Ever since Chris Nolan was given the Batman Franchise in 2005 he has everyone follwing his lead in hollywood. I often hear too many times directors and actors citing the The Dark Knight and Nolan as inspriartion for action films and comic book movies using the infamous code word: Realism.
Some would argue this is needed espcially after the hot turd with a side batter dipped moose balls that was Batman and Robin. Ever since Nolan hit barry bonds on sterids type homeruns with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight...Movies in general not just comic book movies have really shyed away from fantasical elements. Case in point..My favorite video game Mortal Kombat and TMNT are once again being considered for big screen enjoyment. But when i read some of the stuff these people are talking about doing its really effs with me.
Mortal Kombat was a ripoff of Enter The Dragon and was turned into in my opinion one of the best mythologies in comics or video games. The over the top violence, super powered warriors, Gods, demons, Badass Ninjas. I was hooked. When the first MK movie came out I remember being in the theater and people giving it a standing ovation especially when Shao Khan burst out of the temple. MK 2 was half assed but it still felt like Mortal Kombat. But Then i saw the youtube short and the webseries and i was intrigued by them grounding it a little bit but still keeping the things i loved from the games and first movie. But then I saw the new synopis and i read them talking about realism and i shook my head..
Another case is TMNT. if there is any movie screaming to be grounded in reality its TMNT right? I mean its 4 mutant turtle brothers who are trained martial arts masters who have a rat as their father, a hot white chick as thier friend, a psycho in a hockey mask who carries a ball bat and helps them beat the crap out of a ninja clan called The Foot, and Thier arch enemy is a disguntled heart broken Ninja Assassin who calls Himself shredder.. And lets not forget a mutant fly, rhino, warthog, and a talking brain like alien..Yes lets make this like it could really happen!
Where am i going with this u ask..
This all goes back to Nolan and his treatment of Batman. You see his footprints everywhere even in a marvel movie The Amazing Spiderman. Do some movies need to be realistic? Sure... Judge Dredd is a great example of realism used the right way... Batman's realism is perfect.. But as much as love Nolans BAtman series I as a Batman fan feel like theres still something missing.. would we ever see great bat villians like Black Mask, The Count of Owls, The Riddler, Killer Croc, Clayface, Dollmaker, Harley Quinn in nolans films? What about Robin, Nightwing, Or The Red Hood. As much as I love nolan I want to see all the chactaers given love on the screen and not watered down to make us belive this can actually happen. Cause IT CANT!!!
Thats why im still skeptical about him prodcuing Supes..
The fun part about cinema is the fact that its not real. None of these things we seee in movies could ever happen. Take any Seth Rogan film...Does one really think its realistic that a guy who looks like that could end up with Katherine Heigel, Elizibeth Banks or Cameron Diaz? HELL NO!!! But thats why i love those films cause we live out dreams and fantasies through our favorite characters on screen. When Hollywodd takes itself too seriously thats when they lose the common person.
Thats why The Avengers was a sucess in my eyes. It was a pure unadulterated, unapologetic COMIC BOOK MOVIE!! Was it campy at times, yes. Was it serious at times yes. But the most important aspect of The avengers was IT WAS DAMN GOOD FUN!!! and im a DC guy, but I laughed and even though the story as predictable and you pretty much knew the ending, you rooted for these characters to take down loki..The only time ive ever rooted liked that was when i watch a sprting event.
Thats what i feel like nolan is doing to not only Batman but what his influence is doing to all movies, taking the escapism and Most Importantly the FUN out of seeing our heroes on screen.. I loved The Dark Knght and BB cause he nailed batman and all his characteristics to a tee, and the casting is remarkable Gary Oldman as Jim Gordon best castiing decision since Chris Reeves as Supes and both had way better stories and im a story man first..but it hurts me to say this..I had more fun watching The Avengers cause it didnt have its head up its ass at times and didnt try to preach as overly pretentious message. It was just plain old fun to watch..
Thats what a movie is supposed to do make us forget our sucky lives for awhile and have fun. I love Batman rising up to lead gotham to a betteer day.. But i also want to see him beat the crap out of some supervillans!!
Thats why I say this is the curse of Nolan. Hollywood is a copycat city.. as long as nolan keeps knocking out batfilms and his own films out the park hollywood would follow his lead and im partally a nolanite cause he made oy favorite hero cool again..
But to those who say realism over fantasy ask yoursel this....
Would The Avengers be as great if Nolan dirceted? Would the Wizard of OZ or the First Superman movie be as great if it was grounded in realism??
All im truly saying is instead of people taking cues from Nolan, take a cue from The Avengers..its great that our hereo are taken seroius and action is taken serious but dont forget the one rerson why we go to see a movie...FUN!