(Sorry I took so long write a review. I hope this is good).
Long ago, in a galaxy far far away, I watched the Superman movies. I was only impressed with some of the acting and very little else. The stories seemed lame to me when compared to the comic books.
Then one day Hollywood did Batman starring Michael Keaton. This was significantly better as it more fully embodied the character, setting, and effect captured in the comic book than any of the Superman movies did—at first. Somehow, the sequels had taken a wrong turn. By the time George Clooney steps in, Batman has become a jokester more like Spiderman than the Dark Knight.
Please, do not get me started on the Punisher.
Finally, in the spirit of the "faithful adaptation" that worked so well for other films (such as The Lord of the Rings), the X-Men and Spider-man hit the box office and both were great movies. I was happy that the sequels turned out equally well and that Marvel comic book superheroes had made a mark in Hollywood history. In fact, all the films they have released were at least marginally better than Superman or Batman, especially X-Men, Spider-man, and Blade. Three of them were, moreover, based on my all-time favorites: Spiderman, the Hulk, and Daredevil.
Now Hollywood has released many successful movies based on comics and superheroes from different comic groups. The only group that seemed to lag behind was DC. The television cartoons Batman and Batman Beyond were much better than the films and I still feel like gagging when I think about Superman, but I loved both in their original media. I will let Steel rest in peace—although it was on the right track. Why oh why could DC not produce a good superhero film?
Apparently, DC decided to do one better—they made a good super villain movie instead!
I use the emotions I feel in connection to the film as one method to judge how effective a movie is. There are a number of reasons that a film might inspire me to have an emotional response as well.
In Glory, the entire scene that includes Denzel’s passionate "Tear it up!" had me in tears. I really liked everything that went into that scene. Moreover, the first time I watched it on DVD, I could not stop the flow of tears from the beginning to the end.
Some sequences in Spider-man produced similar, yet brief responses, mainly because of how well the movie had captured the comic book character I loved as an adolescent. Spider-man 2 was even better.
Consequently, it seemed to me that the Marvel films had conquered the industry—until Warner Brothers/Village Roadshow released Catwoman. The blend of the action, effects, and Halle Berry’s performance really brought the character I remembered to life. Although the graphics were clearly computerized, watching her bounce around the walls and railings like a cat thrilled me to no end.
I thought the story was wonderful too, despite the remarks of some critics. As I have many times watching Smallville—which hardly compares to Catwoman—on the WB, I could recognize a typical DC plot when I see one. Catwoman was everything I had hoped it would be and, just as I had with Glory, I could hardly stop the tears.
Catwoman and the Role of Comic Book Heroes in Hollywood
Long ago, in a galaxy far far away, I watched the Superman movies. I was only impressed with some of the acting and very little else. The stories seemed lame to me when compared to the comic books.
Then one day Hollywood did Batman starring Michael Keaton. This was significantly better as it more fully embodied the character, setting, and effect captured in the comic book than any of the Superman movies did—at first. Somehow, the sequels had taken a wrong turn. By the time George Clooney steps in, Batman has become a jokester more like Spiderman than the Dark Knight.
Please, do not get me started on the Punisher.
Finally, in the spirit of the "faithful adaptation" that worked so well for other films (such as The Lord of the Rings), the X-Men and Spider-man hit the box office and both were great movies. I was happy that the sequels turned out equally well and that Marvel comic book superheroes had made a mark in Hollywood history. In fact, all the films they have released were at least marginally better than Superman or Batman, especially X-Men, Spider-man, and Blade. Three of them were, moreover, based on my all-time favorites: Spiderman, the Hulk, and Daredevil.
Now Hollywood has released many successful movies based on comics and superheroes from different comic groups. The only group that seemed to lag behind was DC. The television cartoons Batman and Batman Beyond were much better than the films and I still feel like gagging when I think about Superman, but I loved both in their original media. I will let Steel rest in peace—although it was on the right track. Why oh why could DC not produce a good superhero film?
Apparently, DC decided to do one better—they made a good super villain movie instead!
I use the emotions I feel in connection to the film as one method to judge how effective a movie is. There are a number of reasons that a film might inspire me to have an emotional response as well.
In Glory, the entire scene that includes Denzel’s passionate "Tear it up!" had me in tears. I really liked everything that went into that scene. Moreover, the first time I watched it on DVD, I could not stop the flow of tears from the beginning to the end.
Some sequences in Spider-man produced similar, yet brief responses, mainly because of how well the movie had captured the comic book character I loved as an adolescent. Spider-man 2 was even better.
Consequently, it seemed to me that the Marvel films had conquered the industry—until Warner Brothers/Village Roadshow released Catwoman. The blend of the action, effects, and Halle Berry’s performance really brought the character I remembered to life. Although the graphics were clearly computerized, watching her bounce around the walls and railings like a cat thrilled me to no end.
I thought the story was wonderful too, despite the remarks of some critics. As I have many times watching Smallville—which hardly compares to Catwoman—on the WB, I could recognize a typical DC plot when I see one. Catwoman was everything I had hoped it would be and, just as I had with Glory, I could hardly stop the tears.
