Hello again, ComicBookMovie.com users! This is dylanmm5 bringing you another edition to "5 Changes." In celebration of AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON's release to home video, I decided to make another article. First off, this is purely out of fun and I do not mean to discredit Marvel Studios or Disney for their hard work that is put into these films. But as much as I love the Marvel Cinematic Universe, their films do seem to have their continuous errors. So I picked five key themes that I think would improve the product if altered.
1. Tone Down The Jokes
Yes, this is a main complaint everyone has with these films and for good reason too. The constant jokes from the likes of IRON MAN 3 and AGE OF ULTRON was what we did not expect, especially from the promising dramatic trailers. Do we want Marvel to be so dark and serious like DC? No, but we do want a balance. I believe CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER had the perfect blend of drama and comedy. Other MCU movies should not follow the same tone as THE WINTER SOLDIER but it does have balance to which they can learn from. The quips and physical jokes are great but sometimes films do need their breaks. When things slow down and the tension is eased in these action packed films, then there’s your time for a bit of humor to lighten the mood. But for the most part, use the comedy wisely. (Reminder: Less is more) How am I supposed to be worried about my main character when he’s cracking one-liners just moments after the love of his life has fallen to her death? Am I supposed to be scared of the villain when he’s talking about making omelets? Don’t get me wrong, I love to laugh. But when it’s time to get serious and raise some stakes, invest in embracing the dramatic aspect of filmmaking!
2.Live And Let Die
Coulson lives. Loki live. Everybody lives! I know these are comic book movies but let’s try to ground these stories a bit for the audience. We have become so spoiled with resurrections to the point where death is pretty much pointless in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Avengers assembled for the first time in the wake of Agent Coulson’s death but we bring him back... Why!?! He served his purpose as a character and did a great job too! Coulson played a heavy role throughout the films in Phase One bringing this franchise together. Everyone in the theater back in 2012 gasped when he was killed off. Bringing him back for an ABC show degrades that entire scene and even the motive for the whole movie. And do not even get me started on Pepper Potts.
Now surprises and twists are good to a certain extent. Like in THE WINTER SOLDIER, Nick Fury faked his own death. This is an exception to the problem I have with death in the MCU. Why? Because it was executed well. The spy of spies bends the truth all the time so we expected him to do this. He even remained "dead" and the audience had closure with him. But again that was wasted by his sudden reappearance in AGE OF ULTRON. All in all, death is not just a plot device but an important tool in storytelling and should be used very carefully.
3. More Creative Freedom
Kevin Feige is a mastermind and should be praised for what he has given us fans. With that being said I feel he can get in the way of some directors and writers. He should be a filter more than a guide on such projects such as THE DARK WORLD and GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY. I would consider GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY to be a great standalone, but you can tell James Gunn did not have full creative control when it came to the storytelling as the Infinity Stones and Thanos had to be used to set up INFINITY WAR.
Sorry but I just love THE WINTER SOLDIER. The Russo Brothers did the job right when making a Marvel Cinematic Universe post-THE AVENGERS. They didn't try to tie anything together or shoe-horn set ups but actually contributed to the MCU. This is the only movie besides IRON MAN and THE INCREDIBLE HULK where I can watch it and not worry about the other films that came before and after. If this type of creative freedom was available to Edgar Wright just imagine how much more entertaining ANT-MAN would have been.
4.Commit To Connecting
If there was one change that needs to happen, it is this one. The most frustrating things with these films are the way they are woven into each other. I will give credit where credit is due and admit there are certain things Marvel has got right (Senator Stern’s role in both IRON MAN 2 and THE WINTER SOLDIER). Most of the time, it is the small things that really count. But there are times where we get a false set up or detour in these films. Sometimes I feel like Marvel does not know where they are truly going at times. Odin learned dark magic to get Thor back on Earth for THE AVENGERS, how? Clearly that will be explained in THE DARK WORLD, right? Tony Stark is not Iron Man anymore but still is? Way to make it more complicated for Joss Whedon when you still have three Avengers movies to go, Shane Black. I remember thinking the reason why Thor or Rogers could not even help Stark during IRON MAN 3 was because SHIELD had been infiltrated and Asgard was in trouble all at the same time. But no, Stark is seen in the Avengers tower being a HYRDA target a couple of months later and Thor was on Earth destroying Europe for a while. So why couldn’t they help each other out? Make it easier on yourselves, Marvel! Keep Thor in Asgard and have the events of IRON MAN 3 and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER happen at the same time!
If you set up some details, large or small, be sure to resolve it and not have your audience guessing. AGE OF ULTRON is a perfect example of how not to connect a film franchise with a shared universe. Tie the knots rather than provide more set ups, this just makes me feel like I’m watching a trailer. Enough with the teasing and future promises just give us a complete movie. Leave the connections to the post-credit scenes and One-Shots, maybe even some sleek Easter eggs/references in the films.
5. Alternate Movie Line Up
These might be dramatic changes (notice a few titles changes too) that are not really necessary but can help out Marvel Studios. With future installments of “5 Changes” these alterations would make more sense so do not knock off this idea just yet. The main reason I did this was because of Tony Stark. This character has been overused, which is saying a lot coming from a huge fan of Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal. Spreading certain films out gives us time to actually miss Stark, even when he makes huge mistakes. There’s variety and growth with these multiple franchises.
For me, this line up seems a bit less clutered and diverse. And that will conclude "5 Changes!"
Thank you so much for reading. Again, this is my interpertation and would love to hear yours. Comments and feedback is much appreciated! Hope to do some more of these. Follow me on Twitter @dylanmm5! Until next time!