Marvel
Thor: Love and Thunder Proves That the Marvel Cinematic Universe No Longer Makes Sense
Marvel Studios’ genius, at least in the beginning, was that each film seemed like a puzzle piece. Each chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe saga felt deliberate, with each chapter introducing a hero, a few side characters, a villain, and then a stinger previewing the next picture. Even if the picture didn’t quite work, each films about Iron Man, Captain America, or Thor were building toward something bigger, generally an Avengers film.
Marvel Studios has been chastised by critics for producing films based on corporate rather than creative mandates. Kevin Feige, on the other hand, was in charge of a singular vision. The Marvel Studios president divided the films into “phases” and frequently told fans what to expect next. New characters would make their stage premiere at Comic-Con, generally years before their film debut, to get fans excited about their future films.
But it’s been three years since Marvel grabbed the stage at Comic-Con, and for the first time in over a decade, the MCU movie trajectory isn’t entirely apparent. I eagerly await each new MCU entry, hoping that it would explain a clear, united vision for the future of this storytelling effort. Every time, I leave the theater feeling more disoriented than before. Thor: Love and Thunder was no different. For better or worse, the film is self-contained, rarely acknowledging a world outside of Thor’s New Asgard.
In their stingers, the classic Marvel movies tended to at least set up the next chapter. We saw Thor’s hammer for the first time at the end of Iron Man, and we saw Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver for the first time in Avengers’ end credits. However, the end-credits scenes in Love and Thunder (which I won’t spoil, but you can read about here) merely introduce prospective sequels and spinoffs to the Thor franchise in general.
And, although it may be OK for a single picture, at some point, viewers will wonder if hours of investment in a tale that leads nowhere would provide diminishing returns. After two years of Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s time to assess what’s working and where it’s all going.
The manner in which we were
Yes, it was a capitalist ruse: you needed to see all of the movies to really comprehend what was going on, and Marvel was maximizing its movie ticket sales in the process.
However, that format had narrative advantages. Early in the pandemic, my husband and I rewatched (for me) and watched (for him) all of the Marvel movies in a row. We didn’t hold them in high regard. We took breaks when we were bored, fatigued, or hungry, and resumed them the next day. We treated them as if they were long episodes of television. And the episodic Marvel movies work great as television. The phases were referred to as “seasons,” with each Avengers film serving as the season finale.
Even when a single film underwhelmed us (hello, Thor: The Dark World), we didn’t feel like we’d squandered our time. There are always highs and lows with episodic narrative. But we knew Thor’s backstory will come in handy in a later installment. Despite writing issues, you were working toward a storyline crescendo that would be pleasing in its finale.
Some of the most reviled films ended up having pivotal roles in the conclusion. Every significant event in Avengers: Endgame was predicted by the infamous Avengers: Age of Ultron. Of course, we couldn’t have known that at the time, and it’s possible that the film’s director, Joss Whedon, didn’t either.
But there were signs. The phases had somewhat well-defined origins, middles, and finishes. The Infinity Stones were scattered sparingly throughout the movie, rewarding viewers who could point at the screen and identify a key MacGuffin when it appeared. In practically every film, Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury would appear at some time to warn the Avengers that another threat was on the way and that they needed to learn to work together.
The dreadful Thanos (Josh Brolin) was previewed in the original Avengers movie’s end-credits scene, six long years before he’d become the main villain in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. He had a little involvement in Guardians of the Galaxy but generally remained a lurking threat in the background. The expectation of something bigger spurred us forward.
When the MCU was operational
When viewed via an episodic lens, Avengers: Endgame was one of the most successful series finales ever made in episodic cinema. Not only did it tie up nearly a dozen stories from other films, but it also provided satisfying endings for characters such as Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) and Captain America (Chris Evans). The heartbreaking scene in which Iron Man sacrifices himself only succeeded because we’d seen the guy transform from an immature playboy to a responsible, if still witty, father over a decade.
Captain America’s reunion with his love Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) struck a chord because Evans and the Russo brothers (who directed several of his films) had spent years developing the character from a resilient but cloyingly earnest Boy Scout to a slightly more cynical and wiser version of the character, without losing Cap’s all-important moral compass. (For more on the evolution of the “I can do this all day” catchphrase, click here.) Those emotional beats come only after years of character development.
That narrative interest in the characters was what set Marvel apart from the competition, particularly the DC and X-Men films. It was impossible to believe Batman and Superman would clash in Batman v Superman because we had never seen Ben Affleck’s Batman onscreen before and had no idea what made him tick. The Dark Phoenix film failed in part because the viewer spent so little time with Sophie Turner’s Jean Grey before she became the antagonist. There were other reasons why those single films didn’t perform, but the franchise failures are mostly due to the studios’ lack of patience. Those franchises attempted to forgo the world-building episodes in favor of the season finale. However, for the vast majority of fans and moviegoers, the finale is only rewarding because of the preceding building pieces.
According to reports, the Marvel Cinematic Universe wasn’t always the meticulously designed plot it appeared to be. James Gunn, the director of Guardians of the Galaxy, has stated that he received no guidance on the scene in which a character recounts the origins of the Infinity Stones. So, yeah, some dumb luck was involved. Audiences knew what to anticipate once the pattern was established—several one-off pictures each year, culminating in a team-up every few years.
The MCU becomes disoriented
Endgame has been out for three years, and fans have been left scratching their heads ever since. Marvel IP have expanded as a result of the launch of the Disney+ streaming platform, as well as Marvel-themed TV series. Some are inextricably tied to other entries: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness doesn’t bother with character development for its nemesis, Scarlet Witch as Wanda Maximoff, because it presume you’ve seen her Disney+ show Wandavision.
Others appear to have nothing to do with anything: Moon Knight originally captivated me, but the star-studded show that appears to live in a vacuum left me cold and puzzled. The writing was insufficient to explain the show’s existence, and since the plot had nothing to do with the rest of the MCU, why did I waste six hours of my life watching this show when I could have been watching far better projects like Oscar Isaac or Ethan Hawke?
We anticipated the MCU would be dormant for a while. With significant performers like Downey Jr. and Evans completely out of the picture, and others like Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow) and Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) on the verge of retirement, the franchise would need to hit the reset button and introduce a new generation of heroes. There was definitely some type of strategy in place, with actresses like Johansson and Renner passing the mantle to fresh talent like Florence Pugh and Hailee Steinfeld in films like Black Widow and shows like Hawkeye.
However, Feige has stated that there will not be a new Avengers squad comprised of these new actors filling in for the old. In the usual sense, the action is not building toward an Avengers 5 sequel. Which begs the question, “Why not?” Previously, the format worked really well. Why give up now?
The simple solution is money. Disney desired a streaming service and required shows to populate it. As a result, the stories spread. But there are now far too many diverse personalities and narratives going in all directions. The Eternals’ cosmic beings appear to have little to do with Steinfeld’s street-level arrow slinging. Furthermore, the tones of these projects are so disparate that it’s difficult to envision them ever coming together.
A Young Avengers team could be in the works. And some kind of magical alliance encompassing all the wizards and witches. And one with a grim undertone featuring Blade and the Black Knight. And a villainous one consisting of criminals, assassins, and discredited would-be heroes led by none other than Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It’s…a lot. Even though I’m paid to keep track of everything, I’m frequently tempted to remove episodes, movies, and storylines because I just don’t have the time to keep up with every single story beat.
The studio has also experienced a number of unexpected hurdles. Chadwick Boseman, one of its brightest stars, died in 2020. Black Panther was a huge success—the biggest solo debut for a Marvel superhero—and Boseman appeared to be on track to dominate Marvel films for years to come. Director Ryan Coogler was sent racing to draft the sequel script.
Corporate squabbles with Sony, which owns the Spider-Man rights and intended to create its own superhero movie universe, placed Peter Parker’s fate in doubt and posed creative hurdles for Spider-Man: No Way Home’s ending. Meanwhile, Johansson sued Disney for deciding to webcast her long-awaited solo picture Black Widow during the pandemic. (Disney and Johansson have since reached an agreement.)
That leads us to Marvel Studios’ most unexpected challenge: COVID-19. The virus struck, delaying the filming and release of multiple projects and mucking up well planned plans. Notably, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was said to be released before Wandavision and Spider-Man: No Way Home. This discovery explains a lot of the clumsy narrative in those three franchises. Wanda follows the same path twice, going from hero to villain to hero in Wandavision and again in Multiverse of Madness. It’s a choice in storytelling that some fans have compared to character assassination. Wanda’s spiral into corruption in the Multiverse and her disclosure of her wicked actions in Wandavision were presumably the original intentions.
Even ignoring character, this era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe appears to rely on the audience comprehending the multiverse (parallel universes); variations (different versions of the same character in other realities); and invasions (one parallel universe crashing into another). Instead of providing fans with a single concise explanation for why characters can suddenly travel across the multiverse, we get three: Loki’s murder of the man who was maintaining a single master timeline; Doctor Strange’s misbegotten spell that leads to Spider-Man villains invading our main timeline in No Way Home; and America Chavez’s multiversal travel in Doctor Strange.
As a Marvel fan, I’m not sure what any of these events have to do with one another. Again, I assume rescheduled release dates have something to do with this perplexing plot, but it’s far from an ideal way to kick off a global reset.
Where Thor: Love and Thunder falls short
Then there’s Thor: Love and Thunder, the most recent MCU installment. With Iron Man and Captain America no longer present, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is the only significant character remaining from the original Avengers lineup. (Sorry, Hulk, but I don’t think Ruffalo’s take on the Big Green Guy counts because he has yet to have his own film, and probably won’t.) Thor, presumably, will be the pivotal figure in whatever follows.
But Taika Waititi’s new picture, which has underwhelmed critics in comparison to its predecessor, Thor: Ragnarok, exists in its own world, almost purposefully devoid of references to earlier Marvel films, save for a throwaway joke about Thor saving Nick Fury’s phone number as “Nick Furry” on his cell phone. This meditation on a specific character’s emotional state would be fine if we weren’t desperate for a rock to cling to in the midst of the Marvel content deluge.
Listen, solitary films that stand out from the crowd are fantastic. For example, Black Panther finds ways to shine without being weighed down by easter eggs referencing earlier Marvel flicks. In that situation, Coogler exploited the available space to create an entirely new world. That film incorporates Wakandan folklore, a long history of its leaders grappling with political and moral duties, and a discussion of how the affluent should assist the oppressed. Waititi, too, used his time in Ragnarok to create new worlds for Thor to explore while also refreshing the character by giving him a humorous bent.
Love and Thunder, on the other hand, does not break new ground. It’s just a little journey that closes up a decade-old tale from a previous film. To the credit of the screenwriters, there is some character development here. Thor has lost his sibling (three times), his mother, his father, and several of his greatest friends in previous Marvel films. Because of this loss, he battles with loneliness and vulnerability, although he finds some solace in various relationships in this film. However, for a character that has now appeared in more standalone superhero movies than anybody else in the MCU, this metamorphosis feels like a conclusion rather than a beginning.
Thor might yet have life in him. The mid-credits teaser teases an intriguing future antagonist. The casting is especially creative. But, at this point, Marvel has introduced so many new characters in cameos and stingers that have yet to appear in the MCU that I try not to get too enthusiastic about any single casting move.
Here’s a list of some of the performers Marvel has teased but who have yet to appear in a Marvel film: Michelle Yeoh and Sylvester Stallone as Aleta Ogord and Starhawk in an end-credits scene in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2; Will Poulter as Adam in that same film; Donald Glover as Aaron Davis in Spider-Man: Homecoming; Michael Mando as Scorpion in that film’s end-credits scene; Harry Styles as Thanos’ brother Eros in Eternals; Mahershala Ali as Blade and Kit Harington as the Black Knight
It’s an embarrassment of riches in Hollywood waiting in the wings. And who knows if or when we’ll see them again. In fact, I would argue that the list of persons drawn into Marvel’s universe has grown much too long. The films end up squandering brilliant talent such as Tessa Thompson, who is quickly sidelined in Thor: Love and Thunder because the film doesn’t know what to do with her, or Chiwetel Ejiofor, who was set up as the big bad at the end of the first Doctor Strange film but only played a minor role in its eventual sequel.
In April, Feige announced that the Marvel team was going on a creative retreat to plan the next decade of Marvel films. One can wonder why they didn’t hold such a planning session before Endgame premiered several years ago, anticipating this current slump. Perhaps they did, and this meeting indicates that they have realized that throwing spaghetti at the wall isn’t working. Instead of dozens of underwhelming storylines, they should refocus on one or two key storylines and execute them well. The studio will have another opportunity to pique fans’ interest in the MCU’s future at the San Diego Comic-Con in July and the Disney Expo D23 in September.
To avoid Marvel fatigue, the Marvel team will need to clarify that there is a strategy in place and that we are in good hands. The tale doesn’t seem to be moving forward after twenty-nine films and seven Disney+ TV series.
Marvel
Review Wakanda Forever: Black Panther.
You are kindly invited to a funeral by Marvel StudiosYou should be aware that this is the tale of Black Panther: Wakanda ForeverThe narrative honors the la
You are kindly invited to a funeral by Marvel Studios
You should be aware that this is the tale of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The narrative honors the late Chadwick Boseman in every way, even as Marvel moves the plot along and establishes a replacement as the leader of Wakanda
The Black Panther sequel ends up being unusually depressing for this reason. Some of my audience members did cry, sometimes at the most unexpected times
In terms of the movie, I’m still undecided. I kind of loved it. It broke my heart in other ways
In this ambivalent review of the Black Panther film without the real Black Panther, I’ll go over both the good and the bad
A Loss Story, Either Way
After Boseman’s tragic passing, a discussion erupted online. Fans pondered the Black Panther’s replacement after Boseman
When he revealed that he finished the script the week before Boseman passed away, director Ryan Coogler recently tore people’s hearts out
Obviously, the project had to start over after this significant loss. Boseman would have made Wakanda Forever significantly different from what we’re currently seeing
King T’Challa returned five years after The Blip, so Coogler insisted that even with Boseman, the story would have involved dealing with loss
As T’Challa/Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman
In that tale, Wakandans would already be in mourning. But since the film’s opening states the obvious, we see that on screen instead
Now dead is King T’Challa. His absence leaves two voids: one as Wakanda’s ruler and the other as the Black Panther, the nation’s protector
Killmonger’s destruction of the Vibranium plants required for this transition in the first movie makes it seem as though replacing the Black Panther is impossible. As a result, Wakanda seems hopeless and lost
Vibranium is a word that sounds eerily similar to vibrance, so don’t pass it by. The sequel recognizes that without Chadwick Boseman, we have all lost that
One versus five
Because of this, the sequel allows art to imitate life as four different women lament the centrifugal male figure in their lives
The loss of Ramonda’s only son must be mourned in addition to her recent widowhood. Her extreme overprotectiveness of her last child, Shuri, results naturally from this
Wired is the source of the image
Shuri, on the other hand, struggles with using her rage as a coping mechanism for her grief. Nakia, the only person who could assist her, skipped even her lover’s funeral before leaving for Wakanda
Okoye, the Dora Milaje’s warrior leader, is the next. With everyone’s heart broken, she is attempting to hold the pieces of a kingdom together
Riri Williams, a fresh new character whom Target hinted at in a series of ads, is the last one we meet
In this tale, Riri plays the role of the outsider who ties the puzzle together
In some ways, Coogler changed Riri’s name in the dialogue to Shuri. This sums up the character. She is Black Panther 2’s technological goddess
Riri and Shuri, who are sisters from different worlds, are undoubtedly brought together by their shared intellectual interests. However, it is an external presence that truly ties them together
Even though the word “Atlantis” is never used in this movie, King Namor and his people are introduced for the first time in the MCU. They aren’t Atlanteans at all, presumably to avoid comparisons to DC’s Aquaman
They actually live in Talokan’s underwater realm and, while they are not Wakandans, they are certainly more powerful
Wakandans and Talokans are accidentally introduced by the United States, and a tense relationship results
The Latin American actor Tenoch Huerta Mejia, who was previously unheard of, and who gets the uncommon “and introducing
. ” credit in the movie, plays a pivotal role in the conflict
Wakanda Forever is a struggle. Namor poses a threat to peace and has no regard for humanity
In the process, he unintentionally starts a war with five fierce women, the majority of whom are Wakandan
The movie’s issues really start to show here. Throughout the story, Namor’s motivations are inconsistent
Bloodshed might have been avoided if he had come to the same conclusions sooner rather than later
Additionally, I didn’t find the character to be as interesting as the one in the comics. Namor first appeared in The Invaders, making him older than Marvel itself
I’m fascinated whenever Namor engages in conflict with or collaborates with the Fantastic Four because he’s such a conflicted antihero
He mostly comes across as a haughty jerk in Wakanda Forever. Although they are hollow, Coogler gives the character some scenes of sympathy. That irritates me because Killmonger, one of the top three MCU villains in my opinion, was presented in Black Panther. Black Panther has two talent gaps as a result of this
Boseman is one, whereas Michael B
The second is Jordan
Namor is just not as interesting as Killmonger. A poor analogy
In fact, I found myself thinking about relationships throughout the movie at various points. You typically date a few people you know won’t last long after a breakup
Get over your ex types, they are. The same sentiment can be applied to Namor and the whole film. Making a Black Panther sequel without the Black Panther presented Coogler with an impossible task. He unquestionably gave it his all. And allow me to be clear on this: I’d give Wakanda Forever a 7
Overall, 5 out of 10
Simply put, it isn’t Black Panther
Marvel Studios. When we see the same actors onscreen without Boseman or Jordan, the echoes of that movie seem like vivid dreams of loved ones who have passed away
I’m avoiding a few spoilers here and will elaborate on this topic a few months from now
Nevertheless, it perfectly captures how I felt about the sequel in general. I would probably awe at Wakanda Forever’s caliber and emotional resonance if I hadn’t seen Black Panther. We would have loved Wakanda just as much in 2018 if this tale had been our introduction to it
It’s not, though
So I didn’t
Accepting What Wakanda Forever Is. Consider the same scenario for a widow using the dating analogy once more
When you meet a potential partner, you realize you need to start dating again. But you’re aware that they’re not quite as good as the partner you found to be worthy of marriage
At some point in the future, they might be. Simply put, you’re not prepared to feel that way about someone else once more
That’s a brief summary of my experience with Wakanda Forever
There were so many things I liked about the movie, especially Riri Williams. In this movie, Dominique Thorne steals every scene just like Letitia Wright did in Black Panther
Recall that at the time, fans had already demanded that she succeed T’Challa as either the leader of Wakanda or the Black Panther. In this role, Riri brings that kind of, uh, vibrance
Martin Freeman also makes another appearance and lends his endearing everyman charm. Even more so, he makes a shocking revelation that I find genuinely delightful
When it comes to M’Baku, Winston Duke is back and once again excellent
The women of Wakanda are given priority in Coogler’s narrative on purpose. Picture from Vanity Fair
Due to this, M’Baku is relegated to supporting roles and serves primarily as comic relief. Keep in mind that he wasn’t just T’Challa’s friend; he was also an enemy
His grief would therefore manifest itself differently from that of the four Wakandan women. It belongs in another narrative
However, I’m still holding out hope that he’ll somehow have a bigger role in the upcoming Wakanda series on Disney
But even so, I can see why he’s not crucial to the story. The final words. Coogler was faced with that difficult decision
He was in mourning after recently losing his friend. But the future of a franchise and hundreds of millions of dollars were at stake. Consequently, Coogler was forced to improvise a new plot
The one he created is incredibly captivating
Just not the one we all would have chosen, it’s different
I attended a funeral that Marvel invited me to, and the entire time I was grieving and emotionally empty even as I was in awe of the people who had been more severely affected than I was
Marvel
For November 14th, 2022, see the MarvelBlog.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finally arrived in theaters after four turbulent years, the passing of the franchise’s leading character, and a turbulen
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has finally arrived in theaters after four turbulent years, the passing of the franchise’s leading character, and a turbulent sequel production
That will be the only topic covered in this week’s MarvelBlog News for obvious reasons. Everything depends on it
Wakanda Forever Gets Off to a Flying Start
Start by going over the fundamentals. On Thursday, the North American premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever took place
With regard to Friday’s box office, Thursday sneaks for the sequel brought in an impressive $28 million
That’s significant because it’s below the sum that Thor: Love and Thunder attained, which suggested a lackluster weekend
However, Friday also happened to be Veteran’s Day, which caused a surge in ticket sales
Hasbro/Marvel Studios are the sources
The sequel to Black Panther drew a sizable American audience on that holiday. Due to the holiday boost, Friday’s sales were $84 million. In terms of box office receipts, that ranks as the tenth-best Friday ever
When analyzing the Saturday and Sunday numbers, a few additional variables are taken into account. Yet Wakanda Forever accomplished what seemed insurmountable
Box office revenue on that first Friday was higher than the $75 made by Black Panther in 2018. 9 million dollars, plus $25. 2 million in revenue on Thursday
No sane person anticipated that Black Panther 2 would surpass the $202 million opening weekend haul of its predecessor
Disney and Marvel were after all marketing a Black Panther movie without the character’s internationally renowned actor. A tough sell, that one
In light of this, a domestic opening weekend gross of $180 million must be viewed positively by all parties
Disney predicts a $330 million opening weekend worldwide gross for the movie
The International Problem in Peril
You’ll notice that North America accounts for the lion’s share of Wakanda Forever’s revenue. That is not an accident
The international box office is still a hazy proposition for all Hollywood films, as was already mentioned here
Due to the pandemic’s lingering effects, some countries haven’t fully resumed their normal operations. Others simply don’t have the same level of theatrical demand as they did in 2019
Comparatively, Black Panther’s sequel’s opening weekend gross of $370 million was outperformed by $40 million. That wasn’t a reasonable expectation, though, to reiterate
The fact that Wakanda Forever’s international box office BP2 has doubled that of recent films The Batman and Black Adam is what matters
I used Thor: Love and Thunder, the most recent MCU film, as the boundary for this title
Thor 4 made $303. During its first weekend, 2 million people watched it globally. Additionally, foreign countries accounted for more than half of its overall global total
Oddly, the economy back then was stronger than it had been for Wakanda Forever
Both films were shown in China, which had a significant negative impact on sales but not on the overall result
Hollywood films do not do well in China. The market is more important for its ancillary income like merchandise and potential licensing
Due to all of these factors, Wakanda Forever legitimately faces one of the reviews that is the most open-ended of any tentpole movie I can ever remember. And I used to make a living by writing about box office
Critics will draw attention to how poorly it has performed in comparison to the original and selectively compare it to other Marvel movies
The $250 million production budget of the film will be used as evidence by fans of the franchise to claim that it will probably make money when it is released in theaters
Personally, I had kept tabs on early ticket sales and tracking and prepared for the worst possible outcome here. Therefore, I consider Wakanda Forever’s performance to be a strong demonstration of franchise power
I find it amazing that BP2 made 10% more money on opening weekend than Thor4
Black Panther’s reputation was strong enough to triumph over insurmountable odds
The statistics of Wakanda Forever Let’s talk about a couple of the sequel’s outstanding issues
First off, Wakanda Forever was a huge hit with both critics and viewers. BP2 has an 84 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 75 percent rating among Top Critics as of the time of this writing
In the meantime, the movie hasn’t experienced review bombing (yet?)
Therefore, with a 95 percent Audience Score, it is absolutely brilliant. Wakanda Forever boasts a Metacritic score of 67, which is higher than the most recent Doctor Strange or Thor sequels
The grades on IMDb and Cinemascore are somewhat at odds
IMDb currently rates BP2 at 7. 4 out of 10, which is respectable but unremarkable. However, Cinemascore, whose ratings are based on opening day attendance, gave the movie an A
Without a doubt, Black Panther received an A. Therefore, this isn’t quite as good. Still, an A is significantly superior to the Bs received for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and Thor: Love and Thunder
Recall that Cinemascore uses an odd curve
Anything that doesn’t receive an A- isn’t a good film that will probably last longer. But a movie that gets an A ought to get good buzz
And A titles are incredibly uncommon, highlighting how significant of a cinematic accomplishment Black Panther was. These statistics taken together show that viewers liked Wakanda Forever, probably even more than they anticipated
Final Reflections
Unfortunately, the box office picture overall is more cloudy, at least for the MCU as a whole
The global opening weekend of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness brought in $450 million. The two subsequent releases haven’t come close to matching this total since then
In the meantime, the MCU’s reputation has suffered. Despite the fact that I disagree with the evaluation, I frequently read remarks from respectable people who disparage Phase 4’s general quality
Phase 4 unquestionably comes to a successful conclusion with Wakanda Forever, but Marvel still needs to do some convincing to get viewers to return to the theater
However, it’s possible that this is a general industry issue rather than a Marvel problem
The era of the mega-blockbuster is either coming to an end or is currently in decline. Either way, you could present evidence to support your claim
Hollywood needs to put out more quality films, according to the head of AMC Theatres. Marvel obviously accomplished that just now and received a positive outcome
But rather than a home run, I’d call it more of a double.
Marvel
Top MCU Film Villains.
The best villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to date, in my opinion, would be chosen by a unanimous vote from any group of (sane) peopleWe’re o
The best villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) to date, in my opinion, would be chosen by a unanimous vote from any group of (sane) people
We’re only now beginning to recognize the lasting influence Thanos and Loki have had on the film industry several years after the fact
Even now, all MCU spinoffs face criticism because of (potentially unjust) comparisons to Thanos and Loki made by their villains
I wondered what this thought process was. Who are the greatest MCU movie villains to date, if those two bad guys are removed from the list? Rumlow, Brock
Kevin Feige is incredibly effective, which is something I admire
He rejects the idea of useless parts. Brock Rumlow, for instance, is first introduced to us in Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Because he is Crossbones, an assassin who enjoys collecting weapons and is a fairly common supervillain, comic book fans immediately recognize him as bad news
Image: Hollywood’s heroic side
By introducing Rumlow as someone who idolizes Captain America, Feige and the movie’s directors, the Russo Brothers, solve this issue
Seriously, the entire time Steve Rogers performs, that guy is overcome with awe
Of course, that makes the altercation between the two in the elevator much more personal. The fight ultimately involves Rumlow and his hero, Rogers, despite the fact that there are a lot of other guys on the elevator at the time
This shows that Rumlow will go to any lengths, including murdering his hero, to carry out a mission
Later, the character makes a second appearance in Captain America: Civil War, where he once more sacrifices millions of people in order to complete his mission
The distinction between good and evil is becoming increasingly elusive in our day and age
Brock Rumlow exemplifies this to a T. Barnes, Bucky
USA Jacket is shown in the picture
Diane de Poitiers, a famous French noblewoman, once said, “To have a good enemy, choose a friend: he knows where to strike
“. The fundamental idea behind Captain America: The Winter Soldier is that
Steve Rogers is a hilariously flawless hero who is completely incapable of doing wrong. When that person squares off against a foreign terrorist who also happens to be his best friend, how does he respond? picture via Pinterest
In this movie, Bucky Barnes plays a relentless, destructive force of nature
The fun comes from watching the noble Rogers gradually expose the hero hidden inside the villain by tearing away at Barnes’ impenetrable exterior
This movie is a masterwork of narrative
Vanko, Ivan Given how polarizing Iron Man 2 has been over the years, I might receive cards and letters for this one
Justin Hammer is probably considered the better villain in the movie, even by those who like it
I completely understand that as a longtime fan of Sam Rockwell
But that viewpoint is demonstrably incorrect
Ivan Vanko’s performance as Tony Stark’s evil counterpart is the key to Iron Man 2’s entire plot. Despite the fact that Vanko did not have a fortunate upbringing, the two men have similar intelligence and work ethics
Vanko begins working on a riskier version of the weaponized suits after Stark establishes proof of concept. He then adopts the name Whiplash
Regardless of your opinion of the film, it is impossible to deny that the scenes depicting Whiplash’s coming-out celebration during a Formula 1 race are compelling
Pic from SyFy Wire. Vanko’s disdain for cake eaters like Hammer also reflects Stark’s own contempt for bureaucracy
The men are eerily similar to one another, giving them a good reason to dislike one another
As an MCU story, it’s In a Mirror, Darkly
The next two villains put a different twist on the same idea
It’s a tainted mentor/protégé relationship’s domineering nature. Peter Parker is still in shock following the death of his father figure in Spider-Man: Far from Home
Here comes Mysterio, a multiverse-hopping superhero who resembles a more composed version of the late Tony Stark. Parker quickly puts his trust in this man, which is unusual for someone who is currently on a school trip
But when we are young, everyone is stupid
Later, we discover the truth about Mysterio, whose irate tech character would likely be more sympathetic today given the recent Twitter shenanigans
Even though it is not as deep as.
, the depth of this betrayal still cuts deep
Ironmonger
In 2008, I steadfastly jumped on the Iron Man bandwagon while the rest of the world gushed over The Dark Knight, ultimately naming it the year’s top film
The complex relationship between Tony Stark and Obadiah Stane, his late father’s partner, was essential to the movie’s quality
Iron Man requires a little bit more scrutiny in light of what we know about Howard Stark in order to understand how the man could have so drastically misjudged his partner
To permanently take over Stark Enterprises, Stane planned Tony’s abduction. That’s
.
pretty extreme. Once more, the normally carefree playboy was affected by Stane’s level of betrayal
Tony had looked to Stane as a father figure ever since Howard Stark passed away. That person hired mercenaries to abduct and kill Stark
Stane’s first thought was, “I’ve gotta steal that!” after Stark created an Iron Man suit in a cave. Obadiah Stane and Iron Monger from the Marvel Legends series. Hasbro is shown in the picture
His next thought was, “My suit is better,” which came later. I’m going to use it to murder Tony Stark
“. In retrospect, Howard Stark made lousy moral judgments
Even now, I’m unsure if Jarvis made a good butler. Yes, there were times when Avengers: Age of Ultron was a bit of a mess
Joss Whedon, the film’s flawed director, and Feige disagreed on a number of production-related issues. Today, most people support Feige because of the passing of time
However, we cannot discount what James Spader accomplished in the role of Ultron. a close associate of Robert Downey Jr
Spader has proven to be Tony Stark’s sin monument since they were teenagers and the ideal counterpoint. After the events of Avengers: Age of Ultron, the remains of an Ultron Sentry can be seen in a display case in the ride line
Avery and Rebecca Kaplan are shown in the picture. Finally, the inventor produced something he had no control over
Stark was alarmed when it started to act independently
An Isaac Asimov superhero tale then came to pass
And it was fantastic! Because of Ultron’s fierce independence, he was able to capitalize on humanity’s innate anxiety about the potential rise of machines
Karl Zemo
Name as many MCU supervillains as have actually triumphed
Helmut Zemo is the lone survivor
Zemo didn’t engage in a frantic scramble to seize power, in contrast to many other villainous characters in the MCU. Instead, Zemo devised a strategy, carried it out flawlessly, and ultimately destroyed the Avengers
Tony Stark was convinced by Zemo that the Stark matriarch had been murdered by Bucky Barnes
Tony feels conflicted about Howard, but he has soft feelings for his mother
The strongest heroes on Earth dispersed as Zemo laughed, Cappy defended his friend as expected, and Tony sought retribution
Later, he danced
Jon Watts is a complete genius and someone who most likely has a fascinating tale to tell
He came up with Peter Parker’s worst nightmare, and that’s the only reason I can think of for it. What if the girl accompanying Spider-Man on his homecoming date was a supervillain’s daughter, Watts wondered
Please ask Watts about his own experience at the homecoming dance if you ever interview him. Please tell me. Vulture, however, functions well as a character for two reasons
First, he was wronged by the government
He was working with people he trusted to run a successful business. Then, a superhero incident forced the company to suffer business losses, which ultimately led to their jobs being lost
The character used some of the tools to start a life of crime because he had no other option
His moral code was peculiar, though. The rare movie villain who respects his opponent enough to offer a compromise is Vulture, in fact
Parker’s superpowers made Vulture very happy, and his daughter, Liz, enjoyed the relationship. The bad guy enjoyed knowing that Parker was taking good care of his daughter
Parker was attempting to prosecute criminals on his own behalf
Therefore, he voluntarily gave up his dating life in order to catch the bad guy
Why Spider-Man: Homecoming succeeds is due to its Shakespearean elements
The protagonist must make a decision that will have devastating effects on all the families as they become more connected
This story is successful because Vulture adds the necessary element of plausibility to prevent the whole thing from reading like a subpar Riverdale episode
Killmonger. The best MCU movie villain to date, absent Thanos and Loki, would likely be Killmonger, in my opinion. This character is perfect in every way
First of all, he is correct. He should be resentful of having witnessed his father being taken from him as a child
Killmonger is also risky. It’s unsettling to think that all those scars on his body represent war fatalities. Superheroes are not allowed to kill in the MCU. On the other hand, this supervillain doesn’t just do that
He murders a lot and does it with pride. That is horrifyingly perverse
Killmonger is family, just like in a number of the other stories presented here
He is the cousin of the current King of Wakanda and an estranged prince
In other words, the character has all the necessary components to become a classic supervillain. Everything is also made better by the fact that Killmonger is on par with Black Panther in combat. Moreover, Michael B. Jordan practices his performance to the nth degree
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