Marvel Shared Film Universe: MCU Theatrical & TV (discussion, crossovers, etc.)

[Edward J Grug III]

Dunno, but how many of us work for Disney and have a high profile social media account? He should have just had an intern scrub his account. His past isn't a surprise to him.

[LucasM]

Didn't get back to that comment, EJG III, but I hadn't thought of an intern doing it.  You're right: when he started to get a massive upsurge of followers, his social media accounts should have been scrubbed.  I think I just presumed he figured, "Disney already vetted me, there's nothing they have a problem with in my history," and did nothing himself.  He may have forgotten the exact comments he'd made, even though he knew there were some that were deliberately extremely provocative because of what he was promoting at the time.


Unrelated to the above:
I thought the following was already accomplished (apparently since the same writer, of a previous article I'd read and quoted here had also), but apparently it was just assumed to be the case before.:

UNCANNY: Fox Shareholders Vote "Yes" on Disney Deal

Disney finally stands triumphant as Fox and Disney shareholders have voted 'yes' on Disney's bid for 21st Century Fox assets. Now, while the deal is done, the merger isn't. I was actually mistaken in my reading of the situation in my last article about this, as they'll still need regulation approval globally, which I neglected to take into account or mention.

There's apparently a slight possibility that some other country could derail the purchase still.  [But, honestly, if the world can somehow approve the toxic merger of Monsanto into Bayer, I can't imagine Disney being an issue.]

[kunedog]

Pretty much mirrors my thoughts (though I think he's very wrong about the chances of Gunn coming back and Disney spinning it into a positive):

Hopefully more people will see past the politics (and through the hypocrisy) of the siuation and reach a more principled position.

[Pastor of Muppets]

I heard this story in passing, but couldn't figure out what James Gunn played in the movies.  So then when it turned out he was the director, I didn't care as much.

I wonder why anybody has a Twitter account.  It seems like it's all downside and no upside.  Does any good ever come of Twitter?  I personally think it's the worst invention of the past 10 years.

[The Lurker]

I heard this story in passing, but couldn't figure out what James Gunn played in the movies.  So then when it turned out he was the director, I didn't care as much.

I wonder why anybody has a Twitter account.  It seems like it's all downside and no upside.  Does any good ever come of Twitter?  I personally think it's the worst invention of the past 10 years.

He did have a large amount of control over the Guardians films, though.  I'll miss his behind the scenes posts and insight.  Twitter is alright for keeping in touch, but you also can have a bit of anonymity if you want.  Granted the moderation is rather crap.

[Pastor of Muppets]

I heard this story in passing, but couldn't figure out what James Gunn played in the movies.  So then when it turned out he was the director, I didn't care as much.

I wonder why anybody has a Twitter account.  It seems like it's all downside and no upside.  Does any good ever come of Twitter?  I personally think it's the worst invention of the past 10 years.

He did have a large amount of control over the Guardians films, though.  I'll miss his behind the scenes posts and insight.  Twitter is alright for keeping in touch, but you also can have a bit of anonymity if you want.  Granted the moderation is rather crap.

The 280 character limit bothers me the most.  By encouraging brevity, it takes pains to discourage insightful thought.  Complex thought is out in favor of pursuing popularity through retweets and racking up followers.  I've always hated Twitter, but I've been especially hateful of it ever since I learned about the Justine Sacco incident and all the "good" people who went took pains to ruin her life for the sake of popularity.

Anyway, I guess I'm getting off topic. 

[Edward J Grug III]

I heard this story in passing, but couldn't figure out what James Gunn played in the movies.  So then when it turned out he was the director, I didn't care as much.

I wonder why anybody has a Twitter account.  It seems like it's all downside and no upside.  Does any good ever come of Twitter?  I personally think it's the worst invention of the past 10 years.

He did have a large amount of control over the Guardians films, though.  I'll miss his behind the scenes posts and insight.  Twitter is alright for keeping in touch, but you also can have a bit of anonymity if you want.  Granted the moderation is rather crap.

The 280 character limit bothers me the most.  By encouraging brevity, it takes pains to discourage insightful thought.  Complex thought is out in favor of pursuing popularity through retweets and racking up followers.  I've always hated Twitter, but I've been especially hateful of it ever since I learned about the Justine Sacco incident and all the "good" people who went took pains to ruin her life for the sake of popularity.

Anyway, I guess I'm getting off topic.

You can just follow the people whose work you enjoy and they will tweet jokes, art, etc all day for free.

[Edward J Grug III]

While off Earth, Thor became the same narcissistic, opportunistic, selfish ass he was at the start of the first Thor film.  He used - and lied to - both Hulk and Banner to get his own way, and planned to use Banner/Hulk as a powerful weapon in his fight with Hera, regardless of the potential damage it could have caused (Banner thinking he might never be able to change back).  He was a manipulative asshole with no concern for anything but his own wants.  He basically became Loki.

To be fair, his wants were to save the entire universe from being enslaved by his sister. Not to mention saving his people from her.

And he was also dealing with his father's death and a terrible side of him he only just learned about.

[LucasM]

Information from HERE added to my continually-updated release list:

Runaways season 2 . . . . December 21, 2018 [full season drops at once!]

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode s06e01 . . . . July ?, 2019  [sometime in the month]

[Edward J Grug III]

While off Earth, Thor became the same narcissistic, opportunistic, selfish ass he was at the start of the first Thor film.  He used - and lied to - both Hulk and Banner to get his own way, and planned to use Banner/Hulk as a powerful weapon in his fight with Hera, regardless of the potential damage it could have caused (Banner thinking he might never be able to change back).  He was a manipulative asshole with no concern for anything but his own wants.  He basically became Loki.

To be fair, his wants were to save the entire universe from being enslaved by his sister. Not to mention saving his people from her.

And he was also dealing with his father's death and a terrible side of him he only just learned about.

And yet, he couldn't be honest with Banner/Hulk - someone he counts among his few friends - to accomplish that?  Someone who already showed his willingness to potentially fight and sacrifice his life to help others at Thor's side in the first two Avenger films?  If Thor honestly discussed how horrific Hera's rule of the nine realms would be, and how imminent it would be if not stopped, Banner would be - as he ultimately was on his own - on board regardless of the possible effects to his consciousness potentially being submerged.  The manipulation was UGLY on Thor's part.

Also, for me to believe that ANY of what you said was a component of the character in the film, none of Thor's manipulation of Banner/Hulk should have been played for laughs, which ALL of it was.  If it had been played with Thor clearly appearing desperate, it would be different.  But it was played as funny.  The result, as a viewer, was the opposite: I grew to hate Thor in that film.

Despite not caring for it, I've seen Thor: Ragnarok about five times (each time it gets more aversive).  There was no indicator in the film that any of what you've written here was intended by the filmmakers to be the explanation for what happened.  This is YOUR rationalization of the film to make it palatable.  I have no problem with that.  But to have it be an actual part of the film, there had to be something in the film itself that said any of this.  Thor spent more time mourning Mjolnir in the film than he did saying anything about what his father did prior to Thor's birth.  That tells me his emotional priorities.

Banner refused to help, it took Thor manipulating him for it to happen. Also, Hulk is not extremely open to negotiation.

[Edward J Grug III]

On the other hand, it was funny and fun.

[LucasM]

On the other hand, it was funny and fun.

Yes, apparently to a lot of people it was.  I didn't happen to be one of them, and I figured I'd explain why.  Not that I think people hang on my every word or something - just felt like expressing my reservations about it.

In retrospect, I should have followed my own rule: "when I am past my limits: don't post anything anywhere".  Because ultimately I may have shit on someone else's enjoyment of the film, and I regret that.

EDIT: So I just did the only thing I felt reasonable in those circumstances: I deleted my posts, and I apologize to anyone whose enjoyment was affected by my extended vivisection of the film.

[Edward J Grug III]

I certainly don't have a problem with you not liking it, I just disagree that his actions didn't make sense. I think his choices may not have been verbalized by the character, but for the reasons I said, I think they were logical.

[Darth Geek]

While I don't agree with all of LucasM's criticisms, I would at least be understanding of them if any of the things in the movie mattered. But they don't, because the movie refuses to take itself seriously AT ALL. Which is my personal biggest criticism of them movie, since a lot of things that happen in it should matter.
ODIN DIES! Seriously, literally the most powerful being in the Marvel Cinematic Universe dies, and the effect looks like a Twilight vampire farted. They only give Thor and Loki a moment to have an emotion before they are back to cracking jokes. There should be galactic ramifications to this, but nope we're on to the next silly scene.
Ragnarok ACTUALLY HAPPENS! The Norse equivalent of Armageddon happens right in front of the characters' eyes and the movie still cracks jokes. The Asgardians lose many of their loved ones, their homes, their heritage, their entire world, and the movie refuses to take it seriously.
The Hulk KILLS PEOPLE! And enjoys it! And the movie shows this to be a fun game. There are no character ramifications for Hulk willingly being a killer. We're still supposed to like him and hope Banner can change back.

So while I did enjoy this film, I don't take the events in it at all seriously because the movie clearly doesn't. It's a comedy first and foremost.

[LucasM]

Darth, I think you've hit on it: Thor:Ragnarok was an issue of 'Not Brand Echh'!!  But that comic series had no effect on comic continuity for any characters participating, unfortunately this did.

And I think that my criticisms were partly from the standpoint of taking the film as having happened, because it is part of MCU continuity.  And (probably because of my background) I couldn't get past the personality issues depicted, which led to my disliking Thor himself in the film, to even reach the level of analysis you put into it for the bigger picture.  Of those you mentioned, to me the Hulk "killing for fun" without even a mention that that is wrong stands out as the most egregious.  [Because of the way it was designed, I suspect they were tying it to ancient Colusseum 'sports', but the Hulk isn't in ancient Rome, so you are right: he shouldn't get a pass on his behavior.]  Most MCU 'heroes' are killers (Iron Man leads the pack, I think, but just barely over Cap - I think the only one who has never killed is Spider-Man [in the MCU version at least, he didn't give it a second thought it in the 'Amazing' films]).  But none have ever done it for sport before and shown the sociopathic glee in doing it that you point out for Hulk in Ragnarok.