So I wanted to take the opportunity, before the MCU truly begins, to see where we’re at in terms of superhero movies. We had a strong start with the first X-Men and the first Spider-Man, triumphs with their sequels, but duds with their final films. Standalones like The Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, and The Punisher haven’t done well either. The stage they set is shaky. Is the superhero movie market collapsing? Will anyone come to their aid? One thing both these series have in common is that the heroes spend most of their time fighting among themselves (sometimes within themselves, in the case of Spider-Man). The X-Men is mutant vs. mutant.…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: New Goblin & Sandman & Venom (Spider-Man 3)
NEW GOBLIN & SANDMAN & VENOM Real Identities: Harry Osborn & Flint Marko & Eddie Brock Spider-Man 3 (2007) Like I always say, when movies fail, the story is at the root of the problem. Not actors, not directors, not sound design, not costuming. Those can all make a movie not as good as it could be, but they don’t bring it down to a 66% meta rating after the previous had 93% and 90%. The big failing of Spider-Man 3 wasn’t the silly dancing or questionable effects, but trying to cram in too much plot (it’s frickin’ 140 min). Not only is there too much relationship drama, there are…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Dark Phoenix (X-Men 3: The Last Stand)
DARK PHOENIX Real Identity: Jean Grey X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006) Famke Janssen plays a good character. Unfortunately, the writing wasn’t there to carry her over the threshold. We spend WAY more time with Wolverine, Xavier, and Magneto. Which, of course, means her arc is meaningless. You’ve had two movies to tell us who Jean Grey is, you failed, and you’re going make her the antagonist? The producers’ message was probably to stuff as many mutants in there as possible, forget the personal stories. Characteristics and Powers: She basically becomes Dr. Manhattan. Like a “super-telepath/telekinetic”, whatever that means. I imagine that psychic powers must take a lot of control…
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I Can Already Tell Agatha All Along is Going to Fail
So I watched the first two episodes of “Agatha All Along” and despite the great acting from Kathryn Hahn and Aubrey Plaza, the set design, the fast pacing, I can see that Disney is making the same mistakes. The same things that brought down The Acolyte, She-Hulk, Secret Invasion, Willow, and so on. And I can sum up all the problems in one sentence. What is the Witch’s Road? First of all, you cannot afford to make any mistakes when you’re trying to spin off a third tier character like Agatha Harkness. I’m sure she’s someone in the comics, but in the MCU, she’s a third-tier character. Iron Man/Captain America…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Doctor Doom (Fantastic Four)
DOCTOR DOOM Real Identity: Victor von Doom Fantastic Four (2005) Characteristics and Powers: Doctor Doom has a strong personality. He’s smooth and calm. Never loses his cool. Smart, powerful, successful. And extremely vain. He thinks he’s better than everyone else. As far as powers, he starts turning into “organic metal”, whatever the hell that means. In real terms, he’s becoming a metal man. Plus, he gains the ability to channel electricity. This is because, during the cosmic storm, he was in the special “shielding” that Reed Richards needed in the first place. How those two connect I don’t know. A wizard did it. This is a pretty pitiful depiction of…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Doctor Octopus (Spider-Man 2)
DOCTOR OCTOPUS Real Identity: Otto Octavius Spider-Man 2 (2004) Doctor Octopus, as played by Alfred Molina, is probably one of the best sympathetic villains portrayed in film. So good they brought him back for a significant role in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Ock fits all the criteria–he’s a surrogate father for Peter, matches him on intellect, and has a way to counter any one of Spider-Man’s attacks. The only way these two wouldn’t go into business together was if one of them went insane. Characteristics and Powers: Otto Octavius is a brilliant scientist and another role model for Peter Parker, showing him what he could have if he wasn’t a…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Colonel William Stryker (X2: X-Men United)
COL. WILLIAM STRYKER X2: X-Men United (2002) This villain represents an amalgamation of several characters from the X-Men comics/cartoon, but they’re all basically the same guy–a bigot. And the scary thing is he exists in real life. This isn’t Mephisto or Stegron. This is your next-door neighbor. This is a congressman working right now and he’s in charge of a hell of a lot of tanks and missiles. Characteristics and Powers: None. He’s just a human. But that gives him an advantage–being human (and a decorated military scientist) he can borrow the ears of politicians and influencers, especially with his background in mutant research. And from that research he’s developed…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Green Goblin (Spider-Man)
GREEN GOBLIN Real Identity: Norman Osborn Spider-Man (2002) There wouldn’t be an MCU without the one-two punch of X-Men and Spider-Man (2002). Green Goblin may not be the best villain. Heck, he may not be the best in the Spider-Man universe. But you remember him. Characteristics and Powers: Green Goblin makes a memorable villain because of an over-the-top performance by Willem Dafoe. But that’s what makes him so scary, because he can go from calm/rational to unhinged in a second. And you believe you are under threat because you don’t know what he’s going to do. Unfortunately, it’s not the greatest costume or powers. I don’t know about his comic…
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Analyzing the Marvel Cinematic Universe Villains: Magneto (X-Men)
MAGNETO Real Identity: Erik Magnus Lehnsherr X-Men (2000) I’m starting with this movie because this is the real inception point for the MCU. If not for this movie and its compatriot Spider-Man (coming up next!) there would be no Tony Stark or Avengers. So I think it’s important to examine the precursors and their staying power with audiences. I don’t think it was a great movie — the problem with the X-Men is that it’s character soup — but after the chintzy animated series, it was a gourmet meal. Characteristics and Powers: Can bend and shape metal to his will. This includes stopping bullets in midair and some electromagnetism. And…
