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Welcome to the main discussion thread for the Marvel Cinematic Universe! This pinned post is here to establish some basic guidelines. All of the Media Forum rules still apply.

  • This thread is for talking about the live-action films, TV shows, animated works, and related content that use the Marvel brand, currently owned by Disney.
  • While mild digressions are okay, discussion of the comic books should go in this thread. Extended digressions may be thumped as off-topic.
  • Spoilers for new releases should not be discussed without spoiler tagging for at least two weeks. Rather, each title should have a dedicated thread where that sort of conversation is held. We can mention new releases in a general sense, but please be courteous to people who don't want to be spoiled.

If you're posting tagged spoilers, make sure that the film or series is clearly identified outside the spoiler tagging. People need to know what will be spoiled before they choose to read the post.

    Original post 
Since Thor and now Captain America came out this year, I wanted to get what Tropers thought of the concept and execution of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general. Personally I love the idea and wonder why this idea hasn't been seriously tried before. It sorta seems to me like the DCAU in movie form (And well, ummm, with Marvel), and really 'gets' the comic book feel of a shared universe while not being completely alienating.

Edited by Mrph1 on Jul 29th 2024 at 3:09:00 PM

xbimpy Since: Jul, 2015
#40076: Aug 7th 2015 at 4:40:05 AM

Also, yeah, upon hearing how Ultimate Mad Thinker is, it does sound kinda needlessly gritty."

The entire Ultimate verse is cynically crapsack. Everyone there is more graphic angsty and insane than their mainstream counterparts

Khantalas E-Who-Must-Not-Be-Gendered from More sheep than people (Before Time Began) Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
E-Who-Must-Not-Be-Gendered
#40077: Aug 7th 2015 at 4:42:42 AM

Except for Spider-Man and his supporting cast, who have somehow managed to be more light-hearted.

((Then again, they were getting worse before the recent reset.))

Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
#40078: Aug 7th 2015 at 5:49:54 AM

[up][up]I know, but this seems needlessly dark even by Ultimate Marvel's standards.

MousaThe14 Writer, Artist, Ignored from Northern Virginia Since: Jan, 2011 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
Writer, Artist, Ignored
#40079: Aug 7th 2015 at 6:35:11 AM

As my first Ultimate comics Ultimate Spider-man gave me unrealistic expectations of the rest of the comics.

Also, upon reflection I don't know ANYTHING about Doctor Strange. So really I'm glad he's getting a film so that'll help me get an idea of him.

If he had any appearances in any of the myriad animated adaptations of Marvel properties I would at least have something to work with so I know what to expect or at least quantify what I would want from a film version.

The impression of him I got from the Ultimate Spider-man comics basically told me he was akin to versions of Tony Stark in terms of personality: Arrogant, womanizing, a publicly recognized figure, responsibility is more of a suggestion than a principle to live by.

In the New Avengers comics I read he was the neutral guy in the Civil War that eventually realized he was awful for staying out of the whole thing and took in the New Avengers who were Anti-Reg dudes.

Oh, and I guess as some point he was no longer Sorcerer Supreme, shagging someone named Night Nurse, and I think there was a huge magical incident in the middle of the city because maybe, as Spidey cleverly suggested, Aggamotto wanted his eye back.

Oh right, I think I read that infinity gauntlet thing so Silver Surfer stopped by Strange's place at the start of the story because of Thanos and whatnot.

So with all that experience his personality, abilities, desires, goals, and story types are mostly a cipher to me. At most I associate him with the Soul Gem because that was what he was in charge of protecting when he was in the Illuminati, but apparently even there I'm wrong because true comic book fans say the Soul Gem is Adam Warlock's gig.

The Blog The Art
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#40080: Aug 7th 2015 at 6:48:28 AM

I don't know much about Dr. Strange either (I think I saw the movie about him at one point, but it was so forgettable), but in my mind, I imagine someone who is really, really arrogant, but not as playful as Tony is. Someone who is very proud of being smart and isn't satisfied with anything less then perfectionism. Someone who looked down on people who couldn't achieve his level of it and then was shattered when he lost his abilities, but also no ready to settle for anything less. Someone who can and will shatter you with a few words, especially if he really sets his mind on it. In short, someone like Sherlock, but less erratic, and with the big difference that Sherlock genuinely has trouble understanding why his behaviour puts people off, while Strange would do it deliberately because there is no-one who is worth talking to anyway.

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#40081: Aug 7th 2015 at 6:59:43 AM

[up]As someone who read Strange's original solo comics a while back, as well as some of his Defenders appearances, I can say that none of that really fits Strange. Sure, that's how he used to be before he lost the use of his hands, but afterwards, he became... kind of bland, honestly. He's generally calm and collected, and while he can have a touch of arrogance, he's usually nowhere near Tony Stark levels. He's also willing to go somewhat higher extremes than some heroes are and is more inclined to take lives if necessary, but not to the point where he becomes an Anti-Hero.

Though I do have to say, making him a Sherlock expy would probably turn him into a more interesting character, to say the least.

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#40082: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:03:03 AM

Well, they have to be careful to not making him too similar. That could be confusing.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#40083: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:22:40 AM

Wow, that spoilered thing is, like, really impressive. The Living Tribunal is normally considered to be the second most powerful entity in the marvel multiverse.

Yeah. And then they were all unceremoniously killed offscreen by Doom and Strange to set up Secret Wars. Seriously, Strange covers it in less than a page and his explanation for what happened is just, "We killed them and stole their powers."

No effort to justify this was ever made because the people writing Marvel's events since Hickman wrote over have been completely unashamed about their deus ex machina. It's not unlike the Infinity event, in which the aliens who seeded life into the universe declared war on existence and were nigh unstoppable until the living avatar of the universe itself decided they shouldn't exist anymore so they just didn't, and that was the end of the story.

So! With the Fantastic Four hovering between 10 and 14% on RT, rated 4.3 on IM Db, a 29 on Metascore, and an 8 on Metacritic, how much do you wanna bet that Fox finally drops this hot potato back home?

Nobody at the studio cares about ratings. What matters to them is box office sales. Nobody makes movies to impress critics unless they're looking for an Oscar; they do it to make money.

They don't have a very high bar to exceed, either. The Spider-Man franchise had the problem that each installment made less money than the one that came before it. Both Amazing films underperformed Spider-Man 3. If this trend continued, it wouldn't be long before they cease to be profitable.

The Fantastic Four films have never been very successful. Their last installment made only $289 million worldwide on a $130 million budget, but Fox was still willing to go forward with another movie. If this one can manage to make even decent money for a superhero film today, it will blow the others out of the water and justify further sequels.

edited 7th Aug '15 7:28:50 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#40084: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:30:26 AM

To be honest, what interests me in Dr. Strange is less the character but more the prospect of going really crazy on screen. That is something I have missed in the Disney movies. It has been ages that there has been a proper acid sequence.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#40085: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:32:09 AM

My fondness for Marvel Comics and everything in them notwithstanding, what interests me about Dr. Strange is the fact that Sherlock Holmes will be competing against The Operative in a contest of intelligence and will.

edited 7th Aug '15 7:32:28 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#40086: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:36:16 AM

[up]I only want tony stark talk strange so I can wonder of the dialogues between armor sherlock and magical sherlock, it will be glorious

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
edvedd Darling. from At the boutique, dear. Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: We finish each other's sandwiches
Darling.
#40087: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:36:47 AM

@Swan: Doctor Strange's cinematographer is Ben Davis, who also worked on Guardians of the Galaxy and Age of Ultron.

So he has some experience with pretty-looking movies.

Visit my Tumblr! I may say things. The Bureau Project
windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#40088: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:36:56 AM

Hopefully they actually write The Operative as intelligent.

TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#40089: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:40:17 AM

I want both Stark and Strange to appear in a film so that somebody can disparagingly refer to someone as "Sherlock," and the two can exchange a brief awkward glance.

edited 7th Aug '15 7:40:45 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Theokal3 Since: Jan, 2012
#40090: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:41:46 AM

Personally to give Dr Strange a personnality post-Character Development, I would play up his Gentleman Wizard and Creepy Good aspect. Like play up his mysticism, make him appear a bit eccentric and enigmatic which makes it hard for people to understand him, yet still portray him as a good guy.

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#40091: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:44:52 AM

The big question is: Will F4 make money? As bad as the first one was, it did make profit. The second one just barely (or not at all, depending on the advertising costs), which is why they interrupted the series for so long. But if this one bombs, is there really sense in holding onto the property? We have seen just two weeks ago what bad word of mouth will do to a movie with Pixel. The Fantastic 4 was a hard sell from the get go, and now it doesn't even get decent reviews.

In addition, word is that Fox and Marvel are currently in talks concerning an X-men animated series. So not only they talk with each other, there is something which Fox really wants to round up their successful franchise. And Marvel wants the fantastic four back or at least, they want all the properties connected to them.

edited 7th Aug '15 7:47:08 AM by Swanpride

DrDougsh Since: Jan, 2001
#40092: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:54:17 AM

Given the overwhelmingly negative reception by both fans and critics, the lack of lingering affection from the previous movies in the franchise, and the fact that it's going up against the new Mission Impossible movie, I think the chances of this film being a big success are terribly slim.

kkhohoho (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#40093: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:55:40 AM

[up][up]

In addition, word is that Fox and Marvel are currently in talks concerning an X-men animated series.

No offense, but it's a live-action series, not an animated one, as seen here. Just figured I should point that out.

edited 7th Aug '15 7:55:53 AM by kkhohoho

KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#40094: Aug 7th 2015 at 7:57:36 AM

So why are people disliking the new FF movie? What are the major complaints?

Oh God! Natural light!
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#40095: Aug 7th 2015 at 8:01:25 AM

I'd suggest going to the FF thread so we don't stray too far off topic. This is a good starting point.

edvedd Darling. from At the boutique, dear. Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: We finish each other's sandwiches
Darling.
#40096: Aug 7th 2015 at 8:01:59 AM

Bad special effects, underdeveloped characters and weird character choices, overly dour atmosphere, weird editing and pacing, a bad third act... Take your pick.

[up]Oh yeah, that's pretty good. tongue

edited 7th Aug '15 8:02:20 AM by edvedd

Visit my Tumblr! I may say things. The Bureau Project
comicwriter Since: Sep, 2011
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#40098: Aug 7th 2015 at 8:09:34 AM

Given the overwhelmingly negative reception by both fans and critics, the lack of lingering affection from the previous movies in the franchise, and the fact that it's going up against the new Mission Impossible movie, I think the chances of this film being a big success are terribly slim.

It doesn't need to be a big success. It just needs to be successful enough to justify the expenditure.

Even X Men Origins Wolverine failed to be a Franchise Killer. Hell, that movie got a sequel.

edited 7th Aug '15 8:11:22 AM by TobiasDrake

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#40099: Aug 7th 2015 at 8:12:01 AM

[up][up] Oooh.

[up][up][up], [up][up][up][up] Okay, thanks.

Oh God! Natural light!
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#40100: Aug 7th 2015 at 8:15:32 AM

I don't see how this is off-topic. Marvel getting back the F4 properties would be so important for the MCU, especially for Got G. And a X-men TV series (thanks for the correction) is a good sign for this, because it shows that Marvel and Fox are talking with each other again.

edited 7th Aug '15 8:16:19 AM by Swanpride


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