We're just going to disagree. And keep in mind, I can't even remember if I already said this - I've been collecting Uncanny X-Men for 30+ years. If there's anyone who wants the X-Men movies to be great, it's me. The X-Men were what got me into comics. They were my favorite right up to about 2000. (I admit, for me, the last 17 years of Uncanny X-Men has not been great - until Bunn's recent take).
So, when I saw the first X-Men movie, I was disappointed no one was in costume, but figured, "All right, execs probably think it won't work. So I see why they went this route." And over all, I liked the movie quite a bit. (That would change, when I would see "Iron Man" 8 years later, in costume, and how well that worked, and how well everyone was cast in that movie...) But we go to X-Men 2, and I say this with honesty - it was so unforgettable, that right now, I can't even tell you what the plot was. Is that the one where they killed off Cyclops in the most illogical fashion? Or was that the 3rd one? Anyway, moving to X-Men: Last Stand, which, I think, they were all over the place with that movie. There was absolutely no real focus. It was a "Let's cram every single mutant we can into this movie - and maybe change up their powers a bit - just as a fan service! Because there's no real story here!"
Then there's X-Men: Origins Wolverine, where Ryan Reynolds stole the spotlight from the main actor, Hugh Jackman. And the end - do I need to even talk about the end of that movie? With Deadpool? Blades out of his arms? Mouth zipped shut? Optic blasts? Do I?
X-Men: First Class was a nice attempt at rebooting the X-Men universe, and taking us back in time (but the story here can not possibly tie into any of the other X-Men movies, because of the contradictions). So here's where we see the first "divergent" X-Men time line. It was a nice attempt to reboot - but I feel like it failed. They threw in so many characters, with absolutely no background. Each character was a cardboard. Want to know how to do a movie with a lot of characters, and in ONE movie develop the characters - look at Guardians of the Galaxy. People were crying at the end of that movie because a talking tree died. A freaking talking tree. People not at all familiar or even familiar with Groot, were fighting tears at the end when he "sacrifices" himself. When a movie can make you care about a talking tree who has three words (six, I suppose) he repeats - then you're doing something right. Anyone could have died in X-Men: First Class and I would not have cared. Some of the casting was also horrid (Kevin Bacon as Sebastian Shaw? Do they even KNOW Sebastian Shaw's character? And I like Kevin Bacon, but he does not have the charisma it takes to carry off a Sebastian Shaw... and the dude with Sebastian Shaw, who doesn't even say a single word - know who that is? Riptide. From the Marauders. Why was he even in the movie?)
X-Men: Days of Future Past, another time line now. This was a train wreck from start to finish. This movie just jumped around too much. And while I normally don't care about costume changes in movies too much, did the folks who designed the Sentinels get lazy and base it off of Destroyer (from Thor in 2011, and DofP came out 2014) - because the similarities are striking. Why on Earth not go for the traditional Sentinels? Even if they had to darken the color scheme? Or base the Sentinels on Nimrod? Something? The best characters in this movie were killed off pretty quick - Blink and Warpath.
The Wolverine had so much potential. And some of it is good, but it fell flat. They messed up Viper. They messed up the Silver Samurai. They had the potential for Wolverine to go berserk and fight off fifty Ninja Assassins as we have seen so many times in the comics, when they all have their hooks in him (I thought that's what was about to happen, got all excited!) - but no, instead, he just falls over and collapses. -sigh-
X-Men: Apocalypse, is the best X-Men movie we have been given. But it has so many things I don't care for (I discuss it on my
podcast, but if you don't want to listen I did a summary for the podcast, found
here.). Like I said, this was the best X-Men movie we've gotten, to date. But I still don't feel like it was much.
Every two films (or so), the cast of "X-Men" characters being played by main people (Cyclops, Jean, Beast, etc) continues to change (even Mystique and Magneto), because Fox can't seem to grasp how to make a movie that flows.
As for Deadpool, as stated by MyLittleXero - Fox released it, but it's all because of Ryan Reynolds and the "leaked" footage that generated the buzz for it. This has been the only movie that Fox has done 100% perfect. I literally have NO complaints about this movie, and I am not even a Deadpool fan (like the rest of the world).
Now, let's look at the Marvel Disney movies...
I will give quick thoughts here, since I am rambling too much already...
Phase One:
1.1 Iron Man (2008)
- I had zero expectations for this movie. To me, Robert Downey Jr was a wash up, has been, not a good actor. I walked out of Iron Man, my mind literally blown. But it could be because I had such low expectations, right?
1.2 The Incredible Hulk (2008)
- Did not care for this movie.
1.3 Iron Man 2 (2010)
- I'd admit it -this movie wasn't "great" but it was, to me, ten times better than anything Fox had dished out in the X-Men movies. (Including X-Men: Apocalypse...)
1.4 Thor (2011)
- As a fan of Thor, I enjoyed this movie; but I can see where some folks wouldn't like it. I didn't care for the tech in Asgard. That bothered me.
1.5 Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
- Origin movie, so it was slow. But it developed the characters VERY well.
1.6 Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
- It was going to be difficult to beat, how great this movie was. All the things that tied to this, and led to this, the characters that got developed. All, now big actors, with no egos butting heads. The X-Men could learn from this.
Phase Two:
2.1 Iron Man 3 (2013)
- I hated this movie. Like. Sincerely hated it. No idea what they were thinking.
2.2 Thor: The Dark World (2013)
- This movie gave me Malekith (not from the comic version, but close enough) - liked how they did the half darkened face (the reason for it). Hated the "Kurse" character (whom I love in the comics).
2.3 Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
- So let me say, I _hated_ Winter Soldier from the comics, on the sheer principle that he was this "big" deal (which was a big "retcon" when someone has been dead THAT long, it's a retcon to bring them back) - and because he killed Nomad, and never got in any trouble, especially from Cap. Sure, he's mind controlled when he did it - but still, Nomad was Cap's side kick too. All of that said, I was sure I was going to go into this movie and come out, disappointed. Mind. Blown. This movie beat out The Avengers for me as the best Marvel movie to date! I _loved_ this movie. Again, character development all throughout.
2.4 Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
- Winter Soldier didn't keep the title for long, as this movie stole the position.
2.5 Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
- Could have been better. Still VERY entertaining. Beats out anything the X-Men had done.
2.6 Ant-Man (2015)
- Let me go on record as saying, I hate Paul Rudd. If you listen to our podcast when news broke that he'd be playing Scott Lang, I whined, bitched and complained; swore up and down I'd hate the movie. As it turns out, I ate my words, as this might be my second or third favorite of the Marvel movies. So much fun. So much character. So much heart.
Phase Three:
3.1 Captain America: Civil War (2016)
- This almost took the top spot, because the battle was so absolutely beautifully handled. The dialogue in this movie is amazing. Makes it to my second spot.
3.2 Doctor Strange (2016)
- Really enjoyed this movie, had a lot of character and depth. A lot of special effects (which I get, because... well, magic!), but at times got a little over bearing. But it ranks in my top 5.
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