MCU/Superhero Discussion Thread

[Lord Dominator]

I completely stopped watching new MCU releases after Endgame. They might be good, but I tend to abandon things after their first major narrative arc is completed. I invested 8 years of my life into the MCU and I was more or less happy with how Endgame wrapped things up. I'm ok with being done with Avengers movies (for now). Honestly, if anything, I need a superhero detox.

Yeah, but is Endgame actually the conclusion of a narrative arc? Not even Marvel Studios thinks that (not that FFH is either).

It’s reasonably the end of a narrative arc (calling phases 1-3 the Infinity Saga definitely is telling) and they certainly could have plausibly ended it there, so I certainly think it qualifies as the end of a narrative arc.

[Forsher]

Yeah, but is Endgame actually the conclusion of a narrative arc? Not even Marvel Studios thinks that (not that FFH is either).

It’s reasonably the end of a narrative arc (calling phases 1-3 the Infinity Saga definitely is telling) and they certainly could have plausibly ended it there, so I certainly think it qualifies as the end of a narrative arc.

The Infinity Saga is (a) just marketing bullshit and (b) actually includes Far From Home, anyway.

Half the movies have nothing to do with infinity stones, all but four have nothing to do with Thanos (and in one of those he doesn't even care about infinity stones) and there's four in universe years between GOTG Vol. 2 and Infinity War allowing everything that film left unresolved (which was quite a lot) to feel "completed" before the end of IW. Indeed, the first GOTG film flows into IW better than the second.

By what measure is the Infinity Saga a real thing? The only one that makes sense to me is the Tony Stark saga. But obviously they didn't name it that.

And setting that question to the side, what actual storylines does Endgame wrap up? The saga of Cap and Peggy? I guess, yeah. But everything else is either gives whiplash through discontinuity with the prior films (Thor) or is left opened to be followed up in another film (e.g. Tony's story actually continues in FFH, in which he's dead for the whole thing). We don't even know if 2014!Gamora is still alive... that's how un-ending Endgame is.

Actually, of the three* midquels (Vol. 2, Captain Marvel and Black Widow) it's ironically the one that wasn't released as part of the "Infinity Saga" that had its storylines appropriately concluded within the Infinity Saga.

*Yes, I know, IM 2 is meant to take place before TIH but as I said earlier in the thread, that's stupid so I discount it.

[Cannot think of a name]

I have not been given details other than there is a lengthy entry about the MCU for D+ day tomorrow that will be worth seeing. Or if not, you'll hear about it in the tsunami of geek articles about it. Either way. New things tomorrow. I don't know what they are either.

[Forsher]

Right, so I just finally managed to watch Shang-Chi.

(And, of course, I'm still a movie behind because Eternals.)

I think, on the whole, a rather more sincere affair than the typical MCU film. I can't shake the feeling this was only because of the overtures to the real world identity issues (note that the camera lingered on the bit where Shang-Chi took off his shoes before going inside). If so, a bit cynical, but a welcome and refreshing take.

Is straight baiting a Thing? Because this was a clearly platonic friendship that has all the hallmarks of what would be called queerbaiting, were they a same sex friendship.

Also, no more Brulk! But his arm's in a sling though, as far as I could tell, not shrivelled. Interesting. Would shifting back fix things? Or maybe he lost the Hulk and his cousin has the powers now? I also have thoughts about Carol's appearance but you'd need to read my fan pitch/prediction for The Marvels (made when we thought it would be called Captain Marvel 2) for those to make sense and I'm not sharing it.

But that's enough of that... I really liked Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.

I don't particularly like subtitles but it also frustrates me no end when characters should be speaking another language but instead just talk in English. Rarely the case here! I felt it was a little unclear how much Katy understood but, like, I really get that general vibe.

I was a bit worried the final fight would just be forty minutes long and, yes, it kind of was, but also very much not. That was great. And, in general, I liked the action. As with Black Widow, some of the fire special effects used earlier in the film looked bad. Luckily, unlike BW, there weren't a lot of explosions.

Most of the humour was well done but I think (a) they needed to linger maybe just another ten seconds on the memorial part (c.f. The Dark World or Tangled) and (b) the first post-credit scene was a bit awkwardly placed. I guess it kind of felt like a shorter version should've been a post-credits scene in Black Widow (or any other prior film) that got fleshed out more here as the end of the film itself.

83/100... refreshing and entertaining but not quite as absorbing as some previous entries; I expect it will rise in my estimation as time wears on

[Cannot think of a name]

For those who miss their Wolverine with an Australian accent for some reason.

Also another Spider-man animated show.

Agatha!

Zombies gets its own series

[The Huskar Social Union]

For those who miss their Wolverine with an Australian accent for some reason.

Also another Spider-man animated show.

Agatha!

Zombies gets its own series

I hope the marvel zombies one is actually really dark for a change of pace. I was a bit disappointed with the tone of the what if episode even if that is the typical marvel stuff.

[Cannot think of a name]

For some reason you have to search "Marvel special" on D+ to see the reel. Not as many surprises as I was led to believe, but lots of footage.

Spoilered for no particular reason:

Cool Hawkeye footage including much more of the car chase.

Useless trivia, the Charger is Hawkeye's car in the comics. Forgot his dog's name but his dog is in it. Completely blanking...Lucky. For fuck's sake.

Moon Knight looks amazeballs.

Professor Hulk de-Hulks during She Hulk, apparently. Also it appears that he teaches her how to balance Hulk and Walters. This means (I guess) that She Hulk takes place before Shang Chi.

Ms Marvel looks cool. I must have hallucinated the shot of her 'biggening' her hand because it seems like her powers have been changed. I could have swore I saw a shot of her making her hand big to close her bedroom door.

Anyway. Cool. Not as much as I thought, but still cool.

[Tarsonis]

About half and hour into Shang-Chi.

1. I already adore Awkwafina, but damn does she steal every scene she's in.

2

A. I cannot express ho much I love that Wong spends his free time staging cage fights

B. I absolutely need a Wong and Abomination Buddy comedy.

[Pasong Tirad]

I also just watched Shang-Chi. I will die for Michelle Yeoh.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Finally got around to watching Shang Chi since its up on Disney + and its a decent enough movie but nothing spectacular, ive had a good time watching it. Shang Chi himself is the best part in my opinion, really liked him as a character, his father too.

[Forsher]

About half and hour into Shang-Chi.

1. I already adore Awkwafina, but damn does she steal every scene she's in.

2

A. I cannot express ho much I love that Wong spends his free time staging cage fights

B. I absolutely need a Wong and Abomination Buddy comedy.

Was it just me or was that fight meant to be rigged but Abomination went off choreography?

[Eahland]

About half and hour into Shang-Chi.

1. I already adore Awkwafina, but damn does she steal every scene she's in.

Katy was so the best part of a pretty good movie.

ON A DARK DESERT HIGHWAY! COOL WIND IN MY HAIR!

(Worst part: The infodumpy beginning.)

Also, due to non-linear plotting, I'm not 100% convinced that the character arcs actually make sense.

2

A. I cannot express ho much I love that Wong spends his free time staging cage fights

B. I absolutely need a Wong and Abomination Buddy comedy.

Was it just me or was that fight meant to be rigged but Abomination went off choreography?

That was what I got, though it seemed like less "went off choreography" and more just "didn't pull his punches enough, so Wong made him eat one".

[HC Eredivisie]

I already adore Awkwafina, but damn does she steal every scene she's in.

Really? I found her annoying and wouldn't have missed her after they went to the magic forest.

Finally got around to watching Shang Chi since its up on Disney + and its a decent enough movie but nothing spectacular, ive had a good time watching it. Shang Chi himself is the best part in my opinion, really liked him as a character, his father too.

> giant dragon fighting a soul eating extradimensional demon
> nothing special
Yeah they were the best parts of the movie, I find it one of the best marvel movies. It is also the way the Avatar movie should have been made.

[The Huskar Social Union]

I already adore Awkwafina, but damn does she steal every scene she's in.

Really? I found her annoying and wouldn't have missed her after they went to the magic forest.

Finally got around to watching Shang Chi since its up on Disney + and its a decent enough movie but nothing spectacular, ive had a good time watching it. Shang Chi himself is the best part in my opinion, really liked him as a character, his father too.

> giant dragon fighting a soul eating extradimensional demon
> nothing special
Yeah they were the best parts of the movie, I find it one of the best marvel movies. It is also the way the Avatar movie should have been made.

Okay that part was cool ill admit but overall the movie was just fine imo but im really excited to see more of Shang Chi in the MCU.

[Tarsonis]

About half and hour into Shang-Chi.

1. I already adore Awkwafina, but damn does she steal every scene she's in.

2

A. I cannot express ho much I love that Wong spends his free time staging cage fights

B. I absolutely need a Wong and Abomination Buddy comedy.

Was it just me or was that fight meant to be rigged but Abomination went off choreography?

That definitely was the implication based off Wong's lines.

[Tarsonis]

I already adore Awkwafina, but damn does she steal every scene she's in.

Really? I found her annoying and wouldn't have missed her after they went to the magic forest.

To each their own I guess.

[The Huskar Social Union]

Im gona be the neutral ground bitch and say she was okay, not great not terrible.

[Tarsonis]

Im gona be the neutral ground bitch and say she was okay, not great not terrible.

She strikes me as polarizing in general. Like, I love her, but I can also see why people would just find her annoying.

[Forsher]

Im gona be the neutral ground bitch and say she was okay, not great not terrible.

My main reaction to Awkwafina is that she's not Dichen Lachman, whom she somewhat resembles. However, that was more a response to the third Jumanji film than this one.

I think between driving the dude's car at the start and arriving at Ta Lo Katy was a clear value add, but there's isn't really enough time in the film to tell a Shang-Chi, Xialing, Wenwu and Katy story during the third act. It kind of tries and the result is a little mixed. But the third act is generally the worst part of these kinds of film because they tend to stop telling any kind of story at all so trying to tell too many is very refreshing.

[Ameriganastan]

I liked her.

[Ameriganastan]

Got back from Eternals. It was okay. Had some definite flaws, like an assload of exposition and a villain with all the entertainment value of a lecture on corn, but it was okay. Put it somewhere in the low middle. Good cast helped out.

I had a feeling from the get-go Robb Stark was gonna be a turncoat...or technically not a turncoat, a loyalist. But still.

As for the after credit scenes...yeah, totally lost on both of those.

[Eahland]

I already adore Awkwafina, but damn does she steal every scene she's in.

Really? I found her annoying and wouldn't have missed her after they went to the magic forest.

I found her on the funny side of annoying, and I was very entertained by her willingness to just totally roll with "okay, so we're in a kung fu movie now".

Finally got around to watching Shang Chi since its up on Disney + and its a decent enough movie but nothing spectacular, ive had a good time watching it. Shang Chi himself is the best part in my opinion, really liked him as a character, his father too.

> giant dragon fighting a soul eating extradimensional demon
> nothing special
Yeah they were the best parts of the movie, I find it one of the best marvel movies. It is also the way the Avatar movie should have been made.

I thought they tried to drag the suspense out too long on that bit. It was pretty obvious what was going to happen, but they made us wait for it.

[Tarsonis]

i need help, when does Shang Chi take place?

[Forsher]

i need help, when does Shang Chi take place?

Unclear. Probably post-Blip because

Bruce is de-Hulked and his arm's in a sling. However, it's not shrivelled, which is either an author's saving throw or a suggestion that the sling's a coincidence and it's mid-Blip, just before the gamma chamber.

[Tarsonis]

i need help, when does Shang Chi take place?

Unclear. Probably post-Blip because

Bruce is de-Hulked and his arm's in a sling. However, it's not shrivelled, which is either an author's saving throw or a suggestion that the sling's a coincidence and it's mid-Blip, just before the gamma chamber.

doesn't Katy mention people disappearing for 5 years?