MCU’s phase 2, especially the first Guardians of the Galaxy, felt more exciting than The Avengers.

Now with Infinity War, the Russo Brothers really put their skills to their absolute limit to deliver their TRUE Avengers movie. I felt like I got exactly what I was looking for; that sense of dread, that desperation for back-up wherever you can find it, the weight and gravity that rests on each one of characters fighting. In other words, this is first time I felt like I was watching a superhero epic. And while you do need knowledge of previous films to truly get this movie, the way the execute exposition is still handled in a manner that doesn’t feel distracting. The action scenes, only get more intense as the battle rages on, and I was surprised at how much this film made me go “Oh my God!” several times out loud. That’s how a movie is supposed to get you.

This movie has a massive cast attached to it, and just about everyone of them gets a chance to shine. While most of these interactions are played up for laughs, I get why they did this, considering they're not the main focus of the film, which is Thanos. Ever since he was forshadowed in The Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy, especially with Gamora as his daughter, you get to know a lot more about the father-daughter relationship that Gamora and Thanos have with each other, and the scene of him describing his home before, are both beautiful and fascinating. While he is a man wanting genocide, he emphasises it’s better than the option of extinction. I didn’t think Marvel was going to give a better villain than Killmonger, but Thanos is a big tie-breaker, and after being announced as this character since 2014, Josh Brolin is clearly relishing in every second and giving it the best it needs. You could even argue, this is the Thanos solo movie, and the villains are the Avengers getting in his way; in other words, this is a villain’s movie (suck it, DC).

I also have to give this movie credit for its ending, because it did what I thought no superhero movie, or any movie that isn’t horror or thriller. Yes, I know they’re going to recton it somehow in Captain Marvel and Avengers 4, but think about this: what if they didn’t announce anything after this, and Infinity War was the real final movie? Think of how impactful that must be, to have all of that build up, and what they deliver...not many people can get away with, but Marvel managed to pull it off.

In conclusion, Avengers: Infinity War ended up being everything I had been asking for since 2012, and it truly delivered. I was deeply surprised, and I applaud this movie for having done what it did. It’s an epic that will define a generation of comic book movie goers, better than any other that tried to top it. Is it my favorite? Probably not. In the Top 5? Oh hell yeah. And much like what I said in my review for the first Avengers movie, “I’d say go see it, but you probably already have.”

Marvel Cinematic Universe (My Rankings Before Infinity War)

As we approach the dawn of Infinity War, I figured it was time to take a gander at Marvel Cinematic Universe and the movies that have accompanied it throughout these past ten years. To think, ten years ago, we were seeing Iron Man face off with Nick Fury, possibly setting up a sequel that could lead to something bigger than anyone could ever imagine. Not only did they create such a detailed and vast franchise, filled to the brim with worlds and characters that could last us until the next two decades to truly feel justified in getting to know. So without further ado, and to save myself the trouble of reviewing all of them one by one, in extensive detail, I decided to do a ranking on my favorite MCU movie to my least favorite. Now, please know this is my list, not your's. If you disagree with any of these, that's fine, but please keep it civilized and don't take my word as everybody else's. 

With that said, let's dive into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with my absolute favorite!

X X X

1. First off, I will admit that this film isn’t nearly as well made as some of these other entries, but out of all of the movies that have come from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Guardians of the Galaxy was the film that I had low hopes for, but ended up loving it beyond what I had anticipated. The film has this cool sci-fi western feel to it, as you follow this group of outlaws end up saving the galaxy from a tyrannical warlord, all while grooving to some classic disco and rock. Every scene has something new and exciting that I end up discovering every time I watch it, and they never got boring in the slightest. It was a fun thrill ride that I never thought I was missing up until, and each of the characters are all memorable in their own right.



2. If you were to ask me which of the films in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, regardless of opinion, which of the films was the best written, tightly directed, and powerfully performed, my answer would automatically be Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Some would say Civil War, but we’ll get to that eventually. Winter Soldier took everything that was good about The First Avenger, and updated it into this really gripping spy thriller that is packed with easter eggs, but not so jarring as to seem out of place. I also love that I can go from the first film to this, without feeling like I missed anything from films in between. The twists and turns this movie takes go beyond anything that MCU had done prior, or even since then. The Russo Brothers truly did their best to make sure everything about this film was as consistent and without any loose ends in the slightest, and it’s no wonder they were chosen to be Joss Whedon’s successors. This movie truly is the shining example of a perfect movie.



3. While a lot of people see Guardians Vol. 2 as not that great of a film, I see it as another equally entertaining and thrilling experience all the way through. I ended up seeing the film three times in theatres, and it only got better with each passing view, and personally I enjoyed it as much as the first movie. However, choices have to be made, and so it at least makes the Top 3. While the story doesn’t really have much effect with the rest of the story in the MCU, that’s actually what I enjoyed most about it; it tells us that these characters don’t need references to the rest of movies, to be satisfying in any way. We still get some kick ass action, with some ironically fitting music to accompany it, the jokes are still funny even after the third or fourth time I’ve seen it, and the ending still gets me a little choked up. People may disagree, but that’s what makes it special to talk about.



4. At this point, the first phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was kind of put in a balance of “probably stable,” despite the box office success of their previous films. The quality was put into question, and by the time they got to their 2nd blockbuster of 2011, people were positive to mixed; even I at the time admit that it was kind of the same thing they did before. However, after later viewings, I ended up loving it more for what it truly meant for a lot of people. It felt a lot like the first Christopher Reeve Superman film, with the heart and soul of fighting for the American spirit that had been missing from most other superhero movies; heck, even the Spiderman trilogy didn’t have that level of heart. Chris Evans ended up being such a perfect choice for Steve Rogers, and since then, he’s been my favorite character to follow throughout the franchise. His determination and gut feeling always had me rooting for him, the support he gives and receives in return is compelling, and I just love the dedication to recreating the 1940’s. It was also the first superhero movie I ever bought on blu ray, and 3D blu ray (despite me still not having a 3D tv, just as the market for it is nearly finished...shit).



5. The story of a snarky, rich, talented, fast talker, who climbs himself out of the pit of tragedy, and comes out a man with a suit more powerful than any military weaponry imaginable. A lot was really riding on Iron Man to succeed, especially considering that it was going to be the gambling start of a much bigger project; thankfully, it ended up being far better than anything anyone could ever imagine. It even did the impossible, and made former celebrity mess, Robert Downey Jr, not only a star again, but one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Hell, with the release of this and Tropic Thunder, which got him an Oscar nod, he made 2008 his big comeback year. While there were a few familiar tropes from previous Marvel movies, Jon Favreau made it funny, clever, and fresh enough to let us truly believe a hero like Iron Man could truly stand out among the greats. And after seeing that teaser that first started the possibility of a bigger film franchise, or possibly a universe, it tells you how far we’ve truly come.



6. The most recent entry in the MCU, Black Panther makes it this high on the list, mostly in how much of an impact it has already accomplished, and how tightly written it was. Even I will admit, the action scenes aren’t as strong as previous entries, but with how this film dives into both these characters and the politics of Wakanda, it has exposition dumps that have even me fascinated by it, because I want to know more about these people. Not only that, but it has the second instance of a Marvel film in which the villain is better than the hero, that villain being Killmonger. You could tell that when Ryan Coogler signed on to this, you could tell that he was going to make Michael B. Jordan a selling point, and that decision did not disappoint at all. I’ve gone over this fairly recently, so I’ll conclude by saying, Wakanda Forever! Let’s get a Black Panther 2!



7. If I had to be honest, I love this movie because of how unbelievably dumb it is. The story is chaotic, the characters are ridiculously having fun (some Goldbluming it up), the action is over-the-top, and it’s just so damn funny. After dealing with two outings, one a Shakespeare tale of a fallen prince, to a trial of redemption to stop an Infinity Stone user, to just having a fun time while on drugs. Much like Guardians of the Galaxy, this film makes it because of how fun it was, regardless of the writing or directing. The only difference is with how much comedy this film packs in, it kind of takes away from the pace of the film when it’s trying to actually get the story going. Plus, there were a few jokes I noticed that were recycled from previous MCU movies, such as Banner jumping and failing to transform. Despite this, when you have an opening action scene and finale action scene, both accompanied by Led Zepplin’s Immigrant Song, with the Hulk fighting a giant wolf, you better have something that makes it worth revisiting again.



8. The black sheep of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and unfortunately one people are very mixed on. Personally, when you look at it through the eyes of when this was released, it’s actually a lot better than people give credit for. I mean, remember when Ang Lee’s Hulk came out? This movie felt like a relief, and most of it stemmed from the controversial choice of bring on Edward Norton. While Mark Ruffalo has definitely made Bruce Banner his own, I feel like Edward Norton also deserves a bit of credit, considering that he ultimately re-wrote the script for this movie. You can tell that there was a lot of passion behind it, that Norton really wanted to go further with the character in areas we may not have thought about. Hell, he was even the one who put in the line “Hulk, SMASH!” in the film’s climax. It’s a shame that this film has barely been acknowledged by the rest of the MCU, but considering Universal still owns the rights, I guess that does make it a little problematic. It does make you wonder what would have happened, had Norton not been fired from the project, if Marvel was willing to take that risk. But then again, we wouldn’t have films like Birdman or every Wes Anderson movie since 2012...now that makes me think, how would Mark Ruffalo voice Sammy Bagel Jr. in Sausage Party?



9. A sequel that many people hated...and yet I say, “Really?” Sure, the villain is a little generic (what else is new), the comedy with Stellan Skarsgard isn’t that great and Kat Dennings is still an annoying twat, but everything else I deeply enjoyed. I’m surprised nobody else mentions the scene where Thor tries to get Loki’s help, and sees that he’s been torn by hearing about his mother’s death, because that was a pretty strong moment for those two. I thought the story was a lot bigger of scope than what I got with The Avengers, the action was ten times what it has been, and the comedic moments were pretty good. It was pretty much what I enjoyed about Thor: Ragnarok, just with a few grievances, but essentially the kind of fun I was looking for. And with more Loki, who's to complain?



10. The story of a snarky, rich, talented, fast talker, who climbs himself out of the pit of tragedy, and comes out...a kung-fu wizard. See, no one will notice the difference. Coming off of the next movie on our list, Doctor Strange was able to bring something fresh and new to the table, diving more into the mystical arts of the Marvel Universe. While I thought some of the villains were generic, and not ignoring the Iron Man similarities, this movie is both visually stunning and fascinating to learn about, much like how Black Panther had such interesting politics that invested me. Benedict Cumberpatch is a great Steven Strange, and seeing his road to redemption, as well as learning how to control the Time Stone, this is one that I sorely regret not seeing in 3D in theaters...stupid expensive and obsolete 3D televisions.



11. What? The most highly praised of the Captain America trilogy isn’t in the Top 10? How could you say that? Sure, this film has some fantastic action, the story was very intriguing for both the story at hand AND real world problems going on, the introduction of Black Panther was deeply welcomed, Spiderman was good (despite feeling forced), so why not higher? Well, it sadly comes down to one element, and that’s the villain. Zemo was not only the worst thing about the movie, but his involvement completely shatters what could have been the very best of the MCU. First off, his plan this whole time was to find the Winter Soldiers hidden away, kill them, and hope that Cap, Bucky, and Tony, to all be in this bunker at once, so he can show them the tape of the Stark parents’ murder. Black Widow released all of SHIELD’s secret documents in The Winter Soldier, and your telling me this didn’t come up? And if it did, it took Tony until he was SHOWN it to find out the truth? Also, Zemo is gambling on all three of them to be there, so what would have happened if Tony wasn’t told where to go by Falcon? Second, this wouldn’t have been an issue, had they not opened the movie with the killing off of Crossbones (played by Frank Grillo), who is a Captain America villain that was established in The Winter Soldier. Sorry, as much as I loved Civil War, Zemo ruined it.



12. Oh, I know plenty of you are already screaming in your heads at me for putting this on the lower half, ESPECIALLY under Thor: The Dark World, but I take nothing back here. Look, do I like this movie? Yes. Do I think it’s a blast that was worth seeing three times in theatres? Probably, but I did regardless. Does it live up to every bit of expectation it went out of its way for? Honestly, not to me. I mean, there isn’t anything wrong with the movie, it’s just that...I don’t love it. I think it’s fun and exciting when it needs to be, it’s just...I felt like I was getting some of the same stuff that I had seen before, just with a bigger budget. Keep in mind, I didn’t grow up reading comic books, so I don’t have the same anticipated childhood feels that everyone else gets, but I do enjoy the movie and respect what it means to everyone. It’s just that in this case, it’s not one that I get the most excited for.



13. Kind of a shame that Thor’s first two movies are on the low end, but that’s just how I feel it to be. Besides, I don’t hate Thor, I just think it’s alright at best. It does most of the stereotypical fish-out-of-water scenarios, with some funny moments and cool fight scenes, but it feels so...by the numbers. I get that the character and lore of the God of Thunder is a little hard to get a true grasp on, at least until much later, but considering you have a Shakespearean director such as Kenneth Branagh at the helm, expectation levels can vary. Of course, it did introduce us to Tom Hiddleston’s Loki, who would later take the reigns as Marvel’s villain king for the time being.



14. It was kind of a toss-up between this and the previous Avengers on which should be higher, but as you could tell, I went with the first film to be ahead. Don’t get me wrong, Age of Ultron is still a damn entertaining movie, especially in its finale, but what ruins it is the beginning of the movie. Up until the team begins searching for Ultron, the first act feels a little rushed and just throws you into an action scene, with the Avengers hunting for Loki’s scepter...okay, would have liked a little context as to WHEN they united, but okay. They even shoehorn in Ultron, right out of nowhere, and they make it seem as though Tony’s been working on this for several films (again, they should have done that with the post credits scenes). Also, the biggest problem I have is that it’s a film that requires homework to truly enjoy. If you go into this after seeing all the MCU movies, you’d be fine; however, going into this, from Avengers to Age of Ultron, you end up with references and plot points that make you lost as to what’s happening. There are even scenes in this movie that don’t really end up having a pay-off in the long run, such as the fight in Wakanda between Iron Man and Hulk not being brought up in Civil War, or the well scene that foreshadowed Ragnarok. Joss Whedon has admitted that all of these were notes that Kevin Feige gave him to work with, and you can tell that Whedon didn’t want to do them; this is what led to him leaving Marvel with a sour taste in his mouth, and something that affected another movie we’ll get to. This was the sign telling me that Marvel was more concerned about not pausing and just shovelling out references and characters that hardly get any build up. Some characters that were SUPPOSED to be major parts of the story, such as Thomas Kretschmann who plays the one holding the Maximoff twins, gets axed off after the first act. Or what about the sudden romance that Banner and Romanoff suddenly have. While the film is good, it does get gradually worse the more you think about it. It’s still a well made movie, and one that I’d happily watch, but with these kinds of scenes that make you feel like you need to play catch up in order to enjoy, it’s hard to say it’s the best. As the big finale to MCU Phase 2, it’s disappointing...oh wait, it’s not even the last film in Phase 2, which is even MORE disappointing, because that last film would have been a proper build up to Age of Ultron.



15. Anything more disappointing than a finale that’s not even a finale to Phase 2, is the beginning film of Phase 2. I know a lot of people like this movie, and if you do, more power to you, but much like Age of Ultron, this is another one of those films that I think less of every time I watch it. Sure, it has a great concept, exploring Tony’s psychosis after the events of The Avengers and how it affects everyone else around him, but I feel like that isn’t better explored until Age of Ultron, which again, would have been a great way for Tony to introduce working on the Ultron Project. Why couldn’t you have that start HERE, where it was SUPPOSED to be like that? And while we do focus on Tony’s PTSD, it’s pushed aside to focus on Ben Kinglsey pulling a BS move where instead of being a middle eastern terrorist, he’s a drunk actor, while the real Mandarin is some jerk who got snubbed by Tony one time? Come on. Apart from that, the film’s alright and does still have an interesting narrative following Tony after The Avengers. Just wish it could have been handled better.



16. And here we come to the first MASSIVE disappointment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man 2. In its defense, Iron Man 2 isn’t...awful. Is it good? No, but compared to most other superhero sequels, or action sequels in general, this is still a hell of a lot better than most. The action is still pretty decent, Robert Downey Jr. is still enjoyable as Tony Stark, Mickey Rourke had a very promising role to the film, and Sam Rockwell dances (don’t you argue with me on that one). But...yeah, you can tell that Marvel was desperate for a hit, and needed to rush this after Incredible Hulk bombed, sadly. There’s not really much to add, except it’s a sequelitis product, plain and simple.



17. This was probably my most anticipated in the MCU...until May 23rd of 2014. In case you didn’t know, Edgar Wright, a cinematic legend of the 21st century, was originally slated to helm this movie, having been passionate about doing it since 2003; however, after Marvel wanted Wright to mention the rest of the MCU and remind people more of it being in this world, but he didn’t want that. This resulted in Wright having to leave the project to focus on Baby Driver, a GOOD movie, and the project was left to be manufactured by Marvel (I know Peyton Reed is credited, but let’s admit the truth). As much as I don’t want to step on people’s toes on this one, but this film aggravates me more on what it COULD have been, as opposed to what we did get; although, the latter doesn’t help either. This film is more by-the-numbers than Thor, the action is pretty mediocre, most of the jokes don’t land, and I just felt cheated. Luckily, Paul Rudd was able to shine better in Captain America: Civil War, but as a solo film goes, I think he should have stuck with Hulk’s plan.



18. I know, I know. Some of you are shaking your head at me AGAIN, after I tore this film one in my review and Top 15 Worst Films of 2017 video, but I take nothing back. Tom Holland is a great Spiderman, and it pisses me off even more that this is the best they give him; his character is a complete 180 of what he was in Civil War, by showing us that he vlogged nearly his entire trip to Germany (basically exposing his stupid ass), and having his only motive for being Spiderman in the movie is whining about wanting to be an Avenger. After about ten minutes, I grew tired of this guy’s dialogue every time he popped up...then we got to Ned Leeds, and all of my hate flew to a different target. Seriously, this guy was so obnoxious and aggravating to watch, I knew there was no going back for this movie, especially when they have this guy try to deliver some of the most cringe worthy comedy I’ve heard in a long time. I don’t understand why Marvel hired Jon Francis Daly and Jonathan Goldstein, the two douchebags who did Vacation with Ed Helms, because there was nothing funny in this movie, aside from one joke where Spidey shoots in the middle of a field. Aside from that, Michael Keaton was the only one in this movie who felt like he had any character development throughout the movie. The problem is that it isn’t called Vulture: Homecoming, it’s called SPIDERMAN: Homecoming! And speaking of which, Homecoming barely even takes part in the story at all. The final battle isn’t even AT Homecoming, because Peter ditches his friends to fight the Vulture, proving that he never learns from his mistakes, even after he had his suit taken from him. I have more problems with this movie as is, just go read my review for it. I hated this movie, and with the writers and director returning for the sequel, I’m not wasting my time with that.

XXX

So that was my ranking of the current Marvel Cinematic Universe movies that I have seen. Agree, disagree, I don’t care. Next time, I’ll be back, fresh from war...INFINITY War, that is.