10 Disappointing Comic Book Movies That Deserve A Second Chance
These aren't as bad as you remember them.
Fan expectations are a tricky thing to deal with. Even if a movie is well put together, if it doesn’t adhere to what fans are expecting, it can be quickly dismissed and subsequently forgotten about. This is especially true for comic book movies, where fans tend to have a very strict idea of how their favourite characters and storylines ought to be portrayed and are quick to hate on any film that doesn't do right by them.
This creates an interesting dichotomy between films that are outright poor in quality and decent films that fans just didn’t like. But some time away from these films and the initial disappointment they presented can lead to very tempered expectations on a second viewing.
Disappointment doesn’t fade easily and there are some films that even the most ardent of fans will never revisit for what it did. That said, the knowledge of what happens and what to hope for can improve the comic book movies that many fans still hold scorn for.
So while it’s easy to revisit Spider-Man 2, The Dark Knight, and The Avengers for being greats of the genre, there’s still value to be found in some of the more average and forgotten outings of those same heroes.
None of these films are going to turn into classics on a second viewing, but chances are that they won’t be anywhere near as bad as you remember either.
10. Iron Man 2
While not a bad film per se, Iron Man 2 was certainly seen as a step down from its predecessor. Instead of a captivating origin story for Tony Stark, it felt like a bunch of set up for the rest of the MCU at the expense of the central conflict. Given the benefit of hindsight, however, and Iron Man 2 becomes a lot more favourable for all of those threads it developed.
For instance, the history of SHIELD, while inconsequential in the film itself, becomes much more relevant after the revelations of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Likewise, the inclusion of Black Widow might have felt forced, but it gave The Avengers one less thing to worry about.
In addition, the transitional state of Tony’s personality, though jarring in the film itself, now makes a lot more sense. Civil War and the films preceding it have shown Tony change into a new person, one more concerned with the repercussions of his actions. It’s only in seeing this multi-film growth that we can really appreciate his downfall here.
Context is important and though Iron Man 2 doesn’t resolve many of these issues in the film itself, knowing that other films do makes the open-ended nature of the plot and characters here much more acceptable and enjoyable.