Fandom and the Entertainment Industry: Where to Divide the Line Between Fun and Fury

I remember distinctly when I first considered the insidious nature of consumerism. At 13 years old, a teacher had laid out before my eyes the simple notion that a company’s main goal is to sell, sell, sell. I was dumbfounded. I asked myself, how could the creators behind Star Wars, behind Batman, behind Super Mario Bros., only be concerned with making money? Why don’t they focus on making fans happy by providing them with the best product? As I’ve grown older, I’ve accepted that the entertainment industry is just that: an industry. I’ve come to terms with the fact that every single decision gets made based on the likelihood a profit will arise from it; if a product or deeper message comes out of this endeavor, that’s merely a secondary bonus. But as someone who continues to consume this content and finds less consistent quality, I find myself wondering if complaining about quality is even worth the effort.

It’s the responsibility of the consumer to support the quality products put out by the entertainment industry. If you enjoy Marvel’s consistently entertaining, well-made films, you need to support them with the billions they expect to see in order to ensure more films will follow. If you love the superhero TV shows on the CW, you need to tune in every night and let the network know that you’re willing to sit through all the advertisements for the sake of watching the action. These companies that produce this programming can’t do what they do without the support of your time and dollar. That’s all they care about. But they also know that they need to keep people returning in order to ensure consistent profit and revenue. This is what incentivizes the production team to make good content. This is all information any fan should be aware of by now.

This system, unfortunately, is an inherent conflict of interest. Artists tend to choose a life of having the opportunity to hold a mirror up to contemporary society and ask the question, “How can you do better?” They weave stories of horrible characters waging social, political, and economic conflicts that will often mirror what real people have done, or are doing. These stories are the face-value sales pitch, though. The real depth comes from the characters trapped in these conflicts. The characters are often the strength of the story, and the stronger the character, the better the whole idea. So, what does one do when a character acts differently to how they should in real life? While suspension of disbelief needs to be a procured skill when experiencing these stories, how far should the audience member be willing to allow it? When a piece of programming offers eye-dazzling special effects or stunning choreographed fight sequences, it’s easy for the viewer to be whisked away into a world beyond their own. Seeing the characters engage in such a fantasy sells the story as being just as fantastical, thus allowing my personal suspension of disbelief. To keep my interest, you need to keep the rules of your story within the boundaries of which you have set.

When the entertainment begins to break those rules – whether with the suspension of disbelief, with character motivation, with the actual storytelling – the analyst and the cynic inside me rears his ugly head, spilling profanities over freaking stories. Underneath all of the rage stems the reasoning: whatever I’m investing my time in, whatever I’m taking the effort to spend on, I’d like to have a return on that. I’d like the story to be engrossing, the gameplay to be challenging but fair, the characters to be enjoyable to watch. When I don’t get that, I get cranky. I get pouty. I get upset. And why shouldn’t I? Artistically, it’s the responsibility of these creators to keep a story coherent, a character realistic within the rules of the world, and offer the overall product (if possible) the ability to have the audience connect the conflicts within the story to the conflicts the world around them faces.

So, why is it that I don’t have the right to be complaining? Well, for starters, it’s a fantasy: it’s not worth the effort or the attention. These costumed heroes, these human legends, these characters are all no different than the gods of the old world that symbolize life lessons humans carry with them. Perhaps it’s because these characters have had so much more depth and development than those old fables that we treat them so much more seriously. And perhaps it’s because we expect more as an audience that we end up getting disappointed so seriously. After all, Arrow is only a TV show, why get so worked up about it? X-Men: The Last Stand is only a dumb action movie, why do you care if it’s good or not? I’d argue that, if you’re going to make something dumb, you need to at least make character motivations either consistent or believable. X-Men suffers when current-Mystique is always a human, despite what the previous 5 movies of her “proud mutant” stand suggest. Arrow’s Thea can learn to be a competent fighter in one summer, despite Oliver having to train 5 years in severe, stressful environments, to be competent enough to take on mercenaries and militia of all kinds. In my opinion, fans can allow much to slip through the cracks, so long as those cracks aren’t so wide as to contradict what came before.

I don’t like to be analytical when it comes to my films, my TV, and my video games. These forms of entertainment give me joy because they offer ways for me to escape the mundane, everyday life that I live. I have a blast traveling to a post-Apocalyptic world, shooting down radiation monsters. I’m entranced by the tale of an introvert as he begins to experience the woes of true claustrophobia. I’m engrossed by a man’s journey to do good by others with the gifts that he has, despite having suffered great losses. But as one spends so much considerable time in these worlds, the stories they tell and the conflicts that arise begin to overlap one another. And as someone who likes to experience different ways of escape, that sucks. Maybe all I need to do is expand my horizons. Maybe all I need to do is accept the reality and change myself based on it. Maybe what I need to do is adjust my expectations for entertainment. For 18 years, I never had to do that, because quality entertainment was consistent, and I didn’t know that things could be better. But now I do. And I hate it.

Jessica Jones SEASON 1 Review (NO SPOILERS)

Better late than never.

For those of you unfamiliar with the property, Marvel's Jessica Jones is a Netflix-exclusive series featuring heroine Jessica Jones and her fight against the evil mind-controlling Kilgrave. Jessica was born with the gift of superhuman strength; she's stronger than Captain America in many respects. The 13-episode season covers the origins of this damaged woman and her ploy to both keep defeat her rival while making peace with those she loves. Along with her for the journey is her adopted sister Trish, former covert ops agent Simpson, and dangerous lover Luke Cage. Together, these people share their experiences and are intertwined courtesy of Kilgrave.

Not all heroes wear capes

That's the basic synopsis. For those of you familiar to the Netflix formula, and even more so if you saw the excellent Marvel's Daredevil Season 1 on Netflix, you'll be familiar with what to expect on this show: dark themes encapsulated by engrossing characters and a conflict that keeps you on the edge of your seat asking "what comes next?" However, unlike Marvel's Daredevil, where the objective was to portray the physical brutality of Matt Murdock's world, Marvel's Jessica Jones is presenting the unsettling nature of her world through mental brutality. Jessica Jones has dealt with the villainous Kilgrave before, as he made her do things she was unable to say no to. This is the story of a rape victim and her struggle to maintain her sanity after the fact. She turns to booze, she steers clear of others, she disconnects herself from the world at large. The only reason Jessica goes public in this show like she does is because Kilgrave is once again on the prowl, and he's using other innocent people to get to Jessica.

Immediately, this conflict has multiple layers that are intriguing on their own even before you meet the characters. Firstly, how is Jessica, with all of her strength, supposed to overpower someone who can make people do whatever he says? From a superhero perspective, this is a conflict that is immediately intriguing to watch progress throughout the 13 episodes. From a narrative perspective, we meet Jessica Jones as she is recovering from a seriously abusive period in her life, and the commentary on the abuse women have received, and still receive, was both bold but respectful, intense and at the same time intellectual, mature and honest, all at once. It's some of the boldest, most grounded, most human storytelling I've ever seen on a television platform, and I was intrigued by every bit of it. These writers certainly aren't lazy; while dead periods certainly exist in the form of a filler episode, or sub-plots that get in the way of Jessica's story, they weren't so boring that I got immediately turned off from them. This show is ultimately a story about the survivors of abuse, and of not just one kind of abuse. The characters have depth, and their stories are human. I loved the writing of this show.

What do you do when you try to start over?

And as for the characters, there's a plethora to enjoy. Jessica Jones is an unlikable introvert at the start of the show, but as you journey through the episodes, you empathize more and more with her. She's on her own, and you don't judge her for being so as you watch. She's headstrong but calculating, and there's a strong presence that she has to her - Krysten Ritter did a great job with the material. Mike Colter's Luke Cage takes the overly-dark tone of the show and brings in just the slimmest light; inherently, Luke Cage is a good man who tries to do the right thing, an area where other characters of this show actually struggle with consistently. Seeing Cage weed through the darkness and emerge just as endearing is wonderful to see happen. And like Vincent D'Onofrio before him, David Tennant makes for a terrifying villain - but in a different way. Where D'Onofrio terrorized through barely-controlled rage and an uncanny control of the Hell's Kitchen gang scene, Tennant is an unbridled bundle of self-deprivation and excess: using his powers, he abuses anyone who he views gets in his way. But also like D'Onofrio, there's more to the villain Kilgrave than first meets the eye. And what makes it great is that Tennant himself flexes his acting muscles by explaining why  he is the way he is, rather than through flashback. This trio forms a great cast, and the supporting roles were confident and strong as well, particularly in Rachel Taylor's Trish Walker, Jessica's adoptive sister and best friend. She provides a different outlook on the show by being open to others and supportive of Jessica, but being equally strong in her own right. These characters are great, but there are weaker ones in the show (which I won't be getting into right now).

Keep your ears covered when you're around him

When it comes to television, you can't do much better than this. If you're a fan of Marvel's Daredevil and want to venture back into Hell's Kitchen, Marvel's Jessica Jones is definitely for you. Be warned, however: in many ways, this program is some of the most adult content Marvel has ever done. This story is very much a psychological thriller, one that will either engage you to the maximum or make you need to take intense breaks between episodes. The show isn't flawless, and one or two episodes focus less on narrative progression and more on filler, but if you've enjoyed Netflix's programming thus far, you won't be disappointed here.

Rating: 9.0 / 10

Captain America: Civil War Review (NO SPOILERS)

Ultron is defeated. The Avengers have a new lineup. Friends are gone, new friends have been made. What does the world look like after 11 super-powered incidents on Earth? This is the kind of question Captain America: Civil War hopes to give answers to, but it's not the only question that's being asked in this film. And it's because of these character-defining, world-changing questions that I enjoy this movie so thoroughly.

This movie picks up some time after the events of the latest Marvel movie, Ant-Man, where we find the Avengers yet again causing chaos in their attempts to save the world at large. After one particular incident, the United Nations have voted on a superhero control act, known as the Sokovia Accords, which converts the Avengers from being their private hero organization to a collective controlled by the United Nations. Tony Stark, paralyzed by fear and regret due to his actions as Iron Man, leads the collective that believes restrictions at the behest of world leaders is necessary, while Steve Rodgers holds onto the belief that heroes need to retain their rights to save as they feel the need to. What follows in the wake of this disagreement is a serious clash between ideologies, partly mirroring contemporary society, partly being the climax of the first 8 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

I'd first like to discuss the storytelling in this movie: it's some of the best storytelling that Marvel has ever written. This is a logic-tight movie, with character motivations making sense and sequences of events correctly following one another in a realistic manner. For myself, I usually turn my brain off when I'm watching a movie, so plot holes actually aren't an issue for me as long as the overall film is entertaining. I made myself a mandate to examine this film and keep an eye out for any inconsistencies or other logic holes, and I found nothing. Even my mother, who is the more analytical type when it comes to film, didn't see any gaping logic. Props to Marvel on that!

But even more so impressive is the character development we see. With just about 12 superheroes and about five narrative-important  characters featured, not only are the performances great, but each character gets a moment to shine. Did you like Paul Bettany as the Vision, but wish you saw more of him in Avengers: Age of Ultron? Don't worry, he's got plenty to do here! Excited to see Paul Rudd as Ant-Man again after his debut last summer? You should be, because he's just as entertaining now as he was then! Even a character like Jeremy Renner's Hawkeye, who often plays second-fiddle to his teammates, had some great interactions and quips in this movie. Another highlight comes from the interplay between Anthony Mackie's Falcon and Sebastian Stan's Winter Soldier, who bust heads with one another and provide some surprising levity throughout the film. Don Cheadle's War Machine doesn't have as much of a presence in this movie like he did in Iron Man 3, but he's nonetheless reliable as Tony's partner. Scarlett Johansson has some interesting, character-growing development in this movie, which will for sure push for her solo movie even more after the close of this film. For myself, the remaining five featured heroes stood out to me the most, and they deserve their own paragraphs for that.

Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch was one of my most anticipated characters to see going into Avengers: Age of Ultron; as we now know, she didn't have a great lot to do in that movie, but she was cool nonetheless. Here, she's given more depth and importance. Being arguably the most powerful Avenger, as well as being the youngest, the dynamic of Scarlet Witch, coupled with the characters' view of both herself and her affect on the world, was intriguing to see onscreen. For being such a damaged individual, there's a lot of emotion in her. Additionally, the interplay between her and Vision was cute to see, especially if the filmmakers are hinting at a future with the two characters, a la the comics.

Newcomer Black Panther, being portrayed by Chadwick Boseman, was the most anticipated feature for myself: I love the character, his power-set, his determination, his persona, his presence. In Civil War, we don't really dig too deep into what he is in the comics. We only get a taste of who he is, and what he means to the world. This is fine, as the movie itself isn't primarily focused around one character. I just was hoping to have more is all.

But I got way more than I would've first asked for in the premiere of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Spider-Man. Guys, they nailed it. They freaking nailed it! Casting a younger kid, giving him the right attitude of fun but heroic, and teasing fans with a future as an Avenger all added up to quite possibly the best interpretation of the character. Every time he was on screen, I was smiling and laughing.


But the real standouts in terms of character are Chris Evans and Robert Downey, Jr. Captain America is at the top of his game, being both a leader but a supporter of the Avengers. His ideals this time aren't necessarily American-centric, but more along the lines of western ideology. It makes him more relatable to those who aren't American, and even more to the rest of us living today. He's no longer a simple American soldier, he's a good man that everyone wants to root for. Chris Evans continues to delight as Captain America, and his interactions with Bucky/Winter Soldier shows that while this character is good, there are flaws in him as well. For Robert Downey, Jr. I was floored by his performance in this movie. This is the best, most conflicted Iron Man we've ever seen, and it makes both the stakes and the character all the more exciting to watch. From the turmoil of a divided Avengers team to the conflict with the government to his heartbreak over the loss of his friends, Tony Stark has never been a better character to watch.

The same can be said for the action and special effects. Without the mess of a mindless army at the Avengers' throats, you really get a better sense of each hero's individual abilities. Ant-Man looks great as he's going after Iron Man, the clash between the Winter Soldier and Falcon versus Spider-Man was a joy to watch, and the brawl between Cap and Black Panther was a masterpiece. The airport scene you see in all of the trailers is definitely a stand-out  not only in this movie, but in all 12 movies that the MCU has produced. Special effects mixed with real, authentic shots and fighting sequences are a thrill to watch unfold; that being said, I felt in the first hour that the directors really wanted to use the shaky-cam to the fullest extent. And while we're on the topic of flaws, I originally didn't have much negativity to say about Daniel Bruehl's Zemo, but as I write this review, I don't have much opinion on him compared to everything else that happened in the film. I liked his portrayal in the movie, and the character was interesting enough, but he's definitely not the focus or interest.

With all of that being said, Captain America: Civil War is filled with all of the action and giggles Marvel fans have come to expect, but they've added new complexities to the characters we've come to know and love these past eight years. This movie changes the landscape for Marvel films going forward, something fans have been clammoring for for a while now.  If you're looking for the right way to start off the summer blockbuster season, a movie to make up for the disappointment of past superhero films, or just a great character film. Captain America: Civil War is the movie to see.

Rating: 9.0 / 10