Marvel Studios have been interlocking their films for 7 years now, since Iron Man was released in 2008. In that seven, Marvel Studios have released 10 films, dubbed ‘The cinematic universe.’ One of the most innovative cinematic inventions in film history, grossing a collective £7.1 billion. The release of Avengers: Age of Ultron and Ant-Man in the coming months marks the end of phase 2. So it seems right now is a good time to take a look back, before we look to the future. Annie helped create a poll, where anyone could rank the 10 films in order. So this top 5 is chosen by you.
-To clear something up really quickly, These films are made by Marvel Studios. Fox owns the rights to X-Men and Fantastic 4, while SONY have made all the Spider-Man films to date. Thus they are not connected and don’t have a place here-
5. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – by Sophie Mace
To put it simply, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more decent individual within the MCU than Steve Rogers. Much of this is down to Chris Evans and his enigmatic performance. Unlike most Marvel protagonists, Steve was a hero from the very get-go.
Cap’s most prominent distinguishing factor is the back story that we associate with pre-serum Steve. With not a mighty hammer or god to be found, The First Avenger relies almost solely on its protagonist’s patriotic thirst to protect the freedom of the people. In its simplest form, it’s an origin story. Unlike other members of the genre, a vast portion of the film’s two hour duration sees Steve as powerless as he’ll ever be. But whilst he may be weak in form, his heart beats stronger than any old caped crusader’s. Evans does a remarkable job at giving us someone we wholeheartedly root for; he plays the role with such vigour and passion that if it wasn’t for the 90lbs exterior we’d struggle to determine where Evans ends and Rogers begins. The First Avenger marked somewhat of a clean slate for Marvel. Rather refreshingly viewers were given some respite from the otherworldly vibes and transported back in time to the very real Second World War. It manages to stay respectful to the history of the war whilst still serving us up all the action we could ever ask for (no-one expected this to be the next Saving Private Ryan, after all). There are some brilliant performances from the always superb Stanley Tucci and the stupendously splendid Hayley Atwell, who together help Steve achieve the goals he’s always dreamed of and the ones he never knew were a possibility.
As with all franchises, there would be no point in having a hero that audiences couldn’t root for. Where Iron Man has his quick-wit and cynicism and Thor has his lovable naivety, Cap has his desire to love and be loved (perfectly exemplified through his adorable relationship with Bucky Barnes). The beautiful thing about Cap is that his real superpower was always there to begin with. Anyone can don a shield and a skin-tight suit, but it takes a heart of gold to make a real hero – and no amount of science can replicate that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCTv6i3589A