Top 10 Movies from the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has had a good run for the past eleven years. Better than most would've ever expected when Iron Man hit the scene. Now twenty-two films later, and the first saga of its universe has come to an end. While revisiting the previous spin-offs and installments in preparation of Avengers: Endgame, I compiled what I consider to be the best of the MCU so far.

How would you rank the top ten movies? Feel free to let me know in the comments below! (This does not contain spoilers for Avengers: Endgame.)

Why Captain America's Decision in Avengers: Endgame Works

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Avengers: Endgame is one of the biggest movies of the 21st Century. So it'd be massively surprising if it didn't leave us with questions and ideas about its most beloved characters - especially Captain America and the road he's been on so far since Captain America: The First Avenger.

Having seen the film, and reading debates online about its plotholes, I wanted to explore what they mean for Steve Rogers and his journey throughout Marvel's finale for the Infinity Saga. This post contains massive spoilers. Read it your own risk.

Avengers: Endgame (2019) Is A Fine Finale But Not Marvel's Finest Hours

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

With The Snap of Thanos’s fingers, Avengers: Infinity War flipped from a typical superhero flick into an unforgettable event that no Marvel fan or casual movie-goer would ever forget. To say that Avengers: Endgame has been an event of its own is massive understatement. Its unbelievable hype has a lot to live to up since we saw half the universe dusted into oblivion in 2018. As Marvel draws its Infinity Saga to a close, this twenty second film is without-a-doubt a funny, action-packed and tender farewell. But in good ways and bad, it doesn’t necessarily capture the same magic of its sister flick.

As Paul Bettany once wisely said, “Snitches end up in ditches” if they spoiler Avengers: Endgame. Taking my fate into my own hands, I’m breaking with the requests from the Powers that Be (Marvel Studios and co.) to say: this review contains massive spoilers. Read it your own risk.

How Iron Man (2008) Changed Superhero Movies Forever

Superhero movies weren't new when Iron Man strolled onto the scene in 2008. Superman had been fighting kryptonite since 1976. Throughout the 1990s to early 2000s went either straight-to-video (Captain America and The Death of the Incredible Hulk) or were on their third sequels (X-Men, Spider-Man). Though Christopher Nolan's Batman overshadowed 2008 with The Dark Knight, a string of lukewarm movies (Daredevil, Fantastic Four, and Ghost Rider) made the superhero genre seem less and less like a gamble worth betting on.

But fast-forward ten years from 2008, and generations have grown up knowing and loving the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it. With a slew of characters and multiple spin-offs on the way, Iron Man is where it all started and where it changed everything, and where it seems to remain as one of the most underrated Marvel films.

Underrated Women of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is filled with hundreds of characters, all with little to memorable screentime to defend Earth from invaders and supervillains. With the debut of Captain Marvel finally having her own installment, and as the first Marvel film starring a woman, I was reminded of female characters who have flown under the radar. Here are five underrated women from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Am I missing someone on the list? Let me know in the comments below!

Ekaj (2015) Offers An Intimate Portrayal of Love and Hardship Among LGBTQ Youth

How do you find a sense of belonging when you’re not accepted by your own family, let alone society? Veteran fashion photographer turned writer and director Cati Gonzalez puts homeless LGBTQ youth under the microscope in a vivid portrayal of a too-often overlooked community.

After being kicked out by his homophobic father, a young teenager Ekaj (Jake Mestre) drifts on the hustling streets of New York City struggling to get by. When he befriends Mecca (Badd Idea), a thief and artist diagnosed with AIDS, the naïve Ekaj learns about the hardships of love, loss, and survival.

Top 11 Favorite Game of Thrones Characters

So many characters on Game of Thrones, so little time to rank all of them. While watching the series for the first time, I wasn't quite sure if I was going to be able to keep track of everyone. For a show of this size with at least a hundred characters, coming up with eleven (with honorable mentions) was difficult.  Throughout its eight seasons, certain heroes and even villains always caught my attention and made me root for them.

Like most adaptations, the storylines for a show or movie is immeasurably changed from the books. That said, I haven’t read George R. R. Martin’s series yet, so my choices are entirely based on the television show. The challenge of picking my faves and ranking them in some kind of specific order was hard, but here they are. Who do you love or love-to-hate? How would you rank your own list if you could? Let me know in the comments below!

This post mentions plot and character development from season 1 through seven, and may be considered spoilers. Read at your own risk!