10 Reasons X-Men Film Franchise Is Better Than The MCU

10. Each Film Is Self-Contained

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a fair few films have felt like mere stepping-stones to the next Marvel joint. Some of the worst offenders include Iron Man 2 and Thor 2 - movies that were incredibly insubstantial - and Marvel's most recent effort, Age Of Ultron, which seemed like its main objective was to set up Phase 3. The X-Men movies, conversely, haven't been beholden to a grand, multi-phase plan; as such, each film is treated as though it's as important as the next. X-Men: The Last Stand isn't a great movie, but it at least doesn't come from a place of cynicism (it was in the hands of X-king Bryan Singer before Brett Ratner got his blunt mitts on it). There have been some fantastic standalone Marvel movies - The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians Of The Galaxy all benefited from forging an individual path - but the fact is the X-Men series has benefited more greatly from creatives approaching each film not knowing the plan for the film that's coming after. The X-Men franchise isn't mapped out until 2028, so every film has so far been satisfyingly self-contained.
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Lover of film, writer of words, pretentious beyond belief. Thinks Scorsese and Kubrick are the kings of cinema, but PT Anderson and David Fincher are the dashing young princes. Follow Brogan on twitter if you can take shameless self-promotion: @BroganMorris1