3. Avengers: Endgame
“AVENGERS… Assemble.”
The feeling I get every time I hear Falcon tell Cap on the comms “On your left…” is filled with so much joy and excitement that I can barely hold back the tears. This was 21 movies in the making, the culmination of 10 years of storytelling before it.
It’s a love-letter to the fans that followed the MCU since Iron Man, and it fittingly ends the arcs of Iron Man and Captain America wrapped up in a nice bow. When we see every hero we’ve grown to love step foot on that battlefield, it’s a “marvel” to see. This, along with Infinity War, is THE movie event of our time that I don’t think we’ll ever see again (sorry DC).
Oh, and Tony Stark, though. We love you, 3000.
2. Captain America: The Winter Soldier
“I know I’m asking a lot. But the price of freedom is high. It always has been. And it’s a price I’m willing to pay. And if I’m the only one, then so be it. But I’m willing to bet I’m not.”
It’s been argued that this really isn’t a superhero movie – this is a spy thriller with superheros thrown in.
Captain America was boring in his first movie appearances – just a solid dude who wanted to do good and be a good soldier. Here, Cap kicks so much ass and takes names later. Center stage here is Cap’s fight with Hydra while trying to adjust with the modern world as the only friend from his past shows up. The introduction of buddy/sidekick Falcon was a nice edition. Nick Fury and Black Widow are great in their supporting roles.
1. Avengers: Infinity War
“You have my respect, Stark. When I’m done, half of humanity will still be alive. I hope they remember you.”
What is it about sagas that the great movies have the bad guy winning? This is Marvel’s “Empire Strikes Back”, but on a massive scale. Almost every single hero is hero to do battle with a villain we can be generally terrified of. Iron Man. Captain America. Thor. Spider-Man. Doctor Strange. Black Widow. The Hulk. The Guardians of the Galaxy. Black Panther. Seeing all these team-ups come together was a sight to see.
I watched this on opening night in an IMAX theater. I’ve never heard so many cheers in a theater before (til Endgame), followed by a collective gasp by the end after “The Snap”.
Honestly my top 4 movies were very close – You have no idea how many times I had to rearrange them. In the end I gave the top spot to Infinity War for its expert execution, and it’s my pick for the best MCU movie.