# MCU movies have begun to bore me **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 27, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244 "2018-04-27T22:24:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/81 "2018-05-01T14:54:45Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > I won’t go into details for spoiler reasons, but very real and seemingly permanent changes were on the table and some actually happened. Why not? The movie has been out for almost 3 months. Just out of curiosity, when does the “spoiler grace period” end? ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/82 "2018-05-01T16:15:57Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Why not? The movie has been out for almost 3 months. Just out of curiosity, when does the “spoiler grace period” end? I don’t know, but people seem kinda annoyed with me already so I don’t want to push any buttons! Let’s say major political changes in Wakanda both in terms of foreign and domestic relations happened. And some interpersonal relationships were tested in ways that were ultimately repaired but could easily have not been. In fact, it’s possible that they were not all completely repaired. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/83 "2018-05-04T00:22:33Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Hey, I would put up with Downey’s senior years.😉 It’s not Downey’s senior years we have trouble with. It’s Stark’s _senior moments_… 😃 –G! ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/84 "2018-05-04T03:04:54Z")
> [@Eonwe](#): > > Were you hoping for it? No, but I know that enough people on this board sometimes seem to consider Johansson the most beautiful woman in films today that when I disagreed I was risking my online life. 😉 > [@RikWriter](#): > > They’re judging the movie on its own, which is ludicrous because it’s not on its own. Only a fucking idiot would walk into this movie thinking you can see it and none of the other Marvel movies and still understand everything. Actually, movie people have to assume that much of their potential audience has never seen any of the previous films, so they make the entrance into the universe easier. This year’s model has to sell more tickets than last year’s to make the stockholders happy, and there will be some who saw _Superduperman 2_ who won’t see _Superduperman 3_ for reasons from their own deaths to the belief that \*Superduperman 2 \*was just a rehash of _Superduperman_ so why waste their money. All movies need to be able to stand alone, even these, and a new viewer needs to be able to make some sense of it to enjoy it and maybe buy or rent the earlier ones to answer some questions. Then re-see the new one to see how all the parts fit together. And every one of those viewings sounds like ka-CHING! to Marvel and Disney. So no, MCU virgins are necessary for each release to be a success. And yes, I know that [_Superduperman_](http://whatwoodwallydo.blogspot.com/2009/02/superduperman.html) was an EC product, not Marvel or DC. Bite me. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/85 "2018-05-04T05:08:01Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Actually, movie people have to assume that much of their potential audience has never seen any of the previous films, so they make the entrance into the universe easier. […] All movies need to be able to stand alone, even these, and a new viewer needs to be able to make some sense of it to enjoy it and maybe buy or rent the earlier ones to answer some questions. Is Marvel aware of this? Because Infinity War gives almost no entrance material or exposition about what’s been going on. And the starting positions of some of the characters _really_ deserves something of a backstory if you weren’t already familiar. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/86 "2018-05-04T06:02:02Z")
_shrug_ I said they have to, not that they do. Sounds like a dumb plan. Not that I’m planning on seeing it, though I’ve done the pre-reqs. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/87 "2018-05-04T14:12:20Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > _shrug_ I said they have to, not that they do. For certain definitions of [“have to”](http://comicbook.com/marvel/2018/05/04/avengers-infinity-war-box-office-spider-man-wonder-woman/) > [@](#): > > The Avengers threequel, which brings together almost all of the shared Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first time, has amassed more than $857 million worldwide, putting it on pace to reach $1 billion in record time. > > Marvel’s latest show of force has the blockbuster surpassing Marvel’s own Thor: Ragnarok ($854 million), Sony’s 2002 Spider-Man ($822 million) and Warner Bros.’ Wonder Woman ($822 million). ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/88 "2018-05-04T14:24:33Z")
This Ringer article about the narrative choices between IW and SW:TFW has the author making many of the same arguments I made, just better. > **[Revisiting ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ After ‘Avengers: Infinity War’](https://www.theringer.com/movies/2018/5/4/17315514/avengers-infinity-war-star-wars-last-jedi-endings)** > > Disney’s mega-blockbusters both exploit fan expectations, but only one boldly does so without a safety net ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/89 "2018-05-04T14:28:25Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Actually, movie people have to assume that much of their potential audience has never seen any of the previous films, so they make the entrance into the universe easier. Apparently no, they don’t have to do that at all. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/90 "2018-05-04T15:06:13Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > For certain definitions of [“have to”](http://comicbook.com/marvel/2018/05/04/avengers-infinity-war-box-office-spider-man-wonder-woman/) Hah! Trying another _argumentum ad populum_ on me, eh? 😉 > [@JohnT](#): > > This Ringer article about the narrative choices between IW and SW:TFW has the author making many of the same arguments I made, just better. > > [Revisiting ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ After ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ - The Ringer](https://www.theringer.com/movies/2018/5/4/17315514/avengers-infinity-war-star-wars-last-jedi-endings) Yeah, this: > [@Miles Surrey](#): > > Perhaps if Infinity War opted to kill its older heroes, or killed off a combination of younger and older heroes—say, a mix of Iron Man, Captain America, Star-Lord, and Bucky Barnes—then the ending might’ve been taken at face value and had a greater, lasting impact. Instead, as most fans probably expect, Avengers 4 should bring its new heroes back and return us to Marvel’s status quo. This is the problem with the MCU in miniature: The emotional and narrative stakes are placated by an infinite loop of new “Phases,” new heroes, and potential franchises to branch out, which will beget more crossover events like Infinity War in the years to come. The franchise doesn’t ponder its own history or how to subvert it; it considers only how to keep feeding its loop ad infinitum. It’s an excellent business plan, but not a way to tell stories with humanity, thematic depth, and real stakes. I’m not sure it’s an excellent business plan long-term, as the number of people yawning and saying, “Another Avengers movie? So what?” seems to be growing, but there will always be more twelve-yr-olds. Striking while the franchise is hot is profitable now, but how many “events” can you have before your audience gets bored? Note: I was born bored, so I reach my boredom threshold sooner (more soonly?) than most. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/91 "2018-05-04T15:15:22Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Hah! Trying another _argumentum ad populum_ on me, eh? 😉 The studio’s goal is make bags of money. This film is making them bags of money. Away from the whole subjective argument of whether or not it’s “good”, it’s doing exactly what Marvel/Disney designed it to do so it’s hard to argue that they’re doing it wrong by not hand-holding everyone through the characters. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/92 "2018-05-04T15:20:29Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Hah! Trying another _argumentum ad populum_ on me, eh? 😉 > Yeah, this: I’m not sure it’s an excellent business plan long-term, as the number of people yawning and saying, “Another Avengers movie? So what?” seems to be growing You say that, but I’ve seen no evidence of it, and plenty of evidence that it just isn’t true. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/93 "2018-05-04T16:13:05Z")
> [@RikWriter](#): > > You say that, but I’ve seen no evidence of it, and plenty of evidence that it just isn’t true. To quote **Stranger** ’s fabricated quote earlier, ”Yeah, well, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.” Let’s look at a few posts from this thread: > [@Quimby](#): > > While I did enjoy the new Avengers I am also a little bored with the movies. I like them but find them more familiar than exciting.\*\*\*\* > [@Icarus](#): > > Yeah, I have trouble keeping up. I know I’ve missed six or seven along the lines, so I don’t know all of the dozens of characters. I will see this one, but I’m confident it is much like the others as you describe. Just that for this one they throw all of the characters (except the Wasp?) into a blender and hit “whirr”. > [@RealityChuck](#): > > Same here. They’re really all the same movie over and over, and I hate repetition. > > I had hopes for _Guardians of the Galaxy_, but nope. Same as everything else. > [@NAF1138](#): > > I fully agree with you about the majority of MCU though. They are painting by numbers and have been for years. I liked Black Panther quite a bit, but it is doing a different thing altogether. I didn’t finish Spider-Man and I just got back from Infinity War a couple hours ago and, Thor was once again great, the rest was kinda meh. > > Ragnarok and Black Panther tricked me into thinking they had broken out of their rut. I was wrong. > [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’ve been bored with them for a long time. And Superman. And Batman. But what ya gonna do? They revoke your citizenship if you don’t go. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/94 "2018-05-04T16:20:13Z")
The plural of anecdote is not data. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/95 "2018-05-04T16:36:49Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > The studio’s goal is make bags of money. This film is making them bags of money. Away from the whole subjective argument of whether or not it’s “good”, it’s doing exactly what Marvel/Disney designed it to do so it’s hard to argue that they’re doing it wrong by not hand-holding everyone through the characters. But how long will that last? Or is this a typical business belief that this quarter is all that matters, the future be damned? Anyway, this thread was based on my subjective opinion that I keep having to repeat: MCU movies have begun to bore _ **me** _. It was a rant and I’m just one, single data point. That some others agree, if only partially, is nice but not necessary. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/96 "2018-05-04T16:39:36Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > But how long will that last? People have been predicting its imminent demise since 2012-ish. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/97 "2018-05-04T17:19:05Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > But how long will that last? Or is this a typical business belief that this quarter is all that matters, the future be damned? > > Anyway, this thread was based on my subjective opinion that I keep having to repeat: MCU movies have begun to bore _ **me** _. It was a rant and I’m just one, single data point. That some others agree, if only partially, is nice but not necessary. You do realize that they have been working on this for a decade, right? They are hardly only thinking of the next quarter. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![divemaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/divemaster/32/78_2.png) [@divemaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/divemaster)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/98 "2018-05-04T17:40:32Z")
My problem is that it seems for me to keep watching MCU movies, I’m going to have a cheat sheet or something. I saw two \*\*Avengers \*\*movies, like, last year, and I couldn’t tell you now what happened in one versus the other or at what point this person has the magic glowing orb or that person has the magic glowing orb. I also watched the two **Captain America** films about the same time as the \*\*Avengers \*\*movies. I checked the release dates to watch them in order, and a quick look at Wikipedia to jog my memory on who was who and who was where, and that’s a rabbit hole I barely escaped. Turns out there’s not just some magic orb, but a whole series of magic rocks that pop up in various movies for various reasons and change hands from time to time. Going to see the new \*\*Avengers \*\*movie just seems like too much work, if I need to figure out which hero or villain has which magic rock this time. And, while I’m at it, trying to figure out which superheroes are fighting other superheroes. In my book, superheros fight villains. I have NO interest in watching Batman go against Superman or a Hulk team fight against the Iron-Man team or whatever. Develop good baddies and you won’t have to resort to that. Maybe it’s because I was one of those kids who’s comic/cartoon tastes ran to Bugs Bunny, Richie Rich, and Archie. I never got into superhero cartoons at all. The only **Spider-man** movies I am familiar with are the one with Tobey McGuire. I didn’t realize until just a month ago or so that there \*were \*other \*\*Spider-man \*\*movies. Having said all that, I can honestly say \*I enjoyed all the **Avenger** , \*\*Captain America \*_and TM **Spider-man** movies I’ve seen_. And **Guardians of the Galaxy**. They were entertaining, with good humor and action. But there’s no way to keep up without effort I’m just not willing to put into it. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/99 "2018-05-04T17:54:45Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Anyway, this thread was based on my subjective opinion that I keep having to repeat: MCU movies have begun to bore _ **me** _. That’s cool but we can only sit around and talk about **you** for so long. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244/100 "2018-05-04T18:09:48Z")
I’m still baffled by these “I don’t like this popular thing!” threads. You don’t like Marvel movies. That’s great! Hell, I like them and I’ll easily admit that they are tropey and a bit hamstrung due to the need to include a big fight scene. They are full of plot holes and dubious science. But I still enjoy them, as do others, because I like the action, and Marvel has been good at delivering that in basically well directed and acted flicks, with humor and some emotional tension. Let the people who enjoy them watch them, and for you who don’t, don’t. Also, it would really strengthen your case if you made sure your criticism didn’t contain objective factual mistakes. It makes you look less like “informed critic with something to say” and more like “Old man yells at cloud.” But, in the spirit of generosity, here are 3 good action movies that don’t contain superheroes at all: [The Raid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raid_(2011_film)) [Fury Road](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_Max:_Fury_Road) [The Nice Guys](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Nice_Guys) Hope you enjoy! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mcu-movies-have-begun-to-bore-me/813244.md?page=6)