Action director John Woo is not a fan of superhero films; He says he prefers Martin Scorsese’s films

Iconic action film director John Woo recently shared his thoughts on superhero movies during an interview with the New York Times ahead of the release of his new film Silent night. In case you’re wondering if he likes watching comic book movies, the answer is no. He is not a fan of those films and much prefers “real cinema” like the type of films made by Martin Scorsese. Woo explained:

“I’ve never liked watching movies with big special effects or anything based on comics. I prefer Martin Scorsese’s films, that kind of cinema. I can’t wait to watch “Killers of the Flower Moon”. I like old fashioned movies, you know? Real cinema. There aren’t many movies like that lately.

Many old school directors feel this way, and it’s understandable. Many of these superhero and comic book movies lack substance. The comics they are based on are certainly much better than the movies that are based on them. I think comic book movies have been pretty successful, but these studios and creative teams really need to up their game and the quality of the movies they make if they want people to keep coming back to watch them.

Scorsese has shared his criticisms of superhero films over the years, saying, “I don’t see them. I tried, you know? But this is not cinema. Honestly, the closest thing I can think of to them, as well made as they are, with the actors doing the best they can under the circumstances, are theme parks. It is not the cinema of human beings trying to convey emotional and psychological experiences to another human being.”

Woo went on to talk about his return to Hollywood with his folks Silent night action movie that explains why it’s been so long:

“There were a lot of good scripts that I wanted to do, but they never came to me. Like a drama about a kid from a bad neighborhood. Hollywood producers didn’t recommend me because they thought I wasn’t American, so I wouldn’t understand their lifestyle. I haven’t received scripts for historical dramas either, because I’m Chinese. I’m a foreigner, so they couldn’t believe I could make an American historical film. All I could do, in those people’s minds, was make action movies. I can make many types of films, but it’s hard to get people to believe that.

“I was so excited when I received the script for ‘Silent Night.’ There is no dialogue in the entire film! I thought it would be very good for me because it would allow me to use my gifts to tell a story visually. I’m always looking for good stories. It just so happens that this is a Hollywood production. I also never felt like I was going back to Hollywood, since, for me, I never left Hollywood. I’ve simply made a few films in China over the past two decades. Coming back to Hollywood really feels like coming home.”

Damnation! These studio executives need to give Woo the opportunity to tell the stories he wants to tell! Let them make American dramas and historical films! Let this guy be a great director and he wants to tell a variety of stories! Let him do it!