6#

Marvel Studios First Superhero Film, and first in what is now a massive cinematic universe, I still one of it's best Robert Downy Jr. Kills it as Iron Man He is Iron Man in this movie, and I still think it's his best performance as The character to date. and it's just a really great story it flows well, it's funny, really funny at parts, but it also knows when to spot and be serious and even dark at parts Gwyneth Paltrow is great as pepper and somewhat mangles to fall out of the typical love interest without being an action hero. I really quite liked the Villain as well. and this is just one of the best superhero films ever made in my opinion! fantastic film!

9.6/10

7#

X-men is kind of part of the reason Superhero films became soo big.. well Spider-Man then X-Men, but it came out back in 2000 and was Marvel's first main stream superhero film, and they did a pretty good job. it's just really well done. Hugh Jackman's First role if I'm mistaken and he almost wasn't in it can you believe that now? it may only be a hour and half but it's a very filled film and just a lot of fun and it's partially responsible for why I like superhero films. a MUST SEE!

9.2/10

8#

X-Men United aka X-Men 2. just a really good film, the good mutants have to work with the "Bad" ones. the Mason Gets invaded. shows the persecution of the Mutants, really good character development. just fantastic film! 

9/10

Now back to my Superhero countdown.. going into the top 10

and 9# is.. 

"Who's strong and brave here to save the american way?" Captain America that's who!

I just loved this movie... in fact when i first saw it.. I said it was the best superhero movie ever made... well maybe not quite. but it's really good. I just love the retro 40s feel of it, and Steve Rogers is just such a good! sure maybe a little unrealistically patriotic, but hey he is Captain America... LOOVED Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull.. probably not for the right reason. but to me he was one of the funniest characters in the movie.. YOU ARE FAILING!! and his cute little red head ... plus possibly the best Love interest ever Peggy Carter.. who can take care of herself. she doesn't get capture once! and she uses a gun! (I think there making a TV show about her.. hopfully it will be better then that awful Agents of SHEILD..). yes I still really love this movie and the gap between this and number 1 is really that big so keep that in mind, these are like the cream of the crop of superhero movies to me..

9/10 

In-Depth Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

The Hunger Games: Catching fire is emotional epic, intense,  near flawlessly acted and  a rarity in modern cinema. It rises above the norm and becomes something truly amazing to behold.

(this review does contain spoilers but not to many if you already read the book) 

The Hunger Games are over, Katniss Everdeen, has survived, she never had to worry about provider for her family again. She now lives in lavish house in the “Victor Village” but the torment of the capital is far from over, her and Peeta are to be sent on the victor tour, visiting all twelve distincts she has to putting on the act of still being in love with Peeta, and once again it could mean life or death, and on tour sighs begin apparent of revolution,  things don’t go how president snow plans and he is angry thus announcing that the 75th Hunger Games, the third quarter quill, drawl reapings only from existing victors. Let the games begins

Once in a while there is a film that means something, is something more then just a good time away from reality ,that makes you think, causes you to feel, enrages you, breaks your heart, and takes you away. The Hunger Games: Catching fire is one of those rare films. 

I thought it would be a really good film, because the book is so fantastic and one of my all time favorites, but I wasn’t sure it would be This good. The film is extremely character driven and virtually every major character from the first film has a character arch. Acted by a stellar cast nearly on par with “The Lord of the Rings” yes they’re that good. Jennifer Lawrence shines in this film and really pushes her limitless as an actress she was great in hunger games. but she really shows her growth here, she is raw and gritty and becomes Katniss everdeen,  just showing little things by expressions, you don’t have her voice in your head like the book, but Lawrence manages to let you know what she’s thinking. 

Josh Hutcherson really has grown in this film as well, showing the steady caring character of Peeta Mellark, and yet showing is take charged persona as well. 

Now for there are two new addictions who pretty much steal the last hour of the film.

Sam Claflin, playing Distinct 4’s poster boy. Finnick Odair. I had my doubts about him, only seeing him in a couple films (Snow white and the Huntsmen, and Pirates 4), and while I liked him so far. I wasn’t sure he had what it takes to pull off one of my most favorite fictional characters ever created. Well he does. He had me at “Sugar Cube” and just displaying this character who seems vain and selfish at first. But end’s up being very misunderstood So yes he is my favorite character in the film…

But there there’s this Character Called Johanna Mason, played to a T. by Jena Malone, she just radiates her character. She’s angry she’s fed up and doesn’t care what anyone thinks. Bravo Jena, Bravo.

Or and Effie’s Character, you get to see her go from this unbelievably gullible (lovably, but gullible) character. to slowly seeing the error of the capital’s ways and it’s heart breaking. Elizabeth Banks, well done as always.

Donald Sutherland as President Snow is terrifying, hateful and  you just want to shoot in arrow in his scull. 

One thing I thought this film captured in from the book almost perfectly was it’s pace. Which was rollercoaster up and  down and fast fast fast.. It displayed this near- flawlessly in the film. And it does not feel like an almost 2 ½ hour film. It’s a tense film. “Inception” comes to mind.

The visuals were a major step up thanks to the large increase of the budget it, finally the flames look real and they are awesome! The mutations look really real, in fact I’m not even sure they’re CGI.. The Costumes are a notch up which was already pretty good.  And no more shaky cam! (although this scene in a scene near the beginning  with Snow talking to Katniss the camera does seem to be bobbing up and down a bit and it’s actually quite annoying. Thankfully it’s gone after that).  One thing I loved about the book and the movie was how they are working to together to defy the capital just this little group in the area and it’s super cute to me. 

I was somewhat disappointed with the score, one of the weakness of the first one I thought, there’s just not really a “it” theme for this movie, while the movie is strong enough on it’s own and it does have some good themes throughout, I just feel it could have been a bit more epic. It’s not bad, just not on par with the rest of the movie in my opinion, but a very minor issue.

If you thinking it will be a carbon copy of the book your going to be a little disappointed cause there are things they left out, most not to major, but there was one I was hoping to see and didn’t but overall this is one of the truest book to movie adoptions I’ve ever seen, so please don’t nit-pick it to death, just enjoy it 

Some of my favorite scene. (Spoilers) Are the scene on victor tour in distinct 11, Gale’s flogging. Man I hated that peace keeper. The elevator scene :P  oh and the poison gas, I just loved how the blisters looked when I get it on blu-ray I’ll hate to pause that scene. The part where they bet Cinna was heart breaking. The baboons where terrifying! Oh and the mockingjay scene! The tributes holding hands in defiance of the capital One thing I can’t emphasize enough Is how good this movie captures emotion, and I’m a sucker for emotion. And the scene in the end when Katniss see’s Finnick the area she has her arrow pointed at him. And he says “Remember who the Real enemy is” and you can see something clicks in her. She grabs the cable made by beetee, waits for the lightning strike oh and the drums this scene is just epic she shoots into the top of the Area and force field goes out. So intense.   

 this movie is a pure gem and a rarity in modern blockbusters. And is worthy of comparison with untouchable films such as “Star Wars” and “lord of the Rings”   sure it has some time to earn it’s place but as of now I’d say ‘The Odds are ever in it’s favor”

10/10

10#

Now it's time to go into my top 10 and Yes it's none other then. X-Men First Class, the Groovy Prequel that took you back to the sixties when Mutants were just starting to work together. you Get to see how Charlies Xavier Started the School for the Gift and the creation of cerebral. most most of all you get to see great actors Michael Fassbnder and James McAvoy  give outstanding performance of Younger versions of Charlies and Eric (Professor X and Magneto). and the scene where Charlies Show Eric how to Chanel his power in that balance between rage and serenity. is one of the best scene ever in a superhero film.. and a little Jennifer Lawrence doesn't hurt either!

8.6  

11#

This Drink I Like it another! Thor is just a real treat of a film, probably the most funny superhero film that isn't a comedy technically anyways. this movie great some amazing visuals, pretty much everything on Asgard looks spectacular, Chris Hemsworth does great as the God of thunder, and Tom Hiddlston is spot on as Loki the Mischievous god of mischief. the Love story was a bit weak, along with the character of Jane Foster. but over all a great movie!

8.5  

12#

Why so serious? well The Dark Knight is a very good example of films I don't like much at all to start out with and grow on me .. a lot. enough to say it's now one of my favorite superhero movies, sure I still think it's a little overrated, and I still think we haven't got the "Batman"  we deserve. (Ben Affleck here hoping.. ) but this is a very well made darker take on the superhero genre.

8.5/10 

13# Goes to "The Amazing Spider-Man", A film rebooted only five after the last of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man Trilogy, some would say is too soon. however it earns it place as a very decent film great origin story in fact if this was the original maybe I would look at it as a better film, but even with great actors and good story telling lots of if still feels a bit redundant. which I guess staying close to the source material, it would have to be, I and I would have to say for being a newer film I was quite disappointed with the visuals. the lizard just kind of looked fake to me. I'd have to say the biggest strength of this movie was the two leads Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone. 8.3/10

14#

Pretty much the first Superhero film to hit the big screen (there were a couple earlier but none are really remembered).  this is still remembered fondly by general audiences. even with it's pioneer visuals and supes flying around the world to turn back time. it's just a really fun light movie to watch. and very well done for it's time. great entry into a film genre that has become a phenomenon of it's own 8.1/10

15#

The Wolverine, coming after the somewhat disappointing "X-Men Origins Wolverine" The Wolverine. is the X-Men film to take place after X-Men 3. and Logan is just kind of become a hermit, and keeps to himself, until he gets an offer from a man from his past. he ends up heading to Japan. and boy he's in for one heck of a ride. I think this movie is actually Hugh Jackman's best portrayal of 'Woverine" a bit more edgy. like in the comics. this was just a really fun movie and i will say it is a "Great" film, sure it may have got a little of track at the end but overall I really liked this movie and this it deserves a place in my top 15!

8.1/10   

16#

I know that a lot of people didn't care  for this movie, and thought it was trying to hard to be like the originals and it was kind of. I know it didn't have much action and it was a little long and boring at parts, but I thought it was a very good movie overall. Kevin Spacey was a very big improvement from Gene Hackman. as Lex Luther. Lois not so much, but I still think Erica Durance is the Lois Lane to beat. I actually saw this movie before the older Superman's so it kind of has a special place in my heart. I just started watching "Smallville" that year. and I always liked superman, but 2006 was the year he became something "Super" to me. 7.8

17#

Yes this oldie but good deserves to be here. I must confess I don't think I actually saw it until about a year ago. but Christopher Reeves is a fantastic Superman. and this is just a classic. the only thing I didn't care much for was Lex Lurther and his awful sidekick  he seemed really campy, it was suppose to be a little campy I think. 7.8

18#

well i can't feel weird putting a movie on here I don't even like to say the title of.. and yes it's graphic and has some stuff that need not be there.. but some of the action and humor in this movie is just perfect. like so bad (bad as in good).. and Aaron Taylor Johnson does great job as the title character can't wait to see how he does in Avengers: Age of Ultron! 7.8/10

19#

now, I do think this movie is a little over rated, it doesn't have the best action fight scenes and  it's slightly boring at parts.. but this movie has grown on me a lot over the years, once I got over think every superhero film needed humor and lightness to be good. cause I actually didn't like this film much at all to begin with, mostly for that reason. it's really a quite well done enticing film. with a rich feel to it that a lot of superhero films lack. so now you could say I'm getting into movies i think are really good. 7.6/10

20#

The Second film from to come from Marvel Studios, "The Incredible Hulk" shows that a reboot can sometimes be the way to go. much better then the bizarre 2003 "Hulk" film it, it might work better as a chase movie then a superhero one, for me. most of the best scenes where when Bruce was on the screen and not the green monster, but that just shows how great Edward Norton was in the role, having Liv Taylor didn't hurt either, also this probably the most serious and grim marvel film to date. and I kind of wish marvel would go back there a little bit more then they do.. here's hoping for Winter Soldier.. 7.6/10 

21# X-Men Origins: Wolverine 

 I really like this movie despite what some people think. and yes there is some stupid stuff that happens, they totally ruin deadpools character in the end. and the atamantium bullet erasing his memory is just dumb. but if you can overlook that it's a pretty fun movie. and Hugh Jackson presents a great performance as always. and the Sabertooth brother relationship is a nice added touch. 7.5/10

My 22nd Second.

is X-Men The Last Stand, sure it's probably the weakest in the franchise of X-Men Films, but that's a pretty strong series to be the weakest, and I know some people don't like it all that much, but I still really like this movie a lot, some interesting stories here, there are however a lot of characters that you wish had more time to shine, like Angel he was great in the 10 minutes of screen time he got. but it is what it is, I Mean this ins't what I'd called a great film by any means (maybe when I was 16) but I still find it a pretty entertaining one to watch. 7.4

23# is

This movie Like Thor 2, I was pretty disappointed with at first view. and I am still somewhat disappointed with it. but eventually I watched it again and realized it's just a movie and not everything can be "Lord of the Rings" and it's actually quite enjoyable, despite having major similarities to the Incredibles, plot wise (which is a superior film in every-way btw). I liked Tony in it still pepper is great, it carried a story along. and I actually wasn't bored with it the second time. a decent film could have been great... but maybe Iron Man 4... eh I'd rather see, Doctor Strange or Better Yet WONDER WOMEN!!! (yeah if your reading this WB get on it already) ahem sorry about that. yeah it was an pretty enjoyable summer popcorn film. 7.2

24#

I Know I know, based on my review you would think i hated the movie, it was a bit of a rant and maybe overly critical, but my expectations for the film were like This high (hold hand to forehead) and the film only ended up being this good (holds hand to chest). I was really hoping it would make it higher then this. but I was actually a pretty entertaining funny film with great visuals and I love the costumes And about everything to do with Asgard. and actually kind of already want to see it again.  7.2 but still I hold to it be a disappointment just saying.

okay finally going to start posting my list of 25 Superhero films since Thor 2 just released. and it's the last superhero film until April next year. I figured it was a good time to do it.

So let my just start out my saying superhero films are one of my favorite genres, a person get extraordinary powers or in some cases really expansive iron suits, and decides to use their abilities to better mankind sometimes at the cost of their own happiness, risking there lives for what they believe is right, I decided to excluded animated films from the list just because they are first and foremost animated. otherwise the Incredibles would definitely be on it.

First I would like to say some honorable mentions that almost made this list, Green Latern lots of people did like it, and while very chessy and parts and somewhat uneven I still quite enjoyed it. "Sky High" was just a hair away from making the list very funny film.


now for the top 25.

well when you think of it the mask of Zorro is typically what you would call a "Superhero" movie, but after thinking about it he where's a mask fights injustice and saves the day so. pretty much fits the bill, so this was a hard decision for deciding what would take this spot, and it's very hard doing a concrete Top 25, especially sense, the superhero genre is an ever expanding wheelhouse.

I first saw The mask of Zorro when I was still scared of PG-13 movies. and it did scar me and I hated it. I was 8 so.. but when I got older I gave it a other shot and it's actually a quite excited swashbuckling, action film Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta Jones are charming as the lead and love interest. and Anthony Hopkins is of course great as the first "Zorro" and quite a bit of good humor too. some high-points would be the freeing the slave and showdown at the end. his training of course and the Dance scene. enjoyable film good enough of my number 25. 7.2/10

In depth review for Thor The Dark World

Despite Stunning Visuals, amazing set pieces and Tom Hiddleston "Thor the Dark World"  fails to live up to the charm and wit of the original.

 ** Beware this review will contain major spoilers **

The film starts out much like the first film with Odin Voice over speaking of Malekith the Accursed. and the dark elves speaking of why he was bad, although the narrative seemed  a little unnecessary seeing as you could clearly see what was happening. Then Cuts to Loki and his Mather Frigga talking, well him insulting her and her trying to find reason in him. I rather liked the relationship portrayed between them in this film showing even though Loki is a Murderous trickster he still has some form of affection for his mother.

Thor is off fighting saving the day okay for a starts but extremely generic.

I was rather disappointed with Thor’s character in this film, the way he was handled and to some extinct Hemsworth’s overall performance seemed to not have grown much at all in development and even though dramatic things happen to him throughout  the film. he doesn’t seemed to be nearly as affected by it as he should be, for instance Frigga his mother is (Spoiler!) Killed .Thor Rushes in, throws his hammer at the departing vessel and looks back and gets a little teary eyed, his MOM just Died! and he doesn’t scream in agony he doesn't break down, he hardly shows any emotion at all! A good comparison is in the first film when he finally reaches his hammer, but finds out he still cannot lift it because he is unworthy. thus cries out in agony. That scene had me teary eyed, I never connection on a emotional level with him like I did in the first. And the following scene of the funeral didn't have much weight because of this, also they tried to force emotion with Lord of the Rings copy cat them overpowering everything.

 in the first film you saw his character go through a character transformation.  he’s an arrogant prince of Asgard, gets vanished by his father for his recklessness and pride, learns to become more “human” and ends up sacrificing himself in the end for the good of mankind. There is no character arch here and very little development.

Now lets get to Natalie Portmans character, I barely tolerated her in the first film and thought she was a poorly adapted character to begin with. And frankly miscast Portman can be a great actress, just not in this instance, her character was a least a little interesting in the first one, this time around she has the worst lines of any character. Natalie Portmans Worst performance sense star wars I’m even going to say she even did better in The last Star Wars film then this one, not that they gave her much to work with. For instance she get’s infected with some ancient life force sucking thing  from before the formation of the universe and after she just goes to this creepy place and it imprints itself on her. giving her strange defensive abilities. Thor Shows up and takes her to Asgard and she doesn't seem to be bothered at all  and even blurts out “lets do that again!” Thor's dad shows up in is regal armor. doesn't seem to found of her being there, and she treats him like a nobody, shows no fear towards him or anything.

The story actually for the most part starts out strong. is the thing a bit dark tone Loki’s imprisoned Jane Infected, Odin wants Thor For Settle for Lady Sif the Warrior, who is superior in every why to Jane, there is this lovely scene near the beginning where she talks to Thor hunted that she likes him and he completely brushes her off. If only they worked more with this, shown her being Jealous of Jane perhaps, which they did actually film more of that and for some reason decided to cut out of the film , which is a other issue you could tell stuff was cut.

The Warriors three while fun and main sources of comic relief in the first one were completely pushed to the sidelines and had no development whatsoever. And I was really looking forward to Zachary Levi (Tangled) as Fandral and he had like three lines and they all sucked. Instead they gave most of the comic relief to Darcy, Jane's intern sidekick and for the most part she was actually pretty funny something a lot of people didn't like. I though that scene in the restaurant was hilarious and her intern was funny too. But their side story was really pretty unnecessary and I would have much rather had more on the Warriors Three and Sif.

The set piece of Asgard were amazing absolutely breathtaking. The glow swords were super cool looking and the sword fight scene were pretty cool. Some of the best CGI I have seen to date.

Now for the villain Malekith, was well quite frankly nothing more then a shell of a Villain. your not even sure of his motives he wants to destroy all life in the universe why? And the final fight scene between him and Thor total and utter crap worst final battle seen so far in a comic book film expect for very end of it when Thor swings his hammer down that was pretty neat.

Loved the planning of how to get Jane out of Asgard sequence.

There is a part where zLoki is presumed to die, which I never really thought he did. But in the end Thor is talking to Odin saying he doesn't want to be king and Odin says he can’t give him his blessing but doesn't completely reject him either Thor Leaves and it turns out to be Loki pretty good set up for a film so in that sense I thought it was a pretty solid ending.

But the best part hands down was when Loki pretends to be Thor’s side kicks.  And turns into Captain America! Chris Evans stole the show with one scene!  Also, Turning  Thor into Sif was great, Loki’s reaction after he finds out Frigga is dead, is very convincing and  maybe I lied his little, his  bust of rage was pretty good, not quite as much as Thor’s in the first but a nice touch. Now I guess maybe I’m overly critical with Marvels films because Avengers was so good, and  maybe My idea of where I thought the story should go was unreasonable to begin with. Final verdict overall I wasn't bored for the most part. And it was somewhat entertaining and had some really good parts but I was very disappointed with how much better I thought it could have been and it just might be my least favorite film in the Marvel Cinematic universe to date. I’m not going to give an extant grade right now cause frankly I’m not sure, I did like it overall. but not a ton. I wanted to get my thoughts out while they were fresh.  Sometimes my first opinions can change so maybe once I see It again (on dvd most likely) I’ll like it a little more.