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With the MCU approaching its 15th year since its first release, it has established a vast repertoire of movies and shows. As a result, it can be easy to forget that Marvel has had forays into the movie industry since the 80s. Some of these movies are incredibly forgettable, and are best left so. However, some of Marvel’s early projects turned out rather impressive.
As Marvel had far less influence on these earlier movies, they lacked many of the elements now seen common in the MCU, and as a result, the movies can feel rather fresh. Especially with many of these characters revitalized with new movies and shows, it is fun to revisit the classics and see how things were.
10/10 Blade Is A Wesley Snipes Action Classic
Wesley Snipes can be seen as a good prediction of things to come for Marvel in terms of how characters can carry a movie. With an incredible presence on screen, Blade radiated charisma in a way few other movies could during that time.
Some elements may feel familiar, while others retain that classic 90s action flick feel. With Blade’s incoming reintroduction to the big screen in the MCU, Blade is a very fun action flick to go back to and enjoy the character in a way unique from the movies that would come later.
9/10 Ghost Rider Was A Strong Early Effort
Ghost Rider is another movie that seems to lay the foundation for future movies. The way it flows and the story it tells feels very reminiscent of the MCU, but that doesn’t make it any less of a fun movie.
Nicolas Cage has an incredibly magnetic screen presence, and plays a deranged Ghost Rider fresh to his damned role. It’s an off-the-rails movie with absurdity every step of the way, and it’s an absolute joy. Ghost Rider is a compelling character whose presence in the MCU is sorely missed.
8/10 X-Men: Last Stand Is A Strong End To A Trilogy
X-Men: Last Stand had the unfortunate task of following up on two fairly solid comic book movies, while also giving it the audacious finale the trilogy deserved. While it slips and falls sometimes, and is derided by some fans, it holds strong to the end of an iconic trilogy.
X-Men 1 and 2 were tough movies to follow up on, and X-Men: The Last Stand does a decent job of it while bringing in a vast cast of mutants for a grand final battle and titular last stand. However, the flaws in its writing can sometimes be very hard to ignore.
7/10 Blade 2 Improves Upon Its Predecessor
If Blade was the movie introduction to the vampire slayer, Blade II is his most iconic tale. The character fully comes into his own in this movie, and significant improvements from the first movie can be seen throughout it, making Blade II better in many ways.
Of particular note is the fact that this film was shot before Wesley Snipes became a problem on set, resulting in the issues plaguing the third movie of the trilogy. His commitment to the character shows, and the movie is made more enjoyable for it.
6/10 Spider-Man 1 Was The Start Of Something Beautiful
Many viewers are likely well aware of Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man depiction, especially now with his addition to the MCU. The Sam Raimi-helmed Spider-Man trilogy was arguably one of, if not the first, successful comic-book trilogies, and the first movie of the trilogy had no small part to play in that.
While it now shows its age, the first origin story for Spider-Man is a fun but surprisingly serious telling, with both corny and intense moments abound. The Tom Holland-led trilogy may arguably be better, but sometimes nothing beats the classic.
5/10 X-Men 1 Brought New Life To Comic Book Movies
Released in 2000, X-men was a very early effort with a lot of strength behind it. Featuring a cast of many now-famous actors, fairly strong writing, and an enjoyable introduction to the world, X-men is bound to be a pretty good movie.
And while nostalgia obviously has a part to play, credit has to be given where it’s due. Hugh Jackman’s depiction of Wolverine is now iconic, and the rest of the cast put a similar amount of effort into their characters. Admittedly, it can sometimes be corny, but if anything, that adds to it.
4/10 X-Men 2 Did Everything X-Men 1 Did, Better
X-Men 2 (aka X2: X-Men United) continues the trend that Blade 2 establishes, with the second movie of a trilogy being its strongest. Following up on the well-received release of X-Men, X-Men 2 takes everything the first movie did, and takes it to the next level.
The iconic superhero team has incredible charisma in this movie, and embraces its comic side more than it did in the first. As a result, it’s a triumphant sequel and remains a very enjoyable movie to watch.
3/10 The Punisher Is A Unique Hero Movie
The Punisher has always stood out from the rest of Marvel’s heroes. Sometimes anything but a hero, Frank Castle is a difficult man to portray in a movie, especially in the MCU. The Punisher from 2004, however, depicts a grim, dark tale that does a great deal of justice to the character.
The brutal killer goes on a rampage throughout the movie, and the grim tone depicted throughout the movie stands out even when compared to other hero movies of the time. While elements of it may not have aged the best, it is still an incredibly unique and enjoyable watch for both Marvel and Punisher fans.
2/10 Spider-Man 3 Is A Near-Perfect Conclusion To The Trilogy
Spider-Man 3 bore a similar weight to X-men: Last Stand, carrying the weight of appropriately concluding a significant, successful trilogy and doing it the justice it deserves. While it suffers some of X-Men: The Last Stand’s flaws, it is a much stronger effort.
The cast excels throughout the movie, and holds true to a powerful, if somewhat corny, and fast-paced story. The effects were beyond their time, in particular, the symbiote suit. The bold decision to depict so many villains in one movie arguably paid off, as the conclusion is appropriately bombastic for such a great trilogy.
1/10 Spider-Man 2 Is The Best Pre-MCU Marvel Movie
Spider-Man 2 is an iconic movie, and arguably a masterpiece of its time. It treads tones of lightheartedness and seriousness beautifully, and Dock Ock is an incredibly tantalizing villain with a magnetic presence on screen. As with X-Men 2 and Blade II before it, Spider-Man 2 sees much of its cast, especially the titular hero, come into their own.
Spider-man is an absolute joy to watch in this movie, and it features many of the trilogy’s most intense and emotional moments for the character. The effects continue to be outstanding, and the writing stands out quite a bit from the superhero movies of the time. Arguably, even when compared to the concentrated efforts of the MCU, Spider-man 2 still holds its own.
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