Sunday, December 9, 2018

Some thoughts on the expanded MCU

Daredevil S1: 10/10
Jessica Jones S1: 4/10
Daredevil S2: 8/10
Luke Cage S1: 4/10
Iron Fist S1: 5/10
Defenders S1: 5/10
Punisher S1: 8/10
Jessica Jones S2: 1/10
Luke Cage S2: 4/10
Iron Fist S2: (haven' watched yet)
Daredevil S3: 5/10
Inhumans S1: 6/10
Runaways S1: 1/10
Agents Of SHIELD S1: 0/10
Agents Of SHIELD S2: 0/10
Agents Of SHIELD S3: 0/10
Agents Of SHIELD S4: 0/10
Agents Of SHIELD S5: 0/10

The MCU's lack of creative depth is obvious, even if not as big as the one in Marvel Comics, and it has expanded to its films in the past (Iron Man 3, Winter Soldier). The MCU faces the danger of a huge downward spiral after Avengers: Endgame, equivalent to the ones after Civil War and Ultimatum in the comics.

I am not suggesting Marvel creates more live-action universes than it already has, but they have to find a way to produce stand alone films with characters they made popular in the big MCU events. I've entertained the idea of a Guardians Of The Galaxy prequel ever since I watched the second one, even hoping GotG3 would be that prequel. Marvel should wander more into unique director's territory, like DC did with Burton's and Nolan's Batman films, Del Toro's Hellboy, and like themselves did with Waititi's Ragnarok. A few suggestions based on people who already work for Marvel/Disney, or characters that gained popularity from the MCU.

Quentin Tarantino's Ronin, as a 4-5 hour miniseries.

Richard Donner's Guardians of the Galaxy prequel, perhaps with Ed Falco as an executive screenwriter.

Sylvester Stallone writing any non-superpowered character. I'd keep Sly away from Daredevil, Jack Murdock, and Punisher, for obvious reasons, but Moon Knight might be a good choice. For some reason, I could also see Sly writing an MCU Magneto or Doctor Doom movie.

Tim Miller's MCU Deadpool, with no recasting. If a recasting is needed, just have Miller move on to She-Hulk or Gwenpool. Let's face it; Ryan Reynolds has done one good Deadpool movie, one extremely bad, and one in between. It's Tim Miller who pushed Deadpool into new heights.

Tommy Wiseau's Spider-Man. I always believed Spider-Man is not movie-material. Peter Parker is a character custom tailored for a time when comic books had to go toe-to-toe with TV, and his adult self was competing with cheap VHS rentals. Even Spider-Man video games, which rose to prominence because of the first two movies, are praised for their gameplay but not so much for their plot. Golden Age superheroes can thrive in any spotlight; Spider-Man not so. The franchise will eventually go down again, so let it go down in style. Bonus: A James Franco cameo.