Fans and creators of big superhero movies sensed a little snobbery from the Oscars last night. From the opening number to some of the “thank you” speeches, there were reasons for superhero aficionados to feel dissed by the Hollywood elite.
#GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Director on Awards Season's Superhero Hate: Just "Say We're Dumb” http://t.co/ie81XKVMKE pic.twitter.com/qFAI3oL8fM
— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 23, 2015
Director James Gunn who made Marvel’s wildly successful Guardians of the Galaxy reacted on his Facebook page.
Go read this, & learn to think your own thoughts, humanity: @JamesGunn: On the villainy of superhero films: https://t.co/7S0fve7Ou2"
— Ainsley Sevier (@RedHandedJill18) February 23, 2015
On the villainy of superhero films: https://t.co/pDIHczifWN
— James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 23, 2015
If you think people who make superhero movies are dumb, come out and say we’re dumb. But if you, as an independent filmmaker or a “serious” filmmaker, think you put more love into your characters than the Russo Brothers do Captain America, or Joss Whedon does the Hulk, or I do a talking raccoon, you are simply mistaken.
Fans and commentators also defended genre movies against the insults.
The Academy, as if we didn't already know, made its distaste for superhero films (and other genre fare) abundantly clear and that's a shame.
— Sean Gerber (@MrSeanGerber) February 23, 2015
Superhero films are now lucky to get VFX nominations that they haven't won since 2004 despite generating the industry's advancements.
— Sean Gerber (@MrSeanGerber) February 23, 2015
https://twitter.com/sherlockwxtson/status/569690220532260865
"Superhero films aren't art" so just because a movie involves a superhero, it can't be considered prestige? That's absolutely ridiculous.
— Mikey WON NANO (@Mikey_Talks) February 23, 2015
'Tsunami of superhero films?' Of the more than 1700 films that will be released by 2020, about 50 will be SH flicks. http://t.co/NFWxpPQ4UE
— FlexLockInventor (@frank1569) February 23, 2015
Trash superhero films when 45% (9/20) of your leading/supporting actors/actresses up for #Oscars2015 awards have been/will be in those films
— ⎊ I love you 3000 ⎊ (@IfIWereMagneto) February 23, 2015
I think a better question would be whether or not superhero films actually need validation from the Motion… http://t.co/9LozECGC21
— Malice Intended (@Renaissance1977) February 23, 2015
That is the right question. Like with American Sniper, the success of the film itself isn’t in winning an award but in winning over an audience. Perhaps the Academy simply dislikes superhero films because they remind them too much of “truth, justice, and the American way?”
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