As the summer winds down I reminisce on the superhero films that have come out this year as well as the ones that have yet to come. The past couple of blockbuster summers have seen the release of numerous comic book films. Thankfully, they are at a higher caliber than one would expect.
The Holy Grail of superhero films is definitely Christopher Nolan’s treatment of Batman. No disrespect to Tim Burton’s interpretation of Batman, but Nolan’s is far better. He took a franchise that had previously been viewed as corny and campy in the 90s films and the old television series and made Bruce Wayne/Batman into a brooding vigilante with depth. It also helps that Nolan got an actor that works well with his vision of Batman. Say what you will about Christian Bale. He still kicks ass. He’s an amazing actor and deserves every accolade he receives. Nolan’s version of Batman is well written, acted, and directed. It has the trifecta to make it a great franchise and I can’t wait for The Dark Knight Rises.
As amazing as Batman is, the real comic book juggernaut for movies the past couple years is Marvel. Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, et al have been immensely popular. Despite the fact that the characters are all vastly different. Tony Stark/Iron Man is an arrogant wealthy party boy genius, Thor is a spoiled brat with a need to be the hero, while Steve Rogers/Captain America is the altruistic former geek who uses his powers responsibly to save the world. It’ll be interesting to see these characters together in next year’s The Avengers alongside Mark Ruffallo’s Bruce Banner/Hulk (also known as the crazy rage-aholic.)
Of course, I can’t talk about superhero films without mentioning the flops. The Green Lantern was a huge freaking disappointment. As much as I like Ryan Reynolds, he was just a bad fit for Hal Jordan. He’s too comical and I can’t take him seriously as the selfless hero “space cop.” Along with bad writing and casting choices, the film was destined for a Razzie. Both Hulk films suffered much of the same fate. Edward Norton is a talented actor, but even he couldn’t save the last Hulk film. My hope is that Mark Ruffallo has better luck in his portrayal of the angry green man.
Whether you’re a comic book nerd (like my boyfriend) or just enjoy the movies as a standalone, superhero movies have definitely evolved over the years. In this post-9/11 world, we want a serious hero we can identify with or at least rally behind. It matters not if you’re the underdog like Steve Rogers or the preppy that always comes out on top like Tony Stark, moviegoers have proven during recent blockbuster seasons that they vastly prefer the crop of superhero films Hollywood is now churning out. As a fan of superhero movies, I pray with all my might the formula doesn’t change!
You know, I had watched The Dark Knight while I was making dinner tonight. It is a great movie. But I am a little bothered by how much control the Joker has despite how complex his plans are. How long did he have those bombs in the hospital? Does he just plant bombs in various important places in case he has a use for them? How come nobody ever notices?
ReplyDeleteI like Tim Burton's Batman, and honestly, I think the comparison is apples to oranges. Tim Burton was all about style and creating a mood visually. Christopher Nolan is all about plot and characters. And Danny Elfman's soundtrack is still so contagious.
Still, I love Nolan's take on the Joker and I wish it could return in a sequel. I have a feeling lots of people will insist that no one can take Heath Ledger's place, and while I agree he did an amazing job, the character still has work to do. Plus, I'm hoping Harley Quinn gets introduced. Alas, my wishes will likely not come true.