John Woo Shares His Concerns on Marvel Movies Saying They Leave Viewers With No Desire to Study Classic Films
It turns out that action film director John Woo (The Killer, Hard Boiled, Face/Off) also has some reservations about the kinds of films that Marvel is making. The filmmaker recently received the Hawaii International Film Festival’s Halekulani Lifetime Achievement Award. While at the event, Woo shared his thoughts on Marvel films with Deadline, saying:
“I’m concerned about when these movies get more and more popular, I’m afraid it will make young audiences get lost when it comes to knowledge about film.”
He added that “these movies have become the standard for younger audiences and that they won’t have the desire to study or watch what Mr. Scorsese refers to as ‘real cinema’ such as Lawrence of Arabia, Mean Streets, A Clockwork Orange and 2001: A Space Odyssey.”
I do think there is truth to a lot of younger audiences having no desire to study classic films these days. I wouldn’t place the blame on Marvel though. In my own experience with raising three girls, that desire was killed for them by those mind-numbing YouTube shows. It’s hard for me to even get them to go see Marvel movies with me these days! They’d rather watch their YouTube shows. It’s so discouraging as a geeky parent!
Anyway, Woo goes on to say that he has no interest in directing his own superhero movie. He even once turned down an offer from Stan Lee to direct one:
“I don’t have that gift. I’m not a sci-fi guy — I don’t think I could make a good one. There’s so much imagination… I don’t think I can reach that level.”
What are your thoughts on Woo’s comments regarding Marvel movies?