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Ranking The Marvel Cinematic Universe (W/The Fantastic Four- First Steps)

July 25, 2025 AdamLeave a comment

There has been no other franchise that has made as big of an impact on the film industry as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. You can debate whether or not it has impacted the industry for the better or for the worse but no doubt it has made an impact. With Thunderbolts* now out in theaters, I want to take the time to share my rankings of all 36 (!) films to be released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far.

First off, a few disclaimers. I am ONLY counting the movies that were released to be a part of this cinematic universe and nothing else. Which is why you won’t see the Venom movies, Morbius, or any of the Spider-Man movies except for the ones with Tom Holland on this list. I’m also NOT including any of the Netflix or Disney Plus series as that would make the rankings on this list even more complicated than it already is. Lastly, this is all MY opinion. Considering there’s now 36 movies in this universe, there’s a good chance my rankings won’t match yours.

When doing this list, I mostly tried to find a good mix between the ones I find to be the best in terms of objective quality, the ones that I enjoy watching the most, and the ones that I believe serves a big purpose to not just the cinematic universe itself but also the superhero subgenre in general.

Anyways, here I go with the biggest ranking I’ve made on this site so far. Let’s rank the Marvel Cinematic Universe films!

37.) Captain America: Brave New World

If there is one MCU film that is the textbook definition of a nothing burger, look no further than Captain America: Brave New World. Anthony Mackie’s first ever film outing as the man in the stars and stripes could not have been more underwhelming if it tried. Instead of centering around an earnest adventure of Sam Wilson learning to step into the shoes as Captain America, Brave New World instead uses it’s plot for the sake of connecting tissues to prior (not so beloved) MCU installments such as The Incredible Hulk and Eternals. While it’s cool to see the MCU finally reference The Incredible Hulk as a legit thing and remember about the god from Eternals laying down in the ocean, I came to see a Captain America movie and….it doesn’t really deliver that here. Red Hulk is barely in it, the plot itself feels like a mismatch of the better parts of Winter Soldier and Civil War, it aims to be a political thriller without having ANYTHING to say politically that makes sense in the context of the MCU, and the reshoots could not have been more painfully obvious if it tries. When looking at it as a deposable action flick with espionage elements added to it, there’s nothing much here. When looking at through the current lenses of the MCU, there’s nothing much here. Even when talking about the post credits scene, there’s nothing much here! Brave New World is a film you can easily skip in your MCU marathon and you will miss NOTHING!

36.) Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania isn’t quite the worst movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe but it’s certainly knocking at that door. Despite the movie’s overall goal is to give everyone a clear direction as to where this next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going, it still has that feeling of inconsequentiality because of how little that will likely matter in the long run and how it barely progresses the characters and their stories here. It still hits the same beats you would expect from a Marvel movie but whether or not that will be enough to save the picture is entirely up to you. And if the box office results and fan/critical reception is anything to go by, it’s clearly not for most people. Jonathan Majors as Kang stands out well here (at least until Majors had to be an idiot and derail his own career and the MCU along with it) but very little else does, especially the mind numbing CGI.

35.) Black Widow

The original female Avengers FINALLY got her own movie to shine…….about six years too late! When looking at it like that and the timing of it’s release, Black Widow could not have came out at the worst possible place at the worst possible time. Even when looking at the movie as it’s own thing, there’s not much that stands out here aside from some decent family drama and the introduction of the impossible-not-to-adore Florence Pugh of Natasha’s highly energetic sister Yelena. And don’t get me started on what’s done with Taskmaster, the less than stellar CGI in the third act that everyone and their mother has made fun of, and the fact they waited until AFTER Natasha was killed off to give her her own movie. If we have gotten this film much sooner, this could’ve stood out among the MCU’s greatest heroes. But by 2021, that ship had already sailed! Thanks a lot, Ike!

34.) Eternals

If you were to ask me which MCU movie would have worked better as it’s own Disney Plus series than as it’s own individual film, my first answer will always go to Eternals. Despite having a lot of ambition and interesting ideas, this never quite works the way it desperately wants too. There’s just too much characters to focus on with so little time given to develop any one of them to make you care about them. Not to mention, it has themes that (while well intended) end up practically contradicting itself by the end of it. Chloe Zhao does what she can in given the film it’s own unique directing style that distances itself from the rest of the MCU but it’s still too much of an unengaging slog to give it a pass. Eternals may not work but I do hope the negative reception this movie has gotten doesn’t prevent Marvel Studios from trying films like this in the near future.

33.) Thor: The Dark World

The entry in this franchise that has aged the worst, especially in the wake of Thor: Ragnarok, remains among the weakest MCU installments to date. It still has it’s moments such as the powerful funeral scene and the moment where Thor and the main villain fights through the portals. However, it can never shake the feeling that it only exist just so Thor has a movie in Phase 2. The main problem is that it feels too inconsequential, complacent, and moves at such a fast clip that it’s hard to get invested into anything happen, even after characters supposedly “die”. The reshoots the movie have are quite obvious as it feels like a mix of multiple visions that never come together as a cohesive whole. Not to mention, the villain flat out sucks here (You can’t even remember his name, can you?)! On the bright, this did get a redemption arc later on down the road in Avengers: Endgame. It’s certainly a movie you can watch and get some entertainment out of (which says something about how even the very worst of the MCU is still watchable), but this is certainly one movie which critics of the MCU will find plenty of bullet points to support their arguments with.

32.) Iron Man 2

There are plenty of folks that claimed that Marvel Studios couldn’t miss in the Infinity Saga. Those people clearly didn’t watch Iron Man 2 (or Thor: The Dark World). Everything that worked well in the original Iron Man just falls flat here. The cast is still great and the effects are top-notch but the script lets it down with too much Marvel easter eggs, little to no character progression, and action scenes that are over before they even began. You could tell Marvel was still getting their footing in how to make these movies as this feels like it only exist to buy time for the other movies in Phase One. On the bright side, just like with The Dark World, it did at least get a bit of a redemption arc later on down the road in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. I guess that’s something.

31.) Captain Marvel

Marvel finally got around to making a female led superhero movie in 2019 with Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel. If you are able to separate the bizarre controversy that was attached to this film pre-release, there is some enjoyment to be had here. The first act is all over the place and some retcons to the universe are plain dumb (Fury losing an eye to a cat!) but it’s still works as a fun buddy cop flick/origin story on the most powerful superhero in the MCU. Brie Larson fits the roll very well and has great chemistry with the rest of the cast, the 90s setting is fun, Samuel Jackson and his CGI is perfection, and seeing Captain Marvel flying through and destroying ships in her super form is quite satisfying. If only this character was introduced a bit sooner and not just before Endgame that I think it would have been easier for others to accept Carol with the other Marvel heroes.

30.) Thor: Love & Thunder

On paper, Love & Thunder should be the best Thor flick to date, incorporating major comic elements such as Mighty Thor and Gorr the God Butcher. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end up reaching up to that potential, with Whatti not being able to get out of his own damn way and not knowing when to let the jokes and emotional beats land. Still, the additions of Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie, Christian Bale’s Gorr, and the welcome return of Natalie Portman’s Mighty Thor help make the experience fun and engaging, preventing the whole picture from being a complete failure. It’s just a shame that Whatti was unable to perfect the comedic/dramatic balanced tone he implemented so well in Thor: Ragnarok.

29.) The Marvels

Talk about a movie that came out at the worst possible time imaginable. Releasing during multiple strikes, franchise/superhero fatigue, and internet trolls being louder than ever, The Marvels is basically the one MCU movie that no one gave a chance to, not even Disney and Marvel themselves. Which sucks because when actually looking the movie on it’s own, it’s actually quite fun with some damn good action sequences, neat looking visuals, and three enjoyable female leads. Iman Vellani is precious as hell as Kamala Khan, Teyonah Parris is cool as Monica, and Brie Larson is able to shine much better her than any other films she’s been in as Captain Marvel, almost as if this is the character that Brie has been wanting to play since signing up for the role. It could have used a stronger villain in Dar-Benn, with more flesh out dynamics between her and the Marvels themselves and it’s certainly a film you can nitpick to death if you want to get technical about it but judging it as a straight up action movie, it’s entertaining with solid chemistry between the three leads. If you skipped this movie in theaters, I’d say give this a chance once it comes out on Disney Plus and you might be surprised with it.

28.) Doctor Strange

This introduces some of the most interesting ideas and concepts that the Marvel movies have tried out thus far but it’s just a shame not all of it is able to be executed to it’s fullest potential until the near tail end of the picture. Doctor Strange is the one MCU installment where you can really feel the Marvel formula that this franchise has grown accustom too with the way it hits every single origin story beat in the book. Also, the sideling of Mads Mikkelsen and Rachel McAdams doesn’t help here. The third act is still an absolute banger, Benedict Cumberbatch was born to play Stephen Strange, and it does at least give a clear view into the direction that future Marvel movies are going with how much weirder and “out there” it will dare to go with it’s set pieces and visuals. It’s still functional, but it feels like Doctor Strange is at his best when he’s paired up with other characters in this universe.

27.) Ant-Man & The Wasp

Coming straight off of the high heels of the maximum culmination blockbuster of Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp made for the right, breezy palate cleanser when it came out in 2018. Looking at it’s own, however, it doesn’t really offer more than the bare minimum of what most were expecting an Ant-Man sequel to consist off. Paul Rudd is still as charming as ever as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Evangeline Lilly steals the show and kicks major ass as Wasp, and the set pieces are quite fun. Even so, it still can’t help but feel too much like a placeholder film and a real expensive explanation as to what Scott did after Civil War and why he wasn’t in Infinity War. Not to mention, wasting Michelle Pfeiffer like that is a big no-no. It’s harmless fun but not all that memorable.

26.) Spider-Man: Homecoming

As it’s own movie, Spider-Man: Homecoming is fine and certainly enjoyable. As a Spider-Man movie however, it’s quite underwhelming. Tom Holland is great casting as both Peter Parker and Spider-Man, Michael Keaton’s Vulture is one of the very best baddies in the MCU, and the high school elements were somewhat relatable. However, too much of the movie feels restrained, like the filmmakers were too afraid of this movie being compared to the other Spider-Man movies that they desired to play it as safe as possible. There are changes that feel unnecessary (Why does Betty Brant feel like Gwen Stacy?), things that are removed (Uncle Ben’s importance), and things that are added (Spider-Man being Iron Man Jr.) which prevents Homecoming from being a top-tier Spider-Man experience. After No Way Home, it has certainly grown on me and feels like a film that has earned it’s place within the MCU.

25.) Thor

There are two main elements that holds the original Thor strongly together, the castings of Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki. The first third and last third of the film are legit great, starting and ending Thor’s coming-to-age arc strongly, but the rest of the movie is a bit of a mixed bag. The scenes on Earth are just no where near as interesting as the ones on Asgard, the special effects look straight out of a cheaply budgeted CW show, and it’s hard to understand why Thor and Jane are that into each other, aside from the fact that both characters are played by two EXTERMELY attractive people. Also, some of the setup with S.H.I.E.L.D. feel like they are only here so audience don’t get confused by their presence in The Avengers. Still, the brilliant casting of Chris Heinsworth as Thor and Tom Hiddleston as Loki work wonders and Thor’s redemption arc works quite well, even if the journey along the way can be quite iffy.

24.) Spider-Man: Far From Home

An improvement over Homecoming in almost every way, with more focus on Peter Parker and his personal relationships and dilemmas along with some incredibly inventive action sequences (That Mysterio illusion scene is masterfully done!). Yes, there is still too much Iron Man tech here (Especially with his literal killer glasses) and it’s ridiculous how we have ANOTHER Spider-Man villain that’s trying to get revenge on Tony Stark (despite the fact he’s actually dead now) instead of Spider-Man himself but Far From Home does offer enough Spidey goods to leave one satisfied and get them intrigued for the future after that banger of a post credit scene. It doesn’t come close to being the very best of Spider-Man’s adventures, especially at the time with Into the Spider-Verse and Marvel’s Spider-Man, or top-tier MCU as a whole but acting as a plate cleanser for Avengers: Endgame and an epilogue for the Infinity War, Far From Home works just fine.

23.) Avengers: Age of Ultron

In hindsight, this movie has gotten better with aged thanks to the films that came afterwards that were able to justify it’s existence. That being said, I still can’t help but feel there was still some major missed opportunities with Avengers: Age of Ultron (especially with Ultron himself). Too much of the picture feels like a placeholder for future movies instead of the main course, which is not something you should want out of an Avengers movie. Instead of feeling like a proper payoff to the other movies of the current phase like the original Avengers, this just feels like more build up for the likes of Civil War and Infinity War. And don’t get me started on that Hulk and Black Widow romance! Still, there are still plenty of solid character moments and action throughout (everything with Hawkeye is exceptional) and did introduce Scarlet Witch, who would later become one of the best, most developed and multilayered characters in the entire franchise! It’s a glorious imperfect mess but in a way, that’s part of it’s charms and I don’t think the other big MCU movies after this would have worked as well as it did without Age of Ultron.

22.) Ant-Man

While it still remain a shame we’ll never to get see Edgar Wright make his own Marvel movie, this still deliver as a perfectly enjoyable heist flick. Paul Feig and Michael Douglas were perfectly casted in their roles as Scott Lang and Hank Pym respectively and that third act remains one the more fun and creative third acts in the whole MCU. It also helps that it softened the landing after Age of Ultron was a mild disappointment being more refreshingly smaller scaled compare to other entries. It still does fall victim to many of the usual MCU tropes, especially with the charismatic but underused turn by Corey Stoll’s Darren Cross, but it’s breezy and entertaining enough that it doesn’t bring it down. Also, that cameo fight with you-know-who was cool too.

21.) The Incredible Hulk

I actually find this one underrated in certain aspects, especially since this is the kind of movie that critics of this franchise tend to ask for. A movie that is mature, self-contained, and has it’s own arc for it’s main character that you don’t need to see any other movie to fully understand. Not to mention, the clever opening credits that is able to perfectly showcase Bruce’s origin into become the Hulk in a span of just three minutes along with the final fight between Hulk and Abomination is some of he most stand-out scenes in the MCU. However, Edward Norton doesn’t quite capture the character of Bruce Banner in the same way that Mark Ruffalo does and his chemistry with Liz Tyler is practically non-existent, which makes the movie lack a central love story to get invested in. It’s nice to know though that The Incredible Hulk is getting recognize more from the universe with returning characters showing up in more MCU projects. Far from the best of the MCU but still pretty damn good in it’s own right and deserves recognition.

20.) Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness

Arguably the most divisive MCU installment since Iron Man 3, Multiverse of Madness is a film that uses it’s set pieces and effective imagery to flirt with and mock the kind of fandom that care more about filmmakers making their bizarre fan theories coming true instead of making a genuine work of art. It doesn’t quite reach it’s ambitions with quite a bit of characterization being paper thin and not taking as much advantage of the actual multiverse as much as it should but Sam Raimi’s unique style is on full display here, the set pieces that work here are some of the best in the entire MCU, and Elizabeth Olsen is an absolute force to be reckoned with as the Scarlet Witch. It’s just a shame that Marvel felt the need to apologize for this film and basically make an anti-equivalent of Multiverse of Madness (although I still like it!) with #19!

19.) Deadpool & Wolverine

The newest Deadpool film finally introduces the long-awaited arrival of Ryan Reynolds’s Deadpool and Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For the longtime fans, there’s a lot of fun and enjoyment to be found here with the insane amount of cameos, action beats, full 4th wall breaking humor, and just seeing Hugh Jackman in that classic yellow X-Men suit for the first time ever. As immensely enjoyable as Deadpool and Wolverine is, I did find myself missing the supporting cast that helped carry the first two films and is quite hostile in being a sequel to Deadpool 2. Also, I really hope Marvel doesn’t take the wrong lesson from this movie’s inevitable box office success and start making every movie going for just “MCU Reddit Fan Theories The Movie”. That will get old and fate very, VERY quickly!

18.) Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is about as good and thematically rich of a sequel as it could have been given the circumstances surrounding it. Despite losing a main key piece and a few too many subplots that feel like they’re only here to tease future movie and shows, it is still able to follow the remaining characters and themes from the first one in a way that feels organic and right. It’s beautifully acted and made, the handling of Chadwick Boseman’s death is done to near perfection, and is certainly a film you will want to bring tissues too. If only the runtime had been trimmed down and there wasn’t subplots that put more focus on setting up future Disney Plus shows. As divisive as Phase 4 as a whole as been, I don’t think it could have ended on a more emotional note than Wakanda Forever. Hopefully can bring the majority of fans and moviegoers together and realized what amazing things they had in the past while hoping for amazing things in the future.

17.) Thunderbolts*

Thunderbolts* pits the most unlikely scrappy anti-heroes of Marvel together, in a tale about the power of friendship and the dealings of mental health and depression. It’s easy to mistake this film as being a meta commentary of itself, where it’s about a team of unlikely super folks coming together in a time where superheroes have become a thing of the past and the world has moved on from them. However, what makes this stand out as well as it has is the chemistry and the development of the main cast that is front and center. Florence Pugh’s Yelena remains one of the most engaging leads of post-Endgame, Wyatt Russell still has the charm and charisma as dollar store Captain America, it’s always a treat to see Sebastian Stan as Bucky, and Lewis Pullman as Bob has one of the most compelling arcs in recent MCU history. It’s not quite an instant classic with the narrative being too disjointed at points and some characters giving rather harsh treatment (Don’t expect much from Ghost!), but Thunderbolts* is a solid reminder as to what made the MCU work in the first place, putting the characters first and story, lore, and world building second. It’s also refreshing how for the first time in a long time, it actually seems like the MCU has a proper direction and feels like it’s building towards something exciting.

16.) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the one MCU installment that I’ve come close to loving completely but a few elements keep me back to doing so. James Gunn is able to capture that same charm and heart as the first one along with continuing the themes of family and friendship that the first one introduced as well as expand more on the side characters such as Nebula and Yondu. (Not to mention, Baby Groot is the cutest thing ever!) If only the second act didn’t drag as much and the Guardians had the same spark away from one another as they do when they are together, then this could have been just as good as the first one. Thankfully, Vol. 2 ends on an incredibly emotional high with one of the most fun post credit sequences ever in the MCU and Kurt Russell’s Ego is one of the better MCU villains throughout it’s history. Similar to Age of Ultron, it may have not moved the needle when it came out but as the MCU continues to expand, time has been very kind to this one!

15.) Shang-Chi & The Legend of the Ten Rings

Here is proof that Marvel still knows how to take the familiar origin beats that they’ve become accustom to but still deliver something innovative and entertaining in the process! Taking a stamp from traditional martial art movies, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings delivers some of the best and most creative action sequences in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe to date! Simi Lulu as Shang-Chi is one of the coolest heroes the MCU has ever introduced, Tony Leung Chiu-wai as The Mandarian is one of the most engaging villains the MCU has ever had, Ben Kingsley is still an absolute riot as Trevor Slattery, and all of the female characters introduced such as Awkwafina’s Katy, Fala Chan’s Ying Li, Michelle Yeoh’s Jiang Nan, and especially Meng’er Zhang’s Xialing all stand out in their own unique and sometimes badass way. The iffy third act and resolution can’t even derail this from being one of the finest, fresh, and most pure fun installments in the MCU.

14.) Thor: Ragnarok

Thor: Ragnarök still remains the best Thor movie to this very day! Waititi is able to offer Thor’s most funniest, interesting, and tragic adventure yet, offering the change of pace, style, and tone that the Thor franchise desperately needed to after the underwhelming The Dark World to stand out with the rest of the MCU. Thrown in a great supporting cast with Tessa Thompson, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, and even Taika Waititi himself with the return of Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk and you got a complete package here. At times, it can get bogged down by having to carry too much baggage from the first two Thor movies without much proper payoff (I sure hope you weren’t big fans of Thor’s buddies from the first two movies) and it is perhaps “too funny” for some, but if it wasn’t for the success of this movie, there’s a good chance Marvel would have been as good as done with Thor by now.

13.) The Fantastic Four: First Steps

It may have taken literally four times but Marvel Studios was FINALLY able to get their first family right on the big screen with their MCU debut in First Steps. This sees a world where the F4 are already known and beloved superheroes around the world and must do everything they can to protect the citizens of Earth when the sinister Galactus and the mischievous Silver Surfer enter the picture with a plan to consume their planet of all their free will. What makes First Steps so unique is how it’s able to exist in it’s own little bubble outside of the main MCU, allowing for a visual style, cosmic-like feel, worldbuilding, and a refreshing sense of optimism we have had yet to see in the rest of this cinematic universe. All four members of the team get their own moments to shine (Even if I would’ve liked a bit more of The Thing) and even the humor gets toned down this time around, allowing for more dramatic and emotional beats to play out better than most recent MCU movies. It does feel a bit too fast paced at times, given the indication that an extra 10-15 minutes might’ve been trimmed down due to possible concerning test screenings, and there are certain characters I would’ve liked to see get more screen time but if your biggest complaint with a movie is that you want more, then that MUST mean it’s a good thing. Overall, The Fantastic Four: First Steps is quite simply (I promise no pun intended!) FANTASTIC and a promising new reset to a possible bright future for Marvel!

12.) Iron Man

The Marvel Cinematic Universe started off with an absolute winner with Jon Favreau, Iron Man delivers an incredibly strong origin story of of Tony Stark, who would end up become the face of this franchise for 11+ years! Robert Downey Jr. is hands down the best casting choice in Marvel history as Iron Man and there is not a single scene in his Iron Man armor that he does not look like a badass. If it wasn’t for the tacked-on climax and an incredibly rushed villain arc in Iron Monger, this might just be one of the best superhero movies of all time. For what it’s worth though, we would not have the Marvel Cinematic Universe in any way, shape, or form if it wasn’t for the success of this movie, so this movie deserves all the credit and respect in the world for what it help start. And who could ever forget that bombshell of a post credit scene with Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury coming out and mention the Avengers?!

11.) Captain America: The First Avenger

Might be a hot take but Captain America: The First Avenger was my personal favorite of the build-up movies leading up to The Avengers. It had such a warm and nostalgic feel to it that I can’t help but be in the mood to watch it whenever it’s on TV. Even before it became cool to like Captain America, this made me respect and admire the character of Steve Rogers in ways I never imagined. He’s a good guy just trying to do good things and do what he believes it’s right for himself and others. Chris Evans is terrific as Steve Rogers along with co-stars Sebastian Stan, Hugo Weaving, and the absolutely beautiful Hayley Atwell. Even the montage scene that is everyone’s biggest complaint didn’t bother me, even if I wouldn’t have mind an extra 15 to 20 minutes. With it’s warm tone and sense of wonder and optimism threw out, this is one of my personal favorites. Also, you are a robot if you don’t tear up at or near the end.

10.) Iron Man 3

That’s right! Iron Man 3 is my personal favorite Iron Man movie to date! Having the amount of action, humor, twists, turns, and social/political commentary, this is everything I could have ever want in an Iron Man movie. We see Tony Stark going back to basics here as he discovers that he can in fact be the hero that is Iron Man without even putting on the suit. Robert Downey Jr. is at his absolute best here in his solo movies, seeing Tony outside of his comfort zone is fun, and the action is about a exciting and thrilling as it could get with these movies. Hell, I even love that Mandarin Twist that everyone else and their mothers hate, sue me! It’s a shame that Rebecca Hall is sidelined here though and Bill Maher was given any screen time as well. Other than that, Iron Man 3 is the best Iron Man to date and one MCU experience that gets better and better for me each time I watch it.

9.) Captain America: Civil War

Arguably a better Avengers movie than Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War feels more like the darker, mature follow-up that we were hoping for than the installment we got in 2015. This is the one that tore the Avengers apart physiologically, where it took several years later to the team to even be whole again. The action sequences are phenomenal, it does a great job at being the right follow-up to both Winter Soldier and Age of Ultron, both sides of the conflict have clear and understandable motives that don’t just bluntly make them right and/or wrong, and every character, regardless of how important they are to the plot or not, get their own arc or at least moment to themselves. Aside from Zemo’s overall actions to his master plan is too far stretched and definitely requires some suspension of disbelief, Civil War remains a top-tier Marvel experience and makes for one of the most rewatchable installments in the MCU.

8.) Spider-Man: No Way Home

Now, that’s more like it! No Way Home was basically the Spider-Man movie that I have been waiting for from the MCU! It offers Tom Holland as his absolute best as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, giving the character more depth and intrigue than he did in his previous two solo movies, finally utilizing the potential of this version of Spider-Man that had previously shown glimpses of it in his extended cameo in Captain America: Civil War and his side roles in the last two Avengers movies. Unlike Homecoming and Far From Home before it, No Way Home finally gave you an indication as to what this Spider-Man actually IS rather than what he is NOT! Of course, bring back in Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield along with their gallery of baddies and this is about as good of a Spidey adventure as it gets. I have legit interest to see where they go with this version of the character next and am anxious to see what Marvel has cooking up for the web slinger in his near future!

7.) Avengers: Infinity War

The culmination of the past 10+ years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe was an event of a lifetime and Avengers: Infinity War was able to deliver on that hype every step of the way! Seeing every possible Marvel superhero coming together to take on the greatest Marvel villain in Thanos felt like a dream come true for not just comic book fans but movie lovers in general. Not to mention, that ending which traumatize and entire generation of children, giving them the “You gotta be effing s*itting me!” feeling that Gen X got with Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 1980. However, certain elements such as the scattered shot first half and an ending that (while shocking) was clearly not gonna last holds it back for being higher on this list. Still, Infinity War is certainly one of the most exhilarating theater experiences I have ever had and it will always hold a special place in my heart because of that.

6.) Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is able to successfully hit all the beats it needs to give fans and audiences a very satisfying ending to it’s trilogy of what is perhaps the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s most surprising and consistently great franchise, along with showing how Marvel can still find ways to deliver quality entertainment, even when it might seem like they’ve reached their limits. It’s able to be funny, dark, sad, engaging, and deliver the highest and most personal stakes of all the three Guardians films that helps make it stand out as possibly the very best in trilogy. This also has some of the very best performances and emotional beats in anything Marvel related! All Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 needed to do was deliver a conclusion that felt definite, right and satisfying all the same. And on those terms, it was no doubt able to deliver a famously huge third (Pun entirely intended!) I’m glad James Gunn was able to end his run with Marvel on a high note and leave me awaiting his future with DC. A fitting farewell to these lovable galactic a-holes!

5.) Avengers: Endgame

Despite some time travel inconsistencies and one or two misused characters (*cough* Hulk), Avengers: Endgame still makes for a thrilling and satisfying end to the Infinity Saga. It ends the first few waves of Marvel movies on a high note, it’s well-structured and paced despite it being three hours long, it delivers some of the most unexpected but well earned payoffs in the entire franchise, and that final battle, which the whole series was building too, could not have deliver any better than it did. (FYI, the girl power scene is AWESOME! Don’t @ me!) Even if, like INFINITY WAR, it does feels more like an event than a movie, Endgame still makes for one amazing event nonetheless. I will definitely never forget seeing the entire theater’s reaction to Captain America wielding the Mjolnir, showing that he is in fact worthy, or hearing folks cry when Tony Stark died. Even if the Marvel Cinematic Universe ended here, Endgame would have been more than a fine note to go out on and still remain one of the greatest accomplishments in the history of blockbuster cinema.

4.) Black Panther

Yes the CGI isn’t that great. Yes, it does move a bit slow in the first act and quite fast in the third act. And yes, more time with the bad guys would have helped. Nevertheless, when it come to quality, filmmaking, and it’s overall impact on pop culture, I don’t think there’s been an MCU installment that hits quite as hard as Black Panther. The characters are all iconic, especially with Kilmonger being arguably the bet MCU villain to date, everything that takes place in Wakanda is wonderful, the action is well done, especially that car chase, the aesthetic (minus the CGI) is a treat for the eyes, the music rocks, and the impactful themes are ones that still resonate with me to this very day. When looking back on it, you can tell the impact that Black Panther had with Marvel Studios and director Ryan Coogler and how it would be quite hard to replicated something with that one center piece now gone. Nevertheless, they can at least look back and witness the amazing achievement they were able to accomplish with the gem that is Black Panther. RIP Chadwick Boseman!

3.) The Avengers

The one crossover flick for the ages! The one that change all superhero and blockbusters in general for better and for worse (mostly worse). With all the comic book flicks that have come out after this, it’s easy to forget how much of a miracle it is that The Avengers worked out as well as it did in the first place. Yes, the plotting and themes are simple and can be read like a book but that’s a necessary evil giving it does everything else incredibly well. Just about all the Avengers get their time to shine, the entire cast has perfect chemistry, it has the perfect blend of action, comedy, and drama, and the final battle is an absolute banger, which helps tie everything together and basically as a firework display with Marvel basically celebrating their own tremendous accomplishment. Who knows where Marvel and Cinema would be today if this movie didn’t work out? That in of itself makes The Avengers an all-time classic and one that I will always revisit whenever I’m in the mood. Joss Whedon can suck it though!

2.) Captain America: The Winter Soldier

If Captain America: The First Avenger was a perfect period piece flick, then Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a perfect Captain America flick for the modern times. Not only a very well done espionage thriller with plenty of thrilling action, character development, and important subject matter, but it managed to make certain characters more interesting and badass than ever before. Captain America became cool to like in this one, Black Widow was more interesting and developed this time around (along with having the best hairstyle here), Nick Fury actually gets to do something here than just try to motivate the Avengers through pep talk, and man does Winter Soldier make for an intense and threatening presence whenever he is one screen. This was the Russo Brothers first film in the MCU and they could not have left a better first impression than they did here. Winter Soldier was the one that change the MCU for the greater good and proved they can in fact work as their own things instead of being sneak previews for the main big events.

1.) Guardians of the Galaxy

While this may not be technically the best directed, acted, or written MCU movie, I don’t think there’s any other MCU movie I would rather rewatch than the original Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s incredible how a movie with this different of concept and characters and play barley over two hours yet it feels like the complete package. Every member of the Guardians of the Galaxy is instantly iconic and lovable, with the big standouts being Chris Pratt as Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Bradley Cooper as Rocket Raccoon, and Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer, the story is familiar but also refreshing, the action scenes are well-crafted, it’s funny as hell, the score is kick-ass, and there’s some hard hitting emotions that feel just right. The best part about it is that you can easily watch this movie without having seen any other Marvel movie and you’d be able to follow it just fine. Even the one-note villain of Ronan the Accuser, is actually quite functional in his own way as being the space equivalent of Hitler. There are definitely Marvel movies that are better made and might be better objectively but you’d be hard pressed to find one that’s as fresh, surprising, and flat-out more entertaining than Guardians of the Galaxy! Rock on, James Gunn!

Ranking All The DC Comics Movies (57-26) (1/2)

July 11, 2025 AdamLeave a comment

Now that Superman (2025) is now out in theaters, I decided to do something totally insane and rank every single DC movie ever! Not just the movies related to the DC Extended Universe or the brand new DC Universe but all theatrically-released films that have some sort of connection to DC. That includes all the Batman, Superman, DC imprints, and even animated films that have been released in theaters of all kind!

Throughout last year, I actually took the time to watch every other DC-related film that I haven’t got around to just for the sake of making this list. Why? Because I have no life whatsoever and I like making insane lists! That’s why!

But anyways, let’s get into list making and rank all 57 theatrically-released DC Comics films from best to worst! If you agree with this list, awesome! If you disagree, fine and I likely will by the time I actually publish this! Either way, let’s have some fun and rank these superhero flicks!

Btw, NO I’m not going into any sort of description of each said film because then this list would take a million years to make! I’m just gonna let the ranked number for each film speak for themselves!

57.) Catwoman

56.) Steel

55.) Jonah Hex

54.) The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen

53.) Joker Folie À Deux

52.) Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

51.) Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

50.) Batman: The Killing Joke

49.) Suicide Squad

48.) Justice League (2017)

47.) Wonder Woman 1984

46.) Batman & Robin

45.) Red 2

44.) Green Lantern

43.) Superman III

42.) The Kitchen

41.) Aquaman & The Lost Kingdom

40.) The Losers

39.) The Return of Swamp Thing

38.) Black Adam

37.) The Flash

36.) The League of Super-Pets

35.) Supergirl

34.) Man of Steel

33.) Superman Returns

32.) Batman: Forever

31.) Shazam!: Fury of the Gods

30.) Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders

29.) Joker

28.) Red

27.) Constantine

26.) Swamp Thing

Ranking The Superman Movies

July 10, 2025 AdamLeave a comment

At long last, Superman (2025) is now out in theaters, the first standalone Superman movie in over a decade and the first film set in the new DC Universe! Because of that, we now have ten films that have Superman in a large prominent role to rank from worst to best!

Superman has to be one of the most complicated superheroes in the history of DC Comics! While he is perhaps the most iconic superhero of all time, representing hope, optimism, and kindness in ways that no other superhero out there has, his films have had a long road of inconsistency and downright disappointment! There are certainly greatness to be sure but when looking through the entire filmography with Supes, you can definitely tell he has certainly NOT been given the love and care that say…..Batman has been given throughout his history in cinema!

Even so, we have ten movies to rank so let’s get right into ranking them!

10.) Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice

Nine years later, I’m still in awe how you take a crossover with two of the most well-known comic book heroes in Batman and Superman and make it so dull, lifeless, and joyless. Dawn of Justice is a film that wants to comes across as the most grand and ambitious movie every made, but when you look deep into it, this movie actually doesn’t have much to say on anything it’s talking about. Other than trying to cram two to three movies worth of material into one film, there’s nothing really risky or daring here and it’s so-called themes have been done much better in plenty of other superhero films. The plot is a convoluted mess no matter which version you watch, all of the Superman characters from Clark to Lois to Lex Luthor to Doomsday are all done INCREDIBLY dirty, and the conflict between Batman and Superman is so incredibly ridiculous that it could have been avoided if they would just simply talk to each other.

Ben Affleck is fine as Batman and there’s a few standout moments here (The warehouse fight scene and Wonder Woman’s first appearance are all-timers) but that’s nowhere near enough to save this turd of a film. Even the ultimate edition which many claim “saves” the movie really just has more of the same things that were wrong in the first place, aside from being pacing. If there is a clear difference between ambition and aimlessness, then Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice certainly strikes the finest line yet between those two definitions with results that fit more of the latter than the former.

This is a movie so bad that it not only arguably killed the DC Extended Universe before it even got going but also caused big damage to Superman’s reputation in pop culture, leading an entire generation of folks who firmly believe THIS is what Superman was always meant to be like when it’s absolutely NOT! I know tomatoes are going to be thrown at me for putting this at the very bottom but I’m sorry! When looking at it as both a DC superhero movie AND a Superman movie, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Both the theatrical and ultimate edition!) is an epic failure on every level!

9.) Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

If you thought Batman & Robin was the perfect example of superhero movies hitting rock bottom in the pre-21st century, then you should check out what they did to Supes in Superman IV: The Quest For Peace. Not only is this easily one of the worst superhero movies ever, it’s by far one of the worst main budgeted movies ever made. Even at the time of it’s release, the flaws that is presented on screen are so glaringly obvious!

It looks incredibly cheap with clearly unfinished special effects, obvious green screen, lazy as hell editing, and absolutely godawful transaction from one scene to the next. Throw in an absurdly stupid script, laughable dialogue, social/political commentary that doesn’t work in the slightest, no sense of logic, sense, or flow to anything happening on screen, and incredibly phoned-in performances and you get quite the big shitty picture. Even if you can argue that this film should be seen as a “so bad it’s good” kind of movie like Batman & Robin, the latter looks like an effing Stanley Kubrick film compared to this trainwreck!

With Quest For Peace, this represented Superman at his absolute low point back in 1987. Not only was this when audience stop caring about Superman but even Warner Bros themselves stopped caring for him too. This was so bad that it had take nearly 20 years for Superman to returned to the big screen because of how much this film (and the previous one) had tarnished his reputation! What an absolutely crappy end to easily the best Superman ever in Christopher Reeve!

8.) Justice League (2017)

It’s unbelievable how not only the first ever live-action Justice League movie doesn’t work, but it has to be one of the most forgettable superhero movies ever made. It’s clear that Warner Bros and company where so caught off guard over the backlash that Dawn of Justice received that they brought in Joss Whedon, after Snyder stepped down in part due to the passing of his daughter, in the hopes of providing the same spark he gave to The Avengers. Not only is that course correction painfully obvious on screen but mixing the visions of Whedon and Snyder could not have led to more disastrous results.

This is like the equivalent of a superb Japanese anime getting butchered in the English version by 4Kids, filled with jarring editing, censoring, and scripting to make it more “kid” friendly. Justice League (2017) (also known as JOSStice League) comes across as more of a straight-to-dvd Avengers knock-off that you would find at the bargain bin at the Dollar Store than an actual Justice League movie. The tone is all over the place, the reshoots are as clear as daylight it’s embarrassing, and it’s edited into incredibly bite sized pieces that you can tell were only done just so the movie can finish under two hours.

A handful of moments (or at least the ones I can remember) are cool in their own right (It’s always cool to see Wonder Woman on screen saving people) and is is nice to see Henry Cavill represent a bit of Christopher Reeves here (despite it making no sense in the context of the universe) but it’s incredibly unforgiveable just how cheap, hollow, and unmemorable this whole experience is. When even a remix of Danny Elfman’s iconic Batman theme can’t win me over, you know your movie has failed!

7.) Superman III

You ever heard of the term “third time’s the charm”? Well, that is CERTAINLY not how you can describe Supes’ third official film! Superman III was basically when the Superman franchise started to lose all of the hearts and wonders that it had from the beginning and started to descend to what it was never suppose to be. While the previous film had major behind the scenes drama that it was able to greatly overcome, the threequel with the man of tomorrow does the exact opposite of that.

Instead of having heart and wonder, it’s now just gags and slap stick. Instead of having important social/political commentary that resembles the world of Superman perfectly, it’s now just mindless action and explosion everywhere. Instead of intimidating villains that pose a real threat to our heroes, they are now just cartoon characters that you can’t take seriously. Instead of being smart, it’s now a self-parody! Putting all of this crap together, you get a complete mess in Superman III!

It’s hard to tell if how much of the studio politics played into the decision making of the film, how much of the film was what Lester wanted, and/or if this film would have even been made at all if Warner Bros wasn’t able to overpay Christopher Reeve to get him to come back, but Superman III follows victim to many disappointing threequels out there, forgetting what made it’s franchise successful in the first place and crushing the entire foundation in the process. What makes this third chapter stink more than most of them though is it’s lack of desire to be as engaging, interesting, or entertaining as the previous two Superman films were! That’s what you get when you become a self-parody!

6.) Man of Steel

The DC Extended Universe kicked off in 2013 with one of the most polarizing superhero movies of all time in Man of Steel. Looking back on it nearly a full decade later, I can’t help but have INCREDIBLY frustrating emotions when it comes to this film. In terms of casting, tone, action scale, scope, and score, this is everything that a modern Superman movie should consist off. However, when it comes to the overall story, characterization, script, and structure, it misses the mark completely!

Most of the characters come off as plot devices and motivation for Superman than actual characters, the dialogue strikes a fine line between being poetic/inspiring and just plain pretentious, and it’s overall themes feel not so much explored but just told directly to the audiences. The action is dynamic, the cast do great with what they have to work with, and the scope and Han Zimmer’s soundtrack are off the charts that it’s almost good enough to convince you that you are watching a much better film than you actually are! The elements that work are absolutely great while the elements that don’t work really bring down the whole picture.

When looking at it’s own thing and the seeds it plants for the future, Man of Steel could have been considered a solid re-introduction to the character of Superman and one that could successfully redefined Superman to a new generation. However, due to it’s shortcomings and the movies which came after tripling down on the things that don’t work rather than what does, you can’t help but see wasted potential. As it’s own thing, Man of Steel might be functional on a surface level but not on a depth level. Henry Cavill deserved better than this!

5.) Superman Returns

I’ve always had a complicated history with Superman Returns. It was the very first Superman movie I had ever watch from beginning to end. I couldn’t help but hate this movie and find myself hating Superman as a result. I just couldn’t fully buy into a superhero that’s all “Mr. Goody Two Shoes” and only has any important use as Superman but NOT Clark Kent. However, now that nearly two decades have passed by and seeing more bleak portrayals of the character as both a definite version and as a self-parody (A.K.A. Homelander from The Boys), I can’t help but have more respect in the way that Superman Returns portrays Superman.

It feels refreshing to see a film that is the cinematic equivalent of Superman/Clark being a friendly guy who saves people. It’s feels refreshing to see a Superman that always looks for the good in people and not just assumes the worst. It feels refreshing to see Superman have his own unique abilities and weaknesses without making him completely perfect. More importantly, it feels refreshing to see a Superman that completely embodies truth and justice. For all of the flaws that can be said for Superman Returns, this is the one element I can completely get behind. This might’ve not been the kind of Superman I (along with many others) was looking for back in 2006 but in the year 2025, I most certainly support it.

It’s unfortunate tho that Superman Returns is still a frustratingly mixed bag. It crosses the fine line between ambition and aimlessness by waiting to be the faithful third chapter to Christopher Reeve’s Superman that Superman III wasn’t while also wanting to work at it’s own standalone Superman film set in the 21st century. In so doing so, it undermines itself by failing to advance the characters the way they were back in the early 1980s and making them work in their own rights in the mid 2000s. With that amount of disconnect in terms of narrative, continuity to the prior movies, lack of action (outside of the amazing plane sequence) and failing to find an overall identity for itself along with the complete lack of action, Returns ultimately falls short of it’s notable good intensions.

4.) Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Because we live in some dark and twisted form of an alternate universe, Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a real thing now. Truth be told, even if you remove yourself from the toxicity that is the Zack Snyder fanbase (I won’t blame you if you can’t!), it’s actually pretty good with a lot more to like here than there is to hate. This is probably the one movie in the DC Extended Universe with Zack Snyder that doesn’t feel overly pretentious but more of just the man wanting to make the most epic Justice League movie he can possibly make. For the most part, he succeeds even if some of the faults from his other films are carried over here.

The first half is way too stretched out for it’s own good, feeling like Snyder is trying to get every single little frame of work that he desires in there regardless if it actually serves a purpose. There’s also the final fifteen minutes that feels more like a collection of post credit scenes rather than an actual epilogue. Even so, there’s good action set pieces, a nice & riveting score, memorable gorgeous visuals, and solid character interactions between all of the Justice League members, with Wonder Woman and Cyborg being the main standouts. And this also feels like the first time in Snyder’s films that the superheroes on screen actually act and feel like superheroes instead of just being all sad and mopey all the time. What a time to be alive!

While there’s still faults from the theatrical cut that are carried over here (*cough* Steppenwolf and Flash *cough*), this is certainly an improvement over the theatrical cut and should most certainly be considered the actual definite version of Justice League. If anything, this was about the closest that Snyder got to making a faithful and truthful Superman. At least here, he actually feels like a superhero that wants the best for humanity and now…..whatever the hell the previous two films portrayed him as. Warts and all, this is easily the best DC superhero film that Zack Snyder has ever made!

3.) Superman (2025)

At long last, James Gunn has arrived to save the day with his own take on Superman while also aiming to give DC a second leash on live with a rebooted cinematic universe, formerly known as the DC Universe. The good news is that Mr. Gunn is able to provide a Superman that not only resembles the character for who he is suppose to be at his core but also feels timely and warranted in our own bitter, cynical world we inhabit in today. The bad news is by wanting to start a cinematic universe here, it shows distinct cracks in the armor by overstuffing the film with multiple characters and subplots that don’t always work to their fullest potential.

The cast is all near perfect (the main trio of David Corneswet’s Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan’s Lois Lane & Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor could not have played off each other better), the tone feels right at home with classic Superman, the spectacle is cool, and it even has those traditional superhero elements from earlier superhero films such as Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man (Lighthearted feel, comic book-like features, colorful superheroes, and an engaging romance) that I have missed in these kinds of movies for so long. However, the plot itself feels very overstuffed, with too many ideas and subject matter it wants to tackle all at once while feeling the need to shoehorned supporting characters that while cool, really don’t serve much purpose other than to set them up for future films and shows. It almost feels as if Gunn was forced by studios to cut down on the runtime so there could be more screenings, with the film lacking the extra 15 to 20 minutes it could have REALLY used.

Even so, Superman (2025) still presents us a Superman we can get behind and absolutely root for, acting as the perfect counter-culture hero who values kindness in a world that no longer calls for that. And after over a decade of Superman portrayals that have ranged from him being moody and depressed to being flat out evil, it’s more than refreshing to see Superman here being someone that represents hope, optimism, and has absolutely NO agenda other than wanting to be a good person that saves people. If that’s not how Superman should be, then I don’t know what is.

2.) Superman II

It’s nearly impossible to look at Superman II on it’s own terms when you take into account all of the behind-the-scenes drama that plagued it’s development. From director changes to studio interference to creative indifferences, the sequel to it’s largely successful 1978 game changing predecessor could’ve been dead on arrival. Yet, somehow and someway, Superman was able to prevail once again despite having basically everything stacked against him.

This is still able to continue to story of Clark Kent/Superman in a very respectful way, showcasing a vulnerable side of Clark in which he is forced to continue his life without his super powers, something which superhero films such as Spider-Man 2 took clearly inspiration from. The action scenes still hold up well, Zod makes for a very worthy foe to Superman, there’s plenty of nice humor thrown in, and there’s several emotional beats that pay off as well as it can. It’s just a shame that it’s hard to get the complete full picture of the “perfect” version of Superman II due to it’s troubled production and director changes.

I will say despite the two different versions of Superman II that I’ve seen, my opinion on the film is largely the same. In the sense, that it’s a very, VERY good sequel that perhaps falls JUST of the greatness the original film had, largely due to these conflicting directorial visions and feeling the need to pull it’s punches more times than not. Had we got one complete version from either Richard Donner or Richard Lester from beginning of production to the very end, then I think we could have a film that was even better than Superman: The Movie. Even so, I still would consider it to be the second best Superman movie to date and a worthy sequel to the original overall.

1.) Superman (1978)

Before the likes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, and the multiple DC Cinematic universe attempts, even before the likes of Blade (1998), X-Men (2000), and Spider-Man (2002) rolled around, and even before Tim Burton’s or Joel Schumacher’s Batman made their ways onto the scene, there was one superhero movie that stood proudly on his own. Not only working as a near perfect example of what a superhero movie should consist of but it set the template and tropes on how a superhero movie or even a blockbuster in general should operated. That one film I’m talking about is no other than Superman (1978), directed by Richard Donner and played by the OG Superman himself, Christopher Reeves.

No matter what way you look at, Superman (1978) works in nearly every single way in which it was suppose to. The origin of seeing Clark Kent’s journey to becoming Superman is perfectly handled, every member of the cast fits their roles like a glove and acts as the definite versions of their characters, the themes and messages still resonate, the pacing takes it’s time but it always makes it worth it, the musical score by the legendary John Williams is excellent, and I imagine there was just no special feeling than seeing Superman fly around and saving people on screen for the first time ever back in 1978.

Superman (1978) was the superhero movie that changed everything! It proved that a film based off of a comic book superhero can work and translate onto the big screen as well as it possibly can. It proved that big cinematic experiences of this kind can be just as compelling as say a giant space opera or an intense thriller involving a big shark. And most importantly, it proved that comic books and superheroes can shine a very bright light on pop culture, telling stories with impactful themes and unforgettable role models that anyone can look up to (No pun intended!)! Because of all and so much more, Superman (1978) is still the best Superman film ever made and one of the best superhero movies of all time period!

Man of Steel (2013)- A Superman For A “Modern Audience”

July 7, 2025 AdamLeave a comment

Well, that title is certainly quite the click-bait, isn’t it?!

I do wanna make something clear that when I claim that Man of Steel is a Superman made for a “modern audience”, I am NOT referring to THAT kind of “modern audience”, A.K.A. the one that gets described in this current day and age, particularly by a certain OBNXIOUS movie review who shall NOT be named! But…..if you know, you know!

Back in 2013, the term, “modern audience” meant a very different thing. It didn’t mean so much about changing classic IPs to align a proper race/gender ratio and what was considered to be the “correct” politics back in the early 2010s but more of finding a way to gain a new generation of fans by updating classic IPs to have them fit in the so-called “modern” era.

In the case of Man of Steel, it attempts to update Superman in a way that removes itself from the light heart, campy days of Christopher Reeve and lean more into the dark, gritty, and realistic nature of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. This was a move that I imagine was done to try to capitalize on the success of those three Batman films, along with promoting Christopher Nolan’s involvement as co-writer and executive producer to boost ticket sales.

It’s also worth mentioning about the complicated development history of Man of Steel. Originally, the film was meant to act as a full-on reboot and as it’s own standalone film, hoping it’s success would lead to MoS as being Part 1 of a new Superman trilogy after Superman Returns turned out to be such a massive disappointment. However, during the film’s development, Marvel’s The Avengers released worldwide and it ended up being an absolute (No pun intended!) Hulk smash hit! And after numerous of failed attempts at starting their own cinematic universe of superheroes with the likes of Superman Returns and more recently Green Lantern (Don’t remind Ryan Reynolds of that!), DC and Warner Bros decided that they wanted Man of Steel to act as the launching pad for their brand new DC Extended Universe, finally finding their answer to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

However, instead of being lighthearted and comedic like most of the films under the Marvel Studios’ umbrella are, they wanted this universe to be more dark, gritty, and realistic in terms of tone and feel. Not only because they just didn’t want to blatantly copy and paste the same tone and feel that Marvel has but that was what also what made DC superhero films stand out on their own compared to Marvel for better or worse. And considering that DC and WB was coming straight off of The Dark Knight films, pretty much their only notable film successes with comic book superheroes in recent memory, they clearly wanted to ride that train as much as they can in the hopes of acting as a perfect countermeasure to Marvel.

Because of that, Man of Steel became not just the beginning of this newest iteration of Clark Kent/Superman played by Henry Cavill but also the new age of DC films from here on out. Because back in the 2010s, literally EVERYTHING had to be a cinematic universe or else you just didn’t get with the program. Regardless of the end results of this particularly cinematic universe over a decade later, I think it’s important to look at this film as it’s own thing like it was originally intended to. Was Zack Snyder able to make Superman work in the year 2013 and be able to bring in a new “modern” audience for the man of tomorrow? Well……it’s complicated!

It’s no secret that Man of Steel was one of the most polarizing superhero films of all time when it came out 12 years ago and it’s still highly debated to this very day. From it’s more broody tone to it’s gloriously excessive actions to the way it’s tells it’s story and some of the narrative/character choices the film makes, it has certainly left PLENTY of room for discussion among fans, critics, and the general audience. And I think a good majority of that has to do with the changes made to the source material in order to have Superman fit in the more “modern” times.

Instead of having a Superman sticking to his morals of hope and optimism, you now have a Superman that dares to question his morals and feels more grim than hopeful about the way he goes about his superhero ways. Instead of having a Clark Kent that is able to adjust to the modern world smoothly with only a handful of critics against him, you now have a Clark Kent that is unable to adjust to the modern world because almost everybody hates him since he’s an alien and not human. Instead of having a Man of Tomorrow that is able to preserve collateral damage and saves civilians lives at every turn, you now have a Man of Tomorrow that causes so much destruction and chaos while only saving a civilian if they are in his way or just happens to bump into one that is in danger. While these changes might fit for a “modern” take on Superman, it’s not one that seems to fit with the character’s overall history.

And of course, you also have the most controversial decision made in the film. Instead of having a Superman that has a moral stance against killing no matter what, you now have a Superman that goes as far as to kill his main opponent because he believes there could be no other outcome except that.

When looking at those factors, this can be seen as quite a betrayal for what Superman stands for. Man of Steel doesn’t so much feel like it’s trying to honor the Superman mythos but more trying to deconstruct and dissect it, given the impression that it’s deeper and more mature than your typical superhero flick when it’s really not. It’s a film that can be seen as mistaking dourness and pro-faced seriousness for depth and nuance. It’s a world that feels too much of a bleak reflection off our current world rather than it’s own unique world for Superman. This is a Superman that has more in line with Homelander from The Boys before Homelander from The Boys was even a thing.

The thing is though is that it COULD’VE gotten away from this if they tried. If they were able to use this dark and broody approach of Superman to have him become brighter and more hopeful by the end of the film. If they were able to use it’s massive scope and action sequences to deliver real stakes and hard hitting character moments. If they were able to use it’s motivational speeches and lines from the trailer to have it actually mean something in the grand scheme of things. If they were able to use it’s dark tone and feel for a purpose and not just because……that’s what The Dark Knight did. If they were able to deconstruct and dissect the traditional Superman mythos while also remember to put the pieces back into place.

And make no mistake, there are PLENTY of standout moments in Man of Steel where you can see that potential. You got the modern technology that’s able to deliver the Dragon Ball Z-like fights scenes that die hard fans have always dreamed off seeing on the big screen. You got a cast full of immensely talented cast that feel right for their roles. You got a grand musical score in Han Zimmer that gives the film it’s own gloom yet beautiful beating heart to it, almost feeling like it’s own character. You even got a structure which if done right, could be a fresh and inventive way of telling a Superman origin story that has been told many times over, having Batman Begins be to origin stories what Into the Spider-Verse has been to animation!

When it comes to elements such as action, scale, scope, casting, score, special effects, and ideas in terms of narrative, this is everything that a modern Superman film should consist off. And if we are to grade this film strictly from a technical and sound perspective, this should be the perfect Superman film for a “modern” audience. The kind of film that not only gains a new legion of fans but inspires a generation of upcoming filmmakers and lovers of superheroes to make their own work based off the man of tomorrow! The kind of film that would make the O.G. Clark Kent, Christopher Reeve, the O.G. Lois Lane, Margot Kiddler, and the O.G. Superman behind the camera himself, Richard Donner, very proud! Unfortunately, aside from an INCREDIBLY diehard fanbase/cult that Zack Snyder has gain over the years, Man of Steel fails to live up to those ideals that it DESEPREATELY wants to strive towards.

While nearly everything from the technical side of things, sound and audio side of things, acting side of things, and action/scale side of things are aces, the overall story and script leaves PLENTY to be desired. Most of the characters come off as plot devices and motivation for Superman than actual characters, the dialogue strikes a fine line between being poetic/inspiring and just being plain pretentious, the way it’s tell it’s origin story feels so disjointed and scattershot because it’s being told in non-chronologically, and it’s overall themes feel not so much explored but just told directly to the audiences, given the impression that the film thinks it’s too “smart” for it’s audience. It has all the elements that makes for an amazing trailer but NOT for an amazing film.

That’s might be just why I was actually quite a big fan of this film when I first saw it back in 2013. I SAW the potential when watching it with my very eyes on the big screen. I was blown away by the visuals, inspired by the quotes made for the trailers, was thrilled by the non-stop action and explosions, and found the morals to be interpreted in a way that I always imagined a modern Superman film should consist of. And because of that, I wore rose-colored glasses the whole way through because I just assumed I didn’t actually need to critique or analyze because well….the film was too smart for me that I didn’t think I needed to bother.

That is also why the more I’ve thought about Man of Steel over the years and the more times I’ve gone back and rewatched it, it…….kinda gets worse for me. Once I’m able to take those rose-colored glasses off, all I see are amazing concepts, ideas, and potential that is never has fully utilized as well as it should be. It’s a film full of eye popping moments but not one that commits to being a consistent narrative or a grand vision of it’s own. It’s a film that is loaded with action but fails to deliver consequential stakes due to Superman and Zod being practically invisible and the film failing to make the city of Metropolis and it’s people it’s own distinct character. It’s a film that has inspirational quotes and lines of dialogue that don’t amount anything to the story or characters. It’s a film that thinks it’s being faithful to Superman while also wanting to critique him in ways that I don’t think the filmmakers intended. Quite simply, it falls short of it’s ambition.

If there is one thing that I think anyone can agree upon regarding this film is that Man of Steel should NOT have been a film that kicked off a new DC universe with. It’s bizarre tone and feel is NOT one that can work as a consistent one for an entire cinematic universe of cinematic storytelling. Plus, Zack Snyder up to that point (and even now) has been quite a divisive filmmaker with an incredibly distinct vision that isn’t really appealing to mainstream audiences. Up to that point, the only film in Snyder’s filmography that had great appeal to mainstream audiences was his 2005 remake of Dawn of the Dead, which was also co-written by James Gunn (Don’t tell the Snyder bros that!).

This is honestly why I believe Man of Steel should have taken place in it’s own universe with Superman without any ties to the other DC characters. Similar to that of Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and Matt Reeve’s Batman universe, the world of Man of Steel should have been one that should have existed in it’s own terms and merits, being able to explore it’s ideas and concepts with multiple films and potential spin-offs. Plus, it’s more bleak and somber tone could’ve been one that worked more comfortably with more limited installments instead of with a whole decades worth of superhero cinematic content with different characters and stories.

If it was given a chance to be it’s own thing while also having planted seeds of it’s own that it was able to grow upon with future standalone Superman sequels, Man of Steel could have been seen as a grand re-introduction to the character of Superman and one that could successfully redefined Superman to a new generation the same way that Christopher Nolan did with Batman. However, due to it’s shortcomings, it’s obligation to start a new DC universe, and the follow-ups which came after tripling down on the things that don’t work rather than what does, you can’t help but see wasted potential. As it’s own thing, Man of Steel is functional on a surface level but not on a depth level.

I sure hope now that James Gunn is taking over Superman and is looking to create a new generation of Superman fans of it’s own, I sure hope he is able to learn from Zack Snyder’s shortcoming here. Make sure you know EXACTLY the kind of film you are making and the message you are trying to convey to the audience! If you are gonna create a new version of Superman for a “modern” audience, make sure to at LEAST capture the spirit of what the character has always stand for and only make changes that fit with the overall narrative and not ones for the sake of change!

Make those same mistakes and we might have another Man of Steel on our hands!

Next Up: Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice

Superman Returns (2006)- Identity Crisis

July 5, 2025 AdamLeave a comment

It took nearly two decades but Superman finally returned onto the big screen in 2006 with Superman Returns. Coming off the cinematic disaster that was Superman IV: The Quest For Peace, DC and Warner Bros seemed to have no clue how in the world to tackle Superman in cinematic form. After the flame with the Christopher Reeve run as Superman died out, it seemed like no one would be excited for a new Superman movie ever again. Sure, there was a handful of famous cartoons, straight-to-DVD animated movies, and at least one video game (*cough* Superman 64 *cough*) but in terms of cinematics, it felt like a near impossible task to get Superman back onto the big screen in a post-Christopher Reeve world.

However, 19 years later, they were able to give it another shot. Directing this time around was no other than Bryan Singer, who have just come off his own recent comic book success with the first two X-Men films and even jumped ship on the third one strictly for Superman. And Clark Kent himself would be played by Brandon Routh, who was able to beat out Henry Cavill in auditions, the man who would later become the next Superman seven years later in Man of Steel.

Although, things would be different than the prior Superman movies. This would introduce a brand new Superman and a brand new actor playing him but it wouldn’t be strictly a reboot or remake. This would introduce a more warm and mature tone that wouldn’t match the optimistic and lighthearted feel of the former Superman movies nor the dark and bleak feel of what the latter Superman movies would be like. Most importantly, this would act as it’s own version of Superman 3 & 4, retconning Superman III and Superman IV entirely, but would also be set in it’s own distinct timeline with enough distance from the very first two Superman movies in order to fit into the current climate of when this film came out.

If that sounds like a jumbling mess to you, that’s because it absolutely is. Superman Returns is a film with a clear identity crisis. It’s unsure of how far it wants to go with respecting the past that’s it unable to blaze towards it’s own future. It wants to stand strictly on it’s own terms, being able to properly introduce Superman to an audience who weren’t alive during the Christopher Reeve days, but also wants to act as it’s own version of Superman III, in order to appeal to the longtime fans that had been waiting nearly two decades for a new Superman movie. And the inconsistency on display can be seen within the characters themselves and their connections to the first two movies.

Like if this is suppose to be a sequel to the first two movies, then why have this movie be set in the 2000s? How does Lois Lane still not know Clark Kent is Superman when she literally had his kid? Didn’t she find out Supe’s identity in Superman II? Plus, why does she look 10X younger than Margot Kiddler? As a matter of fact, why does everyone else look younger here than they did FIVE years ago?! Why would Superman go AWOL for five years looking for a remaining Kryptonians when he had already accepted their fates over two movies ago after beating Zod? How is it that Lex Luthor is just NOW getting released from prison at around the exact same time that Superman comes back? And do I even need to mention all the 2000s era product placement that practically breaks the timeline of this movie when you so much as breath on it?

It’s frustrating because on paper, a proper redo of the last two Superman movies could make for a bittersweet bow tie of the original Superman era while also making away for a brand new path. It could make for a nice “fixing the past to make for a better future” franchise metaphor that was the driving for for Bryan Singer’s very next superhero film he would direct with X-Men: Days of Future Past. Giving Brandon Routh his own Superman that captures the spirit of Christopher Reeves Superman and then be giving the chance to shine in his own spotlight in the future would have made for a nice passing of the touch between generational Superman actors. Unfortunately, because the continuity is so messed up and the characters feel so inconsistent compared to prior movies, the big emotional connection just doesn’t work here.

The other issue among the film is the desire to move away from being a typical summer blockbuster action flick. Because of that, this film is very light on action. The most memorable standout action sequences include the famous plane scene, Superman stopping bullets being shot at him, and the sequences where Lex and his goons beat up a wounded Superman. Aside from that, outside of your traditional flying sequences and brief moments where Superman saves some people, this is probably the Superman film with the least amount of action, a criticism that Man of Steel would later take and completely overdo the action as a result. This wouldn’t be so bad if at least everything else was engaging and exciting but it just isn’t.

Which is all frustrating because I do think this film does represent the perfect balance between the tone of the Christopher Reeve films and Henry Cavil films. It’s able to not be too campy and over-the-top that plagued the last two Superman films but also not be way too dark, somber, and bleak that sunk the very next Superman film. It has perhaps the most mature tone out of all the Superman movies to date, a tone that hopefully James Gunn is able to recapture with his own film coming out next week. When folks wonder what kind of tone and feel that they want in a modern Superman film, I’m pretty sure they would say this tone is a direct answer. In that case, I would agree entirely.

I’ve always had a complicated history with Superman Returns. It was the very first Superman movie I had ever watch from beginning to end. Because of that, I couldn’t help but hate this movie and find myself hating Superman as a result. I just couldn’t fully buy into a superhero that’s all “Mr. Goody Two Shoes” and only has any important use as Superman but NOT Clark Kent. If he doesn’t have superpowers, he can’t do anything. The main sequence of the film that showcases that is when Lex and his guards beat up Superman, stabbed him, and forces him off a cliff, presumably killing him. However, now that nearly two decades have passed by and seeing more bleak portrayals of the character as both a definite version and as a self-parody (take Homelander from The Boys), I can’t help but have more respect in the way that Superman Returns portrays Superman.

It’s feels refreshing to see a film that is the cinematic equivalent of Superman/Clark being a friendly guy who saves people. It’s feels refreshing to see a Superman that always looks for the good in people and not that just assumes the worst. It feels refreshing to see Superman have his own unique abilities and weaknesses without making him completely perfect. More importantly, it feels refreshing to see a Superman that completely embodies truth and justice. For all of the flaws that can be said for Superman Returns, this is the one element I can completely get behind. This might’ve not been the kind of Superman I (along with many others) was looking for back in 2006 but in the year 2025, I most certainly support it.

Much like many Superman films that have come after the first two Reeve films, Superman Returns is a frustrating mixed bag. It crosses the fine line between ambition and aimlessness by waiting to be the faithful third chapter to Christopher Reeve’s Superman that Superman III wasn’t but in so doing so, undermines itself by failing to advance the characters the way they were back in the early 1980s while also wanting to be a standalone film that’s set in the 2000s. With that amount of disconnect in terms of narrative and overall identity for itself along with the complete lack of action, Superman Returns ultimately falls short of it’s notable good intensions.

That being said, I still am grateful that this film exists. Not just because this was my introduction to Superman (even if it wasn’t a great one when I first watched it), but because it shows that it is possible to adapt Superman in the 21st century as a noble man with good intentions and not just as another Batman clone. And if what we are seeing and hearing about James Gunn’s Superman is any indication, we might just be getting the best possible version of that!

Next Up: Man of Steel

Top 15 Best Movies of 2010

June 30, 2025 AdamLeave a comment

Can you believe it’s already been 15 (!!) years since 2010?! I remember that year like it was yesterday!

2010 was the year of many things for me! It was when I became an official teenager, it was when I became more social and open with the public, it was when I got introduced into a brand new decade, and of course, it was when I discover my passion for films, art, and cinema! That’s right! 2010 was officially the year which I got into movies!

It’s not that I NEVER got into movies beforehand or didn’t enjoying going to see them in movie theaters (or at least before I watch The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie for the first time in theaters back in 2005) but the very beginning of the 2010s was where movies became my official hobby and #1 source for entertainment!

And I believe the main reason why 2010 was the year which got me interested in movies has to do with the number of FANTASTIC films that came out that year! And considering the fact this particular year offer so much great cinema just RIGHT after a massive strike that crumbled the industry for a short period of time, I don’t think you could’ve ask 2010 for a better year of movies than what it offered!

To celebrate this magnificent year of motion pictures, I’m gonna share my picks for the top 15 films that came out in 2010! Not strictly a top 10 but a top 15! It was just THAT good of a year for films!

However, before I get on with that! Here are at least ten honorable mentions:

Honorable Mentions:

Animal Kingdom
Batman: Under The Red Hood
Easy A
Hot Tub Time Machine
Incendies
The Kids Are All Right
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’hoole
Megamind
Salt
Shutter Island

And now!

15.) Let Me In

While there are those that remember Matt Reeves fondly for his work on Felicity, Cloverfield, The Batman, and some of the recent Planet of the Apes films, his 2010 remake of Let Me In should NOT go unnoticed whatsoever. This is an excessively bleak, gory, and tragic tale of a boy and a vampire, while also leaning into themes surrounding childhood trauma, first love, and losing one’s own humanity to the cruel nature of life itself. While some might find the film too slow for their likings, those that are patient and support a good slow burn film will find plenty to enjoy here.

14.) Buried

Yeah, to those that claim that Ryan Reynolds has no range as an actor and can only play Deadpool in every movie he is in, you might want to watch this movie and shut the HELL up! If you want to watch a film that PERFECTLY captures the cluster phobic horrors of being trapped and buried alive in a log cabin box with only 90 minutes given to possibly get yourself out of it, look no further than Buried! Despite it taking place in only one location, this is able to be bold, inventive, and have you thinking just pure seconds after the credits roll! If only Mr. Blake Lively would take more roles like this in the future!

13.) Winter’s Bone

If it wasn’t her role as Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games or Mystique in X-Men: First Class that got you into Jennifer Lawrence, there’s a good chance that Winter’s Bone was the film that did just that. It’s JLaw’s sensitive, striped-down performance that’s full of strength and sincerity which acts as the pure heart of this film. Lifted by non-stop tension, a compelling character-driven plot, and top-tier writing to boost it up a notch, Winter’s Bone is an engagingly bleak drama that is carried by one exceptionally great performance from it’s lead!

12.) The Town

Ben Affleck was able to make a stellar first performance behind the director’s chair with 2007’s Gone Baby Gone. He was able to carry his potential behind the camera and not just in front of it with ease with The Town. This is a film that just hits all the beats it needs to make for a really well made and thought out crime drama epic! It’s thoroughly entertaining, the cast is perfect, and every scene involving action and drama is done masterfully. While not quite my favorite movie directed by Mr. Affleck, The Town makes for one worthy addition to the man directorial collection!

11.) The Fighter

If there is one thing I love more than a good underdog story, that would be a good underdog story involving sports. The Fighter is a great underdog boxing drama that grounds itself through the point of a view of a rather dysfunctional family. With well developed and engaging characters, spot-on direction, a compelling narrative the whole way through that includes proper stakes, this film makes for one emotional gut punch that sticks with you from beginning to end. And this also happens to be the one film I actually enjoyed made by the one director who shall NOT be named!

10.) True Grit (2010)

I don’t who convinced who to give The Coen Brothers as $170 million dollar budget to make a remake for True Grit but I’m sure glad they did because this made for quite a standout remake in all of the best ways possible. Acting as a well-made and compelling spaghetti western, a faithful adaption of it’s source material and a remake that more than justifies it’s existence, True Grit shows The Coen Brothers at their absolute best and the most engaging to a mainstream audience. And who would ever guess in a million years that a 13-year old Hailee Steinfeld would act circles around legends such as Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin?! Even if you are one of those “remake bad” folks, the 2010 remake of True Grit is one that might just impress you!

9.) Kick-Ass

Before Deadpool was able to change the scenery for Marvel and comic book movies by giving the greenlight to studios to make their superheroes, there was Kick-Ass that was able to carry that slack before the merc with the mouth did. This is a comic book adaption that is able to make it’s edgy and rather meanspirited material and added a bit of heart and fulfilled enjoyment to it! And for as cool as Aaron Taylor Johnson is in the titled role, it’s Nicolas Cage and Chloe Grace Moretz that steals the show completely as the father-and-daughter superhero duo. Even if there are times where the film can get too nihilistic, this is still a complete blast and makes for an absolute must watch for fans of comic book movies and superheroes.

8.) 127 Hours

It’s quite simple! You either want to see James Franco getting his arm stuck in a boulder and trapped for 100 minutes until he is forced to cut it off completely or you don’t! If you do, there’s a truly remarkable story to be witnessed about a real guy who was forced to no give up on himself even when odds were all completely against them! If you don’t, well……at least you get to see James Franco cut his arm off! Or better yet, you can just watch Deadpool do it himself in his own feature film! Regardless, for it’s thin yet realistic premise, 127 Hours is about as good as it can possibly be!

7.) Tangled

If I had to pick one movie that feels like it truly belongs in the Renaissance Era of Disney and up there with the likes of The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Mulan, and any other top-tier Disney animation feature, that would be Tangled. You got amazing animation, a really well thought out and heartfelt story, some refreshing spins on the traditional Disney fairytales, superb character development with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider, great voice work from Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi, hilarious animal sidekicks, and songs that are both memorable and extremely catchy. Even some of the minor things I can nitpick at (such as the somewhat obvious villain reveal) can’t bring it down because even then, there’s enough interesting things done with those so it’s hard to complain. Nearly everything about Tangled works and makes for an instant Disney classic!

6.) Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

For as much as it was unfortunate that Edgar Wright was unable to make the Ant-Man movie he wanted with Marvel Studios, we should all be grateful he was able to make a own magnum opus of his own within the comic book movie genre with Scott Pilgrim Vs The World. This was quite simply a comic book movie that Edgar Wright was born to make! His directing style and visuals fit masterfully in the world of Scott Pilgrim, the whole cast is perfect and fit their roles like a glove, the soundtrack is incredible, and don’t get me started on those kick-ass and creative as hell fight sequences! If there is one comic book film without a Marvel or DC logo that deserves it’s recognition and appreciation for it’s place within the realm of comic book movies, that would be Scott Pilgrim Vs The World!

5.) How To Train Your Dragon

On paper, How To Train Your Dragon movie seems like every traditional hero journey and human-animal bonding flick you have ever seen. However, not only does it do just about all of those traditions so well, it’s done in an extraordinary way that it feels like you are watching this story on fold for the very first time. Hiccup makes for a very likeable protagonist that’s easy to root for and his relationship between his pet dragon, Toothless, and his soon-to-be lover/partner in Astrid are so engaging, acting as the beating heart of the film. And don’t get me started on it’s stellar animation and flying sequences that blew my mind when seeing it in theaters and still blows my mind to this day. How To Train Your Dragon is prove that just because you are telling a familiar story does NOT mean you have to tell it in a familiar way. If you add enough freshness and novelty to it where it feels like you are seeing this story being told for the first time ever, then you have succeeded entirely.

4.) Black Swan

As all over in the place Darren Aronofsky can be in terms of quality, when he hits, he hits about as hard as 90% of directors in Hollywood! Simultaneously gorgeous, haunting, and at times erotic, Black Swan is an excellent psychological thriller that is aided by chilling imagery, superb directing, excellent cinematography, a multilayer and complex script, a mesmerizing score, and two outstanding performances from Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis. It’s a film that I don’t want to spoil much of because anyone who still hasn’t seen it yet should go into it COMPLETELY blind. But for those poor souls that still have yet to check this masterwork out, watch Black Swan ASAP!

3.) The Social Network

Acting as a defining, generational milestone of filmmaking, The Social Network is able to be as engaging and increasingly relevant at every single turn of it’s length. One of the most narratively innovative screenplays of the 21st century that is able to execute nearly every single idea/concept in it’s head to the swiftest brush level of perfection as you could get. You have a director in David Fincher at the top of his game here, you have a cast, especially Jessie Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield, that give it their all, and it is disturbing to see how Facebook is still able to impact our daily social lives in the best and worst ways possible. I know the term modern classic gets thrown a lot nowadays but The Social Network is one of the rare exceptions where it earns that term in every way imaginable. The fact this is only #3 on this list goes to show just how complete MASTERPIECES these next two are to me!

2.) Toy Story 3

If you want to talk about Pixar being at the absolute TOP of their game, the best example of that is with Toy Story 3. There is just no other Pixar film that hits me, moved me, entertained me, and satisfied me more than this one. Acting as a perfect culmination of the entire Toy Story franchise up to this point, Toy Story 3 is a perfect showcase of what happens when the kids grow up and are ready to move on to other things. It’s all about learning to let go of the past and embracing the future while also never forgetting the fond memories that you made along the way. It’s able to be the funniest, darkest, and most emotional of all the Toy Story movies, the stakes are at their highest and feels the most personal, it has perhaps the best villain in all of Pixar with incredibly misfit Lotso, and who can forget the final sequence that made grown men and women bawl like a baby! Taking at it’s own unique thing, being an impactful film about growing up and evolution, Toy Story 3 is Pixar, animation, and cinema at it’s absolute finest!

1.) Inception

I always go back and forth on #1 and #2 depending on my mood but for right now, I’m gonna go with Inception as being the best film to come out of 2010. This is easily one of the very best sci films every made and one of the rare films where it’s brilliant ideas is able to be brilliantly executed in every possible way. The creativity on display is astonishing, the premise involving Inception is put to perfect use, the world building is some of the very best I’ve seen in any film, the action is top notch, the effects are breathtaking, the characters are all compelling and engaging, every actor is perfect in their roles, the score is absolutely mesmerizing, and it has one of the most satisfying endings I’ve seen in any film. This is one of the films where no matter how many times I watch it, I still get a fresh, unique, and intriguing experience that I got when I saw it in theaters for the first time back in 2010. This blew mind 15 years ago and it still blows my mind now. Perfectly written, acted, and directed, Inception is the best film of 2010 and one of my personal favorite films period!

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace (1987)- When Nothing Matters Anymore

June 19, 2025 AdamLeave a comment

Welp, this is about as bad as a Superman film can get! And about as bad as a superhero movie can get! And about as bad as well…..anything can get!

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace represented a complete rock bottom for not just Superman but the entire comic book movie genre up to that point! Even after the severely underperforming and poorly received Superman III, Warner Bros and DC still felt they could squeeze at least one more feature film with the man of tomorrow! The problem though is that the anticipation for a new Superman film was at an all time low in 1987!

Even though Alexander Salking and his son Ilya, the producers of the Superman series, was able to get the box office grosses they wanted from Superman III, there was very little enthusiasm from the cast and crew to do a fourth one. Christopher Reeve was hesitant on returning, they couldn’t get Richard Lester to come back, and the commercial failure of 1984’s Supergirl made the Salkings consider that perhaps this DC franchise had run its course. Regardless, they pushed through with another installment anyway!

Christopher Reeve was offered six million dollar signs from the studio to come back one more time, they were able to get Sidney J. Furie to take over the director’s chair (which originally went to Wes Craven before he dropped out due to him and Reeve not getting along), and decided that the whole story would be about Superman trying to solve the nuclear arm crisis from around the world, which was a major talking point during Ronald Reagan’s presidency throughout the 1980s. If even a word of what I just said sounds appealing to you, then I can assure you…..Superman IV: The Quest For Peace is anything BUT that!

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace is not only what happens when a franchise stops caring but when the people involved don’t even try to hide the fact that they are not trying anymore! From the obvious green screen effects to the lazy editing to the phoned-in performances to the awful transaction from scene-to-scene, Quest For Peace is what you get when the people involved with it feels like nothing matters anymore! Throw in an absurdly stupid script that defies any sorts of logic, dialogue that had to make the actors themselves feel embarrassed to say out loud, and no sense of flow or rhythm in terms of pacing and structure and you get quite a shitty picture!

The biggest comparison of this complete low point of Superman could be to that of when Batman had his own low point with the abominable Batman & Robin (which would come out 10 years later after this movie). Just like that other notable DC cinematic disaster that came out in the 20th century, that also saw the titled character at his absolute low point, leading into becoming a full-on parody, adapting a “we don’t care how stupid and dumb this all is” mindset, and having the only goal from behind the scenes is to sell as many toys and action figures to children as possible. However, I think Superman IV leans much worse than that!

As much as both films can lean into the “so bad it’s good” category among the most memorable superhero movies, Batman and Robin seemed like a much more competent product compared to Supes’s own fourth movie. It had it’s handful of heartfelt moments (most notably that special scene between Bruce & Alfred), a unique visual vibe that’s full of bright lights and colors that makes the film look pretty to look at, and had such an bizarrely over-the-top campiness to it that you can help but be gloriously entertained by it. Superman IV has none of those unique traits whatsoever.

There are no moments of heart, no moments of genuine emotion, no interesting way of telling it’s story about it’s current topics surrounding global annihilation, and no menacing bad guys that feels like a legit threat to our heroes. All we get is a dull, lifeless, and cheap-looking trainwreck where the only parts of genuine entertainment are the moments that are downright awful so much so that it’s HILARIOUS!

I mean who didn’t get some laughs at some of the most RIDICULOUS moments scattered throughout the film! Remember all the flying sequences with Superman that looks like it was shot in a backyard? Or when Superman is able to gain new powers out of nowhere just because? Or when the main bad guy tells Superman that if he doesn’t tell where Lois is, then he will “hurt” people? And then proceeds to stand out and do a bunch of random stuff while Superman is just staying shouting, “STOP! DON’T DO IT! THE PEOPLE!” Or when Superman loses a battle because….the main villain….scratches him in the neck? Or how about just about any moment where Lex Luthor tries to pronounce the word, “nuclear”? Or how about the fact the whole reason Superman is doing anything in this movie at all is because……a kid wrote him a letter, asking Superman to get all the missiles in the world and get them off the planet, solving the nuclear crisis just…..like that?

Believe it or not, these are moments I honestly COULD forgive or just shake off as being pointless nitpicks if the rest of the film was actually engaging or interesting! But Superman IV is anything BUT that! Even Superman III, despite it’s severe flaws in terms of story and tone, was at least somewhat engaging because of the fact that something was ALWAYS going on that you couldn’t help but have your eyes on the screen because of that! With Superman IV, you basically have to cherry pick the moments that stand out in any way, shape, or form because nothing from the movie as a whole does!

It might seem like I’m beating a dead horse here but Superman IV: The Quest For Peace is just the worst kind of bad! It’s the kind of bad that has no substance, no memorability, no point, no care, and no matter in the world! It’s a film that not only doesn’t need to exist but it feels like even the cast and crew working on it don’t believe it needed to exist either! As we should all know by the now in the year of our lord 2025, nothing matter anymore and just embrace nihilism!

In all seriousness, it really is a shame that such an iconic cinematic figure like Christopher Reeve’s Superman had to go out on such an embarrassing low like A Quest For Peace! He will always be a legend and be remember as the definitive Clark Kent and Superman but these last two Superman films did not do him any truth or justice in any meaningful (or American) way. (Yes, I completely intended that pun!) I just wish he was given at least one more quality film that was able to send his version of Superman up in the air (I’m on a ROLL today!) for one last time!

Regardless, despite how abysmal this film is, how bad Superman III is, and how Superman II fell just short of greatness, Christopher Reeve will still always be Superman in our hearts! He was the one that inspired us all to be the best version of ourselves and was the one man that got the ball rolling with superheroes! Even if Superman IV represented when nothing matter anymore for Superman, we can at least look back at the time to where it did matter for Superman!

And that is all thanks to Christopher Reeves!

RIP Good Sir

We will forever miss you!

Next Up: Superman Returns

Superman III (1983)- When You Become A Self-Parody

June 7, 2025 AdamLeave a comment

The third installment of a franchise always tends to be the trickiest installment of them all to pull off. By that point, you start to run short on original ideas and it’s when the audience start to feel fatigue of your franchise since they are already familiar with your game and have seen all of the tricks you can pull out of your butts. There’s just so many times where the audience wants to see the Death Star get blown up! It’s also at this point where the studios are as desperate to make as much money as possible now that the brand is as popular as it is and the higher ups wanting higher box office numbers with each new installment. This leads to more emphasis on selling toys, comics, games, merchandise, etc than ever before! Because of that, the studios want to make sure the film aims to as big of a wide audience as possible! This usually results in studios being more involved with film production than before to make sure it has enough content in there for a wide majority of audience, the director having less creative freedom than before because of studio notes, and the desire to make the film more dumb down compared to the previous two films, to make sure it’s age appropriate for young kids and families to see in theaters! If you want a good example of exactly what I just said, look no further than Superman III!

Superman III was basically went the Superman franchise started to lose all of the hearts and wonders that it had from the beginning. While Superman II certainly had dents in it’s armor from both behind and in front of the camera, it was still able to hold together strongly because it built upon the original classics by having the world be more expanded upon, the characters being further developed, and the action and special effects being taken to the next level. This third installment with the man of tomorrow does the exact opposite of that. Instead of heart and wonder, it’s now just gags and slap stick. Instead of important social/political commentary, it’s now just mindless action and explosion. Instead of intimidating villains that pose a real threat to our heroes, they are now cartoon characters that you can’t take seriously. Instead of being smart, it’s now a self-parody! Putting all of this crap together, you get the complete s*itshow that is Superman III!

As you would expect, just like the last time around, Superman III had quite a bit of a rocky production! From disagreements on the script/budgeting to the cast feuding with the producers, it was not a smooth ship sailing to theaters in 1983! And unfortunately, it is very noticeable when you look at it on the screen! The effects looks worse because of it’s cheaper budget, the action as much less thought put into it with no weight, you have supporting characters that serve no purpose other than to be the comic relief (Poor Richard Pryor!), and it has little to no connections to the first two Superman movies!

All you have to do is look at two separate scenes in regards to how tonally all over the place in Superman III! Sometimes it’s all silly and goofy and other times, it gets dark really quickly!

Does those two scenes feel like they belong in the same movie? No, no they don’t!

Granted having a film be funny and dark CAN work if there is a properly balanced tone throughout and if the movie had an actual functioning brain in it’s head, knowing when to be funny and when to be serious! But, there in lies the problem!

Superman III does the exact opposite of what the last two films did, it refuses to take itself seriously by any measures! There’s no tonal balance that director Richard Lester is able to control, no genuine enough stakes to get invested in, and the only stand out sequences are the ones that are either obnoxious silly or obnoxiously serious! This is what you get when you become a self-parody!

For as much as other Part Three films have floundered, they at least did so because of a desire to try to top the bar the previous two films set up, only to end up having the whole foundation crumble right in front of you because of overreliance of your own ambition. Superman III doesn’t even attempt to be in the same wheelhouse as Superman: The Movie or Superman II. It has no desire to be a logical continuation of the first two films or offer an interesting expansion on the world of Superman. I’m willing to bet if you watched the first two films and watch this one without knowing it’s suppose to be the third Superman movie with Christopher Reeves, you would NEVER guest this was suppose to exist in the same universe as the prior two Superman movies. The tone is much different, the scenes feel much more weightless, the characters are giving much less to do, and the whole thing it seems to have room for is ridiculous action and gags throughout.

At times, Superman III feels even more of a soft reboot than even Superman Returns (I’ll certainly go into that more once the time comes!). It just exists in it’s own, immature bubble without a care in the world of honoring it’s title character or even trying to function in it’s own sandbox. It’s just well….. a self-parody!

With a mostly negative reception from fans and critics alike and a disappointing time at the box office, you would think this was the end of the Christopher Reeve run of Superman. Believe it or not, that wasn’t the case! There was actually one more film! A film that somehow managed to be even worse than this one and be up there as one of the worst superhero films ever!

Tune in next time and I will tell you ALL about it!

Next Up: Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

Superman II (1980)- When Director’s Cuts Actually Matter

June 1, 2025 AdamLeave a comment

Director’s cuts for films tends to be a big talking point nowadays with film discourse. Whenever a highly beloved/controversial director takes their jab at directing a film from a well-known IP, questions always spur online about how much of the finished product is actually theirs to behold. Was the finished film one in which the director themselves had in mind from the start or is it just what the higher ups at the studios wanted it to be? With studios and producers having more a say on a final film product than ever before, that question tends to get ask every time a big film comes out when it lacks overall quality!

Of course, there is no director more famous/infamous with only being able to get the exact vision they intended with a film than Zack Snyder. Nearly EVERY single time a film of his has come out and it’s not well received by critics or general audiences, the immediate reaction from Snyder and his fanbase is ALWAYS about how his original cut was much better and you need to watch that in order to get the full satisfying motion picture. From Watchmen to Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice to Justice League to new Rebel Moon movies, there is no one that loves the word “Director’s Cut” more than Zack Snyder himself. Although I will be talking about his full director’s cut of Batman V Superman and Justice League later on in the marathon, it does give the indication as to how much someone’s opinion on a movie can change drastically when they see what the person behind the camera intended all along.

However, there are some instances where director’s cuts tends to be VERY complicated. Not necessarily that the entire quality of the motion picture changes on a dime but the way that a certain director decides to tell the exact same story in an entirely different way than someone else does. And this exact example I will be talking about today is no other than with Superman II.

As you could tell based off the title of this piece and my intro, Superman II featured a lot of different changes from both the original 1980 film and it’s sequel. After the massive success of Superman: The Movie, Warner Bros demanded a sequel ASAP. However, the production of it’s sequel went through it’s fair share of shake-ups, controversies, and mass difficulties in getting a quality product in theaters and even when it came out of theaters. Because of all this and more, Superman II was the product of two different directors, Richard Donner and Richard Lester. Yes, both directors have the exact same first names. I do NOT believe that was a coincidence whatsoever.

Following the success of the 1976 film The Omen, Donner was hired by WB to direct the original Superman movie along with it’s sequel. And to make sure that deal would be met, both movies would be film back-to-back simultaneously. However, tensions arose between Donner and the producers behind the films, particularly the father-son duo of Alexander and Ilya Sakling and Pierre Spengler. From clashing visions to scheduling conflicts, things became a mess from behind the scenes. It got so bad that the producers decided to bring in Richard Lester as a “co-producer”, A.K.A. a back-up director, and basically told Donner to just finish the first film and let them deal with finishing the second film. After Superman: The Movie became the hit that it did, the production of Superman II resumed but with Lester now behind the camera. Although, Donner had already shot 70% of the film, Lester had to go back and reshot much of the film, radically changing the tone and several sequences, just so he could get full director’s credit for Superman II.

So, yeah! That was quite a chaotic history involving the making of the second cinematic installment involving the man of tomorrow! Although Lester’s version ended up being a box office hit with a mostly positive reception, interest grew of what Donner’s original version of Superman II was like. And considering we were now starting to enter the era of DVDs and re-releasing films with extended or director’s cuts, what better time than any to release a cut of Superman II in which Richard Donner had his full name on the cover.

Unfortunately, despite high demands and a fan campaign asking for Warner Bros to release the Donner cut for the film’s 25th anniversary, they were unable to do that because of complicated reasons. With circumstances such as Marlon Brando suing the studio over royalties, which prevented his likeness being used, Richard Donner having never completed actually filming the whole movie, and the man behind the camera himself admitting he didn’t really have an interest in releasing one, it seemed highly unlikely that it would ever see the day. However, by the time 2006 came around, things changed and the studio actually gave into the demand, releasing the “Donner Cut” of Superman II on DVD.

While the Donner Cut was being assembled, an attempt was made to restore as much original footage of Donner’s original vision as possible. After all, some of Lester’s footage was needed to make the story feel actually coherent, being able to fill in the leaping gaps and create a proper bridge between Superman: The Movie and Superman II. Even though he wasn’t able to save his 100% vision due to the film being WAY too late to go back and reshoot, Superman II: The Donner Cut still remains one of the more unique director’s cuts of any mainstream film that has ever been released.

Instead of feeling like a complete finished film, it comes across as more of a “what if”. What if Richard Donner had full control from start to finish? What if he was able to film the two movies back-to-back fully like he intended? Well, the answers we got to those questions involves a director’s cut of Superman II that features several major differences from the film that was released in theaters back in the early 1980s.

Because of that, let’s take a look at some of the key differences between The Donner Cut and the Theatrical Cut.

More Sincerity, Less Comedy

Richard Donner has always viewed Superman as a modern mythology. Because of that, Superman: The Movie and his cut for Superman II reflected that, with a more serious approach to it’s subject matter and means of telling it’s story. Sure, the film definitely contains enough of a sense of humor, especially when compared to say…..Zack Snyder’s Superman, but for the most part, it’s a more serious, albeit sincere tone throughout the entire film. With Lester on the other hand, it was quite different. You have all the funny business with Lex, Non, the evil Kryptonian that doesn’t talk, acting like an overgrown baby, shots of civilians in the city during the final battle, one which involves a guy with roller skates and another guy talking on the phone, and the Kryptonians putting their faces on Mount Rushmore. Donner, on the other hand, cut most of the jokes that he probably felt cut the tension with each individual sense and just got right into the meat of them.

While I’m fairly certain this is more of a studio mandate rather than what Lester wanted personally, I say I prefer Donner’s take on what the tone of the film should be here. I like how he decided to take things more seriously without going too far and be able to incorporate a sense of humor when the film requires it. I guess we now know which superhero film to ACTUALLY thank for all that awkward humor that’s always thrown into every MCU film since 2012!

More Epic In Scale, Less Action

Just like the first thing, I imagine this was more of a decision from the studios to add more action scenes into the theatrically released film and less so on the director himself. Warner Bros craved to add in more action into the picture and less of the slower moving parts with certain scenes being too stretched out. Because of that, we get more mythical Normal Rockwell-esque Visuals with the Donner Cut and less of that mythical cinematography in Lester’s cut. And also because of that, we get more added in action in the theatrical version compared to Donner’s version.

The biggest example of this comes with the big fight in Metropolis between Zod, his minions, and Superman. This is a fight that ends with Superman running away and luring them to the Fortress of Solitude. From there, Superman tricks them into depowering themselves by reversing the effects of the crystal chamber. In the Donner version, it cuts right to this bit. In the Lester version, there is an additional fight scene added in the Fortress of Solitude first.

While I can understand the crave for more action in your Superman movie, the way that Lester went about to get more action really devoid the film of eternal logic. The Evil Kryptonians can now just suddenly teleport and shoot energy beams while Superman is now able to create holographic duplicates of himself. Not to mention, the bizarre power when Superman peels the “S” off his costume and hurls it onto Non like a big blanket. I like action but not if it comes at the cause of the actual quality of the film. Because of that, point goes to Donner here!

More Music From Superman: The Movie Instead of The Score From Superman II

As if the clash over Donner and the producers wasn’t insane enough, a similar thing happened in the production for Superman II with the legendary John Williams. While he was originally slated to score Superman II, Williams ended up getting into a feud with Lester after Ilya Salkind left the projection room. When he returned, John told him that he couldn’t get along with Lester and exited the film. To take his place, Lester brought in his frequent composer Ken Thorne. Because of that, Lester’s version offers a much different and more energetic score this time around, feeling like a composer’s own vision instead of trying too hard to match Williams. However, in Donner’s version, he reuses most of William’s score from the original film instead of using Thorne’s score from the original theater cut.

While I hate the circumstances leading to the situation, I give credit to Lester for being able to make the soundtrack work and feel like it’s own thing compared to the first film. No one is ever gonna top John William’s magnificent Superman theme from the original but the score here works well enough. And while I can definitely see why Donner would prefer to do more of William’s score instead of Thorne, you do get a sense that some of the tracks don’t match certain scenes the way they should and comes across as being overedited sometimes.

More Rough Around The Edges

This difference is a bit obvious but Lester’s version certainly feels more like a complete vision than with Donner’s. While The Donner Cut offers an interesting look of Superman II from the man that made the original such a classic, it doesn’t come off as a finished product. Had Richard been able to complete the Superman sequel that he started back in 1979, it would’ve certainly looked much better. However, with The Donner Cut that released back in 2006, it is simply the best he could do over 25 years later. Much of Lester’s footage remains in the film because it was needed to tell the full story, with a bit of jarring test footage in the middle from Donner thrown in for good measure.

While we’ll never know how a 100% version of Superman II would’ve looked like under Richard Donner, he still did the best with what he could do given the minimal material he had left to work with decades later. Even if I do like most of Donner’s ideas more, I do think by the end, Lester’s film ended up with the superior film, largely due to the fact that it feels the most complete and finished.

More Lex Luthor

Once Lester came on board to do reshoots for Superman II, Gene Hackman was reluctant to do any of them without Donner. Because of that, Lester could only use what Donner already had with Lex Luthor and just roll along from there. He had just enough of Lex to tell story and nothing more. In the Donner Cut, Luther is given a slightly bigger role than before. With more emphasis on the funny business with Lex and his co-workers, Hackman is given a bit more of a screen presence than he did in the original theatrically released version.

While I still wish Hackman was given more to do as Lex this time around, I’m glad Donner was able to salvage what he could and have Luthor contribute a bit more to the plot than he did with Lester’s cut.

Lois Lane Is Much Smarter

Lois Lane is a very smart character, perfectly matching the wits and skills of her counterpart, Clark Kent. So much so that Lois is able to discover the realization that Clark Kent is indeed Superman himself, something which no one else was able to do. At the end of the original film, Lois briefly notices the resemblance between Clark and Superman but just hand waves it off. In Donner’s version, this thread immediately continues with Lois scribbling some glasses on a picture of Superman, realizing that Clark Kent and Superman might just be the same person. To prove this claim right, she jumps out a window of the building of The Daily Plant to make Clark save her. But Clark is able to convince her that he isn’t Superman. Once the two are at Niagra Falls, Lois spots Clark without glasses and yet again suspects that he is Superman. Later at the hotel, Lois shoots a bullet from a gun right at Clark Kent, which nothing happens. After that, Clark admits that he’s Superman and Lois admits that the gun only had blanks. In Lester’s version, the first time that Lois suspects that Clark is Superman is at Niagara Falls. It’s only when they are at the hotel, Clark drops his glasses into a fire and retrieves it without burning himself, revealing to Lois that he is Superman.

Both of these takes work in their own right but I find myself leaning more towards Donner’s version here. With the way it builds upon Lois flirting around with the fact that Clark Kent and Superman might be one of the same from the first movie, Donner’s feels more of an organic follow-up to Lois’s development. Although, Lester’s version looks much better since Donner never actually got to film the scene in the hotel. Instead, he had to set for a repurposed test footage with Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder respectively. While it works fairly well, the sound and performances do feel off and the continuity doesn’t mix and mash with the rest of the film.

Marlin Brando Returns

In the Donner Cut, Marlon Brando returns as Jor-El where he basically plays the same role he did in the first film. He mostly acts as a driving force for Kal-El, offering guidance to his own son beyond the grave. In the Lester Cut, Jor-El was replaced by Superman’s mother, Lara, played by Susannah York. The reason he doesn’t show up in Lester’s version is because after Superman: The Movie became a massive success, Marlon Brando sued the producers because he was owed nearly 12% of the box office revenue. Because the studio refused to pay him for any of the box office revenue for the sequel , Brando’s scenes had to be reshot in the theatrical release with Lara instead. Thankfully, Warner Bros was able to work out a deal with Brando to put himself back in Donner’s version.

Giving the circumstances, I think Lester did very well with what he could do. Plus, it did make sense to have Superman’s mother be a guiding force for him in his version, while the original film had Superman’s father play that same role. I don’t mind either one here but I do wish for an outcome that had both of Superman’s parents acting as that special emotional support for their son beyond their death. When thinking about what would act as a proper mirror of the original, I’d say Lester wins here. When it comes to acting as a part of Clark’s development here, I would probably go with Donner here.

Zod And His Crew Escape In Different Ways

In the Donner cut, the movie starts with a recap of the previous film, which ends with Superman carrying a nuclear missile out int space. It’s the shockwave from that missile that hits the Phantom Zone prison and allows for the evil Kryptonians to escape. In the Lester Cut, Superman stops a terrorist attack in Paris by tossing a hydrogen bomb into space, which frees the evil Kryptonains.

It’s mostly a minor difference but Lester’s cut at least gives Superman an actual reason to throw yet another bomb into space, just like he did at the end of the previous film. And with the way both cuts recaps the begin of the previous movie, Donner’s version does better at showing how exactly the events from the previous movie leads into it’s sequel. Unlike with Lester’s version, which comes across as more of a prologue read by the narrator of a tv show, telling viewers what happened in last week’s episode. Tough call, but I give the slight edge to Donner on this one, with at least having the beginning feel more consistent with the previous film.

Why Superman Gives Up His Powers

In both versions, Superman gives up his superpowers to be with Lois Lane. In the Donner Cut, Superman admits to himself and his father Jor-El that while he’s being selfish, he just wants to relax and be happy with another woman. His father argues that his son can NOT favor one human over the rest of humanity. Feeling he can no longer serve humanity in an objective way that would make his parents and himself proud, he gives up his powers. In Lester’s cut, Superman talks with his mother Lara instead. The conversation is much shorter, with Lara telling her son that if wants to be a mortal, then he must become one.

If we are looking through the perspective of what’s the right thing for Clark Kent himself to do and he achieves it, then Lester’s cut wins here. If we are looking through the perspective of what’s the right thing for Kal-El himself to do and he does the exact opposite of that, then Donner’s Cut wins. For the benefit of Superman’s overall arc in the film, I give this one to Donner!

No Magic Kiss

And lastly, the magic kiss is NOT presented in the Donner Cut. In Lester’s Cut, Superman II ends with Lois’ memory of knowing Clark Kent is Superman is wiped away in the form of a magic kiss. However, with the Donner Cut, Lois’ memory gets wiped by Superman flying around the world and rewinding time back before Lois figured out he was Clark Kent. It’s basically the exact same ending as Superman II except nearly the whole movie gets reverted back to square one.

As much as both ending come off as cheap plot gimmicks and glorified deux ex machina, I honestly believe Donner’s version is even worse, making the whole film feel like it never happened and undoing all the character progression like it’s some glorified Saturday Morning cartoon that prohibits progression in it’s story. The magic kiss is cheesy but I’ll still take that over a lazy rehash of the ending of the first movie.

I think you can now see why your experience with Superman II can be quite different by watching both of these cuts on their own terms! And that’s not even going into the two other notable cuts of this movie: 1.) the fan edited version that combined the best of both Donner and Lester while trimming the notable fats from both version and 2.) the ABC televised version that added 19 minutes of footage to the theatrical release, including alternate scenes involving Lex Luthor and an alternate ending. When putting all of that together, there’s not just one, not two, not even three, but FOUR different versions of Superman II you can watch. Not even Zack Snyder can dream of having THAT many cuts for just one feature film!

I will say despite the two different versions of Superman II that I’ve seen, my opinion on the film is largely the same. In the sense, that it’s a very, VERY good sequel that perhaps falls JUST shy of the greatness the original film had, largely due to these conflicting directorial visions, confusing character motivations, and feeling the need to pull it’s punches more times than not. Even so, I will say that I still would consider it to be the second best Superman movie to date (unless my rewatch of Man of Steel or Zack Snyder’s Justice League changes my mind).

Had we got one complete version from either Richard Donner or Richard Lester from beginning of production to the very end, then I think we could have gotten a perfect follow-up to Superman: The Movie, acting as that perfect two-part story figure that Christopher Nolan got superbly right with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight many years later. Instead we can only imagine what would’ve happened if either one of these gentlemen got both of their hands on this sequel from the very start!

Next Up: Superman III

Top 10 Worst Disney Live-Action Movies/Remakes (Updated w/Snow White & Lilo & Stitch)

May 25, 2025May 25, 2025 AdamLeave a comment

There is a lot of controversy surrounding Disney nowadays. Whether it’s due to their inconsistent quality of recent years, overreliance on nonstop sequels, spin-offs, and remakes, constantly milking a property dry until the very last drop of milk, overworking their employees and staff, and their participation of the so-called “culture war”, you just can’t seem to have a reasonable conservation about Disney without one side going absolutely BALISTIC over it! However if there is one opinion that seems to united the majority of the human population, it’s the fact that the Disney live-action movies/remakes…..kinda suck.

Unless it’s something involving Pirates of the Caribbean or National Treasure, live-action movies/remakes from Disney generally do no work on multiple levels, with only the box office successes for a good chunk of them being the core reason as to why they still get made. That’s not to say that EVERY single one of them has been a disaster. Live-action remakes/movies such as Cinderella (2015), The Jungle Book (2016), Pete’s Dragon (2016), and Christopher Robin have had their fair share of fans but more often than not, these kind of corporate projects tend to have more backlash attached to them than acclaim.

I normally don’t like to “worst of” lists because the real world is already depressing enough and the last thing I want to do is throw more fuel into the already politically fueled toxic garbage fire that has plagued our world for the better part of a decade. However, in this case, I figured it would be fun to talk about Disney’s massive missteps in the live-action/remake department because everyone else seems to have fun doing it. And unlike most worst of lists out there, I highly doubt my picks will be that controversial among most reading this lists. But, who knows?

Dishonorable Mentions:

102 Dalmatians

Alice Through The Looking Glass

Aladdin (2019)

Cruella

The Little Mermaid (2023)

Mufasa: The Lion King

Now onto the main list.

10.) Dumbo (2019)

The first 1/3 of Tim Burton’s Dumbo (2019) is a solid and faithful adaption of the original, that’s able to translate the aesthetics and heart of the animated original pretty well while standing proud on it’s own two feet. Unfortunately, there’s another 2/3’rds of the movie, which consists of nonstop filler to justify it’s modern movie runtime, that is about as boring, tedious, and repetitive as the majority of these Disney live-action remakes are. Also, what the heck was Michael Keaton trying to do with his performance here? Between this and Alice in Wonderland (2010), maybe it’s for the best to keep Tim Burton AWAY from these kind of movies.

9.) Lilo & Stich (2025)

The newest addition to these infamous pack of live-action remake flicks have two elements going for it: the superb casting of Maia Kealoha as Lilo herself and the lovable little misfit that is Stitch himself. Nearly everything else about Lilo & Stitch (2025) falls flat here. The changes made here feel like they are done for the sake of change, beloved supporting characters from the original are sidelined and feel more like a footnote than anything else, the editing is so bizarre and distracting that puts it on par with the fence scene from Taken 3 (Remember that?!) and the ending that involves Nina making a big life changing decision does not gel well at all with the message of ohana that the original explored so well (Regardless of what the post credits scene might have to say about!) Also, Jumba is the real villain in this one, yeah! Not even some decent performances, a couple of laughs, and Stitch himself can save Lilo & Stitch (2025) from being a dud. Unfortunately, if the stellar opening box office weekend is any indication, my opinion (along with plenty of others online) doesn’t matter.

8.) Mulan (2020)

Many people have this one at the top of their list for worst Disney remakes and it’s easy to see why. Mulan (2020) attempts to do a live-action adaption of the beloved animated classic with a much more serious tone and changes to the lore to make it stand out as it’s own thing. Unfortunately, Mulan herself is reduced to being an overpowered superhero with a bizarre chosen one storyline, completely undermine the point of the character and her arc from the animated original. And don’t get me started on the over-the-top action scenes, the clash in tones, the laughable main villain, and the very wooden performance from our lead (Less said about the initial controversy surrounding the lead actress, the better). I do give it points for ambition and trying to do something different to make it work on it’s own terms but when looking at the overall picture, Mulan (2020) is simply a dud and makes for one of the most heartbreaking live-action Disney remakes released thus far.

7.) Peter Pan & Wendy

While David Lowery was able to make one of the absolute best Disney remakes with Pete’s Dragon (2016), he unfortunately also settled with one of the absolute worst ones with Peter Pan & Wendy. Once again, this live-action adaption of two beloved characters in Peter Pan & Wendy tries to add new wrinkles to their origins, only to miss the point entirely and ruin the entire central metaphor of the story that it’s adapting. It’s certainly one of the more well-shot and photographed of the Disney live-action movies/remakes and Judy Law is EVERYTHING as Captain Hook but unfortunately, director David Lowery just did NOT have the sauce (Did I do that right?!) that he had with Pete’s Dragon.

6.) Beauty & The Beast (2017)

While this might not technically be the worst one, I can’t think of a remake that goes to show just how utterly pointless these Disney remakes are than Beauty & The Beast (2017). Despite having excellent material to work with and a star-studded cast, there is no new interpretation of the material that is presented throughout it’s bloated runtime that you didn’t already see be masterfully done in the animated original. It’s just the exact same story but longer, with unnecessary additions, confusing character motivations, ugly characters designs, and a new song you completely forgot the moment the movie is over. And don’t even get me started on the blink-and-you-miss-it gay characters (that would soon become a trend for the next seven to eight years with Disney movies). I won’t go as far to say that this ruins the original Beauty & The Beast in any way but all it does is make me want to go back to the original Beauty & The Beast over and over again and forget about this one entirely.

5.) Alice In Wonderland (2010)

Here’s the one that started this dark, corrupt path of Disney’s most lazy and creatively bankrupt packages of so-called “motion pictures”. Tim Burton’s Alice In Wonderland (2010) tries to add his own spin on the classic animated tale, with a more bleak and twisted feel to it. Unfortunately, the final version to come off as cruelly murky, violent, and unpleasant to watch as a result. While you can see there’s an attempt at making Alice a more three-dimensional character and expand upon the world building of the Wonderland itself in the most Tim Burton-way possible, it gets too bogged down by it’s own bizarre direction, feeling like it belongs more in the world of The Nightmare Before Christmas than it does with Alice in Wonderland. You can always give a movie props for trying to do something different but like Mulan (2020), it’s the WRONG kind of different!

4.) Snow White (2025)

Even if you are that one sane individual that was smart enough to live under a rock over the pre-release discourse nonsense surrounding the live-action reimagining of Disney’s first ever animated motion picture, Snow White (2025) is FAR from the fairest of them all. Much like with 90% of live-action remakes, it can’t decide how far it wants to go with it’s new ideas or how much wants to walk with the same path line as the original. The style is all over the place for to be a nostalgic pleasing throwback, the new elements that are added in feel more like baggage than depth, the reshoots and rewrites are painfully obvious, and Gal Gadot gives by far one of the worst performances in any Disney film ever. Surprisingly, the best part about this disastrous remake is Rachel Zegler herself, fitting the role of Snow White as best as one could in live-action. (If only she knew when to give herself some restraint.) Too bad the rest of the film sucks so much that it justifies all the hate that these live-action remakes/movies get. While not quite #1, Snow White (2025) is a culmination of nearly everything wrong with these Disney live-action remakes and is (hopefully) a wake-up call to Disney to finally leaves these kind of films in the past and put that money to something more wiser.

3.) Pinocchio (2022)

If I were to describe the Disney live-action remake that feels the most soulless and creatively bankrupt, that honor would go to Pinocchio (2020). Robert Zemeckis takes the original animated classic and strips it completely of it’s magical charm, with a script and direction that feel as wooden as Pinocchio himself. The visuals effects are generally poor, Tom Hanks is awfully miscast as Gepetto, and the changes to the story undermine the movie’s central message at every turn. This is a remake that just feels like a remake that exists for the sake of existing, feeling the need to update and give the modern treatment for no reason whatsoever. Say what you will about any other remake on this list but at least you can understand where they were going for and understand it’s reasoning for existence from a business and even creative standpoint. I could not tell you why anyone thought that Pinocchio (2020) was a movie that needed to exist And I don’t think even Disney themselves could tell you either.

2.) Maleficent

11 years later and I’m still completely baffled how Disney was able to screw up what should have been an absolute WINNER for them in Maleficent, one of their finest and fairest foes throughout their history. Despite what the title would suggest, the Maleficent that we all know and love from Sleeping Beauty is NOWHERE to be seen throughout the entirety of the film. For whatever reason, Disney felt the need to overcomplicated things and give Maleficent a reason as to why she is as evil as she is, while unintentionally confirming she actually has a heart of gold and isn’t as vile as she makes herself to be. The fact that I just typed that out loud should go to show you how little this movie understands the character of Maleficent. Throw in hard to see cinematography, sluggish pacing, bizarre plot holes, and some of the ugliest CGI creatures I’ve ever seen and you a real crappy picture here. Poor Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning are wasted here in a film that fails to capitalize a fraction of their talents. But hey, at least, they weren’t stupid enough to do it again with Cruella and Mufasa, right?! *runs away to go cry in the corner*

1.) The Lion King (2019)

There is NO live-action movie/remake to date that perfectly capitulates how bad, cynical, lifeless, and emotionally cold these kind of movies are than The Lion King (2019). Everything that made Jon Favreau’s prior Disney remake with The Jungle Book (2016) work is done COMPLETELY wrong here. There is no inspired direction, no engaging narrative, no unique art style, no convincing looking animals, no standout moments of it’s own, and no justifiable reason for this film’s existence to be found at any given moment. It only exists to remind you how great they got it right the first time around in animated form and for NO other reason than to make a bunch of dollar signs. (And it sadly worked!) Don’t get me started on the way it butchers beloved moments of the original in the most HILARIOUSLY awful way possible (Mufasa’s death scene KILLS me every time!) or doing everything in it’s power to be a complete by-the-numbers retelling of the original with no new ingredients of it’s own. The Lion King (2019) is a culmination of everything wrong with these Disney live-action movies/remakes and why they continued to be the most lazy, artistically bankrupt and pure spite of films that Hollywood is still releasing to this day.