Marvel Cinematic Universe & DC Extended Universe

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By Nguyen

We have seen the bronze age of superhero movies such as Tim Burton’s Batman and Richard Donner’s  Superman (also the non-release/cancellation of Tim Burton’s The death of superman 😉 ).

We also have seen the silver age of superhero movies such as Stephen Norrington Guillermo del Toro David S. Goyer’s Blade Trilogy, Bryan Singer’s X-men and Sam Rami’s Spiderman’s trilogy. Unfortunately, we also saw Tim Story’s Fantastic Four and Ang Lee’s Hulk.

At this moment, we are living in a golden age of superhero movies where heroes/heroines that we grew up reading are now on the big screen! I still remember getting free Marvel comic books (e.g., Spider-man) and toys, every time I go to McDonald’s in the 90s. In addition, getting my Spiderman and Dr. Otto Octavius toys taken away from me by my Kindergarten teacher.

Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is one of the most innovative spectacles in today’s cinema. The interconnectedness among different movie franchises (e.g., Ironman and Thor) as well as the eagerness among comic fans and movie fans waiting for Marvel-Disney studio to announce a new superhero movie (that isn’t popular among the general population).

The general movie going audience would probably name a few superheroes such as Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman, and Spiderman.

I remember when a B-list superhero aka Jon Favreau’s Ironman (2008) was released. It blew my mind with the combination of character development, story plot, and CGI! Both audience and critics love it! As a result, $140 million-budgeted film grossed $585 million worldwide! (However, Ironman 2 was “mediocre” at best in terms of story plot and villains).

Marvel/Disney Studio came out with a bang, after the first Ironman movie with B-list (e.g., Captain America, Hulk), even C-list (e.g., Thor) and D-list (e.g., Ant-man, Dr. Strange) superhero characters.

If I tell you 10 years ago, that Captain America’s Trilogy (includes: The First Avenger (2011), Winter Soldier (2014), and Civil War (2016)) was up-to-par or (some say) better than Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, you will be laughing your pants off!

 

Not only, did Captain America movies were great, but other movies such as James Gunn’s The Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) which includes a talking raccoon and a giant freaking tree character name Groot! You won’t believe me if I told you 5 years ago…James Gunn who directed a few porn-parody youtube videos will direct a Marvel/Disney’s Space Opera!

Another few examples were Kenneth Branagh’s Thor (2011) which make sense since Kenneth Branagh is known to act in Shakespearean plays as a flawed protagonist (e.g., hubris/pride), Peyton Reed’s Ant-man (2015) (say what?! a “Bring it on” director?), and Scott Derrickson’s Doctor Strange (2016) (why is a director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose and Sinister making a “scary” Doctor Strange movie?). With some questionable director choices and risk by the Marvel/Disney studio, the movies were still a huge success!

Overall, MCU did well with the characters they have (MCU do not have the rights for X-men (FOX Studio), Fantastic four (FOX Studio), and Deadpool (FOX Studio)) and they stay true to the comic books. I believe they were successful because for each movie the studio use different types of movie genre. For instance, Captain America’s The Winter Soldier (2014) was a political thriller, Ant-man (2015) was a heist movie, and Doctor Strange (2016) was fantasy/magic and just plain strange.

The MCU films’ cinematography was great and not messy in terms of action sequences (I’m talking to you Michael Bay – Transformers!) and the films were most enjoyable and funny. MCU films use to have a problem developing good (and badass) villains, except for Loki. However, everything has changed when Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther (2018), Jon Watts and Enrique Segoviano’s Spider-man: Homecoming (2017) (Sony and Disney studio collaboration), Taika Waititi’s  Thor’s Ragnarok (2017) as well as Russo brothers’ Avengers: Infinity War (2018) was released in theatres. The one thing I love about Disney Marvel Studio is that they learned from their mistakes (e.g., villains, director choices, action sequences).

For example, in Thor’s Ragnarok (2017) took away the typical story tropes and made Thor a funny and lovable character. Essentially, this movie didn’t take it too seriously unlike Thor: The Dark World (2013). Another example is Spider-man: Homecoming (2017) where Disney Marvel studio introduce a new villain instead of rehashing old villains (I’m looking at you Marc Webb’s Amazing Spiderman 2 (2014)). Also, we haven’t seen a lot of high-school Peter Parker, finally Spiderman is played by a young actor, Tom Hiddleston … I kid, Tom Holland! Lastly, this new Spiderman movie has an 80s John Hughes feel to it, who doesn’t like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)?!

Here is my ranking for the newest villains in terms of great back-story, motivation, and badassery:

1) Thanos – Josh Brolin (Philosophy: Utilitarian consequentialism vs. Deontology)

2) Killmonger – Michael B. Jordan (Basketball legend Michael Jordan’s son … joking :P)

3) The Vulture – Michael Keaton (Didn’t expect the twist huh?)

4) Hela  – Cate Blanchett (Who doesn’t like an Overpowered Gothic Viking villain with a sassy attitude?)

Another note: Netflix’s tv shows such as Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Luke Cage were great! The storyline and villains were impeccable! Iron Fist is okay, it’s not the greatest tv show ever and not the worst. These shows are also connected to the MCU as well (e.g., news headline about the Battle of New York). However, I feel the MCU/ Marvel Disney studio don’t want no part of the Netflix shows. Wing really loves Jessica Jones more than any other Defenders (and I agree).

Now onto DC Extended Universe (DCEU)! After the successful Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy something happened… Joss Whedon’s The Avengers (2012) with a budget of 220 million USD made 1.52 billion dollars! As a result, Warner Brother Studio was trying to scrap something together by the name of “Man of Steel (2013)” directed by Zack Synder. In my opinion, Man of Steel was a good superhero movie, however, there were moments of lapse such as Superman’s motivation and intention. I think having two dads with different ideologies/principles could cause some confusion for the audience. Also, the tone of the movie seems like it’s for Batman, instead of the light-hearted Superman which we use to love from the comic books. In my opinion, the “dark” tone does not equate to “realism”.

Patty Jenkins’ Wonder woman (2017) was great in comparison to other DCEU movies. I would rate it very similar to Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). To be honest, the third act was very Michael Bay-like. However, it was still entertaining and kickass. I love the Wonder woman theme score, the Cello gave me goosebumps!

After Zack Synder’s Batman vs. Superman (2016), and Justice League (2017) and David Ayer’s Suicide Squad (2016) released in theaters the reviews were mixed. The DCEU  just can’t seem to catch a break. The latest news about The Flash solo film losing both writer/director Seth Grahame-Smith as well as his replacement Dope director Rick Famuyiwa due to “creative differences.” The project is currently without a director. DCEU needs a Kevin Feige-like person in charge of the direction!

Fingers-cross that Aquaman (2018) directed by James Wan (who directed the incredible horror movies such as Conjuring and Insidious as well as Furious 7) as well as David Sandberg’s Shazam! (2019) kills it in the box office as well as critic ratings!

By the way, I can’t wait for Peyton Reed’s Antman and the Wasp (2018) and Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck’s Captain Marvel (2019)!

Please feel free to comment on your opinions about the MCU as well as the DCEU.