‘Racist, Sexist, Homophobic’: ‘The Marvels’ Director Used Liberal Playbook as Film Tracked to Opening as Flop
‘The Marvels’ Director Used Liberal Playbook as Film Tracked to Opening as Flop
When woke liberals’ products prove unpopular, or when their ideas fail to persuade, they never bother with self-reflection. After all, they already know how good and smart they are. Instead, they buttress their self-conceit with accusations of bigotry against others.
In an October interview with Variety, Nia DaCosta — 31-year-old director of “The Marvels” — prepared herself and her fellow woke liberals for the film’s impending flop.
Citing pre-release criticism of the film by movie fans online, DaCosta described “pockets” of fandom “that are really virulent and violent and racist — and sexist and homophobic and all those awful things.”
“The Marvels,” starring woke actress Brie Larson as Carol Danvers — aka “Captain Marvel” — did indeed flop on its Nov. 10 opening day.
In fact, according to the entertainment news site Deadline, the film’s $110 million global opening amounted to the worst-ever worldwide showing for the Disney-owned Marvel Cinematic Universe.
According to Variety, DaCosta was the first black woman ever to direct an MCU film.
That, of course, had nothing to do with the movie’s dreadful performance. In fact, according to Breitbart, the largest segment of ticket buyers for “The Marvels” happened to be white males.
So what gives? How should we account for this tremendous flop?
Well, the woke liberal executives at Disney have made no secret of the fact that they prioritize “diversity.” And audiences despise that. It could not be simpler.
The question of why audiences despise filmmakers who prioritize diversity, however, requires an explanation. After all, woke liberals — either from stubbornness or conceit — continually and perhaps deliberately misunderstand.
Take “The Marvels,” for instance. The story focuses on three female characters: Danvers, Monica Rambeau and Kamala Khan, aka “Ms. Marvel.” They are, of course, suitably diverse.
According to Variety, the film “makes good on the promise of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ and its six-second sequence in the fight against Thanos where all the MCU’s super-women rally behind Captain Marvel.”
Remembering that “super-women” scene from 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” and recalling Disney’s “diversity” objective, I do not need to know anything else about “The Marvels.” I will not watch it.
I will not watch it, in fact, because I will not pay to have filmmakers showcase their own presumed virtue. That scene from “Endgame” had no other purpose.
Prior to that scene, of course, it never occurred to me that female superheroes could not use their imaginary superpowers as well as male superheroes could use theirs. The filmmakers, however, must have assumed that I did think that way. Otherwise, that dramatic assembling of female superheroes — which felt as forced as could be — added nothing to the film.
Ironically, if Disney wants a lesson in doing things right, it could look to one of its own examples.
In the Season 2 finale of “The Mandalorian” — part of Disney’s “Star Wars” franchise — four capable female warriors fought their way onto an enemy starship. The difference between that scene and the one from “Endgame?” No one made a point of highlighting the fact that those four “Star Wars” women were, in fact, women.
And the scene worked. In fact, as one female reviewer put it, “all four were playing characters who had specific reasons for being on that ship that went beyond trite ‘girl power’ tropes. It wasn’t about making a meme-ready feel-good moment.”
Above all, as someone who grew up watching Ellen Ripley — Sigourney Weaver’s butt-kicking and name-taking female lead character in the 1980s blockbuster “Alien” movie franchise — I grow tired of woke Gen-Z types who think they must instruct the world.
In short, we care nothing about skin color or chromosomes. Give us a good story, and we will watch. But show humility while doing it. If you prioritize “diversity,” then you prioritize showcasing your own perceived moral superiority. Everyone but you can see that.
Otherwise, your movies will continue to produce scenes like this one, courtesy of comedian Ryan Long:
Enormous win went to treat myself to marvels and have the entire theatre to myself pic.twitter.com/hWLBRZ97zJ
— Ryan Long (@ryanlongcomedy) November 14, 2023
“Enormous win went to treat myself to marvels and have the entire theatre to myself,” Long tweeted on Monday.
A Note from Our Deputy Managing Editor:
I walked into the office one morning and noticed something strange. Half of The Western Journal’s readership was missing.
It had finally happened. Facebook had flipped THE switch.
Maybe it was because we wrote about ivermectin. Or election integrity. Or the Jan. 6 detainees. Or ballot mules.
Whatever the reason, I immediately knew what to do. We had to turn to you because, frankly, we know you are the only ones we can trust.
Can you help? Every donation to The Western Journal goes directly to funding our team of story researchers, writers and editors who doggedly pursue the truth and expose the corrupt elites.
Can I count on you for a small donation? We operate on a shoestring compared to other news media companies, so I can personally promise that not a penny of your donation will be wasted.
If you would rather become a WJ member outright, you can do that today as well.
We will use every single cent to fight against the lies and corruption in high places. And as long as we have your help, we will never give up.
Sincerely,
Josh Manning
Deputy Managing Editor
The Western Journal
Does the use of diverse female characters in a superhero film always result in forced diversity and tokenism?
E post-credit scene — Carol floating through space and Monica receiving a message from Nick Fury.”
This representation of diverse female characters in a superhero film should be celebrated, right? Wrong. Audiences are not impressed by forced diversity and tokenism. They see through it and reject it.
What audiences want are captivating stories and relatable characters. They don’t care about the gender or ethnicity of the characters as long as they are well-developed and interesting. But woke liberals fail to understand this simple concept.
Instead, they rely on identity politics, pushing their agenda of diversity and representation above all else. This approach not only alienates a significant portion of the audience but also compromises the quality of the storytelling.
The obsession with diversity has led to many subpar films and television shows. Rather than focusing on creating compelling narratives, filmmakers try to check boxes and meet quotas. This approach inevitably results in contrived plots, shallow characters, and overall lackluster storytelling.
Woke liberals need to realize that true diversity goes beyond skin color and gender. It is about representing a range of experiences, perspectives, and ideas. It is about telling stories that resonate with all audiences, regardless of their background.
If filmmakers want to create successful and impactful works, they should focus on quality, authenticity, and creativity. They should strive to tell stories that connect with people on a deeper level, rather than relying on superficial gimmicks.
At the end of the day, audiences want to be entertained and moved. They want films that make them think, feel, and reflect. The success of a film should be measured by its ability to captivate and engage viewers, not by how many diversity boxes it checks.
So, to all the woke liberals out there, take a moment to reflect on your approach. Instead of blaming audiences for not appreciating your “progressive” agenda, consider that maybe it’s your storytelling and execution that is lacking.
There is no shame in embracing diversity and representation; on the contrary, it is necessary and important. However, it should not come at the expense of quality and meaningful storytelling.
If filmmakers truly want to make a difference and create impactful works, they should step back, reevaluate their priorities, and focus on what truly matters – the art of storytelling and the power of cinema to bring people together.
Only then will they truly succeed, not just in box office numbers, but in leaving a lasting impression on audiences and making a meaningful contribution to the world of cinema.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
