Comic Book Movies and The Dark Knight

Comic Book Movies and The Dark Knight

Why these 2 things need to be separate from each other and how it has hurt and helped the genre

Editorial Opinion
By StuckInPanels - May 31, 2010 03:05 PM EST
Filed Under: Other

Hey guys and gals, under a new name but still the same me. You may be wondering why I have such a strange Editorial title but I will give a good explanation as to why I have that title. First off let me just say that these are my opinions and views and that this article should not sway you in any direction. So let me talk about how The Dark Knight has helped and in turn hurt the genre.
So The Dark Knight, many consider this to be the greatest thing ever made, it was #1 on IMDB's top 250 for a few weeks but eventually fell to its current place at #10, and has changed the way we see comic books being taken serious in terms of story, characters, and action. So my question is, why do we constantly make the remark "will it surpass" or "better than" TDK. WHY WHY WHY WHY!!!!! Why does it matter if a comic book movie has to be BETTER than another comic book movie. Why do people in our community so judgmental when we have no real or power over the movies that are being developed. Alright before this because a hate filled rant me keep calm and try and give my say.
Alright so after the Dark Knight has been released I have seen and noticed that many sites have articles and polls asking if future blockbuster comic book movies will surpass the Dark Knight in terms of B.O results and should they be much better. Even the community wants the third batman film to surpass TDK also. Let me just say that we as a community of fans shouldn't be harsh or judgmental on comic book movies that aren't on The Dark Knight level. I've seen dozen of Iron Man 2 review posts and I too have done one, giving my say and views on it, for the most part it was an enjoyable movie and while it did fill in so much but they had to establish a greater universe. Many reviews too on here are nothing more than hate filled and they complain about how it ruined the comic, character, and so forth. Now while I believe we all have the right to free speech I for one can't see why someone spews nothing but hate and anger over something that they don't have to see. I post articles and reviews on here because I for one like to be the most enthusiastic and optimistic person in terms of reviewing comics and movies.
One problem with comic book movies is that they for one are judged are merits they shouldn't be judged on. Citizen Kane may be the best film ever to some but you can't compare it to Kick-Ass or 300. Every comic book pre and post TDK should be judged on their own merits and not on other films similar to them. This in turns brings up my next point and that The Dark Knight has helped and hurt the genre.
We can all come to a general agreement that TDK has made comic book movies much more than just novelties, but actual films that are able to be both daring and insightful. The Dark Knight has done one thing most comics have rarely done, get a real nomination for an Oscar, albeit it was just for Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker, but I do believe they got snubbed for screenplay and director, because if they were they would win hands down. This was the good, now for the bad. The one thing that I heard has made me mad was that Superman was gonna be portrayed as a dark and brooding character in his next film...WHY!!! HES NOT DARK NOR BROODING*ahem* Superman's next foray into film should be exciting and bright filled. Every JL member should be different from one another. I'm sure you all read that Bradley Cooper lost out because he did a Bat Rasp for Hal Jordan, and that sadly caused him to lose out. When they do the Flash, Wonder Woman, Hawk-man, and so forth, they need to make each and every film feel and act much different from one other. Batman is the only dark and brooding hero of the JL.
With the next set of comic book films, we are now getting a barrage of remakes and reboots to film series that have had their place in time and no longer needed to be remade. We are gonna see another new set Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Blade, Ghost Rider, The Shadow, and of course Spider-man. Once again I seem to be drawn to this discussion and debate on the upcoming reboot of Spider-man. I for one have extreme optimism for any comic book films until I see the actual product or trailer. I had some hope for Jonah Hex...BUT after seeing the trailers, I just had to shake my head in sadness that they messed up the character. Back to Spider-man, we got the potential list of actors in the running and so far no one here I have seen has given support or joy for any of the picks, you all seem to be more worried about the petty things rather than waiting to see what they do. I followed Spider-man 4 on SSH and I noticed that the every bit of news we got was getting messier and messier and so they had enough and let him and the rest go, because I had the feeling this was gonna be another Superman 4, and the one above all knows we can't see another one of those. So for the most part I'm gonna remain optimistic on this reboot and give my support and blessing to the new crew, whoever they may be.
Anyway let me do a quick wrap up on what I mentioned. I for one am tired of hearing people asking if any comic book film here after will be better than The Dark Knight, each film here onward should be judged on different merits separate from each other, and that we should be optimistic on any upcoming comic book movie good or bad, we cannot judge them before we even see the final product. So hope to enlighten you on my perspective and that I hope to hear your comments, I'm sure they will be mixed. Til next time BlackAirsAki87 OUT!!!!

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StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 5/31/2010, 5:09 PM
@anil...thats a simple way of saying what I wrote^^
bleedthefreak
bleedthefreak - 5/31/2010, 5:14 PM
Great article i dont know why but i have to say TDK is my least favorite of the bat films other then Batman and Robin of course. But this was a damn fine article good work
StuckInPanels
StuckInPanels - 5/31/2010, 5:19 PM
@bleed...the 89 version is the best. It was more coherent and well made for its time...that gotham felt more real than the Chicago gotham
chris915
chris915 - 5/31/2010, 9:12 PM
Great article :]

However i disagree with u on your main point. TDK is my favorite movie of all time. It just grasps your emotions and everything fits in so perfectly with eachother is mindboggling. But i want the next captain america/thor/GL/ etc. to be a better film than TDK because that just means that the other films would be on such a level of greatness!

Think about it, if every CBM from here on was better than TDK, what a wonderful world it would be! But maybe im just wishful thinking lol. But it really would be great to get the exact Thor, GL, Cap, and Avengers we wanted.

Imagine, where we got our 3+ hour EPIC Avenegers movie. Where the villains arent one-dimensional, where those very same villains pose such a threat to the Earth and the order of things and hold so many things in their hands, that there has to be a special team put together to rid the world of this chaos.

That is the film i want to see and I pray to God that is is better than The Dark Knight. I hope we watch that Avengers movie and we really hav to scratch our heads whether The Dark Knight is the best CBM ever.
theeggmaster
theeggmaster - 5/31/2010, 10:44 PM
i like eggs so does redmist and the grudge
KingRob
KingRob - 6/1/2010, 9:04 PM
I like your overall point of CBM fans being negative pricks. I read some of the comments left after a rumor or scoop and it's ridiculous. I can't imagine the depression some of the readers here feel when some one says "this guy should be Spider-Man" or "Avengers might have to change some costumes". Rumors get some these people in a mouth-foaming frenzy usually reserved for child molesters. It's staggering. And thanks for being someone who tries to be optimistic about the movies. It's refreshing and at least one person appreciates it. Peace
McLovin
McLovin - 6/1/2010, 9:19 PM
@Anil - I'm with you man. TDK, Iron-man and Kick Ass are all epic and have revolutionized the CBMs of our time.

@ bleedthefreak16 - WTF??? Are you actually telling us that you like the Tommy Lee Jones over acted Two-Face and the Bat-nipples, the uber San Francisco Gay Pride Parade attempt at the batmobile, not to mention the terrible addition of Chris O'Donnel's attempt at Robin from Batman Forever more than TDK???

@chris915 - To be honest, I'd be happy if any of the movies you mentioned are as great as TDK. Sure I won't complain if they are better. But I will be happier than a pig in shit if they are at least as good.

and speaking of shit

@theeggmaster - Yo dude, your avater is the shit man!!! (see what I did there?) LOL

@BlackAirsAki87 - COOL ARTICLE BRO! I like your style ;-)




Boekelaar
Boekelaar - 6/1/2010, 11:57 PM
I think TDK is good but it does deviate a lot from the source. People have said before that it's just a really good action film that happens to have Batman in it, it's not a Batman film with really good action. I personally liked Iron Man II a lot, it was used to make way for the Marvel cinematic universe and I think it did a good job of that. With the whole dark superman thing I agree though I wouldn't mind a Miller interpreation of the character like in TDKR or All star Batman and Robin. More that the worlds shit and he's a bit angry but trying to do real good through example. I also didn't like the Jonah Hex trailers, thought it looked shit. In terms of a true CBM that sticks to the source I'd say that Watchmen would be at the top of that list, and for sticking to the overall feel of the comic I'd say that V for Vendetta did that. To me TDK barely rates as a CBM so I try not to compare it to other CBM's. For instance I think that Batman Begins is better than The Dark Knight as a comic book movie.
bleedthefreak
bleedthefreak - 6/2/2010, 5:55 PM
@McLovin-yeah the dark knight didnt have enough action and the plot was so overrated(mind you i had people breathing down my neck telling me its the greatest movie) i found myslef to upset with the movie and i can honestly tell you it is one of my least favorites of all time. Its not the changes that bother as much as the hype did. Even though i enjoyed nicholson more i do like ledger in the movie. But Eckhart beats the piss out of tommy lee jones changes and all. i also hate Bale and Maggie Gyllenhal or whatever
McLovin
McLovin - 6/2/2010, 9:00 PM
@bleedthefreak16 - dude ... I don't even know what to say to that. I mean ... damn!

I liked the 1st two Bat movies with Keaton a lot, but these last two were waaaay superior. The Shumaker movies were crap dude. They were campy and effeminate and really an insult to the caped crusader.

I'm just curious, where would you rate Batman Begins? For that matter, what order would you put the Bat films?
theeggmaster
theeggmaster - 6/3/2010, 3:01 AM
Hi jordon if ur reading im about to start a fight with a random person it gona be mclovin mclovin u can suck ur mom off u pofta bogan urka durka uckmed i hate leb jesus isent real sdif gpwibv a that means [frick] u u silly [foo foo] oggabogga
bleedthefreak
bleedthefreak - 6/3/2010, 6:22 PM
@McLovin i liked batman begins a lot

1.Batman
2.Batman begins
3.Batman returns
4.Batman forever
5.TDK
6.Batman and Robin
View Recorder