A worthy comparison, I think not. But if you want some fun check out the How it Should Have Ended YouTube channel for Super Cafe.
With Marvel Studios pumping outnew film franchises as if the Green Goblin himself were on their tail, and DC and WarnerBros trying to fit as many superheroes in a film that isn’t (as far as we know) a Justice League homage, in the new Superman vs. Batman, it would be easy to pass off the bucketload of super powered movie makeovers as money-making dribble. And perhaps this is what is appears to be for mainstream movie viewers – cheap thrills from mega-budget productions – however, the trained eye, the avid pop culture consumer might just happen to disagree. Well, partly at least.
It seems that our favourite comic book and graphic novel reincarnations in fact, fall into three categories:
Firstly, the superhero film that takes itself far too seriously but falls into all the old cliches. Primary examples being Captain America and Man of Steel. The latter being a true, shining light, as what not to do when transforming one of the world’s most beloved characters. How Snyder thought he could get away with the boy scout breaking the neck of General Zod is unfathomable. Here’s an idea. Let’s make the hero whose moral compass is norther than due north kill his opponent through an act of brute strength. Way to stay true to decades of mythology!
Secondly, the superhero film that realises the inherent ridiculousness that permeates the genre. Well done Thor (first and second film), and The Amazing Spider-Man. Films such as these can get away with ridiculous plot turns, flawed logic, and giant lizards and villains because they acknowledge that such things are in fact amusing. They are self-aware, and while some may decide that this is an extreme depiction of campness (although let’s face it, nothing can be camper than Schumacher’s Batmans), it is in fact the sign of a craft well-mastered. Iron Man veers into this every now and then for a bit of comic relief but doesn’t rely on it as heavily.
Lastly – and when I say we left the best for last, I mean it – we have the superhero film, that not only takes itself seriously, but also is able to back up such an assumption with good acting, clever stories and good character development. Hello Nolan’s Batman trilogy, X-Men First Class and V for Vendetta. Not only are these good superhero films, but they are also just good films in general. And it is that which should be the aim for Snyder’s next venture into DC territory – not amazing special effects or beautiful cinematography – he needs to tell a better story.
Now of course, of the three, it’s really only the first kind that needs to be avoided. Categories one and two serve their own unique purposes.
Fingers crossed the plethora of films coming out in the next few years have learnt from the mistakes of the past.
P.S. Who loves the idea of Benicio del Toro in the new Guardians of the Galaxy???
I CAN comma ALMOST 