Social Media Reactions + Reviews

[BigThor]

I think settling for just "it's fine" is a pretty double edged sword though. I don't hate phase 4 of the MCU entirely, I mean, I thought No Way Home was great for the most part and I loved Multiverse of Madness. But between shows and now hearing Love and Thunder is essentially a comedy fest, It makes me question if the GA even cares about good stories. I don't believe all movies in a huge franchise should be filler that you forget about after 2 hours.

They don't

 

[Stringer]

Double Toasted's review has me all kinds of confused. Coleman didn't like it while Martin loved it and they often have the opposite sentiment when it comes to the MCU. I think I'm going to wait on the for a few weeks.

 

[Gothamsknight]

They don't

It's a shame

 

[MadVillainy]

Me personally I enjoy the standalone feel of Phase 4, one thing I didn't like about the first 3 phases was the solo stories and characters individuality being marginalized due to the big "team up" "connected world" aspect.

They felt felt more like commercials than feature films.

Yeah and the fact they they ended a 10+ year story. All of the Phase 4 movies feel standalone with no bigger connection yet. It is hard to get into them with no clear picture or anticipation. Phase 1 being slow was fine because we knew from the start they would form the Avengers. We anticipated their 1st scenes together. Phase 4 has not given any of that yet it feels like Ant-Man will be the movie that gives us a glimpse.

Dr.Strange was expected to do that but fell very short into doing that it was an ok movie but didn't have a lot of multiverse or lead to anything bigger.
Thor was never going to be that.
Black Panther would have been if Boseman didn't pass away.

The shows are more miss than hit after the first batch that was very connected. Moon Knight, Hawkeye, and Ms. Marvel have been more Netflix /Agent of Shield like you can watch and they are ok but they are just there. She Hulk will have Hulk at least but not expecting more than fun from that.

I think one of the issues is that the MCU prided itself on being connected and building up to something definitive since the first Iron Man. But since, as of now, we don't know for sure what we're leading to; it feels a bit odd and off. Kang is supposedly gonna be the big bad and sure another Avengers movie is coming down the pike. But we really don't know much besides that which is in contrast to before. I think the MCU has been so same-y in how they do things for a while that when they branch out in terms of scale, storytelling, humor, etc. that it throws audiences off.

In addition to that, while we aren't definitively sure what they're building to, the MCU is still throwing a lot of team ups and mini crossovers. Scarlet Witch and America Chavez with Dr. Strange, Guardians of the Galaxy with Thor (even if for a little bit), Kate Bishop and Echo in Hawkeye, Yelena and Black Widow and Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel and Monica Rambeau with Cap Marvel, She-Hulk with Hulk, Iron Heart and Namor with Black Panther. And not all of these feel random and most of them make sense as to why have those characters interact, but it's still a lot. So many crossovers that it doesn't feel like things are as stand alone as being said imo.

And finally, it probably feels worse to some than it is just because of the sheer number of properties we're getting. The Infinity Saga was, not counting the shows because they were really separate, was 23 movies over 11 years. Phase 4 is already:

-11 films over the course of 4 years
-14 planned TV shows. Some of which, like Loki, and having multiple seasons.​

And they're introducing SOOOOOOO many lead characters now compared to the other previous MCU phases. It's a lot

Obviously the MCU is and will continue to be successful and the worst received MCU movie is still seen as better than most other blockbuster fare. But this is the first time many saw definitive dents in the MCU armor which is interesting

 

[JtheDreamer]

Quality control as a whole is slipping significantly. It was inevitable because Feige is but one man and Disney wants to flood the market with material - especially for Disney+.

 

[MadVillainy]

I think settling for just "it's fine" is a pretty double edged sword though. I don't hate phase 4 of the MCU entirely, I mean, I thought No Way Home was fantastic for the most part and I loved Multiverse of Madness. But between shows and no hearing Love and Thunder is essentially a comedy fest, It makes me question if the GA even cares about good stories. I don't believe all movies in a huge franchise should be filler that you forget about after 2 hours.

Oh I agree. I said it in another thread I'd rather get 4 movies that are varying degrees of good and 2 movies that are bad than 6 "fine" movies. That's boring to me.

And I think the GA sometimes just want something where they know what they're gonna get for their money. People get testy about this analogy but I think the MCU really is like fast-food. Most people are rarely like "oh my God I Love (insert fast food restaurant here)" But they like it enough and it's a fine go to. That's what has kept McDonalds, Wendys, KFC, etc going strong. I think for the most part that's how the GA feels about the MCU and I think that's fine. The only issue is if it steps on other blockbuster storytelling and YMMV if it has. I think it has somewhat but it's not like MCU forced other studios to do that. I don't like the whole "the GA doesn't like good stories narrative" it feels very condescending and gatekeeper-y

 

[JtheDreamer]

Oh I agree. I said it in another thread I'd rather get 4 movies that are varying degrees of good and 2 movies that are bad than 6 "fine" movies. That's boring to me.

And I think the GA sometimes just want something where they know what they're gonna get for their money. People get testy about this analogy but I think the MCU really is like fast-food. Most people are rarely like "oh my God I Love (insert fast food restaurant here)" But they like it enough and it's a fine go to. That's what has kept McDonalds, Wendys, KFC, etc going strong. I think for the most part that's how the GA feels about the MCU and I think that's fine. The only issue is if it steps on other blockbuster storytelling and YMMV if it has. I think it has somewhat but it's not like MCU forced other studios to do that. I don't like the whole "the GA doesn't like good stories narrative" it feels very condescending and gatekeeper-y

I'd argue that its BECOME fast food. It didn't feel this way in the lead up to End Game for the most part. Now it's just a machine pumping out high fructose sugar.

 

[Iceman]

The recent mixed receptions have been down to taking more risks IMO. Eternals, MoM and L&T are directors having more freedom and are very different films to each other. A comedy, a light horror attempt and an attempt at something deeper with Eternals that didn't quite work out.

 

[NotNickFury]

And finally, it probably feels worse to some than it is just because of the sheer number of properties we're getting. The Infinity Saga was, not counting the shows because they were really separate, was 23 movies over 11 years. Phase 4 is already:

-11 films over the course of 4 years
-14 planned TV shows. Some of which, like Loki, and having multiple seasons.​

And they're introducing SOOOOOOO many lead characters now compared to the other previous MCU phases. That's a lot

The Disney+ shows haven't helped because it makes following the overall story feel like homework. Even if every single show doesn't build to something, they're still touted more than ever as important and relevant to the greater MCU. At least with the Infinity Saga, you could stick with the movies and be fine. What happened in Agents of Shield or the Netflix shows, or stuff like The Runaways or Cloak and Dagger didn't matter in the grand scheme of things.

Nobody come in and tell me how Coulson secretly saved the day in Age of Ultron with that Helicarrier!

But now? Sure, you can maybe watch Multiverse of Madness after No Way Home and be okay, but WandaVision has more of a connection to that film than, say, Daredevil did to Homecoming. Hell, even What If? feels like required watching, given Captain Carter's appearance in MoM.

 

[samsnee]

It is ironic. People complained that pre-phase 4, there were too many connections to the infinity stones instead of being standalone. Now the complaints is there isn’t an overarching theme.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

69%?

#BringBackTheRussos

 

[BoredGuy]

Wandavision is the only one I feel like, thus far, is necessary viewing
The rest are fully optional and don't have much bearing on anything yet

Now that will most likely change as time goes on, and more of the characters introduced on the shows make their way to the movies. But currently they're still optional. The quality of Love & Thunder was not affected by Disney +, outside of the possibility of Feige being stretched too thin

 

[BoredGuy]

69%?

Seems kind of appropriate for a movie called Love & Thunder ..lol

 

[Gothamsknight]

It is ironic. People complained that pre-phase 4, there were too many connections to the infinity stones instead of being standalone. Now the complaints is there isn’t an overarching theme.

No Way Home and Multiverse of Madness were both really good movies. What I do dislike though is that the MCU will make a movie with practically no stakes, and turning a once badass character into a romantic comedy that cuts any sort of tension for sake of a laugh. It's been one of the most critiqued parts of the MCU movies, even the great ones, so I don't get why they'd think it'd be a good idea to make a whole movie about that. Then again, the GA is gonna flock to see it though so it doesn't really matter what I think in the end.

 

[samsnee]

Dark World is 66%. Hard to believe this could be lower. And I like Dark World

 

[Filmfreak]

It is ironic. People complained that pre-phase 4, there were too many connections to the infinity stones instead of being standalone. Now the complaints is there isn’t an overarching theme.

Another contradiction is that the biggest complaint about the MCU, mine as well, is that its movies feel too similar and formulaic and don't have much of an imprint from its directors/writers. Now that they gave a bit more freedom to them there is a more lukewarm reception. But it all comes down to execution, which so far hasn't been good. Not having a clear path and releasing so much content every year are certainly the biggest factors. Films still feel like more of the same. So I hope they won't learn the wrong lessons.

 

[NotNickFury]

Wandavision is the only one I feel like, thus far, is necessary viewing
The rest are fully optional and don't have much bearing on anything yet

Now that will most likely change as time goes on, and more of the characters introduced on the shows make their way to the movies. But currently they're still optional. The quality of Love & Thunder was not affected by Disney +, outside of the possibility of Feige being stretched too thin

At the very least, Falcon and the Winter Soldier would no doubt be required for the next Captain America film. Otherwise, if you only last saw Sam in Endgame, all of a sudden boom, he's Captain America and got himself a suit. Admittedly, the general audience can probably piece together that 'Well, of course. He got the shield in Endgame, so of course he got a new suit in between movies' without having watched FATWS.

 

[Gothamsknight]

I don't think the MCU is giving directors as much creative freedom as it appears though. Raimi was the main reason I found MoM so enjoyable, but I was reading that Feige even was pushing back on some minor Raimi styled things he likes to do with the cam. It's probably a mix of both new creative freedom, and kind of not knowing where they are going.

 

[MadVillainy]

I'm reading a lot of how the movie feels too short. Seems to be a common complaint on Reddit at least

 

[Filmfreak]

I don't think the MCU is giving directors as much creative freedom as it appears though. Raimi was the main reason I found MoM so enjoyable, but I was reading that Feige even was pushing back on some minor Raimi styled things he likes to do with the cam. It's probably a mix of both new creative freedom, and kind of not knowing where they are going.

True, they have relatively expanded it but it still feels like a very limited sandbox.

 

[BoredGuy]

At the very least, Falcon and the Winter Soldier would no doubt be required for the next Captain America film. Otherwise, if you only last saw Sam in Endgame, all of a sudden boom, he's Captain America and got himself a suit. Admittedly, the general audience can probably piece together that 'Well, of course. He got the shield in Endgame, so of course he got a new suit in between movies' without having watched FATWS.

Nah, it was so unnecessary and that's part of why the series was so lackluster
If Sam got the Shield at the end of Endgame, and showed up as Cap in his next appearance, no one would bat an eye, its the expected trajectory of his story
But It'll be more vital once John Walker and Eli Bradley start making their presence felt elsewhere

 

[JtheDreamer]

Another contradiction is that the biggest complaint about the MCU, mine as well, is that its movies feel too similar and formulaic and don't have much of an imprint from its directors/writers. Now that they gave a bit more freedom to them there is a more lukewarm reception. But it all comes down to execution, which so far hasn't been good. Not having a clear path and releasing so much content every year are certainly the biggest factors. Films still feel like more of the same. So I hope they won't learn the wrong lessons.

Dunno man.

Everything I've watched post-End Game felt like watching Marvel check boxes off a list. The Disney+ shows only feel slightly different because they're long form, but disjointed at that.

 

[Holy Slapper]

Down to 69%.

Hold...hold....

 

[HammerDown]

Dark World is 66%. Hard to believe this could be lower. And I like Dark World

This is way better than TDW. There’s no comparison. And for my money it’s way better than the first Thor as well… which I really like.

 

[HammerDown]

Seems kind of appropriate for a movie called Love & Thunder ..lol

69