In an interview with Empire magazine, Martin Scorsese stated Marvel movies were not cinema and compared them to “theme parks.”
“I don’t see them,” Scorsese said. “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.”
There was a big debate between directors in the film community about whether or not they agree with the statement. Personally, I think if it hits the big screen, then it counts as cinema.
When most people think of something cinematic, they imagine strong emotion and great camera work. Basically, a vision that has been crafted in a way that you don’t even notice you’re watching a screen.
In my own experience when watching movies that feature the likes of Spider-Man, the Avengers or Captain America, I feel that emotion. Besides my love for sci-fi, I actually am extremely fascinated with movies and how even the smallest thing such as adding the right soundtrack to convey a specific emotion can create a reaction.
To say that the movies are “theme parks” isn’t really an insult either because theme parks are fun. When Scorsese says that cinema creates psychological experiences, I think that Marvel does a great job at that because with fiction you can put yourself in a non-existent world and pretend for a short while.
Whether or not someone agrees or disagrees, the fact of the matter is that the movies are getting views and making money. So being that, it really just sounds like he might be seeking attention considering the fact that he was a part of a so-called “theme park” movie himself. “Shark Tale?” Very good movie and quite indulging.
He did in fact rebuttal his comment for a more positive outlook although it kind of just sounded like sorrow. I cannot say his statement was false because it’s not, but let’s not pretend Marvel isn’t good enough for the big screen. Marvel is the reason people still want to go to the movies.
