Doctor Sleep director Mike Flanagan makes a good counter argument against Martin Scorsese’s criticisms of Marvel films by using The Irishman director’s own words. The discussion continues regarding Scorsese’s comments about the MCU, dubbing its films “not cinema.” Over the last couple of weeks, various people have weighed in on the matter - some pushing back on the veteran filmmaker’s sentiments, while others agreed with him. The controversial topic caught second wind when Francis Ford Coppola came out and straightly called the franchise “despicable.”

While most of the public personalities who respectfully disagreed with Scorsese’s sentiments were/are involved with the MCU, there are a couple who simply offered their two cents such as Kevin Smith and Watchmen and The Leftovers creator Damon Lindelof. The latest of which to join the conversation is Flanagan, who’s widely known for his innovative and clever horror movies.

Speaking with CinePop while on the promotional trail for his big screen adaptation of Stephen King’s best-selling novel Doctor Sleep, Flanagan was asked about his thoughts on this ongoing debate. Obliging, the director said he disagrees with Scorsese and Coppola’s thoughts on the MCU, adding that he cried watching Avengers: Endgame. He justified his answer by referring to an old Scorsese quote saying that “movies are our dreams” and that people can’t say that one dream is better or more authentic than another dream. It’s not surprising that Flanagan is also open to helming a superhero film. In fact, Doctor Sleep landed on his lap because he was seeking a potential project from Warner Bros. and DC.  Watch the full interview below:

Flanagan’s comments come on the heels of Disney CEO Bob Iger’s response to Scorsese and Coppola’s MCU thought. The executive was surprisingly very candid with his response, calling these uncalled for criticisms very disrespectful to the people who put in the time and effort to continue building the franchise. While he ultimately believes that the acclaimed filmmakers are entitled to their opinions, he doesn’t understand where the strong dislike of the MCU is coming from considering that it’s obviously resonated with many people around the globe, as evidenced by its enduring popularity.

Among everyone who chimed in on this discussion about Marvel movies, Flanagan perhaps put it the simplest, and it’s quite ironic that he used Scorsese’s words to effectively convey what he wanted to say. The Doctor Sleep helmer laid it out in a matter-of-fact way which makes it more convincing.  While people are entitled to their own opinions, that doesn’t mean that they have to tear down the things that don’t tickle their fancy. It’s particularly disappointing when people who are pioneers of cinema seemingly promote elitism, openly bringing down other people’s creations simply because they don’t fit their criteria.

More: Disney CEO Hits Back At Marvel Movie Criticisms

Source: CinePop

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