隨著時間的推進，漫威宇宙伴隨著它那億萬粉絲，從一個小小的漫畫世界蛻變成為了全球電影產業的一個龐大現象。自2008年《鋼鐵俠》以來，漫威電影工作室（Marvel Studios）不僅重塑了超級英雄電影的模式，更是開創了跨度十多年的電影連續體——漫威電影宇宙（Marvel Cinematic Universe, MCU）。然而近年來，一些觀眾和影評人開始對漫威電影的質量表達了擔憂。他們發現，這個曾經以創新和高質量影片著稱的品牌，似乎在魅力和新意上有所減退。論壇討論變得激烈，社交媒體上的爭論此起彼伏，一個備受爭議的話題——“為何漫威電影越拍越爛?”，逐漸浮出水面。
這不免令人產生疑問：究竟是漫威電影的製作質量出現了下滑，還是觀眾的期待隨著時間提高了？是不是因為同質化嚴重、創意枯竭，還是因為市場飽和讓觀眾體驗到了疲勞？2024年1月13日推出的的最新一期《經濟學人》, 在文化專欄中就該問題進行了深入探討。
這也是[2024英語外刊超精讀]的第一篇要深度學習的文章。每次精讀課都會嚴格按照
預習—學習—複習—練習
的順序依次往前推進。可以說,只要你認真跟著這套課程學下去,堅持一段時間,英語成績和能力的提升,絕對不在話下。
下面是這篇文章的完整版, 後續的完整精讀影片和講義,以及課後練習等, 請加老師微信獲取:
文章原文(音訊可掃碼獲取)
Superhero
films
films
Marvel seems to be losing its
powers
powers
The world’s mightiest movie franchise looks increasingly fragile
Jan 11th 2024 |
IN “THE AVENGERS” (2012) Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), a spy, described heroes
as “an old-fashioned notion”.
Certainly the film’s characters, including Captain
America and Iron Man, were not novel, first appearing in comic books published
in the mid-20th century. But if the idea was old, the excitement around
superheroes had been renewed. “The Avengers” became the first Marvel movie to make more than $1bn at the global
box office.
as “an old-fashioned notion”.
Certainly the film’s characters, including Captain
America and Iron Man, were not novel, first appearing in comic books published
in the mid-20th century. But if the idea was old, the excitement around
superheroes had been renewed. “The Avengers” became the first Marvel movie to make more than $1bn at the global
box office.
When Fury’s words were used in the
trailer for “The Marvels”(2023, pictured), however, they took on a different tone. Heroes may seem
antiquated, he argued, but “the world can still use
them”. If it was an attempt to convince the viewer, it
did not work. Released in November, “The Marvels”, the 33rd instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), made
around $200m at the box office. It became the
poorest-performing MCU film to date, and will probably lose money.
trailer for “The Marvels”(2023, pictured), however, they took on a different tone. Heroes may seem
antiquated, he argued, but “the world can still use
them”. If it was an attempt to convince the viewer, it
did not work. Released in November, “The Marvels”, the 33rd instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), made
around $200m at the box office. It became the
poorest-performing MCU film to date, and will probably lose money.
Nor was “The Marvels” a one-off disappointment. “Ant-Man and the Wasp:
Quantumania” also underperformed. According to
CinemaScore, an audience-rating benchmark, of the past
eight MCU films, five have scored B+ or worse (see chart). Fans
complain of dull characters, sloppy writing and amateurish special effects.
Quantumania” also underperformed. According to
CinemaScore, an audience-rating benchmark, of the past
eight MCU films, five have scored B+ or worse (see chart). Fans
complain of dull characters, sloppy writing and amateurish special effects.
Marvel
productions on the small screen have not fared much better.
RecentMCU television series on Disney+, including “Secret Invasion”,
about Fury’s character, have been poorly reviewed and, estimates
suggest,
little watched. It does not bode well for the shows due to be released
in the
coming months.
productions on the small screen have not fared much better.
RecentMCU television series on Disney+, including “Secret Invasion”,
about Fury’s character, have been poorly reviewed and, estimates
suggest,
little watched. It does not bode well for the shows due to be released
in the
coming months.
The decline is surprising: for a long time, the Marvel brand seemed
invincible. Disneybought
the comic-book company in 2009
and it became a prized asset. The 23 movies released between 2008 and 2019
grossed almost $23bn in total, making Marvel the largest film
franchise in history.
invincible. Disneybought
the comic-book company in 2009
and it became a prized asset. The 23 movies released between 2008 and 2019
grossed almost $23bn in total, making Marvel the largest film
franchise in history.
Marvel kept standards high even as it increased production. The company
released 2.75 films, on average, in 2016-19, up from 1.2 in 2008-13. Of those
23 movies, only one ranked lower than A- on CinemaScore. Three films received
an A+, awarded to fewer than 100 of over 4,000 films measured since 1979.“Black Panther” (2018)
even became the first comic-book adaptation to be nominated for Best Picture at
the Oscars.
released 2.75 films, on average, in 2016-19, up from 1.2 in 2008-13. Of those
23 movies, only one ranked lower than A- on CinemaScore. Three films received
an A+, awarded to fewer than 100 of over 4,000 films measured since 1979.“Black Panther” (2018)
even became the first comic-book adaptation to be nominated for Best Picture at
the Oscars.
Marvel pioneered an innovative “cinematic universe” model, in which
plotlines and characters were shared across films. As Marvel’s universe grew, its competitors tried, and failed, to emulate its
success. DC Comics—which owns Batman,
Superman and Wonder
Woman—set up, and recently scrapped, its “Extended Universe”. Warner
Bros has turned the Harry Potter franchise into a “Wizarding World”. Universal
twice tried to launch a “Dark Universe” of monsters such as Dracula and the Mummy, but both attempts failed
after a single release. Efforts to build out Robin Hood and his merry men
(Lionsgate), Power Rangers (also Lionsgate) and King Arthur and his round table
(Warner Bros) all faltered.
plotlines and characters were shared across films. As Marvel’s universe grew, its competitors tried, and failed, to emulate its
success. DC Comics—which owns Batman,
Superman and Wonder
Woman—set up, and recently scrapped, its “Extended Universe”. Warner
Bros has turned the Harry Potter franchise into a “Wizarding World”. Universal
twice tried to launch a “Dark Universe” of monsters such as Dracula and the Mummy, but both attempts failed
after a single release. Efforts to build out Robin Hood and his merry men
(Lionsgate), Power Rangers (also Lionsgate) and King Arthur and his round table
(Warner Bros) all faltered.
By the early 2020s theMCU seemed set for further dominance.
In 2019 Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, which held the rights to characters
including the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. The launch of Disney+ that year
made it easier for fans to keep up with the ever-expanding MCU and
enabled the franchise to tell new stories in a serialised format. But
instead of developing its position in pop culture, Marvel has struggled creatively
and financially.
In 2019 Disney acquired 20th Century Fox, which held the rights to characters
including the X-Men and the Fantastic Four. The launch of Disney+ that year
made it easier for fans to keep up with the ever-expanding MCU and
enabled the franchise to tell new stories in a serialised format. But
instead of developing its position in pop culture, Marvel has struggled creatively
and financially.
Disney insiders suggest several causes for the slump. One is to do with
personnel. Several trusted writers and directors have moved on. Many of the
actors playing the most popular superheroes left theMCU after “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019,
and Chadwick
Boseman, the star of “Black Panther”, died in 2020.
Last month Disney fired Jonathan Majors after he was found guilty of assaulting
and harassing his then-girlfriend. The actor played the villain at the heart of
the “Multiverse Saga”, the
story which would connect the films released between 2021 and 2027.
personnel. Several trusted writers and directors have moved on. Many of the
actors playing the most popular superheroes left theMCU after “Avengers: Endgame” in 2019,
and Chadwick
Boseman, the star of “Black Panther”, died in 2020.
Last month Disney fired Jonathan Majors after he was found guilty of assaulting
and harassing his then-girlfriend. The actor played the villain at the heart of
the “Multiverse Saga”, the
story which would connect the films released between 2021 and 2027.
Another reason is to do with geopolitics. The first 23 films were all
released in China, the world’s largest
theatrical market, but between
2020 and 2022, none was. (China did not give a clear reason why, but it was
probably building up its domestic film industry.) Though this de facto ban is
now over, cinematic universes are hard to understand when audiences have missed
several entries. Making matters worse, Disney+ is not available in China, so
fans cannot watch the TV entries.
released in China, the world’s largest
theatrical market, but between
2020 and 2022, none was. (China did not give a clear reason why, but it was
probably building up its domestic film industry.) Though this de facto ban is
now over, cinematic universes are hard to understand when audiences have missed
several entries. Making matters worse, Disney+ is not available in China, so
fans cannot watch the TV entries.
Yet part of the problem is of Marvel’s own making. Since 2021 the MCU has released an average
of 3.3 films and 3.7 television series every year—a
rate that seems to strain audiences, internal creative teams and
special-effects departments. For prospective viewers hoping to watch a new
title, 33 films and 11 seasons of television is simply too much homework. The
focus on the “multiverse”, which draws on films predating the existing cinematic universe,
aggravates this issue.
of 3.3 films and 3.7 television series every year—a
rate that seems to strain audiences, internal creative teams and
special-effects departments. For prospective viewers hoping to watch a new
title, 33 films and 11 seasons of television is simply too much homework. The
focus on the “multiverse”, which draws on films predating the existing cinematic universe,
aggravates this issue.
Audiences may yet tire of superheroes much as they tired of Westerns in
the late 1960s. But for now, the genre goes on. The third “Guardians of the Galaxy” film
grossed $846m, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2023, and received
an A rating on CinemaScore. “Spider-Man: Across the
Spiderverse”, an animated film by Sony, was also among
the most popular films last year.
the late 1960s. But for now, the genre goes on. The third “Guardians of the Galaxy” film
grossed $846m, making it the fourth-highest-grossing film of 2023, and received
an A rating on CinemaScore. “Spider-Man: Across the
Spiderverse”, an animated film by Sony, was also among
the most popular films last year.
Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO, who
initiated Marvel’s expansion, has said the franchise
can return to its former glory by slowing the pace of production. “I’ve
always felt that quantity can be
actually a negative when it comes to quality. And I think that’s exactly
what happened. We lost some focus.” He, and Marvel’s many fans, will be
holding
out for the heroes. ■
initiated Marvel’s expansion, has said the franchise
can return to its former glory by slowing the pace of production. “I’ve
always felt that quantity can be
actually a negative when it comes to quality. And I think that’s exactly
what happened. We lost some focus.” He, and Marvel’s many fans, will be
holding
out for the heroes. ■