Here's an article I wrote for a Magazine Journalism course way back in 2002.
Spider-Man, X-men and Blade had heralded a new generation of superhero movies and the future looked bright for four-colour films. Having lived through the era of straight to video (yes video, not DVD) failures I was a little more cautious that Hollywood's new found success would continue, so I wrote this piece to highlight what I though was the best and worst in the previous generation of superhero films and why.
Enjoy.
Celluloid Superheroes
Amazing power. Colourful costumes. Larger-than-life adventures. With these ingredients comic book superheroes and the Hollywood blockbuster would seem to be perfect partners. Although the recent successes of Spider-Man, X-men and the two Blade films would seem to enforce this idea, this has not always been the case. For every trend-setting blockbuster over the last 25-years of superhero films, there have been numerous releases that have either severely disappointed or simply passed by without notice. Below we will look at two of the most successful superhero films ever made, as well as two projects that turned-out more supervillain than superhero.
Hollywood Heroes
Batman
1989, US, 121 min, Cert: 15Dir: Tim BurtonCast: Michael Keaton – Bruce Wayne/batman, Jack Nicholson – Jack Napier/The Joker, Kim Basinger – Vicki ValeFirst Comic Appearance: Detective Comics #27, DC, 1939
When young Bruce Wayne’s millionaire parents were killed during a mugging, the distraught child vowed to dedicate his life to rid his home city of its cowardly, criminal element. After training worldwide, the now adult Wane returns to Gotham City and takes on the mantle of Batman, a masked vigilante whose very image is designed to strike fear into the hearts of criminals. Using his finely tuned detective skills, hi-tech gadgets and expert martial arts he begins his endless quest against crime.
The 1989 movie introduces Bruce Wayne/Batman (Keaton) just after his war on crime has begun and just before he encounters his greatest enemy of all: The Joker (Nicholson). When criminal and murderer of Wayne’s parents, Jack Napier falls into vat of chemicals after The Batman interrupts one of his crimes, he transforms into the deadly and insane Joker. He immediately takes over the local crime syndicate and begins wooing the public affection away from the mysterious Batman and onto himself, while simultaneously poising them with his beauty products. The two characters’ confrontations and rivalry, both over control of the city and the beautiful reporter Vicki Vale (Kim Basinger), are followed to a deadly conclusion at the top of Gotham cathedrals bell tower.
Director Tim Burton’s dark gothic and neon imagery brought a much-needed sense of fear and seriousness to a character that was still stereotyped by the camp 60’s TV show. Michael Keaton was perfectly suited to the obsessed and brooding Wayne but as Batman not even the muscle-sculpted, rubber costume could help the average sized actor match the intimidating and flawless character presented in the comic books. All this however is overshadowed by Nicholson’s performance as The Joker. Perfectly cast, the veteran actor with a perchance for playing manic and unbalanced parts, steals all the best lines and the film as the chemically spawned, homicidal clown. With plenty of action and cool gadgets this film put the Dark Knight back into the Caped Crusader.
Three films followed: Batman Returns (1992), Batman Forever (1995) with Val Kilmer in the lead and Batman and Robin (1997) starring George Clooney. There are currently two Batman films in production. Batman: Year One is based on the classic story of a young Bruce Wayne’s first year of crime fighting both before and after creating the Batman persona. While Batman Beyond, will be styled on the popular animated cartoon set in the near future were an aged Bruce Wayne mentors a new, teenage Batman.
Superman
1978, US, 137 min, Cert: PGDir: Richard DonnerCast: Christopher Reeve – Clark Kent/Superman, Margot Kidder – Lois Lane, Gene Hackman – Lex Luthor, Marlon Brando – Jor-ElFirst Appearance: Action Comics #1, Marvel Comics, 1938
When Kryptonian scientist Jor-El discovers his world is on the edge of extinction his last act is the send his only son off in a rocket ship to a far-away planet known as Earth. The baby is found and raised by Kansas farmers Jonathan and Martha Kent as a normal boy, despite displaying superhuman powers under our yellow sun. When grown-up Clark Kent moves to Metropolis and becomes a reporter for the Daily Planet, he also begins his quest to protect his adoptive world as Superman.
“You will believe a man can fly” was the tag line for this 1978 film, the father of modern superhero films. The first half of the film features young Clark’s escape from Krypton, his arrival on earth and his discovery by the Kents. When his adoptive parents die he discovers a strange crystal that impels him to travel to the Arctic where Clark discovers his true origin via recordings of his real father Jor-El (Brando). The second half of the film begins when adult Clark (Reeve) moves to Metropolis to begin work at the Daily Planet. Here he meets and falls in love with feisty fellow reporter Lois Lane (Kidder), who intern falls in love with the city’s new hero Superman. Enter criminal mastermind Lex Luthor (Hackman), whose explosive real-estate sting may force Clark/Superman to sacrifice the woman he loves to save hundreds of innocent lives.
The then unknown Christopher Reeve turned out to be the perfect choice to lead, as he plays both the powerful and inspiring Superman and his bungling yet affectionate alter-ego Clark Kent with equal and distinct detail. The Clark/Lois/Superman love-triangle gives the film realistic human aspect and allows for some wonderful knowing comedy. With the character and his origin fully introduced, the film can move comfortably into a standard action adventure format for the second half. It must be said that the special effects made this film, as the tag line says if you could not believe Superman was really flying the whole concept would not have worked. In the end director Richard Donner creates a modern-day American fantasy story with a perfect balance of humour, action and the human touch that makes Superman more than just a super-powered alien in a silly costume.
The success of this was followed by another three films: Superman II (1980) where Superman has to defeat three evil Kryptonians, Superman III (1983) staring comedian Richard Pryor and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) featuring the supervillain Nuclear Man. A new Superman film is currently in production, with Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) as director and J. J. Abrams (Alias) as screen writer, which is rumoured to be based on the Death of Superman comic story.
Video Villains
The Punisher
1989, US/Australia, 84 min, Cert: 18Dir: Mark GoldblattCast: Dolph Lundgren – Frank Castle/The Punisher, Louis Gossett Jr – Jake Berkowitz, Jeroen Krabbe – Gianni FrancoFirst Comic Appearance: Amazing Spiderman #129, 1974
After returning from Vietnam, war veteran Frank Castle tries to forget the horrors of that bloody conflict by returning to the loving arms of his family. That sanctuary is destroyed when his wife and child are killed in the crossfire between rival Mob families. The distraught Castle is pushed over the edge and swears a deadly revenge on all criminals. Using his Special Forces training and as much ammunition as he can find he begins wiping out the criminal element of New York City one-by-one…and will not stop until they are all dead.
Before the movie even starts, The Punisher (Lundgren) has killed 125 people in his one-man war on the crime families of New York; and has no plans on stopping. Living in the sewers this brooding, tortured vigilante is the biggest threat the NY Mob faces and the main focus of police detective Jake Berowitz (Gossett Jr). Berowitz’s job is to apprehend The Punisher; the only problem is he is convinced The Punisher is really his ex-partner Frank Castle. Castle is believed killed when a car bomb killed his family five-years ago but Berowitz’s deduction is correct. Castle survived the explosion and is killing every criminal he can lay his hands one: a one-man judge jury and executioner. Things come to a head when a gang of Japanese Yakuza try to move in on local Mob boss Gianni Franco’s territory. Franco (Krabbe) tries to manipulate The Punisher to do his dirty work for him and get rid of the foreign intruders permanently.
With an Arnie-like leading man, a main character similar to the successful Batman and a blood-and-guns 18 certificate it looked sure to be a cinema success. Dolph Lundgren was a good choice to play the lead, his physical presence and brooding looks help to capture the driven and tortured isolation of Frank Castle’s mission. Directed by Mark Goldblatt, who had worked on successful action films like Terminator and Commando, the film certainly has enough action and gunfire. Lou Gossett Jr and Jeroen Krabbe where strong supporting characters. So what went wrong? In the end this was not a superhero film. Although he shared the name and a similar background the comic book character, this Frank Castle was just another 80’s action character. The only sign of The Punisher trademark skull shirt is a fleeting glance of a dagger’s hilt. Without the added flavour of the comic’s character this film ended-up just like The Punisher’s enemies; dead.
A recent revival in the popularity of this character, thanks to the Garth Ennis penned comic series, has meant a new Punisher film is under production with Jonathan Hensleigh (Die Hard: With a Vengeance) doubling as director and screenwriter.
Supergirl
1984, UK, 111 min, Cert: PGDir: Jeannot SzwarkCast: Helen Slater – Kara/Linda Lee/Supergirl, Fay Dunaway – Selena, Peter O’Toole – Zaltar, Peter Cook – Nigel, Hart Bochner – Ethan, Marc McClure – Jimmy OlsenFirst Appearance: Action Comics #252, DC, 1959
The Last Son of Krypton has family. Kara of Argo City, dubbed Supergirl on her superhero début on Earth is cousin to Superman both in character and powers. Originally, introduced during the 50’s when it became every necessary for every superhero to have an extended family of super-offspring, super-siblings and super-pets. She was eventually killed heroically and demoted to an alternate-reality Earth during the 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths story. The character was eventually re-introduced both as a shape-changing replica and as a young human girl with possible Heavenly connections.
Safe from the destruction of Krypton in the city of Argo, young Kara Zor-El (Slater) is watched over by the venerable Zaltar (O’Toole). Trouble looms though when the city’s power source, the dangerously powerful Omegahederon, disappears and Kara travels to Earth to recover it. On Earth she discovers he has the same powers as the now famous Superman and takes on the identity of Linda Lee while she looks for the missing power-source. Meanwhile, the Omegahederon has fallen into the hands of a want-to-be witch named Selena (Dunaway). With her powers now boosted by the mysterious devise, she sets out on her plan to conquer the world, but not before wrestle the affections of local young stud Ethan (Bochner) away from that new girl in town.
It is obvious that this 1984 film was an attempt to cash-in on the success of the first two Superman films. Containing all the core elements of her siblings films Supergirl had the potential to be a successful spin-of. Unfortunately, the films romantic comedy styling let it down, and finally it shared more in common with the less popular Superman III than its predecessors. Also, the addition of a magical theme detracted from the real world/science fiction feel of the superman films. The acting in this film is also particularly wayward; Slater’s Kara/Supergirl wanders around wide-eyed and bewildered by all she sees, Dunaway hams-it-up as the wicked witch of the piece, while British actors Cook and O’Toole seems completely out-of-place in this lukewarm American fantasy.
Batman and Robin and A Beautiful Mind producer Akiva Goldsman has is rumoured to be working on a new Supergirl project, but is unlikely to be given the ‘green light’ ahead of any Superman film.
