Marvel's Movie/TV Universe v2 (SPOILERS)

[Stadler]

Actually, I appreciate the advise; I may have just dove in.   I can wait (and I will).

The movies are a big undertaking, but it's as much about watching it with my wife and daughter.  They're just ogling the abs but still.     

[Dream Team]

You’ve got some GREAT ones coming up. Enjoy the ride!

[jingle.boy]

You’ve got some GREAT ones coming up. Enjoy the ride!

Indeed .... arguably the best ones.

Oh, absolutely.  I think Stadler knows that (and if he is watching chronologically, I don't think he would plan to watch Wandavision yet anyway).  But just in case:  STADLER, DO NOT FINISH WANDAVISION UNTIL YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THE FILMS THROUGH ENDGAME.

I have spoken.

This is the way.

[Stadler]

You’ve got some GREAT ones coming up. Enjoy the ride!

Indeed .... arguably the best ones.

Oh, absolutely.  I think Stadler knows that (and if he is watching chronologically, I don't think he would plan to watch Wandavision yet anyway).  But just in case:  STADLER, DO NOT FINISH WANDAVISION UNTIL YOU HAVE SEEN ALL THE FILMS THROUGH ENDGAME.

I have spoken.

This is the way.

It is known.   (Mixing franchises, but just wanted to be in there somewhere.)

[lonestar]

Wandavision is extremely well done, this show is going to be outstanding.

[gzarruk]

Wandavision is extremely well done, this show is going to be outstanding.

I couldn't resist myself and got a D+ subscription with some friends. I guess now I know what I'll be watching tonight after I finish working...

[jingle.boy]

Wandavision is extremely well done, this show is going to be outstanding.

this is after-dinner viewing for jingle.son and I tonight.

[lonestar]

Wandavision is extremely well done, this show is going to be outstanding.

this is after-dinner viewing for jingle.son and I tonight.

I'm curious to see what your kid's opinion is, since a lot of the shoe's appeal draws on being familiar with old school tube like I Love Lucy and Bewitched. I haven't heard from Alora about it yet, but I know she had a quirky affinity for the campy stuff so I think she'll dig it.

[Stadler]

How campy is it? 

[Adami]

How campy is it?

This is actually very hard to answer without going into spoilers. It's not campy in a mocking way at all. It's campy in the sense that what we're seeing (a 50's sitcom) is clearly NOT reality and is therefore built on a character's ideas of a sitcom, thus lots of tropes. It's hard to explain.

I should also add, it's a slow burn. This is not a show that is jumping straight into action. It's taking its time to really build the world/characters and the psychology behind what is happening. So there's intrigue, but no big anything. So if you go in expecting explosions and quips and fighting, you won't dig the first two episodes.

[Adami]

The more I think about it, the more I worry these first two episodes will get bad to mixed reviews because of what they're going for. They really are, mostly, two episodes of an odd 50's sitcom with some sinister intrigue happening in the background. I hope people don't expect anything like Daredevil or Agents of Shield or anything else the MCU has done.

I think if you have an open mind, you might like it, but if you want something with excitement and action and a quick paced plot, this might not work.

[jingle.boy]

Wandavision is extremely well done, this show is going to be outstanding.

this is after-dinner viewing for jingle.son and I tonight.

I'm curious to see what your kid's opinion is, since a lot of the shoe's appeal draws on being familiar with old school tube like I Love Lucy and Bewitched. I haven't heard from Alora about it yet, but I know she had a quirky affinity for the campy stuff so I think she'll dig it.

No specific commentary on the style of the episodes from him.  He knows (more than me) what's rumoured to be coming up in the rest of the series, so he's being patient.

They really are, mostly, two episodes of an odd 50's sitcom with some sinister intrigue happening in the background. I hope people don't expect anything like Daredevil or Agents of Shield or anything else the MCU has done.

I think if you have an open mind, you might like it, but if you want something with excitement and action and a quick paced plot, this might not work.

Nailed it (yes, NAILED IT!  ).  I think Disney did such a big marketing campaign, you'd have to be a moron to think it was gonna be action-packed.  Frankly, I'm still not expecting a ton of 'action' per se, but more of a psychological thriller.

[DoctorAction]

Just seen ep 1 so far. Perfect styling but wasn't entertained or intrigued yet. I'll stick with it as it's Marvel so I'm sure they'll deliver.

[Stadler]

How campy is it?

This is actually very hard to answer without going into spoilers. It's not campy in a mocking way at all. It's campy in the sense that what we're seeing (a 50's sitcom) is clearly NOT reality and is therefore built on a character's ideas of a sitcom, thus lots of tropes. It's hard to explain.

I should also add, it's a slow burn. This is not a show that is jumping straight into action. It's taking its time to really build the world/characters and the psychology behind what is happening. So there's intrigue, but no big anything. So if you go in expecting explosions and quips and fighting, you won't dig the first two episodes.

I don't mind the pastiches/homages/whatever they are, and staying in theme isn't camp to me.   I was thinking more about the way those themes are presented.  I don't really care for knowing winks to the camera, breaking the fourth wall, that sort of thing.  For example, I didn't think The Truman Show was campy, but it very much required a suspension of disbelief.

They're not perfect, but the MCU has done about as good a job as you can possibly do to incorporate humor into it without falling victim to what I call the "Arnold" syndrome, which is where before, during and after every life-threatening battle there's a knowing wink to the audience, there's the catch-phrase (which you can guarantee will be on a t-shirt and soda cup before you leave the theatre) and a near-impossible ballet move that not only beats the bad guy but makes him look foolish AND sets the hero up for yet another witty, "hilarious" (in quotes because they are usually not, to me) quip.   

[DoctorAction]

Enjoyed episode 2. 

[King Postwhore]

I loved the homage to Bewitched in the second episode.

[MinistroRaven]

WandaVision: Every MCU Easter Egg In Episodes 1 & 2

https://screenrant.com/wandavision-episode-1-2-mcu-marvel-easter-eggs

[DoctorAction]

I loved the homage to Bewitched in the second episode.

Thank you! That's the show I couldn't remember the name of when we were watching and taking about it last night.

[Stadler]

Watched Capt. America: Civil War and about half of Spider-Man: Homecoming last night.   Loved both.  Really happy with the Spider-Man character; funny without being hipster quippy.   Happy to see Michael Keaton, too, who always makes the movies he's in better than they would have been (even the ones that would have been great to start with).

Nice to see Marisa Tomei, too, but she looks like she's falling into that "older actress/celebrity taking the "thin" to extremes" thing that afflicted Courtney Cox, Jennifer Connolly and Madonna. 

[lonestar]

Keaton made such a good villain

[DoctorAction]

They're great movies. It's amazing that yet another incarnation of Spider Man wasn't dull or tiresome but I continue to be awed by how great Marvel Studios is.

(Marisa Tomei still looks fantastic to these eyes)

[lordxizor]

My only wish is that the MCU Spiderman movies weren't about Iron Man so much. Hopefully they move away from than in the third one.

[jingle.boy]

My only wish is that the MCU Spiderman movies weren't about Iron Man so much. Hopefully they move away from than in the third one.

Given the timing/way they had to introduce Spidey, and the pivotal role that Tony played along with Peter/Spidey in the Civil War comic event, it only made sense.  I think they did it perfect justice for Far From Home, again... considering the timing within the MCU and the events of Endgame.

[Stadler]

Dr. Strange.  WOW.   I loved that movie.  I get what it was - an origin story - but I thought it was a great movie.  I watched it with my daughter and wife and they didn't like it as much as I did (I joked that it had the least amount of abs of any MCU movie to date, but I wonder if I was closer to the mark than I realized!).    I also had the comics in mind; I wasn't a Dr. Strange junkie, but I LOVED Steve Ditko's art in those old comics, and I thought it was so far beyond - stylistically - from what the other books at the time were showing.  I thought the movie captured that feel, that style, as well as any of the MCU movies. 

I'm a little leery about the tonal changes between movies - jokey Guardians/Ant-man, serious Captain America, spiritual Dr. Strange - and I think it might be the one draw-back of binging on these movies, but I also haven't seen how this all ties together just yet. 

Either way, I'm fired up for the next Dr. Strange movie.

[jingle.boy]

I think it definitely could be an issue of binging them. Spread out over 10 years, it was kinda necessary to have different tones/styles/moods etc... otherwise you have 18 movies that could ultimately feel samey, and lose their appeal and freshness of the MCU franchise.

[lordxizor]

I think it definitely could be an issue of binging them. Spread out over 10 years, it was kinda necessary to have different tones/styles/moods etc... otherwise you have 18 movies that could ultimately feel samey, and lose their appeal and freshness of the MCU franchise.

Yeah, absolutely. They feel samey enough as it is. If they all had the same tone on top of the same structure, it would get old very quickly.

[T-ski]

I finally saw Captain Marvel, it wasn’t very good, even though I’m in love with Brie Larson.

[Stadler]

I think I agree with you guys.   And it's not really a complaint; the characters demand a different tone.   Iron Man is funny, but in an acidic, acerbic way.  Capt. America isn't that funny (at least not on purpose).  Spidey is funny but in a more innocent, naive way.  Guardians is funny in a more ribald way.   Thor isn't that funny himself, but rather his place in the world.   

The interesting thing is how they will all fit together in the subsequent Avengers movies (which I haven't seen).

I will say this: I can't believe I've watched 17 - SEVENTEEN - movies in less than a month, all related to the larger story-line.  Every MCU film I watch makes me more disappointed in the Star Wars and DC universes, and how those franchises have underachieved.

[jingle.boy]

I will say this: I can't believe I've watched 17 - SEVENTEEN - movies in less than a month, all related to the larger story-line.  Every MCU film I watch makes me more disappointed in the Star Wars and DC universes, and how those franchises have underachieved.

They definitely set a high bar, but DC had no problem stumbling, falling down and simply crawling underneath that bar time after time.

[Stadler]

I will say this: I can't believe I've watched 17 - SEVENTEEN - movies in less than a month, all related to the larger story-line.  Every MCU film I watch makes me more disappointed in the Star Wars and DC universes, and how those franchises have underachieved.

They definitely set a high bar, but DC had no problem stumbling, falling down and simply crawling underneath that bar time after time.

And yet teh MCU... some I liked better (Dr. Strange; both Guardians) than others (The Incredible Hulk, Captain Marvel) but I have yet to watch one where I said "wow, that was a wasted two hours!". 

[jammindude]

I will say this: I can't believe I've watched 17 - SEVENTEEN - movies in less than a month, all related to the larger story-line.  Every MCU film I watch makes me more disappointed in the Star Wars and DC universes, and how those franchises have underachieved.

They definitely set a high bar, but DC had no problem stumbling, falling down and simply crawling underneath that bar time after time.

And yet teh MCU... some I liked better (Dr. Strange; both Guardians) than others (The Incredible Hulk, Captain Marvel) but I have yet to watch one where I said "wow, that was a wasted two hours!".

I’ve been saying this for a while, but I absolutely feel this way about all 23 films so far. There’s been a few that have been a bit lackluster, but not a single one where I felt like I didn’t have fun and wasted two hours. That’s an incredible achievement!

[ariich]

I will say this: I can't believe I've watched 17 - SEVENTEEN - movies in less than a month, all related to the larger story-line.  Every MCU film I watch makes me more disappointed in the Star Wars and DC universes, and how those franchises have underachieved.

They definitely set a high bar, but DC had no problem stumbling, falling down and simply crawling underneath that bar time after time.

And yet teh MCU... some I liked better (Dr. Strange; both Guardians) than others (The Incredible Hulk, Captain Marvel) but I have yet to watch one where I said "wow, that was a wasted two hours!". 

Spot on - even the weakest ones (and we all have different views on which those are) are both enjoyable enough to watch *and* fit various characters and or story arcs into the larger narrative of the MCU in an interesting way.

[Dream Team]

I will say this: I can't believe I've watched 17 - SEVENTEEN - movies in less than a month, all related to the larger story-line.  Every MCU film I watch makes me more disappointed in the Star Wars and DC universes, and how those franchises have underachieved.

They definitely set a high bar, but DC had no problem stumbling, falling down and simply crawling underneath that bar time after time.

And yet teh MCU... some I liked better (Dr. Strange; both Guardians) than others (The Incredible Hulk, Captain Marvel) but I have yet to watch one where I said "wow, that was a wasted two hours!".

The good thing is you took the plunge. I’ll never understand the reasoning of those who don’t.

[Dream Team]

Watched Capt. America: Civil War and about half of Spider-Man: Homecoming last night.   Loved both.  Really happy with the Spider-Man character; funny without being hipster quippy.   Happy to see Michael Keaton, too, who always makes the movies he's in better than they would have been (even the ones that would have been great to start with).

Nice to see Marisa Tomei, too, but she looks like she's falling into that "older actress/celebrity taking the "thin" to extremes" thing that afflicted Courtney Cox, Jennifer Connolly and Madonna.

What did you think of Ultron? I think it’s underrated.

[jingle.boy]

Watched Capt. America: Civil War and about half of Spider-Man: Homecoming last night.   Loved both.  Really happy with the Spider-Man character; funny without being hipster quippy.   Happy to see Michael Keaton, too, who always makes the movies he's in better than they would have been (even the ones that would have been great to start with).

Nice to see Marisa Tomei, too, but she looks like she's falling into that "older actress/celebrity taking the "thin" to extremes" thing that afflicted Courtney Cox, Jennifer Connolly and Madonna.

What did you think of Ultron? I think it’s underrated.

I think it's unnecessarily maligned.  Other than some elements of the opening sequence (Thor and that wooden tower) being too video gam-ish, I don't have any major issues with it.