- Iron Man 3 and Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation writer Drew Pearce draws an analogy for this blockbuster bloat, responsible for routinely pushing run times over the two-hour mark: “Much as I love a prog-rock album, if it’s a pop song I like it to be short and sweet, and I think it has more impact that way. And summer blockbusters are very proggy right now.”
Not shown in this article: the explanation. Long story short: In 1995, 70% of Hollywood's money came from domestic box office. In 2015, 70% of Hollywood's money comes from foreign box office. Combine that with the fact that nobody goes to the movies anymore unless it's an event, a Hollywood movie must be 1) A spectacle 2) Universally appealing across all cultures 3) Culturally recognizable and appealing from the poster alone 4) Inoffensive and non-threatening to foreign regimes So what you're going to get is good white people vs unspeakably bad white people in an action-driven setpiece spectacular involving lasers, explosions and broad physical humor. China banned Avatar (Avatar!) in big swaths of the country because the plight of the NaVi struck a chord with some of the indigenous land battles happening at the time. We're talking giant blue cougar people vs. rapacious, unredeemed developers and that's what counts as controversial. Look at this list and find the controversial titles. Or, give up and just look at the money. Prog rock? Muzak. Lots of drum solos and shredding guitar, but in the end, muzak.
I mean if I had to think of another movie I thoroughly enjoyed it would have to be John Wick. It was to me a really great action flick that gave just enough insight into the world it took place in to keep me intrigued. Mad Max, and Pacific Rim were two movies I enjoyed immensely because of just how pure they were so to speak. Being a huge fan of Marvel, I find it hard to actually see these movies with other people just because it's hard to follow if you aren't into the Marvel comic universe.
John Wick was such a good movie. Decisive, dedicated, to the point, and of superb excellence with regards to what it aimed to do. Same with Mad Max and Pacific Rim. Btw, before the the Marvel Cinematic Universe thing started, I knew almost nothing about the comics or characters. But I still like the movies, and I'd be one who'd watch them with you. Except for Age of Ultron and Iron Man 3. Let's not speak of those two films.