marvel studios

‘What If…?’ Marvel Studios Tries Something Completely Different?

‘What If…?’ Marvel Studios Tries Something Completely Different?

Marvel Studios’ What If…? on Disney+ is an intriguing animated and narrative exercise in the MCU, but why isn’t it as exciting as we anticipated?

Marvel Studios ‘Black Widow’ Mishandles the MCU’s Most Popular Female Character

Marvel Studios ‘Black Widow’ Mishandles the MCU’s Most Popular Female Character

Marvel Studios’ Black Widow was too little, too late for the MCU’s most popular female character due partially to misogynistic business practices at Disney.

The Highs Are Higher, the Lows Lower in ‘Deadpool 2’

The Highs Are Higher, the Lows Lower in ‘Deadpool 2’

The first half of Deadpool 2, in which Vanessa is murdered and Wade becomes purposeless and suicidal, is a slog. The second half, where Wade commits to defending an angry teenage mutant, positively soars with fantastic action and some of the funniest superhero film moments in years.

The Action in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Is Relentless

The Action in ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ Is Relentless

The focus on Thanos single-handedly saves Avengers: Infinity War from becoming the overstuffed mess many feared and lends the film a relentless action pace more akin to Mad Max: Fury Road than a superhero blockbuster.

Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ Has Its Claws in the Zeitgeist

Marvel’s ‘Black Panther’ Has Its Claws in the Zeitgeist

Ryan Coogler's Black Panther engages with deep and timely social, cultural, and psychological concepts, and completely taps into America's zeitgeist.

Cue the Music: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’

Cue the Music: ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’

James Gunn crafts a deeply flawed film, but Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, which digs deep into daddy issues, is still entertaining, visually gorgeous, and likable.

What ‘Half Nelson’ Teaches About ‘Captain Marvel’ Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

What ‘Half Nelson’ Teaches About ‘Captain Marvel’ Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck

They've gone on to write and direct Captain Marvel, but there was a time when Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck made small films like Half Nelson and seemed poised to create a distinct, unpredictable body of work.

‘Thor: The Dark World’ Comes Close to Being a Viable Story

‘Thor: The Dark World’ Comes Close to Being a Viable Story

In Thor: The Dark World there's a dangerous villain, a universe-ending threat, and a star-crossed romance -- but none of it makes sense.

‘Iron Man 3’ Finds Its Hero in Crisis

‘Iron Man 3’ Finds Its Hero in Crisis

Marvel Studios launched its second phase of films with Iron Man 3, a film filled with bold storytelling choices and irreverent humour that would become hallmarks of the MCU.

Joss Whedon’s ‘The Avengers’ Blasts Away All Other Comic Book Films

Joss Whedon’s ‘The Avengers’ Blasts Away All Other Comic Book Films

By perfecting the comic book superhero formula and creating the first big-budget shared universe with The Avengers in 2012, Joss Whedon and Marvel Studios came to define this decade of blockbuster filmmaking.

‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ Stands Out in a Glut of Comic Book Films

‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ Stands Out in a Glut of Comic Book Films

Marvel Studios recognized that by mining other genres through the superhero lens, it could continue to keep comic book films fresh and entertaining to audiences and sidestep the constant predictions of imminent superhero fatigue.

‘The Incredible Hulk’ Is the Black Sheep of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

‘The Incredible Hulk’ Is the Black Sheep of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Marvel Studios' goal with The Incredible Hulk was to rehabilitate the Hulk in the minds of moviegoers after a disappointing 2003 film, and also reimagine him as a more heroic character that would fit within the larger universe it was crafting.