With the success of "The Dark Knight" it seems that Warner is now decided to get more return on investment out of their DC Comics characters by giving them a dose of reality. Sure it works for Batman, but he has no super powers aside from money and therefore is easy for Joe public to relate to, but can it work for Superman?Yes, even after the attempted reboot of the franchise in 2006 with "Superman Returns" which ultimately is seen as a failure, Warner is still looking at the man with the cape (Edna would so have something to say).
While this is being planned, other films such as "Justice League of America" will be put on the back burner as they plan out a way to re-introduce the man of steel in a way that will allow for a franchise.
Picture Group President, Jeff Robinov, wants to explore the darker side of these characters. And while there are plans for other DC crime fighters to make the transition to the big screen (Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Flash and Wonder Woman) it is Superman that is getting the majority of the attention.Batman works, not because it is dark, but because it is grounded in reality. No fantastical set pieces and shocking day glow colours to remind us that this is a fabricated world.
This is the same reason "The Incredibles" worked. The first half of the film was entirely based in the real world. It played out like an Alexander Payne film, and once the audience was comfortable and could relate to these characters, then it became super.
How can we relate to Superman or Wonder Woman as people?They have their work cut out for them if you ask me. Christopher Nolan was lucky and very clever and probably had a lot of internal fights with the studios with "Batman Begins". You have to be a strong director to not let the studio wave it's 'wider audience' wand over a film.
For Superman, the audience will always be there. $100 million at least. But the trick is to make it all seem new, to make us relate, and to leave us wanting more. So far there have been several movies about the man, countless TV shows and many many cartoon versions. Is there something left to say, and if there is, who out there will be able to say it?
3 comments:
the darker aspects of superheroes can surely work they have been working in the comics for over 10 years now, the secret isn't in it being reality based, but how psychologically realistic are the DC producers, writers and directors willing to go. the heros need to be three dimensional as well as the villains. superheroes are simply science fiction/fantasy and science fiction/fantasy works best when the vision of the author and director are detailed and clear and the characters are emotionally present and often profound. as Jessica rabbit once said '...i'm drawn that way' ..., so can be said '...i'm written that way'
Ax
I agree on some levels there Andra, but I also think the audience these days needs to be able to relate to the characters (the hero) more than they would have had to in with past interpretations. Superman can no longer just be the good guy trying to save the world, we need to see some internal conflict with which we can relate.
we have no disagreement here (unlike the Beyonce post), i completely agree. the Problem with Superman Returns is that the director wanted to revisit the glory of a 1950's Superman. and the audience have moved beyond that they saw superman grow up in Smallville, se saw the death of superman in the comics, we saw the Marvel movies at their best reflect our world back upon us and make us want to change... and let us also take note of the TV series Heroes showing us what it would be like to exist today with extraordinary power.
the Studios have a lot to do and Wonder-woman is waiting for the world of men to catch up with what she's already known... (that's a secret between me and her)
Ax
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