星を超えて他のTBoltsは目的の深さを欠いていたのか
Wow! Marvel’s Thunderbolts has hit Rotten Tomatoes with an astonishing audience score, reaching as high as 95%! Critics are also praising the film with scores around 88-89%, solidifying its Certified Fresh status. This overwhelmingly positive reception is sparking intense discussion, with many fans exclaiming that the MCU is truly “back”! But how did a film primarily focused on antiheroes achieve such a triumph, especially compared to recent MCU entries?
In this deep dive analysis, we’re dissecting exactly why Thunderbolts is resonating so strongly with audiences and critics alike, exploring its narrative core, character dynamics, tonal shifts, and what this successful outing signals for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly Phase 5 and beyond. Released on May 2nd, 2025, this movie feels less like a typical superhero ensemble and more like a grounded, emotional character study blending intense drama, action, and dark comedy, earning comparisons not just to earlier MCU hits like Winter Soldier and Black Widow, but even prestige dramas like The Bear and Beef for its raw, gritty emotional core.
A central reason for the film’s impact is its brave and multifaceted exploration of mental health and trauma, primarily through the character of Bob, aka Sentry, brilliantly portrayed by Lewis Pullman. We delve into Bob’s rough backstory, including an abusive father, struggles with addiction, intense bipolar mood swings, and how the super-soldier serum tragically exacerbated these issues, fracturing him into the heroic Sentry and the terrifying manifestation of his trauma, the Void. The Void isn’t just a generic villain; it’s a chilling, visually unsettling black mass that embodies depression, anxiety, despair, and the power to erase identity, trapping people in psychological “trauma rooms.” This potent metaphor for battling internal demons elevates the film’s conflict beyond simple good vs. evil.
The ensemble cast, brought together by the cunning Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (played flawlessly by Julia Louis-Dreyfus), includes fan favorites like Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), John Walker/U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell), Red Guardian (David Harbour), and Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen). While the chemistry between these disparate loners forging an uneasy “found family” bond is palpable and widely praised, even drawing comparisons to the original Avengers’ dynamic, the film’s laser focus on Yelena and Sentry’s arcs led to some criticism regarding the underutilization and lack of development for other characters. Notably, the fate of Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko), set up in Black Widow, was a significant disappointment for many viewers, feeling like a waste of potential, especially with reports of a cut subplot bonding her with Ghost.
Valentina herself serves as a key antagonist, not through cosmic threats, but through political manipulation and a cynical super-soldier agenda. The reveal in the end credits that she rebrands her team as the “New Avengers” is a bold power play, creating immediate tension and setting up potential clashes within the hero community, particularly with Sam Wilson’s Captain America. This move, highlighting how easily narratives of heroism can be spun for institutional gain, adds a sharp satirical edge to the film and lays crucial groundwork for future major MCU events, including potentially the Avengers: Doomsday film. The tease of a Fantastic Force ship further connects the film to the wider Marvel universe and hints at future cosmic elements integrated with these more grounded themes.
The climax of Thunderbolts is particularly unique, foregoing large-scale city destruction for a psychological battle within Bob’s mind. The team wins not by physical force, but through empathy, understanding, and connection, culminating in a powerful, earned emotional moment that includes a group hug. This focus on emotional resolution reinforces the film’s core themes of healing through connection and support.
Despite criticisms regarding inconsistent action sequences, some plot logic hiccups (like the abrupt “New Avengers” reveal), pacing issues, and the desire for deeper exploration of every character’s trauma (with cut scenes for Red Guardian, Ghost, and Bucky adding to this feeling of missed opportunity), Thunderbolts is largely seen as a significant success. Its ability to deliver a compelling, thematically rich, character-driven story with standout performances, particularly from Pugh and Pullman, while tackling difficult subjects like addiction and mental illness with surprising frankness (“I was on meth!” scene noted for its directness), suggests a successful evolution of the MCU formula.
This film’s strong performance and positive word of mouth (74% definite recommend, 75% interest in a sequel via Post-Track) are not just noteworthy in the current box office climate but could serve as a template for Marvel Studios, #Thunderbolts
#MCU
#Sentry
Their past weren’t explored enough. Exactly. Left characters beyond Yolena and Bob feeling like they lack purpose or depth for some. It’s that trade-off again. Spotlight Century’s arc or develop the whole team equally. Hard to do both perfectly. And it comes back to that audience desire. Give us meaningful development for characters we know. Don’t just sideline them. Castmaster’s fate really hammered that home. You wonder if the action criticism ties into the focus. Maybe they intentionally prioritize character moments within the action over pure spectacle, aiming for that grounded feel. That’s possible, aligning with the different ambition of the film. What about specific scenes? Any moments really stand out in the reactions? Yeah, a few.
WACOCA: People, Life, Style.