Over the course of 10 years and 17 films (with many more in various stages of production), the Marvel Cinematic Universe has not only become the highest grossing film franchise of all the time (the former record-holder being the Harry Potter series), the films have also managed to garner consistent critical and audience acclaim, pleasing fans of the comics and characters the films are based on while also pleasing newcomers who are not so familiar with the material.
But while the MCU has gained an enormous fanbase over the years, it has also gathered a small, but very vocal, group of detractors who dislike the films for a variety of reasons. One of these people is Brian Taylor, co-director of films such as Crank, Gamer, and Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (based on the Marvel Comics character who was later rebooted to far better results on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.).
Speaking to ComicBook.com while promoting his new comic-book based TV show Happy!, Taylor explained his feelings of fatigue toward Marvel films.
“The Marvel [Studios] movies, I just don’t understand at all. I have to be honest, they seem very long to me. I’ve got to be careful the way I say this. I just don’t get them. I’m kind of bored with them and I just don’t find them particularly entertaining. I think they’re really well made in terms of craft. The action is really good. They’re technically really great. They have a lot of actors that I love. But I just don’t get it.”
While some may take issue with his comments, he did take the time to praise a couple of other, non-MCU superhero films, for one reason in particular.
“I kind of like making rated R movies. They don’t make too many of those. Logan and Deadpool were fantastic. I think rated R comic book movies could really work, and they can be great. I don’t know why Suicide Squad was not rated R. That just seemed like an obvious movie that should be rated R.”
So what do you think? Do you share Taylor’s viewpoints on Marvel Studios? Do you think Spirit of Vengeance is an underrated masterpiece (*snicker*)? Are you enjoying Happy!? Sound off down below!