Updating for Endgame:
1. Marvel's The Avengers - I still love the hype train that built into this one. The Avengers joining for the first time, after then years of build-up. If only we really appreciated how this was the first of three phases.
2. Thor: Ragnarok - The movie Thor always deserved. I really love Ragnorak as it's the one movie that stuck closest to the comic, especially in terms of art director and cinematography. And who doesn't like Jeff Goldblum as a bad guy?
3. Captain America: Civil War - Really loved the story arc, and mini-Avengers movie they packed in. Very critical point in the Avengers story, with a fantastic rumble fight sequence.
4. Captain America: The Winter Soldier - This was when Captain America really became badass in my mind. Really enjoyed unpacking more of Hydra's backstory, and the downfall of SHIELD.
5. Guardians of the Galaxy - The spinoff spoof that really, really worked.
6. Black Panther - I've really loved how T'Challa has been developed into the Marvel universe, probably the strongest of "late comer" Avengers.
7. Captain Marvel - Hey! You can still do an origin story in Phase 3!
8. Avengers: Endgame - Great way to cap off the Avengers trilogy, but in a "Deathly Hallows Part 2" kind of way; best seen as part of Infinity Wars. By itself, it's an awkward narrative that has a lot of strands to follow. Again, good ending for the series, but not an amazing film by itself.
9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - A solid sequel, and love unpacking more of the "space" element for the Marvel universe. Also introduced us to the concept of Jump Points, which helps make the MCU far more navigable as we move from Earth to Asgard to space. There's more than one way (bifrost) to get around!
10. Spider-Man: Homecoming - I have to admit, this is my favorite Spiderverse: Peter Parker with mechanical web slingers and young Aunt May. Best spider man since the OG Sony.
11. Avengers: Infinity War - It's a downer, but well done.
12. Ant-Man - It's a second tier Avenger that doesn't get enough credit. Ant-man is a perfectly good movie, and still far better than much of the DC work.
13. Iron Man 2 - I have a nerd boner for Iron Man 2 as it was when we first really started piecing together the formation of the Avengers. That drunk Tony Stark scene though still merits a lot of negative points though.
14. Thor: The Dark World - I wanted to like this movie so much, getting to venture world's colliding and Jane getting possessed by the reality stone. Better than the original Thor, but not by much.
15. Doctor Strange - Same as Thor: The Dark World, I really wanted to like Doctor Strange, as he is one of the more interesting Avengers in terms of background and power. Still, the plot felt a bit meddling, and bald Tilda Swinton didn't exactly work out.
16. Captain America: The First Avenger - It's fine as an origin story, but Captain America headed for far greater action and adventure in subsequent movies.
17. Ant-Man and the Wasp - Same as the original Ant-Man, really. But at least it answers how Ant-Man is still around post Infinity Wars.
18. Iron Man - It's the very first Avengers movie, which makes it great. And Jeff Bridges as the bad guy? Even better. But hey, there's now a lot better movies.
19. Avengers: Age of Ultron - Ugh, Ultron is cool as a bad guy in concept, and we got the Vision. Still, the final action sequence felt like there was a lot left to be desired. And some random plot threads too, such as going to Wakanda, picking up the twins, and remains of Hydra?
20. Iron Man 3 - could have ended in 15 minutes by giving the "House Party" command. And the Mandarin is such a better villain than what they gave!
21. Thor - It was boring, let's be honest. Also, while we're at it; how crap is the Asgard Vault? Like, everyone keeps breaking into it, stealing the Infinity Gauntlet, Tesseract, and the literal defense system. So much of the MCU would be better if it wasn't for Thor and his meddlesome gods.
22. The Incredible Hulk - Edward Norton, you can do better. (Still better than Eric Bana though)
