Did 'Thor 2' Make Our Top 10 Best Marvel Movies?
With the release of Thor: The Dark World in the U.S. this week, we thought we'd take a look back into Marvel's movie history and put together a list of its Top 10 finest moments. Ok so a couple of the movies weren't actually made by the studio, but all feature characters from the Marvel comics.
The Thor sequel pulled in $8.7 million over its debut weekend in the UK - more than four times the amount that it's nearest rival grossed - and with _Ender's Gam_e the vulnerable reigning champion of the stateside box-office, things are looking good for Tom Hiddleston, Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman this weekend. Read our Thor 2 review here.
So, relax, grab yourself a cool drink and mull over our list of the Top 10 Marvel movies. Do you agree?
Thor 2: The Dark World (2013)
Development on the Thor sequel Thor: The Dark World began in April 2011 when Kevin Feige announced the project, though he did so without original director Kenneth Branagh, who withdrew. Kill The Poor’s Alan Taylor jumped aboard and production on the big-budget sequel to the first movie – which grossed $449 worldwide – began.
With the movie likely to storm the U.S. box office this weekend, Thor 2: The Dark World will no doubt be considered a huge success for Marvel, particularly for its star-making of British actor Tom Hiddleston – who plays Thor’s adoptive brother and nemesis Loki. Hiddleston has become the unlikely poster-boy for the franchise following a stunning turn in the sequel and his tireless promotional work. “Too much hammer time, not enough fun, except when Loki's onscreen,” said the Hollywood Reporter in its review of the movie.
The Punisher (2004)
We continue our list with The Punisher. Yeah, you heard us right. The Punisher. The 2004 vigilante movie – based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name – starred Thomas Jane as anti-hero Frank Castle and John Travolta as villain Howard Saint – who orders the death of Castle’s entire family.
The Punisher was generally considered a misfire, both critically and commercially, though it’s worth remembering that production wasn’t easy for director Jonathan Hensleigh who was not given the budget he wanted and needed. Most action pictures at the time were getting budgets of $65 million though Hensleigh was given only $33 million ($15.5 million towards shooting and post-production) and just 52 days to shoot.
Most of the original script was spliced and rendered unrecognizable. The planned first scene set in Kuwait during the Gulf War was cut. It seems Hensleigh was forced to rely on far too much violence and, as such, a strong cast and excellent character was wasted.
It made just $33.7 million at the box-office. “There's something to be said for letting a comic book adaptation operate at the level of a comic book, dispensing cheap laughs and ice-cold sadism,” said J.R Jones of the Chicago Reader in one of few positive reviews.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
A real underrated movie from the Marvel canon – Captain America: The First Avenger. The 2011 superhero film starred Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, a regular guy from Brooklyn who is transformed into a super-soldier to aid in the war effort. Another impeccably cast movie – starring Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell and Stanley Tucci – the film was a critical and commercial success, grossing $368.6 million worldwide and green-lighting a sequel.
“It doesn't try too hard for irony or style; the comic-book sensibility remains pure, square, and happily stupid,” said David Denby of the New Yorker. A $140 million budget appeared to be risky, but Marvel needn’t have doubted director Joe Johnston. Read our Captain America review here.
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
Ah, it’s a personal favorite and, in our humble opinion, thoroughly deserving of sneaking into the Top 10 Marvel movies. It stars Edward Norton as Dr Bruce Banner though Louis Leterrier’s movie establishes a new back story where Banner becomes the Hulk as an unwitting pawn to a military scheme to reinvigorate the super-soldier program through gamma radiation.
A nice cast including William Hurt, Tim Roth and Liv Tyler support the always-excellent Norton and the crowds and critics appeared to be on-side. On a massive budget of $150 million, The Incredible Hulk managed to pull in an impressive $263 million worldwide.
“It won't change your life but you'll walk away smiling,” said Film.com.
The Wolverine (2013)
Wolverine travels to Japan - what’s not to like? Not everyone was convinced by James Mangold’s movie though few could deny it was probably the best looking Marvel movie for years. It was the second headline outing for Wolverine – after the frankly awful _X-Men Origins: Wolverin_e in 2009 – and Hugh Jackman appeared to inject life into a character that fans had speculated could be ready for the skip.
A barnstorming commercial success, The Wolverine was made on a budget of $120 million and pulled in $413 million worldwide. The Japan idea was a masterstroke and the critics agreed. “It's a relief to come across a blockbuster that finds a location and stays there, rather than hopping desperately from one place to the next,” said Anthony Lane of the New Yorker. Read our Wolverine review here.
Blade (1998)
What? Whaat? Blade? Shut up. That’s what you just said. Well how about you shut up, and we explain by the hell Blade is in a top 10 list of Marvel movies. It’s exciting, fun and rare when a movie defies the critics to become a cult favorite. Blade Runner did it – the critics had no idea what was going on, then BAM, a few decades later, it’s considered one of the finest sci-fi films ever made.
Originally, the mercurial Wesley Snipes baffled the critics as Blade: a vampire hunting dude with sunglasses – who, might we add, is immune to vampires. It was considered dated, genre-confused and lifeless. But now it attracts the gaze of a nostalgic fan with gusto, proving that time can heal any wound – even one caused by a stake through the heart.
55% on Rotten Tomatoes deprived the film of the hallowed status of ‘certified fresh’. And $131m doesn’t exactly represent a blockbuster, but the work done by director Stephen Norrington paved the way for a golden generation of comic book adaptations.
Spiderman (2002)
Spiderman transcended the comic book niche when it channeled itself onto a cinematic format intended for popcorn-scoffing and big screens. 2002 saw a generation’s spidey-sense tingle vivaciously as Tobey Maguire climbed up walls and kissed Kirsten Dunst upside down.
Everyone loves an underdog story, and unlike many of the superheroes that have punctuated cinema over the last glorious decade for the genre, Tobey Maguire befitting the status with consummate ease. How he became a superhero – within the legend of Spiderman – is well known, but how Maguire managed to encapsulate both naivety and superpowers was masterful, and by all intents and purposes, a mystery.
The film has accumulated over $800m in the worldwide box office market since its release in 2002, and its fiscal success was matched by a slew of positive reviews on its release. “Full of swinging action but finding plenty of time to explore the people behind the masks, Spider-Man is a franchise with real legs. At last, a blockbuster that lives up to the hype,” said Total Film. 89% on Rotten Tomatoes for director Sam Raimi.
Iron Man (2008)
Marvel probably knew Iron Man would create a film franchise bigger than anything they’d ever seen when they launched into the first film, but that didn’t stop it being handled with impeccable flair. Robert Downey Jr. built himself a throwback role, like Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine, and the rest, as they say, is history. Iron Man 2 and 3 have further pushed the envelope.
The rich, sardonic, charismatic Tony Stark takes on Batman-like task of putting his considerable wealth towards technology to help him fight evil. Unlike Batman, Iron Man doesn’t bother delving into the darkness of the human psyche – the deterioration of Stark’s health due to the sapping nature of the suit provides the internal antagonist here, and it works.
$585m later, and Iron Man is one of Marvel’s most successful films from the 2000s. The reviews, which settled upon a healthy 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, praised the tight story telling, the empathic set pieces and, of course, Downey Jr.’s performance. “There are a few scenes in Iron Man that make you realize why we rely on giant studios and big budgets come the summer months,” said Film.com.
Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
For many, Marvel’s The Avengers comes at the top of any Marvel film list. And it probably is, technically, the best. Joss Whedon and his incredible cast – some of which have enjoyed success with their characters in standalone films – did a fantastic job translating another beloved franchise from page to screen. The reason it doesn’t make our list is a nostalgic one, but that shouldn’t take away from The Avenger’s quality.
The chance to see Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow fighting bad guys on one screen was a dream come true for Marvel fanatics, and it didn’t disappoint. This was evident in the film’s monolithic presence in the worldwide market. Global box offices saw $1.5b change hand as the comic book epic soared into third place in the all time grossing chart, behind Avatar and Titanic.
“If you are a Marvel fan, then The Avengers will feel like Christmas. Thanks to the merry doings of the director, Joss Whedon, all your favorite characters are here, as shiny and as tempting as presents under the tree,” said Anthony Lane of The New Yorker. 92% on Rotten Tomatoes certified this film as fresh. Read our review of The Avengers here.
X-Men (2000)
Our top Marvel movie masterpiece – somewhat controversially – is X-Men. Taking Marvel’s most beloved and best known story and translating it to the big screen would have been a daunting task, and one that should be respected. We take it for granted now, but if films like X-Men weren’t done right, we might not be looking at new Thor and Avengers films in 2013/15.
Psychic Professor Xavier, played to perfection by Patrick Stewart led a school of skilled mutants called X-Men. And from this groundbreaking moment of comic book movies, we got Jackman as Wolverine, Ian McKellen as Magneto and Halle Berry as Storm.
With X-Men: Days of Future Past set for release in May 2013, X-Men’s influence is still felt, even 13 years after it was released in 2000. “The most beautiful, strange, and exciting comic-book movie since the original Batman,” said The New Yorker’s David Denby. Other critics agreed, which saw the film land on 82%.