5. Natalie Portman – Jane Foster

It is impossible not to like Natalie Portman. Ever since the Star Wars prequels, however, she just can’t get her mojo back. Many had high hopes for Portman as Jane Foster. The character has a rich and complex history in the comics, yet she was never really explored in the MCU. For such a talented actor, Portman’s portrayal was a bit flat. Most fans never really bought the romance between her and Thor, and all the real punchy dialogue went to Kat Dennings. However, overall her performance in Thor (2011) was solid. By Thor: The Dark World (2013), she was relegated to simply a plot device. Then in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), she was gone entirely. What a waste of a great character, especially one that was being portrayed by such a talented actor. Unfortunately, Portman’s work in the Thor franchise will never be cited among her best roles and it could have been for this Academy Award winner. She was a wasted talent.

4.  Guy Pearce – Aldrich Killian

As Aldrich Killian, Guy Pearce was believable and portrayed that character well enough. Once he was revealed as the real Mandarin in the third act, many threw their hands up in the air. The mockery he made of comic mythos really disappointed many hardcore fans. Marvel has since played with the story to leave open the possibility that the real Mandarin is still out there somewhere. Nevertheless, Pearce as any semblance of Mandarin left much to be desired. It would have been more believable had they left Kingsley as the real Mandarin. Pearce is a good actor, but after reading the script and learning that he was to be revealed at the end to be the Mandarin, he should’ve turned it down. If the Mandarin was a top-level corporate raider and oversaw a criminal empire from his penthouse office, sure, I can see Pearce doing that one. However, the Mandarin is a being who borders on the mystical and has his hands in all kinds of dirty affairs worldwide. Pearce doesn’t have that kind of range.

...[ Continue to next page ]

Share This Post