Martin Scorsese has split the internet with his claims that Marvel movies are “not cinema”.
Speaking to Empire, the legendary director of Goodfellas and The King of Comedy had this to say about Marvel’s cinematic offerings:
I don’t see them. I tried, you know? But that’s not cinema.
Honestly, the closest I can think of them, as well made as they are, with actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, is theme parks.
It isn’t the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being.
It’s an interesting time for the filmmaker to take issue with superhero films, not least because Joker, based on the DC comic book character, heavily draws on the director’s work and sees Scorsese regular Robert De Niro act in his first comic book film.
The internet was split and people were keen to offer their thoughts.
Look, Martin Scorsese isn’t writing off all Marvel movies as bad. He’s just saying that they’re all barely movies.… https://t.co/eJUmRlxltY— Licorice P’Zone™ (@Licorice P’Zone™) 1570159738
mcu stans saying THE martin scorsese is jealous of marvel movies....... the nerve 😳 https://t.co/UCpEvyE9L7— belén (@belén) 1570154548
Martin Scorsese says Marvel movies aren’t “cinema”. And I thought he liked long, intense ensemble dramas. https://t.co/Z7EpaPR9tE— LightsCameraJackson (@LightsCameraJackson) 1570155666
Tweet of the day: "When was the last time [Martin Scorsese] directed any movie of note". Marvel stans, eh? https://t.co/T5RVZtTydx— 100Films.co.uk (@100Films.co.uk) 1570187385
I like Marvel movies. I also like Martin Scorsese movies. https://t.co/5kmT0jNMHz— Doug Jamieson (@Doug Jamieson) 1570156234
Scorsese talking Me reading about Marvel all the tweets https://t.co/SA70blWJip— Bronco Henry (@Bronco Henry) 1570159208
Martin Scorsese there, sounding like Kirk Lazarus from Tropic Thunder. you absolutely hate to see it. https://t.co/Tkgv9JhTXN— Muhammad Butt (@Muhammad Butt) 1570198849
Journalist Carl Anka didn't agree with Scorsese either, especially when movies like Black Panther exist.
Scorsese on Marvel movies is so bad. How can you not watch them and then think they have nothing to say on the huma… https://t.co/isTA6p79PG— 🇬🇭 Carl Anka 🇬🇭 (@🇬🇭 Carl Anka 🇬🇭) 1570186010
I Scorsese is a genius, and he's one of the reasons I both write for a living and write in the way I do but... ther… https://t.co/ssY63saXip— 🇬🇭 Carl Anka 🇬🇭 (@🇬🇭 Carl Anka 🇬🇭) 1570187044
The MCU isn't without critique. Its 10/10 casting does a LOT of heavy lifting for its weaker moments but there's a… https://t.co/r8ukVe6dbC— 🇬🇭 Carl Anka 🇬🇭 (@🇬🇭 Carl Anka 🇬🇭) 1570187044
Incidentally, Scorsese's new movie The Irishman will be arriving on Netflix on November 27.
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