Last Movie You Watched

[Kalevala]

If you're going to start trying to explain the Infinity Stones, I'm going to need a bigger bag of popcorn.

There really are times when the Marvel Cinematic Universe gets overwrought. But then some of the movies truly earn their sense of being blockbusters.

Mind you, this far in I still think the first Guardians of the Galaxy is my favourite of any of them. For one thing it's easily the funniest.

I wrote multiple paragraphs, and all I did was identify the characters! I think I will let it go at that. 

I hated Guardians when I saw it at the cinema. I thought it was smug and not half as funny as it thought it was.

Now? The three GotG movies are my favorite MCU films. I have come to love the characters and their relationships and their journey. I have enjoyed nearly every Marvel film to some level - hell, I might be the only person who likes Love & War. (Dr. Strange MoM might be the biggest exception, but I will give it another chance one of these days because I am enjoying Agatha so much and could do with more Wanda.)

But the Guardians movies are my favorite.

Does it matter which order one watches the movies within a certain series?

K

[DavidW]

Does it matter which order one watches the movies within a certain series?

K

You need to watch them in order because characters and plot arcs will crossover. Even in the ones that look standalone, they are not really standalone. And then in the recent ones, you also need to watch the TV shows as well.

[Karl Henning]

You need to watch them in order because characters and plot arcs will crossover. Even in the ones that look standalone, they are not really standalone. And then in the recent ones, you also need to watch the TV shows as well.

Sounds like "In for a penny, in for a pound."

[Kalevala]

You need to watch them in order because characters and plot arcs will crossover. Even in the ones that look standalone, they are not really standalone. And then in the recent ones, you also need to watch the TV shows as well.

Oh, boy! Could be way too much time for me!

K

[NumberSix]

Does it matter which order one watches the movies within a certain series?

K

They're pretty much all interconnected, although as time went on they became more so. You could probably watch the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films more or less standalone. Same with the first Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) films.

But your best bet if you're interested is to start at the beginning with the first Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor movies (followed by The Avengers from 2012). You'll get to meet all the main characters of the franchise doing great work and laying the foundation for everything to come. It hadn't become complicated yet!

(ScarJo's Black Widow technically debuted in Iron Man 2 before The Avengers, but she's a much better character starting in The Avengers.    Also, Hayley Atwell from Captain America, Natalie Portman from Thor, and Gwyneth Paltrow from Iron Man are all great.)

[Brian]

To be fair, when a movie does put you in the eyes of a killer in a way that makes them seem kind of sympathetic - like Peeping Tom - it's also uncomfortable. 

Also a mandatory watch for GMGers because of its strong classical music connection! Too bad Bohm Jr. and Klemperer Jr. never acted together...

[NumberSix]

You need to watch them in order because characters and plot arcs will crossover. Even in the ones that look standalone, they are not really standalone. And then in the recent ones, you also need to watch the TV shows as well.

Sounds like "In for a penny, in for a pound."

Just like superhero comic books in general. There's a lot of info to know. You either dive in and deal with being confused sometimes, or you start at the beginning. Both have their appeals.

Cassie and Carly's reaction to Deadpool & Wolverine was a good example of the former. Yes, they have seen all the X-Men and Deadpool movies, but they didn't get some of the movie's cameos and in-jokes. They still had a great time watching it.

[Kalevala]

They're pretty much all interconnected, although as time went on they became more so. You could probably watch the first two Guardians of the Galaxy films more or less standalone. Same with the first Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Captain Marvel (Brie Larson) films.

But your best bet if you're interested is to start at the beginning with the first Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor movies (followed by The Avengers from 2012). You'll get to meet all the main characters of the franchise doing great work and laying the foundation for everything to come. It hadn't become complicated yet!

(ScarJo's Black Widow technically debuted in Iron Man 2 before The Avengers, but she's a much better character starting in The Avengers.    Also, Hayley Atwell from Captain America, Natalie Portman from Thor, and Gwyneth Paltrow from Iron Man are all great.)

Oh my goodness!  I've actually already seen some of them!  I've watched Iron Man I and II and the two Thor movies, and also at least parts of Captain America.  I feel (as our British friends would say) chuffed.

K

[Kalevala]

@NumberSix  I still have to finish your t.v. series.  Believe that I took a break after Episode 8.  Please don't report me to No. 2!

K 

[NumberSix]

@NumberSix  I still have to finish your t.v. series.  Believe that I took a break after Episode 8.  Please don't report me to No. 2!

K 

  

[Karl Henning]

Just like superhero comic books in general. There's a lot of info to know. You either dive in and deal with being confused sometimes, or you start at the beginning. Both have their appeals.

Cassie and Carly's reaction to Deadpool & Wolverine was a good example of the former. Yes, they have seen all the X-Men and Deadpool movies, but they didn't get some of the movie's cameos and in-jokes. They still had a great time watching it.

That's cool. It's one of a number of things that I'm definitely on the outside looking in.

[DavidW]

That's cool. It's one of a number of things that I'm definitely on the outside looking in.

I get to feel that way whenever my students use Gen Z slang!

[Kalevala]

 

Hey, I'm the one woman on the island that you can trust.   

K

[Madiel]

You need to watch them in order because characters and plot arcs will crossover. Even in the ones that look standalone, they are not really standalone. And then in the recent ones, you also need to watch the TV shows as well.

Weeeelll... I guess this is kind of true, but I'd argue there are some of them you could watch on their own with very minimal issues. Some of the movies really have very little to do with the overarching plot. Take Black Panther for example because it's one of the most highly regarded. Yes there's some benefit to having met the lead character in a previous film, but most of it is self-contained.

Ant Man is another one, I actually got curious about the 2nd Ant Man film which is coming up in between the two halves of the Avengers epic, and the connective tissue consists of one of those mid-credits sequences.

But yeah I'm 19 movies in, and then there are all the TV series which I actually prefer in some cases, although I'm going through a period where the connections to the films are pretty much gone.

[Madiel]

Seeing it's been mentioned, I've only seen it once but I absolutely adored Rachel Getting Married. One of my favourite films.

[Kalevala]

Tried to pull up the two movies that @NumberSix suggested (with either Anne H. or Scarlet J.) on one subscription service--no luck.  Also tried Dr. Strange on both Amazon and Peacock--no go.  Ran across a movie that I didn't know existed; it's part of the Mummy series.  This one has Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe in it.  Giving it a shot.

K

[NumberSix]

Tried to pull up the two movies that @NumberSix suggested (with either Anne H. or Scarlet J.) on one subscription service--no luck.  Also tried Dr. Strange on both Amazon and Peacock--no go.  Ran across a movie that I didn't know existed; it's part of the Mummy series.  This one has Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe in it.  Giving it a shot.

K

Unless you're just a big ScarJo fan, as I was (and am), I would suggest Rachel Getting Married, if you decide to rent one of them. 

[NumberSix]

Weeeelll... I guess this is kind of true, but I'd argue there are some of them you could watch on their own with very minimal issues. Some of the movies really have very little to do with the overarching plot. Take Black Panther for example because it's one of the most highly regarded. Yes there's some benefit to having met the lead character in a previous film, but most of it is self-contained.

Ant Man is another one, I actually got curious about the 2nd Ant Man film which is coming up in between the two halves of the Avengers epic, and the connective tissue consists of one of those mid-credits sequences.

But yeah I'm 19 movies in, and then there are all the TV series which I actually prefer in some cases, although I'm going through a period where the connections to the films are pretty much gone.

I forgot about Ant Man and Black Panther! 

Most of the first solo films are stand-alone enough, I would think.

[Kalevala]

Having fun with the Mummy movie...some laughs.  So far, not as good as I remember the first one to be with R. Weiss and B. Fraser....but maybe time and fond memories are playing some tricks on me?

K

[NumberSix]

Having fun with the Mummy movie...some laughs.  So far, not as good as I remember the first one to be with R. Weiss and B. Fraser....but maybe time and fond memories are playing some tricks on me?

K

Have not seen this one, but I think I will give it a shot. I enjoy Tom Cruise. I believe it was intended to start a new Monster franchise, but it didn't pan out.

Thanks for the idea!