Marvel Enterprises Archives

Spider-Man (2002)

Rating: ★★½

Jun 20, 2002Comic-Book Superhero

A huge hit and one of the key influences that created the box-office dominance of Marvel Comics in the 2000s/10s. A fine incarnation of the comic-book, Sam Raimi brings it to life with exhilarating web-slinging scenes but overdoes the winsome innocence of Peter Parker

Director: Sam Raimi

Actors: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Willem Dafoe, James Franco, …

Category: Science Fiction

20 June 200228 May 2022 by Roog

X2 (2003)

Rating: ★★★

May 5, 2003Comic-Book Superheroes

Bryan Singer's immediate sequel to X-Men, this ups the number of new mutant characters, although only sporadically manages to kick in with the spectacular superheroic action sequences the first film had

Director: Bryan Singer

Actors: Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Brian Cox, …

Category: Science Fiction

5 May 200310 October 2024 by Roog

Daredevil (2003)

Rating: ★★

Apr 12, 2003Blind Comic-Book Superhero

One of the early efforts among the surge of Marvel Comics adaptations on the big screen in the early 2000s. A disappointing adaptation that feels more like a series of posed comic-book panels than it ever does a movie

Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Actors: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell, Jon Favreau, …

Category: Fantasy

12 April 200325 April 2025 by Roog

The Punisher (2004)

Rating: ★★

Jun 15, 2004Comic-Book Vigilante

Amid the huge surge of Marvel Comics adaptations in the early 2000s, there came this version of The Punisher. Cast with Thomas Jane, the film is tepid and singularly lacking in the grim, dark avenging violence of the comic-book

Director: Jonathan Hensleigh

Actors: Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Will Patton, Rebecca Romijn, …

Category: Science Fiction

15 June 200418 February 2025 by Roog

Spider-Man 2 (2004)

Rating: ★★★½

Jul 5, 2004Comic-Book Superhero

Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire get it just right in the second entry in their trilogy of Spider-Man films. The writing team deliver a fantastic Soul of the Superhero script while Raimi delivers some superheroic action sequences that are about as exciting as it is possible to get (*)

Director: Sam Raimi

Actors: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, Alfred Molina, James Franco, …

Category: Science Fiction

5 July 200419 December 2024 by Roog

Man-Thing (2005)

Rating: ★★

Sep 9, 2007Marvel Comics Adaptation/Creature in the Swamps

The bastard child among the spate of pre-MCU Marvel Comics adaptations during the mid-2000s, a film based on their swamp-dweller that throws out most of the comic-book

Director: Brett Leonard

Actors: Matthew Le Nevez, Jack Thompson, Rachael Taylor, Alex O'Loughlin, …

Category: Horror

9 September 20076 August 2026 by Roog

Fantastic Four (2005)

Rating: ★★★

Jul 8, 2005Comic-Book Superheroes

One of the big hits among the spate of Marvel Comics adaptations in the 2000s. This has a very mixed reputation but brings the comic-book team to life in a reasonable effort

Director: Tim Story

Actors: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans, …

Category: Science Fiction

8 July 200521 October 2025 by Roog

Elektra (2005)

Rating: ★★½

Jan 31, 2005Comic-Book Assassin Superheroine

A spinoff from the film version of Daredevil, this gives the comic-book character of the super-assassin Elektra her own film. This does not have a very good rap but comes with some solid action scenes

Director: Rob Bowman

Actors: Jennifer Garner, Goran Visnjic, Will Yun Lee, Terence Stamp, …

Category: Fantasy

31 January 200530 January 2026 by Roog

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Rating: ★★★

May 5, 2007Comic-Book Superhero

Last and by general opinion the least of the Sam Raimi-Tobey Maguire Spider-Man films. With three super-villains present, the plot feels as though it is bursting at the seams juggling the various origin stories and ongoing dramas, although Raimi still delivers some solid superheroic action scenes

Director: Sam Raimi

Actors: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, …

Category: Science Fiction

5 May 200721 December 2024 by Roog

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)

Rating: ★★

Jun 25, 2007Comic-Book Superheroes

The 2005 Fantastic Four was an amiable entry among the Marvel Comics adaptations of the 2000s. This sequel substitutes lowbrow comedy and renders the great character of the Silver Surfer as a CGI cartoon

Director: Tim Story

Actors: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans, …

Category: Science Fiction

25 June 20071 February 2026 by Roog

Ghost Rider (2007)

Rating: ★★½

Mar 26, 2007Comic-Book Avenger/Demonic Superhero

Film adaptation of Marvel Comics' demon superhero emerges as better than it had the right to be. The risibility of the image of a motorcycle-riding demon hero is made to work through some vivid and way-out effects

Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Actors: Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Peter Fonda, Wes Bentley, …

Category: Fantasy

26 March 200722 February 2026 by Roog

Iron Man (2008)

Rating: ★★★½

May 6, 2008Comic-Book Superhero

This where the MCU began after a spate of high-profile Marvel Comics adaptations in the early 2000s. Jon Favreau conducts a highly enjoyable adaptation of the comic-book with Robert Downey Jr shining as Tony Stark

Director: Jon Favreau

Actors: Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard, …

Category: Science Fiction

6 May 200830 July 2026 by Roog

The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Rating: ★★★

Jul 2, 2012Comic-Book Superhero

The reasoning behind rebooting the Spider-Man franchise after ten years and only three films is a puzzle. That said, this offers an edgier origin story than Sam Raimi's take and Andrew Garfield makes for a fine Spider-Man

Director: Marc Webb

Actors: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Rhys Ifans, Denis Leary, …

Category: Science Fiction

2 July 201224 November 2025 by Roog

X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)

Rating: ★★★

May 25, 2014Comic-Book Superheroes

It is nice to see Bryan Singer regain his form after several years lull. The plot is nothing world-shattering but it is nice to see a character-driven X-Men, while Singer delivers the superheroics with a cheer-out loud elan that most of the sequels missed by a wide margin

Director: Bryan Singer

Actors: Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence, …

Category: Science Fiction

25 May 201410 October 2024 by Roog

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)

Rating: ★★★★

May 3, 2014Comic-Book Superhero

One of the best among the modern Marvel Comics screen adaptations. All involved are at the absolute peak of their game and the balance of superheroic action, humour and tragedy makes you cheer at how well they get it right

Director: Marc Webb

Actors: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx, Dane DeHaan, …

Category: Science Fiction

3 May 201430 October 2025 by Roog