SPOILERS FOR AVENGERS: ENDGAME AHEAD
At long last, the Saga is complete.
It all began in 2008: with the now-immortal phrase “I am Iron Man!” setting in motion a plan so grand; a franchise so daring; a universe so bewilderingly-interconnected… it just might (and somehow did – against all the odds) work!
11 years, 23 movies and a LOT of money later, and the Infinity Saga has, with Spider-Man: Far From Home, at long last reached its end.
By no means will a saga whose 22nd movie is among the highest-grossing films of all time slow down (or at least so long as the sun still burns in the sky)… but it is the end of an era nonetheless.
And as there is now an actually complete story to discuss: this is my ranking of Marvel’s Infinity Saga – from least-favourite to favourite, or to be more precise: from Thor: The Dark World to everything else.
Without further adieu…
#23 – Thor: The Dark World[2013]
Director Alan Taylor’s innovative strategy to revitalise the titular oaf was to sap all the colour and joy from his rosy-Asgardian cheeks, and give him an Elf.
What remains is a dishevelled and wrinkly bore; with little personality or fun, just Natalie Portman and a Dark Elf battling it out to see who is less interesting to watch.
And some say that battle still rages on to this day…
#22 – The Incredible Hulk[2008]
This is Marvel’s equivalent of the weird uncle that is never invited to parties.
It’s a distant, messy, rubbery-looking blob that creepily lurks in the corner and has absolutely zero relevance to the MCU at large.
And while the climax includes car-boxing-gloves… the other films have a restraining order against it for good reason.
#21 – Iron Man 2[2010]
Setting up and succeeding much better films pits this stale sequel at a major disadvantage, but even at its most engaging of Sam Rockwell dancing and “I WANT MY BIRD!” entrancing… its highest-peaks have the same pizzazz as its predecessor’s lowest-troughs.
#20 – Captain Marvel[2019]
Acting as the meat-paste in a gourmet Avengers-sandwich, Marvel’s first female-led superhero movie was remarkably underwhelming.
The de-ageing technology is mind-blowing (Samuel L. Jackson is SEVENTY? WHAT?) and casting a tree as the lead was certainly progressive (in fairness, it’s just this role were Brie Larson has lacked… she’s a great actress overall!): but even by meat-paste standards, it is startlingly bland.
#19 – Thor[2011]
Introducing Hiddlesticks into the MCU was a work of genius: but when your romance is dull and the plot desparingly thin (except for Loki as a stellar villain)… no amount of suaveness can save it.
It’s a Shakespearean-influenced tale with high-class themes of family and worth… but ultimately feels as grand and lavish as your run-of-the-mill Primary School play.
#18 – Ant-Man & the Wasp[2018]
This movie is 40 minutes of great ideas; 80 minutes of dull ones and two hours of overall fun. It had the nightmarish task of following-up Big T’s decimation in Infinite Grape Snap: but although the comedy is on point and a lot of the action very fun… the most memorable moment comes through the credits.
For the MCU as a universe, that’s high praise: but for this film as a film… it’s utter damnation.
#17 – Captain America: The First Avenger[2011]
Acting first and foremost as a two-hour advert for steroids, The First Avenger – unlike its hero – did not age that well at all.
As although the first two-thirds are engaging; the line “I can do this all day” inspiring, and the final scene genuinely touching… that last third is just a WW2 montage where the bad-bad red-man dissipates into a magic blue cube. Even by Phase-One finale standards… that is startlingly bland.
#16 – Avengers: Age of Ultron[2015]
Despite being stuffed to the brim with three dozen needless plot lines (seriously… Hulk and Black Widow? Together? Really?), Ultron has a soft spot in my heart, with Tony’s obsession with peace being thoughtfully explored alongside thoroughly engaging action and a running-gag (“LANGUAGE!”) almost Shakespearean in how oddly clever it is.
Ultron may have been disappointing: but let’s not forget that they actually did the impossible, and made Hawkeye somewhat interesting.
Among the MCU’s most shocking moments (The Snap and Thor’s haircut being other contenders): accomplishing such a challenging task is truly, truly extraordinary; and I give Ultron full credit for that.
#15 – Iron Man 3[2013]
Combing a haunting view of PTSD with some of the MCU’s best staged action, Iron Man 3 is a decent film that is unfairly maligned.
Yes, the firebreathing is laughable, stupid and deserves all the mockery it will ever receive… but apart from that (and the PTSD, obviously), it’s a very fun film to sit back and watch.
It’s not great… but it also doesn’t star some Russian guy with an electric skipping rope yelling about HIS bird. And after that in Iron Man 2… I’m open to just decent.
#14 – Doctor Strange[2016]
Boasting an impressive performance courtesy of Benedong Cumberdingle, this is perhaps Marvel’s most visually stunning feature to date.
Kaecillyeiusueuilleyyesueses(?) is a remarkably drab villain and the plot is suspiciously shaped like a Marvel origin-story cookie-cutter: but Cumberdingle came to bargain with a completely original climax – which, after sky beams and enough CGI to choke the Star Wars Prequels, was the refreshing breath of fresh air that I so desperately needed.
#13 – Avengers: Infinity War[2018]
This is a big movie with big moments and big stakes.
Captain Grapeman is a fantastic villain and it is entertaining as a whole (“BRING ME THANOS!”), but the action (especially the Battle of Wakanda) is overwhelming, the pacing a little stiff and the supposedly monumental stakes, caused by Ol’ Snapper, ultimately meaningless.
As while four named characters die: one was unimportant, one has died before, one has come back and one is Vision… and who cares about that Robo-pervert?
For many, the most memorable moment was when Spider-Man become hoover-fodder. But while that is as close as the film got to tugging at my heartstrings: Tom Holland improvised that line. So for me, the best part wasn’t even intentional: and so for me, 10 years of build-up wasn’t worth it.
#12 – Guardians of the Galaxy[2014]
This is a good movie.
I like it.
I don’t love it.
That is all.
#11 – Thor: Ragnarok[2017]
This is a hilarious comedy, decent action film and terrible drama.
Thanks largely to Taika Waititi’s visually distinct style, an impressive comedic ensemble and Korg korging, Ragnarok is an absolute blast. Thor is a dumb buff-guy with a magic hammer from space… so embracing the weirdness he embodies was a stroke of genius.
But as a downside to Thor’s awakening as a late-night stand-up, everything that follows becomes a joke – to the point where the TOTAL DESTRUCTION of Asgard (you know, his home for a millennium?) is played for laughs.
Yes, it is hilarious: but the best of Marvel is often so much more; they have emotional weight and heft. And Ragnarok, for all its praises, just doesn’t.
The Top Ten!
#10 – Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2[2017]
This film is just more of the same.
It is the same great cast; tone; comedy; visuals and action as before, with the added wrinkle of being the first MCU film to nearly make me cry: because he was Mary God-Damn Poppins y’all!
It still suffers from a mediocre antagonist and lacklustre climax: but then has the second wrinkle of little Baby Groot.
And with total objectivity in mind: it is perfect because of that.
#09 – Iron Man[2008]
If this film bombed… the MCU would have never existed.
With hindsight, it was a sure-fire hit – welding a perfectly married character-and-actor; genuinely funny writing and intriguing world-building onto a classic tale of redemption.
I mean… sand off the copy-cat baddie and underwhelming third-act… and it’s an actual masterpiece!
But at the time: Iron Man was a C-List Superhero; RDJ had been in prison (as an aside: RDJ’s life-story is truly inspiring); and the director’s most famous work was Elf. There is nothing overly wrong with Elf… but Superhero Elf doesn’t quite sound right (although I’d be first in line to see it).
Realistically, the original recipe should have been for disaster: but the casting, writing and direction all succeeded to such a high quality… that it was not only great… it helped spawned greatness.
#08 – Ant-Man[2015]
ANTS!
From the MCU’s instigator to its most prolific imitator, Ant-Man is a rollicking fun ride.
Although it is strikingly similar to Iron Man in structure, villainy and not-at-all-subtle sidekick-setups: ANTS! The Movie (please Google the ANTS clip… please) uses Antony, Thomas the Tank Engine and Michael God-Damn Peña to make it pop.
It’s a great comedy with a great climax and the greatest piece of marketing ever filmed.
So all I can say is: ANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#07 – Spider-Man: Far From Home[2019]
Despite being early in its shelf-life, Far From Home did it all for me.
It delivered on a fantastic villain; a visually stunning mid-way action set-piece; emotionally resonant drama; hilarious comedy; and TWO captivating love-stories, one for Peter, and one for his damn Aunt.
And any movie that has enough time to have a subplot for When Happy Met Auntie, without feeling bloated or forced, is doing something right.
#06 – Captain America: Civil War[2016]
Civil War is great because it works as a Captain America movie; as an Iron Man movie; as an Avengers movie; heck, it even works great as either Black Panther or Spider-Man movies!
It was, at a time, the most ambitious ensemble the MCU had conceived (ha, how primitive!); with the centre-piece action-extravaganza and grand finale being simply fantastic and undeniably fun.
The lacking urgency amongst many characters holds it back from top-top-tier MCU: but at any day, time or place… I can watch the Airport battle with absolute ease!
#05 – The Avengers[2012]
The Battle of New York.
Enough. Said.
To slightly expand: this is the pinnacle of superhero blockbuster entertainment with one of the most giddily-fun action-climaxes ever put to film. And the score is best defined as utterly pulse-pounding.
It isn’t perfect, but I will reiterate: The Battle of New York.
#04 – Black Panther[2018]
In addition to supplying Marvel’s most thematically rich plot, the first (and certainly not last) foray into the wickedly-wonderful world of Wakanda also gave us Marvel’s most emotionally complex villain, through Killmonger.
Discounting the PS3-quality CGI and predictable story, Black Panther is an intrinsically nuanced character study: one with great acting, a great car-chase and the greatest line in the entire MCU – and no, that isn’t hyperbole.
If you do not know the line of which I speak… just watch Killmonger’s final speech: powerful doesn’t quite cover it.
#03 – Captain America: The Winter Soldier[2014]
This is my pick for the best Marvel film.
It is a glorious political-spy thriller with America’s Ass in the leading role, delivering on intrigue, action and character development (namely making no-one’s favourite Goody-Two-Shoes into one of the more emotionally conflicted characters within this universe) in spades.
With great regret, Nick Fury’s most unequivocally badass line has, as of late, been curb-stomped into the ground by Captain Marvel: but unless Phase Four invents Vibranium-Boots, nothing will ever truly curb-stomp this rendition of America’s Ass.
#02 – Avengers: Endgame[2019]
Quite probably, this is the most satisfying TV season finale ever made (*cough* not Game of Thrones *cough*): offering a truly sensational action-climax, superb performances, genuine heartbreak and a gaggle of really, really, really, really, really cool stuff.
To save time, this is a list of said stuff:
- “I… AM… IRON MAN”
- “AVENGERS… ASSEMBLE!”
- Captain America Lifts Mjolnir
- Captain America Getting his Dance
- The Cap-on-Cap Action
- “I WENT FOR THE HEAD”
- Ant-Man reunites with his Daughter (Marvel… don’t make me cry)
- Black Widow wipes the Red of her Ledger
- PORTALS!
- Hawkeye Wielding a Katana
- “I want a cheeseburger” (Seriously Marvel… I’m warning you!)
- Iron Man reuniting with his Dad
- Captain Marvel demolishing Thanos’ army? Holy S***!
- Thanos Demolishing Captain Marvel… by HOLDING the power stone? Holy F***!
- Iron Man Hugs Spider-Man! (DAMN YOU, MARVEL! WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME!)
- I LOVE YOU 3000!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think I got a tad into-it at the end there, but my point still stands. This is a great movie.
And yet: it isn’t quite my favourite MCU film.
#01 – Spider-Man: Homecoming[2017]
I just love everything in this film.
Whilst also being hysterically funny, Homecoming is also an endearing window into adolescence, using THE best Spider-Man (the ever-wonderful Tom Holland) and a fantastic villain (the ever-terrifying Michael Keaton) to set-up an emotionally complex, and surprisingly powerful, Spider-Man story.
It is perhaps the smallest scale MCU film we’ve ever had, but that doesn’t prevent it from being the biggest in my heart (and cue the sappy violins!).
But now, my watch is over.
At long last: the Saga comes to a close.
To create a universe of this stature and scale with the slightest nod to coherence is an applause-worthy feat.
But to create a 23-movie arc that mostly remains at least decent (there are, of course, some exceptions…. THOR: THE DARK WORLD!) and occasionally ventures into genuine greatness? And be coherent, universally beloved, critically praised and financially successful while doing so?
That isn’t just unprecedented: it is damn-near extraordinary!
Phases 4-3000 can be terrible for all I care now.
We can get to the point where, in 40 years time, the kid from 2000’s X-Men (the one who can change the TV channel by blinking) is leading the Avengers and it will still not detract from what came before.
And while I very clearly do not love every movie in it (not to harp on it and be a bully… but THOR: THE DARK WORLD!); I love this universe and what it represents.
When it comes to blockbuster entertainment, Marvel does it better than anyone else.
And in an era were blockbusters are not events; they’re weekly occurrences… that is a truly remarkable feat.
Film Scribe 