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Dr.Vendetta · Jan 27, 2008, 10:10 am

It seems like there has been a new fad in the film industry that has to do with comic book legends and villains. Is this simply because America has an attraction to big explosions and impressive camera angles?

Cl3ver · Jan 27, 2008, 05:49 pm

Yes.

Which also explains the Die Hard series.

But Die Hard has a step above because of the excessive vulgarity... and it has GUUUUNS.

Domino · Jan 27, 2008, 06:57 pm

I think America's comic book craze has been going on for a long time. The film boom is happening because they have found that they can do it.

phoenix_fire · Jan 27, 2008, 07:31 pm

Yeah. Fantastic Four would have been a little impossible back in the day. And most others for that matter.

Milton Bradley · Jan 27, 2008, 09:29 pm

It seems to me this is the end result of stifled creativity, the need to resurect old success stories, and try to recreate them in the modern age.

gela · Jan 27, 2008, 09:40 pm

Quote:

It seems to me this is the end result of stifled creativity, the need to resurect old success stories, and try to recreate them in the modern age.

I don't think its a bad thing. Why let good things die, when a new generation can enjoy it? Im not necessarily talking in the context of comic book heros..

I find alot of the super hero stories to be very similar.. just the same equation for a story over and over again. But iv never been into them that much, so what do I know.

Dr.Vendetta · Jan 27, 2008, 09:41 pm

Is that a sign that we may be running short on creativity? Not that making classic comic books into movies in a bad idea, but Its my personal opinion that they are milking this money cow a little too much. They even make movies about heros that already have movies.

Domino · Jan 27, 2008, 10:02 pm

Classic corporate business practices: squeeze till you get blood, then squeeze till it stops. They know there's a huge number of people who are guaranteed to attend any given superhero's movie, and they're going to do every one of them. Why pay someone to be creative when you can keep putting a better wrapper on a proven product?

One could hope that creative people are still creating, but their works will take a back burner, especially if there's a license that's going to run out on something else.

Chaossaber314 · Jan 27, 2008, 10:29 pm

Some superhero movies have actually been good. Recent examples include Batman Begins, Spiderman 1 & 2, X-Men 2. Even the Matrix trilogy can be seen as a Superhero series.

While it's obvious they're trying to milk this franchise, when you take a bunch of change out of your pocket and throw it into the air, chances are at least some of them are going to be quarters.

It's an exploited genre just like Mafia movies, or Cop movies, or Shoot-em-ups, or Romantic Comedies, or any other number of genres that is milked when a few movies of said genre do well. This isn't exclusive to Superhero movies, they're merely the flavor of the week.

Dr.Vendetta · Jan 27, 2008, 10:35 pm

Well, I'm sure there will come a day when people will finally understand that all of these types of movies are essentially the same thing. I hope that day comes soon. I have even heard that they are considering giving spider-man another three movies. I guess Domino is right. Its all about sapping every last dollar that the public is willing to give them...

another day · Jan 27, 2008, 11:44 pm

It came from all the new possibilities that advanced special effects created. And of course, once they made spiderman, the logical thing was to do a whole bunch of superhero/comic book movies.

And yeah like others have mentioned, don't be fooled into thinking the mainstream film industry is about art. It's about dollar signs. Art is just the byproduct, the ladder they have to climb to get to the money.

Chaossaber314 · Jan 28, 2008, 01:29 am

Quote:

Quote by: Dr.Vendetta

Well, I'm sure there will come a day when people will finally understand that all of these types of movies are essentially the same thing.

You still haven't explained why superhero movies are any different from the formulaic nature of other genres. Had the girlfriend take you to a romantic comedy lately?

Sh*t one of the most praised movies out this year, American Gangster, is essentially Goodfellas with Denzel.

tinybear · Jan 28, 2008, 05:40 am

The Super Hero is most popular where injustice reigns in real life and the masses are discontent.

ruksak · Jan 28, 2008, 08:31 am

Superhero movies suck eggs. The one thing that always makes superhero movie go from bad to worse is the fact that every single superhero in every single superhero movie has to, MUST ABSOLUTELY, have a love interest. As soon as the love interest comes into play, I turn the movie off, everytime.

I suppose the only reason for this is to get women to watch it too. Add a sprinkle of soap opera and it captivates women. They become enthralled and they must continue viewing so as to know the fate of the relationship between these two imaginary people.

Muckraker · Jan 28, 2008, 10:58 am

I would say the "fad" has more to do with cheap and/or free licensing rights and movie studios wanting to make a buck.

Ever notice how so many movies are based on old works of literature? It's because the story is completely free, already written, and there will always be a core audience of people that are familiar with it.

This is the same reason old cartoons use classical music as a backdrop and why you can identify the modern car commercials that had an actual production budget because they were able to buy the licensing right for a current, popular, and very not-free song.

No matter how compelling the tortured hero in an independent script may be, the big movie studios know they already have access to a vault of cheap content that masses of people are already familiar with and that is highly profitable.

Why would they roll the dice on an unknown when the dedicated consumers continue to crack open their wallets for more of the same? Why would they bother spending the money making a quality, innovative, film when the film's title can often drive box office sales simply by being something people recognize?

Superman, Batman, X-Men, and the likes are not terribly creative or interesting to people like me but they spell instant cash to a movie producer. Buying into the name Batman means they have access to characters that many older adults grew up with as well as thousands of comicbooks of cheap or free story content to use and abuse. In addition, they have the toy market as icing on the cake.

To sum up - We continue seeing super hero movies on the theatre listings because studios want to make easy money. We continue going to see those super hero movies because there is not much else to see. The only way this cycle will change is if consumers stop paying to see them and start paying to see higher quality, original, content.

Dr.Vendetta · Jan 28, 2008, 11:43 am

I agree 100% with Muckraker. I think it was a good point bringing up the toy industry, because I know every time a new super hero movie comes out, I'm sure to see my little brother bring home a new McDonald's toy in its likeness. I also agree that there is not much creativity left in the film making industry (with the exception of a good one every now and then). And that even when this new "fad" is over, a new one will be ready and waiting to take its place.

grandpa · Jan 28, 2008, 12:12 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Dr.Vendetta

I agree 100% with Muckraker.
I think it was a good point bringing up the
toy industry, because I know every time a new super
hero movie comes out, I'm sure to see my little
brother bring home a new McDonald's toy in its likeness.

They should have made a Larry Flynt Happy Meal when that Woody Harrelson movie came out.

Grandpa h.

Chaossaber314 · Jan 28, 2008, 02:37 pm

As I mentioned in the Cloverfield v. Godzilla thread, there's already a new zombie movie by George A. Romero coming out soon with the Cloverfield / Blair Witch, camera work.

Like I said, it's not exclusive to this genre by any means.

Rainbow · Jan 28, 2008, 03:56 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Dr.Vendetta

It seems like there has been a new fad in the film industry that has to do with comic book legends and villains. Is this simply because America has an attraction to big explosions and impressive camera angles?

Nope.
It carries rather a fairly prosaic aspect, that is called :
- money :-)))
Whatever brings money, it is worth to make it. That summarizes Hollywood's credo, as of today. As the result, the major Hollywood's creations suit a trashcan firmly, the best. The marginal rest, we can take as the Art.

If a production makes a switch, then we see different films.
Why not now ?
Good films require good staff and/or personnel. That takes time and money.

Ken Carman · Feb 4, 2008, 12:57 pm

Quote:

Quote by: Dr.Vendetta

It seems like there has been a new fad in the film industry that has to do with comic book legends and villains. Is this simply because America has an attraction to big explosions and impressive camera angles?

Many reasons...

Using characters that already exist is easier than actually being creative. That's why we also get movies like The Beverly Hillbillies, or great creative treasures like Underdog. (The toon was "OK," though no where near as good as Bugs, Animaniacs or the well scripted Jay Ward stuff... but did we really need a live dog-super dog big screen movie?)

From movies to TV to the music industry, far too many of those who decide what we're allowed to watch and hear have been creatively bankrupt for years. The only thing that keeps them going is stealing ideas and buying out the rights to stuff like Bullwinkle from widows. (That was a knock at Disney who wouldn't give Jay the time of day until he was dead.) Or we have the Sci Fi channel concept where they do Japanese 50s flick stuff: some big ass creature, bug or something, terrorizes everyone.

YAWN.

Big explosions? Yes, I've notice that scripting is often sacrificed for special effects... which is eventually bound to go nowhere. In drama it is called Deus ex machina, where they used to compete with machines and such that created big noises and entrances for the actors instead of decent scripting. (It eventually failed too.) Super characters are an easy fit into the trend.

I find it interesting that your screen name is that of a character that could have contributed to this trend, but the scripting was pretty damn decent there. I enjoy good social and political commentary.

It amazing what they can do with camera angles these days considering what little we could do when I was operating one many, many moons ago. (Black and white!) But, once again, this can be just fluff. When I hear people who argue about Trek claim Gene's series was so inferior they usually are talking about effects. The scripting, however, for the times... was often far better. That's because they used some of the best writers of the times in Sci Fi... and sometimes "abused." (Well, that's what Harlan Ellison would say, I'm sure.)

I think, sometimes, the focus on angles and bigger booms indicates just how shallow society has become. Nothing has shaken that observation yet.

Jan 27, 2008, 10:10 am	#1 (permalink) (top)
Dr.Vendetta Sedimentary Rock Posts: 22	America's obsession with the super hero It seems like there has been a new fad in the film industry that has to do with comic book legends and villains. Is this simply because America has an attraction to big explosions and impressive camera angles? "The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan

Jan 27, 2008, 06:57 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Domino I'm a pushover Posts: 344	I think America's comic book craze has been going on for a long time. The film boom is happening because they have found that they can do it. kill President attack nuclear bomb smuggle Echelon just recorded this message.

Jan 27, 2008, 07:31 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
phoenix_fire Paladin Location: Narnia Posts: 4,277	Yeah. Fantastic Four would have been a little impossible back in the day. And most others for that matter. Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. -- Song 8:6

Jan 27, 2008, 09:41 pm	#7 (permalink) (top)
Dr.Vendetta Sedimentary Rock Posts: 22	Is that a sign that we may be running short on creativity? Not that making classic comic books into movies in a bad idea, but Its my personal opinion that they are milking this money cow a little too much. They even make movies about heros that already have movies. "The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan

Jan 27, 2008, 10:02 pm	#8 (permalink) (top)
Domino I'm a pushover Posts: 344	Classic corporate business practices: squeeze till you get blood, then squeeze till it stops. They know there's a huge number of people who are guaranteed to attend any given superhero's movie, and they're going to do every one of them. Why pay someone to be creative when you can keep putting a better wrapper on a proven product? One could hope that creative people are still creating, but their works will take a back burner, especially if there's a license that's going to run out on something else. kill President attack nuclear bomb smuggle Echelon just recorded this message.

Jan 27, 2008, 05:49 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Cl3ver haha,charade you are Location: Earth Posts: 34	Yes. Which also explains the Die Hard series. But Die Hard has a step above because of the excessive vulgarity... and it has GUUUUNS.

Jan 27, 2008, 09:29 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
Milton Bradley BANNED Location: Ohio Province, Rep. of Comerica Posts: 7,320	It seems to me this is the end result of stifled creativity, the need to resurect old success stories, and try to recreate them in the modern age.

Jan 27, 2008, 10:29 pm	#9 (permalink) (top)
Chaossaber314 The Cake is a lie... Location: St. Louis Posts: 2,284	Some superhero movies have actually been good. Recent examples include Batman Begins, Spiderman 1 & 2, X-Men 2. Even the Matrix trilogy can be seen as a Superhero series. While it's obvious they're trying to milk this franchise, when you take a bunch of change out of your pocket and throw it into the air, chances are at least some of them are going to be quarters. It's an exploited genre just like Mafia movies, or Cop movies, or Shoot-em-ups, or Romantic Comedies, or any other number of genres that is milked when a few movies of said genre do well. This isn't exclusive to Superhero movies, they're merely the flavor of the week. What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?

Jan 27, 2008, 10:35 pm	#10 (permalink) (top)
Dr.Vendetta Sedimentary Rock Posts: 22	Well, I'm sure there will come a day when people will finally understand that all of these types of movies are essentially the same thing. I hope that day comes soon. I have even heard that they are considering giving spider-man another three movies. I guess Domino is right. Its all about sapping every last dollar that the public is willing to give them... "The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan

Jan 27, 2008, 11:44 pm	#11 (permalink) (top)
another day slipping sand Posts: 1,802	It came from all the new possibilities that advanced special effects created. And of course, once they made spiderman, the logical thing was to do a whole bunch of superhero/comic book movies. And yeah like others have mentioned, don't be fooled into thinking the mainstream film industry is about art. It's about dollar signs. Art is just the byproduct, the ladder they have to climb to get to the money. What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! The paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me; no, nor woman neither..

Jan 28, 2008, 05:40 am	#13 (permalink) (top)
tinybear Volcanic Erupter Location: Hong Kong (for now) Posts: 7,008	The Super Hero is most popular where injustice reigns in real life and the masses are discontent.

Jan 28, 2008, 08:31 am	#14 (permalink) (top)
ruksak Natures 'D' Student Posts: 1,214	Superhero movies suck eggs. The one thing that always makes superhero movie go from bad to worse is the fact that every single superhero in every single superhero movie has to, MUST ABSOLUTELY, have a love interest. As soon as the love interest comes into play, I turn the movie off, everytime. I suppose the only reason for this is to get women to watch it too. Add a sprinkle of soap opera and it captivates women. They become enthralled and they must continue viewing so as to know the fate of the relationship between these two imaginary people.

Jan 28, 2008, 10:58 am	#15 (permalink) (top)
Muckraker Igneous Magma Posts: 350	I would say the "fad" has more to do with cheap and/or free licensing rights and movie studios wanting to make a buck. Ever notice how so many movies are based on old works of literature? It's because the story is completely free, already written, and there will always be a core audience of people that are familiar with it. This is the same reason old cartoons use classical music as a backdrop and why you can identify the modern car commercials that had an actual production budget because they were able to buy the licensing right for a current, popular, and very not-free song. No matter how compelling the tortured hero in an independent script may be, the big movie studios know they already have access to a vault of cheap content that masses of people are already familiar with and that is highly profitable. Why would they roll the dice on an unknown when the dedicated consumers continue to crack open their wallets for more of the same? Why would they bother spending the money making a quality, innovative, film when the film's title can often drive box office sales simply by being something people recognize? Superman, Batman, X-Men, and the likes are not terribly creative or interesting to people like me but they spell instant cash to a movie producer. Buying into the name Batman means they have access to characters that many older adults grew up with as well as thousands of comicbooks of cheap or free story content to use and abuse. In addition, they have the toy market as icing on the cake. To sum up - We continue seeing super hero movies on the theatre listings because studios want to make easy money. We continue going to see those super hero movies because there is not much else to see. The only way this cycle will change is if consumers stop paying to see them and start paying to see higher quality, original, content.

Jan 28, 2008, 11:43 am	#16 (permalink) (top)
Dr.Vendetta Sedimentary Rock Posts: 22	I agree 100% with Muckraker. I think it was a good point bringing up the toy industry, because I know every time a new super hero movie comes out, I'm sure to see my little brother bring home a new McDonald's toy in its likeness. I also agree that there is not much creativity left in the film making industry (with the exception of a good one every now and then). And that even when this new "fad" is over, a new one will be ready and waiting to take its place. "The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it." -Ronald Reagan

Jan 28, 2008, 02:37 pm	#18 (permalink) (top)
Chaossaber314 The Cake is a lie... Location: St. Louis Posts: 2,284	As I mentioned in the Cloverfield v. Godzilla thread, there's already a new zombie movie by George A. Romero coming out soon with the Cloverfield / Blair Witch, camera work. Like I said, it's not exclusive to this genre by any means. What makes a man turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or were you just born with a heart full of neutrality?