Sitting here, about to start our Sunday night in front of the TV to celebrate the end of the school holidays for Ms 8, I find myself pondering what it is about really great movie franchises that make them work so well for both kids and adults.
In the interests of full disclosure, pondering is one of my favourite activities.
So, in no particular order, here is a list of the consistent features in Marvel movies which work for us:
Marvel movies are fun. And not just fun, but really fun. The writers, the actors, directors, and seemingly everyone involved in the process are people who remember what being silly is like. If you feel like scoffing at this point, it's worth remembering that kids absolutely love silliness. In my experience as a parent, engaging in silliness with Ms 8 is one of the highlights of my day. (Note to self: engage in silliness during and after Antman!) And Marvel movies are fun on a number of levels. Yes silly. But the writers aren't afraid of having fun with some of the most serious dynamics in human nature, such as the moral dilemma between doing one's duty and doing what's right.
Marvel movies aren't afraid of kick-arse women. What is it with blokes who don't like empowered women? (Ghostbusters 3 anyone?) Happily, Marvel revels in strong women (though admittedly they don't make up 50% of heroes, women are still strongly represented - and represented very strongly indeed. I mean how cool is Black Widow? How cool is Jessica Jones? How cool is Hela - in a nasty kind of way - and Tessa Thompson's Valkyrie?
Marvel movies are fast-paced. There is always something happening to move the plot along in a Marvel movie - and if there isn't there's something funny happening. And the action usually incorporates fun sequences, bullets and (non-gratuitous) dead bodies interspersed with gags and character development. (You know I get it. Violence for kids is no good. But the beauty of Marvel movies is that the action replicates the comic formulae - BIF! BAF! - but it's really not believable.)
The music is so good. Soundtracks which make use of great songs, from whatever era, rock. And Marvel movies aren't afraid to dig up the oldies and let them shake the walls. I mean, the Immigrant Song for Thor Ragnarok? Legendary.
The detail is amazing. Maybe because they have decades of rich comic-book history to draw on (pun intended), the characters are rich, the plots are strong, the stories are well developed and intersect with each other nicely.
And there's so much more. But hey. Next time your kid wants to watch a Marvel movie with you, trust me. Do it.
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Photo courtesy of pixabay.com
