Thursday, February 22, 2018

Marvel Cinematic Universe Ranked



What a time to be comic book fan! We are definitely being spoiled with the amount of good comic book movies being made. I feel this is what will be the golden age of comic book movies with so many good movies coming out especially from Marvel comics. I read comic books as a kid up until by early 20's and I still read graphic novels from time to time when I can. I do not always know all the stories touched on in movies, but sometime like Civil War I have read the comics and know what they have changed. I am just ranking the Cinematic Universe that started in 2008 with Iron Man and the hinting of the Avengers (sorry fans of Blade, Raimi Spider-Man films, and Fantastic Four) maybe we can do a ranking of those another time. 

Before I start I understand everyone has different favorites, the reason I made this list was because a friend of mine made his list on Facebook and the amount of people telling him what he did wrong made me kind of upset. It was just his own personal rankings, as these are mine. Maybe you love Thor flicks more then me, that's cool! I like Thor but not as much as Captain America flicks!

So my rankings include the last time I saw the movie, how many total times I have seen the movie and the overall ranking of the movie out of the 115 comic books movies  I have seen. I will include brief reason/summary of why I like/dislike the movie. Thanks for reading and have please tell me your rankings. 




Marvel Cinematic Universe Films Ranked:



1.       Captain America: The Winter Solider (2014) – last seen 11/9/16 (seen 3 times total)  Overall comic book rank #2 out of 115 - This is my favorite Marvel Cinematic movie. I was totally shocked when I first saw this movie and how they made a comic movie into something more. It's a political thriller and a buddy cop movie rolled into a comic book flick and this made me love the Russo Brothers (who also directed Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War. I thought Anthony Mackie was just a great addition to the marvel universe and the acting by Chris Evans is the best he has done. This movie also had long lasting implications going forward in the marvel cinematic universe.








2.       The Avengers (2012) – last seen 6/29/16 (seen 5 times total)  Overall comic book rank #3 out of 115 - This is the conclusion that started with Iron Man in 2008, the Avengers was made into an actual movie! I never thought I would see this movie in my life time and wow they just nailed it. The final battle in New York is still probably one of my all time favorite comic book movie fight. Just such a great fun and enjoying (and satisfying) comic book film.









3.       Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) – last seen 3/18/17 (seen 3 times total)  Overall comic book rank #5 out of 115 - This was a total surprise but in the best way, this is one the most enjoying comic book experience I had in a long time. They made the movie funny but also have heart and all done with great humor and nostalgia. I know Avengers is ranked higher but this is the best team in the MCU.








4.       Captain America: Civil War (2016) – last seen 5/15/16 (seen 2 times total)  Overall comic book rank # 9 out of 115 - Basically Avengers 3 but also an outstanding Captain America movie. I think this really gets into what Cap stands for and how he is willing to be steadfast in his beliefs. The airport fight scene rivals Avengers for the best fight scene in the MCU. Just so cool to see team cap vs team Iron Man running towards each other ready to fight and we actually understand why they are fighting. Oh and Spider-Man! Giant Man! If you love comics as a kid this movie was made for you!








5.       Iron Man (2008) – last seen 6/8/16 (seen 3 times total)  Overall comic book rank # 14 out of 115 - The one that started it all and showed us fans that marvel was going in the right direction. Big thanks needs to be made for Jon Favreau for casting Robert Downey Jr and making this movie start to link the films. This is how you do an origin story!








6.       Ant-Man (2015) – last seen 8/3/15 (seen 3 times total)  Overall comic book rank # 23 out of 115 - Probably won't be this high on many peoples list, so why so high on your? I just love the movie! Paul Rudd brings humor and heart to the story and I love the San Francisco setting. I feel I can watch this movie anytime and still enjoy it just as much as the first time.









7.       Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) – last seen 6/16/17 (seen 2 times total)  Overall comic book rank #24 of 115 - Spider-Man made such a great intro in Civil War and it was great to see that they kept up the promise he showed. Tom Holland is a younger Spidey dealing with a lot of the issues that Spider-Man dealt with in the comics. School, girls, etc. Great job here with casting Micheal Keaton as sympathetic villain the Vulture.









8.       Black Panther (2018) – last seen 2/21/18 (seen 1 time)  Overall comic book rank #25 of 115 - Just saw this yesterday so it is very fresh. Again marvel shows they can make movies that show us new places and great stories. It is sort of James Bond-ish at times and I think the message is very heartfelt yet not in your face and one of the best in the MCU. Michael B. Jordan steals the show as the villain who you almost cannot argue with. Can go up with more viewings for sure.








9.       Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 (2017) – last seen 1/24/17 (seen 2 times total)  Overall comic book rank #29 of 115 - The second viewing of this really cemented how much I enjoyed it. This is a movie that is large in spectacle and why not quite as good as the first it does continue to explore the family dynamic of how we disagree but in the end family sticks together. A very touching and sad ending to this one.










10.   Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – last seen 6/20/16 (seen 4 times total)  Overall comic book rank # 32 of 115 - I really love this one, it is another showing of how to do an origin story correctly. Chris Evans really showed me that he can act and took this role really seriously. Before these Cap series I never gave the character much praise but the MCU has changed my stance on Cap a lot. Still waiting for Red Skull to come back, he was a well done bad guy. 








11.   Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) – last seen 10/2/15 (seen 3 times total)  Overall comic book rank # 36 of 115 - Really enjoyed this movie and how it built off of the first one. The characters are getting closer but they also have some disagreements. They all have to come together to take on Ultron. Not quite as a good as the top ten films but still a quality flick.









12.   Thor (2011) – last seen 6/17/16 (seen 3 times total)  Overall comic book rank # 43 of 115 - I thought Chirs Hemsworth had amazing charisma as Thor and a presence that makes you root for him as well as like him. The movie is the fish out of water story as Thor is banished to Earth and learns about what a real hero is. They did a great job with Asgard and Loki is a bad guy we all enjoy.









13.   Doctor Strange (2016) – last seen 3/19/17 (seen 2 times)  Overall comic book rank #44 of 115 - Cumberbatch is great as a man who is in search for healing in one way or another. The effects are top notch and have a very trippy vibe. The movie goes into magic and how that places in the MCU. I look forward to seeing where they take Dr. Strange soon.








14.   Thor: Ragnarok (2017) – last seen 11/6/17 (seen 1 time)  Overall comic book rank # 47 of 115 - Only saw it once but this was a very fun movie. Thor again is an outsider in a new world but this time he gets some cool friends aka The Hulk is a major player in this one. Great humor and coolness. Need to see again!








15.   Iron Man 3 (2013) – last seen 7/1/16 (seen 4 times)  Overall comic book rank #48 of 115 - Iron Man 3 was much better then part 2 but still not as good as the other movies on this list. This time Tony Stark is suffering from PTSD from the Avengers battle, he gets some time out of the suit and the movies ending shows that he can move on from Iron Man and be ok.









16.   Iron Man 2 (2010) – last seen 6/12/16 (seen 2 times)  Overall comic book rank #64 of 115 - Average Iron Man flick, wasn't bad but not my favorite. Sam Rockwell brings some nice humor as Justin Hammer but the main villain Wiplash does fall flat at times. I feel the ending was hurried and might suffer from too many cooks in the kitchen (Black Widow shows up here too).









17.   Thor: The Dark World (2013) – last seen 8/4/16 (seen 3 times)  Overall comic book rank #75 of 115 - I thought this was somewhat of a misfire, I didn't really think the bad guy was that intriguing and the humor just doesn't work in this one. Not very memorable.






18.   The Incredible Hulk (2008) – last seen 7/11/16 (seen 2 times)  Overall comic book rank #80 of 115 - Before Mark Ruffalo the Hulk was in this pretty average movie played by Ed Norton. The movie is somewhat of a mess, despite having good actors in place. This was early when the MCU wasn't what it is today. 

Thursday, February 15, 2018

MLB 2018 Predictions

AL


EAST
---------------
New York Yankees    95-67
Boston Red Sox         90-72*
Toronto Blue Jays      81-81
Baltimore Orioles      79-83
Tampa Bay Rays        72-90


CENTRAL
--------------------
Cleveland Indians       99-62
Minnesota Twins        83-79
Chicago White Sox    71-91
Kansas City Royals    68-94
Detroit Tigers             63-99

WEST
-------------------
Houston Astros           102-60
Los Angeles Angels    85-77*
Texas Rangers             77-85
Seattle Mariners          73-89
Oakland Athletics       72-90




NL

EAST
----------------
Washington Nationals      99-63
New York Mets                82-80
Philadelphia Phillies        75-87
Atlanta Braves                 74-88
Miami Marlins                 62-100

CENTRAL
----------------
Chicago Cubs              95-67
St Louis Cardinals       87-75*
Milwaukee Brewers    84-78
Cincinnati Reds           74-88

Pittsburgh Pirates        69-93

WEST
----------------
Los Angeles Dodgers     98-64
Colorado Rockies           86-76*
San Francisco Giants      84-78
Arizona Diamondbacks  83-79
San Diego Padres            65-97

*-wild card team


Playoffs 

Wild Card Round
----------------------------------
Red Sox defeat Angels
Rockies defeat Cardinals

ALDS
--------------------
Astros defeat Red Sox (3-1)
Indians defeat Yankees (3-2)

NLDS
----------------------
Nationals defeat Rockies (3-1)
Cubs defeat Dodgers (3-2)

ALCS
---------------------
Indians defeat Houston (4-3)

NLCS
---------------------
Nationals defeat Cubs (4-3)

World Series 
-------------------------
Indians defeats Nationals (4-2)

Awards

NL MVP - Bryce Harper - Nationals 
AL MVP- Gincarlo Stanton - Yankees 
NL Cy Young - Klayton Kershaw - Dodgers
AL Cy Young - Dallas Kuechel - Astros 
NL Rookie of the Year - Nick Senzel -Reds
AL Rookie of the Year - Shohei Ohtani - Angels
NL Manager of the Year- Dave Roberts - Dodgers
AL Manager of the Year - A.J. Hinch - Astros

Play Ball!!!