Thunderbolts – Why New Marvel Movies Keeps Flopping | Anatomy of a Failure

Summary

In this analysis of *Thunderbolts*, the video dissects the film's shortcomings, pointing out its slow pacing, lack of clear purpose, and stagnant narrative. The movie's contained setting fails to engage, as much of the plot is stuck in a desert bunker with minimal progression. Despite fleshed-out characters like Yelena, their lack of distinctiveness and the absence of a strong, active villain prevent the movie from capturing the excitement of earlier Marvel entries. The critique highlights how the film's muted characters and aimless story fail to live up to the expectations of a blockbuster, leading to its financial disappointment.

Takeaways

• 😀 The pacing of *Thunderbolts* is hindered by long stretches in a single location, making it feel like an indie film rather than a big-budget blockbuster.
• 😀 Despite being marketed as a superhero movie, *Thunderbolts* lacks the excitement and motion that is typically expected from MCU films, especially due to its lack of a clear destination or overarching goal.
• 😀 The movie’s plot feels aimless, with characters seemingly escaping a bunker without a clear purpose or progression until well into the runtime.
• 😀 The bunker sequence takes up over 30% of the movie’s runtime, contributing to a slow and stagnant narrative that fails to capture the attention of a wide audience.
• 😀 While the characters are well-developed, they lack the strong, standout qualities needed to carry a blockbuster film, with many being overly similar in tone and personality.
• 😀 The absence of a clear, active goal for the villain and the heroes reduces the stakes and makes the plot feel unfocused and unimportant.
• 😀 The movie's emotional and psychological themes, such as trauma and loneliness, are introduced but lack clarity and clear resolution, especially in the shadow realm subplot.
• 😀 The character of Yelena is relatable but somewhat mundane, with her motivations and arc not strong enough to make her a central figure in a blockbuster movie.
• 😀 The antagonist’s lack of a strong, active goal detracts from the movie’s tension and the sense of urgency needed to propel the story forward.
• 😀 Characters like Bob and Bucky are underdeveloped, and their roles feel generic, reducing the impact of their presence in the film.
• 😀 *Thunderbolts* struggles to maintain the high energy and excitement of previous MCU films due to its lack of dynamic characters, slow pacing, and lack of clear narrative direction.

Q & A

What is the central criticism of 'Thunderbolts' as a blockbuster movie?

The central criticism is that 'Thunderbolts' feels like a small indie movie trapped in a big-budget blockbuster framework. The movie lacks the excitement and fast-paced action that typically appeals to general audiences, making it feel stagnant and slow due to a large portion of the story being confined to one location (a bunker).

Why is the movie's pacing considered problematic?

The pacing is problematic because over 30% of the movie's runtime takes place in a single, monotonous location. The lack of progression and constant shift between bland rooms in the bunker, as well as the heroes' aimless actions, make the movie feel slow and unengaging.

How does the film's structure contribute to its failure?

The structure of the film is one of its key issues. The movie spends too much time in the contained setting of the bunker without a clear destination or purpose. This results in a lack of momentum and engagement, as the characters seem to be trapped in an endless cycle with no clear goal or sense of progress.

What is the significance of the lack of clear goals for the characters?

The lack of clear goals for the characters contributes to the feeling of aimlessness in the plot. While the heroes escape the bunker and wander aimlessly, they don't have a defined purpose or destination. This weakens the overall narrative, leaving the audience without a strong emotional connection to the characters' journey.

How does the script compare to other successful movies like 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and 'Iron Man'?

In contrast to movies like 'Pirates of the Caribbean' or 'Iron Man,' which successfully use contained sequences to build excitement and urgency, 'Thunderbolts' struggles with its containment. The heroes in these films always have clear objectives that keep the action moving forward, whereas in 'Thunderbolts,' the characters' goals are vague and the action lacks momentum.

Why is the film's emotional depth criticized?

The emotional depth in 'Thunderbolts' is criticized because, although the characters are fleshed out, they lack the strong personalities or memorable qualities needed to carry a major blockbuster. Characters like Yelena and Bucky are seen as emotionally invested but also somewhat mundane and not distinctive enough to make a lasting impact.

What role does the 'void' play in the film's themes?

The 'void' in the film represents the emotional trauma and isolation the characters face. It is both a literal and metaphorical space in which characters confront their deepest regrets and struggles. However, the depiction of the void is criticized for being unclear, which detracts from its intended emotional weight.

How do the characters' lack of distinctiveness impact the movie?

The lack of distinctiveness among the characters prevents the movie from standing out. They all blend into a similar mold of 'bad guys with guns' who are somewhat morally gray but not distinct enough to be memorable or captivating. The absence of strong character contrasts, like those seen in 'Suicide Squad,' makes the ensemble feel less engaging.

What changes could have been made to improve the villain's role in the story?

The villain's role could have been strengthened by giving her more clear, active goals. Instead of her vague purpose of 'stopping bad things,' the film could have focused on her trying to take control of the Avengers program or inherit their assets, creating a clearer, more urgent conflict for the heroes to resolve.

What is the overall takeaway about 'Thunderbolts' in terms of blockbuster filmmaking?

The overall takeaway is that 'Thunderbolts' struggles as a blockbuster because it lacks both the emotional depth and the excitement expected from such films. It presents interesting characters but doesn't allow them to shine due to weak pacing, unclear goals, and a lack of distinctiveness. To succeed as a big-budget movie, it would need a clearer narrative, more engaging characters, and a faster pace.