The release of "Thunderbolts*" means the end of Phase Five of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It has not been a good one for Marvel, and I'm going to take this opportunity to talk about some of the franchise's more systemic issues as we go. I haven't decided yet whether I'm going to rank the Disney+ shows of this phase, since it'll require catching up on a few programs I don't have much interest in.
Watch out for all the spoilers ahead.
1. Thunderbolts* - I just posted a full review a few days ago, so I won't say too much here. However, what I appreciate the most about "Thunderbolts" is that it's venturing into some new territory for Marvel. We've seen plenty of takes on antiheroes, big team-ups, and evil Superman figures before, but approaching all of this from a mental health angle is something novel, and very effective. The Void and his Hiroshima shadows and shame boxes are horrifying on a level I've never seen in the MCU before - and how he's defeated is absolutely perfect.
2. Deadpool & Wolverine - This is the closest to a pure comedy as any MCU film has ever gotten, and it's definitely the first R-rating. The results couldn't have been better. Sure, the plot is just an excuse to be juvenile, super nerdy, and nostalgic for FOX media of yore, but the movie is really good at being all of those things, and wildly entertaining to boot. Some commentators seem aghast that Ryan Reynolds and Shawn Levy now have a blank check at Marvel, but frankly I'm thrilled that the MCU is getting a shot of new energy from these guys right when it needs it the most.
3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 - Farewell James Gunn. I'm glad that you got to leave on your own terms after the firing and rehiring drama that happened in 2018. The movie was delayed, but ended up being worth the wait. I was cool on the first two "Guardians" films, but connected to the third, where Rocket Racoon takes center stage. There's such a boundless creativity on display, and a real sense of weirdo vision to the film that is easy to appreciate, even if Gunn's tastes don't really align with mine. If this is goodbye to this corner of the MCU, then it went out on a high note.
4. The Marvels - This is not a bad movie. There are a lot of things that I like in it, particularly Iman Vellani's Ms. Marvel and a new use for alien cats. Unfortunately, Monica Rambeau still doesn't have much of a personality. Honestly, Carol Danvers doesn't either, and the less said about the villain Dar-Benn the better. Still, I like this considerably more than "Captain Marvel," and the low box office performance reflects the changing attitudes of the audience toward the MCU more than anything else. If this had been released a few years earliers, it would have done at least as well as…
5. Captain America: Brave New World - I didn't bother writing a full review for this. While it's perfectly watchable, it's also perfectly disposable. I like Anthony Mackie as Cap, I like Danny Ramirez as the new Falcon, and watching Harrison Ford return to the White House was diverting. Not much else of interest is going on though. There was clearly some trouble behind the scenes, as evidenced by the multiple delays, title changes, muddled script, and whatever happened with Tim Blake Nelson's character. At least this was better than "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," though not by much.
6. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania - Boy is this movie depressing. The first "Ant-Man" is one of the better solo superhero movies in the entire MCU, and it's just been steadily downhill from there. "Quantumania" has my vote for the absolute worst film of the entire franchise. It's awful as an "Ant-Man" film, taking place in a fantasy world that totally negates the fun of the Ant-Man powers. Most of the plot involves setting up a villain for later movies who had to be scrapped. MODOK happened. Bill Murray happened. The more I think about this movie, the worse it gets.
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