Issues Solved: GOTG v. Captain America

BY CHRISTINA RIVERO

Most moviegoers of any kind are already familiar with Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, starting with Iron Man, and most recently releasing Guardians of the Galaxy. These sets of films are released in phases. Phase One included The Incredible Hulk, Captain America: The First Avenger, Iron Man and Iron Man 2, and  Thor. Once Phase 2 was introduced, the third Iron Man film was released then Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier followed.

However, most individuals did not find Iron Man to be particularly well made, and viewed the second Thor film as something to help you fall asleep. Even these insults did not match those of Captain America’s second installment. At first sight you may believe the films simply had these poor ratings due to them being follow ups of previous films. That same idea continued to seep through once Guardians of the Galaxy was released.

Guardians of the Galaxy has a current domestic gross of $333,176,600 while the Winter Soldier is currently at $259,766,572. Now with this info most people will then start to think: “What went wrong with Captain America?” It is not what went wrong with the film; it is more of what went wrong with the audience.

Ever since MTV released fast cut editing in the 1980s audiences’ IQ for films have dropped tremendously since films then began to mimic that style. The truth of the matter is no one wants to sit in a film and simply listen to people talk, and explain complicated situations. Audiences today want information handed to them instead of actually having to think and make their own inferences on the plot of the film. Fast editing filled with action allows the audience to not dwell in intellectual thought. Why do you think most Oscar nominated films are either foreign or never seen by American audiences?

What does this have to do with the MCU’s recent films? Easy. Although, Guardians had all the pieces to the puzzle of making a film it may have had too much of some sequences, and lacked in much more important, plot-building areas. Everything in the film leading to its ultimate ending handed you everything you needed to know instantly. For example, the film opens up with the main character as a young boy. As it progresses it shows him being abducted by an alien ship then fast forwards to him years later as an adult in space. Instead of weaving his past within the story to line up with certain scenes in order to explain the complexity of the main character the film just showed you where he came from without adding anything more.

To compare past events featured in the two films: The Winter Soldier introduces plots on top of the other then has them blend together to give you a reveal and insight as to why certain situations took place. The film kept your mind guessing and let you wander through the story before it told you what was truly going on. Oh, but God forbid a film do something as rash as that and dare to have its audience use their brains for once. Even then the film still had time to cater to those who enjoy action with many heart-pounding fights, and explosions.

So, is the fact that the film does not give you everything on a silver plate bother you to the extent of not wanting to watch it ever again, or at least try to ascertain that this film may have actually had a compelling plot? Of course that is why!

Before people begin to believe that I may simply be biased to the man in the American flag than to aliens fighting in outer space you are wrong. I happened to adore Guardians of the Galaxy as much as I did The Winter Soldier. Both films interested me and gave me something to enjoy. The only thing I ask is look at the facts.

When I went to see Guardians in theatres the majority of the audience consisted of 6 to 10 year olds with their parents, whereas Winter Soldier had adults and maybe one to two children in the audience. Also, speaking with younger children at stores wearing Guardians merchandise and hearing them say they did not understand The Winter Soldier, and yet loved the other film should tell you something.

Maybe Guardians was too easy of a film. Maybe you should not go to a theatre and expect a movie to be simple just because it is comic book based.

I have news for you, comics are not all the easy to grasp as most people would like to assume. They tend to be more complex than the films may ever be. Long story short, the films are giving you that universe much more easily.

My statement also stands for Thor: The Dark World and Iron Man 3. Both were complex, yet were turned down for their sheer “too much time” spent on verbal explanations.

Before you sit to see a film just do not expect to be given information instantly. Give the film a few chances before you decide you do not like it because you forgot to listen.