If you’re a comic book movie fan, there’s a solid chance you’re aware by now that iconic director Martin Scorsese isn’t too into Marvel films.
The Goodfellas director made headlines recently after suggesting productions like those from the MCU are “theme parks” rather than examples of cinema.
A wave of backlash hit the director almost immediately, but as The Guardian reports, Scorsese is standing his ground. Because, well… he’s Martin Scorsese and if anyone’s entitled to an opinion about the film industry (even if you don’t agree) it’s him.
During an appearance at the London film festival, at which he was promoting his upcoming film The Irishman (starring gangster trifecta Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci), the legendary director again stressed his point.
“The value of a film that’s like a theme park film, for example, the Marvel-type pictures, where the theatres become amusement parks, that’s a different experience,” Scorsese said.
“I was saying earlier, it’s not cinema, it’s something else.”
Naturally, a number of directors attached to Marvel have been quizzed on their thoughts about the Oscar-winner’s comments. And unsurprisingly, Taika Waititi’s response stands out as the most, well… direct.
Speaking with the Associated Press about his latest film Jojo Rabbit he said:
“Well, it’s too late for them to change the name to Marvel -attic Universe.”
“Of course it’s cinema!” He continued.
“It’s at the movies. It’s in cinemas. …Near you.”
And in case the point wasn’t driven home well enough already, he broke it down further.
“Marvel Cinema-tic Universe. Scene.”
While it’s all very on the nose, Waititi nails the simplicity of the argument, really. Giant film productions with huge budgets; beautiful movie stars, and CGI coming out if their ears are still examples of cinema.
It might not be the same experience, sure. And yes, there are loads of examples of comic films that have zero substance. His point stands, there. But it’s all still cinema.
In his original interview with Empire – the one that started all the controversy – Scorsese said Marvel films aren’t “the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.”
….Clearly he didn’t see that Spider-man and Tony Stark moment during the snap.