Like most teenagers, I found comfort in the community, specifically the online community, that came with the Marvel Cinematic Universe movies. For years, I made the pilgrimage to the theater to see the new Marvel films, I patiently waited in my seat for the end credit scenes and I dedicated my free time to decoding easter eggs. Now, the thought of going to see a Marvel film feels more like a chore than a leisurely activity.
Sometime following the epic release of “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” Marvel began to branch out more with their films. Despite featuring characters that are well-known and well-loved, the newer films felt distant from those that started the franchise.
I think this has a lot to do with fan service. The reason why the original Marvel films got so popular is because they were accessible to the general public. You didn’t need to read comic books to enjoy “The Avengers” or “Iron Man.” Sure, there were probably jokes and easter eggs that were missed by the general population of watchers, but that didn’t take away from the films in the slightest.
The films are no longer for the average viewer, but rather for those who have an intense background in Marvel. The timeline is more confusing to follow now than it ever was before. There are nuances that have been lost by leaning more heavily on the comic books.
Nowadays, it feels as though the viewer needs to have an in-depth comprehension of the comic books just to even get into the theater. There is this vague feeling of missing out when watching the trailers for the new stuff Marvel is releasing like you don’t have all the pieces. That feeling makes it hard to want to go and watch the film, which is evident in the way Marvel movies have been doing at the box office compared to how they used to do in their prime.
The wonderful thing about the original three phases of the MCU is the ability to watch the films as a stand-alone. You did not have to watch “Guardians of the Galaxy” to enjoy “Ant-Man” as they weren’t as connected as more modern Marvel films are proving to be. Some of the earlier films provided context to the world the films are set in, but the films were able to bypass that with their humor and the overall entertainment they provided.
This new fourth phase of the MCU feels as though it’s propelling beyond the grasp of casual viewership and into elitist territory. I imagine this was always the plan for Marvel, to draw in viewership and money in the beginning with random viewers and then leave them in the dust once they had the funds to do as they pleased with the franchise.
That is not to say that good films have not come and will not from the new Marvel phase. I did like “Black Widow” and “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” but the overarching theatrics are lost on me. I can see the connections they are trying to make between the films but it’s falling flat on its face. I can’t help but feel they are trying too hard to emulate the feelings of the previous films but it comes off as a hollow replica.
The most devastating part is the fact that the Marvel franchise had the whole world captivated with “Spider-Man: No Way Home.” It was such a worldwide sensation and could have been the tipping point that pushed Marvel even more into greatness. Instead of being the beginning of something even more fantastic, “Spider-Man: No Way Home” is more like the shiny tombstone that stands before Marvel’s grave.
As a fan, I am disappointed that what used to be my place of comfort has turned into a conglomeration of confusing and disjointed plots. Marvel is no longer for everyone, but rather a select group of individuals.
