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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.
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    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

windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#96203: Feb 5th 2019 at 1:22:06 AM

I mean there is a chance of being eaten either way.

Who’s to say the maiden isn’t a cannibal?

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#96204: Feb 5th 2019 at 3:29:49 AM

Just a reminder that in the original story the prisoner did not choose the door. He trusted his lover the princess (his affair with her being the entire reason he was put in this trial) to choose for him. And she knew what was behind the two doors.

Complicating things further is the fact that the tiger was the most ferocious one that could be found (meaning the princess' lover would suffer an especially excruciating death). Another twist is that the lady chosen for him was an especially lovely one whom the princess already hated and saw as a rival for her lover (making it even worse than if he married some other random person).

It's the Sadistic Choice par excellence.

It's also a win-win for her father the king — either way his daughter doesn't end up marrying the guy.

Edited by M84 on Feb 5th 2019 at 7:33:27 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#96205: Feb 5th 2019 at 4:47:46 AM

D, C, B, then A.

BTW, how does the story ends?

Swanpride Since: Jun, 2013
#96206: Feb 5th 2019 at 4:55:57 AM

I already know that I like "The Glove" better….

alliterator Since: Jan, 2001
#96207: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:19:29 AM

BTW, how does the story ends?
It doesn't, that's why it's infamous — the man goes to open the door the princess chose and that's it. The end. We don't find out which door he opened or whether he's married or dead. Which is kind of the point of the entire story.

Edited by alliterator on Feb 5th 2019 at 7:20:18 AM

Ultimatum Disasturbator from the Amiga Forest (Old as dirt) Relationship Status: Who needs love when you have waffles?
Disasturbator
#96208: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:22:51 AM

So the cartoon for the Silver Surfer went with Thanos's obsession with Lady Death Chaos and made him softly spoken and had him talk to wooden idol of her

Thanos's higher pitch voice sounds so wrong when you expect it to be deeper like the film verison

have a listen and have a link to my discord server
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#96209: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:37:58 AM

Having seen Infinity War before any of the other depictions of Thanos, the idea of him courting the anthropormophic goddess of death by murdering half the universe just sounds ridiculous. I'm sure comic fans will disagree, but I don't have that perspective. Also, and I know this joke has been made before, but in the MCU, wouldn't that be Hela?

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
chasemaddigan I'm Sad Frogerson. Since: Oct, 2011
I'm Sad Frogerson.
#96210: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:41:44 AM

You think that's weird? You haven't seen Thanos talking about his dreams of running a chicken farm (skip to around 1:52):

At least now we know what kind of farm Thanos is running now.

HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
TobiasDrake (•̀⤙•́) (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Arm chopping is not a love language!
(•̀⤙•́)
#96212: Feb 5th 2019 at 7:55:36 AM

It kind of is ridiculous, but that's part of its appeal.

Like. Philosophy, you can argue. Tribalism, you can appeal to diplomacy. But Thanos is like, "Imma burn your people to the ground as a tribute because I want to put my fleshy man-parts inside the abstract concept of Death itself." What do you even say to that?

Thanos is a terrifying man. Thanos is also a ridiculous man. And the fact that he is ridiculous makes him more terrifying. You're not just going to die. You're going to die for something really stupid.

It's like having to listen to a Bond One-Liner after being shot in the lung. Like, come on, man, at least give my civilization some dignity. Don't make the lasting legacy of my people into a boner pill.

Edited by TobiasDrake on Feb 5th 2019 at 8:56:09 AM

My Tumblr. Currently side-by-side liveblogging Digimon Adventure, sub vs dub.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#96213: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:02:22 AM

Fine, I get it. That's awesome for comics, but for the MCU, you need him to be more serious. What's scary about Thanos in Infinity War is how fanatically he believes in his ideology, and I don't think that would come across as well if he were flying around in a toy helicopter or wanking off over Lady Death. What's more, he's clearly put a lot of thought into his belief system, but his many sacrifices throughout the film set up a lovely tease that he might somehow be talked out of it.

Contrast with Steppenwolf from Justice League, who might as well be pining after the goddess of Death for all that we learn about his motivation.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#96214: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:06:31 AM

I'm not sure the romance with Lady Death is that ridiculous for the MCU or for any other medium, really. If you venture to read Infinity Gauntlet (and its prequel Thanos Quest), it becomes clear it's a very curious and disturbing relationship that's surprisingly well-fleshed out (given Lady Death doesn't speak).

"All you Fascists bound to lose."
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#96215: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:10:04 AM

Well, it also reduces Thanos' agency as a villain to have another more powerful being that he's trying to impress introduced alongside him. It creates ambiguity as to whom we're supposed to regard as the actual threat. Thanos in the MCU is out for himself and nobody else. He is the threat, full stop. I mean, sure, we know there are lots of powerful beings out there, but the Mad Titan is not about to let anybody upstage him in his own film.

He was the Greater-Scope Villain for six years, after all.

Edited by Fighteer on Feb 5th 2019 at 11:12:20 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#96216: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:17:31 AM

I have my issues with Infinity War but I don't think it would have worked to have the villain the MCU had been leading up to for 10 years and 18 movies be a guy who just wanted to get laid.

Edited by windleopard on Feb 5th 2019 at 8:18:07 AM

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#96217: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:19:11 AM

There's a certain schadenfreude about it though. tongue

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#96218: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:21:21 AM

I suppose it could work as a comedy or superhero parody but not for the more serious tone Infinity War was going for.

Tuckerscreator (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#96219: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:28:50 AM

Given how many holes there are with MCU Thanos’s motive, he really doesn’t strike me as someone who’s put a lot of thought into it. For all his mockery of Loki’s failed conquest of Earth, his plan is basically just the same thing: make a bunch of random civilians miserable because people at home didn’t give him what he wanted. At least “I wanna schup Death” Thanos is honest.

LordVatek Not really a lord of anything Since: Sep, 2014
Not really a lord of anything
#96220: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:33:05 AM

If they'd introduced the idea that abstract concepts can have physical form prior to Infinity War, I would have been all for having Thanos' original motivation, especially if they played up the incel to make him seem even more ridiculous and pathetic, but if they just dove in without easing into the concept it would have been a mess.

Ego was the most ridiculous concept to that point and even he was toned down a little.

Edited by LordVatek on Feb 5th 2019 at 11:33:53 AM

This song needs more love.
AyyItsMidnight Look, just be decent to one another ok? Since: Oct, 2018
Look, just be decent to one another ok?
#96221: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:33:16 AM

I'm still pushing Adrian Toomes and Killmonger as the best villains in the movies. Thanos is kinda sorta overrated.

Edited by AyyItsMidnight on Feb 5th 2019 at 8:33:46 AM

Self-serious autistic trans gal who loves rock/metal and animation with all her heart. (she/her)
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#96222: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:35:41 AM

It's not about whether Thanos is correct in his beliefs, or even whether his beliefs are sane. It's the perception of threat that he embodies and the depth of characterization that it conveys. First, he's a fanatic, so is not going to be talked out of his plan or reasoned with. Second, he's not doing it for someone or to impress someone more powerful than himself, so is the most dangerous threat presented to the audience. Third, it is possible to sympathize with the motive behind his actions even if you realize how insane they are in practice.

All of this serves to make him simultaneously terrifying and tragic.

As for MCU villains, I hate the idea that everything has to be ranked, but my top three are most definitely Loki, Thanos, and Killmonger. Not coincidentally, this is because all of them have motives that I can recognize and sympathize with, even as they are clearly committing evil acts and must be stopped.

Killmonger is the weakest of the three in my personal opinion because he gets killed off in his first movie (unless they bring him back, of course), so we don't get to see his actions play out. He fails at his goals, but wins the moral argument with the hero. In Loki's case, we get to see him succeed and fail, be redeemed and commit betrayals, and it's clear that there is genuine love between him and Thor. The chemistry between Hemsworth and Hiddleston is fantastic. I've already talked about why I love Thanos.

Edited by Fighteer on Feb 5th 2019 at 11:41:34 AM

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
wisewillow She/her Since: May, 2011
She/her
#96223: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:44:46 AM

Thanos murdering people because he’s a violent asshole trying to impress the concept of Death is fascinating to me as a distillation of violence and toxic masculinity.

Thanos the Malthusian “overpopulation bad!” edgelord bores and annoys me.

Tuckerscreator (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#96224: Feb 5th 2019 at 8:51:48 AM

Third, it is possible to sympathize with the motive behind his actions

It wasn’t for me. Nowhere in the film did we see overpopulation being a problem anywhere. His homeworld gets a handful of sentences. Sympathetic villains like Toomes, Harvey Dent, and Killmonger are pitiable to me because we see from their eyes what led them to choose the worst course as their solution. And we see there was possibly a future where they could’ve been great, if only things had turned differently. Not so with Thanos and his rapid “oh btw my planet dead anyway back to punching.”

Gaon Smoking Snake from Grim Up North Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Above such petty unnecessities
#96225: Feb 5th 2019 at 9:00:10 AM

I like both Thanos motivations for different reasons. The original's "tragic romance with Lady Death" shtick was more poetic, but I'm not opposed to this take of Thanos as a Malthusian extremist. I think a lot of the backlash against it stems from people overreacting to the Fan Dumb of people agreeing with Thanos more than anything.

"All you Fascists bound to lose."

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