Is Anything A Greater Cinematic Achievement Than The MCU?

Sept 23, 2019 18:27:31 GMT ArArArchStanton said:

Sept 23, 2019 17:39:05 GMT Caesium137 said:

It has got to be a pound for pound comparison. 2001 after fifty years is still conversed about in 2019 with regular cinema re-releases, endless analysis videos on youtube, being the focul subject in studies, being the direct inspiration for many professionals in the industry, aspiring or otherwise. Its cultural impact is also a testament to its cinematic achievement (from the recognizable score to the villain H.A.L). That is all coming from one movie and the fact it is only one rather than the MCUs 20 is where it can be, pound for pound, judged by a balanced view. But we will not know until a few decades later if the MCU was a generational flavor of the year fad or if it has the longevity to last the test of time after its died and do the things a film like 2001 has.

But you aren’t providing a balance, you're just eliminating the points in the MCUs favor.

I'm not eliminating, I'm taking an ''all things considered approach''. You can't compare the 2 without reaching a middle ground. 2001 ASO did not have access to the vast resources that the MCU has had. You cannot deny that Disney’s powerful marketing team has had a big influence over how these movies have been promoted and received box office wise. 2001’s PR campaign and strategy isn’t in the same solar system let alone the same planet. The presence of social media has also been a huge factor, for all movies by the way nowadays, in the way entertainment products become mass aware and the monetary buzz it creates. Pointing out the obvious but there was no substitute for social media in 1968 with the same capacity to fish for potential customers. You say the average take for an MCU movies is close to a billion, which is indeed impressive. But note has to be made on the average budget, which would be over $200M excluding PR funds. 2001 only had $10M budget to produce a movie of its ambitious scope (yes I believe the scope of the movie is comparable to the MCU). MCU has the luxury of being able to use state of the art computer imaging techniques and motion capture technology to produce high end quality visuals. This technology was not available to Kubrick and yet he has produced a movie that puts a lot of other modern productions to shame from a visual vantage point.

Hopefully you can see why there needs to be a compromise made. If I was comparing the MCU with the DCEU for instance, then there's no contest who the clear winner is because both franchises are in the same boxing weight division; both have the same access to funding, PR pull, technology, social media outlets, commercial connections, etc.

Kubrick is the 110lb flyweight going up against the 250lb heavyweight. So again I'll say pound for pound after considering all variables, imo Kubrick’s 2001 ASO is a greater cinematic achievement than the MCU because: he has produced a timeless classic way ahead of its time, influential to scores of industry professionals of all generations, that has stood and passed the test of time, makes almost every top 10 list of GOAT movies and this all with limited resources, limited technology and limited promotional backing. And this from just a single 2.5 hour length motion picture made in 1968.

I would however say that the MCU is probably the greatest modern cinematic achievement.