Has the MCU peaked?

[TheVileOne]

Give me a film where there are 10 top shaolin schools that each have a ring, and Wen Wu goes by each to challenge the top fighter for the ring.

That's very much like one of my favourite Shaw Brothers movies.

Then what about Shang-Chi?

 

[king666]

Right now it feels like every Marvel movie is just a trailer for the next movie, which is also a trailer for the next movie, which is also a trailer for (...)

My two cents: the MCU needs to embrace the concept of finality & closure. Let these characters truly grow; let their stories come to an end.

 

[Spider-Fan]

Give me a film where there are 10 top shaolin schools that each have a ring, and Wen Wu goes by each to challenge the top fighter for the ring.

That's very much like one of my favourite Shaw Brothers movies.

That sounds like a really long movie that is more about Wenwu than it is about the hero, Shang-Chi

 

[Docker2.0]

One thing i don't like about the new Marvel is that it seems like men are downplayed to women way to often. If you look at the last couple of MCU projects, the woman is doing everything better. Even Thor to a degree. I know they are trying to make Cap America Sam that guy but IDK........i still felt Bucky ....won't go down that route but i just think there was so much wrong with how phase 4 started.

 

[psylockolussus]

Okay, but do you think it would be better or worse for these films to have more smaller stakes stories or mostly limit the setup to the stingers? Would Shang Chi have been better or worse if the whole movie took place entirely on Earth and not gone to a CGI land?



Sure, but no phase 1 movie got reviews as bad as the ones for Eternals or Ant-Man 3.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings was fine aside from dodgy vfX, Trevor Slattery and a really long title.

 

[OtherwiseKnownAs]

Look, no genre gets to stay relevant forever. The good times are going to end. Eventually superhero movies will go the way of the musical and the western, I don’t know why people refuse to accept that that’s just the nature of the beast. And yeah, we’re probably in the beginning of the end of it’s dominance in Hollywood.

 

[psylockolussus]

Which is why there should be a definite end to the mcu, instead of having phase 20 in 2050s.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

One thing i don't like about the new Marvel is that it seems like men are downplayed to women way to often. If you look at the last couple of MCU projects, the woman is doing everything better. Even Thor to a degree. I know they are trying to make Cap America Sam that guy but IDK........i still felt Bucky ....won't go down that route but i just think there was so much wrong with how phase 4 started.

In the first two phases, women didn't take a backseat to men. They simply didn't exist outside of being love interests. It took till phase 3 for a woman to even get a co-lead (in name only), and the only major heroes were Black Widow and Gamora. So I do not think labelling a more even split as somehow "women dominating" makes a lick of sense.

 

[squeekness]

One thing i don't like about the new Marvel is that it seems like men are downplayed to women way to often. If you look at the last couple of MCU projects, the woman is doing everything better. Even Thor to a degree. I know they are trying to make Cap America Sam that guy but IDK........i still felt Bucky ....won't go down that route but i just think there was so much wrong with how phase 4 started.

Bucky should have been Cap because it was done in the comics. I've always felt that way.

 

[squeekness]

Look, no genre gets to stay relevant forever. The good times are going to end. Eventually superhero movies will go the way of the musical and the western, I don’t know why people refuse to accept that that’s just the nature of the beast. And yeah, we’re probably in the beginning of the end of it’s dominance in Hollywood.

No!!!!

 

[Ultra Nolanite]

Then what about Shang-Chi?

His story is unchanged. Talented slacker, nobody becomes somebody when he crosses paths with Wen Wu and eventually stops him in a show of martial arts.

No need for riding mythical dragons in an ancient, magical realm to save the universe for an origin story.

That would be the same as Tony Stark fighting Thanos on Titan to save the universe in the first Iron Man, none of it feels earned.

Well, to me at least.

 

[writer0327]

Which is why there should be a definite end to the mcu, instead of having phase 20 in 2050s.

Kind of have to agree here. A cinematic universe isn't something you can keep going, the same way you can't have Keaton's Batman or Maguire's Spider-Man continue for over a decade. They can use the Fantastic 4 and X-Men for maybe 10 years from now, but that's going to be about it. They'll have to end it, let it rest for about 10 years, and reboot eventually.

 

[psylockolussus]

At some point, someone else would have to play Steve Rogers, Thor, T'Challa and Tony Stark and it couldn't be just a multiverse variant.

 

[Bayne]

Shang-Chi was one of the best movies in the MCU, and yes the ****ing dragon rocked. (Seriously that's one of the coolest dragons in the history of cinema.)

Would a completely different story have made it an even better movie? Maybe. Who knows. You could just as easily ask the exact same thing about Endgame, Ragnarok, the Winter Soldier, The Dark Knight, ad infinitum. It's a nonsense question that's impossible to actually answer and irrelevant to the actual merits of the films under discussion.

Look, no genre gets to stay relevant forever. The good times are going to end. Eventually superhero movies will go the way of the musical and the western, I don’t know why people refuse to accept that that’s just the nature of the beast. And yeah, we’re probably in the beginning of the end of it’s dominance in Hollywood.

I don't know why people need to keep implying that the western and the musical are dead.

Will superhero movies no longer be dominant eventually? Yes.
Is that time starting now? Maybe, but the evidence is not as strong yet as some seem determined to claim.
When it does happen, does that mean Marvel Studios will instantly cease to exist and WB will stop making DC movies? Probably not, no.

Genres don't really die, they just become more or less prevalent. And the superhero 'genre' is so wide-ranging in scope, style and subject matter it could literally easily be adapted to any new major Hollywood fad you wanted to adapt it to. And Marvel Studios - existing for literally no other reason but to adapt Marvel characters - will obviously not stop trying to find a way to make Marvel characters work in whatever climate exists for as long as they continue to exist (which is one driving force that literally no other genre has ever had).

 

[antsman41]

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

...honestly the last good 'new' MCU film that wasn't trying to use nostalgia to cover up it's failures (No Way Home) or lying about it's directors talents getting outshined by the MCU cog (MoM).

 

[JtheDreamer]

It peaked a long time ago many are just too stubborn to admit it. The MCU brand exists now to dilute itself into a cinematic bubble gum machine.

 

[jignat]

Before endgame, I felt like most mcu movies were in the 8/10 range.
Now after endgame it feels like most are in the 7 range-mostly serviceable.

The 2 films I enjoyed most after Endgame were Spidey: No Way Home and shang Chi .
NWH - 9/10
Shang-Chi - 8/10.

I am really on anticipating the rebooted Xmen and Deadpool 3 and then FF.
I have never liked the Fox FF films and while I liked 2/3 of their X-men output, the haphazard nature of it and repetitive elements made me giddy when Disney bought them out.

 

[psylockolussus]

I'm not eXcited on a new Deadpool since they are just using the same actor in the role. The fact they let Ryan Reynolds slid into the MCU (when everybody were rebooted aside from those variants), won't give an entirely new take on the character because it would be just the same face portraying the character.

Their take on the X-Men and the Fantastic 4 could be quite fresh from the foX films though.

 

[Docker2.0]

I'm not eXcited on a new Deadpool since they are just using the same actor in the role. The fact they let Ryan Reynolds slid into the MCU (when everybody were rebooted aside from those variants), won't give an entirely new take on the character because it would be just the same face portraying the character.

Their take on the X-Men and the Fantastic 4 could be quite fresh from the foX films though.

It's going to be hard for ANYONE to follow Ryan Reynold's Deadpool. He was born to play him.

Bucky should have been Cap because it was done in the comics. I've always felt that way.

Don't remind me!

Shang-Chi was one of the best movies in the MCU, and yes the ****ing dragon rocked. (Seriously that's one of the coolest dragons in the history of cinema.)

Would a completely different story have made it an even better movie? Maybe. Who knows. You could just as easily ask the exact same thing about Endgame, Ragnarok, the Winter Soldier, The Dark Knight, ad infinitum. It's a nonsense question that's impossible to actually answer and irrelevant to the actual merits of the films under discussion.



I don't know why people need to keep implying that the western and the musical are dead.

Will superhero movies no longer be dominant eventually? Yes.
Is that time starting now? Maybe, but the evidence is not as strong yet as some seem determined to claim.
When it does happen, does that mean Marvel Studios will instantly cease to exist and WB will stop making DC movies? Probably not, no.

Genres don't really die, they just become more or less prevalent. And the superhero 'genre' is so wide-ranging in scope, style and subject matter it could literally easily be adapted to any new major Hollywood fad you wanted to adapt it to. And Marvel Studios - existing for literally no other reason but to adapt Marvel characters - will obviously not stop trying to find a way to make Marvel characters work in whatever climate exists for as long as they continue to exist (which is one driving force that literally no other genre has ever had).

I think Shang Chi is seriously underrated and had it came out earlier, it would be perceived way differently.

It peaked a long time ago many are just too stubborn to admit it. The MCU brand exists now to dilute itself into a cinematic bubble gum machine.

You can't say that around here, you will get labeled something. Just shake your head yes and be another brick on the wall.

 

[Venom 1988]

You can't say that around here, you will get labeled something. Just shake your head yes and be another brick on the wall.

That's not why people call you a troll

 

[AndrewGilkison]

I think one of the main problems with phase four is... who are the main heroes in the MCU right now? The first three phases had the Avengers as the center of things, with Iron Man being the first breakout hit and Chris Evans capturing everyone's hearts as Captain America and Chris Hemsworth owning Thor just like Christopher Reeves owned Superman back in the day. And you had the GOTG introduce us to the cosmic side of the MCU.

With phase four, everything is all over the map. There doesn't seem to be a main character or main characters to follow.

 

[Docker2.0]

That's not why people call you a troll

I know, I know! When you see something in a movie before it comes out and speak on it, that is trolling. Predicting a movie will underperform because of bait switch, that is trolling! Anyone with an open mind can see I'm not trolling because the movies have underperform. If anyone is trolling, it's you and other who resort to name calling because I question the direction Marvel is going and judging by the box office, I am not alone. But name call away and pretend like everything is A-ok. I'm sure it will work.

 

[Venom 1988]

I know, I know! When you see something in a movie before it comes out and speak on it, that is trolling. Predicting a movie will underperform because of bait switch, that is trolling! Anyone with an open mind can see I'm not trolling because the movies have underperform. If anyone is trolling, it's you and other who resort to name calling because I question the direction Marvel is going and judging by the box office, I am not alone. But name call away and pretend like everything is A-ok. I'm sure it will work.

My dude criticizing the MCU is not trolling. There are plenty of people in this very thread that are criticizing it and not being called a troll. I too have criticized the MCU. I don't pretend that it doesn't have any faults. But there is a clear difference between you and everyone else. And I don't feel like getting into this all over again so just gonna post this from earlier in the thread.

It has nothing to do with me disagreeing with you and everything to do with the content of your posts. So what kind of discussion are you trying to offer by saying "How about that Ant-Man box office! Am I right!!!!" You are just basically trying to pat yourself on the back and take victory laps and taunt the opposition, and I see right through your act. You're a troll. If you don't want to be called out for being a troll, stop acting like a troll and maybe actually offer posts that invite conversation and discourse. Not you looking for excuses to annoy people and pat yourself on the back for whatever misguided reasons you have. You can make the same exact points about the BO while fostering discussion. Not annoying people with sarcastic memes

 

[Docker2.0]

Wait, so me being right and admitting I'm right is trolling now?!

But we agree to disagree. I think Guardians of the Galaxy 3 will do well at the Box office so it will stop the bleeding but after that......I'm sorry but I just don't see anything coming out that will help unless they course correct and address their core fans, it actually can get worse.

 

[Venom 1988]

Wait, so me being right and admitting I'm right is trolling now?!

Ok you do you