TheNorm's Bottom 5 Marvel Movies

Well, I guess this had to happen at some point. 

At the end of my list of my Top 5 Marvel Movies, I asked if I should also contemplate a list of the Bottom 5 as well. As in the ones that I didn't find all that fantastic. This is actually a bit of a tough challenge because Marvel hasn't really made any bad movies. Oh sure, they've made films that lacked the same amount of impact and panache as some of their betters, but I would not go so far as to call them awful, just underwhelming. Now, I can assure you that this is not me trying to fanboy my way out of being objective. Because while I genuinely like all of the Marvel movies, I can assure you that I don't love them equally. Some of the Marvel films have disappointed me in some way or another. So, it seems only fair that I balance the scales a little bit and discuss a few of the movies that I personally didn't find to be all that marvelous. 

This is TheNorm's Bottom 5 Marvel Movies. 

#5 - Captain Marvel 

Now, hold on! I know what you're going to say! "But Norman, you loved this movie in your original review. You dubbed it Marvel's equivalent to Wonder Woman!" Yes, in my original review, I did say that I liked it, and I did indeed put it on par (mostly) with Wonder Woman. However, you may also recall that I never said I absolutely liked it. The parts of this film I did enjoy were more than enough to overshadow the parts that I didn't.

On the one hand, I love how it has become a significant contribution to feminism (regarding women in the armed forces in particular), and I especially admire how the narrative took a rather unexpected turn with the "villains" of the story. If you've seen the movie, then you know what I'm talking about. However, on the other hand, the film is sprinkled with little things that just rubbed me the wrong way. The first half of the film drags with the amnesia plotline rendering the protagonist into an empty vessel with little to no personality. Also, as much as I loved the Cat, I hated that he became how Nick Fury lost his eye. It's a minor thing, I admit, but I thought they wasted a potentially great story with that little part of his past, as referenced in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. 

Captain Marvel is ranked #5 on this list because, at the very least, it has enough goodwill to allow me to overlook its shortcomings. Which, incidentally, brings me to the next film on my list. 

#4 - Doctor Strange 

Let me get this out of the way: Benedict Cumberbatch is an awesome actor, and he is perfect for this role. With his physicality, haircut, and booming voice, he was practically born to play this character. Not only am I glad that Marvel cast him, but I am also happy that Benedict Cumberbatch actually enjoys playing the part. It is always a relief to me when I learn how much an actor loves the role they land in projects like this. 

That said, it's really too bad that the movie doesn't really give him a lot to do. 

For those of you who don't know, Doctor Strange started out as a competent but pompous too-hip-for-the-room surgeon who loses the use of his hands in a car accident, prompting him to spend his fortune searching for a cure. His journey eventually lands him at the doorstep of a mystical master known as The Ancient One, who takes on Doctor Strange as a pupil training him in the mystical arts. Through his training, Doctor Strange learns humility and discovers a new way to help people. 

Now, all of that is indeed in the movie. However, it just doesn't feel as prominent as I thought it should have been. Moments that should have been spent developing the character were wasted on cheap & childish jokes (a problem shared with many of the Marvel films I must admit), and the film never delves deep into what ultimately drives Doctor Strange as a person. He just goes through the motions and becomes the hero that we recognize him as because...the plot demands it. At least, that's how it felt to me. 

The good news is that there is an alternative. There is another Doctor Strange film out there, which I actually prefer because it does a lot more character development. That is the animated film from 2007. 

While I still enjoy the live-action film, mainly for Benedict Cumberbatch, I usually turn to the animated movie for a more satisfying story. I can still enjoy the official MCU movie for its own charm and jaw-dropping special effects. Which is more than I can say about the next film on my list. 

#3 - Avengers: Age of Ultron 

This was one of Marvel's lower points. The real title of the film should have been Avenges: Build-up to Phase 3 because that's what over half of the movie does. Vast chunks of the film, which serve no purpose to the overall narrative, are spent setting up places, characters, and events that are going to happen in future movies. Even worse, some of the film's best scenes (the Farm segment in particular) were practically held hostage by the producers. Who demanded that writer/director Joss Whedon include all of the build-up stuff they wanted, or they would cut out the parts that he wanted. In the words of Joss Whedon himself, "they put a gun to the Farm's head." 

Although, Joss Whedon isn't entirely blameless for the movies underwhelming quality. After all, it was he who suddenly decided to shove the character of Black Widow (Marvel Studio's prominent female role) into three of the worst and most overdone cliche's in cinema history. Those being who is she sleeping with, would she be a good mother, and when does she get kidnapped? 

Also, let's be real: As excellent as James Spader was as Ultron, he was basically playing Raymond Redington from The Blacklist, but as a Robot. 

Now, on the flip side, the movie does have some good merits to it. It still carries Joss Whedon's signature style and charm which is often entertaining (at least to me), It does a good job introducing new characters, and it has some of the best cinematography of the Marvel films. Namely, its accomplishment in creating gorgeous uniform images despite utilizing at least five totally different cameras.  

Even though it has a difficult time justifying itself in certain areas, it is still, at the very least, a fun little romp with characters we still care about. Unlike the next film on my list. 

#2 - Ant-Man and The Wasp. 

The first Ant-Man was a wonderfully surprising gem! Despite its early production woes, it managed to cross the finish line with flying colors. Delivering an entertaining adventure with a sympathetic protagonist, witty writing, and incredible special effects...and I really, really wish I could say the same for its sequel. 

Ant-Man and The Wasp is the filler episode of the MCU. The only part of the film that has any relevance to it is one of the post-credits scenes. It bides its time with a story that doesn't feel important or compelling. Worst of all, it feels so poorly constructed. Almost as if the director was on auto-pilot, which seems to be a likely scenario. 

The only thing I can really say in the movie's favor is that it brings The Wasp into the roster of characters, and she is totally bad-ass! I genuinely hope to see her in better films in the future. 

And now, we come to what I consider to be the lowest point in the MCU. 

#1 - Thor: The Dark World

This is, without a doubt, my least favorite of the Marvel movies. The only thing that keeps me from calling this film terrible is the incredible charisma of the main cast, who all tried their damndest to make something watchable out of the lackluster material they had. This movie doesn't do anything compelling, it has no idea what it wants to be about, and it tries (rather aggressively) to cover it all up with broad over-the-top comedy. Yes, Thor: Ragnarok was also mainly a comedy, but that movie had better justification for being so and was genuinely clever with its jokes (mostly). As opposed to this film, which isn't bright or genuine in any way at all. 

I think the primary source of the film's lack of quality lies with its director, Alan Taylor. A television director mostly recognized for his work on the HBO series Game of Thrones, he somehow got it into his head that he could handle feature films after years of working on, at most, two episodes of any given series. I am not saying that television directors cannot make the transition to movies, many people have successfully made that leap. Sadly, Alan Taylor is not destined to become one of them. He has no sense of personal style, no idea how to construct compelling action scenes, and no clue how to establish or even maintain a consistent tone. This is all further exemplified with the movie he made after this one, Terminator: Genysis, which is not only a bland and lifeless movie; it is also the absolute worst Terminator movie ever made! Yes, even worse than Terminator: Salvation. 

Thor: The Dark World is the equivalent of receiving a store-bought cake from a master baker, despite that same baker delivering you perfectly crafted hand-made cakes in the past. It's lazy, tasteless, and reeks of apathy. Even so, if I had to choose between watching this or Terminator: Genysis, I will gladly take Thor: The Dark World. Because, at the very least, it is still a Thor movie, and Thor is always entertaining. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you all for reading.