TVTropes Now available in the app store!
Open

Follow TV Tropes

Following

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Go To

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

Punisher286 Since: Jan, 2016
#82026: Mar 11th 2018 at 7:04:45 PM

Jane was a case of "interesting idea, undermined by poor execution" for me.

unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#82027: Mar 11th 2018 at 7:08:59 PM

[up][up]I dont know, since Asgard super magic tech thing make that almost irrelevant.

I mean, I remenber in episode of Agent of Shield when Coulson present his tech only to sig saying it look like very outdated teach back them in asgard.

It kinda said something.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#82028: Mar 11th 2018 at 7:10:46 PM

I mean she's just a normie.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#82029: Mar 11th 2018 at 7:19:59 PM

[up].....Yeah, pretty much.

Also, I still find funny how pushover critic actually guess Ragnarok would used Saakar even when others said it woudnt catch on.

It sound hilarious in hindsight.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
MadSkillz Destroyer of Worlds Since: Mar, 2013 Relationship Status: I only want you gone
Destroyer of Worlds
#82030: Mar 11th 2018 at 8:32:04 PM

I’m not sure whether I want Infinity War to surpass Black Panther. On the one hand, I hope IW is amazing and lots of people appreciate it and it makes tons of money as the culmination of Marvel’s long term planning.

IW would be counted as a relatively big failure if it can't pass a billion.

BigK1337 Since: Jun, 2012
#82031: Mar 11th 2018 at 8:40:08 PM

[up] I agree. Black Panther is a great film, but lets not forget its meant to be an independent solo film to establish the character and his setting while Avengers Infinity War is meant to be a big scale Crisis Crossover with EVERY characters from the Phase Three films coming together against the threat of Thanos.

Infinity War not surpassing Black Panther in box office would be a big failure for the company, especially seeing how it finally putting the Big Bad of all these movies (Thanos) into action and would disappoint everybody. Just think of the underwelming success of the Justice League as an example of how that would be a bad thing for Marvel.

edited 11th Mar '18 8:41:00 PM by BigK1337

ComicFan Since: Sep, 2016
#82032: Mar 11th 2018 at 8:44:53 PM

New Infinity War tv spot. No new footage but a new single line of dialogue.

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America Since: Jul, 2015 Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#82033: Mar 11th 2018 at 8:49:14 PM

I think it's less "Black Panther could make more money than Infinity War" and more "Infinity War could make more money than Avengers 1 and Black Panther could STILL make more money than it". Black Panther could make more money than any individual MCU film. Period.

Also, yeah, I totally called that Ragnarok would be part Planet Hulk. Still makes me chuckle to think about.

edited 11th Mar '18 8:51:46 PM by PushoverMediaCritic

Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#82034: Mar 11th 2018 at 8:53:38 PM

To be fair, the criticisms that people had for the concept, that to do Planet Hulk justice would require taking a lot of screentime from a Thor story has been something people bring up re: Sakaar vs Hela plots

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
unknowing from somewhere.. Since: Mar, 2014
#82035: Mar 11th 2018 at 9:14:48 PM

[up]And those citism were right since at the end Hulk barely speak like he used in the series and didnt grow at all, with Banner acting VERY weird and surreal.

"My Name is Bolt, Bolt Crank and I dont care if you believe or not"
Bocaj Funny but not helpful from Here or thereabouts (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Pining for the fjords
Funny but not helpful
#82036: Mar 11th 2018 at 9:22:11 PM

He's basically suffering whatever the equivalent to a two year Hulk hangover is. His consciousness has been shut down or subconscious for two years.

Forever liveblogging the Avengers
KJMackley Since: Jan, 2001
#82037: Mar 11th 2018 at 10:03:26 PM

Ragnarok can be hysterical, but my issue is that the humor undermines the dramatic elements. It makes it feel like they don't trust their drama and character moments and are trying to distract you from the failed efforts at drama with humor. It becomes especially problematic when the dramatic moments have NO humor, making it seem like a toggle between comedy and drama. Good blending of comedy/drama supports each other rather than being contradictory.

Something else, I noticed it a little with Doctor Strange but became more aware of it in Ragnarok, but there is a certain level of active disrespect of its characters. They are treated as the butt of jokes, not in a way that they are actually humiliated/humbled and learn to climb out of their funk, but in that the movie can only go so long without a joke and so do something to undermine their dignity. So the movie shows them humiliated as a joke and then shows them being awesome without adding any depth to their character for that contrast (such as Obfuscating Stupidity or Took a Level in Badass).

Tuckerscreator (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#82038: Mar 11th 2018 at 10:30:58 PM

Need to find it again, but I recall finding an article talking about how "cutting down the guy who thinks they're smart" is a big part of Māori humor. Every time someone thinks they're about to do something wise and important, it blows up in their face.

Valkyrie exiting her ship to nab a prisoner? CRASH. Thor trying to lullaby Hulk? SMASH. Thor trying to break out through a window? SMACK. Thor monologuing about the importance of letting Surtur destroy Asgard? HULK.

So, complaining about the humor undercutting the characters' dignity... thing is, that's kind of the point. It's the whole joke.

edited 11th Mar '18 10:32:37 PM by Tuckerscreator

AdricDePsycho Rock on, Gold Dust Woman from Never Going Back Again Since: Oct, 2014 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
#82039: Mar 11th 2018 at 10:35:36 PM

And it's a fucking hilarious joke.

Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
DeathsApprentice The Ultimate Lifeform from The Ark Since: Aug, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
The Ultimate Lifeform
#82040: Mar 11th 2018 at 10:40:11 PM

I remember reading some article about that. I rather enjoyed it but I can see how it wouldn't appeal to some people.

Honestly, Ragnarok's humor was completely up my alley. I was laughing so much. It was a fun time.

edited 11th Mar '18 10:41:09 PM by DeathsApprentice

When we're done, there won't be anything left.
LordVatek Not really a lord of anything Since: Sep, 2014
Not really a lord of anything
#82041: Mar 11th 2018 at 10:49:32 PM

Valkyrie's entrance was freaking perfect

This song needs more love.
DeathsApprentice The Ultimate Lifeform from The Ark Since: Aug, 2011 Relationship Status: Is that a kind of food?
The Ultimate Lifeform
#82042: Mar 11th 2018 at 10:51:04 PM

Valkyrie's entrance was hilarious. [lol]

When we're done, there won't be anything left.
KJMackley Since: Jan, 2001
#82043: Mar 11th 2018 at 10:52:04 PM

Of course it's a joke, wasn't arguing that. It doesn't really justify skewering all dramatic tension in a story that nominally involves genocide and an apocalypse. It's also not exclusive to Ragnarok and tends to apply to 3/4 of the characters, it's not particularly original if everyone gets the same gag.

Actually one of my favorite jokes of the film was in the Doctor Strange sequence, as Thor was annoyed but was trying to maintain his dignity, and especially when he summoned Mjolnir/umbrella back to his hand and gave Strange an apologetic shrug as you hear things smash. It was character humor rather than having fun at their expense.

Tuckerscreator (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#82044: Mar 11th 2018 at 10:57:58 PM

It doesn't really justify skewering all dramatic tension in a story that nominally involves genocide and an apocalypse

I think that's what makes it work. The movie is so seemingly lighthearted that you're lured into thinking Asgard isn't really going to be destroyed, Ragnarok isn't going to happen... and then it's a surprise that it completely does.

It also really amplifies Hela's menace. She's the one character who is never really humiliated in any way until the climax (aside from Heimdall, perhaps). So she edges closes to a Knight of Cerebus with how impervious she is for nearly the entire film and how serious things get when she's around.

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#82045: Mar 11th 2018 at 11:10:22 PM

Ya know I wonder if they'll keep that Corvus Glaive is functionally immortal as long as his spear doesn't get broken.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
KJMackley Since: Jan, 2001
#82046: Mar 11th 2018 at 11:30:06 PM

I don't really see it as being connected. This isn't a matter of the humor not being funny, but whether the movie mostly succeeds at everything it is trying to do. It's been a common complaint that the actual Hela story (with all the drama and pathos involved) was pushed aside in favor of the Thor/Hulk buddy comedy, so I wouldn't say it somehow works "better" that way. Half of the movie establishes that they are mostly trying to save as many Asgardians as possible, and the complete slaughter of their army and named characters other than Heimdall (and Skurge) leaves Asgard the place as superfluous. As such triggering Ragnarok with everyone evacuated is actually kind of a safe move, the audience isn't going to cry over the palace being destroyed, but it would be a lot darker if there were still survivors left behind.

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#82047: Mar 11th 2018 at 11:44:36 PM

[up][up]What kind of a name is that, anyway? Is his spear made of crows? Shouldn't that be the name of his weapon, not himself?

edited 11th Mar '18 11:45:11 PM by Anomalocaris20

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#82048: Mar 11th 2018 at 11:48:36 PM

[up] All the members of the Black Order (Thanos' commanders & the siblings of Gammora & Nebula) are named after the color black.

Ergo Corvus Glaive, Proxima Midnight, Ebony Maw, & Cull Obsidian.

I'm gonna assume Thanos gave them those names.

Fun fact there was a fifth member known as Supergiant who has been adapted out & Cull Obsidian was originally named Black Dwarf in the comics with Cull Obsidian being the actual name of the group.

edited 11th Mar '18 11:50:34 PM by slimcoder

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#82049: Mar 12th 2018 at 12:04:40 AM

Considering that Black Panther has a considerably lower budget than Infinity War, it will most likely make Disney more anyway.

Anomalocaris20 from Sagittarius A* Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: Love blinded me (with science!)
#82050: Mar 12th 2018 at 12:12:41 AM

[up][up][[sploilorz:Black Widow and Black Panther betray the Avengers to join the Black Order.]]

You cannot firmly grasp the true form of Squidward's technique!

Total posts: 186,763
Top