(X-post from Ant-Man thread.
It probably belongs here, and not there)
So now for those that have seen everything, which phase was better?
Phase 1 (Iron-Man to Avengers)
or Phase 2 (Iron-Man 3 to Ant-Man)
While I think, that Thor - The Dark Kingdom is probably the worst MCU movie,
Iron Man 3, Guardians Of The Galaxy, Ant-Man and the great Winter Soldier win over Phase 1 for me. I like all of them more than any Phase 1 movie. Ultron is a nice extra.
I am not counting SHIELD and Agent Carter or the One-Shots in this comparison, but they would tip the scale for Phase 2 as well.
This is a very tough one for me because the two Phases as a whole function very differently.
Phase 1 is mostly origin movies, establishing characters in their own little worlds before gathering them all together to play in the Avengers. Most of the plot-lines come to a head in a way that completes a multi-faceted story.
Phase 2 is more about expansion. Less origins, more about taking these characters back into their worlds to take on new challenges with new perspectives. It also manages to outdo Phase 1 as far as world building.
With that in consideration, I think
Phase 1 functions better
as a whole. It tells a complete, gradually accumulating story with an immense payoff at the end. Iron Man kicks it off with a bang, t.I.H. teases the connected universe, IM2 brings that universe to the forefront, & Thor + CA:TFA round out that universe/timeline and set up the Grand Finale. Even though Iron Man 2 is one of my least favorite MCU films, I've come to attribute its tamed nature to Favreau being the first director forced to accommodate the larger universe--one that hadn't even been fleshed out yet but was enabled by the success of the first Iron Man. Basically, IM2's integrity was doomed so the MCU could live, but it still serves its purpose in the greater whole. Also, I'm a sucker for the simple, straightforward origin stories that establish what drives a hero, and that's half of what Phase 1 is.
Meanwhile, Phase 2 has the greater holy-shit-quotient and moment-to-moment entertainment. It really revels in itself. And on a
film-to-film basis, it
beats out Phase 1 for me*: Avengers = GotG, Iron Man= CA:TWS, AoU= CA:TFA, Iron Man 3 >>> Iron Man 2, Ant-Man >> Thor, ThorTDW = tIH. (*your milage may vary on these matchups)
Unfortunately, Phase 2's indulgence also came to its detriment. It was chock full of humor, which might be ok on the first viewing but annoying when it comes at the cost of a tone appropriate for the subject matter. Outside of TWS, Guardians, and Ant-Man, I think all of the Phase 2 films should have been closer in tone to what was marketed in the trailers (see: TWS or Iron Man 1 for a benchmark). Also, AoU kinda dropped the ball as far as unifying all the plotlines; it didn't wield (or weld) them as naturally as its predecessor. As a result, some of the solo films feel 'dispensable' in retrospect as well as AoU itself, all becoming stepping stones to a payoff we still won't see for a while. At best, Phase 2 has the Captain America/HYDRA/ storyline that flows though TWS, Agents of Shield, AoU, and Ant-Man, and hopefully reaches a head in Civil War. IM3 and ThorTDW feel like one offs in comparison.
My inner Marvel fan shows in how long-winded this post became, but this is the first time I've had a chance to look back at both phases as a whole. Basically, Phase 1 is the better whole, while Phase 2 has better picks for movies on a friday night.
My only hope is that Phase 3 can strike a balance with compelling movies that form a compelling epic story when assembled and ultimately have a fitting conclusion. I want enough reasons to watch these movies 10 or 20 years from now.
