What is done Right/Wrong with today's superhero movies.

[tpayer]

This is Trev, co-writer/co-producer, of the upcoming Scarab Movie. When writing the flick, I was inspired by todays superhero films. I have a 6 year old and a 3 year old. Part of my mindset while writing was to consider the idea of me watching the film with them. Some feedback that I've encountered is in direct comparison to that of the Dark Knight. We are small budget, true comic film fans, and have children to which most movies are directed at, but trust me, The Dark Knight is not for a 3 year old. He can buy the merchandise from Toys R Us for a film he won't see for another 11 years. Go figure. That being said, for me, I find that to be a problem with todays films. Do films need to "Push the envelope" or can a film be made these days (The original Superman) that at least MOST of the family can watch. It would be interesting to hear what others find are the good/bad qualities of todays superhero films.

Trev

 

[E-Man]

I think the bad superhero flicks we've gotten is when they don't respect the spirit of the original comics. It's one thing to change up appearances, but you have to keep the spirit if you're doing anything about a hero that's higher than C or D list. Blade worked better because of how bad the original character was. Reading the old Tomb of Dracula to where Blade debuted in is terrible. Blade seems like some throwaway character that was only created to have a token black guy. He got better during the 90s comics, and the movie took those changes and ran with it. That worked out great for a D list character like Blade, but it won't work with higher profile characters. Let's take the upcoming Green Lantern movie. They can alter his costume, when he meets his supporting cast, and even when he meets Abin Sur. But if they change the spirit of Green Lantern being about willpower and overcoming fear, then they've failed as an adaptation. Now it can end up being a good movie if they changed everything, but what's the point of making a movie based on a comic if you're going to change everything?

As for how good the movie is separate from the comics, I think alot of it has to do with not understanding how to tell a story. A great story is something that compels you, and it takes you through a journey. A crappy story is style over substance with too much CGI, and no quality in the script. If you want to make a good superhero movie you have to treat it like telling any other story. As the viewer I must be taken on a journey. There has to be a reason why I'm interested in the characters, and things have to make sense to some extent. When I say make sense I don't mean ultra realistic. Superheroes are called super for a reason. What I mean is that the villain must have a real purpose, and the hero or heroine must have a valid reason to fight them. Wanted is a great example of what not to do in a movie. Things that are supposed to be cool happen for no reason at all. Why in the blue hell would he know how to shoot the wings off a fly, and how in the hell can he do that with no training at all? The filmmakers went for the crowd to ooh and ahh at the "cool moments," but if you take those away you have a truly terrible film. Batman Begins was really good in building up the need for a Batman. It didn't focus on Bruce Wayne doing cool moves, it focused on why he does what he does. The films must ultimately make sense.

 

[MadVillainy]

I guess I would say is just the "uncaring"

I think superhero films are now just a way for ppl to cash in. ANd as long as the movie is good i'm all for that. But sometimes things get effed up. Ppl get greedy
For instance, with the TIH situation. TIH was a good superhero movie, it was funny and definely had enough action to keep me interested. But now I'm wondering if I ever will see a sequel, because Marvel thinks it underperformed due to lack of interest. IMO it didnt do as well as it could have because of how close it was released. I mean they still were promoting IM heavy even when TIH hit theaters. What were the benefits of releasing TIH one month after IM? None. They could have released it this year when they're no big superhero movies coming out and if they put it in the right month I am sure that it would have made more money.
Another thing is also over thinking movies. WB is guilty of that. Yes I am glad that they are waiting instead of pushing out new films that turn out crappy. But how many crew members have walked off of DC/WB project just due to lack of interest. They get the fan's hopes up and then just mess them up

 

[Octoberist]

i thought they should have released TIH in 2009. It was so overshadowed that even I have forgotten all about it, in the sea of Iron Man/Dark Knight/Wall-E/Indiana Jones/Pineapple Express/Tropic Thunder.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

Basically, just dont use the method to make and a superhero movie that Fox does, X2 was their last good super-hero movie, and that is because since, they have strangled the directors they have hired and practically directed them themselves. Then there is their '90-100 minute' rule, they are a joke.

 

[ChickenScratch]

What's wrong is the general disregard for what makes the character great. Many movie adaptations seek to tell a story with the character by cherry picking bits and pieces from past stories and cobbling them together in no coherent way with connective tissue that does not belong. Why not just adapt a story wholly? Many times this cherry picking is done to show every aspect of what the character can do with his/her ability while we all wanna see that, it's usually at the cost of a good story and character development.

 

[simplysuperhero]

@E-Man: great post, well-said

@tpayer: I agree with you. My oldest is 6 years old and he's gotta wait a while before he sees the Dark Knight. Same with a lot of superhero movies. And yet he's the first one to get excited over the newest gadgets/toys related to TDK.

I noticed this with the Pirates of the Carribean movies. Scary stuff for the youngsters but don't tell that to Disney's merchandise marketing team. They seem apathetic to this disconnect.

Superhero movies have improved immensely for adult audiences in the special effects department but haven't done much for children unless you include animation. The Incredibles come to mind.

Movie makers cannot make a superhero movie without believable peripherals to the story (ie, special effects, action sequences).

As E-Man says so well, it's getting the story right that counts and I'll trade in the mindless action sequences and special fx for it.

As for your 6 and 3 year old, go light: the 60s Batman tv series is pretty innocuous as is the movie. I'll be introducing my 6 year old to this series soon.