Jul/091
Superhero Movies
As I pack for Comic Con tomorrow I’m naturally thinking about comics and movies. I am not a comic book fan, but I love superhero movies. I’ll go see any movie about a superhero, even if I have never heard of the character. I may lose some of my movie geek cred to admit that I had never heard of the X-Men or Ironman before the movies, but still I was in the theater opening weekend. What is the draw of superhero movies? They have ready made ingredients for entertaining stories with emotional hooks. First, the stakes. These movies are always about good vs. evil. The bad guys are really bad and the good guys are really good. The rooting interests are clearly defined with strong protagonists and antagonists. Secondly, superheroes have issues. How do they deal with their superpowers? How do they fit in with ordinary people? Do they have anything resembling a real life? How do they handle the responsibility that comes with the job?
With all of these juicy elements why do some superhero movies succeed and others fail?
The biggest mistake filmmakers make is concentrating on action at the expense of character. Yes these movies are effects laden with cool fights and lots of explosions. However, none of these bells and whistles work if they are not connected to the emotional story of the characters. What do these guys want? Iron Man is a despicable arms dealer who experiences first hand the damage his weapons do and has a change of heart. While he spends the rest of the movie trying to make up for his past indifference, he doesn’t shed his playboy persona. Batman has lots of baggage, having witnessed the death of his parents when he was a child. Now he must fight evil without becoming dark himself. He pretends to be a playboy to cover up his agenda. Spiderman can’t be with the woman he loves because his fighting evil keeps getting in the way of their relationship and putting her in danger. These stories are full of conflict and heartache, giving the films a strong emotional core. All of these movies have amazing action and special effects, but what makes them stand out is what the heroes are going through – all relatable, watchable stuff. Furthermore, these characters’ issues are complex enough to sustain more than one film.