Simon Pegg Thinks Comic Book Movies Are 'Kind of Dumbing Down' Cinema

Simon Pegg pulled no punches when said that the recent slate of comic book movies are “kind of dumbing down” cinema.

“Because it’s taking our focus away from real-world issues. Films used to be about challenging, emotional journeys or moral questions that might make you walk away and re-evaluate how you felt about… whatever,” Pegg told the Radio Times. “Now we’re walking out of the cinema really not thinking about anything, other than the fact that the Hulk just had a fight with a robot.”

The actor, known for his roles in the “Star Trek” franchise and cult hits like “Shaun of the Dead,” also said in the interview that movies used to have a more artistic bent.

See photos: The Evolution of Marvel Movies: From Dolph Lundgren's 'Punisher' to 'Avengers: Age of Ultron'

“Before ‘Star Wars’, the films that were box office hits were ‘The Godfather,’ ‘Taxi Driver,’ ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ and ‘The French Connection’ – gritty, amoral art movies. Then suddenly the onus switched over to spectacle and everything changed,” he said.

“Now, I don’t know if that is a good thing. Obviously I’m very much a self-confessed fan of science-fiction and genre cinema,” Pegg continued. “But part of me looks at society as it is now and just thinks we’ve been infantilized by our own taste.”

See video: Robin Williams Is Simon Pegg's Dog in First 'Absolutely Anything' Trailer

“But I sometimes feel like I miss grown-up things,” he concluded. “And I honestly thought the other day that I’m gonna retire from geekdom. I’ve become the poster child for that generation, and it’s not necessarily something I particularly want to be. I’d quite like to go off and do some serious acting.”

Pegg will next appear in “Mission: Impossible-Rogue Nation” and the comedy “Absolutely Anything.” He is also co-writing and will star in “Star Trek 3.”

The Evolution of Marvel Movies: From Dolph Lundgren's 'Punisher' to 'Ant-Man' (Photos)

"Howard the Duck" (1986) - In this Marvel-meets-George-Lucas sci-fi comedy, a human-size duck is propelled to Earth from outer space as the result of a scientific mishap. Emphasis was placed on special effects and portraying Howard as a less cynical duck than that in the comic.
Universal Pictures
"The Punisher" (1989) - Dolph Lundgren donned a signature skull shirt for a violent adaptation of the story of vigilante Frank Castle, a.k.a The Punisher
New World Pictures
"Fantastic Four" (1994) - Legend has it that Roger Corman produced this low-budget adaptation so that a producer could retain the film rights to the comic. Though never released theatrically, it is available on YouTube.
New Horizons
"Generation X" (1996) - Hoping to capitalize on the popular “X-Men” animated series of the '90s, “Generation X” was a TV movie that aired on Fox about a school for the gifted run by Emma Frost and Banshee.
Fox Network
"Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." (1998) - David Hasselhoff donned Nick Fury’s eye-patch long before Sam Jackson in this made-for-TV-movie that premiered on Fox.
Fury Productions/Fox Network
"Blade" (1998) - Wesley Snipes headlined as a half-man, half-vampire fighting against an evil bloodsucker intent on taking over the world
Marvel/New Line Cinema
"X-Men" (2000) - Hugh Jackman achieved international fame as Wolverine in the story of the famed Marvel superhero team
Marvel/Twentieth Century Fox
"Hulk" (2003) - Ang Lee's much maligned story of Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) as he struggles to control the raging monster within himself
Marvel/Universal Pictures
"Daredevil" (2003) - Ben Affleck earned plenty of scorn for his portrayal of the blind defender of Hell's Kitchen. Nevertheless, the film earned almost $180 million globally
Marvel/New Regency
"The Punisher" (2004) - Thomas Jane took over as Frank Castle in this ultra-violent vigilante tale that also starred John Travolta
Marvel/Lionsgate
"Elektra" (2005) - Jennifer Garner reprises her role as Elektra Natchios, an international assassin, in the spin-off from the more successful 2003 film, Daredevil.
Twentieth Century Fox
"Man-Thing" (2005) - Marvel tried its hand at horror with the “Man-Thing,” loosely based on Stan Lee's swamp monster comic from '71. It features a swamp-monster whose touch burns people who feel fear.
Lions Gate/Artisan Entertainment
"Ghost Rider" (2007) - Nicolas Cage and Eva Mendes starred in the story of a motorcycle daredevil (Cage) who sold his soul to the devil.
Marvel/Columbia Pictures
"Iron Man" (2008) - The movie that launched the MCU into the stratosphere starred Robert Downey Jr. as billionaire Tony Stark, a weapons manufacturerer who decides to defend the innocent who are caught in the path of the very weapons he once designed
Marvel/Paramount
"The Incredible Hulk" (2008) - Edward Norton took over the role of Dr. Bruce Banner in the setup to the eventual "Avengers" crossover
Marvel/Universal
"Captain America" (2011) - Chris Evans took up the red, white, and blue shield of the First Avenger as he fought against Hydra head Red Skull (Hugo Weaving)
Marvel/Paramount
"Thor" (2011) - Chris Hemsworth played the hammer-wielding god of thunder as he battles his brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), for control of the mythical realm of Asgard
Marvel/Paramount
"The Avengers" (2012) - The superhero team assembled for this blockbuster as they fought to prevent an alien invasion of Earth. Mark Ruffalo took over the role of Bruce Banner from Edward Norton
Marvel/Paramount
"Guardians of the Galaxy" (2014) - Chris Pratt proved himself to be an action superstar as Peter "Star-Lord" Quill in this intergalactic sensation that grossed almost $775 million
Marvel Studios
"Avengers: Age of Ultron" (2015) - The Avengers assemble once again as they try to stop Ultron, an A.I. built by Tony Stark that wants to destroy humanity
Marvel Studios
"Ant-Man" (2015) Paul Rudd plays a thief just out of prison who stumbles on a suit that shrinks him to microscopic size -- all the better to prevent Corey Stoll's evil executive from using the same technology for warfare.
Marvel Studios