The Marvels is The Worst Movie of 2023
Despot of Antrim・71 minutes read
The Marvels, a disappointing superhero movie, faces criticism for major issues like poorly developed characters, lackluster performances, and an unconvincing final boss fight with multiple inconsistencies and plot holes. Additionally, the film's focus on identity and female empowerment, along with controversial decisions regarding hiring practices, have contributed to its mixed reception and box office performance.
Insights
- The Marvels movie is heavily criticized for multiple major flaws, including poorly developed characters like Darban and Captain Marvel, lack of character arcs, weak villain portrayal, and unconvincing relationships between characters.
- The final boss fight in The Marvels is deemed unsatisfactory due to predictable beats, lack of visual depth, unimpressive setting, disconnected stakes, and a resolution that feels anticlimactic, failing to engage viewers emotionally and falling short of expectations.
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Recent questions
Why is The Marvels considered a disappointing movie?
Due to major problems like bad writing and weak character arcs.
What are the criticisms of the character dynamics in The Marvels?
Lack of tension and depth among lead characters.
How is the final boss fight in The Marvels described?
Follows a typical superhero playbook with predictable beats.
What are the criticisms of the powers and abilities in The Marvels?
Vaguely defined and inconsistently used throughout the movie.
How does The Marvels address diversity and representation in the film?
Introduces a new Avengers team of powerful women.
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Summary
00:00
"The Marvels: Weak Villain, Flat Characters"
- The Marvels is considered one of the worst MCU and superhero movies due to numerous major problems.
- The movie is criticized for bad writing, particularly the absence of character arcs for any of the characters.
- Darban, the villain, is highlighted as a major flaw, with a flat character trajectory and lack of growth or emotional depth.
- Darban's actions, including genocide, are portrayed as inconsistent with her empathetic motivation, leading to a lack of believability.
- The lack of strategic competence and emotional conflict in Darban's character is noted, contributing to her portrayal as a weak villain.
- Captain Marvel's character arc is criticized for lacking development, with her already being portrayed as too powerful.
- The movie introduces two less powerful women as companions to Captain Marvel, leading to an escort mission dynamic.
- The relationship dynamics between the characters, particularly Captain Marvel, Monica Rambo, and Kamala Khan, are criticized for lacking tension and depth.
- The attempt to create a familial bond between Carol Danvers and Monica Rambo is deemed unconvincing due to their distant past interactions.
- Brie Larson's performance as Captain Marvel is described as flat and lacking enthusiasm, contrasting with the more inspiring performance of Iman Valani as Kamala Khan.
15:34
Critique: Tessa Thompson's stiff acting disappoints.
- Tessa Thompson's acting is criticized for being stiff and out of place in the movie.
- The movie is described as a disappointment compared to past youth culture.
- Billy Corgan is suggested as a better choice for a singing role in the movie.
- The movie is said to suffer from music stars transitioning into acting.
- Lady Gaga and Paul McCartney are mentioned as exceptions to successful music stars turned actors.
- Samuel L. Jackson's role in the movie is discussed, portraying him as a comic relief character.
- The movie is criticized for its chaotic and inconsistent tone and script.
- The plot involving Tessa Thompson's character and the scroll people is highlighted.
- The lack of chemistry between the lead actresses is pointed out as a flaw in the movie.
- The fight choreography in the movie is criticized for being unconvincing and poorly executed.
30:51
"Kamala Khan's Lackluster Boss Fight Disappoints"
- Kamala Khan is a likable character portrayed by Iman Valani, but her combat skills in the Marvel movie are unconvincing.
- The final boss fight in the movie follows a typical superhero playbook with predictable beats.
- Major issues with the boss fight include scale, stakes, location, and the final form phase.
- The fight's location in a small, uninteresting room on a spaceship lacks impact and creativity compared to other superhero fights in different settings.
- The stakes of the fight are abstract and disconnected from Earth, reducing viewer engagement and emotional investment.
- The fight lacks visual depth and fails to evoke the necessary sense of urgency due to its unimpressive location.
- The climax of the fight involving Kamala Khan and the villain Darbin falls short of expectations, lacking a compelling final form phase.
- The fight's resolution is unsatisfactory, with Darbin's defeat feeling anticlimactic and poorly executed.
- A comparison is drawn to a more engaging final form phase fight in Blade, highlighting the difference in execution and impact.
- The movie's attempt at a unique language communication through song is criticized as juvenile and impractical, lacking logical consistency.
46:05
"Unexplained consequences and inconsistencies in space movie"
- Kamala Khan suggests taking a Polaroid selfie, but Rambo closes a space-time hole and dies instead.
- Monica Rambo warns Darban about the danger of using the bracelets together, but the consequences are not explained.
- Captain Marvel reignites a dying star, raising questions about her powers and survival in the sun.
- The movie lacks believability in its portrayal of space travel and the characters' abilities.
- The writers fail to address numerous plot holes and inconsistencies in the storyline.
- Darban's actions and the consequences of introducing a new star into a solar system are not logically explained.
- The swapping powers of the characters are vaguely defined and inconsistently used throughout the movie.
- The movie introduces various unrealistic elements, such as people surviving being compressed inside cat stomachs.
- The lack of explanation for key events and character decisions undermines the coherence of the plot.
- The final battle does not effectively utilize the swapping powers, rendering the gimmick unnecessary and confusing.
01:00:08
"Marvel's The Marvels: Female Empowerment and Criticisms"
- Kamala Khan slows down the team in the final battle, risking her life and the mission.
- Tony Stark prioritizes Spider-Man over Kamala Khan due to the latter's safety as a teenager.
- Captain Marvel should have confiscated Kamala's bangle to protect her from danger.
- Monica Rambo warns against using the second bangle, but later gives it to Kamala.
- Kamala retains powers even after losing her bangle, raising questions about her abilities.
- The Marvels introduces a new Avengers team of powerful women, distancing from male heroes.
- The movie's box office performance suffers, indicating a decline in superhero movie popularity.
- The film follows common superhero movie tropes, including sympathetic villains and McGuffins.
- The Marvels features sexually and romantically sterile characters, focusing on female empowerment.
- The practice of identity hiring in Marvel's projects is criticized for its impact on quality and success.
01:16:30
Diversity Demands in Hollywood Productions
- Billy Anner, the movie's executive producer, writer, and lead actor, demanded an all LGBTQ cast, which extended to the entire cast and crew, despite the illegality of such discrimination under Title 7.
- Director Steve McQueen insisted on firing two white assistant directors for "12 Years a Slave" and replacing them with black assistant directors, citing a need for a better understanding of the black experience of slavery.
- "Shang Chi," a Chinese superhero movie, had to be directed by an East Asian, leading to Destin Keton, who is half Japanese, directing to avoid backlash.
- Marvel's "Eko," featuring a deaf female Native American, emphasizes diversity, with the showrunner being a woman or multiple women, aligning with Hollywood's focus on identity in creative decisions.
