Marvel is Disney now.
When the Mouse owns you, the Mouse controls you.
The idea that Disney lets these divisions do what they want? Well, they thought that from Bristol to Emeryville and it just doesn't work that way. You become part of the machine ... so long as you keep an ever-growing line of profits, they'll give you some pseudo independence but not too much.
I agree. But so far, I was referring to creative control. I love The Dark Knight as well, and I think Nolan did something very special with that movie. Unfortunately, IMO, he's only stuck the landing that one time. His first film in that trilogy was simply dull, and the third one should have gone 60s camp to match its nonsensical plot. The dark, reality grounded Frank Miller tone, established in all comics by the early 90s is effective. . . but like professional wresting before it went dark and brooding, there was something special about 4 color heroes that kept their humor and sense of silliness.
The Marvel movies are doing something that's never been done before. I can't speak to their level of smugness exactly, but I appreciate the creative feat of juggling that many balls in the air, and consistently produce products that work critically and commercially. But that's personal preference, and not everyone is going to enjoy it the way I have. I thought Thor 2 was rather stupid, the second half of Incredible Hulk did not work, and Iron Man 2 was too busy and unfocused, but other than that, it's been an amazing run. Bringing in the whole Thanos plotline is a crazy, marvelous risk.
But back to the main point: it's all coming from a creative place, not from a board meeting filled with suits.
Now if we look at other future comic book franchises that ARE obviously being created and designed by committee, we have to look to future DC movies meant to lead to a Justice League movie, as well as a Sinister Six movie with the Spiderman franchise, a reboot of FF4 (not a typo - ask me what the first "F" stands for), and the X-Men tie ins with the 70s prequels and today. They are obviously trying to imitate the success, and cash in, on the Marvel movies. I am very skeptical going forward about all of them. I hope to be wrong.
