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MCU Phase Five Sucks | Part 1

The Movie Cynic・84 minutes read

Ant-Man 3 faced criticism for its unfunny humor and lackluster characters, leading to delays in Phase 5 projects due to dissatisfaction. "The Marvels" is described as a disaster with poor editing, flat performances, and underdeveloped characters, lacking emotional impact and struggling to appeal to audiences.

Insights

Phase 5 of the MCU started with Ant-Man 3, which was criticized for unfunny humor, a boring script, and a lack of compelling lead characters, leading to a delay in future projects due to its poor reception.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 received praise for emotional flashback scenes, Chris Pratt's portrayal of Star-Lord, and a compelling villain in the High Evolutionary, showcasing improved CGI quality and a somber tone appreciated by audiences.
The Secret Invasion TV show faced heavy criticism for failing to deliver on its spy thriller premise, with illogical plot developments, poor execution, and a lack of impactful character revelations, reflecting a broader trend of blaming fans for shortcomings rather than addressing them.

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What is Phase 5 of the MCU?
A fresh start with disappointing movies.

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Summary

00:00

MCU Phase 5 Struggles and Disappointments

Kevin Feige announced Ant-Man 3 as the start of Phase 5 of the MCU.
Phase 5 was intended to be a fresh start due to underperforming Marvel films.
Phase 5, however, did not deliver as expected, with disappointing movies like Ant-Man 3 and The Marvels.
The writer and actor strike caused delays in MCU productions.
Only one MCU movie, Deadpool 3, is scheduled for release in 2024.
Phase 5 included Guardians of the Galaxy 3, which felt disconnected from the rest of the MCU.
Phase 5 continued where Phase 4 left off, receiving mixed reviews.
"What If" Season 2 explored alternate MCU storylines with nine episodes.
Loki Season 2 delved into the Multiverse concept, receiving mixed reviews.
Ant-Man 3 was criticized for its unfunny humor, boring script, and lack of compelling lead characters.

12:38

"Ant-Man and Cassie's Quantum Adventure"

Scott is a normal guy who wants to be a dad to Cassie, mentioned 476 times in the movie.
Cassie has been getting into trouble with the law and is mad at Scott for leaving for milk and not returning for years.
Scott is not doing much with his life according to a teenager's standards.
Cassie is portrayed as a genius who built a subatomic Hubble telescope that malfunctions for plot progression.
Scott and Cassie get sucked into the quantum realm along with some ants and get separated.
Catwoman, the Wasp, and Michael Douglas are on a scavenger hunt in a generic Star Wars City ripoff.
Goo guy arrives, puts goo in Scott's mouth, allowing him to understand others, but is interrupted by an unfunny character.
Ant-Man, the Wasp, and Michael Douglas fight Kang, with the Ants helping in the final battle.
Modok dies, but it's hinted he might return due to the Multiverse concept.
The movie's pacing is off-balance, with a disproportionately long second act and rushed character arcs, especially Cassie's.

25:04

Mixed reception for MCU movie Ant-Man 3

The special effects in the MCU movie are criticized for being subpar, utilizing technology similar to that of The Mandalorian but not delivering convincing visuals.
The Multiverse concept in the movie lacks engaging characters and fails to establish a sense of stakes, making everything seem unimportant.
Ant-Man 3's reception led to a delay in Phase 5 projects, indicating dissatisfaction with the film's performance and its impact on the MCU.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 is praised for its emotional flashback scenes detailing Rocket's origin, with Bradley Cooper's voice acting standing out.
Chris Pratt's portrayal of Star-Lord receives positive feedback, especially for his emotional performance in a particular scene.
The High Evolutionary is commended as a compelling villain with well-defined powers, adding depth to the B plot of the film.
The movie addresses the differences in Gamora's character, avoiding contrived resolutions and allowing character growth for Quill.
The CGI in the film is lauded for its quality and believability, a stark improvement from recent MCU movies.
The somber mood of the movie, despite its comedic elements, is appreciated, along with the stunning visuals and body horror elements.
The film's message of compassion and friendship is highlighted as a positive aspect, showcasing the care and respect the creators have for the characters.

37:08

"Formulaic movie with wasted potential and music"

The movie is criticized for feeling formulaic and uninspired, with a main character getting injured leading to a predictable chase to save them through point A, B, and C.
The bulk of the second act is described as a series of side quests, with the Orac Corpse scene being a significant part that serves a similar purpose to the Counter Earth scene.
The flashback scenes are highlighted as the best parts of the movie, setting up the climax with the High Evolution AR, showcasing Rocket and Peter's friendship.
The film is criticized for relying on telling rather than showing the friendship between Rocket and Peter, with Rocket being mostly incapacitated throughout the movie.
The character of Adam Warlock is deemed wasted in the movie, with the director feeling pressured to include him despite his lack of impact on the story.
The movie is noted for an overindulgence in licensed music, with 17 songs featured, leading to an overwhelming and obnoxious experience.
The ending of the movie is criticized for characters going their separate ways, with Peter deciding to go back to Earth to see an uncle introduced midway through the film, undermining the friendship between Rocket and Star-Lord.
The film is described as not living up to the promise of a more intimate story, with the High Evolutionary destroying an entire planet, contradicting claims of lower stakes.
The Secret Invasion TV show is heavily criticized for failing to deliver on its premise of being a spy thriller, lacking intrigue, tension, and subversion of expectations.
Despite strong performances from actors like Samuel L. Jackson, the show is faulted for its poor script, concept, and execution, with character motivations and plot developments deemed idiotic and poorly executed.

50:01

"Secret Invasion: Disappointing Adaptation with Lackluster Reveals"

Roie is revealed as a scroll in a lackluster manner, with no significant impact or build-up, undermining the potential for a thrilling reveal.
Initial setup of Amelia Clark's character as a potential villain quickly fizzles out, leading to a lack of satisfying payoffs in the storyline.
Nick Fury's unfulfilled promise to the Scrolls of finding a new planet for them to inhabit forms the core conflict of the show, with Gravic seeking to incite World War III for Scrolls to rule Earth.
The illogical premise of inciting a global conflict to allow Scrolls to take over Earth disregards feasible alternatives like seeking help from existing allies or finding uninhabited planets.
Gravic's plan to turn Scrolls into Super Scrolls using Avengers' DNA during a climactic fight is nonsensical and poorly executed, leading to a cringe-worthy final battle.
Maria Hill's abrupt and poorly executed death in the first episode lacks emotional weight and fails to serve the narrative effectively.
Roie's revelation as a scroll since Civil War, erasing all his experiences and emotional connections, is a lazy writing choice that disregards past emotional investments of the audience.
Secret Invasion's adaptation from the Marvel comic event lacks the essence and scale of the original, failing to capture the heart of the conflict or involve major characters effectively.
The show's small-scale feel, inconsequential plot developments, and lack of impactful character revelations contribute to its overall disappointment and failure to engage viewers.
The defensive stance taken by the show's director in response to negative feedback reflects a concerning trend in the entertainment industry of blaming fans for failures rather than acknowledging shortcomings and working to improve.

01:02:40

Disappointing spy thriller "The Marvels" faces criticism.

People expect shows to deliver on their promises, like a spy thriller engulfed in paranoia, and are disappointed when they don't.
Hollywood is criticized for producing subpar work, with inflated egos and ignorance leading to dissatisfaction among viewers.
Consumers pay for entertainment like movie tickets and streaming services, expecting quality in return.
"The Marvels" is described as a disaster, with poor editing, flat performances, embarrassing dialogue, and underdeveloped characters.
The film faced multiple delays and reshoots, indicating a troubled production that lacked studio faith.
The movie's poor quality is evident in its pacing, editing, and lack of emotional investment in characters.
The plot involves Captain Marvel, pseudo Storm, and Miss Marvel dealing with intergalactic conflicts and power struggles.
The film's attempts at emotional impact fall flat due to overplayed dialogue and lack of character depth.
Captain Marvel's overpowered nature and lack of struggle in restoring a sun highlight the film's shortcomings.
"The Marvels" is critiqued for its tonal inconsistency, lack of clear vision, and desperate attempts to appeal to audiences.

01:16:10

"Captain Marvel: Criticized for Lackluster Execution"

The movie's editing is criticized for leaving the pacing in shambles, making it feel episodic and lacking a satisfying conclusion.
Brie Larson's portrayal of Captain Marvel is described as lacking emotion and depth, with some scenes being particularly poorly acted.
Many characters, including the villain, are deemed underdeveloped and lacking depth, with Captain Marvel herself being criticized for being boring and uninteresting.
The visual effects are criticized as subpar, with the movie being described as a rushed, poorly executed production that the studio may have been reluctant to release.

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