Dear Francis Ford Coppola, Marvel movies are far from despicable

Francis Ford Coppola misses a few things with his recent comments on Marvel movies.

There’s been a recent trend of Hollywood elites speaking up against Marvel movies. Late last year, Bill Maher insulted comic book fans and Stan Lee’s legacy, saying he didn’t think Stan Lee’s contribution to the world is what people are making it. Jennifer Anniston recently said:

"“And then you’re seeing what’s available out there and it’s just diminishing and diminishing in terms of, it’s big Marvel movies. Or things that I’m not just asked to do or really that interested in living in a green screen.”"

Martin Scorsese said Marvel movies aren’t real cinema. He later tried to clear up his comments, with results that didn’t please the fans:

"“What has to be protected is the singular experience of experiencing a picture, ideally with an audience. But there’s room for so many others now, and so many other ways. There’s going to be crossovers, completely. The value of a film that’s like a theme park film, for example, the Marvel-type pictures, where the theaters become amusement parks, that’s a different experience. I was saying earlier, it’s not cinema, it’s something else. Whether you go for that or not.”"

One of his peers backed up that statement and took it a step further. Francis Ford Coppola said, “Martin was kind when he said it’s not cinema. He didn’t say it’s despicable, which I just say it is.”

These two gentlemen have their opinion and this writer would be the last person to say they should or shouldn’t feel this way. In fact, Bram Stoker’s Dracula (which was directed by  Francis Ford Coppola) is one of my favorite movies. However, his and Scorsese’s comments about Marvel movies are inaccurate.

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To say that Marvel movies aren’t “real” cinema shows a bit of ignorance on their part. The films aren’t two hours or more of people fighting (even if they were, who cares). Each movie has storylines and plots that have connected to each other for over ten years. This was a plan that started with Iron Man in 2008 finished with Avengers: Endgame in 2019. All of the projects added another piece of the puzzle. Having 20 movies that star different actors, characters, and plots is one thing, but it’s another to connect them all together for a final and emotional project. Saying that it’s not “real” cinema is insulting to the creators of these movies. From the writers, actors, all the way down the people who we rarely get the recognition they deserve.

When you look up the word cinema, two definitions pop up. The first says, “a theater where movies are shown for public entertainment.” The second reads, “The production of movies as an art or industry.” It seems like both gentlemen missed the mark on these particular definitions. However, let’s look at this from another angle. Are Marvel films deep? Can you watch them and be emotionally invested? Is there more to these films than bright colors and fancy powers? Absolutely. There are more than a few examples, and one doesn’t have to go any further than the story of Thor to prove this.

In a previous article, I discussed Thor’s journey in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was a quick look at everything the God of Thunder has been through since his first film. Thor’s journey shows how even the strongest of people can struggle in a multitude of way — losing his mother, finding out his father lied to him, failing at saving the world, and ended up not believing in himself anymore. All of that caused him to become a drunk and overweight recluse.

This is something that also targets toxic masculinity. The idea that strong men don’t cry and can’t have feelings is ridiculous. Thor is a god, and he felt the pain of loss on an emotional and physical level. The result was him leaving the world instead of dealing with it. We’ve seen this kind of behavior in men for years. Thankfully, the Russo Brothers showed that this isn’t a healthy thing. Once Thor talked about how he felt, he started to feel like himself again, leading him to become the hero and god we all knew he was.

We could also get into movies like Captain Marvel and Black Panther — films where female empowerment is highlighted. They show young women that they are stronger than they realize. Sure, they may not have superpowers, but it doesn’t matter. What made Okoye strong was her ability to stand up for what she believed in and to never falter. These are just a few examples of movies that aren’t being considered “real” cinema.

During an interview on a red carpet, Sam Jackson (who plays Nick Fury in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) said:

"“I passed by it (Scorsese’s comments), but I didn’t may much attention to it. I mean that’s like saying Bugs Bunny ain’t funny. Films are films. Everybody doesn’t like his stuff either.”"

This is coming from an incredible actor who’s done everything from drama, to action, to comedy. He’s also one of the most popular and well-respected people in Hollywood.

At the end of the day, Jackson has a point. Not everyone is going to like Martin Scorsese or Francis Ford Coppola’s projects or movies coming from Marvel Studios. Nonetheless, it’s insulting to discredit the work that the creators and actors have put in. We can all agree that all of us will continue to see these movies. Maybe Robert Downey Jr. said it best on The Howard Stern Show, by stating that he “was happy to be part of the ‘problem’ if there is one.”

What do you think of their comments? Let us know in the comments below.