Marvel Cinematic Universe 36: The Fantastic Four [First Steps]

MCU 36: The Fantastic Four [First Steps] (2025)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


I was careful to avoid spoilers before watching this, so other than family members informing me that they really enjoyed the movie, I didn't know what to expect going in. I had suspected more of a tie-in with the current MCU universe given the ending of Thunderbolts* with the rocket, but this has an old-time feel while still having advanced technology for the Fantastic Four, which is an interesting combination. Shalla-Bal as the Silver Surfer instead of Norrin Radd is also an interesting choice. Curious if we'll see both Silver Surfers at some point in the future or if this token will be the only nod to this part of the franchise given the previous Silver Surfer film, though it was not nearly as well done in terms of the world building overall. The adaptation of Ben's beard is also hilarious and not something that has been considered in previous film variations. On a whole, this was a lot more true to the same feel as the original comic books, and even kept the origin story much the same, while still moving things along. Johnny is even toned down a bit so while he's still more flighty and a charmer, he's much more focused on his family and doing something rather than just playing all the time, which is a drastically improved attitude for his character, though you'll still get plenty of banter between Johnny and Ben especially. The cameo for Doctor Doom at the ending was also iconic and a fun easter egg for those who look up the uncredited cast of the film. Hopefully it doesn't change for the next full length feature if we see Doom step onto the stage more fully as that would be a fun win for the entire MCU fandom.

Marvel Cinematic Universe 35: Thunderbolts*

MCU 35: Thunderbolts* (2025)

Rating: 3 of 5 stars


Yelena is a central character in this movie, though she doesn't have an alter ego like the rest of the Thunderbolts or the Avengers. It's clear that she's not satisfied with her current life and still misses her sister. Similar to Natasha, they may have been trained as assassins since childhood, but there's a gentleness and clear heart in these sisters that goes against their training. Similarly, Yelena finds herself in a rather unique family situation, though it's clear sometimes she's so embarrassed by them, she may wish she was back on her own. It sounds like there may be some conflict with their claiming the title as the new Avengers, even though they themselves were not the ones who initially made that declaration. It will be interesting to see how things evolve and if de Fonte will continue to be a concern or if her new public image will keep her inline with the team's own agenda, though that may be difficult to maintain. Most of the team seems to be fairly level headed, except Alexei, who seems unusually obsessed with his past as a super soldier and his new "team." Bob also claims that the power comes with a specific identity and point of view, so he may remain the odd civilian hanging out with the team, or maybe there is more than he knows to his abilities that might allow him to regain some control. It's also relatively easy to tell where we are in the series if you pay attention to the narrative as they discuss both Sam's  possession of "the shield" and the Red Hulk from the last movie.

Marvel Cinematic Universe 34: Captain America 4 [Brave New World]

MCU 34: Captain America 4 [Brave New World] (2025)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


For anyone only following the movies that has not seen The Falcon & The Winter Soldier, this is the first time we see Mackie pick up the shield on the big screen instead of Evans. There's a lot of action packed in and more than a few easter eggs, but if you haven't followed the series so far, watchers may be more than a little lost in the subtext. As an action film, it is engaging, but it doesn't seem to have as much of a story that it's telling. There are a few hints, especially at the end, for anyone paying attention, which makes sense especially following films like The Multiverse of Madness. It would seem the multiverse is here to stay with the popularity and ongoing references, which opens up a lot of possibilities for the series.

Daredevil: Born Again

Daredevil: Born Again (2025)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


While this is no longer with Netflix like the original TV series, the story picks up just after the end of the first story, with the same actors as well, though things quickly shift directions. Add as well that this is now considered officially part of the MCU lineup, and you have a lot of potential tie-ins to ongoing stories and other heroes. More than one Marvel character is referenced even in just the first 6 episodes that are currently available to watch. The story doesn't start out in the vein you may expect at all, but so far is building up the tension and puts Matt in one situation after another where he must reassess his choices, including if the world still needs vigilantes or not, and if he is still counted as one of them.

X-Men 13: Deadpool & Wolverine

X-Men 13: Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


With the buyout of Fox by Disney, who also has already acquired Marvel, Deadpool and the X-Men franchise has officially merged into the Avengers universe, to the point that it is the source of several pointed comments in the film and we even see Deadpool actively trying to join the Avengers. Of course, being a Deadpool film, there's a high level of comedy, though the crudeness and profanity levels have gone up in this sequel from previous iterations, along with the level of gore seen in the fight scenes. What plays well though, is this merger with Wolverine, especially as both have regenerative abilities so they are much harder to kill, and both have a rather crude sense of humor. This may also be the closest to an in depth level of the multiverse that we've seen in live action so far, or may see to date, with the entrance of so many Deadpools (similar to the Spider-Man headquarters in Across the Spider-Verse). An additional nice touch, aside from many of the characters being more true to their original comic book creations, was the inclusion of cameos from several past Marvel live-action performers reprising their same roles, including Sabertooth, Toad, Elektra, and even Blade. A nice touch of nostalgia, especially with all of the TVA. Fans that have been around since the early movie days are also of an age they may get an extra kick out of the soundtrack for this film, complete with copying some of the original music video dance moves. 

Marvel Cinematic Universe 33: Captain Marvel 2 [The Marvels]

MCU 33: Captain Marvel 2 [The Marvels] (2023)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Nick Fury is rather relaxed in his role with this new space research currently, a far cry from the all black, always armed, and ready for action Fury from S.H.I.E.L.D. Carol as usual means well, but doesn't always seem to hit the mark. She's especially a bit of a fish out of water when it comes to family ties and anything outside of her "work" as a superhero, largely due to her own guilt and mixed up emotions. She's forced to face more than a few things she actually can remember about her past when the Kree try to fix their homeland, resulting in literal tears in space. At the same time, Carol's powers are temporarily linked with both Monica's and Kamala's, resulting in more than a little bit of confusion and some forced family reunions. We see some tie ins to the X-Men universe a result of this installment as well, though it's very clear that this is a parallel universe and not the same one, so if more mutants will enter the Avengers current timeline remains to be seen. Monica, for her part, is still very hurt by her mother's death and Carol's disappearance, as this topic comes up frequently throughout the film. Kamala, meanwhile, hero worships Carol to an extreme, even going as far as to copy her alias as Ms. Marvel. They never do seem to come up with what Monica's name would be as a Marvel, especially as she insists she doesn't need one.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse

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

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a sequel to Into the Spider-Verse, with a third installment pending (indefinitely delayed due to writer strikes at the moment). Turns out, not everything is as expected in many of the universes, and Miles goes from maybe feeling a little left out, to just wanting to live his own life the way he chooses to. Gwen looks to be a crux in this story playing out. It doesn't seem like all hope is lost just yet, though there are certainly some rather impressive odds at times. First off, they need to figure out what time Miles really is in, and how to get him back to the correct time instead.

Spider-Man: Storybook Collection

Spider-Man: Storybook Collection by Marvel Comics

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Similar to the Disney Storybook Collection books, this is in the same format, except all Marvel's Spider-Man. The books don't seem to grab the kids attention as much as the movies or TV series sadly, but are still fun short stories with artwork included for young readers. This collection includes the following:

1. Cause for Celebration
2. Science vs. Science
3. Hulk Disposal
4. Last Days of Summer
5. Alone Against the Sinister Six!
6. Halloween Stampede
7. Attack Off-Broadway! Guest Starring Rocket & Groot
8. Crazy Eights
9. Love Bug
10. No Room for Debate
11. The Amazing Spider-Kid
12. Power Trip
13. Black Ice
14. A Hot Dog, A Real Dog, & an Octopus
15. Super BUGZ!
16. Sand Trap
17. The Fastest Web in the West
18. Museum Madness!
19. Climate Calamity!
20. The Sensational Six!

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The Avengers: Storybook Collection

The Avengers: Storybook Collection by Marvel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Honestly thought this would be a bigger hit with the kids just getting into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this was one that they were happy for a once through and move on. Stories in this collection include:

1. Hulk SMASH!
2. Black Widow Bites Back!
3. Friend or Foe?
4. Falcon Earns His Wings
5. Party Crashers
6. Battle for Earth!
7. Arctic Attack!
8. Kang - Conqueror of S.H.I.E.L.D.!
9. Call for Backup
10. Hail, Hydra!
11. Attack of Count Nefaria
12. Play Ball!
13. Thor Versus the Avengers
14. Double Take
15. Jurassic Central Park
16. The Avengers' Day Off
17. Undercover Agents
18. What Goes Up Must Come Down
19. An Unexpected Hero

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5-Minute: Avengers Stories

5-Minute Avengers Stories by Marvel

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Daybreak
While the other Avengers are referenced briefly, this is largely a showdown between Captain America and the Red Skull, with Nick Fury coordinating the backup and confirming intel.

Small Hero, Big Thrills!
This is a cute story focusing on Ant-Man and how he not only helps the Avengers, but recognizes being a good dad is just as important, if not more so, than being a good hero.

No I in Team
Sometimes a little friendly competition is all fun and games, but at the end of the day, there's nothing that really beats some good teamwork.

Practice Makes Perfect
Tony may be a genius, but that doesn't mean he's perfect - far from it truthfully. What he can say though, is that when it counts, he usually learns from his mistakes and comes out on top.

Dino Time
Messing with time went much better in the MCU. This time they accidentally reintroduce dinosaurs to the current era.... directly into Central Park. Rather than learning to not mess with time however, Tony and Bruce want to dive into a new time experiment. Maybe it's time to let time rest instead of trying to rest themselves.

Not Easy Being Big & Green
In some ways, the Hulk's thought process and responses can be considered childlike. In truth, he really just wants to be a good guy and doesn't like being seen as being mean - except that it can come in really handy when he's working with his friends to beat the bad guys.

Lending a Wing
This short is all about teamwork once again, and perhaps learning a bit of grace. Falcon's original plans may not have panned out exactly as he thought they would, but he really does work with one of the best teams out there.

Calling All Avengers!
Sometimes a changing of the guard can be difficult. In this case though, it's about new recruits learning to fit in with those already out in the field, and those who are out and used to working together learning to trust those they've trained to help them.

Freaky Thor Day
It's said that only those worthy of ruling Asgaard could wield Mjolnir, yet here we have a child tossing around her backpack with it's power as if it's nothing. Tiring, perhaps, but certainly not nearly impossible as implied by Thor in other conversations. Of course Fury wouldn't miss a chance to attempt to recruit a new potential agent either.

Robin Hawk
Hawkeye is feeling a little inferior.... until he accidentally is mistaken for the infamous Robin Hood when he and Iron Man end up back in the middle ages. Perhaps being an archer isn't so bad at all, even if they may have accidentally altered history a bit.

Friends for Life
Vision learns how to be a friend and a few lucky humans learn that meeting someone who is different doesn't mean they are scary or dangerous.

The Rise of a New Team
Ultron is at it again, this time holding the original Avengers hostage to become his pawns, resulting in Fury calling in the new recruits. It's a little confusing how it can be implied multiple times that the new recruits are called out for the first time, resulting in the full team learning to work together, when realistically there can only be one first mission where they all work together. Regardless, teamwork is always the way the day is won in the end.

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Marvel Spider-Man: The Story of Spider-Man

Marvel Spider-Man: The Story of Spider-Man by DBG

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


As the title indicates, this is the story of Spider-Man, specifically, his origin story. For anyone who is familiar with the original comics, multiple TV series, or movies, it will be familiar. As with other World of Reading books, this is geared towards early readers and young children specifically.

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Marvel Cinematic Universe 31: Ant-Man & the Wasp 2 [Quantumania]

MCU 31: Ant-Man & the Wasp 2 [Quantumania]

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Wow there's a lot of tie-ins in this movie while also still being a tad off the rails, like most Ant-Man films seem to end up being. Of course it wouldn't be an adventure without adding yet another Ant-Man suit to the group as well, though they never seem to come up with a name for Cassie. Scott's dialogue is, as usual, both on-point and slightly off at the same time, resulting in a unique sort of comedy in these stories. This addition to the series does not include his best friend with the rambling intros and end summaries however, leaving Scott to fill that gap in his own unique way. Teasers with both Kang and Loki towards the end would indicate the story isn't over either.

Marvel Cinematic Universe 32: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

MCU 32: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This one focuses more on Rocket than on Star Lord, though of course he and the rest of the Guardians are there. There's a lot of angst with Gamora and a lot of self discovery in this version. Adam Warlock is introduced and we learn more about all of the Guardians, but most especially, about Rocket. Rocket has always been a bit of an enigma with his lab experiment history and his insistence that he's not a racoon.... up until now. Even Gamora, who can't seem to stand the Guardians aside from her own sister, Nebula, seems to learn a few things in her unexpected adventure with the Guardians and reach some level of understanding with them. It's hard, especially for Quill, to recognize that even though she is Gamora, she is not the Gamora that changed with him in the past. 

Marvel Cinematic Universe 30: Black Panther 2 [Wakanda Forever]

MCU 30: Black Panther 2 [Wakanda Forever] (2022)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Not entirely loving how they set up the sister to take over as the mantle of the Black Panther or the sudden exile faced with loyal guards. Was somewhat hesitant coming into this knowing that T'Challa is no longer part of the MCU. It did set up well for adding in Namor and the underwater civilization, but much of the story feels forced, making it difficult to really enjoy it as much as some of the earlier MCU films.

Marvel Cinematic Universe 29: Thor 4 [Love & Thunder]

MCU 29: Thor 4 [Love & Thunder] (2022)

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


This has got to be one of the strangest MCU films I've seen to date. It feels like it could have had a lot of potentially, but so much was crammed into it for the sake of the storyline that it just feels haphazard and chaotic. The screaming goats and constant rainbows and flashing lights don't help with these impressions. It seems as if there will be a focus on the children possibly going forward in the movies as well, though time will tell if this holds true or is only the focus for this one film. 

Moon Knight

Moon Knight (2022)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Steven seems to be a very confused person who needs a whole lot of help. Marc seems more capable, but also seems to have his own issues, especially when it comes to his status as an avatar and his quest. Harrow doesn't seem to be much better with his own quest and the potential death toll he'd unleash. Not entirely sure yet how this is going to tie into the rest of the MCU, but it would not rank among the favorites or best series as of yet.

Marvel Cinematic Universe 28: Doctor Strange 2 [The Multiverse of Madness]

MCU 28: Doctor Strange 2 [The Multiverse of Madness] (2022)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


There is a lot going on in this movie, but it seems to indicate that most of the multiverse characters are the same at least as far as Doctor Strange and a few other characters are concerned. This has been proven to not be the case at least with Spider-Man and some other characters possibly being replaced (ex: Captain America is Captain Carter). It also opens the possibility for other characters like The Fantastic Four and the X-Men being added back into the MCU. It is unclear though, if the third eye is meant to be the Eye of Agamotto and would possibly be an indication of Strange's increasing power and abilities, or solely just a price of using the Darkhold as his more evil alternate version indicated. Perhaps something we may learn in the next Doctor Strange movie and/or if we see the actual correction of the incursion mentioned at the end of this film.

Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage

Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage (2021)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Not the worst action movie I've seen, but it's very confusing overall and doesn't have much in the way of character development or actual plot. There are a few moments that strike as humorous, but overall a lot of the movie is just a lot of arguing and others telling Brock he's useless or to stop messing up. Shriek is a bit of a confusing add in as she's mostly known for the Maximum Carnage storyline, which does not align with the rest of the movie or the battle with Carnage and the form he uses. There also wasn't any color factor originally, yet in this movie Venom panics:

"This is much worse than I thought. That is a red one."

Nothing is actually elaborated on why Carnage being red is of so much concern this time around, but it is implied from the words and actions that this is somehow a key indicator that results in Venom now expecting them to die rather than thinking they can go in and tear everyone limb from limb with ease.

Hawkeye

Hawkeye (2021)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


We get another tie-in to more common Spider-Man storylines here with the King Pin brought into the mix. There are a few other notable leads to other characters in the Marvel universe, and even some fun poked at the earlier comic costume designs (purple, big H for Hawkeye, flashy mask and all). Clint is his usual down to earth self who does not want attention drawn to himself. There's still an obvious internal struggle going on regarding Black Widow's death even before her sister arrives back on the scene, which may be expected from anyone who did see the more recent Black Widow film. The Roger's musical is.... interesting.... and also have to wonder why the name when it's obviously about all of the Avengers (even including Ant-Man who was not actually at the depicted battle of New York).... Sure are a lot of Ant-Man leads ins though. Because of the up-coming Ant-Man & the Wasp: Quantumania release, or something else?

Marvel Cinematic Universe 25: Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings

MCU 25: Shang-Chi & the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


One of the better recent Marvel movie additions, the story and characters both have depth while still including a lot of action and some excellent special effects. The best friend/sidekick can be a little aggravating at times, but she also has an odd balancing effect with a touch of comic relief to all of the rest of the insanity going on in the story. Add in the tie in to Doctor Strange, and can't help but wonder when we'll next see at least one, if not both, of these stars back on the Marvel roster.