Franchises, spinoffs, and sequels once again took up their fair share of space on the marquis this year, but which franchises proved that they have what it takes to carry a series, and which ones are better left in 2017?
Marvel Cinematic Universe:
With Infinity War on the way, it looks like Marvel is getting ready to wrap things up (and let’s not forget the glory of Black Panther just before it.) But rather than slow down, the studio churned out three films to add to their canon this year.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 had the daunting task of following up the explosion of irreverence and fun that the first Guardians brought to screen, and it delivered. It brilliantly split up its main characters for long enough to let the viewers grow closer to each individual, and brought them back together enough for it to still feel like an ensemble film.
Spider-Man: Homecoming was a fun gift for fans of the web-slinger, and oddly felt like a breath of fresh air while inside the MCU. As a viewer, I didn’t have to worry about connecting this film to the other Marvel films. It was a small-town hero story that was a nice palate cleanser before venturing into Marvel’s latest release.
Thor: Ragnarok was everything I wanted from a brilliant director such as Taika Waititi. The witty comedy film posing as a superhero flick brought a new voice to Marvel, and one that I hope they won’t forget. Superhero films are allowed to be fun, and Thor reminded us of that.
DC Extended Universe:
I’ve wanted the DC universe to work for a long time. A lot of my favorite heroes come from DC comics (honestly, can we just forget Justice League so I can have a Raven movie?) and because they’re some of my favorite heroes, I seem to get my hopes up with each film. My hopes were rewarded on June 2.
Wonder Woman smashed her way into theaters, becoming the (obviously) best-reviewed film in the DCEU with a 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. It was a film about a woman, made by women, and was an important step for gender equality in this world of superhero films. I will most likely spend my whole life trying to recapture the emotions I felt watching Wonder Woman cross “No Man’s Land.”
On a more familiar side of the DC coin, Justice League marked a strange spot for the franchise. Coming out just months after Wonder Woman, there wasn’t abundant time to angle the film toward the same tactics that Wonder Woman used to be a success, but now that they know what people like, I think DC isn’t quite done yet.
DC is already changing their lineup of playmakers with Zack Snyder stepping down and Patty Jenkins slated to return in the future. They’ve also acquired Joss Whedon, who has experience with superhero franchises, having directed the first and second Avengers films. They’ve still got work to do, but it’s good to see DC looking critically at what they’re doing.
Star Wars:
Following the smash hit The Force Awakens, it’s no wonder that The Last Jedi was one of the most anticipated films of this year. It’s a film that has divided fans, some who believe its worse than the prequels (it’s true, I’ve met them) and others who believe it’s a perfect Star Wars film. I’m the latter, and if you want to read my reasons, you can look at the piece I did about hope and The Last Jedi.
The Dark Universe:
The Mummy…wasn’t good. I wanted it to be. I wanted this franchise to have legs. Is it too much to ask to have a bunch of monster movies? When it comes to the iconic monsters, Universal feels like that selfish kid you grew up with that locked his toys away if you didn’t play with them the way he wanted. I don’t want to see these monsters shut away; I want them to run around in my nightmares! It’s looking more and more like Universal is close to pulling the plug on this monster mash. They’ll try again in a few years I’m sure.
‘Kong: Skull Island’:
If Universal won’t give me a monster-filled cinematic universe, at least Legendary will give me some kaiju action. Kong: Skull Island was a perfect popcorn flick. It promised monsters and delivered. Monster after monster appeared on this scenic island, with some beautiful cinematography to boot. I enjoyed the 2014 Godzilla, so I’m officially in on this universe, which is planned to continue in March of 2019 with Godzilla 2. With the advancements in CGI that have happened in the last few years, the world is ready for Godzilla and Kong to finally showdown.
There are obviously some films I missed. The Fast and Furious saga continued this year, and Arthur: Legend of the Sword was the alleged start to an Arthurian franchise. We’ll see where these go. Maybe after Marvel finishes, one of these other franchises will rise through the ranks. As a geek, I need my franchise fix, so I’m keeping an eye on all of them. Even if it means watching Tom Cruise in The Mummy pt. 2.
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