Neither as they are false choices, there are more than 2. Magneto isn't insane in context. Magneto unlike Thanos has a bedrock event, the Holocaust. We see this briefly but because of various cultural osmosis the writers don't have to go to the showers to get the message across. His plan is horrific, very emotionally driven but there is a certain logic to it, a WHY. We know what the consequences are if he doesn't act and why that could very well come to pass.
Thanos lacks context, WHY, HOW, WHAT. That difference makes Magneto a great villain and Thanos a Grimace.
Even if Thanos's plan was a circular plan to prove himself right, what was it meant to prove right? Balance what balance? Restoring it to what state? If he was right in an instance why don't we see what he was right about on Zen-Whoberi or whatever? Before he murders half the planet the place seemed pretty alright, how was it better afterwards?
Time after time the film makers undercut themselves. Boiling it down Thanos wants to kill half the universe because?
Writers didn't commit to anything or give you anything to work with. Like Adrock said they didn't go far enough. Add the laughable attempts to get us to relate to him, throw in the soul stone absurdity. IW Thanos doesn't work. That's why you have been jumping from one under baked explanation to another with none being satisfying or making any sense.
One of Marvel's double edge strengths is that it does try very hard to avoid introspection to be "Safe", not say anything. Be all the punchman it can be. This is impossible task of course so this leads to every Marvel movie committing to nothing.
Captain America's greatest scenes was him selling war bonds which was one of his original purpose. They don't want to talk about WW2 or fight Hitler so they toss in Hydra, the socially accepted not-NAZI.
Winter Soldier couple have easily been a spy thriller, a look at the surveillance state, big data, pre-crime, geopolitical limitations. We can't can't any of that so it was Hydra. The most interesting part would have been Black Widow doing her spy stuff and facing the congressional panel cleaning up the mess, but we can't have any of that so she is a glorified sidekick.
Civil War. Because we really don't know the text of the accord nor do they state their objections or make an argument they commit to nothing and by the end of the movie nothing is resolved.
Ultron, kill people because. Tony and Banner become really stupid.
Black Panther. African nation uses spears to fight and ritual death fights to determine it's political power structure. This avoids actual political struggles and examining the nature of racism other than to call Watson a coloniser(tbf it's funny). Villain's goal was a black uprising but only had a couple crates of weapons no one else could recreate as they hold almost all the material needed. Villain is right but all he gets is some community centres.
Iron Man briefly wants to end war and the military industrial complex.
It doesn't have to be hard commentary and care certainly needs to be taken, but the lack of any commitment means their villains are always going to come off poorly written. The bigger their goals the worse they are written. All our characters disconnected to the world around them.
It's also why we don't have a Black Widow movie as it would reveal the underbelly of government. The muddy grey morality of who she is and those who order her. Her movie would cause too much introspection. Remember, she murders people for a living.
Being a popcorn movie doesn't excuse poor writing.
I await the post Endgame analysis of Thanos' Mad (not that i read most of the current analysis, but curious to see if anything changes. LOL) plan.
UncleBob left the chat, however I’m currently here:
1. I loved Infinity War but had a few issues with the writing. Thanos’ plan is bad because it doesn’t accomplish his goal. It isn’t asking a lot that any story, summer blockbuster or otherwise, adhere to the most basic for character building.
2. I am willing to wait until Saturday to see if my opinion changes post-Endgame. Still, I’m skeptical of a sequel being used to correct the failures of its predecessor.
If the spoilers are of any indication it makes Thanos worse.