Comic book film generations theory

[Bruce Malone]

A thought came into my head a little while ago and i feel that the history of comics on film over the past 30 years or so can be divided up into different generations. Based on the impact of certain films and directors popping up signalling a new generation and style of films. So this is my theory on comic film generations:

Generation 1: Started by richard donner and Superman the movie.

Gen 2: Tim Burton and batman continuing through with Schmacher.

Gen 3: Bryan Singer/Sam Raimi with x-men and spider-man appearing

gen 4: Christopher Nolan/Jon Favreau starting in 2008 with Iron Man and The dark knight. I believe this is the generation we currently find ourselves in for comic films as i feel most comic films since then have tried to adapt the styles one way or another of either of these two films.

Not to mention a stylystic change from super-hero movies from the first half of the decade.

So what do you guys think of my theory?

 

[metaphysician]

I'm not sure its really a case of clear generations, so much as bursts of influence, but sure, its credible. Generation 1 and Generation 2 are pretty sparse, though.

 

[Mr.T]

The action movie genre as we grew up knowing is all but gone now. With that, I think comic book movies are willing to take more risks as they are now filling the void of action/science fiction/fantasy.

 

[Breogan]

Nolan's dark knight(2008) and Favreau's Iron-Man(2008) although they came out the same year, are really two completely different animals, and not just in tone and style. With hero movies already in full swing, what Iron-Man among other things brought to the table was the cross-over set up, this is what was huge, entirely new genre defining moment, and was the wave rode through franchise after franchise all the way to Avengers, and it's still going strong.
Dark Knight is definitely not a part of that stylistic trend or impact, it was more of a continuation of what had already been started before with Batman Begins in 2005, which had it's own new style and impact, but that would conflict with your defining "generations style" time line.

Anyway, going a bit further back...

Generation A: (1920's -> Fairbanks created the costumed action hero movie genre... spawned a slew of costumed action hero movies, and influenced the comics themselves.
[YT]yaBud6ii5Wk&feature[/YT]
Gen B: 1940's -> The movie serials, Captain Marvel, led to a boom of Superhero movies (1941) Batman (1943), The Phantom (1943), Captain America (1944), Superman (1948) etc...
[YT]kn8PJ4AEhmY&feature=[/YT]