Filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Francis Ford Coppola have frequently taken aim at the Marvel Cinematic Universe, making comments that have infuriated superhero movie fans. They're entitled to their opinions, of course, but the way those directors have outright dismissed the genre seems unfair and even a little misinformed.
Avengers: Endgame directors Joe and Anthony Russo have never shied away from defending the MCU, and while they've since moved on to other projects, they remain steadfast in the belief that these Marvel movies are a valid form of cinema.
"The overwhelming success of those movies has caused them to represent something that has become 'other, or maybe not attainable to some others for whatever reason," Anthony tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Not every movie has to be liked globally."
Joe would add to that by saying, "When I was 19, I used to love U2. And then they started getting some commercial success, beyond their MTV early days, where they were the biggest band in the world. And I was like, 'I hate U2. I’m sick of U2. They’re so ubiquitous!' That was just my ego trying to define myself against the masses. Then, 10 years later, I was like, 'I [frick]ing love U2. Why did I do that?' I outgrew it. It feels like a very juvenile conversation."
"The whole thing feels sad and cynical and pessimistic. You’re talking about movies that 10-year-olds are weeping over and begging to go see," The Gray Man co-director continued. "They’ll remember for decades that they were there with their grandfather. Like, give me a [frick]ing break."
Since moving on from the MCU, the Russo Brothers have received mixed reviews for both Cherry and The Gray Man. It feels a little like some critics are trying to tell them to go back to making superhero movies (the response to the former was very harsh), and we can't help but wonder if that's down to their stuanch defence of the genre they made a name for themselves in.
We can't imagine those who hate comic book adaptations changing their mind, and it probably doesn't help that the likes of Eternals and Thor: Love and Thunder have drawn mixed reviews.
The Gray Man arrives on Netflix tomorrow.