Ranking: 4 Pips = Great | 3 Pips = Good | 2 Pips = Okay | 1 Pip = Bad
Iron Man (2008)
Anika: 3 Pips
In terms of what this film accomplished, it’s one of the best ever made. I love it for Tony and Pepper but the villain and climactic battle are underwhelming.
Sam: 3 Pips
I definitely saw this twice, which for the MCU movies is big for me. They completely nailed casting, which made the movie a total joy to watch, even if I never cared much about Iron Man before 2008.
The Incredible Hulk (2009)
Anika: 3 Pips
Bring Back Betty Ross 2KFOREVER.
Sam: 2 1/2 pips
Is this the one with Edward Norton? This one was pretty good. What was it about? Idk, but I actually really liked the cast? I’d give it more pips if I could remember it better, but clearly it wasn’t super memorable, except that one scene where Bruce is running around (I think) the slums of Rio?
Iron Man 2 (2010)
Anika: 1 Pip
Sam Rockwell gives an A+ performance but this movie is terrible.
Sam: 1 Pip
Why is this movie?
Thor (2011)
Anika: 4 Pips
Thor, Loki, and Jane are all my favorite. I absolutely love how the Thor films blend science and mythos and promote complimentary perspectives!
Sam: 3 1/2 Pips
I remove pips only because I don’t really like Loki very much. But this is certainly his best appearance in the MCU (IMO), so only half a pip.
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)
Anika: 2 Pips
I’m sorry! I really hate the Hydra-Nazi connection and it makes the Cap films difficult to enjoy or even watch. In this one I find myself wanting to follow along with Peggy’s and Howard’s adventures more than Steve.
Sam: 3 Pips
I cared even less about Captain America than I did about Iron Man, and I’m still sort of on the fence about the guy (though Cap!Chris is great as him) but I love Bucky and I love Peggy, and I never loved Peggy before this movie, because I didn’t even know Peggy. They get a pip each on their own, plus another pip for the setting.
Marvel’s The Avengers (2012)
Anika: 4 Pips
As with the first Iron Man, this film succeeds at a lot more than being a great film. But it is also a great film.
Sam: 4 Pips
Yeah, this is a pretty well-structured movie, and a great team film. My main issues with it are sort of exterior to the movie itself, and it’s a fun movie to watch.
Iron Man 3 (2013)
Anika: 3 Pips
Would be four if Maya Hansen had been the main villain as planned. I love what the film does with Tony and Pepper but I will always be angry about that.
Sam: 3 1/2 Pips
I love this movie for no discernible reason. I think Pepper and Maya mainly. But I would watch it many times.
Thor: The Dark World (2013)
Anika: 2 Pips
I will also always be angry that Frigga is dead. The pacing is off, too.
Sam: 1 1/2 Pips
Yeah, same. Saved only by Jane basically. Huge waste of Eccleston. HUGE.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)
Anika: 2 Pips
I’m sorry! I really hate the Hydra-Nazi connection and it makes the Cap films difficult to enjoy or even watch. I connected to the after credits scene more than anything in the film (though I love Sam).
Sam: 4 Pips
I loved this movie. Felt like 3 Days of the Condor; suspenseful political thriller that just happened to have action scenes in it.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Anika: 4 Pips
I love my space family and this film always cheers me up. If Gamora were the main character it would be perfect, as is it is still my favorite MCU film (so far).
Sam: 3 Pips
I had fun but this just came into my life at a point where I had Chris burnout and was less interested in Star Lord’s story because of it.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)
Anika: 2 Pips
Drowning in Punch Drunk Quips: The Movie. But I love Vision and the Scarlet Witch.
Sam: 1 1/2 Pips
I liked… Wanda I guess?
Ant-Man (2015)
Anika: 4 Pips
I can’t get over how much I like this movie. Love the heist, love the family drama, love the teamwork. Even the movie knows Hope should be the protagonist but. Still.
Sam: 4 Pips
I too love this movie! I refused to go see it in the theater because I was so mad about it being another movie about a scruffy white guy who quips, but it was actually sort of enjoyable and I stand corrected. But Hope should have been the protagonist.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Anika: 3 Pips
Okay, so this doesn’t get my Cap Film Disclaimer because it’s barely a Cap film. And I really enjoy it. There are a lot of great character beats that make up for the messy plot and sideways resolution.
Sam: 1 Pip
Maybe I’ll feel better about this after some time, but there’s so much I disliked about this movie, including the fact that it was basically a well-reviewed Batman vs. Superman, that I think I just can’t fairly judge it right now. But Bucky was in it, so that was nice. It should have been Hope in the group fight, though.
