Curator Head to Head: Marvel Cinematic Universe

SZ: This was the MCU’s first attempt at an ensemble piece, but how do you combine such a disparate crew of characters? Well, you grab writer/director Joss Whedon and hold on tight. From Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Firefly and Serenity, Whedon has a track record of creating teams of beloved, unique characters with group dynamics that feel natural and true. His notoriously witty dialogue and zingy one-liners are as fresh as ever, but he’s at his best when deriving comedy from bringing our heroes right back down to earth; from Tony Stark’s response to Thor’s outfit ('Doth mother know you wear-eth her drapes?'), to Hulk’s reaction to Loki’s grand closing monologue.

Sometimes I find myself rooting for the villains – Loki is a lot more fun

AD: I’m not nearly as enthusiastic about this one as Sonia. When I started this mission, Avengers Assemble was the movie I was really looking forward to. I’ve been a huge fan of Joss Whedon since Buffy, and his gift for deft humour and darkness could have made for a masterpiece.

But Avengers Assemble fell a bit flat for me. It’s too long, and the endless Battle of New York, which may have been remarkable on the big screen, lost its spectacle on television. Every now and then a clever line slips through but the Marvel ensemble pieces are simply too bloated, and the superheroes, some of whom are great company on their own, are a bit bland when they are all together. Iron Man, Black Widow and the Hulk are great, but when humourless duds like Captain America or Hawkeye take centre stage, sometimes I find myself rooting for the villains – Loki is a lot more fun.

AD: Guardians of the Galaxy is comfortably the best of the Marvel films I have seen so far. It’s a film you can enjoy whether you’ve seen 20 Marvel films or 0. The screenplay is so sharp, the comic timing is so wicked, and I’m always a sucker for a superhero film with a motley crew. These underdogs are much easier to root for than Thor and his ilk. This is the only Marvel movie that genuinely transported me back to the fun and glee of watching films like Indiana Jones and the like when I was young. Chris Pratt does a great job of channeling the swagger of a young Harrison Ford, while Drax the Destroyer, tree monster Groot and permanently pugnacious raccoon Rocket are great, flawed characters.

SZ: This film was tasked not only with introducing us to at least seven key characters, but also the concept of the infinity stones, forming the backbone of the Infinity Saga (the term used to group the first 23 films of the MCU). I was thrilled to hear that Alex enjoyed this one! Guardians is hugely entertaining, with hilarious moments and characters that bounce off one another with pinball precision.

Getting us to believe in and care for that family, well that’s really what the whole game is about

However, where Guardians truly excels is in emotional engagement and sheer heart. Our lonely band of misfits has finally found a family. Getting us to believe in and care for that family, well that’s really what the whole game is about.

AD: The most recent film I watched from the series – Doctor Strange – is one of the very best. Marvel movies are at their best when they take a risk, and some of the trippy scenes in Doctor Strange verge on experimental. The controversial casting of Tilda Swinton as the non-binary Ancient One – a Tibetan man in the comics – is particularly arresting. Although it features the most shockingly violent death in the series so far, Doctor Strange is also often very funny. I loved it, and I can’t wait to get to Black Panther, which I know many believe to be the best Marvel movie.

SZ: On first viewing Doctor Strange, I wasn’t overly enamoured. I considered the doctor to be an imitation of Tony Stark and branded the film an enjoyable but average origin story. However, this one has since shot up in my estimation and I see things very differently. Benedict Cumberbatch gives our lead just the right amount of hubris and Tilda Swinton is wonderfully otherworldly, though as Alex says; controversially cast, as the Ancient One. Rather than concerning itself with simple good vs evil, there are moral greys at every turn. This complexity and willingness to veer from the usual model extends to the visuals, which are often beautifully bright and experimental. Finally, in an incredibly risky move, the filmmakers had the courage to stage a final battle the likes of which haven’t been seen before or since. 

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Though they may not agree on everything, it’s safe to say that as Alex continues his journey through the next phase of the MCU, Sonia will be there waiting to eagerly discuss at every turn.