After Black Adam, before Wakanda Forever - looking back at the MCU and its competitors in the twilight of 2022
This has certainly been a year for comic book movies.
Good? Bad? You decide. I'm of the opinion it was a positive experience.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe is still the phenomenal haegemon colossus I grew to love between 2016 and 2019. Though I have learned to be more vigilant and perceptful (I just made this word up, yes) of its flaws, I still think it's not running short on steam.
Why?
Because Doctor Strange 2 and Thor 4.
Multiverse of Madness fixes the lack of a distinct visual style. It showcases yet another strong antagonist in the form of Wanda Maximoff/Scarlet Witch. It continues the journey of Stephen Strange in a good and compelling manner. It gives us the glimpse of the multiverse and introduces a promising young hero in the flesh of America Chavez.
Love and Thunder is the best focking comic book movie of the year, sue me. Yes, it even outperformed the Batman ever so slightly in my eyes. The emotion is firing on all cylinders, creating a resonant and heartfelt journey for both the protagonist and the antagonist. The visuals are stunning and breathtaking. The soundtrack is consistently impressive. The direction is smooth and clear. Despite its frequent misses the humor hits at times and serves a purpose. And the acting, oh my goodness, the ACTING!
And now Wakanda Forever is shaping up to be an artistically passionate experience as well. Fuck yeah!
Not to say the competition's been slacking, tho. The Batman is the 2nd best CBM of the year. It is the best cinematographic superhero project of the year, because its visuals are more consistent and more tangible. It soundtrack is great, though less consistent than LaT's. It has a very good antagonist and an atmosphere unachievable for MOM and LaT save for the black and white Gorr sequence and the Wanda scares.
Black Adam tho is a different story. It has all the weaknesses of the MCU, yet barely any of its charms, except maybe the occasionally well placed sarcasm. Its strengths come purely from DC, but the film's just a very confused volley of teal lightning, yellow magic and slow mo.
It worries me, because BP2 could very easily fall into that, if it doesn't keep its focus on character. Black Adam blew its load, The Batman, MOM and LaT passed the test. Here's hoping we keep waiting until the amazing end to the CBM year of 2022 finally arrives!
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