Marvel Films Archives - Phil's Quick Capsule Review

Phil Hobden is the former Film Editor & Writer for renowned martial arts focused COMBAT MAGAZINE in the UK. He is also a filmmaker in his own right, having produced two cult Independent action films in LEFT FOR DEAD and TEN DEAD MEN. He was the host for the award nominated Filmsploitation podcast for 4 years, currently co-hosts Ross And Phil Talk Movies and is a writer/editor for his own blog Phil’s Quick Capsule Review…

Rated: Marvel Cinematic Universe (up to Spider-Man: Far From Home)

by Phil's Quick Review A Blog

RATED looks at EVERY Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) film and gives a QuickReview as well as putting them in order of BEST to, well, Iron Man 2.! Updated as and when a new Marvel (Studios) film is released…

(Note scores reflect my original IMDB ratings)

Best: Captain America Winter Solider

A cold war thriller with Robert Redford and a mini Avengers team up. Add in the always awesome Frank Grillo and a genuinely interesting script and you have Marvel’s strongest cinematic outing.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

2. Guardians Of The Galaxy

Massively far out of Marvel’s usual comfort zone, Guardian’s introduced spaceships, talking racoons and a giant tree person. Cracking script, expert action and a heap of fun.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

3. Iron Man 3

The Iron Man film that broke a lot of Marvel fans, Shane Black took the playbook and ripped it up. Twists, turns and a cute central relationships made this a different take on the norm and was all the better for it.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

4. Thor: Ragnarok

Well this was a bundle of fun. The previous Thor films have been okay but Ragnarok delivered a brilliant romp which dragged in The Hulk, a handful of memorable new characters (Korg!) and some great set pieces to end up being one of Marvel’s best films yet.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

5. Avengers: Endgame

Funny, emotional, heart breaking and smart – Endgame ties up 21 films worth of story across 12 years almost perfectly. Bitter sweet for sure but Marvel totally stuck the landing.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

6. Marvel’s The Avengers

All the groundwork paid off as Marvel delivered it’s first ever super hero team up. The Hulk was back (and done right this time), Hawkeye and Black Widow joined the team and director Joss Whedon delivered the goods.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

7. Spider-Man: Far From Home

Far From Home takes the ball from both Homecoming and Endgame and runs with it. A charming, funny and emotionally charged MCU film… it delivers real relationships, a superb villain, an interesting enough story and characters you really care about.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

8. Spider-Man Homecoming

Funny, charming, with Marvels best villain and best Spiderman (yup sorry Andrew Garfield) Homecoming is a joy of a film that is by far the closest to what the comic book Peter Parker is.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

9. Avengers: Infinity War

Shocking, well paced and with one of Marvel’s greatest screen villains Avengers Infinity War ALMOST delivered on it’s considerable promise. Almost.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

10. Iron Man

The Film that started it all… Iron Man was a rock n roll action movie with an unlikely lead, an even more unlikely director and enough balls out moments to wow.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

11. Captain Marvel

A great origins story, a fun film and a great soundtrack – what more could you ask for really?

★★★★★★★★★★

——

12. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

Loud, silly and funny as heck, Vol. 2 isn’t quite the tight film that it’s 2014 original is but it’s a hell of a lot of fun. Add in an amazing cast (including Stallone, Hasselhoff and Russell) and you have another winner from Marvel…

★★★★★★★★★★

——

13. Ant-Man

Ant-Man is a heist movie. With Ants. And fights on toy trains. It’s crazy but it’s also full of charm, humour and fun.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

14. Black Panther

Black Panther takes a different approach to the usual Marvel film, yet falls into a lot of the same traps of relying a bit too much on visual effects at times. That said it’s one of Marvel’s most intimate stories and whilst not perfect is a really strong entry into the increasingly bigger MCU.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

15. Ant-Man & The Wasp

Ant-Man & The Wasp is GREAT fun. It’s also totally forgettable and delivers what is possibly Marvel’s weakest villain to date. Not bad by any stretch just off pace of the original.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

16. Doctor Strange

Off the big screen Doctor Strange looses a little but this visually stunning film shows that marvel are still interested in pushing the envelope as far as you can in mainstream blockbusters.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

17. Captain America: The First Avenger

Solid, fun and well done, whilst it has little rewatch appeal Captain America again took a different approach and gave us a couple of Marvel’s most enduring characters.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

18. Captain America: Civil War

It’s not bad. It just didn’t gel with me as much as it did others. Don’t get me wrong there’s a lot to like and again it plays with the expected formula, but ultimately i’m just not that keen to go back to it.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

19. Thor: The Dark World

I liked The Dark world MUCH more than others. Okay so it’s flawed for sure but it’s crazy fun.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

20. Thor

Thor was a sold film, tasked with the near impossible job of making a god fit in a world of men. It does it well but not one you’ll rewatch much.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

21. Avengers Age Of Ultron

Marvel’s first disappointment, Age Of Ultron was all show and little else. Too big, too dumb and too long.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

22. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

It has charm and the casting works well but ultimately The Incredible Hulk (whilst FAR better than the Ang Lee version) just doesn’t have enough to recommend it.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

Worst : Iron Man 2

The idea was fine but sadly most of the film misses. Even Mickey Rourke (yes one of the oddest Marvel villains ever) can’t save this.

★★★★★★★★★★

Phil's Quick Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review – a place for quick, informed movie commentary including Ross And Phil Talk Movies Podcast.

Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) – A Quick Capsule Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Far From Home shows that Marvel is in safe hands post Endgame. A confident, funny and charming sequel, in many ways it’s a better film than Homecoming (and in some less so) and once again delivers one of Marvel’s better villains in Mysterio – charmingly played by the excellent Jake Gyllenhaal. But for all the crash bang wallop of the film (and there is a lot), it’s the central relationships that make this film work so well. Be it Ned & Betty or Spiderman & MJ… you can’t help but fall in love with these characters once again. Zendaya especially shines as the honest, twitchy MJ and gives us one of the most honest love stories the MCU has ever told. Yup it suffers from TOO much CGI and the stakes, whilst making perfect sense, are set so high that it needed risk which just isn’t there. It’s the small moments that shine in Far From Home. So despite its few faults and unobtainable stakes, the film and the cast delivers. Three for three this year with the MCU.

Best Bit: THAT post credit scene

Cinema, Stream, Avoid: Cinema

If You Liked this Try: Spider-Man: Homecoming, Captain America: Civil War, Spider-Man 2

★★★★★★★★★★

Spiderman Week: Spiderman: Homecoming (2017) – A Quick Capsule Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
A year on Spiderman: Homecoming is still a top draw Marvel film. Keaton’s Vulture, Holland’s Peter Parker, even the support from Favreau and Downey Jr enhance the film and it’s still great to see a teenage Spiderman (yes I’m looking at you Garfield). There’s still pacing issues (second time around the film takes a while to get going) but it’s worth it for scenes like that in the car and the odd Ferris reference.

Best Bit: The car

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Buy

If You Liked this Try: Spiderman, Spiderman 2, Ant-Man

★★★★★★★★★★

Spiderman Week: The Amazing Spiderman (2012) – A Quick Capsule Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Let’s get this straight: Did The Amazing Spiderman Need to be made. Simply put – no. But is it worth watching? Certainly. It’s a flawed production for sure with CGI issues, a poor villain and a feeling of been there done that that seeps through from start to finish. BUT the central story of Peter Parker/Gwen Stacy as performed by Garfield & Stone is just devine and the film does a lot to reset the problems of Spiderman 3 that left little room for any further movies. So not a must see but certainly with some good action, a great cast and a great central paring there are far worst films to watch.

Best Bit:Emma Stone

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Spiderman 2, Spiderman, Spiderman 3

★★★★★★★★★★

Spiderman Week: Spiderman 3 (2007) – A Quick Capsule Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Erm… months on after its original release this is a much, MUCH better film on DVD and without the hype attached. The film is a lot faster, more fun and just better when watching it at home and whilst Mcguire is still phoning it in, Rami’s delivers a mostly solid effort. So Spiderman 3 is flawed but it’s far from bad.

Best Bit: Anything BUT the dancing.

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: Spiderman, Spiderman 2, Batman Begins

★★★★★★★★★★

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)- A Quick Capsule Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
X-Men: Dark Phoenix brings this latest chapter of the X-Men franchise to close with a whimper rather than a bang. It’s not bad (and it’s far better than Apocalypse & Last Stand) but overall it’s just not good enough for the source material and talent involved. Turner does okay as the conflicted Jean Grey but the story feels so truncated and rushed that it starts to feel like a box ticking exercise. Worst of all, the few surprises the film does offer are very much hinted at (if not given away totally) in the trailer. Thankfully Marvel now have control back and the X-Men have the chance to fulfil that potential once more.

Best Bit: The train

Cinema, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: X-Men: First Class, X-Men 2, X-Men: Days Of Future Past

★★★★★★★★★★

Rated: Marvel Cinematic Universe (up to Avengers: Endgame)

by Phil Hobden A Blog

(Note scores reflect my original IMDB ratings)

Best: Captain America Winter Solider

A cold war thriller with Robert Redford and a mini Avengers team up. Add in the always awesome Frank Grillo and a genuinely interesting script and you have Marvel’s strongest cinematic outing.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

2. Guardians Of The Galaxy

Massively far out of Marvel’s usual comfort zone, Guardian’s introduced spaceships, talking racoons and a giant tree person. Cracking script, expert action and a heap of fun.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

3. Iron Man 3

★★★★★★★★★★

——

4. Thor: Ragnarok

★★★★★★★★★★

——

5. Avengers: Endgame

Funny, emotional, heart breaking and smart – Endgame ties up 21 films worth of story across 12 years almost perfectly. Bitter sweet for sure but Marvel totally stuck the landing.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

6. Marvel’s The Avengers

★★★★★★★★★★

——

7. Spider-Man Homecoming

Funny, charming, with Marvels best villain and best Spiderman (yup sorry Andrew Garfield) Homecoming is a joy of a film that is by far the closest to what the comic book Peter Parker is.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

8. Avengers: Infinity War

Shocking, well paced and with one of Marvel’s greatest screen villains Avengers Infinity War ALMOST delivered on it’s considerable promise. Almost.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

9. Iron Man

The Film that started it all… Iron Man was a rock n roll action movie with an unlikely lead, an even more unlikely director and enough balls out moments to wow.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

10. Captain Marvel

A great origins story, a fun film and a great soundtrack – what more could you ask for really?

★★★★★★★★★★

——

11. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2

★★★★★★★★★★

——

12. Ant-Man

Ant-Man is a heist movie. With Ants. And fights on toy trains. It’s crazy but it’s also full of charm, humour and fun.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

13. Black Panther

★★★★★★★★★★

——

14. Ant-Man & The Wasp

Ant-Man & The Wasp is GREAT fun. It’s also totally forgettable and delivers what is possibly Marvel’s weakest villain to date. Not bad by any stretch just off pace of the original.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

15. Doctor Strange

Off the big screen Doctor Strange looses a little but this visually stunning film shows that marvel are still interested in pushing the envelope as far as you can in mainstream blockbusters.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

16. Captain America: The First Avenger

Solid, fun and well done, whilst it has little rewatch appeal Captain America again took a different approach and gave us a couple of Marvel’s most enduring characters.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

17. Captain America: Civil War

★★★★★★★★★★

——

18. Thor: The Dark World

I liked The Dark world MUCH more than others. Okay so it’s flawed for sure but it’s crazy fun.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

19. Thor

Thor was a sold film, tasked with the near impossible job of making a god fit in a world of men. It does it well but not one you’ll rewatch much.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

20. Avengers Age Of Ultron

Marvel’s first disappointment, Age Of Ultron was all show and little else. Too big, too dumb and too long.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

21. The Incredible Hulk (2008)

It has charm and the casting works well but ultimately The Incredible Hulk (whilst FAR better than the Ang Lee version) just doesn’t have enough to recommend it.

★★★★★★★★★★

——

Worst : Iron Man 2

The idea was fine but sadly most of the film misses. Even Mickey Rourke (yes one of the oddest Marvel villains ever) can’t save this.

★★★★★★★★★★

Endgame Week: Avengers: Infinity War (2018) – A Quick Capsule Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
Avengers: Infinity War is over ten years in the making. Thats a lot to live up to then. So the big question… does it deliver on those exceptionally insane expectations? Well yes. Just. Look any film that has a run time of two and a half hours and brings over 30 established characters to the screen is going to feel at times rushed and overstuffed. But surprisingly the pacing here is one of it’s strong points and the characters the film does focus on works well (see Capt, Stark, Strange, Guardians) . That does mean some characters are left on the back burner but you can’t have it all. Also Thanos ends up being one of THE great comic book movie villains. You believe in him as a character and he’s painted with a few shades of grey. Brolin also doesn’t play him shouty shouty which makes him fee more real. The biggest issue the film has is lack of surprise. Outside the opening sequence, little happens that you don’t expect (with the exception of one sequence featuring the return of an old foe). Characters fight and do what they do with very little consequence. And whilst I appreciate this was always meant to feel like the first of two films, the ending left me a bit hollow feeling like the inevitable big death will take place in the next film. I was frustrated that I’m going to have to wait a year to get resolution – a resolution that will undo what was a powerful end of Infinity War. So overall this is a top notch Marvel film for sure but one that isn’t quite the 5 star epic that mainstream reviewers have painted it as.

Best Bit: Soul Stone

Cinema, Stream, Avoid: Cinema

If You Liked this Try: The Avengers Assemble, Thor: Ragnarok, Guardians Of The Galaxy

★★★★★★★★★★

Endgame Week: Avengers Age Of Ultron (2015) – A Quick Capsule Review

Phil’s Quick Capsule Review:
So the bigger, louder, more action packed sequel arrives in cinemas with a weight of expectation on it’s shoulders, a weight sadly even it’s great cast & solid director just can’t live up to. Even if it’s still likely to smash box office records globally…

Don’t get me wrong this isn’t a bad film BUT even I’m getting a bit bored of this formula now and in an age when Guardians and Winter Solider did it differently enough to stand out from the crowd, Ultron just seems a bit of a backward step delivering us action, humour and character beats we’ve seen countless times before.

Starting with some of the worst CGI I’ve seen in a long time, the film rattles along at a pace with action scene after action scene, adding more and more characters along the way. Problem is, like I noted above, we’ve seen it all before and, except for the Hulk vs Iron man bit, there was little that really got me excited – especially as the film ends in pretty much a repeat of Avengers Assembles impressive last 40 minutes (hordes of faceless bad guy getting pummelled by CGI Avengers). Yes the humour’s here once again, as is the stand out character interactions, but this time it feels more forced and whilst Ultron, the titular foe for this Avengers outing, is solid good creation voiced expertly by Spader, he lacks the charisma of say a Loki, as is always the way when it’s a purely CGI creation.

So for me this is one of the weaker Marvel films, not because it’s badly made, but because familiarity surely now is starting to breed contempt and with another 5 years of Superhero films in the works I just wonder what they can do different now to stop the inevitable decline of this genre of films.

Best Bit:The party

Buy, Stream, Avoid: Stream

If You Liked this Try: The Avengers Assemble, Guardians Of The Galaxy, Thor

★★★★★★★★★★