With every new day the war rages on. The Avengers versus The Dark Knight Rises. Marvel versus DC. And most annoyingly, Marvelites versus Nolanites.
The truth of the matter is that neither Marvelites or Nolanites deserve the attention of the few of us able to avoid such obsessive attachments that cause others to act with hatred and abuse.
Both The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises were great movies, and as equally, both were heavily flawed in very different ways. The Avengers lacked emotional depth whereas delivered spectacular action, and The Dark Knight Rises in pushing the epic action story became laden with plot-holes and struggled to breathe amongst an overly large cast ensemble.
I do not believe there should be no argument as to which was a better movie and which was more successful in the way it wanted to portray the super-hero genre, but the extent to which this argument has become abusive and vicious makes for a claim that this argument should cease with immediate effect.
What I believe was once a friendly-natured debate of ideas and opinions, has now blown out of all proportion into an escalating feud of two rather obsessive and overly aggressive fan allegiances.
But what of us who don’t align ourselves to one side or the other, those of us able to appreciate both the good and bad whilst contributing intelligent argument to support a certain claim for one’s predominance over its rival, in one or more aspects of performance.
The rivalry that was once, what feels like an eternity ago, interesting and enjoyable, is now so poisoned by obsession that both movies have suffered.
The negativity from Marvelites concerning The Dark Knight Rises, and Nolanites concerning The Avengers, makes for a war of words that does nothing to boost either film’s reputation.
Both movies were incredible achievements in cinema-making and each were big moments for the genre, yet what should be a celebrated year for us fans has been tainted by the unnecessary and childish arguments of some, that persist each day over The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises.
In essence, neither those considered Marvelites nor Nolanites are true fans, which they themselves would so desperately claim themselves to be. A true fan is one who can love something or someone through their weakness and downfalls, able to admit to them, but continue to support them and love them for their successes. Marvelites and Nolanites see only the good and that is where this apparent ‘war’ has evolved from. Their at times pathetic inability to admit to flaws in the movie/side of their choice is what has brought down the good name of comic book and super-hero movie fans. Debate and peaceful argument is completely within reason, but not in the aggressive nature used by Marvelites and Nolanites.
In reality, Marvelites and Nolanites - and the arguments they so desperately pursue - are just as, if not more childish, than those fans of the Twilight series who argue over Edward and Jacob. Team Edward versus Team Jacob. Team Marvel versus Team Nolan. Who would have ever thought making that comparison between fan-bases would be within reason?
Unfortunately, now it is, and I for one find that very worrying indeed.