Superhero Fatigue?

I saw Doctor Strange the first day it appeared in theaters.  In Taiwan, this was Tuesday of last week, long before it premiered in the States.

I've seen almost all of the superhero movies on the first or second day of their release.  I've been doing so since 2011's Thor, and I've only missed the opening weekends of a few superhero films.  I didn't bother to see The Wolverine in the theater.  I also didn't bother to see The (first) Amazing Spider-Man.  But all of the other ones, from Thor onward, I've seen on - or very close to - their release date. 

But you know what?  I've been enjoying these movies less and less.  And I can remember being ecstatic when the first Avengers came out.  I can remember having my mind blown by The Dark Knight.  I can even remember thinking that Batman v. Superman was the movie I'd been waiting for my whole life.¹  But now?  Now I find it hard to stir up anything close to that level of enthusiasm.

Whether it be Wonder Woman, Justice League, or Avengers: Infinity War, I now find it hard to get that excited about superhero movies.  They just don't shine as brightly as they once did.  They don't seem as special.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm still looking forward to most of these movies.  I plan on seeing Wonder Woman.  I plan on seeing Black Panther.  But they're becoming so damn similar, and one wonders how the newer ones will be substantially different from all the movies that came before.  CGI action scenes?  Check.  One-liners?  Check.  Battles for the fate of the world?  Check.  Costumes?  Check.  Advertisements and/or hints for future movies?  Check.

It is, in large part, a formula pioneered by Marvel Studios.  But now one gets the feeling that Warner Bros. and Fox are following suit.  With rampant imitation, these movies are becoming increasingly repetitious, and the MCU's newest entry, Doctor Strange, is - despite the eye-popping visuals - just more of the same.

Which is a shame, because I've wanted a Doctor Strange movie for decades.  I'm also old enough to have seen Batman in 1989, and I can remember pondering the cinematic future of the Marvel characters at the time.  What if - one day - there was a movie about Spider-man?  Or the Hulk?  Or... Doctor Strange?

Now, with an embarrassment of riches, I find myself asking what obscure character won't get their own film.  Harley Quinn?  Sure, why not?  Guardians of the Galaxy?  Sure, why not?  The only problem is that when we FINALLY get that Omega the Unknown movie you've been waiting for, you might be too tired of superhero movies to care.  

Don't worry, however.  If you miss it in theaters, I'm sure you'll be able to see the Extended Cut on DVD.

I have no doubt that one day the superhero movie will go the way of the Western.  Why?  Because if Hollywood teaches us anything, it's that these things go in cycles.  Right now superhero movies are huge, but they are bound to fail at some point.  The genre will eventually give way to a slew of science fiction films, or a slew of musicals, or whatever else captures the viewing public imagination's at the time.

Then, of course, superhero movies will go into hibernation, until they are "rediscovered" by a future audience (usually in about 10 years' time).  Movies are, after all, a very "generational" phenomenon, in that they are embraced for a time, their audience grows out of them, and then the tropes they thrive upon are introduced to a younger set of viewers.  You see this a lot in action films, comedies, and especially horror movies.

So yeah, I'm getting a bit tired of superhero movies.  I'm determined to watch them until The Flash (hopefully) comes out in 2018², but my enthusiasm is waning.  Then, after finally seeing my favorite superhero in his own movie, I might just decide NOT to see Avengers: Clusterfuck, or Justice League Part 7.  I might instead play with my grandchildren, read one of those "book" things that history teachers talk about, or take my flying car out for an oil change.

Or maybe I'm wrong!  Maybe Avengers: Clusterfuck will be a real game-changer for CBMs.  Maybe it'll be the second (?)³ comic book movie to win Best Picture.  Maybe Avengers: Clusterfuck, in which the X-men, the Avengers, the Teletubbies, G.I. Joe, the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the Men in Black, the Osmonds, and the Flock of Seagulls do battle with Ronald McDonald and Colonel Sanders, will be the superhero movie that really gets this genre going!

1. Yes, that's right.  I loved it.  If you didn't, that's like, your opinion man!

2. This movie just lost its director.  Will it be... "delayed?"

3. What, you say?  The second?  Let's not forget about Birdman in 2014.  It is, in many respects, a superhero movie!

4. Gal Gadot has some wonderful legs, doesn't she?

A Review of Every Marvel Movie from 2008 to the Present (Revised as of October 24, 2016)

Due to the truly astonishing number of Marvel films either released or in various stages of production, I have decided to begin the list below with the first Iron Man, in 2008.  For reviews of older Marvel films look here.

****	Excellent!  Had to see it twice!
***	Good movie with a few flaws.
**	Not bad, but not great.
*	I’d watch it once if I was bored enough.
[no stars]	Just terrible.
@	So bad it’s kind of good.

21. Iron Man (2008) ****

After Batman Begins, this is the other movie that reinvigorated the genre.  Where Batman Begins was dark, this one was funny.  Where Batman is driven, Tony Stark is brilliantly conflicted.  It is everything that Nolan's movie wasn't, and that's why it works.

22. The Incredible Hulk (2008) ***1/2

This movie was sidelined by the overwhelming success of Iron Man, but I loved it.  I loved Edward Norton's take on the character, I loved the script he wrote for the film, and I loved the Greco-Roman take on The Hulk.  My only complaint is that he let The Abomination live at the end.  I found this hard to believe.

23. Punisher: War Zone (2008) *

A more violent take on Frank Castle.  It's a solid film, but maybe a little too depressing for its own good.  I consider it an improvement on the first.

24. X-men Origins: Wolverine (2009) *

This movie is standard popcorn fare, much along the lines of Ghost Rider. Hugh Jackman goes through the motions, an attempt to bring Deadpool and Gambit into the mix is handled badly, and by the end you're thankful that it's not as dreadful as X3.

2010s

25. Iron Man 2 (2010) ***

I liked this almost as much as the first one.  Downey Jr. is given even better one-liners in this film, and Mickey Rourke characteristically chews the scenery.  Sam Rockwell is also great as Justin Hammer, and my only complaint is that Don Cheadle isn't given enough to do.

26. Kick-Ass (2010) **

I have friends who love this movie.  I don't.  I think the first half is good, but after Big Daddy dies it just gets silly - especially the jet pack.  A nice warm up for The Amazing Spider-Man, however.

27. Thor (2011) *

Considering how hard it must have been to adapt Thor to the big screen, I would consider this movie a success.  Still, compared to other movies Marvel Studios has made, I think this is the weakest one.  I've never been a big fan of Kenneth Branagh.

28. X-men: First Class (2011) ***

Michael Fassbender makes this movie.  Forgive the pun, but he is positively magnetic as Magneto.  I thought the end was weak, but it's still miles ahead of the first three films.

29. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) ***

Still one of my favorite Marvel movies.  It might seem a bit slow for some people, but the mixture of Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark really worked for me.

30. Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012)

Ghost Rider journeys to Europe on an extremely low budget.  The screenplay was probably good, but the direction is all over the place and Nicholas Cage overdoes the "manic" elements.  The only good thing I can say about this film is that the actress who plays "the Devil's baby-momma" is extremely beautiful.  Fun Fact: Idris Elba, who appeared in Thor the year before, is Johnny Blaze's sidekick.

31. The Avengers (2012) ***1/2

There are entire websites devoted to how awesome this movie is.  It's a good film, but not one of the best.  Considering how difficult it is to put characters as diverse as Captain America, Iron Man, and Thor into the same movie universe, this one is an unqualified triumph.  I'm only sorry the Oscorp Tower didn't make an appearance.

32. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) ***

This is a good movie, and I'm looking forward to the sequel.  Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone have some terrific chemistry, and it's a solid effort.  The Lizard is a bit too Hulk-like for my taste, but this is a vast improvement over Spider-Man 3.

33. Iron Man 3 (2013) *

I was super excited about this movie, but walked away from it disappointed.  It starts out well, but neither of the villains are very compelling, and the stunt work is too over the top.  My biggest complaint is the ending, which gives us a Tony Stark who no longer has any reason to be Iron Man.

34. Kick-Ass 2 (2013) **

It's not a great movie, but it's not bad.  There are some funny scenes in this one, but it could have been a lot better.

35. The Wolverine (2013) **1/2

I had high hopes for this one, but it wasn't all that good.  It's certainly much better than X-Men Origins: Wolverine and all the other X-Men films, but that's not saying all that much.

36. Thor: The Dark World (2013) ***

This was a great movie.  I didn't love the first Thor, but this one was a vast improvement.  Reminded me a lot of the Walt Simonson run on the comic book.  Hoping to see Beta Ray Bill in Thor 3!

37. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) **1/2

Steve Rogers struggles with the modern world and his role in S.H.I.E.L.D.  After encountering the Winter Soldier, he has even more reasons to doubt the nobility of certain causes.  A very topical movie, with some great action sequences.  Didn't like it as much as Thor: The Dark World, but it was well done.

38. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) **

Too much CGI, but some great performances from Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.  I liked this movie more than "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," though the action sequences in Cap were better.  This film has more dramatic tension, better ensemble performances, and more heart.  Looking forward to the third film!

39. X-men: Days of Future Past (2014) ***1/2

A surprisingly good movie.  As mutantkind faces extinction, Wolverine journeys into the past to change the future.  Excellent performances, and one of the most emotionally resonant superhero films to come along in quite a while.  Fun Fact: Although played by a white midget (Peter Dinklage) in Days of Future Past, Bill Duke, a rather large black man, plays Bolivar Trask in the earlier X-Men: The Last Stand.

40. Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) **

A good movie, though it features too many characters for its own good.  Humor holds the film together, and makes some of the less plausible plot elements seem more plausible.  As with many other recent films from Marvel Studios, seems less inspired than calculated.  Maybe the second one will be better?

41. The Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)**1/2

I can't say it's flawless, but I did like it much better than Guardians of the Galaxy.  It's less talky than the first Avengers, and the battle between Hulk and the Hulkbuster is truly awesome.  Quicksilver seemed a bit  underused, and I would have liked to see more of the Vision, but it's still a great movie.

42. Ant-Man (2015)**

Any great scenes in this movie involve a) Michael Pena, b) shrinking, or c) both.  As for the rest of it?  It starts off well enough, but it takes too long to get going.  "The heist" at the end is a bit of a non-event, but the fight scenes between Ant-Man and Yellowjacket are good.

43. Fantastic Four (2015)*

This movie is not bad up until the four return from Planet Zero.  After that point it's a mess.  Once Reed escapes from the military facility the dialogue is awful, the characters do things that make no sense, and the movie somehow ends without building up any kind of dramatic tension.  It feels like an hour of this film was removed before it hit theaters, and Dr. Doom looks like he escaped from another, much lower-budget film.

44. Deadpool (2016)***

The good news: as far as films within Fox's X-men universe go, this one is second best.  It's not as riveting as X-men: Days of Future Past, but it's better than all the other ones.  Compared to the Marvel Studios films, I'd rank it above lesser efforts like Iron Man 2 and 3, though it comes nowhere near their best.  It's refreshingly profane, yet it struggles during most of the "serious" parts.  A sequel to this movie would probably be much better than the original.

45. Captain America: Civil War (2016) **1/2

I liked it, but it was WAY to long and that fight at the airport seemed entirely unnecessary.  The inclusion of both Black Panther and Spider-Man also did very little to advance the plot, though I was happy to finally see Marvel's approach to these characters.  I think a smaller-scale movie, concentrating on the dynamic between Steve, Bucky, and Tony would have worked much better.

46. X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) **

Continuity be damned!  Never mind the fact that many of the events occurring in Apocalypse happened much later (or is it earlier?) in the first three X-men movies.  Never mind the fact that many of the characters from First Class ought to be in their 50s by the 1980s.  The biggest problem with this movie is the villain, and the fact that he's just not threatening.  When you title a movie "Apocalypse" it ought to feel like the end of the world, and this movie just doesn't deliver on that promise.

47. Doctor Strange (2016)***

A former neurosurgeon battles otherdimensional threats.  Benedict Cumberbatch, an actor with an established reputation, is a credible Dr. Strange, though the plot is somewhat formulaic.  The strength of this movie is its visuals, and these are something worth seeing.

On the Way 

48. Logan (2017) 

Hugh Jackman likes to go around saying "Old Man Logan!," but I doubt this will have much to do with the comic book series.  More likely it'll resemble a bastardized version of that, with all of the really cool parts missing.  I'm not saying that I think it will be bad, but even the trailer has me wondering how this is supposed to fit into the current X-men continuity (or lack thereof).  Hopefully it will be a proper send off for Jackman and Patrick Stewart, but I have doubts.

49. Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (2017)

Who would have thought the first Guardians of the Galaxy would be such a success?  And who would have thought that a sequel would be on the way so soon?  Most of the original cast and crew will return for this film.

50. Deadpool 2? X-Force? New Mutants? (2017)

Fox just greenlit the Deadpool sequel, and it seems likely that it will take over Fantastic Four 2's release date.  Either that or they'll skip straight to X-Force and put Deadpool on the roster.  New Mutants is also a possibility.

51. Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

The Hulk will be in it, though nothing is known about the plot.  Taika Waititi is directing, and Chris Hemsworth will return as Thor.

52. The Black Panther (2017)

Chadwick Boseman plays the Black Panther.  Creed's Ryan Coogler is directing.  Many parts of his backstory were touched upon in Captain America: Civil War.  Little else is known about this movie.

53. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)

After years of negotiations with Marvel, Tom Holland stars as a much younger Spider-Man, with Jon Watts directing.  I thought the Amazing Spider-Man films were... OK, but I'm glad to see the character back under Marvel's supervision.  Last I heard Michael Keaton (Batman!) was in talks to play (one of the) villain(s).

54. The Avengers: Infinity War Part 1 (2018)

It was bound to happen.  Thanos is the villain, and his quest for the infinity gems (stones) will probably cause Earth's mightiest heroes a great deal of misery.  The interplay between this and DC's two Justice League movies will be fun to watch.

55. Captain Marvel (2018)

A female superhero film - even if it will appear a YEAR after DC's Wonder Woman.  And Captain Marvel ain't no Wonder Woman!  My guess is that Marvel will struggle with the script for a while, and eventually give up.  Captain Marvel just isn't that interesting a character.

56. Inhumans (2018)

It's kind of hard to imagine the Inhumans in the absence of the Fantastic Four, but I'm sure Marvel will figure out a way to make it work.  Last I heard this movie had been delayed, and its release date may be given to another film.

57. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) 

No details on this movie as yet.  The release dates for both Captain Marvel and Black Panther have been adjusted to accommodate it.

58. The Avengers: Infinity War Part 2 (2019)

With a rumored budget of a BILLION dollars, this and Infinity War Part 1 will, if nothing else, be something to talk about.

59. Untitled (2020) 

Have fun guessing.  My guess is that we finally get another Hulk movie.  Yeah, I know about that business with Universal, and yes, he often works better as part of the Avengers, but a Planet Hulk or World War Hulk movie would be amazing.  Marvel also knows how bad many of us want this one.

60. Untitled (2020) 

Have fun guessing here, too.  We can safely rule out Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America.  Ant-Man's sequel and Guardians of the Galaxy 2 are also listed above.  What does that leave us?  Could Marvel have won back the rights to the Fantastic Four?  Or will it be Guardians of the Galaxy 3?

61. Untitled (2020) 

Go CRAZY guessing!  Ghost Rider?  Daredevil on the big screen?  The Punisher?  Ego the living planet?  The U-Foes?  Spider-Gwen?

Doctor Strange and Marvel Movies Yet to Be

1. The Plot

Dr. Stephen Strange, a brilliant neurosurgeon, damages his hands in a car accident.  In an attempt to regain fine motor function, he travels to Nepal, where he encounters a secret society of magicians protecting the Earth from otherdimensional threats.  Thereafter he crosses paths with Dormammu and his minions, leading to a battle that ranges across time and space.

2. The Cast

Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Doctor Stephen Strange, with Chiwetel Ejiofor as his frenemy Mordo.  Rachel McAdams, Tilda Swinton, Benedict Wong, and Mads Mikkelson also appear in supporting roles.

Cumberbatch makes a good Doctor Strange, though I thought some of the humor was kind of forced.  The rest of the cast is solid, though there's something about Tilda Swinton's role in the movie that doesn't sit right.  It's as if she's only there to give Strange motivation, or to provide requisite plot twists.

Mads Mikkelson's character might have also been fleshed out better.  He spends most of the movie being a generic bad guy, though the conversation he has with Strange in the Sanctum Sanctorum is one of the more interesting parts of the movie.

3. The Director

I'd seen all of Scott Derrickson's other movies before this one, so I was quite familiar with his work.  I've always thought that his horror films emphasized style over substance, and Doctor Strange hasn't done anything to change my mind.  What really carries this movie is the visuals, and I doubt Derrickson had much of a hand in those.

4. Special Effects

I went into this movie knowing that it was never going to be as trippy (Ditkoesque?) as I wanted a Doctor Strange movie to be.  Given that Marvel Studios is obligated to tie this film into other, existing properties, there was no way it was going to be weird enough to completely satisfy me.

This said, some of the visuals in this movie are truly spectacular.  If I have a complaint about a general lack of "tripiness," it's only with regard to the plot, which is very formulaic.  The magic battles alone make this movie more interesting than some other Marvel films, but those looking for Inception-level heights of philosophical trickery are going to be disappointed by this movie.

5. Compared to Other Marvel Movies, It's...

Pretty good.  Not one of the best, not the first Iron Man, but I actually liked it more than the recent Civil War, and Ant Man before that.  If there's ever a Doctor Strange 2, I think they could take the character to some really interesting places.

6. What Doctor Strange Tells Us About Upcoming Marvel Films

First of all, what's next?  In May we get Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, and in July it'll be Spider-Man: Homecoming.  About this time next year we'll see Thor: Ragnarok, and the following February it'll be Black Panther.  Then, in May 2018, we'll finally get to see Avengers: Infinity War, in which Doctor Strange ought to be appearing.

As far as I could tell from a first viewing, there's nothing relating to Guardians, Spider-Man, or Black Panther in this movie.  As far as Thor: Ragnarok goes, there is a mid-credits scene that sets up that movie nicely.  And as for Infinity War, they do mention that the Eye of Agamotto is an infinity stone in the film.

Superhero Movies: What's Next

It is October 2014, sometime between Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers: Age of Ultron.  It is something of a pause between superhero movies, with a nine month gap between Guardians and the second Avengers film.  Seems like a good time to take a breath, and to summarize what's on the horizon.

2015: Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Fantastic Four

In the second Avengers we will see all of the characters from the first film, with the addition of Quicksilver, Scarlet Witch, and the Vision.  This time around they'll be facing Ultron, one of their most popular villains from the comic books.  There is talk of other characters being introduced at the end of this movie, with a possible new lineup set up for a third Avengers film.

Ant-Man is going to be a heist movie, with Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas starring as two different iterations of the minuscule hero.  Back when Edgar Wright was directing, this was going to be relatively isolated from the rest of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but with a change of directors it will likely be more in line with Marvel's overall plans for Avengers 3.

Josh Trank is directing the Fantastic Four reboot, with a cast of relative unknowns.  Yes, I've seen Chronicle and it is cause for hope.  This film promises to be more "scientific" than previous film incarnations of the team.

2016: Captain America 3, Doctor Strange, Deadpool, X-men: Age of Apocalypse, The Sinister Six, Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad

The hype surrounding Captain America 3 is going to be intense.  The Winter Soldier was such a success, and this is the Marvel tentpole going head-to-head with Batman v. Superman.  There are no details on this movie as yet, but most of the creative team from Winter Soldier is returning.

Scott Derrickson has been assigned as director for Doctor Strange.  No one has been cast as the Doctor just yet, though Ethan Hawke is often mentioned in the context of this project.  I imagine that they'll announce the lead very soon.  I love the character, but I'm not a huge fan of Scott Derrickson's derivative brand of horror.

Deadpool has been in development for something like forever.  Fox has finally given this project the go ahead, and a "test reel" has been making the rounds online.  If they don't water it down too much it should be a good movie.  I'm hoping Ryan Reynolds returns at everyone's favorite mercenary.

X-men: Age of Apocalypse ought to be good.  Everyone who made X-men: Days of Future Past is on board, and the film introduces one of the X-men's greatest villains.  This movie will be set in the 1980s, and features the cast from X-men: First Class.

The Sinister Six?  Man, what a dark horse this movie is.  There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the future of Sony's Spider-man franchise, and it's possible that this one might get shelved altogether.  I guess it could work, but the idea sounds kind of dumb to me.

Speaking of dumb ideas, whoever thought up the title "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" should be fired.  This movie serves as a sequel to Man of Steel, and also as an attempt to introduce the Justice League.  I'm not a huge fan of Zack Snyder, though the guy who wrote the script also wrote Argo.  Here's hoping the actual movie is better than the title.

The Suicide Squad movie has just been announced.  It looks like David Ayer will be directing.  If it's more like End of Watch and less like Sabotage it will be good.

2017: Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Wolverine sequel, Fantastic Four sequel, Justice League, Wonder Woman

There will probably be other superhero films in 2017 (see below), but these are the ones that seem most probable.

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 will get made for certain.  It's too early to say much about it, but I'm hoping it introduces Adam Warlock.  It might even set up Avengers 3, with Thanos attempting to assemble his oft-mentioned Infinity Gauntlet.

James Mangold is set to direct the third Wolverine outing, with Hugh Jackman returning to the role that he is now both too old and too tall to play.  I thought The Wolverine was an OK movie, but nothing to write home about.

Details regarding the Fantastic Four sequel are equally vague.  If I was the director of that movie, I'd be trying to bring Galactus into it.  He was wasted on the first Fantastic Four sequel (?), and I'd like to see something truly cosmic in scale.

Justice League and Wonder Woman have just been announced.  It's too early to say much about them, other than to reiterate the persistent fact that Gal Godot looks nothing like Wonder Woman.

Other Stuff...

In addition to the above, Warner Bros. has announced six more DC films to be released after 2017.  They are The Flash (finally!), Aquaman, Shazam, Justice League 2, Cyborg, and Green Lantern (reboot?).  I'm hesitant to go into any detail about these films, because we haven't even seen the first Justice League.  If Batman v. Superman tanks at the box office, odds are that the above films won't get made.

Sony has also announced plans for other Spider-man films, not all of which feature Spider-man as the main character.  But with the poor performance of the Amazing Spider-man 2, the future of these films has been cast into doubt.  There is even talk of Sony sharing the character with Marvel Studios, or selling him back to Marvel outright.  I find such rumors more exciting that whatever Sony has planned for Spider-man, especially since having Spider-man in Avengers 3 would be EPIC.

And of course there will be other Marvel and X-men films that aren't listed above.  An Avengers 3 is a certainty, and X-men: Age of Apocalypse will have to be really terrible to end the series.

Superheroes I'd Like to See in Movies

DC

At the outset, I've got to say that I'm very skeptical about Warner Bros.' plans for an interconnected cinematic universe.  I don't think that Man of Steel was a good enough film to build such a universe around.  If the upcoming Batman V. Superman: Dawn of Justice is as good as DC fans hope it will be, then I'll be more optimistic.

1. The Flash

The Flash is the superhero I'd most like to see in his own film.  This is partly due to the fact that I spent most of my childhood reading the classic Bates/Infantino run on the comic, and partly due to the fact that he's such a visually interesting character.  It saddens me that Marvel beat Warner Bros. to the punch with TWO versions of Quicksilver, one in the X-men franchise, and one in the upcoming Avengers: Age of Ultron.  Warner Bros. is of course producing a TV show and plans to introduce him into their cinematic universe, but given what I've seen so far I am not optimistic about either venture. 

2. Captain Atom

Watchmen's Dr. Manhattan is an adaptation of Captain Atom.  He is one of DC's acquisitions from the long-extinct Charlton Comics, and he was created by the great Steve Ditko.  The history of his powers and abilities is a bit muddled (especially after the New 52), but to make a long story short he taps into a quantum (or nuclear) force that exists outside of the normal space-time continuum.  I like the idea of using him to bring aspects of quantum physics into a superhero world.  I can see a lot of possibilities there, if the character isn't oversimplified.  Watchmen (both the film and the comic book) has of course done this already, but I'd like to see it done with the real Captain Atom. 

3. Wonder Woman

I can't figure out why they haven't made a Wonder Woman film.  Her background as an Amazon and the mythological origins of Paradise Island offer a more interesting origin story than any other superhero.  She's set to appear in Batman V. Superman, but the actress playing her looks nothing like Wonder Woman.  The costume is also a letdown.  This character, if done right, could be amazing. 

4. Shazam/Captain Marvel

Warner Bros. has plans for a Shazam movie, and Dwayne Johnson has already been cast as Black Adam.  The script will probably undergo a thousand rewrites and maybe even a few changes of directors before it finally gets made, but it might be good.  I think Shazam would work better as a period movie, set in World War II, but I doubt that we'll get to see him fight Captain Nazi. 

5.  Swamp Thing (the Alan Moore version)

I'm probably only one of three people who bothered to see Return of the Swamp Thing, but the title montage made me hopeful, and the overall movie wasn't that bad.  I'd really love to see some of the horrific and metaphysical themes that Moore introduced in the comics make their way onto film.  A Swamp Thing movie could be DEEP.

Marvel

Right now Marvel Studios is a lot like my hometown football team, the Seahawks.  They've won the (metaphorical) Superbowl, and now everyone's wondering how long their success can continue.  This summer's Guardians of the Galaxy was a massive hit, and next year's Avengers: Age of Ultron is likely to be an even bigger hit.  20th Century Fox's X-men franchise was also reinvigorated by X-men: Days of Future Past, and they plan to release a Fantastic Four reboot next year.  Even if Sony's Spider-man franchise is struggling, the other Marvel characters are alive and well. 

1. Spider-Woman

Jessica Drew, given her history with Hydra, would be a great addition to the next Captain America movie.  She is also one of my favorite superheroines, and could be introduced in a stand-alone film.  Sony's ownership of Spider-man shouldn't present a problem, especially since Spider-woman never had all that much to do with Spider-man anyway. 

2. Doctor Strange

After The Flash, this is probably the character I'd most like to see in a movie.  A director has already been assigned to this project, and a lead will be cast soon.  Kevin Feige has touted Doctor Strange as the door into the magic side of the Marvel Universe, and there are a lot of visual possibilities inherent in this character. 

3. Black Panther

A black superhero, please, and not a sidekick.  There are already too many white males in the Marvel cinematic universe.  The Black Panther also has an interesting backstory, and could give a larger, international context to the superhero genre. 

4. Longshot, Spiral, and Mojo

Longshot has been a longtime favorite of mine.  His power is somewhat similar to the Scarlet Witch, in that he is able to manipulate luck or probability.  He has also been an X-man, and he hails from Mojoworld, a weird parallel dimension lorded over by the psychopathic Mojo.  The three of these characters together could easily hold a movie in their own right, though they could certainly be introduced in one of the X-men films.

5. Namor (the Sub-Mariner) 

Namor is so much more interesting than Aquaman.  Lately Aquaman has this anti-hero thing going on, but this was just borrowed from Namor, Marvel Comics' original anti-hero.  Namor was also a member of The Invaders, a superhero team comprised of Captain America, the original Human Torch, and Namor himself.  Their existence predates the Avengers, and would also make a great period film. 

Then again, it's possible that 20th Century Fox purchased the rights to Namor along with the Fantastic Four, so perhaps a film featuring him and Captain America is impossible.

Other

1. Nemesis the Warlock

Doing this in live-action would be counterproductive.  I'm thinking of something more like the Pixar films, with an art style similar to what Kevin O'Neil did in the comics.  It wouldn't be popular by any stretch of the imagination, but I'd love it. 

2. Marshal Law

Marshal Law is the one non-Marvel, non-DC character that's crying out for his own movie.  In case you're not familiar with the comic, Marshal Law is the product of genetic experimentation, created in the aftermath of a Vietnam-style war which employed superheroes.  After most of these superheroes return home as psychopaths, Marshal Law must hunt them down with extreme prejudice.  The comic offers a great commentary on American society and its relation to the superhero genre, and would be a terrific counterpoint to the current spate of superhero films.  Think Judge Dredd on amphetamines.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe (As of March 2013)

I can't very well talk about the DC films, can I?  Right now the only thing definite is this summer's "Man of Steel," and all of those "Justice League in 2015!" rumors have fallen by the wayside.  We'll see, we'll see...

1. Iron Man 3 (May 2013)

Early reports on this movie liken it to a superhero version of "Patriot Games."  The trailer looks promising, and it will be good to finally see The Mandarin (what?  No Fin Fang Foom?).  This movie looks darker than the first two films, and they seem to have amped up the drama.

There is speculation to the effect that Tony will be suiting up and traveling into space at the end of this one, and once there encountering The Guardians of the Galaxy.  There is also speculation that Wasp will make an appearance in the film, or that it will be Ant-Man instead of The Guardians at the end.  I would prefer Ant-Man.

2. Thor: the Dark World (November 2013)

This movie, like "Iron Man 3" has concluded filming.  Still no trailer yet, but many on-set photos have surfaced on the Net.  In this installment, Thor travels around the Nine Realms and squares off against Melekith, Kurse, and the Enchantress.  Too early to say what the end credits might reveal, but I would love it if Beta Ray Bill's ship showed up somewhere.  That, or Surtur's presence was hinted at.  I didn't like the first "Thor" all that much, even though it was better than I expected.  I think this one will be good.

3. Captain America: the Winter Soldier (April 2014)

Kevin Feige has described this as a "70's political thriller masquerading as a superhero movie," so I imagine the tone will be quite different from "Captain America: The First Avenger."  The title suggests that Bucky, his sidekick from the first film, will return from the dead as an assassin.  The Falcon is also in this one, as is Crossbones.  Many of the supporting characters from The Avengers also reappear.

I can't understand why they wanted to include The Falcon in this movie.  Yeah, I realize that he has a long history with Captain America, but he's got to be one of the gayest black superheroes ever.  Seriously, The Falcon?  The guy that talks to birds?

4. Guardians of the Galaxy (August 2014)

There are still very few details available, though some promotional art has been released.  The Guardians are Drax the Destroyer, Groot, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon, and Gamora.  James Gunn is directing, and it begins filming in June 2013.  No one has been officially cast as yet.

Kevin Feige has stated that this film and "Thor: The Dark World" will take the brunt of the cosmic events in the MCU, so perhaps the two films will tie together.  As Thanos appeared at the end of "The Avengers," and The Guardians are known for their battles with Thanos, it seems likely that Thanos will also appear in this movie.

I'm still not sure how this film is going to work.  It does, after all, feature a talking raccoon (anyone remember "Howard the Duck"?).  It could be that it is aimed more at kids.

5. The Avengers 2 (May 2015)

The first "Avengers" was the third highest-grossing film of ALL TIME, and set numerous other records.  This said, the sequel is inevitable.  Even if Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, and Scarlet Johannson ALL died in a plane crash tomorrow, you can be certain that we would see CGI versions of them bantering their way through "Avengers 2."

No news on the plot yet.  Still too early to say.  I'm assuming Thanos will be the villain, though I would love it if the Red Skull found his way back through that wormhole.

6. Ant-Man (November 2015)

This movie has taken its sweet time, but it seems more likely now than it has ever been.  Edgar Wright will direct, and the film will feature both Scott Lang and Henry Pym.  Test footage has been shot, the release date has been set, so one would assume that Ant-Man will indeed kick off Marvel's "Phase Three" in 2015.

7. And Later On....?

Kevin Feige keeps dropping hints that a Doctor Strange movie is in the works.  I would freaking love to see Doctor Strange.  I am tempted to think that after focusing on the cosmic stuff in "Phase Two," the more magic-oriented characters will get their day in "Phase Three."  Not, of course, that an Asgardian thunder god is scientific in any sense of the word.

But beyond Strange, what other characters might we see?  I'm hoping that "Phase Three" won't be too sequel-heavy, and a few of the untried, less recognizable characters will get their own films.  I could do without "Iron Man 4," "Thor 3," and "Captain America 3."  Marvel needs to give other heroes a chance.

As a comic book character, Spider Woman has considerable assets.

More minority and/or female superheroes would be a welcome change from the usual run of white males.  I'd like to see a Spider Woman film, even though that seems unlikely and there may also be issues with Sony over the use of the word "Spider".  Luke Cage would make a great movie, and Ms. Marvel could be interesting.  The Black Panther would be my first choice among the "second tier" heroes, both because he is, well, black, and also because his backstory is significantly different from heroes we've seen already. 

Despite what I said about sequels above, I would like to see another Hulk movie.  Ed Norton's Hulk is still my favorite of the Marvel films, and the Hulk is my favorite Marvel character bar none.  "The Incredible Hulk" set up the Leader as his next adversary, and they could truly go places with that idea.