OK, long post incoming. Here I go:
I feel that there is an unfair comparison between the two phases - especially because besides the characters in them and the fact they are MARVEL, they are completely different. Phase 1 focused on building up the Avengers film and making our dreams come to life, Phase 2 is about living in that dream when it's already been accomplished. As I said - the comparison is just unfair. Phase 1 has a special place in our heart, surely. It was the build up to the Avengers movie. There was a mid-credits/end credits scene at the end of every movie, hyping us for the movie that would bring Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, Black Widow etc. to the big screen, in the same freaking movie.
Basically, Phase 1 was about building the dream, Phase 2 is about living it.
That's why I'm going to say it's unfair. Whilst Phase 1 had the hype and the set-up to live off of, Phase 2 did not have that. I'm not saying that's what made Phase 1's films good, just that the first phase had more excitement, which makes us more nostalgic, and was overall, more of a reason to get excited for something. With Phase 2 - it's all already been established, and now MARVEL is concentrating on bringing a comic book to life. That's why Age of Ultron, Guardians of The Galaxy, Thor 2... they felt more like watching a comic book come to life...
Phase 1 was more consistent and the films were more self contained. Whilst they were all building up to the Avengers movie - they all (with the exception of Iron Man 2) told a self contained, tight and focused story that when pieced together (The Avengers) felt like something much larger, yet so intimate to fans. With Phase 2, it's obvious that focus is completely lost. That does not necessarily make it any lesser of a phase; so just less exciting. You can see it in the after credits; Iron Man 3's was a counselling session, Thor 2's was the introduction of the Collector, CA: The Winter Soldier was about Bucky, and the twins, GoTG was about freaking Howard The Duck, and AoU was the poorly drawn out "fine, I'll do it myself."
However, I'm going to go ahead and say that Phase 2 had better movies. The Winter Soldier, Guardians of The Galaxy and Age of Ultron... MARVEL has yet to deliver excellent storytelling in any of their MCU films, because honestly, DC/MARVEL movies (with the exception of some) have been good entertainment, but not necessarily good stories. So whilst Phase 1 had some good movies (CA: The First Avenger, the first Thor, that Avengers movie was brilliant)... Iron Man 1&2 and The Incredible Hulk were disappointing. It's not that the first Iron Man is a bad movie - as a matter of fact, it is great, but it is also the least entertaining (for me at least, to watch and rewatch). Iron Man 2 was NOT a self contained story, but more of a build up with some ridiculous ideas - but still a good movie. The Incredible Hulk was mediocre at best, and honestly my least favourite MCU movie.
So whilst Phase 1 was more consistent, self contained and exciting... Phase 2 is more entertaining, fun and watchable.
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