Upcoming Superhero Movies in the Order I Want to See Them 4

The ones I look forward to the most are at the top.  The ones I look forward to least are at the bottom.  Some of the dates I found for some of these movies are less than solid.  As always, Sony's release dates and future plans are to be treated with extreme skepticism.

Fantastic Four (2025)

This movie doesn't start shooting until next year, and at the time of writing all that we know is that Matt Shakman, who directed WandaVision, is in talks to helm Fantastic Four.  No cast announcements have been made.

Those of us who grew up reading comics are, I imagine, all equally anxious to see how Marvel Studios incorporates their "first family" into the larger MCU.  We've already seen an alternate version of Reed Richards in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, but Fantastic Four is where we see the "real" version of this character alongside his famous teammates.

Now that Marvel has exhausted the original Avengers lineup (with the possible exclusion of the Hulk), the success of Fantastic Four will be critical for the studio.  As a longtime fan of the Fantastic Four I hope they pull it off.  There are a lot of great stories there.

The Flash (2023)

All I can say is FINALLY.  This summer I'll FINALLY be able to see The Flash in a movie theater, and what's more he'll be appearing alongside an alternate universe version of himself, Michael Keaton's Batman, Ben Affleck's Batman. Michael Shannon's Zod and an alternate universe version of Supergirl.

Does the inclusion of Ezra Miller bother me?  Yes, but I'm willing to overlook their shenanigans for the sake of finally getting a Flash movie.  Besides that, they're a good actor, and I have faith that they can deliver a good performance in this movie.  On top of that we get Andy Muschietti, whose last movie was It chapters one and two.

The Flash has been my favorite comic book character since I was little.  As a kid I spent many happy afternoons lost in Cary Bates' and Carmine Infantino's run (heh heh) on the character.  I'm not that big a fan of recent Flash comics, but yeah, a Flash movie -- FINALLY.

Avengers: Secret Wars (2026)

If you haven't read it, Jonathan Hickman's reboot of the original comic series is good.  I wouldn't say that it's perfect, but it's ambitious in the way that all multiverse-spanning comic book events should be.  If you've read Hickman's reboot you'll know that the Fantastic Four tie in very closely with this saga, and I imagine that this will be more a sequel to Fantastic Four than another Avengers movie.

Of all the movies discussed here this is the furthest out.  Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania has been receiving mixed reviews, and the lukewarm response to that movie may force Marvel to rethink its plans with regard to both this movie and Avengers: Kang Dynasty.

Swamp Thing (no release date yet)

I loved Alan Moore's run on Swamp Thing.  From what James Gunn has said this will be more of a straight-ahead horror movie, but that doesn't mean that they can't transition into Moore-style weirdness later on.

Nothing is known about this movie except the title and that James Mangold might direct it.  

It'd be fun if it referenced the 1982 original in some way.  In case you're wondering yes, Adrienne Barbeau is still around.

Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (no release date yet)

As with Swamp Thing, nothing is known about this movie apart from the title, but I'd be happy to see another take on Supergirl.  Whether this is the same Supergirl we'll see in The Flash this summer remains to be seen.

Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2025)

Kang was far and away the best thing about Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.  Jonathan Majors has enough presence to pull off the role, and Kang definitely poses enough of a threat to bring Earth's mightiest heroes into play.  Destin Daniel Cretton, who directed Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, has already signed on as director.

Deadpool 3 (2024)

Deadpool and Wolverine should be fun.  The question mark is what parts of the MCU this movie will be allowed to play with, and whether or not this movie represents an effort to integrate Deadpool into the MCU.  Shawn Levy, who already directed Reynolds in Free Guy and The Adam Project will head up this one, with the same writers returning.  Filming should start in a couple months.

Superman: Legacy (2025)

It's high time for another Superman movie.  Both the character and the actor playing him have been jerked around a lot by the studio, but hopefully all of that's in the past.  I was a bit sad to see Henry Cavill leave, even if I get why they want to wipe the slate clean and start again.  According to James Gunn this film will be closer in tone to All Star Superman, a comic I enjoyed a great deal.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-verse (2023)

I loved Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse.  It was by far my favorite comic book movie of that year, and the sequel promises more of the same.  Check out the character/cast list on Wikipedia.  They pretty much threw everything and everyone they could into this movie.

Blade (2024)

The director, Bassam Tariq, has only directed one feature film, this being 2020's Mogul Mowgli.  That movie was well received by critics, and while I haven't seen it the reviews point toward someone who understands the nuances of character.

Two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali will star as Blade, and filming should begin next month.  I'm a big fan of the character, and seeing how they incorporate him into the MCU should be interesting.

Anyone else up for a Wesley Snipes cameo?  I sure am.  The only thing better than that would be a peek at a new Ghost Rider.

Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-verse (2024)

It's too early to get that excited about this one, but I'm fairly certain it will be good.  It was filmed simultaneously with Across the Spider-verse.

Blue Beetle (2023)

I was never that interested in the character.  I'm also not familiar with the Jaime Reyes version, which comes after Ted Kord, the character I grew up with.  Originally the character was "Charlton Comics' Batman," and he served as the inspiration for Night Owl in Alan Moore's Watchmen.

The Authority (no release date yet)

I'm not that familiar with this super team.  I've read a couple issues of Stormwatch, and I read the Authority/Planetary crossover in the back of The Planetary Omnibus.  The series caused quite a bit of controversy at DC comics, some of it resulting in having the artwork redrawn.

But I often enjoy controversy.  If they aim for a more "mature" audience it could be good.  Then again, one wonders if "more controversial" might invite unfavorable comparisons to The Boys.

Madame Web (2024)

Dakota Johnson stars as a comic book character I'm completely unfamiliar with.  I doubt Sony's version will have much to do with the comic book character, but Madame Web might be weird enough to be interesting.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Will I go see this in the theater this summer?  I guess it depends on where I am and what I'm doing.  I didn't enjoy the first two all that much, and I have no reason to believe the third movie will be qualitatively different.

I'd like to see Adam Warlock in live action however.  I've read and liked some of Jim Starlin's work on the character in the 70s.

Captain America: New World Order (2024)

More of Falcon and the Winter Soldier?  I didn't like the show.  I'm also not sure how I feel about Harrison Ford playing General Ross (R.I.P. William Hurt).  This said, I would like to see Tim Blake Nelson as The Leader.

Joker: Folie a Deux (2024)

Part of me really wishes they weren't making a sequel.  It feels like a Matrix situation, wherein they're never going to top the first one.  I like the idea of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, but the fact that this will be a musical is... perplexing.

The Brave and the Bold (no release date yet)

Supposedly this will be a "less grimdark" version of Batman, with the Bat Family taking center stage.  And while DC/Warner Bros. has already stated that there won't be four Batmans, I think even fewer Batmans would be better.  I get why they keep falling back on the character (money!), but really, the market for Batman is oversaturated now.

The Marvels (2023)

A sequel to the worst film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.  I tried watching the Ms. Marvel series too.  Just couldn't get into it.

Thunderbolts (2024)

Marvel's Suicide Squad?  To me this movie feels like a wasted opportunity.  There are SO many more interesting lineups to choose from, and instead they chose Bucky, Ghost, U.S. Agent, Julia Louise-Dreyfus' character from Wakanda Forever and everyone who wasn't Black Widow from Black Widow.

Come on, Marvel.  You had a lot to work with here.  Every character from Iron Monger to M.O.D.O.K. was fair game.  Hell, you could've even "borrowed" Venom from Sony.  All I can say is the script better be good.

The Batman: Part II (2025)

Grimdarkness.  So much grimdarkness.  I realize this is an unpopular opinion, but I found The Batman very boring.  Given the Arkham games this version of Batman definitely has an audience, but I found him dull and depressing.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

As much as I loved Captain Marvel (Shazam) when I was little, the first movie didn't do much for me.  It wasn't bad, really, just... unimpressive.  Quick!  Who was the villain in Shazam!?  What was his name?  Why was he evil?

I might go see this in the theater, I might not.  I had an interesting talk with my wife after we both saw the preview.  "Isn't he supposed to be wish fulfillment?" she asked, "And if so, why does he look so old?"

Kraven the Hunter (2023)

Betcha didn't know this is coming out next year.  Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who's played both "Dave" in the Kick-Ass movies and Quicksilver in the MCU, is set to star as Kraven.  The director, J.C. Chandor's last movie was Triple Frontier, an entertaining movie starring Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac and others.  We'll see....

El Muerto (2024)

Who the hell is El Muerto?  And Why the hell is El Muerto?  In answer to the first question he's a wrestler with superhuman strength and a Spider-Man villain; in answer to the second I don't know.  Apparently someone at Sony liked Bad Bunny's performance in Bullet Train and crafted this movie around him.

Who knows?  It could be good.  If you're interested in the character's backstory click here.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023)

I wasn't a fan of the first one.  It was talky, it was overlong, and the storyline was just short of coherent.  The second one?  I doubt I'll bother to see it in the theater.

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Superhero Movies From October 2018 Onward (6)

For reviews of older superhero movies click here and here.  It felt like time to get rid of the "baggage" those older entries carried, so I'm starting again from October 2018's Venom.

Superhero Moves On The Way

The Suicide Squad (Taiwan Release Date Unknown, August 6, 2021 in the States)

The Batman (Taiwan Release Date Unknown, June 25, 2021 in the States)

Morbius, the Living Vampire (Taiwan Release Date Unknown, July 31, 2020 in the States)

Wonder Woman 1984 (Taiwan Release Date Unknown, June 5, 2020 in the States)

Birds of Prey (Taiwan Release Date Unknown, February 7, 2020 in the States)

Joker (Comes Out in Taiwan October 3, 2019)

The New Mutants (Comes Out in Taiwan August 2, 2019?)

Spider-Man: Far From Home (Comes Out in Taiwan July 3, 2019)

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (Comes Out in Taiwan June 6, 2019)

Tell you right now: it's extremely unlikely that I'll be seeing this in the theater!

Avengers: Endgame

What I Liked: Everything.  This movie is awesome from beginning to end.

What I Didn't Like: Only two (very small) complaints: 1) Bruce and Nebula's explanation for their "heist" probably isn't going to satisfy anyone who bothers to think it through, and 2) the part at the end where all the "Marvel superheroines" line up and go into battle seems a bit too much like checking off an item on a checklist.

Future/Sequels: The next MCU offering is Spider-Man: Far From Home later this summer.  No other films have been given a release date as yet.  I think it's fair to say that Marvel will make a big announcement soon.

Hellboy

Wasn't interested.  I suppose I'll download it at some point.  Not in any hurry though.

Shazam!

What I Liked: Zachary Levi and Asher Angel are both examples of great casting, the story is well thought out, and the battle at the end takes some interesting twists and turns.  I consider Shazam! a vast improvement over Aquaman, which was trying to do too much in too short a time, and also Captain Marvel, which was in my opinion one hot mess of a movie.  Shazam! is much smaller-scale compared to those other two films, but its smallness works to its advantage.  It's very focused and to the point.

Mark Strong, who was wasted on Martin Campbell's Green Lantern, has much more to do in Shazam!  Even if his reasons for being "evil" aren't that well thought out, he's still a good (bad) villain.

What I Didn't Like: The battle at the end goes on a bit too long.  I think shortening it would have made for a better movie.  The introduction of the rest of the Marvel Family feels a bit rushed, even if it was gratifying to see them onscreen together.

Future/Sequels: No definite plans for any sequels as yet, but one of Shazam's other villains is introduced in a post-credits scene.  It's early to say, but I think this movie will be well received and I'd be surprised if a sequel isn't announced soon.

Captain Marvel

What I Liked: There's a part about halfway through, when Carol Danvers is reunited with an old friend.  In that part you can see Brie Larson's skill as an actress.

The fight on the spaceship near the end is oddly satisfying, but some of my satisfaction may have to do with 90s soundtrack, and the fact that I was a much younger guy when those songs were everywhere.  Nostalgia, in other words.

What I Didn't Like: Going back to the comic books, I never found Carol Danvers especially interesting, and this movie did nothing to change my mind.  Really, what is her reason for doing anything in this film?  At what point does her character change or make any real kind of discovery?

She's also so much more powerful than anyone she comes up against in this movie.  There's no sense of threat when "danger" strikes.  Jude Law?  Nope.  The Skrulls?  Not really.  Ronan the Accuser?  Their confrontation is a non-event.

I've also got to say, the explanation given for Nick Fury losing his eye really bothered me.  It's always seemed like this event should be of crucial importance, but in the movie it's explained in such an offhand manner.  The randomness of this explanation diminished the entire film.

Future/Sequels: Strap yourself in because Avengers: Endgame is less than two months away.  After Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home Marvel has announced no other films, though if Captain Marvel does well I'm sure we'll see a sequel.  I've heard a lot of talk about an Eternals movie, but we'll see.

I think what's going to make or break a Captain Marvel sequel is the Asian market, especially China.  If it goes over big in Beijing and Shanghai (as Aquaman did) you can be sure there will be another one.  If, however, this movie fails to find an audience in such places, I imagine Kevin Feige will start vaguely alluding to "future adventures" without making any real commitment.

Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

Does this one count?  Batman and the Justice League are in it.  It also features the newer and older versions of Aquaman.

What I Liked: It's a funny movie, though not as good as the first.  This said, it's not nearly as hyper as the first one, which might be a relief for those who found the first film slightly overwhelming.

What I Didn't Like: It does drag a bit toward the end.  It's weird to say, but I found myself having to really concentrate on Lego Movie 2.  There are SO many references, to so many things, that after the first hour my brain got tired.  

Future/Sequels: There might be a sequel to the Lego Batman movie, though there's no release date as yet.  There might also be The Billion Brick Race.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

What I Liked: Everything.  In my opinion this movie's awesome from start to finish.  The characters, the plot, the animation, the soundtrack, all of it's great.  I suppose it depends on how it does financially, but Spider-Verse could be a real game-changer for CBMs.

For me the best part of the film was the Bill Sienkiewicz-inspired sequence halfway through.  I've been a huge fan of that guy for years, and seeing his art animated almost brought tears to my eyes.  That version of the Kingpin?  That's all Bill Sienkiewicz.

What I Didn't Like: Small complaint: no Spider-Woman.  I've always liked Spider-Woman more than Spider-Man, and it would've been wonderful to see Jessica Drew (finally) show up in this movie.

Future/Sequels: There's talk that Spider-Woman could feature in the sequel alongside Spider-Gwen and Silk, but such plans are tentative of course.  It's entirely possible that a sequel would feature Spider-Man 2099 instead.

Aquaman

What I Liked: Atlantis looks cool.  Amber Heard is easy on the eyes.  The battle in the end - aside from a ridiculous pause in the action for a predictably romantic moment - looks amazing.

What I Didn't Like: Weird moments of exposition.  Instead of showing the audience what's happening/has happened, the characters in this movie often feel the need to stop whatever they're doing and explain things.  The only part of this movie where the action flows seamlessly is when Aquaman and Black Manta have their big showdown halfway through.

The part in the beginning about Aquaman's parents could have been removed entirely.  It adds absolutely nothing to the story, and starting the movie from the adult Aquaman's first appearance would have made a lot more sense.

This movie gets dumber as it goes along.  By the end I was laughing at certain scenes and bits of dialogue, and I wasn't the only one.  And before someone chimes in with "at least it doesn't take itself so seriously," let's remember there's a difference between laughing WITH a movie and laughing AT a movie.

The small ray of hope being that it's not as terrible as Justice League.  Not that this is saying much.

Future/Sequels: Shazam!, also set in the DCEU, will be out in a few months.  After that it's a long wait until Wonder Woman 1984.  Aquaman 2?  It's kind of early to tell, but the movie's been doing well in China, and those wanting a completely brainless superhero romp will be all over this one.

Venom

What I Liked: After a really clunky beginning there are some great action sequences.  Everything after Venom shows up is much better than the 15 minutes that try (and fail) to set up the story.  The fight between Venom and Riot near the end is very good.

What I Didn't Like: That beginning part.  It feels like they weren't sure what kind of movie they were making.  Horror?  Action?  Science fiction?  Going more for the "body horror" elements would have improved the film, and the spaceship/alien invasion subplot could have been dispensed with altogether.

As clunky as the beginning is, the dialogue throughout the movie is by far the worst part.  None of the actors seem at ease with what they're saying, and a couple of lines are unintentionally hilarious.

Future/Sequels: There are plans for a sequel with Woody Harrelson's Carnage in a bigger role.  I think that after setting up the general premise, a sequel is bound to be better.  Harrelson would also make a great villain.  Last I heard, Sony's next comic-based movie will be Morbius the Living Vampire, with Jared Leto as Morbius.  There may be some crossover between Venom and Morbius.

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A Review of Every Marvel Movie from 2008 to the Present (Revised as of July 4, 2018)

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.

Also, a note on the ratings/stars next to each entry.  These ratings were assigned when the movie came out, and may not reflect my current feelings about that movie.  In other words, I was judging X-men Origins: Wolverine against Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, the other two superhero movies of that year.  Since 2008 there have been a lot more superhero films, and getting three stars in 2018 is a lot harder than getting three stars in 2008.

****	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.

By the way, if you liked this movie you'd probably also enjoy (and find a lot that's familiar in) the Robert Redford vehicle Three Days of the Condor.

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)**1/2

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.

48. Logan (2017)***1/2

A solid, dramatic film that may well prove Oscar-worthy.  It's still early 2017, so it's hard to say whether or not the Academy will remember Jackman's performance or Mangold's direction come Oscar time.  But Logan is a good (maybe great) movie that might just stand the test of time.  The last act falters a bit, but the first two acts are excellent.  Not as mind-blowing as The Dark Knight, not as paradigm-shifting as Deadpool, but nevertheless a well thought-out, well executed meditation on pain and loss.

49. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) **

If you're one of those people who LOVED the first Guardians of the Galaxy, you'll probably love this one, too.  I wasn't a huge fan of the first installment, and this movie did nothing to change my mind.  The humor in Vol. 2 seemed even more forced, and the characters spend SO much time explaining plot points that it took me right out of the movie.

50. Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)****

Gotta say they nailed it.  I can't think of a single bad thing to say about this movie.  The acting, the directing, the special effects, the fight scenes - and they even made me love Iron Man all over again.  I'll be seeing it again soon.

51. Thor: Ragnarok **1/2

Too jokey by far, even if the jokey bits are also the best parts of the movie.  Hela might be one of the better developed Marvel villains, but the Thor and Loki seen in this movie are so watered down as to be unrecognizable.  Who is Thor, really?  What is his personality?  What does he want?  Even Marvel doesn't seem able to answer these questions - and thus the central flaw in their Thor trilogy.  I'm still a big fan of Taika Waititi, and What We Do in the Shadows remains one of my favorite films, but his directorial style obscures what might have otherwise been a solid action movie.

52. The Black Panther (2017) ***1/2

My favorite thing about this movie is the world-building.  As a piece of world-building Wakanda rivals Peter Jackson's Middle Earth, and Jackson built Middle Earth with the aid of Tolkein's novels.  I've also read my share of Black Panther comics, and I can't think of many precedents for what Ryan Coogler and co. managed to get onscreen.  Black Panther is a well put together movie, and my only reservation is that there isn't much tension leading up to the film's climax.

53. Avengers: Infinity War (2018) ***

Having Thanos as the main character was a bold choice.  That ending was an even bolder choice.  I think that after audiences get past their initial sense of dismay, they'll get behind this movie, though of course the extent of their support remains to be determined.  The story's solid and Thanos is a compelling (if not entirely explained) villain, and the movie does an admirable job of juggling dozens of characters spread across several galaxies.  My one complaint?  The cgi isn't always necessary, and certain characters (Proxima Midnight) ought to have been performed by real, living people.

54. Deadpool 2 (2018) **1/2

Weirdly dramatic in parts, but with enough laughs (and violence) to keep it chugging along.  The first one was funnier, but Deadpool 2 has me looking forward to an X-Force movie - if that ever happens.  The second post-credit scene was almost better than the entire movie.

55. Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) ***

WAY better (funnier) than the first one.  The Bill Foster subplot is a weak point, but the characters are well thought out and their relationships are intriguing.  If you go into this one expecting a comedy with occasional bursts of action you won't be disappointed.  Still having trouble believing that this is the 20th Marvel movie!

On the Way

Note: the Fox release schedule is to be treated with the utmost skepticism.  Deadpool 2 is already in the can, but other releases are anybody's guess.  Disney/Marvel has recently acquired the rights to the characters, and it may transpire that Marvel Studios "kills" both the upcoming X-Men: Dark Phoenix and New Mutants films as a way of easing these properties into their cinematic universe.

57. Venom (2018)

The symbiote looks solid, though Eddy Brock resembles Peter Parker a little too closely.  Is that Carnage in the trailer?  The idea of Woody Harrelson playing Carnage has me more excited than Tom Hardy playing Venom.

56. X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)

Fox gives it the old college try with yet another adaptation of the X-men's most iconic storyline.  That actress playing Jean Grey does absolutely nothing for me, and I'm hoping Marvel prevents this from seeing the light of day.  I'm also not optimistic about first time director Simon Kinberg.

58. Captain Marvel (2019)

A female superhero film - even if it will appear a TWO YEARS after DC's Wonder Woman.  And Captain Marvel ain't no Wonder Woman!  There are many production photos available online.

59. Avengers 4 (2019)

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

60. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)

If it's half as good as the first one it should be great!

61. The New Mutants (2019)

I am/was guardedly optimistic about this one, but they've pushed the date back and those reshoots seem like they're taking forever.  Not a good sign.

62. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2020)

The last one made me sleepy.  A third one?  I don't know, if Adam Warlock is involved I might be more interested.

63. Gambit (2019)

Don't hold your breath.  I list it here because it's supposed to be entering production soon, but who knows?

64. X-Force?  Deadpool 3?

These films are also supposed to be entering production, but with the Marvel/Disney deal underway their future seems uncertain.  I like the idea of both movies, but then again the idea of Deadpool popping up in a MARVEL movie beats the idea of both movies to death.

Related Entries:

Some Other Movies From 2010
Some Other Movies From 2008
Rooting for the Rogues
Some Other Movies From 2006

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?

Thoughts on the Future of Various Cinematic Universes

Batman v. Superman premiered two weeks ago, Civil War is due (in Taiwan) 21 days from now, and X-Men: Apocalypse is due 21 days after that.  This means that three separate cinematic universes are in full swing, and with this in mind I'd like to discuss what the future might hold for each.

1. The DC Extended Universe

We are only two films into DC's Extended Universe.  The first of these was 2013's Man of Steel, and the second is the recently released Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.  A third film, Suicide Squad, will appear later this summer.

And later still: 

Wonder Woman (2017), Justice League Part 1 (2017), The Flash (2018), Aquaman (2018), Shazam (2019?), Justice League Part 2 (2019), Cyborg (2020), and Green Lantern Corps (2020).

How it's looking now: 

Batman v. Superman is a very divisive film.  Some of us love it, others hate it, with very few people in the middle.  I think it has flaws, but the initial critical reaction was far out of proportion to any flaws this movie might have.  It's not perfect, but if you really think it's worse than the first Thor, or the third X-men, you might want to question your loyalty to Marvel properties and/or your rampant dislike for anything DC.  There's a lot of "brand loyalty" at work in people's reactions to this film, both to its benefit and to its disadvantage.

Obviously replacing Snyder as director of the upcoming Justice League Part 1 would change many people's perceptions of the DC Extended Universe.  So will the success or failure of the upcoming Suicide Squad.  Yet I think that as of now the DCEU is on much firmer footing, and if Suicide Squad does well, future critics will be much kinder to Batman v. Superman.  As it is, BvS made a TON of money, and I don't think Warner Bros. has too much to worry about.

What I think they should do: 

a. Replace Snyder.  I think the guy's got talent, and finding another director will certainly delay production of Justice League Part 1, but it seems like the right thing to do.

b. Keep hiring good directors, and have faith in them.  Right now Marvel resembles the "studio system" of 1940s Hollywood, and DC won't be able to compete if they emulate the same system.  Instead of the top-down approach that Kevin Feige embodies, find directors with talent, and trust that they'll make a good movie without so much oversight.  David Ayer (Suicide Squad) and Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman) both have proven track records, and both can deliver quality films if Warner Bros. trusts in their respective visions.

c. Beat Marvel to the punch.  What do I mean by this?  Darkseid!  Darkseid and his Fourth World mythos are to Thanos what the anthill is the the ant.  I've heard talk that Justice League Part 1 will use the Atlanteans as the villains, but hopefully Darkseid will figure into that film as well.  DC has always done villains better than Marvel, and Darkseid represents an opportunity to deliver the original article (Darkseid) before Marvel re-releases the copy (Thanos) in Infinity War.

d. Don't try to copy Marvel's formula.  A lot of the negative reaction to Batman v. Superman can be boiled down to "not Marvel."  That's OK.  Not everyone's going to get it at first.  Don't be afraid to get "dark" just because Marvel has a lighter touch.  The recent talk of Suicide Squad undergoing reshoots to make it "more fun" is worrying, and would seem to indicate a lack of confidence in the course they've chosen.

2. The Marvel Cinematic Universe

The upcoming Captain America: Civil War will be the 13th film in the series, and the first film in Marvel's "Phase Three."  It's also the third Captain America film, following 2011's Captain America: The First Avenger, and 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  Expectations for this movie are high.

And later still: 

Doctor Strange (2016), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Spider-Man (in partnership with Sony, 2017), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), Black Panther (2018), Avengers: Infinity War - Part 1 (2018), Captain Marvel (2019), Avengers: Infinity War - Part 2 (2019), and Inhumans (2019).

And of course the Netflix shows should also be mentioned, since they occur in the same universe.  Luke Cage, Iron Fist, and the Defenders are all in various stages of production, though the dates of their release are more tentative.  And yes, there's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Carter, and the upcoming Damage Control, though - full disclosure - I have to say that I don't bother with the non-Netflix shows.

How it's looking now:

Marvel is still king of the castle, and should continue to be so with the release of Civil War.  I think Civil War will be a huge success, but the reaction to Doctor Strange will be more telling.  Marvel is well into its B-level heroes now, and by the time they arrive at Luke Cage and Captain Marvel they'll have arrived at the C-level.  Will the public get tired of their tried and tested formula?

What I think they should do: 

a. Don't be afraid to get weird.  Doctor Strange is of course their first opportunity to do this, since he's a magical hero who travels into other dimensions.  The Marvel films are definitely starting to feel a bit formulaic, and throwing in an eccentric one now and then will make their entire cinematic universe more interesting.

b. Make it topical.  Marvel does issues well, and the popularity of the Civil War idea reflects this.  Marvel has always done social issues better than DC, just as DC has always done the cosmic stuff better.  I think if the Marvel films can stay relevant they will continue to do well.

c. Don't oversaturate the market.  This is of course the biggest danger that Marvel Studios faces, aside from the soon-to-expire contracts of its leading men and women.  Success invites overexposure, and the public can only care about so many superheroes and so many storylines at one time.  "Holding back" a little will ensure that there's still an audience for these things down the line. 

d. Have a plan B.  What is Marvel going to do without Evans, Downey, and Hemsworth?  These actors will inevitably exit stage left at some point, and Marvel should be preparing for this outcome.  It is an interesting question: Will they go with newer heroes, or reboot the older ones? 

3. Fox's X-Men Film Series.

As stated above, X-Men: Apocalypse will be appearing in May, to be followed by a third Wolverine film in 2017.  X-Men: Apocalypse is the 9th movie in this series, and marks Bryan Singer's fourth outing (if you'll forgive the pun) as director.

And later still: 

Deadpool 2, X-Force, Gambit, and the New Mutants are all possibilities, but Fox isn't assigning release dates to their future films as yet.  I think this is a smart move, as it frees them up to pursue whatever projects seem most viable.

How it's looking now:

Deadpool was an astounding and unexpected worldwide success, produced on what was - in superhero terms - a miniscule budget.  X-Men: Days of Future Past was also well received, though it wasn't the game-changer that Deadpool was.  I would describe the anticipation for X-Men: Apocalypse as "moderate," though of course positive reviews can always change people's minds.

What I think they should do: 

a. The New Mutants.  This was a popular (if not super popular) comic book from the late 1980s, that would translate well into a film.  It would also make the X-men films much richer, showing us aspects of that world we haven't really seen before.  Magik and Warlock would also look amazing onscreen.

b. Enough with Mystique already.  I get that Jennifer Lawrence is a talented and beautiful actress, but her role in the X-men films is beginning to resemble that of Wolverine.  Mystique leading a team against Apocalypse?  Really?  Who thought that idea made sense?  This character is already far more important that she ever was in the comics, and her importance comes at the expense of other, more interesting characters.

c. Deadpool sequel please.  Of course this is bound to happen at some point, but I'm hoping it's sooner rather than later.  Cable also comes with the sequel.

d. X-Force.  It might be better to do this after a New Mutants film, especially since X-Force was a natural outgrowth of the New Mutants.  Having the mutants go "paramilitary" would be a great idea.

e. Get rid of Singer.  Really.  It's time for him to go.  I thought Days of Future Past deserved the critical praise it received, and Apocalypse may deserve similar accolades, but his version of the X-Men continues to look as if it's stuck in the past.  I'm also getting really, really tired of black leather body armor and the endless inclusion of Magneto.  Someone needs to do something new already.

f. Recast Wolverine.  Hugh Jackman has already stated that the third Wolverine will be his last run as the character.  And as much as I think the X-men film series owes its continued existence to him, it's high time we got a Wolverine that was rougher around the edges.  This, I think, should be done as soon as possible.

A Review of Every DC Movie from 1951 to the Present (Revised as of March 26, 2016)

I have omitted Stamp Day for Superman, which was produced by the US Government, and cannot be classified as a feature film.  There are also a few "DC imprint films" (Road to Perdition, A History of Violence, Stardust, The Losers, Gen 13, RED, and RED 2 that are not here for various reasons.

And there are also the "novelty" superhero films such as "Indian Superman."  These movies are/were exercises in copyright infringement, and never saw theatrical release outside of their countries of origin.  Many of these films are good for a few laughs, and can be seen in part or in their entirety on YouTube.

****	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.

 

  

1950s, 1960s, 1970s

1. Superman and the Mole Men (1951) *

You can watch this whole movie on YouTube.  It is, by some accounts at least, the first feature film featuring a DC or Marvel superhero.

2. Batman (1966) @

You can also watch this one on YouTube.  I've read that at the time this came out, the two stars of the show were banging just about anything in a skirt.  Good times!

3. Superman (1978) ****

This film is classic, and is STILL one of the best superhero films ever made!  The scene where Lois "dies" really freaked me out when I was a kid.

1980s

4. Superman 2 (1980) ****

This one might be even better than the first Superman.  Terrence Stamp was fantastic as General Zod, the plot was well thought out, and many scenes in this movie are iconic.  See it if you haven't already.

5. Swamp Thing (1982) **

Wes Craven directed this before he rose to fame with A Nightmare on Elm Street.   As a child it was one of my favorite films, though I can't say I like it quite as much now.  Adrienne Barbeau was HOT.

6. Superman 3 (1983) **

Not quite as good as the first two Superman films.  Also quite jokey, but Richard Pryor was in it, so what could you expect?  Gotta love the "bad Superman" sequence.

7. Supergirl (1984) @

Supergirl, one of several kryptonians who survived the destruction of Krypton by fleeing to "inner space," does battle with an evil sorceress.  The actress that plays Supergirl is hot, but this movie makes almost no sense from beginning to end.

8. Superman 4: The Quest for Peace (1987) **

A lot of people like to go on about how terrible this one is, but it's not really trying to be a good film in the first place.  Christopher Reeve takes his last run at being Superman, and the whole thing is predictably silly.  Would have been cooler if "Nuclear Man" had been Firestorm.

9. Batman (1989) **

Tim Burton's 1989 movie phenomenon.  This is the movie that revived the genre after years of stagnation.  Pretty slow compared to more recent films, but a lot more like Bob Kane's original Batman comics.  In some ways, Michael Keaton is still my favorite Batman.  Fun Trivia: for the three weeks Jack Nicholson spent filming his scenes as the Joker he earned $6 million, in addition to a percentage of the box office gross, which amounted to something between $60 and $90 million!

10. The Return of Swamp Thing (1989) **

A surprisingly watchable movie.  More humorous than the first one, and Swamp Thing looks less rubbery.  It's too bad they never made a third one, because the run Alan Moore did on the comic book would have produced some really trippy movies.  Fun Trivia #1: Heather Locklear is in this.  Fun Trivia #2: The actress that played Faora in Superman II is Dr. Arcane's mistress.

1990s

11. Batman Returns (1992) *

This didn't seem so much a movie as an excuse for a toy line.  By 1992 I was already sick of Tim Burton and his quirkiness, and this movie did nothing to change my opinion of him.  Yeah, Michelle Pfeiffer was a damn sexy Catwoman, but that fact alone did not save this film.

12. Batman Forever (1995) *

This is where Joel Schumacher stepped into the Batman franchise, and the results are unsuprising.  It's a shiny, pretty movie star world that proves unbearably dull.  It would have been bad enough, but Jim Carrey's overacting makes it so much worse.  Fun Trivia #1: Bruce Wayne breaks a henchman's neck after Two-Face disrupts the circus.  Fun Trivia #2: During a subsequent discussion, Wayne mentions to Dick Grayson/Robin that "The circus must be halfway to Metropolis by now."  Fun Trivia #3: Jon Favreau, who would go on to direct both Iron Man and Iron Man 2, is in this movie for about a second.

13. Batman and Robin (1997)

Gluttons for punishment would have seen this in the theater.  I was probably next door, watching a better film.  Seeing the apocalyptic performance Arnold Schwarzenegger gives as Mr. Freeze, one marvels that Batman Begins ever got made at all.

14. Steel (1997)

Shaq plays John Henry Irons, an ex-soldier who develops a suit of armor and then sets out to rid the inner city of high tech weaponry.  Some terrifically bad puns in this movie.  It was aimed at kids, and the plot makes little sense.

2000s

15. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) *
No wonder Alan Moore wants nothing to do with Hollywood.  Movies such as this one prove his point.  This movie lacks the sense of irony that made the comic book so good, and one wonders what the hell Sean Connery was thinking.

16. Catwoman (2004) @

Halle Berry plays Catwoman, Sharon Stone plays the villain, and Benjamin Bratt plays the most clueless detective in the world.  The DC comic book character in name only.  That scene where the cats bring Halle Berry back to life is hilarious.  So bad it's good!

17. Constantine (2005) ***

This oft-overlooked movie is worth your time.  It might not be classic, but it's a solidly put together film with an interesting protagonist.  The guy that plays the devil near the end is great.

18. Batman Begins (2005) ****

Hell yes.  This was a movie Batman as we always wanted to see him.  Not the neurotic guy with all the gadgets, but the kind of guy who could kick your ass.  The scarecrow is awesome here.

19. V for Vendetta (2005) ***

Great film, made by the Wachowskis of Matrix fame.  Hugo Weaving is fantastic, and even if they dumbed down the source material it's still worth your time.

20. Superman Returns (2006) **

Not as bad as some people make it out to be.  Yeah, Superman does come off as a stalker, and I don't know why they had to do so many of his flying scenes in CGI, but the part where Kevin Spacy and co. deliver a beatdown is excellent.

21. The Dark Knight (2008) ****

Still hands-down the best superhero movie ever made.  And yes, I liked The Avengers.  The plot is complex, the performances are amazing, and the direction is first-rate.  How could Nolan have ever topped this one?

22. The Spirit (2008)

Fuck this movie is bad.  I saw Sin City so many times I had the lines memorized, and with The Spirit I was hoping for something similarly classic.  Unfortunately, Frank Miller isn't quite as good in the absence of Robert Rodriguez.

23. Watchmen (2009) ***

Two problems with this movie: the actors are too pretty, and way too much kung fu fighting.  Aside from these two problems, it is faithful to the comic book and works on many levels. Snyder might have bungled Sucker Punch, but this movie gave me hope for Man of Steel. 

2010s

24. Jonah Hex (2010) *

Josh Brolin stars as an ex-confederate soldier who can talk to dead people.  John Malkovich is the villain.  It was almost a good movie, but the soundtrack ruins the better moments and it gets pretty corny near the end.

25. Green Lantern (2011)

The movie had everything going for it.  I'm not even a big fan of Green Lantern, but when I heard about the director and the cast I got really excited.  Unfortunately the road to Green Lantern is paved with good intentions.

26. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) **

This movie just bored me.  It's over three hours long, and Bane is unintentionally hilarious at times.  Anne Hathaway makes a great Catwoman, but that's all I can say in favor of this film.

27. Man of Steel (2013) **

Half of a great movie, and half of a Michael Bay movie.  It starts out well, even though some of the details surrounding Krypton don't bear thinking about.  Henry Cavill is a great Superman, but Zack Snyder was trying too hard to please too large an audience.

28. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice ***

I don't care what the critics say - this is a great f*&king movie.  I was unimpressed by Man of Steel - but this?  This is the comic book movie I've been waiting for.  Probably a bit slow - or even too dark - for some, but I loved it.  This is DC done well, and I'm looking forward to Suicide Squad even more now.

On the Way

29. Suicide Squad (2016)

Hell yes Suicide Squad.  As with Deadpool, this could be a great film if they don't water it down too much.  Will Smith is Deadshot, Margot Robbie is Harley Quinn, and Jared Leto plays the Joker.  David Ayer is directing, and I'm thinking this one will be pretty good.

30. Justice League Part 1 (2017)

Having set up the general premise in Batman v. Superman, Warner Bros. will introduce this superhero team to the big screen.  Confirmed members are Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, the Flash, and Aquaman.  The ending of Batman v. Superman seems to suggest that Darkseid will be the villain.

31. Wonder Woman (2017)

To me the idea of this movie is a no-brainer - a female superhero(ine) with a great back story.  Patty Jenkins is directing, and Gal Gadot will reprise her role from Batman v. Superman.  Filming will conclude soon, and afterward it will enter post production.

32. The Flash (2018)

Ezra Miller will play the Flash.  No other details available.

33. Aquaman (2018)

Jason Momoa will play Aquaman.  James Wan is directing.  He has stated that it will be more "fun" than Batman v. Superman.

34.  Shazam (2019)

The Rock (OK, Dwayne Johnson) has already been cast as Black Adam.  Word is that this film will exist outside the main DC cinematic continuity.

35. Justice League Part 2 (2019)

So not only are we getting the second Avengers film, but we're also getting a second Justice League film in the same year.  It boggles the mind.

36. Cyborg (2020)

Ray Fisher has already been cast as Cyborg.  He appears in Batman v. Superman for a moment.  A scientist creates him with the aid of a mother box.

37. Green Lantern Corps (2020)

Some conceptual art for this film appeared at the SDCC.  As for the rest, your guess is as good as mine!