Is Hollywood Producing To Many Comic Book Movies?
Growing up in the 80's as a comic book fan without the first two Superman Movies we would never expect too ever see the commerial success and theactrics of so many comic book super hero movies and network sitcoms. After the first two Supermans we had the pleasure of seeing Batman reruns (which I know have a cult following) but to kid reading the comics he looked like he wore a leotard while robin was dressed up like an Elf butler in shorts worn over your grandmothers leggings, then throw in that eye mask and maybe he is robbing a candy store. I came to the conclusion after I saw Batman grab shark repellant off his belt in the middle of the ocean while hanging onto a rope ladder connected to a helicopter that all he needed was Duct Tape and he could accomplish anything. After Superman 3, Supergirl the movie, Howard the Duck, and a straight to video version of the Punisher starring Dolph Lundgren I finally gave up on super hero cinema. I would rely on the comic books for entertainment and always picture Lou Ferringo painted green and what could have been.
Then came a movie that not only resurrected the comic-book super hero in film but set a bar that would'nt be matched. After Tim Burton's Success with Pee-Wees Big Adventure and Beetlejuice was green lit by Warner Brothers. With an all star cast ranging from Jack Nicholson to Kim Bassinger Batman on the Big Screen was given a much deserved facelift that that propelled him into a Folklore status I believe only Superman had achieved up until this point. Images of an out of shape Masked Ballerina were now just part of the evolution as Batman was presented in the awe to us all in an mysterious, smooth all black costume with the gadgets, a incredible Batman logo stand it all and he had a car and the perfect score to match. The final cost for production on this masterpiece was 48 million after the first week at the box office it broke all kinds of records and would finally max out at around 411 million dollars. Followed by a star studded sequel in Batman Returns it seemed nothing could stop D.C. Comics and the rumors of what glorious movies were to come.
We the fans could not have been more wrong. Flocking to the theaters to see the next two Batman movies like hypnotized lab mice proved that high box office numbers does not mean its a good movie. We had daydreams of Jim Carrey as the riddler, Batgirl, Two-face, Robin, Poison Ivy and Bane. What we got was flashblacks to the sitcom except we had 2 batmans and rubber nipples on a batsuit. Almost made Adam West wearing a blue shower curtain a relief from over-acting and what came to be known to generation X as those others Batmans. Just like Superman 3 and 4 it was happening all over again. The decade of the 90s was a utter failure in film but the comics success exploding with X-Men,Woverine, Todd Mcfarlanes Spiderman and Spawn, and D.C. ignited it even more with The Death of Superman and Death in the family. I'm glad that Hollywood stayed way from making movies around the great mid 90s comicbook craze because at the rate they were going with the Shadow, Judge Dredd, and Barb Wire they would have ruined it.
Marvel stumbled upon a winning recipe in Blade and Xmen, then Spiderman while D.C. was still recovering from seeing Nickolas Cage in a wig and a plastic suit really laid low. Marvel was making trilogies but both third movies were heart breaking they started to produce much anticipated movies that were horrific. For every great Blade, Xmen & spiderman it seemed they were able to match those movies with equally worse ones while it seemed they made 15 Wolerine movies. On a side note if Christopher Reeves was Typecast I don't know what to call Hugh Jackman, anybody own Reel Steel. Daredevel, Elektra, the Hulk, another Punisher and then Catwoman proved that history was about to repeat itself. Repeat itself it did instead of countering Marvels Wolerine success with maybe a Lobo movie D.C. to a spin at flushing movies in the toilet with diasters like the Green Lantern, Jonah Hex, and Superman Returns. Marvel gave us Ghostrider, the Fantastic Four equipped with sequels, and reboots of the Hulk and a 3rd Punisher. On a side note i think mvies like Hellboy, Constantine and V for Vendetta deserve honorable mentions.
The Dark knight & Iron Man Trilogies spawned off movies like Man of Steel, the Watchmen, Thor, Captain America , 2 move Wolerines and Guardians of the Galaxy combining the heroes ultimately to make the Avengers and Justice League. As we have learned in the past that intial success followed by an open check book never seems to work. For every XMen theirs a Daredevil and for every Dark Knight thiers a Green Lantren. For every Guardians of the Galaxy theirs a Fantastic Four Reboot. I can't deny that Marvel has made some great films ( you can can keep antman) and D.C. is on its way to the dance( Hey D.C. if Deadpool works maybe Deathstroke will & if Wolverine works maybe Lobo will!) but we have to ask ourselves have we hit the crest in the wave of comic books as they go digital and the television networks use the same recipe as the Avengers and The Justice League By intertwining Arrow and the Flash. (Thank you D.C for adding substance to a great character in the Green Arrow for 35 years he looked like Robin Hood bred witha garden gnome.) Then we get Gotham , Supergirl and rumors of Green Lantrens High School Years. You cut Constanine to quick!! That's 6 D.C. sitcoms, while Marvel has Agents of shield, J.Jones and Daredevil on Netflix. Are we in for a rollercoaster of Mediocre films after the final films to your Thors. Because I have read your Civil Wars and XMen Apocalapse and they are equal if not better storlines the Avengers build up. Maybe they will lead to an XMen vs Avenger movie or a inhumans as its to early to tell where D.C. is going. I would ditch the lantren and kill off Aqua man and pick up Lobo ad the flash. So I'm going to wind this charade up by saying in my opinion I think you just might agree the industry is using all its ammo at the same time , as stated earlier combining the networks you have 9 Storylines running and here's the list of D.C. and Marvels Movies signed and slated to be produced and released. Deadpool, Batman vs Superman, Captain America Civil War, X-Men Apocalapyse, Suicide Squad, Gambit, Doctor Strange, Another Wolverine, Guardians of the Galaxy 2, Wonder Woman, Another spiderman reboot, Thor Ragnorak, Black Panther, the Flash (still all 2016-2017), 2018 starts with Avengers Infinity Gaunlet VL 1, Antman and the Wasp, Captain Marvel, Shazam, Avengers infinity wars VL 2. 2019 starts with Justice League part 2, Inhumans, Cyborg, and a reboot of Green Lantren. That is a list of movies that has many superheroes just in a single movie. Lets hope this proven recipe of combining the correct comic book heroes through thier own films continues. Its been proven to stay away from the Hulk, the Punisher and when in doubt make a wolverine movie. Just take a Look at that list of movies and tell me thats not a tall order and that our white pages once portrayed as laughable masked Ballerinas are now being mass produced like the cold wars arms race . Don't be suprised when their is a writers strike and we get Wonder Woman vs Green Lantren volume 1 The Death of Aqua Man and Fantastic Four rebooted for a 3rd time in FF "Cursed by the Ghostrider" guest starring the Punisher. Much Love , Leave a comment, and visit me at
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