Dignity is defined as "the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect."
Many of the Marvel cinematic characters have earned the respect of audiences. When we look at the increasing number of films, they hold a gravitas. Iron Man went through personal trials and growth to earn where he stands in this universe. Captain America fought nazis and has been fighting for truth and justice. Even Hawkeye has done his part to try to save the world [all with a baby on the way]. But what exactly has Falcon done? How quick are we to accept Scarlet Witch because she had a sob story and her brother died? Does that really absolve her of her crimes as a member of HYDRA?
I really think Marvel (and fans) should look a little deeper into the relevance of the lesser heroes. Sure, this is a world that is quickly filling with remarkable individuals. Even more surely, we understand that they don't necessarily have the time to flesh out every new character that comes along or we'd need ten extra films or tv shows just to explain every character's rhyme or reasons. It just takes away from the experience to create characters that are hollow or expendable.
For example, Quicksilver is introduced into the MCU and killed in the same film. That doesn't show us that the Avengers face any real trouble, it only sparks the advent of redshirts within this series. The original team might get beat up, bruised, or run away like Banner---"I didn't run away, Lana! I'm an adult, I left."---but they'll be okay. Or so it seems, unless Captain America: Civil War changes all of that. If he is killed in this film, it will allow the lesser heroes to step up and fill higher roles. And if he doesn't die, we still have the opportunity to allow other characters to play larger parts. Characters like Falcon, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch and Vision all have a chance to really define themselves here.
The Winter Soldier already has earned his place. In the first Captain America film, we see the Steve respects Bucky and looks up to him. It's the friendship with Bucky that inspires Cap to do what he does. And we actually get to see all of this in action. But Falcon is essentially just a guy who says "Yeah, I'll help". We know almost nothing about him. What drives him? Why should we care? What connection does he have to the comics? We don't know. We shouldn't. And he doesn't. Comics are not film. This is a whole new universe and the characters have new motivations and new reasons to do what they do.
Every single one of those questions leads me to what I'm worried about most: Spider-Man.
He has no gravitas in this universe of films. None of the main characters know who he is and if Nick Fury references the Ultimate Comics or introduces him in some sort of way that implies he's been looking into him, we still have no background for this universe. In that way the character has earned no dignity or respect from the other characters or this world. The audience is left to take in whatever exposition that Sony and Marvel want to throw our way. And that's the other issue with this character..Sony owns him. See, the deal, from what has been explained, is that Marvel can use the character and that he does officially exist in the MCU, but he's still Sony's and under their direction.
Can he really have that big of an impact on this story or these other characters when he's a rental? It was a big enough deal just to get him to appear and be a part of this world, let alone to heavily influence the ongoings. It is the opinion of this writer that Spider-Man will not play as heavily a role in this film as many fans would like. I think they're going to end up replacing Spider-Man's role in the story with Black Panther's. Why? As I have said, comics spidey is not movie Spidey. And in this MCU why should we care about this particular 16 year old in tights and who he sides with?
Why should we be invested in a mind controlling witch that was willing to side with nazis and world ending robots just to kill Stark? At the end of the day what will become of the naive Jesus-esque robot and why does it matter since he's technically not real (even in this fantasy world)? Black Widow is canonically 26, sterile, and has no super powers, what more does this character have to offer in a world where most of her team can fly or shoot lasers?
I'm not bashing these characters, films or the concept. I'm asking fans to just demand a bit more. And for the studio to try just a little bit harder. Batman and the Joker are game changers. It's funny because DC knows that. The introduction of those characters will drown out everything else. If Marvel isn't careful, they will lose what they have built to a killing joke.