Talk:The Old Guard (2020 film)

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Superhero film?

I haven’t read the comics (and there’s no Wiki page about them to educate myself) but having seen the film I’m confused why we’re labeling it as a “superhero” film and not just an “action” one? Just because they’re immortal? Or am I missing something here? Thanks! TropicAces (talk) 15:09, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Both the director and critics refer to it as a superhero film:

Sariel Xilo (talk) 17:25, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

Good looks, thanks! Was just curious TropicAces (talk) 22:47, 12 July 2020 (UTC)

I've also seen a few articles on the Old Guard debating the line between action film & superhero film so good idea to bring it up. I'm leaning towards superhero because I've seen a lot of articles highlight the director as the first black woman to direct a major comic-book/superhero movie & the film as the first major queer romance in a superhero movie. On a different note, there's probably enough sources at this point just about the comic so I should probably get a draft for it going. Sariel Xilo (talk) 20:45, 13 July 2020 (UTC)

I was going to point out the action film attribution before I saw your latest comment. I'll still go ahead and do that. What I was going to state is that there are just as many or more reliable sources calling it an action film or action thriller, including (among others):

"The Old Guard May Be the Best Action Movie of the Summer," from Time

The New York Times states, "But then the pandemic hit, the theatrical release of Yan’s film was shortened, and 'Mulan' and 'Wonder Woman 1984' have both been delayed until a substantial number of theaters can open. That means 'The Old Guard,' which is based on a comic book written by Greg Rucka and illustrated by Leandro Fernandez and streaming Friday on Netflix, has now become one of the few action movies with any sort of guaranteed release this summer."

Variety quotes director Gina Prince-Bythewood stating, "They said in the room that they loved 'Love & Basketball' and loved 'Beyond the Lights' and loved what I did with the characters with that and they wanted that vibe for 'The Old Guard' so that it didn't just feel like an action film, but more like an action drama," she recalled. "And for me to move into the space, that’s exactly what I wanted as well."

Business Insider states, "Netflix debuted its new comic-book action movie, 'The Old Guard,' on Friday."

IndieWire states, "Is there a future ahead for Netflix's smash-hit action movie 'The Old Guard'? Don't rule it out, as the film is currently sitting at the top spot in the in the charts for the United States after just releasing on July 10."

CNET states, "The new action film focuses on a tight-knit group of mercenaries who happen to be immortal. If you're looking for a paint-by-numbers action movie, look no further than The Old Guard. Sometimes it can be comforting to watch a flick that seems familiar. Check out CNET's review of The Old Guard if you want to know more (warning: some spoilers). Or you could just watch the movie from Friday. Whatever floats your boat."

The Hindustan Times states,"Based on the comic book by Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernandez, the film is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, who had thus far displayed no evidence of having a knack for making action movies. And there lies the problem. By not allowing women to make big-budget action movies, based on false assumptions and decades of prejudice, truly talented filmmakers such as Prince-Bythewood are being sidelined in favour of inexperienced white men. I can name a dozen recent action films that are infinitely inferior to The Old Guard, but were made simply because their male directors came cheap and proved themselves to be pushovers."

GQ UK states "The new action film starring Charlize Theron follows a group of immortal mercenaries. If they can't die, they can't lose. So wherein lies the drama?"

Variety also states, " 'The Old Guard' is at once a conventional action thriller; an origin story that's trying, in its utilitarian Netflix way, to launch a badass franchise; and an 'elegiac' late episode of that same franchise. It’s a genre movie that, if anything, takes its characters a lot more seriously than the audience does."

"Jafar Actor Marwan Kenzari Joins Charlize Theron in Action Thriller 'Old Guard' (Exclusive)'," from The Hollywood Reporter

The Los Angeles Times states, "In the action thriller, now streaming on Netflix, Theron plays Andy, short for Andromache the Scythian, who for more than 6,000 years has been fighting battles all over the world. Layne plays Nile, a U.S. Marine who discovers her own new powers of immortality when she recovers from having her throat slashed while deployed in Afghanistan. Andy recruits Nile to her small band of immortal fighters from different eras, who battle injustices across the globe.

NME states, "The action-thriller, which dropped on the streaming platform last Friday (July 10), follows a group of immortal mercenaries,hunted by an evil scientist."

A number of reliable sources, including a few I listed above, simultaneously refer to it as a superhero film and an action film (or action thriller).

It does seem misleading and somewhat reductive to simply refer to it as a superhero film. It's not a typical superhero film, which is why Tropic Aces asked the above question. I'll contact WP:Film to weigh in on this. Flyer22 Frozen (talk) 04:56, 14 July 2020 (UTC)

I agree that it is reductive to just call it a superhero film. It doesn't mean it can't qualify as one, but is it the overarching (and singular) genre? It doesn't seem like it to me. No problem with mentioning "superhero" elements a little later, though, if it can fit. Erik (talk | contrib) 11:13, 14 July 2020 (UTC)

SnapSnap, regarding this? We are discussing it now. There is no WP:Consensus to call this a superhero film and leave it at that. WP:FILMLEAD states, "Genre classifications should comply with WP:WEIGHT and represent what is specified by a majority of mainstream reliable sources." We can relay both aspects in the lead. As noted by me above, the director herself stated "action drama." Flyer22 Frozen (talk) 23:37, 14 July 2020 (UTC)

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