Rank - 7/23 || Captain America: Winter Soldier

Cast: Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan, Scarlett Johansson, Anthony Mackie, Robert Redford, Samuel L Jackson
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

The Winter Soldier is the most famous of Captain America storylines. It is also probably the most controversial. No one remains dead in comics. But bringing back one of the most beloved characters in the mythos, one whose death is pivotal in how the hero turns out, is a rather dangerous task. I read it with a more-than-healthy dose of scepticism, but was surprised at how fast-paced and interesting the book was. It was a given that Winter Soldier would make its way to the MCU sooner rather than later.

Captain America aka Steve Rogers (Evans) has settled into his life in the 21st century. He takes part in missions for SHIELD and in his free time catches up on all the books, songs and movies he had missed out on during his beauty sleep. He shares a flirtatious relationship with Natasha Romanoff aka the Black Widow (Johansson), a respectful, yet testy one with Nick Fury (Jackson) and a friendly one with Air Force veteran Sam Wilson (Mackie). Fury is attacked by a bunch of goons led by a masked man with a metal arm. Alexander Pierce (Redford), Fury’s boss, suspects Rogers of covering up info that could catch the culprits. He sends SHIELD agents after Captain America who goes on the run.

The recent re-watch prompted a re-evaluation. Just like Iron Man 3. However, in this case, my feelings for the movie went the other way. While watching it for the first time, until the last 30 minutes, I felt like I was watching the best Marvel movie. That has tempered over time. It is still a damn good three-quarters of a film, but the Russos were still in college mode. They hadn’t graduated.

The last half an hour is still a problem, though. Making a machine that will kill your enemies is one thing, but to kill them from the air via guns, that is a bit too much to stomach. Of course, the premise makes for a very interesting problem-solving. But the payback for the audience is disappointing.

Chris Evans firmly puts all questions to rest, as to who the second-most popular Avenger is. That earnestness, that is evident to even the casual observer, is both him and Captain America. This is also when Captain America, Orator Extraordinary, made his presence really felt. 

Sebastian Stan has his moment in the sun. unfortunately, charisma is not something that can be willed into existence. We like him, but we can’t love him. Samuel L Jackson is at his scenery-chewing best. Robert Redford must have been intrigued as to why they would want him in a comic book movie, but he doesn’t let that affect his performance. Anthony Mackie is solid as a fan-favourite character. Scarlett Johansson is all coy and witty. But I have been told her makeup is pretty bad in this movie.

The visual effects raised the bar for a Marvel movie. The interplay between action and the pauses are really good. The decision taken to destroy a major part of the Marvel world is admirable. It had its repercussions in the TV series also. The Russo brothers arrive in the Marvel world with an almighty statement. And, as we saw, they intended to stay for a while.

Stan Lee cameo: I am so fired up seeing this one. This is how you do a good cameo. Funny and meaning something. But is this museum guard the same WW2 veteran?

Post-credits scene: The mid-credits scene, directed by Joss Whedon, doesn’t seem like an after-thought. It is literally an epilogue to Avengers: Age of Ultron. We see the twins, who are actually children of Magneto. But this being the pre-takeover era, Disney couldn’t say that. The post-credits scene tells us what we always wanted to see – the Winter Soldier breaking good.

Rank - 8/23 || Spider-Man:Homecoming

Cast: Tom Holland, Robert Downey Jr, Michael Keaton, Marisa Tomei, Zendaya, Jon Favreau
Director:  Jon Watts

There are some titles that feel just apt. It is hard to find one better than Homecoming for the revamped Spider-Man. After years of being with a rival studio who did just two good movies with the web-slinger, the character is back in the Marvel home where he belongs. The prodigal son is back home.  It is so easy to believe the Marvel bosses telling the writers that the name of the movie was Homecoming, the rest was up to them. A recipe for disaster, I know. Yet, wonder of wonders, that is not how it turned out.

Spider-Man (Holland) is out of the closet. At least his suit is. Iron Man (Downey Jr) saw to that. Plus, he played a big role in Civil War. He is all ready to be a part-time super hero. Unfortunately, the adult world doesn’t quite work like that. Peter Parker spends his time away from school helping old ladies cross the street and kids get their cats from trees. In fact, a friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. Tony Stark delegated baby-sitting responsibilities to Happy Hogan (Favreau), who is not exactly thrilled. 

Things turn interesting when Spider-Man foils a robbery by a bunch of crooks dressed up as the Avengers. Cue one-liners. Unfortunately, it is not your neighbourhood theft. The perpetrators have alien technology. Throwback to the Chitauri attack on New York. The contractor in charge of clean-up operations was Adrian Toomes (Keaton). But he is kicked off without as much as a by your leave. Contracts are not valid when aliens attack the Earth. Toomes keeps a few items to himself and becomes an underground arms-dealer, who is not called Vulture. With Stark and Hogan not available, Peter has to save New York.

The screenplay is quite zippy with one-liners that are not snarky. A kid who wants to be a kid and yet save the world is a recipe for pretentiousness. It is extremely gratifying to see that Spider-Man in the movie does not turn out like that. Tom Holland continues to be an inspired choice as he is able to appear earnest and vulnerable without anyone questioning his marbles. I am still on Team Tobey, but Holland has made the role his own.

Batman in a Spider-Man movie is the stuff geek heavens are made off. Former Batman Michael Keaton brings his effortlessness to a very well-written villain role. At least, by Marvel standards. When you root for a villain for all the right reasons, it says a lot of how the character was developed. There is a surprise twist that ranks just below the one in Iron Man 3 in terms of “What just happened” value. 

Jacob Batalon steals the movie like Holland himself did in Civil War. As the nerdy friend/ sidekick/ audience surrogate, he excels. The sequence when he helps Peter go after the bad guys with the school’s computer room as Mission Control is hilarious and his comeback when caught is pure gold. 

Robert Downey Jr probably made the most money per second in the history of cinema with the briefest of roles. But it did go a long way in cementing a special relationship in the MCU, one that will be touched on in future movies. There is also another cameo from an A-lister that was surprising. Jon Favreau has a little too much to do. 

Zendaya is a big name among teenage girls, or so I am told by mine. She has very little to do, but that was a fabulous risk that the filmmakers took. One that will pay off in future. In a nice bit of inside humour Jennifer Connelly voices Karen, the AI inside the Spider-suit. In real life she is married to Paul Bettany who voiced Jarvis, the AI in Iron Man’s suit and later acted as Vision. 

This is really the Spider-Man movie we have been waiting for since 2004’s Spider-Man 2. Considering the speed with which this project was set in motion, it is a wonder that it turned out so good. Sometimes, Hollywood does get it right.

Stan Lee cameo: A ho-hum kind of cameo that is neither funny, nor necessary. They didn’t get this right.

Post-credits scene: There are two. The first one hints at more Keaton down the lane, hopefully. The second one is a rather wicked joke at all of us who religiously wait for the end credits to finish rolling.

Rank - 9/23 || Captain America: The First Avenger

Cast: Chris Evans, Hayley Atwell, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Sebastian Stan, Toby Jones
Director: Joe Johnston

How do you show old-fashioned values to a new generation? How do you talk about Truth, Justice and the American Way when most of your money is coming from an overseas audience? It was not going to be easy. To make things more interesting, you have to tell the story in the past and then bring it to the present. Thank god this is just a comic book movie.

The story is set during World War 2. Young, puny, Steve Rogers (Evans) had only one dream – to serve his country. Unfortunately, his physique let him down, time and again. But his attitude catches the eye of Dr Abraham Erskine (Stanley Tucci) who was developing a serum meant to create super soldiers. Hey, presto! He turns out to be this bullock of a man, but with his moral compass still intact. After a few missteps, he goes head on head with the Nazi’s biggest weapon – Johan Schmidt (Weaving), himself an early recipient of the serum. 

Chris Evans turned out to be a surprise package. Last seen as the boisterous Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four, people didn’t think he had the gravitas for such a role. Sure, he could bulk up, but emoting? Well, Marvel saw something that we couldn’t at first. He inhabits the role with great empathy. It's his earnestness that makes Captain America a figure of, in equal measure, admiration and derision. A very thin line. We had no idea who Hayley Atwell was before this movie, but she became such an integral part of the Captain America legend that I actually typed in Hayley Carter in the credits! Another of the romances that struck gold.

Stanley Tucci and Toby Jones easily play their parts as rival scientists, with the latter having a bit more meaty role. Hugo Weaving is all icy dialogue delivery as Red Skull, while Tommy Lee Jones templates the grumpy old colonel with a heart of gold and wit to spare. Sebastian Stan was Steve’s best friend Bucky, who we would definitely see more of.

This was still early-age Marvel, who were not afraid to take risks. Captain America singing dancing with the girls was such a surprise, that you actually spent time thinking about the gall of the filmmakers during the movie. The special effects were quite impressive, especially of the frail Steve Rogers. If you had not seen Chris Evans before, you would definitely not think he was not a skinny boy. 

One of the toughest things for managers during performance reviews is to tell good employees they were good and meeting expectations, when they would feel they were exceeding those. Captain America: The First Avenger is good, a solid entry in the most positive way. The expectations were high and it didn’t disappoint. Captain America went on to be one of the most beloved characters in the MCU primarily because of what this film. It will be remembered more for what it didn't do wrong rather than what it did right. 

Stan Lee cameo: Typical tongue-in-cheek Lee as an army general. Wait a minute, was he the same one who shows up in Age of Ultron? Is Stan the same in all cameos?

Post-credits scene: The pre-credits scene brings Captain America into our timeline. Rarely has a missed date sounded so poignant. The post credits scene has Fury in recruitment mode. There is also a brief trailer for The Avengers. 

Rank - 10/23 || Black Panther

Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Martin Freeman, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright, Andy Serkis
Director: Ryan Coogler

Let’s talk about race, baby
Let’s talk about you and me
Let’s talk about all the bad things
And the worse things that may be.
(With apologies to Salt-N-Pepa)

It may be a superhero pic, but Black Panther is much much more. He was a Stan Lee child from the problematic 60s. He even has Black in his name. He is an African, not African American, which is somehow supposed to make him more palatable to racist readers. He gets his strength and agility from a herb. Oh, those natives. Digging into the history it is hard not to feel that the character was actually an insult to black people. Well, that is also how women started off in comics – sex objects for teenage boys. But times have changed. 

The movie was always going to be news, even if it was bad. But then it was far from that. Marvel got the director right. Ryan Coogler was already a really good American director. Not just African American, mind you. Black Panther would always be political. Especially with the then (and now) incumbent in the White House. Kudos to Marvel for understanding and accepting the politics. 

We already met the prince of the African nation of Wakanda, T’Challa (Boseman), who wore the mantle of Black Panther after the death of his father in the incidents that led to Civil War. T’Challa is going to be crowned king. We get to see Wakanda in all its technological splendour. A futuristic society hiding under a camouflaging dome. They do not want the world to see the progress they made because they had vibranium, the strongest metal in the world. T’Challa rules with his mother Ramonda (Angela Basset) and little sister Shuri (Wright) by his side. Unfortunately, skeletons in the family closet starts to tumble out. Can T’Challa weather the storm?

Black Panther surprises in that it is unapologetically African. We are in Africa for almost 95 per cent of the running time.  It is a brave decision because I don’t recall seeing a mainstream Hollywood movie with so little white people. And, make no mistake, it is completely mainstream. It is to Coogler’s credit that you do not feel like you are watching a minority story. 

The performances are top-knotch. Boseman is solid. The grace and swagger he brings to his characters reminds one of the West Indian cricketers of yore. Letitia Wright, actually of West Indian origin, assumes the child genius role with a mischievous twinkle. Lupita Nyong’o enters the MCU as Nakia, the one who makes the Black Panther freeze. Danai Gurira, best-known as the kick-ass Michonne from the Walking Dead series, kicks even more ass as the warrior Okoye.  Andy Serkis gives a good example of how good an actor he is, even in non-performance-capture.

Then there is Michael B Jordan. He is Ryan Coogler’s alter ego. If Boseman had not already been cast when Coogler came onboard, Jordan would have made a swell Black Panther. Instead, despite the moniker of Killmonger, he brings to life the best villain in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You almost agree with his beliefs, sympathise with his hardships and pop your eyes out at how ripped he is. 

Coogler doesn’t pull any punches. He makes the central theme one of black identity and the two ways to approach it. He even takes on Hollywood clichés and turns it on its head. Martin Freeman plays a character that is totally unnecessary that you initially dismiss it as the Marvel bosses insisting that there should be a little white relief. Then you realise that Freeman is the token minority character that Hollywood puts in every movie and series for the sake of diversity. He even gets to be brave! 

There are movies that end up being seminal events, not just in cinematic history, but history, as well. Some movies are ahead of its time and it takes years and massive re-evaluation to reach their pedestal. Some are expected to be that, but the balloon of hyperbole is fast burst. Some films come in with expectations sky high, and meet them. We count ourselves lucky to be alive when that happens. Black Panther is firmly in the latter group. It means a lot to a lot of people. A conversation of race cannot be discounted. But I do not want to lessen its impact just because I do not belong to the race it champions. I know it is the easy way out, but I prefer to look at it as the movie and not the event.

Stan Lee cameo: Stan the rascal. Stealing chips in a casino. 

Post-credits scene: The first one is Wakanda opening itself to the world, in the UN no less. And a white guy asks the most insensitive question possible. Trust me, when I say a lot of thought went into this! The second one tells us that the White Wolf is getting ready to get back into action.

The countdown thus far:

23. Thor: Dark World

22. Incredible Hulk

21. Iron Man 2

20. Guardians of the Galaxy 2

19. Avengers: Age of Ultron

18. Antman and the Wasp

17. Iron Man 3

16. Spiderman: Far From Home

15. Ant Man

14. Doctor Strange

13. Captain Marvel

12. Thor

11. Thor: Ragnarok

Rank - 11/23 || Thor: Ragnarok

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hiddleston, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, Idris Elba, Karl Urban, Anthony Hopkins, Benedict Cumberbatch
Director:  Taika Waititi

When you hit rock bottom, the only way ahead s up. And that will make for a great story. These are the stories that become crowd favourites. Unfortunately, the euphoria over the upward swing often masks the miles that need to be tread before reaching the top. Remember the first movie you read about in this series. It was the worst. The legend of Thor was in danger of dying. Even though Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston were among the most-liked actors in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it didn’t seem like they could headline a movie on their own.

Nobody was looking forward to another Thor movie. The hiring of indie director Taika Waititi raised a few eyebrows, but it seemed he would be a big budget casualty. Then the first trailer landed. Suddenly, Thor Ragnarok was the most awaited movie of the year. For most of us. The film couldn’t come fast enough. Of course, it was a crying shame that Natalie Portman was no longer in the picture. But were we looking at something that would top Guardians of Galaxy in pure fun quotient?

Thor (Hemsworth) finds out that his father Odin (Hopkins) is no longer in Asgard. He catches his brother Loki (Hiddleston) in charge. The two of them seek out Odin. With a little help from Dr Strange (Cumberbatch) they find him in, of all places, Norway. Odin knows his end is near. He also reveals the existence of an elder sister Hela (Blanchett) to them. His death would free her from where she was imprisoned and she would come to lay claim to Asgard. The prophesied Ragnarok or End of Days was coming. 

After a brief, shattering battle with Hela where he loses an eye and a hammer, Thor finds himself in the wasteland of Sakaar. He is captured by a drunken slave trader (Thompson) who sells him to the Grandmaster (Goldblum), who, in turn, sends him to fight in an arena. Clearly, the Grandmaster has seen Ridley Scott’s Gladiator. But guess the joy (albeit short-lived) when Thor discovers his opponent is a friend from work!

Meanwhile, in Asgard, Hela enlists Skurge (Urban), an Asgardian version of the Punisher, to take over the planet. Heimdall (Elba) the former gatekeeper of Asgard is now working as a guerrilla warrior, saving as many people from Hela’s wrath. Will Thor return in time to save his people? 

Getting Cate Blanchett was a coup on par with getting Robert Redford. Unfortunately the character is so one-dimensional that one of our greatest actresses is reduced to hamming. Idris Elba has a much meatier role and that is definitely a plus. Tessa Thompson is great. A scene during the climactic battle where she swaggers to the enemy with a sword in her hand and fireworks bursting behind her is probably the sexiest in the MCU. The rehabilitation of Loki continues as he moves more to the side of the good guys. Unfortunately, this is lessening what we loved about Tom Hiddleston in the first place.

Ragnarok has a lot going for it. It is funny in most part. It’s not remotely as bleak as the Dark World. I guess not being in London has its benefits! The performances are breezier. The plot has parts lifted from multiple comics storylines. It introduces a few memorable characters, not the least is Korg, an alien version of The Thing from Fantastic Four, voiced hilariously by director Waititi. The bright palette of colours gives a vibrancy that was missing in the earlier movies. 

Unfortunately, the story is not as extraordinary as the stylistics are. Ragnarok is good, but it is not as good as the reaction to the movie indicates. The Last World was the worst Marvel movie till date. Anything better than it has a lot of other movies to cross before reaching the top echelons. Ragnarok tries, but it doesn’t quite reach there. It maybe the end of days, but definitely not the end of the list.

Stan Lee cameo: Stan the barber! Breaking a million hearts.

Post-credits scene: The first one is scary. For those who were following the series, this was proof that the real end of days was near. Rarely has a spaceship been this scary. Then they had to spoil the effect by inserting a really useless scene. Marvel is really testing our patience.

Rank 12/23 || Thor

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgard
Director: Kenneth Branagh

Thor was always going to be the trickiest movie to make. How do you show a god on screen? Which is why it was very surprising to find that Thor came before Captain America. But Marvel did it right by treating the story based on Greek mythology as a Shakespearean drama. And who better to make Shakespeare than Kenneth Branagh?

King Odin (Hopkins) rules over Asgard, one of the nine realms. He has two sons, Thor (Hemsworth) and Loki (Hiddleston). One a boisterous and arrogant, the other devious and scheming. A sneak attack by the villainous Frost Giants causes a rift and Thor is sent into exile in Midgard, also known as Earth. His weapon, the mighty hammer called Mjolnir, is also exiled. A powerless Thor joins forces with astrophysicists Jane Foster (Portman) and Erik Selvig (Skarsgard) and tries to find his way around and discovers he has no powers. In the meantime, Loki has gained control of Asgard and sends the iron-armoured Destroyer to earth. Can Thor save the planet?

Chris Hemsworth inhabits the role in such a jovial and goofy manner that it is hard to imagine anyone else in that role. He spouts ridiculous ancient dialogue with such earnestness that one can’t be unimpressed. Natalie Portman may only be half his size, but I happen to think their chemistry is sizzling. Tom Hiddleston is apt for the shifty Loki and he performs the role with aplomb. It is easy to see why the Hiddlestoners are thing. The amazing Idris Elba is wasted in a bit role as Heimdall, a cosmic security guard.

The production values of Asgard are top class, while the scenes in New Mexico aren’t. Considering an actor is directing, there is hardly a performance out of sync. The movie is a solid entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It is even more impressive considering the character it introduces. 

Stan Lee cameo: This one is played for laughs and gets them. Is Stan worthy of the hammer?

Post-credits scene: This directly ties into The Avengers. A fact we will know only when we see that movie.

Rank - 13/23 || Captain Marvel

Cast: Brie Larson, Samuel L Jackson, Jude Law, Annette Bening, Ben Mendelsohn, Lashana Lynch 
Director:  Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

From breaking one glass ceiling with Black Panther to another with Captain Marvel? Well, I can be snarky and say that after stabilising their boat and making it into a monstrous ocean liner, Marvel decided to slowly move away from white characters and directors headlining its movies. Infinity War’s drastic ending meant that a new hero had to be found to teach Thanos a lesson. Or so we thought.

Filmmaking couple Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck were a brave choice to helm the first female-centric Marvel movie. Their filmography is pretty basic. I am sure even they would have been surprised. The first hour perplexes you, as well. This is a comic book movie, for Thanos’ sake! You shouldn’t have non-linear narratives. But it all turned out rather fine.

We are in the planet of a race called Kree. We meet with the strangely named Vers (Larson), an operative affected by amnesia. She is slowly coaxed into ‘being the best version of herself’ by her commander Yon-Rogg (Law). The planet is ruled by an Artificial Intelligence called Supreme Intelligence who appears to her in the form of Annette Bening. Bear with me.

During a routing operation against the Kree’s biggest enemy, the shape-shifting Skrulls, Vers crash-lands into the Planet C-53. Now, C-53 is a strange land. People dress and act like they are in 1995. In fact, Vers crash-lands into a Blockbuster video store. A group of folks from a shady organisation called SHIELD meet her and their leader, a young man called Nicholas Fury (Jackson), becomes a buddy. Vers finds out that she has history on this planet, whose inhabitants call it Earth and not C-53. She has to jog her memory and find all the missing pieces. In the meantime, she faces attacks from friend and foe.  

What works well for Captain Marvel is the plotting. The big twist is surprising for all except the hard-core comic readers. Considering that its audience won’t be bereft of intelligence is a bold move. What doesn’t work for it is the pacing. At times, it really is too slow. The non-linear narrative has worked in a lot of popular movies, but rarely was it so slow. 

The performances are top-notch, considering the pedigree of the staff. Brie Larson makes a smooth switch from Oscar-winning actress to kick-ass superwoman. She tries to maintain the right amount of disdain and bravado, not always successfully, though. She is part of three buddy movies within the same movie. The first with a digitally de-aged Samuel L Jackson. Great to see him in a longer role. Then there is a small segment with Maria Rambeau (Lynch) which is one of the poignant passages in the movie, even though a lot of it is fragments of Vers’ memory. The last, and sweetest, is with Maria’s daughter Monica (Akira Akbar). In between all this is Jude Law strutting his lovable rogue act.

Then there is the curious case of Djimon Hounsou. Comic book fans to come will scarce believe that one such as him in flesh and blood walked all over comic book culture. Just let this sink in: In the same year – 2019 – both Marvel and DC released a movie set in their own universes. Both were based on characters named Captain Marvel. This one and Shazam. The latter was always Captain Marvel until they lost a lawsuit to Marvel. And both movies starred Djimon Hounsou. This is the kind of trivia I live for!

There are two climactic fights, both done sincerely. But both show the inexperience of the directors. The first one is earth-bound and the second in space. Captain Marvel kicks intergalactic ass, in case you didn’t know. But they both feel forced and rushed at the same time. There was a really good movie somewhere here. But our directors were just not up to it. Sometimes, reservation and forced diversity does not bear the results you want.

Stan Lee cameo: A wordless salute. Classy. Stan had passed on by the time the movie had come out. But the Marvel logo in the beginning really showed the way. They changed all the heroes and put in stills of Stan Lee.

Post-credits scene: The first one is all about getting ready for Endgame. Then you had to go and mess up the effect with a silly, unnecessary bit. 

Rank - 14/23 || Doctor Strange

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton
Director: Scott Derrickson

After striking gold with Guardians of the Galaxy Marvel was pretty much unstoppable. They believed they could make anything work. Time to move into the realm of the supernatural. Time to get Doctor Strange. 

Dr Stephen Strange (Cumberbatch) was a brilliant surgeon. A pompous ass who knew his work and let others know it. A terrible accident left him unable to enter an operation theatre again. Unable to accept his fate, Stephen searches for a cure in the Far East. In the land of Kamar-Taj he meets Mordo (Ejiofor) a sorcerer who introduces him to his master, the Ancient One (Swinton). The Ancient One takes him on and trains him to face Kaecilius (Mikkelsen), a former protégé turned foe. There is also a small matter of the demon Dormammu, the Destroyer of Worlds, who is coming to devour mankind. 

The story of the Master of the Mystic Arts needed mysticism. It needed suspension of belief slightly more than that required to deal with a talking raccoon and a tree. It needed someone to make people believe that magic exists. The casting was key and Marvel got it right with Benedict Cumberbatch. It is perfect casting. Unfortunately, it is not inspired casting, like Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man. Cumberbatch carries on his Sherlock persona. You really cannot see another person in the role, but you feel it is familiar. Not that he doesn’t do justice. He brings his swagger and comic timing to the table.

Tilda Swinton is an amazing actress. She takes on a role that should have been done by an Asian man. She makes us forget about the whitewashing and brings us yet another unforgettable character. Mads Mikkelsen continues to have fun in the most outlandish roles. Mordo is a villain in the comics. Here he is Strange’s right hand man. A performer like Chiwetel Ejiofor doesn’t have much to do. Rachel McAdams is her usual effective self as Dr Christine Palmer. The stand-out is Benedict Wong as the sanctum librarian Master Wong.

The special effects are good. Especially, the Matrix-inspired astral push where the soul comes out of the body or something like that! The Sorcerer Supreme is nothing without his cloak and that almost takes on a character of its own. There is also inspiration from Inception where the buildings fold. Again, nicely done, but not completely new. 

Doctor Strange is not the most accessible of character in the Marvel universe. The movie tries to dumb him down and even has an ending that is really stretching it. As we see later on, Strange is very good in a team-up. But in stand-alone movie, it is really tough to get on-board.

Stan Lee cameo: Stan laughing while reading Aldous Huxley, while the sorcerers lay waste to the landscape around, without obeying the laws of Physics

Post-credits scene: Thor! And Mordo goes dark.

Rank - 15/23 || Ant-Man

Cast: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, Evangeline Lily, Corey Stoll, Michael Pena
Director: Peyton Reed

I should not like Ant-Man. I really shouldn’t. Not after the way Marvel fired Edgar Wright. To be fair, I do like Ant-Man in the later Avengers movies, so I am in two minds. But Wright’s version would have been something else. But we can't dwell on what may have been.

Hank Pym (Douglas) is a brilliant scientist who discovered a method to shrink the distance between atoms using his revolutionary Pym Particles. Knowing its potential to be used as a weapon, Pym hid it away from everyone. He now lives the life of a recluse. His company was taken over by his one-time protégé Darren Cross (Stoll) and his daughter Hope (Lily) works for Cross. When Cross reaches close perfecting the nano technology, Pym has to find a way to destroy it. He enlists burglar-trying-to-reform Scott Lang (Rudd). But first they have to steal a piece of tech from the new Avengers mansion.

Paul Rudd is spectacularly cast. He brings the right amount of cheekiness and believability. He also gets to take his shirt off and that is a surprise. Douglas brings the charisma and Lily the warmth. They neither make her a hero nor a strong character. A shame. Corey Stoll, unfortunately, is one of the forgettable Marvel villains. The scene-stealer turns out to be Michael Pena. His machine-gun dialogue delivery made me pause and replay the scenes with subtitles on. Anthony Mackie has a small role where he definitely ends up second best.

We will probably never know how much of the movie was from Wright’s script. But the humour definitely stands out. Peyton Reed, the yes-man that Marvel hired, does a competent job. He had even directed a movie called Yes Man, for crying out loud! The special effects are muted, and hence, rather believable.

When most of the Avengers movies were growing bigger by the minute, it is refreshing to note that this one has small stakes. So, small that the climactic battle is on a Thomas the Toy Engine set. But then again, this is Ant-Man. Part of the reason is due to the fact that Marvel was taking a risk on this character. The budget was tight and the profit also turned to be bite-sized. But I am firmly of the opinion that any character played by Paul Rudd will definitely be worth watching.

Stan Lee cameo: Just before the end credits. Funny, but not essential to the plot.

Post-credits scene: The mid-credits scene sets up Ant-Man and the Wasp, while the end-credits scene is directly from the upcoming Civil War. 

Rank 16/23 || Spider-Man: Far From Home

Cast: Tom Holland, Jake Gyllenhaal, Samuel L Jackson, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Marissa Tomei, Jacob Batalon, Angourie Rice

Director:  Jon Watts

Marvel recently announced an animated series based on the What If... comic line. These are opportunities for writers to run riot without worrying about continuity or how to fit things in the larger scheme of things. Like, what if the Hammer was Loki’s weapon? What if Tony Stark dealt in drugs instead of weapons? What if Thanos believed in ahimsa? That kind of thing. Far From Home seemed to be a movie that keeps asking the question What if…

What if the story was stronger? The earlier Spider-Man movie – Homecoming – came as a breath of fresh air, despite our hero having an epic prologue in Civil War. Here they didn’t exactly have a story. They decided to string together a set of sequences around Europe while having heavy call-outs to what happened in Endgame. Of course, now that Zendaya was the love interest, that would also play a good part. A lot of okay parts adding up to a not-okay sum.

What if Jake Gyllenhaal had a better role? Make no mistake, Gyllenhaal is fantastic. But it was always a case of the character trying to catch up with the performer. And falling short. At some places, the dialogues makes him look silly. I really couldn’t take another Green Goblin, but Mysterio? Now with the news going on that Spider-Man is going away from the MCU, it would have been better to give Gyllenhaal a different role. A brother-figure to Spider-Man as opposed to Tony Stark’s father-figure?

What if Zendaya wasn’t in the movie? That would be bad news indeed. She brings a sense of quirkiness that was missing, a kick-ass heroine in her own right. Well, at least that was what the set up was for. And they completely ruined it. By the end she turns out to be the meek girl who longs for a kiss from the hero. Way to go, Marvel!

What if Jacob Batalon stopped stealing the Spider-Man movies? That would be a big mistake. As Peter Parker’s best friend Ned, Batalon is the audience surrogate. Numbers will tell that we are all much likelier to get close to a superhero than be one. After stealing the show on his own in Homecoming, here he teams up with classmate Betty (Rice) in one of the most hilarious and perfect relationships on screen. Also, Night Monkey is a cool superhero name!

What if the special effects were less effects-y? The plot allows for the visual team to go bonkers. And it is not jarring, mind you. But when the wind blowing over tulips make a much better shot than all that the illusion tech stuff, you realise the special effects don't stand ou. Or was that also CGI? I miss the times where cinematographers would wake up before dawn for days to catch one perfect shot of the sun coming up.

What if Spider-Man was not part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe? That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? I still rank Raimi’s first two movies to be the best of the standalone Spider-Man films. But I loved seeing him in the shared universe. We are not teenagers anymore, but isn’t it strange that a teenager is still the most relatable superhero?

Stan Lee cameo: The universe we live in does not have Stan anymore. I would have hated to see him have a posthumous cameo. Right call, Sony and Marvel.

Post-credits scene: The first one is stunning. A beloved character from earlier movies makes an entrance. Now, continuity goes for a toss! The last one is intriguing. Where the hell is Nick Fury?

Rank - 17/23 || Iron Man 3

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Kingsley, Guy Pearce, Don Cheadle, Rebecca Hall
Director: Shane Black

Iron Man 3 was a game-changer. It brought Marvel Studios to its knees and we are better off for it. Robert Downey Jr had become the face of the Avengers and also the MCU. His initial contract was ending with this movie. And he wasn’t willing to play Marvel’s ball. The media was filled with news of how this would be the last of RDJ’s Marvel movies, how no one was indispensable, how all roles could be recast, how Marvel could afford to keep most of the money to themselves. Future Avengers movies could have other heroes. After all, if they could make an obscure character like Iron Man a world-wide phenomenon, they could do anything. 

Then Iron Man 3 released. And just didn’t stop making money. The next day (or thereabouts) Marvel threw in the towel. The age of film stars headlining movies may have ended. But that doesn’t apply to RDJ in a Marvel movie.

Tony Stark (Downey Jr) realises he is more human than he thought. He is having panic attacks. To compensate he puts more efforts to work, which in turn affects his relationship with Pepper Potts (Paltrow). And when an old one-night stand Maya (Hall) and Pepper’s old acquaintance Killian (Pearce) reappear, things were not bound to go well. If this were not enough a terrorist calling himself the Mandarin (Kingsley) is wreaking havoc. 

When matters came too close to home, Tony issued a direct challenge to the Mandarin, one that ends in him losing his home and comfort zone. He becomes a stripped-down, back-to-the-basics version of the Tony Stark we know. The Mechanic, as he calls himself. With the help of Harley (Ty Simpkins), the most irritatingly precocious kid this side of the Bermuda Triangle, Tony gets ready to conquer his insecurities and confront the Mandarin.

IM3 will forever be despised and/or adored by hardcore comic fans for that twist involving a major character. I firmly belong to the latter camp. No one could have seen it coming. I am sure part of the reason Marvel agreed to this was because they thought this would be the last appearance of Iron Man. 

Robert Downey Jr continues to be in his element. Even in his most vulnerable moments, he retains a bit of his bravado, but you then know it is his nature, rather than a mask. In Ty Simpkins he gets a foil for the ages. We wonder why there are not too many child actors playing major roles in the MCU. Guy Pearce has a lot of fun going well and truly overboard, while Rebecca Hall is thoroughly unused. Ben Kingsley. I can only imagine the glee Shane Black and his friends felt when Sir Ben agreed to be part of their Machiavellian plan.

Time has been kind to IM3, as I recently found on a re-watch. I loathed it when I first saw it. Didn’t even find Shane Black’s signature dialogues funny. But now I revise my feelings to a degree. I admire the decision to bring Tony Stark out of his wheelhouse. Then again, there is only so much you can hold yourselves back when the plot involves the US President being kidnapped. 

The movie is partly based on what is probably the best-known standalone Iron Man stories - Extremis. But that is just a plot point and the screenplay embellishes it quite a bit. 

The huge budget allows for a lot more action. The scenes involving the fighting suits are goosebump-inducing at first. Then they become tiresome. The climatic fight is probably 20 minutes too long. Also, the fact that the Extremis effect is rather irritating to the eyes. I still have issues with the movie, but it has softened around the edges.

But the end is a full stop. We are not expecting Iron Man again. It was the end of a trilogy. Marvel was ready to move on. But, as was proved, the audience wasn’t. They defeated Marvel. And having seen Endgame again a couple of days ago, I can categorically say that paying whatever Downey Jr wanted was the smart thing to do.

Stan Lee cameo: Lee as a beauty pageant judge. Couldn’t think of anything better for the Man, Shane?

Post-credits scene: The post-credits scene suddenly explains the narration that we have been hearing from the beginning. Sure, it is Tony Stark talking, but not to the audience. Also, no tie-in to future movies. 

Rank - 18/23 || Ant-Man and the Wasp

Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Lawrence Fishburne, Michael Pena
Director:  Peyton Reed

Small pleasures. That’s the gist of the Ant-Man movies. The stakes are not too high. Probably because the budget is not that much. But I digress cynically. What I mean is, sometimes, you don’t mind a smaller movie. A little more personal, if you have it. Unfortunately, it had to come in movies where the hero shrinks to the size of an ant.

After the events of Civil War, where Scott Lang aka Ant-Man (Rudd) joined forces with Captain America, he was able to negotiate a house arrest scenario instead of jail time. He could still meet with his daughter Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson), have much-improved relations with his ex-wife Maggie (Judy Greer) and her husband Jim (Bobby Cannavale) and work with his partner Luis (Pena) in setting up a security consulting firm. Not bad for an ex-con.

What didn’t go so well was his relationship with his mentor Hank Pym (Douglas) and the latter’s daughter Hope (Lilly). They were upset he took the Ant-Man suit to Sukovia without checking with them. Yeah, pretty thin. However, things are about to change. And the three join forces to rescue Hope’s mother Janet (Pfeiffer) from the Quantum realm. There is also a case of a constantly phasing woman (Hannah John-Kamen), who has history with Pym, even though he doesn’t know it. Throw in some shady characters and a hopelessly inept FBI, you have an 80s formula action movie.

The actors have much more to do than in a regular Marvel movie. The humour does not come across as forced and a lot has to do with Paul Rudd’s innate likability and his chemistry with pretty much every actor he comes in contact with. Michael Douglas and Michelle Pfeiffer bring in the big names and form a good pair. Michael Pena continues with his motormouth, but that has lost its edge. Evangeline Lilly, though looking fab, still is a bit one-dimensional. Lawrence Fishburne is wasted.

The budget, though small, allows for some crazy visuals from within the quantum realm. After Thomas the Tank Engine in the last Ant-Man movie, Hello Kitty makes an appearance. San Francisco plays a character, especially during the fight scenes. The portable lab was a very interesting concept.

What works in Ant-Man and Wasp’s favour is probably its self-awareness. You never feel completely invested in the situations, but you don’t mind watching them. You do not feel bored. Maybe the ambition is small (pun fully intended), but the movie delivers on its time-pass promise. And that is definitely better, in my book, than lofty plans falling on its backside.

Stan Lee cameo: A joke to the 60s after his car gets shrunk.

Post-credits scene: The first one is probably the most important tying up to Endgame, but eh second one ruins the mood. What is with Marvel and silly end credit sequences that serve no purpose?

Rank - 19/23 || Avengers: Age of Ultron

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Samuel L Jackson, James Spader, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany 
Director: Joss Whedon

The human mind is sometimes lousy. It is supremely subjective and driven by its own likes and dislikes. In my mind, I am a big Joss Whedon fan. Add to it that he made a hell of a movie the first time around, I brook few arguments against him. This was the movie that I was most looking forward to. Even more than the first Avengers, because I have already seen what he can do. I desperately wanted to love the movie. I deceived myself for a while, but time put an end to it. Because Age of Ultron is not very good. It has its pluses, but, all in all, Junior said it right – “It’s boring”. 

The Avengers are in Sokovia, an Eastern European country. They got word that there is a Hydra base there. During the encounter they meet with two test subjects we had met at the end of Winter Soldier, the twins Pietro (Taylor-Johnson) and Wanda (Olsen). While celebrating after the event, the Avengers come face to face with their latest nemesis Ultron (Spader), an artificial intelligence that takes a metal form. Ultron wanted to help the human race evolve by destroying them. With Pietro and Wanda on his side, Ultron wreaks havoc on the Avengers. Wanda affects their minds and they are splintered, having worrying visions of what would happen in the future. 

After Hulk (Ruffalo) goes on a rampage in Africa, its time to stop and take stock. They gather in an unlikely farmhouse and meet the former Shield boss Nick Fury (Jackson) and figure out a plan. In the meantime, Ultron is trying to get himself a human form. Things do not go well on that front and the form manifests as the Vision (Bettany). It’s time for the final showdown and the action is back in Sokovia.

Every Avengers movie has the issue of overkill. With so many characters there isn’t time for all to stand out. But, then again, why dd we have individual movies before these?  The actors go through their motions. Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye has a pretty big role here and that is refreshing. The newbies Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen make their presence felt. Joss Whedon is great in small intimate scenes and their sibling relationship comes to the fore in a few potent scenes. Paul Bettany proves that good things happen to those who wait. After just being a voice actor in all movies with iron Man he gets to appear as the Vision. James Spader is pretty much the best thing about the movie. His voice gives so much character to Ultron and prevents this becoming Avengers versus Robot, The Movie. 

At the end, I hate to say this, the fault lies with Whedon. He wrote it, he directed it. Of course, Marvel would have prevented him from going full auteur, but still where is the spark? He seems to have used up all his imagination in Avengers. This seems like a studio sequel. There is more of the original and less of originality. The Avengers fight, and get together. Again. Nick Fury is the catalyst. Again. A major character dies. Again. Unfortunately, there is a lot less humour. And even in the money shots and goose-bumps scenes, Whedon cuts a sorry figure.

There are a few moments here and there, the infamous log-splitting scene, for one. There are ideas about AI and loneliness, but it is left unexplored. We just don't believe in the stakes. Sukovia is a country and the total population is less than Majestic? A bunch of robots prove to be a big hurdle for the people who faced and beat the Chitauri?

Even in the most mind-numbing movies, you can see a director's vision at some point or other. But for most part, this is a movie that Ultron could have made.

Stan Lee cameo: Drunk veteran Lee, who thinks he can handle Asgard’s spirits. Gets to say Excelsior!

Post-credits scene: There is only a mid-credits sequence that basically unleashes Thanos on us, though we are not sure how Ultron was part of his master plan. By the way, big shout-out to the credits sequence. That is a marble sculpture I’d love to have.

Rank - 20/23 || Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2

Cast: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Kurt Russell
Director: James Gunn

Lightning in a bottle doesn’t strike twice. Innovative movies beget innovative sayings. The first Guardians of the Galaxy blew our minds. We were psyched for the sequel. How would the adventures of Star-Lord and his ragtag bunch be the second time round? How original would the now-familiar troupe be? Unfortunately, the answer was: not so much. 

The beginning was fun. A hilarious fight with a monster over some batteries, while more of the 80s playlist was going on in the background. Beautifully choreographed in bright snazzy colours with a completely tongue-so-much-in-cheek-it-is-stupid vibe, this gives viewers a sense of déjà vu. In the first movie we were given heavy hints about Peter Quill’s (Pratt) dad. We meet him, the hilariously named Ego (Russell), who is a Celestial being. However, there is a reason he is named thus. 

The big disadvantage a sequel has is the lack of freshness compares to its predecessor. You find out how much a breath of fresh air the first movie was. That is when a good story helps a sequel. Unfortunately, Vol 2 is a mess. Daddy issues continue to be popular in movies. They also continue to be tedious. You cannot have a movie-length of them. At least not a popular movie. Throwing in sister issues, kleptomaniac tendencies and disobedient servants don’t quite solve it. A dragging send-off to a character we didn’t know was that much of a fan-favourite was perplexing, to say the least.

Kurt Russell does great with whatever silly lines he has to say. (Note: I didn’t think even one sentence was silly in the original movie.) The Guardians do their jobs without any missteps. Nebula (Gillan) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) are the new additions to the team. Sylvester Stallone makes a surprising appearance. 

Director James Gunn seems to have exhausted all his creativity. The background songs are carefully selected, evident to even tone-deaf me. But the plot shows the lack of effort. The special effects get tiresome after a point. Vol 2 seems to exist for the worst of reasons – cash grab.

Stan Lee cameo: This was a smart one. Stan is a Watcher who sees everything and has had many adventures. 

Post-credits scene: There are five! Come on! Two of them may be nods to the comics and nerds. Two are attempts at humour and the fifth one is actually an extension of the Stan Lee cameo. It is not very good. But then Stan passed away and it changed. Here he says, “I’ve got so many more stories to tell.” How can a fan not tear up?

Rank - 21/23 || Iron Man 2

Cast: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Sam Rockwell, Scarlet Johansson, Don Cheadle
Director: Jon Favreau

Sophomore slump. When the follow-up effort is nowhere as good as the first. The Dark Knight and Spider-Man 2 are probably the only exceptions to this rule in the comic book movie world. (Maybe add in X2, but that’s it!) Iron Man 2 just cannot buck the trend. Despite having pretty much everything going for it.

Iron Man was a bigger hit than anyone expected. There was an idea, as Nick Fury revealed at the end. But what if the success was a flash in the plan. The main thing was to stabilise the plan. What better way to do it than a direct sequel? 

Armed with a bigger budget and with the same actor-director duo, this was meant to be a stroll in the park. Unfortunately, writer Justin Theroux (Former Mr Jennifer Aniston, big package, et al) thought exactly the same. A good story was not on his mind, a lot more Iron Man. In this case, Iron Men.

Tony Stark (Downey Jr.) is discovering life after declaring that he was Iron Man. It is not all guns and roses. While he has a lot of people to fawn over him, he also has to deal with people who are jealous and want to usurp him of the Iron Man suit, like his business rival Justin Hammer (Rockwell). He also has to deal with a highly independent secretary-turned-CEO, who is also his girlfriend. In the middle of this comes Anton Vanko (Rourke), a Russian genius with a chip on his shoulder. He has history with Stark that he wants to sort out. And there is also the fact that Tony Stark is dying. The arc reactor keeping him alive is also poisoning him.

Robert Downey Jr. was spectacular in Iron Man. He had given his all to the role. As a result, he has nothing new to offer here. Mickey Rourke, in the height of his Wrestler renaissance, is quite well cast as a Russian genius. Of course, he has the physique to carry off the role. On the other hand, Don Cheadle is horribly miscast. He is such a good actor, but he cannot convince us he is a military colonel, much less the Iron Patriot. Marvel fired Terrence Howard due to payment issues. Sam Rockwell tries to bring some quirks. But they are all let down by a weak script. 

With more money, Favreau could afford to splurge. The Monte Carlo sequence is quite impressive. The Iron Man suit is this time in a suitcase. Vanko’s electrified whips are definitely eye-popping, though it is interesting to note that the name Whiplash is never used anywhere in the movie. Also successful is the introduction of Natasha Romanoff aka The Black Widow (Johansson). This was a smart move and she leaves the best impact in the movie.

If there were on Avengers movies, no Phase 1, 2, 3, etc., no Marvel Cinematic Universe, then Iron Man would have ended a very average trilogy. But then the universe (as in Marvel Studios) had very different plans.

Stan Lee cameo: Stan as Larry David this time. Not as funny as in the first movie.

Post-credits scene: This is a thriller of sorts. Phil Coulson says he had to go to New Mexico earlier in the movie. By the time the credits rolled up, he had reached there and made a discovery of a carpentry tool. Goosebumps. 

Rank - 22/23 || The Incredible Hulk

Cast: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, William Hurt, Tim Roth
Director: Louis Leterrier

The Incredible Hulk is the unloved child in the family. The one whose existence cannot be wished away, even though the thought has crossed the parents' minds. Which is not so fair.

I prefer to look at it with What if… glasses. Both Iron Man and Incredible Hulk were in production at the same time. If this was the movie that was released first – not a stretch as Hulk was definitely more popular than Iron Man when 2008 started – would the Marvel juggernaut not have happened?

Strangely enough, Incredible Hulk eschews an elaborate origin story. Instead, the opening credit sequences give you the background. Though I am sceptical as to how much someone who didn’t know the story would understand. But then again, those were simpler times – if you had no interest in comics, you definitely wouldn’t go for a comic book movie. 

This movie continues from where Ang Lee’s Hulk ended – South America. I am not going to start the discussion as to whether that is the first MCU movie. After a brief interlude in Brazil, Bruce Banner (Norton) comes back to the state to get a cure for his condition. He connects with his former flame Betty Ross (Tyler). But his bete noire, General Ross (Hurt) is not too far behind. He takes the services of Emil Blonsky (Roth) and they prepare to take down the Hulk.

This was back when Ed Norton was a big shot to be reckoned with. The stories of how he prompted re-writes and re-shoots might have been true. But he never inhabits the role, the way Ruffalo did later. Benefit of hindsight, I guess. The supporting characters, despite being played by capable actors, are not likely to remain with you long.

The Incredible Hulk is not boring. It just does not soar. Later MCU movies perfected the wow factor, here it is rarely present. The Marvel method of getting a very similar villain as a foil to the hero continues with the Abomination. The visual effects were not bad for their time, but they have dated. Unfortunately, the movie seems to be held down by its lack of ambition. It only reiterates the unfortunate truism: too much of Hulk is not a good thing.

Stan Lee cameo: Thirsty Stan takes a swig. Something that played for laughs despite being a pivotal plot point. 

Post-credits scene: I remembered the scene for long. I thought it silly. Tony Stark may know General Ross, but why would he discuss the team-up with him, of all the people? However, upon watching the movie again, I realised in the context of how the movie ended, this was extremely possible. 

Rank - 23/23 || Thor: The Dark World

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Christopher Eccleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo
Director: Alan Taylor

The Dark World is a franchise-killer. Let’s get that straight. If this was the first Thor film, we probably wouldn’t have him in the Avengers movie. Widely derided and at the bottom of most people’s lists, The Dark World is not very easy to sit through. 

To begin with, this is an unfortunate example of the title describing the movie. The background colours are dark and it is worse in 3D. it is set mostly on dark planets and in England. Kind of the same thing. Though you do willingly suspend disbelief to accept a god as your hero, the remainder of the plot forces you to continue doing that for every scene where they cannot think up a half-reasonable explanation. 

Jane Foster (Portman) gets infected by the Aether, a powerful virus/weapon that has the ability to change any battle in its host’s favour. Thor (Hemsworth), who had been missing in action since the incident in New Mexico, suddenly appears and takes her to Asgard. There they have an encounter with the Dark Elf Malekith (Eccleston). That doesn’t go well. But Thor decides to take the battle to Malekith and recruits half-brother/war criminal Loki (Hiddleston). The location of the big battle is present-day London.  

The above should be quite confusing, right? It requires elaborate plot points to make it palatable to the common viewer. Instead, here we are told the story in a series of narrations by different people and we stop caring. The computer graphics are an assault on our senses and lucky is the viewer who doesn’t get a headache at some point.

The actors are just going through the motions. Natalie Portman does have a bigger role than in the first movie, but her character actually narrows down instead of growing. The meet-the-in-laws setup turns out quite tedious. Thor gets to take off his shirt again. Christopher Eccleston, an actor I admire a lot, is hidden beneath acres of make-up and has his voice act for him. But when the lines are downright stupid, there is only so much he can do. 

Mindless entertainment gets a bad rep. It maybe stupid, but it ensures the viewer doesn’t have a bad time. Entertainment can take itself seriously. But when it fails to deliver on that serious note, then it makes for journey best not taken. The Dark World goes for broke in all the wrong ways and comes out with an empty hand. It exists plainly for being the bottom of this list.

Stan Lee cameo: Stan wants his shoe back. We want our money back

Post-credits scene: The scene introducing the Collector is cool. We know it ties up in the big picture. The next two are dumb. We already saw the lead pair kiss. And why do we need to know if there is a giant frost monster running around London?

Marvel Movies: A Personal List

Ubuntu. The Zulu term that stands for Us before Me. Usually interpreted as ‘I am because We are’. Basically, a call for humanity above all else. The optimist in me wants to believe that Ubuntu existed once upon a time. The realist in me accepts that it only exists as an open source operating system. We, as a people, are obsessed with ranking. It is all about winning and not about taking part. 

Recently, ranking entered pop culture in the form of lists. People ranked whatever they could. The internet made it very easy to share these rankings. I am interested in lists because it is completely personal. It is an individual’s like or dislike. There is no requirement that it should be the same as someone else’s list. I am entering the list-making world. 

I am going to rank all the movies that constitute what is called the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Phases One through Three. From 2008’s Iron Man to 2019’s Spiderman: Far from Home. These movies started as comic book adaptations that would be watched only by a bunch of geeks and steadily moved into mainstream. So much so that the highest-grossing movie on the planet (not accounting for inflation) is Avengers: Endgame. Because of that reason, I know this will not be a nerd’s exercise. Starting on August 15, I will list out one movie a day, worst to best, along with what I felt about the movie. Ironic, that on Independence Day I declare my dependence on these movies.