The MCU has captivated audiences worldwide with its blend of action, drama, and humour. This article explores five standout films from the MCU, each bringing its unique flavour to the ever-expanding Marvel universe.
1. Ant-Man and The Wasp
Directed by- Peyton Reed
Written by- Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Paul Rudd, Andrew Barrer, and Gabriel Ferrari
Starring- Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena, Walton Goggins, Hannah John-Kamen, and David Dastmalchian
Despite being under house arrest, Scott Lang, along with the Wasp, sets out to help Dr Hank Pym to enter the quantum realm as they face new enemies along the way.
2. Thor
Directed by- Kenneth Branagh
Written by- Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, and Don Payne
Starring- Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Stellan Skarsgard, and Kat Dennings
Thor is exiled by his father, Odin, the King of Asgard, to the Earth to live among mortals. When he lands on Earth, his trusted weapon Mjolnir is discovered and captured by S.H.I.E.L.D. Thor has always been the black sheep of the MCU, especially since the first two films didn’t do so well but upon recent viewings, it is safe to say that it is a pretty solid standalone film.
3. Avengers: Age Of Ultron
Directed by- Joss Whedon
Written by- Joss Whedon
Starring- Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Chris Hemsworth, James Spader, Paul Bettany, and Elizabeth Olsen
Tony Stark built an artificial intelligence system named Ultron with the help of Bruce Banner. When the sentient Ultron makes plans to wipe out the human race, the Avengers set out to stop him. Age of Ultron introduced us to three new characters- Vision, Wanda, and Quicksilver. Many people criticized the lack of action sequences in the film and felt that the plot was a little contrived.
4. Captain America: The First Avenger
Directed by- Joe Johnston
Written by- Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Starring- Chris Evans, Tommy Lee Jones, Hugo Weaving, Hayley Atwell, Sebastian Stan, Dominic Cooper, and Tony Jones
During World War II, Steve Rogers decides to volunteer in an experiment that transforms his weak body. He must now battle a secret Nazi organization headed by Johann Schmidt to defend his nation. The film was a commercial and critical success and was part of Phase One of the MCU. Roger Ebert remarked,”I enjoyed the movie. I appreciated the 1940s period settings and costumes, which were a break with the usual generic cityscapes. I admired the way that director Joe Johnston propelled the narrative. I got a sense of a broad story, rather than the impression of a series of sensational set pieces. If Marvel is wise, it will take this and Iron Man as its templates.” It was followed by two sequels- Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Captain America: Civil War.
5. Iron Man 3
Directed by- Shane Black
Written by- Shane Black and Drew Pearce
Starring- Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, and Ben Kingsley
Suffering from PTSD, Tony Stark encounters a formidable foe called the Mandarin. When he watches his world fall apart, he must rely on his own instincts as he embarks on a journey of retribution. Although the action and Downey’s acting were praised, many fans flooded the internet with hate comments due to the portrayal of the Mandarin.
