We don't like Man Of Steel. We do like Captain America: The Winter Solider. We think that not because we've got some undying love for Marvel that makes us hate anything from a rival company, but because Cap 2 is an entertaining film with some brilliantly shot action sequences while Zack Snyder's Superman reboot is a dour exercise in how to take yourself too seriously; essentially one is good, one is bad. One of the worst elements of modern mainstream movie fandom is the idea that instead of people evaluating movies objectively, they make their decision at the production logos and won't be swayed by what comes after. It's a big screen version of the conventional divide between Marvel and D.C. in comic form and means any discussion regarding superhero movies risks devolving into a bout of personal attacks and mud-slinging. The thing is, there's no reason for it to exist. It's a self-perpetuating irritation that, despite the majority of audiences not being shallow enough to fall into fan-boy camps, we begin to believe these factions exist. It's petty, it's childish and it risks making discussing movies less about their content and more about questioning what motivates other people to like them. Five years ago everyone loved The Dark Knight. Now everyone loves The Avengers. Do you think these are two distinct groups divided by their production studio allegiance? Dont be daft. Fan-boys are out there but for the most part people just want good, entertaining movies. What can you do: If you haven't already, grow up. What do audiences do that have a negative impact on cinema? Let us know what you think down in the comments.
