Key Takeaways:
– Martin Scorsese’s criticism of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) might have softened, according to George Lucas.
– The acclaimed director compared Marvel movies to theme park rides in 2019, sparking widespread controversy.
– Lucas shared Lucas’s updated views during an interview at the Cannes Film Festival.
Martin Scorsese and His Cinematic Critique
Acclaimed film director, Martin Scorsese, renowned for classics like Goodfellas, Casino, Taxi Driver, and Raging Bull, amongst others, had stirred the pot in 2019. During an interview with Empire Magazine, Scorsese declared that he didn’t consider Marvel’s superhero films as cinema. His comparison of MCU blockbusters to theme park rides led to an uproar among fans and industry insiders alike.
Scorsese’s View on Marvel Softens
Despite inciting controversy, it seems Scorsese might have shifted his perspective. According to Star Wars creator and Scorsese’s friend, George Lucas, Scorsese’s stringent views on Marvel have relaxed recently. The revelation came during an interview with Brut 9 at the Cannes Film Festival. Lucas stated, “Cinema is the art of a moving image. If the image moves, it’s cinema. I think Marty (Scorsese) has kind of changed his mind a bit.”
Digital vs Traditional Filming Methods
The perception of what constitutes cinema isn’t the only debate Scorsese has been embroiled in with his contemporaries. The use of digital cameras over traditional film cameras has also divided opinion, with Christopher Nolan remaining a staunch supporter of the latter. Scorsese, however, seems to have embraced the digital era since filming Hugo.
Support and Ridicule for Scorsese’s Opinions
Scorsese’s Marvel criticism met with derision from MCU fans and some filmmakers like James Gunn and Joss Whedon, directors of Marvel films. However, the idea that superhero films serve primarily to entertain wide audiences to the detriment of sincere, artistic portrayals has garnered support from several figures in the industry.
Veteran filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola defended Scorsese’s comments, famously stating at the Lumière Festival in 2019, “When Martin Scorsese says that the Marvel pictures are not cinema, he’s right because we expect to learn something from cinema…I don’t know that anyone gets anything out of seeing the same movie over and over again.”
Actor Christian Bale echoed this sentiment, expressing his lack of enthusiasm on the sets of Thor: Love and Thunder. Similarly, filmmaker Ken Loach and actress Jodie Foster critiqued Marvel’s rampant production of films, calling it commodification. Famed director Quentin Tarantino didn’t spare the franchise in his criticisms either.
In conclusion, opinions on Marvel’s contribution to cinema continue to divide the film industry. Regardless, Lucas’s revelation about Scorsese’s softened stance indicates that the ‘Marvel vs Scorsese’ debate might be reaching a more settled crossroad.
