DUNE Director Denis Villeneuve Says "Too Many Marvel Movies Are Nothing More Than A Cut & Paste Of Others"

It's not exactly unusual for established filmmakers to take a dig at the comic book movie genre, and Dune director Denis Villeneuve has now thrown a bit of shade at the Marvel Cinematic Universe...

By MarkCassidy - Sep 16, 2021 06:09 AM EST

Filed Under: Dune

Denis Villeneuve had better prepare for quite a bit of fanboy backlash!

It's almost become trendy for acclaimed filmmakers to throw shade at the superhero movie genre these days, with Martin Scorsese (Goodfellas, The Irishman) recently claiming that, in his estimation, superhero films were "not cinema." Now, Villeneuve has followed-suit.

During an interview with Elmundo, the Dune director was asked for his take on the superhero movie boom, and said he believed that “there are too many Marvel movies that are nothing more than a cut and paste of others.”

Villeneuve elaborated in a separate interview with Premiere. "The problem today… well, if we’re talking about Marvel, the thing is, all these films are made from the same mold. Some filmmakers can add a little color to it, but they’re all cast in the same factory. It doesn’t take anything away from the movies, but they are formatted.”

This is a common criticism, and, to some degree, a valid one. Marvel Studios releases a lot of content (now more than ever with the addition of the Disney+ shows), and it's almost inevitable that a shared cinematic universe like the MCU is going to default to a particular formula on occasion. That said, there is still variety to be found when it comes to plot, character, and tone, and it's probably safe to assume that anyone who feels that these movies are "all the same" simply hasn't watched enough of them!

Villeneuve is obviously entitled to his opinion, but it is a shame he feels this way about the genre, if only because we'd love to see him helm a major DC or Marvel movie someday.

What do you guys make of his comments? Dune is now showing in some locations across Europe, and is set to hit US theaters on October 22.

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317 Comments

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

PapaSpank54 - 9/16/2021, 6:32 AM

TheWalkingCuban - 9/16/2021, 6:56 AM

@PapaSpank54 -

Drace24 - 9/16/2021, 7:14 AM

@PapaSpank54 - Is that an actual person? Doesn't look healthy.

KingLeonidas - 9/16/2021, 7:32 AM

@Drace24 - There is a debate about that. Some people think it is an elaborate fake.

bobevanz - 9/16/2021, 6:35 AM

He's not wrong, I've been saying this forever. I'm just glad we're at the beginning of a new cycle with new heroes lol

TheWalkingCuban - 9/16/2021, 6:57 AM

@TyrantBossMedia - and then we can have new ones. Let’s focus on the ups not the downs.

TheWalkingCuban - 9/16/2021, 7:06 AM

@TyrantBossMedia - I hope but I’m not really concerned. My tastes aren’t as refined as these directors. I don’t need rabbit ziti, I like pizza.

TheWalkingCuban - 9/16/2021, 7:56 AM

@TyrantBossMedia - in terms of MCU, I can eat pepperoni pizza every time. TO ME there have only been a couple domino’s, most are Brooklyn. But a few are Antico’s in ATL, or Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix, just mind blowing. But on a scale of 1 to 5, those are 6’s. They don’t take away from the many 5’s in marvel’s arsenal. Now don’t get me started on Disney plus, there’s been lots of Pizza Hut buffet episodes there, but also some Brooklyn’s. I can eat Brooklyn a few times a week and never get tired of it. And that’s what most of the movies are to me.

TheWalkingCuban - 9/16/2021, 8:05 AM

@TyrantBossMedia - I’m not loving D+ but I’m still excited for Hawkeye. I’m an MCU fan and not a fair weather one, an L don’t mean another L, but if I like good pizza everyday, so be it

Goldboink - 9/16/2021, 8:12 AM

@bobevanz -
And the underlying question is "is there anything wrong with that?" It is the hero's journey told in Marvel fashion. The same could be said for John Grisham books or any successful form of entertainment. You fine a formula that the audience is willing to pay for, grab it by the haunches and hump it for all it's worth. Shang Chi was highly entertaining. It was the same old Marvel thing in a different wrapper and it tasted just fine.

Give us a good Dune movie and then give us another and I will be happy as a clam.

Go Marvel!

TheWalkingCuban - 9/16/2021, 8:24 AM

@TyrantBossMedia - long as I’m rich idc if I gotta cook it myself

ReverseFlasher - 9/16/2021, 8:33 AM

@bobevanz - shang chi felt different enough for me

JonC - 9/16/2021, 8:44 AM

@bobevanz - him complaining about them being 'formatted' is mindless considering he is making a movie about a sand planet, spice and worms that has been made before with a sand planet, spice and worms.

DR3D - 9/16/2021, 8:47 AM

“It doesn’t take anything away from the movies, but they are formatted.”

That’s the key point, Marvel has become the McDonalds of movies. And millions of people indulge in it everyday.

dmac3232 - 9/16/2021, 9:56 AM

@TheWalkingCuban - Fun fact: Cranston did that on the very first take. They weren’t even planning for the pizza to end up on the roof. Legend.

TheWalkingCuban - 9/16/2021, 10:02 AM

@DR3D - technically it’s Chinese food now

TheWalkingCuban - 9/16/2021, 10:04 AM

@dmac3232 - what a waste of talent (the pizza artisan, not the meth one)

SauronthePower - 9/16/2021, 8:48 PM

@TyrantBossMedia - there’s a lot I agree with you on here butI would add that Scorcese has a ton of hypocritical sack trying to employ this argument.

In almost every movie, guy literally conflates a misguided sense of bad-boy Americana against some misc 60’s/70’s classic rock AOR chestnut right down to the exposition dump accompanied by ‘Layla.’

It was witty in ‘Goodfellas’ and has gotten incredibly played out since.

CAPTAINPINKEYE - 9/16/2021, 6:36 AM

I agree. But then again you could say that for about 50% of all the movies that come out.

Comicmoviejunki - 9/16/2021, 6:39 AM

@CAPTAINPINKEYE - I'd say more like 75%

GhostDog - 9/16/2021, 6:37 AM

They should have a follow-up question whenever this is said: "have you watched any of them?"

KWilly - 9/16/2021, 6:44 AM

@BlackBeltJones - Thank you lol. If you're gonna judge, at least know what you're judging ffs

CAPTAINPINKEYE - 9/16/2021, 6:45 AM

@BlackBeltJones - Well for him to make such a statement would conclude that he did watch them. Otherwise how could you make such a statement?

GhostDog - 9/16/2021, 6:51 AM

@CAPTAINPINKEYE - Lots of people speak on things they know little about lol. Just turn on the news or any sports media today.

But ya never know, maybe he did. That being said, it's his opinion but I think there's nothing wrong in clarifying if he's experienced the films. Like a food critic saying a restaurant is ass but doesn't specify if they've eaten there.

LSHF - 9/16/2021, 7:01 AM

@CAPTAINPINKEYE - Marty Skorsayzee (I'm not taking the time to learn how to pronounce his name) made negative comments regarding Marvel Studios films and the closet he can to actually watching them was to say, "...I tried...".

CAPTAINPINKEYE - 9/16/2021, 7:06 AM

@BlackBeltJones - if I said to you that I don’t like the taste of Indian food. Would you really ask me if I’ve eaten Indian food? Isn’t it obvious in my statement that I have eaten Indian food to have that opinion on the taste of Indian food? Denis is an educated man that I would like to believe that he has watched enough of the comic book movies to make his opinion public. I don’t know who these people are in the pics you posted.

CAPTAINPINKEYE - 9/16/2021, 7:09 AM

@LSHF - You should take the time to learn his name. he’s an amazing Director was done amazing movies that will be remembered for 1000 years to come. I don’t agree with his opinion about comic book movies but you have to understand he comes from a different generation from you and me when movies were made a different way and like the old saying goes you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Origame - 9/16/2021, 7:09 AM

@BlackBeltJones - in fairness, this is a very common criticism of the mcu. This isn't Scorsese saying they aren't cinema, or Maher saying all superhero movies are for kids and childish.

GhostDog - 9/16/2021, 7:16 AM

@CAPTAINPINKEYE - I think food is more ubiquitous and common. I can trust that you have tried it a lot more due to the nature of the food and how it's experienced.

I also think guys like Denis are VERY PARTICULAR about what they watch. He's an artist in a way that a food critic for the NY Times isn't going to review a mom-and-pop restaurant or a chain. I think there's an argument to be had that there is an underlying pretentiousness with artists who are all about the purity of the art. That can manifest in surface-level judgements sometimes.

I could totally be WRONG but I can't imagine he's immersed himself heavily in comic book films. If so, I would love a more detailed and lengthy critique at some point.

GhostDog - 9/16/2021, 7:18 AM

@Origame - I think Denis right but only in regards to the visuals. But its all one universe and we've heard its to make everything look connected and in the same world.

And that can get annoying. Eternals looks like its trying to break the mold which is exciting.

LSHF - 9/16/2021, 7:21 AM

@CAPTAINPINKEYE - I understand (thank you).

The silly thing is, he probably watched/read interview from directors he grew watching say the same kind of b.s. he stated.

I started watching his films when Taxi Driver first aired on network TV, and most of the movies I've seen of his I can easily categorize as something like, "violence porn" filled with a bunch of violent, mean characters. He can pat himself on the back by calling his own films "cinema" (or whatever he said), but I see horrible people doing horrible things to others (even Jerry Lewis' character getting kidnapped).

The only films I've seen of his that I wanted to see again was "The Last Temptation of Christ" (I own the Criterion Blu-ray).

But, I know millions like his violent films. He also grew up in a violent neighborhood and was exposed to more bad things than most of us ever will, and certainly wants to show us this violence.

But I understand what you are saying. Thank you.

Arthorious - 9/16/2021, 7:30 AM

@BlackBeltJones - I miss seeing Skip and Stephen A go at it

GhostDog - 9/16/2021, 7:35 AM

@Arthorious - both were so ridiculous lol. Pure entertainment.

Origame - 9/16/2021, 8:07 AM

@BlackBeltJones - yeah I get that. To me it's kind of an iffy complaint. On one hand, the mcu has been going on for over a decade while dominating theaters, so I can see this being a point where many people just start losing interest. On the other, it's not really an issue with the actual quality. I guess it just depends on your investment in this kind of thing.

GhostDog - 9/16/2021, 9:02 AM

@Origame - agreed

soberchimera - 9/16/2021, 6:38 AM

Highflyer - 9/16/2021, 6:38 AM

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

DUNE Director Denis Villeneuve Says "Too Many Marvel Movies Are Nothing More Than A Cut & Paste Of Others"

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