Marvel’s Super Hero Academy - help please!

[Arnel]

Here's a great write-up for beginners on the Marvel Cinematic Universe:
http://mcuexchange.com/beginners-guide-mcu/

 

[Bethany10]

I'd guess it's probably too violent for ME

It's violent yes, but the language and insinuations/adult relationship content are really what makes it a hard R. Deadpool is known as "the merc with the mouth" and while it's a very funny, irreverent movie it's an adults only film.

 

[Stephaneezer]

Captain America: The First Avenger (skippable <- Cap was a soldier and became a supersoldier as part of a government experiment during WWII, ended up frozen in ice and was revived modern day)

But Tommy Lee Jones? - "Give that kid a sandwich"

 

[cadien]

I wouldn't skip The First Avenger because it's just so fun. Plus it's in the 40s so it's nice to look at.

 

[cadien]

And I agree the issue with Deadpool isn't the violence nearly as much as the over-the-top vulgarity.

 

[bbel]

Spider-Man was on the Magic in March as a character meet and greet. My son had his picture taken with him. I'm not sure if he made a Club/Lab appearance or not.

As of yet, there is not Spider-Man programme on the Magic. It's just on the Wonder.
Right now on the Magic, only Captain America makes an actual appearance in the Club.

 

[Msmit002]

I'm getting a clear message here... I have actually heard of Deadpool as a few of my coworkers went and were SHOCKED at how many children were at the screening with their parents. I'd guess it's probably too violent for ME .

Yeah, well the kid whose parents took him to see Deadpool also took him to see The Wolf on Wall Street a few years prior so...

 

[WildEyed]

Spider-Man is also part of the Marvel Universe, and my son likes him a lot. There are a few different series of Spider-Man movies that have come out in the last couple decades, mostly okay for kids (from what I remember) as long as they don't get scared by "bad guys" easily.

From what I've read, Spider-Man is a character on the ships. I don't remember which ship (if it's just on one or more), but I remember seeing a review with pictures that showed him visiting the kids club and doing and activity with them. If you want to stick with the movies from this specific series, he shows up for the first time in Captain America: Civil War. It's a small appearance though, and for a kid, the Spider-Man movies that have been done apart from this particular storyline are a perfectly decent introduction to the character and don't clash with the Avengers storylines...mostly because they don't touch on the Avengers at all.

Yup on the Wonder, there is a spider man based programme.
I wouldn't be surprised if it made it to the magic in time for the marvel day at sea cruises.

Oh yeah Spider-Man! I didn't think of him as a superhero but I guess he is. I remember watching those cartoons growing up in the 70s, will never forget that theme song!

 

[WildEyed]

The easiest way to watch the movies is in the order they were released because the storylines are all linked. If you try to watch all the Iron Man movies then all the Thor movies, etc, it will make much less sense.

None of the existing Spider-Man movies are related. The one coming out this summer will be but I doubt there will be much on the ship about it.

So the order would be
Iron Man
Iron Man 2
Thor
Captain America: The First Avenger
The Avengers
Iron Man 3
Thor 2
Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Avengers 2
Ant-Man
Captain America: Civil War (I don't know why he doesn't get numbers)

Guardians of the Galaxy is very fun but doesn't really tie into the rest until next year. Doctor Strange is still optional too, although I've read he'll be on the Fantasy soon.

This is soooo helpful, thank you! We'll be starting with Iron Man this weekend.

 

[WildEyed]

My kids (DS6 and DD4) love the Marvel movies - more of the action/comedy oriented ones like Avengers, Ant-Man, Dr Strange, and Guardians of the Galaxy. The pacing of the Iron Man movies results in them being fairly bored and uninterested. They ARE violent, but not gory/scary in my opinion. Thor 2 is probably the scariest so at least don't start with that one. Guardians of the Galaxy is fun because the characters are really silly and it wades into slapstick comedy territory now and then without being too crazy. The Avengers academy seems to focus on the primary avengers characters - Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Ant-Man, and Spider-Man (have only seen videos so grain of salt here - haven't seen it in person). If you want to get the quickest possible introduction to the characters I'd maybe steer towards Ant-Man and Captain America: Civil War. Ant-Man is pretty funny, and he shows up in Civil War. Most of the Avengers are in Civil War, but without seeing the second Avengers movie (Avengers: Age of Ultron) they'd be a bit lost about who a couple of the characters are and why one is practically superman, but it shouldn't matter a ton. Civil War has some great action set pieces showing off all of the heroes and their various powers.

Honestly, though, if your kids can handle them I'd show them the list someone else posted above (with my notes):

Iron Man (Tony Stark is THE major character of the Avengers series, really helpful to get to know who he is)

Iron Man 2 (Could be skipped, introduces the Iron Patriot -> a US Air Force colonel who wears Iron Man armor - the colonel is in Iron Man 1, but doesn't wear the armor in the first one and is played by a different actor in 2 and beyond)

Thor (might be more boring for kids, could maybe skip but it explains where Thor comes from and he's a major character as is his brother Loki)

Captain America: The First Avenger (skippable <- Cap was a soldier and became a supersoldier as part of a government experiment during WWII, ended up frozen in ice and was revived modern day)

The Avengers (the movies before this build to Avengers, really shouldn't skip this one)

Iron Man 3 (skippable <- I personally find this one to be the weakest Marvel movie, 2nd act is really slow, the ending is fun though)

Thor 2 (skippable <- doesn't really do anything to influence the "main" Avengers storyline - not a bad movie, might be too scary for kids who haven't seen many violent movies)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Introduces the Winter Soldier has some callbacks to the first Cap movie - Winter Soldier is a major character in Civil War)

Avengers 2 (Events in Avengers 2 setup Civil War <- it's a good movie, not as strong as first Avengers but still fun - Ultron could be a bit scary for smaller kids, best part of the movie is the fight between Iron Man and the Hulk)

Ant-Man (could be a good "testing the waters" movie - not too scary, one guy and a goat get turned into a little puddle of goo is about as scary as it really gets unless you're seriously phobic about ants)

Captain America: Civil War (if you only show them one movie do this one - pretty intense fight at the end, but it's a really good movie)

Also Doctor Strange and Guardians of the Galaxy but they don't seem to be part of the Avengers academy on the Wonder. Good movies though.

If I mentioned something as scary keep in mind that my DS6 and DD4 don't find them scary - this really depends on your children's temperaments. My kids love the Marvel movies and my son is actually mildly disappointed that we won't be going on the ship with the Doctor Strange training (it's being added to the Fantasy and we're going on the Wonder next year).

Wow, this is great! I love the summaries and which ones to skip (as I can then go off in another room to re-watch Pride and Prejudice or something....).
I think my son has seen Ant-Man at a birthday party as he was telling me all about the "bad language" which he thought was "inappropriate" but you could tell he was secretly thrilled about.

 

[cadien]

Oh yeah Spider-Man! I didn't think of him as a superhero but I guess he is. I remember watching those cartoons growing up in the 70s, will never forget that theme song!

The Ramones do a great cover.

 

[cadien]

The fun thing about discussing language in these movies is that there's a gag with squeaky-clean Captain America chastising Iron Man for swearing.