“A Game of Thrones” author George R.R. Martin an “Ant-Man” movie fan, but would rework Marvel movies’ villain formula.
“I want more films where the hero and the villain have wildly different powers,” Martin wrote a blog post. “That makes the action much more interesting.”
The problem, he says, is systemic in the Marvel Cinematic Universe: “I am tired of this Marvel movie trope where the bad guy has the same powers as the hero. The Hulk fought the Abomination, who is just a bad Hulk. Spider-Man fights Venom, who is just a bad Spider-Man. Iron Man fights Ironmonger, a bad Iron Man. Yawn.”
The author of the “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series, which serves as the basis for HBO’s hit show “Game of Thrones,” sung the praises of the Marvel’s most recent film, “Ant-Man,” which stars Paul Rudd.
“Would they do it right, would they capture the original Ant-Man from ‘Tales to Astonish’ and ‘Avengers #1,’ the character I’d loved … or would they fuck it up?” Martin wrote. “I was eager for the film, but apprehensive about it as well, especially when I heard it would be about Scott Lang, not Hank Pym.”
Martin was happy to report, however, that the filmmakers did, in fact, get it right.
“Scott Lang is the featured Ant-Man, yes, and Paul Rudd makes him a sympathetic and engaging protagonist, but due honor is done to Hank and his own career as the first Ant-Man as well, with Michael Douglas turning in a fine performance as Pym,” Martin wrote.