The Dark Knight Rises David Cronenberg says some stupid things about superhero movies

[Lunar_Wolf]

While promoting Cosmopolis, David Cronenberg was asked what he thought about big-time directors, directing superhero films. Mr. Cronenberg had a few things to say on the matter.

He said The Dark Knight Rises was ”boring”, which I has no problem with, that’s his opinion, but he went on to say this:

“A superhero movie, by definition, you know, it’s comic book. It’s for kids,”

”It’s adolescent in its core. That has always been its appeal, and I think people who are saying, you know, Dark Knight Rises is supreme cinema art, I don’t think they know what the f— they’re talking about.”

First off, not all comic books are for kids. Like film, there’s comics for kids and comics for adults, so no, it’s not adolescent in it’s core. Even Batman is not a kids comic. And remember, this same guy directed A History of Violence, a film adapted from a comic book!

Funny thing about art is, it’s SUBJECTIVE! Do I think The Dark Knight Rises is supreme cinema art? No. Is it art? Yes, of course. But hey, some people might think it is. Some people might take away something different from The Dark Knight Rises or any film in particular, than you or I did.

So at the end of the day, I don’t think David Cronenberg knows what the **** he is talking about when it comes to comic book movies.

-MADG

 

[JackWhite]

It's one thing not to like the film, but when you trash the genre as a whole it doesn't help the weight of your argument. You just end up coming off as a blind hater.

 

[vanson]

yeah I would've expected a more intelligent answer than that, especially from a filmmaker like him..

but maybe he is bitter because no one lets him direct a ~200million blockbuster

 

[Morning Root]

yeah I would've expected a more intelligent answer than that, especially from a filmmaker like him..

but maybe he is bitter because no one lets him direct a ~200million blockbuster

I would certainly agree that there must be some lingering bitterness present. Although where it could have come from and WHY it is targeted at superheros in general, I'll never know.

 

[AnneFan]

Read this part of his comments:

What he is doing is some very interesting technical stuff, which, you know, he's shooting IMAX and in 3D

Nolan hasn't used 3D at any point, David.

 

[PWN3R]

Not really into C.S. Lewis, but this quote of his perfectly sums up Cronenberg's limited view on the genre:

To be concerned about being grown up, to admire the grown up because it is grown up, to blush at the suspicion of being childish; these things are the marks of childhood and adolescence

Btw.... I love Cronenberg.

 

[chintai80]

Yea, that's just a narrow viewpoint.

Cronenberg directed The Fly and Scanners.
That's a couple of genre films, so he shouldn't be talking about "supreme cinema art" either.

It's like deriding Spielberg for making Indiana Jones, or Lucas for making Star Wars. Classic adventure films with comic book sensibilities.

 

[Mob1423]

This guy has obviously never looked into stories like:

Watchmen
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: The Long Halloween
The Dark Knight Returns
Spider-Man: Reign
Batman: Knightfall

and many more. As a lover of those more adult graphic novels and story arcs, I am extremely offended that he pretty much calls fans of Nolan's Batman complete idiots and children and also I'm even more offended that he's not aware of adult comic books. Batman probably has the most of them all, but it's he who doesn't know squat.

When he apologizes, he has my permission to die

 

[Motown Marvel]

david cronenberg is one of my all time favorite directors. the dude is a brilliant film maker. his horror films from the early 70's are unmatched in their genre. even his failures as a film maker can be respected for their ambitious high concepts and attempts to push boundaries.

i agree with his opinion that TDKR was boring. i also agree that its stupid for people to consider TDKR as supreme cinema art. i disagree with his sweeping generalization about comic books. and im sure given the opportunity, his opinion on that could easily be reversed.

nothing he's said changes my respect and praise of him as a film maker.

but maybe he is bitter because no one lets him direct a ~200million blockbuster

ha, cronenberg has zero desire to direct 200 million dollar blockbusters.

and many more. As a lover of those more adult graphic novels and story arcs, I am extremely offended that he pretty much calls fans of Nolan's Batman complete idiots and children and also I'm even more offended that he's not aware of adult comic books. Batman probably has the most of them all, but it's he who doesn't know squat.

When he apologizes, he has my permission to die

you know whats more offensive than anything cronenberg said? yer wish for someone to DIE just because they think comic books are kids fare. you can **** off with that bull****.

 

[Mob1423]

Motown, you REALLY need to chill out. I don't want him dead, I was quoting TDKR to poke fun. I NEVER said anything about worshipping Nolan or his trilogy, yet apparently you can't take a joke or a reference at that. I expect an apology from you and no I don't want you to die.

Calm down

 

[Motown Marvel]

Motown, you REALLY need to chill out. I don't want him dead, I was quoting TDKR to poke fun. I NEVER said anything about worshipping Nolan or his trilogy, yet apparently you can't take a joke or a reference at that. I expect an apology from you and no I don't want you to die.

Calm down

i am chill and you'll get no apology from me. reference or not, asking for him to die didnt sound anything like a joke. i suggest you develop yer sense of humor. the fact that yer even "extremely offended" by his statement is ridiculous. i say that as someone with high respect and deep appreciation for comic books.

 

[Mob1423]

I'm done talking

 

[Lasirius]

I like Croneberg. Even though I don't agree with him, I certainly haven't loss any sort of respect I have for him because he is a great filmmaker. He can think whatever he wants.

It's like stop being friends with someone because they didn't like TDKR.

 

[venus_ice]

Rude

 

[Figs]

david cronenberg is one of my all time favorite directors. the dude is a brilliant film maker. his horror films from the early 70's are unmatched in their genre. even his failures as a film maker can be respected for their ambitious high concepts and attempts to push boundaries.

i agree with his opinion that TDKR was boring. i also agree that its stupid for people to consider TDKR as supreme cinema art. i disagree with his sweeping generalization about comic books. and im sure given the opportunity, his opinion on that could easily be reversed.

nothing he's said changes my respect and praise of him as a film maker.



ha, cronenberg has zero desire to direct 200 million dollar blockbusters.



you know whats more offensive than anything cronenberg said? yer wish for someone to DIE just because they think comic books are kids fare. you can **** off with that bull****.

I agree with everything you said Motown. I'm also a huge fan of his. It's basically fanboys getting pissed off because someone doesn't happen to worship comic films like they do. Probably due to the fact that he has a deeper understanding of film in general.

 

[Anno_Domini]

David Cronenberg directed A History of Violence. If you look up AHOV on Wikipedia and not just the movie, you get directed to a page where the very top says this

A History of Violence (comics)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_History_of_Violence_(comics)

What's his ****ing point when HE pretty much directed a CBM himself?

This guy has obviously never looked into stories like:

Watchmen
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: The Long Halloween
The Dark Knight Returns
Spider-Man: Reign
Batman: Knightfall

and many more. As a lover of those more adult graphic novels and story arcs, I am extremely offended that he pretty much calls fans of Nolan's Batman complete idiots and children and also I'm even more offended that he's not aware of adult comic books. Batman probably has the most of them all, but it's he who doesn't know squat.

When he apologizes, he has my permission to die

Not to mentioned the Batman ones you listed are the inspiration of Nolan's trilogy, not the "kiddie" Batman comics Cronenberg seems to think most CBMs are based off on.

He's a great director, Cronenberg truly is, but...he should've kept quiet and never said this.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

- Albert Einstein

 

[TylerHaslett]

i like him as "Dr. Decker", dont care for his directorial efforts at all, and neither do most people. like the article states, he comes off like a bitter old man yelling at kids to get off his lawn. he's a good actor, a bad director, and jealousy is getting the best of him. if he's that much more superior as he claims, then why even devote the time to discuss his supposed hatred? his whole argument is based off of not actually watching the movies, but just lumping batman in with every superhero made.
he states that "chris nolan does 3d" which he has never done, so its pretty obvious he's never actually watched the dark knight trilogy.

 

[General Vulcun]

Don't really have a problem with his comments toward superhero movies. It's his comments about comic books, and superheroes in general, that irk me.

I don't really care what subjects he thinks are worthy of being considered art or which of his films (or how many of them) I liked, an ignorant comment is an ignorant comment. If he wants to have an opinion but doesn't want to put in the effort to actually do research, then he shouldn't open his mouth on the subject.

 

[DerTommissar]

Cronenberg is awesome and I would trade my career for his any day.

That being said, they way he expressed himself sounds like SOUR GRAPES.

He should be above such sentiments with all he has accomplished.

I bet you Nolan even looks up to the guy, so I hope he doesn't have to hear about this.

 

[citizenpain]

while he's right that superhero movies aren't supreme cinema art, he's really generalizing by saying comic books are for kids. for such a brilliant man (when it comes to film anyway) that sure is an uninformed and biased statement. i don't really get why he'd go out of his way to say something like this. the man is speaking his opinion and that's fine but it sounds like's a bit angry that all these superhero and comic book films are all the rage right now.

 

[Micromind]

Any subject matter, including comic book movies have the potential to be thoughtful, layered with subtext, and be intellectually stimulating experience and at the same time adhere to comic book sensibilities.

Nolan has elevated the genre with his trilogy, it may not be high art but Cronenberg should have shown better appreciation of Nolan's work and he should not have compared them to generic cbm that were made (like Catwoman, Steel, Fantastic Four.)

He made unwarranted sweeping statements.

 

[Green Ghoul]

Strong words coming from a guy who had a cameo in Jason X. I don't really care if he liked TDKR or not. He just didn't need to get all artsy fartsy about the genre being childish.

 

[the_monk]

Didn't he direct A History of Violence, which was based on a graphic novel?

Anyway, I don't totally disagree with him, though I'm a big fan of The Dark Knight movies. Those are infused with genuine drama and artistic integrity. I do have a problem with is the pervasiveness of the comic book mindset in cinema these days. Superheroes, to me, make generally uninteresting subject matter. I don't read comic books anymore, and I'm honestly not a fan of the way the Comic Con stuff has taken over Hollywood.

But that's me.

 

[Agent Orange]

Comics, and the ghostly fascination of those paper people, paralyzed in time, marionettes without strings, unmoving, cannot be transposed to film, whose allure is motion, rhythm, dynamic. It is a radically different means of addressing the eye, a separate mode of expression. The world of comics may, in its generosity, lend scripts, characters and stories to the movies, but not its inexpressible secret power that resides in that fixity, that immobility of a butterfly on a pin.

--Federico Fellini