My Ranking of All Post-2000 Live-Action Marvel Films (5-1) : THE TOP FIVE!

Hello all!

Today we finish this countdown with my top five Marvel movies! I am excited to share with you the final five, so let's get right to it!



First things first. I want to clarify something before I get into this. These five movies, in my opinion, are all flawless. I would give them a 10/10, five star, A+, whatever. The ranking of these films is just based off of how much I enjoyed watching them, and which I would watch again.

5. Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 2, not the Webb version, is a masterpiece of a comic book film, as are all the rest that follow. Tobey Maguire is fantastic as Peter Parker, and I still prefer him to Garfield. He really brings the relatable aspect of the character to life, by Raimi portraying him as a child, who still is making childish errors. Kirsten Dunst as MJ is also great, although she is still playing a damsel in distress, which I personally don't care about. James Franco as Harry Osborn is stellar, and my personal favorite of the three leads. Alfred Molina as Doc Ock, wow. This guy should be an inspiration to the writers over at the MCU on how to write a good villain. You feel bad for him, and understand where he is coming from, yet you still disagree with his intentions. The web-slinging scenes are breathtaking for the time this movie was made. And the famous train scene, wow. This scene is what the Wolverine wanted to be. It is intense, riveting, directed and choreographed perfectly, and is easily one of the most memorable action sequences of all time. This movie is flawless, and it shows how to do a Spider-Man sequel the right way.


4. Spider-Man

Wow, after this, no more Spider-Man on this list! It is an unpopular opinion, but I prefer the first Raimi Spider-Man film to the second. All of the above apply, amazing action, relatable characters, all leads great, yadda yadda yadda. But wait there's more. Willem Dafoe as Norman Osborn is another great villain, and his performance as a villain with a personal connection to Peter is just fantastic. Some specific scenes I want to talk about : the death of Uncle Ben. It was handled very well, and the emotional pull with Ben in Peter's arms could really be felt, even though we were never really attached to either of the characters. The scene where Peter discovers his powers is quite humorous, and brought a sense of wonder and excitement for audiences who have not been familiarized with the character prior. The parade scene is a very well crafted action set-piece, although it does not top the train sequence from it's sequel. I prefer this film to the sequel due to how well the origin story was crafted. It was never boring and tiresome to watch, but it was done in a way so that the audience is entertained for the first 40 minutes, even though there is no Spider-Man yet.


3. Captain America : The Winter Soldier

Keep in mind that I believe that all 5 of these movies are flawless! Captain America : The Winter Soldier is a common #1 for most people. It has a feel and element that is unlike any other superhero film. It is like a political thriller mixed with some spy action, but with Captain America. It completely turns Marvel's formula on it's head and brings a twist ending that was completely unexpected. The thought that S.H.I.E.L.D. would collapse was never heard of, and it was handled well. The action was great, specifically the wonderfully done highway fight. Chris Evans and Scarlett Johannson have a great on-screen chemistry, and they worked instrumentally as a fighting duo for this film. Sebastian Stan as the Winter Soldier is my second favorite villain in the MCU, and he is glorious. The bond between Bucky and Steve is tight, and it furthers the emotions of the brawls they partake in. Samuel L. Jackson gives his best performance as Nick Fury in this film, and is in his first full on action sequence in a Marvel movie (the car chase). There's nothing not to like about Cap 2, and the fact that the Russo brothers, who made this film, are making Civil War, just increases the hype.


2. Guardians of the Galaxy

This movie was an absolute surprise to me. I was not expecting this to be flawless in any way, but I love the crap out of this movie. I have seen it almost seven times now, and I will watch it again. It is the definition of a summer blockbuster, where you just go to have fun for two hours. The comedy is written so well, and the script is very clever. The sci-fi action is glorious and the CGI is the best of all Marvel movies in my opinion. I was not bored for a single shot of this film. The soundtrack and score are some of the most memorable parts of this film, and that does not happen too often. Usually a cheesy villain like Ronan would be a negative, but I felt with the tone and mood of the film, he worked very well. The absolute best part of this film is it's cast. The five leads are just the amount of spunk, humor, contrast, and CGI you need to make a fun "space opera" esque film. Chris Pratt is the obvious standout as Peter Quill, blending his Parks and Recreation style of humor with the Indiana Jones kinda guy. This movie is just so much fun. The prison breakout scene is my personal favorite part of it.

1. The Avengers

The moment of truth! ... is no real surprise. The Avengers is the definitive Marvel movie. Everything is perfect. The characters, despite there being seven or eight of them, are all amazingly handled and their interactions are fantastic. The action scenes are a nerd's paradise, and just seeing all of these characters together on the big screen is a true wonder. Tom Hiddleston is the best Marvel villain we have, and his brotherly love with Thor makes this personal. Everything I can say about this movie has been said before. Not only is this movie my favorite Marvel film, it is one of my favorite films ever.