In a mega year for superhero flicks, 2016 had its fair share of winners and stinkers. Now with all of them released its time to see where the tables stack up. Get ready!
6. "Suicide Squad"
Needless to say, the DC Extended Universe is not exactly garnering the praise Warner Brothers has hoped it’s “direct driven” approach would. "Suicide Squad" is like that kid who claims to be a bold nonconformist, but the only thing that makes them different is their unnecessarily obnoxious appearance. Perhaps what sunk "Suicide Squad" more so than its sister film is how the tone of the film was shifted during the pre-production phase. The result was a far cry from the dark teaser trailer shown at San Diego Comic-Con 2016, shoving forceful irreverence and over the top characterizations alongside an unbearably annoying soundtrack. It’s not punk, it’s not gangster, it’s not even geeky. It’s just a half-baked cash cow.
5. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice"
Arguably the most disappointing superhero film of the year, "Batman vs Superman" is a clunky behemoth that spews a cloud a smog for nearly three hours. The film does have the boldness to deconstruct icons of comic book lore, but they are flimsy and are crowded by an overall convoluted evil plan from Lex Luther that makes 60s Bond villains seem practical. That being said, "Batman v Superman" still leaves some promise for the future of the brand namely in the form of Ben Affleck who plays an effectively grizzled Bruce Wayne. The universe is certainly not dead on arrival, but DC is going to need to work hard in winning back their integrity on the silver-screen.
4. "X-Men Apocalypse"
"Apocalypse" might be the biggest hot mess of a film in 2016. It has too many characters fighting for a screen-time, saturated CGI, and a villain that hams it up more than an episode of Power Rangers. That being said, it’s not terrible, in fact, it’s still quite enjoyable. Bryan Singer directs some truly spectacular action sequences and it is cute to see younger versions of beloved "X-Men" playing off of each other. The standout scene is once again Evan Peters as Quicksilver, who at this point should just be the new poster boy for the franchise. Despite these enjoyments, it’s hard to ignore just how problematic the film is, but if you look at it as one hot-mess there’s pleasure to be taken from the madness.
3. "Captain America: Civil War"
If meticulously following the Marvel Cinematic Universe feels like homework then consider "Civil War" your intellectual payoff. Playing with the agendas and comradery built up over the franchise’s eight years on-screen, the third "Captain America" movie is an emotional ride that plays into heavy fan service without feeling too self-indulgent. The film also seamlessly introduces new additions into the MCU and still gives them enough development for their respective character arcs. The only downside is that it loses the intimacy of narrative found in the other Captain America films as the titular character remains an ensemble player for this installment. Still, there is no doubting the efficiency of Civil War and the interesting state it leaves the MCU in by when the credits roll.
2. "Doctor Strange"
Viscerally groundbreaking and even a bit cerebral "Doctor Strange" once again proves that Marvel can take any property of their lore and turn it into gold. Benedict Cumberbatch flourishes in his best blockbuster role, anchored by a fleshed out characterization and surprisingly existential narrative. What bolsters "Strange" above other superhero films is just how innovative it is with its visual effects, creating one of the most unique tentpole films of the year that deserves some serious technical awards attention. Despite a few wonky edits here and there, "Doctor Strange" is a solid superhero flick and, in time, might be considered one of the best editions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe
1. "Deadpool"
Despite whatever die-hard chimichanga shouting fan might tell you, Deadpool does have a tendency to wear thin on his irreverent humor alone. For this reason, it is amazing on just how fine-tuned the merc with a mouth’s true to form film debut actually is with both hilarity and heart. Deadpool is depicted almost as a tragic character with his humor playing a part into the frustration of this current state. It is through this added depth that Deadpool feels suitably cinematic on top of a silk direction from Tim Miller and a well-woven plot from "Zombieland" screenwriters Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. Not to mention how this film officially opens the door for R-rated superhero films, pushing the genre even further into marketable risk taking.
With 2017 bringing the "Guardians of the Galaxy" back to the big-screen, a "LEGO Batman Movie" and the long-awaited "Justice League" into fruition there are a lot of capes and spandex to look forward to next year.
