MovieChat Forums > The Defenders (2017) Discussion > I really hope that this is just as good ...

I really hope that this is just as good as Marvel's The Avengers.

posted 8 years ago by jacktrojan-79032
2 replies | jump to latest

I really hope that the Marvel/Netflix Original series the Defenders is just as good as both Disney Pictures' and Marvel Studios' live action movie the Avengers.

If this doesn't impress me like that film had impressed me then I'm not watching anymore Marvel/Netflix original series.

This had better be worth all of the hype because honestly, for Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and Iron Fist to all be promoted as "the dark little corner of the Marvel Cinematic Universe" these shows aren't dark enough. Personally, in my honest opinion, they could be a hell of a lot darker. But instead, this is not that far from the M.C.U.'s level of adult themes in the subdued movies of Iron Man, the Incredible Hulk, Thor and Captain America.

All of the series had occasional scenes of brief nudity (I guess Disney's executive meddling influenced the subdued nudity), sexual situations, strong language, suggestive dialogue and violence, but they were not as grim and gritty as a Netflix original series that is supposed to be suggested for mature audiences is supposed to be. They act like viewer's discretion is strongly advised but I'm looking at the people saying this like, "Really, Bro? Seriously?"

But anyway, yeah. Good writing and everything but an unrated series that is supposed to be the equivalent of a hard, heavy Rated R movie or a Rated T.V.-M.A. show is supposed to be for adults only, as in showing the gratuitous fan service that the so-called "grounded" movies deny us real fans. Not make another glorified equivalent of a Rated P.G.-13 movie or Rated T.V.-14 Cable T.V. show that is only for casuals who don't even care about comic book super-heroes.

I mean if they are just going for that Nolanized allegedly "grounded in reality" and "rooted in realism" so-to-speak thing, then why do they even bother acting like it's going to be "out there"? If that's the case then they should just be for general audiences only like the Rated T.V.-P.G. series Marvel's Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. on A.B.C., and just stop making false claims of Marvel/Netflix being not for kids and teenagers.

The Defenders needs to go all out and be extreme to the point of redeeming themselves by pushing the envelope. If not, then I'm done with Marvel/Netflix's false promises of shock value when all that Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, etc. do is never deliver on the goods they advertise.

[–] A.P. 8 years ago

How is this scene rated PG-13? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8AvWkrppsg These shows are not kid friendly by any means.

Are these shows on the level of Game of Thrones in terms of sex and violence? Probably not, but they don't need to be. Sex and violence for the sake of sex and violence cheapens a story. I think the shows so far have done a terrific job of getting dark when they need to without being gratuitous.

[–] jacktrojan-79032 8 years ago

Yes they show violence like that every now and then and that's fine. But it doesn't push the envelope. It could go farther.

These shows are good but they don't qualify as adult comic book-based and graphic novel-styled, and super-hero-themed series as I believe that they should be.

And no, I don't think that gratuitous scenes of profanity, full frontal female nudity, sex and graphic violence cheapens a story that's supposed to be about Marvel Comics costumed, super-powered anti-heroes and vigilantes fighting Marvel Comics costumed, super-powered professional criminals.

These are supposed to be adult action-adventure/crime drama/dark, adult fantasy/horror/science-fiction shows for adults. It's not supposed to be just more of the typical sci-fi drama fantasy series for an age demographic of 13 to 19-year-old teenage boys. This is supposed to be meant for an age demographic of 18 to 35-year-old adult men. Instead of watching what the real fans want to see, we get a bunch commercially safe programs that never go there. If this is supposed to be about characters like the Punisher hunting down and killing crooks, then why did they not show him murdering his arch-enemies with all of the gory details? Instead we only see the aftermath of his war on crime.

The Defenders is going to have good writing because it does come from different series that are character-driven stories. Character studies are great and all, but the casuals here seem to only want that and nothing else. What about the criminal underworld of Hell's Kitchen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe being shown in a disturbing way? Where are the armed bank robbers being almost beaten up to death by Daredevil? Where are the cat burglars being almost beaten up to death by Jessica Jones? Where are the serial killers being almost beaten up to death by Luke Cage? For costumed, super-powered anti-heroes, they sure don't seem to be doing much in the style of the old Marvel Knights, and Marvel Max comic books which these shows are all based on. If Iron Fist doesn't go out there and do something like nearly beat a serial rapist to death, then how is this the "dark little corner of the M.C.U."?

It's not. It's about costumed, super-powered super heroes who are just professional adventurers, and professional crime fighters. Going off on great adventures and fighting crime by observing, recording and interfering with common car thieves instead of locating, capturing and killing sinister super-villains like child-molesting pedophiles (and actually showing the murder scene) makes the Defenders anti-hero team just a street-level version of the world-saving Avengers super hero team. Sorry, that may be "dark" enough for the casuals, but I'm afraid that it's not dark enough for my taste.