Over the past decade cinema goers have
been treated to an array of superheroes. With each film varying in
quality it seems that we are living in the age of Comic Book cinema;
where big studios are plundering the comic archives for the next
bankable character. We've seen Wolverine's and Men of Steel, to
billionaire vigilantes and Spartan warriors. One could speculate that
this increase in escapist cinema is due the turbulent times we live
in, where the Cinema is a welcome retreat offering feats of
daring-do. It could also be said that film-makers are realising the
full potential of these characters, and that Comic Book Cinema
doesn't have to be overly bright child's fare, instead it can discuss
political ideas behind a flurry of masks, capes and costumes.
Examples of these include the last iteration of the Man of Steel –
Superman Returns, which played very heavily on the idea of a changed
world.
This growing success has been building
for the past few years, and we've seen other heroes than just the
Marvel and DC icons. From the literary characters in The League of
Extraordinary Gentlemen, to Iranian adaptation Persepolis its great
to see more obscure adaptations reach our theatres. Yet the bulk of
comic book adaptations still come from the well known characters,
this has granted fresh takes on Superheroes most notably Chris
Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy. By stripping the Dark Knight of his
campness; Nolan was able to deliver a dark, brooding and refreshingly
adult take on Bruce Wayne. Thus giving us psychopathic portrayals of
the Joker and bullish Bane, last seen as a cartoonish brute in Batman
& Robin. With Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy seen as the watermark
in Comic Book cinema, it has spurred film-makers to up their game,
and deliver adaptations which please the fans. Due to this increase
we have seen a roster of darker comic book films, such as Alan Moor's
savage Watchmen, and Mike Mignola's Hellboy all reaching various
degrees of critical and financial success.
Yet all comic book films haven't been a
hit. With last summers western/SF mash-up Cowboys and Aliens failing
to ignite audiences, its a reminder that not even the film-making
dream team of Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard, as well as big name
actors can guarantee bums on seats. Cowboys and Aliens was based on
an niche comic book, and was the third in a slew of alien invasion
films that summer; it could be said that audiences were tired of
seeing aliens invade the earth.
Of all the adaptations we have seen,
Marvel have been the domineering force in all this. Over the past
five years the company has drip fed a catalogue of films, which were
ultimately a trailer for this years The Avengers, which went on to
become the third highest grossing film of all time. A blockbuster,
that will be remembered as one of the most entertaining films of
recent times. With the huge success The Avengers, Warner Brothers are
again developing there own team up Superhero flick, Justice League
which will reach screens in the summer of 2015, coincidently the same
summer in which The Avengers 2 will be released.
With Joss Whedon shepherding future
Marvel release it seems 20th Century Fox have followed
suit, by hiring comic book creator Mark Millar to shadow the studios
own Marvel releases. This is a wise move not only does show the
studio cares about their product, this will hopefully extinguish the
sour taste left behind by Daredevil, Elektra and the two Fantastic
Four films. As Daredevil and Fantastic Four are garnering reboots, it
seems that the company are serious about linking their films with the
overall Marvel universe.
With The Walking Dead in it's third
season, David Fincher spurring fans on to fund The Goon and a host
of adaptations heading our way in the coming months and years, love
it or loathe it comic book cinema is here to stay.
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