While everyone was happy to see this new MCU dominated Hollywood (as it was about their childhood heroes come to life) the veterans of the industry soon identified the existence of MCU as a problem. In 2019, Martin Scorsese talked about how he finds all Marvel films as he doesn’t finds them as real art and they’re adventure park movies. At the time, I was petrified at Scorsese but soon I got the maturity of what he was trying to say and soon after that I switched sides as I too faced the Superhero movies fatigue. After Scorsese many other industry greats like Francis Ford Coppola and James Cameron stepped into the fire where they shot arrows at Marvel. There was some retaliation from Marvel as well like when James Gunn took a shot at Scorsese for bad mouthing Marvel.
The most recent addition to this Marvel vs Real Art debate was Quentin Tarantino as he talked about what his problem with Marvel is. As usual Tarantino made logical points and I agreed with him. However, in response to Tarantino’s criticisms, people like Simu Liu and Samuel L. Jackson made reasonable arguments that showed us the other side of the coin. However, interestingly another name has now been added to this debate. It is none other than Iron Man himself. Yes, Robert Downey Jr. has given out his thoughts about Tarantino’s comments on Marvel.
What Does Iron Man Have To Say About Tarantino’s Comments?
Robert Downey Jr. appeared for a recent interview with Deadline, where the reporter popped the question about Tarantino’s criticisms. Since they’d gotten Iron Man right there with them, the man who I think singlehandedly made Marvel what it is. Let’s hear what Iron Man has to say on this matter,
“… I think our opinions on these matters say a lot about us. I think that we are in a time and place that I unwittingly contributed to, where IP has taken precedence over principle and personality. But it’s a double-edged sword. A piece of IP is only as good as the human talent you get to represent it and you can have some great IP even if it’s coming from an auteur or a national treasure of a writer director, and if you don’t have the right kind of artist playing that role, you’ll never know how good it could have been.”
The actor continued, “I think that creatively it is a waste of time to be at war with ourselves. I think this is a time when everything is so much more fragmented now that I think you have this kind of bifurcation. Throwing stones one way or another…and I’ve had my reactions in the past when people said things that I felt were discrediting my integrity…I go, you know what, let’s just get over it. We’re all a community. There’s enough room for everything and thank God for Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water. That’s all I have to say. We need the big stuff to make room for films like Armageddon Time.”
He further added, “I’m not talking about trickle down entertainment. I’m just saying that things are always changing and I’m at a place in my life where I’ve now gone back to back, working with Chris Nolan on what was an exceptionally transformational experience for me; having been in pre-production post and bringing Sr. to market; and the next thing I’m doing is a series with my Mrs. and the director Park Chan Wook, based on a Pulitzer book called The Sympathizer. It’s already a transformative literally playing five different roles experience for me. So, I would just say, before we cast aspersions on each other… undergo your own renaissance and see if it doesn’t change your mind a little bit.”
To conclude the actor said, “Reinvent yourself before you decide that somebody else doesn’t know what they’re doing or that something is keeping you from doing your best, or that something is better than something else. You know, we’re in this age now where [Jon] Favreau said it best: we used to try to make waves in a lake and now we’re just trying to catch people’s attention as things are moving by quickly in a stream. I think that’ll change again but this is just where we’re at. And to accept it and be grateful that you get to participate is the right place to start.”
This approach from Downey was really mature as instead of just launching another attack on someone this nuanced take is something that we should all consider to adapt. There have been past instances where stars like Tom Holland and James Gunn had responded to criticisms with an attack mindset but I don’t think so that helped anyone other than just showing the toxic side and nature of the world. However, Downey Jr. handled it really well and this proves that Iron Man in not only smart but wise as well.
MCU’s newest film Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania will release in theatres near you on 17th February 2023.
If you have any questions regarding the Marvel Cinematic Universe, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!
Marvel movies really have destroyed cinema but it’s the intelligence and maturity level of the society
that allows for such films to be so popular which is really the problem.
If it didn’t sell, they wouldn’t make it. Technology has made society stupid.
Few know how to think anymore, they just Google answers and think themselves clever for doing so.
People are sped up so fast, they don’t have time to read or understand what the pre-tech generations
enjoyed when we curled up with a good book. Everything is spelled out now and really, when you come
from the generation that made films like ALIEN, 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers, John Carpenter’s
THE THING and Blade Runner, where stars were aligned and artists were at the top of their game, watching video game looking, rendered 3D objects that all look the same, it pulls many people out
of the film instead of immersing us. Things are worse than when I grew up. You’d think the tech would
have created utopia but instead, the opposite occurred: Idiocracy happened.
Always appreciate passionate comments no matter of what train of thoughts. You truly are a person High On Cinema! Thanks for your comment!