Real Talk About the Marvel Cinematic Universe

[MyUserName]

I know there's an Avengers thread, but I'm putting this here.

Am I the only one who feels the MCU jumped the shark a long time ago? I mean, aside from Civil War, Ant Man, and the Guardians films, I feel many of their films have been middling since Iron Man 3. It's a lot of things really, things like PTSD, Multiple Personality Disorder, Grief, and other serious topics are often swept aside or paid lip service too without any real exploration of the ideas and their affects on the characters. I think of so many of these films, and yes the Netflix series too, as well drawn comics with stories that are really poor or average when you sit down to think about them.

Then there's the fight choreography. There's a video on youtube which primarily explores the choreography of 70's-90's era Hong Kong Martial Arts films in general, and Jackie Chan's films in particular. At one point they compare jackies choreography in Drunken Master 2 to the fight choreography in Marvel films, specifically the Gamora/Nebula fight from the first Guardians of the Galaxy, and yes, the choreography from Guardians looked very silly compared to Jackies. I mention this because in Infinity War I found the fight scenes, which in previous films like Captain America were clear and well filmed, to be nigh spastic in how quick cut the CGI was in so many of them. I then compare this to fight choreography from DC films, where most actors go through vigorous training regimens to accurately portray the characters, and I can't help but feel there's a schrodinger effect here where we are told so many times the DC films are awful and Marvel's are great, that many eventually come to accept that judgement out of habit rather than critical observation.

Story wise, many I know gave up on the Marvel Netflix series around the time Luke Cage, effing LUKE CAGE, was written as indecisive, waffling, and overly morose in his series. I found this is largely in line with the dark and dreary tone in the Netflix shows. It's Way more Nihilistic than the over-bashed, and somewhat rightly so, Batman Vs Superman. A film I disagreed with certain creative choices, but still appreciated it's intent and much of it's execution.

To be fair, I don't really hate the Marvel films of late, I HATED the Garfield Spider-Man movies, I HATED the Bat-voice from the Dark Knight trilogy, marvel's latest output however I find myself feeling like a single viewing is enough, whereas previously I found multiple viewing a necessity. I have no interest in owning those films and have no interest in the special features, which really I should have an interest in them being a huge comic book geek, but I don't as I feel these movies left their comic book roots behind ages ago. A good comic adaption, like the DC animated series, changes much for modern times but keeps the spirit of the character and the primary themes of what they represent. I feel like the Marvel movies walked away from this a long time ago.

What I see, and my opinion is, that he Marvel films are coasting on a Schrodinger effect of hype and formula. Most people praise their current output, and don't point out how detrimental many of the flaws of the work can be to good storytelling. I want these films to be great, Marvel HAS made great films, but with their current success with half-hearted storytelling, a good example is in Infinity War, Thano's motivations have nothing to do with the Galactic Tyrant he's been portrayed as for six years, and the script goes into expositionary overload trying to compensate for the characters 180 degree turn from Silver Age era villain to insanely misguided antagonist.

I know what I'm saying is going to be jarring and likely unpopular, but I'm rather just saying this inspire legitimate conversation about these comic book films. I grew up amidst a group of passionate comic book fans and we would have hour long discussions about these characters. I'm not trolling or looking to start an argument, as some may accuse me of, but rather am just trying to spark an honest and intelligent discussion.