Marvel Movie Project #1: Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 2 is by far the best movie on this list and maybe one of the best comic book movies of all time.  Spider-Man 2's #1 ranking is predicated upon its ability to do what few other movies on this list have managed to do with much success, completely and accurate replicate the experience of reading a comic book on film.  Spider-man 2 feels like a classic issue of Amazing Spider-Man.  Well, considered how Doc Ock heavy this movie is, maybe an issue of Spectacular Spider-Man, but let's not split weblines...

Because it so perfectly captures the essence of what made classic Spidey comics so great it hits all the right notes at all of the right times.  With the origin story behind us, this sequel is able to put Peter Parker and his alter-ego through there paces without having to clog the lines with lots of exposition.  What exposition we do get is done very smartly through the illustrations in the opening credits (much like was done in the Incredible Hulk). There is a lot of great storytelling that can be done in 128 minutes when the burden of exposition and Spider-Man 2 takes full advantage.  The other smart thing that this movie does is keep it simple.  The first Spider-Man movie tries to cram the origin story and the Green Goblin greatest hits all into one film.  The third Spider-Man movie is a complete disaster because it tries to cram about 10 years of comics into one film.  Spider-Man 2 crams nothing.  It tells a straightforward story with a likeable, relate-able hero and a villain that is complex and compelling.



As a matter of fact, let's start right there with Doctor Otto Octavius.  A constant thorn in Spidey's side in every possible way in the comic books, Doc Ock is really Spider-Man's greatest foe, not the Green Goblin or Venom.  Doc Ock handed the web-head his first defeat, tried to marry his aunt, formed an all-star team out of Spidey's rogues' gallery, and has most recently switched bodies with him in an attempt to kill him.  Doc Ock really is Spider-Man's greatest foe.
Because he has such a long and storied history, capturing the essence of that in a movie can be really tricky. It took 3 movies for X-men to fully develop the complex character of Magneto.  Somehow, though, SM2 nails Octavius on the first try.
When we are introduced to pre-Doc Ock, Otto he is charming and intelligent, if a bit arrogant.  That arrogance will be his downfall, and its counter, his humility, will actually make Otto both the hero and the villain of this tale!  Otto has an upbeat attitude and does not come across like a man who would plot to take over the world.  He is a genius and a mentor to Peter Parker.  In so many ways you find yourself actually rooting for him not to become Doc Ock.
But he does.  And when he does it is tragic because he is clearly a man at odds with himself.  The chip that is implanted to control the arms and keep the arms' AI from influencing his brain wages a powerful war to assert its dominance over Otto's personality.  Eventually it wins and Otto takes a back seat to the cold, murderous arms.  Sure we can nitpick about the nature of the arms' AI or whatever, but as with most of these movies you have to give some allowance for Thunder Gods, frozen soldiers who don't die, and vampires.  The main thing here is that Otto Octavius and Doc Ock are clearly two different characters.  This kind of characterization is very smartly done, very well handled and brilliantly portrayed by Alfred Molina.

I give Otto a few bonus points for having a smoking hot wife as well!

But I thought she was hot back in Star Trek: Insurrection also, so I may be biased...

Sticking with the characters for a moment, our hero and his supporting cast also shine in Spider-Man 2.  Tobey seems to have settled into the role of Peter Parker well and, while not quite the bookworm that comic book PP is, seems much more comfortable.  We get to see a bit more of Peter as a successful student and we also get the ol' Parker luck rearing its ugly head.  This is an excruciating point in the film and one all too familiar to fans of the comic.  Nit-pickers will point out that all Peter had to tell MJ was that he was hit by a car while riding his scooter to the play.  A valid excuse, but I suppose PP was so rattled and so used to making excuses that the truth eluded him.  Regardless, the PP character is better here than it has been or will be.

MJ is still a bit weepy and whiny, but I think that is where Kirsten Dunst was taking the character anyway, less vivacious and saucy and more thoughtful and introspective.  That's ok, it works as it goes, but she can come across as a bit of a mess at times.  Even so, I would rescue her from Doc Ock's nuclear reactor, or whatever.
JJJ is always the star of any Spider-man movie, honestly.  J.K. Simmons really understands the character and nails it once again.  I could seriously watch a whole movie of just Spidey vs. JJJ.  The rest of the supporting cast is great also.  Aunt May is a nice juxtaposition of strength and frailty.  And Harry Osborn walks a fine line balancing his friendship with Peter, his hatred for Spider-Man, his grief over his father's death, and the dangerous cocktail of emotional conflict that creates.  Franco's Harry is better here than it was in Spider-Man where it felt a little unfocused.  The scene with him and the mirror is incredible and sets up an incredible story that the third film fails to realize.

When you have great characters and actors that are comfortable in their roles, a great story almost flows naturally.  At its core, Spider-Man 2 is the story of Doc Ock.  His rise and his fall.  Our hero, Spider-Man is along for the ride, but he's more of an agent in the story and less of the focus and that's just fine.  Spider-man comics have historically been the tale of Peter Parker who gets away from his troubles as Spider-Man.  Not making the web-head the sum focus of this film reveals an understanding of what makes Spider-Man stories great.  We should be watching Peter and Otto as their stories develop, the battle of their alter-egos is just the icing on the cake (and visual manifestation of their inner and external struggles if you want to get deep.


And oh what icing that is.  Spider-Man 2 features some of the absolute best action sequences in a super-hero film ever.  (The Avengers would later match the level of awesomeness of these sequences)  This is one of the first movies to pull the camera back and fully show the action between characters.  The battles on the side of the building and on the train are visually amazing and depict the action just as it might have been, panel-for-panel from the pages of a comic book.  The tendency in films like this is to keep the camera tight on the action.  This is supposed to make the action more intense and also help hide flawed special effects and awkwardly scripted fight scenes (go see Daredevil).  Spider-Man 2 is bold enough to show the entire scene and keep both combatants in the frame.  A risky gamble that pays off here and is very welcome.  Those fights are epic.

Great characters, simple yet moving story, incredible super-hero action sequences, a complex villain and a familiar champion, all of the elements to create an incredible comic book movie, that is the recipe for Spider-Man 2.  It may not tell a sprawling epic tale; it doesn't need to.  Great stories are sometimes the smallest ones.  It is the heart and soul of the story that makes it great.  Spider-Man 2 has a lot of heart and thanks to the brilliant portrayal of Doctor Octopus a richness of soul.  But for me, the bit that pushes Spider-Man 2 to the top of a list of pretty great movies, is that it manages to capture the experience of reading an issue of a Spider-Man comic book (at least from when I was a kid, the modern comics are rubbish).  No other film on this list does that and that means that Spider-Man 2 is something special.  I can watch it any time and be transported back to my childhood, reading the exploits of Spider-Man and Doc Ock again for the first time.  That is why Spider-Man 2 is the #1 movie of the Modern Marvel era.

Marvel Movie Project #1: X-Men: First Class

X-Men: First Class. The movie that topped the list forever. As a matter of fact, this movie ranked #1 over all until I conceded it to #2 in order to settle another ranking argument--it was my bargaining chip. And because this movie and the other #1 ranker are so close, I was ok with the concession. The difference is by a hair. Seriously. Luckily, we decided at the last minute to make it a tie, so really, what WAS #2, is now sharing its crown in the 1st Place Spot. Where I wanted it to be.



Obviously I think pretty highly of this movie. I saw it 2-3 times in the theater. It was a blockbuster summer for Marvel Movies, with Thor and Captain America rounding things out, but this film was a bit under the radar. I wasn't even really aware it was coming out until right before it did; I knew virtually nothing about it. It made me a bit nervous.

Why nervous? Well, there was a little movie called X-Men Origins: Wolverine. And as we wrote, it was awful. But it turns out, that's not even the movie that I wound up thinking about while writing this review. No, like my obsession with The Incredible Hulk vs. Iron Man, X-Men: First Class goes head-to-head with summer-release-mate Captain America.

You've got two similar concepts--super hero origin stories set in a period backdrop of political conflict (Cuban missile crisis for X-Men: First Class/World War II for Captain America). One executes a flawlessly believable and meticulously detailed early 1960s world stage; the other executes a hokey, half-assed, inattentive quasi-WW2 era backdrop. One is a smooth spy thriller involving a mutant strike team, one is a sloppy summer action movie that fails on most levels.

Since I saw X-Men: First Class before seeing Captain America... you can figure it out. Hell, I saw Super 8 before seeing Captain America, and I think it managed to nail "period piece" more adroitly.

This movie isn't without its faults. It has them. I would have liked a little less convenience surrounding Beast's transformation/romance with Mystique. But it wasn't jarring, and it wasn't a crucial plot point or anything. It moved the plot along, sure, but you could have just as easily conveyed the story without it.

The star of the show is the relationship between Magneto and Professor X. Or, as they are called in this film, Erik and Charles. What's nice here is they let this pivotal relationship be troubled but enduring. By the end, when their philosophies have diverged permanently, you can still see that between the two of them exists some understanding and compassion. There are shades of this in the other X-Men films, but it has been best illustrated here.

I thoroughly enjoy Kevin Bacon's unexpected performance as Sebastian Shaw. He rather steals the show, in fact. I like him as a conniving, behind-the-scenes player orchestrating world politics, rather than resorting to overt terrorism (Liberty Island in X-Men, for example.) It results in a slower-burning, larger-scale conflict interwoven somewhat smartly into existing history, in a way that doesn't piss me off. Sure, it's incredibly unlikely, and I know better, but this is also a world with mutants in it, it closely involves "top secret" style dealings, and they don't do anything remarkably stupid while they are monkeying with history. Scenes are tense and not "oh, how coincidental!" at all.

I enjoy the multilingual nature of the film. It globe-trots with the ease and experience of a Connery Bond film. Michael Fassbender is quickly earning a top slot on my "Celebrity Crushes" list. Not because he's pretty (have you even seen the list?) but because he seems so authentic. Anyone who can charm me as an android, Carl Jung and Magneto deserves special note. The quietly skillful nature of this film is most evident as Fassbender glides between German, French, Spanish, and English as he tracks Shaw across hemispheres. We are also treated to Russian for good measure. I prefer subtitles--unless a film is intended for an English-speaking audience and the vast majority of dialogue would be delivered in another language (for example, The Hunt for Red October). 

Now, if you read my Captain America evisceration, you'll know that design aesthetic is one of my top pet peeves. Nothing tanks a period piece like bad sets, costumes and anachronistic concepts. Luckily, First Class doesn't seem to fall for those traps. I think that's especially clear when we see Cerebro for the first time.

Why does this stand out? After being treated to this gem, it makes all the anachronistic computer displays and TV monitors of Captain America about as welcome as Saruman in Rivendell during the events of The Hobbit.

Cerebro looks like a computer of the early sixties. As a matter of fact, it looks enough like what it's supposed to look like I didn't feel the need to pick it apart. It may not be totally Kosher, but I'm willing to let that slide a little, seeing as how it was invented by a wunderkind with complete access to the resources of the CIA. It's not a modern device with a 60s skin attached. Did I mention that, like with the TV issue on Captain America, I also have fondness for vintage computers?


I appreciate that this film side-steps the urge to call attention to its period trimmings. Since I've already brought it up, Super 8 had a real groaner in it, where we're supposed to look at the WACKY NEW WALKMAN ALL THE KIDS HAVE! IMAGINE HOW BAD IT WOULD BE IF ALL THE KIDS HAD PORTABLE MUSIC!

X-Men: First Class manages to not do this. Look, the early sixties are often a bit overlooked, because the late 60s/early 70s are really, really overpoweringly gaudy and garish. The early 1960s blends the class and civility of 50s design with the beginnings of sleek super mod, and the results are things like Shaw's submarine/yacht, the Hellfire Club, and really swank barware. It's done here just right, in little touches like wallpaper or lamps, or clothing.


Through and through, though, this is truly a wonderful story of team building and friendship. It's exciting, it doesn't need to make you crazy, and it features some nice cameos that almost tie it to the other X-men films...but it easily stands alone. Its faults only run as far as "was that little subplot necessary?" but nothing in the film is so distracting or meaningless that it ruins it. I think this is a tight, sophisticated reinterpretation that is a welcome change of pace from a super-hero slugfest--something not even the previous X-men installments were able to avoid.


I really feel that, of all the wonderful films on our list, this one tops it out. It has the fewest problems and the best attention to detail. It even manages to be smart at the same time, even at the end. Sure, it's an unbelievable story, but 'tis a tale of mutants, after all.

Best part of the film. Hands down!

Marvel Movie Project #3: Thor

Seriously?  A Thor movie?  How in the world are you going to make a Thor movie and make it watchable?  How are you going to make a Thor movie that a general audience can understand?  Characters like Spider-man, the Hulk, even the Punisher are relatable on some basic level.  How are you going to get a general audience to buy into and relate to a misplaced Norse thunder god?  As Dale Gribble once said, " I'm skeptical that you could, yet intrigued that you may."

Wing-o, man, I'm in an article.

The answer to all of these questions and more can be found in Paramount Pictures 2011 film, Thor.  Seriously.  Thor ranks highly on this list because it does what shouldn't be possible.  It perfectly creates the world of Asgard, a realm of gods, and then perfectly blends and juxtaposes that world with Earth.  The contrast between the two settings is so complete that it works brilliantly.  When Thor is doing his thing in Asgard he feels like he belongs and everything in that world, Frost Giants, mystic hammers, gilded halls make sense within the given context.  Thus, when Thor is cast to Earth, he looks and feels like a man out of time (way better than Captain America ever did).  A lot of this is due to the solid performance of Chris Hemsworth.  Hemsworth takes what would be an extremely awkward script in most other actors hands and manages to make it flow as naturally as possible.  It's not easy playing awkward with awkward material and making it seem skillful.  Hemsworth is surprisingly adept in his role as the thunder god.  Honestly, all of the actors playing Norse deities do a spectacular job of bringing the classic comic pantheon to life.  Sif, Volstagg, Hogun, and Fandral are all compelling and fun in their supporting roles and they make you want to spend more screen time with them.  Heimdall is the real badass, though.  Idris Elba flat out kills the role and fleshes out a character that really has little more to do than open and close the door on the kingdom.  His showdown with Loki might be one of the most intense moments in the film. 
Speaking of Loki, who is Tom Hiddleston?  I don't know, but I can tell you this, he takes a character that would be easy to play to type and works him in such subtle ways it's almost a shame he turns out to be the villain.  His character is almost as compelling as Jeff Bridges' Obediah Stane in terms of nuance.

No, it's because I'm so in love with you.

The earth-based cast isn't quite as tight, but still manages to keep the story going.  Natalie Portman is grossly over cast as Dr. Jane Foster. The character simply isn't given enough to do to justify someone of Portman's abilities.  Heck, that full-lipped brunette from Two Broke Girls could have probably played the role just fine.  That said, Portman's romance with Hemsworth is far more believable than the torturous love scenes between her and Hayden "haven't had a relevant acting job since" Christensen.  Shudder.
The character to watch on Terra Firma is Erik Selvig.  Who knew this throw-away scientist would be such an important part of the Avengers? Skarsgard's performance is fine for what it is, but more importantly it sets him up nicely as the big player in the Avengers movie.
Honestly, I found the Earth level stuff the hardest to enjoy, but that may have more to do with the fact that most of that adventure is Thor without his hammer.  By the time the Destroyer shows up, it is ON.  The Destroyer battle is reason enough to watch this movie.

As I said early, Thor ranks #3 on this list because it perhaps best learns the hard lessons of the early films like Punisher, Spider-man, and Fantastic Four.  It then takes those lessons and applies them to a truly challenging subject matter and creates a super-hero movie that is pure fun, not just for comic book junkies like me, but for the general audience as well.  Thor is #3 primarily due to the fact that it manages to avoid so many of the easy Hollywood traps that plague what-would-have-been better movies on this list like Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk.  Case in point, had Thor followed those films, it would have ended with a big battle between Thor and a transformed Loki who had fully embraced his frost giant heritage and become giant and blue, covered in ice.  This showdown would have wrecked either Asgard, Earth, or both and the final blow would have taken the last erg of Thor's strength.  Thankfully, this movie is smarter than that, and instead we get the intelligent ending we should have gotten in those other films.

Big Hollywood Ending.  art by Stan

Thor is a lot of fun, it has great reverence for its source material, but it is not confined to it.  Solid performances by a powerful cast create two very distinct and believable worlds that successfully coexist.  Thor succeeds on all levels.

Aimee's Take:

I think Thor is a perfectly awesome film. It hits all the right notes and does all the right things. I'm not even annoyed by the Earth-bound love interest subplot, because it's pretty minimal. Thor never really does make it seem like he's all gaga for her. I honestly think Thor just feels bad about getting all her lab stuff confiscated/wrecked up, and as a plus she's pretty. They have a few moments together. He wants to visit her again but he doesn't make a big deal out of it. It's not like they have hot, steamy Norse god sex in the desert. Seems pretty benign, actually. I viewed it more as Thor was struck by her as a representative of what Midgard has to offer, and gave him someone to typify his connection with the people.

But honestly, Stan is right. You want him to have Mjolnir the entire time. I could have spent the whole movie in Asgard with Thor having various adventures, no need for Earth at all. 

I went into this liking Thor already but I really wasn't prepared for the character to be this much fun on film. I had a blast with it, enjoying all parts pretty evenly and equally. While it might not have the overall appeal of say, Iron Man, it makes up for it in terms of being incredibly solid and thoroughly fun. The subject matter never gets too hard nor does it hit close to home, but at its heart it manages to make a great story.

Loki is a surprise for me, but a pleasant one. I am glad they managed to keep him a trickster. It would have been easy resort to the big Hollywood thing, as chronicled by Stan, above. I managed to avoid being off-put or distracted by his ridiculous hat, also.

And now, the only review necessary: I have a huge celebrity crush on Chris Hemsworth. It started with Star Trek and continues despite Snow White and the Huntsman. Did this movie have to be good for me like it? No. Is it good anyway? Absolutely.

And before you give me a lot of crap over it, remember--this is possibly the first conventional celebrity crush I've had (outside of c. 1980 Harrison Ford). Highlights include:

    Craig T. Nelson, before the Coach era

Billy Boyd, AS PIPPIN ONLY

John Astin as Gomez, second only to crush on Caroline Jones

Dick York. You're lying if you don't think he's weird-looking.

Younger but still old Tom Skerritt

Bruce Boxleitner. Every era, including today, which is scary, because I'm only 28.

Marvel Movie Project #4: Iron Man

This was #1 on the list for a very, very long time.  Robert Downey Jr. so perfectly captured the essence of Tony Stark that it can be hard to see the flaws in this film.  I was never a fan of Iron Man, the character.  I never read Iron Man comics and as far as an Avenger goes, I could have easily swapped him with Tigra and never known the difference, excepting that Tigra is a super-hot catwoman.

MEOW

But I digress.  The point is, I do not much care for Iron Man.  At least that was true until the movie came out.  I was super skeptical.  I thought there was no way they could make an interesting Iron Man movie.  I knew the special effects would be dumb and way too computer generated to be believed.  This movie was going to tank hard.

It is so nice to be wrong.  And it all starts with the stellar performance by Robert Downey Jr.  The man literally makes the film.  He breathes life into an otherwise boorish and obnoxious character and makes you really, really like him.  A lot.  Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark is a perfect synthesis of the right actor with the right script in the right movie.  No one else could have pulled this off with the level of arrogant charm that RDJ manages.  Forget the super-heroics, I could watch a two hour movie based on Tony Stark buying a hot dog from a hot dog cart.

Paltrow does a great job of bringing Pepper Pots to life as well, and she plays expertly against Stark's nonchalance.  Likewise, Jeff Bridges creates a wonderfully complex villain in Obediah Stane.  If you didn't know the characters well, you might not even see the reversal coming.  And when it does, what a great moment it is, thanks to Bridges playing the character to close to the vest.  The comics could use this level of subtlety at times!

As we have seen previously, it is very hard to tell an origin story and not over-complicate it.  (see Spider-Man)  Iron Man manages to not only tell an origin story, but it manages to make the origin story incredibly compelling.  The story of Tony Stark being captured and forced to work for terrorists, then turning that work on his captors makes for a great story, again with or without the Iron Man suit.  Taking that ball and running with it by tying in the Stane master plot creates a tight tale that does justice to both classic and modern interpretations of the core Iron Man character.

And on top of all of that, they go and make the damn suit.  Oh sure, Iron Man features some amazing CG, but because they wanted to make sure they made the film right, they went and made the suit.  And that, my friends, much like the path less taken, has made all the difference.  It looks real because it IS real!  Go figure.  And when you have something real to ground your CG in, it makes the CG that much more convincing and organic.  (Memo to George Lucas)  Iron Man features perhaps some of the most fluid and natural CG work since Lord of the Rings (which is holding up rather well, honestly).  The Iron Man suit looks great and the flying scenes are totally realistic.  There is great attention to detail in the effects that elevate them above the usual gimmick level that happens all too often in big Hollywood movies (see Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, what the fork?)

So, great story, great acting, great casting, smart scripting, incredible special effects that serve the story and not just the spectacle, what is there not to like about Iron Man?  Aimee will tell you (and for the record, I agree with her.  She makes a very convincing argument).

Aimee's Take:

I'm not going to retread what Stan has already articulated, because we agree entirely. This movie rocks like crazy and there's no stopping it. BUT

Here's the thing. This movie came out the same summer as Incredible Hulk. And in many, many ways, this movie follows the same general pattern as Incredible Hulk. People lost their very minds for THIS movie, but Incredible Hulk has been subject to heaps of critical shit and nonsense about how boring/stupid/awful it is. How do I feel about this?

Girl, please.

Now, listen. I loved Iron Man and I have gone years and years without EVER touching a comic that even mentions the character. Of Iron Man, I literally only knew that his "real" name was Tony Stark, he has an alcohol problem, and he wears a suit. I also know about the unrelated song of the same name. And it made me love the character.

However, Iron Man fails to convince me that it's the opus of modern comic book movies, and here's why I actually FOUGHT with my husband about its rank.

The Big Hollywood Ending.

If you recall, this is the same thing that troubles The Incredible Hulk. There's a crucial difference. As implausible as it is to have Emil Blonsky turn into that ridiculous version of the Abomination at the end of the movie, it makes sense. They spend a lot of time painting him as the kind of man whose hunger for power and strength makes him hate and envy the Hulk's power. I can totally buy that he begins basically "juicing" just to get the edge over this powerful being. I think the ending is still kind of stupid, but whatever. It does follow what's been set up in the film. I don't like where they go with it, but it works.

This post is about Iron Man, I swear.

In Iron Man, there is a similar "two big superhero things battle it out in a big place with collateral damage" scene. Only in this one, it's Obadiah Stane who climbs into that super suit and slugs it out like a cornered pugilist. His thirst for physical power and mega-strength has led him to this... wait. What?

No. Obadiah in this movie is absolutely NOT the man who climbs in the big stupid suit and launches zingers at Pepper while he fights zippy little Tony. Why on earth would he do that? This man is behind the scenes. And the only reason that Tony knows he's truly bad is because Obadiah told him he was. As he killed him in a way that left his hands clean. He deprived him of a life-saving device, he didn't strangle him with his bare hands. That's not the kind of man Obadiah has been presented to be. He's white collar, crafty, manipulative and powerful. He doesn't need to get in the suit. It will give him nothing.

I'm going to spin this one, but next time I'll probably just wear a big metal suit to solve my problems. 

Getting in the suit really seriously tips Obadiah's hand, too, something he goes to extraordinary lengths to avoid. The man who gets in the suit to slug it out with Tony is not the same man who hires terrorists to kidnap Tony in another country, and kill him without anyone ever knowing that it was his idea all along. This is not a man who is obsessed with being a physical juggernaut who can kill Tony himself. Twice he tries to kill Tony without getting his hands dirty.

I'LL GET YOU NEXT TIME, IRON MAN!

I know what you're thinking. This third time is where he snaps and goes, "Forget it, I'll kill him myself!" Ooookay. Who is he? Skeletor? This is not what he's going to do, and if it is, we are not seeing the break properly. He's not being built into a character that has a break or is lead to this conclusion. I firmly believe that the man I saw in this film would slink into the shadows, hidden behind a vast network of legal and illegal organizations, ready to strike again. He's not going to risk his public reputation. He'd be pissed that Tony turned up alive, but not so pissed he wouldn't try to spin it before he climbs in the big stupid suit and rides it all the way to the Big Hollywood Ending.

Because Blonsky's transformation is clearly motivated and illustrated very well throughout his story, I think that makes his ending BETTER, and thus, I think it makes the movie BETTER. I don't love what was done, but I understand where it comes from.

Because Stane's transformation is not clearly motivated and not illustrated at all through his story, I think that makes his ending STUPID, and thus, I think it makes Iron Man the slightly less good movie. But because the entire movie has higher production values and slicker execution (and a much more charismatic protagonist), it's only on that note that it gets the nod and the higher ranking.

Believe me when I tell you, I agonize over this. I try getting people on the street to see my view and join my cult. I usually fail, and although Stan agrees with me he still doesn't totally agree, even though everyone can see I'm clearly right about this.

I love both movies. I seriously do. I promise. This is hair splitting that we aren't going to see again until we hit the top two. It burns me that Incredible Hulk isn't in the top 5 but I can accept it. Iron Man is better. But only slightly.

Marvel Movie Project #5: X2: X-Men United

And here we are in the Top 5!  And kicking it off with what was the greatest team movie for a very long time!  When X-men came out it was a vanguard.  It broke new ground and made all of the mistakes one might make when blazing a new trail.  X2 was the follow-up that smoothed all of those wrinkles.  In the vein of Empire Strikes Back, X2 captures the essence of great characters in a way the introductory tail cannot.  It puts those great characters through their paces and explores their motivations and desires with a level of depth and care you can only achieve with characters that are already established. And the best part of it all (for nerds), is that this film manages to do that by successfully drawing from powerful source material in the comic books.

One of the best things you can do in storytelling is make the villain of the piece so compelling that you can almost see their side of the story and you find yourself not entirely against them.  X2 nails this.  Mutants as a whole are up against a communal threat in William Stryker, a human who seeks to use his mutant son (no moral ambiguity there) to wipe out all mutants.  The abduction of Charles Xavier to this end forces an extremely uneasy alliance between Magneto and his rag-tag bad of evil mutants and the X-men.  The two divergent teams must work together to free Xavier and stop Stryker's plan.  This leads to many opportunities for tension between Magneto and the X-men and forces you to consider that Magneto is more than just a bad guy who tried to basically do the reverse of Stryker last movie.  The depth and complexity of the character gets careful attention as you realize he is more about protecting his people from those who hate and fear them, than he is about just being evil.  And the best part is that X2 allows this to happen organically and not shove it down your throat.  Smartly done.  Magneto led the X-men in the comics for a time as well (probably several times given Marvel's inability to write fresh stories in the past 20 years...), and it was a powerful story to read.  It is always nice to see that kind of crafty storytelling translated to the 2 hour format.

He said he could help you! Let him! Damn it! It would be so badass!

Because the people behind X2 learned from the first film, there is also a healthy Wolverine sub-plot that pits him against the man who made him (Stryker) and his newest, deadliest toy, Lady Deathstrike.  Thus, we gets lots more Wolverine action and as you all know, I could watch Hugh Jackman be a badass all day.  But the Logan subplot is smart too, and it doesn't try to steal the show, it just hums along adding meat to an already delicious story.   The showdown between Logan and Deathstrike is as epic as anything in the comics.

And I haven't even mentioned Nightcrawler yet!  Kurt Wagner is as rich and complex a character as you might want.  To be able to introduce him and use him as an obvious plot device, and still make him a funny and sympathetic character proves that X2 is one of the most carefully written movies on our list.  And creepiest, watch closely during the part where they go to rescue the children, Nightcrawler is actually in the room BEFORE he teleports in.  Look in the shadows behind the children just before he teleports in, he's already THERE!  CREEPY!

The only weak part of this movie for me was Stryker.  He was compelling as the mastermind of the plan, but he was kind of flat as the main enemy.  His son is a wheelchair bound headcase, so there's not much threat there either.  But if it means a smart story rife with moral ambiguity and deep characters, I'll take a meek bad guy.  To be honest, The Incredible Hulk would have been #1 on this list (maybe) if it had taken the meeker villain approach.  X2 features the kind of story that doesn't want a big Hollywood beat 'em up ending.  We don't need a literal monster to fight here, because Stryker, his hate and his plan are evil enough. I just wish Stryker himself were a bit more interesting.

All in all mild critique for what is otherwise a smart, action-packed sequel that learns all of the lessons from its ground-breaking predecessor. X2 is definitely top 5 material.

Aimee's Take:

First, allow me to apologize for the tardiness of this article--Stan and I welcomed baby boy into the Frankfurter family at the end of September, and it's been quite a little while since I had a few minutes to string together somewhat coherent thoughts while at a keyboard. As you can see, based upon the previous sentence, I'm not quite back into the swing of things yet. 

X2. Whew, ok, let me start by saying this is probably in my personal top 5 for sure. It's certainly my favorite of the first series X-Men movies (eat that Wolverine). 

What can I say? I love pretty much everything about it. I love the cooperative aspect between the X-Men and the Brotherhood; I love Magneto's escape from the plastic prison; I love the Weapon X sequence... but most of all I love how it's a relatively small story that has large implications. What they're working to stop is the annihilation of all mutants/then humans, but it's not a doomsday device--it's the mind and Cerebro with which we play. In other words, the antagonists exploit Professor X's own equipment. Very refreshing. 

I don't mind Stryker as much as my loving husband. I think he seems like the right kind of bloated old asshole who has allowed prejudice and personal tragedy to fester. I can easily see why he has spent years grinding an ax. I think he's pretty much the perfect threat.

But who are we kidding? The best part of the movie is the opening Nightcrawler sequence. Actually, I think Nightcrawler is the best thing about this movie (and considering it's mostly about Wolverine, that's saying something.)

And, the second best part of this movie is the sequence where the mansion is evacuated and Wolverine is a freakin' badass.

You tell me this doesn't belong in the top 5. Seriously. Yeah, I know, I know, Captain America, blah blah blah. It sucked, get over it. Maybe Winter Soldier will be better.

Marvel Movie Project #6: The Incredible Hulk

Aimee here! First let me apologize that this project is slowing down. It's 100% on me--I'm on the final stretch of my pregnancy and only interested in laying down and eating donuts. Anyway...

I thought I'd take the lead on this one because, well, frankly, this is my X-Men 3. This is the movie I love and defend despite the fact that everyone seems to hate. And I mean hate.

First of all, I don't know what more you want out of a damn Incredible Hulk movie.

There's no bothersome origin story here. The "backstory" is told through open-ended flashbacks and illustrated through the narrative--which I frankly find more enjoyable. With a film like this, you have to expect that at least 75% of your audience is going to be at least mostly familiar with the character.

We spend a good amount of time being introduced to meek, unassuming scientist-in-hiding Bruce Banner. A peek at his life reveals much about his character. Edward Norton knocks it out. I feel like he's perfect for the role here. Bruce Banner is not a body builder. He has a lot of issues. He's a scientist. He's not really the "super hero" type. He's at odds with what he wants his life to be versus what the big guy brings to the table.

I also love the terrific nods to the Incredible Hulk TV show. The show has very little to do with the comic, to be honest, but it's still an interesting and sensitive take on the character. I think Norton models a lot from Bill Bixby, and frankly, it works. They both seem like guys who wouldn't have a monster lurking inside--which is the very reason watching them grapple with the Hulk is compelling. This is why "I'm-the-Hulk-all-the-time" Eric Bana is horrible choice and a miserable Banner.

I'm glad to see a more interesting Thunderbolt Ross in this iteration; although I do believe by the end he's gone a little over-the-top. Same with Blonsky. I actually really enjoy Tim Roth in the role initially; he is off-kilter and compulsively power-mad, so his eventual transition to the Abomination makes some sense even if it, too, is an over-the-top addition to the film. More on this later.

I like Liv Tyler in the role of Betty. I don't mind that they've made her into a fellow scientist. It's not unbelievable and gives Betty something to do other than be tossed around by hapless fate. She and Bruce do seem like a fairly believable couple, although I do question Betty dumping her current boyfriend in two minutes just because Bruce came back. He's trying not to make waves, but she's all the way in without any hesitation. Maybe that's what would happen; I don't know.

The plot revolves around traveling to New York in order to make an attempt at curing Bruce of his affliction--again, feeling like a TV Hulk nod--and ultimately having a throw-down with Thunderbolt and his cronies, one of which winds up being the out-of-control Abomination (thanks to Samuel Stern's intervention with Bruce's unique gamma poisoning...)

This is where the movie gets...uh...stupid. I know, I know. I love this movie for its wonderfully sensitive portrayal of Banner and his demons. But... well, Iron Man. It came out earlier in the same summer. What does that mean? Big Hollywood Ending.

1. The Abomination looks stupid. I'm sorry, he does. I hate the character design; it's not the worst take, I guess, but the big bone-cracking transformation seems...ridiculous.

2. What's that? Sensitive portrayal? No no no, we need to have two "big guys" slug it out in traffic. It won't be a good movie if we don't do the thing where one of them picks up a car with a family in it. That hasn't been done many times.

3. Let's do that thing where after "ridding" the main character of his powerful flaw, we need him to have it again so he can stop the other thing that was supposed to kill him.

My complaints are mainly based on the design and execution of the ending here. I do feel that the character of Blonsky has been groomed appropriately to become the Abomination. Pay attention to that, because you're going to see me bring this up again in another review. But on the whole, it's overblown and unnecessary and kind of ruins the credibility that we were building for this movie.

On the whole, I absolutely believe this movie belongs in the top 10; I actually advocated early on that it belonged much higher. Unfortunately for it, it just can't edge its way out of the 6 slot due to the stiff competition and its disappointing conclusion. It has the distinction of what I feel is the best Banner (although Avengers is a game-changer) and will probably always be my underdog dark horse favorite. My apologies to those who thought it was stupid and boring.

Stan's Take

My Lovely Wife is exactly right.  This is the smartest, most thoughtful treatment of the Hulk character since Peter David's run on the Incredible Hulk comic book and the surprisingly high quality TV show.  Norton's performance is smart and nuanced.  He is Banner in every sense of the character.  The supporting characters are equally strong and while Roth's Blonsky is a bit of a departure from the source, his portrayal of a man mad with power is frighteningly compelling.

The characters are the backbone of this film's success, but the storytelling deserves some recognition for putting those great characters through their paces in a way that makes you really care about the them.  Banner is believed to be dead and is hiding out in South America as he works on a cure for his condition.  The movie opens with him being discovered and on the run.  Right off the bat you are invested in Banner's survival and his escape.  This is partly due to Norton being so damn likeable and partly because of the sympathy he generates for his plight.  Even though we are put right into the action and are only given a glimpse of the Hulk, the story is instantly engaging. 
Later, when Banner returns to the US and he is hiding out near his old university trying to get his hands on his research, there is a chance encounter with Betty where Banner must run from the person he loves the most rather than risk putting her in danger.  Moments like this make the heart sink and further drive home the cost of the curse of the Hulk.

With all of this drama you might worry that the movie is light on action, but with the exception of the ending, this movie does an incredible job of pacing the action with the drama and using action to raise the stakes for each character.   The best action scene in the film takes place on the campus of Banner's old university.  Giant sonic cannons are brought into play to subdue the Hulk.  There are extremely, carelessly powerful missiles and flamethrowers in use.  Tanks, jeeps, and army dudes by the score descend upon the campus to kill Banner before he can become the Hulk.  Of course, the Hulk wins the day by smashing everything to tiny bits (and putting the serious hurt on Blonksy), but he also takes a beating for the sole purpose of protecting a foolish Betty who runs out on the field of battle because she has the brain damage (only reason I can think of, although the movie would suggest it is to stand against her father's Moby Dick-esque obsession with the Hulk).  Make no mistake the moment is all action, but at its heart are great characters being put to the test.

And then, the whole thing just devolves into standard Hollywood blockbuster nonsense.  It's a Hulk movie so the Hulk has to fight some other kind of Hulk who is somehow stronger than he is and overcome him to win the day.  I have no idea why.  The movie was set up to be much smarter and subtle, but America's lowest common denominator prevails and instead we get a Transformers level smash-em-up instead.  It is kind of fitting, however, since the only watchable part of the first Hulk movie was the last 10 minutes.  It only makes sense that the only cringe-worthy part of this movie was the last 10 minutes.

I would be remiss in overlooking the fact that while still not perfect, the Hulk CG does look much improved in this film.  The Abomination is a sad cartoon, but the Hulk looks pretty good.  We have to wait for the Avengers for the Hulk to look his very best.

Ending aside, The Incredible Hulk is an exceptional film and although it is ranked #6 on our list, it really represents the beginning of the true Elite Marvel Movies.

Next time we'll crack the Top 5 and take a look at the very cream of the crop in Marvel Movies.  See you next week!

Marvel Movie Project #7: X-men: Last Stand

Everyone hates this movie except me and I have only found out about this recently.  I don't get it.  X-men 3 isn't The Avengers, but it also isn't Fantastic Four and while I realize there is a sea of difference between the two, I struggle to find what's not to like here. (Aimee will help us out there)  I mean, this movie pretty much has it all:  more fun with characters I like, the balls to kill off three very prominent characters, new/interesting villains, old/interesting villains, a fairly straightforward plot, the Beast says "oh my stars and garters" and it works!, and big climactic final battle that rivals some of the great X-men showdowns in the comics!

X-men 3 is a logical and necessary conclusion to X-2, so it is never going to stand on its own as a great film, but as team movies go I think it is pretty strong.  Sure, the Angel storyline is almost completely superfluous, but it is also very forgettable.  I think the balance is better here than it was in X-men, which, while being a decent ensemble piece, felt like Wolverine's debutant ball.  By the time we get to X-men 3, the characters are all fully developed and we are allowed to enjoy them being put to the test.  Storm in particular shines in this film where before Halle Berry seemed more content to play Catwoman.  Kelsey Grammar is an unexpectedly compelling Beast, and Rebecca Romijn gets a surprising twist in Mystique story arc.  And, of course, Ellen Page captures Kitty Pryde dead-on.

There is a lot to like in X-men 3 and a lot of lessons have been learned.  Gone are the days of the World Peace Festivals and Doomsday machines.  Instead we get a plot that, while condensed, is straight from the pages of the comic books.  We get internal strife within the X-men as characters follow their natural story arcs and disagree on what is best for the future of the team.  We get plenty of hard-hitting action without having to concoct a lot of goofy reasons for it.  Comic book nerds also get lots of nuggets to feast upon with cameos by Jamie Madrox the Multiple Man and Psylocke and much needed screen time for the under-used Colossus.  Not to mention the awesome "Days of Future Past" Danger Room sequence.

With all of these great things going on, I find it hard to find major fault anywhere in this film.  For me it is just a fun action-romp with great X-men characters in a world that has been firmly established.  Does it have problems?  Sure.  But they are not big enough for me to get in a snit over and they certainly do not diminish my enjoyment of this film.  There are two (three if you count The Avengers) other team films ahead of this one on the list, but X-men 3 earns its #7 spot by learning from the mistakes of other team films, particularly X-men, and succeeding in delivering a blockbuster-type experience.

Aimee's Take:

I really don't like Angel, I think he's stupid. 

I really don't care for the "mutant cure" premise.

I think there are altogether too many premises in this movie.

But, here's the good news. It's mostly ok. The film manages to execute a lot of interesting things and represent characters, in general, much better than the first installment. It's a good movie. It has a lot going on, though--so you have to pay attention.

I'm biased. I saw this movie and did not like it at all in the theater. I had no idea where it was building and no patience for any pay off. I was pissed that it took a long time to get there, too.

Here's the thing, though, the second viewing changed things for me. Once the burden of navigating the plot was off my shoulders, it became much easier to sit back and enjoy the movie. Do I think it's the best out there? No. Is it better than much of the stuff that exists lower on the list? Yes. Is it better than, for example Spider-Man? I'm not as sure. I think it's better than the first X-Men.

I think this makes everything ok.

I lobbied pretty hard for this movie to be lower on the list. Stan wanted it higher. In order to keep X3 sufficiently low, I had to relinquish my stranglehold on the #1 spot. I think it was ultimately worth it; this movie is good but not great and should take a lower spot compared to what comes later on this list. And the #1 spot was almost a coinflip anyway...