5 replies to this topic

[NewMarketSean]

It's been 15 years since the first X-Men movie came out and kicked off the comic book franchise/shared universe trend that has reached its peak today and seems to be climbing into the future.

 

Marvel recently announced a film schedule that stretched well into the next few years. DC has done something similar.

 

Now there's comic book TV shows left and right.

 

I loved the first two Spider-Man films, loved The Dark Knight like everyone else...the Captain America films have been good. But the lack of real tension or advancement of character or plot in 99% of these films has worn on me and turned me off. 

 

Maybe I'm getting older? But a lot of fanboys out there are my age and older.

 

Perhaps something will occasionally come along and surprise me. Who knows. I am very much looking to the new Terminator and Star Wars movies, and they are essentially comic book movies...

 

I do find it frustrating that a lot of good Hollywood talent, both in front of and behind the camera, are being sucked into this universe and not making other, more mature or dramatic films.

 

Anyone else torn on this whole thing?

 

 

[DJ MC]

I saw the first Spiderman...

[BobPhelan]

On the TV side nothing has been good/interesting enough for me to watch more than an episode or two. Although I'm hoping Daredevil and the other Marvel Netflix shows changes that.

I'm into the MCU even if I don't love them all. They've done a great job of recreating the feeling you get reading their comics, at least for me. I'll see the DC movies but not much excitement there.

Overall I'm still in favor of comic book inspired media. I understand how someone could feel sick of it all but for me they're usually pretty fun easy watches, even the bad ones.

[DuffMan]

The X-Men Cartoon from the 90's kicked some serious ass.  Hit on a bunch of the great story lines from the comics and often did them way better than the movie version, like the Phoenix Saga

[Mike in STL]

I like good movies, and if it happens to be a comic book movie, so be it. With the exception of the Batman series, I always wait to see how its regarded among the real fans before I shell out $10-15 to go see it. Avengers was good. Captain America is good, Iron Man is my favorite of the group, the first Spider man was good. Otherwise, Hulk was terrible. X-men did nothing for me. Didnt hear enough buzz about the what, six, Wolverine movies to bother. Didnt bother with Thor. Guardians of the galaxy had a ton of buzz but I wasnt impressed, but I also realize they are running out of big time comic book stars. Paul Rudd is Ant Man for god sakes.

Now if James Cameron does Aqua Man, I'm in.

[WillStokes]

I actually have a lot of thoughts on this. 

 

First, I think a lot of times when we consume films or TV, we automatically conflate "dark and depressing" with "mature". I like The Wire and Breaking Bad as much as the next person, but think shows like Friday Night Lights or Parks and Recreation, which are more lighthearted and optimistic, are immediately considered "less mature" simply because they are lighthearted and optimistic. 

 

That's one of my biggest problems with comic book movies recently. Nolan's Batman movies are really good, but everyone wants to replicate the "gritty" and "realistic" feel of those movies, when that usually isn't the right tone for comic books. My favorite comic book movies are funny and willing to acknowledge that this is a fun movie (like Iron man, Guardians of the Galaxy, and even The Avengers). 

 

I also think there is a lot of good comic books shows on TV right now. I watch both of The Arrow (which is inconsistent, but Season 2 was one of the best shows in 2013) and The Flash (which has been really good out of the gate). Not only do the shows have really good special effects and fight scenes (The Arrow has the same fight choreographers as Spartacus, which also had incredible fight scenes), but because they are TV shows, they can create a rotating cast of character that is able to approximate a comic book universe that is basically impossible to do on the big screen.