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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

Aleistar Since: Feb, 2018 Relationship Status: Hugging my pillow
#124476: Jan 21st 2021 at 8:55:58 AM

If nothing else, MCU Spidey (so far) has been focused on not retreading ground earlier movies did, which I think is why they haven't done their Alien Costume Saga yet and instead focused on wider MCU connections and new villains. I say as they case Jamie Foxx and Alfred Molina in their previous roles.

Beatman1 Since: Feb, 2014 Relationship Status: Gone fishin'
#124477: Jan 21st 2021 at 9:01:59 AM

Rumors are flying Black Widow will be delayed yet again.

It will be in theaters by hook or by crook.

miraculous Goku Black (Apprentice)
Goku Black
#124478: Jan 21st 2021 at 9:10:32 AM

Man this is really taking a while. I guess since the shows are out marvel don't feel they need to rush it. So are waiting profits are maximum

"That's right mortal. By channeling my divine rage into power, I have forged a new instrument in which to destroy you."
ShadowWingLG Since: Dec, 2013
#124479: Jan 21st 2021 at 9:53:43 AM

WB/AT&T is doing it because the streaming service they use isn't has robust as Disney+ so they need to goose up that, HBO Max doesn't have anything huge or new to offer. Marvel already had shows in the pipeline before the service launched so they can sit back and wait a bit longer to release the films

Aleistar Since: Feb, 2018 Relationship Status: Hugging my pillow
#124480: Jan 21st 2021 at 10:24:46 AM

Shower thought of the day: what if Hugh Jackman is in the MCU X-Men, but as Professor X?

HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#124481: Jan 21st 2021 at 11:03:24 AM

I actually think Jackman would make a better Mageneto.

One Strip! One Strip!
jakobitis Doctor of Doctorates from Somewhere, somewhen Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Doctor of Doctorates
#124482: Jan 21st 2021 at 11:22:53 AM

NOT X-Men (sorry!) But.... Honestly I could see Jackman as an Ultimate-style Kraven. He's got the charisma and the comedic chops, the badass-with-super-senses "role" would make a decent Mythology Gag and that whole showmanship and performance routine would be right up his street.

He even looks fairly similar.

Edited by jakobitis on Jan 21st 2021 at 7:23:38 PM

"These 'no-nonsense' solutions of yours just don't hold water in a complex world of jet-powered apes and time travel."
windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#124483: Jan 21st 2021 at 11:27:06 AM

Ultimate Kraven was also Australian.

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#124484: Jan 21st 2021 at 2:27:53 PM

[up] Huh doubly fitting.

Heh shit okay I would definitely want Agent Venom in if only to see nerdy little Flash bulk up and join the army, becoming a total badass. Thats just a funny thought cause hes so scrawny and a loser right now.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#124485: Jan 21st 2021 at 2:33:53 PM

"I mean, confidence is meaningless in today's world because nobody knows anything." - Kevin Feige.

evil grinevil grin

Edit: Oops, forgot the article about Black Widow's probably delay wasn't actually posted yet.

Edited by KnownUnknown on Jan 21st 2021 at 2:35:15 AM

Hodor2 Since: Jan, 2015
#124486: Jan 21st 2021 at 2:36:04 PM

I do realize there are some issues with having a non-disabled actor play a disabled character and to have the character throw off their disability.

That being said, what I'd like to see is the MCU's Flash get badly injured trying to help Spider-Man/ protect bystanders (and have some positive character development before and afterward) and then get the symbiote and take on the Agent Venom role.

IIRC although it's not well-thought of, I believe the Ultimate cartoon had a teen Agent Venom flash, so there's precedent.

slimcoder The Head of the Hydra Since: May, 2013
The Head of the Hydra
#124487: Jan 21st 2021 at 2:41:18 PM

It is a pretty good concept.

Disabled soldier gets an enhancement that allows him to be a superhero but at the same time its not a permanent enhancement so once the suit is off he goes back to being unable to walk.

Flash tends to get into really perilous situations since the symbiote getting disabled puts him in a more vulnerable position than most people.

"I am Alpharius. This is a lie."
KnownUnknown Since: Jan, 2001
#124488: Jan 21st 2021 at 2:45:44 PM

If the film series was interested in chronicling Peter through his life like that, I'd be down for an adaptation of the whole "splitting of the guard" thing Peter's high school friends went through - including a composite of Flash going to Vietnam and coming back a better person (and a friend of Peter), and Flash going to Iraq and coming back injured - but not necessarily the focus of the story.

Just kind of a "we're all going our separate ways thing," like you get in some coming of age movies (since the MCU Spidey is basically superhero coming of age) Some bad: Sally Avril dies, Abe Brown gets mixed up in Prowler stuff, etc. Some good: Betty Brant goes on to be a big time reporter, Cindy Moon becomes Silk, etc. And some in the middle: Flash goes off to war, Liz ends up married to Harry Osborn, etc. Then maybe we pick up after a time-skip.

Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#124489: Jan 23rd 2021 at 5:11:12 AM

I know most people like to dunk on Whedon for AoU, but I on the other hand have been rewatching Avengers (2012) lately and.....it really doesn't hold up anymore. Even compared to just other Phase 1 movies.

The dialogue alone is just so stiff and awkward at times, though there are a lot of other reasons as well. In regards to "Seinfeld" Is Unfunny, the first Avengers movie is certainly the poster boy for the MCU.

Edited by Forenperser on Jan 23rd 2021 at 2:12:20 PM

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#124490: Jan 23rd 2021 at 5:41:18 AM

I have always found Whedon to be an overrated hack.

Disgusted, but not surprised
jakobitis Doctor of Doctorates from Somewhere, somewhen Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Doctor of Doctorates
#124491: Jan 23rd 2021 at 6:24:07 AM

Whedon is very much stuck in a certain period. When he came through and on his way up it was legitimately new (at least in the relative mainstream) but pop culture in general has not only most caught up but moved on, leaving him behind.

(Quite apart from certain personal revelations about him as a person specifically.)

"These 'no-nonsense' solutions of yours just don't hold water in a complex world of jet-powered apes and time travel."
Falrinn Since: Dec, 2014
#124492: Jan 23rd 2021 at 6:35:16 AM

[up] Yeah, Whedon's style may of had groundbreaking elements back when he was making Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but time has moved on and Whedon hasn't so much and what was groundbreaking back then isn't anymore and in some cases feels outdated.

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#124493: Jan 23rd 2021 at 6:35:28 AM

Sounds like he pulled a delayed M. Night Shyamalan. He has one string in his bow and can't change it even when it no longer works.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
HandsomeRob Leader of the Holey Brotherhood from The land of broken records Since: Jan, 2015
Leader of the Holey Brotherhood
#124494: Jan 23rd 2021 at 8:16:45 AM

No.

I don't care how everyone feels about Whedon.

We are not gonna start dunking on the original Avengers.

So says Rob.

One Strip! One Strip!
windleopard from Nigeria Since: Nov, 2014 Relationship Status: Non-Canon
#124495: Jan 23rd 2021 at 8:24:15 AM

I will say that Avengers is a fun movie that is a bit difficult to rewatch when you see it more than once but is overall still a pleasant experience.

jakobitis Doctor of Doctorates from Somewhere, somewhen Since: Jan, 2015 Relationship Status: I'd need a PowerPoint presentation
Doctor of Doctorates
#124496: Jan 23rd 2021 at 8:41:33 AM

The first Avengers is going to be 9 years old this year. There's going to be parts that have not aged well, super hero movies have changed a lot since then.

But overall taken for what it was and when it was made, it still holds up. Just less so compared to what has come since, but that's hardly exclusive or fair as a criticism of that one movie.

"These 'no-nonsense' solutions of yours just don't hold water in a complex world of jet-powered apes and time travel."
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#124497: Jan 23rd 2021 at 8:51:47 AM

I do think Avengers still holds up as one of the better sheer "popcorn" flicks among the MCU, although my interest in popcorny fare in and of themselves has waned with time now that there are so many of them.

chasemaddigan I'm Sad Frogerson. Since: Oct, 2011
I'm Sad Frogerson.
#124498: Jan 23rd 2021 at 9:34:35 AM

I still have a lot of fondness for the original Avengers film, especially since it was the first MCU I saw in theaters. I say it still overall holds up, even if it is very light on the story department. I can forgive it for that, since it needed to have a relatively straight-forward story for the sake of being the first big crossover superhero movie. It had to sell the concept that this idea could even work.

I understand why some might feel differently about the film's writing, especially since humour is subjective. It does seem like Whedon liked to stretch the characterizations of the characters for the sake of a joke, which considering how early on it was for the franchise, is a bit more forgivable here than it was in AOU. As for the action scenes and cinematography... well, they're definitely serviceable, but we've seen a lot better from the MCU too.

I've admittedly not seen much of Whedon's work, but I have seen worse from him too.

Edited by chasemaddigan on Jan 23rd 2021 at 12:35:34 PM

Zeromaeus Since: May, 2010
#124499: Jan 23rd 2021 at 11:01:20 AM

I think its aged far better than the fare preceding it. I'll rewatch Avengers well before I'd think about rewatching the old X-Men movies.

RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#124500: Jan 23rd 2021 at 11:25:44 AM

I don't think the MCU's done a better big battle sequence than the ending of The Avengers. It's got several things going for it:

  • It's all brightly lit in daylight, where it's easy to see everything that's going on.
  • Fighting amid NYC skyscrapers, with both land-based and flight-capable heroes and villains, made for a very dynamic setting, allowing a lot of 3D movement while still keeping the scenery relevant to how the battle is staged.
  • Excellent use of everyone's abilities, giving them distinct roles within the fight: Cap and Widow doing close combat, Hawkeye sniping, Hulk and Thor being heavy artillery, and Iron Man being a jack of all trades.
  • The number of heroes (six) and the number of distinct villain types (Loki, Chiatauri, and Leviathans) is great for giving it lots of variety without becoming difficult to keep track of, or having anyone feel overlooked.
  • "Puny god."


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