There
is a disturbing trend affecting recent comic book movies, which I think is only
going to get worse. When Marvel Studios formed over a decade ago, the idea was
to make comic book based movies the way they wanted, without studio
interference. After all, if a studio was footing millions in production costs,
they had the right to insist Spider-Man wear his web-shooters in his nose and have
a blue hoodie and sweatpants instead of a costume.
When
the Marvel Cinematic Universe began, Marvel enlisted creators who either grew
up loving the stories they were adapting (Sam Raimi—although he worked for Sony,
Joss Whedon) or were more than happy to reflect the comic book aesthetic (Jon
Farveau). As we get further and further from those early days, the directors
and production staff and Marvel Studios itself not only avoid the comic aesthetic
and sources, but hold them in red-hot contempt. Soothing actor egos,
eliminating costumes and letting directors de-comicify the look and stories of
the films are the active agenda of Marvel Studios today.
Avengers:
Infinity War is good. It’s not great. I admire the director’s ability to
fit everyone in and give them their moment while still telling a coherent
story. There are some nice one-liners and comedic moments, again
differentiating Marvel from DC films, which wallow in their own misery and lack
of humor. I did hate the ending and don’t want to wait a year to see it
finished. My biggest gripe with the movie is that many characters are
unrecognizable.
 |
| This is Captain America |
T’Challa,
the Black Panther, looks good. Viewers can identify the Guardians of the
Galaxy. Dr. Strange is identifiable. But the default superhero costume in every
superhero movie made, black leather ninja crap, is pervasive in this film. The
most egregious example is Captain America, who is not in this film. Part of the
film’s title is Avengers, yet not recognizable
in it are any Avengers.
 |
| Somewhat acceptable as Captain America |
Captain America is an Avenger. Cap has a specific
costume that he has worn since 1941 (with some brief exceptions). In the first Avengers film, Cap wore a close version
of this costume. Instead of Captain America, Avengers: Infinity War features Chris Evans in a beard and black
ninja crap. The public gets Captain America in a movie what, every two years?
And they couldn’t put a recognizable character on screen for five minutes? One
can’t really have an Avengers movie without Captain America, yet here we are.
Stupid.
 |
| Not Captain America |
Thor
is another example. This eye-patched, shorthaired weirdo looks more like the
real Nick Fury than Thor. Thor has worn long hair a cool winged helmet for over
50 years in the comics. It looks great. Chris Hemsworth wore a similar helmet
for five minutes in the first Thor
movie, it looked great.
 |
| This is Thor |
Marvel Studios really hates wings for some reason. The Black
Widow’s trademark is long (and sometimes short) red hair. She has never changed
her hair color in the comics. She is, through costume and hair color, instantly
recognizable as the Black Widow. Why did she go blonde in the movie? So the
action figure could be different? That’s what you get when everyone is in black
leather ninja crap; you have to change the hair color to tell characters apart.
 |
| Not sure who the #$%& this is, but it's not Thor |
I
really hate the moronic Spider-Man costume they forced Tom Holland into for
Infinity War. I think it was the DisneyXD one. It looks awful, and a great
costume is available! Just look at the comics. It’s been basically the same for
50 years BECAUSE IT WORKS.
As
the years go by, Marvel Studios care less and less about respecting their
source material. I’m not sure Anthony and Joe Russo, directors of Infinity War, have ever read a comic in their lives. Have any current
or upcoming Marvel directors? Sometimes it doesn’t matter—Black Panther wasn’t really taken from a specific Marvel story, but
they got the tone, and the costume, right. But it was already black leather
(vibranium?).
 |
| Kid Flash from The Flash on CW |
For some reason, directors and producers think colorful costumes
are stupid and the public won’t accept them. WRONG! Most of the CW superhero shows
present colorful costumes and they look great—and that is on a TV budget! I’m
not saying every costume in the comics would work on screen—but most of them
could be much more similar with some development by a determined costume
designer. Give Cap his costume and head wings! Give Thor his helmet (and hammer)!
Give Black Widow silver bracelets and red hair! These things have worked for over
five decades for a reason. People like them! Don’t make everything bland
black ninja crap. And don’t let the actors go without masks because of their attention-grabbing
need to show their faces all the time. Captain America wears a mask. Iron Man
wears a mask. Spider-Man wears a mask. If you don’t want to adapt comic books,
try YA novels, like everyone else! Not many of those characters wear costumes. But if they
did, I’m sure they would wear black leather ninja crap. It’s tiiiiiiiiiiiiime
to stop!
If
most of the characters from Avengers:
Infinity War were recognizable as Marvel comic book characters, as in
Avengers 1 & 2, I would have loved this film. Since they weren’t, I had no
emotional attachment to them. As it is, I somewhat liked it.
Rating:
*** stars out of 5
