The Superhero Genre and The Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Superhero Genre is a difficult genre for me. I’ve been a comic book fan for as long as I can remember. But, I’ve been a fan of cinema even longer than that. So, you’d think that films based on comic books would be right up my alley, and to a point they are, I mean, I see every one that gets released. So, it might be a bit hypocritical of me to say, but, I’m getting tired of the modern superhero genre. I feel there are just far too many being released. Every year, the mainstream seems to be more and more flooded with films from either Marvel or DC. I mean, in 2017, there are eight Superhero films coming out alone. Eight. That is crazy.
I think it’s too much. I’d prefer one or two superhero films a year, but, have them be really well written, and planned out. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some good modern Superhero films, like Civil War, Logan and Wonder Woman. But, I’d really rather wait every couple of years for a couple of incredible Superhero films, than have five mediocre ones in one year. It’s quality over quantity.
Also, it feels like Hollywood have gone a bit Superhero crazy. I mean, from a business standpoint, it’s probably a smart move, I mean, the films make a crazy amount of money from both the box office and merchandise. But, from a consumer standpoint, it’s getting a little tiresome. I mean, there are other genres. Like, I’d gladly swap the Superhero genre for the Western. A good proper Western? Like a Sergio Leone or John Ford Spaghetti Western, or hell, even an Epic. When was the last time we had a proper three hour long Epic like Gone With The Wind or the original Ben-Hur?
I mean, if I’m getting tired of the Superhero genre, then why do I still go see every one that is released, well, like I said, I’ve been a comic book fan for as long as I can remember, so, there is always a fight in me. Between the comic book fan and the film fanatic. So, I go to every release, just hoping that the next Superhero film does something different, and often I’m left disappoint, I still had a good time in the cinema and I still enjoyed the film, it’s just the film fanatic side of me, is left a bit disappointed, y'know? He just wants good, diverse films.
To further illustrate my point, I want to focus on the Marvel Cinematic Universe, primarily focus on the method they employ to make their films. That’s not to say that modern DC films are perfect, far from it. I’m using Marvel Cinematic Universe as my example just because they have more films and therefore have created a sort of formula that I want to talk about. That’s all.
It’s like Marvel has a formula that they apply to every entry in their Cinematic Universe. This formula includes plot points such as:
1. The antagonist will be the protagonist’s equal in either powers or origin.
2. After the main climax of the film, the the villain either disappears or dies.
3. A heavy reliance on comedy. Often comedy that is hit and miss.
Those are just a few points that I believe that are part of the formula that Marvel applies to it’s films.
If I’m totally honest, it’s all getting a little tedious. When I say tedious, I just mean that when I watch a Marvel film, it’s cool sure, but I know exactly what I’m getting.
The biggest examples of this is Iron Man (2008) and Doctor Strange (2016). Both film feature a protagonist that is best in the world in their field with Tony Stark being an inventor and a weapons manufacturer, and Stephen Strange being a surgeon. Both are incredibly intelligent and rich, both are cocky and think they are untouchable, only to go through a traumatic event that leaves them badly injured, both realise the error of their ways and fight for the greater good, and lastly, they both have antagonist that is essentially an evil version of the protagonists.
Now, I DID enjoy both films, but it is hard to deny the similarities. Both films do feature differences that set them apart, for example, Iron Man uses his suits to fight, and during the first film, he is very much a lone hero (aside from JARVIS, which Tony built), and Doctor Strange focuses on magic and that of the supernatural, Stephen Strange is also very much a team player.
With the exception of Iron Man 3 and Thor: The Dark World, Marvel aren’t bad, in fact, I enjoy most of them. But, they do have their flaws, and I believe that it all stems from this formula that Marvel has been using since 2008. In fact, the better Marvel films are the ones that step away slightly from the formula, and do their own thing. We have had glimpses of that with Winter Soldier (2014), where Captain America has to bring down S.H.E.I.L.D as they have become corrupted by HYDRA, but, even that film still conforms slightly as one of the members of HYDRA is Winter Soldier, and he is Captain America’s equal. But, that said, when the film steps away from, at this point, the somewhat stale Marvel formula, is where it really shines.
But, having said all that, I’m hopeful that things will change now that most of the Marvel Cinematic Universe story arcs are coming to a close and that will be getting something fresh and new.
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