With the summer full of super hero films coming out I just wanted to review where the two companies are at now. I will go throught every singel Marvel and D.C films in the 2000s and then pick which company has the best of the bunch. Lets start with Marvel
Marvel Studios
The X-Men Series
X-Men (2000)
Well the decade for Marvel started with X-Men which was the first big name super hero film that Marvel has attempted. So when ever its your first time at something your going to have some flaws with the film and this film had alot. Even with the flaws I found the film to be a fun summer B film. I thought a thing that saved the film is that it seemed dark but not too dark for a super hero team like the X-Men. The film also had a great young cast including Halie Berry, Hugh Jackman, and James Marsden. The film grossed 150 million dollars which is double the budget of 75 million dollars that the film had. Overall successful outing for Marvels first film.
X2 X-Men United (2003)
With an increase budget and the duty to open up the summer X2 rose to the occasion. From a critics aspect, X2 was a much improved over the first X-Men film. It seemed as if the cast was gelling together and really forming a good chemistry. The film even had a love triangle between Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Gray that really worked. The most important thing in a super hero film is the action and it delivered. Looking back at the film, the effects to me compare to some effects that you would see in a movie today. I thought that X2 was a blast of fun and one of the best films of 2003. The successes did not stop there. The box office numbers for the film were increased and made a huge total of 215 million dollars on a budget of 110 million dollars. So X2 was a huge advance for Marvel
X-Men: The Last Stand
With a director change from Bryan Singer to Brett Ratner X-Men: The Last Stand took a bit of a down turn. As a film, the third X-Men film was not as good as the second one but better than the first one. That is my opinion but there are tons of fans out there that hated the film alot. I can see why they hated the film becuase it was an injustice to the comic books becuase the film deceptions of some of characters. So the film was a mixed bag for the general audiences and critics alike. The box office numbers were solid but not a huge increase from X2. The film made 234 million dollars on a budget of 210 million so good numbers but not jaw dropping.
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
The X-Men first attempt at showing a character origin was was overall unsuccessful. Critically this origin story was mind numbingly boring and tiring. To me the X-Men films were good becuase they have a whole team of different personality's but when you only focus on one character you lose that aspect. The action in the film was boring and like I said mind numbing. I cant say that it was bad but we have seen countless times before so it loses it flair. The films box office numbers were down from most of the other films with a gross of 179 million on a budget of 150 million so thats decent business.
So overall the X-Men series was a success for Marvel even if it had a few missteps.
X-Mens Grade: 8.7
Spider-Man Series
Spider-Man (2002)
Right after the success of the first X-Men film, Marvel decided to give there most populars super-hero film. The first film like X-Men was flawed but I thought more entertaining then that first X-Men film. I think that Marvel did a great job picking parts for each character as Tobey Maguire, Kristin Dunst, and James Franco did a great job in there first big film. Also the film had a strong villain played by Willem Dafoe that lead to some great action scenes for its time. Financially the film was a huge Marvel success that not even Marvel could have predicted. The film made a grand total of 403 million dollars on a budget of 139 million dollars so the film made Marvel what it is today.
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Just like the X-Men series the second film is the best. Spider Man 2 for most people was the best super hero film ever made. The second Spider-Man takes a lot of darker tones and I really like that in the ordinary super-hero film. The main cast reprising there roles did a better job and in total its was Spider-Man 2 was high on my top ten list and I think most other peoples list. Financially it did not reach the original Spider Mans gross but came pretty close. The film grossed around 373 million dollars and on a total budget of 250 million dollars, that is some pretty good business. So overall Marvel struck gold with the sequel.
Spider Man 3 (2007)
The third film and final one in the Sam Raimi era was mix of hit and miss with most audiences. To me it was pretty good but not equal to the second one. The things I did not like is the scenes of comedy like when Peter Parker was dancing. I just thought that was unneeded but every thing else about the film was solid. Financially the film was another success but it was the lowest grossing film of the series. The film grossed 336 million dollars on a budget of 258 million dollars so the film had some solid business.
Now for my rating for the series. To me this was Marvels best series and I am going to give it an 9.
Spider Man Series: 9
The Hulk Series
The Hulk (2003)
So after the successes of both X-Men and Spider Man first entries Marvel decided to release a film for the Hulk. This first Hulk film was overall very mixed to bad to most general audiences but I really liked it. I thought that it was the first super hero film that was more of a drama then an action film. It was well directed by Ang Lee and well acted by Eric Bana, Jenifer Connelly, and Sam Elliot. The film also had some good action scenes with the Hulk that really made the film for me. Financially the film did under par then what they expected. The film grossed 132 million dollars on a budget of 137 million dollars so the film did average.
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
After the some what success of the first film they decided to reboot the series. This time Edward Norton is playing Bruce Banner and Louis Leterrier directed. Overall the film was much more successful reviewed by both critics and audiences members alike. I thought that it was equal to the first film in a whole different way. Instead of being more dramatic, the film was just a very fun action film with quality acting and directing. Financially the film was very unsuccessful by only grossing 134 million dollars on a budget of 150 million dollars. For a Marvel film that is one of the most money they have lost int a film which is not good.
As a series the Hulk films were good films but did not make any money for Marvel Studios. I am giving the series a 7.2.
Hulk Series: 7.3
The Punisher Series
The Punisher (2004)
So with three successful PG-13 films, Marvel decides to go dark with there first R rated film The Punisher. This first attempt for an R film was mostly a failure and the film was mostly critically panned. I also thought that the film was very boring and terribly acted by mostly every one in the cast. The action scenes in the film were sub par and to me the film was lackluster to say the least. The movie grossed 33 million dollars which matched its budget of 33 million dollar so the film matched its budget but made very little extra money.
Punisher: War Zone (2008) Well I guess Marvel wanted the prize of most unnecessary sequel and with this film they earned it. The film was also critically panned by almost everyone except for me and the Spill crew. I agree with them about there points that the film is a dumb fun film to rent and that it is better than the first film. That doesn't mean its a bad film becuase it was but it had some fun moments to make better than the first one. The movie had the worst numbers for any Marvel film only grossing 8 million dollars on a budget of 35 million dollar. Good thing Marvel did not put alot of money on the film becuase it was just a huge bust.
Overall the Punisher series was terrible and a waste of time. I'm giving it an 1
The Punisher Series; 1
The Fantastic Four Series
The Fantastic Four (2005) So Marvel thought of another comic franchise and they decided why not the Fantastic Four? I will tell you why not, they are way to goofy to make a good film out of and this first film showed it. It just seemed very boring and muddled and most people who saw the film agree. I also thought that the story lines were all weak and the action scenes were average to sub par at the best. Financially the series made a nice profit of 154 million dollars on a budget of 100 million dollars. So for Marvel they are thinking sequel right?
4:Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
So after the success of the first film why not make a sequel? Well the weird thing is this film acctuly feels like a true Fantastic Four film becuase it is hokey. The spend about the whole movie joking around with each other and I liked there banter. Here is a quote from a critic that I agree with. "The film feels like a sitcom on the big screen sprinkled with some action scenes and that is all I needed from this film". Financially the film made the same as its budget so major profit but your not losing anything.
Giving this serise a rating his hard becuase it had its goods and bads. That is why I am going in the middle with a 5.
The Fantastic Four Series: 5
Iron Man Series
Iron Man (2008)
After a few money making films that lacked in quality Marvel decided to try making an Iron Man film to reverse the spell. It seems that it has worked fir Marvel with almost every citric and audience member alike. I am not one of them. To me Iron Man was decent but not a great film becuase the film to me had a lack of a villain. I did think that the film had a few good effects and overall a decent film. The film grossed a total of 318 million dollars on a budget of 140 million dollars. So Marvel has another successful series under its belt.
Iron Man 2 (2010)
So after the huge success of the first Iron Man film Marvel decided to release a sequel. The film was critically not as successful as the first one but still had alot of people who like it. I hated this new Iron Man film becuase too many characters, a lack of a villain, and a unlikable protagonist led to the films demise. The film grossed 312 million dollars on a budget of 200 million dollars. So again Marvel make a nice profit of an Iron Man film.
So as a total series I am going to have to give the series an 8 even if I did not like the films.
Iron Man Series: 8
So as a total, Marvel received a 6.6 total. Now time to cover D.C in Part 2.
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