For nearly ten years, Marvel movies have given fans many things to love—including multidimensional characters, fantastic worlds, and gripping storylines. The Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to grow with this week's release of the highly-anticipated Captain America: Civil War. While this movie is the third entry in the Captain America series, it kicks off a new section of the MCU: Phase Three!
If you're not yet a fan of the MCU, now is a perfect time to find out what all the hype is about. Here are five things that make the MCU great.
1.) It's unique.
The MCU is one of the biggest crossovers in film and television. With the release of Iron Man in 2008, Marvel opened up a new door in cinematic storytelling. With the spinoff/crossover style usually only seen in television shows, Marvel's movies introduced individual heroes with their own stories and carefully wove each storyline together into what is one of the coolest crossover events ever: The Avengers.
The MCU isn't limited to just movies either. With four current television shows and more in the works, along with the growing list of movies, the MCU showcases multiple styles and avenues of storytelling.
2.) It's interactive.
Leading up to Captain America: Civil War, fans have been encouraged to choose their side and show their support for either Team Iron Man or Team Cap, just like the characters in the movie. It's so much fun to see which sides people are choosing and to discuss why they chose each side.
3.) Everything is connected.
The group of heroes who comprise the Avengers is an eclectic one—secret agents, a billionaire-genius-inventor, and a figure from Norse mythology to name a few—and at first glance, it's not easy to see what brings them all together. But every movie builds to the next, opening up storylines and revealing details that weave each story thread together.
4.) There are multiple genres.
Are you a fan of movies set in space featuring battles for planets and mysterious intergalactic treasures? How about a WWII action movie? A heist comedy where ants are heroes?
The Marvel Cinematic Universe has all of these and more. And with the growing lineup of movies and television shows, who knows what kinds of stories we'll see next? Genres, assemble!
5.) The characters are great.
The characters of the MCU are not perfect people but they are believable. The heroes have strengths and flaws. Some have a hero's background while others have less-than-heroic pasts; all want to change the world. They share a common goal, even if they have differing viewpoints and experiences. All of these details show us what each character is fighting for and why.
And this multidimensional characterization isn't limited to the heroes: Even the villains have won over the hearts of fans.
(Looking at you, Loki.)
Are you a fan of the MCU? Tell me about your favorite movies and heroes (or villains)!
Yes! I haven't been as informed when it comes to the TV series, but I still agree. In my eyes, the MCU has been an impressively collaborative movement and it is through great characters, intriguing plots, and a lot of coordination that they've made this universe so awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm only really familiar with the ABC shows (haven't yet gotten to the Netflix series, though I've heard great things), but it's interesting to see how even they connect with the movies from time to time. :) The level of coordination involved for the MCU is astounding! I love seeing the connections and meeting the new characters and worlds.
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