12 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching The MCU Phase 1
Warning: The following contains SPOILERS for the Marvel Cinematic Universe Phase 1.While the Marvel Cinematic Universe did a fantastic job of bringing the world of Marvel Comics to life, it is a sad but harsh reality that the MCU Phase 1 films have flaws that are apparent upon rewatching. Some of these flaws are understandable, involving growing pains as the shared setting developed. Others involve aspects of the films that have not aged well in retrospect.
The success of the 2008 Iron Man movie was a surprise to many. Marvel Studios was swift to try and capitalize on the film's unexpected popularity, green-lighting a sequel and rushing plans to build upon Samuel L. Jackson's surprise cameo as Nick Fury. This gave rise to what became known as the MCU Phase 1, with The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers setting the stage for a shared universe unlike anything that had ever been attempted before in movies. However, while the films remain enjoyable, there are some things about them that are problematic given modern standards and what came after.