27-06-2005 23:37									#1
	Comic book movies--why the renaissance? Get a bigger avatar today!

After the impossibly bad "Batman & Robin", it was widely believed that the comic book movie was dead. And apart from the "Batman" franchise, it had been dead already for sometime.


But, suddenly, in the past five years, we've had no less than six very good-to-outstanding films based on comic book superheroes. Granted, there have been some stinkers as well, but they have been outweighed by the below sextet.

X-Men
Spiderman
X2
Hellboy
Spiderman 2
Batman Begins


Now, I've never read a comic book in my life, but I love these films. Each is great as a simple popcorn movie, but each can also be appreciated on a deeper level. Why the sudden shift in this genre's fortunes?

	28-06-2005 00:07									#2
	Re: Comic book movies--why the renaissance? Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

I'm just glad that they've started paying more attention to the source material. As for the resurgence, hit movies inspire a gold rush.

quote: Now, I've never read a comic book in my life, but I love these films.

I could recommend a few the movies you listed borrowed liberally from if you're interested.

	28-06-2005 00:09									#3
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I think a new superman is coming out...is this so?

	28-06-2005 00:25									#4
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Possibly because technology has reached a point where the comics can be rendered in real life on a far greater scale than before.

	28-06-2005 00:29									#5
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Marvel Comics

Marvel was going bankrupt (or at least losing money) and needed something to revitalize it. X-Men was a popular property that had never realized a full motion picture.

Obviously, the company was saved.

	28-06-2005 00:32									#6
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Others I've heard are in the works...

X-Men3
Spiderman (another one)
WonderWoman
Superman (not ChrisR. obviously)

	28-06-2005 00:32									#7
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There is a correlation between waves of horror films and periods of social friction. I wonder if there's a similar correlation between superhero films and the social need for heroes?

	28-06-2005 00:41									#8
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quote: Originally posted by Pyrodrew Others I've heard are in the works... X-Men3 Spiderman (another one) WonderWoman Superman (not ChrisR. obviously)

You've heard so little, my young friend

Not only X-Men 3, but a Wolverine movie as well.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458525/

Superman Returns stars Brandon Routh (up-and-comer) as Supes, Kevin Spacey as Luthor, Kate Bosworth as Lois Lane...and Marlon ****in' Brando as Jor-El.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348150/

In addition to your list, you've got:
Ghost Rider, starring Nicholas Cage: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259324/
Captain America: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458339/
Sub-Mariner (which is actually being planned as a trilogy): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436803/
Iron Fist: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0202406/
The Flash: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439572/

and I've heard rumbings for Iron Man, Thor, The Preacher, and others.

	28-06-2005 00:51									#9
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quote: Originally posted by Donegeal Possibly because technology has reached a point where the comics can be rendered in real life on a far greater scale than before.

I think this is a big part of it. There's alot of untapped source material in comic books that would have been hard to put on screen in any credible way until recently.

	28-06-2005 01:02									#10
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Actually, I was wrong with my previous statement about Marvel, but only slightly.

Marvel took one of its smaller heros, Blade, and made a movie about him. The reason was that he wouldn't necessarily (at least in the mainstream) have the comic book stigma associated with more high-profile heroes.

The movie was a success, and Marvel both had the money and the clout to make their next film, X-Men.

	28-06-2005 01:55									#11
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Hmm, no mention of Swamp Thing or Swamp Thing II with Heather Locklear.

Thankfully, no mention of Daredevil (wish that I could burn the memory of that one out of my brain). And Judge Dredd.

And wasn't the 5th Element based upon a comic book?

	28-06-2005 01:56									#12
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I'd love to see a movie made based on Watchmen but only if it's done well naturally.

	28-06-2005 01:59									#13
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quote: Originally posted by Barinthus I'd love to see a movie made based on Watchmen but only if it's done well naturally.

Well, you'll get your chance next year.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409459/

	28-06-2005 02:12									#14
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I think it has something to do with the mainstreaming of the graphic novel, and the quality work that has come out of people like Frank Miller, Dennis O'Neill, Alan Moore, etc.

There is a whole new generation of creative moviemakers that think of real stories when the words "comic book" or "superhero" are mentioned... as opposed to the campy crap we had to put up with before.

	28-06-2005 02:39									#15
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Hollywood has very few to no new ideas. Comic books translate well as the graphics are essentially a story board for the (un)creatives for the movie.

That and the recent success of the movies generate a host of imitators.

	28-06-2005 02:43									#16
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quote: Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe Hollywood has very few to no new ideas.

Please back that statement up.

What is a new idea?

Moulin Rouge seemed new, but it was based on a French play from the 1800s called "Camille", which took its themes from "Romeo and Juliet", which was based on other things.

	28-06-2005 03:27									#17
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quote: Originally posted by The Emperor Fabulous You've heard so little, my young friend and I've heard rumbings for Iron Man, Thor, The Preacher, and others.

I've heard a little about some mo vie coming out called The Fantastic Four



Though it seems to be strikingly similar to The Incredibles ...

	28-06-2005 03:33									#18
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quote: Originally posted by Ogie Oglethorpe Hollywood has very few to no new ideas. Comic books translate well as the graphics are essentially a story board for the (un)creatives for the movie. That and the recent success of the movies generate a host of imitators.

Well, all things (Western civ, that is) lead back to classical Greece and Rome anyway... I don't think that is the point.

Further, one has to consider the question as asked: Why now? The 'comic books as story board' idea would have held just as true in the previous 30 or so years.

	28-06-2005 03:35									#19
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quote: Originally posted by Theseus Further, one has to consider the question as asked: Why now? The 'comic books as story board' idea would have held just as true in the previous 30 or so years.

The Seduction of the Innocent loosing some of its impact?

	28-06-2005 03:37									#20
	Re: Comic book movies--why the renaissance? Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: Originally posted by Guynemer After the impossibly bad "Batman & Robin", it was widely believed that the comic book movie was dead. And apart from the "Batman" franchise, it had been dead already for sometime. But, suddenly, in the past five years, we've had no less than six very good-to-outstanding films based on comic book superheroes. Granted, there have been some stinkers as well, but they have been outweighed by the below sextet. X-Men Spiderman X2 Hellboy Spiderman 2 Batman Begins Now, I've never read a comic book in my life, but I love these films. Each is great as a simple popcorn movie, but each can also be appreciated on a deeper level. Why the sudden shift in this genre's fortunes?

X-Men and Spiderman were good, and then the rest were either sequels or attempts to capitalize on the fad. Hollywood is unoriginal and imitative. It's like the Armageddon/Deep Impact/Asteroid phenomenon. Once they make one of something, they can't stop.

	28-06-2005 03:38									#21
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Nobody mentioned Sin City or Fantastic Four?? Both opens in Sweden in July.

	28-06-2005 04:32									#22
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quote: Originally posted by asleepathewheel I've heard a little about some mo vie coming out called The Fantastic Four Though it seems to be strikingly similar to The Incredibles ...

Cause Pixar totally ripped off the Fantastic Four. Poor timing too, just a year before the release of the Fantastic Four movie. Sigh. No copyright on super powers I guess.

	28-06-2005 09:11									#23
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quote: Originally posted by OzzyKP Sigh. No copyright on super powers I guess.

Thank god... Marvel going after NCSoft for 'City of Heroes'? Tragic.

	28-06-2005 09:23									#24
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quote: Originally posted by OzzyKP Cause Pixar totally ripped off the Fantastic Four. Poor timing too, just a year before the release of the Fantastic Four movie. Sigh. No copyright on super powers I guess.

Actually, "The Incredibles" struck me not as a rip-off of Fantastic Four, but as "The Watchmen" played for laughs. Think about it - Superheroes forced into retirement by the government and a know-nothing public; retired superheroes being killed off, one by one; a criminal mastermind whose plan is to stage an alien invasion in order to stop it...it's all "The Watchmen," sanitized for your protection.