James Gunn And Natalie Portman Respond To Francis Ford Coppola's "Despicable" Marvel Comments

In the wake of recent anti-Marvel sentiment from two legendary filmmakers, Guardians of the Galaxy & The Suicide Squad director James Gunn has responded via social media. Find out what he had to say here.

By MarkCassidy - Oct 20, 2019 03:10 PM EST

Filed Under: Guardians of the Galaxy

James Gunn has responded to the recent wave of anti-Marvel sentiment from a pair of legendary directors via social media.

Francis Ford Coppola (Apocalypse Now, The Godfather) followed up Martin Scorsese's "not cinema" comments by taking things one step further and calling Marvel movies "despicable," adding that he doesn't understand how "anyone gets anything out of seeing the same movie over and over again." Gunn, who is no stranger to Marvel-related controversy himself, has now attempted to put things into perspective in a lengthy Instagram post.

“Many of our grandfathers thought all gangster movies were the same, often calling them ‘despicable,'” wrote the Guardians of the Galaxy director. “Some of our great grandfathers thought the same of westerns, and believed the films of John Ford, Sam Peckinpah, and Sergio Leone were all exactly the same. I remember a great uncle to whom I was raving about Star Wars. He responded by saying, ‘I saw that when it was called 2001, and, boy, was it boring!’

Superheroes are simply today’s gangsters/cowboys/outer space adventurers. Some superhero films are awful, some are beautiful. Like westerns and gangster movies (and before that, just MOVIES), not everyone will be able to appreciate them, even some geniuses. And that’s okay.”

Thor: Love and Thunder actress Natalie Portman also defended the studio's output. "I think there is room for all kinds of cinema," she told THR at the 6th annual Los Angeles Dance Project Gala on Saturday. "There is no way to make art. I think Marvel movies are so popular because they are so entertaining and people want to have fun when they have a special moment after work, after facing their real-life difficulties."

Tell us, do you think Scorsese and Coppola bring up any valid points? What do you make of Gunn's response? Check out his post below, and drop us a comment in the usual place.

View this post on Instagram

Many of our grandfathers thought all gangster movies were the same, often calling them “despicable”. Some of our great grandfathers thought the same of westerns, and believed the films of John Ford, Sam Peckinpah, and Sergio Leone were all exactly the same. I remember a great uncle to whom I was raving about Star Wars. He responded by saying, “I saw that when it was called 2001, and, boy, was it boring!” Superheroes are simply today’s gangsters/cowboys/outer space adventurers. Some superhero films are awful, some are beautiful. Like westerns and gangster movies (and before that, just MOVIES), not everyone will be able to appreciate them, even some geniuses. And that’s okay. ❤️

A post shared by James Gunn (@jamesgunn) on
Oct 20, 2019 at 11:51am PDT

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164 Comments

1 2 3 4 5

Franshu - 10/20/2019, 5:04 PM

They both gave perfect responses, but Gun certainly has a VERY valid point there. Heck, even Hitchock's films were considered sort of monor enterntainment back in the day until the Cartiers du CInema sort of gave a new outlook of them as true pieces of cinematic art.

Franshu - 10/20/2019, 5:04 PM

@Franshu - MINOR entertainment. Heck, woke up as a living typo today.

Se4M4NSt4ine - 10/20/2019, 5:16 PM

These guys are some of the greatest film makers do shape current cinema. However, if I was sat in whatever nursing home these old boys are getting bored in, I’d slap the heck outta those old nasty wrinkly ass faces for being Filmist.

Yeah, I just called them filmists... next they’re gonna hit out with damn Marvel coming into their sets to steal their jobs!

Matador - 10/20/2019, 8:06 PM

@Se4M4NSt4ine -

Darkknight2149 - 10/20/2019, 5:16 PM

Francis Ford Coppola: "Comic book movies aren't my type of movie. THEY'RE NOT REAL CINEMA, THEY'RE DISPICABLE!!"

So The Dark Knight, Logan, JokerCaptain America: The Winter Soldier, Iron Man, Deadpool, A History of Violence, Watchmen, Civil War, ETC, are not "real cinema"... But The Godfather Part III: My Lucky Coat!!! is?

AbidNaga - 10/20/2019, 5:39 PM

@Darkknight2149 - I mean, the guy also made Parts I and II, Apocalypse Now, Lost in translation and more. I definitely don't agree with what he's saying, but there's no need to shit on his filmography if you disagree with him.

Darkknight2149 - 10/20/2019, 6:14 PM

@AbidNaga -
Yeah, but look moreso at his filmography in the last two decades. It's a bit like Frank Miller trying to say that Grant Morrison isn't a "real comic book writer" when he hasn't been himself since the 1990s.

TanukiTrooper - 10/20/2019, 11:18 PM

@AbidNaga - "Lost in Translation" Umm... maybe don't give him credit for the movie his daughter wrote and directed. I mean, he was a producer for the film, but saying he made it is a bit much.

AbidNaga - 10/21/2019, 9:20 AM

@TanukiTrooper - Oh shoot my bad, always thought he made it but its been a while. Sorry.

KWilly - 10/20/2019, 5:21 PM

@dethpillow - Let's remember... She doesn't like these movies either, lol. Just in it for the paycheck.

bthumudo - 10/20/2019, 5:24 PM

@KWilly - Don't forget Francis also directed Captain EO...Wonder what he learned making that movie...

Dredd97 - 10/20/2019, 8:03 PM

@bthumudo - He learned what Neverland Ranch was REALLY about

TheUnworthyThor - 10/20/2019, 5:20 PM

You would expect supposed film historians to actually like know film history. But no they make the same complaints other filmmakers have made for a hundred years with only small updates for the current “problem” with movies.

FleischerSupes - 10/20/2019, 5:22 PM

Gunn is a smart guy with a broader perspective than most and a longer view of history. Probably why both Guardians movies have more soul than any of Scorsese's also perfectly good movies.

1 2 3 4 5

James Gunn And Natalie Portman Respond To Francis Ford Coppola's "Despicable" Marvel Comments

In the wake of recent anti-Marvel sentiment from two legendary filmmakers, Guardians of the Galaxy & The Suicide Squad director James Gunn has responded via social media. Find out what he had to say here.

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