Summary
TheMarvel Cinematic Universebrings forth the final part of the Infinity Saga, and things will never be the same again. The MCU’s Phase 3 is definitely the most memorable and across 11 movies, the pieces are set in place for a grand finale. Not only does the MCU Phase Three’s best movies introduce audiences to some true Marvel icons, but it also has audiences say goodbye to them.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe further expands with the release of Phase Three, and all 11 movies have staying power and something memorable to provide audiences as they head into the modern world, with characters old and new heading to the big stage.
11Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
Scott Lang teams with Hope van Dyne to bring the Ant-Man and the Wasp into action, despite being on house arrest. There’s a fun game of cat and mouse present as Scott tries to juggle being an innocent father and a successful superhero on a mission to uncover Pym’s secrets that could unlock further secrets of the Quantum realm.
Ant-Man and The Waspis more of the same, whichisn’t necessarily a bad thing, but there’s a notable lack of risk in the adventure. There is still a charm to the chemistry of the characters here, but there is a notable lack of interest in compelling villains and motivations to see the plot go beyond humor.
10Captain Marvel (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
The Marvel Cinematic Universe presents its first solo movie fora female superhero, where audiences are introduced to the defiant and powerful Carol Danvers who takes the mantle of Captain Marvel. As one of the most powerful figures in the universe, Captain Marvel uses her powers to aid planets less fortunate and ends up teaming with a familiar face, albeit one in his past.
The chemistry between Carol Danvers and Nick Fury is a lot of fun, and it’s great to head back in time to the nostalgia-filled 80s. There isn’t much of a cultural push needed forCaptain Marvel, and the movie seems somewhat safe, but serviceable, providing the MCU with wanting potential alongside humorous gags.
9Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 91%
The epilogue of Phase Three,Spider-Man: Far From Homefocuses on Peter Parker’s life after returning to New York City from Thanos’ destructive snap. With no Tony Stark to mentor the young hero, Peter must find his own balance of power and responsibility as he works with Nick Fury and the mysterious and supposed multiverse hero Mysterio against destructive elemental monsters that pop up upon the European tour.
The MCU Spider-Man movies feel somewhat underwhelming, especially when a hero who has had such a successful stint in the past is now unable to stand on his own two feet without a supporting cast of MCU legends. Whilst Far From Home features things to enjoy, it certainly lacksa Spider-Man identity, and the reliance on Iron Man is more repetitive than engaging.
8Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%
Thor enters into a brave new revamp with his third solo movie, and his character and supporting worlds are thrust into change as the dreaded Hela, the goddess of death, threatens all Thor and Loki know. Without his father to guide him or Mjolnir to channel his power, Thor must find a way to escape the pits of a gladiator world to save Asgard andbring along the strongest Avengerfor the ride.
Thor: Ragnaroktakes a decent risk with the reinvention of Thor but at the sacrifice of dumbing him down for comedy over Shakespearean drama. Whilst Chris Hemsworth is great as Thor, and his chemistry with Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk steals the show as a buddy-comedy, the lack of seriousness makes Ragnarok feel like a barrel of laughs without a beating heart, even if it is visual and witty.
7Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
Spider-Man swings into the MCU with open arms in collaboration with Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios. The movie is once again a reboot of the character, where he seems younger than ever in his high school years, setting up for prom whilst also trying to prove his potential to Iron Man as The Vulture takes to the criminal scene and begins selling advanced alien weaponry.
Spider-Man: Homecomingis certainly charming as an entry point to this universe’s Spider-Man, as it does away with another origin story, and places audiences directly into the life of Peter Parker, struggling to balance responsibility and power at a young age. The way Peter looks up to Tony is definitely the center of the movie, but there’s a great message that seemslost in the sequelthat proves that Tony’s tech does not define what makes Spider-Man great.
6Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 90%
Governments from around the world decide that superheroes need repercussions for their actions and global meddling, so the Sokovia Accords are put in place to legalize and document those with superhuman claims. This very act puts the iconic heroes of the MCU at odds, with Captain America and Iron Man leading opposing teams, with the former seeking to scrap the Sokovia Accords in favor of freedom and justice over government control.
The divide between Captain America and Iron Man is interesting and easily showcases anAvengersfilm in all but the title. The introduction of Black Panther and Spider-Man into the MCU is nothing short of iconic, and the relationships of familiar characters will never be the same. Whilst Civil War doesn’t reach the climactic heights of its political thriller predecessor, it still does a decent job at showing what happens when heroes come to blows.
5Black Panther (2018)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
The world of the MCU further expands and enriches as audiences are taken deep into the immersive culture of the hidden world of Wakanda. Following the events of T’Challa’s father’s death, he returns to Wakanda to inherit the throne and take his place as the Black Panther, facing off against powers that threaten his nation and his family.
Black Pantherdeserves credit for going the extra mile to make the fictional culture of Wakanda so immersive. The performances from the cast are also stellar, and the notable standard of Michael B. Jordan’s Erik Killmonger provides a thought-provoking villain that the MCU still hasn’t topped.
4Doctor Strange (2016)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 89%
The confident and famed neurosurgeon Stephen Strange loses the use of his hands after an accident, and his journeys to bring back his old life take him to the mysterious Ancient One, where he learns to heal his body, mind, and spirit with the mystic arts that will see him become a sorcerer supreme.
Doctor Strangeis a mystic voyage, and one that embraces fun and trippy visuals that stand out from the special effects of other comic book movies. Welcoming Benedict Cumberbatch into the role is also magnificent, even if that comes at wasting a talent like Mads Mikkelsen on a villain that doesn’t have all that much to do. Nevertheless, Doctor Strange is a trippy thrill ride that shows origin stories can still be engaging.
3Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
The Guardians of the Galaxy are making a name for themselves as heroes for hire, and as their legend grows, so does their bond with one another. Yet, things are put to the ultimate test when a man claiming to be Peter Quill’s father makes himself known, and it’s not too long until Peter and his friends discover the disturbing truths surrounding Ego, all whilst a rogue set of Ravagers attempt to mutiny on Yondu.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2continues its impressive streak, allowing James Gunn to express his vision and characters in the cosmic side of the MCU without restraint. The visuals are great, and the characters are more expressive than ever. The A plot and B plot of the movie really blend well, providing every important character with something to do, and plenty of action and swelling emotion to boot.
2Avengers: Infinity War (2018)
The Avengers must assemble once more to not only save the world, but the entire universe. Thethreat of Thanosand the Infinity Stones looms ever closer to certain demise, and the Mad Titan’s plans will require different teams of Avengers to test their strengths and resilience as Earth’s mightiest heroes for their most important battle ever.
Avengers: Infinity Warjuggles all the emotional weight needed for a blockbuster of this caliber. There is heightened emotion, actions, crowd-pleasing moments, and hilarity. For a movie with themes of balance,Infinity Wardoes a good job at rotating the stories of different teams, where characters get to converse and interact with characters unique to them, but familiar to audiences.Avengers: Infinity Waris an epic chapter in the MCU saga and one that builds into the consequences of its future.
